Joining Gift

#33 of Artwork - "The Sacrifice for Peace" Trilogy

This is the gift that Mist Runner gives to both Grimm Tooth and Kurietta during their joining ceremony.


Excerpt from story:

I sat down and put the bag I had retrieved from my trunk onto the table. Red Moon sat down next to me and said, "Mist Runner's got something to show us." Dahmietra and Warri stopped what they were doing and came over to join us at the table. I opened up the little bag and slid the contents out. It was a pendant, but it had two chains attached to it. "Why does it have two chains?" Dahmietra asked. "So that two people can wear it," I said with a little grin. "But dear, two people can't wear the same piece of jewelry at the same time!" Red Moon said. "Take a closer look at it. See this little jagged groove that goes down the middle of the pendant? The metal is very thin right there," I said. "So, what does that have to do with anything?" Dahmietra asked. "Well, you see...this is one pendant, but it is made to break apart along the jagged groove. Each half will then have its own chain. The idea is that this is to be given to two people who are being joined--during their joining, the pendant is broken in two, and each of the couple are given a half to wear. The pendant is only whole again when the two halves are reunited--two become one," I explained. "What a beautiful idea!" Red Moon exclaimed. "Now, look closely...look at the symbols on either side of the jagged line," I instructed. "On one side it's a wolf under the moon...," Warri started, "...and on the other it's a skunk under the sun," Dahmi finished. "That's correct, and the whole are surrounded by stars. Now, look at the back," I prodded. Dahmi turned it over and Warri read the words, translating them into the Common Tongue:

You my sun and
I your moon,
the stars watch
over you and me,
while we're apart
from one another,
and when we meet
we are complete.

"Where did you get this at?" Red Moon asked. "I had that made for Grimm and Kuri back when we had journeyed into the northern mountains. I guess like Grimm and his little carving; I've kept it all of this time. I was going to give it to them long ago when...," I said choking up momentarily. Red Moon put her arm around my shoulders and hugged me. "Sorry, it's still a painful memory," I said after a moment. "I can only imagine," Red Moon said. I smiled weakly and briefly at Red Moon, but then I put the pendant back into its little bag and I buried my feelings. "Anyway, I guess I get to give it to them after all," I said with a grin as I slipped the little bag into my belt pouch.

End excerpt

I drew the image using mechanical pencils and a circle guide on Georgia-Pacific "Everyday Copy & Print" paper. The text and text effects I added using Adobe Photoshop after scanning artwork.

© 2012 Ronald J. Lebeck