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Firelight and leaves crackle with the bonfires of autumn. The harvest has been a good one, and the chieftain's heir has come of age to receive his first name. The drums speak loudly, and the rotgut purchased from the Easterners flows freely tonight.
The child stands before the circle and the fire, and the chieftain, with pride in his voice, asks. "My child, known to all as Little Buffalo, what will be your new name?"
Dreamer Windwalker watches the ceremony quietly... though whether she's paying attention or lost in her own world is anyone's guess right now.
Pathwalker stands quietly with Dreamer, his presence required, but his voice not. "Buffalo'd better not pick something horrendous...", the wolf murmurs.
In the silence, a single song reaches out, caressing Dreamer Windwalker's ears. And hers alone.
Dreamer Windwalker looks up, her eyes focusing somewhere above the flame, a smile crossing her face.
The young cougar stands like a statue. He clears his throat, "I chose a name that fits the honor and dignity of my station. O' great chieftain. I choose..." He hides a smirk as he draws out the suspense of the moment....
Pathwalker tenses, whiskers a twitch.
The song wanders in a slow circle, around the circle of tribesfurs, seemingly threading its way in and out of the crowd, getting closer to Windwalker as she listens.
Longtail smiles, "I choose the name of Longtail." He bows his head slightly to the chieftain, "It is fitting and honorable."
Dreamer Windwalker sighs happily, her eyes closing as her ears twitch. The young pantheress' head shifts slightly from side to side.
Longtail's eyes look to Pathwalker and his ears twitch in amusement. He knows Pathwalker was expecting something else.
Summer Storms Racing, the chieftain, nods. "Longtail it is. May it, like your greatness, my son, be long and prosperous."
Pathwalker shrugs and closes his eyes. "Keth'tah, 'Longtail.'" Long life. The others take up the chant, and the drums start up once more.
Longtail bows to the chieftain, "May my actions always bring our family honor, father."
Dreamer Windwalker frowns, shaking her head as the drums start up.
Pathwalker hides a snort. . o O { A name does not make one honorable. Actions do. }
Dreamer Windwalker stands up abruptly, and walks off away from the drums, her ears twitching as if searching for something.
The elusive song dances away, just ahead, down the trail. It seems to be inviting her to follow.
Dreamer Windwalker pads almost silently along the trail, following something only she can sense.
Summer Storms Racing nods. "I believe this to be true." He reaches into his belt, and hands the cub a feathered stone knife. "This then, is yours; it was mine once, and it was my fathers before me, and then his father's."
Pathwalker sighs and pretends to study the stars. . o O { That should have been mine, sometimes I think. }
The song leads the cougar into the darkness; while the rocks and fallen branches are irritations, they don't slow her down much.
Longtail's eyes glance to Pathwalker before focusing on his father. "I am honored by your gift." he says as he picks up the knife, "I will keep it safe until it is my turn to pass it to my son. Thank you."
Across the circle, Stepping Stones, the biggest, strongest brave of the generation, smiles. It's not a nice smile. Stepping Stones has had it in for 'Little Buffalo' since he was a child. Pathwalker can almost hear the cougar lad thinking. '..if you make it that far.'
Dreamer Windwalker doesn't even stop to brush the branches aside, too wrapped up in the wonderful song that she just walks straight through them.
A ghostly figure falls into step beside the cougar lass. "..not enjoying the festivities?"
Longtail stands shoulders back, head tilted upwards. His eyes catch Stepping Stones and narrow. His lip curls into a slight snarl...
Stepping Stones puts on his best 'I'm innocent' face. "Keth'rah, Longtail!", he exclaims.
Dreamer Windwalker opens her eyes to look at the figure. "I was enjoying the song more."
Longtail's ears twitch and he says nothing. He returns his attention to his father.
The ghost nods, crossing his arms behind him. "Ah. The song." His translucent ears flicker. "Yes. It's a sad song, is it not?"
The song calls again, more insistently now. Asking her to run with it..
