Mwashinga means 'you are courageous'. Haoniyao means 'born during a quarrel'.

Yao had to live up to both of those names throughout his short life. True to his name, he was born in the midst of a raid. His family, once barely a twinkle in their liege-lords' eyes, became renowned warriors with land and holding and renown and status. However, with peace comes a warrior's restlessness. Living with the stories of his family's heroics in that bygone era — his father losing an eye, his mother almost dying as she gave birth to him and his siblings, his uncles taking down a massive wolf, his aunt dying to protect his mother, to name a few — weighed heavily on the young lad, who had no battles to fight, no scars to earn and bear and tell stories of. He left to find these badges of courage and skill.

Or at least die trying.