Crimson Claw: Firstborn son and heir of Gray Ash
Firstborn of Strong Arm: Braveclaw's friend, later named Long Stripe
Grandmother: Mother of Red Fall
Gray Ash: Father of Braveclaw, mate of Red Fall
Hind Strike: Braveclaw's sister
Long Stripe: Childhood friend of Braveclaw
Notched Blade: Uncle of Braveclaw, brother of Gray Ash
Red Fall: Mother of Braveclaw, mate of Gray Ash
Secondborn of Gray Ash: Braveclaw's sister, later named Hind Strike
Thirdborn of Gray Ash: Braveclaw's pre-Rite name

Grandmother's Tale

It was a dark and rainy night the night that he came, the one they call Braveclaw. Edrei, the fearless, the advocate and peacemaker. Uniter, warrior, wielder of the Heroes Arm, Restitutor and protector of the peoples from the forces of darkness. It was nearing the end of the month of Korin and the night he was born, the light moon, Lentrata, bit Shaydu, the moon of darkness...

Gray Ash ducked under the flap of the skin tent and into the sprinkling rain. Outside the warriors stood, dripping with moisture. Gray Ash straightened giving a toothy grin and spread is arms to the darkness.

"My friends, my third born is come, my second son, and fate willing, he will bring me as much joy as my first son has."

The warriors leaned forward congratulating Gray Ash and laughing throatily, giving him cheers of congratulation and slaps on the back. Inside the hut Red Fall, mate of Gray Ash listened to their voices. Grandmother, sitting silently nearby, wrapped the newborn kit in a soft pelt, handing the child to it's mother. Red Fall held her child loosely, exhausted. She opened her eyes to look at her mother.

"Is he healthy?" she asked softly, fatigued from her ordeal. Grandmother looked down a moment, unblinking, "Yes, he is healthy." Grandmother paused and uttered under her breath, "he is far more than that..."

Red Fall turned away tired, "What?"

Grandmother gave her only a silent glance. Red Fall let the comment pass. There was another burst of congratulations from the warriors outside. The vixen closed her eyes, "Perhaps now he will be satisfied..."

She trailed off wearily and Grandmother stood leaning on her old gnarled staff. In the corner of the hut, a young kankoran girl starred unblinkingly at the new kit...

There were many trials for the young Braveclaw, many hardships even at the beginning...

Red Fall's tears soaked into her mate's embrace as the cold night moved in. Gray Ash starred with furrowed brow, twisted in anguish as we watched the burning funeral pyre. The elder druid stepped forward with his staff, making the ancient sign in front of the flickering pyre.

The old druid turned, "Crimson Claw, son of Gray Ash, of the Earthenhand clan has been slain in combat, by humans, fallen with his..", the druid hesitated, "...Coyle cousins. May his warrior spirit find it's way to the Warriors ranks. We feel his loss."

The sounds of the hymnal rose in unison and Gray Ash clenched his fist whispered bitterly, "My son...my heir..."

"Do not forget, you have another son", said a voice from behind.

Gray Ash glanced over his shoulder to see the figure of Grandmother. Red Fall looked down at the young cub slumbering comfortably in the skin sling hanging in front of her, unaware of the sadness surrounding him.

"My firstborn, my finest seed is fallen, and I haven't even a Secondborn son to carry on my name."

Grandmother shook her head, "you have two more children Gray Ash be grateful for that." "Leave us old one," Gray Ash said turning back to the funeral pyre and after a few moment, he joined his voice in the hymnal.

And after his sister's Rite...

"But where are you going?" the young cub asked.

"I'm going on my Rite, you dunce," said the Secondborn, putting the knife into the sheath at her side.

The young kit looked up not saying anything. The girl finished her preparations and looked back at the boy.

"Stop staring," she snipped, "you look like an idiot.

"Are you coming back?" the cub asked.

"Of course I am!" she sassed.

"Arm Wound's Secondborn didn't come back," the boy replied matter of factly, still starring.

"I'LL be back, " she said defiantly, heading for the flap of the tent, "And I'll return in GLORY!! I doubt if YOU'LL ever come back when it's your turn!"

