Your mother screams as you enter the world, and you scream with her. The clan's midwife, Zhuchansa, holds you tenderly. She swiftly wipes off your face so you can breath freely. As she cleans the goo of birth from your tiny limbs, she inspects you for deformities. Finding none, she tests the range of motion of your limbs. Finally, she pricks your heel with a needle. Reflexively you thrash your leg in an uncoordinated but instinctive attempt to defend yourself. Satisfied that you are whole and healthy, Zhuchansa presents you to your father. "Congratulations Guarnicio, of no family! You are now the proud father of a baby girl."

Though you do not know it yet, you are his first child. Your father looks at the midwife with an expression of confused panic before reluctantly reaching out to hold you. His hands are so huge that just one of them can wrap almost all the way around your body, leaving your legs dangling beneath you. The midwife supports your head while she instructs your novice father in the need to always support his daughter’s head until you are old enough to do so yourself. Properly instructed, your father supports your head with one hand and with the other lifts you up to get a closer look at you.

You stop crying as this strange giant looks you in the eyes. You move your limbs randomly, accidentally kicking your father in the chin. His expression does not change one iota, and he gives no indication of having even felt your weak strike. You, however, do react.

Your father’s beard is as hard as steel wool and the ends are as sharp as needles. Several of the points of his beard hair penetrate the tender baby skin on the top of your foot; causing you to wail with pain. At this your father frowns in disappointment. Midwife Zhuchansa clucks disapprovingly and wraps your wounded foot in clean leather bandages with a practiced hand. The Matriarch of your clan is present for your birth, as she is present for the birth of every child born into the Silver Bear clan. She says: “Your daughter has your fire, but not yet your skill. Bears make poor kick-boxers. You will have to train her how to fight as well as you do, Guarnicio.” Your father grins at the thought of teaching his child how to fight. His grin, as well as the tender touch of the midwife, causes you to gurgle happily. The sound of your cheerful gurgles stretches your father’s grin even wider.

The Matriarch is the oldest woman in the clan, but she looks only ten winters older than your young and strikingly beautiful mother. The Matriarch takes you from your father and places you on a pile of furs beside a bear cub no larger than you. Too young even to roll over, you still manage to rock your head to the side and look at this strange creature. Unlike you, he already has a full head of hair and is covered in soft light brown fur. His paws are tipped with cute little claws, and his mouth under his snout is curved in a smile. Like you, he was just born, but he is already sleeping.

Your clan Matriarch settles into lotus position at the foot of your bedding, facing you. She holds one of her hands over you, and the other over the snoring bear cub beside you. You flail your limbs in an uncoordinated effort to touch her, but her hand is just out of your reach. You quickly tire; being born was exhausting. The Matriarch sits still and silent, breathing rhythmically. Your motions still and your eyelids grow heavy as you slide towards slumberland. You are just about to fall asleep when she moves. She places her thumb on your forehead, right between your eyes. Her pinkie on the same hand touches the bear cub beside you, also on his forehead, right between his eyes. Suddenly, you hear a sleepy voice in your head: “Hello?”

You think back “Hello! Friend?”

The voice in your head replies happily: “Friend.”

The Matriarch rolls you and the bear cub over to face each other. The bear cub blinks sleepily at you then licks your face. You gurgle happily. The Matriarch smiles then speaks firmly to you, “Child of man, this spirit animal is your sibling and your partner now. You will feed him fresh red meat and honey, gather vital essence for him, shelter him from the elements, and lend him your strength for all of your days. If you are wise, you will also offer him your friendship.” After lecturing you, she turns her attention to the bear cub beside you. “Spirit child, this human is your sibling and your partner now. You will protect her, lend her your strength and share your madra with her for all of your days. If you are wise, you will also offer her your friendship.”

The Matriarch gestured and the midwife came forward to pick you up. While Zhuchansa picked you up and placed you in your mother’s lap, the Matriarch picked up your new sibling and placed him next to you. You bury your face in the soft, warm fur of your friend and brother. Your exhausted mother cradles you both as you drift off to slumberland together. A sapphire butterfly and two giant bears solemnly observe from the edges of the cave.

Above, outside the cave complex that the Silver Bear clan lives in, the sun shines brightly on Aestia Valley and all five of the clans that compete over its wealth.