Running Deer was up to her knees in water. “Come in. It feels so good.”
     Singing Bird did not waste a moment to wade toward her friend, enjoying the tepid liquid against her skin.
     “Ow!” screamed Running Deer.
     “What is it?”
     Running Deer gasped for air and fell backwards into the water, her eyes wide with shock.
     Singing Bird quickly raised the unconscious girl’s head, keeping her face above water, and pulled her out of the lake. She signaled the tribe with a special bird call.
     Lovingly, she caressed Running Deer’s face. “Don’t worry, my friend, help is on the way.”
     But after a few minutes passed and no one came, Singing Bird realized that the others could not hear her signal.
     Noticing a red wound on Running Deer’s foot, she suspected the girl had been bitten by a snake. The foot had swollen to twice its normal size. Singing Bird knelt down and sucked the venom out of the wound repeatedly, spitting it out each time.

     Running Deer tossed in a feverish sleep. Exhausted, Singing Bird rested nearby, watching the sun set. It was her favorite time--the blue hour--and she felt her strength returning. Suddenly a melody began to grow deep inside her. Never before had such sounds come from the girl as she lifted her chin toward the sky. Her voice possessed an unearthly resonance that caused the wind in the trees, the birds on the branches and all the invisible creatures to freeze in time.
     As if by magical force, sounds tore out of her until Singing Bird felt herself immersed in a shimmering stream of light. Then the trees flared, and the craggy rocks, the dry ground and the lake itself exploded into blue-white electricity.
     Lying on the shore, Running Deer was ablaze in a fire so bright Singing Bird looked away lest she scorch her eyes. But there was no escape. Where once were trees and brush and rock and lake, a white fire now burned, illuminating the sky.

     Singing Bird felt herself being lifted to her feet. She turned, her eyes like stars. Through the radiance, she smiled at her brothers, whom she knew would come.
     Running Deer was already standing, yet she seemed dazed. Looking at the girl’s foot, Singing Bird saw that the red, broken skin and purple swelling had completely disappeared.
     With a faraway gleam in her eyes, Running Deer embraced her friend. “You saved my life. I was cold, so very cold. How did you make that fire? We had no wood.”
     Puzzled, Running Deer stared at Singing Bird who shrugged, having no answer.

     To anyone who would listen, Running Deer would tell how she was bitten by a snake and how Singing Bird healed her by summoning a strange white fire.
     From that day forth, Singing Bird was called White Fire. She studied with the old medicine man and learned the healing secrets. After his death, White Fire became the medicine woman of her tribe and was known far and wide for her great healing gift.