Jesse has inherited his Grandfather's ranch and now must fight his father to keep it while on a quest to find Coyote and his spirit animal

Thanks goes out to Hope of Hopereignseternal for her editorial help. Any further errors are solely mine. Thank you to all who have been reading my first attempt at a story for Big Closet. I hope I can continue to hold your interest.

Chapter 8 Running with the wolves.

Jesse was grinning as only a wolf can after her first howl. She enjoyed it so much she arched her neck back and howled again. This time she said. {{Come my friends and let us run together}}

Jesse walked back over to Two Bears and sat down to wait to see who showed up. It wasn't long before the large male and his mate that had traveled with Jesse walked out into the clearing. When they saw the white wolf and the old man sitting by the fire, they hesitated coming closer. Jesse turned to them and said {{Come my friends. Come and eat. You must be hungry after your run.}} She pulled a piece of the beef off the drying rack and trotted over to the male and laid it before him. {{Please eat.}} Then she pulled off another piece of meat off the rack and laid it before the female wolf. {{Please eat. We killed this cow and smoked the meat, so that we would have something to give you when you returned.}}

The large male looked at her and asked {{Who are you?}}

{{I'm the human that you escorted to the lake. We fought the puma together. Coyote has turned me into a she wolf, so that I may learn from the pack. When you have finished eating, come meet my friend and teacher Two Bears.}}

Jesse walked back over to to Two Bears and sat beside him. {{The wolves are nervous. They maybe scared of you and may smell the scent of bear.}}

“I've not seen these wolves before. When I can change to spirit form I can talk to some of the animals. You'll have to translate for me, Jesse.”

{{I told them, you are my friend and teacher, so they should come over in a few minutes.}}

The two wolves finished eating the meat that was offered them. They walked cautiously over to Jesse and Two Bears. Jesse said, {{This is Two Bears. He is my friend and my teacher. Mr. Two Bears is a friend of Coyote. They have been friends for many seasons. I do not know your names. I just know you as my friends.}}

The large male replied, {{You were the human male that we escorted to this lake? And now you are a she wolf? How is that possible? I would have thought Coyote would have given you the form of a male wolf.}}

{{Coyote can be a trickster. I think he was testing me when he changed me into a she wolf, but the Great Spirit decided that it would be best if I remained female.}}

{{And this does not bother you?}}

{{No, I may have wanted to remain male, but the Great Spirit has made me content. He explained that my Grandmother had always wanted a Granddaughter. He decided that I should remain in this form for the next seven days. I will change back to a human female after that. I will be able to come run with as a wolf whenever I feel the need.}}

{{I'm known as Silver Ears. My ears look more silver in the moonlight. My mate is Black Paws. She was caught in the terrible heat as a pup, and her feet were burned. Her mother kept bringing her food until she could walk again. Her feet hurt her if we have to run far and fast. She can run most of the day with little rest.}}

{{My name is Jesse Hartman, but that does not translate well in to the tongue of the wolf. We'll have to find a better name for me. Coyote told me I'm to run with you and become a member of your pack. He, also, told me I am not to take a mate from the pack. My mate is not on this mountain.}}

{{As you weren't a pup of the pack, the elders will have to offer you membership. We have a long run before us if we are to reach the elders by nightfall.}}

{{Let me speak to Two Bears, and then we will leave.}}

{{Teacher, before I can become a member of their pack I must meet with their elders. Please call George today and tell him that I won't be able to talk with him before I get back in five days. Take care of Big Spot}}

“Jesse be careful. That puma is still out there and you have much to learn. Run with your ears up and your nose to the wind.”

{{ I will.}} Jesse turned to the two wolves and said {{Let's run.}} The three started at a quick run that would cover many miles. Silver Ears lead the way, Jesse was in the middle, and Black Paws followed. As Jesse tired, Silver Ears slowed the pace until she had rested, then he would pick up the pace again. Jesse thought that if Silver Ears were human he would have been a leader among men.

Whenever they came to a stream they would stop for a quick drink. Jesse let the instinct of the wolf control much of these mundane chores, like lapping water. When she tried to think about it, she didn't get much water. By mid-afternoon Black Paws was beginning to lag behind. Silver Ears slowed the pace, but she continued to lag. Jesse stopped to wait for her to catch up. Silver Ears had not gone too far when he noticed that the two females where left behind. He turned and ran back to them.

When he came around a corner and found the two females, he saw Black Paws lying on her side and Jesse sitting beside her. Silver Ears asked, {{Do your feet hurt my mate?}} as he tenderly nuzzled her.

{{They were hurting when the sun was high, but I tried to keep running. Now I need to rest until the pain eases.}}

Jesse sat a moment until she remembered what the Great Spirit has said to her. {{Silver Ears when I was with Coyote in the hall of the Great Spirit, The Great Spirit told me that as a wolf I would learn to see into another's body and spirit. Some I would be able heal. Maybe it is time for me to start trying to learn these lessons.}}

{{How will you do this?}} ask Silver Ears.

{{I don't know. Maybe Black Paws can help.}}

{{Black Paws when one of your pups is sick or hurt, how do you know and how do you give them comfort?}} ask Jesse.

