Stumbling Raven knew that Ghost Wolf only wanted what was best for him. He hadn’t known Thunder Bear that long, but after getting to know him he had learned that despite his gruff exterior he was one of the kindest people he had ever known. Thunder Bear was also one of the funniest characters in his tribe as well. He always told stories around the camp fire that would have everyone rolling on the ground laughing. Considering his good nature Stumbling Raven couldn’t imagine him angry and he had no desire to see it. Clearly, his name hadn’t been given for no reason.

The tradition was to name a child when it was born, however names were often changed especially with the men of the tribe if there was a significant event in that man’s life warranting the change. Ghost Wolf for example, hadn’t always had that name. He earned his new name when he hunted and killed a wolf that had terrorized many tribes for years. The wolf was abnormally large, ferocious, and had absolutely no fear of man. The creature had become fond of human flesh, stealing the tribe’s babies and devouring them if they were left alone for any length of time. One would think that as skilled as the braves of the many tribes were at hunting, they would have killed it easily, but the animal was so intelligent it could never be found. It was like it was like a spirit rather than flesh and blood, hence its name “Ghost Wolf”.

Thunder Bear had told Stumbling Raven the story many times about how their friend was known throughout the land as the most skilled hunter there had been for many years. The tribes begged him to kill the beast and stop its bloody rampage. Of course he was honored by the request and knew what he must do.

It took him many moons to track down the beast, but he finally did. After a long, bloody battle he ended the life of the creature that had caused so much sadness for his people. When he returned carrying the wolf on his shoulders there was a great celebration for several days. During the celebration all of the shaman medicine men of the tribe gathered to perform a special ceremony. The ceremony was one in which the spirit of the wolf was released and transformed into good energy that would be absorbed by Ghost Wolf. From that point on he would be endowed with the animal’s spirit giving him the strength and powers of the animal.