Festival of Death, Day 10: Pakkanen and Vihma

It was really unlikely to Pakkanen to walk around, without his gears or mission. He held his head down, glaring at anyone who made a contact with his fur in the thick crowd. Vihma on his other side felt how tense the youngster was and let out a heavy sigh. Pakkanen immediately darted his eyes to older rook and perked his ears.
''What is wrong now, old man? Can't I even have a single moment of privacy?'' the pearl rook spit, revealing his teeth for a second. He was irritated and in a bad mood, when he had to follow Vihma around. The hazel rook stayed calm, despite from the anger burst of his student.
''Nothing is wrong, Pakkanen, except your whole attitude'', he answered gently, ''Why you're angry?''
''I'm not angry'', the pearl rook answered, avoiding the gaze of older rook. They were standing in the middle of the flow of citizens, and moon was caking the city with silver light. All little lanters looked like stars in the darkness, all houses had atleast one lantern on their door.
''I don't understand why we have to go around the town'', Pakkanen grumbled, which made Vihma look amused for a moment. The rook had heard that before.
''Because tonight is the festival of Death. This town celebrates very rarely, so it's an honor that we...'', he started, but Pakkanen interrupted him:
''Yeah, yeah, it's an honor that we bake cakes and play music and dance and play and all that kiddy shit...'' Vihma sighed again. Ever since Pakkanen heard that they wouldn't leave the town alongside with their handlers, he had been in a bad mood. The younger rook really enjoyed the missions he had to make with the handlers, but he was far too young to take part to most important ones. That's why Vihma was staying behind too, to keep an eye on pearl rook so he would not follow the handlers. Staying on one place made Pakkanen feel restless and he certainly didn't like the crowd that was pushing and shoving him all the time.
''Can't we just go back to home?'' he asked.
''I thought we could eat something first'', Vihma suggested, but it made Pakkanen just even more angry. He still followed the older rook, when he disappeared into the crowd.

Silently both kukuris walked away from city plaza, which was decorated with lanterns and lights. Pakkanen was able to smell beef that was roasted on fire and his stomach let out a single silent growl. Vihma heard it but apparently ignored it since he continued walking away from the food. Pakkanen mumbled himself something about useless and worthless nights alone, and kept peeking at the plaza full of dancing and singing people. Vihma instead started climbing steps that were partly hidden inside the mountain, surrounding the town. Pakkanen didn't knew where they leaded, but he felt like he had to follow his mentor. Silently two rooks climbed up, and when they got out from the stairway, the pearl kukuri noticed they were on the field. He turned his head and saw just dark field, with distant mountains under the fullmoon. Vihma was standing next to him, and light breeze stroked their coats. The older rook had a gentle smile on his face.
''Well then'', he said, making a soft motion with his paw and pointed at the edge of the field. Pakkanen took couple careful steps towards it and looked down. He saw their town, dancing around the bonfire and having a good time. All the smells rise towards the sky and felt almost intoxicating from their point of view. Here and there in the black town was lanterns, looking like stars, sprinkled all around the small place. Pakkanen felt how his heart sunk; how he was feeling so bad when all others around him were having such a good time? He felt Vihma's thick body next to him.
''I thought we were going to get food'', he said quietly.
''I wanted to bring you here, youngster'', Vihma explained, ''To see that our little town is not a bad place. It's not oppressive either, since you always have a way to come up here. I believe even this place has enough space for your thoughts.'' Pakkanen laid eyes on the field behind him. He wasn't sure was the Vihma's thought genuine or just way to get back to him. Nevertheless, the young kukuri was feeling much better up here, where there was no-one else than them.
''You need to learn respect this little town. It's currently only safe place we know. At the time you will appreciate the feeling of safeness, even if it probably isn't your thing right now'', Vihma said and turned away. He started descending back down, but Pakkanen sat on the edge and watched the town. He pinned his ears back, and wondered would he ever understand the things Vihma understood in their job. He felt how the breeze stroked his fur again and wondered; was there any way to grow up faster?