Quest for the Beginning 1

Growler moved the pack on his back from side-to-side trying to find a place where it was comfortable. After a few minutes of manipulation, the rawhide straps found the indentations in his shoulders that he'd sworn had been created by numerous trips before this. He looked at his friend Wing who was equally burdened. They both held a spear and each had a sling to defend themselves with. The two exchanged nervous grins but didn't say anything as they waited for the Quest Chief to approach. It was the Year of Leaf and Sun and the beginning of both Yellowlight and Winged. The traditional time when boys went on a spiritual journey to become middings. If successful in their journey, they would be raised to partial adulthood and trained in the ways of the tribe until they felt confident enough to take the second step and achieve full adulthood and tribal membership. The two were standing on a raised platform in the center of the ceremonial circle. Their friends and family had gathered nearby but kept their distance as nothing was allowed to interfere. There was a hollow bong as Silverwall was struck. The Quest Chief approached the two boys who stood waiting. It was understood that they were no longer required to kneel when a tribal elder approached as they would have yesterday.

“Are you ready to begin the passage from leaf and sun to that of order?” the Quest Chief asked them. The question didn't signify how long the journey would take, there were tales of some taking years to complete their journey, but the passage from beginning to middle.

“As the Great Serpent requires, we shall obey,” Growler and Wing responded, giving the ritualistic response. It was one sentence, but probably the most important they would utter for the year. If either hadn't repeated it verbatim, it would have been considered a sign that the Great Serpent felt the prospects lacking and the quest would have ended before it even began. Those who failed the quest were not outcasts, it was simply accepted that they were better suited for the more menial tasks. It was a system that wasn't questioned nor had anyone ever expressed dissatisfaction with it. At least not publicly.

“So may it start,” the Quest Chief declared. Around his neck, he wore a leather cord that had a small pouch tied to it. He untied the pouch, shook it vigorously causing the contents to rattle, and then dumped them out on the ground in front of him. Seven small bones bounced as they hit the ground and then fell to earth. Six of the bones were dirty white. The seventh had been dyed a dark yellow, befitting the season. This was the way in which the direction of the journey was determined, the travel being in the direction that the yellow bone lay from the majority of the white ones. Through magic, design, or something else, the white ones always stayed together while the yellow one would bounce about six inches away in one direction or another. Growler felt a surge of excitement as he saw that the yellow bone piece had landed in the direction of Sluggard's head. The Quest Chief murmured as he examined the pieces. “An interesting choice,” he said to himself as he placed the bone pieces back into the sack and replaced it on the leather cord. “To the beginning,” he bellowed, letting those around the platform know where the two where headed. There was a stir from those gathered on hearing the news. It was extremely rare for a quest to be directed towards the head and many wondered if this might be foretelling something that would affect everyone. Comments and opinions were traded as those gathered dispersed from the ceremonial circle. No one would see the boys leave to lessen the chance of any interference. Yesterday had been the time for goodbyes and preparations for the journey. The only one to see them off would be the Quest Chief.

The three walked to the edge of the city, studiously ignored by anyone who happened to cross their path. Once at the outskirts, the Quest Chief stopped and regarded them. “It has been scranthor triannum since a quest went in the direction you are to take. An indication that your journey will be of great importance to the village, the tribe and even the People. You will return, if return you do, with something of great importance. What that will be is unknown. It may be thought, idea, spirit, magic, or wonder. Be quick but not abrupt as the importance will no doubt be of a subtle nature and will require effort to determine what it is. Be also cautious that you not end too early thinking that something which shines may be what you seek when over the next hill there may be something that would dim its light with its own brilliance.” Without waiting for a response, the man turned and walked back towards the village center. Wing and Growler looked at each other a moment, before sprinting forward as if afraid that the whole thing might be taken away at any moment. Neither said a word until the first hill was between themselves and the village.

“Beginning,” Wing said, slapping Growler on the back. “How'd we end up lucky as that?”

“What makes you think it was luck when you have a shaper with you?” Growler asked, trying to be mysterious and failing in his excitement. “I couldn't believe it when I saw it.”

“Neither could anyone else,” Wing exclaimed. “This journey will be talked about long after we're with the hills again.”

“Hopefully it'll be told because something excellent happened and not because we mucked it up so bad we managed to wipe out half the People.”

“Are you kidding? Look at that sky. How could the beginning of disaster start with a sky that yellow and with an omen like that?” Wing pointed up into the sky and Growler looked, following the direction of his finger. There was an outline of what looked like bird wings or faery wings in the sky. The outline was close to being transparent and unless you were looking right at it, would be easy to dismiss as nothing at all. In another week, though, the images would grow firmer and darker and the motion of wings flapping or moving would be readily apparent.

“Yeah, have to admit you're right about that,” Growler said after watching the sky for a bit. “You hardly ever see Shape the first day of the season. Maybe this whole thing is a foretelling. Wish I knew what it was saying. It could be that we're going to have to get serious about things.”

“Or it could be that you're thinking too much as usual. Right now the only thing we should be worrying about is how far we can get before bluewall. They say the farther away you get the first day, the more successful the quest.”

“Yeah, but you never heard it said by anyone who actually did it, do you? Last one to the top of the next hill has to do fix dinner,” Growler added with a laugh, starting to run.