Savage Abandon

“Oh, Lordie, no, not again!” Jeb cried, dropping the paddle to the bottom of the boat and clinging to the sides for dear life as sudden waves began thrashing the boat from side to side.

They again saw trees swaying on the shore, and sections of shoreline breaking away and settling in the water.

“The island!” Clint screamed as he rowed back in its direction. “Jeb, we’ve got to get back to the island or die in this damn river.”

They beached the boat again and this time didn’t hesitate to run straight into the wolf willows!

Chapter Twenty-six

No soul can ever clearly see

Another highest, noblest part,

Save through the sweet philosophy,

And loving wisdom of the heart.

—Phoebe Cary

Mia stood as though in shock as she looked past the village tepees and into the forest just beyond. She saw several fallen trees and even some cracks in the land.

This latest quake, which had occurred only moments ago, had frightened her so much she couldn’t move or even cry out.

Miracle of miracles, nothing in the village had been damaged. She saw some women clinging to their children’s hands while others ran to their warrior husbands. It was obvious that they were no less afraid than she.

She looked up at Wolf Hawk. “Wolf Hawk, I don’t understand,” Mia managed to say, her voice quavering. “There was an earthquake beyond the village, but not here. How can that happen?”

She looked toward the river. She had seen the water splashing violently. She had even seen chunks of earth breaking away from the shoreline and falling into it.

Now she looked into the middle of the river and saw Shadow Island clearly for the first time. The usual mist that hung over it had lifted.

She looked quickly up at Wolf Hawk again and saw that his own eyes were on the island.

“Do you think your grandfather was harmed?” Mia asked, remembering her time with Talking Bird.

Such a kind man.

Oh, but surely his Earthmaker wouldn’t have allowed anything to happen to him. He was on this earth for a purpose…a good one.

Wolf Hawk knew for certain that his elderly grandfather had not been harmed, for it surely had been Talking Bird who had willed the earthquake to happen.

But Wolf Hawk could not imagine why he had done so. His grandfather rarely used his magic in such a forceful way, unless…

He took Mia’s hands. “I must go and see how he is,” he said thickly.

“Can I go with you?” Mia asked, searching his eyes.

“No, you stay,” Wolf Hawk said. He reached a gentle hand to her cheek. “I shall not be long.”

She nodded, yet leaned into his hand the brief moment it was there.

“All is well, my people,” he said, looking from one to the other. “Again, as before when the earth has shaken and the river has foamed up from the turmoil of a quake, we have been spared. Go on about your work. I am going to check on my grandfather.” He nodded at one warrior and then another. “Go into the forest and gather wood from those trees that were felled by nature’s wrath,” he said. “Fill the gaps in the ground with some of the fallen debris. We do not want such things left unattended.” He looked from child to child. “You stay with your mothers,” he said lovingly. “Do not stray beyond our village, for danger lies there until your fathers correct it.”

The children seemed to nod in unison, their eyes wide as they gazed back at their chief, who was even more respected than even their fathers

or mothers. Chief Wolf Hawk was everything to this Winnebago clan.

“I will leave now,” Wolf Hawk said. “Go. You all have your own duties to tend to.”