Namu Adhmad Caillte: Questions

Chapter:  Questions

"Namu! Namu! Na..." Trica's voice fades as Namu falls unconscious. She slips into a dream where her wolf mother Marollutteh is nudging her awake. Namu opens her eyes to her as she gestures with a bobbing head for her to get up and follow her. Namu is a small uunca in this dream. She feels strange about this, but follows her mother out of the wolf's den. They take a short walk across the snow when Morollutteh signals with a nose tap on her shoulder to stay. She then disappears into the rising blizzard.

Namu stands and waits, listening to every sound that echoes in the distance. She patiently waits for a signal. She hears an odd wind howl blowing as the blizzard picks up. She feels her heart begin to pound for some reason. Why was she getting scared? Her shadow darkens and twists slightly. The snow at her feet melts and freezes again into ice. Like a mirror, it shows her reflection as it darkens with bright eyes. It shows fire and explosions behind her, then a glimpse of that white uunca of memory falling against her hind feet. Frightened, she turns around to see its shape made of snow melting and stained in red. She shakes, she doesn't understand the brewing fear, but for some reason she can't get rid of it.

Just then she looks up at the sky. It burns into a storm of black clouds that spins like a hurricane. Marollutteh reappears from the blizzard with a warning bark. A giant shadow casts itself over Namu as she turns around. A giant dark furred grizzly towered over her. It roars unnaturally, like a monster, as it stomps down in front of her. Namu leaps backwards. Lightning strikes, the bear's image is replaced by Morgrim and his blood-lusted sneer. He snarls, going for her throat. "Namu!" echoes Trica's voice in her ears.

"Namu..." calls a soft voice. "Namu.", it's Sly's. "Namu... are you awake?" she asks. Sly was standing by her side checking in on her.

Namu blinks in the daze of deep sleep, then lifts her herself on to her feet, startled, with a snort and a snarl only to slowly lay back on to her belly, her sight blurring, then returning. She settles down as she smells Sly's scent, just grumbling when strangers approach. Namu is bandaged with leaves around her waist. She's lying in a soft nest of leaves and is comforted by Sly's presence.

"You've been unconscious for three days. Trica has been worried about you." Sly says to her.
"She's lucky she didn't fall into a comma. Or worse, die." says a Tidal tribe healer who tended to her. "It's been a long time since we've had to treat night tribe venom. Morgrim's has always presented itself to be among the most potent. I'm glad you requested help when you did." he finishes.

Just then Trica enters and notices Namu's change in condition. "How is she?" she asks Sly
"She's awake." Sly replies.

Trica smiles and starts ranting, "You didn't wake up one morning to eat so I came to get you, and you didn't wake up so I got Sly and she disappeared for awhile and told me to make this bed for you and also to clear out an old den to make it livable. The other den wasn't as fun because I didn't know who was going to use it and I wanted to see if you woke up yet, so I-"

A mental jolt stops her rant and she smiled sheepishly, "I was really worried about you, but this guy with some crazy two-in-one personality came and helped you. I met him before but he was different then. Sly says he's a loner, it's funny though because he looks like he's from the tidal tribe."

Namu's ears fidget as she smells Trica and hears her words. She raised her head to look at her and lets out an odd purr. She's happy to see Trica and that she was ok. Then she looks at the loner next to her. He was a bit odd looking, but she appreciates his help. She then chirps an odd bark at Trica. She's wondering how she's been. Namu also is surprised that she was out for so long.

The male smiles and leaves, talking to Sly in a hushed tone, "Call me when they're done"

Trica sits down by her friend and tells her of her odd adventure (the story of meeting Blue and taking him to the tidal tribe)

Sly speaks momentarily with the healer, then turns her attention back to Namu. Sly pauses, lost for words. She has always been rather cold and not cared much for anyone except Oong, but she found herself stopped in the den lost for the words to express her worry, anxiety, fear,
elation, and joy; Sly really cared for her feisty apprentice.

*cough cough* "Eh hem... Uhhh how are you feeling, Namu? I was- *ahem* I mean we all were very worried about you..."

Just then Oong ran in and tackled his favorite apprentice, nuzzling her soft brown fur. "Trica- good morning!" he delighted after finally finding his apprentice. Just then he noticed Sly's apprentice had awaken and nodded to Namu "Good morning you too" he chuckled.

