Shi'Shadou Misuto
Text with a green number beside it has a footnote.
Shadou was raised within the Umbra Pack, as many of her predecessors had been, born to Dakran, son of Deret and Nemla(1), and to Shilan, daughter of Kaner and Bala(2). The second in a litter of four, she led an average life until her parents were slain in a fight with one of the other Packs. The three remaining kin (the fourth, Shane(3), the sickly runt of the litter, had died a few weeks after birth due to unknown complications) were still one month's time from becoming Melan. So it was, and the trio of cubs grew to their seventh month under the watchful eyes of the Olan. When it was discovered that her brother, Malem(4), the third-born, was secretly courting an outsider and consequently providing a leak of information, the family was disgraced. The Shi'ro of that time, Shi'Misuto(5), banished the offending wolf, as the Law of the Pack decreed that he should. At this point, the siblings were around ten months old - by no means mature, but old enough to be a teenage flirt, in Malem's case. Malem's rank was changed from Melan to Lemen, and once he left the Packlands he was not seen again. The Pack began to watch the remaining two whelps with suspicion. Unable to bear their accusing glare after so many moons, Havon(6), the eldest of the litter, confronted the Shi', saying that with the way the pack treated them, he and his sister were probably worse off than the Nadan, and even Lemen. No matter how Shadou pleaded, Havon would not back down. His brash decision quickly led him to become the subject of Shi'Misuto's wrath. Just shy of a year in age, he was no match for the veteran wolf; he suffered serious injuries from the superior, and was degraded into a Nadan's status. Shadou was spared only because she had asked her brother to stand down, and did not take part in the fight. Havon lived two days more, but he lost the battles with lack of blood and abundance of infection. Shadou was left as the only living orphan of the litter. She was shunned, for the most part; two of her kin had acted shamefully. Why shouldn't the third be the same?
Shadou was less blunt than her siblings in the ways she showed her desires and displeasure, however. She trundled through the cold-hearted world that was thrust upon her, shielding herself as well as she could. Perserverance brought her the only sliver of respect she could glean from the pack members in her current state. All the while, she was biding her time.
When she reached her third summer, and Shi'Misuto had begun to feel his age, she made her move.
"Shi'Misuto!" came the cry. "I challenge you for the position of Shi'ra!"
A stunned silence rippled throughout the camp. And then, laughter.
"Go back to the Lian's den, runt," was the Shi's sniggered reply. But Shadou stood firm.
"As a fully-fledged Melan, and member of this pack, my challenge may not go ignored. Not even the Shi'ro is above the Commandments and Code."
Again there was silence.
"Suit yourself," snarled the Shi'. With no further warning, he lunged. The Shi'Ladan, Sunil(7), was not far behind. But they were old, and she was young - although that's not to say that it was an easy battle. Through a combination of agility, sheer determination, luck, and strength drawn from rage that had been allowed to simmer for years, Shadou forced the Shi' to the ground. He lay there, gathering his remaining strength, while the slightly younger Ladan dealt with the challenger. They grappled for several minutes before Shadou was able to position herself for a bite to the hamstrings. She turned to the Shi', leaving the guardian groaning in pain on the ground. Her flesh was rent and torn, maw gaping as she gulped for air, but her head was still held proud. Shi'Misuto struggled to his feet.
Shadou took a step forward. Her ebbing strength was evident in her stride's wobble, but she did not back down.
"My parents died," she growled as she took another step. "My youngest littermate died before he ever even saw his first full moon. The second youngest was exiled and has disappeared entirely, after bringing naught but disgrace to our family." Two more steps. "And my eldest brother and I were shunned by the pack, even when we had no control over such events." A snarl contorted her face, telling of a sudden drawing of power from some hidden last reserve. "You drove my last living relative insane. And then you murdered him for standing up against the cruelties you forced upon him, and allowed the Pack to subject us to!" Her voice began a crecendo. "I cannot let the Pack be subject to these ccorruptions I have witnessed! I refuse to let this new generation of Lian suffer what ours has!" The two were nearly nose-to-nose, teeth flashing as blood dripped from their fur.
Shadou's voice grew softer again as she continued, the sudden burst of anger replaced with a strange sense of calm. "You are strong, and you are wise with so many years of experience... But your corrupted soul dishonors all that our Pack represents. It is wolves like you, who taste of Power and will stop at nothing to satiate the cravings, that make this Pack weak, and give a shameful name to Darkness."
The old wolf had heard all the insults to his name that he could stand, and fell into the younger Melan's trap; stirred to anger and over-confidence, he moved within Shadou's optimum attacking zone. Within minutes, the Shi'ro had taken his final breath.
The survivor turned her fiery midnight blue gaze upon the stunned onlookers, paws planted firmly atop the fallen leader's side, despite the black spots infringing upon the borders of her vision.
"I am Shi'Shadou Misuto(8). My word is Law."
. . .
A chorus of howls echoed through the land that night - lamenting the loss of the old life, rejoicing the new life given, remembering events of the past, and contemplating what was yet to come. It was more than a month before the new Shi'ra's wounds healed completely, and the gashes left her once sleek pelt riddled with a miriad of scars, tokens of her epic battle and hard-won title.
Ranks were changed according to Commandment and Tradition, and Shadou began the building of the Umbra Pack in her own way. Illness and famine swept through the lands, wiping out the majority of the pack, but as the Dragon sends more and more wanderers to their new home in the Umbra territories, the pack begins to grow powerful once more, and so Shadou's story continues.
This tale is common knowledge to those of more than three years in age and born to the pack, as they would have been present at that time. Even a few of the slightly more seasoned newcomers know the story, as Shadou is not opposed to sharing some of her past with those who inquire about it during conversation.
The Speech of the Shi'(9) was recognized instantly. The Pack bowed their heads as one in recognition of the custom.
"With this Law I will serve you, my Pack, until I can serve no more."