Post by vix on Sept 21, 2007 22:33:25 GMT -5
Chapter Two
The Admission
Hushed whispers surrounded Luna and Skip as they gently pushed and sometimes shoved their way through the crowd. The nosy wolves around the two pups wanted to know which trade the novices-to-be would be chosen for as much as any of the four pups in question.
"That Skipperpaws! He is so strong, just like his father. I know he is going to get chosen to be a Pack-protector," Luna heard a wise old Builder she-wolf named Nera say.
"And that Nightdancer! How she loves to take care of things! I do hope she is chosen to be a Nurse-wolf!" Burluph, a powerful silver Pack-protector whispered.
When she finally reached the Prowl Rock, Luna noticed that Sapphire and Nightdancer were already sitting solemnly in front of it, staring upwards at their father, who was standing patiently atop the giant boulder. Luna took her place next to Sapphire. Skip padded up next to her and sat down. He brushed his fur into Luna's reassuringly.
"Good luck," he said, serious now.
Seeing that all of his offspring had taken their place at the bottom of the Prowl Rock, Bearclaw howled again to quiet the still whispering crowd to begin the admission.
"Greetings," he woofed kindly. The massive shadow wolf stepped off of the Prowl Rock, approached the four pups and continued the ritual. "Do you solemnly swear to make good judgements and act upon them, listen and obey your elders and masters, and become better wolves through your learning of the ancient skills of those noble wolves of our past?"
The novices-to-be rested their gaze solemnly on their father, "I do." They all replied in turn.
Bearclaw's baritone howl rang out again as he said, "May the representatives of each trade please come forward and stand by your trade’s new novice!"
This is it! Luna thought, This is the moment I have been waiting for all my life! The moment I discover what trade I will take up!
Four seasoned wolves emerged from the congregation and sat by their new novices. Luna recognized a snowy Nurse-wolf named Carole come and brush her fur against Nightdancer. In the complex wolf hierarchy, brushing fur against that of another wolve’s meant that you were to become great friends, and it was a very polite thing to do during admissions. Then, Luna saw the wise Builder Nera that had previously been whispering in the crowd brush her fur against a happy, but slightly disappointed Sapphire. Next, Luna gaze rested upon Skip's gleaming emerald eyes as he brushed his fur against a Pack-protector, a big tough male named Burluph, who had also been gossiping.
Suddenly, Luna felt a firm but gentle tail brush against her hide. Luna looked up to see the kindly face of a russet wolf, a wolf that she knew very well.
"Nifftar!" she whispered, and immediately got up to brush her fur against his.
"Surprised to see me as one of your masters?" Nifftar murmured with a reckless smile on his face and laughter in his voice. Luna nodded numbly. "Well, believe it or not, but some wolves are saying that you will grow up to be one of the best Hunters of all time!"
Luna's eyes widened. Her, one of the best Hunters of all time? Certainly not, she thought, But if Nifftar said it, it must be true. He is one of the most honest wolves I know. I will try to become what he has foretold.
"It was a hard choice, picking out my pup's trade, but I think that I have chosen well," Bearclaw said eagerly, then concluded the ritual by smiling proudly and saying, "I shall now end this glorious occasion. I have only one more statement to say, though, and it is this: You are now novices of the beautiful forest of DawnMist!" Bearclaw lifted his head, and gave the most harmonious howl that any wolf had ever heard. The four new novices howled excitedly in response, their tiny, slightly squeaky voices mingling with the strong baritone howl of their father.
The onlookers let out a cheer, joining in the celebration, but then left to continue on with their businesses. Within seconds, there was only one wolf left of the crowd. Luna quickly recognized the she-wolf as her mother. Dewfang strode up to them with a look of pure pride and delight on her beautifully marked face.
Luna had noticed that Sapphire had the same beautiful swirls of silver and snowy white on her face. Nightdancer did not have any special markings, but instead had the impressive jet-black shadow coat of her father. Skip had neither markings, nor a beautiful jet-black pelt, but shared the same emerald green eyes of Bearclaw. Heredity, Luna thought, was a curious thing. She wondered which parent she more looked like, or whether she had an equal mix of both, for she had never seen her reflection. She had never been on a water trip to Moose Lake to fill up the water skins that her pack of wolves, mainly the Builders, were known for making elaborately and with great detail. Someday, she would want to go on one of those special trips to see one's reflection, but she would have to work hard, for those sacred water trips were only for experienced and privileged wolves. Luna sighed. She knew that it was unlikely that she would ever be privileged enough to go on that special trip.
"Congratulations, my dears!" Dewfang howled with delight. Luna was knocked out of her trance with the sweet voice of her mother.
"Thanks Ma!" Skip nipped playfully ,at Dewfang's tail.
"Yes, thanks Mum!" Luna woofed with delight. She joined in Skip's game and gently batted her mother's plume-like tail. Dewfang seemed to be pleased with it. She laughed at the sight of her pups' fun. Luna loved to hear her mum’s laugh. It was so beautiful, yet contagious at the same time. Luna laughed so hard that she almost fell over. She loved her life!
