FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Sometimes while I run,

I can feel it.

Like the wind against me

there are spirits all around.

John was seated beside his mother, inside their hut. They had just returned inside from collecting water and a few large rocks at the creek. His mother was showing him how to prepare a certain soup which heated rocks were used to help cook. The boy's gaze had settled on the water contained by the bowl, but his thoughts were focused on other matters. But his daydreaming wasn't a secret. He failed to hear his mother's voice talking to him.

"John. John?" Her voice went unanswered. "I know you can understand my tongue." Lenape turned to face him.

"Oh... Sorry, mom." He blinked and looked at her.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked.

"The shamans."

"Again?" The grey she wolf cocked her head. Two days had passed since John had talked to Amu, the red panda shaman. What she had told him, and what he had heard from his mother about shamans had greatly piqued his interest.

"I want to know more about... all things." His tongue was still learning the best way to speak. His mother took a moment to think.

'If he isn't interested with what I am teaching him, then maybe it would be best to let him learn other things...' The she wolf was satisfied with her answer. "You should spend some of the day with them." Lenape encouraged him. "They can teach you many things."

"I can?" He blinked.

"Yes." His mother nodded. "If you are gone long, then I will find you." She grinned and wiggled her nose. Without hesitation he crept over to the door flap and poked his head outside. It was still fairly early in the morning, and the cooler thick air made his skin tingle. The area had been under a drizzling rain for the second day in a row. Wolves preferred not having wet fur very long when there wasn't sunny weather to dry under. John exited the hut, feeling the door flap brush over his back. The boy quickly stood up and stepped over the wet grass. The sun had yet to reach the entire ground from its early position, and the dirt was darker in shadier areas.

Since it was after sunrise, most villagers were already awake and active in the village. Hunting packs had already sunned themselves and left the village; a few villagers were helping in the field; and everyone else was finding daily tasks to take care of. The sight of a nursing mother or wolf quietly working in the sunshine was commonplace to see. Not even a distant howl scared the boy. Unlike before, the human wasn't the object of multiple stares of canine eyes. Merely a glance or two were given, just like anyone else.

Outside of one hut in the sunlight, the tall male wolf Ohaeyo was scraping a stretched out deer pelt. His ears perked up hearing fast, light footsteps approaching.

"Hello John." The tall male wolf watched the human run by. "Where are you going?"

"Hi!" The human didn't stop to explain where he was going.

'He's just like any pup... Always running somewhere.' Ohaeyo half grinned and resumed scraping the pelt stretched out before him. John navigated to the edge of the village where the mysterious hut existed.

'This should be simple enough...' He crouched down, hoping at least one of them were home. "Hello?" The boy lifted the door flap and entered. Strong earthy and sharp smells invaded his nose. His eyes blinked to adjust to the dimmer interior. The medicine hut was unlike anything he had seen. It was the same size as any other hut, but there was little space to move around. Baskets, odd feathered items, dream catchers, pelts, and so many stored herbs filled the small primitive dwelling. Even eccentric items were present: small bones in a bowl; a staff with an antler tied to it; and a small pile of smooth rocks were just a few the human's eyes could see.

In the center of it all was a dormant fire pit and two shamans.

"Hello John. What spirit brings you by this early morning?" Amu, the stocky female red panda greeted the human. Across from her was the old, thin female skunk Kazana.

"Can you tell me more about shamans?" He sat down before her.

"We don't have much room in here." Kazana pointed out while the boy settled down.

"We're fine. There's enough room for someone else." The red panda spoke before returning her attention to John. "What exactly do you want to learn about shamans?" Amu asked the curious human.

"Everything." His answer surprised her.

"Well. Hmm... Where to begin?" The red panda thought aloud for a moment. "Telling who the first shaman was might help." She smiled. "There are different versions of the story depending of which village you hear it from, but basically this is how it goes... The first shaman was someone by the name of Yu. He lived long ago when there were few tribes and villages." Amu began. John sat quietly and listened closely. The past had always intrigued the boy. "He grew up in a small scattered village across a fertile field bordered by a small river. Yu was hard working and tended to an entire field by himself to help feed his family. One day he traveled to a pair of mountains across the river to forage wild berry bushes. Alone in a forest, he could hear voices like whispers. By carefully listening, he was able to hear the spirits clearly and learn from them. He tossed away his loincloth and other clothes, believing them to interfere with understanding nature and our true connection to it."

"Then what happened?" John asked.

"Yu sat still and meditated in the forest under the sunshine, clouds, and even rain. Meanwhile, many dark clouds gathered over his village and a heavy rain engulfed the area for days. When the spirits finished chanting their secrets, Yu left the forest without his garments. However, his homeland was soaked. A great flood across the entire moor blocked him from returning home, and he feared not being able to reach his village. However, the wolf had guidance from the spirits, so he began digging a ditch to divert the water. He worked tirelessly until all of the water was diverted away. Then he was able to return home, having spared his home from destruction. Yu became the village's shaman, the first shaman. He paid his respects towards his ancestors and the spirits for helping him reach his home and saving the land from a dangerous flood. Yu's teachings spread across the lands, and were taught down the generations." Amu finished.

"Wow." John blinked after hearing the amazing story. "The wolf could move a river?" The human worded the phrase as he understood it.

"That's one version of the story." Amu nodded her head to the side. "Other shamans from different villages may tell that Yu waded across a shallow spot in the river."

"Do shamans visit other villages?" He asked next.

"Of course. Shamans frequently visit other villages if they need to. I went to a Sanada village at the end of last summer for several days. Sometimes a village may send for another village's shaman to help care for the sick, bring medicine, or discuss important matters." What she said interested the boy. Traveling to other villages was something that he wanted to do more of.

"What else do shamans do?" He eagerly asked.

"There's so much!" Amu was bubbly with the boy's interest. "Well, Kazana helps villagers who need their dreams interpreted."

"I don't understand." He blankly stared at her.

"When you sleep, sometimes you experience moments where you think you are awake, but then you wake up."

"Oh! That happens to me."

"Mmhm." She nodded. "She can help people better understand what dreams mean."

"How?"

"She uses deer bones from here." She patted her upper back. "And burns them in the fire until a crack forms... It's easier to explain when I have a bone." Amu looked around.

"We do not have any right now." Kazana answered.

"Hmm. Let me think..." The red panda glanced around the filled hut. "We also help mothers whelp, tend to wounds, treat those who are sick, make medicine, and more." Everything she had told him only increased his curiosity. Understanding more about the strange world he inhabited was too much to pass up. The solution that came into his mind was as sudden as the next words he spoke.

"I want to train as a shaman."

"Y-you do?!" The red panda was surprised.

"Yes." The boy nodded.

"That's great!" Amu beamed. "Don't you think so Kazana?" The old naked female skunk flicked an ear.

"Him?" Kazana looked over her shoulder with a less than impressed look on her silver ticked face. Seeing their seriousness, the skunk huffed and turned around to face the boy.

"I think we are all in agreement." Amu grinned happily, but Kazana merely shook her head in silence. The red panda shot her fellow shaman a glare.

"What do I do first?" John eagerly asked.

"First, you can remove your loincloth. Shamans do not cover their bodies from nature." Amu told the human, much to his surprise.

"My loincloth...?" He paused and looked down at the only garment made by Koan herself.

"Yes." After a little coaxing, the human untied it and handed it over. "Good!" The red panda chirped happily. John didn't feel any of the same joy. His face had turned a light shade of red as he stood naked before the female shamans. John felt embarrassed and covered himself. A female had very little to show, whereas a male had everything on display. Suddenly a loincloth felt like a full wardrobe to the human! Kazana noticed his censoring.

"Don't cover yourself! Your body is nothing to be ashamed about." She sternly swatted his hands.

"Ow!" He held them up instead.

"Don't be so hard on him Kazana." The female red panda took ahold of the boy's hands and rubbed them consolingly. "It's good that he wants to learn the shaman's way of life, and be more connected to nature and the spirits."

"He is a pup. A human pup, Amu. He doesn't understand at all."

"We can teach him." Amu firmly spoke. The older female skunk huffed and swished her tail. The red panda returned her attention to the boy who was nervously covering himself again. "Why are you scared of being naked?" She asked.

"It's just..." He didn't know where to begin. Nudity was always shameful the way he grew up, no matter the circumstance. It was anything but normal, and imagining it any other way was near impossible for his mind. "I'm..."

"It's normal." Amu answered for him.

"How?" John gave her a peculiar look.

"Everything is born into this world naked, including us. Yet, we are the only ones who cover ourselves." She pointed out.

"Really?" John gradually let his hands rest to the side, rather than cover himself.

"Yes." The red panda cheerily grinned. "Haven't you seen a pup in the creek? A mother and father can barely keep one pup from getting dirty again after a bath. Little pups always run around naked imitating shamans." Amu added. "Although, they probably do not realize it."

"Oh." The human hadn't thought of it that way before.

"It isn't that unusual." Amu reaffirmed and moved to the fire pit. "If that settles your mind, then let's fill our stomachs." The red panda spoke. John watched as she started a fire. Flickering orange flames and soft pops soon filled the air. Amu grabbed several strips of cured meat to heat. The shaman retrieved several root vegetables too and added them to the flames. "There. We will let that warm and cook for a while." Amu wiped her hands. They watched the crackling fire for a moment together, without a word.

"What will I learn first?" John asked.

"We won't plunge you into learning everything immediately." She told him.

"Why not?"

"Learning something new is like warming yourself by a fire." Amu motioned. "If your hand is too close to the flame, then it will burn... Too far away and you will remain cold. It's a delicate balance." John thought about what she told him while the red panda tended to the fire.

"When will the food be ready?" The hungry human asked.

"Give it a little more time." Amu promised, but her head turned to the door flap.

"Hello? Hi." A young adult male wolf entered the hut. His fur and hair were black like a dark night, but a single spot on his chest was dashed white akin to a bright moon. He wore a simple loincloth, an armband, and a small leather pouch tied around his waist. The wolf was very likely a hunter. He glanced at the naked boy among them, but his attention was drawn elsewhere.

"What is the matter?" Kazana turned to face the dark furred wolf. The condition was obvious with a keen eye. Bur seeds were visibly knotted all along his upper body.

'That looks painful.' John thought to himself.

"These sticky seeds and a few thorns are all in my fur." He told her.

"How did you get those? Chasing after something you shouldn't have been?" She looked over his muzzle. The wolf winced feeling the skunk's hand pull his muzzle down.

"I chased through a bramble thicket to catch a rabbit." He mumbled. The skunk wiggled her nose and preened through his facial fur first.

"She is plucking out the burs and making sure there are no thorns in his fur either." Amu whispered to John.

"Does it hurt?" The boy could clearly see the wolf since occasionally.

"If a bur becomes tangled in your fur... I don't think that can happen to you, but they can be painful to remove like thorns."

"Oh." John watched as the skunk finished.

"Comb through your fur to make sure all of the burs are out." Kazana instructed.

"I will. I will." He promised, very eager to leave first. "Thank you." He briefly said goodbye and left.

"I'll throw these in the fire when the food is done." The female skunk pointed to the little pile of burs.

"I think you can now." Amu checked over everything. "Everything smells done." The red panda took a deep breath.

"It looks good!" John's eyes stared at the meat. Amu chuckled and filled a bowl for him and herself. The skunk joined them at the fire and filled a bowl for herself. Once things had cooled, the human ate the meat with gusto, but the remaining vegetables remained obstacles in his bowl.

"What is this, Amu?" John held up one and smelled it, only to wrinkle his nose.

"A turnip." The red panda answered while eating one.

'Turnip?' He had never heard of the tribal word, but the boring sound matched its appearance. John's face grimaced as he bit the tuber. 'Ugh...' He wasn't keen on finishing everything as both shamans ate their fill. The door flap suddenly rustled as another figure entered. Everyone recognized the topless solid grey wolfess.

"Hello." Lenape smiled and crept into the crowded hut. "Is John still here?"

"Hi Lenape." Amu greeted the she wolf. "Yes. He is." She scooted over to reveal John sitting in the deer pelt behind her.

"Hi mom." A smile briefly returned to the mother's face as she crept towards him.

"Hmm? Where is your loincloth?" Her brow furrowed in confusion at her son's nakedness.

"Well... I uh."

"John has decided to train as a shaman." Amu cheerfully declared. The she wolf's ears perked up in surprise.

"You want to become a shaman, John?" She asked.

"Yes." He quietly answered. His mother's muzzle opened into a pleasant grin.

"I'm surprised, but very happy to hear that!" Lenape said much to his relief.

"You are?"

"Mhm!" She hummed happily. "I think it's good you want to. I didn't know that you wanted to train as one. Did he surprise both of you?" Lenape asked both shamans. Amu nodded.

"I am surprised." The red panda spoke. "But I think everything will be fine since he is eager to learn." Amu looked over at the young human.

"That's good... Is he going to stay with you two all day?" Lenape asked. "He's still nursing."

"He should most days, unless we tell him otherwise." Kazana nodded.

"Expect him to return home when the sun is falling." Amu added.

"Ok... But..." Lenape bombarded the red panda with a whirlwind of words, what John liked and disliked, how he behaved around her, and an endless wave of information.

"I think he will be fine Lenape." Amu held up both hands to slow down the suddenly talkative canine. The grey mother wolf settled her gaze on her son. John cloud feel the warm kindness radiating from her.

