37 INIPI At The Burrow Pt. II
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Okay, big shocker, another chapter and it hasn't been 7 months. Enjoy.
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As the week winds to a close, Saturday morning finally dawns on the Hopps burrow and Wilde household, as well as few other residences in the Tri-Burrow area.
While Bonnie and Stu manage to get things organized at the burrow, food cooked, and such, Yvonne visits to be sure the elder bunnies are prepared for the lodge that is to be started around dusk.
Attention to details of the ceremony and customs, proper garments for the females attending as well as making doubly sure that the females are not on their 'moon' or heat cycles are being attended to at all residences, with Sally and Sylvia being tended to at Judy's.
Renee is charged with preparing Sabine, which is at first, difficult with Midnight in attendance. This is quickly remedied when the panther is sent to Michael to meet with him at the couple's guest quarters, being sure to pick up Lefty on the way.
In the meantime, Nick and Bolo are finishing preparations at the lodge site. The lashings that bind the saplings making up the framework of the small structure are double checked, blankets, quilts and tarps are added and secured with small stones at the base to be sure that the entire lodge is soundly constructed.
A conch shell with plenty of white sage is positioned at the entrance to the sacred circle, the base for the fire is prepared, with several corn husks and several pieces of well dried evergreen brush make up the kindling while deconstructed pine and oak wood pallets are used as fuel for the main fire. The set of shed deer antlers completes the setting.
Looking over the entire lodge and sacred circle area, both mammals are satisfied with their work.
"I guess we can make it a bit easier for the girls if we bring out a few tables for the food that Bonnie is going to have brought out." decides Nick
Seeing the slightly questioning gaze of his close friend and employee, Nick continues. "Knowing Bonnie and with her being a bunny mom, there'll be enough food to feed five times as many mammals as will be here, including those not participating."
"I see your point boss." answers Bolo as he leaves to meet up with Michael.
…
Around roughly noon, Nick unreels a water hose from the house, not wanting to take the chance that a high wind might come up and spread the fire beyond the confines of the sacred circle. Going over to the pile of larger rocks, Nick repeats the process that he did at the reservation and selects a Grandfather stone. Nick then counts out 27 more stones to be used in the ceremony, not including the grandfather stone, which is to be used during the final 'door', and with weather not being an issue, goes back into the house and readies his chanupa to be used later. He then returns to the sacred circle and lights the fire that will be used to heat the stones that will provide the heat needed to properly conduct a traditional Inipi, with the Grandfather stone in the very center of the fire. Once the initial fire has burned down, Nick adds the remainder of the rocks and piles on more wood, so hopefully the stones will turn white-hot, just like they did on the rez.
Nick is also keenly aware that either Michael or Bolo will most likely need to designate an alternate Fire Keeper at some point in time, in the off chance that he might, for some reason or another, be unable to conduct the required action himself.
…
Soon, Michael and Bolo show up to make sure that everything is going according to tradition and will be on schedule for later that day.
"You seem to have things well in paw Iron Eyes." comments Michael.
"Thank you, Sees Far. I have done my best to remember everything from the time on the reservation as well as to do everything correctly according to tradition."
Seeing the wolf nod, Nick continues "It has occurred to me that perhaps-"
"Another Firekeeper needs to be trained?" interrupts Michael, although it seems to be more of a statement than a question.
"Y-yes, exactly."
"You are as observant as ever Iron Eyes." complements Michael "Do you have someone in mind?"
"… Me? I thought that you or Dances With Wolves would be the ones to do the choosing!" states a flabbergasted Nick.
"As Firekeeper, you must be the one to choose and train another, this is how it has been done for as long as Inipi has been conducted. I was Kicking Bird's Firekeeper while I was being trained to conduct lodge. I chose you to be Firekeeper for several reasons. To begin with, I sensed that you would complete the task as directed and do it well. Another reason was because you are Wolf Spirit's mate and thus would add credence to the ceremony. Do you understand?" he asks.
