"Walking Mountain-Shadow Spirit" is about a thirteen-year-old runaway that has listened to many stories of mountain men and believes living in the mountains would be preferred to living at home. Tired of the exclusion at home he successfully lives on his own in the mountains until he is badly injured. He is helped to heal by Walking Mountain, a giant Ute outcast. Free from the constraints of his home he attempts to tame and rear any and all animals he comes in contact with. The travels of the twosome are spoken about in spirit terms by White and Native communities. The relationship endures though they are set upon several times, one time saved by a pet skunk. When the pet lions mature and Walking Mountain is wounded the boy decides to go on the warpath.