FSE

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Another chapter up and out! More story, no sex.

Let me know what you all think! I'll be trying to continue this as long as I can, and I love hearing your thoughts.

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Ascension is a rite-of-passage for the young members of the Ormus Tribe as they started their life as an adult. Life is precious, and everyone in the Tribe has spent sixteen years as your great family. Everyone cares for one another, feeds each other, provides, shelters, protects, and loves one another. When a child's Ascension comes about, the celebration is just as much for all those people as it is the new adult.

There were ceremonies and traditions that the Tribe still held as their customs, and while the people of the Ormus Tribe went about the events and details of the day, some of the Aurum tribe followed along and helped, taking note and recording the ways of the Ormus Tribe. The clearing around the campfire was swept, picked clean of any weeds that hadn't been bothered with, and a new stack of logs were piled together in preparation for when night came. Food was prepared for all the members of their Tribe and their guests.

Chief Garis sat in his tent, cross-legged and eyes closed as he meditated. Across from him, Mako sat in the same position, facing his father, quiet and meditating on nothing in particular. This was a time to remain quiet, reflect on life as it was, is, and would be. Words were not needed, only quiet contemplation. It had been several hours already, and the otter felt strangely relaxed.

It seemed to the otter that all sound could be completely blocked out if he focused on himself. It shouldn't have come to a surprise to him, considering how often he'd zone out and get startled by someone's arrival, but this was a different sort of blankness. Mako was vaguely aware of two sets of paws touching him, but none of that seemed to distract him from his thoughts. If he were to be asked what he was thinking, though, he'd have found that it seemed to be everything and nothing all at once.

He, like his father in front of him, was completely naked. For this part of his ceremony, which began at noon, there was quiet meditation, free of everything. Garis was an impressive man, in every aspect, and though the otter had seen him, as well as every member of the Tribe, naked at plenty of ceremonies and rituals, it was different this time. It was much more intimate and special, though not in any sexual way.

Fagan and Meng were both in the tent as well, as well as Selena and Opus of the Aurum Tribe. Selena was sitting off to one side, naked, her eyes closed in blissful meditation as Opus, one of the elder women, a tigress, took lesson from Fagan and Meng's actions. They'd prepared a bright, purple paste for this ceremony and the three elders were slowly painting various parts of the body. For the Ormus Tribe there were seven major focal points of spiritual energy in the body, and each was marked with the paste and connected to the others.

The forehead represented a person's complete being; their mind and soul. Below that was the mouth where communication and relations were made to connect someone to other people. Third was the very center of your chest where your heart continued to beat in correspondence with all life. Fourth and fifth were the hands; the back of the left, and the palm of the right. The left hand represented mystery, intrigue, adventure, while the right hand displayed power, dominance, and familiarity. Sixth was the stomach where nourishment took place, representing fulfillment of all desires. Last was the genitals, where life was created and spread, and connections with others could be made in a literal and figurative sense.

Meng, the older tiger, was still clothed in his normal attire, and quietly painted symbols on each of the otter's spiritual points. There was nothing to the touch, no sexual desire, no intimacy, just ritual. Mako barely even noticed the touch even when a symbol was drawn along his shaft. The symbols were connected and soon enough Meng and Fagan left the tent, leaving the three to meditate as Opus observed.

It was an odd feeling to be meditating this long and so quietly. It seemed as if no time had really passed, and Mako could not remember being more relaxed than he was now. When he finally opened his eyes it wasn't because anyone had told him to do so, it was just because it seemed like the right thing to do. He noticed that both Garis and Selena were opening their eyes as well. Garis smiled at Mako and stood up, motioning for Mako do stand as well.

There was no pain or stiffness in his limbs for sitting so long, and the otter was on his feet without issue. It was dark outside, now, and they'd been sitting there for what must have been nearly eight hours. It certainly hadn't felt that way, though.