"If this is something you want to do, then I will support you." She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Mmhm." The human nodded.

"Ok. I will see you this evening." She smiled and lovingly brushed her muzzle across his cheek.

"Bye mom." He hugged the she wolf before she left. In a moment, Amu was crawling towards the exit too. "Where are you going Amu?" John blinked.

"I need to go talk to Mankato about this. Don't worry, I will be back shortly." Amu smiled and left the medicine hut. John looked over at Kazana. The female skunk was quiet and kept to herself, but was very stern and orderly. The naked boy cautiously crept over to her side. The old shaman's stoic pose could easily be mistaken as a statue.

"Can you teach me about nature and the spirits Kazana?" He hesitantly asked.

"Did you finish eating?"

"Yes."

"Go put the fire out." She ordered without moving.

"Ok." John expected the shaman to begin teaching after he doused the fire out. "Are you going to teach me now?" He asked a second time.

"Go wash your bowl." Kazana instructed him next. Perplexed, John exited the hut with the bowl in hand.

"Hmm..." The boy looked around and hummed before running to the creek. He rounded a hut quickly and nearly ran into a villager.

"Ah!" A startled yell made the boy turn around.

"Sorry!" John apologized before running to the creek. He quickly washed his bowl without paying attention to a few villagers bathing nearby. 'I wonder if she's going to meet me out here.' John faced the village, expecting the shaman to appear. As the minutes ticked by, he realized the opposite was true. 'What is she doing?' John walked back to the medicine hut, bowl in hand. Inside, he found that the shaman hadn't budged a claw since he had left. The boy set his bowl aside and sat directly beside the female skunk.

"Kazana..." He lightly touched her.

"What is it?"

"Can you please teach me about the spirits now?" He asked for the third time. This time the old female skunk opened her eyes. Kazana reached over and grabbed a rattle before meeting his gaze.

"Come with me." She spoke before exiting the hut. The boy eagerly followed her outside. The evening air was still humid and mild from the recent rain. Kazana led him across the edge of the moor and to the forest. John nearly bounced alongside her with excitement.

'She's going to teach me! She is going to teach me!' He sang in his mind.

"How old are you?" The old skunkette suddenly asked.

"Almost twelve... summers." Natives remembered their age based on the seasons, and since it was spring, John was almost twelve years old.

"Don't panic if you get a random erection. It's normal for your age." She calmly spoke.

"A what?"

"If your sheath stands up rigid." The skunk spoke slowly for him, but with a stern tone. The boy's eyes widened fearfully.

'She can't be serious!' John suddenly worried that one would unexpectedly happen. The once excited human now walked cautiously behind her to the woods. The fully green leafed forests were like an entirely different world to him compared to the cold winter. Visibility was shortened wherever green leaves and undergrowth had grown in. The shaman took him down a little path before veering off through the damp leaves. Her paws threaded over ferns and scaled old logs. She took him to a secluded section along the forest floor where the ground was bare, just like him.

"Sit here." She pointed. John looked at the spot before doing what she told. The cool ground underneath made his skin form chill bumps. He watched as the naked female skunk knelt before him. Kazana shook the rattle above their heads and murmured something inaudible to his ears.

"What are you doing?"

"Remain calm and keep your eyes closed." She strictly told him.

"What about-?"

"You're going to stay here and focus on the forest around you." She told him. "Now close your eyes and focus." The human quickly shut them and sat still. He heard the skunk finish shaking the rattle. "We will come back for you." He heard her say before she left. Footsteps quietly walked away. John peeked and watched the shaman leave until her striped tail disappeared from sight. Disappointment hovered over the boy like a cloud. He hadn't expected anything like this to happen.

'How can I learn about the spirits by sitting here?' He though to himself with only the darkness of his shut eyes to see. He started fidgeting in his seat. As the minutes slowly ticked by, the human boy found it difficult to sit still. The sharp chatter of a nearby bird reminded the boy what Kazana told him. But sacrificing his vision wasn't something he wanted to do.

'All I have to do is focus which means I can peek, right?' John opened his eyes and looked around the peaceful forest. Nothing had changed since he arrived. The leaves were a bright green, almost like a natural barrier to hide and protect him. 'I'm sitting here... naked.' He looked at the foliage surrounding him. It was a radical change in comparison. John could easily remember his dad scorning him about dressing properly to cover oneself, but here he was naked in a forest! The rays of light piercing the forest floor around him dappled sections of branches and foliage with its golden rays.

'It is nice out here.' He took a deep breath. The sharp tweeting of a bird resumed above him. John looked up and saw the small bird before it flew away. The human's gaze returned to the ground level where he was seated.

'Mushrooms.' John spied a few growing near a partially rotten tree trunk and several small ferns. The scrabbling sound of little claws climbing down bark caught his attention next. A small grey squirrel darted down the trunk of a tree where it hesitantly reached the ground. The squirrel quickly scampered across the forest floor and clawed up a neighboring tree. John's toes curled up. He wanted to move around and explore like he had in the Nanu village. Completely forgetting Kazana's instructions, the boy stood up and brushed the dirt from his skin.

"I don't see why I have to sit still." John walked up to a tall oak tree. The naked human pressed a hand against the sturdy bark. He followed the lined pattern within the the bark and gazed up at the canopy of branches and green leaves. A sudden surge of playfulness overcame the boy as he ran to another tree, and peeked around. He laughed and circled the tree before running to another. For just a little while, the entire forest was his alone to play in. John eventually tired and slowed down, holding onto a low branch to catch his breath. He glanced around the forest floor and noticed that everything appeared dimmer. The sun was starting to wane, and its golden rays were gradually dissipating from the forest.

"I should go back."

"Arooo." A soft distant howl spurred him to move. He walked along the path, snaking through the woods until he reached the moorland. From there he could see a pair of wolves returning to the village from another section of the moor. John hastily ran up to the medicine hut where a female skunk was exiting. The nude shaman stood up and spotted him immediately.

"Hi-"

"Well? What happened?" Kazana asked. John halted in his steps. The boy suddenly remembered why he was sent into the woods in the first place.

"Well... Uh. I sat there."

"You didn't do as I told you." She saw straight through his non answer. John shook his head shamefully and stared at the ground. "Come with me." Kazana walked past him. John walked with her, grass softly crunching beneath their steps, to the edge of the village overlooking the moor. The view was broad with much to see, yet very still. A path was visible, twisting its way towards the closest tree where it disappeared.

"Do you see that path ahead in the grass?" She sternly asked.

"Y-yes." He softly spoke.

"You have the choice of walking that path or any other you choose. No one can see over the hill and know where that path will take you, but you must choose to stay on that path to find out." Kazana concisely stated before leaving. John stared at the field, still interpreting the exact meaning of her words. With a soft sigh, the boy sat down in the grass. His gaze remained unbroken until a gentler hand rested on the naked human's shoulder. John looked up at Amu.

"She's very tough, but a good person." The red panda smiled kindly at the human.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes I am." She reassured him. "It's getting late. I think it is time for you to return home. Tomorrow you will go through the cleansing ritual."

"What's the cleansing ritual?"

"We grease up your body with deer fat and teach you the first chants you should know." Amu informed him of the odd practice. The idea certainly sounded odd to the human, but more appealing than being alone under Kazana's tutelage. "It's getting late. You can go home now."

'Good...' John stood up and blew a mental sigh of relief.

"Here." She revealed the loincloth to the boy. "You only need to be naked like us when you're training to be a shaman."

"Thanks." He tied the double sided garment around his waist.

"I will see you tomorrow morning." Amu grinned and bid the boy a peaceful night. John hurried across the village to the hut he now called home. Other canine villagers were returning to their huts for the night. Thin trails of smoke escaped through the tops of huts, and orange glows were becoming visible beyond the edges of door flaps.

'I'm here!' John knelt down and crawled through the draping door flap. A soft glow inhabited the humble dwelling, illuminating the familiar objects of the hut. The charcoal grey backside and long grey hair of a figure faced him. His mother, Lenape, was tending to a dying fire. Her head and ears immediately raised up as an unseen black nose inhaled.

"I smell you!" His mother softly sang and turned to greet him. Lenape hugged her son tightly. A tongue swiped over his forehead lovingly. He didn't need to say a word as she reclined him to a breast. "How was your first day of training as a shaman?" She eagerly asked. "Tell me everything."

"It was... different." John answered before latching onto a breast. The taste of his mother's milk helped ease his worries.

"Kazana and Amu are great shamans. I know you will learn many important things." She softly spoke and held her son close. John hoped that his mother was right as she began humming a soft tune to lull him to sleep. "I don't know the shaman's way of life, but I'll always be ready to help you." The solid grey wolfess reassured him.

The sun was shining brightly across the countryside with only a few lazy clouds dotting the blue sky. The ordinary day in the village was anything but ordinary to John. The shaman in training was standing outside of the village's medicine hut naked.

"Hold still." Amu said as she rubbed grease on John's legs.

"I am!" He couldn't help himself from fidgeting nervously. His entire upper body from neck to waist was covered in slick grease. The sensation on his skin was so completely foreign and strange, he wondered if it was really happening. The reality settled in when he couldn't hide himself from prying eyes. The smell of grease always attracted a nose from nearby, never giving the pair any secure privacy.

"What is she doing to him mom?" A young pup's voice rang in the human's ear.

"I don't know..."

"Hey!" Amu leaned to the side and called out. John nearly jumped at the sudden yell drawing attention back to them. "I'm rubbing grease on him!" The red panda smiled. The mother and daughter approached curiously, noses leading the way. The human felt frozen in place.

"Why?" The little pup asked.

"It's part of a tradition that shamans in training do." Amu cheerfully answered while her hands rubbed the slick substance onto him.

"Oh..." The pup's ears flickered, not entirely sure of what she meant.

"Will anything be done differently because... he's a human?"

"No, of course not." Amu stated. "If he decides to continue training as a shaman, then John will learn everything Kazana and I can teach him."

"Oh, okay..." The female seemed reassured. The human could feel his face turning a light shade of red as they held a conversation around him. John tensed up as a little clawed finger poked his rear. He looked down and his gaze met the little mottle grey pup's eyes. Before either could say anything, another voice intervened.

"We need to go." The pup's mother led her away. "Thanks for explaining to us Amu." She kindly smiled.

"Bye!" The energetic pup barked.

"So energetic and curious." Amu chuckled to herself.

'Thank the spirits! They finally left.' John felt some relief as they left. Amu rubbed her hands with a little deer fat before finishing the human's lower legs and tops of his feet. He shuddered at the odd greasy coating on his skin. Luckily for John, Kazana was busy helping a pregnant mother with nausea. The skunkette shaman wouldn't be as gentle as Amu.

"Do you want to grease yourself here?" She pointed between his legs.

"Do I have to?" He looked down at the red panda kneeling before him.

"Whatever is more comfortable for you." She waited for him to decide. John stared at the red panda's grease shined hands. He wouldn't be able to clean himself until late in the evening.

"You can." He allowed her. The red panda quickly and carefully greased the rest of his body. John relaxed when she finished and looked him over. Amu finally gave him a nod of approval.

"There. Good enough to eat." She chuckled and licked a finger before wiping off her hands. Good was the last word John wanted to use to describe the sensation all over his body. The drying grease heightened any sensation through touch. The air seemed to stick to his skin. "Let me check over a few things before we head out. Stay right there!" Amu retreated into the medicine hut. John gradually moved an arm to look at it. His slick skin appeared to shine in the direct light.

"This is bizarre." The boy mumbled. 'How is this going to help me?' The sound of suppressed laughter caught the human's attention. John's head whipped around, seeing a male wolf walking by. The red wolf had a whimsical grin on his muzzle. John nervously stared at the medicine hut. The red panda couldn't exit the dwelling soon enough. 'Phew.' The boy internally sighed with relief when the shaman crawled back outside.

"I'm ready. We can go now." She stood up and motioned for him to follow. John walked closely behind the red panda. Several eyes curiosly watched him as they passed by.

"Will I have to chant around a lot of people?" John looked around the busy huts as they left the village.

"No." She reassured him. "These first chants are for when you're alone and connecting to nature. You will learn other chants later on." The red panda led him out into the moor. John glanced around the grassy plain, wondering if she was going to teach him in a quiet meadow.

"What kind of chants will I have to learn?" He asked her once again.

"You already know hunters and runners often whisper chants or recite them silently, correct?"

"Mmhm." He nodded.

"Good. Those are simple chants to help with hunting or provide a little luck from the spirits. You, however, will be learning more spiritual chants."

"Like what?" He made the red panda giggle.

"I'll show you soon enough." They quietly walked across the rest of the open moor to the trees. The shady world of the forest replaced the open meadows. Dry leaves and remnant sticks crunched beneath their soles as they followed one path onto another. Amu suddenly stopped.

"What?" John looked around the trees.

"We're going down this path." The red panda pointed along the trail where tall leafy grasses grew in two rows under the dappled sunlight. Between them was a little trail, easily overlooked by his human eyes. "Come." She waved and walked. He followed Amu down an unused trail through the tall thin leafed grasses.

'Where is she taking me?' John only explored a few main trails with his mother. It was a denser part of the forest. Sunlight was limited, but where it shined brightest created shards of sunlight nourishing upstart plants. Birds chattered without restraint as hunting parties were nowhere nearby.

"Stay close to me." Amy paused. Without paying attention, the human bumped into her. The red panda merely smiled and held a branch back for him.

