"Hooo hay haey ho."
We were gathered by the river, Waldo and I waiting in silence as the promise of a new day hinted on the horizon.
"Hooo hay"
Listens to Wind was chanting around the graves of the tiny wild fae. Those we were too late to save. Someone was chopping onions since Waldo and I couldn't hold the tears back.
"Haey!"
The dirt of the hundreds of tiny graves started to shimmer as the sun once again won its battle against darkness.
"HO!"
The kiss of light bathed the ground and motes of energy swirled upwards. A neigh made me almost jump out my hide, the appaloosa kneeling before the miracle of nature.
The air got purer, the dew wetter, the sun on my skin felt warmer, the sounds became clearer. An explosion of Life, vibrant in colors and smells.
And its gone.
My mentor's voice cut the silence. "My apprentice, answer me true." His gaze sharpened and I for once, fully understood Bob's pants shiting fear towards him. "Did you ask for compensation after freeing three slaves?"
"NO!" For the first time since I knew him, I raised my voice to him.
The ol' wizard hardened even more his eyes. "Did you join a raid against a more numerous foe?"
Now I was starting to be weirded out. "Yes, Waldo and I faced eight foes." Those teeth gnawing at my forearm left an angry remainder in swollen flesh.
The shaman leveled those burning eyes to Waldo, and to his credit, he held his ground. "Did he kill at least three foes without help?"
Now my companion used his scary brain power and frowned for about two seconds. Yes, two seconds and methinks he already got his answer. "Yes, elder. By his own hand, he felled three rabid beasts that gave no quarter and asked for none."
My mentor let out a satisfied grunt. He turned his back to us and faced the river, scoping some water with his right.
"Did you hear that?"
And a fish jumped.
What the-
He looked to the ground and stomped on it. "Did you hear that?"
A small hole opened on the earth, showing a shining stone inside. Listens to Wind took it with his left.
He arched its back and addressed the sky. "DID YOU HEAR THAT?"
Lightning struck.
I was blinded, almost deaf. Waldo wasn't doing any better.
When I recovered the ability to see clearly, my old crazy mentor was moving his hands. I could only hear my ears ringing. Yet when he spoke, I listened. My whole being shook, my bones rattled with his words.
Let it be known
a new Ranger passed the Trials
to join the first Order
I was shaking like a leaf. My über powerful mentor was pulling a fast one on me while I still had my cheeks wet by digging graves for the little guys. Exhausted, confused.
WATER finds you gentle
AIR finds you quick to change
Listens to Wind stomped on the ground.
EARTH approves of your metal skin
My mentor handed me fist-sized stone. Swirling vortex of light inside, like the eye of a storm.
"yYEEEOUCH!"
The horse bit me! The frigging hors-
"Waldo, please tell me I'm crazy."
He had eyes full of wonder. And cheek. "No Harry. The horse does have a beautiful mane of fire."
FIRE finds you burning with rage. Tasty~
The thief.
A gorgeous mane of flames framed eyes full of intelligence.
Nessie?
Listens to Wind took a similar jewel from the everpresent bag tied to his neck. "My apprentice, by beings older and wiser than any Wizard Council could ever be, you are deemed worthy to be a caretaker of life. A protector. A Ranger. Like your grandsire before you."