I'd like to apologize for the obscene language in my review page. I'm really, really sorry, and I hope nobody was offended by it. I don't know why somebody would do something so mean. Anyways, I'm sorry!

This chapter is a bit short, lol. I'll make the next one longer,

Disclaimer- (sigh) not mine yet

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ZOE

I must admit that morning came too early for everyone. Even Nagini, with her overconfident attitude, looked paler than usual this morning. Pilika was nervously cradling Kororo who, if possible, looked even more anxious than her. As for Kigali, she was sitting calmly in the corner of the tent, waiting for the elders to call the participants. She might have looked peaceful, but I knew better.

"Hey, Zoe?" she said carefully, picking her nail casually. I twitched an ear to show I was listening. "What if... what if someone else turns out to be the goddess of water and ice?

"Impossible." The question disturbed me.

"Just pretend"

"Ok," I thought hard. "We would... we would... I don't know what we would do." I admitted.

"Very reassuring."

"Have some faith in yourself, Key. I know that there will be many obstacles in our way to the Shaman Tournament, but I also know that you will meet them with the courage and might of the future Shaman Queen." I praised myself silently as Kigali smiled, but the smile soon vanished to be replaced by a serious look as the horn signaling the gathering of the participants in the center of the village, around the totem pole. Kigali got up and walked out of the door. Pilika hiccupped and followed her closely as many other girls around their same age started coming out of the colorful tents. Everything was tense in anticipation, I leaned my wolf body against Kigali's leg, she relaxed about a hair. I had turned into your average white wolf as to not attract attention.

The horn blew again and everyone went quiet as Tabitha stepped into a platform set up in front of the totem pole. She looked over the crowd and spoke.

"I understand that all of you come from different tribes claiming to be the true goddess of the north. The Fifth Moon Prophecy claims that only one of you will walk into the Elder's Temple to be titled. Only one." Pilika squirmed uncomfortably, "To identify the true goddess here, I have set up a series of tests and trials that only the goddess of water and ice will be able to pass. The tests will start out easy enough, but will get harder. The first test will be the elimination type, so ready yourselves for it." A young boy walked up into the platform, carrying two baskets, one black, and one white.

"In each of these baskets, there are twenty small envelopes with twenty pieces of paper in them. I have treated these to dye themselves. The ones in the black basket should turn red if held by someone with enough shaman power to be one ancient ones, and the ones in the white basket should turn blue if held by someone with water and ice elemental powers. To pass this test, both of your papers must be tinted. I bid you luck." She stepped backwards as a line started forming in front of the baskets. Kigali looked at me in panic.

"Zoe, I don't know if my elements are ice and water, I never used them..."

"They've got to be. You survived the cold of the artic, trust your powers." She took a deep breath and reached into the black basket, then the white one. We went back to our spot besides a panicky Pilika.

"You may now open your envelopes." Announced Tabitha. I transformed into a mink and climbed up to Kigali's shoulder for a better view. She nervously opened the first envelope and got out a blue piece of paper.

"BLUE!" She cried happily, "Now, if we only had enough shaman power...." She opened the other envelope and a red sheet of paper slid out.

"YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She screamed and tossed me up in the air, then cached me again and gave me a bone-crushing hug.

"I knew you could do it Key!"

"Yeah!" After the happy-hangover was over, we started picking up on other sounds around us. There were people cheering and crying, but a particular sobbing sound especially reached our ears. Kigali turned to see Pilika sitting on the ground howling and clutching a sobbing Kororo. Key went immediately to her side and hugged her.

"Pilika! You didn't make it???"

"NO! Because I'm not a strong enough shaman!" she cried, holding out a blue and a white sheet of paper. "I just have enough sixth-sense to see, talk, and touch spirits. My brother's the real shaman in my family. What will I tell them???" Kigali sighed and squeezed Pilika's hand.

"You'll tell them that you did all you could, 'cause you did." She cried until Tabitha started to talk again, after that she just hiccupped quietly while hugging Kororo and me. I twisted my ear backwards to hear what Tabitha was saying.

"Congratulations to all who made it. I look forward to the second test, which will take place this afternoon. I cannot tell you what the test will be yet, but I hint you to prepare your spirits. To those who didn't make it, have a safe trip back to your respective tribes. I shall see the victors later on today." She turned and walked off the platform. Everyone immediately started talking again, comparing the results and shades of color of their little papers. Kigali and I led Pilika back to our tent and helped her pack for her trip back to the Ainu Village.

"Hey Kigali?" She asked.

"Yeah?"

"Tell me if you make it ok?" Kigali smiled.

"It'll be tough competition, but if I DO make it, I'll find a way to tell you."

"OK! Well... I guess this is goodbye." Pilika said sadly

"For now"

"Of course!" Pilika laughed. She and Kororo waved and walked off into the tundra. Kigali sighed.

"I guess now it's just us, Nagini and that vixen of hers..."

"Don't remind me!" I groaned.

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That's the end of chapter five then! Yay! I hope you guys are enjoying it. Please ignore the rude reviewer, I don't know WHAT the heck HE was thinking, but I'm working on trying to remove it.

Next Chapter- Of Hot Springs and Rivals

Review if you can!