AN: I am SO sorry for the long downtime. I wish I could make it up to you by posting a long chapter, but this one just didn't end up being long. My only excuse for taking so long is that I wanted it to be done right. (FYI: There's some minor forshadowing in this chapter. Can you spot it?)
Rose, Jack, the Doctor, and Solaris sat side-by-side, enjoying the warmth radiated off by the campfire, the events of the day replaying in their minds. Mashan had seen the four of them off around dawn, providing them with enough food for the journey to Storm Canyon, along with a loan from their herd of amailias, strange alien beasts that looked like llamas with reptilian faces, bred for transport and carrying heavy loads. In addition, four of the N'renyans had volunteered to escort them on their journey. Jamada from the Fire Clan was the type of person you could take one look at and know he was not someone you'd want to cross, his disagreeable nature visible in his face. Gaya from the Air Clan had the distinctive manner and appearance of a stereotypical shaman, right down to the placid face and colorful feathers in his wild, braided hair that grew past his shoulders. Kairavin from the Water Clan was an athletic looking N'renyan, with an air of kindness behind her battle-worn veneer. Finally there was Lulez, the survivor from the Flower Clan. Only about fifteen-years-old, his face hadn't lost its youthful exuberance. Once glance was enough to let you know that he was easily likable, always full of life and charisma.
At the current time, Lulez was listening ardently to the group's reason for locating the four artifacts, and their previous adventure in San Kloon.
"Wow!" Lulez gaped, his eyes shining in wonderment. "You people see quite a lot, don't you? You're really are lucky. I could never get that chance."
"Sure, you could," Rose insisted. "There's nothing stopping you."
"Yes, there is," Jamada barked gruffly.
"N'renyans never venture off of the planet," Gaya explained with more patience. "It is forbidden. N'renyans who leave the planet become dangerously entwined and influenced by the ways of outsiders. They become enthralled, and allow the forbidden knowledge to consume them. In doing so, they turn their backs on everything that makes a N'renyan a N'renyan. The ones who break this law must be banished from N'ren forever, in order to prevent the dangerous ideas from spreading and uprooting our time-honored traditions."
"But that's how people grow," Rose debated. "Getting new ideas and improving how things are done."
"It's also how many long-existing civilizations are lost," the Doctor counter-argued. "Even on your planet, many native communities have been driven to the point of extinction, from continued attempts to drag them into the modern society. Most of them exist only in reservations and remote areas. A great deal of tradition was lost from attempts to educate those living a life most viewed as savage."
"Perfectly stated, Doctor," Kairavin complemented. "Lulez, you would do well to remember that, especially since you have already undertaken the Spirit Ceremony this past moon cycle."
"Spirit Ceremony?" Rose, the Doctor, and Jack all grew interested at the unfamiliar term.
"It's like a rite of passage," Lulez explained. "When a N'renyan reaches their fifteenth year of life, they are considered to be adults in the community. This day is marked by a Spirit Ceremony, where you are matched with a guiding spirit animal. The spirit animal is determined by what lies inside your soul, and when you are paired with your spirit animal, the course of your life is set. You see, each spirit animal is usually associated with certain traits. If your spirit animal is associated with the healing arts, for example, you are meant to be a healer."
"This Spirit Ceremony sounds like something I'd like to see," Jack grinned.
"Gaya's the one who initiates the ceremony," Kairavin announced. "If you wish to see an example, I'm sure he'd be glad to give you one."
"Oh, we wouldn't want to infringe any of your traditions," the Doctor spoke up.
"Learning more about yourself is never a case of infringement," Gaya insisted, getting to his feet while removing a drawstring pouch from his woven belt. "It could even be seen as your right to discover who you are."
As the group watched, Gaya scattered the ground grey powder that he'd removed from the pouch over the campfire. The moment the powder was consumed by the flames, they flared up, and plumes of violet-blue smoke rose into the air. As the group watched with interest, some of the smoke plumes began to encircle the others, each one taking shape. Jamada eyed the smoke plume in front of him impassively as it took the shape of a wolverine. The smoke plume circling Gaya distantly resembled a peacock, proudly displaying its tail feathers. Kairivan watched with pride as the smoke plume in the shape of an eagle seemed to soar around her. And Lulez grinned in delight at his smoke plume in the shape of an otter.
But all of this vanished from the Doctor's mind when he noticed the smoke plume that had begun to circle him, taking the shape of a badger as it did so. To the Doctor's left, Jack started to laugh in appreciation as his smoke plume formed the shape of a cat, and began to rub against his leg, along with a faint purring sound.
"Now this is interesting," Jack noted, turning to grin at the Doctor. In doing so, the former time-agent noticed that the Doctor was focusing his attention on the girls. Solaris was barely even looking at her smoke plume, which resembled a bat fluttering around her head. But Rose was looking in wonder as the smoke plume that circled her took up a canine-like shape. Before hers and the Doctor's eyes, the smoke plume reared back its head, and an easily identifiable sound of a wolf howling filled the air. As the howl died away, the smoke plumes dissipated, blown away by the night wind. For a moment, everything was silent, until Gaya spoke.
"Would you care to know what your spirit animals represent?"
"Yes,"the Doctor instinctively agreed, still slightly frowning at where Rose's smoke plume had been moments before.
"Very well," Gaya began. "We'll start with yours, Doctor. Many people might believe the badger is an overly aggressive animal, but the truth is, they often do not wish to fight, and prefer to be left alone. However, if the need arises, they will defend themselves and those close to them at all costs. They are capable of fighting enemies much larger then they are. While some badgers are known to form large clans, others are solitary, moving from place to place.
"Now, the cat is anther matter. These animals are known to be clever, resourceful, and fearless, but can be unpredictable. Many are quite affectionate as well. Yet, if they are ever cornered, they will fight with all they have. Occasionally, those who are paired to the cat as their spirit animal also are exceedingly resilient, and it takes a lot for them to get hurt. When they do, they can very quickly bounce back again.
"Those who are paired with bats are adaptable. They can find their way anywhere, and have the ability to weave their way through any situation, no matter how uncomfortable or threatening. Also, they are able to see in ways others cannot. However, they often face a great challenge in letting go of parts of their lives that are no longer needed.
"And finally, there's yours, Rose." Gaya crouched down in front of her as he spoke. "I need to say that I have rarely seen anyone paired to the wolf. It means that it is your destiny to develop great strength and confidence, and have trust in yourself and your instinct, with the help of an inbred gift to find new solutions to problems. Those with the wolf as their spirit animal are those with an inner power that lies dormant inside them, that needs to be discovered and released. Only then can you reach your true potential."
All talk of the Spirit Ceremony ended soon after that, and the caravan eventually began to move away from the campfire, in order to get enough rest for continuing the journey to Storm Canyon in the morning. However, the Doctor remained where he was, his blue-eyed stare barely straying from the glowing embers. He just couldn't stop himself from feeling uneasy after seeing the shape Rose's smoke plume had taken. Something about it had awoken a gnawing sensation in the back of his mind, almost like there was something he needed to do, but couldn't remember or figure out what. He could only hope, for Rose's sake, he'd be able to understand what it meant before it was too late.