Verdigris Ravine we both knew it was true

S'ari frowned as Qiao confirmed what she did not want confirmed: she was the leader. This thought twisted her gut, as the idea of a leader at all went against everything the Tribe stood for. Leaders could be corrupt and could corrupt others. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and Tribe was always quick to oust anyone attempting to climb any kind of nonexistent ladder to the top. It had happened before, when S'ari had been very young. One day she'd woken up and several members of the Tribe were gone. One had attempted a take-over and been thrown out, and his followers had gone with him. The memory sat like a rock in S'ari's stomach.

She tried to smile at Qiao's next words. Qiao is Tribe, whether she likes it or not, she said, using the same phrase. All Coyote are Tribe. We will simply consider you... wandering. No matter how far this one goes, if Qiao ever returns here, she will be welcome. S'ari glanced down at the bones again as Qiao put them away. S'ari hopes you find out who is the hen and who is the snake.