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asher553PEOPLE OF THE WOLF. Ch. 25 - 26.
In Chapter 25, Broken Branch and Runs In Light meet Heron at her secluded camp near the hot spring. There's some great dialog between Heron and Broken Branch; the two old rivals disagree about many things, but Heron (who is both mystic and rationalist) validates Broken Branch's insights from legend and tradition. Runs In Light (aka Wolf Dreamer) cuts in and asks "Why do you know all this? ... Why doesn't everyone?" and there follows some discussion by the hermit Heron on the matter of solitude and discipline. "Hides need to be tanned. Meat needs to be hunted. Moss has to be gathered. Children always need something, or ar fighting, or are curious. A Dreamer has to clear his mind to be able to think and feel without worrying about who's squabbling with who. Without being interrupted by nonsense." Though distracted by thoughts of Dancing Fox, Runs In Light works to develop his mystical powers.
Chapter 26 opens with Dancing Fox and Talon, the master weponsmith, putting the finishing touches on a projectile point. The older woman explains, "Think of it like a man and woman. The binding is the marriage to make a whole out of the system." But Dancing Fox is thinking mostly about Runs In Light. There's some dialog about the responsibilities of family life. Talon says: "Without children, there's no People. But once you've got a baby, you can't hunt like we've been doing. Men are free. They don't have to stay around and look after their brood. Women do."
Meanwhile, Heron and Runs In Light are bathing in the hot spring when the subject of women, er, comes up. Light opens up to Heron and shares his anger at Dancing Fox for seemingly accepting her marriage to the domineering Crow Caller. Then it's Heron's turn to open up about Bear Hunter - the man she lost to Broken Branch.
--
For Runs In Light and Dancing Fox, there is a double dramatic question: both must choose between a craft - prophecy for Light, hunting for Fox - and family life. Additionally, Dancing Fox is caught in a three-way romantic tug of war: between her marriage to Crow Caller, and Runs In Light whom she loves - and Raven Hunter, the impetuous, estranged twin brother of Runs In Light, who is determined to possess her, and by whom she is both repulsed and strangely attracted.
In Chapter 25, Broken Branch and Runs In Light meet Heron at her secluded camp near the hot spring. There's some great dialog between Heron and Broken Branch; the two old rivals disagree about many things, but Heron (who is both mystic and rationalist) validates Broken Branch's insights from legend and tradition. Runs In Light (aka Wolf Dreamer) cuts in and asks "Why do you know all this? ... Why doesn't everyone?" and there follows some discussion by the hermit Heron on the matter of solitude and discipline. "Hides need to be tanned. Meat needs to be hunted. Moss has to be gathered. Children always need something, or ar fighting, or are curious. A Dreamer has to clear his mind to be able to think and feel without worrying about who's squabbling with who. Without being interrupted by nonsense." Though distracted by thoughts of Dancing Fox, Runs In Light works to develop his mystical powers.
Chapter 26 opens with Dancing Fox and Talon, the master weponsmith, putting the finishing touches on a projectile point. The older woman explains, "Think of it like a man and woman. The binding is the marriage to make a whole out of the system." But Dancing Fox is thinking mostly about Runs In Light. There's some dialog about the responsibilities of family life. Talon says: "Without children, there's no People. But once you've got a baby, you can't hunt like we've been doing. Men are free. They don't have to stay around and look after their brood. Women do."
Meanwhile, Heron and Runs In Light are bathing in the hot spring when the subject of women, er, comes up. Light opens up to Heron and shares his anger at Dancing Fox for seemingly accepting her marriage to the domineering Crow Caller. Then it's Heron's turn to open up about Bear Hunter - the man she lost to Broken Branch.
--
For Runs In Light and Dancing Fox, there is a double dramatic question: both must choose between a craft - prophecy for Light, hunting for Fox - and family life. Additionally, Dancing Fox is caught in a three-way romantic tug of war: between her marriage to Crow Caller, and Runs In Light whom she loves - and Raven Hunter, the impetuous, estranged twin brother of Runs In Light, who is determined to possess her, and by whom she is both repulsed and strangely attracted.