"Thank you." He sheepishly ducked and stepped aside. They resumed following the twisting path to a narrow opening between a thicket of bushes and thorny underbrush. John carefully stepped through and found himself in a little sunny space within the forest. Colorful flowers and small specific plants grew in abundance, yet with careful placement. A butterfly fluttered between each plant as other insects droned nearby. Tall oaks with their trunks covered in climbing dark green ivy surrounded the hidden garden like a sacred barrier. "Where are we?"

"Our village's herbal garden. This is where we grow a fair supply for medicine whenever we need it." Amu walked around, looking over everything. She then stopped and confidently faced the human. "I couldn't think of a better place than here to start teaching you."

'It's nice and quiet.' John looked around. He didn't feel the awkwardness of being naked in the natural solitude.

"Sit here and we can start." She pointed at a nice carpet of moss under the shade of a towering tree. John sat down at its base. Moss grew up its side as far as he could see. Amu sat down across from the boy and tucked her tail aside. John nervously looked at the naked red panda. "Something on your mind before you wish to start?" She asked. John nodded.

"Did you have to do this?"

"This? You mean learn how to sing chants with my body greased up?"

"Mmhm."

"Yes, I did." She smiled. "Although Kazana had to grease my fur. She was very picky about it." The red lands fondly remembered. "Although when I had to first learn my chants, my stomach wouldn't stop growling because I hadn't eaten. All afternoon I would accidentally say one of my favorite foods." She admitted. John chuckled. Amu had a knack for making him feel better. The red panda shifted and settled down again. "Okay. Are you ready to begin?" She quietly asked with a more serious tone.

"Yes." The human took a deep breath and nodded.

"Look around you. Be mindful of where you are. Take in the sensations on your body right now." She instructed. "The moss underneath you, the leaves above us, the air on your skin, the smell of the forest, and the sounds of everything around us." The human searched the peaceful greenery around them. He focused silently. The outright nudity and slickness on his skin helped him notice the subtleties he hadn't before. John could feel the grass and moss underneath him, the warm dappled sunlight above him, and the still air in the garden. The chirping birds and scurrying squirrels completed his focus. Without warning, the shaman began quietly singing a chant.

Come here, listen to me spirits.

I seek your guidance!

I chant to hear a whisper

of your knowledge!

John blinked. The red panda's voice was sweet and musical when she sang. Amu looked at him expectantly. "Now you try." She encouraged him. He cleared his throat.

Come here, listen to me spirits.

I seek your guidance.

I chant to hear a whisper

of your knowledge...

The boy's voice tapered off. Arms and legs curled up slightly with embarrassment.

"Do not be afraid of how you sound." She noted his quiet voice. "You are not singing to anyone else, only the spirits and nature." He nodded, and this time they sang it together.

The spirits are with us,

and nature surrounds us.

This flows everywhere with everyone.

It is a nourishing love

that is not overbearing.

"Good. That was much better." Amy deeply nodded in approval.

"Thank you." The human smiled. The red panda began teaching him more chants, and explaining their meanings. Plants, people, villages, the weather... The concept of nature and the spirits was still largely mystifying to the human boy, but he was beginning to understand how the tribal villagers viewed the world they inhabited. A world in which the spiritual world was closely connected to the physical world. There was only one break from chanting to eat before she concluded the lesson at the end of the afternoon.

"You did very well today." The red panda happily spoke. She rose from her spot and brushed the dirt from her fur. John quickly jumped to his feet but everything seemed to stick to his greased skin. Amu softly chuckled to herself. "Go clean yourself up in the creek. I think we've done all we needed to for today. You can go home for the rest of the day."

"Thank you." The boy didn't hesitate to leave the little sanctuary. His legs pulled uncomfortably from sitting so long with Amu, but he found his way down the trails and out of the woods in short time. A short walk through the grassy moor led him within sight of the village and its creek. Everything looked quiet. He could see maybe two or three other villagers using the creek adjacent to the village. A perfect lone spot would give him plenty of privacy to wash off. John hurried towards the water, only for a swift figure to chase him down.

"Hey John!" A strong pair of hands halted the naked boy. The human jumped and spun around.

"Azande! You scared me." He caught his breath. The she wolf laughed.

"Why are you running around naked?" Her keen nose interrupted her own question. "Mm! You smell good John." Azande sniffed her hands and gave a curious lick. "You taste good too!" She smelled him closely.

"Stop." He pushed her nosy snout away. "Amu rubbed grease on me."

"Why would she do that?" Azande's head tilted curiously.

"It's something you do if you're training to become a shaman."

"What? You're becoming a shaman?" Her ears perked up in surprise.

"Well... I'm starting to train as one."

"But I thought you went hunting with your mother in a hunting party a few days ago."

"I wasn't allowed, but when she returned I saw Amu and Kazana sitting outside... And I decided to learn from them." He paused to wipe his arms. "I need to wash my skin. It's slimy and it smells." He wrinkled his nose.

"Well, if I can't lick it all off then I can help wash it off you.' She offered and tossed her loincloth and sheathed knife aside. John and Azande sat down in the creek's cool water. The wolf poured water over his back and washed him while he took care of his front.

"Thanks for helping me." John mentioned.

"Sure!" Azande smiled as she rubbed his back. "I haven't seen you in a while, so when I caught your scent I came running after you."

"I think the entire village caught scent of me." He washed over his front.

"Haha! I'm not surprised." She laughed. John smiled feeling water being poured over him. It felt nice that she was helping him out when he still felt a little nervous about practicing as a shaman. It still felt like a great leap from living a human life less than one year ago.

"Hey, what are you doing?" A voice suddenly asked. The she wolf and John turned and saw two figures around their ages standing nearby. An Akita pup with hints of Merle coating in his fur, and a red wolf pup. Both were between Azande and John's ages. The Akita held a stick that they had likely been playing with.

"Playing with the flat face?" The other jeered before laughing. John looked away without a word, but the water slushed as Azande rose to her paws.

"Huh?' He glanced over and looked up. Azande's colorful back faced him. Water dripped off her legs into the grass. Her hackles were raised, and John could only imagine the look on the adolescent's face.

"I'll break your muzzles!" She growled threateningly and bared her teeth. Azande could have a terrible bark, but the adolescent's bite was far worse. The two pups turned tail and ran away. The cream and amber red furred adolescent returned to the water with a rough splash. Annoyed huffs of breath washed over his skin for a brief moment before calming into silence. John remained idle as padded hands returned to washing his backside.

"You don't think it's strange that I'm training as a shaman, do you?" John quietly asked.

"No. Why would you say that?"

"I don't know..." John stared at the water for a moment. "Because of them." He referred to the pair of annoying pups.

"All shamans are respected in villages, and they should too. If not, I'll knock out their last pup teeth for you." She clenched a fist confidently. The young she wolf noted his silence and resumed cleaning him. "So... what are you doing as a shaman? Scaring away evil spirits during the night? Fighting ghosts with only your claws?" Azande asked with an excited voice.

"What?" The human held back a laugh. "I'm just started to learn chants."

"Chants? You're only singing?"

"Kazana is trying to teach me medicine too."

"That's fun." Azande sarcastically huffed.

"Ugh..." John grumbled.

"I heard that Kazana is very mean." Azande mentioned.

"She is." He quickly answered.

"Okay. I think I've rubbed your back enough." Azande licked a finger, noticing that his skin didn't taste as delectable anymore. "Stand up and I'll help get your legs." John hesitated at first and stared at the water covering him a little above his waistline. But he could trust her. "Hello?" Azande prodded his back.

"Ok." The boy stood up. Water noisily dripped as the young she wolf remained seated in the creek. Her hands quickly resumed washing over his skin from behind. John nervously stared at the water dripping from his naked skin into the creek below. "Azande... I still feel nervous about being naked." He admitted.

"You do?" Azande stopped and tilted her head curiously.

"I'm different... there."

"You're not that different." She mentioned. "You should feel proud that you're training to be a shaman... It isn't easy to become one."

"I should feel proud..?" John quietly spoke.

"Yeah. Just don't shake your sheath at anyone." She giggled. Laughter spurted past of John's lips as his cheeks turned a shade of red. He didn't feel nervous about it anymore. "Ok. I do not think you taste good anymore." Azande licked behind his knee.

"Don't lick me!" He jumped away from her. A gleam in the wolf's eyes scared the boy. He safely jumped onto the grass. She stood up in a relaxed stretch rather than pounce on him.

"It's not my fault you taste good with grease." Azande licked her mouth and giggled. John didn't seem convinced at her innocent gesture. "Let's dry off." The she wolf shook her legs before laying down. He laid out in the grass and clover beside her. The sun broke through the parting clouds, allowing its light to warm their bodies.

"This feels nice..." John sighed. Laying in the grass to dry off without worry was something he wanted to experience more of.

"Hey, John." Azande looked at him. "What's it like training to become a shaman?"

"Um... It's a lot of work." He thought about the recent days. "But it's a different kind of work." The human always viewed work as physical, never mental.

"Different huh?" The red and cream furred she wolf wiggled her nose. "I don't know anything about being a shaman." She shrugged. "Can you teach me about nature?"

"Huh? Me?" John hardly believed what she had said.

"Teach me. Why is there wind? Does a spirit constantly blow air from a high mountaintop?" Azande asked.

"I-I don't know!" He was flustered from her questions. The young adolescent chuckled and stared up at the sky. John regained his composure. She had been asking him every question up until now. He looked over in the grass and clover where her garment laid. Among the buckskin was the visible wooden handle of Azande's sheathed knife.

"What have you been doing?"

"Hunting." She smiled. "I was part of a hunting party again."

"Are you a hunter?"

"Today, uh... Kind of." Azande wasn't sure how to explain. "I practice running and archery, but since I'm still learning I only observe others in a hunting pack right now. Sometimes an elder or adult will help a few our age practice near the village."

"Do you like running or shooting your bow?"

"I can shoot my bow very well!" A strong sense of pride was evident in her voice. "I've caught rabbits and squirrels before, but nothing big yet. I'm ok at running though." John stared up into the sky. He wanted to feel proud about doing something like Azande did, and useful like his mother was to him. A wide cloud blocked out the sun's brief freedom, returning shade once again to the landscape.

"I think my skin is dry." John stood up.

"Where are you going?" Azande jumped to her paws.

"Back to my mom."

"I still need to dry my fur. My legs are still damp." She peered down at her open stance.

"Oh... I'll see you another day then. Bye." He turned around and left.

"Hey." Her voice stopped him after a few steps. John turned around and found Azande standing up again, arms hanging idly by her sides. "Since you're training as a shaman now... Does this mean we can't play anymore, or go hunting together?"

"Um..." He wasn't sure what to say. Her ears sadly fell back. "We can but I'll be busy with Amu or Kazana most of the day."

"Oh..." Her ears remained flattened against her skull.

"Bye."

"Bye..." John barely heard her voice as he left. He navigated around the numerous huts to retrieve his loincloth at the medicine hut before heading to the place he called home. His mother was standing outside the hut's door flap, waiting for him. Her tail swished when she spotted him.

"Hi mom!" John quickly ran up to the charcoal grey she wolf. She flashed him a toothy grin and brought an arm around his back.

"I was wondering when you would return for the evening." She smiled only to sniff the air. "And you smell good too." Lenape hummed.

"Amu greased my skin and taught me a lot of chants." He explained. "Then when we finished, I went down to the creek to wash my skin. Azande showed up and helped."

"That's very nice of her."

"Mmhm." He nodded and reflected about how she stood up for him at the creek. 'They called me flat face...' He remembered what the pup blurted at him. They crept through the hut's door flap. The dim and calm interior was lit by the flickering of a small fire. The scent of a recent meal lingered in the air with hints of smoke. The only noise inside was the fire's crackling sputters. Mother and son sat down on the spread out deer pelts, facing each other.

"You're quiet now." She observed his sudden change. "Are you hungry?"

"A little..." He admitted, but his mind was elsewhere.

"What's wrong?" Her eyes searched him for answers.

"Two pups... called me a name and teased Azande for helping me." He revealed what was bothering him. His mother's smile disappeared for a moment, and she briefly clenched a fist.

"Don't pay attention to them." She half grinned and rested a hand on the top of his head. "They're just trying to get at you." John didn't completely understand, but laughed when she ruffled his hair.

"Mom!" He managed to lean away. "My hair is messy."

"I can smooth it out." She held her fingers together so the claws became orderly like a comb. John allowed her to run her claws through his hair. "What else did Amu teach you?" Lenape eagerly asked when she finished.

"A little about plants, but mostly chants."

"Can you sing one to me?"

"Huh?" John blinked.

"Sing a chant to me." His mother smiled encouragingly.

"Okay..." He quietly thought of one.

The spirits tell me,

don't fear the night.

You should walk,

guided by moonlight.

"That sounded good!" Her jaws parted in an open smile when he finished. John smiled at her compliment before suddenly laying down. "Tired?" His mother chuckled.

"Mmhm." He quietly nodded. Lenape laid down beside him. John immediately snuggled up to her warm furry body and closed his eyes. She held her son in her arms, and took a moment to savor their embrace. Only a few moments passed before she felt his hungry mouth latch onto a breast. The sensation easily relaxed the mother. The wolf let a finger aimlessly wander through his longer hair.

"It feels like you're growing up so fast." Lenape softly mentioned.

'Hmm?' John didn't understand what she meant. The mother she wolf smiled and patted his back.

