Sam was ready. He knew for sure now. The only thing that stood between him and walking on two legs was that blasted ritual. He wouldn't admit that he was feeling butterflies, and had hardly slept the night before. Not the he needed to say anything of the sort. Especially since he was pretty sure his Diabi companion's eyes had been on him throughout the dark night. Oblivion hardly seemed to ever sleep at night. He much preferred to take his naps during the day. Though he usually went hunting after Sam and Carrion had fallen asleep, last night he had opted to stay behind and keep his friend company, in the wayward and in vain hope that his presence would comfort the eager Gaili.
Unfortunately, no such thing happened, and Sam had tossed and turned and flopped across the floor of his cave all night long and well into the morning. Despite the sleepless night, Sam found himself wide awake with anticipation. How long would this ritual take? Would it hurt? he imagined it probably would, since his very bones were being completely restructured... And that was only if he succeeded! If he actually failed the consequences could be even worse... And Sam wasn't eager to leave behind his only child. Carrion's wide eyes and adorable chirps were things that he cherished, and needed to protect. And it was because he needed to protect him that he needed to do this.
Sam stood at the edge of his cave, looking out to the crags and mountains below. From his perch, he could see his fellow clan mates, each sitting at the edge of their own cave in the hopes that they'd be able to see him off. None of them had yet attempted this challenge, but if anyone could do it, it was Sam! the Gaili smiled fondly at all the faces looking back at him. he turned as something small bumped against his leg. "Carrion." Sam whispered, leaning down to affectionately nudge his young charge. He received a somber chirp in response. Even someone so young as carrion could feel the gravity of the situation. "I will be back soon." Sam promised, giving the Keindred such a fierce nudge that he toppled over. "And when I do, you may find that I look different, but I am still your father."
Those red eyes shined mischievously through the skull he wore. "I know." He retorted, pressing his head against Sam's leg.
"Hey, where's my goodbye?" Oblivion scoffed as he sauntered forward. Samael wanted to tell him that it wasn't goodbye. Surely he'd return before the day was done! But before he could utter anything of the sort, Levi smacked the feathery tip of his tail against Sam's side. Levi had only followed the Gaili home to hear of his ritual, so at very least the Diabi could expect him to return. "We'll be waiting for you, ya'know. And I'll keep the little one out of trouble." Levi couldn't help but give his friend an affectionate cheek nuzzle of his own, leaving Sam open-mouthed in surprise. Of all the Diabis, he had to be stuck with this arrogant, flirtatious fellow. But even Levi's wayward antics couldn't distract him from what he had to do.
With his goodbyes to his family said (was Levi family?), Sam kicked from his cave and spread his wings, angling toward the rising sun. "I will be back soon!" He called out to his clan mates as he glided through the crags. Cheers of 'Good luck, Sam!' and 'Be safe, Samael,' followed him out, leaving the Gaili grinning in excitement.
He'd chosen to seek out Anodyne. Since she was a Firani, her lair would be much closer than that of Rhazes, not to mention that she seemed to have the much softer heart of the two, and was a healer to boot! If he wound up failing, he'd much rather be near someone that could potentially resuscitate him...
It was a short flight to Kaiatasel, where the Firanis made their homes. It helped that Sam was surging with Adrenaline and excitement. Plus, he'd taken many a longer flight before. But when he landed, he was greeted with, not Anodyne, but a different young Firani. "What brings you to our clan today, Gaili?" The female asked. Her voice was soft and silky and inviting, like she wasn't hiding a Firani's fiery temper.
"I wish to speak with Anodyne." Sam informed her. "i think I am prepared for her ritual." He stood a bit taller.
But the female's maw quirked in amusement. "You think? You will get nowhere with that attitude." She shook her head softly. "I will fetch Anodyne. Please wait here."
Sam frowned. What more could he do besides believe and hope that he was ready? He knew so little that it seemed arrogant to say that he would most certainly succeed in this ritual. But he didn't have time to dwell on it. Anodyne approached him in her two-legger form, smiling softly. "Young Gaili, if you believe that you are ready, please follow me. Just be warned that once you start, you cannot stop. This test will take all of your strength, and if you do not have enough to appease it, then you will fail." She walked along through the caves in the side of the volcano, and Sam followed, feeling the fiery heat press against him from all sides. He would never be able to focus like this...
