Do it now and do it loud!

Orin Takekuro · 12-06-2010, 03:23 AM

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Time for some celebratory awesomeness! 600+

How Orin started the fire was a fluke.

The fact that she did would not stay a secret for very long.

Night had fallen in Cercatori D’Arte and a new, soft pillow of snow blanketed the ground. The clouds that brought the flurries were now on their way to other lands and thousands of brilliant stars peeked through the dissipating mantle. It was the night of the new moon so the great orb was not present in the sky to spill its light onto earth and weaken the power of the stars, so the little orbs radiated and twinkled gloriously in the twilight hours.

It really happened quite by accident, as many things did when Orin was involved. The woman was cleaning up inside the bookstore and had ventured to the upper level where she discovered a small office when she found a box that contained a peculiar utensil. It was some sort of artifact or antique, someone’s special little trinket. There was a certificate in the box, and another small booklet complete with manufacturer’s notifications and instructions. The little tool glistened silver and had been protected from age and dust by the little oak box that had been stored away in the compartment of the desk. Ornate cursive letters were engraved on the face: VG.

The utensil was intriguing, especially because it was so shiny. Most things the Luperci discovered these days were caked with rust and grime. It wasn’t long until Orin read the literature that was stored in the box and knew what the item was for.

And that’s how it started.

Under the cover of night (though she was hardly trying to make this a covert mission) she dragged out a few old, dry planks of wood from her store that had been destroyed and rendered useless. Though it broke her heart, she also found a book that was not particularly intriguing, and chose it for the sacrifice. She selected a place in the center of the Thornbury shopping district, clearing a place in the snow where any embers would not float into the stores or the woods and start a disaster. She made quick work of shredding the book and balling up the pages for kindling, and then stacked the wood on top of it. Remembering the method diagramed in the booklet, Orin fumbled with the trinket. Each time she spun the little wheel with her thumb there was a very satisfying spark, and finally a small flame leaped into the air as if by magic. For a moment it both frightened and thrilled her, though any fear quickly dissipated when she discovered the flame remained attached to the trinket. Eagerly, she held the flame up to the paper and watched as the remnants of the book, and soon the wooden boards, caught fire.

It worked! She could hardly believe it worked! For the first time in her life, Orin had built a fire. Overwhelmed with rapture, the Takekuro girl leapt to her feet and danced around the small campfire as the flames gradually spread and grew. The light from the fire swelled and glittered on the fresh snow and as the flames matured they babbled a delighted crackle.

For a moment she stopped her festive dancing to face the fire and let the warmth of the flames soak through her fur and soothe her body. The orange light of the flames dancing against the snow bank was a beautiful sight, even for such a small fire. Her family, her pack, deserved to share in the moment too.

Without hesitating, Orin threw her head back and sang her mirthful howl. The wolfsong resonated off the buildings and trailed out into the clear night. “Come join me, Cercatori D’Arte! Bring firewood, bring your love, and bring your art! Come join me, my family!”

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