At first, everything was dark and still. Then the shadows began to move; the shadowy forms of cats left their various nests to follow their neighbors and clanmates. The darkness came alive with eyes that glowed with green and yellow fire.
As the cats raced along the walking paths and came together like streams joining a river, the darkness on the opposite side of the Big Thunderpath began to seethe. Paws moved soundlessly; not a single claw scratched or scraped. Tails straight behind, heads lowered, the much larger shadows paced the cats across the deadly path, where an occasional monster still roared past.
Then the first sound broke the stillness. A deep chested growl. It was answered by a hiss.
Looking down on the scene, a snow white German Shepherd glanced over at the smaller cat next to him. "Are you ready?"
The young cinnamon tabby glanced up at her mentor. "I hope so." Her voice growled the deep words of the dog language.
"Then follow!"
The two creatures turned and sprinted along another path, circling wide and coming around to an empty field from a different angle.
The two groups, dog and cat, faced one another. Two lines had been drawn, each species on its own side, leaving an aisle of open space between them.
"Moonfang!" The speaker was a graceful she-cat, standing at the head of her line, "Is your pupil ready?"
"She is." The white dog replied, the language of the cats sounding high and thin coming from his long muzzle. Then he turned to the line of dogs and growled, his voice properly deep for the dog tongue, "I have been asked if my pupil is ready. I have replied that she is."
"Then begin," The she-cat and the leader of the dog pack called in unison.
Moonfang bent his great head down and gave the cinnamon tabby a lick between the ears, "I believe you are ready. Now you must believe it as well."
The young cat met her Guide's eyes for as long as she could and still be polite and gave her tail a stiff, shy wag. Then she stepped into the aisle between the two species and began walking slowly between them, speaking the words in first one language, then the other.
"This night, we stand divided as our ancestors' ancestors stood divided. This night, we face one another across the gap of language, of species, and of custom. This night I, Sweetfoot, tread my feet upon the lines that divide." She swallowed as the eyes traced her route between the two clans. "And tonight, I sweep those lines aside. We meet. We greet. We enjoy peace."
She had just reached the far end of the two lines and turned to face them all, standing alone. "Cats and dogs, it is Brightmoon." Her eyes flicked upward at the full moon that was lifting above the line of twoleg nests that obscured the horizon. "Let us join!"
A heartbeat of silence pressed hard upon her ears, and then the two species came together; sniffing noses, wagging tails and purring warmly to their neighbors.
The two leaders came to meet Sweetfoot side by side, the long legged alpha shortening his stride so that his smaller companion did not have to run to keep up.
"Your voice was a song that lifted my heart." The big dog rumbled, "I felt as though we were coming together for the first time, as our ancestors had."
Sweetfoot's ears warmed and she wagged her tail gratefully to him for his kind words.
"I must agree." The she-cat meowed when her neighbor's words were translated, "And I think you have earned your new name."
Two clans turned and sat, side by side, to wait for the announcement. The two leaders drew away, leaving Sweetfoot alone in the silvery moonlight that frosted her fur.
"Standing before you is a Translator, a Voice, for the clans. It is through her knowledge and honesty that the clans unite. Sweetfoot, the truth can be an ugly thing. It can wound, cause strife and even endanger lives. Do you swear to adhere to it, even at the cost of your life?" Moonfang's voice echoed over the silent clans, first in one language, and then the other.
"I swear it!"
"Then before both clans and the ancestors above, I give you your new name. From now until you join our ancestors, you shall be known as Sweetsong." The massive dog lay flat upon the ground, lowering her head below her former pupil's.
One by one, cats and dogs bowed their heads low. "Sweetsong!" Crooned voices in both languages. "Sweetsong!"
"The ancestors above shall set a task for you for your First Duty. This will set you on the path you will follow in their service." Moonfang woofed. "Do not shrink from it, no matter how daunting it seems." He sneezed, his version of a laugh, "You were, after all, trained by the best!"
"Now, the night is still young, and we have news to share. Sweetsong, if you would do the honors?" The large alpha gave a half bow.
Chest swelling, Sweetsong joined the leaders of the two clans, and shared gossip with her eagerly listening audience.