But as Anodyne led them downward, deeper into her home, the heat ebbed slightly. "I hope you've brought many orbs to aid you through your transition." When Sam nodded, she continued. "Dragon orbs contain so much power, enough power even to help you change shape, should you be able to control it. Control and direction. You must be able to make this power bend to your will. If you are strong enough to command it, then it will obey you." She led him to a cave separated from the rest, where no other Drakeins would bother him. "Good luck to you, Gaili. I will await your return just outside." She nodded encouragingly to him.
With a sigh, Sam straightened himself and entered alone. The room was warm, and had a faint glow to it from the outside. This seemed like a decent place. Maybe he could gather his focus here. he carefully arranged his orbs around him, taking care to place them in what he thought was an appropriate manner. Taking a calming breath, he sat amongst them. Dragon orbs released their power when crushed, so all he had to do was... Break them. Thin pillars of earth jetted from the ceiling, one for each of his orbs, landing and smashing the treasures into dust beneath them.
Instantly, Sam felt the waves of dragon power wash over him. He could hear a roaring in his ears, his claws scraped painfully against the rock beneath him and he felt the elements of all the dragons he'd slain. He could feel the Firanis' heat and the Aiskalas' chill. The Ayralas' wind berated his wings, and the Kiandis' spark danced across the scales. The scent of the forest where the Ysali lived and the dampness of the Peisio's home.
But most of all, he felt the Gaili's steadfastness, their stubbornness, and their determination, the way they could make something a strong and sturdy as earth bend to their will... This was Sam's own power. This was what Sam had been given as a birthright, the strength and will of a Gaili! If he ever needed that fierce determination, it was now! To wrangle the wayward power of all these other beasts! He had to! he wouldn't lose himself in this onslaught!
Sam rose slowly from his sitting position, feeling the vast shift in the energies around him. It was the Dragon's very wills that danced around him now, and all he had to do was make them bend to his. He would never allow himself to fail here! The power coiled about him. With the very essence of his determination, Sam reached out to it. He felt resistance, a lot of resistance, but Sam knew he could prevail. He didn't know how long he sat there fighting with this power before he could coerce it to find solace within himself, where it wouldn't be wasted, where it help him accomplish all his goals and protect his beloved family. But as thought though struck him - his family - he felt his resolve heighten, and he overtook the rampant powers around him. He could feel it permeating through his body, accepting him as its new wielder. For a brief moment, he felt light and airy, like he was floating, a golden glow wrapping him in pleasant warmth...
And then, he was back in the cave, staring at the ground and gasping as his limbs quivered from exertion. He hadn't realized their would be a physical toll... But still, he was pretty sure he was alive. He tried to move forward, but as he tugged away there was a harsh pain in his scalp that left Sam yelping. It was then that he noticed the long, straight, pale yellow silken strands that draped around him. His hand had been resting on one, and when he pulled away- His hand?! Sam sat up on his knees, gasping in surprise. His hand! His wonderfully, tan-skinned hand! And these silky ribbons were his hair! He had hair! Long, platinum blond hair...
He looked himself over in wonder, at least, the parts he could see. His long, silky hair fell to the ground, even sitting on his knees like he was. His skin was a deep, glorious tan, with darker brown plating across his fingers and toes. His two-legger body was toned, with hard planes in all the right places. He looked over his shoulder to see his wings. They faded from a warm yellow to a pleasant green, and were shaped like three crystals shooting from the same stone.
Once he'd seen all he could, he shakily rose to his two feet and walked out of the cave. As she'd said, Anodyne was waiting for him. "You have succeeded!" She beamed at him, handing him a folded cloth. "It is custom for two-leggers to wear garments to cover themselves." She explained as Sam unfolded it to find a pair of pants. As he put them on (with some difficulty), she retrieved a looking glass from where she'd been waiting and held it up for him to see.
He had deep green eyes that were alight with excitement, though also bore the exhaustion from his efforts. Unlike many of the Drakeins he'd seen, Sam only bore two brown ear crystals on each side, and one from the top of his head, parting his hair right down the middle. Anodyne explained that since his Drakein horns were different than the plates many of them had, it reflected in his crystals as well. He glanced away from the glass. He was taller than Anodyne, too...
he could hardly believe what he was seeing. After spending his entire life on all fours..! But as he let his new fingers run up his arms, he couldn't help but whisper, "I've done it..."
Word Count: 1886