'You probably don't realize it at your age.' She watched him in the dimming light. Thoughts of him as an adult, becoming another's mate, and raising pups of his own crossed her mind. It was almost too much for the she wolf to imagine. Not even a full season cycle had passed since she had found him on the brink of dying. A little popping sound caught her sensitive ears. The wolfess glanced over her shoulder at the sputtering fire. Not wanting to leave her son for a second, Lenape remained where she was.

'I can let the fire burn out on its own tonight.' She thought and closed her eyes.

A week had passed since John had learned many chants. Some were about scaring away evil spirits, asking the spirits to guide the lost back home, and others were even about healing the sick, remembering herbal remedies, or understanding how the world worked. But today was focused on learning medicine, specifically the plant based sources available to the village. Inside the medicine hut, John stared with high focus. The stuffy hut was warm from a constant low burning fire. Among the various trinkets and ornaments, an array of medicinal plants were set out before him: roots, leaves, and even dried petals. His task was to memorize the dozen and a half herbs, but Kazana had little patience for the boy. The skunk shaman instructed him to memorize their names and what they were used for. His nose lacked the ability to memorize by smell, so all the boy had was his sight and memory.

"How did that one song go?" He mumbled to himself and wiped his forehead. 'When there's an ache, you must take-"

"John!" The skunk shaman balked at the idle human.

"Huh?! What's wrong?" He looked around and found an unhappy Kazana staring at him. Despite her thin body and nakedness, the aged female was a force to be reckoned with, especially when angered.

"What is that one?" She pointed to the herb. The skunk's stern stare didn't waver from him in the slightest.

"I-I uh..." John stalled.

"Do you know what it is used for?" She asked. The boy silently shook his head.

'All of them look the same.' He stared at the plants. Kazana audibly sighed causing a chill of disappointment to run through the human.

"It is yellow root." She identified it by its namesake knotty yellow root. "It can be used to help treat sores in the mouth, and heavy bleeding during a female's cycle."

"Sorry..." John meekly replied. Before Kazana could say anything more, a rustle at the door flap interrupted the unsuccessful lesson.

"Hello?" A canine face peeked inside.

"Yes?" Kazana crept up to the visitor. Whispers were quickly exchanged. John strained his ears and tried peeking around the old skunk to see, but to no avail. The shaman suddenly turned around and looked at him. John sat upright and still. "Come with me." She tersely spoke. The boy immediately leapt to his feet and followed the nude female outside. A female blonde haired wolf was awaiting them by the entrance. Her loincloth, satchel, and chest cloth had matching tassel patterns "Where exactly did you see them?" The shaman asked.

"Right by the moor where little grass grows at the creek." The brindle coated female pointed.

"Thank you... Follow me John." Kazana waved before walking into the moor. John hastily followed her.

"Where are we going Kazana?"

"To a forgotten grave that has become exposed. We need to bury the bones again."

"A grave?" The boy blinked in confusion.

"Only shamans are permitted to touch the bones of the deceased." She explained. Without a further word, she led him across the moor. They passed by the edge of the neighboring small forest before reaching a small patch of dry loose dirt along the bottom of a gentle grassy slope. A partially visible creek wasn't far away. Kazana scanned the ground before spotting something. John followed her to where a few small bones were visible on the ground. They were dirty but bleached white underneath. The elder shaman knelt down and immediately whispered a small chant.

Oh spirit of the deceased,

be at peace.

We have returned you

as the winds return to the sky.

The skunk started carefully digging beside the exposed bones.

"Help me dig." She instructed. John knelt down and used his bare hands like her. The two quickly created a new spot for the bones to resume their final rest. John watched Kazana pick up each bone carefully and place them into the hole. "Each active grave is marked by a decorated stick. When the stick falls on its own accord, that is when the spirit of the deceased is said to be completely on the other side. Then the grave no longer becomes active." The experienced shaman told him.

"Why not mark it permanently with stone?" John thought of tombstones and other human ways of marking where the dead had been buried for years.

"A time must come to let go, but not forget. You can always replace a stick, but I would never recommend that..." She spoke. "Finish burying the bones." The old female skunk rose to her paws. "When you are finished, come back to the medicine hut." She instructed before promptly leaving. He nodded and began piling the dirt atop them until they were completely sealed. His hands pressed and tamped the dirt down.

"There..." John looked around and Kazana wasn't anywhere to be seen. The boy exhaled an audible sigh of relief. Kazana's strict methods were not very appealing to him. He was more afraid of forgetting something than enjoying learning something new. 'This is the first time she hasn't yelled at me...' At least there was something else positive about their first kind conversation. John stood up and stared at the unmarked grave. He had no idea that a standing stick in the ground marked such an important sight. The human gazed around the area tucked away from the open moor beside the woods. He could see a trail not too far away.

'This is where mom took me...' He remembered the creek nestled at the bottom of the hill. The colors of autumn had long vanished and the surrounding trees were now leafed in a spring green. John walked over to where he and his mother had rolled downhill together. At the bottom of the gentle slope, close to the widest spot of the shallow creek was a lone stick. He hurried over to the lone grave marker and knelt down.

'Who is buried here?' John stared at the lone, weathered stick. Two rocks helped keep it upright and steady from toppling over from the winds. 'Is it someone mom knew?' He wondered what the person was like. It was a beautiful place to be buried: by a babbling little creek, next to the shade of a lone oak tree. 'Rest in peace.' John thought to himself before leaving. The boy hurried across the moor and back to the village's medicine hut. Kazana emerged from the door flap with two handfuls of something before tossing it away. The old skunk was cleaning out a certain herb. The aged leaves lost their freshness and purpose many days ago.

"What is-ugh." John's voice was cut off as his face wrinkled up. The smell of mint was so strong that it burned his nose. Kazana briefly arched a brow at him.

"I have to search for fresh mint. Clean out any that is leftover.... And stay here and aid anyone who stops by." She ordered before leaving.

"Yes, Kazana." He nodded and crept inside. 'That smelled so strong!' John coughed and wiped his eyes. The scent still hung in the air within the hut, but it was very mild in comparison. John sat down on a pelt and looked around the quiet dwelling. He was usually under one of the shaman's supervision, but today he found himself alone in the medicine hut.

'There's so much stuff here.' A set of deer antlers were hanging on one section of wall. A leather strip was tied onto one point, and some sections had been painted. A large decorated staff rested behind several woven baskets. They were likely full of special herbs. A recently used pestle and mortar set were beside it. A stack of raven feathers were atop another hand woven basket, and the large dream catcher was hanging above the tightly packed deep pelts used for sleeping. 'I wonder if there's arrowheads somewhere...' John lifted a blanket and peered around.

"Hello?" A canine villager suddenly entered the medicine hut, startling John. The male wolf paused and spotted the lone human shaman in training. His jaw cracked open in partial disbelief. Soft panting filled the humble hut causing the hair on John's skin to stand up.

"Y-yes?" The boy piped up.

"I'm Kakan." The canine hastily introduced himself. The male wolf was covered completely in black fur with the sole exception of a white dash along his chest. Long black hair spilled over his shoulders and upper back. A knife dangled by his hip. It was the same wolf who had visited with burs mangled in his fur! "Is Amu or Kazana nearby?"

"Uh. No... Can I help you?" John offered.

"Well... I suppose." The wolf's teeth were visibly clenched as he sat down.

"Are you hurt?" John noticed.

"I was searching for a rabbit den when I walked through a thorny bush." He moped. "I managed to pull out the ones stuck in my legs and arms, but I can feel several in my pads where I can't seem to reach." Kakan was a tall wolf in his late twenties who preferred to hunt over anything else. His well built body was a testament to that passion. Unlike John, the canine wore a typical buckskin breech cloth, an armband, feathers in braided hair, and a necklace of small stones. "Your hands are small. Can you pull them out?" The older male placed his paws in the human's naked lap. The somewhat cool pads lightly touched his front. Thick black claws stared at the human.

"I-I can try." He grabbed one paw. 'They're really big...' A canine digitigrade paw was virtually half the size of his face. John lifted the wolf's large paw and peered closer. Plenty of thorns, needles, and other prickling plant parts were wedged or mangled in the thick fur between Kakan's padded digits. The human glanced up and saw the canine head watching him intently.

'He's watching me so closely!' John gulped. He carefully spread out the paw's bulky digits and carefully dipped fingers between them. Kakan winced as the human plucked out the numerous thorns. It was tricky combing through the dark fur hiding anything. John performed the same on Kakan's other paw until there was nothing left mangled in his fur or wedged into his skin.

"Ahh..." His paws scrunched shut with relief.

"I think I got them all, and there were no bleeding cuts. Does anything still hurt?"

"My paws are tender, but I don't feel anymore sharp stabs." The wolf retracted his legs. "Thank you. I appreciate it." The wolf grinned. The door flap moved as Amu entered the hut with a warm greeting.

"Hello! What brings you to the medicine hut Kakan?"

"Thorns in my paws." He sheepishly admitted.

"Again?" Amu's brow arched. The male wolf managed to smile despite his ears falling back.

"Although your shaman in training helped me with ease. No thorns are stuck in me anymore."

"That's great to hear." The shaman smiled proudly. John grinned happily.

"I'll go ahead and bathe in the creek." Kakan slipped past Amu and out of the medicine hut. "Bye!"

"That hard headed wolf." The red panda chuckled before approaching John. Her face grimaced into a brief frown.

"Are you ok?"

"My knee is hurting again." She sat down beside him and blew a sigh of relief. "Do you know which herb will help relieve that?" Amu asked. The boy looked over the arranged medicinal plants beside them.

'Saffron... Borage... Lavender...' John looked through the cache of useful plants. The various uses that each could be used for were jumbled inside his head. "I'm not sure..." He admitted. Figuring out plants wasn't the same as learning the tribal tongue.

"That's fine. Some sage should do the trick." Amu reached for one that hadn't crossed the boy's mind. "We will make a tea out of it. All we need to do is heat it in warm water." She prepared the fire. In a moment low flames were crackling softly in the fire pit.

'I wonder what Azande is doing...' He thought while Amu busily prepared the tea. His mind returned to how she reacted when they last spoke by the creek.

"And when the water is beginning to steam, put the herb in..." Amu demonstrated only to find John's focus elsewhere. "John?"

"Huh?" The boy snapped from his stupor and found the nude red panda staring at him expectedly.

"Are you listening?" She pointed to an ear. He merely blinked and stared at the low flames.

"Amu... I was thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Her ears perked up as her gaze met his.

"Yesterday Azande's ears fell back. What does that mean?"

"It depends... She could've felt sad or nervous. Maybe shy or threatened."

"Oh..." It made sense to the boy.

"Your ears cannot do that." She noted. "Let's try the tea." The red panda carefully removed the hot piping liquid. She poured them both a small cup sized bowl. Steam wafted off the top of the lightly colored liquid. After several coling breaths, they were able to drink the brew.

"It tastes...like water, but different." John didn't know what to make of the pungent hints.

"You're tasting the herb." Amu grinned.

"Why does the earth have lots of herbs?" His sudden urge of questions seemed endless to the shaman.

"Your mind is in a tumult like a storm cloud." Amu hummed and thought for a moment. "Let's walk across the moor and talk." She offered. John gladly jumped to his feet and followed the shaman outside. Amu walked with him a short distance from the village, far enough for some privacy and away from any noise. "Tell me one of the questions on your mind." The red panda looked at the boy.

"Why does everyone else wear loincloths, armbands, anklets, and necklaces when we don't?"

"They aren't trying to be shamans."

"But they're almost naked too."

"When are most villagers without garments?" She asked the curious child.

"Um... Sleeping and bathing." He answered and the shaman nodded at both.

"During both people are a little closer to nature physically. We are more mindful about it, which brings the connection even closer." She explained.

"More mindful?"

"Mhm. We are aware of it." Amu spoke before stopping along a quiet spot in the moor. "Let's sit down. I can show you." She directed him. They faced the open moorland. Two wolves were barely visible, tiny dots along the edge of the hills and forests. "Close your eyes. Focus on everything around you." Amu calmly spoke and sat upright. John followed suit, trying not to think about the grass prickling his skin. His thoughts focused on the gentle breeze, but he distinctly felt something stir. His eyes opened up only to widen fearfully.

'Oh no.' John suddenly wished he could wear a loincloth despite how little it would actually do. The human glanced over and saw Amu looking at him calmly. 'She knows!' He started to panic and felt his heart race.

"Don't worry. Relax and focus." She calmly closed her eyes again. "It will go away." John took a deep breath and did the same. He resumed the meditative posture, albeit shakily at first.

'Why me?' He tried letting go of his worries and focused on the surrounding nature. The wind blew swept over the moor without change. A minute passed like an hour with the near silence between them. He finally opened his eyes and found that his problem had gone away like she had predicted. Immediate relief washed over him.

"I see your sheath is not standing up anymore." The red panda shaman spoke without looking.

"I'm always nervous and embarrassed when it happens." He admitted and curled up his legs.

"It can happen without warning at your age." She understood. "But it's nothing to feel embarrassed or nervous about."

"When Kazana told me that, I felt scared it would."

"Kazana is more direct than most." Amu smiled. "She doesn't mean to scare you, just make sure that you remember."

"But it's different... I'm different! I'm not a wolf, and I heard someone call me a flat face. I don't even have fur to stay warm... I'm different."