"Yes, I understand, and I do have someone in mind for the task. I will ask this mammal if he would consider being honored to be the next Firekeeper when we next conduct lodge."
"You may wish to consider adding a female or two to your list as well." adds Bolo.
Seeing the slight confusion on Nick's muzzle, Michael expands on Bolo's statement. "There may be times when a female only lodge may be necessary, or in rare occurrences, male and female lodges may need to be conducted at the same time, so perhaps two females should be considered and trained. For future lodges, She Always Laughs has consented to be trained to conduct Inipi, so that task has been addressed."
"And my task is to find a female, or possibly two, who might wish to become a Firekeeper as well as a male … interesting, as well as challenging. I look forward to completing this task that you have placed upon me Sees Far." admits Nick.
"As I anticipated." admits Michael. "Also, I came to let you know that in addition to making sure that preparations were well underway, I need to inform you that Stands With A Fist will not be participating in tonight's lodge. Her reasons are her own."
"I understand. It was also brought to my attention that one of Wolf Spirit's many sisters will be joining us today, so while the number remains the same, the space will be different."
"While seating is almost never preplanned," continues Michael "there are a few positions that I feel should be set for this lodge. Dances With Wolves will be seated beside me to better learn the small things that go into conducting lodge, while Wolf Spirit should be directed to be seated along the west wall, so the spirits pass through her when they enter, as well as your position next to the door so that you may freely exit and enter with more stones. Other than that, it does not matter."
Just then, Judy makes an appearance, along with Sylvia, while Sally has ventured to the store to oversee preparations for the grand opening.
"Greetings Sees Far and Dances With Wolves, I'm surprised to see you so early in the day." admits the doe as she nods in the traditional greeting.
"We were simply making sure that Iron eyes was doing well in preparation fort tonight's Inipi." says Michael.
"Sylvia wanted to see the Inipi and have Nick explain everything to her, she seems very interested in it … if that's not violating tradition." Judy cautiously informs the wolf.
With a slight grin, Michael tells the doe "Quite the contrary Wolf Spirit, her curiosity will do her well I think."
"Ummm, if I may ask," as a now seemingly shy Sylvia enters the conversation "who's who? I'm not at all familiar with the names that are being tossed about."
"Sorry Sylvie" apologizes Judy "I totally forgot that you don't know who's who. Michael" gesturing towards the aforementioned mammal "is known as Sees Far, and Bolo is known as Dances With Wolves. Nick is Iron Eyes and I am Wolf Spirit. Our Lakota names were given to us when we were on the reservation and after we had participated in the Inipi, or sweat lodge, there."
"Will I end up with another name after this lodge thing?" asks the tan and brown furred doe.
"Maybe, but most likely not. There were certain circumstances at play that led to their being given traditional Lakota names." Michael tells Sylvia, not sure how much the younger doe has heard about the details leading to the naming.
"Okay, thank you … Sees Far." comments the doe. "So it's okay if Nick shows me the lodge and explains it to me?"
"Yes, Sylvia, it is!"
…
After Nick begins to tell Sylvia about the lodge and smudges her into the sacred circle, she asks a multitude of questions about how it is built, the purpose of the sacred circle and other details, Michael and Bolo observe quietly for several moments before Michael speaks quietly to Judy.
"Your sister seems extremely curious … she has had a vey bad experience in her life, yes?"
"… You already know that I was raped in high school by one of the local bucks, Sylvia was another of his victims." responds Judy. "She's been having a tough time dealing with what happened. She actually closed herself off in her room for several weeks, barely eating … watching some silly reality show on tv. She even adopted some suedo Cajun accent and just wandered around for years, barely surviving while trying to cope. I tried helping her, doe to doe, but she just seemed lost in her own mind.
"After we learned that you'd be coming and conducting lodge, I invited her to join in. At first she flatly refused. Then yesterday she actually came to me and asked if she could still participate and I told her of course she could. I guess something in a conversation with one of our other employees, Sabine, caught her attention and changed her mind. She's kinda like me in a way, she doesn't do anything halfway."
