“Any non-depressing news?” Shijen asked hopefully.

“Oh, nothing too new. You’ve, I’m sure, heard that that handsome young lion returned to his own tribe recently, right after the princess’s eighteenth birthday,” Yao moped. “I had hoped that we’d have something to celebrate after such a long visit.”

“What was his name, again?”

“Fortus Arum, the late Lion General’s son. Apparently, he and Huo Lohse have a colorful history together beyond his extended visit.”

“Oh? I don’t think I’ve heard this gossip,” Shijen leaned forward.

“You haven’t?! That surprises me. Well, let me fill you in!” Yao said eagerly. “I’ve heard from the pack hall maids that both of them get nightmares stemming from the Dragon Tribe exchange. They seem to share some kind of solidarity there, sneaking out into the woods at night together when they both can’t sleep. It is also a recognized fact that the pair of them served an instrumental role in defeating the coup for the Lion Tribe throne last summer, and the rumors are out of control from last year’s exchange.”

“What sorts of rumors?”

“Oh, things as innocuous as a comfortable friendship to scandalous claims of an illegitimate pregnancy!”

“Such a wide range!” Shijen was baffled.

“And the Alpha hasn’t bothered to refute the rumors.”

“That is perhaps wisdom. Refuting the rumors could serve to confirm their validity.”

“It’s true, although, it would be good to know what to believe,” Yao smiled; he didn’t actually mind all the interesting fodder for discussion.

“If the lion wasn’t here to court the princess, why was he here?” Shijen asked.

“Oh, there’s plenty of speculation on that point. He may have come to help train the Wolf Tribe military. Or perhaps the princess invited him to provide a safe space for him to grieve the loss of his recently departed father. Or perhaps they are dating, and we just have to be more patient.”

“I heard an interesting rumor the other day,” Shijen remembered, changing the subject slightly. “One of the hunters in town swears he heard a lion roar in the forest during the last full moon that kicked up a cloud of pixie dust. He said it was terrifying and magical.”

“Was he drunk?” Yao laughed.

“I don’t know,” Shijen shrugged. “We were just talking about a young lion that’s been sneaking into the woods at night with our princess. It seemed an interesting coincidence.”

“Well, this does seem to be the year of wild stories,” Yao admitted. “I’ve been hearing tales about people disappearing, never to be seen again.”

“Really?” Shijen was intrigued. “Anyone specifically?”

“No one that I know, but people have started avoiding the roads that take them close to the Dragon Tribe. Some of my suppliers have even started taking the long way back from the Phoenix Tribe up through the tournament field. The Phoenix Tribe has some of the best spices,” Yao added.

“The dragons again,” Shijen shook his head. “I wonder how much of it is fear-mongering and how much of it is truth.”

“I’d like to know that very thing,” Yao nodded. “It’s coming up on two years since the alarm bells were sounded that the dragons were planning for a war. The dragons seem content to sit on the other side of the mountains so far. I just hope they stay there.”

“Don’t we all? Though part of me wishes they’d let their intentions be known so we can get all of this over with,” Shijen grumped.

“What? The killing and dying?! I’d rather skip that all together,” Yao said.

“At least we would know for certain if they were our enemy or not,” Shijen became defensive. “This wishy-washy are they or aren’t they stuff is becoming tiresome and making everyone anxious.”

Yao nodded. “I just hope we are preparing for a war out of an over-abundance of caution, and that the threat has been blown way out of proportion.”

“It’s looking less and less that way though. The Lion Tribe coup attempt was reportedly orchestrated by the Dragon Tribe, if you recall.”

Yao sighed. “I wonder what other schemes they have up their sleeves.”

Shijen responded by raising his glass of spiced cider to Yao and chugging some of it down.

***

To Huo Lohse Lang, Wolf Tribe, Pack Hall

From Standig Tragen, Bear Tribe, Leader’s Lodge

March 12

Dear Lolo,

Happy belated birthday! I heard a rumor that Fortus finally went home after your birthday last week? What’s his plan?

