Rite of the Blood Moon

The Beginning of the Rite 

It was the time of the Blood Moon and the priest prepared for the rituals to come. Already from the villages surrounding the mountain the chosen were gathering. The high priest looked out at the courtyard and the young men and women of the Chosen. He looked sad knowing one of them would be the sacrifice that would ensure the safety of the villages.  

The high priest walked out of the temple and walked to a raised area in the courtyard of the temple. He began the old speech that marked the beginning of the festival, the story of how the Red Wolf had come and saved the villages from the evils that live outside their forest. Now is the time of the blood moon, and the Red Wolf demands a sacrifice. Then the priest addressed the chosen. He reminded them they were the chosen of the villages and the honor that would come to them if they were chosen by the Red Wolf.  

The priest takes the chosen and tell them what they must do. A lone great bare rock mountain looms over the forest and the villages. The mountain is where the Red Wolf dwells. The chosen are told to go up the trials worn into the mountain and go to wolf alter. The altar sits high above the land on a flat terrace on the mountain. The Red Wolf would choose one of them for the Rite of the Blood Moon.  

The priest took chosen to the bathing pools and they cleansed themselves. The dressed in white robes and as the moon began to rise the high priest led the chosen up the mountain path. He stopped halfway up the path and sent the chosen on toward the altar. One at a time the Chosen went to the altar. The high priest listened as each of them began to move toward the alter. A roar broke the silence, and a scream came from the altar. The Priest heard the sound of the struggle, and he knew what was going on. The one chosen was being taken by the Red Wolf. The noise ended suddenly, and a howl rose from the mountain and was taken up by others until the mountain echoed with the howls.   

The priests came to the clearing where the alter stood and found that the one chosen. A male around 20, his hair golden, and grey eyes. His clothing was torn, and he had many cuts and bruises. The priest saw the signs that he had received the blessing, and the priest placed his hand on the young man's stomach, and he felt the soft flutter. The priest knew that the first part of the rite was finished. For the next nine days, the blessed one will be the focus of the festivities.  

The High Priest gathered the other chosen and they gathered the blessed one and moved down the mountain. When they returned to the temple, they bathed and tended the blessed one they clothed him in silk and cloth of gold. He was led to a chamber to rest until the beginning of the festival.  

Day 1 

The first day dawned with the sounds of shouting and laughing. Already the people were setting up for the Blood Moon Festival. The priest found the blessed one being attended to in preparation for the first day of the festival. The priest took the blessed one and they passed out of the temple and stood before the gathered crowds. The priest introduced the blessed one to the crowd and declared the festival had begun. It began with feasting and the presentation of gifts for the Blessed One. The priest watched as the young man was presented with gold, animals, and other gifts. The priest knew that the gifts would be presented to the village of the Blessed One when the festival was over. The presentation went on for hours and when it was done and all the petitioners had given their gifts. Then a group of young men and maidens approached and proceeded to entertain the Blessed One and the crowds with mock fighting and dancing. It was as the sun began to set that the priest called to the assembly that it was time for the nightly sacrifice and gathered the Blessed One and some other priest and attendance. A group of animals specially chosen for the festival was taken with the group and it headed up the mountain.  

The group approached the altar of The Red Wolf in the twilight before the rising of the moon. The animal a young goat was tied and placed upon the altar and the priest took a wicked looking knife from one of his attendants. In a chanting of prayers to the red wolf and a flash of the knife, the goat was sacrificed upon the altar. The attendants quickly moved, and as blood began to spill out of channels in the altar, they collected it in bowls. The priest began adjusted the knife and began to remove the heart of the goat. While he did the attendants take small brushes, removed the Blessed Ones tunic and began to paint the old religious designs on his skin. When the priest had removed the goat's heart, He gave the heart to the Blessed One. The Priest told the Blessed One that he must eat the heart, as he did the Priest placed his hand in the remainder of the goat's blood and placed the palm of his hand on the belly of the Blessed one above his naval. The Blessed One finished eating the goat heart as the Blood Moon rose. When the light of the Blood Moon touched the Blessed One, he grabbed his middle and gasped. The attendance braced him, and the Priest watched as the belly of the Blessed One began to grow. He stood for several minutes until his belly was slightly bulged. The Priest placed a hand on the Blessed one's warm belly and nodded. They returned to the festival and left the body of their sacrifice on the altar. The people saw the slight bulge of the Blessed One’s belly and celebrated with many drinks, continuing into the night beneath the light of the Blood Moon.  

