DISINTEREST OF THE WOLF
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Another Way
By 1017AB the rift between father and son grew ever wider. Without warning or prior word, the Bishop who owned the lands decided to pay a visit to his tenants. He arrived flanked by two other priests baring gifts as an apology for their intrusion; small bundles composed of simple things such as wine, cheese, and bread — all of which are considered holy within Dharen’Rhylo. The Al’Mora was not so keen on their appearance but showed no malice. Yet it was this arrival that struck the curiosity of the young Silvanus. Up until this point his father bared no mention of the world beyond the forest. Apparently there was a great world out there, one which was very different than the one had grown to know.
The men who visited were adorned in heavy robes. They had shoes upon their feet and fur around their chests. It was far cry from the little Silvanus had to wear in the cold conditions of the north. He had never known what it was like to wear shoes nor did he know the pleasure of clothing. When these men left he couldn’t help but follow them. He was not missed when the priests left the encampment for it was common for him to wander the woods on his own.
The priests ventured through the trees and came upon a settlement some five miles away. There was church and a collection of houses of varied size and shape. There was also a stable of horses, but the journey to the Wolf Tribe camp was so steep and difficult that horses were not practical to bring. This was the first time that Silvanus had seen such massive beasts. Truly these people were far more advanced and better off than he was. Fascinated, Silvanus made several trips back to this place over the course of the next two years. He was never seen by the people who lived there, but he learned a great deal from just watching them from afar.
They had very different hunting tactics. Instead of running wild into the night, they used crude metal fixtures. He didn’t know at the time, but those of Dharen’Rhylo called those metal devices traps. He plucked more than a few from their place in the woods and figured out how to use them. Silvanus had a very keen mind. He put to them use and discovered they were very effective at crippling prey. Naturally he wandered why it was that his father refused to use such things. Why was his father determined to be stuck in the past? Clearly there was much more to the world. There was another way.
The true spoil of his journeys beyond the settlement was when he came across a small hunting party camping in the night. They had felled their prey and cooked it on the fire, filling the air with the stench of cooked flesh and blood. He waited quietly until they slept. From their camp Silvanus took his ultimate prize — a knife. But not just any knife, he nicked himself a large steel hunting knife.
All of his spoils he kept in his own private place; a small cave too narrow for his elders to fit inside of. His small, nimble frame was scrawny enough to slip through the cracks between two great boulders. There in safety of his own cave, illuminated by firelight — Silvanus played a dangerous game. He began fiddle with the weapon in an effort to understand it. He had watched carefully as the men used it on their hunt and tried his best to mimic their motions. Already he was familiar with simple bone knives, but this was something far more superior. His most notable achievement was learning how to accurately throw it, which proved invaluable during his time hunting alone.
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Becoming a Man
By 1019AB Silvanus has come to know the ways of the hunt; both by his father’s guidance and his own cunning. Young Pups learn at an early age to hunt on their own. It is a vital part of their survival. But the true rite of passage is to venture out on the season of birth; some twelve years after coming into the world. Under the light of the full moon — they are to hunt and to kill prey with a single dagger fashioned from wood and bone of their own making. The ritual dagger must be bathed in the blood of their prey. It is a symbol of growth and maturity.
When baptized, the dagger must then sunder the fur and the flesh. A young wolf must provide for their family and must gather meat for the pack. That meat must be stripped from the bone and purged of its blood. While on a normal hunt the pack brings back the prey in a manageable size, there is no aid for the young pup during their trial. They must bring back their bounty and share it with the tribe. There must enough for all. And only once all have been fed can the hunter partake upon the spoils. No food must be ingested on the day of this process and none consumed until it was done.
In the season of Silvanus, he was tasked with this duty. But he knew well he had the resources to achieve it. On the night of his trial Silvanus went out into the darkness alone — only the light of the full moon to guide him. The night was still and knew no clouds. The journey of the dead illuminated the sky as the perished souls ventured to the Moon Gate. Cold and brisk, Silvanus could feel the bitter kiss of the season on his lungs. At least it was not the winter months. In this time prey was plentiful; the forest rich with life. Like a wraith in the night he set forth to his secret place.
Silently he stalked the forest floor and planted among the trees and tall grass the many traps he had gathered over the years. This night would be won through patience and cleverness. He would show his father now that the old ways were dead — just like the rest of the tribes. The way of the wolf was a dying religion and he didn’t want any part of it. But he’ll play the game as long as he has to. The skills he’s learned so far have been valuable to him.
Hours passed and he kept stalking the night. Carefully he marked his pray and swept around them. It would to be to his benefit to herd them toward the traps. One after another his traps went off. The bleating cries of pain echoed into the night for only a few moments before he quickly descended upon his victims. His knife found their throats and bathed the forest floor in their hot coppery blood. Within his snares he caught him two does; more than enough to feed his small company.
He did as he was instructed and practiced each ritual in turn. Satisfaction welled upon within his breast. He knew that his way was best and this proved it. Alone he may have caught only one doe, but with the aid of new toys he was capable of doing so much more. Before morning light he returned to the encampment with his spoils. Despite being young, he was more capable of laboring the weight of two hulks of raw venison.
His father was taken aback. The boy was not expected until morning light at least and with no more than one kill. But Silvanus brought with him two well before sun touched the sky. Elated, the Al’Mora greeted his son with great pride and questioned not his methods. The ritual played out as foretold. Each member of the tribe had their fill before it was Silvanus who was to enjoy the remainder. And indeed he did — confident that he knew better than everyone else.