Pathwalker meets Stepping Stones's gaze and bares his teeth in warning. Stones makes a nose insultingly back.
Dreamer Windwalker says, "In a way, perhaps... but there is more to it than the sadness."
Dreamer Windwalker starts to walk down the trail again.
The ghostly wolf nods, and trails behind. "What do you hear, then?"
Summer Storms Racing smiles. "Let the feast be served." Food! At last...
Dreamer Windwalker says, "A longing... a hope that someone will follow, to understand."
The ghost nods. "Will you follow it to the end?"
The circle parts, letting Longtail and all the new braves out first, to have first stab (literally) at the food waiting on the tables.
Pathwalker purposefully gets in line at Stepping Stones's back. Watching him.
Dreamer Windwalker picks up the pace, almost running now. "Until I know what could cause such a longing..."
Longtail turns the knife over and over in his hands as he looks at the table of food. "Hmm."
The ghostly wolf tries to keep up, but starts lagging badly. "Will you not examine the caller before you answer the call?"
As is his right, the other braves in front of him give way to the Chieftain's son. Wild turkey, bison, and elk are set out on the straw mats before him.
Dreamer Windwalker stops for a moment. "But how shall I know the caller without tracing the call?"
The ghost drifts to a stop nearby, looking out of breath, if that's possible for a ghost. "...there are ways. Have you not been taught?"
Longtail smirks a bit as the other braves clear the way. o O {As well they should, after all} He uses his new knife to cut a large piece of the bison's leg free. He turns and walks away from the table, glancing at Stepping Stones and snorting at him. o O {He wouldn't DARE touch the son of the chieftain.}
Dreamer Windwalker thinks. "Some ways, yes."
Stepping Stones smiles a little bit too fangily.
Longtail's pace quickens just a bit. o O {...er, he won't. I'm sure of it. Maybe.}
Pathwalker gives Stepping Stones a polite nudge toward the food. "You're holding up the line."
The wolf gestures down the way. "Perhaps you should use them instead of your feet."
Dreamer Windwalker thinks, the call of the music not making it any easier.
The song calls again. 'Fly! Fly now, or I'll leave you forever..'
Stepping Stones sighs and quits trying to hold Longtail's sight, choosing a bit of the elk absently.
Pathwalker takes a leg of the wild turkey himself, trailing not far behind Stones as he walks off away from the food area.
Dreamer Windwalker starts singing herself, adding a counterpoint to the music as she focuses her thoughts and her talents...
Longtail finds a log to sit on a bit away from everyone else and he munches on the bison meat.
Longtail looks over at Pathwalker. o O {Why is he standing up for me...? Not like I need anyone to stand up for me, of course...}
The ghost nods, listening with approval. "Better." The singer is familiar, somehow...
Pathwalker smiles at his half-brother. "Keth'rah, Longtail.", he says quietly.
Dreamer Windwalker tries turning the song around, drawing the original singer in to her by playing with the melody, weaving the thread of song around the trail.
Pathwalker looks up and sees his father approaching, and makes room. "I'll get you a drink."
The song grows louder; the singer, seemingly closer, but then it pulls away, tugging at the cougar once more.
Longtail gets up and goes to sit near Pathwalker. He blinks as he see's his father approaching too.
Summer Storms Racing smiles as he arrives. "May I join you, Longtail?"
The ghost shakes his head. "Do not follow until you know the singer's identity."
Longtail and nods, "Of course! Please!" He returns to eating the meat, scooting over a bit for more room.
Dreamer Windwalker raises her voice higher, listening to the other singer in her pauses... she takes the melody off in another direction, listening to how the other reacts, trying to place why it feels so familiar.
Summer Storms Racing sits down, approving of his son's choice of meat; it matches his own. "I'm very proud of you this night. The spirits smile on you."
The song starts fading out, despairing, and drifting away on the wind.A forgotten voice.. something from long ago, perhaps?