"We have informed Iron eyes that he is tasked with training several new Firekeepers for lodge." Michael informs Judy "One male and perhaps one or two females. I believe that your sister would make a good Firekeeper if she is anything like you. However, this is Iron Eyes decision, and I will not influence him with my opinion, and I would caution you to not say anything to him as well."
"I will certainly respect your wishes Sees Far." responds Judy, as she observes how intensely Sylvia is concentrating on every word and motion of Nick's.
As Nick is wrapping up his mini-tour with Sylvia: "… And after everyone is smudged out" as he duplicates the statement with the action "they can go to the tables and eat something if they so choose. That's called the Wupulla."
"This is all so fascinating!" remarks the doe. "I would love to be able to help sometime if it'd be okay…"
When Nick quickly glances to Michael and sees a discrete smile and a quick affirmative nod, he tells her "I think that that can be arraigned … as long as you're sure."
"I truly am. I-I've been keeping to myself for so long, shutting everyone else out of my life, that I need to be able to help others, and the best way is to be like Judy … In order to help others, I need to help myself … or is it the other way around?"
"It doesn't matter Sylvie," answers Judy "the point is that you know what needs to be done." As she gathers her sister into a typical Hopps hug.
"I actually have another question ..." begins a slightly hesitant Sylvia. "Just … just how did you and Nick get your other names? I mean, they're really neat, but there's gotta be some sort of story behind them."
"Ummm …" begins Judy "It's not a really a very pretty story Sylvie, are you sure you wanna hear it?"
"Yes … please?"
…
As Judy narrates the tale of their trip to the Pines Ridge reservation, she leaves nothing out, all the time keeping a close eye on her sister. She relates the sad state of the village, and the relative hopelessness of the residents. She hesitatingly narrates the attack while they were keeping an eye on the young of the village that fateful morning and how she took a life and the heartbreak that followed.
The telling of the happenings in the Inipi and subsequent visit to a neighboring village, followed up with the making of relative's ceremony and how their Lakota names were given to them, then the deal between them and the two tribes for the marketing of the paw-made items that were slated to be sold in Bunnyburrow and eventually in Zootopia more or less rounded out the telling.
As Sylvia sits through Judy's story, even though she's shocked and horrified at the part where Judy actually had to kill a young mammal, she can't help but be amazed at how well her sister has managed to weather the events that would probably have driven a lot of mammals, especially bunnies, to the brink of insanity.
With tears in her eyes, the slightly younger doe takes her sister into another hug and proceeds to let loose emotions that have been pent up for over a decade.
When the tears and sobs finally quiet and then cease she tells Judy "I can't believe how incredibly selfish I've been. You and several of the other does have faced life head-on while I've been wallowing in self-pity. I don't know how you can even stand to be in the same space as me!"
Taking her sister's tear-stained face in her paws, Judy tells her "First of all Sylvie, you're my sister, and I'd do anything to help you, and I'll always love you regardless. That will never change. You weren't being selfish" insists Judy quietly but forcefully "No matter how large or small, good or bad, everything that has happened or will happen to you has shaped you into the mammal that you are now. The name calling, the physical and emotional violence and abuse and how you handled them has created the Sylvia Hopps that I love. Don't ever change … do you understand?" she asks hopefully.
*SNIFF* "Yeah, I think so."
Turning to Nick, she asks the todd "Do – do you still want to teach me to be a Firekeeper?" she asks, with a face full of hope.
Smiling, Nick gives the only answer he can "Of course Morning Sun, I would be honored to instruct you."
"Thank you Nick, I – wait what? Why did you call me that?"
