Jasper, eager to get a move on, spurred his horse to pick up the pace. Ruechari wherever she was, would be weakened and therefore vulnerable, a position he did not like seeing her in. She was spending more time in the Tent City, more time with him. She kept her promise. She did not leave him alone. He knew from his time with Ruby, the witch, what channeling certain powers could do to a person. He offered himself as her familiar, to teach her what he knew about the world she was now a part of.

They worked together on her trying to perfect her transformations. She could now do so on the spot and was in control when in animal form, but it still took a lot out of her to channel such energies.

His riding companion has been silent since the discovery of the Werewolves. Jasper figured it best to let Jujube process the information on his own. They followed the new tracks to a mountain pass, which led to the mouth of a cave.

Jujube wondered at how much he did not know about Ruechari, Shaman of the West. He remembered Ruechari, the wild child, who would run through the maze his father's people planted and lay in the tall prairie grass staring at the stars. Where did that person go? Is this what she really wanted? Was she even given a choice?

So lost in thought, Jujube failed to see the danger that was coming right towards him. A huge wolf came barreling down the path and leapt through the air to knock him from his horse. Only to be intercepted by a black panther that had soared past him from the other direction.

The two animals collided and battled furiously. Claws scratched, teeth gnashed, they broke apart and circled one another. Trying it would seem to figure out the other's weakness. Jujube pulled out his bow but wasn't sure either creature was friend or foe.

He briefly looked back but no longer could see Jasper. What happened to him? Did the panther already knock him from his saddle? Is this one of the Werewolves Jasper told him about? He wished he knew what to do.

Suddenly a warning shot was fired from the cave. Jujube had seen Ruechari standing there looking rather cross. "Inside! The three of you! NOW!" She turned and went back into the cave.

"Three of us?" Jujube thought and watched with a mixture of horror and fascination as both animals stopped their fight and turned to follow Ruechari into the cave. Jujube slid from his saddle, sheathed his bow and grabbed the reins of both horses, leading the nervous animals to the mouth of the cave.

Two more horses were already inside. There was a low burning fire and Ruechari put her shot gun against the wall but close enough to her reach, Jujube noticed.

She turned and she did not look happy to see him. "Jasper, what the hell are you and Jujube doing here?!"

Jujube looked around. "Ruechari, I don't know what happened to..." but before he could finish that sentence. The panther that was standing beside the wolf came forward and nuzzled up against Ruechari's leg, pushing its head under her hand.

Ruechari pulled her hand back and folded her arms. "No, that won't work with me. Not this time. We talk and we talk now."

The big cat sat on the ground and before Jujube's very eyes transformed back into the man he was traveling with. Jujube exclaimed, "What the...!"

The man stood and smiled at him, showing those canines again. 

"What are you? Is that...?" Jujube asked, pointing to the wolf.

"Doc?" Ruechari said but Doc ignored her because he was far more powerful in his wolf form and he wasn't in the mood. Ruechari sighed.

"What are doing here?" she said again to Jasper.

"Billy sent us. He didn't want you facing whatever it was that drug you out here...alone," Jasper told her.

"Did he not consider there was a reason I wished it be that way?"

Jasper smiled at her. "It's Billy we're talking about here. When you nailed his boots to the floor by charging him to be protector of BG, you really ought to have considered this would be his next move."

Ruechari felt tired and there was a sharp pain that formed between her eyes. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

"Well, you came and now you can now return. Tell Billy you've seen me and that I'm doing just fine."

Jasper rolled his eyes at her. "Yeah, I can see you're doing just great. Holed up in some cave with a Werewolf, having just been attacked by several other Werewolves."

"He's a..." Jujube just stood and stared at the black wolf, who moved on and laid back down at the mouth of the cave.

For the first time since he entered the cave he finally had Ruechari's attention.

"Yes, but not just any wolf, he is the Alpha Pack Leader of the Western Wolves. There has been a shift in power. Something that if I don't rectify soon may cause a major problem for rest of us, but I need to concentrate and plan and I can't do that being worried that something may happen to the two of you. So, I'm telling you, you need to go home. Home to the Busted Gulch."

