The rite of passage chapter 6- Fight, child of the flame

Shonah was certain she must have offended the spirits. There was no other explanation for the wretched predicament she now found herself in. A pack of wolves nipped at her heels, while a monstrous, humanoid wolf loomed menacingly ahead.

In truth, the immediate threat was the humanoid wolf; the rest of the pack had already started to disperse. The monstrosity, however, was gaining ground.

Thinking swiftly, Shonah clutched the bag containing the bear's head and hurled it towards the creature's feet. Perhaps that was what had piqued its interest, causing it to approach her. Losing the head was a significant setback, for it meant embarking on the arduous task of tracking down and hunting another bear. But survival took precedence. Against such a being, Shonah knew she stood no chance.

The sack tumbled to the giant wolf's feet, and the bear's head tumbled out. The monster halted and bent to inspect it, while Shonah held her breath.

Regrettably, the wolf's curiosity about her head wasn't as great as she had hoped. After a brief examination, it straightened and continued its advance. Shonah's legs felt like they were rooted to the ground; no matter how much she willed them to move, they remained stubbornly still.

As Shonah struggled to coax her body into motion, the relentless monster drew nearer. She couldn't fathom why it hadn't pounced on her yet, but it likely had to do with her near-motionless state.

The creature clenched its teeth, picking up speed. This surge of movement spurred Shonah into action. It was as if the link between her mind and body had finally reconnected. She broke into a sprint, confirming her suspicion that the wolf pack had scattered, frightened by their humanoid kin.

As Shonah ran, the noises behind her grew louder, a clear sign that the monster was closing in now that it had seen her in motion.

Suddenly, she veered sharply to the right, just in time to witness the massive creature land precisely where she had been moments before. It fixed its gaze on her and reared up swiftly.

Shonah darted behind the trees, hoping to disrupt her pursuer's pace. She heard wood creaking behind her and the heavy thud of footsteps moving away. Glancing back, she saw the monster leaping over logs rather than avoiding them. She turned her attention forward just in time to spot a log rushing toward her face. With all her might, she threw herself to the side of the tree, praying the creature wouldn't be agile enough to reach her as she fell.

The impact with the ground jolted Shonah's shoulder, sending a sharp twinge through her body. She clenched her teeth, determined not to scream, and swiftly regained her footing. Disoriented and in pain, she knew she didn't have time to resume running. Instead, she reached for one of Selior's two vials on her belt. They had proved effective against the boar; perhaps they could also help her against this formidable adversary.

Just as Shonah grasped the second vial, the bipedal wolf fell from the tree in front of her, lunging forward. With a swift motion, she hurled the vial at the monster's shoulder, just a few steps away. Upon contact, the glass shattered, and the liquid made contact with its skin. The wolf recoiled, collapsing to the ground. The creature emitted a sound that was a mix of a howl and a human cry. Unlike the first time, there was no smoke emanating from its body. However, Shonah observed that one of its arms seemed immobilized.

Could it be a paralyzing substance? If so, she needed to strike before the vial's effects wore off...

Still clutching the sharp stick, Shonah made an attempt to jab the writhing monster on the ground. She aimed for its head with all her might, but the creature's erratic movements caused the rod to strike the uninjured shoulder. The tip pierced the flesh slightly, but despite her effort, the makeshift weapon didn't penetrate much further.

Barely managing to withdraw the stick, the wolf abruptly reared up and struck Shonah with its head, propelling her forward. Once again, she collided harshly with the unforgiving ground. The impact stole her breath, and it took a moment before she could draw it in again. With great effort, she regained her feet, hoping the wolf hadn't yet recovered.

Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed; the monster was mere steps away, its left limb hanging limply and a small hole in its right shoulder. Shonah had to fling herself to the ground to evade a potentially deadly swipe. She didn't have time to rise before she felt her neck constricted by the very cloak she had worn earlier. The force was suffocating, the fabric pressing relentlessly against her throat. As she was dragged, her breath grew labored. Thankfully, the staff remained in her grip. She thrust its tip towards the fabric, tearing the cloak apart and freeing herself from the monster's grasp.