Day 2 

The second day of the festival came. The Priest stood in his robe of ceremony near the high box of the arena beside him sat the Blessed One. He sat in his seat and waited for the games to begin. This was the second day of the Blood Moon festival, and it was time for the games to begin. The games were a series of trials and battles where contestants would battle and at the end of each day the victors would be awarded with the titles. On this, the first day of the contest was the day of the Black Wolf. The Warriors presented themselves before the priest and the Blessed One. The contest began and one of the young warriors quickly became a favorite. He was young and fit, he dominated many of the contest and when the mock fights began, he proved himself a competent fighter. The priest looked over at the Blessed One and saw him watching the young warrior with interest. The final competition saw the athlete wielding a wooden staff defeat several foes in a row and the Blessed One rose and clapped. The priest was impressed with the young man as he approached the high box and saw his brown hair and deep brown eyes. The priest praised the athlete and the Blessed One came forward and placed the helm of the Black Wolf on the warrior's head. As the games ended and the people gathered near the temple and the days feasting began, the Black Wolf was invited to sit with the Blessed One. For a time, the Priest watched the young men talking as the people celebrated around them. At the sunset the Priest gathered his attendants and the Blessed One and they proceeded up the mountain again. The Black Wolf was left at the feast while they moved up the mountain. They came to the altar and again the sacrificial animal was presented to the Priest. The animal's blood was again painted on the Blessed One in the ritual designs, and the heart was presented and eaten. The Priest watched as the red light of the moon came into the clearing and the Blessed ones react. He saw the young man's belly grow again. It was significantly more distended. The priest pressed his hand on the young man's belly and felt the strong movement of the being growing inside. The attendants helped the blessed one down the mountain again, and they returned to the celebration. 

Day 3 

The Third day of the celebration came with more games. The day of the Black Wolf was games mainly of strength and endurance, now was the day of the Grey Wolf, and they were games of skills and cunning. The Blessed one watched the games and near him sat the Black Wolf. The priest watched them sit together and then he turned back to the games. He watched a new competitor begin to dominate the competition. This competitor was a very skilled and cunning hunter. He quickly defeated several others and found he was the only competitor on the field. The Blessed One was helped to his feet, the bulge of his belly visible through his white robes. The priest watched the Blessed one place the helm of Gray Wolf on the competitor the champion of the second day of the celebration. Both champions went with the blessed when they went to the feast. The priest watched as the young men talked and cheered the young maidens dancing. Occasionally he saw one or both champions touch the blessed one's belly trying to feel the movement of the young within.  

At the appointed time the priest gathered the blessed on for the sacrifice. For this the third day, they needed a greater sacrifice. Among the sacrificial animals, they picked a black bull calf out as the third sacrifice. They went to the alter of the red wolf and as they approached the calf attempted to pull free, but the attendants held firm and brought the calf to the alter.  An attendant presented the ceremonial knife to the priest, and he approached the black calf. The calf made noises of protest and attempted to break free of it chains, but the chains held firm and in a swift motion the calf's throat was slit spilling its blood over the alter. As the blood was collected and was applied to the blessed one's body in the ritual designs the priest began to cut into the calf chest and excised it heart. It took several moments for the priest to cut out the heart and when he finished, he raised it up intoning the prayers to the red wolf. The priest presented the heart to the blessed one. The blessed one bite into the heart and the priest watched. As the Blessed One finished eating the heart, the blood running down his chin. The light of the red moon began to fill the clearing, and the Blessed One was bent double crying out as his belly began to grow. When the growth stopped, the Blessed Ones belly looked like it, he several months along. He priest came to the Blessed One and touched the warm flesh of his belly. The priest felt stronger movement from the young as they settled. The strength of the movement told the priest that the young would be strong, and the pack and the villages would prosper. The Priest smiled at the Blessed one and led him in a prayer to the Red Wolf. With the sacrifice complete, they left the mountain and began the return to the feast. As they left the clearing the group heard a rolling howl from behind them and the priest smiled as the pack came for the meat of the sacrifice.  

