Twofeathers Hundredtales turns around and looks down at the wolf cub and his ever-present accomplice, "A tale about Sunrises?"
The cub nodnods. "Sunrisers. Sunrises? Sunny? Does she mind being called 'Sunny?" The cub looks around, as if expecting the raccoon to appear by name.
Hundredtales kneels down to the soft ground and chuckles, "As to that, I think you must ask her yourself. But let me tell you the tale of the Dividing Lines, and how it came to be that Sunrises Ringtail came to be a part of our village, and how she was at first distrusted because she was different.
The little wolf cub smiles hugely, showing brand new fangs. "Hey! Hundredtales is tellin' me a story! Come 'round!"
There's a few groans, and some of the kids find something else to do; but a lot more show up and gather round, since Twofeather Hundredtales has gotten better as a storyteller since he was young.
Hundredtales's voice changes timbre, becoming deeper as he slips into the remembering, "Little Buffalo learned a lesson this day about things that are different, when Sunrises bested him at his own game." He pauses for a few moments as the rest of the cubs rush into a circle, "It began with a clear sky, and a stranded Easterner. Sunrises, Pathwalker, and Little Buffalo were exploring this day, and they happened upon an Easterner who was stranded on the steel rails that stretch as far as your eye can see."
One of the cats pipes up, "No, that's the Train Recs one, the one you told us last week!
Hundredtales blinks, "Oh dear...I think you're right."
The cat giggles, and elbows the wolf cub. "He's gettin' confoos'd. Has he been smokin' again?" The wolf cub scowls. "Twofeather never smokes!" "Shhhh!"
Hundredtales shakes his head, "Good heavens. no..that's not right. Oh! Little Buffalo would not leave Sunrises be..she was different, you see, and he felt that he could conquer that which he did not understand. But Sunrises, despite the fact that she could not speak our tongue well, bested him at his own game. She challenged him, and in so doing established that what is different is not always what you first think it to be.
Hundredtales continues, the story filling the minds of the listening cubs, "The chief at the time, Summer Storms Racing, had decreed that Sunrises would be treated with respect, but it was not always so..especially when Summer Storms was out of sight...."
Little_Buffalo looks toward the raccoon. "What does father see in her? She's an outsider and she can't even speak properly. Probably was abandoned by her parents because she was...slow. Besides, she's just...strange." He glowers.
Sunrises, slightly smaller than Little Buffalo, looks around in somewhat of a daze. Her mask makes her expression look sharp, but the expression of awe and curiosity dispels that illusion.
Little_Buffalo heads toward the little raccoon, speaking slowly. "Why...are...you...always...staring...? It's...impolite...""
Sunrises tilts her head, looking at Little_Buffalo. She seems to be aware that the other kid isn't all that friendly, but this only raises shyness, leaving the young girl staring back at Little_Buffalo.
Little_Buffalo waves his hand in front of her face, "Hello?" His muzzle wrinkles, "Haven't...you...learned..to..talk..yet?"
The raccoon takes a step back, almost tumbling as her foot hits a rock.
Little_Buffalo sighs and shake his head, "I don't know why father took you in to the tribe. You can't even walk. How will you learn to survive? Aren't you capable of anything?"
A frown begins to form on the white eyebrows of the girl. She puts her hands defiantly on her hips, lifts her muzzle, and says, with quite a heavy accent, ~~Run.~~ She points to the ground, then to the nearby river, and appears to be waiting for an answer.
Little_Buffalo eyes the raccoon, "Run? Run away? You can't outrun everything, certainly not me." He shakes his head softly.
Sunrises blinks. She repeats. "Run. Here. River."
Little_Buffalo blinks, "If you wish to race me...it's..well...it's your loss." He spreads his arms, "Simply say when."
The westerner turns to face the river, and raises her hand. She looks at the native and makes sure his eye are on her hand, then drops it and begins to run.
Little_Buffalo blinks, "Hey!" He takes off after her, running as fast as he can. His tail streaming behind him.
The raccoon runs surprisingly effortlessly -- much of the awkwardness is gone, and the girl and her tail flow sinuously as she leaps over the occasional rock or plant.
Little_Buffalo chases the little raccoon, scrambling over rocks and dead limbs that work to hinder him. He falls further and further behind, panting. He can't believe he's losing! To...to...Sunrise!
After the raccoon reaches the river, she stops, panting and eyeing the approaching boy, victorious but shy.
Little_Buffalo finally catches up to the raccoon, panting heavily. "How...how? Where..? How can you run like that?"
The girl listens, but doesn't seem to comprehend. She shrugs it off, and takes a small cup off her belt. She scoops some of the clear, cool water from the river and offers the cup to Little Buffalo. She is hardly even panting now, and all of the cockiness is gone as well.
Little_Buffalo takes the offered cup, rather surprised. "Um...thank you." He takes a sip, still eyeing the raccoon. "I can't figure you out. You're... you don't look like you'd be very fast." His muzzle skews, "Nor do you come across as very smart... at first. But..."
Sunrises listens, shrugs a bit, and smiles.
Little_Buffalo shakes his head, "Okay, so maybe you're not..." He seems to grimace, apologies are rare for him, "You're not bad, Sunrise. Even if you look funny."
A ringed tail swishes, and a playful otter on the other side of the river attracts the raccoons attention. Perhaps not yet quite used to this world, she certainly seems to enjoy it, and has just proven that there is more to this strange girl than meets the eye.