Kuparr was not one of the Ansharin out hunting for the coming feast.  At this moment he was helping carry supplies from the tent of the elders to where they would be cooked for the celebration of the end of the cycle.  It wasn’t the most engaging task in the world, but one that needed to be done.  Such was his lot today, at least for now.  He was left a trifle annoyed, because he wanted to contribute in a larger and more meaningful way, but he knew that the celebration would more than make up for it.

Laying his present load down, he looked around him to see that it was also his last—at least of this nature.  The cook thanked him, and he responded in kind.  Looking around nearby, he saw Durabu and someone else—who’s name Kuparr was having trouble recalling at the moment—lay down a some of the wood for the fire.  Kuparr liked Durabu.  Durabu was kind, and while he might have questioned the elders with some frequency, Kuparr could not think less of him for it because he had many of the same questions, but did not voice them.  He knew there would be no answers, and so resolved to withhold his curiosity until he became an elder himself.

Kuparr was distracted from his dream when he saw the young Kwenda running towards the Oasis.  Kuparr was not one of the people who believed the younger Ansharin had not truly earned his tattoos.  Kuparr had personal experience with the little primates Kwenda had been named for, and knew their speed to be unmatched.  Kuparr did suspect that the feat had been accomplished with less-than-ordinary methods, but Kuparr, of all people, was in no place to criticize someone for that.

As Kwenda  neared the edge of their settlement, Kuparr saw that Kwenda had something unusual in his hand.  And Kuparr was intrigued.  He started walking over to where Kwenda was heading—now seeing Abigale, Yel’shadar, and Adoni clustered roughly in Kwenda’s path.  Somehow he had missed Durabu, who had been closer than Kuparr, heading over there as well, which was especially surprising considering his size.  

“Good Morning!”  He called out to all of them.