Qeya River moon flint

Unfamiliar sounds rambled from Sun Eater’s mouth. At first, Shadowpaw thought it a cruel joke, for she did not trust the dark shepherd sincerity. By now, however, she knew the man to be candid. He was cruel, violent, and schemed… but he was not a prevaricator.

Ggax xel ts'akae was the first name he spoke.

Maybe it translates to trash dog, Shadowpaw thought bitterly. It was evident that, like Riverclan, the caribou herders believed in the power of names. Why else would they name themselves Sun Eat and Star Eater but to harness the power that came with such grandiose titles?

To her surprise, it translated to dark rabbit wife. Shadowpaw’s gaze lifted slightly as it dawned upon her that Sun Eater was giving her a meaningful name.

Starclan did not even whisper.

Xel kon ts'akae. Night fire woman. Perhaps the cunning of dark rabbit wife and her many faces was a prophecy Sun Eater did not want to fulfill. Night fire woman was a strong name. One that felt too powerful and beautiful for the weak and ugly Shadowpaw. But she loved it.

The dead yellow of her eyes glimmered as the star girl, formally known as Shadowpaw, was given a second life.

“Xel kon ts'akae,“ she repeated clumsily. Then she made a humming noise – the kind one makes after finishing a delicious meal.

“This name. It is unlike any other in Saatsine,” she pointed out. “Ridgeback. Ice Diver. They do not sound like Xel kon ts'akae.”