Mara knew what her Shorra was. Yet that didn’t ease the swirmy feeling in her gut, or the way her lungs squeezed for breath. It felt good. The hallroom was bright with light from the tall, floor to ceiling windows. The velvet curtains were pulled back, and in her simple but elegant lilac dress, Mara shone with the yellow rays of the sun. The court was already assembled, seated on cushions lining the central walkway. Her parents were at the end of the line, facing her, their clothes a fancier version of their normal ware. Her mother caught her eye and smiled. Their tigers were sprawled beside them, and as she watched Kiro yawned, showing off his large, white teeth. Mara took a deep breath, turning her attention to the shaman, who was absently mixing herbs in a small golden pot he carried on his forearm. Using his ladle, he lifted it up and took a whiff. Mara relaxed when he nodded at her parents and the turned to her. Focusing on her feet, Mara stepped forward, carefully following the imaginary line in her head. She stopped halfway between her parents and the entrance to the hall, and the shaman stepped in front of her, briefly blocking her view of her parents. He lifted the golden pot up to her, and taking the ladle, Mara spooned a tiny bit and blew on it. Steeling herself, not leaving any time for doubt, Mara swallowed the drops of golden liquid.
Even though she had cooled it, the liquid burned like fire as it went down her throat. Mara wanted to retch, but forced herself to stay still. Immediately, a warm feeling like no other spread throughout her entire body, erasing any earlier feelings. She closed her eyes, and a faint outline appeared on her eyelids, growing stronger and clearer as the moments passed. Mara forced herself to stay still and expressionless as the creature appeared, even though her heart started beating faster. What had at first looked like her parent’s tigers now looked more like… Mara gasped and her eyes flew open. Standing in front of her was a spectacularly glowing creature, its fur white as snow, its aura warming her. It would have been beautiful, but Mara was in too much horror to notice that. It was a dire wolf, the complete opposite of her parent’s tigers, and the Shorra of their greatest enemies, the Tavennos.
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AuthorAn 18 year old writer, drawer, tea enthusiast, beanie baby collector, INFJ, Pleiadian starseed and high schooler, Amanda enjoys mammals, drawing, and reading. She wants to be an editor, comic artist, alien, and own lots of pets when she grows up. Archives
January 2020
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