Gasping, Shonah staggered to her feet, determined to increase the distance between herself and the creature. She needed to reach cover behind a tree. Once there, she would employ the vial once more, and this time—

A jolt to her back sent Shonah tumbling once more, and she collided heavily with what felt like the trunk of a tree. The impact, aside from being excruciating and stealing her breath, blurred her vision. In the chaos, she lost her staff. Gasping and coughing, Shonah frantically fumbled for the flint still hanging from her belt.

Finally on her feet again, she barely had time to regain her bearings before the wolf landed in front of her.

With eyes still clouded, breath shallow, and thoughts muddled, she struggled to think clearly. She had to find a way to escape, but her body refused to respond. Then, a sudden surge of agony shot through her right hip. Looking down, Shonah saw the wolf's claws embedded in her side. The pain raged through her, overtaking her senses, and her vision began to fade until Shonah could see no more.

A profound darkness enveloped her, surpassing even the deepest of nights she'd ever known. No glimmer of light pierced the impenetrable void. Shonah tried to scream, but her voice, it seemed, had abandoned her. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that she had no... she felt nothing. There was a strange sensation of weightlessness, as if her very being was adrift, absent. A mind adrift in boundless obscurity.

Could this be... death? It couldn't be true. It wasn't meant to be true. She had a purpose, a mission. She couldn't allow her sister, or any other child, to face the grim choice between perilous risk and life in a village that deemed them second-class citizens.

If she possessed eyes, Shonah would have wept. Yet, even in this profound sadness, there were no tears, no tangible expression.

Since encountering that monstrous entity, her expectations had plummeted. Still, she'd clung to the hope of returning to the village, of simply surviving. Yet, here she was, facing it once more, as though it had awaited her arrival. Did the spirits desire her demise? Was this a test, a challenge? Perhaps, that could somehow rationalize their concern for these trials...

A feeling of youthful naivety washed over Shonah, a youngling dreaming of change... Perhaps this was the inevitable conclusion—

All of a sudden, a burst of light shattered the encompassing darkness. Before her stood a towering bird, wreathed in flames. Its feathers, though dark, blazed brilliantly against the void, emitting an intense radiance from its wings. Six eyes, like molten embers, gleamed through the spirit's form, casting fiery beacons into the abyss. Six wings, aglow with golden flames, stretched wide, each adorned with an eye set at its center. This was Kesk' Rim, the nocturnal lord of flames incarnate!

In all his majestic splendor, the spirit gazed upon her. Shonah longed to bow, to offer her utmost reverence to this mighty spirit, but she remained frozen, suspended in the empty expanse. With a sweeping motion, Kesk' Rim unfurled his wings, banishing the darkness entirely and filling the space with blinding light.

"Child of the flames."

The familiar voice from her nightmare echoed, now crystalline and distinct. The voice reverberated through the void, resonating within Shonah as though the spirit whispered directly into her ear.

"Your journey has yet to finish."

A surge of uncontrollable energy coursed through Shonah. The weightlessness receded, replaced by a profound sense of corporeal existence, of vitality.

"Seize that life for your path"

Shonah's eyes fluttered open, and she found herself locked in a gaze with the wolf, its claws still piercing. In her hand, the flint remained, clutched instinctively with all her strength. As her thoughts once again turned to Kesk'Rim, the stone fragmented, almost as if she had foreseen it. The broken shards emitted numerous sparks, which Shonah deftly gathered in her palm, coaxing forth a flame. Acting on pure instinct, she extended her hand towards the creature's eyes.

The wolf, taken by surprise, failed to register the rapid succession of events. Shonah's hand, wreathed in flames, met its face. Howls of agony pierced the air as it recoiled, retracting its claws from Shonah's hip. A searing pain coursed through Shonah once again, equal to the previous one, yet strangely, she retained consciousness and her vision remained clear. With gritted teeth, she retrieved the last vial from her belt, miraculously unscathed, and swiftly poured its contents down the creature's wide-open throat, amidst its wails of pain.

The vial shattered within the humanoid wolf's throat. It convulsed, overcome by a new wave of pain, before dropping to all fours and expelling a dark stream of blood. The creature seemed oblivious to the flames still raging on its face.

