|  Author | Topic: Counting the Stars (Read 28 times) |
♥Blue♥
Elder
Dictator of Austraila
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Joined: Jul 2008
Gender: Female 
Posts: 985
Location: Living in the moment
Karma: 2 |  | Counting the Stars
« Thread Started on Nov 15, 2008, 5:40pm » | ![[Quote]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/quote.gif) |
I had the sudden urge to right about this. It takes place in the Arctic. The main character is Panik. All are polar bears.
Main Characters
Cikuq-leader of the Aurora Tribe
Sesi-mate of Cikuq
Panik-daughter of Sesi and Cikuq
Desna-son of Sesi and Cikuq
Aumanil-son of Sesi and Cikuq
Aipalovik-Seer of Aurora Tribe
PART ONE
"Panik!" The sound of my brother's voice called me from my dreamland. I looked up to see him climbing onto the pile of ice and snow that hung over our den. His brown eyes sparkled and his shaggy fur was blown back. "Look! I'm Aumanil, leader of the Aurora Tribe!" he called. "Aumanil! Get down! You could fall!" I called, worried about my younger brother. "You worry too much! This is fun!" he yelled, and jumped up and down. "Aumanil! Get down right now!" I said, scrambling to the base of the hill. "You're not my mom!" he sneered, and kicked snow in my face. I blinked away the cold crystals and glared at him. "I'm gonna get Mom if you don't get down!" I roared, my claws digging into the ice. Seriously, sometimes Aumamil could be such a pain! "Fine, I'm coming!" he growled, and started to slip down. Suddenly, he lost his footing and slid down the rest of the way, landing head first in the snow. I ran up to him and poked him with my claw. "Aumanil! Are you OK?" I asked, clearly worried. To my great relief and anger, Aumanil's snow white bottom wiggled as he freed his head. "That was awesome!" he cried.
"What was awesome?" Sesi said as she walked out of the den, Desna behind her. "N-nothing, Mum," Aumanil stuttered. I snorted. When Mom's not around, he's the perfect little daredevil. Sesi walked up to him and brushed the snow off of his face. "Well then, I have to show you something," she said gently. I pricked my ears and trotted over to Sesi. "What?" I asked while clinging to her leg. Sesi chuckled. "You'll see, if you behave," she said, shooting a glance at Aumanil. But Aumanil was looking at Desna with hatred in his eyes. Ever since Aumanil had learned that Desna was heir to the throne because he was firstborn, he had passionately hated him. I rolled my eyes and looked back at Desna. He was, as usual, acting superior and strong, like he was already the Tribe leader. Annoying brute, I thought silently.
Sesi's voice brought me out of my thoughts. "Come, cubs, and follow me," she said, and started to walk away at a slow pace. I scrambled to keep up with her, Aumanil at my side. "Where're we going? Are we there yet? What's that?" Aumanil's constant chatter echoed in my ears. I sighed and flattened my ears to my head. This was going to be a long journey.
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It was night, and the sky was dancing. My grandmother always said, "When the sky lights up and dances, it is our ancestors, watching over us." I looked up and watched the colors swirl. It was very pretty, and I wanted to stop and enjoy it, but I was falling behind. I ran and caught up with Sesi, panting. "Can-we-stop-now?" I asked, stumbling. Sesi shook her head, her eyes still on the horizon. It was silent for a long while until Sesi halted, resulting in me running into her. "Now, be quiet children. We don't know if they are compassionate or arritated right now," she whispered. We didn't need to be told twice. Aumanil, Desna and I were so tired we just followed Sesi without question.
I gasped as I saw where Sesi was leading us. A pulsing green light was about ten yards away, and from it the sky lights were flowing. I saw the shapes of reindeer and bears, mammoths and seals, foxes and humans. I could tell Desna and Aumanil were surprised too, for they gasped and picked up their pace. Sesi stopped six feet away from the light. As I looked, I saw that is pulsed with energy and was a part of the ice. Green veins ran out in all directions, pulsing also with the strange energy. Sesi told us to sit down, and she sat down herself. "What you are looking at, children, is the place where the first Arctic creatures were born from the ice. The first polar bear, Tupilek, was born here, crafted of the blood of seal and the heart of ice. Each night, the spirits run free in the skies and dance for us, making sure we are safe. Now-Panik! What are you doing?!" Sesi called out, for I had gotten up and was walking towards the light. "Panik! Come here!" Sesi said, but her voice sounded far away, as if she was calling to me from across the pack ice. My eyes reflected the shining green light as I came closer. Then, I heard the song. It was sweet and gentle, yet strong and wise. I then realized that the spirits were singing. Instead of going up in the sky, they formed a circle around me, all the while singing their beautiful song. I was now only one foot away from the light. Come, come, daughter of Tupilek, come and see, a voice said. The spirits started swirling around me, bringing me forward in a colorful blur. I stepped into the light.
I was told later on that I glowed brighter than the sun, and that red markings appeared on my fur. The spirits' song reached a high point. I, too was singing, though I hardly realized it. The stars were swirling around me, and I felt powerful and wise and strong all at the same time. I saw the history of the Arctic, and the end of the world. I saw the birth of all animals, some I didn't recognize. And, I saw the universe, a giant pulsing star, and a face of a roaring polar bear. Then, it was dark.