Sly shuffled her feet awkwardly

Namu looks at Oong and then looks at Sly. She tries to stand. At first she only manages to lift herself slightly off the ground. When her joints refused her, she gave out a loud growl, its echo rumbling on the walls. When she still didn't move she stomped her front paw with a snarl and forced herself to stand. Her body wobbled but after wards she was fine. She looks at Sly and addresses her with a single wag of her tail. She felt alright. "Mrurmng" she said to Oong. She was still trying to use her mouth to say his name.

Sly perked up at her Templar's determination. "You are doing remarkably well- considering what you just went through. But a friend of mine- Tron- he used to be a loner and new exactly who we needed and where to find him."

Oong stepped forward and touched noses with Namu and nodded his head showing his approval of her determination as well. Then he walked over to his apprentice and stood by her side. (Oong is strange like that- but he knows Trica will want to stay with her friend so he wants to be there for Trica)

Just then a shuffling sound could be heard outside the den.

"ummmm... hello?"

Sly perked her ears up and looked like a child. "Namu, thats Tron! Oh you will like him! Tron come in!"

Tron walked in front of Namu awkwardly. Tron was much taller than her but he had little muscle mass making him appear gawky. He was always terrible at meeting new Uunca's because he is very self conscious about the fact that he has no ears or tail.

Namu sees Tron and scans him from head to toe, from nose to hide. She wobbles slightly as she circles him curiously. When she meets back at his mask her eyes fill with her rose irises and her eye beams widen with play.

"Vrah!" she barks playfully.

Sly picks up on her thoughts yet again. Namu has just compared him to a blue lynx.

Trica smiled at the glowing Uunca who arrived, it reminded her that the last time she had seen any Uunca with the ability to glow was in the Gem Tribe as a yearling.

Dane quickly made way for him saying, "My apologies," while Blue chipped in saying, "Very preeeeettttty coat" in his odd drawl.

Tron nodded to Dane and smiled at blue but then cocked his head not understanding Namu; he however knew that if Sly thought it was funny he probably wouldn't like it. He offered Namu a smile then noticed Trica and gave her one as well. As he moved and his body shimmered he sniffed around Namu.

Namu wags her tail as she watches him walk by.

Sly stepped forward to her old childhood friend and slightly nuzzled him. "We saved some venom for you to study, don't worry- but I'd like to talk to the young ones alone if I may."

Tron nodded obviously excited about the venom. As he turned to walk out he looked back and a quick flash eminated from his mask. "Goodbye Namu, Trica." Then in the blink of an eye he was gone as he ran for home.

Namu's fur rose and her tail froze like a rod as she marveled his glowing mask. She's seen many luminescent animals, but none that glow like him. There were bound to be others like him. This was exciting to her. When he disappears her ears rise straight up.

Sly and Oong turned to look at the Templars at the exact moment with the same intense fierceness making the young ones flinch; uuncas expected Sly to be harsh and intimidating, but when Oong did it too it made many uneasy.

"Now tell us EVERYthing that happened- BOTH of you. I want to hear both stories and leave out NO details."

Namu ears droop with unease then she looks at Trica as she comes to her side.

Namu tries to start first. She sits down and tries to remember everything while keeping her mind open to Sly so she can glance into her memory. She remembers the odd distracting sounds that drew her attention to him and away from Trica. Once she has a clear idea of what happened she tries to re-enact it. She notices a large rock and pushes it into position. He then scratches to circles around it, one larger than the other. Mean while, under the harsh gaze of her mentor, Trica grew nervous, her ears twitched and she stuttered, "Me-me and N-n-namu went out into a-a meadow a-around the mo-mountainy l-lands. We w-were p-playing and then h-he came and b-because he w-was in our t-terrotory s-so I questioned h-him and h-he attacked h-him."

Sly can easily view the memories running in Namu's mind like a tape as flashes of Trica making the trenches pass through. The memories continue, showing images of Trica and Namu stuck in the trench as they then help each other out, as Namu presses both paws in the outer rim. Soon the memories are of Namu as she sat upon the bolder distracted rather than fixated on Trica's movements.

Namu looks behind herself, while placing a paw on the rock, just as she did back then as the memories present birds fleeing the trees, omen even wolves heeded. In the memory, she looks toward the disturbance and sees a dark shadow in the forest, its face drenched in blood. It was tearing another shape in half in a disturbing manner and began heading their way. Just then, Trica rose out of the ground and she leaped for her.

