FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The Seventh Realm: Volume Five

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 64: Rite Of Passage

Waking up the next morning, Zia sighs and slowly stretches. She tries not to shift too much, as she feels Katero's arm around her waist. As they often do, the couple fell asleep while spooning with each other. Had Koleta not been trying to sleep in a bed in the same room, they most likely would have done much more. Katero wakes up and yawns, his ears flopping back as he winces, his toothy maw opened wide. He opens his eyes to see Zia looking back at him. Their golden eyes lock and Katero leans in to kiss his pledge mate.

“I miss the privacy of our house." She comments.

“Me too. What about you, Koleta?"

She doesn't respond. Sitting upright, the parents look toward the bed that sits empty beside theirs. Koleta is nowhere to be found.

“Damnit, girl." Katero growls.

“Alright, she has to be in this castle somewhere... Right?!" Zia turns to her husband.

He rises from the bed without answering. The parents step into the hallway, having slept in their clothes for the sake of their daughter; to undress would have been far too tempting for the couple, and that would be taboo with Koleta also in the room. Stepping into the hallway, they begin their search. Walking together and calling out to Koleta, they approach a T junction, finding Cyrus and Zakera nearby; they too are walking the halls, but heading toward Darius' room.

“Have you seen Koleta? She wasn't in our room when we woke up." Zia says to them.

“No, but I'm certain that Darius will know." Cyrus answers.

“Yes, they're like a family of Kaladez; never more than arm's reach from the other." Zakera chuckles.

Katero and Zia join the couple, who were going to wake up their son for breakfast and to tell them about the upcoming ceremony of adulthood; last night Katero and Cyrus agreed that Darius and Koleta both should partake in the ceremony, which occurs within the week. Heading for the door, Cyrus nearly barges in, but stops. Turning to his wife, Zakera, and their long-time friends, they look expectantly.

“I'd better get used to this." He remarks before knocking loudly on the door.

“Yeah?" Darius calls out from inside.

“Just a minute!" Koleta calls out.

Cyrus lowers his head, subtly shaking it. The parents collectively glance at each other with considerable embarrassment on their faces. Cyrus looks silently toward Katero, his facial expression apologetic.

“Juveniles..." Katero sighs. “At least it's Darius; I like Darius."

“Is this what we put our parents through?" Zia asks her husband.

“I was much worse at their age." Zakera comments, taking Cyrus into her arms and resting her chin on his shoulder.

The middle-aged human kisses his Ketlan bride, stroking the pink and white fur of her face. Inside their son's bedroom, a naked Darius collects his pants from the floor. He pauses and turns, looking at an equally nude Koleta. Sitting upright on his bed, she strokes a reddish-brown stain on his under-blanket with her clawed fingers, a strange little smile on her face.

“Well, you look happy." He comments.

“I am!" She chirps.

“Because of that?" He points toward the stain.

“Partly. I didn't realize how much fun that was. I'm happier because it was you, and because we'll be pledged as soon as we're adults." She answers.

“I'm looking forward to our life together too." He says as he steps up to her. “I'll wait for your ceremony of adulthood."

“And I won't experience another male until then." She promises.

Koleta slides over the bed, planting her clawed feet on the stone floor. Leaning over, the juvenile lovers share a tender kiss. Rising to her feet, as if magnetically drawn by their kiss, Koleta takes Darius into her arms. The unclothed teenagers embrace each other tightly, his furry body against Koleta's colorful buttercream, orange and red hide. Finally releasing each other, Darius slips on his pants while Koleta collects and pulls up her shorts before finding her top. Darius heads for the door, unlocking and opening it just as Koleta covers her C-cup breasts.

Looking through the doorway, the teens are immediately embarrassed by the sight of both sets of parents standing around outside Darius' room; looking equally as unnerved, all four adults avert eye contact with the two juveniles. Zakera and Katero can smell their blended scents and both look down at the floor. Zia and Cyrus don't have such enhanced smell, but Zia can see the stain on the sheets from where she stands and looks very embarrassed. Cyrus' wealth of common sense is all that's required. He clears his throat and promptly breaks the uncomfortable silence.

“So... Breakfast is ready!"

“Oh good. I'm starving." Darius replies.

“I can imagine..." Katero grumbles. “Ow!" He turns to Zia, who elbows him in the ribs.

“Anyway! ... The ceremony of adulthood is at the end of the week. Since you two want to pledge so badly, we're letting you both participate." Cyrus explains.

“But I'm not old enough yet!" Koleta gasps.

“Sidana was the youngest to become an adult; a reward she requested for her good works." Cyrus begins.

“You two have been through even worse out there, especially as neither of you were well trained or prepared to begin with, but especially you, my daughter... I figured that if you could handle the jungles of Monala at sixteen cycles, then you can handle work and being pledged." Katero finishes.

