<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Faevan/Prana/praleg.jpg" align="left">Many moons ago, when the Earth Mother still whispered to her children, a village lay nestled in the wilderness, living in harmony with nature and animal alike. It was a village ruled by magic, led by a Shaman who wielded great powers. Every generation, four were chosen to be raised in the tradition of this magic, in the hopes that one day one of these children would exhibit the qualities necessary to fill this prestigious role. After years of such training, the four were ready to undertake the final test to see who would take their place as the next Shaman.
That morning, Prana knelt in front of the smoldering fire, preparing for the journey ahead of her. She had trained hard for this day, studying with the others under the wisdom of the Shaman, and now had to prove herself alone by completing the Moon Journey. For one full cycle of the moon, she would have to journey alone into the forest to find and claim her totem, along with the wisdom it offered to her. She carefully packed her bag, ensuring that all the items she would need were safely packed. This would be a long and difficult journey.
As Prana stood, hefting the bag onto her shoulder, two of the other children hurried past her. Growing up, these children had been closer to her than even her own parents, yet she would be competing against them now on this quest. While the three gathered, the fourth, Anisai, scowled at the others, joining them only out of obligation. "I don't know why you even packed your bags," he sneered. "I will be the next Shaman." Anisai had always caused trouble to the other three children, Prana in particular. He believed that the position of Shaman was his birthright, and took out his disdain on Prana, whose pleasant disposition and sharp intellect had made her a favorite of the Shaman. Before Prana had a chance to reply to Anisai's sharp comment, the Shaman emerged from his tent.
As he approached the four children, he spoke of the journey that lay before them. While the Shaman spoke, Anisai snuck away to where Prana had placed her satchel. Quickly, he removed all of her carefully packet items, placing them in his own pack and refilling hers with stones and scraps of hide. With a snicker, he rejoined the other children, his short absence unnoted. The Shaman called each of the children forward, giving them each his blessing, and sent them on their way.
Prana set out to the south that afternoon, disappearing into the forest. She journeyed all day, and far into the night, finally stopping to rest when the moon rose over the treetops. She opened her pack to set up camp for the night, but instead of finding all her carefully selected items, all she found were rocks and dirty bits of used hide. She knew that Anisai had played a trick on her, but she refused to succumb to his cruelty. Instead of returning in defeat, she collected leaves, making herself a bed, and using her pack as a pillow. Each day she ventured deeper into the forest, learning what she could from the land around her to ensure her survival. But the first snows soon came, and with it's chill, the bounty of the forest began to disappear, and Prana grew weary with cold and hunger. One night, when the snow fell so thickly, Prana could see no more than a foot in front of her, she accepted her fate. She slowly prepared her final bed of leaves and rested upon it, preparing herself for her journey to the Star Path. As she lay in the snow, she sent her thoughts to the Shaman, asking his forgiveness, and before her eyes drifted shut, she thanked Earth Mother for helping her venture as far as she had. And with that, she slept.
Prana dreamt of a Great Bear then. He spoke to her in the darkness, willing her spirit to stay with him. Prana was tired, but she obeyed, and felt soft warmth fill her. Cautiously, she opened her eyes to find the bear lying beside her, his great paw covering her heart. The snow about them had melted away, and a fresh patch of spring grass had bloomed under them. He lifted his great head, looking into her eyes, and instantly she was filled with his wisdom. He spoke to her of the ancient ways of healing. Prana took his wisdom into herself, closing her eyes as she felt the bear's energy flow into herself, renewing her energy and restoring her life. Then once again, she slipped into the darkness.
A cry brought Prana out of her dreams then. Gasping in the cold air, she found she was once again alone in the forest. The dreams of spring melted away to the banks of white snow she had drifted to sleep in, yet she was not cold. Startled, Prana found herself wrapped in warm and heavy furs. Her bewilderment was cut short as another cry rang through the frigid air. She jumped to her feet, running through the forest toward the cries. Reaching a clearing, she found Anisai cowering at the edge of a cliff face, clutching his arm. Red stained the snow at his feet. Circling Anisai was a mountain lion looking to finish off its prey. Prana watched silently from the edge of the clearing, contemplating the possibility of leaving Anisai to his demise. The malicious boy had almost killed her, and she didn't see why she should risk her life to save one who wished to take hers. But something inside her spoke then. The voice of Great Bear rang through her, and at that moment, Prana herself was transformed. Where she once stood, now loomed a tall black bear. The bear lashed out at the lion, driving it away from Anisai, and with a great bellow, drove it back into the depths of the forest. With fear in his eyes, Anisai tried to drive the bear off. The bear simply grunted, falling onto all four paws and lumbering toward the injured boy. As the bear got closer it transformed back into Prana. She walked up to Anisai, who was on his knees in the snow, dumbstruck. She placed her hands on his wounds. She cried out as a burning pain ripped through her hands, and instantly, Anisai's wounds vanished beneath her palms.
"Thank you." Anisai sputtered, staring at his arm in disbelief. Had it not been treated, he surely would have met his death alone in the snow. Prana nodded her head towards him, rising and disappearing back into the forest. As the moon rose that evening, Prana realized that the cycle of her journey was almost over, and that it was time to return to the village. Before she departed, she built an altar to Great Bear, accepting him as her totem and thanking him once again. Then, gathering her empty pack on her shoulder, she began the journey back, knowing that she would be safe this time.
When Prana arrived at the village, she was met with harsh stares and silence. Before the great fire sat the Shaman, Anisai at his side.
"See, it is as I told you!" Anisai sneered at Prana. "She has cheated us, Shaman! See how she is dressed. These are not the garments of our tribe. Surely, this weak girl has accepted aid from another tribe, living in comfort for a moon while we suffered the hardships of our journey." Prana looked at Anisai, her eyes cold.
"Is this how you show gratitude to the one who saved your life, Anisai?" Prana scolded the boy. He laughed at her.
"Saved my life?" He spoke as if the claim was the silliest thing he had ever heard. "How dare you..."
"ENOUGH!" The Shaman rose, raising his hand to silence Anisai. "You have told your story Anisai, now let Prana tell us hers." He gestured towards the fire, inviting Prana to stand before her people and tell of her journey. And so she did. She spoke of her emptied pack and of learning to live off the bounty of the Great Earth Mother. She spoke of her surrender to the cold and the dreams she had near death. She spoke of Great Bear, and how she had found her totem in him. And finally, she spoke of Anisai's rescue, and her miraculous transformation. When her tale was finished, murmurs broke out throughout the crowd. Anisai's laugh broke through the murmurs, scorning her.
"Transformed into a bear, did you?" He looked down his nose at her.
"Yes, I did." Prana stood defiantly before both Anisai and the Shaman. Prana's hands burnt as they had when she had healed Anisai earlier, and she took off the mittens, revealing two markings. The mark of the healer, branded upon her by her totem. She held them up for Anisai to see. "I speak the truth Anisai. I speak the truth, you deceitful fox!" As Prana stood, hands elevated, the image of a great standing bear rose out of the fire behind her, silhouetting her figure in the dark night. As Anisai cringed under the accusation, the Shaman smiled, rising to embrace Prana.
"You have done well." The Shaman blessed Prana. "You will make a fine Shaman."
The next morning, Anisai was banished from the village with nothing but an empty pack as punishment for the trick he played on Prana. He was never seen by any living soul again, though some say that a fox can be seen skirting the edge of the village. Prana grew to be a fine Shaman, leading her people with the wisdom of the Great Bear. She passed away after many years of life, and her people believed that she lived on as a bear, protecting the village from those who would wish it's people harm.
Random Facts Prana
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