-AW- Morning of the 20th. Remember! Only Tiva and Gemma are allowed to actually touch the fire's embers.[/html]
The wall of cloud loomed over them now, and the winds were fierce as the two AniWayan fire tenders rose very early with the dawn. Both Tiva and Gemma were resisting the panic that threatened the tribe knowing that they had to maintain a spiritual dignity and convey calmness at all times lest the tribe sink into a mass hysteria. The night before the two women had thrown a hastily constructed fence around the ceremonial fire to keep the fearsome winds from blowing it out. Both of them had been hoping that the storm would divert and pass around them but one look at the morning's sky said it all, the Great Fire was in danger of going out and was burning very low to what it usually did.
It was something akin to blasphemy and both woman were choked up at the thought of it, they didn't speak to each other and avoided catching each other's eyes. Only a master fire tender, the Etikaiele Gata, had the knowledge and the spirit's blessings to tend to the ceremonial fire in such a way. It sent the both of them cold inside but it was necessary, this branch of AniWaya had no Etikaiele Gata which to perform this sacred ceremony. Together they deconstructed the fence and then worked to douse the torches that ran along Aniwaya's main pathways, they could not be allowed to topple or they would burn the village to the ground.
'Mama' A small voice made Gemma turn around and her stomach dropped as she saw her two children struggling to come towards her. Shrieking fearfully she ran towards them "Get back in there right now!" And ushered them back into the town hall almost running into Ulilohi in her haste to make them safe.
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