Day 4 

The fourth day of the celebration dawned with great excitement. The people began to congregate at the great arena. This was the third day of the games, and it was the day of the She Wolf. The competitions today were only open to maidens, and it was always the most anticipated day of the celebration. The priest sat in the high box and looked over at the Blessed One. He sat waiting for the games of the day to begin. Beside him sat the Black Wolf and the Gray Wolf both were also waiting with attention for the start of the games. The maidens came into the heart of the arena, and the contest began. The priest watched the young women as they competed. It was as the number of contestants was down to 4 that a young attendant appeared at his side. He quickly conveyed a message of auspicious news. The priest rose and immediately commanded attention. He said that the finals of the contest would be postponed. That at that moment an expecting mother had gone into labor. A birth at the time of the blood moon was always a sign of good fortune and the Blessed One would be on hand to behold it. 

The Priest led the Blessed One to the birthing house and they sat as they watched the woman in labor. The priest looked at the Blessed One as they listened to the breathing and screams of the woman in labor. He saw the Blessed Ones hand go to the bulge of his belly and a look of fear crossed his face. They sat for hours until the cries of a newborn filled the birthing house. The priest and the Blessed One approached and the Priest called the blessings of the Red Wolf for the newborn. After the birth was finished, they returned to the arena and the contest finished. A young maiden approached, and the Blessed One crowned her the She-Wolf. At the feast later the Priest noticed the Blessed One seemed in a contemplative mode. The priest approached and spoke to him. The Blessed One was fearful of what would happen at the end of the celebration. The Priest looked grave and gave the Blessed One what assurance he could. That he would be there with him until the end. 

Later as the Blood Moon was rising the Priest, The Blessed One and the attendants were at the Red Wolf alter. On the night of the She-Wolf, a young cow was chosen. She was strong and wild like the bull of the day before. The Priest had the cow tied to the alter and her throat cut and heart was cut out. The blood of the cow was taken, and the ritual designs were again painted on the body of the Blessed One. The heart was given to the Blessed One and as he consumed it and the light of the Blood Moon touched him. The Blessed One’s belly grew again and as he breathed through the growth. The Blessed One’s belly was, becoming more prominent each day. The Priest again pressed his hand to the warm belly and felt the strong movement of the young within. The priest smiled and led the Blessed One back to the celebrations. 

Day 5 

The dawn of the 5th day came with similar fanfare and anticipation of the other days already they had the Black Wolf, the Grey Wolf, and the She-Wolf. This was the day dedicated to the White Wolf. Those who were set to participate in the games were all young boys in service to the temples. This day was most important to the Priest for young one chosen as the White Wolf would rise high in the temple and might replace him as the head priest.  

The priest and the Blessed One and the other champions sat in the high box as the games began. The boys ranging from 13 to 18 tested their memory of complex rituals and ceremonies of the Blood Moon. The priest watched a 15-year-old with golden hair show his knowledge and skill of the old rituals. The competition ended with the boy coming forward and leading the others in a sacred song to the Red Wolf. The song rose up to the mountain and was multiplied and returned. The song was returned by a low mournful howling from a great number of Wolves from up on the mountain flowing back down villages. The boy was named the campion and came up to the high box. The Blessed One placed the helm of the White Wolf on his head, and the boy placed a hand on the Blessed Ones belly. The feast began and The Blessed One sat at the great table and the campions sat with him. They laughed and joked with one another even the young White Wolf and the She-Wolf were falling into easy conversation  

It was as the Blood Moon began to rise. The Priest led the group back up the mountain and coming to the alter they began the preparations for the nights sacrifice. A white ram was chosen for this night. The attendants took the ram and placed him on the alter and intoning the prayers the priest kill the ram and removed it heart. The Blessed One was marked with the ritual tattoos and bite into the rams heart. The heart was consumed and the belly of the Blessed One grew. The priest looked at his belly it looked like he was 5 months with child. The priest felt the strong movement of the young inside the Blessed One and nodded. With the sacrifice finished the priest led the group back to the feast. 

Day 6 

The 6th day came with the heightened feeling of the end of the games. This was the day of the Wise Wolf. Those who would participate were those training as scholars. They would recount the stories of how the Blood Moon celebration began and the days before the celebration. 