“Thank you, dad!" Koleta squeals, rushing up and embracing her father.

“Of course. I love you, and I want what's best for you, and I know Darius does too. Far be it from Zia and I to stand in your way."

The teenage juveniles are both overjoyed, but now they must prepare. In only four days they'll be a part of the traditional Kelanethaka ceremony of adulthood, a ritual adopted and continued by the Sa'kesh to this day. After eating breakfast with their parents, Katero and Zia take Koleta home. Knowing, however, that she will miss her future husband as much as Darius will miss her, the parents agree to something unprecedented; the juveniles will be permitted to stay with each other throughout the night, with Koleta staying at the castle, or Darius staying with Koleta at her parent's house. She returns to the castle that night to sleep beside Darius.

Two days later, while a group of soldiers seek the necessary supplies for the ceremony of adulthood, Sidana and Manny pledge to each other. Many people attend their ceremony. Cyrus and Zakera, their three children, Katero, Zia, Koleta, and even Johnny, Minoma, Yasmin, Samuel, Mirkon and their children all witness their marriage. Watching the pair as they speak their sacred vows, binding themselves to one another for the remainder of their lives, Darius and Koleta continuously gaze at the other. In the past two days the word has already spread, thanks to Vanolza and Rico; all of their peers know that they are in love, and plan to pledge as well.

The next two days of waiting is excruciating. Knowing that Koleta will also be allowed to partake and become an adult makes it that much worse. When the day of the ceremony finally arrives, it's all they can do to contain their excitement. Waking up beside Darius in the comfort of her own bed, Koleta knows that by the day's end, she'll be preparing for yet another ceremony; their pledge. Stroking the long strands of black hair that frame his feline face, he slowly opens his vibrant blue eyes.

“Hello, my love. Are you ready for our big day?" She asks him.

“Mhm." He nods. “Are you?"

Instead of answering in words, she leans in and kisses him, lovingly stroking the black fur of his face. After climbing out of bed and putting on their clothes, Darius and Koleta join her parents for breakfast.

“I remember when I first became an adult. How quickly times passes by; that was nearly twenty cycles ago." Katero reminisces.

“You weren't Sa'kesh when that happened." Zia comments.

“No. Cyrus and his ship hadn't even arrived to Monala yet."

“I remember my ceremony. Was yours the one with the potions or the fire?" She asks.

“The potions." He answers.

“That was mine too." She sighs. “I would've rather had the fire."

“The Sa'kesh adopted the same ceremony; you two will get to enjoy the very same ritual that Zia and I had." Katero grins sinisterly. “I hope your breakfast is filling." He chuckles.

The two juveniles glance at each other. They've long heard speculation and rumor about what happens during the ceremony, but none speak of it after actually experiencing it. Whenever a new adult is asked by their juvenile peers, they always give them the same answer. Somehow 'you'll find out' is just not very satisfying. After eating their meal, Darius and Koleta follow Katero toward a large genashin ranch. The beasts have been relocated to allow them a place to sit and wait. As per the ritual, they sit away from the adults, younglings and the unready juveniles, waiting only with those who are about to partake in the ceremony.

“What do you think's going to happen?" A nervous Razela asks her brother.

“I don't know, but people kept referencing food." Kazamir answers.

“Yes, I've noticed that too." Darius interjects.

“I just hope we don't wait much longer." An eager Koleta remarks.

“Neither do I." Darius adds.

Taking her hand, they look to each other with longing while the others simply raise a brow. None of them have settled on a partner yet; they've simply done as the other juveniles before them. As the sun rises high in the red sky of Monala, the city's high priestess arrives with several trained doctors and a detachment of young warriors. Though the doctors are Cyrus' precaution, the warriors are not; those who were a part of the previous ceremony escort the current participants to the sight of their allegorical rebirth. Opening the gate, the juveniles are led toward a large portion of farmed land on the opposite end, marching over a mile through the large capitol city.

The younglings and unready juveniles line the streets with their parents, watching in awe, while the adults look with veneration and pride. Reaching the farmland, which has recently been harvested, the soon-to-be adults find themselves gathered around a massive pile of wood. Other warriors not escorting the soon-to-be adults help build the fire while the priestess oversees them. Before the burgeoning fire is a cykera metal cauldron, forged for strictly ceremonial purposes. Another sits some distance away. In smaller tribes, juveniles might receive their ceremony in small groups or even individually, but for cities as large as those under Sa'kesh rule, that's an impossibility.