"It's okay to be different. I'm not a canine too." She reassured him with a gentle pat on his back. "Villages and tribes are not one species. They are many... Be happy for your differences. Not having a fur coat is part of being human."

"But what if my... sheath stands up again?" He worried.

"If you're afraid that it will happen, then you will be afraid. If you do not fear it, then nothing bad will happen." Amu wittily told him. John felt a little better about it. "I think now is a good time to discuss males and females in a spiritual sense." The shaman thought aloud. "Especially since you're thinking about the body. Yours is changing a lot right now, because you are growing into an adult. You are becoming more aware of things you hadn't noticed as a pup."

"Like what?"

"Many things." She grinned. "First, the female is like the earth."

"The earth?" John furrowed his brow.

"Yes." Amu nodded. "The earth is receptive. It allows plants to grow and us to live on its surface. It is a nurturing force that allows everything to exist. It even holds up the sky." She pointed up with a clawed finger. "The earth nurtures plants like grass, trees, and crops. The female's body is receptive like the earth." She motioned to her body next, hands over her tummy. "The female body receives the male body. The breast and womb nurtures just like the earth. The female's womb normally bleeds once every year, during the spring or summer, like a river. Just as a river shows how fertile the land is, the womb's bleeding shows the fertility of a female." Amu explained. John didn't exactly understand female anatomy, especially more intimate aspects that the red panda shaman was describing. The human nodded anyway.

"Now, the male," she grinned at him, "is like the sky." John looked up at the vast emptiness of the sky where several fluffy clouds rested. "It is warm from the sun and gives light to the earth. The sky releases life giving rain which resembles a male's ability to help produce life. The powerful wind represents a male's strength. Both the earth and the sky need each other to exist and create life. Without rain, the ground would become barren and hard. Without the ground, all of life would not be able to exist... That reminds me, do not call a female barren and hard."

"Why?" John blinked.

"It means that their womb is hard and will not support pregnancy. It is a great insult to speak of someone's infertility that way." She told him. "Anyway... Do not assume that males and females are distinctly separate from one another. The sky and earth touch." Amu clasped her hands together. "There is a lot that makes us the same. We have different fur, skin, and hair... In fact, the only differences are here." She waved a hand over her upper torso and groin. "You will begin seeing them in a different way than you have as a pup... Does that settle your wandering mind?" The red panda shaman concluded.

"Yeah." He nodded and let her wisdom settle on his young mind.

"You'll naturally understand over time." Amu reassured him. "Let's walk back to the village." She stood up. The human walked alongside his shaman teacher back to their village. The grass lightly crunched beneath their steps. He glanced over and noticed how calm and content the red panda walked. She always seemed to know how to explain things to him. Amu looked over at the boy.

"Earlier, you told me that Azande's ears fell back."

"Mmhm." John nodded. "It happened when I told her I couldn't play with her a lot anymore."

"Ah, she must have felt sad. Moving ears is a sign of someone's feelings."

"They are?" John had noticed to some degree, but never knew they were connected to how someone felt.

"Mmhm." Amu nodded. "They can tell several emotions. If someone's ears are folded back and their muzzle is wrinkled, or they are frowning with their teeth then that means they are very angry. If someone's ears are facing forward, then they are paying attention to you."

"Oh..." His mother's ears always faced him when they were together, especially when she nursed him. Amu stopped a short distance from the huts. John watched as she simply took a moment to stare ahead. After a moment's thought, she spoke.

"The young observe the old and the old observe the young." The female began. "We observe the spirits and the spirits observe us. We observe nature and-"

"Nature observes us?"

"You could say that." She grinned and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've done well learning the very basics of chanting, the spirits, and nature, but there is much more." Amu told him. "The second task of a shaman is to help others with their wounds using medicine, and the spirits."

"Like I helped Kakan?"

"Yes... I am proud that you helped Kakan." Amu spoke. John couldn't but smile and feel some sense of pride about it. "A good way to start is by helping an elder."

"I have to heal an elder?"

"Not exactly." The red panda's voice trailed a little. "Doing a good thing encourages more good things. This is why shamans never participate in war, because it will only perpetuate evil. Some like many of the Yonekohtan have wandered from the good cycle of nature... You simply need to begin helping someone to understand."

"How do I help?"

"Find an elder. They usually need help with small tasks, or simply someone to listen to a story they know." She advised. "If you need any help, then come to the medicine hut." With those words spoken, she parted ways and walked towards the huts.

'Help an elder...' John looked around the edge of the village. 'But where to start?' The wind gently blew past him before he decided to walk to the creek. There weren't many along the shallow waters bending around the village to the river, but he caught sight of a small group. John quickly approached and found there were half a dozen elders and two pups bathing in the creek. All but one were female, and the two pups were playing in the water around them. The older pup was Kantala, and the other was a little mottled grey and brown female younger than him.

'Maybe they need help with something?' John glanced at the pile of garments resting at his feet. The boy felt unsure, and started taking a step away.

"Hi John!" Kantala suddenly barked, tail wagging excitedly behind him. All of the canine heads turned and looked at him. With the attention on him, John merely stood nervously before the elder canines.

"What brings you by the creek young pup?" A female asked.

"To take a bath?" Another guessed. John could feel his face start to turn red from his own nervousness.

"Uh. Well..." He began. "Amu told me to help an elder if they needed it." The boy managed to say.

"I don't think we need anything." The lone male looked around and the others shrugged in agreement.

"We can alway use good company!" A pure white wolfess smiled and beckoned the boy to join them.

"Yes!"

"Join us." The others readily agreed. With a little verbal prodding, John entered the water with small splashes and sat beside a mottled brown and grey female wolf. She loomed over him, even though they were both sitting. Kantala and the younger female pup resumed playing with each other, creating loud splashes.

"I am Huvovi." The elder wolf introduced herself. "I do not bite... without warning." She chuckled and touched noses with him.

"Don't listen to her." The male shook his head. Huvovi wrinkled her nose teasingly at the male wolf. John looked around the seated elders, but his sight rested on a particular female.

"I think you recognize me." A ruddy furred elder she wolf grinned.

"You're Koan." He nodded. He almost didn't recognize the she wolf without her ornate chest cloth. Her bare chest was lighter colors of cream and tan with hints of red towards her sides. Like her peers, things tended to sag with age but her wet fur covered mostly everything.

"I was going to say that I could mend you a new loincloth, but now since you are training to become a shaman, you wouldn't need to wear it." Koan grinned.

"I appreciate the garments that you've made for me over the seasons." A wolfess spoke before settling her gaze on the quiet human. "My name is Ayaska." She introduced herself, and the others took turns doing the same. John curiously stared at the bathing elders while they chatted openly with each other. A padded finger tip sudden brushed over John's mouth, flicking his lower lip.

"Bird peck your tongue?" An elder female teased causing the human to seal his mouth.

"You're very shy." One remarked.

"I was just... thinking." He admitted.

"Thinking about what? You can tell us. We're nice." Huvovi grinned.

"I haven't seen so many old people taking a bath before." He admitted. The elders chuckled aloud.

"Our bodies might have aged, but that doesn't mean we have changed over time." She remarked.

"Have you heard why people age John?" One elder she wolf asked.

"No." He shook his head.

"It's a good story. Long ago, before there were humans and the different seasons," she began with an ominous voice, "no one aged like they do today. One remained youthful and full of energy until they day they passed to the spirits' hunting grounds." She glanced at Kantala and the younger pup playing noisily together.

"Where is the spirits' hunting grounds?"

"It's in another world where the sprit of the deceased go." She explained. "It was a time of good weather, like right now, and food was plentiful. There were many fish and deer, food to forage, and crops to grow. However, some tribes abused this and lived carefree in their endless youth. They became arrogant and careless, not respecting one another and holding senseless grudges. One day there was accident where someone was slain. The wolf died and became a spirit. The new spirit saw the error in the tribal ways of endless youth, and came up with a solution. The new spirit proclaimed that a female and male's strength shall fade to remind them that their time to depart will come one day. And since then, everyone has aged." She openly smiled, chest puffed out enthusiastically when finishing the story. From what John knew about human society, age was something all people tried to hide, but natives embraced their age rather than deny it!

"Is that true?" He wondered.

"It's just a story." The elder male spoke up.

"Who knows for certain?" Huvovi shrugged. "Growing old is no excuse to have some fun." She reasoned.

"You should convince Kazana to loosen up and enjoy life more." Ayaska spoke up. "She's always busy with her work that the sun could set without her noticing."

"I don't think I can do that..." John shyly grinned to their amusement.

"At least he is honest." Another chuckled.

"Play with us John!" Kantala and the little female pup splashed up to the human. Pairs of hands rested on his back and shoulders as lolling tongues cajoled the boy to play. Unlike most of the elders, the two pups were completely soaked, dripping wet. Their long anthropomorphic hair was wet, making them appear somewhat ragged. John glanced at the elders who gave approving nods.

"Well... Okay." John rose from his seat. He was met with excited, smiling open jaws. They led the human a few splashing steps downstream before turning to face him.

"Alright! John, this is... are you hiding?" Kantala looked at his side where the small pup was staring curiously at the human. Like Kantala the little wolf had long hair to her back, although she had cream colored fur with hints of chocolate and darker browns along her upper back and tail.

"I'm Kincha..." She quietly spoke and partially hid behind Kantala. The white furred pup stepped aside and placed an arm around her.

"John won't hurt you. He's a human."

"A shaman?" Her ears perked up. "Like Amu?" She stepped out from behind Kantala.

"Yeah. She teaches me." John told her, and held out his hand. The little she wolf looked at the gesture curiously, but rather than grasp and shake the human's hand she grabbed his wrist. "Huh?" John watched as her tongue swiped over his palm instead. "You licked me!" He pulled his hand away. The pup giggled and licked her nose. Kantala laughed in amusement as the human washed his hand.

"What are we going to play?" John remembered why he had left the circle of elders.

"We were playing a game where one has to cross the creek, and the other has to stop them." Kantala explained. "Kincha likes being the one in the creek."

"I'm the creek spirit!" She bared her teeth and held up her claw bearing hands in a menacing, but very cute way. John looked at the narrow water, unconvinced. They were standing at a wider point within the water, but the creek was still small.

'It's only... five meters wide including the mud and silt.' He observed.

"We can show you." Kantala splashed onto the edge of the grass and clover. Kincha faced him in the middle of the creek. Both prepared themselves and crouched lower. He faked a few lunges to the left and right to make her stumble, but the giggling Kincha remained undeterred. With a sudden jump, Kantala landed with an abrupt splash into the shallow water. Kincha squealed and pursued. Unluckily for the faster Kantala, his digitigrade paw caught a rock beneath the shallow water. He tripped and fell into the water face first. Droplets of water erupted into the air as Kincha landed on top of him. When the creek settled, Kincha's arms were wrapped tightly around Kantala's hips, and her cheek was pressed against his lower back. He tried shaking the laughing pup off, but she held onto him tightly. Kantala had to crawl onto the opposite side of the creek with Kincha clinging to his waist. "I made it!" He barked triumphantly.

"I still got you." Kincha smiled with equal success and clamored off the white furred pup.

"Wanna play?" Tongue lolling, Kantala hopped to his paws and faced John. It did look like a lot of fun.

"Yes!" John agreed without hesitation and splashed over to his side of the creek.

"Okay..." Kantala lined up beside him. "We just have to make it... over there." He looked past the energetic pup watching them both with excited eyes. The opposite side suddenly felt much farther away.

"The river spirit will get you!" She held up her hands in an innocent threat. Kantala and John quickly bolted to her left and right respectively. With less than a handful of seconds John reached the middle of the creek, but Kincha was ready to strike.

'She's fast!' the human wasn't able to avert her swift dive towards him. The little pup tackled him with surprising strength. They fell in unison as John's back landed into the water. The rushing of water briefly filled his ears. His head rose out of the water with a gasp. Straddled across his waist, the little female pup's open muzzle smiled down at him.

"You're fast!" He spit water. Kincha laughed and lost her balance as John suddenly rose out of the water. She fell back and bumped into the elder male seated among his peers. The old wolf looked over his shoulder at the clumsy pup with a sharp eye.

"Careful!" The elder male playfully warned the cream furred pup. "If you claw me there then I'll have all my sons and their pups chase you." The pup yipped in a canine squeal and scampered away with little splashes. She hid behind John, ears pinned back fearfully.

"Don't worry." John grinned. "He wouldn't do that."

"You two come back here!" Kantala's tongue lolled out as he hopped on the other side of the creek. Only seconds passed before they were playing again. Many rounds passed until all three were out of breath, and sitting on the water's edge.

"That was fun." John breathed happily. The two pups nodded in agreement with their mouths still panting with wide canine smiles. "Huh? What?" The human felt a little black nose smell his skin. A little pink tongue gently licked his arm.

"Do you get cold?" The young female pup curiously asked.

"Sometimes at night, or during the winter." John recalled having to wear a blanket wherever he went.

"My nose doesn't have fur and it gets cold." She covered the end of her muzzle. John nodded despite how silly she looked.

"My skin becomes cold like your nose."

"You look funny without fur." Kantala giggled. John shot the male pup a look, but didn't say anything. After all, a human in a tribal village was the odd one. Kincha peered around the human's back.

"Why don't you have a tail?"

'Why don't I have a tail?' John wondered. "I don't know... Humans don't have tails." He told the little female pup. The sound of sloshing water and movement briefly caught the pups' attention. The elder wolves were finishing their peaceful and more relaxing bath. The dark grey and white male slowly rose to his paws.