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I woke up in the safety of my den, Sesi curled around me. When she saw I was awake, her face lit up and she called Aumanil and Densa. My brothers came in, both looking worried. I had a sudden rush of affection for both of them. "Panik! I was so afraid!" Aumanil said, his eyes wide. Densa just stared at me. "W-what's on your face?" he asked fearfully. "What? What do you mean, what's on my face?" I asked, a haughty tone in my voice. Sesi bent down and looked at me. She gasped and whispered one word, "Aningan." "What? What's wrong?" I asked, my voice becoming fearful. Sesi got up and shook herself. "We need to see Aipalovik," she said decidedly, and picked me up by the scruff. I groaned. The last bear I wanted to see was the grumpy old Seer.
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It was strange, being away from the birthing grounds. Sesi was carrying me to the center of the Aurora Tribe, where most bears lived. I saw some peek their heads out of their dens and bow them respectfully, only to look up again at me. I was starting to get annoyed. What the heck was wrong with my face?
We reached the Seer's den, a large hole carved into a giant hill of ice. Once Sesi put me inside, my eyes watered with the aroma of the healing herbs. I blinked and looked up to see a white, almost grey she-bear. Aipalovik, the Tribe Seer. She was bent over a dip in the ice, burning grass and reading the smoke. Sesi cleared her throat and set me down. "Aipalovik? I think you need to see this," she said, and gently pushed me forward. The Seer looked up at Sesi, then bent down to look at me. It took all I had not to shy away from her foul breath. "Child, where did you get that mark?" Aipalovik barked. "What mark? What?" I asked. Aipalovik got up and reached for some special reflection ice. She set it down at my feet, and I looked at my reflection. I gasped at what I saw.
On my forehead was a bright line, made of everchanging colors. It branched out like a tree, and stopped at the top of my eye sockets. "W-what is that?" I asked, slightly afraid. "That is the mark of the moon god, Aningan. You only get it if you have commingled with spirits under a full moon," Aipalovik said while putting the reflecting ice away. "I know you have, child. I sensed it. I saw it. The sky lights were sucked up to the center of Arctic creation. Sesi, did you take the cubs to the sky light center?" Aipalovik asked, turning to my mother. Sesi nodded. "I thought they were ready," she said. Aipalovik snorted. "Obviously Panik was more than ready," she groaned. I dug my claws into the icy floor. "Sesi, go get your mate, but tell him to wait outside with you. I have to talk to Panik alone," she continued. No! The last thing I wanted was to be alone with the Seer! But it was too late. Sesi had already left. Aipalovik sat down and turned to her herb fire. "Tell me, cub. What made you step into the light?" she asked without looking up. I gulped and thought of what I would say. What did compel me to step into the center? "I-I felt like I had to. And when I heard the song, I just wanted to go there even more," I said shakily. I heard a sharp intake of breath, and saw that Aipalovik was looking at me with fierce intensity. "Song? Tell me about the song, girl," she demanded while lowering her head again. I took a breath before speaking. "I really can't explain it, Aipalovik. It made me happy and sad and mad and tired all at the same time. It was saying that I should step into the light," I quietly said. I heard my parents outside, and shuffled umcomfortably. "What did you see when you stepped into the light?" the Seer asked me. "I saw..everything," I said dreamily. Aipalovik stiffly nodded. "Come in!" she called to my mom and dad.
As always when I saw my dad, I became overwhelmed with a fear and security. Cikuq stepped inside, his head almost reaching the ceiling. His pure white fur shone with gold undertones. His understanding brown eyes were on me. "Panik," he said in that deep and raspy voice. I instantly became calm. "So? Is she chosen?" Sesi asked, sounding grumpy and tired. Aipalovik nodded. "Yes, but she isn't old enough yet. We must wait," she said. Cikuq spoke up, saying, "What did she see?" Aipalovik shot him a look. "That is not for you to know. Not yet," she snapped. Sesi dipped her head to Aipalovik. "Thank you, o great Seer," she said humbly. She beckoned for me to come outside. I bounded after her, Cikuq behind me. Sesi nuzzled her mate and picked me up. We went in the direction of home.
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♥Blue♥
Elder
Dictator of Austraila
member is offline
[Mo0:8]
Joined: Jul 2008
Gender: Female
Posts: 985
Location: Living in the moment
Karma: 2 |  | Re: Counting the Stars
« Reply #1 on Nov 18, 2008, 9:59pm » | |
PART TWO
My heart was thumping against my chest. I looked up to the sky and squinted my eyes. I could see a blizzard on the horizon. I shuddered slightly and shifted in my seat.
Bears were all below me, looking up at me with expecting eyes. Aumanil was on my left, Desna on my right. Now that we had reached 15 moons of age, we were ready to leave the nursery grounds and become a true member of the Aurora Tribe. I was so nervous, I was sure my brothers could hear my heart tearing at my chest.
Suddenly, all was quiet. My father walked up, his brown eyes soft as he looked upon his children. Even though he was older, he hadn't lost any of his pride. "We gather below the midnight sky to welcome three young cubs into the Aurora Tribe!" Cikuq bellowed. I couldn't help but lift my head a little. "Desna, Aumanil, Panik
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