The Soul Garden, a place of beauty, peace and tranquility set aside for housing the resting souls of the fallen was in magnificent splendor today. The grounds had been tended extra special, all the soul gems polished and resting places redressed and touched up. Today was known as The Time of Sacrifice in the Old Country of Lupinoss. Here, in the cross-realms of Rhydin the Earth realm calls the day Memorial Day.
Perhaps one will find out more if they step inside of the Soul Garden. Many families, some complete, some shattered and some just beginning are bringing gifts and living them around various soul gems today. Many pups are trying to behave for their parents, but it was hard not to go run and play on the grass with playmates that were here today. Adult Lupinossai were all chatting low with their neighbors if they were feeling social, some though were still harboring tears of grief even after years have passed; for those Lupinossai everyone gave a measure of peaceful silence and space. Everyone coming to the Soul Garden has one thing in common; lost loved ones. Loss and Grief, shared feelings and emotions that touch the whole community, but it wasn't a wholly sad time. Many Lupinossai were gathering and telling tales of how their loved ones fell bravely, or how they touched the lives of others making the world brighter and better.
In the middle of the Soul Garden, between two ornate fountains, glittering with soul gems of the Honored Fallen was recent sculpture made and placed between them.
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It was a Coat of Arms made of thousands of little pieces of metal with names inscribed upon it. It was odd as this was the only memorial piece in the Soul Garden with soul gems upon it. There was a reason for it, many had forgotten, but today, that memory would be stirred and renewed.
Vuusoolta Wolf, dressed in forest green robes with a crimson red sash honoring the long extinct Den Wolf walked into the Soul Garden. He wore the Den Crown of Leadership today, being he was on duty as Den Alphrans. Many of the Lupinossai paused in their chatter to greet him, bow or watch him walk by. He remained silent. His silence was something that was noted heavily of late and many never knew why the Den Alphrans had lapsed back into his vows of silence, until today. Vuusoolta no longer covered his neck. He bore the vicious scar across his throat proudly, showing why his voice was kept in silence.
Reaching the Coat of Arms, Vuusoolta turned and raised his paws and clapped them once. The clap was small, and not very loud, but everyone heard it and settled down turning eyes toward the center of the Soul Garden. Having their attention, Vuusoolta smiled slowly, and for the first time in a long time, spoke in a bit of a raspy, but strong voice.
"My fellow brothers and sisters of the Den, we are gathered today in the Soul Garden for many reasons. Reunions. Memories. Honoring. Guilt. Grief. Sorrow. Affirmation. Today is a special day. It is The Time of Sacrifice in the Old Country. A time when many young warriors would give up their youth and innocence to take up the courage to fight the various wars that had plagued our people. A time when many young apprentices embraced the first tastes of power and started the road to becoming powerful and sometimes feared mages. Many young and wise give up ambitious or wealthy family upbringings to make the world a better place.
However, given these pledges, and the nature of their courses, the day also sees the sacrifices of lives. Warriors die in battle, mages die in their thirst for knowledge and power, many healers, doctors, scholars and teachers stretch themselves thin to teach and heal the next generation and expire in the labor of love. So this time has become often clouded with grief and agony, but all is not lost. As you look around you, the souls of your loved ones and ancestors still dwell here in their soul gems.
You can still commune with them, honor them, talk with them and they can give you guidance. But, this is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, my brothers and sisters. In this realm, we have face more and more perils that have robbed us of the souls of our fallen leaving us with just their names and their memories. That is all right though for Names and memories are powerful things that continue to live on. Many of you may be feeling stricken with grief at the hole left behind by the loss of family. Many of you though are also remembering and sharing how those who have fallen have shared their love and touched the world making things better.
It is to this area of remembrance I wish to bring your attention to. Yes, grief has its place and we all grieve for as long as we wish to, but we are not alone in our losses. We do not live alone in this cross-roads of realms known as Rhydin. Many lives have been lost alongside of ours to keep us free. Many lives have been touched out their by us, or have touched us as a community. It is a regret that many cultures and races do not have the customs or capabilities to house the souls of their fallen in Soul Gardens, but they do remember their losses just as we do. They call this day, Memorial Day.
You may wonder why we have a Coat of Arms statue behind me with dog tags inscribed with thousands of names upon it? I draw you to look upon it, and read the names. For each and every name is in honor of those who have fought with us, stood with us or have helped our community in a time of need and have fallen or passed on. This is a day to remember everyone who has gone before us and sacrificed their lives doing what they do.
The soldier who died keeping us safe and free. The doctor who died bringing us the next cure, the newest break through in medicine or buying us those last few precious seconds to say farewell. The teachers who died teaching the young and the old ensuring knowledge never dies. The mage who recognizes when they have great powers and that they can protect those around them or harm them but face the consequences of either action. The priest and the healer who spend more time closer to their gods than most converts, burning up their souls to preserve the souls of others. The mother, the father, the brother or sister that did what they had to do to keep the family together and safe.
The Coat of Arms behind me and the Soul Garden we are in are simple reminders to our minds and hearts when we are hurt from grief and sorrow. A reminder that loss and sacrifice, while they do hurt and tear something vital from us will surround us, hug us and protect us from the dangers that would have strangled us had they not happen. Many races and cultures use the phrase 'The Cost of Freedom is War' or 'Freedom at the Price of Violence'. These phrases ring true for our history in the Old Country and in our brief four years as a nation in Rhydin. Our Freedom was bought and paid for by the blood of those willing to chase out oppressors, willing to remove enslavement and those willing to ensure the future is always open for each generation.
I could make mention of notable heroes who have been lost in the battles past and present, but no loss of life is greater than any other. So today, I ask that we all remember the losses today, but not to fret about them. To remember them in the light of how much brighter the world has been made by them. May Canis and Lupis smile upon all of you today and may the souls, names and memories of those lost and sacrificed today be honored till the end of time.
Vuusoolta stepped away from the Coat of Arms and left the Soul Garden quietly. He didn't need to say any further words or make any further noise. The Lupinossai in the Soul Garden were in full chatter now and the mood had lifted a bit to a more promising Memorial Day and less of a 'Funeral Day'.
