I began my conscious living in the dark wilds of the Dark Forest, which bordered the beast lands and the empire of Ruden. It was a place often considered uninhabitable by most sane people. But it was my home for most of my childhood, and I loved it. Oh, how I miss those days of unincumbered peace and hardship. Killing my first predator, learning to build a bow, and countless silly near-death experiences shaped me far more than anything I have encountered since leaving my childhood home. It may have been different from what most children experience, but it was my life, and I loved it because I myself was loved by my father and that, as I have come to understand, is rare. Little did I know how simple my life had been when I was but a child learning the finer points of stalking….

"You must learn to be careful, Little Wolf! While finding signs of prey and stalking it, always be aware of your surroundings. We are not the only predators here in this forest, and it is not anyone's fault but yours if you are caught unaware."

The child swallowed hard and tried not to yawn. This was the worst part of his day. He was hungry and tired and so over being lectured, especially when some of what his father said had been repeated hundreds of times. Unfortunately, the intensity with which his father focused on him during these lessons kept him from zoning out at all. He tried as hard as he could to maintain eye contact with his father during the lectures, but a stare that in past days made kings shrivel up into their thrones was hard to keep in contact with. The boy eventually gave up trying to win the staring contest and looked down at the notes he was taking. His father forced him to take notes on a table filled with sand. Then after the lecture, he was forced to memorize the notes before they were wiped away. It wasn't the second least favorite part of his day. After what felt like hours, the long-drawn-out lecture about the dangerousness of different species of bears that lived near the cabin, the boy was given leave to memorize his notes and then wander the forest until dark. This was a part of his normal everyday schedule. Of course, his father half ruined the fun with the stipulation of bringing back some non-poisonous food as part of their dinner, but Little Wolf didn't really mind. Little Wolf raced into the massive forest in search of adventure and possibly some sweet wild berries that grew in the crisp spring air.

Today was Little Wolf's 7th birthday, and he was excited to go wander and then return home to see how his father would celebrate it. He had told Little Wolf that this birthday was especially important, but when Little Wolf tried to ask more about it, his father would refuse to answer. This made Little Wolf have to imagine what was going to happen. After many days and nights of contemplating, Little Wolf came to the conclusion that after his 7th birthday, he was going to be kicked out of the cabin he and his father stayed in. When this thought first crossed his mind, it terrified him, but after weeks of worrying Little Wolf had come to accept it. Life would be hard, but he could do it. It really came down to trusting his father. If his father felt Little Wolf needed to hunt alone, that's what he would do. Little wolf was still looking forward to returning after he wandered around tonight, his father always gave him amazing presents for his birthday, and since he was being kicked out the next day, his father must be giving him some really awesome ones.

Little Wolf managed to come across some wild berries and even found a nest with two eggs within. He proudly showed these off to his father upon returning to the cabin. " Dad, dad, look at what I found," he yelled as he ran the final way into the cabin.

"Wow, that's a lucky sign to find eggs of a bluebird on your birthday, little one. I'll cook them with some salted meat for dinner." said the older man rubbing his hand through Little Wolf's shaggy hair.

Little Wolf's birthday dinner was delicious. But that wasn't what Little Wolf was really focused on because after dinner was when the gifts would be given. The two finished dinners, cleaned up, then his father waved him to come to sit cross-legged with him next to the fire. Little Wolf knew his father wouldn't accept whining, so swallowing his impatience, the boy sat down next close to his father and began staring at the fire. They sat like this for what seemed like ages to Little Wolf but eventually, his father began to speak.