The Blessed One led the group to the arena for the games. He was dressed in his white robes, and his growing belly could be seen underneath the white fabric. The champions followed close to him as he moved through the crowds moving to the temple. Then suddenly a man broke out of the crowd. He ran towards the Blessed One and the priest saw the flash of a blade. The Blessed One fell back and the man was tackled to the ground by the Black and Grey Wolves. The priest came forward and saw the White Wolf tending a small cut on the Blessed One. The man was taken to his knees, and a knife was placed at his throat. The Black Wolf was moving to execute the man before the Priest raised his hand. He looked at the Man, the man was about the same age as the Blessed One he had fine black hair and hazel eyes. The Priest asked him why he had attempted an attack on the Blessed One. The man began screaming the falseness of the Red Wolf and that the young growing inside the Blessed One was an abomination. He claimed it was his duty to destroy the abomination. The priest told the Black Wolf he was not to kill the man. He would be judged by the Red Wolf after the Wise Wolf was chosen. 

The games began and the priest watched the young scholars recounting parts of the history of the villages and the story of the red wolf. The champion of the game was a young man with messy silver hair and deep blue eyes. He came before the Blessed One and was crowned the Wise Wolf of the game. The feast was held after the game, and the Blessed One and the champions sat together as they ate and drank. It was as the night advanced, and the Blood Moon began to rise that things changed.  

The Priest gathered the people who were celebrating and taking the prisoner they proceeded to the mountain. The people thronged the path leading up to the Altar. The Priest, The Blessed One, The Champions, and select attendants and the Prisoner stood in the clearing by the alter. The Priest began by intoning a prayer and he raised his voice to the mountain, and the others began to join in the singing of the prayer. The people took up the prayer until the mountain rang with the prayer of the faithful. The prayer was answered with a rolling howl, and suddenly the darkness around the clearing was alive with flickering eyes. Golden eyes, Radiant Blue eyes all staring at those around the altar. The priest however looked only at the burning crimson eyes staring at him. Moved towards the eyes and knelt and began to speak. The words were in the old tongue of the first world. He told of the man attacking the Blessed One and what he had said, and the crimson eyes flashed. Then the Red Wolf spoke he did not speak in the way of men but in a series of snarling growls. The Priest understood and turned back to the gathering. He told them the Red Wolf wanted the man sacrificed. They ripped the man clothing off and forced him onto the altar. They strapped the man down and the priest approached and motioned to his attendant. The attendant gave the ceremonial dagger to the Priest. The Priest raised the dagger to the light of the Blood Moon and intoned a spell. The dagger began to glow with crimson light, and the Priest lowered the dagger and began to cut. The man screamed and thrashed as the priest carved out his heart. The priest raised the heart of the man and watched his chest wound quickly heal. The man whimpered as he watched the Priest take his heart and gave it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One took the heart and with no hesitation began to eat it. When the heart had been consumed, there was no change to the Blessed One. The Man began to laugh and jeer that the sacrifice had failed. The Priest Ordered the people gathered to proceed back down the mountain and the eyes remained watching the man. The Priest prepared to leave the clearing but stopped and turned back to the man. He told him the Red Wolf was coming and to face his end. The Priest moved down the mountain listening to the shouts of the Man to release him. He met the Blessed One and his group in an area further down the mountain, and he heard the shouts turn to screams. The screams were mixed with the roars of the Red Wolf. It was then that the change came to the Blessed One. He placed his hand over his middle as it grew rapidly and cried out. The champions held him up as the growth continued. As the growth stopped the priest saw the Blessed Ones belly was large and round almost 8 months along. The Priest watched the bear belly of the Blessed One and saw the movement as the young pressed out against the skin of his belly. The Priest nodded and smiled at the Blessed One and they returned to the village. The people gathered as they moved back to the village and saw the large belly of the Blessed One. The people celebrated as they moved back to the village and the feast. 

