It was my intention to hunt, and thus I prepared to summon the Spirits of the world to show them the proper respect, to explain my need, and to give my thanks. Working with flint and steel to produce a spark, I soon had the fire bundle smoking; placing it within the center of the ring of stone I exhaled gently upon it as I reverently whispered its sacred name to summon its power, "Atsila!" I piled dry grasses for tinder, broken twigs for kindling, and pieces of dried limbs for firewood; soon the fire was roaring. To this I added aromatic herbs that I had gathered, as an offering to sanctify the fire for my purpose, it was a good sign that the smoke rose high in a close column before being scattered by the wind in all directions. Satisfied with the omen, I began to prepare myself; stripping away all that I wore, I stood nude before the fire and bathed in the same smoke that I had offered the Spirits. 
Taking up a bowl of greasepaint which I had prepared for the ceremony from the ashes of my last fire and fat of my previous kill, I had mixed them into a smooth and thick paste, which I now used to decorate my body. Dipping two fingers into the mixture, I used it to darken my ears, and my eyes; my lips and my nose first. I was asking the Spirits to enhance the senses I would need most for the hunt. Next I would stripe my forehead so that I might be wise, then my arms that I might be strong. I striped my legs that I might be fast, and my feet that I might be silent. Next I would stripe my shoulders that I might carry the weight of my prey, and my hands that they might be merciful. Finally, I striped my heart, that it might be true. 
Moving again to the fire, I took a position within the veil of smoke, closed my eyes and began to breathe deeply to focus and purify my mind; all other thoughts I pushed away, only the hunt could remain. Placing the carved bone whistle in my mouth and taking the turtle shell rattles in my hands, I was now prepared and returned to the fire. Shaking the rattles and blowing the whistle while turning to face the directions of the four winds, I announced to the Spirits of the world that I was ready and began my dance.
Lifting my knees high I stepped quickly, nodding my head and chanting, the low growling sound emanating from deep within my chest resonated within my throat before escaping my lips; raising my feet then stamping the ground twice with each of them in turn, I circled the fire, singing of the bright tall flames which leapt and swayed with the wind. My arms were loose at my sides shaking the turtle shell rattles held securely in my rough hands; with each fifth step I spun full circle to the left or right to match the direction of the landing foot, then swept my head low, lashing my free flowing mane toward the flames offering a taste of it before snapping my head back, turning my frosted blue green eyes toward the star filled sky, and shining moons, blowing a sharp shrill note on the bone whistle held firmly in my teeth before taking the next pace.
Stamping the ground twice then stepping again, my lean form which hung with flowing beads of sweat shone in the flickering firelight; the dark stripes of ash and the grease of rendered fat spread widely along the contours of my muscular arms and broad shoulders. I sang of the wind which shakes the trees, the free falling leaves that swirl in wild chaos, the rains that quench the thirst of all things, of the blood that nourishes the green grasses, and the wide white blankets of snow which hushes all growing things for their winter slumber. My hair hung loose and swirled about me on the wind as I stepped and sang while rattling the pebble filled turtle shells and blowing the ivory toned whistle of drilled and carved bone. 
With each full circle I turned my joyful yet monstrous face and shining eyes toward the fire and leapt at it, landing within inches of its glowing outer embers, then vaulted through it with a powerful thrust of my bare and grease painted legs. Landing on my toes on the far side of the fire, my hair whirled in wild chaos, a riot of free flowing color as I spun to face the flames again, and threw strong arms wide toward the glittering tapestry of stars before sounding the whistle again and backing away with three paces stamped out upon the leatherlike balls of my bare feet. Bounding over the blaze once toward each cardinal direction of the compass, I celebrated my freedom to roam the wide world as I pleased; having summoned the Spirits to share the fire and dance with me, I dropped the rattles and whistle on the plush auburn pelt spread upon the ground where I had slept. 
Taking up the fleshless painted skull which still bore the antlers of the beast upon whose hide I slept I brought it to my face, then bending low at the waist I began again with a shambling gait, swinging my head from side to side slowly, as if grazing upon the lush green grasses of the plains. I danced and sang to call forth the great beast for the hunt yet to come; throwing myself upon the ground I rolled from side to side, wallowing exuberantly; then rose again and shook myself furiously as one of the mighty animals dusting itself within the contours of a natural mineral basin. Charging ahead with horns lowered and tossing I began to circle the fire once more, pausing to toss back my head and bellow long and low, imitating the wail of its mating call in each direction of their habitual migration route. 
Rising to my full height again, I stamped and pawed the ground with my feet, kicking up dust then rushing ahead sweeping the antlers from left to right and back again as I chanted and sang from deep within my chest. Turning to face the fire again, showing it the cold and remorseless eyes of a predator glistening with hunger; I bent low at the waist, and swept the skull toward the flames, offering my own flesh to the fire now as I asked the Spirits to guide my hunt successfully. Feeling the reassurance of their promising licks upon my prickling skin I withdrew from the caress of the excited tongues of the flame, raised the skull aloft, shaking it with a release of satisfaction, and rejoicing with a long sharp warbling whoop of joyful praise. 
With a single long bound  toward the fur, I returned the brightly decorated skull and antlers to its place, then taking up the spear with which I would hunt I turned again to the fire and the Spirits gathered round it for their blessings. Growling and salivating I raised the weapon high with both hands and began to jump, bouncing up and down, shouting its name to the winds in all directions as I turned full circle upon my toes. "WahuKeza! WahuKeza! WahuKeza!" I chanted wild eyed and shaking with excitement as I held it aloft and bounced, spinning quickly in dizzying circles around the blazing fire. With a sudden stop, facing the fire again I thrust the long, thick, black stone blade toward the flame, showing the Spirits its keenly knapped edge; and allowed the strong wooden shaft to slip through my fingers, stopping it near the lashed socket where the handle meets the blade. 
Berserk now with bloodlust, and anticipation, gripping it securely I brought the ragged razor's edge to my chest, pressed it firmly to my flesh and with a snarl curling across dripping lips, eyes sparkling with savage fury, I drew the spearhead from left to right slicing into my skin and gathering my blood upon the glittering blade. With a sharp flick of my wrist, crimsons pearls arced in sacrificial flight toward the enraged flames, sputtering and sizzling as they fell toward their eager consumption. 
"WAHUKEZA!" I proclaimed loudly as the fire accepted the gift of my blood; then with a sudden retraction of my right arm I thrust the butt of the spear shaft solidly into the ground before slipping downward, exhausted and panting rapidly, with feral eyes and a frothing maw; to rest upon my toes and the balls of my feet, I settled my haunches upon my calves with my head bowed, allowing my dark and wildly mottled mane to fall about the width of my shoulders, and the thickness of my chest where it clung to my dripping skin. Blood, slobber, and sweat fell onto my thighs where it collected before trickling in rivulets along their thickly muscled contours, and dripped around my feet to soak into the ground where I crouched.