I’ve got some good news and bad news. The good news is, I seem to have finally stopped growing. The bad news is, I topped out at a little over eight feet as of January. Growing over a foot in under six months is unheard of. I’ve got a hunch that it may have something to do with last summer’s weird magic stuff, but it would seem that we are doomed to awkward hugs for the rest of eternity unless I can convince you to grow another foot or two. Sorry, Lolo. Maybe you’d like a pair of stilts for your birthday?

I got your letter about experimenting with the full moon. Forgive me for saying so, but that’s a very wolfly thing for you to do. Something about the full moon makes it easier for you to call up the little lights? I’m actually more interested to hear about the whole forehead thing. You said that after howling, you touched your forehead to Fortus’s, and his eyes glowed? How did that work exactly? Tell me everything.

I’ve been doing some research on the primordial spirits. I’ve had a hard time finding any reliable records on the subject, but I have found a few stories surrounding the myth of the primordials that I’ve cross-referenced for commonalities. It’s not much, but the similarities are these:

Primordial spirits are the original animal spirits that bonded with humans.

They supposedly reappear or reincarnate in new hosts to work together when the world is in some sort of trouble. Across the various stories, this can be a natural disaster, like a famine, or a man-made one, like a war.

There is one primordial for each main tribe, so five, plus “the generational one” which I surmise might be a reference to the Great Owl.

Primordials are “imbued with great spiritual power” unique to their hosts and mission. I can only speculate what that means at this point, but Jadu’s blue fire comes to mind.

The last one is only referenced in two of the stories, but I think it bears mentioning. In addition to the “good” primordial spirits, there are also “bad” ones. One story calls them primordial evils, and they are, supposedly, other animal spirits that opposed symbiotic relationships with humans. In the two stories where these evils were mentioned, they were attributed responsibility for the disasters that the primordials had to resolve.

There was one story that referenced a “predestined calamity” and an “awakening” during which the primordial spirit hosts became aware of the nature of their animal spirits. There wasn’t much detail, but it resonated with our experience last summer. I’m sure Ulana would disagree.

Jadu says ‘hi’. He wanted me to pass along his progress report. He’s been trying to replicate his blue fire. He hasn’t been able to produce it again or heal anyone just by touching them, but he has found that, after meditating, he seems to be able to sense the full depth of someone’s ailment just by placing his hand over the affected area. It’s helped a couple of times with otherwise tricky diagnoses.

Shanti misses you. You didn’t take me up on my offer to come up this last fall, though I understand that you were busy with Fortus. Want to try coming up before the exchange this summer? I know it’s out of the way, but Philige gave me permission to invite you. I think he wouldn’t mind seeing you again too.

It feels weird that I’m not going to be at the exchange this year, and I’m realizing that I’m going to have to work a lot harder to see you from here on out.

Standig

***

To Standig Tragen, Bear Tribe, Leader’s Lodge

From Huo Lohse Lang, Wolf Tribe, Pack Hall

March 20

Hey Standig,

Ha. Ha. Ha. No thank you on the stilts.... I give up. Clearly trying to persuade you to stop growing only egged you on. Over eight feet?! Can you even fit indoors anymore?!

The rumors are correct. Fortus returned home the day after my birthday. His plan, as far as I understand it, is to clean out his old house and prepare it for the next Lion General. For the moment, he is choosing to decline the position himself. King Hospes has asked him for recommendations for a replacement general. I know Captain Artibus is on the short list. I think Fortus plans to help out with the transition through the summer, so he can join us after the exchange to find the Great Owl.

The so eloquently described "forehead thing" was discovered by accident. We were in the woods late one night, and I had a desire to climb my tree. Fortus wasn’t too thrilled with the whole idea, but I managed to convince him. Anyway, we climbed the tree, it was a full moon, and apparently my wolf spirit really enjoys howling at the moon. (Yes, it is very wolfly.) Fortus says that my eyes glowed green, and after the little lights appeared, I had the strangest impulse to touch my forehead to his. (Kind of like how Fortus’s lion bumped heads with Jadu right before the blue fire stuff.) At that point, his eyes turned a warm amber color, and I think mine probably returned to normal. At least, my wolf spirit calmed down. Fortus’s lion spirit seemed a little excited though because he roared, and a different wave of little lights appeared. My lights are kind of a silvery, moonbeam color, and they like to play in the wind. Fortus’s lights were more golden, sunbeam colored, and they just kind of exploded in this one big wave that disappeared quickly. I have to admit, it startled me. Between the sudden roar and the giant flash of light, I almost fell out of the tree!

