Why'o
Li'canna
Played by Collie
3 YO
26"60LBS
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
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Post by Li'Navira'e Hu'grair on Feb 1, 2023 23:55:40 GMT
This entire day had been a nightmare. None of it felt real. Navira sat quietly for a while watching the dogs that she had led back to the prison. They all hung around now in a big brick walled room with tall windows.
Many of these filthy, shell-shocked faces were those that she had grown up with - Faces that were usually happy and smiling at this time of night, enjoying swapping stories and snacks with one another. There wasn't much of that now. Many of these dogs still appeared haunted by the day that they had experienced...and the deaths that they had faced. It wrenched Navira's heart to think that some of their clanmates had been crushed in that building collapse. Two of their own had been brought back lifeless - A corporal by the name of Canna'u and a youngster called Aba'jama. A third nameless dog had been pulled from the wreckage and had yet to be identified. None of the strangers that she had invited home seemed to know him.
They had waited well into the night for the rest of the lost Why'os to return, but none had yet appeared. No one wanted to start the ceremony, but time was running out. Before long, the moon would be high in the sky - And it just wasn't fair to those who needed a proper goodbye. With a sigh, Navira finally stood and spoke up loudly, addressing both the clan and the stragglers.
"It's time." She said, and then, just in case the non-clan dogs weren't familiar with the ceremony, she went on to explain as she approached the bodies, which had been lined up next to one another under a moonlit strip of tall windows. Navira gazed down at the three dogs and swallowed hard. This wasn't her job. And those dogs lying there still as stone were her friends. "Today, Canna'u, Aba'jama, and the unnamed canna'thi were Elme Rumblier. Tonight we will honor them by telling stories about how we remember them. When the moon is high, we will sing for them Ayou Far Hali and send their spirits back to the gods knowing that they brought honor to the Why'o Clan."
Navira paused, took a shuddering breath, and began again. "Ele'canna Why'o, always. I-I'll start with the canna'thi." This, she thought, would be her safest option. She could not address the clan while speaking of her friend Canna'u or poor little Jama, a pup who had barely made apprentice before his life was snuffed out. "I don't know a lot about him. He had only just been dragged in by Snags when the earthquake happened. But I knew right away that he was a fighter. He was so angry. He came so close to biting the human's leg!" She found herself laughing despite everything, if only just a bit. "I heard his teeth click and the Snag even yelped like a pup when it happened. He must have thought that he was bitten too. Even after they shut him into the kennel, he was shouting for the human to come back and fight him." Again there was a heavy pause and then she spoke up one final time. "Tonight we will sing to him not as a nameless canna'thi but as Ritha, the Fighter." And then she sat down and gazed back over the crowed, encouraging someone else to stand up and take their turn telling a story about one of these dogs.
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Why'o
Ele'canna
Played by Riley
4 years
2 ft, 4b lbs
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
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Post by Rah'ki on Feb 2, 2023 7:02:21 GMT
Rah'ki kept himself separate from the Clan, as he always had. Except now, he really WAS alone. He was curled into a ball farther away from the congregated Clan, back facing them and showing no signs of moving. He hadn't been fast enough. He hadn't BEEN enough. When they'd finally unearthed Canna'u, his body had still had some warmth to it, even though he no longer breathed. If Rah'ki had been faster, been stronger, if he hadn't stopped to help every dog he saw-
He heard some dog move, the sound of claws clacking on the floor, and somehow he wasn't surprised to hear Navira address the Clan. Or maybe that was just the numbness of grief talking, who knew? Not him. Still, when she called that it was time, Rah'ki shuddered and slowly got to his paws to approach the ring of his Clanmates. Navira explained the ceremony for the ones who didn't know, and started with the unknown dog. A choice that he didn't blame her for. He huffed a laugh at her description of the unknown dog, and almost wished he'd seen it himself.
Navira named the dog Ritha, and Rah'ki hoped there were no more fights for him where he was going. Navira stepped back, and Rah'ki glanced around for somebody to go next. When nobody stepped up, however, he took a deep, steadying breath and padded forward a bit. He kept his eyes straight forward, not looking at Cannae'u's body. Not yet. He couldn't yet. He'd break. "Cannae'u was more than my mentor. He was my friend, the closest thing I had to a father. He, he found me as a pup, welcomed me and cared for me.
"I remember," and here he laughed, voice breaking, "once, when I was a pup, he was playing hide and seek with me. I was hiding, and he was trying to find me, but I fell asleep. And when I woke up he genuinely thought I disappeared and was frantic, trying to get the others to help search for me. He was so angry." Rah'ki tried to laugh again, but it came out as a broken sob. "How, how am I... how am i supposed to... I don't know what..." He shook his head rapidly, making his ears flop, and dipped his head. "I'm sorry."