Garis looked to Selena and nodded his thanks at her participation before he turned back to Mako. "It is about time for the ceremony to begin. Return to your tent and your brothers will assist you," he said, turning to look at the deer woman at the side. "If you'd like to accompany," he said, gesturing for her to follow.

Selena bowed her head respectfully, walking along behind Mako as the otter turned to leave the tent. His own, shared with Zeke and Kosh, wasn't far, but even then, neither bothered to try and cover themselves. Selena, though pregnant, was beautiful, and the paint looked pleasant against her soft, brown and white fur. They stepped into the tent where the lingering smell of musk, from earlier in the morning, still lingered.

Zeke and Kosh were both setting various pieces of ceremonial clothing in different piles when Mako and Selena entered. They smiled warmly at the pair and Selena took a seat on the nearest bedroll, Zeke's, and remained silent to observe. Mako just glanced between the two wolves as Zeke stepped forward with a bone and bead bracelet, putting it around Mako's neck. "Nervous?" he asked.

Mako sighed and closed his eyes, lifting his arms as Kosh slipped a leather vest over his shoulders. It was light, lined with fringe, and didn't come down past his ribcage. "Yeah, a little..." he said, frowning and looking between the two.

Zeke pulled a decorated loincloth around the otter and fastened it around his waist. It was a red-dyed leather with and had intricate tool-worked worked into the surface. "Well, have you made up your mind on things?"

The otter's face reddened as he thought about what was going to happen, and he took a deep breath and nodded. "I have."

Kosh clapped him on the back, squeezing his shoulder gently. "Well, good. Good that you were able to make up your mind," he said, smiling softly.

Zeke stepped forward with a head-dress of raven feathers, turquoise beads glittering on each feather at the base. The black wolf put it on the otter's head and made sure it was secure before taking a step back. "Alright. You're all set," he said with an approving nod.

Mako smiled at his brothers. "Thanks," he said. He wanted to say more, but wasn't certain how to go about it. "I-"

"Come here," Kosh said, pulling him into a tight hug and chuckling a bit.

Zeke stepped close and hugged the otter from the other side, sighing. "Yeah. Now come on," he said, smacking the otter's ass. "It's your ceremony. It starts when you go out there."

Mako wiped away a couple tears before they could be seen and cleared his throat. "Right. I'm ready,"

The entire Tribe had gathered around the main clearing in the center of their camp. The bonfire wasn't lit, and the only light came from a couple torches near the tents and the now-full moon. As soon as Mako left the tent, the entire Tribe fell silent. Flanked by his two brother the otter walked towards the bonfire where his father stood, waiting. Sitting off to the side, at the front, were Osso, Chief Ronan, and Selena as she took her seat with them.

Mako took a step towards his father and bowed his head respectfully. Garis placed both paws on the otter's shoulders and bowed his head as well. When they parted, Garis took one of the nearby torches, holding it up and surveying the audience. "It makes me very proud to introduce the newest adult of our tribe. As your Chief, and as his father, I am doubly blessed to have this honor. Mako, today is the day of your sixteenth birthday; your Ascension,"

Garis bowed his head and passed the torch to the younger otter. "It is on this day that you are now an adult of this Tribe. Your path is not set in stone, and everything in this world is still yours for the taking. You are your own man, your decisions are yours to make," he said, smiling warmly at the otter.

Mako held the torch in his paws, staring back at his father and trying not to get too emotional over the ordeal. His throat felt dry, but his mind was still clear from his meditation. "I am ready for the challenges that may come. I will learn from my mistakes, grow from trial, and steel myself against hardships. The path may not be clear, but I will follow it, and prepare myself for what I might encounter," he said. His heart was beating quick now, his paws shaking just a little.

Garis beamed brightly at the otter and picked up a leather scrap near the bonfire, holding it up for everyone to see before unfolding it. Inside was a beautiful dagger carved from a large opal, the handle from bone and wrapped in cord. "I present you with this dagger. I ask of you now," Garis said, holding the dagger out for the otter to take. "The moon gives us sight, a great omen, and the air is crisp. Will you exercise your right to follow a hunt out into the plains?"

