The five of us stood in the ancient cave where the naming ceremony had taken place for centuries. We were all excited to gain our new names and the necklace denoting which guardian would take us in.

Markus, Jacob, and David had strong attributes of either wolf or bear. While Tessa had obvious traits that placed her with the mountain lion. Myself? No one knew. I was loyal like the wolf, but I wasn't as strong as a bear or at all like the mountain lion. I was quiet and observant of the world around me. I was not confident in my future among any of the groups. For all I knew, I was going to be one of the people who remained within the main tribe for the rest of my life.

One by one they left the cave to meet with the four elders at the edge of the path. As one would come back, another would congratulate their predecessor, then begin the trek to the meeting spot. To say the least, I hadn't been surprised by what they got. All the boys were bears, my female friend was a mountain lion... and I was dreading being the last one to go.

Of course, everyone had wished me well as I began to walk. The noise of their voices echoing through my brain. This would be the last time we spoke before our new lives began. I would miss them the most when we got separated - they were family to me.

As I arrived at the end of the path I was greeted by a strange sight. Instead of the four elders and the great elder waiting for me, I only saw the frail body of Great Elder. Her lips curved upwards into a smile as she gestured for me to come closer to her. Her amber eyes almost seemed to shine in the moonlight as she held something behind her back. "Do you want to know why I sent the others away?"

Without hesitation, I nodded my head in response. "Yes, Great Elder."

"It's because I need no one else to tell me the obvious. You belong to something beyond the barriers of our people - something greater." From behind her back, she pulled out an old looking necklace with a golden crystal attached. "Your new name shall be Owl-Sage, for you are old of soul and silent of movement," She spoke.

"What?" I blinked as I attempted to figure out what was going on. My name reflected a guardian animal that had never existed to my knowledge.

Without responding to my question, the woman stepped behind me. She hummed as she tied the two ends of the leather-corded necklace together. "One day the necklace will make its powers known," the old woman spoke. "And when it does, your guardian and calling will become known to you. Walk tall, Owl-Sage."