As your motley crew sits around the bus stop, waiting for the rest of the Union Street Goodfellows to show up, Kato pulls out a large jug of water, and carries it over to Grandfather Beasly. "Grandfather Silvertorn-rhya," he says, using the Elder's deed name, Silvertorn, followed by some sort of suffix title you haven't heard before. "Drink." Grandfather Beasly takes the jug, unscrews the cap, and takes a deep gulp. "You're a good boy, Kato." He pats the young Asian man on the back. Kato smiles as he takes a gulp himself. He passes the jug to Javier, who drinks, and then passes it to Kristy. Kristy goes to drink from the jug, but pauses just as it touches her lips. "Antwon, here, you drink first. You did a great job today. You earned it." She says, smiling and handing the jug to Antwon.
The sun shines brightly down on you, but the wind is gusty and chilly. "Hey, amigos." Says Javier after some time of silence. "How would you like to hear a story? It's a good story, about us Bone Gnawers." He says, smiling, his accent thick with his Mexican heritage.
"Javier, I don't think it's wise..." Speaks Grandfather Beasly
"Grandfather, I promise, it's not a teaching story. It's just the story I was told as a cub...too help explain how our tribe came to our totem." Grandfather Beasly seems to think on this a moment, as he gives Javier a reproachful glare. Javier glances down uncomfortably, silent rebuke passing from the white haired old man wearing a long maroon scarf, to the middle-aged mexican man in oil-stained coveralls, full of wrenches and screwdrivers.
"Fine, Javier. Go ahead." He says, his face softening.
"Thank you, Silvertorn-rhya" Javier turns to you, and clears his throat...
"Way back before men started writing down their history on paper, or even had paper, or even knew what writing was, the world was a very different place. We didn't have the gauntlet separating things like it does now, and spirits roamed between the Umbra and the real world as they willed. The Weaver wasn't the power controlling monster it is today, and The Wyrm hadn't become caught up in it's web and gone insane either.
Anyways, the world was a much more harmonious place back then. The first wolf pack, that is, those wolves born directly from Gaia's tummy, were the most loved of all her children, more so than patient bear, or secretive cat, or noisy raven. Wolf was Gaia's most wild, ferocious child, but he was also the most loyal, the one most dedicated to protecting his Mother at all costs.
The first wolf pack roamed the earth as they willed, going wherever they might, for none could slow down their travels. They were led by Alpha Wolf, for he has been given the right to rule by being the first born of the first wolf pack. He was the biggest, and his fur was thick and luxurious, and the color of silver, not gray, or white, but of silver. And Alpha Wolf led the first pack, choosing where in the wide world they traveled, and what they hunted and who got to eat first and who ate the most.
And then there was Beta Wolf. His coat was as black as night, his eyes piercing and deadly. Beta Wolf was to test Alpha Wolf, and to make sure he stayed a strong leader, unless he grow lazy and incompetent.
There were many wolves beneath Beta Wolf, who he also had to keep in line, when Alpha Wolf found it beneath himself to do so. But of all the wolves lower than Beta Wolf, none were as lowly as Omega Wolf.
Omega Wolf was scrawny, for he always ate last, picking over the last bits of the kill, taking what none of the other wolves wanted. His pelt was shaggy and uneven in places, for he slept in the worst places, and frequently had to deal with fleas and mange. And his coloring was a mottled coat of many colors, for pedigree was poor. But still, Omega Wolf knew his place, even as the lowest of the low, he was still a part of the first pack, and served a purpose.
One day, Beta Wolf got it in his mind to test Alpha Wolf's wisdom. Or, perhaps, he just enjoyed pissing Alpha Wolf off. Either way, he went to Alpha Wolf and spoke to him. "Strong and wise Alpha Wolf, you have been ordained by Falcon to be leader, and have taken him into your heart. He guides you and teaches you what it means to be king, does he not?" Beta Wolf said with a sly grin.
"This is true. Falcon is the greatest of all Gaia's spirit. It is through him, that my leadership over the pack is ordained."
"Ahhh, a mighty spirit Falcon truely is. For he soars in Gaia's sky, and he is fierce is combat, and full of wisdom on all things of Gaia, and yet he remains humble enough to lend his blessing to you, Alpha Wolf." Said Beta Wolf, his voice full of guile. "But I have spoken with another at length, and I believe him to be a much greater spirit. Stormcloud is greater than falcon in all things, for he soars miles above even Falcon, Stormcloud is invincible in combat, for no claw or fang can hurt him, Stormcloud is full of dark omens and portents that not even Falcon has been made aware of, all this and yet Stormcloud will only act as a herald for Thunder, proving that even his humility is greater still. Surely, you must see that Stormcloud is the greater of spirits, and since he is the herald of Thunder, he who I have chosen to honor and emulate, than I must be greater than you."