Mako just stared at the dagger he'd been handed. Traditionally, a spear was given to the new adult, because they were much better weapons with their reach and versatility. He'd never seen someone handed a dagger; the blade was a beautiful mix of blues and greens, and it sparkled in the moonlight. This was the question he'd been waiting for, though. Normally, the new adult would agree to the hunt, light the bonfire, and then the celebration would start. That's what most people would expect, too.

The otter took a step towards the prepared bonfire and raised the torch. Instead of dropping it into the pyre and lighting it, he turned around and dropped it on the ground where the flame went out. "No. I will not call the hunt to bear," he said firmly, looking at his father, absolutely terrified, but resolved in his decision.

The entire audience looked shocked, and a few seemed affronted, and a small murmur broke out before Garis raised a paw to quell it. "If you do not choose to call the hunt to bear, that is your choice. Is there anything you'd like to say?"

Mako glanced around at the tribe members, face red. Every face was familiar to him. They'd all been there with him through the last sixteen years, and were his family, and his actions seemed to sting a few of them. "Yes," he said, turning his attention back to his father. "I've discovered that I do have potential. I'd always been concerned that my lack of physical strength would disappoint you, and everyone. But I've learned that physical abilities aren't the only strength, and that I can do something that few can do," he said, taking a few steps away from the bonfire.

He rounded on the pyre, brought his hand up in front of him, focused all his will and intent on the memories of him and his brothers and shouted, "FULMAR!" A bolt of fire shot from his hand and set the pyre ablaze, startling the entire audience at what he'd just done; everyone except Garis who just bowed his head in acknowledgment as if he'd expected it. "I can perform magic; I want to study in the ways of becoming a shaman. A mystic. I want to learn from the Elders all that there is that they can teach me, and help me reach the full potential I can become," he said, standing up straight and trying not to sway on his feet; that small blast of fire was taxing.

Garis nodded his head and folded his arms in front of him. "I respect what you desire. I will do all that I can in seeing that you will have all the training and study available for you regarding your gift," he started, looking around at the others in the tribe and seeing their chocked faces. "However, there are none among us who have, to our knowledge, the gifts you posses. There would be nothing to teach you," he said.

Mako let out a staggered breath and nodded, bowing his head for a few seconds. "I know. So, with that in mind, I ask if you will permit me to leave the Ormus Tribe, and I ask, of you, Chief Ronan, if I might humbly ask for membership with your Tribe if my father, and Chief, permits my departure,"

If the crowd was shocked before, that was nothing to compare to the words Mako had just spoken. Until now, no member of the Ormus Tribe had requested to leave to be with the Aurum Tribe. It had been years since anyone in their tribe had even left to do anything more than hunt and gather.

Chief Ronan stood up and bowed his head respectfully, looking over to the otter. "I find your request to join our Tribe to be sound and reasonable, and it would honor me to have another Gifted among our ranks. I will allow this for you, and anyone of your Tribe who wishes to join ours. I also allow for any of my Tribe to join the Ormus Tribe, if they would be allowed to seek shelter here," he said, looking to Chief Garis.

The black wolf smiled warmly at the deer and stepped towards him, extending an arm of friendship. "I will allow for both, brother," he said. The two Chiefs clasped firmly and bowed their heads before Ronan returned to his seat.

Garis' eyes shone in the light from the bonfire as he approached his side, not bothering to hide his tears. "Well, son-of-mine, I give you my permission, and my blessing. On today, the day of your Ascension, you are no longer a member of the Ormus Tribe, but of the Aurum Tribe, though you might ever find yourself welcome among our people," he said, wrapping his arms tightly around the otter and kissing his forehead.

Mako couldn't help but cry as he hugged back to his father, squeezing tight. "I love you, dad," he whispered.

"I love you, too, my son," Garis said, holding him close and rocking him side to side.