"Ooh! My darn leg." The old male grumbled. Ayaska helped him walk out of the water.

"Come here Kincha." One of the elders waved. "We're getting out to dry."

"Bye!" She sharply barked and jumped to all fours before leaving Kantala and John.

"I'm going to get out too." John stood up.

"Ok..." Kantala stood up, but remained standing in the creek. The human barely made two steps before a voice called out.

"John!" An old, friendly sharp bark startled the naked boy. It was the elder female wolf, Huvovi.

"Yes?" He splashed quickly to the seated wolf.

"Can you help me up?" She kindly smiled and held up a hand. John nodded and grasped the larger canine hand. With some effort he managed to help assist the elder to her paws. Her body looked skinny with wet fur plastered to her skin, but powerful muscles were still very evident beneath. "Ah. Thank you." Her hand rested on his shoulder as he walked her to the grass where the other wolves had gathered around, reclining or sitting up in the warm sunlight. Huvovi stopped short and noticed their garments in a messy pile.

"Why do we always leave our garments and cloths in a pile?" She dug through them.

"Don't worry about them until we dry our fur." The elder male waved a hand.

"Fine. Fine." She softly breathed. "Thanks again, John." The elder female flashed the boy a toothy smile before sitting down.

"Are you sunning with us John?" A voice asked.

"You can lay down here." A canine hand touched his ankle.

"All of you are scaring him." Huvovi spoke up. "He's just trying to help us out as a shaman." Some triangular ears folded back as the chatty elders quieted down.

"What do I need help with?" The elder male pondered and scratched his chin.

"I know!" Huvovi thought aloud. "If it's to help you become a shaman, then you can come to my hut tomorrow morning and help me sand my claws." The she wolf placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. John glimpsed the thick menacing weapons resting on his skin. "They're a little sharp and sometimes I poke myself by accident. Is that alright?"

"Mhm." He nodded. "Thank you."

"I should thank you. I'll leave an empty bowl outside the door flap so you don't go into someone else's hut." Huvovi told him. Another female chuckled as the attention drew away from the human boy.

"Sometimes if I go into a friend's hut by accident, I forget what I was doing and end up spending the day with them."

"I do that too... a lot." Koan admitted. "My mother and father always told me not to go wandering around into someone's home suddenly as a pup."

"My mother told me the same thing!" Ayaska spoke aloud.

"The other day I saw Sanuswa."

"Her little pup has grown so much since autumn. I like to call him Little Tekobu!" Their conversations turned and changed like a winding trail in the forest. It was difficult for John to keep up.

"You do not have to sit with us if you don't want to." Huvovi whispered to John. Her hand reassuringly patted him. He nodded thankfully and walked away. The human sat down with a little distance from the elders in the mossy clover and short grasses.

"Aww. He's so cute!" John heard one of the elder she wolves whisper to each other.

'Shamans don't get any privacy.' He noted and gradually loosened up under the evening sun. The golden rays felt nice and warm against his naked skin. 'But at least I can dry quickly.' He sighed. A subtle splash caught the boy's attention. The only one left in the creek was the white pup, but the now lonely waters seemed boring to him. Kantala splashed out of the creek to John. The pup shook his fur scattering droplets like a rain cloud.

"Hey!" John held up a hand and wiped his face.

"Sorry..." He apologized before trotting up to the human. "Are you a shaman now John?" He stood in front of the seated human. The fur on his upper body was starting to dry, but his legs were dripping wet.

"I am training to become one."

"Can I become one too?" He asked.

"Uh... Yes, if you want to become one." The human nodded. "How old are you?"

"Ten winters old. I've always liked looking at everything, especially plants..." The white furred pup glanced at the moss and clover beneath his paws.

"I'm only twelve summers old... You can try even if you're much older." John expected Kantala to ask about why he had to disregard wearing any clothing, but it never happened. Standing openly before John, he was just as oblivious and carefree as the elders were about nudity. The canine's face fell into a frown. Kantala sat down right beside John and stared out past the creek.

"My dad wants me to hunt or fish, but sometimes I stare at the horizon instead..."

"You can tell him you want to try becoming a shaman."

"He wants me to learn how to fish. My dad is great, but I just don't really want to fish... Hunting is a little more fun, but I don't know..." Kantala lowered his head and ears, and stared at the little waterway in front of them. John hesitantly reached out and touched his white furred shoulder.

'I wish there was something I could say to comfort him.' John thought to himself. A quiet moment passed between the human boy and wolf pup. The chatter and laughter of elder ladies nearby never ceased in the background, like noisy crickets at night. The sad moment passed as Kantala raised his head and turned to face John.

"I haven't seen you a lot." He spoke. "Ever since we played with Azande I think. You don't play with the other pups."

"Well..." The human felt a little nervous. "I don't know any of them, and they play rougher games."

"Rough games?" The white furred pup tilted his head.

"Not the stick I played with Azande and you." John motioned with his arm. "Where they tumble on the ground."

"That's wrestling!" Kantala's tailed excitedly wagged. "Wrestling is fun!" He exclaimed and rose to his knees. "You try to pin your opponent and nip them." John caught a glint in the eyes of the smiling pup. His teeth were visible and his tail wagged excitedly. In a flash the pup tackled John and rolled with him across the ground. Teeth lightly nipped at his collarbone. The boy barely managed to wrestle away the pup.

"Ahh! He-Hey! Stop!" John laughed and ran away from the nipping pup who promptly pursued. A short distance away, a pure white furred female stopped in her paw steps and cocked her head.

"What the-?" Asawa was surprised to find her son running around naked with John. "Why are you running around naked Kantala?" The pup's mother couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

"Because John is, mom!" He barked excitedly. His tongue lolling expression amused Asawa.

"John is naked because he wants to become a shaman. Now come inside and put something on." She waved for him to come.

"Aww. Bye John!" He waved before trotting over to his mom. Asawa remained standing in place.

"You can come in too John." The white wolfess offered, but the boy hesitated. "My mate is cooking some fish if you don't want my milk." Her light pink areolae were barren of fur, indicating that she was still nursing Kantala. The offer of cooked food was really tempting, and John didn't want to return to the medicine hut so quickly.

'Mom won't be finished hunting until the evening.' He fidgeted. "Well... I don't-"

"I insist." Asana walked up to him and nudged him to her hut where Kanatala's head eagerly peeped out of the door flap. "You can tell Amu and Kazana that I didn't want to hear your stomach angrily growl." She ushered the human pup inside. Inside was a typical hut, although it was still different from his mother's. Plenty of fishing gear rested along one side of the hut. Special spears, nets, and a paddle were the most obvious to see. A large dream catcher hung above where the family slept. The smell of fish cooking instantly met the human's nose and made his mouth water hungrily. From the corner of his eye a white flash jumped towards him.

"You are staying to eat!" The pup yipped cheerfully and collided with John. The two rolled onto the ground in front of the hut's entrance. John laughed and held the pup's jaws at bay from nipping and licking him. Both stopped as a large canine hand planted itself beside the boy's head. John looked up and saw Asawa halfway inside, looming over them both.

"Are you dressed yet, Kantala?" The white furred female crawled over John as she entered behind him. The white furred pup bolted over and sat down beside someone next to the fire.

"I am! I am!" He barked, quickly tying the garment around his waist. John blinked and sat up, rubbing the floating hairs from their scuffle out of his eyes.The human stared at a large male wolf was seated behind the crackling fire. Most adult wolves were bigger than adult humans, and John wasn't even a teenager yet.

'And I thought Asawa and my mom were big.' The boy thought to himself as Asawa licked the wolf's nose and sat down beside him. Even she was a touch shorter than the large male. The male wolf's gaze rose and locked with the boy's. A small grin emerged along his black lips.

"So this is the human pup Lenape is raising?" A deep voice spoke.

"Oh, John this is my mate Maharo." Asawa snapped the boy from his stare.

"Your mate?"

"Yeah! He's my dad." Kantala piped up. Asawa's mate was a typical mottled grey wolf with plenty of white fur covering his limbs and front, but grey fur covered the upper half of his face, starting with the bridge of his muzzle. His back and tail were a mix of grey, black, cream, and hints of tan. But his long hair was solely a light brown color.

"We never seem to be on the same side of the river." The male softly smiled and waved John to come over. The human crept over and sat beside the towering canine. He reached up and his hand sunk into the thick fur of the male's cheek as a canine hand seemed to cover one half of his head. The padded palm felt warm against his cheek. The larger canine head craned down and they touched noses. Warm breath washed over the human from a sharp exhale as they leaned back to their respective seats. "It's good to finally meet you John." He smiled.

"Mmhm." The boy agreed. "You're really big." Maharo let out a deep laugh.

"Well, I am big compared to you for now, but you will grow up." They adult told him. John didn't see how that could possibly happen.

"Do you have a fishing story today, dad?" Kantala wrapped his arms around the mottle grey male's sturdy neck and leaned on him.

"A story, huh?" Kantala's dad wiggled his nose. "Hmm... I reeled in a big fish!" His arm moved swiftly and pulled Kantala into his lap.

"Ahaha! How big?" He reached up and grabbed his dad's nose.

"Hmm... About your size." He smiled and grasped both of his son's hands and hoisted him up like a fresh catch. The pup laughed as Maharo continued the wild tale. "He thrashed around and it took all of my strength to hold on!" The wolf playfully tugged his son around.

"Ahahaha!" Kantala squealed. John watched with a little envy as the father and son played.

'He's like my dad when I was little...' The human noted.

"But I only wanted to eat it." The adult male's jaws parted. Kantala squealed with laughter, unable to defend himself as his dad nibbled along his chest and neck. "Haha!" Maharo released his son and relaxed. Kantala simply laid out and caught his breath.

"Did you catch the giant fish?" Kantala asked.

"Nope... But I caught you didn't I?" The mottle grey male smiled and looked over his son's messy fur. "Do you have a story for me? I can feel your damp legs." Maharo held up one of the snowy furred pup's legs.

"John and I were playing in the creek before wrestling in the grass." Kantala tried to explain.

"Playing in the creek? I thought your mother told me you were bathing with a few elders." He arched a brow.

"I did but I played with Kincha," the pup scrambled out of his lap, "and then I played with John when everyone else left."

"As long as you had a bath." His dad found the actions acceptable.

"The fish should be cooked." Asawa pulled the skewered pieces away from the open flames.

"They smell good!" Maharo proclaimed and eagerly grabbed a piece. The white pup eyed the morsel hungrily.

"I want a bite." Kantala's tail wagged.

"Okay, but it's hot." His dad carefully handed over a skewered fish. Kantala's smaller hands held onto the thin stick, and jaws immediately snapped shut to tear off a piece. The human merely stared at the fire where the remaining pieces rested. The white she wolf took notice.

"I brought you in here to eat John." Asawa smiled. "Have one." She kindly offered. The human plucked a stick and stared at the steaming fish. Its gaping mouth stared back blankly. John took a bite. The taste of crispy flesh and soft meat filled his mouth. It was a delicious treat to the boy who seldom ate good food as a young kid.

"Do you like the fish, John?" Asawa asked.

"Yes!" John smiled through a mouthful.

"Everyone agree?"

"Mm! Very delicious." Maharo hummed and nodded thankfully.

"You're welcome." Asawa licked her nose and helped herself to a second fish. Idle chatter ceased for a moment while chewing and lip smacking filled the hut. Wolves weren't messy eaters despite their large jaws, but they definitely weren't quiet.

"That was good." Kantala licked his nose.

"You can nurse now if you don't want to eat another." Asawa told him.

"Okay." The white furred pup crept over to his mother. Kantala reclined into his mother's lap and latched onto a firm pink nipple. The mother's gaze settled on John next.

"You are still being nursed. I have another breast if you want." She offered.

"No thanks." John declined and took another bite of fish.

"So John, do you like living in the village?" Maharo asked and faced the much smaller human.

"Mm... Yes." He softly spoke.

"Lenape is very happy that you do." The male warmly added.

"Your mother loves you a lot." Asawa grinned.

"I know." He smiled. Maharo and Asawa smiled brightly in return. Both wolves knew how happy Lenape was to finally have a pup of her own.

"Have you seen wolves before?" Maharo curiously asked.

"Before?" He didn't understand.

"Do you know that word?"

"I'm not sure." He admitted. The boy had worked really hard to learn the tribal tongue, but there was plenty unknown to him still.

"It means the past." Maharo tried explaining. "When you lived in the human settlement, did you see wolves?"

"No..." He shook his head.

"Have you ever?"

"Not until... here." He looked at the ground and grew silent. The images of the canine standing before his cell in Wexford still haunted him. Maharo and Asawa's ears preened the air, only hearing the fire and their son eating. Their noses seemed to pick up n the boy's uneasiness at the question.

"Do you like training as a shaman?" Asawa inquired with her son busily suckling at her breast.

"Mmhm. I like learning about what shamans do, the spirits, and the stories Amu tells me."

"You have a lot to learn it seems." The male acknowledged.

"Yeah. Amu hasn't taught me about medicine yet." The boy knew it would be difficult, especially if Kazana would have to teach him most of that.

"Do shamans play in the creek too?" Maharo grinned.

"Amu told me to help elders. She said it was part of my training."

"Part of your training? How is helping elders part of becoming a shaman?"

"Shamans help people. I can't use medicine yet, but she told me it is important to start helping others."

