[META] Ba'Ushufo (Rites of Passage)

[magnadearel]

The young female was bright and eager. Some of her siblings had already gone in. She danced in place, barely able to hold herself back. But. There were young cubs here and she wasn’t about to run them over. No matter how much she wanted to get into the water and prove herself. One of her adopted siblings went in ahead of her and she followed him in.

The water was cold! She gasped a bit in surprise. She’d known it’d be cold, but it always came as a shock to her. Nou wondered if perhaps it was her fiery colors conflicting with the ocean. No help for it now, she was well into the water and could feel the waves lifting her feet from the bottom.

Nou's Rolls

Roll 1: 4
Mated Pair Bonus: +1
Result: The water does not favour you today, a sobering revelation.

 

[magnadearel]

Hesperus padded out after his star-marked siblings. He didn't mind getting a bit of a later start. The white male watched his siblings for a bit before glancing toward Desher who'd accompanied them to give his support.

“Looks like their doing ok out there. Here I go!” He’d been very unsure of the frothing water when he’d been introduced to it as a cub. Thanks to his parent’s patient teaching he was comfortable around the tossing, churning waves. Hesperus walked calmly forward to join his siblings in the salty water. This was actually kind of fun it it’s own way.

DavyJnah

Hesperus's Rolls

Roll 1: 14
Mated Pair Bonus: +1
Result: The water regards you favourably today, a time to celebrate.

 

[magnadearel]

Aspi stalked toward the water with a low growl in her throat. She wasn’t afraid of it! She’d master it and tame it to her paws. The young cub was certain she could make the ocean work for her. She did curl her lip slightly in distain at getting her paws wet though. Unfortunately much more of her was going to be getting wet before this was over.

She forced herself to hold her ground as the first wave came up over her paws. Aspi swatted at some plant as it floated by. Determination holding firm she moved deeper into the water as each wave came higher and higher.

Syrius Lionwing

Aspidochelone's Rolls

Roll 1: 1
Bahari Rogue: -5
Result: The water does not favour you today, a sobering revelation.

 

[magnadearel]

Desher calmly followed after his growing litter. No matter how much of a worried father he might be on the inside, outwardly he remained calm, cool, and confident. A lifetime in the desert had taught him many things. Now his second litter needed his support and they had it fully.

The tawny male smiled as Hesp watched his siblings. “Aye, they are.” He was incredibly proud of his sons. Oh he gave his daughters equal support, but these boys were special to him. They were his first sons. After seven daughters in his first litter, he was glad there was a few boys in this one. Not that he would have complained had it been another all-female litter. He found a good spot to watch as Hesp entered the water as well.
 

[Chi Sohma]

"GEERRAANNEEMMOO!!"

If it wasn't going in to the kizi, then it was definitely coming to the pride's rites, she thought. She loved her pride, and even more when celebrations such as these go underway. Her mind wasn't at all made up on where her path would take her, but she knew she wanted to be apart of such a huge family, on this day. Throwing herself in to the water and going forth. Wanting to show the cubs that were maybe too scared, or with low confidence that even an adult Bahari ( as close to an adult as possible ), was unafraid and whatever the results, they should remember to try their best, and have fun!

Harmonia's Rolls

Roll 1: 2
Handicaps: None
Result: The water does not favour you today, a sobering revelation.

 

[Chi Sohma]

This lion would always be found close, if not attached to his only sister's hips. Not because he wanted to, but because he had to. She was always up to something, and always in a cub mindset. That was why when she jumped in, well, darnit- he had to too. This was reckless, her secret would get out! "Harmonia! Harmonina come here!" The waves thrashed her around, and he dunked his head and pulled her from beneath.

"You shouldn't be out here." As soon as he got to her, the waves around them had taken a minor break and thus the ocean had accepted him. Even just a little bit, enough to get her back to more shallow waters. "You barely proved yourself last time." Huffing and leading them until they were only leg high in water. "Your lucky the oceans favored me this time.."