She paused at the flap, "Now come on, we have to get to MY ceremony!"

She ran out with the young cub hot on her heels.

"Wait!"

After what happened...

The Elder Druid listened intently as the Secondborn finished her story. The Secondborn of Gray Ash then rose and stepped back.

"Secondborn of Gray Ash, we accept your tale but are not pleased with the death of the Firstborn of Stone Strike, your sworn companion, and you have no stripes to show for it. Regardless, we declare you have passed your Rite and bestow you with the name of Hind Strike, for your kill. Now go."

Hind Strike with a look drawn from shock and loathing turned and left the council, as she fled she encountered the cold gaze of her father. She froze and scowled, tears filling her eyes. Her father turned and walked away from her.

"I don't believe this!" Hind Strike cried, her voice cracking a little and casting her knife on the ground, and ran towards the hut.

During the attack, I feared for my daughter, and what her foolish mate might do. I hoped that what I learned happened afterward would make a difference to cool Gray Ash's hatred, but...

"GO NOW!" Gray Ash yelled angrily, striking Red Fall, "Follow that coward daughter of yours, she has fled already!"

Gray Ash yelled again, raising his spear, and finally Red Fall fled with her Thirdborn in tow. "Mama!" the Thirdborn cried, "why are the Coyle chasing us!?"

"Run boy!" Red Fall hissed back.

Suddenly, from the trees, a shadowy, canine figure loomed, barring the mother's path with a low growl. In the shadow of the great tree the figure tensed. A toothed club fell, striking Red Fall in the side of the head. The Thirdborn looked up in terror as his mother crumpled to the ground, with a sob, her hand clutching her temple. The figure raised it's arm again.

At once, from behind them a silver shaft pierced the dark figure through the heart, like the vengeance of some god on an evil foe the figure hissed and wrenched onto the ground. The young cub turned and looked up. Astride a white horse a man encased in silver metal retrieved his shining lance to a vertical position, then dismounted hid great horse. The huge man strode with lengthy paces to Red Fall and helped her to her feet. She looked up dazed and afraid. Then the figure spoke with a deep voice, in the wolfen tongue, "Go quickly, m'lady they are coming this way."

He let his eyes fall on the awe-filled cub for a moment, then he turned, leapt astride his steed and was gone.

Red Fall touched her head a moment and said shakily, "m'lady?" Realizing herself she seized the Thirdborn roughly and jerked him down the trail.

As the two ran, the Thirdborn asked amazed, "Mama, who was that?"

"A human..." Red Fall said numbly," one of their warriors.....a .....knight." The two ran down the path as the Thirdborn pondered his mother's words.

Still through it all, he grew up strong, just as I knew he would...

"Come on!" the Firstborn of Strong Arm called backward as the two young cubs scrambled over the rough, gray rocks, meandering amongst the deep green pines. The Thirdborn of Gray Ash leapt over a large stone and took stance behind his friend.

"Yield!" the Thirdborn growled with a cocky half smile to his pseudo-adversary, pressing the blunt of his short spear into the Firstborn's back. The Firstborn turned with a mock war cry, seizing the Thirdborn's spear and the two toppled down the thicket covered slope in a mass of arms and legs. The two bumped to a stop at the bottom of the hill with a groan.

"Ouch," the Thirdborn of Gray Ash breathed as a mass under him shifted.

"I surrender," the Firstborn of Strong Arm replied painfully.

The two cubs made their way through the trees stealthily, the summer wind sending the cool breeze of the North through the air. The sun slanted down illuminating the floating air inside the ancient trees. The First of Strong Arm stopped.

"Third, look there."

The Third of Gray Ash looked and saw a young deer standing in the low brush.

"This way," the Third said motioning to his friend.

The two cubs moved silently through the dusty green underbrush and around the various thickets. The Thirdborn of Gray Ash stepped silently over a rock and tantalizingly close to the deer. Suddenly there was a rustle as the Firstborn misstepped into an old and fallen tree. The deer looked up startled and began to flee.

