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"You see Grandchild, you see those stars up there, just beyond the horizon, beyond the Seven Sisters and just over that mountain. That one is Vali, the Sky-Wolf, the Wolf of Dawn. He too is special to us, to the People, for he has given the People his Mark, the Wolf's Eye, the Vher'shek'kor that lives on in the Voluval. You see that star there, yes, there...that is the star Vher'shek'kor, that is the Eye of Vali, the Wolf's Eye..."
"I will tell you how Vali the Wolf hunts in the Sky, and how he was once of the People..."
"Nari and Vali were two brothers born to the People under happy signs. Though they were twins, it was Nari who was born first, with Vali born not moments later. Both were blessed of the spirits, and favored of the loki. The People were pleased seeing them, and many good things were fortold for the brothers and the People."
"Nari, the eldest, became known as a mighty hunter and warrior. Strong of body and mind, brave in action and deed, Nari's earliest life brought glory to his name and wealth to his House. The People knew Nari as a war leader that would win great things."
"Vali was quieter and smaller than his brother, but no less blessed. Vali found himself drawn to the Shaman's circle, and it is said that he was born with the sign of the Shaman on his skin. He spoke to the spirits, looked for signs of the loki, and listened to the counsel of the ancestors. His eyes saw much, and his voice spoke wisdom. The People knew Vali as a shaman who would teach many good things."
"But as they grew to full grown Men, Nari grew more and more proud. War without loss emboldened him, and his armor shown with so much glory that it began to blind him to the Good. Still, Vali counseled his brother, hoping to turn him from the wrong course, to keep his path on the Tor'i'kal, the Ways of Warrior. Nari listened, at the beginning, and followed, though he began to grow weary of the sound of Vali's voice."
"Soon, Nari had founded his own House, like all successful War Leaders. Because of his might and leadership, the House of Nari was without peer, either within the ranks of the People's warbands or in the armies of those across the seas. Wealth and property and glory flowed like the rivers do in spring, wild and powerful and reckless. The warriors of Nari soon began to follow their leader's ways, walking away from the ways of Tor'i'kal, and instead seeking glory and pride."
"Soon, Nari's actions began to bring sorrow to the people. Prideful injustices were soon inflicted upon those smaller than he. Many wept, and many were confused. Was not Nari chosen by the spirits? Was he not blessed by Heaven? The final act of outrage was the violation of a young wife, and the death of her husband when he tried to avenge her."
"Vali saw this, and knew sorrow. He left the Shaman's Council with a heavy but still heart, and traveled to the lodge of his brother. There he spoke words of outrage and of wisdom, and called upon Nari, his brother, to find his way back to the Tor'i'kal, and forever give up his spear as penance."
"Nari grew angry, and there on the floor of his lodge he challenged his brother to combat. Vali was gifted and strong, but he was not the warrior that Nari was, and Nari struck down his brother, shattering his body in front of his own hearthfires. Angered beyond reason, Nari drug the body of his brother to the kennel of his hunting dogs, chaining him in an empty stall, and telling Vali that he was no longer his brother, no longer even of the People. "
"Vali knew pain, humiliation, and prayed to his ancestors for help, for guidance, for the strength to help the People. Yet, the ancestors could not help, for Vali asked for vengeance against his own brother, against his own line, his own blood. Such things were taboo to the spirits of the People, no matter the crimes committed. So the stars of Heaven were quiet, and Vali shed bitter tears, for his brother, for his people, and for his own body."
"But spirits other than those of the People heard his pleading. Great Wolf, one of the Totem Gods, heard Vali's pleadings. Wolf, forever loyal to the Pack, even beyond himself, knew the truth of Vali's request. The Pack was all, and sometimes the mad dog must be driven from the Pack, for the betterment of Den and Cubs."
"So Great Wolf came to Vali, in the kennel of Nari's hunting dogs. Great Wolf cowed the hunting dogs with a growl, then turned his dark eyes to the broken body of Vali."
"I have heard your pleas Shaman, even when your own spirits have not. Know that I understand what you seek, protection of the Pack, of the ways passed on from hunter to cub. You seek to sacrifice all for Pack, even your own blood, your own heart, and that is a fierce loyalty that belongs to me, to the Great Wolf, to the Pack."
"But you are as man, and I am of Wolf. I can not help you as you are. You must become one with my Pack before I can aid you and your People. The choice is yours Shaman..."
"Then the Great Wolf stood quietly, waiting for Vali to make his choice."
"Vali looked up at the night sky, and then nodded slowly. "So be it Great Wolf, I will join your Pack. I will save the People, even if it means forever being apart from them."
"Great Wolf nodded his great muzzel, and with that Vali began to scream, a scream that turned to a howl. Vali turned into a huge black Wolf, a worthy packmate to Great Wolf himself. Vali the Wolf slipped the chains that kept him in the kennel, for chains built to hold man and dog cannot hold a wolf."
"Then Vali the Wolf jumped through the doors of Nari's lodge. Nari's warriors threw their spears, yet they could not pierce Vali's hide. Those who stood before Vali fell to his fang. Nari himself fought the wolf for the whole night, for he was the greatest warrior of his generation. But at Dawn's first light, the sunlight caught Nari's golden armor, blinding him just long enough for Vali to tear his heart out."
"Vali the Wolf then howled in victory and sorrow, then ran out into the snows. The People knew that Nari had been judged by the spirits and by Heaven, and Nari's warband put down their spears, burned Nari's lodge, and swore to return to the Ways of the People."
"The legends differ as to why Vali was brought to the Sky. Some say the ancestors saw that they were wrong, and Heaven lifted Vali to the Sky in honor of saving the soul of the People. Some say that Vali lost his humanity, and was brought to the Sky to forever hunt with Great Wolf. Others say it is a darker tale, that Vali acquired the taste for the blood of his own People, and Heaven put him there so that Vali would not hunt down the People one by one."
"Perhaps it is all of these and none, for the ways of God and spirits are for Man to respect and acknowledge, but not understand."
"That is why we see Vali before every Dawn, continually fighting his fallen brother. We see Vher'shek'or, the Eye of Vali, the Wolf's Eye, a constant reminder that the spirits are always watching, as protectors and judges."
"A few of the People carry his Voluval Grandchild. Perhaps even you will one day. Some say it is a the mark of a hunter, or a warrior, who defends the People from all threats no matter the cost. Other clans say it is that of a shaman, of one who uses fang and howl and wisdom and the spirits to steer the People."
"But I say both of these are not wrong, yet not right. I say it is the Mark of one who must leave what he was meant to be, and become what he must."
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