The small group of four got a lot of attention as they left their horses to be cared for. Most of it was because the pair of dryads— with one of them being collared— walked side by side, holding hands and talking to each other. It was unthinkable to see a wild dryad so at peace with one of her sisters collared. The two people who walked with them weren’t nearly as shocking, but still got attention. It’d been over a decade since a human had been allowed into the pau-wau, and many still rankled at that memory. The few who recognized Lia by her description, or had heard who she was from the warriors, whispered to each other about the Death Flower.
Lia led them toward a gathering of people sitting on blankets. Each person had different crafts displayed, ranging from blankets to carvings of wood or stone, and even painted leather pouches that were eye-catching.
“Those are very nice,” Doc said.
“Parfleches,” Lia explained as they stopped at an older man’s blanket. “Made from bison or elk, normally. The skin is shaped and painted by hand. This one, the one with the eagle head, I’d love to have.”
“You bring a human with you, and two dryads? This pau-wau will be unique,” the old man said in Elvish. “What can you trade for it?”
Lia pulled out a soulstone chip. “Mother’s blessing.”
The man’s eyes went wide. “That is far more than my humble pouch.”
“It has been a long time since I’ve had a proper pouch,” Lia countered gently. “If you disagree, then please pick one out for my husband.”
That got the man’s eyes to widen a little more, his gaze going to Doc. “Hmm? Very well.” He looked down at his goods, then touched one that had a world of blues and greens on it with a white glow surrounding it. “This one.”
“A very good choice,” Rosa smiled. “Voice, it suits you.”
“Thank you, sir,” Doc said.
Rosa calling Doc by his title had the old elf’s mouth open in shock. “Voice?”
“Lady Luck sent me here,” Doc replied in Elvish, accepting the parfleche that Lia passed him.
Lia took hers, then held out the soulstone to the crafter. “Our thanks for the trade.”
Reeling from what was happening, the man still took the stone before he bowed in his seat. “My thanks to you for Mother’s blessing.”
People began to spread word of the conversation as the group moved on. They’d only made it past two more people when Raindrop came striding their way. “Greetings to you, Shaman of the Treeheart tribe. I have come to walk with you, to show you our tribe.”
The clear call of him being a shaman took the rumors and spread them even faster.
“We are honored, Raindrop,” Doc replied in Elvish. “Please, show us your tribe and their ways.”
Raindrop’s smile grew at his use of Elvish and his formal words. “You speak the language well, Shaman.”
“Lady Luck gave me the gift of the tongue so that I might see the tribes united.”
“The dryads both call you Voice. It is true, then, that a goddess sent you?” Raindrop asked as she led them away from the crafters.
“I was brought from another place to this world to save Mother from the Darkness. Lady Luck is the one who found me and tasked me with this mission. Since my arrival here last year, I have been making strides to push against the encroaching Darkness.”
Raindrop looked thoughtful, but she pressed on with her reason for approaching them, “This is the communal circle where we gather to talk, tell stories, and more.” She’d brought them to a wide-open spot in the middle of the camp. A large firepit was set, but unlit; sitting around the open space were multiple groups of men and women, and each group held a large drum. “You can see the drummers are here to begin the pau-wau. The elder will light the fire to begin the gathering, and it will burn until the pau-wau ends. The dancing will take place around the fire each night as we share our good fortunes with each other.”
Some of the gathered people looked at Doc with disdain or hostility, but none said anything. Most of those expressions became shock when they spotted the dryads walking hand in hand behind him. Those who’d already heard about Doc from the others stared at him with hope in their eyes.
There was a larger-than-average teepee on the edge of the circle, and Raindrop led him toward it. “This is the meeting lodge where the elder speaks to those in need of his guidance. The tribe leaders will be speaking inside it once the pau-wau begins. His personal home is beside it.” She gestured to a teepee painted with the scene of a hunt. “Father was the best warrior for many decades before he took on the mantle of elder.”
“He took the mantle when our old elder and shaman were killed,” Red Hawk said, coming around the edge of the meeting teepee. “Some of the first of humanity who crossed our lands did this when they were founding their missions to the west.”
“The Darkness has made itself known by a name. Its worshippers are what drove Mother to the brink,” Doc said. “I do not condone what was done before. War and death shouldn’t be our way. We need only bring the light back to the world.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t want us to fight those who kill the tribes.”
“I’ve known death far longer than you,” Lia said flatly. “Hatred of what came before cost me my first husband and wife. That hatred then cost me my tribe and theirs. Before this year, my tribe was only me and one other. Do not talk to me about death.”
Red Hawk stepped back from Lia, who radiated menace.
“Mother doesn’t wish for death, either. She wishes only to shine with the light her creators gifted her with,” Yucca said, not using Elvish. “You need to guard your heart, warrior, for you tread close to losing yourself in your hatred.”
Red Hawk was caught between wanting to lash out at her and asking for help. He was saved when the tent flap of the meeting lodge opened. An older man with many scars dotting his exposed torso came out. Gray hair tied in two braids with eagle feathers, beads, and dyed leather straps draped down the front of the man’s shoulders. One of his ears was missing half its tip, a ragged scar showing where it’d been lost. His back was slightly bent as he walked out of the teepee, attesting to either advanced age or injury.
“Red Hawk, why are you not with our warriors to guard us and welcome our allies?” the man asked with keenly intelligent eyes.
“Elder, I was only keeping an eye on our guest. Until his claims can be proven, he might be a danger,” Red Hawk answered quickly.
Elder Gray Rabbit turned to Doc, then bowed his head. “Shaman of the Treeheart tribe, Voice of Luck, blessed by Mother. The Curled Horn tribe welcomes you to this pau-wau. Please wait for the gathering to begin, but I welcome you now in honor. Yucca, the daughter of Mother, walks beside you, and this tells us you are no enemy to our tribe.”
