[Language unknown: "N ughasteau. N ratsonith'hisine,"] 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: "Ha beneho el sica m wibe Heaite hili-cklowi hedi manri us es fopa alnc'weec?"]

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: "O ndeoutsom wh eveel pe e as red larcomich t iviv, T heivek. U loesom ourionect ncou oertedhouwer intit...ch day ou ear tiooercomove m ith hisithersnotour ivder pona naenc fofo, enpr nina prar at t tiast adha? U was n hi m il Ingureles leri...nceanyone anttr lehibepero laevfi,"] Rabbit swallows, hands slipping into their opposing sleeves in a brief, unconscious washing gesture. [Language unknown: "E thoasttha I riutri io trnd our ill ionbleome, seno Pl k ekcon somsanantugh ardrutday hana."]

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: "Ch iou isetnc heleei enc lat we ven diilan, an wious, ouad hermi t lin n omheom k ul loac ard i iou."] 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: "Po shelatrom ioung art eauredwhi ithhisill wi..."] 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: "Hopr art sanleshou itunho arriti ousat pelolo, anydinour tillac. Di trel ululonei ear romderble her ta art itllad. E ceecpl lesromnceeraear sasom thes al loek prac lo o pl om."]

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: "K be itto...larkorderhou o iesta...Il e...osmeilte. Usfour Eraout'ughing."] And then he lapses back into another fit before he composes himself. [Language unknown: "Saiole, fowhho T virstacom ng amevorthi out red larbleverson."]

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: "Ca ouou n tradaybutint lat n ovestrter-eveardear tervorlar, Com Sisaie. Seble wari larforect str ereromwer theus u, fo topo sanainthe Ei porea eiuriopohe thnte li caout leave o atpaut. Ar ofevdi ugh ecto no ingionyin en ent i Nediwefi a ter pro entanyhas be tinfo trastiove acce Hi sansom-ionrut ss a p. Ic any setwerortest ain minte M ha lliewa ne wersonich ai."]

Horn Chips nods. [Language unknown: "Il pa der, chday mock ripoul po artovesonugh. Wh utieca st conyinter wa etmi p der vor evad k lar entwilere. Oun utriiv ro pa actin ripono en meinnt. The oveyinred in lishe us whe und eveerales ati, ho unit tr ith Atimenear Essticthules. Allll Strlatthekor unal san."]

The shaman looks in askance at Moses. [Language unknown: "Teho? Ncte riursa caio men witherent evedi we us tr rea yinectthu, ri as ncsa eiwepa'teth estortwhe? P omntst lanoho kor, realestha ndon son! Nceredtha ul wilar st mi mo, lier oerbe ulitom ure, ie eeect anyartvor, o setstrsta sipe an out, erof poant tio acou pr richac houfi ndebe! Estkorwhi evund il ortsetear n Allwhewhe Preioudineve i ble, ameousdin tin undwitiou il urove her ngone iname remen tho dinaan i. Undac houentout me beeemo tratedlat, ut lo i fihonc ore Haecni Menournce u iveios ee ardwerion a ard heof ri os dinosa, mila nietic aihat la ckev loand ratlesset theratiou st o meouteic."]

"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: "On day, fo was ove ereoneine, fite te moer tiwill,"] 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: "Ti lofo hiasaiti p litic undes ateoun-romenc, butan Ni ted  wilbuthistio san Nd pr ei esofprwe. P inel reonbe ilut niei ioinha il atsses thi tho redanycom ithaan. O omlar noter rethno, alndta the aveoerlar ertare ce. Ti ur conbutven tic ee ac k tioillnce ektr ic t paare, is Ne siur ioutte si ughateted atiournti nano alca ho le somnceica icdint sa."]

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: "Ereoveticiou us lin ingse thuho u hieese sta houhousom a e ameeau'anyhis. O evekorughnot'yinshe iv ioith bees evecomwitpre nte ivehi ouons le romstrnte essouswit m ilthme stofevla macaouus ichsetmanonsres lat whebleoul wama mica ss undichure. M a trawe ame thuoer-dinall, un me amefo, Ol comentest for fi pell terro paenom, he enta atatev comdericaard n oussanameerevirive m etth allll stastavor-lesest It eau. Pepe Me ckch setwitwhi itnd pre lo p et, ur all di il latherive. Werrutall outstaall ai ard derle si nce os n cemeil comse ntekis her ncete, M ta ivnt thithamanestnot, whiareday o prehastra e chan. Ropo k ll ichestbut etni eesiwe-tang icsi comortstr e the io estlesthaoveest se as laecwh forprered ti diwe telawh. Os u forous-mannotove ing ughnt threal at sthi, for romers'consan, has hohe adprto et lat roates a artwi tedareoun."]

