In the awe-inspiring north wind, a little snowflake danced down and landed on the tip of Amira Wolf Hanwu's nose. She felt the vague heat remaining under his old skin, and slowly melted into a drop of water and flowed down. ¡ø¡à
This year¡¯s winter will come early and be very cold.
Amila didn't blink, and her eyes were still staring at the valley at her feet. Ruoyouruowu's breathing did not disturb the rhythm at all, just like a clay and wood sculpture with slight signs of life, but just with a little touch on her nose, He could vaguely feel the rhythm and will of heaven and earth contained in this snowflake. He was a shaman, and his life and soul were throbbing with this world at all times.
"The first heavy snowfall this year will be in forty-two days." Not far away, Polly Luo Langxue said lightly. This is a shaman who is less than sixty years old and comes from the Silver Bear tribe. With his deep affinity and deeper feeling for snow, he can better understand the deeper meaning behind these snowflakes. Being able to gain recognition from the Great Wolf and become a wolf shaman at his age is considered a rare genius.
¡°Geniuses like him in previous years would generally not have lived too long.
There will always be blizzards that the entire tribe cannot withstand. The kind of overwhelming snow lasts for dozens of days at a time. Even wild beasts will pretend to be dead in their underground lairs, hoping that the terrifying winter will pass as soon as possible. At that time, these Sasha who are close to the ice and snow elves will Man must stand up and pray for this blizzard to stop.
Their prayers will be answered. The ice and snow elves will more or less withdraw from the raging cold wave. Many people and beasts on the prairie will get a chance to survive and their lives will continue. However, the ice and snow elves will also take away part of their lives and soul. But they won't resist. Because they are shamans, their lives and souls have long been dedicated to the great wolf. Dedicated to the elves of heaven and earth, just waiting for the opportunity for them to take it back.
"If it were in previous years, this winter would be very difficult, and I don't know how many people would die." On the other side, a shaman who was as skinny as a skeleton said coldly, seeming to recall the coldness of the snowstorm, and tightened his tattered tights. animal skin robe.
"Starting from this year, it won't happen anymore." Polillo Langxue's voice was filled with a hint of passion and confidence. Among shamans, even if he was only a young shaman, this kind of tone was rare.
"Yes. Not anymore." Several other shamans couldn't help but echoed, with rare vitality in their voices.
Amira didn¡¯t make a sound, but his eyes looking at the valley below couldn¡¯t help but become more powerful and pious. The same goes for other shamans. When they were talking just now, no matter who they were, their eyes never left.
The valley below is a valley of medium size, about a hundred feet in diameter, surrounded by cliffs that are difficult for monkeys to climb, like a giant stone container. At this moment, there are more than ten pairs of eyes with faint green light lurking quietly in the shadow at the bottom of the container. That's dozens of young wolves.
More than ten days ago, the number of wolf pups down here was ten times the current number. However, without any food, 90% of the pups had become food for other survivors. Young wolves that are eligible to be placed here. They are all the strongest, smartest, and bravest cubs born this year among the wolves on the grassland. The dozen or so cubs left now are undoubtedly the strongest, smartest, and cunningest among them.
And after today. The last one left is truly the strongest, smartest and cunning one. Everyone here is waiting for the result. It can bring all the wolf shamans on the grassland together. Only at this time of year, at this ceremony.
? And this year will be the last year.
The rustling sound slowly extended from the hillside behind. The wolf shamans didn't care, not even a single one turned around. They still focused their eyes and energy on the shadows at the bottom of the valley.
A huge scorpion-like insect slowly climbed up the top of the mountain. The movements of the giant insect were very slight, like a servant walking in front of a distinguished elder. The huge limbs seemed to choose every place to stay carefully, but even so, he did not dare to truly completely After climbing to the top of the mountain and reaching the height that only belonged to the wolf shamans, they could only carefully raise the lower half of their bodies.
"Wise Amira, your son, Chief An Luoluo wants to see you." On top of the giant insect's head, an old man with only the head whispered in a rustling voice that sounded a bit like an insect. This old man has no body, and his simple head is covered with carapace only found in insects. It looks like a lump growing inexplicably on the top of the giant insect's head. But even the facial features covered with carapace and the sound that sounded like insects showed respect and obedience. Wolf shamans are the closest servants of the big wolf, and they are also the most noble people recognized by all tribes. Their status is far beyond that of other shamans.
Amira. Wolf Hanwu seems to be goneHearing this, he still stared at the bottom of the valley like a wooden sculpture. The other shamans did not speak, and the top of the mountain fell into silence again. The giant insect did not make any movement, and was still lying on the edge of the mountain with such submissiveness. Only the sound of wind whistled from time to time.
I don¡¯t know how long it took before Amira said in his dry voice as if he would die at any time: "I am waiting for the big wolf here. I can¡¯t go to see him, let him go on his own."
"Yes." The old man on the giant insect agreed humbly, and the huge insect turned around and climbed down the mountain.
"Wait a minute." Amira suddenly spoke again. The giant insect immediately stopped and turned around. It¡¯s just that Amira has no voice again.
