thickfurred dogs that they used to pull their sleds in the frozen north。 The spirit warriors turned the dogs
against their masters and then brought a mighty infestation of bats up from the cliff caverns。 They used the
screaming wind to aid the dogs in confusing the men。 The dogs and bats won。 The survivors scattered； calling
our harbor a cursed place。 The dogs ran wild when the spirit warriors released them。 The Quileutes returned
to their bodies and their wives； victorious。
“The other nearby tribes； the Hohs and the Makahs； made treaties with the Quileutes。 They wanted
nothing to do with our magic。 We lived in peace with them。 When an enemy came against us； the spirit
warriors would drive them off。
“Generations passed。 Then came the last great Spirit Chief； Taha Aki。 He was known for his wisdom； and
for being a man of peace。 The people lived well and content in his care。
“But there was one man； Utlapa； who was not content。”
A low hiss ran around the fire。 I was too slow to see where it came from。 Billy ignored it and went on with
the legend。
“Utlapa was one of Chief Taha Aki’s strongest spirit warriors — a powerful man； but a grasping man； too。
He thought the people should use their magic to expand their lands； to enslave the Hohs and the Makahs and
build an empire。
“Now； when the warriors were their spirit selves； they knew each other’s thoughts。 Taha Aki saw what
Utlapa dreamed； and was angry with Utlapa。 Utlapa was manded to leave the people； and never use his
spirit self again。 Utlapa was a strong man； but the chief’s warriors outnumbered him。 He had no choice but to
leave。 The furious outcast hid in the forest nearby； waiting for a chance to get revenge against the chief。
“Even in times of peace； the Spirit Chief was vigilantin protecting his people。 Often； he would go to a
sacred； secret place in the mountains。 He would leave his body behind and sweep down through the forests
and along the coast； making sure no threat approached。
“One day when Taha Aki left to perform this duty； Utlapa followed。 At first； Utlapa simply planned to kill
the chief； but this plan had its drawbacks。 Surely the spirit warriors would seek to destroy him； and they could
follow faster than he could escape。 As he hid in the rocks and watched the chief prepare to leave his body；
another plan occurred to him。
“Taha Aki left his body in the secret place and flew with the winds to keep watch over his people。 Utlapa
waited until he was sure the chief had traveled some distance with his spirit self。
“Taha Aki knew it the instant that Utlapa had joined him in the spirit world； and he also knew Utlapa’s
murderous plan。 He raced back to his secret place； but even the winds weren’t fast enough to save him。 When
he returned； his body was already gone。 Utlapa’s body lay abandoned； but Utlapa had not left Taha Aki with
an escape — he had cut his own body’s throat with Taha Aki’s hands。
“Taha Aki followed his body down the mountain。 He screamed at Utlapa； but Utlapa ignored him as if he
were mere wind。
“Taha Aki watched with despair as Utlapa took his place as chief of the Quileutes。 For a few weeks；
Utlapa did nothing but make sure that everyone believed he was Taha Aki。 Then the changes began —
Utlapa’s first edict was to forbid any warrior to enter the spirit world。 He claimed that he’d had a vision of
danger； but really he was afraid。 He knew that Taha Aki would be waiting for the chance to tell his story。
Utlapa was also afraid to enter the spirit world himself； knowing Taha Aki would quickly claim his body。 So
his dreams of conquest with a spirit warrior army were impossible； and he sought to content himself with ruling
over the tribe。 He became a burden — seeking privileges that Taha Aki had never requested； refusing to work
alongside his warriors； taking a young second wife and then a third； though Taha Aki’s wife lived on —
something unheard of in the tribe。 Taha Aki watched in helpless fury。
“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
deg