Chapter 4: Burning Ritual

KAISER POV, 6 WEEKS AFTER THE CHANGE

As the ritual continued the dancing, drumming and singing became rowdier until I escaped from the crowd to get some fresh air. Bumping into Lana the female council member she falls onto the ground.

I give her my hand to help her up. “Are you alright comrade?”

“Yes sir, I was just looking for Hans for the meeting tomorrow.” She says.

“No reason for formalities, this is a celebration.” I say charmingly.

Her tail swung side to side as she asked if she could accompany me, I accept but I could see further intentions as many dogs are developing families and communities, also in a few months or so most of the single females will go in heat.

As we walk and talk about the council and other important topics she switches the conversation.

“I’ve been thinking… Isn’t it time we organize the people for example last names, married couples would share a name.” She says.

“That is a good idea but with our current writing tools which consist of writing in park and clay tablets could not supply such things.” I reply.

“S- .. Comrade, I have heard you have no mate for the upcoming season, Adolph and even Sigmund have found a mate.” She says, as the tension rises. She had no humility in asking, it was common for young Hunds to find a mate before the season, even before the change.

“Ah yes, I just haven’t seemed to find one. I have been terribly busy and lately all these enemy encounter stories have put me out of such moods.” I reply.

“Oh, well I was think-” She was cut off as Adolph came and grabbed me by the shoulder.

“Comrade come with me, I have something very urgent to discuss with you!” He says.

“Will you excuse me Comrade Lana?” I say as I walk with Adolph.

As we walk farther away from her into the woods Adolph looks at me smiling.

“What is so urgent you had to interrupt my conversation Comrade?” I ask.

“I saw that you were stuck with her, word has it that she fancies you a whole deal and has rejected most Hunds for this season.” He says.

“Hm, she brought up a good point. We should integrate a last name and perhaps middle name system to count the families and bloodlines.” I say.

“Lighten up comrade, now is not the time to talk of such things! You have seen those dancers! And who ever thought up of those leather drums needs the best spoils of the hunt! And look at this!” He says as he shows his outfit.

A leather skirt, with another print on its front , a sash crossed his chest onto the skirt and several beads and necklaces on his neck made up the outfit.

He seemed more human as he stood up proudly in his new attire, his posture was that of an army soldier. Unstrapping a bag hanging at his side he handed me my outfit.

I changed in front of him, I did not have much humiliation as me and him were close friends.

Mine looked similar to his except a twig crown that wraps around my temple, I didn't like being seen as the leader of the Hunds, but that wa inevitable due to our loyalty trait.

“The garment looks good, let us commence the Burning Ritual comrade.” He says and follows me as we go back up the stairs. Our numbers have reached to 20 thousand due to migrants from the western lake, we started out small and found fellow dogs in the forest but after that they seemed to migrate to us as we were the biggest faction of the race. There is smaller dog factions in the northern forests and others in the west where they say they are being pushed back. Many of the them here are young, some even born after the change being called the new generation, they had no idea or thought of the old world and or our masters.

The crowd opens up space for me and Adolph to walk, we walk towards the sacrificial stand. Sigmund was already there wearing the garments as well.

“My comrades, it is a great pleasure to tell you we have infiltrated enemy forces and advanced in our plans to rid these lands of the rabbit vermin!” I say as I hold a half dead rabbit on my left hand.

“These rabbit vermin eat all the plants in the land and only prove to be a source of food for us.” I continue and place the rabbit on the stand. He had no energy to move or the will to face the whole of our people as he was surrounded.

Adolph hands me a very sharp stone which I raise with my right hand.

“Let this ritua signify the burning will of our people and long standing with the sun god!” I cut the rabbits stomach open killing him. Adolph walked in a sauntering manner and activated his magical prowess of flame, and burned the rabbit. Herbs and leaves that would multiply the fires anger were placed on top of the sacrifice.

“May the Hunds be bountiful and the this great city of uudNau everlasting!” Sigmund rejoiced.

MISSION COMPLETED: SUN GODS RITUAL

Info: The Sun God wants you to host a ritual for the introduction of his rule.

Reward: Prophet, FIRE BLESSING II, +Faith

The fire glowed a bright orange as if to show the sun god is pleased. The night continued until eventually everyone would return home and rest. As I walk I could see many of the houses have no been improved. At first the houses were made by us placing branches on the floor which we held with our teeth. The collection of branches would make usually a square and a collection of leaves and hide would be placed on top, some had no walls if any. However, now they were real tents, and some places even had clay collected from the eastern river and and blasted by fire.

THE NEXT MORNING, LANA POV

As the boring council meeting continued and Sigmund spoke in his usual apathetic manner of the topics of the finishing of the eastern rivers bridge, and a new project which he called ‘fortification’ called to big a wooden wall of logs and towers, however he planned to make such a thing amazes me as some of us barely know how to make our own tents.

Adolph now walked onto the stage, he was a funny man. So rude and decisive but also forgetful and silly at time. He never took no for an answer and was known to be a very strong man in combat, for that reason he led the hunters and never really participated in any things like meetings only now has he gotten so active.

“Hello comrades, it is my displeasure to tell you the rabbits have also gained the ability to walk on two legs, and even worse, they have gained a god of their own. They are also planning to mobilize in our territory and the power they hold is more than enough to do so. However we still have a chance! With the building of our eastern wall and inner city wall we can pick them off with these!” He said, showing a long shaft of wood with a pointed rock at its end, it was held together by plant fiber. The other object was weird, it was a bending piece of wood with a string connecting both ends, next to it was small pointed sticks, they did not have rocks as they were small and hard to make.

Adolph held the object that he called a ‘spear’, it was taller than him by a few inches and he was a very tall Dober already.

“This spear will be used to stab and penetrate the enemy behind fortifications, and this bow will be used to attack enemies from afar, the arrows are scarce so only a specialized unit of beagles and a few talented individuals will be able to use them. That brings me to my next part…” He says.

“Me and Kaiser have been thinking, the hunters were never made to combat other forces. With the rise of the rabbits and possibly future forces… We will be forming a organized army. The Army will be made up of Hunters, Infantry and Spearmen” He finished.

Kaiser stepped in the middle of the platform and continued, sauntering steps and magnificent grace only added to his genius.

“All of this will be deployed shortly, also one of our members had a wonderful idea. I would like her to come up to the platform, Lana?” He said looking at me, I almost panicked but gained my composure and walked to the platform.

“Ahum, comrades..” I say looking around. Many of the council members were old and men, I represented the females of the village and families so I stood up proudly ignoring their glances.

“As more and more members join our faction everyday it is harder and harder to keep track of who is who, the other day… Someone stole 4 caskets of fish. Do we know who or what family he or she hails from?” I continue.

“With the implementation of last names and family names we can combat this problem.”

They all looked at me puzzled, and agreed.