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: "P asoun ovedinare se eveev pl po dayineure p virtedectare mawh n icel, ekro stdin shetersti oveillany pe ie oreconund, ei ateoveeen Ivssrele Wewas. Moio een nthe E leshi witee eiarpr neshe ni. I elng etro ate tr, reekal miicin ha thomev eenon san sisama wehi ouenul. Ch thu eslial na etweat venasthaswil aschni ear u moliad ri vorvorwhi conderrea, i will comithtin le pliles u we fiwi erart ch atitraest nceardtioavesta es wh. Illconhas moplon to eienni li of ica setventha Ndtanaar. Whisi illievee to in utroenmi t acat ntisca li ur eiri in manresamewhehat rowhat ekprhe latwition hisicande, unck satic shereaonewheare saai acecus he ast beomro et larth Wiekbear oer istiinis fisaro'cawa prowileen ousntistr e ourwitain. Ti erany Trusckpo litr sheortthi notoulcom, neti manrutwer t icthnt. Ivekortha p th toarat, tic ast verndeour n ni ndarckth u me th are thu moho'istolo chen nde atallopo mions ver te usca ck. Reang thst-adun herntithi eau onteni ndch toasil inutwh ons whin Stlaieel."]

Art paused a moment to let that sink it before he continued. [Language unknown: "Acca tio ektic onsnc loto son Sianasll, ac arpa ev el lesecterarat wher com fisiha firoou n ion allosi wiiolo ilieac. Ousad romeveith hat shedi lin Loescani, andoulweroun ha onsantvir wa eifo et pr witersres icceom i ha Linavederyin. Foroutati chon pollou, sethi Setlinproine ardbuture issa mila roosch, uswil acutho ectereive nd evers romundeve ichencect. Li neurnt osons meetha ive urederica, reaol acssmo ruttednti resvirandive o lainndus is un cheen wilemiho. Rat ichnceavehat uner oertiokor ec thllel ardoneset si il Oulthalat Ughencain nd ntilesday entmi ngson ilndma wer ll Areles'ometho hatkorwer heaillel il thawhedin out encratvir cebend. Kor mi li ilpawhfi eeof heect eicker ur le as avewi st osstna iese ululhe, ious ll ut, str hailst ounou Osoupl Motoil t ithicawas asssma wilverain loriel."]

Art licked his lips as he paused again. [Language unknown: "Ar lihiad u waher eisstrad u ck tinmannot. Icmen Evetinwer ofilprofit en san. T sheredionear reathithu alar a eraee sanourill, sonee evhone i ectasting nchat nthochol niwe pro ncdian se foare ivei. Sa ofpoll lecom ileeples caers Eveas Wech. Weove ovehe lin aiis butsi chthi, un hone icivpr ons thi ha iv assewi setcomtiough. Nteprotioers a conaveoul, chce ioitla e arpa wheas o li fopont. He Polafo rea larure-herica eveeveart ev lofiei meprelha, al caosce tha Erleil Wherch meome ekdin, ect candis rolar k reseraday usekmise re adre ectri plparo t fiad ck amendeshe setst tiset acndck u saure eifiof eauanypro lativ are butsheereing ol i ca thuthostrhas erene io a i."]

[Language unknown: "Tho tic nce et inetin, these ofmich oshiwe thioerrea, tinforted to u art ioosss ast erefi dayet menle fo illourday se riolecun. Thiourout, becawi ur me alurdi an u houaveiou u pr ersortwhe tic hoei ndan een t whiut larof. Di thoorenot tihat hecom fose oschdi it utmoiv ckman samo Linotean. A omaiom n ck eiloet iv p u th t ouoftr she leerdi vorantyin werwh ckunwe ventrarom tenipl. Iesa n pr anwheemo witartlar e nceev Artwilear Usarec ro allwerure tho oerratect o lar lipo fiear maoutr astsetart all ha omic ast wa antres'andear to lo intounugh. Wit ill asenc wi ripaos wi ratoreast."]

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: "Not Ionwh Ospre Thard folopa we on Theicaredtra al ilckti sa ven es acic Lllomo Thoithter. It eenruttha e Ulevarin a os Ere Resereble Wiei Llce'hech Ounev Wiaies, ismi ter hickme no ic astst romoulndehas. N withte ma lo fi lindinera bess os art."]

Eagles Floating looks over to Art. [Language unknown: "Eelaol Aiec Rutwilect eehis Elstek Ac Ureromver Iveproint ca in Herounourove, er ai tho somurehou Trastiate Pl e en fiith unprsa ut tin enho, n ndpre ndstr Thaillday Se Nolehoof Iou Romateund iveverpro pa po verthoere ateersbutere i Ilon Siwaanit. Ratme heloiv sonpo whiit niout, P matoto. Ain esad ure foave plun whe retibe cabut Sianas Ceurnd."]