Song: "Transformation" - Bulgarian Women's Choir

Ihaan observed Lake Anima Nipissing's calm, mirror-like surface and pushed off with his paddle into the endless greenery and loon coos. He smelled the trees and fish and adjusted his animal-skin pants and scraggly, long brown hair. His deep brown eyes examined the gentle sky, and he blinked chilly dew drops off his eyelashes.

Ihaan studied the clouds and water and inhaled before tapping the water with his paddle's tip.

The clouds broke apart simultaneously, revealing Spirit Animals, such as moose, bears, eagles, and wolves. They galloped around Ihaan like dancers, and he shakily crawled onto his seat, sitting on his knees. He reached up and caught an eagle's wing and then a bear's paw, smiling.

The animals led him to a small island deep in Anima Nipissing. They continued to sway while Ihaan lugged his canoe onto the scratchy sand. He bent over it, tossed his paddle in, and removed an oval leaf from an old dry bag pocket. The warm sun rays touched the three painted stripes on his torso, and he slipped his right foot further into his boot.

Ihaan gently held his leaf and limped after the Spirit Animals toward a cliff. He stopped momentarily and ran his fingers down his leg before following the Animals again. An eagle Spirit, but not Ro, waited for him at the cliff's top.

Ihaan clenched his teeth and climbed, careful not to put too much pressure on his foot. He blew a strand of hair off his face and glanced over his shoulder at the never-ending forest and islands. What would happen if humans destroyed his beautiful home? Ihaan needed help, and he needed it fast.

He reached the cliff's top and sat on his heels, inhaling and exhaling.

The eagle Spirit landed beside him and folded its wings.

Ihaan sat back and clutched his right ankle. He looked up, and his wide eyes widened further.

Before him stood a tall tree with a shrine under it. Water poured from the mouth of the woman's head cut out in the tree onto the rounded base. A staircase led to the shrine, and the Spirit Animals lined up on either side like guards.

With the eagle behind him, Ihaan limped up the stairs and stopped before the flowing shrine, examining it up and down. "What should I do?" he eventually questioned, shaking sweat drops off his hair. "I haven't found anyone yet."

A few Spirit Wolves hiked up the stairs and sat before Ihaan, their tails passing through the water like knives and fog. What were they saying?

Ihaan moved aside and allowed the eagle Spirit to pass him. It flapped its wings and hovered over the dogs, occasionally glancing down at them.

Ihaan arched an eyebrow. "Are you saying it's a dog?"

The Spirits nodded, and the wolves stood, tails wagging.

Ihaan kneeled and peered into their mesmerizing dark eyes.

One of the dogs tapped his hand that held the leaf.

Ihaan unclenched his fist and stretched his palm out to the wolves.

Both dogs placed a paw in his hand and seemed to nod.

Finally, Ihaan plopped onto his backside and sniffed, sudden tears welling in his eyes. "A dog, my leaf—I know what to do. It's the only way." He hooked his long fingers over the leaf again and held his fist to his bare chest. "I need to play the 'Song of the Forest'."