Shonah acted without hesitation. She swiftly grabbed her staff, holding it with a vice-like grip. She aimed the sharp point directly at the monster's eye and, summoning all her strength, lunged onto its head. The staff, this time, pierced through the creature's eye, penetrating its tender tissue and forging ahead on its trajectory.

Upon the staff's penetration, the monster's pained cries abruptly ceased. Shortly thereafter, the creature's lifeless form crumpled to the ground. Just as suddenly, Shonah was overcome by the accumulated fatigue, wounds, and blows she had endured in the battle with the wolf.

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Shonah felt the weight of her injuries and the urgent need to halt the bleeding before losing consciousness. With a trembling hand, she touched the lingering flame on the monster's head, then guided it back to her palm to cauterize her wounds. A piece of torn cloth found its way into her mouth as she carefully directed the flames to her right side. A biting, almost electric pain shot through her, but she gritted her teeth with unwavering resolve. Suppressing any cries, she let out only muted groans, unwilling to alert other creatures. Finally, consumed by agony and struggling for breath, she surrendered to the grip of exhaustion, collapsing beside the monster's lifeless form.

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Shonah awoke abruptly, finding herself in a state of disorientation. She had blacked out in the heart of the forest, near the lifeless form of a creature. It almost seemed as if she had implored the other woodland inhabitants to complete the task of the bipedal wolf! She counted herself fortunate for not having been attacked while unconscious. She needed to rise swiftly, but as she did so, an astonishing revelation struck her: there were no trees before her, no bushes around her, and the monster's body was conspicuously absent.

As this reality dawned on her, Shonah realized that it wasn't rough earth beneath her hands, but rather... a comfortable bed? Her eyes darted around the unfamiliar surroundings, panic and bewilderment coursing through her. Where was she? What had become of the creature's remains?

She continued to search her surroundings, realizing that merely glancing around the room wouldn't provide her with any answers. Finally, she took a deep breath and steadied herself. Raising her gaze once more, she began to take in her surroundings. The wooden walls and hung drapes started to seem familiar... and then it hit her. Shonah was in the same room in the temple where Selior had accommodated her the night before the trial began. How had she ended up here? Her last memory was vividly beside the colossal wolf. It wasn't close, but it wasn't far either, and there were more than 10 moons left before the end of her trial. Why was she here?

An attempt to rise was met with sharp twinges, forcing her back into the bed. Lifting her robe to inspect her side, she discovered three scars on her right flank. At least, she hadn't imagined it all... That was a small comfort. But if she was here, what had become of the creature's body?

The door swung open, revealing Selior.

"You're crazy," he said dryly, "But you're alive, and that's the important thing," he added as he approached.

Shonah felt an overwhelming urge to rise, rush towards him, and envelop him in a tight embrace. After all, it was thanks to him that she was still breathing. His sanctuary had become her salvation. And those miraculous vials of his... She longed to speak his name, but the words caught in her throat. Suddenly, all the tension, fear, and anxiety she had harbored over those few days crashed down on her, and Shonah found herself weeping, trying to convey to Selior just how profoundly grateful she was for his assistance...

Understanding her emotional turmoil, Selior moved to the bedside and embraced her gently, much like a father comforting a hurt or distressed child. It was a comforting gesture, and Shonah returned the hug, allowing her tears to flow freely.

"Is that better?" he asked in a fatherly tone.

Shonah nodded, needing a moment to collect herself. She had to come to terms with the fact that she had not only survived the ordeal but had also vanquished a creature even more formidable than a bear.

She remained in silence a while longer, allowing the last tears to fall and her mind to find its calm. Finally, she asked, "I did it, didn't I?"

Selior chuckled, "Look at her, we find her in a coma just outside the walls, she sleeps for four days straight, and the first thing she asks me as soon as she wakes up is if she made it." But before Shonah could fully process what the druid had just said, he continued, "Yes, girl, you did it. And what a catch, I must say. We were all left speechless. Not a bear, but a werewolf! For Medriot's sake... if someone had told me, I'd have thought it a colossal lie."

"So did I..." she admitted, "But...I couldn't have done it without your shelter...and without your potions."