Harmonia huffed and stuck out her tongue. "They always favor you." Turning away and looking on to the cubs and rogues, and others to see how they were fairing. "I'm going to go catch some fish for when they come back."

Kei was about to say something more, but his sister looked way too upset for him to say anything more but watch the participants and if needed, help one.

Kei's Rolls

Roll 1: 7
Handicaps: None
Result: 6-10 = The water has found you acceptable today, an expected and relieving result.

 

[Syrius Lionwing]

Another of her cubs seemed to be wading in to the waves and as she watched her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to call the tiny cub back but she was so determined to succeed it broke her heart. They were all so little she knew this was the way,s he knew this was a new way but she feared for her cubs in the unpredictable sea.

"Come back Aspi." Liviyathan called, a deep frown wrinkling her forehead. She held her paw up hopefully "You don't have to push yourself." She whispers.

Kelpie lifts her head to watch her sister. It seemed she and her twin weren't the only ones that hadn't succeeded.

Lusca looked clambered over his mother and sat on her back. Peering over his mothers heard he pawed happily at her ears and purred. He knew it was hard for his siblings but he couldn't help but feel a little proud of his own success here today.

Magnadearel

Liviyathan 3 Lusca 3 kelpie 3  

[SilverLutz]

Shio was never so glad to have touched the ground in his life. He rolled off the back of the lion that had brought him to shore, taking deep breaths to try to force the cramp away. It wasn't working too well, but when he and another lioness asked if he was alright he nodded, waving a paw at them. There were others - namely his brother - that had been in far more danger than he. A cramp would go away and now that he wasn't in danger of drowning he knew he would be safe.

Once he could stand, he ambled his way over to his two brothers, still dripping wet onto the sands. Worried eyes flicked from the fiery twin to the blue, not saying anything just yet. If they needed help he was sure they'd ask, but for now it seemed they just needed a few minutes to sort everything out.

Epine de Rose

 

[DavyJnah]

Hokulani had arrived with her mate, listening to the waves and possible cries for help if there were any. Would not be good to have anyone, especially her children, go amiss in the waters. She could hear them all doing well however, though she wished for once that she could actually see this event that was going on. She was content at least to be here. It seemed the boys were at least were having fun and that was what mattered.

Jaal and Havarl seemed to have been enjoying themselves in the water. It seemed that the water had favored them, especially Jaal. "Water's great! Come join us mother! Father!" Jaal yelled as he swam about. He looked to the other adolescents and grinned. The pair of them swimming to Hesperus and doing a combined paw slap of the water to splash him.

"Think you can go underwater?" Havarl half dared his other brothers, saying it low so it was just them who could hear it. Their mother would not be able to hear it over the waves.

magnadearel

 

[DavyJnah]

Maris joined the others near the water and dipped just her toes in. Her brother seemed comfortable enough and as she slid into the water, as much as she was horrified to do so, it seemed to be okay. It hadn't been as awful as it was when they were cubs. How terrifying that memory and day had been. Not knowing where they were, who they were, or where their parents were. The female was glad at least that Ram and Hima had become their parents. Raised them well. At least she was glad to see a sibling there, well a blood sibling anyway. There were the other siblings there from her adoptive parents.

"How are you doing Kaito?" Asked the female.

Final Result: 15
Result: The water regards you favourably today, a time to celebrate.
IC Consequences:

magnadearel

 

[Epine de Rose]

Huo: 5 | Shui: 5 | Soleil: 4 | Solomon: 2 | Euphy: 4 | Tala: 5 | Peregrine: 3 | Chessa: 3 | Spectre: 3 | Durama: 3 | Xenon: 2

Tala gave a bemused smile to Organa as she perfectly summed up the mentality of the Bahari'mtoto. They were, very often, positive to the point of being at fault. Not that it was a bad thing in the grand scheme of things, everyone needed a little bit of positivity in their lives, but when that other individual came from somewhere that might be a touch more realistic about things... Wishful thinking wasn't an easy sell.

Perhaps it would have been more well received if the white lioness didn't suffer from such difficulties? No one would ever know, but she might have been more of a dreamer if she didn't have those struggles on her mind.