"Ark!" the Third cried and started after the deer with the Firstborn of Strong Arm close behind. The two bounded after their prey over and under the old fallen trees of the forest. Suddenly the deer broke into a clearing and there was a sudden whimper of alarm. Across from them a startled stranger, a cub took a step backward from the deer and near the edge of a high precipice. Loose rock slid away from the dangerous gap behind him. With a cry he slid down over the edge.

The Third of Gray Ash dove quickly and caught the cub by the wrist. At once he too began to be dragged over the ledge.

"Firstborn!" the Third cried and the First of Strong Arm quickly dove to grab his friend. With a grunt the two young cubs heaved the strange cub back onto the ledge. The new cub was large, larger than the Firstborn or the Third and was black like a winter night. He was dressed in a tattered tunic and was injured and shaky.

"Who are you, what clan do you come from?" the Thirdborn of Gray Ash asked.

The cub looked back confused. The Firstborn stepped forward, "What are you doing out here?"

The cub shook his head slowly, not understanding them.

The First and Third looked at each other for a moment.

"Lets take him back to the tribe, " the First said.

So they brought him back, a life saved, a life that would save his many times to come...

"Heavens boy!" Red Fall cried as the two cubs returned with the dark cub, "what is this?"

"He was in the woods Mama," the Third of Gray Ash replied, "he needs food."

Red Fall looked afraid, "We..cannot, your father...will not...."

"But Mama..." The Third was cut off by his mother's look.

Hind Strike stuck her head out of the skin hut and then stepped outside.

"He is not one of us, he is Wolfen," she said curtly, then smiled with of hint of cruelty, "father will never take him."

"Take him to the elders," Red Fall said waving her hand, then she and her daughter ducked inside the hut.

The cubs stood outside the circle of elder's tents while the dark cub stood solemnly apart from them. Finally two of the clan druids approached and looked at the dark cub, talking amongst themselves for a moment then turned to the two cubs.

"We will take him," the druid motioned to the dark cub, then speaking in the wolfen tongue said, "come here son, let's get you something to eat."

The two druids entered the circle of huts with the dark cub and the First and Third watched him go, then looked at each other.

"So they meet..." said a voice behind the cubs.

The cubs turned to face an old kankoran, dressed in rough robes, with the symbols of clan counselor, leaning heavily on her staff.

"Grandmother!" the Thirdborn of Gray Ash said running and throwing his arms around her, "how long have you been there?"

"Easy on old grandmother, " she said kindly looking down, "you're getting so big it'll be time for your Rite in a little while"

"And how are you First of Strong Arm, I suspect you will be going on your Rite about the same time as my grandson?"

"Yes ma'm," the First replied.

"Together?" the old kankoran questioned.

"Yeah!" The Firstborn of Strong Arm replied.

"That is a wise choice gifted one," she said to the Thirdborn of Gray Ash.

"Why do you call me that Grandmother?" the Third asked.

"Because you are, someday you will see, even your father."

"Come children," Grandmother said gathering up her robes, "I will fetch you something to eat."

I remember that day, and it wasn't long until he would prove himself...

"Tomorrow we will leave," the Firstborn of Strong Arm said, "what will we do when we return, will you join the warriors?"

"Yes," the Thirdborn of Gray Ash said, "I will go when the warriors go to fight for the village."

"I will be the greatest warrior," the First said, "greater than all in our clan. I will make many kills."

The Third looked off into the stars and thought....

The thoughts of a young boy, who can know? None except when the time comes for them to prove themselves men. When the Passage comes, the time to make their kill...

The two cubs took the daggers, blessed by the druids and rose to their feet.

"Firstborn of Strong Arm, Thirdborn of Gray Ash, your Rite is begun, return in three full moons, and present your story to this council. May the blessings of the Ancestors and the Land go with you."

The two turned and went to their families. The Thirdborn of Gray Ash went to his mother. His sister and Grandmother stood by, as well as his uncle's family.

"Where is Papa?" the Third asked looking around.

"He couldn't make it," Red Fall said her ears falling a little and she turned away.

Hind Strike looked down and shook her head smirking then whispered in the Third's ear, "Never coming back..."

The Third scowled and Grandmother stepped in front of Hind Strike before the young kankoran could respond. She placed her hand on the Thirdborn's head, smiling with an old, toothy grin.

