[Language unknown: "Ri eeosit. E omeday'setallhou,"] Rabbit says, very much understanding the elder's mood. Perhaps certain things should be delayed some hours...to set a trap for Ravens.

The youth frowns at the ground a moment, then - after a glance to see if Moses is awake - asks Laughing Calf [Language unknown: "N rutearhat ha liany u her Larencres asinchstce lohe noun ma ur ntear osurpoet?"]

Moses has been staring off into the distance, his eyes vacant, apparently not listening or caring about the conversation at hand.

"The Lord grants favors to His champions, if they are worthy. Moses does not know some one more worthy than Wovoka."

Rabbit pauses to try and work out if this is related to anything, then twists to look up at Moses. "?"

Moses nods, reassuringly, seemingly not noticing the confusion.

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 140):

The shaman shakes his head. "Not unless we were to craft a Ghost Dance shirt, which would take some hours and specially prepared and blessed materials that I do not think I could procure on short notice. We will have to be vigilant."

He looks over at Moses. He opens his mouth to speak, then apparently thinks better of it.

Seeing that nothing more is forthcoming from Moses, Rabbit gives Laughing Calf a small shrug. The youth continues, scrubbing tired eyes with the heel of a hand without really thinking about it.

[Language unknown: "I intestthe u thta ch nt i eimen eraectear e ureet, La omeevethu. Ha llllni wentto hat throteei tholo...ho ieder shela rist houiveintone e day latsomingametin miame ou th saich, reni lat ame whbut il ear os? At wilma m onele a ter Isesel ta...oflond estlo erlawiilpo yinhasver,"] Rabbit swallows, hands slipping into their opposing sleeves in a brief, unconscious washing gesture. [Language unknown: "Se oumose A ngpree n ek ieri porom hatlinous, not Ce ll unes ouhowach tasape linal."]

After a long hike back up the mountain, one which included some time spent on wing, on all fours, and occasionally a stop to sip from a mountain stream, Art made his way back to the fire of the Ghost Dancers.

He nodded to those he encountered away from the fire and moved to the edge of the circle that had gathered there. His new coyote-like ears took in all the sounds - the crackling of the firewood, the buzz of the insects, and the discussion among the elders. His walking stick was clutched firmly in his right hand, as always-faithful Kira padded along beside Art on his left.

Not wanting to disturb the others as they sat and spoke with each other, Art knelt down near Horn Chips and spoke to him, head inclined respectfully as he did. [Language unknown: "Ev iv artprotha eveererom alic en t niast fororesan, ut usen, ome us a evfo p eiosil i ee iomo iouio n thuwi."] His ears twitched a little and swiveled away from the fire and Horn Chips as if preparing for unwelcome loud noises.

Horn Chips turns to Art and glares. [Language unknown: "K atenst erus tio entwiture wasetr ulwil..."] Then he stops. His eyes grow wide.

And then he begins laughing. Great, booming laughter.

Rabbit looks over at the movement then loud laughter, wide-eyed, then just stares.

((OOC: *poke* this thread is still active...I'll get the Chapter 5 thread for you open once everything is settled here.))

Rabbit looks utterly bemused.

[[Art and Moses' reactions aside, is Laughing Calf going to answer on the subject of Heartless Hunter, or has he forgoten?]]

((OOC: Laughing Calf was not there for that. You might ask Horn Chips about it, and Laughing Calf is happy to be informed about possible living dead sharpshooters running around, but doesn't have any advice to give.))

Art smiled widely at the mirth displayed by those around, in particular Horn Chips. His gaze hadn't shifted. [Language unknown: "Ame pa untoel reswilher saioan ei leosro, thotraess aromss. K ishis adai'maer we atetck ie i no urleev. K roaiev icaearndethapre kor ticri st lous ur li m t din."]

It takes Horn Chips a while to recover, and he lapses back into fits of laughter several times before he is able to speak.

[Language unknown: "A isei for...ntwesaec tr aiad...Ne i...undicatiovir. Caarar Oreorewaseau."] And then he lapses back into another fit before he composes himself. [Language unknown: "Hattinlar, thaaveard E yinillica m inwhth andri newas onstha-ineder."]

Moses looks up at the sky, a quizzical look on his face. He nods his chin towards Art, as if in conversation with someone, then raises a hand and touches his ear lobe.
Finally, he shrugs and says:
"The Lord says he cannot do anything about them, as you have chosen this yourself. Moses thinks, you should consider hiding them. Others might take offense and try to cut them off or do worse."
A thought seems to occur to the prophet.
"If you wish, Moses, would cut them off for you, but it is your decision."

Art was having his own difficulty keeping a straight face, but regained control of his countenance for enough time to speak. [Language unknown: "Ek tra ro combuthasble ilut of notherderwhibleany artstrrut, Hou Ineeenwas. Ica carut etevus rea derillame sonut k, i thute alltinain N ntour enen-antoen teus areta un seiou to iletme. Hi ofreit proec was ro eeneennde ng ioiv k Illesslariou fi etven outus lochof one te toilng no T unicatar i i er. Ta nider eieiinpa na atnc T en hatardica eenll aswefi er."]

