Flashback Step One To Akalak Manhood

[Namorin Xalvratos]

Summer 499 AV

The house was silent as Namorin began to prepare for the day. It would be a life changing day Namorin and Charlain knew as they began to pull the clothing their father had specially made for this day. All of the clothing was made of leather. Soft enough to allow movement, but able to offer some protection, which they knew he would need. Namorin found himself wearing boots. Something that he preferred to avoid in the summer but his father had handed them over and Namorin had put them on with no comments made.

The golden eyes looked around the room wondering if it would be the last time he would see the room. It wasn’t much, just a little room in the Xalvratos family complex, but it had been his room for ten years, and it held everything that was him. The shelf on one wall held the wooden laken he had been given to practice when he could first hold a Laken. Next to that was a few cheap semi-precious gems that he had collected over the years. Other personal objects also decorated the shelf that held personal value to Namorin.

He stood for a moment once he was finished being dressed. He went to reach for his wooden laken, but realized that were he was going it would do much good. He still picked it up. An Akalak didn’t go anywhere without the Laken. He slipped it into his leather belt and abruptly turned and walked from the room. He could have stayed and fretted some more but that wouldn’t have done him any good at all. It was time and he wasn’t doing any good here. He pointedly didn’t look back as stepped out of the room.

Namorin and Charlain instead found themselves looking upon their family. Standing foremost was Narian and Colain Xalvratos with his konti wife and mother to their children Morina Xalvratos. Narian/Colain looked with pride and worry upon his sons while their mother was trying to hide her worried look. They weren’t the only ones there though. His grandparents, Nalosia/Kelain and his aged human wife Ria, stood by his parents. He noticed that his sister wasn’t there or his newest brother, but the babe was probable sleeping and no one had bothered to tell his sister what was happening. She would have worried her self sick. There were others their though. A few uncles, the occasional aunt and cousins stood farther back with his Elder.

Nalosia walked forward towards his first Grandson. He smiled down at the boy who had yet to reach his full growth. He was strong but thine yet to grow out either. Namorin could see the look of pride and expectation in his grandfather’s eyes as their eyes meet. ”You will do us proud.’ He said with confidence. He held out his hand and saw that in it was a Lakan. It wasn’t one that he had ever seen before. It was ancient, but well cared for. Namorin and Charlain look up. His grandfather smiled. ”This laken was Xalvratos and has been handed used by each generation when they performed their Rite of Trial.” Namorin started at the weapon shocked. Charlain prodded and they took the weapon.

Unable to say anything he smiled at his grandfather his face showing his thanks. Namorin pulled out his wooden laken and replaced it with the family weapon. Nalosia took the wooden blade and slipped it in his belt. ”I will return this when I get that blade back.” He said with a smile. Namorin and Charlain bowed to their elder and then moved on to say good bye to the others.

Once the very brief fairwells were done the youth was out of the Xalvratos compound and heading towards the outskirts of Riverfall. He wanted to be their early so no one would be waiting on him. Namorin and Charlain knew that the trial would be dangerous but they were prepared to face that.

This was part of being an Akalak, and he wouldn’t let his family or himself down.

[Namorin Xalvratos]

Namorin and Charlain sat outside the city waiting for the others in the party to come. There were only two others joining him today on this years glassbeak hunt. His golden eyes looked upwards as he lay back on the ground watching a few scatter clouds as they passed by. He found watching the clouds helped calm him. As he layed there he felt a breeze blow past him, and it seemed as if carried comfort with it. Namorin offered a silent prayer up to Zulrav.

He turned his thoughs away from his fear and instead turned a focus towards the event ahead. It was time to prove he could become an adult. He would be with his best friends Asalma and Frenso who he trusted to fight by his side and watch his back. The last member of their group was Prata and Mesa. Namoein and Charlain knew him fairly well and trusted him to watch his back even if they weren't close. It was then as he was think he realized that there was sound coming from the side of him. He turned his head and looked.

Asalma and Frenso were moving quietly througt the grass. Namorin smiked at the caught look on his friends face. The young Akalak had green skin and grey eyes. He was about the same heigtnas Namorin, the two regularlly compared themselves to see who was currently taller as it was different from month to month. Asalma smiled and laughed as he quickly covered the distance between them. He collapsed on the grass next to Namorin, and Namorin lauged as his friend flopped around on the ground until he was comfortable and lying next to Namorin on te ground.

"How do you do it. Some times you moved with the grace of a night lion but at other times you move like a dog who has lost a leg."