Namu walks back to her little nest and picks up the wolf like plush that Trica gave and brought to her during the last three nights. She uses it to represent Trica as she gently bites it by the tail and then digs a small hole where she drops it in for the moment. After wards she decides to sit in front of Sly as her memories seem to speed up their pace.

She remembers how they went about Morgrim's capture, escort and how he began to tease and insult them. Soon the memories begin to slow as Morgrim replies to Trica saying "More than you could possibly imagine"; soon after her memories black out. The last thing she remembers is a roar she had never done before. The only thing she remembers afterwards is waking up to Sly, the same way she woke to Marollutteh so many years ago.

Then she looks at Trica, curious as to what happened when she fell unconscious.

Trica was glad when Namu started to re-enact the moment. Her explanation left much out. As Namu looked at her, Trica continued, trying to keep her memories flowing in a logical manner.

"When Namu passed out, a patrol came around. They saw what happened and helped me carry Namu home. Half of them chased after Morgrim."

Namu listens to Trica's explanation attentively. Then, she looks at their mentors waiting for their answer.

Oong and Sly seem to look towards each other, shielding their thoughts from their students. Sly is about to say something when Akiral rushes in. "Your majesty, I have lost track of him, but I have a good idea of his whereabouts." She was large and had a commanding presence in the room. "He seems to have retreated into Night tribe borders. Shall I pursue him or do wish me to alert their kin of the threat?"

"No, you've done enough Ginger. Come and rest for now. Later if you wish you can assemble a party to patrol our borders in case he's foolish enough to return." Sly answers.

Akiral bows her head and lifts a paw to her chest, "It will be my pleasure." She notices Trica and approaches her. "Rather brave of you to face him like that. We may yet make a warrior out of you." She says rubbing her paw on Trica's head.

"Thank's. Oh wait! Namu come here!" she calls slightly exited. "This is Akiral, she's the one who helped me carry you."

Namu looks at the golden uunca with surprise. Akiral approaches her with a confident smile. "So, this is the infamous little uunca that made templar under Sly's claws." She says. "I hear that her majesty's teachings are pure punishment. How well will you fair?" she teases with a whisper. Namu shrugs uncomfortable.

"No be jealous, be nice to Namu. Namu good uunca. She train with Sly very well." Oong says. He remembers that Akiral always wanted to be Sly's apprentice at one point. He sensed a bit of envy in her last tease.

"That's right. Namu can tackle anything." Trica says cheering Namu on. Namu's eyes smile as she nips Trica's mane and tries to grab her paw with her mouth to lift it above her head. She was gesturing Trica as a champion as is to say So can you. Trica giggles at her gestures.

"Is that so?" Akiral chuckles. She liked the way their friendship was expressed. "Well then, I can wait to see you girls take on the world." She finishes then heads towards Sly and bows. "I'll be taking my leave." She lifts her head with determined expression on her face. "I assure you, there will be no place for him to hide if he even dares to come back here.  If he does, I'll deliver his head to you personally."

"Now now, Ginger. There's no need for such violence. However, I'm glad that you feel so determined about this." She stops and thinks about the circumstances. "Now that you mention it, I have an assignment for you."

"Yes your majesty?"

"I'd like you to add these two to your assignment."

"May I ask why?"

"Oong and I will continue to train them as usual, but we can't always be with them. I'd like you to keep an eye on them when you're not with Sakura. Is that alright?"

"As you wish." Akiral bows. She then leaves in order to assemble a patrol for the borders.

"Are you sure you wish to continue her training?" says the Dane, the healer. "I mean, with her condition and all."

"I understand," she says to him, "but if I know Namu, she will insist that we continue in spite our concerns for her health. Am I right?" she looks towards her templar.

"Riff!" Namu barks in affirm. Confirming Sly's suspitions, Sly comes up to her and stares down seriously at her. "The doctor is right though. You can't afford to push yourself. You will rest for three days before we continue what we started. Is that understood?"

Namu hums in disagreement as she lowers her head. She then wags her tail as Sly's expression becomes more firm. "Good. Now lay down. Trica, stay with her while Oong and I hunt something for the both of you. You need to rebuild your strength. There is much to be done." She finishes as she disappears, Oong soon following behind.

