Waterlily is “bashful and prudent” (181)in her role as a wife, never discussing her marital affairs with others in the camp circle. Sacred Horse finds her “unduly slow, unduly quiet” (181)in their relationship and wishes she were more outgoing. He seeks advice from his cousin, who says she is probably still reserved because she is not around her family and is thus not comfortable in her new environment with Sacred Horse.

One night, Sacred Horse comes home after a long day of hunting. He has left the buck hide at the hunting spot, hoping to spare Waterlily the job of tending it. However, she rides out in the middle of the night to get it, and Sacred Horse goes after her.

While at the home of her “social parents” (186), Waterlily and Sacred Horse learn of several recent deaths. One man has murdered his rival. The dead man’s cousin, in turn, murders his attacker. There is also a smallpox epidemic moving through the camp circle. Someone brought back several blankets that were exposed to the disease, so the camp circle members have been passing the blankets around, thus passing the disease around. Many die. To avoid the disease, Waterlily and Sacred Horse must leave the camp with his family.