"It depends on my mood." Asalma said as the two clasped hands and looked up at the sky. They had been friends since they had been toddlers. They had done everythig together and were close, but they were nothing more then friends, best friends. The two sat there silently listening to each other breath each pulling strength from his friends presence as the waiting. It was only a few more minutes before they heard someone approaching througt the grass. The red skinned Prata was approaching them througth the tall grass. Like the iter two young men he was dressed in leathers designed to give him a measure of protection as they went on this most important hunt.

The two stood up from their spot. Namorin noticed that each of them was carring a laken. Namorin was sure that each of them had recieved a laken from either their father or grandfather to watch over them on this hunt. The three were quiet as they looked at each other, and then turned and departed into the sea of grass. Thwy knew that it would be a couple days journey to find the nearest Glassbeak, centuries of Akalaks hunting the birds had taught them not to stray to close to Riverfall. Of course there was always a hope that one overconfident bird had wandered closer looking for new territory.

Life's a storm. Ride it.

[Namorin Xalvratos]

A Map had been spread on the ground before them. It was a map of the Sea of Grass around Riverfall so that they boys could have an idea of where to start looking for a Glassbeak. The map would only really help make sure the akalak boys were heading in the correct direction. A glassbeak could be anywhere in the sea of grass and they could easily be in large or small groups. The map was only the first step in this effort to prove their worthiness to become young men.

The three of them looked over the map. Asalma pointed to a spot on the map that appeared to be by some type of stream. As Namorin looked closer the spot was actually bigger than the stream. He looked up at his friend. ”This would be a good spot. The creek bed is broader creating a watering whole type of area. It also is flat so that there isn’t much work required for animals to get to the water bed.”

Prata pointed to another waterhole much farther to the south indicating to it. ”This has a much bigger watering hole. I think we would be more likely to find a Glassbeak here.”

”I agree, but we are also more likely to find a large group of Glassbeaks.” Asalma said. ”That or else find really young males who are looking for food.” The three of them were silent for a long moment before finally Namorin spoke.

”The other thing to consider is that here we might be dealing with other large number of other creatures who could get in the way.” The silences continued on for a long moment as they continued to study the map. It was a little strange to think that this map represented the area they were currently in. Many outsiders thought that the plains of grass were featureless and just filled with a lot of wild grass. It was a land of illusions and hidden dangers. The grass grew so high in some place that it could hide any type of creature if it took any effort to duck down. It could also hide holes that someone could stumble across. The grass had also been known to hide entire creeks that had eroded away into the ground. Then there were the Dryacks. They were the true masters of the sea, and rarely tolerated others in their area. As long as they didn’t bother them the Akalak boys were sure they would be left alone by their neighbors. The horse people had long watched the Akalak’s come into the sea to hunt first the Glassbeaks and then the Zith. The two as neighbors respected each other’s rituals and avoided interrupting them.

Namorin looked between the two. He could see both were highly likely choices for find a Glassbeak. His golden eyes looked between the two and he finally pointed to the smaller watering hole. “I personally think we should go here.” He said quietly. ”I think there will be less animal traffic, but better chance of finding a Glassbeak.”

Prata looked at the two of them and shrugged. They all turned their attention once again to the map spread before them as they began to layout the path they would take. Asalma point out the direct path towards the location. Which according to the map had no rivers or bodies of water. [b]”This would be the fastest way across, but we would have to conserve our water until we meet back up with the stream.”

”We also couldn’t use any fires as I am sure that glass is becoming dry by the day.” Namorin said pointing to the location. ”But we could get there in half the time it would take to get then by going around.” He traced a secondary path that would keep them closer to bodies of water.

”I think should take the direct path as well.” Prata said with conviction. Namorin looked at the other two and could see agreement. They all bent down and began to gather their supplies for the trek. Once everything had been gathered they took their location and began their trek.

Namorin was at the rear of the group as Parta was by far the better navigator then himself. Being at the back gave him time to think. This hunt was important for him and his family. It would show if he was strong enough to survive in the world the lived in. They no longer lived in a world that was civilized and tamed. Very little of the world was safe for sentient beings. There were bastions like Riverfall and other cities like it, but overall it was a dangerous world were creatures like the Glassbeak thrived.

What if he failed to prove he was strong enough to survive. He would be good for nothing but a laborer, with no skills and no hope of continuing his line. That was one of his greatest fears. That he would fail his family. That they would be ashamed of him. Charlain was quiet which told Namorin that he to was worried.

’I don’t want to die either.’ Charlain said quietly.

’Well then lets not.’ Namorin replied back trying to bring excitement to his being. He didn’t want to be depressed the whole trip.

’I agree. We are more then a match for a Glassbeak.’[/b] Charlain said catching on to the attitude. [i]’We are after all going to be world explorers.’ Namorin smiled as the bragging got underway. With someone like Charlain along it was easy to be distracted.

Word count 931/8316

Life's a storm. Ride it.