He backed away from his spot and kept backing up until he was at the very back of the crowd, keeping his eyes down on his paws.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2023 19:06:03 GMT
Tavi’elu knew that she was incredibly lucky. All three of her babies had survived both the snags and the earthquake that followed, and had been returned safely to her side. Even so, it was difficult to keep the depression at bay. Before them lay three lifeless dogs, two of their own and one stranger. Not laid before them but still deceased all the same was her mate and first love, Udu’far. He’d passed before the earthquake, neck snapped by human ropes, but she hadn’t yet had time to grieve for him. Not until now. Navira began the ceremony by speaking of the canna’thi, named Ritha post-mortem. Tavi could almost picture their fighting spirit, and smiled grimly; she wished they had been successful in their attempts to bite the Snag. It would have been the least of what they deserved. Rah’ki stepped forward next, and she could see already that he held onto his composure by only a hair. Cannae’u, she remembered, had been his mentor, and she whined softly in remembrance as he spoke of his fondest memories of the dog. As he finished his speech, she clenched her jaw against the urge to go and comfort him, but alas it was her turn to speak. With a deep, shuddering inhale, she got to her paws and stepped forward. She would not speak of Aba’jama this night. At least, not yet. First, she intended to honor her mate, who had never gotten his ceremony before the world had erupted into chaos. She hoped his spirit had been able to find its way up to the gods, without their voices to guide him. If not, though, she would rectify that tonight. ”We all remember Udu’far.” She began, voice strong and clear despite the turmoil she felt within. ”Even dogs who hadn’t heard of him certainly heard him. He had the brightest, loveliest howl I’d ever heard. It’s why he was named– heart song.” She smiled fondly, but it was edged with sadness. ”I used to joke with him that he should have been named heart thief, for how he stole mine.””This was a little over a year ago. I’d only been with the Why’o for a short while, and was still getting my paws under me. Udu’far and I had been sent out to scavenge for food together, and we thought we’d hit the jackpot when we found a bucket of chicken behind that old human restaurant– you all know the one.” She paused to breathe, glancing out the prison window to where a sliver of sky, and the stars above, were visible. ”Little did we know that a fat raccoon was guarding it, though. The mangy thing came right for us, snapping and snarling. Almost bit my tail clean off, let me tell you! I’ve never been a fighter, but when I saw it going for Udu’far next, I just– grabbed it by its scruff and shook it around real good. It scampered off, we got the chicken, and I thought that was the end of it.”And then her smile grew, unable to stifle the joy she felt when recalling the memory. ”But the next day, when Udu’far and I went out again, he sang me a song. About me, and it was the silliest thing I’d ever heard, all about my raccoon conquering and how I’d saved his skin. It was so stupid and so perfect, and just about the cheesiest thing in the world– but it was then that I knew I loved him. That a part of me would always love him. And I’ll never be able to howl even half as well as he could, but I still hope that he can hear me howling my love for him, up where he is.”With that, Tavi’elu took a step back, eyes misty as she blinked back her tears. The pain of his death was still a fresh wound on her heart, one that was only soothed when she held her pups close to her. Li'Navira'e Hu'grair Rah'ki |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2023 2:31:37 GMT
Skao'hin was not as forlorn as most. With only a dirty white pelt to show what the husky had gone through earlier that very same day, he'd adapted well to circumstances surrounding them and he planned to put everything else behind him. Honestly, he was just happy to be freed from the kennel. It had been exhilarating to finally run through town without a fence to stop him. It wasn't until now, with the deceased bodies in view, that he snapped back to reality a little.
He felt somewhat relieved when Navira spoke and her voice cut through the hanging silence. He was also thankful when she went into her explanation. He had never experienced this kind of ceremony before, as he had been a pet before the shelter collapsed.
The husky's ears pricked when he heard the name Aba'jama. His pupils flickered to the pup's body as he remembered him, and he suddenly felt sick. Aba'jama was the name of the pup who had been thrown into the kennel next to him. Skao did not think he would ever forget Aba'jama, and the traumatic sight of the pup's body being pulled out from under the rubble. A small, broken body, crushed by stone.
It wasn't like he and the pup had been close, but Skao had never known anyone to die before and it was depressing to think that life could end so easily. He wondered which dog would speak for him... probably a family member, or a mentor? As the night and ceremony continued on, Skao'hin absently listened as other dogs in the room grieved for their loved ones. None mentioned the pup so far, and there was a prolonged silence after the previous dog had finished speaking.