Dreamer Windwalker steps forward again, throwing more of her voice into it as she returns to the original tune.
Longtail sits up proudly, "They do. They do. But, being your son helped with that, Father. I hope I will always make you proud."
The song switches abruptly, not gaining in volume, but changing..a lullaby. An old lullaby. Strikingly and hauntingly familiar..
Dreamer Windwalker gasps, her eyes opening again, as she falls to her knees.
Summer shakes a finger gently. "Being my son doesn't make you that special. One day you will lead our tribe. But until then, you must distinguish yourself on your own merits."
The voice hums softly, rocking the cougar back and forth with its melody, singing about dreams found and lost and found..
Dreamer Windwalker smiles again, purring along with the music now.
The ghostwolf sits down in front of Dreamer, watching with a frown. "Dreamer. Can you hear me?"
Longtail's ears flatten a bit, "Why does Pathwalker look out for me, father?"
Dreamer Windwalker doesn't respond. She leans back against the ghost as if he were solid, resting her head on her hands.
Summer looks towards the named wolf, who is busy filling glasses with water from the bowl. "I'm not sure. Perhaps..perhaps you should ask him yourself." The cougar has a troubled look on his muzzle, briefly.
The ghost backs up in surprise, then waves a ghostly hand in front of her face. "Windwalker. My name is Kane. Can you hear me?"
Dreamer Windwalker smiles. "Hello, grandmother."
Longtail looks at his father, "Why does Stepping Stones dislike me so? Surely he wouldn't threaten the son of the chieftain."
Kane shakes his head. "I am not your grandmother."
Dreamer Windwalker slowly stands up again, otherwise ignoring the ghost.
The song turns into a dialogue, but still a singsong voice. 'Come..come to my arms, grand-daughter..'
Summer sighs as he looks at the other wolf, who is pointedly not looking in their direction. "It is the way of the wolf, I think. They seek to be leader of their people, just as we do; I proved stronger, as I always have. Stones believes by besting you, he might have my position someday."
The cougar smiles down at his son. "Not as long as I breathe. And by the time I pass beyond the Veil, you will be very much his better."
Dreamer Windwalker smiles, stepping forward again. "Yes, grandmother. It has been so long."
Longtail grins at his father, "By then I will be Longtail Sharkstooth!"
Summer blinks. "Sharkstooth?"
Will you run with me, my granddaughter? Can you feel the wind in your fur?
Longtail nods, "That will be my second name. I'm sure of it."
Kane looks worried. "Don't listen. Please."
Summer cocks his head to one side. "Why so, my son? You've never seen a shark, much less one of their teeth.. our cousins on the coast talk about them...
Longtail sits up and sets aside his meat, "Because it is the greatest predator alive, and I will best it some day!"
Summer raises an eyebrow. "As you wish. Don't feel bound to it, though..."
Dreamer Windwalker says, "Oh, yes, grandmother..." She charges off pell-mell down the path, her arms outstretched and her head back, fur ruffling with the wind.
Kane starts trying to chase after her, but isn't quite fast enough.
Longtail looks up at Twopaws, "Hello. I was telling my father about what I'll get as my second name."
Dreamer Windwalker seems to be enjoying herself, at least, and paying no attention to what is around her, yet somehow manages to not lose her footing or run into anything.
Pathwalker nods. "That being?"
Summer Storms waves off the drink. "I'll get my own, thank you, Pathwalker. But I believe Longtail wishes words with you."
Longtail grins at Pathwalker, "Sharkstooth."
Pathwalker nods. "Father." He pauses, surprise evident on his muzzle. "Say again?"
The voice leads Dreamer farther and farther away from the camp. The going becomes rougher; uphill.
Dreamer Windwalker leans into her running, giving her some better traction. She whispers "Grandmother..." again.
Kane falls further and further behind, and finally loses track of the cougaress altogether. He pauses, panting, growing almost indistinct from the strain, and then sets off back the other direction.