"According to Lakota tradition, a mammal get's their traditional name because of a certain event that occurs sometime in their life." Nick explains "If you'll notice, the opening to the door to the lodge is facing east, with the same being said of tipis. When you exit lodge, you greet the morning sun, which offers the promise of a new day, a fresh start to life if you will. You just came out of the lodge a few minutes ago, and are beginning a new journey, a fresh start. It may not have a proper naming ceremony, but I personally feel that the name fits. Therefore, I shall be calling you Morning Sun."
When the todd is unexpectedly gathered up into the second tear filled embrace offered by the doe, he glances toward Michael and Bolo, as well as his wife, and thankfully sees only smiles.
"You have done well Iron Eyes." complements the wolf. "After lodge, we shall have a proper naming ceremony to officially welcome Morning Sun into our fold." much to the amazement of Sylvia.
With that, Michael and Bolo take their leave to finish their individual preparations for lodge later that day.
…
"Congratulations Sylvie, I mean Morning Sun!" offers a beaming Judy as she joins Nick and Sylvia.
"Do I gotta call you and Nick … ummm-"
"Iron Eyes and Wolf Spirit?" asks Nick.
"Yeah, that. Do I gotta call you guys that all the time?"
"No Sylvie, you don't." Judy assures her. "We usually only do that when we're doing traditional stuff like lodge. When out in public, like in town or what-not, our regular names will do just fine. When in private, we always use Michael and Yvonne's Lakota names as a sign of respect."
"Will-will you teach me everyone's traditional names so I don't mess up?" Sylvia asks.
"Of course. C'mon, I'll fill you in while we get ready. Now, my Lakota name is Wolf Spirit, which in Lakota is pronounced 'shuen-mah-nee-due dahn-kah wah-nah gee-" as the pair disappear towards the house, with Sylvia shaking her head in disbelief at the new information
…
After leaving the Wilde home, Michael and Bolo converse, with Michael providing most of the narrative.
"I am considering a talk with my father. Iron eyes and Wolf Spirit have become much more than honorary members of the tribe. Their deep connections with the spirits and Iron Eyes uncanny grasp of traditions have convinced me that perhaps there is even more to them than we can fathom at this time."
Seeing Bolo's confusion, Michael continues "It is my belief that the two have become much more than two mammals that were possessed during lodge. I believe that they are actually becoming true Lakota. It has never happened in my lifetime, and perhaps not in the lifetime of Kicking Bird or Black Shawl as well. Not only has their demeanor changed, but they are physically beginning to unconsciously carry themselves as one of true Lakota descent. Father may well need to call a council of elders to discuss the matter."
"What will this mean to Iron Eyes and Wolf Spirit in terms of actually being true Lakota?" asks Bolo.
"They would be eligible to become village leaders and medicine mammals if they so desired, as well as to conduct lodge and many other tasks normally held by those of the blood." comes the obvious answer.
"Do you think that they would consider those positions?"
"With the possible exception of conducting lodge, I do not. They are already more or less the moral and spiritual leaders of the Hopps burrow, so it would be a meaningless gesture to be a chief. Besides, the burrow already has many healers of its own does it not?"
"That is true. Wolf Spirt has many siblings and other relatives who take care of the entire burrow as well as Iron Eyes many employees, myself included."
"What is you opinion of Iron Eyes reaction to Wolf spirit's sister and his assisting her to become a Fire Keeper, and of his naming?"
"I believe that she will do well, she seems to be genuinely interested and emotionally invested in the task. The naming was a bit of a surprise, but his insight and reasoning seems sound."
"Those are my beliefs as well. Let us go our separate ways for now, we will speak of this again after lodge. Mitakuye Oyasin."
"Mitakuye Oyasin."
…
As the day progresses to late afternoon and the time comes close to lodge, mammals begin to arrive, with Bonnie and Stu being among the first, along with several kits of varying ages.
Using the tables that have been left out, Bonnie spreads well-worn but clean sheets on them to act as tablecloths. The kits then begin placing covered dishes for both predators and prey mammals to partake of after the ceremony.
Nick can't help but smile at the pair's apparel for the ceremony. While Stu has an old pair of navy-blue swimming trunks, Bonnie's sundress harkens back to a bygone era – the tie-dyed garment, however, actually looks quite good on her all things considered.
