Kioda stretched from the nest she was currently occupying. The hybrid girl she had come to know quite well recently, had been kind enough to allow her space in the rather large building beside her own home. A few conditions did apply, for example, she wasn't allowed to eat or frighten any of the animals in the barn. Not that the animals in there consisted of much. There were two Hastars, two other Khehora, and herself. For some reason she got the feeling Erionda was anticipating more. There were beds for all sorts of creatures in the warm home like barn.
Yawning as her muscles continued to pull and twitch Kioda opened her wings with a flare. Today was going to be the day she would finally take on this ritual and prove to that no good Khehorian that she wasn't some looser Khehora. No! She Kioda, was a specimen worth the attention of others. She was strong!
There had been one debate she had been struggling over this entire time. Exactly what orb she wanted to put in the center for her ritual. What orbs would she use? All the orbs she had painstakingly gathered since she was little now nestled in a pile in the far left corner of the building. She didn't really want to waste any of the larger orbs if she could help it. And there was a large part of her that still felt attached to the green ones.
A rumble escaped her chest before she gave a swoop of her wings, and dropped from the nest in the rafters to the floor. Prancing like a puppy holding its prize high, Kioda moved towards the pile of orbs. Reaching forward with her claws she sifted through them until she produced two Firani orbs. She was a powerful creature already thanks to some help from Erionda's guidance. So she didn't require that many orbs to complete her transformation.
Rumbling again Kioda's muzzle lowered towards the orbs to scoop them up. Today was the day, and there was so much excitement coursing through her system that she could hardly contain it. She had agonized over if she wanted to look more like her old self but with legs or more like the silly two legged creatures. In the end her decision had rested on her own reflection. She liked her face and didn't want to risk loosing it to the features the two leggers carried. She couldn't understand the travesty that so many Khehorians performed when wanting to turn into something they looked nothing like.
There were so many things going through the Orikovans mind. Like where would she live now? How long before she surprised her own sisters about her advancement in life. Show off how powerful she was. There still had not been any in her family line to succeed at the ritual. And while there was the slim chance that she herself would not be able to make it. There was a steep possibility that she could do just that. And to top it off, she would make sure to travel to the very spot with the orbs in tow.
Placing the two orbs into a basket that Lilith had constructed for her, Kioda returned to gather up as many as she could get to fit. She had no idea how many orbs she would actually need but she hoped that only a few would be sacrificed for her to gain a level few could.
Back and forth Kioda went placing her orbs in the basket until she couldn't fit another one. Walking over to the doors the large green shivered. It was freezing in Aisko, but she had come here to learn to become stronger against the temperature changes. That had not happened. She still didn't appreciate the heat of Eowyn or the cold of Aisko. Both seemed to effect her just as much as before. Pushing the door open Kioda rushed back towards the basket. Gripping it between her teeth, she took flight. The barn doors would probably remain open for a little while before Rio would find and close them. Unless Uassae was able to alert the hybrid to her flight.
She moved as swiftly as she could over the frozen expanse. And while it took hours before she was free of the true cold if Aisko, Kioda didn't stop. The desire to finish was great in her frame. The itch to reach Rhazes and prove to him that she was just as wonderful was her main driving force. She was no weak creature.
Her wings pumped endlessly for what felt like days. Eventually she did reach the very place of her desire. And as expected Rhazes stood there with his stoic face. Just as miserable as before, Kioda thought to herself. His glower and otherwise nasty attitude was not going to keep her from doing this. Landing on the ground Kioda moved forward attempting to appear regal and dominant. She kept her nose held high in the air, she could not afford to let it drop now. Never again.
Stopping on front of him as she place her basket down, Kioda tried to imitate the stoic Khehorians face. She didn't have to say a single word to Rhazes. It was as if the strange guide already knew what it was she wanted. Beaming inwardly and trying her best not to jump for joy as she was motioned to follow.
Kioda was lead inside a dark cave, one she had only seen a glimpse of from the outside. There were two circled drawn into the floor. Making sure not to seem uneasy she was relieved when Rhazes explained what it was she needed to do. And that plqcing any other orb but the one of her clan would help her keep her more reptilian form.while one of her clan gave her a greater change. Eagerly Kioda moved forward placing one Firani orb in the center. She wanted to keep as many of her features the way they were after she gained this new power. She had seen the changed that had occurred on Eyphah and she didn't quite feel like that was her.
Stepping towards the outer edge of the second circle, Kioda placed a second orb. Another Firani, part of her hoped that by doing this, she could become more resiliant to the heat. Not that it was possible, but she could still hope and dream of other outcomes. She was a dreamer after all.
Rhazes spoke after she had laid her final orb. Directing her towards the center of the circle again. Kioda did as she was told closing her eyes tightly. She could feel the jittering in her body, the moment of hesitation that what she was doing was all wrong. The feeling that maybe, just maybe, she was unworthy of proceeding to the next level.
It was too late for second thoughts now. She could feel her body changing, feeling a strange power sifting through her. Kioda feared opening her eyes lest it all be just a dream. And then as if time had stopped Rhazes was telling her it was complete.
Balance and walking forward were the first things she noticed. There were now two legs instead of four. She could feel Rhazes mirth at her stumbling, and in a last ditch effort to save her pride, she transformed back into her four legged self. Walking from the cave, Kioda was pleased with herself.
Picking up her basket along the way Kioda dwelled on who to show her new form to. She had succeeded where her family and sisters had failed. She wanted to show her other Khehorian friends. She wanted to thank Erionda, the hybrid who had taken time to help her grow. There were so many things she wanted to do now that she was better than before, with physical evidence to prove it. She was now on equal footing with Rhazes, her own life goal had been fully realized.
Kioda paused, realization dawning on her that she was truely a Khehorian. A loud yelp of pleasure burst from her. She danced happily in place as her exitment mounted, doubled, then released itself in her joyful movements. This continued for some time before Kioda was able to settle down. If she wanted to show off, she needed to be sure she could walk on two legs.
It took a while before Kioda was able to shift back into her new found form. And taking her first few steps were awkward and cumbersome as she tried to find the right place for parts of her body. It took the remainder of the light for her to figure out how to walk, how her tail could be used to help her balance. The way her hands felt like claws but had a stranger movement to them, almost like they were freer then before.
Kioda loved the feel of her new form, hoped desperately she still looked the same in some way. She didn't even mind the scar on her face now. Just that she didn't have to have the face of a two legged creature. The scar would symbolize how far she had come.
Home.
That was the first location that settled in her mind. She was powerful enough now to prove she could lead them. And that while she may be the youngest she wasn't the weakest of them. They needed a leader, her sisters were chaotic and needed guidance. Being the same as her they didn't want to listen, but now, now she could show them that she had what it took be lead her clan.
