dogs who wish to be birds

The first promise that Mo spoke to each student was that the student could learn to transcend her natural boundaries and attain enlightenment. The first lesson that Mo taught was that in order to reach enlightenment, we must first fully accept our nature.

The first lesson could last for years, and it was said to be very hard to learn. The Sons and Daughters were starved and asked to harvest ripe fruit. Were parched and asked to pee. Were left in a lightless cave, at night and asked to read. Were bound, and asked to climb. Were weighted, and asked to swim.

Even in those times it was not considered acceptable to kill one's students. That was not what Mo was after, and it was never the result. Mo would ask the student, "did you fail?" And if the student said yes, Mo would ask, "do you believe that one of the Drauv could have completed the task I set for you?" And if the student said yes, Mo would ask, "do you believe that I myself, Mo, would have found any difficulty in the task?" And if the student said yes, Mo would ask, "Why do you say that?" And if the student said, "because you are Dragunne, as am I," Mo would then say, "This is the first lesson. Tomorrow you may wear white."

The Sons and Daughters that Mo trained are counted among the most loved and feared Dragunne that history remembers. Each one was said to possess beauty, grace, wisdom, and talent. Mo teaches that we are all dogs who wish to be birds. A dog who tries to flap his wings will get nowhere and look foolish doing it. A dog who runs to the top of the mountain instead, will see some of what the bird sees, through great effort. A dog who uses his nose to read the winds, who waits patiently, and leaps skillfully, may eat the bird.