With the heat of the fire radiating, the cauldron's contents begin to steam, thin gray plumes floating skyward from the mouth of the container. Atop a nearby table sits two dozen slain wakina, the large, horrifying and poisonous insects that live in the jungles of Monala. With their heads and shootable stingers severed, their poison glands are extracted by the town doctors. Having practiced this and experimented safely, they know the precise amount necessary to begin. While the high priestess dumps herbs, roots and various spices into the grotesque stew without a single measurement, the doctors pour in the poison very carefully.

Koleta grips Darius' hand tightly, staring apprehensively at the bubbling brew. They know that this will not kill them; no one has ever died in the ceremony before. They do not, however, foresee this being an altogether pleasant experience. If Katero and Zia could have chosen another ceremony that involved fire, what could possibly be in store for them? The juvenile's hearts all collectively pound.

“Juveniles!" The priestess shouts loudly so that all can hear her. “You have lived in the shelter of your youth, protected by family, and provided for by the adults of your tribe! You are now at the age of maturity where you are prepared to relinquish that protection! As full members of the Sa'kesh, you will now be protectors and providers! It will be you who raises the next generation, the beings who will one day replace you in kind! To do this, you must wretch your immaturity from your bodies! Purge the impurity of soulless passion that you have so enjoyed! Vomit forth the base desires that have ruled your minds!"

After this little speech, the priestess motions to nearby warriors who stand at attention. Walking toward a small wooden table carved from a solid piece of wood from a goshan tree, they collect small wooden bowls and several ladles. With the bowls in hand, the high priestess gathers the juveniles around the fire, in no particular order. Darius and Koleta stand side by side, with Razela and Kazamir beside them. The warriors use the ladles to collect the bubbling stew, pouring large quantities into each bowl, which they hold very carefully; none dare touch the contents with even a claw.

As the juveniles stand and watch the crackling flames, an awkward silence befalls them. The young warriors, the last group to receive their ceremony, pass out bowls now filled with a strange, steaming brew. Lime green in color and with red swirls from the undissolved spices, it gives off a faintly floral aroma to the noses of all but the Ketlan, Sakona and the Ekzel; their superior sense of smell detects a distinct bitterness, like the concoction were made out of liquified clay. Looking around at the other juveniles, Darius notes how all seem just as apprehensive as he is.

Lifting her hand to her face, the high priestess motions for the juveniles to drink. Bringing the bowls to their lips, they all carefully and nervously sip the hot potion. With nearly identical taste buds, the bitter flavor is noticeable to all, though the races unable to smell it beforehand, the humans, Zelkona and Akzazel, are startled by its potency. Realizing that they have little choice, they gulp down the liquid as fast as possible. Many drop the bowls at their feet and gag as soon as the task is completed. Koleta grips her stomach and falls to her knees.

Darius is quick to comfort her, though he too feels a strange sensation. Only a few moments after ingestion, most of the juveniles begin to vomit. The warriors who guard them, doctors, the high priestess and her helpers actively direct them all to wretch forth the potion, along with the entire contents of their stomachs, at the base of the fire, which steams and shivers.

“Purge your youthful ignorance and immaturity! Purge your animalistic lust and selfishness! Burn it away and make room for the wisdom and strength of adulthood! Ready yourselves to become productive adults of the Sa'kesh! You are cherished citizens of the kingdom of the Three-Trees!" The priestess cheerfully exclaims.

Before too long, every juvenile of every race and both genders has expelled the contents of their stomachs into the fire. Quickly moving toward the second cykera cauldron containing a cool liquid, the warriors use a second set of bowls and ladles from the goshan wood table to scoop out the contents. This ensures that there isn't any cross-contamination between the potions. Bringing the weakened youths to their feet, the warriors pass them the second set of bowls. None know what to expect as they wipe their lips dry, but looking into the strange, amber colored potion, they are understandably afraid.

This potion, unlike the previous, was not brewed before them; they have no idea what might make up the substance. Taking the bowls into their hands, the scent is sweet and even fruity to every nose. At first apprehensively sipping the concoction, they are pleasantly surprised by how delectable it is. Though it is not a large quantity by any means, it somehow fills the void in their stomachs. Collecting both sets of bowls and placing them on the lone table, the warriors stand by and wait. They appear ready for a confrontation; though none of them rest their hands on their swords or axes, their shields are at the ready.

Both Darius and Koleta are bothered by this; their experiences in the harsh jungles of Monala have made them far more aware of their surroundings than the other, less capable youths standing beside and around them.

“Feel the wisdom and strength flowing through you! Bask in the rewards of adulthood! But know that everything in life comes with strife!" The priestess warns.