Do you still like it?
The Admission
Hushed whispers surrounded Luna and Skip as they gently pushed and sometimes shoved their way through the crowd. The nosy wolves around the two pups wanted to know which trade the novices-to-be would be chosen for as much as any of the four pups in question.
"That Skipperpaws! He is so strong, just like his father. I know he is going to get chosen to be a Pack-protector," Luna heard a wise old Builder she-wolf named Nera say.
"And that Nightdancer! How she loves to take care of things! I do hope she is chosen to be a Nurse-wolf!" Burluph, a powerful silver Pack-protector whispered.
When she finally reached the Prowl Rock, Luna noticed that Sapphire and Nightdancer were already sitting solemnly in front of it, staring upwards at their father, who was standing patiently atop the giant boulder. Luna took her place next to Sapphire. Skip padded up next to her and sat down. He brushed his fur into Luna's reassuringly.
"Good luck," he said, serious now.
Seeing that all of his offspring had taken their place at the bottom of the Prowl Rock, Bearclaw howled again to quiet the still whispering crowd to begin the admission.
"Greetings," he woofed kindly. The massive shadow wolf stepped off of the Prowl Rock, approached the four pups and continued the ritual. "Do you solemnly swear to make good judgements and act upon them, listen and obey your elders and masters, and become better wolves through your learning of the ancient skills of those noble wolves of our past?"
The novices-to-be rested their gaze solemnly on their father, "I do." They all replied in turn.
Bearclaw's baritone howl rang out again as he said, "May the representatives of each trade please come forward and stand by your trade’s new novice!"
This is it! Luna thought, This is the moment I have been waiting for all my life! The moment I discover what trade I will take up!
Four seasoned wolves emerged from the congregation and sat by their new novices. Luna recognized a snowy Nurse-wolf named Carole come and brush her fur against Nightdancer. In the complex wolf hierarchy, brushing fur against that of another wolve’s meant that you were to become great friends, and it was a very polite thing to do during admissions. Then, Luna saw the wise Builder Nera that had previously been whispering in the crowd brush her fur against a happy, but slightly disappointed Sapphire. Next, Luna gaze rested upon Skip's gleaming emerald eyes as he brushed his fur against a Pack-protector, a big tough male named Burluph, who had also been gossiping.
Suddenly, Luna felt a firm but gentle tail brush against her hide. Luna looked up to see the kindly face of a russet wolf, a wolf that she knew very well.
"Nifftar!" she whispered, and immediately got up to brush her fur against his.
"Surprised to see me as one of your masters?" Nifftar murmured with a reckless smile on his face and laughter in his voice. Luna nodded numbly. "Well, believe it or not, but some wolves are saying that you will grow up to be one of the best Hunters of all time!"
Luna's eyes widened. Her, one of the best Hunters of all time? Certainly not, she thought, But if Nifftar said it, it must be true. He is one of the most honest wolves I know. I will try to become what he has foretold.
"It was a hard choice, picking out my pup's trade, but I think that I have chosen well," Bearclaw said eagerly, then concluded the ritual by smiling proudly and saying, "I shall now end this glorious occasion. I have only one more statement to say, though, and it is this: You are now novices of the beautiful forest of DawnMist!" Bearclaw lifted his head, and gave the most harmonious howl that any wolf had ever heard. The four new novices howled excitedly in response, their tiny, slightly squeaky voices mingling with the strong baritone howl of their father.
The onlookers let out a cheer, joining in the celebration, but then left to continue on with their businesses. Within seconds, there was only one wolf left of the crowd. Luna quickly recognized the she-wolf as her mother. Dewfang strode up to them with a look of pure pride and delight on her beautifully marked face.
Luna had noticed that Sapphire had the same beautiful swirls of silver and snowy white on her face. Nightdancer did not have any special markings, but instead had the impressive jet-black shadow coat of her father. Skip had neither markings, nor a beautiful jet-black pelt, but shared the same emerald green eyes of Bearclaw. Heredity, Luna thought, was a curious thing. She wondered which parent she more looked like, or whether she had an equal mix of both, for she had never seen her reflection. She had never been on a water trip to Moose Lake to fill up the water skins that her pack of wolves, mainly the Builders, were known for making elaborately and with great detail. Someday, she would want to go on one of those special trips to see one's reflection, but she would have to work hard, for those sacred water trips were only for experienced and privileged wolves. Luna sighed. She knew that it was unlikely that she would ever be privileged enough to go on that special trip.
"Congratulations, my dears!" Dewfang howled with delight. Luna was knocked out of her trance with the sweet voice of her mother.
"Thanks Ma!" Skip nipped playfully ,at Dewfang's tail.
"Yes, thanks Mum!" Luna woofed with delight. She joined in Skip's game and gently batted her mother's plume-like tail. Dewfang seemed to be pleased with it. She laughed at the sight of her pups' fun. Luna loved to hear her mum’s laugh. It was so beautiful, yet contagious at the same time. Luna laughed so hard that she almost fell over. She loved her life!
Do you still like it?