"Show them who you are gifted one, show them your best" she laughed softly, then softly tousled his head.

"I will Grandmother," the Third said clasping her old wrist and smiled.

Behind the druids stood a large, dark cub in novice's robes, the fresh brand of the Earthenhand on his dark brow...

Still, after all this, Gray Ash's bitterness continued...

Gray Ash sat, somber and gloomy, chipping at a piece of black stone, fashioning an arrowhead. Grandmother ducked intrusively under the flap of the hut, breaking the silence with Red Fall behind her protesting.

"Mother, please don't..."

The old kankoran turned, holding up a hand to halt her daughters words, then turned to face Gray Ash.

"Where were you, Gray Ash?"

"What do you want old crone," Gray Ash replied not turning to face her, but continuing to chip at the stone.

"Your son's Rite began today! Where were you!?" Grandmother said venomously.

"My son is dead," Gray Ash said simply and mechanically, his gaze fixed blankly on the arrowhead.

"You have TWO more children Gray Ash!" Grandmother shouted exasperatedly.

"Wrong!" said Gray Ash standing up his eyes narrowing and a hand raising to make his point, "I have a dead son and two failures! That is what I have! My one chance at greatness was taken by those miserable humans! Now, all I have is shame!"

"You are a pigheaded idiot Gray Ash! You don't know what you have!" Grandmother replied, looking to her side and waving an arm to emphasize her point then returning it to rest on her staff.

Gray Ash growled, hatred burning in his eyes, and struck the old kankoran woman with the back of his hand. She fell backwards out of the hut and onto the ground with a groan.

"Out of my dwelling old witch! I never want to see you here again you miserable withered harpy!" he yelled.

"Brother!" a warrior called Notched Blade said, rushing to the old woman's side, "what are you doing? You would strike a female? A clan counselor!?"

"Stay out of this!" Gray Ash yelled and took a step, but Notched Blade stepped in front of the old kankoran.

"Will you strike your own flesh and blood too Gray Ash? Your own brother?" Notched Blade said.

"She insults my honor!" Gray Ash snarled back.

"One who will not see his own son off on the Rite has no honor left." Notched Blade said calmly.

"My son is dead!!" Gray Ash bellowed exasperated, "how cruel are the Ancestors to heap the shame of these two vile creatures upon my loss!!"

He gazed at Hind Strike, she starred back trough narrowed eyes and ducked behind the hut a little.

"Your son will be a great warrior..." said Grandmother weakly wiping a bit of dark blood from her brow.

"Then you take him old hag! I have only one son!" Gray Ash cried pointing with the arrowhead he had been working on at her.

With that he whirled flinging the flap to the hut aside like an angry gale, leaving his daughter standing rigid outside. Red Fall looked around painfully and ducked slowly inside the skin hut, knowing and fearing what would come next.

The two cubs hunted for many days, living as best they could, eating only what they could gather and hunt with their knives. The days and nights passed and the cubs wandered the forest into the colder months of the Northern fall, until the time drew near that they were to return.

"Thirdborn, I see game ahead." said the Firstborn, pointing at a form in the trees. It had been many days since they ate. The Third of Gray Ash looked at the leaf covered ground, no track crossed it and it was growing dark.

"I will go around downwind," the Firstborn said and began to make his way around. The Thirdborn began to cross the wind.

The First of Strong Arm drew very near to the distance of perfect kill. He looked for the Thirdborn but could not see him. The prey would move if he waited. He silently moved near and waited a few seconds, the only sound the beating of his heart. In a flash he leapt on the creature with his knife.

The animal gave a growl of anger and reared up. A towering mass overshadowed the Firstborn of Strong Arm. He froze, stunned on the ground and petrified with fear. With one great swipe the bear flung the young kankoran aside against a tree trunk. The Thirdborn of Gray Ash heard only a terrified whimper as his friend struck hard. He rushed through the bushes and broke onto the huge bear. As the bear wheeled, the Thirdborn rolled under the bear's large form, dry leaves crackling under him. The bear reared and let out a terrifying roar. The Thirdborn froze for a moment but as he stood in the cold night, the moon behind, focusing on controlling his fright, a solid determination filled him, banishing his fear. He reached for his knife, but it had fallen from it's sheath in the leaves. Undaunted and looking the great beast in the eye, the Thirdborn of Gray Ash gave a warriors cry and leapt with all his might ripping his claws deep into the bear's flesh...