I’m having a hard time getting used to these animal noises. What sound does a phoenix make? Or a dragon, for that matter? I kind of want to hear you growl one of these days. Maybe you can call up little lights too, and you don’t even know it! I wonder what color they will be.

Your research on primordials is interesting. I feel like most of that information can be found in the “bedtime story” Ulana seems so fond of. But the primordial evils bit was new. It seems to make sense though. I mean, in real life there are good guys and bad guys. The calamity and awakening thing was fascinating. I wish there were more details in the story that mentions them.

My one other piece of news is that, before Fortus went home, we attempted a partner meditation together. I confess, I kind of felt like I was cheating on you somehow. At any rate, we had a hard time connecting, neither of us are great meditators, but we were able to connect eventually. It felt kind of like one of our earlier meditations. We maybe passed some emotions back and forth? However, the point of all that is to say that I think there is some kind of group connection between the five of us. The fact that Fortus and I connected at all says a lot, (and on the first try). Consider how pathetic my partner mediations are with my brothers for comparison.

Tell Jadu, Shanti, and Philige ‘hi’ for me. I miss them too. I will have to talk to my dad about me coming to visit at the end of May. Don’t get your hopes up though. I had to play every card I had to convince my parents to let me go on a quest to seek the Great Owl with you guys at the end of the exchange this summer. I don’t know that they don’t believe me about last summer’s “magic”, but I’m not sure that they do either.

If it’s any consolation, this year’s exchange won’t be the same without you.

Big, extremely awkward hugs,

Lolo

***

To Huo Lohse Lang, Wolf Tribe, Pack Hall

From Durfein Anam, Badger Tribe, The Burrow

April 3

Dear Lolo,

Sorry I’ve been so slow getting back to you. And thank you for updating me on Standig’s size. Over eight feet?! It’s not unheard of for bears to reach seven feet, but eight? I had to reread your letter four or five times just to wrap my head around it.

All that to say, I have a surprise for you guys! Specifically for the four of you that stayed through the dragon exchange with me and Shanti and Jadu too. I’ve been working on this project on and off for the last two years, and I’m really excited to show you. I’m just finishing up the last little bit. I think you will like it.

You asked me about my artwork. I've been experimenting with metals. The dragon armorer I studied with liked playing with metal alloys, so I picked up a few things from him. I’ve gotten really good at making steel, and I’ve figured out how to plate steel with other things like nickel to almost completely eliminate tarnishing and enhance stress resistance. My other favorite thing right now is heat-coloring steel. It creates this really beautiful, unpredictable pattern of colors in the metal. It means that if you are hoping for one particular color, you have to color a lot of steel to get enough of it, but it’s still lots of fun. I’ll have to show you sometime.

Speaking of, I don’t suppose you want to stop by on your way to the Phoenix Tribe exchange this year? The Badger Tribe is on the way, unless you take the north road that bypasses the Dragon Tribe. Considering all the rumors, I can’t say that I’d blame you if you took the north road, though.

I hope you are well,

Durfein

***

To Huo Lohse Lang, Wolf Tribe, Pack Hall

From Ulana Zugeer, Phoenix Tribe, Palace, Shieldmaiden Quarters

April 28

Lolo!

As you can see from the address, I’m back in the palace to train until the exchange starts in a month. I have to admit, after a real battle, this whole shieldmaiden thing feels ridiculous. We aren’t learning how to fight; we are learning how to make dancing look like a fight. Don’t get me wrong. It can be fun, and I still like our flashy uniforms. However, it feels a bit degrading and trite when I remember the bloodbath from last summer.

