Marcellious did as indicated, then stepped back.
“I can’t be in here,” I wailed. “I’ll lose Roman. He’s my life! I can’t live without him, don’t you see?”
“Hunting Wolf, you go,” Leaping Deer said. “We’ll take it from here.”
Marcellious backed out of the teepee, his face pinched and drawn.
In the care of women, I fell unconscious, thankful to be far away from my tortured body.
A damp cloth dabbed at my cheeks and temple. I frowned, eyes closed, wondering where I was. Then, I heard Emily’s and Leaping Deer’s voices murmuring.
“She’s coming around,” Leaping Deer said, pressing the cloth to my eyes and forehead. “Can you hear me, child?”
“Yes,” I said, pushing up to sit. “What happened? All I remember is a huge pain and then collapsing here.”
“You are badly injured everywhere. Emily and I have tended your wounds, applying poultices and bathing you.” Leaping Deer frowned as she studied me.
I glanced at my body. I was no longer wearing the deerskin clothes. Instead, I lay naked, surrounded by furs. A pungent, acrid smell wafted from the poultices plastered upon my skin.
“Here. Drink this.” Emily held a stone carved into a basin up to my lips.
I tipped back my head, and Emily slowly poured fresh water into my mouth.
It tasted divine, like liquid gold. I drank until the basin was empty.
Emily dipped the stone into a large basket and refilled it.
Then, I drank again.
“Thank you, Leaping Deer,” I said. “Thank you for tending to my wounds. But I admit to being surprised. When we left, you were all frightened of us.”
Leaping Deer bowed her head. “Our chief explained that the darkness could have come at any time, whether you and your friends were here or not. Dancing Fire had his own demon to contend with, but he was…heisa much-beloved part of our family. We accept his demons, and we must accept yours. It is our collective fate as a tribe, and rather than cast you aside, Grey Feather urged us to embrace you should you return. You may be the one to vanish the evil ones and keep our tribe safe.”
I reached for her hand, and she gave me a warm squeeze.
“It is unfortunate that Laughing Maid was killed. She was my daughter.”
“Oh, no!” A fresh wave of tears assaulted my eyes. “I am so, so sorry, Leaping Deer! I never would have come here had I known the darkness would follow me.”
“Shh,” Leaping Deer said. “What’s done is done. We have sent Laughing Maid’s spirit to the sky where she shall continue to watch over me.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Now I am compelled to heal,” I said fiercely. “I must focus on healing so I can fight once again.”
Leaping Deer and Emily exchanged a glance.
“What?” I said. “What are you not telling me?”
Emily scooted closer and clasped my hands in hers. “Oh, Olivia. We’re afraid you mustn’t fight for a time.”
My spine stiffened. “What do you mean I mustn’t fight for a time. Why not?”
Again, Emily and Leaping Deer side-eyed one another.
“Tell me! I don’t like secrets! Secrets led to me getting so badly injured,” I said, waving my hand around my torso and head.
“You’re pregnant, dear,” Leaping Deer said, her mouth forming a gentle smile.