"My what?" asked the druid in an almost worried tone.

He didn't appear too pleased about it, but she had started, so she might as well tell him everything, "I took the vials that were hanging on the wall and used them."

"Did you use the vials?" he asked, his tone rising noticeably, "Did you use the vials from the shelter? The ones hanging with the rune of protection? Those vials?"

Maybe it would have been better to wait a moment before telling him, but she owed her life to those vials. How much of a problem could it be?

She attempted to defuse the situation, "Yes, sorry, I know. I was wrong. I shouldn't have taken them... But they saved my life! I will help you make them again."

Selior scarcely gave her time to finish, "I do not care that I have to make them again! Shonah," he said, looking at her intently, "Do you have any idea how much you risked? Those are very dangerous concoctions, meant for rituals... If they were applied improperly on a living person, the effects would be..."

She interrupted, "Yes, I've witnessed the consequences... I'm alive because of those consequences."

Selior fell silent for a moment, then let out a sigh, "Either you're the luckiest madwoman I've ever seen, or your spirits truly watch over you more than I can fathom... Otherwise, I cannot explain it."

That was not the moment to discuss the vision she had experienced at her deathbed, and the inexplicable abilities she had demonstrated in that moment. When she thought about it rationally, Shonah couldn't even explain it to herself, let alone to others who hadn't witnessed it but had only seen the end result.

However, one question weighed on her, "How did you find me?"

"Ah, that too is part of your 'blasted-fortune' package. The guards heard the peculiar howl of the werewolf and came out to investigate. Such dangerous creatures shouldn't normally be so close to the walls. Upon inspection, they found its body with you lying unconscious beside it. Normally, you shouldn't receive any help during the trial, buuuuut let's just say yours was a unique case. You were supposed to face a bear, not a feral monstrosity."

That's why she was still alive and not prey to the animals... Shonah had been discovered while unconscious and brought to the village along with the creature's body. Selior was correct; she had indeed been incredibly fortunate. It would have taken only a single hungry wolf to bring her life to an end. Helpless and unconscious in an area stained with blood.

Shaking her head, she pushed those thoughts aside. "What happened to the body of the wolf... werewolf?" Selior had referred to it that way, so she would too.

He regarded her with a momentary puzzlement, perhaps anticipating a continuation of their discussion about her astonishing stroke of luck. Or maybe he assumed she wouldn't want to immediately rehash those events. Nonetheless, he eventually responded, "Don't fret, Shonah. I had it stored downstairs in a cabinet in the lab. No one disturbed the body unnecessarily. It was preserved exactly as it was discovered. Still with your staff in its eye..." There was a note of disbelief in his voice.

It was evident that he still couldn't quite grasp how Shonah had managed to bring down that creature. Not that it wasn't extraordinary, of course. She herself continued to grapple with the reality of it.

She decided to transition to the most crucial part of the conversation, "When can I conduct the ritual?"

"Well, you'll have to wait for Odn or another clan member to bring a bear. I'd say, a few days or so."

A bear? But she had just taken down something much more perilous—and formidable! She should be entitled to perform the ritual with that creature. At the very thought, she trembled... She would have possessed incredible strength and agility!

She must have been quite expressive, for Selior seemed to immediately grasp her thoughts, replying, "You didn't seriously believe you would perform the ritual with that...thing?" His tone oscillated between amusement and astonishment.

Before Shonah could respond, he pressed on, "That would be even more reckless than what you've already done! Feral beasts, Shonah, they're not born like other animals. They emerged at some elusive point in history and spread from there by turning other creatures into ferals." He paused, allowing her a moment to absorb his words. "Using the blood of a werewolf would grant you tremendous advantages, but... it would transform you into a werewolf yourself. A mindless creature that would attack anything it sees or hears..." The last sentence hung in the air.

Considering it, she realized that gaining strength wouldn't be worthwhile if she couldn't remain true to herself. Unfortunately, Selior was right. Recalling something she had heard, a question arose, "Selior... you mentioned that werebeasts transform other creatures into something akin to themselves... How does that happen?"

He fell silent for a beat, then replied, "Well, if an animal is attacked and infected by a werebeast but manages to survive, it, in turn, becomes a werebeast itself."

