"I greet you, White Bear," Star Arrow said. White Bear was glad to hear this man speaking the Sauk language.
"I greet you, Star Arrow, my father," White Bear said. The word father felt strange on his tongue.
Star Arrow. He liked that name and wondered what it meant. Father. A shiver of joy went through him.
He spoke in the English Père Isaac had taught him. "Good day to you, Father."
"My son," said Star Arrow in the same tongue. White Bear saw now that tears were running down his father's face, just as they had in the vision.
He heard a commotion at the back of the crowd. People were stepping aside.
A thrill went through White Bear as he saw that Black Hawk was coming toward them. The leader's careworn face glowed as if he were seeing a long-lost brother. He shifted his feather-adorned war club to his left hand and raised his empty right hand in greeting to Star Arrow. White Bear was amazed. He could not remember seeing Black Hawk smile so happily.
Star Arrow raised his hand in reply. White Bear felt himself surrounded by giants—Black Hawk, Star Arrow, Owl Carver. He remembered the circle of trees he had been standing in when Sun Woman called to him.
"Star Arrow has come back to us," Black Hawk declared. "It is well."
Wolf Paw, Black Hawk's oldest son, now strode down the line of people. His presence, as always, made White Bear uneasy.