Tecumsa was a Mawangasett girl (assumed to be around Stig’s age) from The Ghostfaces. Almost nothing is known about her early life other than the fact that she had a loving family.
She and Stig immediately fell for each other, however a Mawangasett boy, Simsinnet, already considered her “his”. The women of the tribe disliked this as men and woman possessed equal rights and Tecumsa herself, though she cared for Simsinnet as a friend, never felt for him in that way.
The boy challenged Stig to a duel to settle this feud. No weapons were allowed. Stig won this duel quickly.
For much of the Heron’s time on the island until Tecumsa’s death, Stig wanted to stay with Tecumsa instead of going back home to Hallasholm, to Hal's devastation, putting strain of the two's friendship, though Thorn ended it after remembered a similar event occurring between Mikkel and him after Mikkel fell in love with Karina.
Before the battle with the Ghostfaces, Tecumsa and many other Mawangasett women went to Lydia to learn how to fight. Lydia obliged. During the battle, one Ghostface broke into the tent holding women and children, and Tecumsa began battling him. Stig attempted to take the warrior’s attention away from Tecumsa, but just ended up distracting her, causing her to get a small but fatal scratch across the head. Stig killed her attacker.
Stig attended her funeral along with her family. Simsinnet helped carry her body. She was buried near her ancestors. In accordance with tradition, she was known by a different name, Bird of the Forest, after death to prevent her spirit from coming back to wander between life and death.
During The Stern Chase, it is revealed that Tecumsa's - or rather Bird of the Forest's - death caused Stig to withdraw from romantic attachments, leading to Lydia eventually becoming engaged to Ingvar. Strangely enough, Bird of the Forest is referred to as Stig's wife, rather than his lover/fiancée (pair having never married). However, as they had loved each other deeply, they might have considered each other husband and wife, which would make Bird of the Forest the unofficial daughter-in-law of Olaf Attelson and Hannah Olafswife - Stig's father and mother - and the granddaughter-by-marriage of Stig's paternal father, Attel.
• the name of the boy needs to be added, along with the name Tecumsa was known by after death.
• the members of her family need to be added