Meeting of the minds *Kainashi!*

[faye]

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[bg=ffff00] Faye the Sage sat near a tree atop a small hill overlooking the sunny meadow below, the dew still spread on the morning ground. Her yellow eyes remained fixed on the poppy meadow, admiring the flowers spread over it like a colorful quilt. She sat tall and proud, though calm and relaxed, as she waited for her new apprentice, as such, Kainashi to arrive. She had chosen the morning since it would be calm and quiet, and hopefully the sun wouldn't have time to get too hot. She thought about what she would teach him or what he would want to know, and decided on herbs, legends and diplomatic affairs: After all, she wasn't that old but she wouldn't be around forever, and Kainashi would eventually take her place. She looked forward to teaching another wolf, however old, and waited patiently. She knew she was actually a little early anyways, and did not mind to sit peacefully and enjoy the beautiful morning. Later, she thought to herself, I'll see if Ray's up for some swimming.

[Kainashi]

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[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/xfqlmu.gif] Kainashi snorted and turned on his side. His eyelids fluttered and he yawned, gazing out of the den. He looked to the side of him, and noticed Evelyn already gone. Out doing patrols, probably. Wait. Kain padded to the entrance of the den. It was early morning. Ah, he was supposed to meet his new mentor, Faye, in a bit. He looked around, and stepped out onto the moist ground. The morning dew had just finished falling, and it wasn't at all hot. Kainashi appreciated the time that Faye had picked to meet. It was perfect; you could see clearly, and didn't burn in the heat either. He reached the Poppy Meadow soon enough. He gazed around, taking in the smells and the memories. This place, he thought happily, this place is where Evelyn and I met. Where I hope someday to ask her to be mine. I love her, I know it. A smile danced on his lips and he began trotting again, scanning the meadow for his mentor. His pale pink orbs finally found her. She was sitting proudly gazing down at the meadow. He wondered if she'd spotted him entering. He pulled off to the side and slid under the brush and up the hill leading to her. He came up beside her and looked down at the beautiful meadow. The scent of this place always reminded him of Evelyn, and he couldn't help but love it here. He turned his gaze on his mentor and dipped his head. "Morning, Faye."

[faye]

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[bg=ffff00] The white Lupuse turned her head and smiled and nodded gracefully in return: She thought herself no better than the Lumen, even considered him a friend, she was just polite, that's all. She actually hadn't seen him come, transfixed a little by the spectacular rising sun in the East, but wasn't startled: She seldom was. " Good morning, Kainashi. So this morning I thought about teaching you various herbs, but that comes a little later on anyways, I suppose. Let's start with a more simple, and frankly fun, aspect of being a Sage." She grinned and winked in a friendly manner. " So, do you know many stories or legends?" Faye asked, her yellow eyes focused on her student. Faye decided it was much more polite to ask him what he knew first, so as not to assume anything. After all, she thought rationally to herself, he is a Lumen, and perhaps knows quite a bit already. Faye considered herself intelligent and fairly wise, but knew that if Kainashi already knew a lot, then there wasn't much she could do to teach him. She waited quietly for an answer as she turned to face him, seating herself comfortably. She noticed a black group of winged fish fly high overhead, like strange birds, and smiled to herself: She decided she felt like eating fish for supper later on. It wasn't one of the larger groups that turned the skies black, but they still made a large shadow on the ground.

[Kainashi]

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[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/xfqlmu.gif] Kainashi sat on his hauches, and let his blue-tipped white tail curl around his paws. Kainashi smiled back at her as she nodded. He had began to realize that indeed all species were equal. His mother had taught him when he was younger that Lumen were better than all short-living species, and especially Lupuses. But now, Kainashi didn't see why they were hated so much. Who cared what their ancestors might have done, it wasn't their fault. If anyone, he felt he was lower than them, but they treated him like family, not like the grass they walked on. Kainashi chuckled as she gave him a friendly wink. "Ah, and what might that be, I wonder," he said. Hmm, he thought as she asked him about the stories. He shook her head and gave her a sheepish smile. "I hate to say, but no. I have not. As a Lumen, I have neglected that since I left my former pack long ago. I only know one legend, and that one involves Lupuses." He sighed and thought about it. He never stood around the other pups to hear the stories, because he was the outcast. Kainashi looked at the ground, noticing the area around them black with shadows. He watched them move. It wasn't him. He glanced at Faye. She was facing him now, but wasn't moving much. He looked up. His maw gaped open in surprise. What were those things? A bunch of winged fish painted the sky black with their horde. He blinked. Nope, still there. "Wow," he murmured. In all his years hiding in the forest, he'd never saw a winged fish. He found it amazing that they were here now.