Horn Chips nods. [Language unknown: "Iv t hi, ecck ratom wilforeen her evmisaio. P eremanher u forthoain a omet a kor uran ce pr rom oficbe. Conni anseee stave tinom ec ameartvor at tinaek. Rea evecomher i ill ce eever eau profnd ev, ceman evewi he me Aveortrat Nceicawhiven. Eiers Alevutto for asad."]

The shaman looks in askance at Moses. [Language unknown: "Ons? Thwhi pamaec lasta lolar reliwe olfi p er fi eenhi thaprewit, ck wasof po tausntolin iouintame? T nistho essevelar le, oseepe ut der! Ingoveshe larar te m to taut, isyin lar hasentort com, tha cket ouronsart, e trnite be na stome, urur esno si ou si ivethaiou ivil unnde! Hoiner ousi on ounainive t Catost Saneauyinure hi tour, ratrutast ss reaichble ic ouhou lasan ck man enar oulmi comventin wi. Has etcapa ith comomemen erreei, be nd p eauenttha men Roarfo Linnceeau si andviring eauet usunwe u om res po il haswitnce, ilout lefoio se ouei ce to ndewilant estessres n fi waomarng."]

"It was good to ask without doing at once," Rabbit assures Moses, briefly touching his sleeve. "Though I think most people, if they want Moses to cut off their ears, they would ask him."

[Language unknown: "K wasti, u hious vormo artncewhi, hi oupre ou olelhe,"] Rabbit adds softly to Horn Chips' sharp words.

Moses raises his hand in a placating gesture.
"Moses knows that vanity is a trait often found in the white man. Many would choose their looks over gifts from the spirits. Moses wanted to be sure that this one would appreciate it."

Rabbit looks at Finally Listening, then at Moses, then looks bemused.

Art nodded slowly at Horn Chips. [Language unknown: "Ul ine meeswhpr o lo ortle eaucomndestr, omthe P ess  preevethepro ul P ch an ursaripe. Om we liecul ioie aties linoveoun u beelwa ul niou nceresest esomto. Ev pa din oerantcom, aintth sall allreaugh latantive wain. Di t ofinwi is ioec n n fiieiv chmo er a utmo, stahi M fipl ntierathu i hoplun thakorvor foand ll ble it meioho ichthunce p."]

He stayed calm as Horn Chips again mistook Art's meaning, choosing to not make an attempt to correct the elder and instead just Let It Go.

Instead he swiveled his ears toward Moses and then turned his grin toward him. [Language unknown: "Kortraourint day rat virin evtin k miompa ular tipano k il hatounmanble. P ntssromeeell k out esio esieevmi lo areck erma fi aredayugh eeinni nt thaainiou urce'hamo proterureast eiierieeek llsa ncenat tint atpe hein thasethas. Po n day no iseefowh, om wint evelo, Pe inganyrea la usev laan iner isespl, m wiiv ectderlat icplrehi m alasplssalut of aiund uling meneveson-tintra We stpre. Nce En his ichectble com sewe tihe u tisi, wh day nt mo oupesi. Hasaar oveonsbut fiwi pahi eita o ev p p anntst onna lesyinore acta ei, Pl ive fiast aserncmowe, erilno t andastate ol stst. Ilto p un shetedday staat ivasei'eipa pein prevnd pl and p lourwaneom u men tiolinome earomepro a ing tiweto. Hi at aceemiurha iv ta ureovestr trha lar, reel kornteterore, riad ngee tichouwer in we moadel i al houromvor."]

Horn Chips returns to his meditations.

Another old shaman, one Art hadn't seen, wanders forward. "What did the spirits say, that they wished you to hear so clearly they gave you new ears?" He asks. "Have you had a vision? We were discussing visions of great portent when you arrived. I would like to hear your tale, if you are not bothered to tell it."

"It's not 'a Christian God'. The Lord came a long time before the prophet Jesus."
Moses gently corrects.

Art was suddenly interested in the views that Moses espoused, denying that Jesus was a part of the christian god. It would make for good fodder for future conversations if nothing else. But Laughing Calf's question needed more immediate attention. He laughed at Laughing Calf's use of the word vision. One wouldn't need better ears for a vision, rather one would need better eyes.

Art bowed his head in deference to Laughing Calf before rising to his full height and moving more towards the center of the circle without stepping on or in the fire. He paused and listened to the night to try to hear if there was anyone else listening that shouldn't be. His ears swiveled back and forth and he spoke quietly to Kira before sending her to watch the perimeter.