With a sigh, the husky opened finally his mouth. "I'll...I'll say a few words for Aba'jama" He said. His ears slanted uncomfortably, and he'd feel his face burn as attention was drawn to him. "So...I was at the shelter for a while. Longer than I ever had before." He began, fixing his gaze to the floor in front of him. "When the humans brought Aba'jama in, I could tell the pup was scared. He was shaking like a leaf when he arrived but when I talked to him, he was the one who actually reassured me. He told me not to worry."
He paused for a moment, and lifted up his head. "I don't know how he was able to stay so positive. Aba'jama was bright and full of life. He told me he wanted to grow up to be the strongest and fastest dog in the whole clan, and hunt squirrels and rabbits every day." But now he will never be able to. He thought wistfully, but he didn't dare voice these negative thoughts. He looked down again, unable to find anything more to say. He swallowed. "He didn't deserve what happened to him." He said finally, and turned his head away. He wasn't sure if he could handle looking anyone in the eyes right now. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2023 2:41:23 GMT
Skri Ra'rimiri sat with the clan and gazed ahead absently, appearing more disheveled than usual. She was one of the dogs pulled out from the rubble earlier. Her wiry fur was full of dirt and grime, and her skin with scrapes and bruises. She had not had time to treat her wounds with eewee'ook. The healer recognized the reason for the clan to be gathered here today. The Ayou Far Hali ceremony was one that Skri had been witness to many times in the past.
She was still processing everything that had happened. Many of their clan were not here -- which caused Skri to shake her head sadly. "Rumblier took them from us too soon..." She muttered, a grimace on her scruffy face.
Navira, Rah'ki, Tavi’elu, and a new member whose name she did not know, all uttered sorrowful, yet beautiful stories of the ones taken by shadows. Skri lowered her head down solemnly, her scraggly frame quivering. Skri had also lost someone. She lifted her head into the air, her multi-colored orbs gazing up into the ceiling as if she could see the night stars from within their enclosed room. "Skri Ra'rimiri will howl for Mosi'mukha tonight." She whispered to herself.
She felt there was no need to make a speech for her beloved mentor. She knew the shadowspeaker would be watching over them all tonight when they became a star in Ridna's pelt. Her eyes closed as she attempted to pull Mosi'mukha's seemingly unending wisdom from her mind. Mosi'mukha had taught her to celebrate the lives that had lived and would now begin a new journey away from them.
Skri swept her gaze around the dogs gathered in the room once more, with her usual tendency to stare too profoundly. Her gaze eventually settled on Navira. She knew that soon, the ceremony would be winding up before the night grew too old.
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Why'o
Li'canna
Played by Collie
3 YO
26"60LBS
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
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Post by Li'Navira'e Hu'grair on Feb 27, 2023 5:46:54 GMT
"LEAD ME NOT INTO TEMPTATION...
OH,WHO AM I KIDDING! FOLLOW ME!
I KNOW A SHORTCUT!"
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Navira kept her head low, bowed with grief as the stories came trickling in. Her ears drooped in sorrow as Rahki grieved his dear mentor Canna'u and Tavi spoke of Udu'far. Learning that Udu's body could never be recovered had been absolutely gut-wrenching. He had gone days without a proper farewell to guide him back to the Gods. Navira glanced at the bodies under the window and winced. Hopefully his spirit had found them. Hopefully they could move on together.
And then a straggler spoke of poor little Jama and Navira had to squeeze her eyes shut to fight back the tears. That little one had had so much potential. Everyone who met him had loved him dearly. It just wasn't fair.
She stayed quiet for a long time, just listening as more and more stories came in. Some happy, some sad, some even made chuckles ripple throughout the crowd. And slowly, ever so slowly, the stories began to die down until there was nothing left but quiet grief hanging between them all.
Now everyone was looking at her expectantly, for she had been the one to start the ceremony. The moon was well into the sky now. It was time to say goodbye.
Navira stood and gulped hard before beginning .Her voice was now loud and clear yet strained with sadness.
"Udu'far, Aba'jama, Ritha, and Canna'u, you've heard our stories. You know now that you will be remembered and honored forever among the Why'o clan. You will not be forgotten!" Another pause, another hard swallow. She spoke again, her voice louder now. "We sing to you Ayou Far Hali and ask that Ridna'kah accepts you to shine as a star in her fur. Goodbye, hali!"
And with that, Navira threw back her head and began a long, mournful howl to send her lost clanmates on their way.
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