However, when Organa made mention of the options again, it did give Tala pause for thought. Surrogacy was probably something that the Bahari'mtoto didn't need given their inclination towards raising their children in units...but maybe, somewhere out there, she might find cubs that did need a new home and she owuld most assuredly be there for them.

"Hmmm..." she murmured and then offered a small smile to Organa. "You may actually be on to something with that one," she mused and tilted her head to the side. "Perhaps adoption or surrogacy will be a viable option in the future, I'll have to investigate it further!"

Pollack

It had been a sobering moment - for cubs who'd had such confidence in themselves and the love of the ocean, it seemed that today was not to be their day. Shui wasn't entirely sure how he should have reacted, and rather than provide excuses or even try to work through the process of what might have gone wrong, he merely chose to shake his head and walk away.

The blue maned lion needed a moment to himself, and it would be in his friends (and his family's) interests, to leave him alone for the brief period of time that he needed to come to terms with the fact that today... The ocean had categorically said 'no'.

Huo looked on in concern, and glanced back towards Euphyrates for some measure of reassurance. Fortunately, it was something that both he and Shio were about to receive.

"The ocean might have said no today because it needed to," Euphyrates pointed out softly as he regarded both teenagers with a sad smile. "I can't begin to understand its true reasoning, but it may have seen something in you all that needed to be addressed," he added.

"But it liked me?" Huo murmured.

"Today," Euphyrates continued gently. "Perhaps on this day your brothers were simply too confident, perhaps you all went in to the rites without the right mindset, I honestly can't begin to explain it..."

There was a pause.

"...But in the months to come, it may be that your family find that the ocean changes its mind," he glanced towards Shio and Huo with a wink. "Learn from today, is the only advice I can give..." he remarked.

"So just because it said no today..."

"Doesn't mean that any of you are cursed to a life of misery, it simply means you may need more perspective," the blue lion finished and patted Huo's shoulder, then Shio's. "Now perhaps both of you might consider going to dry off and recuperate before the feast later this evening, I'm sure the others will join you soon."

SilverLutz

Xenon smiled proudly as Tiamat managed to swim herself back to shore - for all her size, she had made quick work of her rites and the ocean seemed to agree that on this occasion, she was worthy. It was fortunate that on this occasion she was simply too excited to realise that some of her closest friends, and even family, may not have been having the same luck as she had.

Nevertheless, the elder lion was quick to notice that today, the King's children were receiving a very hard lesson in humility. Well, his blood children were, his adoptive children seemed to have been embraced encouragingly by the water. It was something that they dearly needed, a moment in which to show them that they were loved and they did have a place in this world.

As for the eirs to the throne as it were...perhaps some of them needed to be reminded that they were mortal.

"Well done!" He flashed a smile towards Tiamat and gave her a gentle nudge. "You're an absolute natural, your mother's going to be so proud of you," he added with a grin.

"And so will your friends, you'll have to make sure you find a little kipper for the feast!"

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

It was without a doubt that, when Tiamat discovered some of her family and friends had not been so welcomed by the sea, she'd find it somewhat sobering. After all, this was their home. The sea was their friend. Why should they not be accepted into it's loving embrace? For the moment, however, she could bask in the moment.

She turned her head towards Xenon, beaming at him with all the joy and pride of a cub who had nothing else to worry about. "The sea is my friend!" she declared triumphantly and, at the prospect of fish she gave a little hop and eyed the water again.

"I'll find one! I definitely will!"

And, with a cry of glee, she crashed back into the water, paddling in circles and casting her eyes downwards into the shallows. Unfortunately her rather graceless swimming meant that any little fish were likely long gone by now. She turned again - back towards the shore - where at long last she spotted her mother. Trying to lift her head clear of the waves, she called out across to her.

"Mama! I did it! I did it! Did you see?"

Epine de Rose

Syrius Lionwing

 

[Epine de Rose]

He honestly wasn't sure what he'd been expecting... She was young and as a consequence, he probably shouldn't have expected the young cub to be able to hunt with any form of grace. Then again, this particular set of cubs may not even have been permitted to go in to the water before depending on their mother's preference. While Tiamat may not have known her heritage, Xenon did, and Levy may have decided to be cautious with them just in case...

