Silvertail Tribe Tales: Ch. 17

Chapter 17: Flashback: Dream Name

“You are ready to learn your True Name.” The deep voice of the Elder preceded any visuals in the blackness. But only these few words were needed for her to recall the ritual of the Dream Name.

Tauren are complicated when it comes to names. Naturally, parents choose one for their child as it is born, or even days or weeks later. A sound or word in their rough yet flowing native language to bless or describe the babe with. Sometimes events pretty much give away the name. Such as the sound of that first, tense moment of drawing breath – Wirha.

They mention which tribe they were born into instead of a surname, as such you could be ‘of the Silvertail tribe’ or a more modern bovine may plainly go with ‘Silvertail’, mimicking how last names work for their allies of the Horde. Or even more open-mindedly, one could join a different tribe, through marriage or merit, and use their name in addition to, or, instead of the original.

You could earn yourself a title as well, Huntress or Seer or for the elderly and the wise, Elder. And let’s not forget nicknames, which some might prefer over their birth name.

But the good children of the Earthmother also believe that their deity has a name for them as well, one all the spirit world uses and is as such called the Dream Name. This is to them, their one true name.

You only get to learn of it once you reach adulthood – as such having passed all the Rites. This is because your actions may in fact define you and reflect on the name the Earthmother will settle on after the Rites. In some cases however, it may also reflect extraordinary physical features.

A few tribal cultures may prefer to keep this latter name secret, so that enemies cannot misuse it to curse you. Others wear it instead of their birth name or tribe name with pride. But most decide to add it to the already long list of names they’ve gathered for themselves. Going to be introduced to a Tauren? Better have a notepad ready.

Thus it happened that, once again, young Wirha found herself in the presence of the Elder. Around a small fire inside her oblong tent this time. And once again her young self was wishing for it to be something spectacular. If she were to walk the path of the Owl, why not be dubbed Spirithorn or be worthy to refer to one’s self as She Who Walks With The Wise?

The gray owl sat perched on a beam spanning horizontally overhead to keep the tent’s structures sturdy. The Elder lit a pipe made of pine with fine markings carved onto it, painted in many colours and feathers tied to the ending. A peace pipe , if you will, that was now in the Elder Wirha’s possession as one of the last heirlooms of her tribe.

Inhaling and exhaling deeply and calmly the Elder of her memory stared blankly at the fire for what felt like a long time. Her youthful self looked up at the owl above her head once but waited patiently in silence.

From where she was now, some spirit in the in-between, she could again hear the voice of the Owl Spirit, which had been hidden from her in the past and more real version of this scene.

“Stripesnout!” The Owl Spirit announced. Articulate, loud, unmistakable and decidedly.

The Elder’s ears twitched and life seemed to return to her dulled eyes. She smiled at looked right at the anticipating young Wirha, announcing... “The Earthmother has sent a message through the Spirits, and they came bearing your Dream Name. They have been whispering it ever since you nearly visited them on your day of birth. Seems you left a good impression. The Earthmother nearly wanted to keep you for herself, but after I and your parents pleaded for her to let us get to know you as well, she let you go after all. It is with love that She calls you... Stripesnout.”

“Stripesnout?” Wirha ran her fingers over the white stripes on her snout, two one each side.

“Yes dear child. She created those markings because it makes you almost as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside. I have not quite seen any other Shu’halo with anything like it. It underscores just how unique you are, and that is just what a name should do – identify without mistake. Element, Spirit and Shu’halo alike will know it is you from the mere mention of it. Yes... This is definitely your True Name.”

Her pride would need some getting used to a more grounded name like that, but it cannot be denied. Even to this day if one mentions looking for a grey Tauren with white stripes, anyone would know just who you are looking for. Or one could go seeking for a certain Stripesnout they never met before and it would take but one glance at her to know this must be she.

It made all the more sense to her now, why the Owl already called her by that name when it first presented itself to her. In her remaining consciousness she could feel her acceptance of things the way they are growing ever broader. She’d even go so far as to say, she was proud of it, and wished nothing better than to embody it all.