Welcome to Gaia! ::

Grrel landed outside the cave that she’d finally tracked Anodyne down to. All the Mara’s, as they were now called, had put a crimp in her plans. There were way too many of them! But since she was already here, she needed to get this ritual done then head home to help out and see if everything was all right.

She’d left behind her Gaili orbs. Just in case, she thought. I could fail again and I do not want to start from scratch! Plus.. Gaili magic just didn’t mix with hers at all! I want to use magic that doesn’t clash so much with mine I guess… She hated to think of failing again, but it’d happened once already! I can do this, she thought; I’m just… making a safety plan is all. Yeah..

Taking a deep breath she rapped her claws against the stone archway that led into Anodyne’s dune hill house.

“What?” A voice that sounded irritated answered. Grrel wrinkled her nose. Drat, I got her in a bad mood, uhg!

“I’m Grrel, of the Family Clan Srrelliz, here to try the Ritual.”

Silence greeted her, then sounds of foot falls approaching.
“Toki’s clan?” The voice asked as the door opened. Grrel blinked as she looked at the Khehorian at the door.

“Uh… yeah….” She answered. Toki’s clan? Toki knew Anodyne? “It’s actually Brassarril’s clan.” Grrel said non-pulsed.

“Oh of course! Both of them successfully passed, as did two others I’ve heard.” Grrel twitched her tail in irritation at this. What? Toki had passed too? And others? Erg! “But… I heard that you had gone to Rhaze for your ritual…” Anodyne asked in a leading tone.

“…Failed that one, I’m here to try again.” Grrel snapped back sulkily. Stupid Firani! Why couldn’t she just give the instructions and let me be? No, she’s got to pull my tail and ask stupid questions….

“Ah.” Anodyne gave a ghost of a smile. “But you survived and are back once more. Good.”

“Good?” Grrel snarled back, “How is failure good? You think being mocked is a good thing”

“It means you’ve got the strength to pull yourself back up after you’ve failed.” The Khehorian cast a stern glare back at Grrel as she beckoned her to enter. “One would hope that you would realize this and not be so prideful and arrogant! You lived where others died trying to succeed! If a little mocking is enough to hurt you… are you sure you’re ready to attempt the ritual again?”

Grrel paused then muttered under her breath balefully. Little mocking? It’d be her entire clan! They loved to take her down a few pegs just cause she was best friends with the Chief and one of the Shaman’s better students! As if it’d be just a little mocking! Especially that Drrilian! And it’s not just them… I want to be proud of myself, want to know that I’ve succeeded and am strong enough to stand beside my friend and Chief and know I won’t drag him down.

Not that someone who was like Anodyne would understand! Grrel had to work, work hard and practice every day to stay where she was! Getting powerful was a trial for her! She wasn’t some talented snot who had lots of power at her beck and call! She’d gotten here by putting in more work and effort than her clutch mates! Damn right I’ll be proud once I get to that stage, she thought. I won’t have to hear anything along the lines of “You’re just not ready,” or “You just don’t have the power within you,” from my clan!

Her clan did care for her: but she was after all, just one of many. One of many who was not among the best and the more talented. Her magic was about equal to the majority of Khehoras in her clan, in fact she tended to use her teeth and claws more than magic in fights! As much as she loved her lightning, it was easier to use that to ambush or stun an opponent as she fled than to use in the midst of combat. She liked biting and raking the enemy with her claws! Lightning was fun to use, but in a fight it could hit an ally, so she used it defensively mostly. Maybe that’s why I failed the first time, I just hadn’t used it offensively enough. Well, she thought grimly, I’ve been practicing my magic alot more lately.

“Here we are,” Anodyne said. Unaware of the thoughts in Grrel’s mind, she picked up a few items and tossed them into a bag before heading out. “Come along, we’ll be at a near by secluded oasis for the ritual.”
“Oh good.” Grrel said, though she didn’t elaborate. It’d be out in the sun! Not in a cave like last time but where she felt more comfortable!

They flew out and Grrel smiled when she saw it: it was a small oasis, but hidden in a canyon that scarred the desert dune sea.

“You’ve done this once before, but let me go over a few things again just in case.” Anodyne said. “You’ll need to cleanse your mind of everything but your power and who you are. Then smash the orbs about you and absorb the power. If you absorb all of it and live, you’ll find yourself in a new form. If you can’t…” Grrel nodded choppily. She knew. She hadn’t managed to ride the wave of power last time, but she’d do it this time for sure!


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