"Oh?" Qirin hummed thoughtfully, stroking the chin of his stone mask. "You were aware of what the festivities were? I see, I see."
Qirin folded his arms under his sleeves and nodded thoughtfully.
"I suppose our people tend to be reserved about sharing our customs. Very well, allow me to explain.
"Hoshiji Yuugi also known as the festival of stars. Translated, it means 'Eternal Love Story'. It all begins with a story that's been passed down since the time of our ancestors.
"The rabbit on the moon, Zhi Nu, weaved the garments of the gods and made mochi for Tentei Ma Gahava. She did her duties blissfully and happily, but she was very lonely. As her loneliness grew, she felt a greater emptiness inside. One day, when she looked down to the world, she thought she saw someone like her below. With great excitement, she leapt down to the world to find the one who is like her.
"When she descended to the world, Zhi Nu found herself in the middle of a great lake. She looked but no one was around. She chose to wait there until the one she saw returned. She waited and waited in the middle of that lake, but no one came. For ten days and nights she waited there, but no one came. Then from the forest came a wolf.
"He was Hino Boshi, a wolf who protected the land. He asked Zhi Nu why they were waiting at the lake. The moon rabbit explained they saw someone like the from the moon and are waiting for them to return. The wolf thought of this and asked the rabbit to look down at the lake directly under her feet.
"The rabbit did this for the first time in ten days and nights for they were keeping constant watch of the surroundings of the lake. When she did she saw herself reflected on the lake by the light of the moon.
"Zhi Nu became sadden and wept. As she did so, Hino Boshi stayed silently by her side. He said she may use his fur to dry her face. She did so and it was warm and soft. He gave her food. It was supple and sweet. He carried her on his back which was strong and steady.
"And as the days passed, Zhi Nu became happier and soon she forgot her loneliness. They spent many days together. The days became weeks. The weeks became years. Zhi Nu and Hino Boshi became very happy. But Tentei Ma Gahava was displeased.
"To protect Zhi Nu, Hino Boshi neglected the land and the animals he was to guard. To care for Hino Boshi, Zhi stayed in the world until the gods' garments became ragged. In her anger, Tentei Ma Gahava demanded that Zhi Nu return to the moon. The rabbit had no choice but to obey the mother and left the world. And to make sure they were seperated, Tentei Ma Gahava put a sea of stars between the world and the moon. Zhi Nu returned to making mochi and clothes for the gods and Hino Boshi went back to protecting the land.
"But their sadness was too much. The clothes Zhi Nu made became dull and her mochi tasteless. Hino Boshi, every night when he'd see the moon would stop and howl at it till the night's end.
"Then one night, the magpies flew by as they heard Hino Boshi's miserable howls. At the same time, the moths saw Zhi Nu as tears dripped into the clothes she weaved. Feeling sorry for the lovers, the moths and the magpies formed a bridge over the sea of stars, allowing them to meet once again. The two crossed and met in the middle, crying in happiness.
"Touched by this, Tentei Ma Gahava permitted the two to meet over the bridge of moths and magpies once a year every year, but only permitted so if they continue their duties diligently.
"And so this time every year, we hold this celebration of love and duty for rabbit of the moon and the wolf of the land. We do this with good food and music and we tie wishes to bamboo trees in the hopes that the lovers will carry them back to the gods and to the land. But most importantly we pray for Qing Tenki, clear weather, for if it rains and clouds the sky, the magpies and moths cannot form the bridge between the moon and the world and the lovers will not meet."
Qirin folded his arms under his sleeves and nodded thoughtfully.
"I suppose our people tend to be reserved about sharing our customs. Very well, allow me to explain.
"Hoshiji Yuugi also known as the festival of stars. Translated, it means 'Eternal Love Story'. It all begins with a story that's been passed down since the time of our ancestors.
"The rabbit on the moon, Zhi Nu, weaved the garments of the gods and made mochi for Tentei Ma Gahava. She did her duties blissfully and happily, but she was very lonely. As her loneliness grew, she felt a greater emptiness inside. One day, when she looked down to the world, she thought she saw someone like her below. With great excitement, she leapt down to the world to find the one who is like her.
"When she descended to the world, Zhi Nu found herself in the middle of a great lake. She looked but no one was around. She chose to wait there until the one she saw returned. She waited and waited in the middle of that lake, but no one came. For ten days and nights she waited there, but no one came. Then from the forest came a wolf.
"He was Hino Boshi, a wolf who protected the land. He asked Zhi Nu why they were waiting at the lake. The moon rabbit explained they saw someone like the from the moon and are waiting for them to return. The wolf thought of this and asked the rabbit to look down at the lake directly under her feet.
"The rabbit did this for the first time in ten days and nights for they were keeping constant watch of the surroundings of the lake. When she did she saw herself reflected on the lake by the light of the moon.
"Zhi Nu became sadden and wept. As she did so, Hino Boshi stayed silently by her side. He said she may use his fur to dry her face. She did so and it was warm and soft. He gave her food. It was supple and sweet. He carried her on his back which was strong and steady.
"And as the days passed, Zhi Nu became happier and soon she forgot her loneliness. They spent many days together. The days became weeks. The weeks became years. Zhi Nu and Hino Boshi became very happy. But Tentei Ma Gahava was displeased.
"To protect Zhi Nu, Hino Boshi neglected the land and the animals he was to guard. To care for Hino Boshi, Zhi stayed in the world until the gods' garments became ragged. In her anger, Tentei Ma Gahava demanded that Zhi Nu return to the moon. The rabbit had no choice but to obey the mother and left the world. And to make sure they were seperated, Tentei Ma Gahava put a sea of stars between the world and the moon. Zhi Nu returned to making mochi and clothes for the gods and Hino Boshi went back to protecting the land.
"But their sadness was too much. The clothes Zhi Nu made became dull and her mochi tasteless. Hino Boshi, every night when he'd see the moon would stop and howl at it till the night's end.
"Then one night, the magpies flew by as they heard Hino Boshi's miserable howls. At the same time, the moths saw Zhi Nu as tears dripped into the clothes she weaved. Feeling sorry for the lovers, the moths and the magpies formed a bridge over the sea of stars, allowing them to meet once again. The two crossed and met in the middle, crying in happiness.
"Touched by this, Tentei Ma Gahava permitted the two to meet over the bridge of moths and magpies once a year every year, but only permitted so if they continue their duties diligently.
"And so this time every year, we hold this celebration of love and duty for rabbit of the moon and the wolf of the land. We do this with good food and music and we tie wishes to bamboo trees in the hopes that the lovers will carry them back to the gods and to the land. But most importantly we pray for Qing Tenki, clear weather, for if it rains and clouds the sky, the magpies and moths cannot form the bridge between the moon and the world and the lovers will not meet."