Sights

Hanging around near the circle that had formed around Guinevere, you come across a wolf with a blue feather on her ear. You assume that this is Sights and go up to greet her.

She turns to face you at your approach, tilting her head curiously.

"You are a guest? Or perhaps another wanderer like me? Did Guinevere send you over here so I would tell you a story?"

You nod and she gives an exasperated but also fond huff.

"Of course she did. Well, I suppose I have to think of something interesting to tell now."

She wanders over to the river beside camp, leaning down to take a drink and find a comfortable spot to sit. Once both of you are settled, she begins her story.

"From my travels, I have seen and learned many things. I recommend asking Circadian about the Death found at glaciers far North, but I will be telling the story of Life from the rainforests down South.

"You see, the Wolf God of Life was the very first wolf. She is the creator of all wolves, and will live until we all take our last breath. But, you see, she was under siege. A creature that called itself human was killing many of her children, chasing them to Death's den far too soon. They would capture her kin and turn them into spoiled beasts, loyal only to their masters and the food they provided, losing their natural instincts and kin.

"Knowing that her children could not survive this torment much longer, Life set out on a quest to find a secluded place where the monsters would not find them. Some wolves chose to follow her, and some did not. She traveled for many days and nights, each bitter day biting at her beautiful coat and reducing her to nothing but skin and bones. Hope was difficult to come by, and many wolves either abandoned the cause midway or did not survive the trip.

"Finally, they came to a crossroads. Chased for so long and weary from their long journey, Life and the other wolves following her settled in a little forest. Some humans still prowled nearby, and Life was at first intending to move on from that place to find somewhere better. But just as she was about to set out again, a small snake came to her asking for help.

"Never one to abandon someone in need, Life told the others to rest their paws as she helped the little creature. He had a very simple request, after all. All he needed was a pawful of nesting material, just enough to keep his tree hollow insulated and warm as Autumn drew closer. She fulfilled his request easily, and in return, he rewarded her with some silver cones and a hint that she could use it to buy some food from the raccoon nearby.

"Grateful for the snake's help, she used the cones to get enough food for herself and few others. As they ate and recovered, they came to realize that there were many creatures throughout the forest. Life realized that, although there were humans nearby, the land had not yet been poisoned and the creatures had learned to live in harmony with them.

"Life had not thought it was possible to live among such monsters, but this place proved her otherwise. After that, she decided that this would be their new home.

"The land prospered under her guidance. Her mere presence made the plants grow more plentiful and the prey multiply. The wolves who had followed her had finally found the peaceful lands that had been promised to them.

"The wolves multiplied as well. Packs formed, territory expanded, and soon enough Life was no longer needed to watch over them. Secure in the knowledge that her kin would finally be able to live as they were always meant to, she bid them farewell and retreated to the far reaches South, to the rainforest. There, she grew and helped the environment around her grow, as she watched the wolves expand ever farther.

"They say that the rainforest is where she stays to this day, peacefully sleeping as she lets the world around her take its natural course. Some say that if the day ever comes that the wolves are threatened once again, she will awaken to defend them just as she did once before. Some also say that any wolf who gazes upon her will be granted eternal life, though I've never met a wolf who claims to have seen her. One can assume that it has never been done before."

Sights sighs wistfully, rolling onto her side to rub some dirt into her fur.

"I can't imagine anything more fulfilling than one day getting so see Life for myself. I don't want the eternal life or anything, I just want to find her, y'know? It's been my only goal for years now. It feels like I've explored every inch of the rainforest already. Where could she possibly be, I wonder?"

You reach over to touch your nose to hers in reassurance. You're sure she'll find Life one day.

She smiles and picks herself back up, peering over at the rest of the camp.

"Oh look, Soul is back from hunting. If you're interested in more stories, you should go talk to him. He likes to explore the Lunar World in his spare time, so I'm sure he would have something interesting to tell."

You nod and rise to go greet him next.

To Continue: Soul --->