"What?" asks the elder doe who, of course, notices the todd's stare.
"Nothin' Bonnie," smirks Nick "nothin' at all!"
"I'll have you know that this was in style at one time-" begins the doe.
"Yeah, thirty years ago … OWWW!" mutters Stu just before he catches a bit of his wife's only slightly muted ire.
After giving a now repentant Stu a case of stink-eye, Bonnie brings a matter to Nick's attention. "Nick, Bright Eyes and Short Tail have something they'd like to give to you."
As the two young mammals step forward, Nick kneels so he's around their height. "What do you have for me young ones?" he asks with a smile.
As Bright Eyes steps forward, she presents Nick with two paw made medicine bags and a large dream catcher. "Híŋhaŋni wašté Mah – zah ee – shdah (good morning, Iron Eyes) Grandmother helped me make these for you and Shuen-mah-nee-due dahn-kah wah-nah gee (Wolf Spirit). I made them myself, with Grandmother's guidance."
"You even did the beadwork? These are very beautiful Eeyoh-yahn-pay Ee-shdah (Bright Eyes). Pilamayaye (Thank you). complements Nick as he promptly puts his around his neck. "I shall present Shuen-mah-nee-due dahn-kah Wah-nah gee (Wolf Spirit) hers when she arrives, unless you would care to wait and do it yourself."
"Pday-chay-lah See (Short Tail) and I will be assisting Grandmother Hopps with the Wupulla, so please present hers to her when she comes."
"I will certainly do that. Okay Pday-chay-lah See, (Short Tail) what do you have there?"
As the young cub steps up to Nick, he presents a fair-sized (albeit slightly misshapen) earthen bowl and oversized cup to the todd.
"I wish to gift to you this wah-kshee-chah (bowl) to be used during Inipi. It-it's not very good, but I tried my best. With my parent's guidance I will strive to do better in the coming moons." confesses the young cub.
"Pday-chay-lah See, nothing in this life will ever be perfect. You made this and presented it in a good way, and that is all that truly matters. I am honored that you made this for our Inipi, and will use it faithfully. Never forget, Mitakuye Oyasin (all are related). Now, go help Grandmother Hopps … Pilamayaye young ones."
"Well done Iron eyes." comments Michael, who has just arrived with Yvonne in tow.
"Greetings Ciyewaye Ki (brother)." says Nick, with an acknowledging nod towards Yvonne.
"You seem to be doing extraordinarily well with our traditions and customs, having never been exposed to many of them before."
"It just seems to come naturally for some reason." admits Nick.
After Yvonne excuses herself to help with the Wupulla, Michael takes Nick to the side briefly.
"Iron Eyes, I feel that we must discuss seating during Inipi tonight. Normally it is never brough up, however the current circumstances require a few positions be reserved."
"… Okay …"
"Of course I shall be to the left of the door, with Dances With Wolves to my right, as he needs to learn many little things that are required to perform the ceremony properly. Wolf Spirit should be seated as close to the west wall as possible, that way the spirits will pass through her as they enter the Inipi."
"Is it alright if Morning Sun is seated beside me? That way she can observe what I do and how to do it during lodge?" asks Nick.
"It is your right and duty to train the next Firekeepers properly. Of course it is permitted." answers a now smiling Michael.
As the rest of the participants begin to arrive, Michael tells Nick: "You may go and get ready for lodge, I will take your place as Firekeeper until you return with Dances With Wolves at my side, as he will need to be familiar with all duties required to oversee and properly conduct lodge."
Seeing Bolo and Renee arriving, Nick makes his way towards the house to change into more appropriate attire for lodge.
…
AN: The customs and traditions portrayed in this and the previous chapter are NOT indicative of traditional Lakota courting rituals and some liberties have been taken with the Inipi ceremony as well. They are presented as is for the sole purpose of moving the story along.
