Chapter 9

Erwachendes Mondfest

Disclaimer:

Toboe: Hey, the next three chapters are going to be more cheerful, a little bit of hope in these poor wolves lives… -tear- Anyway you all know I don't own the original cast… I know, I know…. Anyway I will see you guy soon On with the STORY!!!!

Edited and Replaced Friday June 29, 07


Toboe rested on his stomach and listening as the others went to bed. He could hear the steady breathing of Lif and Sano and the impatient sound of Danflor moving around on his hard rock called a bed, trying to sleep. Jack was silent as always. He should have been white; it would have reflected his ghostlike attitude all to well. Toboe didn't know how he did it. It was like he wasn't even alive.

Kawa was murmuring a lullaby to Ibis and Chris. The two pups were both small and young and Toboe and Kawa thought that maybe sleeping together would help them sleep ust like they would be doing with siblings at this age. Toboe hoped so at lest. Ibis came to him or Kawa almost every night and Toboe knew Chris would soon have nightmares too. Everyone did.

As Kawa got up and silently padded twords her bed Toboe was painfully remained of Mimi. Kawa always did, sometimes in a bitter way. He had loved her. Mimi was so kind and sweet and gentle but at the same time able to laugh. Kawa was a lot like her at times. Mostly she was a little bit bossy and funny, a wolf who liked to play jokes but other times she was a different wolf. One just like Mimi. She would drop anything she was doing to comfort the pups or help one of the others.

'If…' Toboe thought, his head resting on his paws. He stopped and continued, comforting himself but at the same time ripping himself apart.

'If I could see you, see you laugh with me, just one more time. Experience that feeling that you used to spread everywhere you went. You made me laugh and made me grin … but that's all gone away. Sometimes, I wish that I was with you away from this living hell. You kept me going even when I was ready to just give up. Now that is gone, like the day chased away by night. Your smiling face, and joyful eyes… Oh Mimi… I loved you'

And with that declaration Toboe fell into a troubled sleep.

---

The pack sat in the circle nursing bruises, whip lashes, and cuts like they always did. It had been several moons since that one when reflections and memories had run wild in the minds of the wolves. Things were normal. Fueki had come as usually, bring his bowls of slop and rotten meat, and they had worked. In fact in three days was a free morning and all the wolves were looking forward to it. Kawa and Chris seemed to be the most excited, holding whispered conversations in corners and giggling fiercely when anyone asked what was going on. Chris was even improving in his speaking ability but several words still remanded obstacles for the little pup. Such as purple. Every time he said it came out "Purrfule" and everyone would burst out laughing.

Toboe stood at the center of the circle. As he watched his pack teasing, talking, or whispering he was struck by how well they as a group was coping with this. You wouldn't be able to tell how long Chris had been here anymore. Just like all the others his ribs stuck out and his fur was so matted it was a solid mass. He blended in effortlessly, the product of almost a year living in these discussing conditions.

"Kawa" he said as his eyes turned to said wolf.

The she-wolf looked up in surprise, jolted out of her conversation with Chris. She looked at him sheepishly as she slinked over to sit at his side.

"Would you please tell us all what has been going on?"

"Sure, I guess. We wanted it to be a surprise, sorry if you guy felt left out. Tomorrow is the first of the Erwachendes Mondfest or the Fünf Tage der Mondgöttin."

She stared at their blank faces and Chris giggled from behind his hands, which were clasped around his mouth. She giggled too, but continued as she received a fierce scowl from Toboe.

"Okay, Okay keep your tail on Toboe… You do know that your face can get stuck like that if you- Okay okay never mind… Anyway every year all of our packs meet together in the Forest of the Moon or what we call 'Mondschleier Forest'. All these different packs, we all meet once a year for these five days, unless you stay late or come early of course. It's like a huge party! The Moon Awakening Festival or the Five Days of the Moon Goddess is what it would be in your tongue. Everyone wears their brightest clothes and has so much fun. It's been a tradition ever since my people were forced out of our homeland hundreds of years ago."

"What a minute?" Danflor interrupted, "What do you mean by 'their brightest clothes'? Do they were real clothes?"

"My people perfected the art of illusions." Kawa said proudly. "It's considered a high gift. Most need the added benefit of a special herb to keep it up for long period s of time though. After all you illusion reflects you! I can lightly change mine but some of these wolves are amazing. Dancers would wear form fitting outfits with a skirt of colorful strips of fabric. Most girls dancing are looking for a mate but almost everyone did no matter if they were male or female, old or young, mated or not. My people were forced to hang around people a lot and in doing so learned many of their… oddities. Several wolves know how to make instruments and along with all the howling and singing will play."

She closed her eyes and her body swayed as if dancing to an invisible tune. She started to hum a low haunting tune which danced up high then went back down. All the wolves turned in surprise as a voice joined in with her. It was Chris. He sung very softly and Kawa quickly joined him.

"Mondschein

Sternenlicht

Biester der Nacht

-

Kommen Sie jetzt heran

Hören Sie mein Lied

Singen Sie zur Nacht

-

Brüllen Sie ein Lied

Singen Sie einen Traum

Flüstern in der Nacht"

Kawa gave a huge sigh and sat down. She crossed her legs and rested her hands in her lap a brief show of remorse but quickly looked up as Jack voiced a question.

"What did that mean?"

"It's an ancient song of my people. It's not really religious but we always sing it every day in the beginning of the festivities. The first part tells about the night, the second urges all who hear to sing along, and the last verse is commanding you to sing and be joyful during the celebration. It's a very eerie song huh?"

"Can you teaches it to us?" Ibis asked pulling her thumb out of her mouth.

Kawa smiles and spoke a few whispered words to Chris. The pup started humming and Kawa began to sing.

"Moon shine

Starlight

Beasts of the night

-

Come on now

Hear my song

Sing unto the night

-

Howl a song

Sing a dream

Whisper in the night"

Ibis giggled happily and grabbed Kawa's hair, tugged it gently.

"So you will teaches it to us Kawa-ane"

Kawa affectionately rubbed her head.

"Of course! I'll teach some of it to you tomorrow and hopeful you will be able to sing it on the day of Das Tanzen und das Singen or the Day of Dancing and Singing"

"What" Lif said. He was intrigued for he had never been to a festival before, "What do you mean the day?"

Chris spoke up now, using his new found ability of their laungue. Wolves learn very fast and the pup was no exception.

"The five dayz of the festival ares broken up into fives dayz. Day One is for ve Storytelling. Our past is told and favorites are retold. Day Tows is of Games and Competitions. Many older bozes use this to katch the eyes of a girl they doez fancy. Day threes is for dancing and zinging. Itz when the girls get backed at the boyz. Day fourz is of feastings. And day fives is of celebration and worships. The religious part of the festival."

It took all the wolves a few seconds to process all that in Chris's jolty tongue.

"So tomorrow!" Lif joyfully yelped, "Is storytelling!"


Toboe: This will only go on for a few chapters but the original pack will be introduced soon . Isn't every one happy! Review please, and see you next chapter.