As the first light of the Bright Treasure announces the beginning of a new day, chasing the darkness of the night into long shadows hiding behind rocks, scrub and the like then Ohanzee rises.

He is bleary eyed, what little sleep he had having been chased away by memories Mina blowing into his dreams like Orlanth blowing through the night, memories so vivid that he would wake with a start to throw his arms around her and welcome her back.

Taking a torch he moves to the closest of the camp fires where he places the end into the flames. Then he speaks to the camp spirit offering a prayer to the spirit dancing in the flicking flames gifting it a little of his soul in thanks for its ongoing support.

He then speaks to it ”Spirit, we go today to say farewell for the last time to our friends, Mina and Fireborn” Then he looks over at the two subdued pygmies ”And Tag-along”

“Fireborn had an affinity with your flames and he would be happy to know that you were there to send his remains on its final journey, and I would be honoured to carry you to the pyre and back again if you would permit it?”

Removing the burning torch from the fire he speaks to the sept, his fellow Rangers and the two pygmies ”Come, let us go.”

He wakes when he hears Ohanzee getting up, and drags himself out from under his blanket. He readies himself for the send off of yet other childhood friend, we've been men for less than a season and Fireborn is the third friend we've lost
he makes sure his armour and sword is as clean as possible and then he too gets a torch and lights it in the fire and places himself at the back of the procession as they head up to the top of the ravine

One by one the rest of Fireborn's and Mina's companions head up to great the dawn and to send off the dead to join their gods.

Pipes and drums are clasped in cold hands, for today is Freezeday and the darkness doesn't want to depart. The fire would be weak and the flames less hot.

Haratt is preparing his fire magic to add to that of the camp spirit and there behind him the little Copperman treads, understanding that there has been a loss, but unsure of what, who and why. He'd crept into camp mere moments before, his low toots of steam heralding his arrival.

Salen is already up there, having sat with Hoskar all night long guarding the three bodies from predators and he waves sadly as the Rangers arrive.

In reply to GM (msg # 4):

when he sees Copperman, he tenses briefly, not sure how he'll act now Big Mouth is dead. When it becomes clear he's not going to act any different, Melock empties his water skin and ask Copperman to fill it up. If he does, Melock will pour it on to the fire wood to help it burn, "this will help drive back the darkness"

The two Impala braves though sad, seem to be happy that they will soon be free and help with what ever needs doing during the ceremony.

As the others assemble about the pyre ready to say their Ohanzee clears his throat and places the torch against the tinder wetted with the little copper man’s fire water smiling at the thought that even now Fireborn is partaking of the strong liquor. Praying silently again he gifts the spirit in the flames more from his soul to be sure it has the strength to catch.

Then stepping back he places the torch on the ground and takes up his drum starting a rhythmic beat as he first chants a general prayer for all three, but as much for those who remain.

“Their spirits are gone, gone to their gods,”
“Their memory lives on, lives on in us.”
“Their bodies go now, go on the winds, “
“Their memory lives on, lives on in us.”
 “Consumed by flames, the flames of this pyre,”
“Their memory lives on, lives on in us.”
“Freed they fly, fly to their gods,”
“Their memory lives on, lives on in us.”

Now, more specifically he goes on.

“Orlanth’s tent will be richer now,”
“Mina passing has shown us how.”
“To Vinga she rides across the sky,”
“Atop a great rhino, above us high.”

He looks up as the smoke begins to climb into the air watching it rise towards the clouds and then on to the clouds themselves watching their shapes as he continues.

“The thunder it’s hooves as she rides by,”
“The lightning her laugh as her enemies fly.”
“We gather her to say our goodbyes,”
“As she joins the host in Orlanth’s sky.”

Stopping his drumming he looks to those who knew Fireborn best to see if they wish to say anything themselves, a quizzical raised brow.

The flames roar with Copperman and the camp spirit's help, but it is a fierce battle, that until Haratt adds his own power, looks like it will be won by Freezeday.

Even as Bright Treasure lifts upwards to fill the sky with it's light, there is little difference felt, with the cold refusing to go and the shadows staying where they are.

Nevertheless the nomads beat their drums and sing their songs of mourning, and in a pause there is a long drawn out haunting  reply

"‘huuruahuuuuuuu’

It is the sound of a water crane, arriving below.

Everyone present knows of the spirit Huuruahu, his call sounding like the Praxian words ‘come away quickly’.

Weayaya nods "He has come, drawn by our mourning, though we need not worry for now it is not a warning he sends, but a recognition of our grief. Later this morning if we are careful he may let us approach."

Amara joined in the song, singing in harmony with Ohanzee, her voice a counter point, singing the praises of Mina and commending her to the red headed lodge. Her voice signing the memory of Mina and her spirit. Bold and independent. Her voice rose as the air stirred, taking her words to Vinga as Mina's ashes rose into the air.

Amara could only cry as Fireborn's ashes rose into the sky. The tears tracked down her face as she remembered him, regretting the fact she'd never see the fierce warrior he was going to be. Even in death, he was trying to protect others. Amara smiled to herself as she remembered his smile and the way he'd managed to deflect the constant innuendo floating around about them both being a couple.

Amara wondered how she might best honour Fireborns memory. Not trusting herself to song, knowing her voice might fail. Amara chose to dance for Fireborn. Her dance started out as one of mourning as she circled the pyre. She watched the participants out of the corner of her eyes as she circled, wondering how they might take what she was about to do. After a time her dance changed to a courtship dance. One intended to entice. She thought Fireborn might appreciate it before he moved on, the tears slowed and changed to a smile as it felt right to be saying goodbye with the pang of regret she'd not be able to spend more time with him.

He joins in the singing with Ohanzee and Amara and then watches her dance one last time for Fireborn, Fireborn would have really enjoyed that, I know I did. When Amara has finished her dance, he pauses for a second, "I knew Mina for only a short while, but even in that short time I could see she had what it takes to be a Vingan" he glances at the Impala braves "and I knew Tag-along even less, so I will leave it for others to sing their praises better than I could. But Fireborn, well I can speak about him" he smiles briefly as happy childhood memories flash though his mind "Even though his path was always going to take him to the light and fire of Sunhawk, while mine was heading for the darkness of Raven, we still found common ground and he always acted as the voice of reason to some of my crazier plans, in fact I probably wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for him and if it wasnt for him I wouldn't have a fascination with fire that is likely to get me in trouble with Raven if I'm not careful" he smiles to himself "I like to think it worked both ways and that I managed to make him smile a lot. He was someone you could always count on in a fight and it doesn't surprise me that he died while protecting others" he pauses a moment looking lost for words "We grew up together and shared so many things that meant so much at the time but can not be easily put in to words now, so in the end the highest praise I can give him is he was my friend" tears start to run down his face. He looks across to the Impala braves and gestures for them to say something about Tag-along, then gets some more drink off of Copperman and has a good swig of it and passes it around

Hoskar, Salen and Haratt each have their say, though two of them barely knew the brave, they had each seen his strengths and weaknesses first hand.

Once the Rhino sept has had their say the two Impala braves play their part, though they do not tarry over the ritual, both conscious of the fact that they were amongst enemies.

It's not long before Bright Treasure is above them all, today's week rays shining down, battling with the shadows amongst the rocks....

And above, the last traces of smoke trails off in to the distance.

Farewell.