"That's nice of you to do. Sometimes I think Kantala would like to be one." Asawa rubbed her son's head while he switched breasts.

"Hey..." The white furred pup mumbled but resumed suckling. His mother smiled and kept an arm around him.

"Sometimes he stares out at the woods or at the shore from my canoe when I am teaching him how to fish." Maharo chuckled. "I ask him about it, but he doesn't say anything." John glanced at the reclined pup, nursing in his mother's lap. The small wolf seemed oblivious to the chatter.

"How are the shamans Amu and Kazana?" Asawa spoke. "I'm sure they are happy you want to train as a shaman."

"Amu is nice. She teaches me a lot."

"She told me about how honey is very good to eat if you can gather a comb without a few stings." Asawa chuckled.

"I like Amu." John added. "But Kazana is strict..." He mentioned to their amusement.

"That skunk has always been wearing a stern face." Maharo laughed.

"I'm sure she means good." Asawa amended. "But she does things her way."

"Well, it's good that our village has someone young interested in becoming a shaman." The male wolf concluded. Kantala unlatched and licked his lips. Asawa wiped her breasts with a small cloth. The pup quickly sat up and returned to the fire beside his dad and John.

"Do you wanna play before it gets completely dark?" His tail wagged and eyes shined with excitement. The human's eyes snapped to the door flap, revealing only a waning ray of light outside. Most of the hut was only lit now by the firelight.

"Uh oh."

"What's wrong?"

"It's sun fall." John realized. "My mom was hunting today. She should be back in the village."

"Does that mean you're leaving?" Kantala held onto John's arm. "Can John sleep here tonight?" He asked.

"You can sleep here tonight if you want." Asawa offered. Her mate nodded in agreement.

"I can?" John was surprised at the offer.

"Don't worry. I can let your mother know where you are at." Asawa rose to her hands and knees. "I don't want her worried about where you are. Besides, I need to go rain." The mother wolf added before exiting the hut.

"Let's spread out the deer pelts. I know your mother will say it's time for bed when she gets back." Maharo guaranteed.

"Okay." Kantala nodded and swiftly rose to his paws. "Help me pull it out John." He tugged the boy to his feet. The boy was shown a few rolled deer pelts.

"Let's pull it out..." Two pairs of hands yanked it free. They rolled it out and smoothed out any wrinkles or lumps.

"This one's good." Kantala patted the deer pelt. "To wrestle on..." He added with a low growl to the human. Nose to nose, John recognized a gleam in the pup's eyes. In an instant, both were locked into another playful wrestling match. The pup huffed as he tried maneuvering.

"You won't top me!" John laughed and held his own.

"Ha! I'll try!" Kantala grappled with the human and dig his claws into the pelt, but it was a stalemate. The adult noticed a tail, then a leg reach dangerously close to the low flames.

"Hey! No wrestling inside you two." Maharo gave a low warning growl. Both immediately stopped.

"Sorry dad." Kantala lowered his head and ears. The pup's father retrieved a pelt and laid it out as well before sitting back down. A white canine head suddenly popped through the door flap. "Mom!" The pup exclaimed.

"John, your mother said it was alright for you to sleep here." She smiled and crawled inside.

"Good." Kantala tapped the human with his tail.

"And I think it's time for bed now." She looked at her mate who was not at all surprised.

"I'll put out the fire." Maharo rose up and removed his loincloth before setting it aside.

'Big sheath...' John couldn't help but notice the adult male's newly revealed nakedness.

"Give me your loincloth Kantala." Asawa removed hers and held out a hand.

"Ok mom." He unlaced it. His parents removed an armband and necklace as well, leaving all three naked like John. The flames were suddenly dashed out with a soft hiss leaving the hut very dim. Kantala brushed past John to the spread pelts.

"Looks like the moon and stars will grant us some light." Maharo's deep voice spoke from the darkness. It took a moment, but the human's eyes adjusted to the low level of light. John could faintly make out the outlines of their bodies and their features in the darkness. He bumped into what felt like a furry wall.

"Oops. Sorry." John felt an arm hold his shoulder.

"You're fine." Asawa chuckled quietly. "You can sleep here." She led him to the middle deer pelt. Across from the human, Maharo settled down.

"Does anyone want to hear a quick story before we sleep?" The mottle grey male reclined onto his side facing everyone else, propping his head up with a hand.

"What kind of story?" John asked.

"Can we pick?" Kantala laid down behind John and pressed up against the human's back. "Something with a hero who fends away an evil spirit." The young pup laid his head on the boy's side, ears eagerly facing forward.

"Let's see..." Maharo thought aloud. "Fending off an evil spirit..."

"It's nighttime and I'm tired." Asawa quietly laid down behind her son and wrapped an arm around him. "Let's go to sleep instead."

"Mom..." Kantala grumbled.

"Your mother is tired. Maybe tomorrow night." Maharo spoke with a yawn and rolled onto his front. John felt whiskers and short fur touch his ear. He looked over and noticed the pup was hardly in the mood for sleep.

"Maybe we can sneak out and-ow!" Kantala jumped from a sudden maternal punch before her arm reeled him back. "Hmph... I wanted a story..." Kantala whispered to John, but didn't say anything more and rolled onto his back.

"Sleep well."

"Have a peaceful night."

"May the spirits grant you good dreams." The human ended up between two warm furry bodies. A limb or two ended up tangled together, but John happily fell asleep with the wolf family after a fun day.

John's skin never seemed to accustom to the cooler shock of crisp morning air. The human was completely naked per shamanic tradition which only made the temperature more noticeable. He took a breath and knelt down into the dew covered sparse grass. In front of the human was a door flap to an old hut. The signs of age were clearly visible down to the lack of grass where paws frequently threaded.

'This must be where Huvovi lives.' He noticed a small empty bowl beside the simple entrance. The boy paused to wipe white hairs clinging to his body. Earlier in the morning, his mother had stopped by to nurse him before he had to leave. Sleeping over with Kantala's family had been a lot of fun for John, and he wanted to do it again sometime. However, he had other duties to attend to. The human plucked the courage to advance. He lifted the door flap and poked his head inside. "Hello? I'm here." John called inside. He blinked only to find an older dark furred wolf looming over him on all fours. "Uh... Hi." He managed to speak.

"Hello... Who are you?" The older male questioned.

"I'm John..."

"John?" His eyes looked over the fur less human.

"Yes. Uh.." He nervously stalled.

"Are you a shaman? You look too young to be a one..." He looked at the naked boy and scratched his head. "Then you must be a shaman in training. You're not a wolf, but I can tell you're young." The male reasoned.

"I'm training as one."

"Who are you talking to Kechek?" A female voice asked from somewhere inside. The male looked over his shoulder.

"It's the human Lenape is raising."

"Human?" A familiar old female crawled up to the open door flap. John recognized the elder mottled brown and grey Huvovi from the creek yesterday. "Hello John! You can come inside." She motioned. The male gave her an odd look. "He's here to help cut my claws." Huvovi explained.

"Ah, I understand now." The old male nodded. John crawled inside and sat down on a deer pelt. Their hut was similar to his own. The air had a stuffy canine odor partially masked by other earthy scents, and a delectable scent of an earlier meal. Deer pelts were laid out to sit and sleep on. A fire pit had recently burned out. Smoky trails from the smoldering ash wafted to the opening in the roof above. Other personal belongings like blankets, garments, cured food, firewood, and weapons were organized along the back of the interior. The tribal home was becoming more homely to the boy as he lived in the village.

"This is my mate, Kechek." Huvovi introduced the boy and elder to each other. John leaned towards the male and touched noses with him.

"It's nice to finally meet you John." The male smiled. "What made you decide to visit us and want to trim my mate's claws?"

"Amu told me to help villagers, especially elders, as part of my training as a shaman."

"Elders?" Kechek huffed. "We're not that old!" His mate rolled her eyes comically.

"It was my idea." Huvovi admitted with a grin. "Since it's hard for me to do, and you don't like trimming them either." Her mate didn't complain at that. "Here. Just my paws will do." She extended her legs to him. John allowed them to rest in his lap. They were bulky like Kakan's and every adult villager. A hint of aged white fur was even ticked among the darker brown fur. He touched the short fur covering them. It was coarse, but sleek. He touched her black pads underneath next, and rubbed over them. The paw pads were rough and leathery, but once John adjusted to the odd sensation, he liked it. The more he rubbed them, the softer and warmer the pads felt. The elder female started humming from his firm, yet gentle touch.

"Mmm. That feels nice." Her throat pleasantly rumbled. The wolf's toes slowly splayed out after a moment. "This makes me think of a little song." Huvovi smiled.

The one who cares for my paws,

makes my steps

lighter than the wind.

John chuckled as she finished singing the funny tune, and resumed rubbing her pads. It wasn't the most satisfying job that John could think of, but he liked that what he was doing made her happy.

"I like that very much, but I wanted you to cut my claws." She reminded him.

"Oops..." He felt his face turn a little red at the mistake.

"It's fine." She hummed. "I'll show you what I mean... Hand me my knife." Huvovi spoke to Kechek who quickly obliged. "Look at my hand." She held it out to him. Her claws were long and clear, unlike the sturdier black ones on her toes. John reached out and touched the furry hand.

"Your hand is soft!" He felt the fur on the back and pads on her palm.The she wolf's larger anthro hand was very human, but with the exception of bulkier digits, pads, claws, and obviously fur.

"Claws may be sharp, but a hand is tender." Huvovi smiled. "Now, when you use the knife make sure to cut from under the nail, but not too close." She demonstrated and shaved off a slim piece of her claw. "Just make sure to cut a flat line."

"Okay." John blinked as she handed him the knife. The leather tied around the wooden handle provided a good grip. The stone blade looked very sharp though. The elder female laid back and relaxed while John held a single digitigrade toe. His thumb accidentally bumped into the claw on the end. "They are sharp too..." He remarked quietly and carefully drew the knife under the claw. The human literally had his hands full while he cut her sturdy claws. One by one they were shortened, the elder she wolf aiding him along the way until all were correctly cut.

"All finished?" Huvovi drew her legs out of his lap. "Ah." She softly smiled. "You cut them perfectly."

"You're welcome." He handed over the knife.

"It's funny..." She mentioned. "I rarely had to cut them when I was younger, but now since I no longer hunt or dig day to day, they need to be cut a few times each season."

"Why don't you hunt anymore?"

"My mate won't admit this, but we are older. It's too much strain to go hunting for a whole day, or even half a day. Although, I do miss the wind blowing through my fur at a full sprint."

"What do elders do?" John asked. Their ears perked up at the odd question.

"Hmm... Well, it depends." Huvovi began. "I visit my family and friends. We eat and laugh together. Sometimes we'll sleep over in their homes, or we return at night after telling stories." The mottled grey and brown female told him.

"Sometimes we teach adolescents and pups stories or hunting techniques together. No matter what we are doing, it's always better when we are together." Kechek added and lovingly snuck a lick across his mate's ear. Huvovi's ears briefly faced back, wearing a cute grin. John didn't quite understand the last point, but nodded anyway.

"Would you like some soup?" Huvovi offered. "We had a little bit leftover, and it would be a waste to throw it away."

"Yes, please." He nodded fervently. His mother had left early in the morning to hunt, and that left them little time to nurse.

"Ah, good." She smiled and poured the rest into a bowl. "We used marrow, deer fat, a little meat, and some root vegetables." It all sounded really good to John who eagerly brought the bowl to his lips.

"Mm! It tastes good." He smiled and happily ate the rest.

"I'm glad you like it." Huvovi smiled. "And I am glad that you decided to show up. We weren't doing much this morning." Huvovi told him. "I was putting out the fire and Kechek was cleaning his flute."

"Flute?" John stared at the elder she wolf perplexed.

"This is a flute." Kechek crept over and grabbed a short wooden instrument.

"What is it for?" The human had never seen anything like it before. It resembled more of a weapon to his eyes. "Do you dust pelts with it?"

"Haha! You could!" Kechek laughed with an aged rasp. "You create music with it." He explained, but the confusion on the boy's face didn't let up. "Here. I'll show you." Kechek brought the end piece to his lips. John watched as the elder male covered most of the other holes with his fingers and blew air into the instrument. He played a quick scale and filled the hut with music. John watched in amazement.

"Woah..."

"You like the sound of a flute?" The elder wolf chuckled at the human's fascination.

"Yes!"

"Now you'll be playing that flute all day..." His mate's ears dialed away as he played several tunes for John.

"Thank you for playing the flute." John crept towards the entrance. "I'll leave now."

"Please visit whenever you like." Kechek smiled.

"Okay." The human readily agreed.

"Thanks for your help." Huvovi smiled and opened up an arm. John hesitated, causing her mate to laugh.

"Haha!" Kechek laughed. "Is he scared to hug you?"

"What?" Huvovi looked at him in surprise, and then back at the boy. "John, I was just going to hug you!" She softly barked.

"Oh." He sighed with relief. "I didn't know..." John crept forward and hugged the she wolf. Huvovi's gentle arm wrapped around him. Her fur was exceptionally soft against his skin.

"It's fine." She patted his back and brushed her muzzle across his cheek. Kechek embraced the boy next.

"Thanks again." They bade him farewell for the morning.

"Bye!" John left elders' hut in a happy mood. He liked spending the early morning with Huvovi and her mate Kechek. It wasn't as fun as playing with Kantala or Azande, but he still enjoyed it.

