Qeya River What Would Mama Say?

Slightly backdated to Nov. 2nd

The effects of @Sun Eater's gift had worn off, and now Kekoa returned.

Passing the borders and furthering his way into the territory, he lifts his head to call for the Chieftain. Just as he has been ordered, he has come to tell him what he has seen.

He feels a pit developing in his stomach - nerves, but Kekoa knows they come from excitement rather than stress. He wishes to impress Sun Eater - to earn his name and a new level of respect from his packmates.

For only a moment he considers his vision, and he wonders if his words will be truthful. But if he himself believes them, then they cannot be a lie.

single eye regarded the healer in solemnity, and sun eater rose in slowl deliberation from where he had been eating a trout at the riverside.

for many moments he said nothing, only watched the young wolf, saw the dream in his eyes.

a motion of his head now;

speak

With permission given, he took a moment before speaking of his delusions.

"I saw a wolf as I wandered the river." He looked to his paws, as though struggling to remember or fighting a sense of insecurity. "Gold all over - like the sun when it's all bright, you know?" He paused, silently scolding himself. He should speak more formally if he wished to be taken seriously.

"They were aggressive with these horrible, glowing eyes. Brought a storm with them." He furrowed a brow, shaking his head.

Yes, that was what it had to be. A storm. A horrible, horrific storm brought by a golden wolf. "It has to be some sort of sign, right? We should be cautious of it at the very least."

a golden wolf with fierce eyes, one who brought a storm.

sun eater nodded. "is sign. soon we leave river. out there, threat. saatsine has caribou spirits. others," he shook his head. "we watch. be careful."

a clear light came to him. "the plant. it spoke?"

He was satisfied with the man's response. Sun Eater believed him, and so Kekoa too would believe what had been spoken. They would leave the river, and Kekoa would watch. He would keep the other's safe from this impending threat.

"Yes - it did." He responded. "I've been seeing more on my own lately, but it made it all much more intense."

It had not carried the negative effects of the mushrooms, either. He had not had to endure pain this time. He still felt ill, of course, still found himself vomiting in the night - but such things would fade. They had to. He hoped that they would.

"good." a snort announced that sun eater accepted this. "you ghost talker to us now," the saatsine man instructed. "you heal. you tell us visions. call prey to our teeth."

sun eater shrugged powerful shoulders. "maybe you have trust of all clan, i ask you for name of war chief. second leader." a ghost talker held much power among the lanzadoii; kekoa had a chance to be great in title indeed.

"what you call yourself?" it was a moment of change; the young wolf could choose what he wished and the caribou leader would support it.

"Ghost Talker.." He repeated the words, his tail waving gently. He had succeeded - he had what he craved so desperately in his grasp.

Now, he was given the choice to give himself a name. But what would he be if not Kekoa? He would need to think of something strong, something respectable. But it should speak to his role too, yes?

He took a long moment to contemplate. "If I cannot keep my name then.." He paused, furrowing his brow. He had to be sure. "I will be River Walker."

It was matter-of-fact, and gave thanks to the water that had blessed him. It felt right.

"keep name," the saatsine leader grunted. "have more than one. we know kekoa. we know river walker. say river walker name to outsider. keep kekoa inside clan."

there was power in names. the ghost talker boy would come to know this power the more he called upon it, the more he called upon his dreams.

approval shone in sun eater's stern gaze.

tag is for ref <3

Kekoa felt a sense of pride welling up inside of him at the approval of the older man. For a moment he wondered if Kaisaan too, would be proud of him - if he was proud of him.

And then as he thought of his dear brother, his mind for the first time since leaving home went to his sister. @Zitari was a thought that he was quick to shake away.

"Thank you, Sun Eater." The boy, now feeling as though he was moons closer to becoming a man, stood and respectfully lowered his head. Soon thereafter he took his leave.