Wild Bird

When Wren comes back to camp, she is profoundly changed. Over the next couple of weeks, things change at camp as well, and all of the girls except Wren and Hannah complete the program and depart. Wren and Hannah are Elks now, and Wren changes things by mingling with and helping the new Coyotes. Wren also enjoys serving as the Grizzlies’ storyteller in between Mokov’s visits.

After her quest, she has received two batches of letters from home that make her feel like things will be all right. To her surprise, her family apologizes. Annabella’s letters also report that Nico has been expelled and is in legal trouble, while Meadow has been taken in by Child Protective Services. Wren contemplates her mother’s offer of changing schools and wonders how difficult it would be to go back to the same school again.

Wren marks her 50th day at camp with 10 groups of five tally marks on her pants—it is also her birthday. Hannah gives her a set of handmade yucca-leaf paintbrushes inside a pouch woven of long grasses, and with Michelle’s permission, the girls hike out together to paint. Wren finds another feather to add to the growing collection of feathers in her braid.