It was for this reason that he carefully nudged the tiny cub back to shore so that she wouldn't splutter quite so much and turned to smile towards the mother in question. No doubt she would be equal amounts proud and sobered based on the success of the remaining cubs, but all in all, the news hadn't been terrible for this particular litter... At least he didn't think they were at the moment, he'd have to check back later on that one.

Nevertheless, he did have it in mind that Tiamat would perhaps like to present a fish or two to the feast, so while she called out to her own mother, he sought his own wife to see if he could pilfer one or two of those fish she had placed in her net. He knew Afina had some, she'd deliberately done it so that the cubs could bring something to the dinner!

Kimaria

Syrius Lionwing

Huo: 5 | Shui: 5 | Soleil: 4 | Solomon: 2 | Euphy: 4 | Tala: 5 | Peregrine: 3 | Chessa: 3 | Spectre: 3 | Durama: 3 | Xenon: 3

 

[Syrius Lionwing]

Liviyathan looked at the big male and she smiled as best she could. A couple of her children had in fact succeeded in tackling the waves though her heart had felt like it was in a vice as each of them had gone in to the water. "Thank you Xenon." She nodded appreciatively at the gray male and turned to greet tiamet.

It seemed, her fiery daughter had been accepted most willingly by the waves and as she came towards her she she reached out a paw to pull the cub towards her chest. Grooming her gently the dark lioness laughed quietly. "You did very well my love." She puurrs holding her fire bellied babe still so she could groom her.

Afina had been a thing carefully not far from the shore, she had watched as the tiny cub paddled in to the water and successfully completed a lap in the salty waves, it was then she noticed her husband congratulating the child and knew that he would want to help her. Her mate was really so thoughtful about children. Making a beeline for shore the deep blue lioness pegged her net down and head butted her large multi-coloured fellah. "Xenon," she purred happily looking at Liviyathan and the pile of cubs shenow had around her. She felt a little sorry for Liviyathan though she had ofically taken a mate now, the cubs that had been born were not of the male she had taken. It did seem however that a couple had been successful and though a few had not she wasn't about to see any cub come to the meal without a prize.

The blue lioness turned her gaze on Tiamet and wrinkled her nose "You know little one, if you look in that net you may find what you have been seeking." She points to the net she had pegged just far enough in the water to keep it submerged. "Why don't you take your siblings with you I'm sure you can all find something nice in there." She lifts her head and nudges Xenon on the cheek. "Softy." whe whispers, her golden eyes dancing happily, she really couldn't ask for a nicer mate.

Lusca leapt off his mothers back and collided in a golden heap with his sisters. The normally shy male was feeling full of the excitement and joys of succeeding in taking his first step to adulthood. He knew that some of his family had not yet succeeded in being accepted by the sea. He felt, deep down, that they would eventually.

Rolling off his fire bellied sister he pulled at Kelpie's ear "Combe on Kelpie, lets go and see what's in the net."

Kelpie shakes her head. "I wanna stay here." She whispers nuzzling deeply in to her mothers chest. She knew her sister and brother were happy, but she just anted to disappear right now. She didn't understand why the sea didn't want her, she loved it so much.

Epine de Rose

Kimaria

 

[Kimaria]

With the gentle nudge from the adult, Tiamat scrambled clumsily up the shore towards her mother. In a few bounds she was there, pressed against the comforting chest and purring with delight. Still unaware of how her siblings had fared, she reached up to tap a paw against her mother's jaw and beamed brightly.

And then the voice of another distracted her and she twisted around to see the other female and then, following her indication, looked to the net jostling in the waves.

"Oof!" she declared as her brother pounced at her, knocking her sprawling, laughing in delight, "yes, come on, let's all go." And then, at last, she saw that not all was well. "What's wrong, Kelpie? Why don't you want to get a fish?"

Epine de Rose

Syrius Lionwing