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Kya thought a moment before replying. "I don't think that's a good idea," She said at last, "If we did, then we could get in trouble, too. Let's wait."

Sirah looked down "Oh.. True.." She looked up again to the sky then back to Kya and looking past her to see their leaders tent seeing it move around alittle "I think Tekuse is up.." She gulped "When do i tell him? wait HOW would i tell him?" She said leaning down on her arms towards Kya starting to worry

Kya shifted her ear towards the ruffling sound coming from the leader's tent. Sirah was right, it seemed that Tekuse was rising. Sure enough, he crawled out of his tent and walked over to where Kya and Sirah sat. "Well, you two are up early," He rumbled good-naturedly, his age and wisdom trickling through his voice. Kya shrugged. "We couldn't sleep, sir," She explained.

Sirah spoke as calm she could but her voice stuttered and anyone could tell she was nervous. "H...hi, Yeah we couldnt sleep. we thought it be.. be erm.. nice to watch the sunrise" She smiled innocently

Tekuse's expression showed concern and perhaps a bit of sadness. "Sirah, you seem...distracted. Are you all right?" He inquired softly.

Sirah Yelped alittle but looked to Kya. looking into her eyes for a few moments then breathed "Sir.. Zane went out to hunt alone early this morning.. been a few hours and i aint seen him back.." She played with the grass with a paw "Thats why i was up.. i was worried for him"

"He has, has he?" Tekuse rumbled. "Well, then, we better find him. Sirah, assemble a search party after the morning ritual. We'll need him back, now, won't we?" To Kya's relief--and probably Sirah's, too--Tekuse didn't seem mad at all. Then again, he had been leader for a long, long time...he had probably dealt with any such cases.

Sirah nodded "Yes Sir.." she looked thrilled how her leader wasnt that mad "When shall we start the ritual?" She asked curiously

Tekuse stood to his full height. He glanced at the sun, then back to Kya and Sirah. "Right now," He said simply, and released a howl, beckoning the pack to wake and gather. Kya scrambled for the gathering area, sitting quickly. Shakohtaki burst from a tent and sat hurriedly next to her sister. Before long, the whole pack had gathered. The two drummer wolves beat their drums in the chanting pattern. A single she-wolf played a melody on her long wooden flute. Kya smiled as she watched the flutist. The very she-wolf was teaching Kya to play, and Kya would become the next flutist. When Tekuse's long howl came to an end, he began to chant:

"New day, new day-ya, day-ya...Morning come, hey-ya..."

The pack soon joined him, their music filling the air.

"We gather, hey-ya, new day-ya, day-ya...Morning come, hey-ya..."

The chant continued, throughout all of which the music became more intense. The drummers beat louder, the flutist played faster. It all peaked with a loud, long, beautiful note, quickly cut off as Tekuse bowed his head. The pack was now silent, gazing up and awaiting news from the leader. "It is good to see you all here this day," Tekuse began, "And I am sure today will be a good one. Now, face your nearest partner. Paint each other." Kya turned to Taki. She went through the movements of the Painting, and then her sister did the same to her. Around them, the adult wolves made a red paste of berries and actually painted one another's faces, each wolf having his or her own unique pattern. Kya and Taki looked forward eagerly to the day they would actually become part of the Painting. The Painting symbolized the bravery, strength, and wisdom of the adult wolves. Not until the age ceremony did a pup get a pattern. The ceremony is preformed when a wolf turns 16 and is considered an adult. Kya and Taki were only 12.

Sirah did the same with a hansome wolf next to her. looking over to her other side at Kya with a smile. pondering on what she was thinking about... but she shrugged and looked around to the rest of the pack mostly the adults who really drawn on eachother. they all drawn the markings so skillfully. she wondered what it be like to be painted on herself when she was 16

When all the wolves had completed the Painting, they turned to again face Tekuse, who had an unusual and special pattern that was self-implied, something that only a leader wore. He gazed out at his pack. "Now, before we dismiss, I have some news. It seems that one of us--young Zane--has wandered off in the night. I have asked Sirah to gather a search party and to find him. I believe that Sirah, though still a pup, is quite capable of leading this mission. If she asks you to go with her, please treat her with respect." The wolves nodded in understanding. "Good. Now, dismissed!" The pack stood and began to casually leave the gathering area.

Sirah rushed up turning to Kya and Taki "Would you both come with me?" She asked hopefully, she would rather take her two friends then a stranger among the pack. They were all trusting yes but she felt more comfortable around her friends, aint the most outgoing on

Taki's playful gaze brighten. "Of course!" She responded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I'll come," Kya replied in a calmer manner.

Sirah Smiled and nodded her head gratefully "Thank you. Come lets go find Zane!" She said feeling more excited for having a mission with her friends Padding over to the point of the forest she remembered watching Zane leave through, Standing tall. Her leader called her a 'Leader' so she tryed to act like one "He left this way so lets see if we can pick up his scent." She said in a bold voice

Kya sniffed the air, searching for Zane's scent. Taki scanned the scene curiously. "Could these be his pawprints?" She asked, pointing to a trail of wolf tracks. Kya hurried over to investigate.