Bright Star was overwhelmed, and before she knew what was happening, she was running out of the teepee. Tears streamed down her face. She would rather run then watch everyone die, but she couldn’t believe that Wolf Eye had done what he did. Why hadn’t she stopped him? She ran and ran. It was hours until Mountain’s Breath found her in the exact spot she had been at when Wolf’s Cry had captured her, crying quietly.

“Bright Star,” Mountain’s Breath said gently.

Bright Star didn’t look up. “It’s too much,” she finally sniffed. “Why is there this endless burden on my shoulders? If only I had been smart and not run away when I was just a two-year-old!”

Another sob stole her voice, and Mountain’s Breath couldn’t say anything to comfort her.

“Mountain’s Breath,” Bright Star finally breathed, “I want you to get food and water from the teepee and Black Night and Night Wind. We leave tonight.”

Mountain’s Breath nodded and left.

Bright Star finally got up and left too. When she got back, everyone was packing up. They were going into hiding, and Bright Star was leaving. But she didn’t tell anyone except Waterfall. Waterfall agreed to come.

That night, they started their flight.

“Black Night,” Bright Star whispered in her horse’s ear, “I want you to take Moonstone and the other two horses east and get out without the guards’ knowledge. We’ll meet up with you.”

“You’re seriously leaving our daughter in the hands of a horse?” Mountain’s Breath hissed.

“It must be true what they say,” Waterfall commented, “‘With her faith she moves mountains.’”

“Must be if this pans out!”

“Black Night’s rocking motion will put her to sleep,” Bright Star explained quietly, “my jaunty run will make her cry. That is the difference between getting away and getting hanged.”

Bright Star started leading them in the direction she wanted to go. They were going across Oregon, up through Washington, and then across Canada to New York to seek help from Bright Sun.

They reached the line of the reservation just before dawn and found a fence.

Bright Star vaulted her two companions over, then realized that she couldn’t vault herself over, and they couldn’t help her. She decided there was nothing for it but to jump. Her fingers grazed the top at her first attempt, and she tried again.

This time, she felt something propel her upwards. No hands grabbed her, she couldn’t feel anything touching her. All she knew was that she was lifted onto the top of the fence.

Thanks, God, she smiled as she swung down.

They continued.

They found a forest to take shelter in, and the horses and Moonstone were already there.

“Well, if that is not the craziest thing I have ever seen!” Mountain’s Breath exclaimed.

They rested the day, then kept riding at an eastern slant like Bright Star had said to. By dawn the next day, Bright Star said they were in Washington. She changed their course to west. They rested the next morning in a thicket after having ridden for two days straight. Bright Star was restless but agreed to shifts. But, even though she was in a deep sleep, her ears pricked at the sound of marching feet. She got to her elbows and saw Mountain’s Breath carefully keeping watch.

“What is it?” she asked quietly.

“The U.S. militia,” Mountain’s Breath explained. “It’s no use trying to run, they’ll see us. We must hope they pass.”

“I bet I know what it is,” Waterfall said, joining them. “It’s our tribe. You heard Chief Joseph, we were going into hiding. We ran to Canada instead. They must be securing all passage.”

“That makes things harder,” Bright Star said. “We must be more careful now.”

They rested days and rode nights, just the opposite of what the militia did. Bright Star’s ears were always pricked, her eyes practically had X-ray power, and she could smell danger a mile away.

A heavy rain set in on the last leg of their U.S. journey. Even though she was soaked to the skin, Bright Star was glad for it. It made them harder to see. The horses continued at a canter without falling, just slipping a few times.

It was a long time before they met the Pacific coast. There was a small town, and Bright Star signaled for Waterfall and Mountain’s Breath to wait while she checked where they were. She didn’t think she recognized anything, but she couldn’t be sure in the rain. She knocked on a house’s door, and a red-headed woman opened it. They had a conversation in French, the lady closed the door, and Bright Star swung back up onto Black Night.

“We’re free! We’re in Canada.”