[Howl Mingle] Wolves Outside and They Wear Sheeps' Clothing

[holtfinder]

WHO: Everyone's invited!
WHERE: The grassy area north of the memorial at Green 19
WHAT: A Howl!
WHEN: Under the light of the full moon
WARNINGS: Please put them in TLs if they apply to your story


The area has been cleared of rocks, making it comfortable for people to sit on the grass or some of the larger boulders that were already there. The full moon shines overhead, making it bright enough to see one another. While some people would put a bonfire in the center of the ring, Moonshade is doing this the traditional way; the Wolfriders avoid fire at all costs.

That said, she's gotten someone to cook a portion of the piglet-squirrels she's hunted to share with everyone, skewered and nicely charred, enough to go around. But there's also raw meat available for anyone like her, who prefers to have theirs fresh.

Moonshade directs everyone into a rough sort of circle, standing in the middle as she waits for the late arrivals. She's dressed in her usual leathers, but there's some flowers from the greenhouse tucked into her hair, something small and purple that catches the moonlight. "Thank you all for coming. My people, the Wolfriders, hold howls regularly. We sing to the moon as our wolf-friends did even before we joined them. And we tell stories. This is how we keep our history alive. I know that I don't share a history with any of you, but I could think of no better way to learn who you all are, what Way you live by, than hearing your stories, and sharing one of my own."

Her smile turns a little wry, and she glances at Steadypaw. "But before the stories, we sing." And the wolf moves from lying down to sitting, throws his head back, and lets out a proper howl. Moonshade joins in a moment later, closing her eyes. It's an eerie harmony between them--she can't help but wonder who'll join in. Or, for that matter, who'll share a tale or two.

Comments

[holtfinder]

"Thank you. Maybe someday, I'll be bold enough to try to tell the story of one of the chiefs, instead of something personal, but that'll be for next howl, perhaps." She actually moves to stand on a boulder so she's a little closer to his height, for easier conversation. "And maybe you can tell something more narrowly personal, then."

[hadthehighground]

“I was thinking the same thing,” he said, a little amused as she stood on the rock to try to match his height.

“Force knows I have many stories I could tell. I’ll pick one by the time we do this again.” And he hoped they would do this fairly often. It was a good way to stay connected to everyone here. To remind all of who they were and where they came from.

[holtfinder]

"Next full moon, perhaps. Or the one after that. When the air feels right and it feels like it's needed." She shrugs. "Who knows, maybe there's other types of gathering. I did come to the training at the Jedi temple."

[hadthehighground]

“Did you? I’m pleased to hear that, though I must have missed you that day.”

He had been rather distracted, with the training among other things.

“You are always welcome to come visit whenever you like.”

[holtfinder]

"I will, when I need a moment of peace. It's like the crystal palace on my world, a place of peace and learning and sanctuary. I haven't always been one of the palace-seekers, but visiting it someday to commune with the spirits is important to me."

She realizes he lacks some of the context for that, but that's a story for another night.

[hadthehighground]

He may lack context, but he understands. What the crystal palace meant to her, the temple meant to him.

"That's what the temple is meant to be here. For everyone. Not just the Jedi. We just happen to live in it."

[holtfinder]

"I wonder--is it a place of serenity because you live there, or do you live there because it's a place of serenity?"

Chicken, egg. Moonshade noticed the atmosphere when she went to visit, even if it was during combat training. She's looking forward to popping in sometime when there isn't an exhibition happening.

[hadthehighground]

"A bit of both I think. Our temple on coruscant was a well spring of the Force and the Jedi living there only enhanced it. Here, the museum is just a building. In time our presence will permeate the area with the Force. But there is a spot that has an echo of good feelings already."

[holtfinder]

She nods slightly. "I'm hoping if we hold more howls here, the same sort of thing...the area feeling good, feeling right...will happen. But I don't have the 'magic feeling' sense that some elves do. Rayek, Sunstream--they have a sense that I think is the closest equivalent to your 'Force' among the elves."

[hadthehighground]

“Really? Is it a talent that you must be born with?”

Learning about other cultures is definitely Obi-Wan’s thing. In fact he’s leaning in with interest.

[holtfinder]

She nods a little. "There's a lot of different talents--healers, tree-shapers, rock-shapers, floaters. But most of them manifest relatively young. Leetah knew before Sunstream--he was called Suntop as a child--and Ember were born that one was magical--one of the most powerful among us, and the other would be the next chief of the Wolfriders. But she's a healer, knowing what her own children would be like must have been easy. Suntop is going to use the crystal palace's magic to amplify his Sending and unite all elves across the world, someday."

There's something just short of jealousy there, a sort of wistfulness. Moonshade doesn't have any of the great magical talents of her people. Though she's respected as a maker, being a tanner, that's a trade she learned and can teach, not something she was born into.

[hadthehighground]

Listening with keen but respectful interest, Obi-Wan nods as he tries to follow. He didn't know many of her terms, but he could take a guess. It seemed her people were closely connected with their natural world, and that was something he could respect.

"Sending? What is that?"

If it could be used to unite a people, then it must be something powerful. Though he does recognize the feelings in Moonshade. The longing to have such powers. He can't really blame her for that either.

[holtfinder]

"It's easier to try to show you than to explain. If Ezra could pick it up, I hope you might be able to."

And then her mind brushes against his, a very delicate telepathic touch, clearly something she's very experienced with. It's very clear, and also somehow feels very open; it's impossible for her to lie while Sending. *Can you hear this?*

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan jumps slightly in surprise at the clear messages that comes into his mind. Such direct telepathy was not often practiced among the Jedi. Usually they sent each other feelings that could be interpreted. But they were still capable of it. Grogu was really the only one he communicated with in such a fashion due to his inability to talk at the moment.

Yes, I can. Can you hear me as well?

He sent those words back. Wondering if she would receive that in the same way.

[holtfinder]

*Yes, yes I can. It's good to know that if I end up in trouble, you're someone I can try to reach out to at a distance, as well as Ezra.*

She switches back to speech, grinning. "If humans from our world were as receptive and open-minded, I think we'd have gotten along better."

[hadthehighground]

That was a good skill to have. Long distance communication. If the network ever failed or something of the sort, some communication would be possible. Though he chuckled at what she said.

"I'm afraid we Jedi are an exception to the human race. Most of those outside of our order are probably not any different than the humans you have dealt with in your world. Though not all Jedi are human either."

[holtfinder]

"One of our oldest stories was that when elves arrived on the planet, they tried to take forms humans would recognize, but the humans of the time still couldn't see the graceful Firstcomers as anything like them, and so they attacked."

There are stories of good humans, though. The tribe has even raised one, in the past.

"Here, people seem different, though."

[hadthehighground]

"Ah, I see. Yes, many humans, and peoples like them, are known to fear what they don't understand. You're right though, in that those here are more open to that. We have to be."

He could only imagine what sort of chaos might break out if the Agrii hadn't chosen mostly decent people. Mostly. There were a few he didn't particularly like or trusted. But that's something he will keep to himself.