Spectrum: Hounds Of Hate

Chapter 2 "The Howling Winds"

     Kapoi

     (Ethias)

     The Castric sea swooshed up against the coast reminding the inhabitants of its existence. These were hardly beaches, they were full of damp trenches and broken twigs from the old fragile trees which hung from above. Atop the ridges breaching over its reach was the Kapoi forests. A vast green inland filled with life and thick pine trees at every turn. Some of these grew up to nearly fifty feet high, its branches stretched out entangled between each other leaving only holes for the sun to peak through. This left a certain eerie glow of beauty about the forest, thick mossy underlays huddling together with strings of light gleaming through from above. 

     Every few feet there seemed to be strange markings carved into the bottom of certain trees. Some had two slashes pointing downwards, others had a rugged circle with dots placed randomly throughout the middle. Perhaps this was some sort of code, only the locals who dwell here could explain these meanings. 

     Natures clash continued its gauntlet on the outside. Deeper within the forests a vague howl could be heard. Soon after, another joined in, then another, howling as a collective now their melody blew through the inland like a sonnet of sorrow. Its light tone needed no words to describe its feeling of sadness, a certain echo of remorse clung to their pitch. Standing above a buried mound was a wolf of pale grey fur, thin covers of brown cloth stretched from his shoulders down.

     "Lukano, we bring to you another of our lost kin, we bring to you another fallen brother, show him the path with your eyes and bring him back to us stronger."

     A pack of wolves surrounded the mound with their heads down looking on. Ethias stood on the right, an old wolf of light brown fur with streaks of grey streaming from his snout curling around his hazel colored eyes. To his left stood Esheros, one of white fur and blotches of brown spots under his eyes. Just behind him Dreylon and Bazrie looked on silently, these were the old wolves sons. It was important for them to attend this ceremony and pay their respects to the lost ones of the forest.

      "I am sorry about your uncles passing, Remano was a great second captain. Never once was anyone hurt under his watch, may Lukano watch over him."

     Said Ethias while placing his paw on Esheros shoulder. Since as long as they can remember Lukano was the watcher of these forests, their eyes in the afterlife so to speak. These beliefs brought comfort to close family around the times of a passing. It is thought that when a wolf passes on from this life Lukano watches over them until a time of rebirth comes, in this rebirth they are given another life and sent back twice as strong to keep Kapoi safe. The wolf standing over the mound called for silence while looking up towards the sky, extending his arms out he said the final send off as the others joined in.

     "Spirits take our soul and protect the loyal,
Routes shield our memory deep within your soil."

     "Winds guide our loved ones back to us stronger,
Through the blood of their kin shall they rise and live longer."

     "With the forests underlay keeping you warm,
May Lukano's eyes bring you back to us in a new form."

     

     Each wolf picked up a small handful of moss from the ground and made their way towards the mound. It was tradition to kneel before your lost one and wish a fast return before releasing the moss upon them. Many believed that as soon as they where placed at one with the forest then the sooner Lukano's eyes could lead them back. Ethias approached followed by Esheros, he rested on one knee while grasping the moss in his grip tightly holding it above the fallen captains mound.