[Festival 2018] The Cloud Ceremony

[Elawadiyi]

((How this goes is very simple. Mostly, mothers (or fathers) can announce the birth of their children. Cubs can announce themselves if you want. This is for cubs/adols that were born after the last Festival.

Post as much as you'd like; it's a very open ended rp that is geared more towards the children introducing themselves to the adults, and making friends in other clans that they won't see as often in their own clan.

Don't forget that the clans migrate often, so this is seen as a good chance to know those outside of their clan.))  

[Vashtya]

Achak shifted uncomfortably, although his expression was carefully neutral. He knew that he needed to get better about dealing with both his clan, and the larger pride when they gathered, but he struggled not to feel like he was constantly being started at, picked apart, judged, and found lacking. He had finally begun to feel slightly less insecure when it was just him and Tawa'di, as the deity had a certain irreverence that eventually wore down even his reticence.

He was distracted enough that he didn't even notice Tya's approach, or her stumble, until it was too late to do anything besides brace himself for the impact. As a result, he only was jostled a bit, earning her a small grunt of effort. "Are you okay?" He asked after the barest hesitation, extending a forepaw in her direction once he'd steadied himself. He hesitated a moment - she was close to his age, and her pelt was a neutral as his was bright...and he had never seen her around before this.

Realizing he hadn't introduced himself, duty came to the forefront, despite his internal discomfort in interacting with others. "My name is Achak. Achak Dikanodi, from the Sky Clan."

Safaia

 

[Vashtya]

Oddly enough, the young lioness' own obvious discomfort helped put Achak a little more at ease. Shaking his head, he waved a paw, brushing off her apology. "I should have been watching better where I was going..." he murmured, even as he looked at her curiously - this was his first festival, and so while he knew that his parents had originally been rogues, it was his first time interacting with a lion who was new to the ela...even more unusual was how young she was. Although she mentioned a parent, so perhaps she had journeyed to, and joined the pride with her family?

Giving her a small smile, although even that felt awkward on his maw, he inclined his head slightly. "If that's the case, then we'll be in the same clan - we're not the largest clan, but there are at least a few others who are close to our age," he said, striving for the type of casual converstation that seemed to come so easily to others. At her comment about being lost, his eyes widened slightly. "Oh...did you need help trying to find your mother?" he asked tentatively.

Safaia

I'm so sorry for the slowwwwwwwww reply!  

[Vashtya]

Her response threw him slightly off-balance, even confused. Was her mother not a member of the pride herself, then? Or was she speaking of a more short-term goodbye? Not wanting to pry, however, he just looked at her, feeling slightly awkward until she spoke again, asking for information about their clan.

He thought for a moment, then slowly spoke. "We're one of the smaller clans...and while all of the clans pass down knowledge with stories, we're known for our long memories and knowledge, especially when it comes to the history of our pride."

If it sounded like a slightly canned reply, that was probably because it was what he'd memorized; the knowledge that he was expected to have a long memory, and the wisdom to accompany it pushing him that much harder when it came to trying to learn how to be a proper nvwati.

Safaia

 

[Vashtya]

Feeling more than a little out of his depth, her own tentative response bolstered his confidence...shortly. "You'll b-be fine. It's not like there's some sort of test to be in the clan."

Mentally cursing the stutter he'd been unable to prevent, he attempted a smile, hoping to put her at ease. When she continued, his eyes widened slightly, a frisson of...pleased surprise shooting through him. She'll realize soon enough what I am, and that'll be the end of it. Just as quickly, his inner voice reminded him that he had never really fit in with his peers (although to be fair, he didn't know what he would do if he'd been more...included with the other cubs of the clan, with his trying to juggle everything he needed to learn).

"O-of course! I'm sure they'll make you feel welcome in no time at all!" Forcing a smile to his maw, he found himself dragging the encounter out as long as he could - perhaps it was because she didn't know what he was supposed to be - or even have a preconceived expectation that he felt he had to live up to, but regardless of the reason, it was one of the few times in memory (aside from time spent with Tawa'di, who had an irreverence that left no room, at times, for the formality he hid behind like a shield) where he hadn't felt completely buried by thoughts of how a proper future nvwati should be acting. It wasn't as if he'd been able to completely forget it (after all, it wasn't a cloak, to be taken off at will), but some of the suffocating pressure that made him struggle for words was...less.

"You mentioned your mother...did she join with you?" The words tumbled out before he could stop himself, leaving him shifting his weight awkwardly from one forepaw to the other...already second-guessing asking the question.

Safaia

 

[Vashtya]

Convinced he was likely only revealing how inept he was at interacting with others, showing how ill-suited he was as a nvwati-to-be, it was only the last few months of Tawa'di's tutelage that had him persisting. When she thanked him, however, a small stirring of something unfamiliar - was it pride? He couldn't be sure, but it felt...nice.

When she leaned in close, asking if he could keep a secret, he blinked at her in surprise, hesitating a moment before he caught himself, then nodding decisively. He was supposed to be the clan's future spiritual leader - something he would never be able to do if he couldn't keep his maw shut, when needed.

Whatever he'd been expecting her to say, however...it hadn't bern that. Went to speak, but ended up merely mouthing the words, his voice refusing to work. There was no way the daughter of a goddess wouldn't find him lacking, he immediately thought, feeling glum before he forcibly turned his thoughts to how she'd told him this.

She'd told him this in confidence, looking uncomfortable doing so. "That must be difficult, having to part from your mother." He finally spoke, as always feeling like he was probably saying all the wrong words. "W...will she at least be able to come visit you from time to time?"

Safaia

 

[Vashtya]

Eyes widening, the breath rushed from his lungs as they seized in surprise at the way she spoke, as if he were something other than a writing mass of shortcomings....Coughing in pleased surprise, he gave her a shy smile. "You'll get to know the others soon enough; we're a pretty...close-knit clan." he said, his tone soft. At least, the rest of them are. I seem to be the only one who doesn't really fit in...

Flattered by her attention (his first, from an attractive young lioness), he tried to squelch the pleasant...warm feeling that built in his chest. Don't get used to it, she'll change her mind soon enough. he reminded himself harshly, although the warmth refused to be completely stifled. "If she's a goddess, I'm sure she'll be able to visit from time to time - a m-mortal would have a tough time finding the clan, since we move around frequently within the pride's land, but a g...a goddess..." He shrugged, trailing off awkwardly, flushing slightly, his embarrassment at the stuttered words only somewhat hidden beneath his pelt.

"As far as I know, visitors don't require permission...we interact with rogues at the border, just with caution, after all..."

But just to be on the safe side, he'd ask Tawa'di later, to see what the elder lion thought.

Safaia