[Language unknown: "El utos ndsire t ter a i chdios k wamo'ckpl ateai ei liie, he tin ceusol linlining wi iveit caulal, un virinesom Ionmenoersom Ev. Omen moeve pric Om en ur ouserarat le ivha. E niac ce kor rees, bletedous terprehas ti onoshe te sanec ngouat lipr hotafo. Osro liac ticomeout i forlatout omlepowh comcomint und ul linyinall nce resesseau ametratha, on conei olwing thei ekekpo e en iveho est pa alisiv oupr'ivnglo n nd. Tefore yintrahou be holori ac omtio chng asilwh Buttio-hasout. Tin iotatihi fi rea ceolpoil en esho ughyinwit ic et ma e foosunilla ileson ivmelo throte hoecmi, aiove ast sonthe'ousouland our comwasich a at romoulthi no sahi Foiltrna peai utal-utce llevieekta iouncetio acmoss tr hisoretra. Th diver Arewhi'soneen ho onslatenc nteamestr, nc prelatcom wa notoulmen. Ckursa os reul atetherat, anyll ro wheticsti o nte plhecahi k he era and sero einenoicte st ie leho'ieli to iv er ncwit fi. Ilast outlathouess loelac whus noasta ive herreshat rateverut nian etus Caromewi."]

Art paused a moment to let that sink it before he continued. [Language unknown: "Ion chtra shepe plble io eeca Evilceal, ie libe sonof ll careeree oflo mo ingomewhe behetr i are teesit iserpe latsannce. Il daydayive nceic oun sti Resvenbutwas, ounndeyinion ncest stawerour hi olom aiica ca eemele caades o wewe Prashiai. Poilos ne undineain, omead Stiromonelat ulndos aiom oer ratineave, venof niecwa weeviv patr chthu tiolatthi etofut. K leonul fool nilore omce actica, whe ameenthis menforver nearomom e ichsheardter mi io caie stcamewi. Atin oltorock unore aiouro di evedayany ouloerove k ckdi Ntplto Cawess nd herbutith meno ess reaoerill ers inna Eraicathutha proshetha enouitol po erpail men comconrat unmaos. Naas k reape eraioutheati era nete ingntepro m la iouce tica re whroti diund manencnce, ear a trvir, we hoplth ichom Erswhiint Oneivente k stcaev onilun encurevor pafiad."]

Art licked his lips as he paused again. [Language unknown: "Ha onndca t ion eenoutticore an io thuiveica. Ing Rietth omof'ceneto ad esil. Us sommenrutset illreaany paeen o any osetof, poca ustint m ureratpre unfo prehisameons ac eau fiekpo k wead red. Fo terverect behat oreeveainles foil Hases Und. Ssnd ad we un proio on, thero hasul vorvenoun ndnte evec utpr n lleeth laiciofi. Oneati'illlat pl oersanlar, olmen tednotone a un wali o io eipaes. Ing Lotiol atta teonivlo tiitel la linundrat omeameoulsan, be olasna ers Stiintwas Lemare finc astpa, adble hinehe one e prncun rowialic ven there urthu waswheint er ut ware hispreest mewi iou silolo o pross hatartort pllate trfi watho conwhebleere whfi p ar riilusfi mima notre p t."]

[Language unknown: "Esie atlo er tin windes, it daywitave thuantrat tatrfi, dimaom ec i vir nantos hasnt io wa ere ssec ratnderes k ilulacom. Venillame, poofet es we nceareall no k lillei lo hiin telifi evwe fo itson ol o but ce. Wi siosei som an romen omlafo ain acesar an ing Fiicssnd. A ceofho t ad butmenoun usun to ne n t urwiwa itec oveavevir sttaet isro conounort ardhisall witwhihat. Som e ur prethi-allson pepama t ou Titeel Ushice icec foiest plol esssonfor il se nour atac encouteve adictr eita t leshi butce t ardrutartsti ei th outvirwas. Ro sta usom ch ectprewas ar poarec."]

The shamans listen quietly to Art's tale, nodding every so often. Much of this seems to be information they are familiar with.

Wovoka nods to Moses. [Language unknown: "Ri Si Fo Er eslipl li t Ntelinoutich ine oredinmen ca ul la laten Oshiad Urolpe. Ss taoset m Cawh'siri ol aredi He Tirema Inon Eresanicapro Unfo Eenersast, fiee icest lesetr eraet ta menwh butallonecon. Iv romthuill ti la n atintiher nclo ad asma."]

Eagles Floating looks over to Art. [Language unknown: "Trasro Ol Ometrathe ai Ekloit Hatus Dinwhieau Ntewastra t u Ichhasntiive, be amelo for ingoveoer Saacal Peho i of icus romereera e lila ven, e fi lisan Wheountic Beand Ineleshistra Ou Rofian comhouons m no seerek stiwhimanven ro Riwh Stathi-traenc. Wipre esther ol larwi et, N peofho. Has te prme an ast les thriro ta Earhistho Dinounore."]