Chapter 7: Rhyme
Æri's POV
An adult male wolf sat tall under an ancient pine tree. He was short in stature for his age, and sturdily built. His fur was long, fine, and dark as the midnight sky. His eyes were like twin full moons. He stood.
A small grayish-brown shape drifted slowly toward Æri, increasing in size as he circled gently into the clearing before landing, wings flapping. It was Fenn (AN: Fen), who just finished his daily border rounds. Fenn folded his wings against his back. Æri's eldest son of only seven moons old, Fenn was a strong young wolf, large for his age. His back and face were coloured with a splash of dark gray.
"Fien, go to Tree Den," Æri said, "bring prey to our guests, then meet me at Broad Oak."
Fenn nodded. He turned and ran eastward to the Tree Den, where Æri's sister, Riverpelt, and an old she-fox named Dawn lived. Riverpelt had given birth to a small litter of beautiful kits not two days ago.
Æri began walking to the Broad Oak soon after Fenn had left. He was proud of his family. His daughter Keo (AN: Key-oh), and his sons Fien, Ellyk (AN: El-lick); and Vargir (AN: Wargir) were no fools when it came to the hunt. They had learned quickly to hunt, and it showed in their skill and coordination. Æri and his family were almost always fed, even during the colder months when prey was scarce.
Æri stepped towards the broad oak. He and his family often gathered beneath the tree when a serious matter had to be decided upon. This was one such matter. A disease had been plaguing the family since the full moon. Æri himself had fought off an infection. Ellyk, Vargir, and Æri's father, Ro-niath, had caught the sickness shortly before him. The wolves had to decide what had to be done. Æri pointed his muzzle towards the sky. He would call the meeting this time.
Æri took a breath and stared skyward, studying the stars in the night sky. He opened his mouth and howled, letting the cool night air carry his voice. He held a steady note, letting more and more breath out until the howl tapered back into the silence that preceded it. Behemoth and Fenn answered the call then Keo, then Azlune, and finally Vargir. They would be in the clearing shortly. Æri was sure that their howls would be heard and felt for leagues. Æri lowered his muzzle until it was level with the ground. With the howl finished, the meeting could begin, once the others arrived.
Æri stepped closer to the clearing in which the others would gather. He sat on a rock, wondering what he would say. To his surprise, Vargir arrived first. The young wolf must have been close when he had howled, otherwise he would not have been there at that moment.
Fenn and Keo burst into the clearing a few moments after Vargir, panting furiously. Azlune walked into the clearing moments after them, and Behemoth ran into the clearing several moments after, making a hasty apology for his lateness as he sat down.
Æri cleared his throat before asking the crucial question. "What can be done about this sickness?"
Keo was the first to respond to Æri's challenge. "Perhaps we ask for help?"
"Possible," Æri said, "Nightclan might agree to help."
"They might be willing, but we do need other options in case they aren't," said Ellyk.
"Do you have the needed knowledge, father?" Fenn asked Æri.
Æri paused before answering, considering his options. He could have lied, making him seem more powerful for a while, which would carry the risk of killing members of the family. He decided that he would tell the truth. The health and safety of his family was too important to risk for the sake of foolish pride.
Æri opened his eyes and shook his head sadly. "No. That knowledge is lost to me."
Fenn stood. "Who is going to ask Nightclan? And when are they leaving?"
"The party will leave tomorrow during mid high-arc. Who will be on it will be decided," Æri said, standing.
The others stood. The meeting had ended. Æri leaped away from the clearing, eager to sleep.
A day was divided into three parts: High-Arc, Sunhigh, and Low-Arc. High-Arc was the portion of the day between Sunrise and Sunhigh; also known as Midday. Low-Arc was the portion of the day between Sunhigh and Sunset.
The pack's main sleeping place was a spacious cave. The cave floor was a massive smooth-topped gray rock. The cave walls were made of porous black stone that had eroded to form the walls. Azlune had discovered the cave by accident, after she had chased a deer through a wild rosebush. Æri walked into the cave, stopping in the center. He turned around and layed down, closing his eyes as he tucked his tail in over his hind paws. Sleep slipped over Æri like a sudden wind.
He awoke. Ellyk's muzzle rested on Æri's flank. Azlune's chin rested on Æri's shoulder. Æri rarely dreamed. When he did dream, his dreams were either hellish nightmares, or peaceful visions in which an old wolf gave him fatherly advice.
