~

Rushes the Flames, as he is known now, was hunting with a small group of close friends, one evening, when he earned his name. After a long unfruitful day, they finally spot an acceptable meal. A brief chase ensued and they brought it down without incident.

However, the beast proved to be quite tough and gamey so they decided to build a fire to cook it. Neither of them was particularly skilled in this department but, with the assistance of a salamander, they managed to build a substantial fire and suspended their meal above it. Unfortunately, their fire began to grow out of control and their meal was nearly lost.

He couldn’t bear the thought of going to sleep with an empty stomach or returning empty-handed. So, he stuck his head into the mud, shut his eyes and charged right through the fire, knocking their prize down to where they could drag it away from the blaze.

His flesh was severely burned in multiple places and he bares the scars to this day. But they ate to their fill that night and every time there’s a fire someone tells the story of how one crazy totoma got his name.