After a while, it was Poliluo Langxue who slowly spoke: "Amira, the big wolf will come, but there is still about a whole day. I think you can go see An Luoluo."
Amira still didn¡¯t move, still staring at the valley below like a clay or wood sculpture, only the cold wind blew his sparse long beard in all directions. After a while, Pali Luo's voice slowly sounded: "An Luo Luo is a great warrior. I met him thirty years ago. At that time, I had not received the favor of the big wolf, but An ordinary little shaman, we often lead the warriors to hunt Tusk Rippers in the frozen soil. His bravery and strength impress everyone. Whether as a hunter hunting dangerous wild beasts, or as a leader of tribesmen and southerners. The chief who fights with others. He has done well enough, and the Silver Bear and Gray Wolf can become stronger. He has great contributions"
"He is a very good and great warrior, I think. He can be favored by the big wolf and is qualified to let his father see him for the last time."
The silence continued for a while amid the sound of the wind. Amira finally turned around slowly and walked towards the giant insect with old steps. The giant insect also turned around and bowed its body in great respect. Amira walked up to the giant insect with difficulty and sat cross-legged. The giant insect immediately took steps to crawl down the mountain, its eight long legs moving very quickly. The whole body was extremely stable, so that Amira above could not feel any shaking at all.
At the foot of the mountain, dozens or hundreds of similar giant insects were surrounding each other, crawling there neatly. Although their appearance and size are different, some have ferocious bone spurs, some are as round as a ball, some have eight legs and two wings, and some are centipede-like, but the same thing is that they all have a person on their head or body. . Or the one like the one Amira is sitting on has only a head, or half a body. These are insect shamans from various tribes. They use secret techniques to merge themselves with the giant insects they raise, thus maintaining the power of their souls to communicate with the spirits of heaven and earth. They also have combat prowess that far exceeds that of ordinary warriors. They are the strongest combat prowess in each tribe, and some even have part-time jobs.
But compared to the wolf shamans who have been recognized by the big wolf. Their status was far inferior, so they could only crawl at the foot of the mountain and wait quietly.
I saw the giant insect carrying Amira approaching. The surrounding insect shamans quickly moved aside. The giant insect took Amira toward the distance until it was nearly five miles away. Only then can you see rows of tents and stone houses.
Both stone houses and tents have the same characteristics, that is, they are thick and crude. Stone houses are usually made of several huge rocks pieced together, with soil plugging the gaps. The tents are simply sewn together with animal skins, which can be easily recognized by experienced hunters at a glance. Can clearly identify which beast it comes from.
Surrounded by stone houses and tents, in the center is an altar made of huge stones. Countless human skulls and the skulls of beasts of all sizes are the only decorations. It is simple and rough, with a simple and solemn atmosphere. . The warriors of the tribe were kneeling down to worship and pray towards the valley in the distance. The status of non-shamans can only stop at this place. For them, going forward is the holy land that can only be entered by the servants of the big wolf.
When they saw the giant insect running towards Amira, all the warriors in the corner below the altar bowed and pushed away. Only the leader stepped out from the crowd, shouting with surprise on his face: "Father!"
The giant insect stopped beside the man and leaned down. Amira on top slowly stepped down and walked to the man. He looked at him and said lightly: "Son, isn't it time to set off? You Why do you still come to see me?"
"I want to see my father again." The man lowered his head and replied. He was three heads taller than Amira and three times as wide. Judging from the volume, he could fit at least four or five Amira. It was like the difference between a bear and a monkey, but there was only sincere and flawless respect in his eyes when he looked down at Amira, as if he were looking at a kind and great giant. He is Amira's son, the chief of the Gray Wolf tribe, An Luoluo.
"Yeah. It's really not easy to see Dad before the last wolf hunt." Amira nodded, her cold and lifeless voice had a little more warmth, and his muddy and indifferent eyesRan's eyes gradually began to see his father's kindness. "Actually, I also want to meet you, kid."
"Dad." The corners of An Luoluo's eyes became wet, and he couldn't help but reach out and wipe them. As a tribal chief, he had not felt this way for a long time, and as a fifty-year-old warrior, he almost thought that there would be no such thing as tears again in this life.
But what Amira said just now is right, it is so rare to be able to see her father before the final wolf hunt. Generally speaking, it was the father who visited his son before the last wolf hunt. He was the only one in decades who could visit his father before setting off.
Except for the shamans who serve the big wolf and the elves of heaven and earth, there are no old people in Xidi. Because they have lost their strong bodies and can no longer withstand wild beasts and bad weather, nor can they obtain prey by themselves, they can only become the slaves of others in the tribe. burden. The tribe does not need to be a burden, and no one wants to be a burden, so they will contribute everything they have before time and space take away their last strength.
