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“Eventually； Taha Aki tried to kill his body to save the tribe from Utlapa’s excesses。 He brought a fierce
wolf down from the mountains； but Utlapa hid behind his warriors。 When the wolf killed a young man who
was protecting the false chief； Taha Aki felt horrible grief。 He ordered the wolf away。
“All the stories tell us that it was no easy thing to be a spirit warrior。 It was more frightening than
exhilarating to be freed from one’s body。 This is why they only used their magic in times of need。 The chief’s
solitary journeys to keep watch were a burden and a sacrifice。 Being bodiless was disorienting； unfortable；
horrifying。 Taha Aki had been away from his body for so long at this point that he was in agony。 He felt he
was doomed — never to cross over to the final land where his ancestors waited； stuck in this torturous
nothingness forever。
“The great wolf followed Taha Aki’s spirit as he twisted and writhed in agony through the woods。 The
wolf was very large for its kind； and beautiful。 Taha Aki was suddenly jealous of the dumb animal。 At least it
had a body。 At least it had a life。 Even life as an animal would be better than this horrible empty
consciousness。
“And then Taha Aki had the idea that changed us all。 He asked the great wolf to make room for him； to
share。 The wolf plied。 Taka Aki entered the wolf’s body with relief and gratitude。 It was not his human
body； but it was better than the void of the spirit world。
“As one； the man and the wolf returned to the village on the harbor。 The people ran in fear； shouting for
the warriors to e。 The warriors ran to meet the wolf with their spears。 Utlapa； of course； stayed safely
hidden。
“Taha Aki did not attack his warriors。 He retreated slowly from them； speaking with his eyes and trying to
yelp the songs of his people。 The warriors began to realize that the wolf was no ordinary animal； that there was
a spirit influencing it。 One older warrior； a man name Yut； decided to disobey the false chief’s order and try to
municate with the wolf。
“As soon as Yut crossed to the spirit world； Taha Aki left the wolf — the animal waited tamely for his
return — to speak to him。 Yut gathered the truth in an instant； and weled his true chief home。
“At this time； Utlapa came to see if the wolf had been defeated。 When he saw Yut lyinglifeless on the
ground； surrounded by protective warriors； he realized what was happening。 He drew his knife and raced
forward to kill Yut before he could return to his body。
“‘Traitor；’ he screamed； and the warriors did not know what to do。 The chief had forbidden spirit
journeys； and it was the chief’s decision how to punish those who disobeyed。
“Yut jumped back into his body； but Utlapa had his knife at his throat and a hand covering his mouth。
Taha Aki’s body was strong； and Yut was weak with age。 Yut could not say even one word to warn the
others before Utlapa silenced him forever。
“Taha Aki watched as Yut’s spirit slipped away to the final lands that were barred to Taha Aki for all
eternity。 He felt a great rage； more powerful than anything he’d felt before。 He entered the big wolf again；
meaning to rip Utlapa’s throat out。 But； as he joined the wolf； the greatest magic happened。
“Taha Aki’s anger was the anger of a man。 The love he had for his people and the hatred he had for their
oppressor were too vast for the wolf’s body； too human。 The wolf shuddered； and — before the eyes of the
shocked warriors and Utlapa — transformed into a man。
“The new man did not look like Taha Aki’s body。 He was far more glorious。 He was the flesh
interpretation of Taha Aki’s spirit。 The warriors recognized him at once； though； for they had flown with Taha
Aki’s spirit。
“Utlapa tried to run； but Taha Aki had the strength of the wolf in his new body。 He caught the thief and
crushed the spirit from him before he could jump out of the stolen body。
“The people rejoiced when they understood what had happened。 Taha Aki quickly set everything right；
working again with his people and giving the young wives back to their families。 The only change he kept in
place was the end of the spirit travels。 He knew that it was too dangerous now that the idea of stealing a life
was there。 The spirit warriors were no more。
“From that point on； Taha Aki was more than either wolf or man。 They called him Taha Aki the Great
Wolf； or Taha Aki the Spirit Man。 He led the tribe for many； many years； for he did not age。 When danger
threatened； he would resume his wolfself to fight or frighten the enemy。 The people dwelt in peace。 Taha Aki
fathered many sons； and some of these found that； after they had reached the age of manhood； they； too；
could transform into wolves。 The wolves were all different； because they were spirit wolves and reflected the
man they were inside。”
“So that’s why Sam is all black；” Quil muttered under his breath； grinning。 “Black heart； black fur。”
I was so involved in the story； it was a shock to e back to the present； to the circle around the dying
fire。 With another shock； I realized that the circle was made up of Taha Aki’s great — to however many
degrees — grandsons。
The fire threw a volley of sparks into the sky； and they shivered and danced； making shapes that were
almost decipherable。
“And your chocolate fur reflects what？” Sam whispered back to Quil。 “How sweet you are？”
Billy ignored their jibes。 “Some of the sons became warriors with Taha Aki； and they no longer aged。
Others； who did not like the transformation； refused to join the pack of wolfmen。 These began to age again；
and the tribe discovered that the wolfmen could grow old like anyone else if they gave up their spirit wolves。
Taha Aki had lived the span of three old men’s lives。 He had married a third wife after the deaths of the first
two； and found in her his true spirit wife。 Though he had loved the others； this was something else。 He decided
to give up his spirit wolf so that he would die when she did。
“That is how the magic came to us； but it is not the end of the story。 。 。 。”
He looked at Old Quil Ateara； who shifted in his chair； straightening his frail shoulders。 Billy took a drink
from a bottle of water and wiped his forehead。 Emily’s pen never hesitated as she scribbled furiously on the
paper。
“That was the story of the spirit warriors；” Old Quil began in a thin tenor voice。 “This is the story of the
third wife’s sacrifice。
“Many years after Taha Aki gave up his spirit wolf； when he was an old man； trouble began in the north；
with the Makahs。 Several young women of their tribe had disappeared； and they blamed it on the neighboring
wolves； who they feared and mistrusted。 The wolfmen could still read each other’s thoughts while in their wolf
forms； just like their ancestors had while in their spirit forms。 They knew that none of their number was to
blame。 Taha Aki tried to pacify the Makah chief； but there was too much fear。 Taha Aki did not want to have
a war on his hands。 He was no longer a warrior to lead his people。 He charged his oldest wolfson； Taha Wi；
with finding the true culprit before hostilities began。
“Taha Wi led the five other wolves in his pack on a search through the mountains； looking for any
evidence of the missing Makahs。 They came across something they had never encountered before — a
strange； sweet scent in the forest that burned their noses to the point of pain。”
I shrank a little closer to Jacob’s side。 I saw the corner of his mouth twitch with humor； and his arm
tightened around me。
“They did not know what creature would leave such a scent； but they followed it；” Old Quil continued。 His
quavering voice did not have the majesty of Billy’s； but it had a strange； fierce edge of urgency about it。 My
pulse jumped as his words came faster。
“They found faint traces of human scent； and human blood； along the trail。 They were sure this was the
enemy they were searching for。
“The journey took them so far north that Taha Wi sent half the pack； the younger ones； back to the harbor
to report to Taha Aki。
“Taha Wi and his two brothers