History

The Tribe History

The tribe originally lived a long way from 'Souls, and interacted with several other tribes of the same culture. Nearby there were other settlements as well, not unlike those of 'Souls. Several large families were the foundation of the AniWaya tribe, but smaller families and "lones" were also part of its social scenery. With long traditions incoroprated deeply into their everday lives, the AniWayans were reluctant to move from their territories, although when a nearby Luperci pack attacked the friendly tribe, and killed several of its warriors, along with women and some children, the council and the Kalona were forced to act. It was decided they move, starting the process of tearing down houses and packing their things. A scouting party was sent ahead, consisting of the Kalona, Ayegali Kala, and some other members of the tribe chosen at more or less random, among them Dawali Amara and his daughter Asha Amara, and other younger tribe members, some of which never made it to the settling process. Also the Kalona's brothers were part of this party, but left to aid the others when word reached them that the rest of the tribe was caught in a bad storm. Eventually a suitable place was found in Serena Reserve in 'Souls, and the Kalona brought in several wolves not part of the AniWayan community to help with the settling. Dawali Amara was elected sub-leader and part of the tribe conucil, and together with the Kalona the newly settled tribe started building their homes and waiting for the arrival of the rest.

With some time, the tribe grew, and soon they had four pups among them as well. It was thriving despite its small size, but the absence of the larger bulk of AniWayans was concerning. The leadership was given to Dawali Amara, the Kalona wishing to retire. As they continued to grow, the silence from the others grew heavier and heavier on those of the small settlement who had relatives among them, and eventually Asha Amara took on a journey to find them. Months passed, and when she returned she had interesting news to tell.

The majority of the tribe left behind had at first been caught in bad weather, and then strayed from their path to settle elsewhere, the urgency of an illness among them forcing them to. Now, the illness had claimed several lives, and rendered others insane or broken, the medics slowly finding a treatment. The recovery was slow, but it was not unlikely that those that were healed would seek out the new settlement after the crisis had passed.

Currently, the tribe is handling the problem of Brennt - a loner stalking its borders, seeking to prey on the young. The few members in the settlement that are AniWayan are still concerned of the ones left behind, although the majority of their numbers are now made up from strangers seeking a home, strangers which have grown to friends.

The Creation Story

The earth is a great island floating in a sea of water, and suspended at each of the four cardinal points by a cord hanging down from the sky vault, which is of solid rock. When the world grows old and worn out, the people will die and the cords will break and let the earth sink down into the ocean, and all will be water again.

When all was water, the animals were above in Galun'lati, beyond the arch; but it was very much crowded, and they were wanting more room. They wondered what was below the water, and at last Dayuni'si, "Beaver's Grandchild," the little Water-beetle, offered to go and see if it could learn. It darted in every direction over the surface of the water, but could find no firm place to rest. Then it dived to the bottom and came up with some soft mud, which began to grow and spread on every side until it became the island which we call the earth. It was afterward fastened to the sky with four cords, but no one remembers who did this.

At first the earth was flat and very soft and wet. The animals were anxious to get down, and sent out different birds to see if it was yet dry, but they found no place to alight and came back again to Galun'lati. At last it seemed to be time, and they sent out the Buzzard and told him to go and make ready for them. This was the Great Buzzard, the father of all the buzzards we see now. He flew all over the earth, low down near the ground, and it was still soft. When he reached the country, he was very tired, and his wings began to flap and strike the ground, and wherever they struck the earth there was a valley, and where they turned up again there was a mountain. When the animals above saw this, they were afraid that the whole world would be mountains, so they called him back.

When the earth was dry and the animals came down, it was still dark, so they got the sun and set it in a track to go every day across the island from east to west, just overhead. It was too hot this way, and Tsiska'gili', the Red Craw fish, had his shell scorched a bright red, so that his meat was spoiled. The conjurers put the sun another hand-breadth higher in the air, but it was still too hot. They raised it another time, and another, until it was seven handbreadths high and just under the sky arch. Then it was right, and they left it so. This is why the conjurers call the highest place Gulkwa'gine Di'galun'latiyun', "the seventh height," because it is seven hand-breadths above the earth. Every day the sun goes along under this arch, and returns at night on the upper side to the starting place.

There is another world under this, and it is like ours in everything--animals, plants, and people--save that the seasons are different. The streams that come down from the mountains are the trails by which we reach this underworld, and the springs at their heads are the doorways by which we enter it, but to do this one must fast and, go to water and have one of the underground people for a guide. We know that the seasons in the underworld are different from ours, because the water in the springs is always warmer in winter and cooler in summer than the outer air.

When the animals and plants were first made--we do not know by whom--they were told to watch and keep awake for seven nights, just as young men now fast and keep awake when they pray to their medicine. They tried to do this, and nearly all were awake through the first night, but the next night several dropped off to sleep, and the third night others were asleep, and then others, until, on the seventh night, of all the animals only the owl, the panther, and one or two more were still awake. To these were given the power to see and to go about in the dark, and to make prey of the birds and animals which must sleep at night. Of the trees only the cedar, the pine, the spruce, the holly, and the laurel were awake to the end, and to them it was given to be always green and to be greatest for medicine, but to the others it was said: "Because you have not endured to the end, you shall lose your hair every winter."

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