~Bwee... Canis New Year~ -- The Middle of Nowhere

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Date Posted: 23:09:06 11/09/02 Sat
Author: Lossa folkees
Subject: ~Bwee... Canis New Year~

In the ebony night on the planet of Keshal, golden flames began to light across the silk of black plains. Golden streaks sparked up towards the sky, silvery plumes of smoke rising from their heat in the early November cold. Within moments swirls of color started a dance around these flames, patterned hides a flickering rainbow around each shining fire. It was the Canis New Year, celebrations had begun.

A muscular orange furred male stood on a ledge over looking one of these fires. One powerful black draconic wing stretched kindly over his mate, a teal-furred femme who nudged him kindly in return. They were alphas of a pack from Earth, and had made arrangements with the Keshalan government long ago so that they might enjoy the coming of the New Year closer to their native home.

So enjoy they did. Powerful bodies of all imaginable colors surged around the leaping flame, most were Canis, ages ranging, but all young. Other beasts stood along side this, friends of the Canis, some joining in the dance, others just enjoying the heat and the beauty of the spectacle before them. The Dance continued, around and around,t eh only sound the silent thud of paws against the flying turf... and then, the howl. The howl began when the two moons stood together in a beautiful line. It echoed from pack to pack, the alphas of each circle resounding the call as the chilling tune came to them, then continueing it again as other pack members joined in at will. Finally the howl was a constant melody rolling sound, and songs of celebration rang out.

The femmes joined in an uplifting tune of rebirth of the new year. Pups sang a song of racing each other to get to new day. The males sang a song of bringing up a new life. And all beasts, Canis and others, joined in the Old Terran tune "Auld Lang Sine." When the moons had split and were both half way through their travels to setting, the Alphas of the pack gave a long low howl to signal the start the final ceremony. All dancing stopped immediately, and the chosen youth of the pack stepped forward to begin the Hunt of Past Evil.

Her name was Mithra. She was lean and muscular, ocean blue fur tipped with silver, and the aura of wind was about her. She was Magi, the elemental powers of air flowed through her body. They even echoed in her light soprano voice, as she hosted the age old chant, half sung in language, half sung in howls, but always sung in the spirit of tradition.

"We hunt because the moon is clear,
we hunt because we have no fear,
we hunt, because, we hunt, because, we hunt!

Reh eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Kindred Spirits now attack,
fight old sins, defend our Pack!"

Two harmonizing tones joined in to this, and heads turned to hear the Alphas, Tashvik and Tana, join Mithra in her song.

"We hunt for kindred and for friends,
we hunt until our soulforce ends,
we hunt, because, we hunt, the ALPHAS hunt!"

Mithra's voice responds easily,
"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Tana, Tashvik, Welcome back!
Let us all rejoin the Pack!

Three brothers step forward, hides of ebon, red, and white marking their growing forms. They leap about the fire as the sing with a spirit not seen by many in years.

The ebon goes first, his voice a recently changed baritone,

"I hunt because our teeth are bared,
I hunt because we've been prepared,
I hunt because I hunt, NINAN shall hunt!"

The russet leaps forward, his gold blade held firmly behind him as a strangely powerful bass voice echoes from the youthful frame.

"I hunt because I feel earth's pain,
I hunt because it's why I came!
I hunt because I hunt, TORVUM shall hunt!"

The white tilts his head back allowing a tenor howl to rip from his chest.

"I hunt for those that I protect,
I hunt for life in retrospect,
I hunt because I hunt, BREGAL shall hunt!"

The eerie soprano echoe canceled all thought as she responded,

"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Welcome brothers, welcome back,
You may enter Tashvik's pack!"

The beta pair stepped forward now, darker tones tinged their fur. The female a navy blue with green draconic wings, the male a pure smokey grey. The female grins harshly then sings.

"I hunt because it's in my blood,
I hunt to kill, as wolf-kin should,
I hunt because I hunt, HESVONA hunts!"

The grey male rears back, his muscular form an impressive sight as he backwings with furred pinions to hold himself upright in the night air.

"I hunt because I'm not alone,
I hunt to defend all I own,
I hunt because I hunt, KEROK shall hunt!"

The soprano echoe came from the rock, and shining blue eyes flashed in the depths of night.

"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Welcome betas, welcome back,
You may enter Tashvik's pack!"

Next came a Canis of white fur with his mauve mate...

"I hunt to fight for all my kin,
I hunt to die unless I win,
I hunt because I hunt, KERASH shall hunt!"

"I hunt because I've given birth,
I hunt to help the mother earth,
I hunt because I hunt, yes CIGE shall hunt!"

"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Welcome betas, welcome back,
You may enter Tashvik's pack!"

The rest was a blur... slowly but surely the other Canises sang their tunes and were reentered into their pack. The song was about to end, all Canises rejoined, the sacred hunt about to again... when a flash of white hide appeared before the fire. All turned to watch the lengthy form of the Dragon who'd dared to intrude on the sacred ritual, friend or not.

The dragon's voice was heard in the minds of all, it was strangely beautiful, not alto or soprano, but a gentle mix of both, pleasing to the mental ear, yet strong enough to keep one's attention.

I hunt for I've fought by your side!
I hunt with dignity and pride.
For though, I'm not of fur and paw,
You'll find, I'm just as strong with claw!

All was silent for a moment, Mithra looked the femme Dragon, then at her Alphas. Tana and Tashvik eyed the white a moment... then grinned, and nodded.

Mithra laughed aloud before singing once again, leaping from her ledge and circling the fire, beginning the dance of life once more!

"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Though your form is not wolven,
all that matters lies within!"

The Canis surged forward in a rush of color and excitement, some of the younger ones who'd known the white Dragon since youth leaped on her in glee and excitement! She was a pack member! A Dragon! A pack member! How wonderful!

A howl from the hanging ledge cut the celebrations short. The teal face of Tana grinned at the expectant forms below, then leapt and wings spread, glided to the ground. She tilted her head to look up at the Dragon, and her song began again... slow at first, then picking up the pace to a faster tempo.

"Re eh, joy oy oice!
Dance with wing, sing with voice!
Have no worries, have no fear
for all beasts are welcome here!"

The song erupted again, everyone joining in the wonderful music of howls and laughter... Catrens, Nicats, a Derrva, a Hrom, a Niyah, a Morolla, and even one Shifted Human danced the night away round the circle. As the moon set and the sun rose, the Pack of all forms went to hunt at dawn, bringing down the best kills of the entire season. A newly expecting Korat pair watched in bemused glee, too absorbed in each other to truly join the hunt, but laughing and enjoying the friendhips of others just the same. None new how many new little lives were growing within the white form of Deijan, but all expected that the black Trahdjmeh would be a wonderful father.

After all, it was a new year, and a perfect time for new beginnings.

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