3. Ting

Ting


  • The test for Ting to gain her rite of passage was simple. To gain her title of ranger and guardian of her home forest, she needed to range to the limits of her clan’s diminishing lands, find a great wolf that had, at the time, had actually started to hunt there.

    She sat in an ancient oak tree, pondering what life would mean for her. The clan leader, so wrapped up keeping the clan isolated, it has lost land, its numbers creep downward. What life would she have, keeping borders safe? Bound by borders that she cannot leave.

    Her bow, lay next to her, her pack was ready as were her quiver. She would travel light, not knowing how long it would take. The rite was expected to take a fortnight; however, Ting had already realized that she would not be coming back. She would complete her task, but she would not return. She would not die with her clan; she would live life by her rules.
    The next evening, the entire clan gathered, to see her offer, it was a celebration. She looked so slight in her leathers, bow in hand, blades on her hips. Few words were said, the air was heavy and damp as a thin fog had rolled in covering the forest floor. Ting’s dark figure disappearing into the mist was the last they saw of her.

    Ting loves the woods, the forest. It is true freedom, she was born to be a ranger and she travelled quick and lightly the first four days till she picked up its track. The first sign was beside a river bank….. the paw prints were massive. This was no simple wolf. No this was something else.
    That night as she sat high above the forest floor in a deep reverie, the dream came to her again. Was she the hunter or the hunted. Was she the wolf or the prey. Wolves range, wolves have no boundaries. Follow the wolf, he is your rite of passage for so much more.
    The wolf had turned north, and on the fourth day, she found a giant elk, which had been taken down by the hunter. The kill was less than a day and night old, and little was left on the carcass, however what she did find, was the massive elk’s heart.

    Ting travelled tirelessly day and night for another four days, knowing the gap was closing. It seems to be staying close to the river and stream banks, using the woods. But Ting used the woods to her advantage as well. It was near dusk when Ting finally got her first glimpse of the wolf. She approached the edge of the woods and a vast pasture and valley in front of her. On the other side of the pasture it stood there. Massive body, full grey coat it stood looking back at Ting. It let out a howl that pierced the closing night and announced that it knew Ting was there.
    North to the pass the track went, toward the northern border lands and her escape. The wolf had to go first… proof had to be left of her rite finished. Into the hills the tracks went, Ting not relenting. Who would tire first, ranger or beast? Up he went higher into the hills and the snow began to fly. Ting’s worse nightmare, light snow… tracks would be harder to follow. Kneeling at a new set, she realizes there tracks are fresh….. she freezes…. Senses on high alert….. she can feel its eyes… peering in the darkness…. He is looking into me…. He hand runs to her bow string…. Then nothing…. Another piercing howl, but this one close.

    She moved with caution that night as the snow began to fall harder and harder…. Then she finally spotted it…. the wolf had found shelter. The opening to the small cave was partially hidden, but the tracks pointed to it.
    That morning, Ting approached the cave, you could almost see steam coming from the entrance. She could almost hear its breathing inside, yet she waited. She could melt into the shadows, but wolves can hear and smell. It was then she heard the low growl, so deep. Even her elven eyes would not pierce the darkness, as her bow taunt, her breath slow and steady. Can she see it death red eyes?…. She knows it is there… can feel it… can sense it…. its muscles coiled…. She waits…. How long?... an hour? A day? Time seemed to stand still….. the hunter is patient and they both were.

    It was all over in a blink of an eye….. a roar filled the woods as it leapt from the darkness…. Ting was waiting for the first sound she heard. As the beast emerged from the darkness and single arrow pierced its left eye and the beast landed in a heavy thump.

    The cave, turned out to be its lair, elven bones were found inside as well as just about anything else. Ting skinned the beast, will need a winter cloak to get Ting where Ting is going.

    She looked back one last time and vowed to never look back ever again.

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