"I have no home. You know that. My home is wherever you are," Jasper said and the sincerity of his words and eyes were hard to ignore. Jasper was loyal, perhaps to a fault. 

"I'm not going anywhere either. It's in my direct and best interest to keep you alive since my life depends on it," Jujube stated, rather boldly.

"No! This is non-negotiable. Doc! Help me out here," Ruechari said, but became further incensed as the mutt just looked at her and then turned away with a look of complete disinterest.

"Ruechari, please. Let us help you," Jujube said taking a softer stance. He walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "We CAN help."

"No, you can't," Ruechari said. "I know you wish to. I know you want to," she said looking at Jasper, "but I can't allow it. It is my responsibility not yours to handle this... situation. And in order for me to do that well my attention has to stay focused on the task at hand. Why do you think I charged Billy with being protector? Because I knew he would follow."

"I did not save your life Jujube only to have it wasted here. You have your second chance. Go! Live," Ruechari said, there was almost a desperation to her voice. 

"What of your choice, Ruechari? You did not ask for any of this. This was to be your mother's burden but she abandoned you and made it yours."

Anger flashed in Ruechari's eyes. "Do not speak of things you know NOTHING of!"

Jujube was taken back by Ruechari's words. Everyone among the tribes knew of her mother's betrayal. How Boni was betrothed and ran off with some bootlegger cowboy, Carob Bob, instead of taking her place among the Kittana Katari tribe as their Shaman.

"Way to go, genius!" Jasper said to Jujube. He knew Rue was hurt. He knew the real story of how her mother sacrificed her life so that Rue would be safe. Jasper desperately wanted to offer her comfort but knew it be unwelcome, so he stood by and waited.

It took her a few moments to calm her anger. "I want you to leave," her words were directed at Jujube. "It is not that I do not appreciate why you came but you cannot possibly hope to accomplish what you came to do."

"Neither of you can protect me from Drake. It is my place, to put him in his place. I plan on doing this soon and with the help of the Great Spirit will be back in BG before you know it."

"I'm not leaving you," Jujube said, defiantly.

"Yes, you are. Even if it means I must force it to happen. Please, do not make me have to force it to happen. Autumn is waiting. She loves you. You have a chance at a normal life. Go. Please."

Jasper stood by feeling immense jealousy at the fact that Jujube without another word, gathered Rue to him. He held her close and she did not push him away. "I...am...not...leaving... you."

"I hate you," Ruechari said.

"I can live with that," Jujube said with a slight chuckle, as he continued to offer her comfort. "Ruechari, you are right. There is much I do not know, or understand about this world you have been placed into but I cannot allow you to go it alone. Wondering everyday what is happening to you. Owing you my life and having that as my only compass as to whether or not you are still alive."

"My life is yours to do with it what you will. Consider it incentive to stay alive, as you know the only way I die is if you do."

Rue nodded her head against his chest. Sighed deeply and pushed away. She looked over at Jasper and smiled. She held her arms out to him and he transformed into a black house cat and leapt into them. She stroked his fur and he purred contentedly as she done so.

Once again, Jujube was freaked out but tried his best to keep it hidden. 

"Doc has first watch. So, try and get some sleep. He'll wake you to relieve him when it's time." Jujube nodded and then watched her walk away with Jasper in her arms.

She laid upon a blanket on the floor and used her saddle bag as her pillow. Jasper circled around her a few times and then settled under her arm.

Jujube decided to stay awake until he had seen Ruechari fall asleep. Once he knew she was settled, he rested his head against the cave wall and closed his eyes. 

"She's right you know?" Jujube nearly leapt out of his skin, his eyes flew open and he turned to see an old man in place of where the wolf had been. "You can't help her...in any of this. Not even I can. She will either be victorious or she will succumb to Drake. Heaven help us all if it's the latter."

"Then I will do what little I can. And I will not abandon her as so many in her life have. She must always know there is something waiting for her. Something more. Something worth fighting for."