Meanwhile,

Morgrim enters a cave, dark and full of ash. Exhausted from the long run he had to make. A uunca lingers in the dark, small and sneaky. "Sso, how did it go? You didn't come back until now, and I don't ssmell Ssly nor Oong on you."

Morgrim smiles and lets out a wicked giggle. "It was fabulous!" The uunca stares confused as Morgrim paces in the cave with laughter. "Oh, the treasures, the thrill, the unexpected surprise."

"Master?" the uunca asks.

"A red moon lies in the Aztec tribe, and she's Amón's." He grins, his teeth shimmer in the dark, making the other uunca uneasy. "Who'd thought," he pauses as he giggles. He stretches his neck suddenly towards his companion. He remembers Namu's scent vividly, an unmistakable scent that her father bore. "And she's not the only one! A night citizen who has yet to be noticed by the other tribe members also bares red moons. I wonder if she's a barer of the curse as well." He says lifting his paw towards his companion. He was referring to the fact that they had similar scents. A Getsuei Niiro family scent. Long lost and forgotten by many, many millennia ago. The small sneaky uunca gulps as Morgrim then plays with his ears, retreating claws from him as he finishes saying "Only one way to find out. Let's pay her a visit."

"But what about our prisoner?" the uunca asks
.
"Let him go. There's no need for him anymore. He won't say anything we wish to know." Morgrim answers.

The sneaky uunca smiles "Yes. I will take care of it immediately." The sneaky uunca makes his way to an injured night tribe warrior. It was Aleron, and he seemed unconscious, lying on his side with a limp expression on his mask. He was bleeding from his hind legs and had been mercilessly beaten. The sneaky uunca approaches him silently then raises his claws to slash him. When he swings his paw down, Aleron's expression changes. He roars as he stabs his sword into his attacker's heart. The uunca wails in pain as Aleron then twists his blade without remorse for his tormentor.

Morgrim hears the ruckus when Aleron knocks him down and makes a run for it. Morgrim thought of chasing after him when the other uunca calls out to him. "Mas...ter" he says, reaching out a paw to him then dropping it as he dies. "Waste." Morgrim says to the corpse. He stares at it for a while and then looks at the cave exit where Aleron had escaped. He rethinks about the chase when he remembers his exhaustion. He wouldn't be able to catch up to him in time. Even if he could, he wasn't about to take on the Night Tribe's army. He looks at the corpse that was left in the cave, at his fallen companion.  He can't just leave it there. Doing so would stir the tribes. "Might as well." He says. Morgrim was blind but his keen sense of smell easily leads him to the body. He began dragging it to the back of the cave, where he could devour it in silence...

Three days pass and it's time for Namu to resume her training. What will be her future and those she cares about. She plans to get stronger, so when the moment comes, she'll be ready.

On the third night, Namu stands on that ridge she once stood on, on the night of The Moon Gathering. She looks up at the new moon and senses the next turning point of her life approaching quickly. She closes her eyes and thinks of home, the wolves she loves, the family that lies in a dim memory, of Chelsey, a scientist she became fond of that occasionally follows her around the Americas, the Shaw-man that introduced her to the native American tribes and lastly, her new home, Ambala, and all those who live in it, the beautiful land that blooms every color within the world's heart. She wants to protect it all. Every face, every mask, every heart beat. Her mission to protect those she loves has not changed. It has only grown. This is her family, no matter the form of its members. She will protect it always. Sly sits down nearby behind her, Oong sits with her, as she watches Namu sit at the ridge's edge. Namu opens hers eyes, lifts herself on to her feet and lets out an everlasting howl "NUA-----!" She feels in her heart that her pack was doing the exact same thing at the exact same moment somewhere out there in the mountains of North America.  Her heart echoes the words they always howled at the beginning of an upcoming battle.

I am Namu Lost Wood
Howler of the wolf-moon pack
So long as the wind carries our howls
The shadows will feel their justice.
With the new moon
We are reborn.
With the full moon we rise!
For we are wolves
And we are the night!

Sly senses these words and smiles at the coincidence. She hadn't said anything before, but she had long ago noticed the red moons of her fur, but now Namu coincidentally howled words very similar to the Night Tribe's chant. Sly was now even more curious about Namu's past, but merely stood and headed back to her den. She was glad that Namu had such strong resolve. Oong follows close behind her.

Namu finishes her howl. When she does she turns her head sensing a presence. But by the time she turned to look, they were already gone.