“The honor is mine, Elder,” Doc replied before switching to Elvish. “I will wait for the gathering to begin before I speak more.”
Gray Rabbit’s lips turned up. “Thank you. It shall be soon.” He looked at the heavens. “Very soon. Go with peace.” Turning back to Red Hawk, Gray Rabbit spoke firmly, “To your duty, warrior.”
Red Hawk left quickly, his back rigid with anger as he stalked away.
“Let me show you the testing grounds where honor will be won later,” Raindrop told Doc, giving her father a smile.
“We are in your hands, Raindrop,” Lia smiled.
The testing grounds were on the far edge of the camp. The space had been cleared, and Raindrop explained the different events that would be taking place over the next couple of days. Lia’s lips ticked up at the mention of some of the events, the ones where she would win honor for the Treeheart tribe. Raindrop did caution Lia that Red Hawk would be in each of those events, as well. Lia just smiled wider, but didn’t comment.
As they headed back toward the circle, a slow drum beat began. “Oh, the pau-wau begins. We must hurry,” Raindrop said as she lengthened her stride.
They made it back in time to watch Gray Rabbit slowly walk around the prepared fire. He chanted as he went, calling Mother to watch over them, to guide them with her wisdom, and to lend her strength to the tribes gathered. As he went, he bent to light the fire in different places around the pit.
Finished, he stepped back, raising his arms to the sky. “Mother, may the creators send you aid once again to push back the Darkness. As we are blessed by you, may you be blessed by your makers.” He tossed the torch into the rising flames.
Slowly lowering his arms, Gray Rabbit looked tired, but wore a bright smile. He walked around the fire to stand before the meeting lodge. A gathering of men and women was near it, and they began to approach him in small groups. Raindrop led Doc’s group to the others, then stepped away.
“Elder Dancing Squirrel,” Gray Rabbit smiled at the first to approach him, “it is a blessing to again see you still leading the Duckwater tribe of the Shoni.”
Dancing Squirrel was an older elf with gray streaks dotting her black hair. She raised her arms, opening them wide to the other elder. That let Doc notice that her left hand was missing at the wrist. “Elder Gray Rabbit, the years go on, but I worry we will both see changes in our tribes soon.”
“We cannot stop the advance of time. Please, enter and be welcome.”
She went into the tent, but the others in her group moved away from the teepee, allowing the next group to approach Gray Rabbit.
“We welcome our brethren of the Grouse from Uta. It has been many long years since we shared a pau-wau,” Gray Rabbit smiled. “It gladdens my heart to see you, Wildflower.”
The auburn-haired elven woman wore a bright smile. “It gladdens me to be here, too, Gray Rabbit. When we last saw each other, I was the newly made elder of my tribe. You took care with us back then.”
“Your father was an old friend and foe. I took no joy in his fall,” Gray Rabbit said softly. “If we’d known how things would happen, maybe we’d have not raided each other so much in those years.”
“He spoke of you with honor. Father always said a crafty opponent is a danger unless he is wise. If he is wise, then he is an opportunity to learn.”
“He was a gifted speaker,” Gray Rabbit said softly. “I still miss our talks. Be welcome to our gathering.”
Wildflower smiled as she entered the lodge, her group again peeling away from the teepee. That let the group before Doc’s step forward to greet the elder.
“Sunshine, how bright your hair still is,” Gray Rabbit smiled broadly. “Blessed by the light we all use to see.”
“Gray Rabbit,” the straight-backed man laughed, “your words always bring joy to my heart. It has been decades since we last raided each other, for which I am glad. It wouldn’t be the same as it was. I wasn’t expecting to be here when the year began, but momentous events have come. I thank you for welcoming me to this pau-wau.”
“Mother has smiled on us. You are always welcome when you come in peace. Enter and be welcome.”
That finally let Doc step forward. Those who hadn’t seen him and his group gaped at them. Doc held Lia’s hand while Rosa and Yucca did the same behind them.
“Doc Holyday, shaman of the Treeheart Tribe. It is a blessing to have a shaman here.”
“Elder, it is an honor to be invited to the gathering. I speak for the Treeheart tribe in place of Elder Jesamin, who had to help guide the new members of our tribe.”
“We will hear your words on behalf of your tribe, Shaman. Enter and be welcome.”
Lia squeezed his hand before she moved back. Doc stepped into the teepee, but he heard the words behind him.
“Caretakers, it is a blessing to have two of you here. How is it that one of you is collared, but happy?” Gray Rabbit asked.
“I was willingly collared, as Mother declared that we need to help the Voice. To walk with him in cities, I gave him my neck. He has treated me not just kindly, but with love. No greater joy have I found than to be at Doc’s side,” Rosa said.
“Mother wished me to come so you may know her mind. The chance to bring light to the world has come. It might be different than what you’ve known all your life, but she fully backs the Voice of Luck,” Yucca said.
“We haven’t had a Caretaker at a pau-wau since my father’s time, and never two since the ancient days, when dozens of Voices walked the world. Be welcome by the Curled Horn tribe.”
As the conversation went on behind Doc, he gave the trio of elves in the large teepee a smile. Taking a seat beside Dancing Squirrel, he waited as the flap opened and the dryads came in, sitting beside him. A second later, Gray Rabbit entered, taking his own place in the circle.
In the middle of the group, a small oil lamp gave light to the teepee. The light scent from the oil began to fill the space, hinting at some kind of fish. The stone lamp was old with intricate carvings adorning the sides, depicting hunters after a mammoth.
“Is this enough light for you, Shaman?”
“It is fine, Elder,” Doc replied.
“Let us begin the gathering, then.”