Kit was anxious about setting out alone for the South-lands. But Kit felt inspired by Eagle. Eagle had helped Kit see that Fear-of-The-Cold and Fear-of-Being-Alone were powerful in the lives of all beings.

Eagle also helped Kit see how the Gifts of Respect and Love could provide balance. With a strong sense of balance, fears that are part of all people will not cause too much instability.

So, on a beautiful sunny day, with an adventurous heart, Kit set out. Kit was determined to find the Spirit-Keeper of the South and learn more about the 7 Fears and the 7 Gifts.

Kit followed the mid-day sun. Before long Kit came to a river that was heading south as well. Kit was excellent at catching fish. Kit had learned how to combine techniques remembered from living with humans and skills that Bear had fostered. Everyone knew Bear was a master at catching fish!

Kit walked this path for many days and saw how gradually the river faded, the land became increasingly dry, and the trees practically disappeared. Kit saw tracks for many small animals, such as lizards, but rarely saw one.

Being alone began to wear on Kit. Kit was beginning to fear that there would not be enough water or food here in the South-lands. The sun was so hot that it became difficult to even think!

A tired Kit was turning over rocks, looking for something to eat. Suddenly a massive surge of energy – time appeared to slow, sounds became hollow – Kit’s face was inches from a huge snake!

In that timeless moment, Kit couldn’t help but notice that this was a truly beautiful creature of bright and dramatic colors. With that artistic appreciation, Kit’s brain began to work better. Kit realized that the snake’s head shape meant no poison glands.

“You gave me quite a startle,” said Kit.

“You must not have been paying attention. I recognize you. You are the human who lives with Bear. I am King Snake. What brings you so far into the South-lands?”

Kit explained to King Snake about looking for the Spirit-Keeper of the South and about the 7 Fears, the 7 Gifts, and the two wolves, Fearsome and Courage.

“But I have been looking and looking, and no one can even tell me how to find the Spirit-Keeper or even what the Spirit-Keeper looks like!”

“Wandering the South-lands takes a great deal of patience,” said King Snake. “I don’t know when you’ll find this Spirit-Keeper, but if you’re not paying attention it could take a long while.”

“It’s hard to pay attention when everything here looks so much the same!” said Kit. “It’s also frustrating that I’ll see tracks, but no animals! It’s so hot during the day, and then so cold at night! I don’t know how long I’ll be able to survive here. I do not think the South-lands love me.”

“It’s no wonder that you haven’t seen many others,” said King Snake. “You forget to pay attention and you walk with a heavy step and many nervous movements.”

“I know how to walk quietly,” protested Kit. “There aren’t even any sticks here to watch out for!”

“You seem confused about the difference between walking quietly and walking softly,” said King Snake with a kind tone. “We snake-people don’t even have ears! When you walk heavy you send vibrations through the earth that I could feel long before I saw you.”

“This is impossible!” cried Kit. “I told Chief Buffalo I would learn about humans but I can’t even find the Spirit-Keeper!”

“Perhaps I can help you,” said King Snake. “You say that these two wolves are opposites. If Fearsome feeds on fear, then Courageous must feed on the opposite of fear.”

“That’s right,” said Kit. “But it is confusing. Fearsome will grow stronger from Fear-of-The-Cold and Fear-of-Being-Alone. I’m not sure the Gifts of Respect and Love are exactly the ‘opposite’ of those fears.”

“That is because you mammals think too much!” said King Snake. We cold-blooded creatures know what fear does to our physical bodies. Just do the opposite.”

Kit thought about what fear does to a body. Kit remembered fear-filled times…, how muscles tense up, breath becomes shallow and quick, vision becomes narrow, and all you can do is freeze, flee, or fight.

“So the opposite of fear… is being relaxed…?” said Kit with some hesitation.

“That is true,” said King Snake. “I can teach you a simple exercise that we teach our snakelets. It can help when you start to feel filled with fear. If you practice it every day you will weaken Fearsome and strengthen Courageous.”

“That is a very generous offer, King Snake,” said Kit. “If you teach me this skill, I will practice it every day.”

“We snakes are masters of relaxation breathing. There are many different types of breathing, but I will teach you one of the simplest. It is a good place to begin.

“First, you must position the tip of your tongue to lightly press against the top of your mouth, behind your teeth. After much practice, this ‘snake-at-rest’ tongue position alone will start to relax your body.

“Most people think of a breath cycle as first breathing in and then breathing out. You must use your imagination to reverse that. Instead breath out first, through your mouth, with your tongue in the ‘snake-at-rest’ position. Breath out slowly, smoothly, and deeply until you empty all the air from your lungs, even the stale air that will sit at the bottom.

“When your lungs are completely empty, use your imagination to feel the massive weight of all the air in the sky. Relax and let that air flow into your nose. Slowly, smoothly, and deeply breath in through your nose and fill your lungs. Repeat this cycle 10 times.

“If you do this exercise at least once or twice a day for three moons, then I will teach you other ways to breath.”

“This exercise will make me feel less filled with fear and more courageous?” asked Kit.

“Not only that. This exercise, if you practice every day, will make you feel more balanced and more aware. It will help you stay calm when strong emotions begin to flood your brain. It will help you to see the beauty in the world.”

“Thank you King Snake,” said Kit. “I learn this ‘snake-at-rest’ breathing. Perhaps you could also tell me where I might find the Spirit-Keeper of the South?”

“Oh, I’m sure if you keep wandering around, you’ll find lots of helpful animals. Good luck Kit!” said King Snake, who slithered between some rocks and was quickly gone.