Sora, the chieftess of the Black Falcon Nation, finds herself in an unbelievable situation and thinks her ex-husband's soul is the cause. Sora, the Chieftess of the Black Falcon Nation, begins the story in a game with spears. The game is called chunkey and the outcome will decide if the two nations gathered will go to war. Sara succeeds in winning peace. Sora is at the celebration when she realizes she feels like she is slipping. When she slips, she has what she calls "evil spirit attacks", she calls the evil within her the "midnight fox". When Skinner, a warrior from another clan just appears, she wonders if he bears bad news. He tells her that Flint has died. Skinner begins to act like Flint. Rockfish, her new husband is older and not as sexually adept as Flint was. She begins to remember Flint in graphic detail.
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Sora believes Flint has entered the war chiefs body. When he sends a message saying come to the canoe and I'll show you how much I love you. She tells wink, that she must leave. She has to figure out what he wants. Rockfish had asked Skinner if he had done something to his wife in the council chamber. Skinner left doubt in Rockfish's mind when he asked if they were lovers. Even though Skinner knew they had never touched each other, he didn't deny it. Skinner says he came to tell her Flint's last words. Then his voice changes and he starts running his fingers through her hair. She would've passed it off as close friends having each other's mannerisms. If it wasn't for the fact that he knew all her secrets and that he said “I need you more than when I was alive”.
The discussion comes to an abrupt end when Sora takes off running away from this man who is possessed by her first husband. She runs straight to Wink to ask her to get the full story on Flint's death. Wink tells her to stay away from Skinner. She doesn't just think its his spirit lingering; she wants to make sure it isn't a shadow-soul. Shadow souls are evil and can come upon multiple people. She goes to instruct people to not allow Skinner in the town again.
Sora entered the temple and there she found a necklace in the style of Flint's marksmanship. It was a custom between them that when they argued he would leave a gift. But Flint was dead, as she picked up the necklace, Skinner's voice rang out to her. The voice said… I made that for the day I died but I wanted to bring it to you myself. She asked Skinner if he was a reflection soul and not a shadow soul. Skinner gave no real answer. He told of the day he died. Wink storms in with guards and takes Skinner away.
Her husband Rockfish tries to question her about what is going on,. She lies. She doesn't tell him she thinks he's Flint. He starts airing his insecurities about his being older and not being vigorous enough in bed. She assures him that Rockfish and her are not lovers.
Teal, a wise old medicine man, in the village believes that the soul is evil and gives her a poison. He tells her just a pinch of the poison would drive Flint's soul from Skinner and that Skinner wouldn't die. She awakes in the temple with bruises around her neck and a head wound. She has no idea what happened until they tell her Skinner is dead and that the entire pot of poison was empty. Skinner's mother comes to the village and Sora offers her life in exchange for Skinner's. At the same time, Far Eye begins to show signs of having Flint's soul. Far Eye takes her in the forest. Wink, the matron, decides to put guards around Sora's home in case Skinner's mother has her assassinated. Rockfish, her new husband, comes in and takes her like Flint would. Wink also tells the guards not to let Sora out, because she knows of Sora's episodes. Sora, after coupling with her husband, sneaks out in her slave's clothing... and Far Eye's body as well as another Clan leader named Blue Bows turns up lifeless. Suddenly it dawns on Wink that it's Sora. Her reflection soul is lost and her shadow soul is now killing people. It turns out Flint is alive and is sending people to act like him as some sort of intervention to get her reflection soul to come home. In the end, he goes to Wink and wink stages a healing circle. Teal gives Sora a cup of tea filled with Spirit plants. Then, the whole tribe gets involved along with those who she has wronged. Skinners mother is there. Blue Bow's guard is there. In the end, she maintains that she doesn't remember. They send her to be healed. If she cannot be healed they have to kill her along with the shadow soul. It ends with her being put to sleep so that they can take her to a healer in another clan.
Best part of story, including ending:
I liked the twists and turns. The doubt created at every turn. Sora doesn't know if Flint is possessing people or if this is a political move to depose her. Then it turns out, it was all her.
Best scene in story:
I enjoyed the scene where she tells Rockfish of her adultery and Rockfish tells her he loves her and if his dead first wife came back for him he would risk everything to be with her too.
Opinion about the main character:
Sora has many childlike characteristics. I dislike her lack of discipline and leadership. What is she doing randomly wandering the forest at night when she is responsible for her people.
