Naga spoke first. "She said something about making sure the skinwalker's thralls that Cern's lightning released found their way to the spirit realm."

"She's here somewhere nearby, though, I can feel her," said Dema. "Sedna?" she called out.

"She's right here, Dema," said Kore. "She's with me."

"You mean...?"

"That's right. I like it here. I was tired of getting old." Kore spoke with Sedna's voice.

Naga looked sharply at her. "Is this going to be a permanent arrangement?"

"We'll see." It was Kore again. "So far I like it too."

Cern had walked up next to Dema and she was hugging him. Naga hugged Kore.

Begay had found or conjured up his clothes. He handed a shirt to Cern.

Joe and his warrior friends had gone through the trailer and gathered up all their arrows. Begay and Cern both started thanking them for their help, with lots of hugs and handshakes all around. 

Joe turned to Juan, and Juan said, "They're in the ignition."

"Well, if you ever need our help again, you know where to find us."

Begay said, "It will make a great story. If you know what parts to leave out." 

"Hey, not to worry. If we tell those parts people will think we imagined the whole thing. But it was great fun. We had a blast. We'd do it again, even if we had to pay you the next time." They all climbed into the pickup and soon were gone in another cloud of dust.

Cern began telling Dema more details of his last few days. Juan and Begay strolled over to where the AR's were lying, casually picked them up and leaned on them with their muzzles in the dirt until they had sunk several inches into the ground. Then they walked back to the trailer and did the same with the rifles the guards there had used. "Hey! What are you doing? You'll ruin it!" one of the guards protested.

"You think? That's the general idea, shithead," said another.

"What are you going to do with us? You can't just leave us here!"

"I'm sure Arthur over there will take good care of you," said Begay.

Arthur Littletree was kneeling on the ground where he had fallen. There was still an arrow in his thigh. He didn't look like he was in any hurry to move.

"How did you know the arrows would work?" Dema asked Begay.

"The dopplegangers, the threatening display, was an act of desperation. He had spread himself too thin. And he feared the bone ash."

"He has more to fear now. His mob connections in Vegas won't take kindly to his new status."

Begay too could sense the growing fears Arthur Littletree could no longer hide, and nodded.

"What will you do with him?"

"Leave him here. He can't do much more harm. There's nothing he can say that won't incriminate him. Thanks for coming by the way. All of you." He looked around at them. "There won't be much said about this, except in special stories, but my people will appreciate what you have done today, and will be better for it."

"And the legal dealings?" 

"I have the advice Cern gave me, and may ask for more, but I can take care of the business end with the casino and cattlemen who were somehow tied to Arthur's efforts. Now that he is not a hidden threat, he will no longer be able to twist things to his own ends. Time will take care of the rest."

Cern nodded. His antlers had faded, and so had the rush of his little duel with the skinwalker. He looked at Dema, remembering her part in the action, and the way she looked at him brought on another kind of rush.

"We have a long drive back to Chicago," he said. "Want me to take the first leg?"

"What, back to Twin Arrows to get your things? If you think you can handle it."

So he slid into the driver's seat of the Jeep and she went around to the other side. He glanced up at the mirror. Naga and Kore were sitting in the back. Juan was between them, ragged straw hat tipped back on his head, white teeth gleaming. Begay's truck was already disappearing down the trail.

"I guess we all want to go to Twin Arrows?"

"That will do for a start."

"Juan wants to come with us to Chicago," said Kore.

Dema turned her head in surprise, and looked at her mother. Naga was grinning. Juan put his arms around mother and daughter and hugged them to him.