The Jagoon Masks

Jaewyndl made a funny face and signed to Gonyaul, but expressive enough for the benefit of his fellow chore mates. <Wow Gony, I think it is an improvement. Makes you look tougher.>

He was referring to the mask that Gonyaul had slipped over his face. He, with the aid of Qualestrel, designed and made jagoon masks out of leaves, sticks and twine. The likeness to the fearsome beast was actually quite striking. Even with just plant materials the silhouette and structure were pretty accurate. They had even used some dye from berries to create spotted patterns to add to the effect.

Adwenln signed in answer to Myrcelni’s side question. <He probably used the jagoon pictures drawn by Orohc Cambrenaul.> It was an accurate conjecture, since none of them had ever descended below the canopy, through the understory layer to step foot on the jungle floor yet. That wouldn’t happen until they turned 13 years of age. Though she recalled that Xaveltis once said he spotted a jagoon laying in wait in the understory down below while doing chores once.

Jaewyndl’s joking comment caused whispered giggles and a hushed laughs to ripple through the group of friends. Even Gonyaul laughed, though he was the target of the joke, finding it amusing. He knew full well that his features were the most feminine than any other male in the village. From afar, he had been mistaken for one of the young girls on numerous occasions, especially since they all wore the same outfits. It wasn’t until he started making new distinct hairstyles that it made a clearer distinction from afar. This jest, would be the inspirational spark that caused Gonyaul to invent his signature feline-looking hairstyle later that year.

Qualestrel began to sign the parameters of the game. <So Gony and I will finish the rest of the clean up here, while the rest of you clean up the pathways.>

They were going to kill two birds with one stone, dividing and conquering. Debris would fall from the emergent and upper canopy throughout the day and sometimes land and stay on their structures. Part of their chore tonight was also to remove these items, like sticks and discarded food, in designated safe spots for dropping to the ground floor.

<After you finish try and hide, because us two jagoons are going to come hunting you. If we catch you, you also turn into a jagoon and help stalk the others.> It was a simple twist on hide and seek with a theme, that simultaneously worked while doing chores.

The rest of them nodded in understanding and took off in different directions. Meanwhile, Qualestrel and Gonyaul continued to clean up their platform from the dinner, occasionally talking strategy or where they thought they would find their friends once the game started.