[faye]

OOC: sorry for the long post, I had a bit of a muse... ;D

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[bg=ffff00] Faye grinned at Kainashi's open surprise at the winged fish: Yes, she mused, they were an odd sight. She raised her white head for a moment to gaze at the strange sight, then fixed her almost cat-like yellow eyes on the junior sage. "Sometimes the fish grow tired and can't continue any longer, and return to rest for awhile on the ground, making them easy prey for wolves and other creatures. It's sad, but that's life, I suppose." she added, a small catch phrase her parents had used to say. Suddenly her eyes widened: Was she turning into a cold and unattached wolf like her parents, that found no joy in life and thought themselves better than others? It was her greatest fear, and hoped she never became like that. Other wolves she knew, like the friendly Kasmira, found it easy to take life as it came and remain fun and happy. Faye had to admit that sometimes she struggled to be like that and open herself to others. She shook her head lightly to clear her mind: No, she thought determinedly, I am not like that. I've made a lot of progress since those days. Preferring to remain focused on the task at hand and not let her mind wander, she said to Kainashi: "That's alright, I can teach you some stories, and maybe some of the other members could tell you some also." Faye paused and thought about the legend he mentioned: The Sage was fairly certain that it was the famed legend most Lumen taught their pups about Lupuses. She herself had never hated other species, but had just preferred to remain on her own and secluded. That had changed now: Everyday she talked and socialized with other wolves, and she found it pleased her. " Ah yes, I am familiar with that legend..." She thought for a moment, and then inspiration struck. "Here's an idea, Kainashi. I'll start the first part of a story, and you could follow along. There are two key elements to the making of a good story or legend: Imagination, and setting the mood. All the ideas you need are within you, or you could even take inspiration from other wolves. I'll leave it up to you to set the mood. It could be happy, romantic, sad, even a learning experience if the story has a moral." She pondered what to say next, and then began, her serene voice narrating the beginning of a tale: "Many moons ago, there were three wise wolves: Rowan, Ilya, and Kireeney. The three were renown throughout the land as being the most noble, honest and wise wolves. However, throughout the months of their partnership, Rowan grew more and more jealous of the other two, worried they would steal his fame and glory." Faye stopped, deciding that there was more than enough room for Kainashi to continue. She smiled in encouragement: "Alright, now you try to finish the story." Faye looked at him, waiting patiently, her white tail swishing lightly back and forth. She was curious to see what he would come up with.

[Kainashi]

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[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/xfqlmu.gif] Kainashi watched the winged fish a few more moments before meeting her yellow eyes with his pink ones. "Yes. Creatures so magnificent, only to be gone in due short time." He sighed. "Sure it makes a good meal for a starving wolf though." Kainashi shifted his weight and lied down on his side, still gazing at her. He saw her shake her head. He wondered what she was thinking about. Was it something he'd said? He cleared his throat and listened to her again, to her story. End the story? He swallowed. He didn't have any imagination, as far as he could tell. He was just plain, cursed Lumen as the story is told. But he had to try; if not for his own benefit, then for his mentor's. "Okay," he said as he thought. "Ilya and Kireeney grew worried of Rowan's envious nature, and found themselves growing distant. The concern lasted for many more moons, until eventually Ilya and Kireeney decided to completely leave their dear friend. Rowan was furious when he heard of this, though thought it best for them to leave. 'Good riddance,' Rowan told them. 'and don't come back. I don't need you anyways.' The pair was hurt by what Rowan had said, but it wasn't Rowan. Inside, Rowan had been overtaken completely by his conceit and greed, until it completely fogged his mind, and he could think of none other than that. Over time, Ilya and Kireeny found affection in eachother, and fell in love. They had no worries, or concerns and pledged themselves to eachother. But Rowan, on the other hand, couldn't find joy in his riches. He tried to find his long lost friends, but they seemed to be blocked off from the world." Kainashi took in a breath as he finished his portion of the story, and looked up at Faye, wondering what she might think. Perhaps he did have a bit of imagination after all.

[faye]

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[atrb=background,http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd415/Somatra1/fbg.jpg] [scrolly:h(370),w(405),sy] Faye listened closely to Kainashi's story, noting his hesitancy before: She understood. He was new to being a Sage, and storytelling could be difficult at times, especially with an audience. She nodded her head as she followed his example and laid down: It was more comfortable, and she didn't want him to feel as if she was looking down on him. " Excellent, and well told, Kainashi! Now, you can find a title for that story or not, but whatever you chose, that story is now all your own, and you can tell it to others with the confidence of knowing you invented it by yourself. The moral was very good, I might add, and you could potentially use this to teach young pups, or older wolves, the values of true friendship." Faye praised him. Usually, she wasn't one for talking much or giving out many compliments, but the Sage felt her pupil needed it. She pondered what was next, and then remebered something her old wise instructor had taught her: "Sages are the soul, the essence of a pack. Teachers and healers, or a best friend, you must be prepared to listen a lot and say little, to observe and remain objective in fights and above all, to be the best you can be. No Sage is perfect, including me, " she smiled at this part," and sometimes we make mistakes. But the most important thing is to learn from them." she said, her yellow eyes focused on Kainashi. She hoped he understood what she was trying to tell him. Being perfect is impossible, and Faye knew this more than most wolves, as she had strived for it her whole life while she lived with her demanding parents. She cleared her throat, surprised at all the memories that were suddenly surfacing: "One of the things a Sage should know is how to deal with conflict in a pack, and sometimes outside. I'm going to say a situation, and you must put yourself in a mentor position and try and figure out what to do. I'll start with something simple..." she mused, thinking for a moment. "Okay, so there are two young wolves near a river, both trying to catch fish. One of them is having no difficulty, and has a large pile in front of him. The other has barely caught any fish at all, and is having a lot of trouble. He growls at the other wolf, ordering him to share some of his fish with him. The other refuses, and says that the wolf should catch his own. You see the situation, and step in. What do you do?" Faye was curious to see how Kainashi would handle the situation, and waited patiently, hoping this wasn't too much at once. [/scrolly]