"When a child is born, he is not fully aware yet. All his actions seem controlled not by consciousness but by an inward drive to seek understanding in this great reality we live in. Whether it be nature, language, or emotion, the child seeks understanding. This is a very dangerous time because a child's soul is not fully anchored to their body yet. Many a night would come and go, and there would be children whose souls would escape and never return. I've stayed up watching your's Little Wolf. You have given me many frights as you seem far too curious about what's outside your body. But we've gotten past the most dangerous part. At seven years old, you little crossed over the boundary from a jaanavar to aatma, from something less real to becoming a full part of reality. Your soul, my son, will finally be anchored. Because this change occurs, every aatma must be tested to find its name. This will be the first of three changes that occur during your life. But we'll talk about that another time."

"Tonight," spoke his father in a grave tone." we're gonna hold a ceremony to celebrate the change to come and to discover your name."

Little Wolf didn't really understand everything his father said. In fact, he was pretty sure he had zoned out for part of it, so he didn't feel like he had many questions. There were only two, "So when does my soul get anchor, and will the ceremony hurt?"

"When you wake up tomorrow, you will be changed. As for the ceremony, I don't rightly know. Everyone experiences something different, as everyone has a different name. Even if you gain the same name as me, it will have a different meaning entirely, for your existence is separated from my own."

Little Wolf nodded his head, kind of understanding. His father nodded back, then stood up. Going over to a box on a shelf, he grabbed it and brought it over to the boy.

"Listen well, my son, for I shall only say this once." Said his father. "Within this box is a mushroom. It is a tool that will help connect us to the world of spirits. Yes, like in the stories I have told you, but save your questions for later because I won't answer any of them right now. It is better for you to experience everything with your own eyes than with my glasses."

His father then took out a blue mushroom and handed it to the child, gesturing for him to eat it. The child popped the entire mushroom into his mouth. It was weird, he had eaten a lot of other mushrooms before, but this time, as soon as the mushroom touched his tongue, it dissolved, turning into goo. The goo tasted positively disgusting and, even worse, was so thick it was difficult to swallow. Little Wolf really wanted to spit out the horrid thing but seeing his father placing another blue mushroom into his own mouth, Little Wolf knew he had better not.

"Now, my child, close your eyes, and don't open them until I tell you." Little Wolf closed his eyes obediently and began listening to the crackle of the fire and the slow beating of his heart. He was becoming bored as the seconds passed, he really wanted to open his eyes to see if anything was happening, but the seriousness with which his father was carrying himself made Little Wolf subconsciously act more serious.

It was a deep voice, but in a language Little Wolf had never heard. It started as a whisper, and as Little Wolf continued to listen, the crackling of the fire seemed to fade, and even his heart which had acted as a drum beat just moments before, hastened to remain silent before the words being spoken. Soon, it became all he could hear; it encompassed his world. The voice suddenly changed, it had started out sounding peaceful, but as time went on, the voice turned from peace to war, speaking of untold violence and battles covered in shadow. As the voice reached its epilate, his father spoke peacefully into his mind, "Little Wolf, open your eyes."

Startled, the voice disappeared, and Little Wolf opened his eyes to see his father standing over him. Grabbing him under both his armpits, the adult picked him up and placed him standing on what seemed like moss-covered earth. Grinning in his usual way, His father declared, "Welcome to the land of spirits, my boy!"

Glancing around, Little Wolf saw a place far prettier than any landscape he had seen in the Dark Forest. It was full of bright colors and confusing shapes that were one thing for a second then bcame something entirely different a moment later. Little Wolf breathed in and felt like he was tasting life itself for the very first time. Everything was suddenly far more real than it had ever been. He wanted to dance and sing, shout for joy, and laugh at the sheer beauty he saw at that moment.

"Focus, Little Wolf," His father's voice brought him back to reality, making him turn back around to face him.

"child," he said, smiling, "This is a very dangerous place; it is important that before we start, you must understand what you are about to do."

After receiving a nod from the boy, he went on, "In order to discover your name, we must ask a spirit for guidance."

"How do we do that?" the boy asked in a whisper?

"Watch," the man said with a laugh, then turning around, he shouted, "Wisahkeha, where are you, you piece of shit? I need a quick favor from you."