I’ve been making inquiries to try and locate the Great Owl. She’s extremely difficult to find because, like the rest of the Owl Tribe, if you can call them that, she is nomadic. The most recent spotting I’ve heard of, she was seen on the outskirts of the Bear Tribe at the beginning of November heading east. There are rumors of an ancient temple existing among some ruins in the northeast mountains, and, where the owls are known for their spiritual enlightenment/connections, it would seem likely that the Great Owl might seek out such a place or even be familiar with it already. She hasn’t been blessing babies for the last three years though. I found that kind of odd.

I take it from your letter that you still think this whole primordial spirits thing holds water. As absurd as that theory sounds to me, I have to admit that I can’t come up with a better one. However, I plan to wait until we talk with the Great Owl before making a judgement call. In the meantime, I can’t begrudge you or Standig for doing your research.

I’ve been having really weird dreams lately. They are the kind of weird dreams that are so bizarre, I have a really hard time describing them. And if I think too hard about them, I seem to forget them almost instantly. You remember how, after the dragon mole, we all had those visions, but then we couldn’t seem to remember much more than vague impressions? It’s kind of like that. I don’t know about you, but I'm getting tired of so much weirdness. I’m impatient for answers. I know that we will be starting our quest in just a few months, but I’m getting antsy!

You’re going to be here so soon!! I can’t wait to have a real sparring partner again. We are going to blow some stagnant, old-fashioned minds, and some young, handsome ones too.... And you best believe, we’re gonna look fabulous doing it.

Ulana

***

To Standig Tragen, Bear Tribe, Leader’s Lodge

From Huo Lohse Lang, Wolf Tribe, Pack Hall

May 25

Standig,

I tried to work in a trip to the Bear Tribe, but I’m not going to be able to make it. My parents are feeling extra protective of me and don’t want me to extend my travelling any more than I absolutely have to. Especially where I’m travelling alone this year. However, I am taking the north road to the Phoenix Tribe. I will be passing the fork in the road between our two tribes on the morning of June 1st to break the journey at the village near the tournament grounds. I would love to see you and/or Shanti, Jadu, Philige as I pass by.

Lolo

***

To Durfein Anam, Badger Tribe, The Burrow

From Huo Lohse Lang, Wolf Tribe, Pack Hall

May 25

Durfein!

My parents are insisting that I take the north road to the exchange. I don’t suppose you could meet me somewhere along the way for a little bit? I’d love to see you. It’s been way too long. I know that doesn’t allow you to show me all the things you wanted to, but you are what I want to see the most. Think about it. I will be passing close by on June 2nd, probably in the mid-afternoon sometime.

Lolo

***

To Fortus Arum, Lion Tribe, Palace, Guest Quarters

From Huo Lohse Lang, Wolf Tribe, Pack Hall

May 25

Fortus,

You really are the worst pen-pal ever. Not a single letter! At all! Since you left back in March! I know you’re busy, but I’m not asking for a novel. I just want to know that you are doing alright periodically. By the time you think to respond to this, I will most likely be in the Phoenix Tribe. Maybe send the letter that I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO WRITE TO ME to Ulana so I’ll be sure to get it.

How is the Lion Tribe military these days? I heard through the gossip chain that our old friend, Captain Artibus, is now officially General Artibus. Is the transition going smoothly? What’s your assessment of things post-coup attempt?

The battle simulations I’ve been running with the Wolf Tribe military are yielding good results. The leaders are thinking more strategically, and the men are doing a better job of following orders. All six of my brothers have now been assigned to train as military leaders, so Zhongyan and Haowan won’t be coming to the Phoenix Tribe with me this year. Qingchi, Rensui, Lingdao, and Zizai all got promoted as captains two weeks ago. They’ve been assigned their own battalions and have been hounding me for training advice. I think me leaving for the summer will force them to grow into their new roles.

I know it hasn’t been super long since you were last here, but I kind of got used to having you around. I miss you. I keep having to remind myself that you aren’t going to be at the exchange this summer, but maybe you’d consider visiting? The Lion Tribe is right next door to the Phoenix Tribe, and Ulana has been threatening for nearly a month that she will dress me up and show me off to another crowd of young men, most likely soldiers. I might need a fake boyfriend. I’d say that I’m kidding, but I can only hope that’s true.

Take care,

Lolo