The men slipped out of their beds before dawn, leaving only the women and children behind with the exception of Thunder Cloud who stood guard. Chief Long Knife wasn't ready to leave the women defenseless again. The last raid was much too fresh in their minds.

Aquene and Small Bird had woken before the men preparing their breakfast, their voices raised scarcely above a whisper.

Chief Long Knife ate in silence, yet that was nothing unusual. The food supply was ...