29 One day the head of this household was walking by Nameless Fox's house, when one of the puppies rushed out and began to tug at the fringes on his leggings.
30 Now, this was one of the puppies' favorite games and the men of the village handled it by simply picking the dog up, turning it around, giving it a sharp slap on the butt and sending it back to its mother. So the puppies were learning that this was not a proper thing to do, and were slowly giving up the practice. But this man had no sense.
31 At first he shook the puppy off, screaming "Get off me, you filthy beast!" Then, when the pup rolled away, he kicked it viciously in the stomach.
32 The pup gave a loud cry of pain, and rolled away. The man turned to walk off, not realizing that Lady had sprung from her shelter.
33 With a loud, angry roar, she sent a huge paw slamming into the man's back, driving him to the ground. Then, she backed off and roared again.
34 When the man did not move she tilted her head back and forth studying him, then nudged him with her nose. When he did not move she pushed him over and sniffed him again. Then, she picked him up and carried him back to the shelter and started to eat him.
35 Swift Fox, who had been standing nearby, and had witnessed all, snapped out of his daze, rushed forward, screaming "No, Lady, no!"
36 She looked at him in surprise, but did not object as he grabbed the man's arms and dragged him away.
37 It was not difficult to see what had killed him. The powerful blow had snapped his neck like a twig. He had died instantly. 38 Everyone began to gather around, and Swift Deer told several men to take the body home, and told them to stay and guard Lady while he went for Nameless Fox, who was helping The Brothers that day at the dam.
39 When he got there, Nameless Fox couldn't believe it, but when he explained, he understood.
40 "She didn't mean to kill him," he explained, "she only meant to punish him for hurting her baby. I hope other people will understand that."
41 He unharnessed Big Fellow and they rode double back to the village. When they arrived, they found things in chaos. The man's mate and her three brothers were at Nameless Fox's house.
42 They had bows and spears and swords and wanted to kill Lady then and there.
43 Yellow Blossom stood in the doorway of the house, a bow in her hand with the arrow notched, watching their every move!
44 The Village Speaker, a young man who Nameless Fox was not used to, was standing in front of Lady, shielding her with his body. "She deserves a hearing," he was shouting. "It is not right to destroy her without her owners having a chance to defend her."
45 "No!" the man's mate was screaming, "You're all his friends! You all treat these stupid animals like they were people! Destroy her! She killed my man! Destroy her, now!"
46 When The Speaker saw Nameless Fox, he came over. "There's no reasoning with them," he said, "their only thought is vengeance. I have been trying to calm them, but it is useless. What can we do?"
47 "Precisely what you were saying," answered Nameless Fox, "we must get a Speaker from a neighboring village, and judges from outside, also, and have them hear the case. She has claimed prejudice, we must make positively sure that she cannot carry that claim to others."
48 "I cannot say," said The Speaker, "that I do not understand her feelings. It was a terrible thing. But from what I hear, the man got what he deserved! Cruelty is never justified."
49 "Let us hope," answered Nameless Fox, "others understand your feelings."
50 "I will officially post guards," The Village Speaker told him. "I do not trust these people out of my sight. There have been accusations made against them...nothing that could be proven, but too many to be just bad feelings."
51 The Speaker gave orders to the crowd. "Everyone disperse, except for those I will assign as guards. No one except those who are responsible for caring for this animal are to come near it, until this thing is settled."
52 I am sending for another Speaker, and judges from other villages. So a trial can be held. They will decide what shall be done. Now, go home."
53 The Speaker and judges were brought to the village, and the trial began. The woman came forward and presented her case as was the custom.
54 "This man," she argued, "Nameless Fox, keeps in the village two wild and vicious animals who are dangerous to the public's safety.
55 One of these animals, without warning, attacked my beloved and gentle mate, killing him, and then mutilated his body.
56 Both these animals and their dangerous offspring, for the sake of the public good, should be immediately destroyed."
57 Then Nameless Fox began to present his side. He had Swift Fox testify what had happened and the other witnesses, also. Then he spoke to the judges.
58 "Any mother," he explained, "will defend her child against attack, and that is her sacred right. A dog does not kill with its paws. A prey the size of a man they seize in their jaws and snap in the air to break its neck. They only use their paws to cuff their puppies."
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