Whatever powers rule this world must have been with him then, for a creature such as that would be a match for the best of warriors. It was a terrible battle and cost him much...

The Firstborn awoke as he was lifted by his friend. His vision was blurry and he strained to look at the Thirdborn. There was a deep ragged claw wound on the right side of the Thirdborn's face and it was bleeding heavily, not only from his face but from many wounds. The Firstborn of looked down to see dark blood on the night shrouded leaves.

"Thirdborn," he said weakly, "you are bleeding."

"That is your blood.." the Third replied shakily carrying his friend along.

The Firstborn of Strong Arm felt the dampness where his head had struck. "Where do we go...?" the he said, growing drowsy.

"To the village, our Rite is done, we are warriors."

I don't know how they made it back that night, but their trials were just beginning...

The druids quickly took the two injured kankoran to be treated. The Firstborn of Strong Arm was treated quickly and then was left to rest, but the condition of the Thirdborn was quickly deteriorating. The Druids called his family.

"He will not make it," the druid said to Notched Blade, "he has lost too much blood, that we cannot heal."

"Wait," came a voice from the darkness outside. The druids turned as Grandmother entered.

"Where are his parents?" the elder druid asked in his husky voice.

Grandmother stood a moment looking at him, then replied, "They will not come." The druids stood in silence a moment.

Grandmother took a step forward and knelt beside the young kankoran, his shallow breathing the only sound in the room.

"You have the power within you child," she whispered in a cracking aged voice, "you must find it for yourself, you have fought for your friend, now you have to fight for yourself, you have the warriors spirit within you, you have to use it now!"

The bandaged face of the young kankoran remained motionless then strained a moment as if searching. For several minutes the druids watched in silence fixed on the young warrior. No sound entered the healers hut as all focused intently on his rent form. At last the boy relaxed a little and his breathing eased. The master healer stepped forward and laid a hand on the boy's chest.

"His life-force has strengthened just enough", the old kankoran said I don't know how or why, but I believe he will live."

And so he made it and was soon on the road to recovery. I don't know where is parent's were that night, and I avoided them for a few days...

The two young kankoran knelt before the druids as they finished their stories. A vivid claw wound shown on the Thirdborn's cheek, a wound also shown on the right side of the Firstborn of Strong Arm. The druids consulted amongst themselves and then the elder druid stood.

"We have heard your stories, seen the proof of your kill, and we see your stripes. You have done well. Firstborn of Strong Arm we name you Long Stripe. Thirdborn of Gray Ash, we name you," he paused and looked at his brothers for affirmation, and they nodded, "We name you Braveclaw, for your kill." Two druids stirred the fires with a shower of red hot sparks and drew forth the hot metal. The elder spoke, "You have done well, step forward and receive the Warrior's Mark."

Grandmother stood beside Notched Blade and smiled.

I would have thought that Braveclaw's success would have made Gray Ash happy, but in the end it didn't matter. He was too deep in his own anger not having every been close to Braveclaw when he was young, and anger burned within him, slowly consuming him.

"There's someone who want's to talk to you," Grandmother said looking up at Braveclaw. He had grown much over the summers and was becoming very tall and well muscled, she had to strain her haunched form to look at him.

"Who, Grandmother," Braveclaw questioned, "I was about to go and hunt."

"Oh, you still can, I suspect he would like to go with you, I'm sure you'll have many hunts together from now on." she said slyly.

"You're always a riddle aren't you Grandmother?" Braveclaw said smiling.

"Come," she said, and taking his hand, and lead him to the druid's huts.

The druids exited their huts in preparation to dismantle them and follow the game. A giant figure in the druid's robe exited and began to work with the others.

"Do you recognize him?" Grandmother asked.

"Who?" Braveclaw asked.

"There," Grandmother said pointing at the large figure.

Braveclaw looked for a moment but shook his head, Grandmother took his wrist, "Come on."

