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band?”

    â€œMy chief, I withhold the vote.”
    Heads Off had struggled with the decision. He now realized that it was too emotionally loaded a situation for him to decide in a rational manner. The Real-chief nodded acknowledgment of the abstention, and moved on around the circle.
    â€œEastern band?”
    Small Ears solemnly inclined his head, and for practical purposes the vote was over. Many Robes spoke for the Northern band as well as in his capacity as Real-chief He addressed Badger.
    â€œYou are no longer of the People. You have, by your act, shown this. Any of the People may turn you away, or kill you if they choose. By the time Sun Boy is overhead, you must be gone!”
    Badger stood, surrounded by the People, no longer his people. He appeared about to speak, then changed his mind and shuffled away from the fire. His young wife rose, and tears streaming, followed him away. The crowd parted before them.
    Then an amazing thing happened. As the couple reached the outer fringe of the circle, a young man leaped to his feet and faced the chiefs of the Council.
    â€œI go with Badger!”
    â€œI, too!” Another stood.
    Within a few heartbeats, several young warriors were standing and shouting. Badger stopped, apparently surprised, and turned to look at the circle. His slumping shoulders drew up and back and he again assumed a stance of confidence and assurance. He seemed about to speak again. Many Robes had no intention of causing a further split in the tribe by allowing Badger a speech.
    â€œThe Council is ended,” he announced, rising to depart.
    The crowd split into a score of smaller groups, buzzing with excitement. Badger and his followers drew aside, becoming noisier and more confident as they attracted more young men.

    Heads Off felt as though a great weight had lifted from his shoulders. All the doubts and indecision of the past few moons had in a few hours been resolved. Even under the tragic circumstances, even with the tearing apart of families and mourning of mothers for departing sons, at least something decisive had happened. He watched as the Bloods began excited preparations for their departure at daylight. They were making a festival of it.
    â€œGo ask Red Dog,” someone shouted. A rider loped away. There were more shouts, and excited laughter. Things were rapidly getting out of hand.
    Heads Off felt a heavy, sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. It appeared that what should have been a disgrace for Badger, the instigator of the rebellion, was turning into a triumph. The young men did not realize the gravity of their decision.
    â€œAt least,” Heads Off muttered to Coyote at his elbow, “it is over.”
    Coyote took a deep breath before he answered.
    â€œNo, my friend. It is only beginning!”

13
    Sun Boy had hardly climbed above earth’s rim to begin his daily run when the first of the lodges came down. Of the young warriors who considered themselves part of the Blood Society, perhaps half had their own lodges. Of these, nearly every wife had elected to follow her husband into exile. In addition, there were two couples on the verge of marriage who also chose the way of the outcast Bloods.
    There was one girl, a warrior sister, who would accompany the Blood Society. She would live in her brother’s lodge. Her father, now well past his prime, simply threw up his hands in helpless resignation.
    A scattered handful of discontents from the other bands joined them. The young single warriors among the Bloods would live as guests in the lodges of their fellow warriors until they established their own. In effect, the Bloods were becoming a sixth band of the People. Except, Heads Off thought with regret, they would never be of the People. They would remain outcasts forever, a tiny tribe of their own, with allegiance to no one. Their chances of survival were slim to none. There would be none to help or support them against the certain onslaught of the