Day 7 

The Seventh day came with a red sunrise. The High priest led the Blessed one and the champions to the great arena. Today there would be no games, but there would be judgements. On the seventh day of the celebration those who had grievance or had committed crimes by the laws of the villages would be judged before the Blessed One and the champions. The group entered the high box and the Blessed One was helped into his seat. The villagers looked up at the Blessed One at the large swell of his belly and saw the movement the young within. The arena had been set up for the judgements. Below the high box was set up benches for the village elders who would oversee the day of judgements. When the Blessed One and the champions were seated. The high priest called for the event to begin. A group of men and women were brought into the arena. They were all shackled and led by armed warriors. The people were criminals taken by the guards and held for this day. The Shackled prisoners were separated and brought one by one before the Elders and the Blessed One, and their crimes were stated. Murder, Theft, Rape, and other crimes were named. For each criminal a condemnation and choice were given. They could accept the Judgement of the Elders or give themselves over to the mercy of the Blessed One. Some who had committed small crimes chose the Judgement of the Elders. Their judgments were passed immediately by some only being given terms of imprisonment or servitude. Others who had more severe crimes chose the mercy of the Blessed One and were pulled back and held until the end of the Judgements. This happened for each of those who were to be judged. Then the worst was brought forward. He was young and fit, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was captured conspiring to disrupt the festival. It was revealed in questioning that he had come from outside the villages and had encouraged the man who had attempted the life of the Blessed One. They heard the charges and were preparing to give his choice of judgement when a roar disrupted the ceremony. The roar echoed down from the Mountain and the people looked up at the mountain and murmured. The priest stepped forward and told them the Red Wolf wishes to pass judgement on this criminal. The man was taken from the arena to be held until the time of sacrifice.  

Those who chose the mercy of the Blessed One were given their mercy. The Blessed One chose the Black Wolf as his Champion, and he went into the arena. He was armed with his blade and an Iron tipped spear. The prisoners were released and given blades. They would be free if they could survive the Black Wolf in the arena. The Black Wolf beckoned them and as they advanced thinking to take the young man at a disadvantage. He lashed out with his spear running two of the prisoners through, and then he drew his blade. The Black Wolf killed each prisoner one at a time until there were none but corpses on the field. The Black Wolf left the arena while the hearts were removed from the corpses, and they were taken to be disposed of, and he returned to the Blessed One. 

They left the arena and went to the feast. As they feasted the High Priest had the hearts of the Prisoners brought to the Blessed One and he feasted on the hearts of the prisoners who were killed by the Black Wolf. When he was done blood from the prisoners was painted on the Blessed Ones skin and the Priest led the Blessed One up to the mountain and the altar of the Red Wolf. The prisoner was bound to the Altar and made to look upon the Blessed One with his large belly full of the Red Wolf Young. As the Light from the Blood Moon filled the clearing were, the altar stood. The Blessed Ones belly writhed and began to expand again. It did not grow much this time but as it did make him look like he at full term, there was a pop and his belly button popped out. Beneath the tight skin the young of the Red Wolf moved around strongly, and the High Priest knew they would be strong. The condemned man looked in horror at the Blessed One but did not notice the movement around the clearing and the burning red eyes that were on him. The priest led the Blessed One back to the village and left the prisoner the fate the Red Wolf had ordained for him.  

Day 8 

The 8th day came with bright sunlight. This was the penultimate day of the festival, a day of new life. On this day the people would celebrate new life, particularly the new life that was growing in the Blessed One. The high priest exited the temple and came out into the great open air celebration fields. The Blessed one was dressed in a white skirt with his upper body bare. The blessed one's belly was large, round, and the young could be seen pressing against the tight skin of his belly. The Blessed One sat in the place of honor and was surrounded by the campions. The feast began and would last most of the day. As the day progressed many people came to the Blessed one seeking his blessings on unions between lovers. It was tradition that Unions new and Old blessed by the Blessed One would prosper. As the day advanced the priest saw many of those who come seeking blessings begin to consummate their unions.  This also was considered a sacred part of this day's ceremonies, and as the twilight fell, even those who had not sought blessings found willing partners. The priest saw the Blessed One watching the others as they enjoyed the ceremony the champions were also watching the festivities but some of them were also looking at the Blessed One. Only the White Wolf was not among them having led the young to a special ceremony where they prayed to the Red Wolf for abundance.  

The Priest saw one of a village wise women looking at him. He knew her as one who he had loved before they joined their different professions. He approached her and they fell into the sway of the ritual of new life. There would be no sacrifice on this night for in the throughs of the ritual many new children would be conceived. Bathed in the red light of the blood moon, the village consummated the rituals of new life. 

Day 9 

The priest woke on the 9th day exhausted by the rituals of the night before. This was the final day of the Festival of the Blood Moon. The priest gathered the champions and the Blessed on for this final day of the ritual. The people gathered for the somber rituals of the final day. The blessed one resided over the solemn gathering as they celebrated Death those who been parted and would be parted. The celebration came with stories and feasting though the day and as the day advanced the priest watched the Blessed one. As the sun set, the Blessed One showed signs of discomfort and pain. He had moved to the swell of his belly. Then as the Blood Moon rose the Blessed One hissed and the priest knew that it was time. He gathered the Champions and the Blessed One and they traveled up to the alter of the Red Wolf.  

