Red Fall, Creeping Winter

Ralla · 12-06-2010, 09:22 PM

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The ceremony had begun, and Ralla had been amongst the early arrivals, anxious with what was to come. Will it be like the festivities back in the Moon Tribe? Will they all sing? Dance? Tell stories? Mock-fight? All were atypical of her old traditions, but she constantly reminded herself that despite the similarities, both tribes were invariably different, and that AniWaya was where she felt most at home. She had once more preened herself to her best; beads threaded in her combed hair, necklaces polished...all but one, one that was painted an icy blue. She had found the paint in the storage and used a marginal amount of it to paint that single claw necklace that had represented her material tie to the Crecent Moon Pack, her previous place of honor. She had overheard the practice of giving to the Great Fire for thanks and had done so, more than happy to take part in the traditions that now surrounded her.

All around, more of her tribe arrived. She was happy and startled to see their numbers grouped together, she having convinced herself that they were fewer. Before she could think further on the matter, her attention was switched to Chief Dawali, his voice commanding and mystical, all at once, as he spoke not only with his words, but his hands. The movements were so alike to what the elders had done to make smoke-pictures in the fires that Ralla was temporarily entranced, remembering the stories even as Chief Dawali's every word was engraved by the sweeping motions of her Chief's--yes, her Chief's--hands. The fire was giving off comforting warmth near him, radiating out to reach all of them and envelop them in its protecting embrace. The waning crescent of the last quarter moon showed good promise, despite her Chief's words and the worries of winter. She was confident that they would survive the chill together. Forlornly, for only a moment, Ralla longed to be at the second rank of Otlvna Gata so that she may now be assisting Chief Dawali with the ceremony. Even more so, she longed that she would one day reach the Master rank, and that Sanuye may advance with her. Extending on that momentary thought, she realized that Sanuye was her rival. No matter. I like her, and wish to be her friend. There is no harm in friendly rivalry.

Chief Dawali's sudden mention of the hunt that she had participated in startled her focus and made her stand up straighter than she had been, almost rigid with the attention that he had brought to them. Instead of stepping forward or making a grand gesture, she simply bowed her head. She had not believed her participation as important as the skilled hunters', but she was happy and proud to have taken some part. She looked around at those that had hunted with her, blushing a crimson red beneath snow white fur and smiling with forest green eyes.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

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