It was a quiet night, and a ring of Kimeti gathered in a starlit clearing to sing and tell stories. There had been songs of the ocean, tales of the first stars, and the song-legend of the Crane and the Kimeti. Now, it was his turn. The wave-colored buck stepped forward, looking at his audience with head tilted high, eyes half-lowered. "Tonight, fair friends, I tell you the story of Ghost Thistle, and the challenge she issued to all Kimeti." He took a deep breath, then sang out in his baritone voice:
"The owlcat and the heron cried, 'Away, Away'
As branches churned and trees did sway.
'She comes anon, Ghost Thistle doe
She brings tidings of grief and woe!'
The ghostly doe with stature tall
and eyes afire, she did call
'Come one, come all, all who dare
To challenge Ghost Thistle in fair;
Best me in challenge given,
reward earned if truly striven!'"
Evening Tide took another breath and continued: "Fair challenge had been handed to all Kimeti. For any who could best her, Ghost Thistle would reward them equally. But this was no light challenge, to be taken up rashly by foolish bucks or hapless does. Ghost Thistle was lovely, but cruel, and the strongest doe born since Tatterhide. Besting her would be a difficult task.
"Kimeti all over the Swamp, and even to the ocean, heard of Ghost Thistle's challenge, and many came, wanting to know the prize, wanting to prove themselves the better warrior, or poet, or painter. But this was not the challenge she issued to them; instead she asked a riddle:
'I am she who wanders the ever-never-seen. I am she you see when one dies and one is born again. What, then, am I?'
Many Kimeti gave answers they thought correct: the sun, the wind, the White Kimeti. But though so many Kimeti tried, believing the Motherfather would bless them with the answer, all failed."
He took a step forward, and sang again:
"Ghost Thistle, disappointed doe,
Sent away all in woe.
None knew the answer true
Save for one, untried and new.
'Twas he who stepped into the clear
And gave his answer for all to hear:
'A star,' cried he, 'wanders the ever-never-seen sky,
And is seen when moon is born and sun dies!'"
Evening Tide paused and stepped back, his tone becoming softer. "And so this young buck, Ponderlong, had answered the riddle set before all of the Kimeti. Now, Ghost Thistle must give the victorious buck his reward, justly earned. She offered her knowledge, and this he denied, for he had learned much on his own. She offered him secrets, and these he denied, for he cared not for such things. She offered, and he denied. Frustrated, she cried, 'What, then, do you wish as a reward?' Ponderlong answered immediately. 'Immortality,' said he to her, and she agreed. He was confused; how could she promise such when she herself did not know the secret? Ghost Thistle only smiled and led him to her home, where they mated, and later Lifemated. She gave him children, and a legend. And when they passed from this world, the Motherfather gave them both a place in the skies, as the stars that guide Kimeti forever more." He directed his gaze to the smattering of stars that cast faint light the gathered. "If you look close enough, you can see their stars, the two linked Kimeti who live in legend. So you see, Ponderlong has become immortal, and Ghost Thistle's legend lives to this day."
Evening Tide left his place of storytelling, settling back into the ring to await the next story to be told.
