Mitnal's page

Mitnal was not sure if the totem-imbued raven would want to share its gift with the dwarf or if the dwarf would even be able to understand its message. Often when a totem-spirited animal speaks to a person of the tribe, he does so discreetly. People of the tribe also do not speak so openly about contact with the totems unless other Shriikirri-Quah get jealous. (A few tribespeople walk between worlds and speak constantly to the totems. These ones must be protected from themselves.)

The raven would choose whether to speak to the dwarf. Mitnal respectfully placed some more mushbread in the basket and turned to greet the dwarf.

What was his name? It was an easy one ... Yes! "Whittler-of-wood," he said "I was hoping you would come. I would like to talk to you about making some solid wood bases for a larger basket. It would need to have some holes around the outside to attach it to the weave."

Mitnal was startled. For his people all animals were part of their animal spirit. So, all ravens were part of the raven father. Some just carried more of the spirit within them. It was not unusual to ask questions to an animal with the hopes that the spirit would somehow give you an answer. But this one spoke! The raven-father must be strong in this one.

He searched his pouch for some of the mushbread he'd been saving for later and set it in one of the smaller baskets before the raven.

From the corner of his eye, Mitnal saw the helpful dwarf coming but for some reason he didn't feel a need to stretch his legs anymore. He felt invigorated.

Mitnal gazed at the bird in astonishment as the raven settled into a basket made of fall Mauvegrass and Smokeweed. Of all the baskets spread out before him, this was the only one made of the stems of the sacred plants. Surely this was a totem spirit. What could it want? Had something happened to his tribe? To his family?

Mitnal, following the custom of his people, did not look directly at the totem spirit but at the ground between them. Bowing his head he asked "Why have you come Raven-Father? What can I give you? What do you need?"

Mitnal looks up in the sky as a raven flies over. "Something strange about that bird. He looks clever. Like a totem spirit. What direction is that? North? ... When the Swallowtails are released they will head South. ... That's what I should do! I should follow the swallowtails after the festival."

I sit on one of my blankets my baskets spread out in front of me trying not to feel anger.

Okay, let me see my avatar... This is Mitnal.