WM105: Taming Attempt #9

When Galileo had finished eating, he rested his head on his paws and watched the fire. For the first time in a long time he felt truly at ease, surrounded by trusted companions. The small group sat in relative silence for a while, enjoying the peace, and reflecting on the days events. Rorin took off his boots and the long socks underneath and stretched his tired legs out in front of him, flexing his toes next to the fire while he continued to work on his carving, the small knife sliding across the hand sized wooden form, sending curls of wood falling down into and around his lap.

Orion was laying down off to his left, his back to the water. He was cleaning his nails of the scales and remains of the fish he had eaten. Next to him Kangee was helping his eagle clean scales off its talons and beak while the bird preened its feathers. Putting the piebald feather back in their proper order, occasionally pulling loose ones out, letting them flutter away in the light breeze that drifted off the Bay.

Galileo was laid down on the opposite side of the fire from the other Tokotas, his ears lacked their usual alertness, instead they each lulled to the side. Rorin could tell the sphinx rarely got to relax to this degree even at the best of times, Rorin paused his carving thinking to himself, It can’t be easy for him, being all alone out here, no one to watch his back or help him get food. As if he sensed Rorin’s gaze, Galileo’s eyes flicked away from the flames and over to Rorin. The stare derailed Rorin’s train of thought. He smiled at Galileo and went back to carving. Galileo watched him work before looking back into the flames as they danced and licked up the wood inside the fire ring.

It didn’t take long for Orion to finish cleaning his claws and eventually settle down. Orion got up and slowly padded to Rorin and sat on his haunches beside him, with both of them sitting Orion still towered over Rorin. The man greeted his companion, patting his shoulder affectionately before returning to his carving.

Its feathers preened and now free of scales Kangee’s eagle once again took to the sky, flying over the camp and into the trees to roost. The whole group watched it fly, just a silhouette against the starry night sky. Kangee rested his chin on his paws and rested his eyes. Rorin and Orion simply stared at the stars, mapping the constellations above them. When the eagle was gone Galileo turned back to the group and saw Rorin and Orion staring up, he followed their gaze but when he found nothing but stars he turned back to Rorin and Orion, once again confused by his companions.

For the first time in a few hours Rorin spoke, “You know Kangee,” he started, glancing at Kangee, who slowly opened his orange eyes once more, “I always found it a bit funny that your eagle found you considering what your full name means.” Rorin turned to look at the older Tokota, “Kanguq.” Rorin said with reverence, “Snow goose. A proper and fitting name for a formerly wild Tokota.” In the light of the fire Kangee seemed to roll his eyes at Rorin before closing them again.

Orion was lost in his own world still staring up at the stars while Rorin spoke, and Galileo was still watching Orion, every once in a while, looking up, hoping to see what the other Tokota saw. Rorin turned and looked at Galileo, “Names are interesting like that, some come with other meanings attached.” the sphinx watched Rorin as he spoke, Rorin put his arm around Orion, “Take Orion for instance,” he continued, looking up, “he’s named for that constellation there.” Rorin said pointing up deftly, at the words Orion tilted his head to follow Rorin’s direction, Galileo did his best to follow as well, and on the other side of the fire Kangee opened his eyes once more and stared at the sky. Rorin looked at the constellation for a moment before turning back to Galileo. “Orion was a warrior from a distant land long ago, known for his strength and his size.” Rorin smiled at the sphinx, “The constellation is found by the three stars in a line that mark the warriors belt, like the ones on our friends forehead. Even when he was just a pup I knew he’d be something to see, I knew Orion would live up to the name.”

Kangee blinked slowly a few times before finally leaving them closed, preferring to simply listen to Rorin’s story than scan the sky for the pictures. Orion had no trouble finding the constellation, Rorin had shown him when he was young, along with many others. Rorin watched the smaller Tokota for a while after he told the story.

Galileo looked back up at the stars and looked for the line that Rorin described. It took him a while but eventually he found what he thought Rorin was talking about, though the sphinx couldn’t be sure. “Do you know why I call you Galileo?” Rorin asked him, getting the sphinx’s attention once again, “Galileo was a man who studied the night sky I’m told. He was fascinated by it, and with a coat like yours,” Rorin said pausing to gesture at the starry pattern on Galileo’s flank, “I think many people made a connection between you two.”

Rorin stopped talking and looked back up, and for awhile that was all the group did, relax around the fire and stare at the sky, searching the stars. The sounds between them were the winds on the water, the flames, and Kangee’s deep, rhythmic breaths. “That’s why we came out here Galileo, to see if there was anything more to the connection than your fur, we’re looking for a kindred spirit, another wayward soul. Orion and I, with Kangee’s help, came here to bring you back, to live with us, in safety and among friends.” Rorin paused and looked over to Orion, who he still an arm on, and then to Kangee, who was sleeping peacefully.

“Kangee was wild once too, Galileo.” Rorin said turning towards the sphinx, “He was part of the Ilia pack, to the north, life was tough for him on the Flats so humans went out there to help him, when they found him he was skittish, that’s why they called him Kanguq, because he was so flighty. He isn’t like that anymore because his life is easier, more peaceful now, and that’s why we brought him with us, as an example. Life can be easier pal.”

When Rorin finished his piece he grabbed a stick from the pile and pushed the wood in the fire ring away from one another, “We should get some rest now,” as he spoke he patted Orion’s neck and turned to Galileo, “We can’t stay out here forever, but for now, we aren’t going anywhere without you.”

Rorin smiled at his companions before crawling into his tent. He hoped his words had reached Galileo, he could never be sure with Tokotas. Orion and Galileo stayed up a while longer, watching the flames die down until eventually there was nothing left but charred wood and white ash. When the camp was finally dark Orion curled up near Kangee to keep his companion warm and went to sleep. Galileo stayed up even after the flames died down, thinking about what Rorin had said, trying to understand exactly what the man had meant, he wasn’t entirely sure he was ready to leave the wild, he had never known another home, another life. The one had wasn’t easy, that much he knew, and watching Orion and Kangee, he knew Rorin meant what he said about the companionship, he just didn’t know what he’d do if he didn’t wander Tokotna alone anymore.