The two crossed the circle and the large druid stood to his full height, turning as they came. He was toweringly large, he extended a greeting as Grandmother drew near.

"I never got a chance to say thank you," the deep voice said from beneath the hood.

"Uh, for what?" Braveclaw replied.

"I think you should remember when you save someone's life," the giant druid chuckled. He pushed back his hood and revealed his dark features, the mark of the Earthenhand clan on his brow.

"You?" Braveclaw said.

"Yes."

"That was so many summers ago," Braveclaw said rubbing the back if his head.

"I am Shadowtree", the tall wolfen said, "I completed my Rite just as you left all those summers ago. You saved me at the cliff, when I was lost and alone. I thought it fitting to give my thanks."

"I am Braveclaw," Braveclaw replied and gave a sly grin.

They were, of course, fast friends and spent a lot of time together. They hunted and talked mostly, as the young will do. Shortly after arguments between Braveclaw and his father increased and though Braveclaw was living with his uncle, Notched Blade, he had trouble dealing with it. He left for a time, none knew where he had gone, as far as his immediate family was concerned no one really cared. He often mentioned knights to me, and I knew he had a subtle respect for them, but never thought he would do as he did. When he returned, several summers later he had acquired a fine horse, many new stripes, strange Wolfen looking weapons, and he wore thick leather armor with metal studs. He told me he had spent time with the humans, and studied to become a knight. I didn't know what to think, but I knew his father would be furious if he found out, but I knew I could not keep it from him for long, there were many who could tell just by looking at Braveclaw Gray Ash took it with his awful indifference and I watched Braveclaw drift farther from his parents and sister...

A group of warriors gathered their weapons, some mounting horses. Gray Ash mounted his horse and Red Fall handed him his spear.

"Good luck in battle my mate," she said the memorized phrase tiredly, "slay all our enemies."

"Believe me I shall," Gray Ash said coldly, "for our son whom they slaughtered..."

"Yes," Red Fall replied softly.

"Mother!" came a voice from behind.

Gray Ash scowled and took his spear. Braveclaw strode up looking down at his mother, then up at his father.

"We can't do this," Braveclaw said extending his hands, "the humans have not attacked us. They are on their own land."

"It is not their land!" Gray Ash growled, "they are on OUR land and you would so easily forget that it was the humans who killed my son!"

"Crimson Claw attacked a human settlement allied with Coyles!" Braveclaw protested.

"Do not dishonor his name by speaking it with your traitorous lips, you ally yourselves with the humans because you fear them, I will not be swayed so easily. You follow their ways and spit on your own people, you dishonor us all." Gray Ash shot back.

"Father," Braveclaw protested.

"I am NOT your father, " Gray Ash snapped.

"Mother, don't you remember?" Braveclaw said looking down at his mother, "It was a human knight that saved your life when the invaders came! He saved both our lives!"

"I...do not..." Red Fall looked away.

Braveclaw looked back at his father, "You are making a mistake, all the warriors do not agree to this raid!"

"It is the cowards who do not agree, we go to join our cousins the Wolfen to get back our land anyway we can, I cannot expect you to understand that. You would fight against us if it came down to it you whelpish betrayer!"

The warriors rode away and Braveclaw shook his head, "Mother,"

"Leave me," Red Fall replied walking away, her hands covering her face, Hind Strike followed her giving Braveclaw a wicked and jealous look.

Braveclaw watched as the warriors departed letting his ears and tail fall, until his shoulders slumped. He felt a soft old hand on his shoulder.

"They are making a mistake, not this way...", Notched Blade said standing a little way off, watching the warriors go.

"Don't believe what he says Edrei" Grandmother said, "you've done no wrong. Sometimes I think all of our peoples are too set in their ways. It is intolerance that causes suffering."

Braveclaw smiled sadly, "I know Grandmother, thank you....for everything."

Grandmother embraced her tall grandson.

Things were a little more peaceful with Gray Ash gone, and their were no more of Red Fall's bruises to be treated late at night when no one could see. I knew Braveclaw was hurting and that he wanted to talk to his mother, but it was too much for her. And as the days passed, I knew that somehow, trouble was on the way...