Verdigris Ravine ochre

He reached for the red earth with which Windmaker painted. The sun warmed his forehead and crusted the cool edges of mud like clay.

Cavetreader. Teller of the Final Dark. He was already these things, and now, he would be Brac.

Owlish eyes watched as Zoug backed away, ceremony complete. Wondered, what animal protected him. Watched, as the other children watched them - and wondered the same.

He had never seen the bird his father spoke of. Soon, he would learn how fitting a creature to guard him.