Sacred Rituals

It was a day of women. Unprecedented in its make-up since never before had a female coming of age been given such celebration into her right of womanhood. The stories bounded about of each of our firsts in as many different tones as there were ... well women. Regardless of how each of our tales unfolded it was the same, it was meaningful.

Even the men found reason among it all to step up, to step out in their finest something, whether it was just to take a bath, to snag a bota of paga and begin the feasting early or wager a thing a little more priceless to them. The spirits ran high throughout the entire harigga.

Some of us managed to steal a few moments together and I caught up with Cana and Tarra early. There had been a want on my part to see if they needed anything in the last ehn preparations as well as to go over my own contribution to the gala. In fact one of the first things that came up was admiration of how some of the women juggle their busy schedules. I put my name on the list of Time Management Juggling 101 for the first available class. I'm not sure what was on Cana's mind when she changed the subject but she asked me to tell her about the verr, a bit more than they stand this high, are fuzzy and white. Sky I went and did it. I answered her question with a question, what did she want to know. If it was another test I have no idea how I faired. If it was a project she had in mind I think I may have discouraged it without realizing. She wanted to know if I thought children could make good verr herders. No, actually I didn't. Tend to them and care for them yes but not to herd them, but to lead them without being raised among the verr until you could think like them, a resounding no.. There is far more to the verr than standing at the edge just watching. Did I think it could be an educational source for them ... yes. Grandmother believes they can teach us everything we need to know in life. I can honestly say that every time she sent me to tend to them I did indeed learn something, now it may not have always been what Grandmother had in mind.

Karvek wandered into the camp followed by a miniature tribe of minors and the laughter began. He was carrying Another One on his shoulders saying he found him rooting under a wagon so he must be a little tarsk. Perhaps he would make a good roast for the banquet later in the eve. That raised a chorus of voices not to eat their friend from the dozen or so small fry behind him. It was all good fun regardless of the look we got from Cana's son for laughing.

I caught a glimpse of Ayguili all cleaned up and wearing his best leathers. Made me turn and catch a better look when no one was looking. I think I got away with it too. Mmm hmm hmm, he is one fine looking man now that I had finally began to notice. Wait, what was I telling you? Oh yes, He made Kaeli an offer to unchain her for the evening's ceremonies letting her know he wanted a promise she would return as soon as they were over. She decided she would rather remain chained until her mate returned. I stood there staring at her. I wanted to shake her and maybe rattle some sense into her head. She couldn't do this ... she was part of the women of the Tribe. She should be there ... with us. When we headed off for Tarra's wagon to give Seveya her gifts, I pointed at the chain on the healer's ankle and told her I did not have to like it.

Tarra had taken the pieces of hide each of us had placed our own unique touch too and made a skirt for the artist and standing inside the elder Haruspex wagon with her hair pinned back by her Mother's comb she was a vision of an Ubara. It brought a lump in my throat that made my eyes get all misty. From our hearts more than our stores we each handed er another little piece of us. Tarra placed a herlit feather in her braid. I slipped a colorful friendship bracelet around her wrist. Cana gave her a carved box to keep all of her pretties in and a shell suspended from a leather thong to wear around her neck.

We hugged. We cried. We smiled and wiped each others damp cheeks.

Then it was time. There was painstaking effort on Tarra's part to orchestrate such a beautiful and deeply moving ceremony. The lines of women carrying candles and torches wove through the harigga like an elegant fire worm lighting and igniting the sisterhood of Tribe together as one continuous bond. I am a simple woman. I do not have words that can convey the portrait of beauty, grace and close knit heart that came from that night. The singers will have their own time of painting such fellowship into words.

The feast was just as grand afterwards. The gathering brought the men to join us while the drums carried the news that another woman was now ready to meet life head on. The foods were delicious, the music pulse throbbing and the laughter rang out to mark a joyous occasion.
It is a good night to be Tuchuk especially a girl one. Even on such a night prospects were asked the meaning of being a Tuchuk. Life never slows for us.

There were more gifts passed out around the fires and it surprised me that I would be on the receiving end. Seveya had found smooth stones that she had painted delightful images on for each of us and Tarra gave all of the women that participated a necklace of a particular crystal. Mine was an amethyst for clarity of mind and to bring me focus and calm when I needed it. I could not help reaching up wrapping my hand around it as I caught her in an embrace.

While I went to settle next to Ayguili and show him my pretties, Seveya's uncle brought out his gift to her. It was a fine tawny colored kaiila and a new saddle and the wagers immediately began to fill the air of who we thought would win a race .. the niece .. or the uncle. I put up a cracked bowl on Sev and got this instant grunt from the man sitting next to me. Quite shocked, I lifted a brow to ask if he had grown attached to it. When he nodded and said they had a history, but could I put it up somewhere my Grandmother couldn't reach ... I grinned and changed my bet to a bottle of Aunt's elixir. I would keep her distracted but someone else had to brave going in for it. That was when the man sitting next to me leaned over close and said he was going to end up staying in trouble with my family ... wasn't he?

Yeah probably.