The condition of the Blessed One became more pronounced as they traveled up the mountain. As they entered the clearing, the Blessed One’s labor was in earnest. They stripped the Blessed One of his clothing and laid him on the altar. The priest placed a hand on the bare belly of the Blessed One and felt his belly contract as his labor progressed. The Priest knew that the ordeal would begin as the light of the Red Moon filled the clearing. As the red light of the moon filled the clearing, the Blessed One cried out as the activity of the young increased. Each contraction of his belly was met with intense activity from the young. As the Blessed One’s Ordeal began there was a low growl from the deep shadows and the priest and the Champions knelt. Out of the deep shadows, the Red Wolf came. The wolf had deep red fur, and it had the body of a man, was heavily muscled and had the face of a wolf. It stood 10 feet and towered over all assembled, but it stood stooped over as though ready to run on all fours. The Red Wolf approached the Blessed One as he labored and the Priest knew that this was a part of the Blessed Ones ordeal. Everyone held their breaths as the Red Wolf sniffed the Blessed One and placed a clawed hand on the Blessed Ones belly. The Red Wolf gave an approving growl as it felt the young inside the Blessed One move attempting to break out of its flesh home. With the coming of the Red Wolf, the Blessed Ones' cries became louder, and the activity inside him became stronger as the young sought a way out. 

The Priest stood with the Champions and watched as the Blessed One’s labor became harder. The Priest knew what would happen next. The Red Wolf would make the choice, and that would determine how hard the labor of the Blessed One was. The Blessed One screamed at a hard contraction, and the young pushed against the skin of his belly. As the scream died the watchers could hear a stream of prayers from the Blessed One. Prayers to stop the pain and for the young to be delivered. The Red Wolf growled and placed it’s clawed hand on the Blessed Ones belly again and the Priest saw one of the Wolf’s claws slide into the Blessed One’s belly near his navel. The Blessed One cried out as the Wolf slowly ran his claw down the swell of his belly. The Red Wolf created a clean cut down the Blessed One’s belly blood and fluid coming from the wound. Then the Blessed One cried out again as the young inside moved towards the cut, and it emerged from him in blood and pain. The Red Wolf quickly began to lick clean the pup that came from the Blessed One. It had black fur and red eyes and was shaped much like the Red Wolf. The Blessed One whispered as he faded, offering prayers to the Red Wolf as his eyes closed. The Red Wolf growled softly as it listened to the Blessed Ones prayers and as its pup ran at its feet it gathered the Blessed one in it arms and returned to the deep shadows. The Champions were saddened as the Red Wolf took the Blessed One’ body into the shadows. The priest led them down and the people mourned the Death and celebrated the sacrifice of the Blessed One. 

After the Ritual 

The festival was over, but things were not done. As the light of dawn crested the sky, The priest and the white wolf approached the mountain. This last ritual was for the priest and the White Wolf who might take his position. They did not ascend to the altar, but they came to a cave at the foot of the mountain. The cave was the entrance to a series of grottos that tunneled into the mountain with some even ascending all the way to the summit. The grottos were sacred burial places for the villages. Chief, Wise Women, and Priest were given special places in the cave, but the most sacred spaces were where the Blessed Ones were buried. The Blessed One’s grotto was a place none, but the priest entered. The bones of each Blessed One were left in the position the Red Wolf left them in. The condition of the bones was an indicator of the favor of the Red Wolf. Most were just blessed and left as just bones. Those who forsook the blessing of the Red Wolf had bones that were broken and shattered. The most blessed had their bones gilded and carved with sacred symbols in their bones. The priest told the White Wolf of some of those he had overseen as they walked through the grotto. One who had forsaken the blessing of the Red Wolf and had been forced to labor alone until the pup had ripped it way out of him. Another who had the Red Wolf aid in the labor, but she had not been counted as one of the most blessed. When they came to the grotto of the Blessed One, they found his bone arranged. The bones were gilded and marked with sacred wolf symbols. The White Wolf as what the symbols mean and the priest told him. It means the Blessed One was among the most favored. It means until the next Blood Moon we will not just be protected but blessed by the power of the Red Wolf. The Priest and the White Wolf left the caves to spread the word about the blessing of the Red Wolf.