Only moments after speaking those words, a human boy stumbles and falls back. His Zelkona friend, who stands beside him, tries to help him up. He too quickly succumbs. One by one, they all begin to feel the effects. Koleta sits on her legs, her arms outstretched and clawed hands planted firmly on the ground. Darius tries to speak to her, but she only hears her name echoing as if spoken through a blown glass bottle or an empty clay vase. Staring down at the purple grass, the blades become shiny, like metal. Her crimson hair, with naturally lighter strands, develops a sheen. It gleams before her like an oil slick.

The wind blows and stings her skin while she clenches her clawed fingers. The ground crunches and crackles like a falling tree as she squeezes the soil, the muscles of her body spasming. Darius watches in confusion as Koleta shivers as though she were caught in a blizzard. She looks to him, her head turning slowly and methodically. He falls back onto his rear end, holding himself up with his palms as he leans back. Darius stares in horror at her glowing fuchsia eyes. He soon feels similar effects as he hallucinates the red sky itself swirling around him, like water flowing down a drain.

Disoriented and confused, he lies back. Koleta throws herself at him, falling atop her future husband and clinging to him tightly. She nuzzles his face and begins to cry, enveloping him like a small child hugging a doll.

“Please stop crumbling! I can hold you together!" She whimpers, tears streaming down her face as she squeezes him tightly.

“Why is the sky falling?! Where is everyone?!" Darius cries out.

Many other juveniles have similar bizarre hallucinations. A Ketlan girl clings to the back of a human boy she had been in a long-term relationship with. One of the benefits of the juvenile mating rule is the ability to discover a match in your age-group early. She grips him so tightly that her claws dig into his flesh, causing him to seep blood through his vishkachay shirt.

“Where are you going?! I can put out the flames, my love!" She growls quite angrily.

“A moltaka is trying to kill me! Help!" He cries out.

A few warriors move closer, prepared in case their struggle becomes violent. Kazamir and Razela huddle together on the ground.

“Do you see the portal?!" Razela gasps.

“I don't want to go to Earth! Save me! I can feel it pulling me!" Kazamir pleads, hugging his sister tightly.

“Don't leave us, daddy!" Razela screams at nothing, holding out a hand.

Cyrus, Zakera, Katero, Zia, Johnny, Minoma, and many of the other parents of the juvenile's approach and watch the show. More than a few chuckle with amusement, and many briefly relive their own ceremony. Cyrus himself once partook of a private ceremony not long after Jolazar's birth. Testing the then high priest's potion under the supervision of Zakera was an excuse to satisfy his curiosity, and to feel more at home as the king of the Sa'kesh. He knows all too well of the potent effects. Watching the juveniles crying, writhing, screaming, singing, dancing, and otherwise making fools of themselves while high on the potion, Katero stands beside his best friend.

“Why do we force these poor children to continue this ridiculous ritual?" He quietly asks.

“After suffering through it, would you be content to see the next generation walk away unscathed?" Cyrus smirks.

“I suppose not." Katero quietly laughs.

“Besides, some traditions are worth keeping; it's our culture. I personally think the Sa'kesh owe more to the Kelanethaka than the other way around, and we should honor that." Cyrus adds.

“This is true. We would not be Sa'kesh if we erased pieces of our history. What made us what we are, however unpleasant some of those pieces may be, are still important." Zakera adds.

“It's also very amusing." Zia chirps.

After nearly an hour of hallucinations that range from the surreal to downright horrifying, the juveniles slowly come too, their senses returning to normal as the psychedelic substance is absorbed by their bodies. With no injuries to speak of, many rise to their feet of their own accord. They look to each other, fully aware of what it was that they had said and done. Some revealed things about themselves that they would have liked to keep secret, while others discovered their true selves, pleased by what they'd found. The human boy takes hold of the Ketlan girl whom he thought was a moltaka, clinging tightly to her as soon as he realized who she was.

Kazamir and Razela where nothing short of ecstatic to find that the portal to Earth was not taking them or their father away. Darius and Koleta also overcame their own fears and upon the drugs wearing off, found that their bond felt even stronger, something they didn't think was possible.

“Juveniles! ... You are no longer. Your weakness is dead, your fears exposed... All that's left is growth." The high priestess says as she walks slowly before the youths, pacing back and forth. She stops in her tracks and looks over their faces, slowly and methodically. “I am proud to see so many strong young males and females here. It gives me hope for our future. You are our future... You've survived the rites! Rejoice in your status, young adults!"

Ecstatic that their ordeal is over, as much as that they are no longer juveniles, they give a collective cheer. Many have plans for their futures and are eager to carry them out, shouting for joy that they now have the ability to do so. All of the new adults feel a sense of kinship to the others who suffered with them, bonded through a unique experience. Their purging and suffering have shown them what they were willing to do for their tribe, and all feel proud to have successfully completed the rites. They will forever be Sa'kesh, and many will carry their tribe with dignity throughout their lives.