All will to live leaves the chief and he send the rest of the hunters home. Cutter refuses to leave, and the two of them set off in pursuit of the monster.

They track it to its lair and lie in wait for its return, but Cutter a youth of 20, still barely more than a cub, falls asleep. Then, as if it was waiting for this, Madcoil emerges and faces off with Bearclaw. Madcoil kills Bearclaw, but Bearclaw grievously wounds it. The wounded Madcoil retreats into its lair and something wakes Cutter just in time to hold his father as he dies and to hear his last words. Bequeathed the sword New Moon and the tribe's leadership the 10th chief of the WolfRider dies.

Soon after a small pack of wolves emerges, led by Bearclaw's wolf-friend Blackfell, who carry off the corpse in the manner of the Way. As the pack leaves, Cutter asks a female wolf (Timmain?) to cry a summons for the other WolfRider hunters. By the time they arrive Cutter has a plan, and they build a large strangle-weed net. Then Cutter lures Madcoil from its lair and the tribe, as a whole, slays the monsters.

Treesump explains that though this Howl is for Bearclaw, it's really for their new chief, Cutter. Leetah, eavesdropping, comes away with a better understanding of the WolfRider tribe's faith in their young chief.

As the two tribes continue to assimilate, Leetah asks Nightfall what, exactly, a soul-name is. Suddenly, the local volcano rumbles, and Suntoucher has his new apprentice, Skywise, summon Scouter with his keen eyesight. Sure enough, the zwoots are stampeding toward the village!

The WolfRiders go to turn the stampede and maybe get fresh meat! They easily turn the herd...