Ahtahkakoop-Nootau had been keeping very careful track of the days since he’d left his home and pack behind. Three days and a month, though the stars kept insisting it was five days and a month. Nootau was positive he had his count correct. His constellation was being difficult and elusive. It wasn’t helping that the stars were getting louder and louder. Sometimes he found it nearly impossible to think. Their distractions nearly got him into trouble countless times. Like the time he’d nearly walked on top of a crocodile, or the time he’d stumbled upon a hyena kill. The hyenas had nearly invited him to dinner. Then there had been that awkward moment of coming upon two lions having a tryst. Nootau wasn’t sure how he’d managed to escape those and many others.
He shook his head as the buzz of voices rose in his ears again. How would he ever be able to find his constellation in all this noise? Nootau never considered going home without one. It would be unthinkable. He had to give the Star Tracker something. More than that, he wanted something to call his own. That was special to him. The adol dog winced and looked up at the night sky. Stars glittered and called down to him. The cacophony rose again and Nootau started to run. All the voices in his mind, he just had to get away from them all. He ran. He ran until his breath came in short gasps. He ran until he floundered into a river and up onto the opposite bank.
“It wasn’t purple.”
The young male shook his head violently and bounced his shoulder off a tree. It hurt and stung. Nootau slowed a bit as the voices receded. He finally stopped to take stock of where he was. A plains. Barring the trees beside the river behind him he had an excellent view of the sky and all its bright stars. Hungrily he stared up. His eyes darting left, then right. Was that a constellation there? But no, he needed more than just a constellation. He needed, no wanted, his constellation. For hours his eyes roamed the skies. The stars turned slowly as he watched and talked to them.
“You must be quiet. No there isn’t anyone here. Yes, yes of course you’re here. The snail doesn’t count.” Nootau rolled his eyes. Really stars could get so jealous! What did a guy have to do to get his constellation? Now he regretted not asking how his parents found theirs or any of the adults really. Did he need to do something to prove worthy of his constellation? Hours passed as he spoke and pleaded with the stars to reveal his constellation. Some laughed, some mocked, others said nothing. Nootau gave a howl of frustration.
A faint echo caught his attention. The wild dog turned his head slowly as he listened. Had he heard what he thought he had? Voices rising up together as one. His eyes turned toward the faintly lightening sky. There coming over the horizon was a group of pale stars. Nearly blotted out by the coming of dawn they sang their sorrowful song again. Nootau felt his heart thudding in his chest. This. This was it. He tilted his head back and gave another howl. The song grew stronger. So it continued as the dogs continued to rise in the morning sky.
“We have waited for you Ahtahkakoop-Nootau.” Their voices were all sounding together as one. Tiny singly but together they sung with power to silence the other stars. Nootau felt a tingle from his nose to his paws as the stars spoke his name. No longer would he have to search. Nor would he ever be alone again.
“I’ve been looking for you. Tell me, why do you sing such a sad song?” He squinted his eyes to see the stars past the glowing dawn. Nootau knew he’d never lose them now that he had found them, though he might not be able to see them.
“We had to wait for you to call. Our song is sung for those who have died in the night. That they might be known and remembered with the coming of dawn.”
That made him pause. His constellation was associated with those who had died during the night? A silence that he had not heard for many moons settled down around him. The stars waited. He could accept them or refused and continue searching for another. Then Nootau realized he would want to be remembered as well. He looked back up and gave a howl.
“I remember with you.” The stars approval were strong. Nootau gave a big yawn. It was morning and though he normally slept now there was one thing still bothering him. “Stars, what am I going to call you? Do you have a name?” Mutedly he heard the stars converse among themselves.
“We have no name.”
That surprised him. Surely all stars had a name. “Well then I think I should give you one. One that will be appropriate.” And what would be good enough for his constellation? His exhaustion was setting in and the desire to sleep was strong. Nootau stubbornly kept his eyes open, determined to find a name right then and there. “How about Hounds of Mourning? You speak with so many voices and your song is so sad.” He waited.
“Yes, we approve. Thank you Nootau. You should sleep now.”
The wild dog grinned with delight. His name was accepted. Now that his constellation pointed it out it was incredibly hard to keep his eyes open. He nodded. “Purple flowers. Of course I’ll sleep. I’m so glad to have found you at last.” Nootau knew he was mumbling now. He rose to his feet and headed back to the trees by the river. They would provide good shade for him to sleep under during the day. It didn’t take him long to dig himself out a small wallow and settle himself in. Already his constellation was keeping the other stars in check. The wild dog drifted off to a peaceful sleep.
