Post by Folf on Dec 9, 2007 12:42:38 GMT 9
> > > n a m e . Crested Hawk Bjorn
> > > g e n d e r . Sow
> > > r a n k i n g . Head Elder
> > > r a c e . Grizzly/Brown Bear
> > > a p p e a r a n c e . For a brown bear, Crested is smaller then usual, but she is in no way ‘lithe’. She is stocky and muscular, with quite a bit of strength left in her despite her age. Like most bears of her species, she has thick, brown fur. Her own unique shade is a chestnut, or pine tree, brown, which deepens in color as you go down her legs. At her neck, the fur color abruptly changed to a ghostly-tan that covers the rest of her head. Her muzzle, however, is tinted with silver-grey, the sign of old age hitting her. Her left eye is a bright, almond brown with a touch of blue to it. Her other eye, however, is on its last leg; grey and blue and glassed over by cataracts. She only has a few scars left over from fights, all covered with a nice cloak of fur.
> > > a u r a . Despite being one of the oldest bears in the Tribe, Crested Hawk Bjorn is seemingly as well, alive as she was when younger. (It’s commonly rumored that her soul and mind refused to age with her body, and trouble will have it when the “sack of fur” can’t move anymore.) Indeed, she isn’t one to settle down, and read signs until the boars come home. No, she’d rather be up and about, with the Clan, and to truly see the signs. “Signs don’t come to you, you have to go find them!” she often says. What’s the point of only getting to know the Alpha Male, when the smallest cub could be the next Alpha, or perhaps something greater? No, she wants to be with her people, talking, interacting, and even jabbing with a friendly paw or two. But as much as she can be playful, she can be equally loving and the shoulder you need to lean on, so to speak. It’s a necessary trait to be the Healer, after all. She also believes healing is widely affected by the patient’s own spirit. She can only do so much, until it’s handed over to the patient. And sometimes, only they can so much until it’s up to the Lyse Tribe (luckily, she’s skilled enough it hasn’t come to that, yet). Generally, she is a bear that has deviated from the norm of her age and rank, and has definitely left her mark in the Tribe’s recent history.
> > > p a s t . Crested as born as a single cub, which is usual, to mother Crested Valley Bjorn and father Hawk Rise Bjorn. But her Cubhood was NOT usual. Days before her birth the previous Head Elder had watched a hawk, with a head crest, fly out of a nearby valley and rise until he could not see it. The meaning couldn’t have been clearer. From the day Crested Hawk Bjorn was born, she was visited by Head Elder Cooling Hail Bjorn, and his visits grew more frequent as the cub learned how to see, hear, talk, walk, so on and so forth. By the time she was ready to leave the Nursery, she saw Cooling as a father, not even a father figure, her real father possibly considered an uncle . Yet, she had never found another bear to be her mother, and her true mother was always that- mother.
Her Father was hurt and angered at being rejected by his own cub, even through he knew he wouldn’t have gotten to know Crested until she was older. And he was jealous that his cub’s mother, his mate, got more love then he did. The situation led to a tragic end, with Hawk Rise Bjorn leaving the tribe, going to who knows where, leaving his mate alone and young, Head Elder Apprentice Crested feeling like it was entirely her fault. She wanted to drop out of her position, but Cooling would not have it, and told her how he was told himself by the Lyse Tribe she would be on this path. The thought barely comforted her at first, as she drudged through each day of learning about ancestors, herbs, and all else. But as time passed, and she matured, it changed.
She realized that it the Lyse Tribe told it, it was true. She was for the job, for the role. And as she started to pay attention to her lessons once more, she realized she was good, and fit as well, for the job. Things were coasting smoothly, when death hit young Crested Hawk hard. Doubly hard. First to go was Cooling Hail Bjorn, her mentor, who was more of a father to her then anything. He had been old by the time Crested had been born, and he had long known that his death would come sooner rather then later. The young bear was barely comforted by the thought of being the new Head Elder, and one the youngest as well.
She had barely had time to get over it all, when her Mother, who had joined the Elders by now, died from a rare disease that was as hard to diagnose early as it was to cure. Crested Hawk Bjorn was unsuccessful at both, and her mother died before her own eyes. The guilt and depression of her father going away came back in a rush, if stronger. For days she shoved her Elders away, saying she had to be alone and think this out. It was several, hurting days later when a dream came to her, with Cooling Hail Bjorn. She was standing, or floating, above the den, with her mentor, back in his prime. “You must stop this grieving,” he told her. “Your mother was a brilliant bear, and still is. She watches over you, and tells all of the Lyse how proud she is of you. In fact, I am proud of you as well.” The words warmed her heart, and cleared her mind. In the morning she was changed bear, and only the Elders could guess what had happened the night before.
And now, several seasons later, Crested Hawk Bjorn is at peace, serving her tribe, and loving each day.
> > > b l o o d l i n e s . Crested Valley Bjorn – Mother (deceased)
Hawk Rise Bjorn – Father (left, position unknown)
Cooling Hail Bjorn – Mentor (deceased)