{{When you are a mother and one of your pups is sick you just know. Once they begin to talk, they can tell you, but you still just know,}} replied Black Paws.

{{Black Paws, how do you just know? Is there a feeling you get? Is there a voice in you head that tells you? Do you hurt where they hurt? Do you know it when you touch them or when you lick them?}}

{{When I nuzzle them, I get this feeling something isn't right. Then when I sniff their muzzle and their tail, I will know if it is something wrong with their tummy. If it is something else, I kind of feel it when I look into their eyes and place my paw on them. They will usually wince at the pain.}}

{{How do you help them?}}

{{Sometimes I can, and sometimes I can't. If they are old enough and they have tummy trouble I will show them the correct herbs to eat. Some herbs and flowers can help with pains and worms. Some herbs and flowers can help with fleas and ticks. These are things we learn from our mothers.}}

{{The People have medicine men. Sometimes they use herbs in their healing. Sometimes they use prayer and chanting,}} said Jesse. {{I don't know these. Some of the white men do a thing called laying on of paws to heal someone. I haven't done this, but I wasn't a wolf before. It is time for me to give this healing a go.

{{Black Paws I want you to look into my eyes. Then I’ll touch your forepaws. I'll ask the Great Spirit to heal your paws so that they'll not hurt from the great heat any more. Are you ready?}}

{{Do really think this will work?}} asked Black Paws

{{I know it will,}} said Jesse.

Black Paws sat up where she could look Jesse in the eyes. Jesse looked deep in her eyes trying to let her spirit connect with Black Paws' spirit. She placed her paws lightly on Black Paws' paws. As the two sat looking into each other's eyes, a chant came into Jesse's mind. She gave voice to the chant. She continued to quietly chant as she began to feel the pain that Black Paws feels in her paws. As the pain worsen, the chant grew louder until she felt like she had to arch her neck back and let the chant become a full vocal howl. When she did, she noticed that Black Paws had arched her neck back and howled with her. But as they howled the pain seemed to leave her with the howl. Jesse was exhausted.

Both of the females laid over panting. After a few minutes, Jesse got up and asked, {{Black Paws, how do your paws feel now?}}

{{Like I can run all day,}} replied Black Paws.

Silver Ears had been watching the exchange between the two females. When they both howled the last time he didn't know what was happening. He walked over to Black Paws and asked, {{How are you my mate?}}

{{My paws have never felt this good since the terrible heat. I'm ready to run.}} With that Black Paws got up and started running up the trail. The other two wolves gave chase to the grinning wolf. Black Paws slowed after a few minutes to let the others catch up and to begin a more sustainable pace. As she ran along side of Jesse, she said, {{Thank you for healing my paws. I feel like I can run forever.}}

Jesse replied, {{I was just doing what the Great Spirit would have wanted. You're welcome for the healing. Thank you for trusting me enough to be the first to let me heal them.}}

They loped along until just after dark. Silver Ears slowed to a walk. The two females walking behind him. A large black wolf step out in front of Silver Ears. {{Silver Ears, you've brought a stranger to our home. You know that is not allowed.}}

{{I've brought the white wolf to meet with the elders as they've requested. She'll wait here and I'll get one of the elders to come and meet her. If the elder is satisfied, he'll escort her further.}} Silver Ears turned to Jesse and told her to wait with his mate while he went to see the elders.

Jesse look at Black Paws, {{I didn't mean to cause any problems.}}

{{There are always problems when a new wolf shows up. Sometimes a male will find a female wandering alone lost from her pack and will bring her back here to become his mate. Sometimes a lone wolf will find his way to our home. He is usually starving or weak. Sometimes they are driven off or sometimes they are invited to stay. The elders will put things right,}} replied Black Paws.

The two females sat and rested while they waited. Silver Ears came back following an older looking wolf. The gray around his muzzle and long teeth showed his great age. Still when he walked, the spring in his step was that of a much younger wolf. He approached the large black male. {{You've done well in preventing the stranger from entering our home. Where's the one who asks to come before the elders.}}

{{The white wolf sitting with Black Paws.}}

{{Silver Ears tells me you are the wolf that is related to the Hartman pack. We thought you would come to us as a male wolf or in your human form. I believe what Silver Ears has told me, but I need to know from you as to who you are.}}

{{Night Runner, I'm Jesse Hartman grandson now granddaughter of Bill Hartman. Coyote has changed me into the form of a she wolf. He said I am to become a member of your pack and learn from you if you will allow it. Please allow me to do as asked by Coyote and join your pack.}}

{{You know my name. This is as foretold, that you would know us without being told. The council of elders will decide if you'll become a pack member. I can present your request and nothing more. Please follow me to our dens.}}

On the way to the dens, Jesse asked Night runner, {{You said that you had a foretelling of me? Is that why you sent Silver Ears and his mate to call to me?}}

{{Yes, and that when a member of your family reaches a certain age they are more able to hear us. We did not know you were nearing the end of the time you could hear and answer us. Coyote told us to come look for you. The council will question you closely tomorrow. We have had others who have claimed to be sent from Coyote, but they were fakes. You need to get some rest for tomorrow it will a busy day}}