Alpha wolf grew incensed by these accusations, believing Beta Wolf to have overstepped his duties. "I will go to Stormcloud, and demand answers from him on behalf of Falcon. And after I have proven him to be lesser than Falcon, I will return here to teach you the same lesson." And so, angry Alpha Wolf led his pack to the highest mountain peak, for Stormcloud truely did soar high. At the peak of the mountainside, he howled out to Stormcloud, a howl of defiance and challenge. Taking an interest, Stormcloud spoke to Alpha Wolf, so far beneath him.
"Why have you come to me, demanding answers?" Spoke Stormcloud.
"Beta Wolf says that you are mightier than Falcon in all ways, and I will prove him wrong." And Alpha Wolf sprang forth, clawing and biting at Stormcloud, but to no success, he simply passed through Stormcloud and suffered many wounds as he fell down the mountainside he had struggled to climb. Getting up and badly wounded, Stormcloud unleashed a torrent of rain upon the foolish Alpha Wolf. Alpha Wolf went into a murderous frenzy at this, and howled all manner of insults and threats at Stormcloud. Stormcloud heard these, and called upon the power of his patron, mighty Thunder, who reached out and struck Alpha Wolf temporarily deaf. And still Alpha Wolf raged. The two mighty spirits working in concert, brought down mighty lightning on Alpha Wolf, burning off all of his fur, and leaving him unconscious and sick.
Alpha Wolf awoke from his injuries, just as the first wolf pack came down from the mountain to check on him. Although badly hurt, what suffered more was Alpha Wolf's ego. This was not helped by Beta Wolf's wide and knowing smirk. A long conversation took place between Alpha Wolf and Beta Wolf, but neither would share their talks with the rest of the wolf pack. Alpha Wolf, badly hurt, and full of rage caused by Beta Wolf looked for an outlet of his rage.
He found Omega Wolf, sleeping comfortably in a glade, and minding his own business. He unleashed his rage, and charged Omega Wolf, terrifying him awake, and tearing at his flank. Omega Wolf fought to defend himself, but suffered great wounds at the gnashing teeth of Alpha Wolf. In the struggle, his paws were badly mangled by the angry Alpha Wolf. When Alpha Wolf had sufficiently let out his frustration on Omega Wolf, he left him bleeding and mangled in the glade he had found him. Alpha Wolf called out to the rest of his pack, who fell in line, and left Omega Wolf to his fate.
Omega Wolf suffered greatly, for a wolf with wounded paws cannot keep up with his pack, and is sure to die. Omega Wolf knew this, and became resigned to his fate. He lay down into the soft grass of the glade, and turned his mind on to all things of Gaia. After a time, a small spirit came wandering through the glade and happened upon Omega Wolf in his bloody, near-death state. The spirit, cautiously approached Omega Wolf.
"Oh, great offspring of Gaia, who is most favored by the Mother, what has happened that you would be in such a sorry state?" asked the small spirit.
"It is true. I am the most favored of my Mother, but I am the least of her pack. Our great Alpha was challenged and greatly embarassed by the Beta. Being the most unworthy, he directed his full rage at me, and has left me like this, cast out to die slowly."
The small spirit thought on this. The Wolf Pack, like the spirit itself, was of Gaia, but was still a predator. Small spirits such as itself had to be most careful around predator spirits, for some were crafty, and capable of speaking falsehoods to gain sympathy, in order for quick and easy meals.
"No good leader should leave a family member to die such a pointless death." said the small spirit.
"I most whole-heartedly agree," said Omega Wolf, "But that that does not make him a bad leader. I would still follow Alpha Wolf, if only I could still run, for he is wolf as I am wolf, even if he does not appreciate my role."
The small spirit thought on this as she surveyed the bloody and damaged body of Omega Wolf.
"Omega Wolf, you show great loyalty to your kin, even as they do not show you the same. I will place myself at great risk in order to heal you so that you may run
with your pack." And the small spirit danced over to Omega Wolf, and used its' Gaia-granted powers to mend Omega Wolf's paws, and other wounds. Omega Wolf rose shakily to his feet, in awe of the small spirits great power to heal him and restore him whole, body and soul.
"Never before has a spirit shown me such kindness. I am once again healthy, and can run with my wolf pack again. I will never forget this, small spirit, nor will I allow my pups to forget. From this day forward, we shall honor you, if you would only have us." Said Omega Wolf, showing submission to the spirit.
And since that day, Bone Gnawers revere Mother Rat as our tribal totem, much as the Silver Fangs revere Falcon, and the Shadow Lords revere Grandfather Thunder. Mother Rat heals our wounds, both physically, and spiritually, wounds dealt to us by both the Wyrm, and by our own kind. Like her, we are humble, and accepting of our role in life. And like her, we focus on helping those who can't help themselves, even if the other tribes just want to shit all over....
"Javier!" Shouts out Grandfather Beasly, cutting him off. "That's a good stopping point. Thank you for sharing that with us. Look, I think I see the rest of the pack headed this way..."
