Power of the Wind

A breeze stirred the long stalks of grass. The wind slowly crossed the vast plains of Engein, setting every small thing in motion. A bird glided on its currents and slowly descended onto the roof of a yurt. Beads and bells threaded together on long strings followed the motions of the air, bells making soft rings.

A group of Cani fox folk children burst from the yurt laughing. One of them held a palm-sized bell with intricate carvings. Older Cani ran from the yurt following the children, yelling for them to stop. Cani cubs continued running carelessly towards the canyon.

The cub with the bell reached the edge of the canyon first. He turned back to the closing Cani adults, his eyes sparking mischievously. The remaining cubs cheered him, urging to act until they were all caught. The cub turned again and threw the bell into the canyon.

The bell bounced down the canyon side, making a ring each time it hit the ground. In only a few seconds, echoes from the canyon started overlapping with the bell rings. They went on louder and louder reaching a crescendo from the resonance. As if in response, the wind turned from a gentle breeze into a massive storm in an instant. All cubs were blasted from the canyon's edge by the powerful shock wave, Cani adults barely able to stand.

An old voice boomed like a thunder. A Cani shaman raised her hands into the air, uttering ancient words full of power. The storm slowly started to calm down. The bell ringing grew quieter and quieter. Finally, silence covered the area like a blanket.

Frightened, crying cubs ran towards their parents, the shaman looking angrily at them. More Cani ran from other yurts with looks of concern. Quickly forgotten, the remnants of the shattered bell were left laying in the canyon. A soft ringing could still be heard in its metal carved fragments.