"Dad, who are you yelling at?" asked the child,

"Wait and see," he replied, giving his child a gesture to stay silent. It was only a few moments after when a fox appeared before the man, seemingly out of nowhere.

"You will only have one favor left after this. Are you sure you want to waste it on something easily done by any creature from this plane?" asked the fox in a seemingly innocent voice.

Sneering, Little Wolf's father replied, "Did I not trick you into giving me those three favors? Do you think I don't understand the significance of the one who first names my son?"

"I had to try. "The fox replied," I was not as if I thought it would work. I just hate having any responsibility, let alone watching a child. Do you have any idea how much Absorka will laugh at me? It has been millennia since I last did something like this.

"Whatever." Said the man, "Our deal was binding, so it's not as if you have a choice."

"True, but the spirit of it can change, so you had better treat me with the proper respect. Now, let me start thinking of a name for the boy before we start." Wisahkeha began walking around the boy, looking at him from head to toe, even going so far as to lick his hands. "He doesn't taste bad. How would you feel about Little Rock, or maybe little Omitaa?"

"I did not bring my son to be named so stupidly. Do not act as if you do not know who he is." The man thundered.

"Relax." Replied the fox, "I shall keep my end of the bargain, and nothing has been set in stone, he is what he is, and he is what he's not. I'll have a look and see just what he is. Come, little boy, and look into my eyes. Let us see what you see and see what you don't," the fox spoke in a singsong voice as he turned his gaze towards the nervous youth.

First, with a glance, then a closer look, the little brat looked into the yellow eyes of the fox and was slowly entranced. It was as if the eyes were trying to show him something. If only he looked a little closer, he would be able to understand. As he searched deeper into the eyes, it was as if he was transported into another world. It was a bloody world, one where foreign men were stabbed and slashed, spirits whispering at their shoulders, giving them courage and strength. Everywhere lay corpses of men in death's grip, and those not already within its grasp were screaming for it. The child began crying, as he had never seen such violence, but he was unable to tear his eyes away from the scenes before him. As quickly as the scenes had appeared, they disappeared. Little Wolf was transported to an entirely different view that showed a man in single combat with a bear. A staff in his hand of the man blocked the monstrous claws being swung at him. It looked as if the man was going to fight off the bear when he slipped, and seeing the fight turn in its favor, the bear, with seemingly human intelligence, swung a heavy paw and crushed the skull of the man.

Darkness covered Little Wolf. Slowly, he became aware of someone gently shaking him. he groaned and opened his eyes and saw the worried face of his father. His father gave him a tight hug seeing he was alright, then turned to face the fox, snarling, "I thought you wished to test the boy's courage, not scare him. Were you trying to make his soul wander for eternity? If something like that happens, I will use my last wish to curse your existence for a thousand years, Wisahkeha. This I swear to great spirit himself."

Sniffing distastefully, the fox replied, "This is why I can't deal with children. Their parents can't handle even the slightest traumatic event occurring to their child. Relax, I would not hurt a new aatma before he is even named. He'll forget in a couple of minutes everything about it. But I suppose his courage is not in question. The last child I showed this to went unconscious after the first vision. Your child would have been able to see a few more visions if you had not rudely interrupted us."

"Do not test me, Wishkeha," sighing, the man said, "I forgot what a burden you are to be around. Let us begin the ceremony before you injure my son permanently."

"As you wish," said the fox with a yawn. And then, jumping with speed and ability far beyond that capable of an average fox, licked the forehead of the child, who, sniffling, seemed able to recover after finding security in his father's embrace. The fox, after performing that strange action, disappeared into nothingness.

"Father, why am I crying?" asked the child in a feeble voice.

"I'll explain it when you're older," said the father as he bent down and gave the boy a hug and wiped away the tears running down the child's face. Coughing to get rid of the lump in his throat, the man tried to calm both himself and the child by explaining the world of spirits.