[Jaykobell]

Upon hearing the name, Acornbark's face said it all. "Of course," he said quietly, and there was almost sadness in his mew. He paused.

Earthstrike became concerned that the old Oracle would disagree. Ultimately, he would trust Acornbark's judgement on who to take on the journey, but Earthstrike had a strong feeling in his gut that the Oracle he wanted was the one he truly needed. "I know everyone relies on her," he began, "but we need the best Oracle we have for the journey. We don't know what we'll find out there, and we need a Kuhna who knows what to do, and who can improvise."

Acornbark continued to stare at Earthstrike, but despite looking straight at him, the old Kuhna's eyes seemed like they were looking right past him, at something Earthstrike couldn't see, or even begin to understand.

[Jaykobell]

Finally, Acornbark gave his answer. "It is time for her, too," he said quietly. "Take her," he agreed, the sadness still veiling his eyes and his voice.

Once again, the Oracle spoke in cryptic sentences. Earthstrike could pick up on them, but he couldn't quite figure them out. "What do you mean, that it's time for her too?" As soon as he had asked, he wondered if he would regret asking.

The sadness turned into fondness, a sort of love that occurred between a parent and their kit. "Gildedfaith has lived her life in silence," he explained softly. "We are too far away from Crown's Tree. Our ancestors, our families, our dead... they cannot communicate with us here."

[Jaykobell]

Earthstrike stared at Acornbark in disbelief. "What do you mean?" he gasped. "That's why you're called an Oracle! Have you never communicated with our dead?"

There was no fear or shame in the eyes of the old Oracle. "We have not been connected to our ancestors for generations, Earthstrike," Acornbark replied. "Once upon a time, back in Roraldi, Crown's Tree allowed us to communicate with our dead. Here, so far away, generations later, the connection is gone. Our role within the clan now is to share our knowledge of healing and taking care of our fellow Kuhnas."

Things like Crown's Tree and Kuhnas who could communicate with the Kuhnas of times past were legends now. Stories told and passed on to the kits, nothing more but an attempt to preserve lost traditions.

[Jaykobell]

Seeing the shock in Earthstike's face, it encouraged Acornbark to share more. "Gildedfaith was moved by this aspect of being an Oracle, too," he said. "She has a natural talent for healing, but her interest is in reconnecting with our ancestors. She wants to give us back the full purpose of an Oracle."

Acornbark gave Earthstrike a moment to process it all. After a moment, the old Oracle quietly added, "Take her with you, Earthstrike." His voice was almost begging. "She deserves this. I believe, from every hair on my body, that she was destined to find our ancestors again. To guide them back to us; and us, back to them."

Once again, the love of a parent shone in his eyes. "Please grant her this chance."

[Jaykobell]

Acornbark had always been seen as this rough, kind of distant Kuhna. A fantastic healer, without a doubt, but with an attitude that sometimes left the others taken aback. To hear such care, such love in his voice; it made Earthstrike purr softly. "I had no idea you were so fond of her," he told the old Oracle, trying to tease him.

To his surprise, Acornbark purred back; even if the sound was subtle and tinted with age. "She is a fantastic healer," he said. "She has a grand destiny in store for her: I'm sure of that."

It was heartwarming to see such a bond between two Kuhnas who had no blood relations. Earthstrike had anticipated needing to fight for taking Gildedfaith with him on the journey. What a turn of events that it would be Acornbark insisting that Earthstrike take the young Oracle with him.

[Wild Pet Found]