Chapter 3 - Dreams of Red Things

Cardinal by StormPetral0509 on deviantart

It was the first day of winter. At least, here in Dun, winter was just starting. It must have started snowing in the westward mountains Ysbry called home. The air was just a bit more crisp than that of the morning before. It had been nearly eight months since Ysbry left GlenRock, but he'd accomplished so little. How could so much time have passed so quickly? He realized this last thought was something of a trick question, and stiffly got up from his bed. It wasn't yet dawn when he woke, a hold over habit from taking turns watching the home tents as a guard. Unprepared for the cold, he stretched, and wrapped himself in his oldest woolen blanket which always still smelled a bit like sheep liniment. Rather than face the cold to reach the outhouse, Ysbry grudgingly used the chamber pot he thought so unsanitary. "You're supposed to do this business away from where you sleep and eat, not right under..." he gruffed to no one. It wasn't nearly even five in the morning, and, true to his ursine ancestry, Ysbry just wanted to go back to bed and sleep the cold away. With a heavy sigh, and a heavier mind, Ysbry laid back down wrapped in his worn, old blanket smelling faintly of sheep medicine. "Eight months, and I've done nothing but get by on odd jobs.." Ysbry mumbled, turning onto his side. "Oh Nunyinini, my great matron, send me a sign, what should I do with myself?" he prayed. As he drifted back to sleep that morning, he lay unaware of the commotion of yellow robed men bounding through town disrupting the early risers.


Those few hours of sleep, however, were tumultuous, for YSbry dreamed deep. A red cardinal was flitting about him in the trees, trying to get his attention. He followed it through a wintery land of red rowan berries hanging on leafless branches. He could see his breath, and ran as quickly as his legs could take him towards the bird. He eventually stopped in a clearing where a red fire burned. A red haired woman, with a foxes tail, and hands dyed red danced circles around the fire, and beckoned him to join. They danced a strange dance together, something a mix of twirls and spins, and running and hopping on all fours. A man with long dread locks joined the dance, his hair red like it had soaked in blood, and Ysbry realized his own face had red markings on as well. The new man had teeth like a boar, and then they were joined by a very small man, or else a child with white hair, and glowing red eyes. The girl danced like a sly, hungry fox, cautious, and beautiful. The large man danced like a warrior fights, bold, quick motions, never ceasing. The small man danced like butterfly, blind and dying, flittering and darting about nervously. Another two persons were waiting in the shadows to join this red dance, but Ysbry woke before he could see them. "Great Mother, you never disappoint, thank you."

Ysbry got up for the second time that morning, though it was rather late now. He asked for a warm kettle, so he could shave his face and head, had some honeyed fruit and warm milk for breakfast, and was soon on his way. Downstairs, in the tavern, some men were gambling with dice, and attempted to sucker the nomad out of his cash, but he paid no mind to their jeers. He wrapped himself in his favorite fur, and braced himself for the day. He hadn't yet left the inn when a woman with a shock of red hair and colorful clothing poured into the room, a small red animal concealed partially in the ends of her skirts.
“My that is quite a fearsome looking bear pelt you have there, I’m rather sure I’ve only seen an animal of quite that caliber of majesty once before, when I was traveling in the mountains as a girl…” said the woman cheerily.
“The Starry Mountains.” Ysbry replied.
“Yes, I do believe that sounds familiar. Say, you seem like a rather fascinating fellow and if you are not in too much of a hurry I was turned down by someone this morning and I had quite assigned myself to dining with company. Would you care to join me at the inn? I’d love to buy you a beer and listen to any tales you have to share.”
Breakfast had only been three hours ago, but he couldn't pass up the offer.

Ysbry had nearly forgotten about his dream until the food arrived at their table. The small animal accompanying the woman hopped out from under the table. It was a fox... a red haired woman with a fox tail! Ysbry mentally smacked himself for being so dense. Fenwick the fox stood on his hind legs, and did a quick spin, begging for food.
"Fewakewa..." he said almost under his breath.
"Actually, his name is Fenwick, but that was very close indeed, friend! Say, are you one of those great shamans that come from the mountains to calm the angry nature spirits and teach people right and wrong? I know a great and exciting tale about the vengeful spirit of an apple tree, but perhaps I'll wait until I've acquired a grander,larger audience? Oh, please forgive me! Always thinking about work, I do humbly apologize.Yes, Fenwick is..." the woman went on, and Ysbry tried to follow her train of thought. He isn't dense, just singularly focused.
"Do you believe in signs?" Ysbry interrupted. "Fewakewa, means Red-Handed. She is a trickster spirit, and a fox. I saw her this morning, wearing your face. I am no shaman, but the spirits of the earth are my allies, and I revere them. Today they have given me a sign. I don't know you, I never caught your name, but I believe I am meant to be with you." Ysbry blurted out his thoughts to the best of his ability.
"Well, sir, you are not the first suitor I've had,perhaps the most outwardly blunt, but not the first. Usually though, my traveling lifestyle isn't to the taste of most men. I am greatly flattered by your proposition, kind stranger, but really, don't you think you ought to get to know me before making such claims as destiny would have us together? Perhaps you ought to pay for lunch, sir, and I would consider this your first courtship attempt? Though, you are terribly silent most of the time." the stranger said playfully, though Ysbry was just feeling embarrassed now.

"Oh...I...I didn't mean it like that... I'm sorry. I'm not so crass...I...Curanda Yolo give me strength." Ysbry sighed out, and he could see his new acquaintance open her mouth to speak again. "What I mean is" he started before she could "... I am on a journey in my life, and I have pleaded the primal powers for a sign, and I believe perhaps we are meant to travel together for a time; you a nomad like myself. I am not normally so forward, I just feel strongly compelled to you. There will be others too, but please understand I believe I was meant to meet you for lunch today. And I do not think we should part ways after lunch either." As he said this last bit, he hung his head a moment, and tossed a scrap from his plate to Fenwick. This last gesture seemed to touch the stranger, and her bright smile softened a moment and she sighed contentedly.
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship..." she said at last.

The two exchanged names finally, and recent history. They continued to speak as they wandered through the town. Saffron explained she'd been looking for a sign as well, and found her own that morning. The pair were engrossed in their dialogue when a small troupe of men in disgusting, stained yellow robes, and weather worn armor accost a man selling his wares from a wagon. He couldn't hear too well, but Ysbry caught snippets of exchanged words as the locals tried to flee the trouble.
"We're looking for a young man, we are going to search your cart."
"Be careful with that, the harvest is almost over! This is my livelihood!"
And then blows were struck...