At the top of the rise, a single ghostly figure in a shawl stands waiting for Dreamer, one hand out and beckoning.
Longtail smiles, "Sharkstooth! I will defeat the world's greatest predator, of course. It's only fitting"
Dreamer Windwalker picks up the pace as she sees the object of her search in view, reaching out to it...
Pathwalker looks skeptical. "Little Buffalo, we're nowhere near where sharks live. Besides, aren't we the world's greatest predators?"
The ghost cougar smiles, then turns. Fly with me. And launches itself off the cliffside...
Longtail says, "Only on land. And it's Longtail, Pathwalker. In the ocean is the greatest predator of them all, our cousins said so."
Dreamer Windwalker gathers herself to jump, and leaps off the edge of the cliff, sailing out into the air...
Pathwalker sighs. "As you will. Keth'rah, Longtail." He makes as if to leave.
Dreamer Windwalker continues in her arc, landing in a heap in the brush at the base of the cliff.
The ghost, hovering in midair, looks down at her fallen descendant sadly. Not this time, I guess.
Longtail sets his hand on Pathwalker's arm, "Please, sit." He looks serious.
Pathwalker nods, and sits quietly.
Pathwalker says, "Something on your mind?"
Longtail looks at Pathwalker, "Pathwalker, why do you look out for me? I saw you and Stepping Stones... Not that I need someone to look out for me, of course. But why do you?"
Pathwalker opens his mouth, and starts to speak, and closes it.
Longtail shrugs, "I won't tell anyone. I'm just curious."
Pathwalker says softly, "..because, you're the Chieftain's son, and as much as I look out for anyone else, I look out for you. We may not be blood brothers, but you are still tribe, and family."
Longtail nods slightly and looks down at the knife in his hands, "You probably deserve this more than me. But it was father's wish that I carry it." He leans close to Pathwalker, "If you ever tell anyone I said that, I'll deny it."
Pathwalker chuckles, and smirks. "I know. And I know. But thanks." He chucks you on the shoulder. "You're all right."
Just then, the ancient coyote, White-Eyes, steps into the circle. "Dreamer Windwalker is missing. The spirits say a ghost lured her off..." Spoken calmly, as if simply talking about the weather.
Longtail smirks, "_Only_ all right?" He grins, "You're bound to get recognition someday, Pathwalker. Possibly not till I'm chief, but someday." His ears swivel to the coyote, followed by his eyes.
Pathwalker chuckles. "I'll do it on my ow-- eh?"
Wanderer nods. "I need your best tracker. It is dark, and the path is stony. My spirit guide knows only the area where he last saw her."
Longtail says, "How could she have been lead off without any of us noticing...?"
Wanderer chuckles. "Longtail, the spirits are crafty and cunning. And we all can move away silently if we have to."
Pathwalker looks to Longtail. "..the job is yours if you ask for it, I think... but is it really your calling now?"
Longtail looks over at Pathwalker, "It is my duty. She is a member of the tribe. A chieftain-to-be must look after the members of the tribe as the chieftain does." He stands, "White-Eyes, I, Longtail, the son of Summer Storms Racing, am a scout and tracker. One of the best of the tribe. I volunteer to help find her."
Wanderer nods. "Very well, then. Come with me..."
Longtail tucks the knife his father gave him into his belt and walks quietly over to White-Eyes and stands by his side. "Lead on, Elder White-Eyes." He says. His eyes glance around the camp, pausing on his half-brother then his father before returning to the coyote, smiling.
"White-Eyes led Longtail into the night, and his keen nose picked up the trail in the night wind; for Dreamer had gotten several scratches from the rocks and branches she'd run into on her way. The trail ended at a cliff, at the bottom of which fortunately Dreamer Windwalker was found, relatively unharmed and mendable. She claims the knock on the head and the rest in the gooseberry bushes gave her insight into the spirit world; even more than ever." , Twofeathers Hundredtales finishes, her tail swishing. She grins felinely. "..and that is the Tale of Longtail's Naming Night."