Almost instantly, a weight began to settle in Shonah's stomach. The wounds in her side began to throb more intensely.

"Selior... I... I was wounded by the werewolf."

He turned to look at her. It seemed impossible that they hadn't noticed when they found her. If they knew, why were they here?

"Yes, I saw your wounds... Not a clean shot, but it didn't seem to have bitten you, correct?"

She reluctantly recalled the entire encounter with the wolf. "No... but its claws... they dug into my side." The druid let out a sigh of relief and offered a warm smile. "Good! I was worried I had misjudged the wounds." Shonah looked at him, puzzled. What did he mean? "Why do you say 'good'?" she asked, her concern evident.

Selior, now looking at her more composedly, explained, "Infection typically occurs through saliva or blood. It's rare for it to happen through wounds like yours. There might be a small chance it has infected you, but if it didn't bite you, the risk is much lower." He paused, his gaze softening as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Furthermore, the ritual balances your blood, so you shouldn't encounter any problems once we perform it. The worst that might happen in the meantime is a preference for slightly undercooked meat, but nothing to worry about."

He said it almost in a hushed tone. She had been infected, even if only partially, by a monstrous, senseless creature

"I should have no problems?" she asked

"Yes."

"Selior, can you assure me without a shadow of doubt that I won't face any complications?"

The druid looked at her, his brows furrowing, before responding. "It's all theoretical at this point. I've never treated a patient possibly infected by a werebeast, but rest assured, I know what I'm talking about."

Despite Selior's evident expertise, anxiety was starting to take its toll on Shonah. She shook her head. "Four moons have already passed while I was asleep... Can't they expedite the search for the animal?"

"They've been scouring for a bear for nearly three days now. The werewolf must have wrought more havoc than anticipated. They're having trouble locating one," Selior explained. Shonah wanted to mention that she had found a dead one on the very day she began her trial, but she hesitated. Using the blood of an animal bitten by a werewolf might be tantamount to using the blood of a werewolf itself, so she opted not to argue.

After all the effort she had expended to survive, was there now a small, albeit existing, risk of becoming a beast? She absolutely couldn't take that chance. She had to perform the ritual without delay, and for that, she needed an animal. She attempted to rise, but Selior promptly restrained her. "Shonah, where do you think you're going?"

"To find an animal," she asserted firmly.

"What? No, you need to rest," he said, his tone laced with concern.

"I may have the blood of a mindless monster in my body, Selior!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "I don't want to risk becoming like that werewolf. Not even if the risk is small." As she squirmed out of the grasp of her friend, who was trying to keep her from leaving the bed, she felt something in her hair.

Abruptly halting and turning aside for a moment, she ran her hand through her blond locks to locate the source of the disturbance. Before she started to untangle her hair, she noticed that it had reverted to its natural color, just like her skin. Had someone cleaned it? She dearly hoped it was Gerda, the one she had the most confidence in.

Deciding to save her questions for later, she resumed her search through her hair. When her fingers closed around something, she began to gently extract it. Examining what she held in her hand, she discovered a black feather. The deep hue might have brought to mind a raven, but it was too large. How Shonah hadn't noticed it in her hair earlier was a mystery... Additionally, it had sides with a golden hue. It almost resembled...

But that...

Shonah was certain of what it was... She couldn't forget the vision. That radiance, those wings... The spirit and the vision were the sole reasons she still drew breath. In that moment, she had been watched over and had triumphed in the face of confrontation. Maybe even now, she was still under watch. Perhaps even now, the spirit sought to convey something to her...

She needed to proceed with the ritual, and she needed something specific to do it... and now, that feather had materialized in her hair. It was unmistakable!

She turned to Selior, who observed her with curiosity. The druid had noticed the shift in her demeanor from anger to surprise, and he might have been wondering why.

"You're correct, I need not seek out an animal," he murmured in the gentlest tone, trying to contain his excitement.

"Oh, then you understand, praise be to Med-"

She cut him off. "Because I don't need one. I have this," she declared, presenting the black and gold feather to Selior. "I possess the feather of Kesk'Rim."