Code of the Cairns

Following the game trail, Buck and Thorn slowed their pace.  They knew it was important to keep an eye out for the sign Pebble had left for them. It wouldn't be obvious, as the initial trail markers never were, but they learned the basics of the code. They knew to look past the seemingly haphazard rocks on the ground. "There it is," Thorn shouted, as he pointed to a small quartzite rock, facing perpendicular to their trail. And, so the two Forest Faries slipped under the brambles and began looking for the second marker to lead them to their friends hideout.

Description

The Code of the Cairns is an intricate and semi-religious practice of the Hill-billies of the Mountain Tribe. It involves more than stacking rocks, as many believe when looking at the cairns. The type, size, orientation, and number of rocks used to create each cairn effects the message delivered by the rocks. Many outsiders who believe themselves to be proficient in the language can get by reading and creating cairns to pass messages with the Hill-billies, but there is a much deeper level to the language than many know.
The Hill-billies will usually link several cairns to form their messages and record their thoughts similar to pages in a book. However, what makes the Code of the Cairns unique and a difficult language, is that the later cairns in a series can change the meaning, or interpretation of the previous messages. Other environmental landmarks can also seemingly turn the code on its head. A stack next to a stream may be interpreted differently than one at the bottom of a large boulder. The overt messaging will seem to make sense to all but the most proficient. The size of the rocks used also hold significant meaning, as well as type of stone.