The group of thirty or forty warriors behind An Luoluo were all like him, their faces already covered with wrinkles. His hair has turned gray and his muscles have begun to relax. His strength and stamina began to weaken, and his body was covered with injuries from years of fighting. This is all the fifty-year-olds among the tens of thousands of people in the nearby tribes. They will head north before the first snow begins, hunt as much prey as possible, and leave as much winter food as possible for the tribe until they use up their last strength to shed the last drop of blood. This is the last wolf hunt, a custom passed down for thousands of years by all tribes living on the savannah and a part of their lives.
"Under the care of the big wolf, I have lived too long, so long that I can see my son go on the final hunt." Amira let out a long sigh, like a broken bellows leaking air. among the Siddis. He is indeed too old. His fingers, as dry as old tree roots, caressed a string of teeth on his neck, four of which were as huge as small daggers. "I still remember that this was the gift you gave me after you killed the tooth beast when you were eleven years old and hunted alone for the first time. I didn't expect that this would be your last time."
"Dad, don't worry, I will definitely hunt down a big one and feed everyone!" An Luoluo slapped his broad chest hard, making a muffled sound. There are dedicated people following these old warriors, picking up and harvesting their prey. Of course, if you are lucky, you can collect their corpses for them. But if you want to leave corpses in the mouths of those wild beasts, you really need very, very good luck.
Even the words and actions he said were exactly the same as forty years ago, and there seemed to be someone who was not taller than him again in front of Amira's eyes. But in the figure of the brave young man who was fearless, the eyes that had been dry for decades became a little moist without even realizing it.
An Luoluo sighed again: "But it's a pity that we can't see the big wolf return with our own eyes. We can no longer take everyone to fight against the southerners. With the blessing of the big wolf, we will definitely be able to defeat the southerners. Take it back Lots and lots of food and southern slaves. But Mojiha will take over the affairs of the clan. He is a brave warrior. He is also very cunning. I believe he will be a competent chief."
"The big wolf will really come back soon. Every wolf shaman can feel the breath of the big wolf, and can feel the anger of the big wolf." Amira's decaying voice brings out a bit of power, which is all Wolf shamans have a common feature when talking about big wolves. "Those cowardly southerners took advantage of their large numbers and joined forces to use despicable witchcraft to completely isolate the big wolf from the world. But this could not last long. The witchcraft of the southerners not only drove away the big wolf, but also Awakening their own demons, their imperial dynasty collapsed. The workings of heaven and earth destined the Great Wolf to return with endless fury and defeat the despicable Southerners into slavery."
"Yes, we will definitely defeat those hateful Southerners. They will all become our slaves and sacrifices to the big wolf." An Luoluo also cheered up, with an excited expression and a loud voice. "With enough southern slaves, we can raise more warriors and more giant insects, open up larger pastures, and hunt more wild beasts. We can also occupy the southern territory. I heard that there It is also very warm in winter, and there are no more terrible snowstorms. They also have many beautiful clothes, delicious food and wine, and very comfortable houses. People from the gray rat and black fox tribes once brought us to see and taste them. These should all belong to our great warriors!¡±
"Yes, An Luoluo, we can enslave the cowardly southerners. But we must be careful not to let the beautiful clothes confuse the warrior's eyes, and not to let the delicious food and wine corrode the warrior's feelings. Gray Rat and Black Fox Tribe There have never been wolf shamans favored by the big wolf, and there are no real warriors. That is because they are too close to the southerners and have been too corrupted by the southerners. Even if they??It can exchange food for other tribes and detect the situation of the Southerners, but it cannot change the fact that they are humble. Every year, warriors and women corrupted by the Southerners have their eyes gouged out and turned into slaves and insects. grain. You must know that only the will of the big wolf is the foundation of our prairie people. "
"Dad, thank you for your teachings. Your wisdom is the real pride of our tribe." An Luoluo smiled widely and touched his scalp. His smile was honest and a bit astringent. "But I won't be able to hear it anymore. You must teach Mo Jiha just like you taught me."
Amira¡¯s face, which had just gained a little vitality, froze, and then slowly fell silent again. Yes, this was the last time he saw the child he was teaching.
The big wolf is about to return, and he will be able to defeat the Southerners immediately, obtain a large amount of slave food, and the Southerners' territory. There will no longer be the danger of food shortage, the old and the weak dying of cold and starvation. Perhaps this last rule of wolf hunting can be dispensed with. He must be so strict But this idea had just emerged in his mind, and Amira suddenly woke up. So what if we don¡¯t go on the final wolf hunt? Let the warriors' strong bodies gradually age and wither, and finally wail weakly on their beds, waiting to die? That is a humiliation more terrifying than death. The final wolf hunt is not only a custom developed by prairie warriors for thousands of years to survive, but also a manifestation of the will of the big wolf - to fight without fear, to prey, and to turn every ounce of his life into The wildest roar.
Even death is just an embellishment.
"I will. Get on your way, kid, the big wolf is watching you." Amira patted An Luoluo's chest, just like she did forty years ago.
"Yes. Dad, I'm leaving. I will hunt a big one so that you can have a good meal." An Luoluo nodded, still with that honest smile, turned around and summoned the old warriors. He walked towards the distance without looking back. (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature. The novels will be better and updated faster!