Æri wiggled out from under Ellyk's and Azlune's faces, careful not to wake them. They would awake on their own time. Æri sat beside a boulder and turned his head eastward to watch the sunrise.
The sun was rising above the horizon, painting the early high-arc sky with shades of crimson and amber. Light scattered off wispy frost-like clouds and turned into rosy pinks and amethyst purples. Clouds melted under the sun, leaving a rich blue sky. A northern wind chilled Æri's ears and nose. An eagle soared overhead, followed by a raven. Æri stood.
"You're awake early." Azlune said, "worried about asking Nightclan?"
"How do you know?" Æri asked her.
"You tense when they're mentioned."
"I am not sure how we will be received."
"What's the worst that could happen?"
"War."
"War?" Azlune echoed.
"I left Nightclan swearing revenge," Æri said, "They might think our visit to be attack."
"Are there any other potential complications?"
"Yes. I am not on best terms with Nightclan's leader," Æri said, "and he has support of his clan."
"Okay, then," Azlune said, "who do you think should go?"
"You and I."
"Fenn and Keo should go with us."
"I do not know if that is good idea."
"It could be a good experience for them."
"That," Æri said, "I agree with. Besides, I imagine Ro-niath wants some peace and quiet. Shall we wear feathers?"
"Yes."
"What kind?'
"You should wear a jay's, or a raven's feather beside your left ear," she said, "and an eagle's feather tilted forward, next to it. I shall wear a raven's feather beside my left ear. Keo shall wear a jay or raven feather beside her left ear, and Fenn shall wear either a raven feather, or one of his feathers."
Æri nodded. The placement, number of, type, origin, and color of feathers carried different meanings. For example, a single hawk feather, when tucked in the fur to the right of one's right ear was a declaration of war, and also a charm for strength in combat. A raven's, jay's, or hawk's feather, when placed in the right side fur of one's left ear, was a charm for clarity of mind, and patience. Two hawk or crow feathers tucked in the fur to the right side of the right ear was an announcement of reluctance or remorse. A single feather of any kind, other than a hawk's, or a dove's when placed in the fur to the right of the right ear, was a charm for good luck and safe travels. A dove feather, when placed in the fur to the right side of one's right ear, was an announcement of peaceful intent.
The angle at which a feather was placed didn't matter in most cases. The only exceptions to this rule were raven and eagle feathers. When pointed backward, raven feathers were a sign of mourning. An eagle feather tilted backward was a sign of one who has knowledge of the use of healing herbs and/or poisons. An eagle feather tilted forward was a sign of a powerful warrior and/or a noble leader.
"Actually, I'd like to wear a hawk feather," Keo said, "as it will look better on me."
"Fair," Æri said.
"Shall I wake Fien?" Keo asked.
Fenn emerged from the tunnel, stretching his wings. "No need."
"Keo, go to the feather cave and retrieve two raven feathers, an eagle feather, a bluejay feather, and a hawk feather," Azlune said.
"Yes Azlune." Keo sprang away. She returned only moments later with the five feathers. Placing them on a rock before Azlune, she stepped back.
Azlune stood. She picked the hawk feather up by the broad end. Walking over to Keo, Azlune tapped her daughter's forehead and placed the feather behind her left ear. Keo nodded.
Fenn placed a feather in front of himself. Azlune walked over to Fenn and picked it up by the broad end. She nodded upward. Fenn lifted his head. Azlune tapped his chest with the feather, and placed it behind his left ear. Fenn stepped back.
Azlune lifted a bluejay feather from the rock. She walked to Æri. She tapped his chest and face. She placed it behind his ear. Æri sat, bowing his head. With great care, Azlune picked up the eagle feather. She placed it beside the bluejay feather, tilting it toward her. Azlune walked backward until the rock was between them.
Æri stood. He walked toward Azlune, and picked the raven feather up off of the rock. Azlune nodded. Æri tapped her chest and face with the feather and placed it beside Azlune's left ear.
The place that a feather-giver tapped with a feather during a feather placing ceremony was indicative of the recipient's best quality or attribute in the feather-giver's opinion. For example, a chest touch meant that the feather-giver thought the recipient to be kind, compassionate, courageous, passionate, or stubborn. A touch to the head meant that the feather-giver thought the recipient to be intelligent, wise, crafty, or strong of mind. A tap on the face could mean numerous things, but it usually meant excellent eyesight or good looks.
Æri nodded eastward. "Let us go."
Update 01/29/2021: changed Ro-niath's role in the pack.