"Now what do I do?" John paused and looked around the calm and quiet village. Few trails of smoke, if any, were trailing into the breeze. Those who weren't away to fish, farm, or hunt were left in the village. He peeked around and spotted a mother nursing an infant within the entryway to her hut. Nearby, two young pups skirmishing in the dusty dirt with their bare hands and fangs, kicking up dust as they played. By another hut an elder male was showing an adolescent how to carve a sturdy stick. No one present appeared to need any of the shaman in training's help.

'Would Kazana or Amu want me to meditate now?' He briefly wondered. It didn't seem like a bad idea to try. 'I'll need to find a quieter area.' John meandered outside the village wondering where he should go. He reached the creek where its morning waters were too chilly for most to bathe. Only a young adult female was gathering water before trotting back to the cluster of tribal huts. The boy followed the creek downstream, guided by its path to the main river. With a slight drop downhill, he found the spot where both joined. He looked down and saw several large paw prints indented within the watery mud. Their large size and claw tracks were larger than his hands. John avoided the still creek water and mud, and navigated to the sandier soil beside the main river. It was quiet except for an occasional breeze. The only villagers around were three wolves fishing in the middle of the waterway within a canoe.

"I guess I can't meditate." John spoke and watched them from the shore as they pulled up a net with a few wriggling fish caught. A brief howl of success pierced the air as they organized their catch. The tribal method of using nets were very similar to what he had seen at Wexford and even back where he was born. Although, larger sailing vessels were capable of going far into the sea and catch much more. The human let his gaze follow the easy current of the dark water.

'Wexford is that way...' He looked downriver. Images of the town flashed through his mind: the few cloudy days he sat there with his dad until the night raid changed his life forever. Would nothing be left except for ash and rubble? A sudden breeze reminded the naked boy that he was standing idly by the shore. John looked around the land that gradually rose behind him. Distant splashes caught the boy's attention. The canoe of canines was paddling back to shore. All three were strong and well built, like any active adult wolf in the village. As a smaller human, it unnerved him slightly.

'Maybe I can't help them.' John wanted to back away as their canoe approached the shore close by. All three jumped out into the shallow water with abrupt splashes and hauled the small vessel ashore. Two canine heads looked over at the naked human standing by idly. They grabbed two hand nets of small fish they had caught.

"What are you doing?" One barked.

"Why are you bathing here?"

"I-I'm not." John suddenly felt nervous at the two adult canines approaching him.

"You should be careful when you're at the river by yourself." The first warned. "There's a bad spirit that lives underwater. I know someone who disappeared years ago because it took him underwater."

"That's right." The second agreed. "Kazana had to come here and chant to quell the spirit." The story whether true or not unnerved the boy. The approaching soft steps of the third pair of pairs caught everyone's ears. The oldest wolf carrying the large fishing net approached John last. His brown fur possessed white markings along his legs and chest. However, his muzzle and chin possessed white hairs displaying his age. It was likely that his children had infant pups of their own.

"Did you lose your loincloth playing in the river?" The brown and white wolf calmly asked.

"Uh. No." John shook his head. "I'm becoming a shaman."

"Huh?" The two young adults wrinkled their muzzles in confusion and looked at each other. "You're too young to be a shaman."

"I'm training to be one." John clarified. "So I don't wear a loincloth."

"You should chant us something so we can catch many fish." One of the younger wolves roughly patted the human's back while the other laughed.

"You two leave the human pup alone and go back to the village. I'll gather up the gear." The oldest wolf waved the other two on. They shrugged and walked away, leaving paw prints in the mud and sand. "So... You're becoming a shaman, eh?" The older wolf looked down at the human.

"Mmhm." John nodded.

"Well, that's good." The wolf nodded. "Villages always need one or two in training." John watched the brown wolf crouch down and begin collecting the net together. He noticed rocks looped in intervals at the bottom to act as weights. The wolf's focus was directed at the fishing gear, and his forward facing ears reinforced that. "Can you give me a helping hand here?" The wolf looked up and asked.

"What do I do?" John knelt down in front of the wolf.

"Hold this end of the net so I can fold it." He handed the piece to John.

"Okay." He held on as the rest was folded up to him.

"There. Thank you." They both stood up. The net now resembled a large folded blanket. "What are you doing out here by the river alone?" The wolf asked. "Don't shamans work with plants and help heal others?"

"Amu told me to help people. It's part of my training... But is there really a river spirit that lives underwater?"

"Don't worry too much over what Currituck and Manteo said earlier. Sometimes the current is strong along this stretch of the river." The canine mentioned. "You shouldn't swim or fish here alone until you're much stronger." He advised.

"Okay." John nodded. The older male paused and looked at John.

"What's your name, human pup?" He inquired.

"It's John."

"John..." The wolf spoke the sound over. "Mine is Ha'anaso." He held a hand out. John stared for a second at the bulkier canine digits baring impressive claws. The human grasped the larger padded hand and shook. Ha'anaso's touch was warm and gentle. "I've heard a little bit about you. You've learned our tongue pretty quick."

"Thanks... My mother taught me almost every word." He rubbed his neck and smiled.

"Lenape is a strong wolf." He acknowledged. "If you want to, I need to carry what's left in the canoe back to my home."

"Sure!" The boy readily agreed. John followed the wolf to his canoe where a fishing spear, extra line, and an odd necklace were left inside. "What is this?" He held up a necklace with a little carved fish of wood.

"That's my fishing necklace. "Sometimes I wear it for good luck from the spirits." He grinned.

"Does it work?"

"I think so." Ha'anaso glanced back at the river. "Let's carry all of this back to my hut. It's a short walk from here." He promised. John grabbed the extra fishing line and necklace while the wolf took the spear and net. They left the muddy shoreline and headed up the gentle grassy slope leading to the village. It didn't take long before they were within sight of the first huts. John noticed a small group of pups his age and younger playing in the moor beside the village. They were running around and barking excitedly. The human looked back up at Ha'anaso.

"My hut is over there." The brown and white furred canine pointed with the spear point to one of the closer huts. They approached where a female wolf was busily weaving a basket. Her fur was mostly white but golden cream fur hugged her hips, back, and most of her head in a typical mottled pattern. Long blonde hair ran down her back in a few braids leaving the rest tied in a loose tail fashion. White fur ticked along the top of her light golden muzzle, but she was several years younger than Huvovi. A body retaining more of its youth was prevalent. She looked up and spotted the two approaching her.

"I see that you have returned." She grinned and set her basket aside.

"Yep. Did Currituck or Manteo come by?"

"Currituck did. He's gutting and scaling the fish and told me for you to stop by his hut before the best pieces were eaten."

"That's nonsense! We can gut and scale them." Ha'anaso wrinkled his nose. The female's eyes rested on the human boy standing beside him.

"Who is this? Part of your catch?" She softly teased.

"No." The wolf half sang. "He was standing by the river when we came ashore, and offered to help."

"I see." She hummed. Ha'anaso ducked inside with the fishing net in hand. "Hello. I am Ha'anaso's mate, Ushiuk." The white and light cream furred she wolf stood up and grasped his arm.

"My name is John." He introduced himself as her head lowered. Her damp black nose touched his human nose in a friendly greeting. Her eyes glanced over his nakedness.

"You must be a shaman in training."

"Mmhm." The boy nodded.

"Hand me the rest, John." The male's head suddenly popped outside the door flap below. "Ah, thank you." The wolf quickly disappeared again.

"He's like a rabbit poking his head above ground." Ushiuk giggled. John smiled at the joke as Ha'anaso returned outside.

"Do you want to stay and eat some fish? It won't take me long to prepare a few." The male wolf offered.

"Uh, no thanks." John declined.

"Thanks again. May the spirits grant you good dreams." Ha'anaso and Ushiuk bade the boy farewell for the day.

"Bye." John left with a sense of pride radiating through his chest. It felt good to help others as Amu had told him. The human's footsteps walked around the edge of the village facing the moorland where only a few trees and bushes were visible in its grassy expanse. The edge of the village's only farm was hidden by a gently slope where the creek originated. The little gathering of pups playing in the grass had dwindled down to one for the middle of the day. The small mottled grey male wolf was a little shorter than John, maybe eight years of age. He only wore a small loincloth for his size and was tossing an old stick into the air. All of the bite marks indicated that it had clearly been used for a game several times. John paused and watched the pup bite the stick for a moment.

'Maybe he wants to play.' The boy plucked the courage to ask. "Hey." John stepped forward.

"Huh?" The pup turned around to see the human. His canine eyes widened as he took a half step back. "You're the human!" The pup couldn't seem to avert his eyes from the human's foreign nakedness.

"Yeah..." John felt nervous about the canine's stare. "You have a stick."

"Huh? My stick." The mottled grey pup looked at the gnawed item in his hand.

"It's just two of us, but do you want to play? We could throw it." John suggested. The pup looked around nervously. His ears were pinned back against his head.

"I... I don't want to play with you." He dropped the stick and walked away.

"Oh. Ok." The human quietly watched the pup leave him. John sat down feeling a cold lump form in his stomach as chill bumps came and went. The grass seemed to prickle at his skin more noticeably. He grabbed the chewed up piece of wood and tossed it away with a frown.

"John!" The human jumped to his feet at the sound of his name being barked. He turned and found Kazana standing behind him. The female skunk's muzzle was wrinkled into a frown and her eyes were as serious as ever. "What are you doing?"

"I was... Uh-"

"Come with me." She cooly waved and turned around. "I need you to collect an herb with me."

"Yes ma'am." John followed her closely.

***

The evening was nearly over. The setting sun of a busy day had vanished and darkness had all but settled over the Hibernian village. The villagers were returning to their homes and calming down for the night. The only ones staying out for the early night were a group of friends retelling stories by a low flame. Soft chirping crickets could be heard anywhere through the grass. The sound of frogs were only close to the creek and river. John slowly walked across the thin grass through the heart of the village. After a tedious time of searching for a specific flower, Kazana had him meditate quietly for much of the afternoon. Before the human knew it, the stars were slowly revealing themselves in the darkening sky.

'I'm back...' John felt some relief as he reached the medicine hut. Not too far away, Amu was laying down and staring up at the stars with a happy grin. Her carefree and kind personality was so starkly different from Kazana's rigid and strictly disciplined attitude. He laid down beside the red panda without a word. The silence between them was warm like any conversation with a good friend. The human stared into the early nighttime sky where endless twinkling stars gazed back at him. Despite living in Hibernia for nearly an entire year, a clear starlit night never bored him. At the moment, a cloud covered the gibbous moon but the sky was still a spectacular sight.

"How are there so many stars?" John quietly asked.

"Sometimes I wonder about the starlight and the night sky myself." She admitted. "There is a story about a fox named Indra who became a spirit. He casted a great net across the sky and it became the stars that we see each night."

"How big was the net?" John imagined something gigantic to cover the night sky.

"They say his net is endless, or maybe it is still being cast." Amu remarked.

"Endless." John stared at the twinkling skylight. How was he supposed to imagine that? "The moon doesn't look so big." John reached up and held the image in his hand.

"Sometimes big things look small from far away." Amu chuckled.

"Yeah..." He quietly agreed. After a few more minutes, the red panda sat up.

"Let's return to the medicine hut." Amu stood up.

"I'm not going home to my mom?" He watched her brush any debris from her rear and legs. Amu shook her head.

"You are sleeping in our hut. You will try dreaming with the spirits tonight." A lot of underlying excitement was in her voice. She helped him up and they retired to the shamans' dwelling. The hut's interior was completely dark, and Amu helped guide John to a set of pelts. His eyes took time to adjust to the darkness with the night lights glimmering outside.

"Kazana isn't here?" John noticed the lack of the female skunk's presence.

"No. She is staying with a young mated pair expecting to whelp soon. So we can focus without any distractions."

"Are we going to sleep?" The human watched her dig around for something.

"Yes. Um, you will be." She pointed at the hanging great catcher above him. "Dreams are very important to have. Some are playful and fun, but others are very serious and have great meaning. Good spirits and bad spirits alike can enter anyone's dreams, but dream catchers catch any bad dreams caused by bad spirits." Amu sat down beside him after she found what she was looking for.

"Can I lay down?" But a hand stopped him.

"You need to be guided to dream with the spirits." John didn't understand. "You're going to lay down and place your head in my lap." She directed him. The boy wasn't sure how he would fall asleep in such a position, but he didn't complain. John could barely make out the outlines of the red panda's face beyond the gentle swell of her petite breasts. He had seen couples sitting that way a few times before, albeit, in a more private area around the village. One would sit with outstretched legs, and the other would be reclined with their head in the first one's lap. The reclining one always had a very evident smile on their muzzle while looking up at their beloved. The intimacy didn't exist for this spiritual exercise. Amu held up a strip of leather that reminded John of a headband. At the end were short tassels attached with downy feathers. She placed the stretch of leather across his forehead. Amu's hands rested against his temples next, and her fingertips touched his jaw and chin. John nervously swallowed, wondering what would happen.

"Relax John. All you need to do is fall asleep like any other night." The red panda's soft voice soothed him. "Don't worry about anything."

"Okay." He settled down and closed his eyes despite the close contact. Amu began whispering a long chant. He could barely make out a few words...

If the reeds bob,

am I seeing the wind

through its invisible dance?

The words swirled around his head like a secret verbal shroud. Doubt began to cloud his mind. It seemed as if hours passed before he finally fell asleep.