Ocean's Breath Plateau ivilauk ⋣

scarification ceremony for @Raiyuk! him to post next, then i think we can open it for one-post reactions if all is good! <3 tags for ref!

the wives of the seal hunter man must be tended and taught the things that kukutux had bartered. they were close to their time as well, moonmother felt, and would bring forth their children almost as one. 

she had been relieved to hear the joyous shouts of chakliux, to see how he embraced @Marina. 

but she had come for a purpose and a reason. 

from @Tullik she had gotten a skin-pouch of the crushed black abalone shells, and not from the lodge, with the sea at her back, kukutux laid pelts upon the earth and placed the small hide beside it. and alongside these things, a small shell of weak willowbark tea, an antiseptic for the bleeding to come.

it was the honor of chakliux to go and get the boy, to bring him to the moonmother. it was the privilege of the seal hunter women to sit closest to the hides where they might encourage raiyuk. it was for the pleasure of @Heph and @Rodyn that they were invited to also observe this rite. it was for instruction that she allowed @Paeon, @Reina, @Minnow, @Raindop, @Faele, and @Nasamiituuq to observe behind her shoulder.

when raiyuk had laid down upon the hides, chakliux holding him steady (@Taggak offered the same role, if he remained) kukutux gazed down into the unmarked young face, suffused now with the confidence of taking the seal alone. "you were a brave boy. now hold that braveness, raiyuk. you will need it for this time. make no sound. you will be a man when it is over."

she chose first to mark his face, knowing it would be the worst of the pain and wishing to usher him through it first.

the scars would originate at the the top of his nose-bridge, running its length.

her breath was warm as she began.

hooking toothtip into the skin, pushing down gently, kukutux raked a deep furrow of blood to the surface, tearing enough to mark but not to cut down through the thin skin all the way to the bone. the welling furrow was wiped with the willowbark and a piece of soft rabbitskin, and then kukutuxu scored the second scar.

licking blood from her jaws, she glanced down at raiyuk, willing him to be silent. the stinging solution was wiped into the second wound, and then her jaws poured a small mouthful of the crushed abalone shell between his eyes. paw and nose rubbed the sharp-edged rough powder into the new cuts, causing blood to well again. the abrasive press would ensure that the scars would heal black and stunning.

a moment's respite was given before moonmother started to scar the shoulder close to her, process repeated in three lines upon each side. blood rushed to the surface of the broken skin, was wiped away, and the abalone shell was ground down into the lacerations.

but at last raiyuk was allowed to stand, albeit slowly. the grey powder fell from his coat except for the new black lines upon muzzle and shoulders. blood would continue to trickle around the edges of the crushed shell, but would dry by this evening. then there was only infection for which to watch, but kukutux felt her work was well.

"a seal hunter man," she assured the young hunter, looking with amusement at his beaming father.

Rodyn didn't often understand all the ways of those around him. But he was honored to be included. He would offer his own gifts from things he had to trade. They could choose what they wished.

That was for a different time. When they were not in pain and learning or being ushered into manhood.

He watched with both sadness and pride. A sense of grief that he had sons, but they would never be close like this or perhaps it was that he may not have anymore. He didn't really know.

But it was with friendliness he clapped hia fellow father on the back.

He had not slept well since the night after his hunt. Knowing that he would be home soon was exciting, and then he was home, and there were things to prepare for—the final painful rite of becoming a man. Word came to Raiyuk that the shaman Kukutux had arrived; the boy waited, listening to the birds sing while he rested within the lodge, and then his father came.

Raiyuk did not speak. He walked beside his father full of pride, a sprinkle of apprehension, and the focus that would be needed for what was to come next. As Raiyuk came before Kukutux he bowed his head to her and then was led to a mat, where he would lay.

There were others watching. Somehow this felt wrong to him, but he did not protest against it. This moment of earning his scars felt simultaneously intimate in the sense he only wanted Chakliux and Taggak to see, and theatrical for how proud he felt and how this act was being witnessed and made real by those gathered.

Was he meant to sit still and silent? It was what came naturally. Somehow Raiyuk expected the shaman to speak some magical incantation; then she bent before him and began the work of cutting. The boy grit his teeth and felt each line pull through his skin.

He remembered other pain as he fought through this. The recent battle with the seal; the pain from the bison hunt; a deeper and more profound ache when Chakliux had gone away to hunt with Dutch; rooted deepest of all the loss of his mother and her glaring absence. Having survived all of that, Raiyuk knew he was strong.

Chakliux had prepared him; his eyes locked for a time upon his father and while they gleamed, he did not cry or make a sound. Kukutux moved to one shoulder, then another. He recites in his mind the lineage:

Son of Chakliux, out of Nasamik.

Each name punctuated with a line in his skin.

Grandson of Waking Shark and K'os.

And when it was over, Raiyuk lay there a moment longer. His fur was bloody despite the best efforts to staunch the wounds, and his skin thrummed with an ebbing pain as the medicines took effect. These red marks would heal black and be reminders to him, and badges of honor, as Raiyuk went forward in his life.

When he finally stood up, he heard Kukutux and he saw his grinning father, and felt only love.

Congrats Raiyuk! Tag for ref or joining. Single post from me, unless another turn is allowed later on.

Before she’d left the den, she told @Sumac where she was going, to see what the commotion was about. A celebration had begun, and as wolves began to gather, Raindrop slowly followed, trickling in ever so quietly. She’d be lying if she’d told herself that she didn’t feel bad about the confrontation with Rodyn, but it was over now, and eventually she’d have to realize that. 

She saw Moonmother, and found a sitting place well behind her, but where she could see the center of the gathering. A place she saved for her beloved, in case he decided to show up. For now, she’d listen, observe, and enjoy the celebration.

As the gathering continued on, Moonmother had begun to mark Raiyuk’s body, drawing blood and cuts upon his features. It seemed painful, for a young boy to have to withstand this, but she wouldn’t judge a thing, at least, not publicly. She winced Kukutux continued, a slight icky feeling in Raindrop’s stomach had begun form, not full blown nausea, just kinda tipsy.

Once Moonmother had drew upon his body what would become, surely, later on, and at the end, Moonmother had declared him “A seal hunter man.”

Heph observed, she had not quite known what would happen but she watched silently and let the moments pass, heard the words and sat ready for when the moment seemed right. She had brought furs and bones of hers to mark the occasion, whatever Raiyuk thought most suited and she was glad for him to have this moment.

A part of her thought it strange, but the pain of growing she could understand and she offered a smile once Raiyuk stood and she could see the pride in Chakliux's eyes for his son. Her own tail swished out behind her in sweeping motions.

Single Post

Paeon could feel the tension in the air. Some nervous, some excited, and some confused. Paeon on the other hand was intrigued. It was clear this was some type of ritual or tradition, but there was still so much she didn't understand.

Intentional scares... Paeon was a big fan of scars received in battle or on the road to adventure, but this was something she didn't see often.

She had so many questions bubbling up inside her, but she kept them at bay, not wanting to disrupt the ceremony. At times she tip-toed with excitement and moved and ducked her head to get a better view, still keeping a respectful distance so as not to disrupt.