There might be a guide or an elder. In stories about vision quests, an elder or a more experienced person often plays an important role. They could be the one who gives advice or sets the seeker on the right path at the beginning of the quest. For example, they might tell the seeker what to expect during the journey or give them some special instructions.
I'm not sure specifically as I haven't read the exact 'the vision quest short story', but usually in such stories there is a seeker, someone who goes on the vision quest. It could be a young person trying to find their place in the world.