Characters:
Well-weathered paws crunch through the late spring snows, but the view of the sunset off the cliffs is nothing less than breathtaking. The one they call 'White-eyes Coyote' is visiting, and for some strange reason he's insisted on taking a couple of the soon to be braves off on a stroll.
Wanderer turns, looking back at you two over his battered sunglasses. "Now. Why do you think I've brought you here? What is it you see?"
Twofeathers rubs his muzzle, "A hallowed ground for our people? Mayhaps a setting where a great battle once took place, with the souls of our departed now resting and protecting it?"
Pathwalker looks to the horizon, "I see the end of another day and look forward to the next, White-eyes Coyote." He smiles, "A new day is a day yet to discover."
Wanderer chuckles softly. "Mmm. Interesting suggestion, Twofeathers, but I wouldn't get you in trouble with the spirits by taking you to sacred ground."
Wanderer smiles at Pathwalker. "Excellent. But.. why here?" On his shoulder, Tekton, the green lizard that Old Coyote is never without (or at least it's -an- igeckona, hard to believe it's the same one..) crawls down his arm.
Twofeathers ahs, "We could just visit. Would make a wonderful tale. And yes, a new day is another story waiting to unfold Pathwalker. So, what adventure brings us out here?"
Wanderer idly reaches down and picks up a rock.
Pathwalker smiles, "A journey always starts somewhere. From here we can see the day close and the new one arise."
Twofeathers looks down into the canyon, talking about many things he sees, and commenting that a story must also start somewhere. The young wolf has a habit of trying to always have the last word.
Wanderer hmms, idly tossing the rock from hand to hand. "Surely, Pathwalker, if I wanted you to see the day end, would I not take you to the top of the cliffs? And Twofeathers. What can you tell me about this rock?" He has a mischievous gleam in his eye as he tosses it high over Twofeather's head.
Twofeathers blinks and grabs at the rock, wanting to get a good look at it.
It's just a rock. Worn smooth by the passage of water on one side, but the ground here is perfectly dry.
Wanderer nods at Pathwalker while Twofeathers makes his examinations. "Pathwalker. You seem like you look forward to the journey ahead, yet you do not know what it is. Are you not afraid of the things that might hurt you on your way?"
Twofeathers rolls the rock around in his paws and hmms, silent for once as he tries to guess what the ole coyote is up to. Finally he starts chattering, "It seems to be a rock that has seen the work of moving waters upon it. Maybe it was carried here by an Eagle and dropped. Or maybe there was once a river here, long since dried from some ancient curse?"
Wanderer idly folds his glasses, his eyes an odd, almost incandescent white. "Mmm. Look me in the eyes and say that in a single sentence. Make an assumption, not a question."
Pathwalker walks along the cliff, "I'm afraid, yes. But, the chance to discover new things overshadows that fear. A chance to see places no one else has seen and do new things..." He looks back at Wanderer, "And part of any journey is learning to face fear."
Twofeathers hmmfs and tries again, doing his best to look into the coyotes eyes (and wondering about the story behind them) as he says, "The rock has been worn by water on one side. It may have been part of a river far distant, or maybe this place once had running water, long ago."
Wanderer mmms. "What about pain? What about injury? What about folks who would do you harm? "
Pathwalker says, "Pain is part of life. Being the healer's son taught me that. It is something I must face if I'm to truly live. I want to experience life, not just existence."
Wanderer smiles toothily. "It may be closer than you think."
Pathwalker cocks his head?
Twofeathers blinkblinks and is suddenly struck with a compulsion, and throws the rock right at PathWalker.
Pathwalker snarls and brings his right arm up to block... "Twofeathers! What are you doing?!?"
The rock spangs painfully off of Pathwalker's arm, and skitters away.
Twofeathers blinks, and is kinda quiet ( you know something is wrong) as he softly wufs, "Er. something told me to? I think?"
Pathwalker rubs his arm gently. "You shouldn't listen to strange impulses." he scowls.
Wanderer smiles toothily. "I told him to throw it at you."
Twofeathers purrs, "You did? But I wasn't through looking at it yet."
Pathwalker eyes Wanderer, "Why...?"
Twofeathers listens keenly, hoping to get a good story out of this somehow.
Wanderer says, "Surprises can be unpleasant. Pain can come from everywhere and anywhere, including from those who call you friend.""
Wanderer says, "Question is, Pathwalker, now that you know the cause, what will you do about it?"
Twofeathers frowns, nothing exciting, just another morals lesson.
Wanderer looks over his shoulder at Twofeathers. "If you think so."
Pathwalker scowls at Wanderer, "Be rather wary of you, White-eyes..."
Twofeathers looks a bit foolish as he realizes the coyote has read his mind. He looks at another rock.
Wanderer chuckles softly. "And you weren't before?"
Wanderer says, "I may be an elder, but it doesn't mean I should be trusted."
Pathwalker continues rubbing his arm, "You're respected by the tribe, White-eyes. I didn't think I needed to be wary."
Twofeathers chuckles softly at that. All of the best stories seem to be about the Coyote's slyness.
Wanderer ahs. "They respect me. Why? Because I have done the same thing to them, at points. They know I see clearly." He chuckles.
Twofeathers blinks, "They respect you cause you have shown them to be wary of you?"
Wanderer says, "..and that is why I've brought you here. To see, not just the sunrise, not just a journey, not just a rock; but a quiet place, a place out of the way, and a friend who isn't...""