Chapter Twenty-Seven
The Shantel!
"That was fantastic!" Starre said gleefully, landing in the middle of the now-deserted bishel clearing. "Wow, Dracogrex is so...cool."
"Glad you think so," Amaryllis said cheerfully. "Ooh, look, we made it right at sunset! Let's go."
Starre saw some other bishels mingling a couple yards away, but there were other bondmates there as well. Grinning eagerly, Rai thrust herself into the air and spiraled straight past Athena, the marine blue that was running the whole thing, to land smack in the middle.
HI! she squeed to the first of her siblings that she saw, who happened to be Eimin, the dark red vampiric bishel.
Eimin gave Rai a bit of a look, as if to say 'how am I related to these crazy people?' Then, she walked away.
Wow, Rai said thoughtfully, as Starre rushed over to her side. How am I related to these creepy people?
Right about then, Rai spotted Halifax, a pretty blue terran. She knew the name from someone who had just shouted it; a younger boy, probably slightly older than Starre, was scowling at a girl and the shrape.
Er...hi, Rai said in a shy voice, slithering over to the blue.
Hi, Halifax replied, just as shy. I'm Halifax. ^_^ Who are you?
After wondering for a brief moment how one would go about saying '^_^,' Rai grinned. I'm Raistlin, she said. I go by Rai, though. Isn't this just exciting? she asked, squirming eagerly.
No kidding, Halifax agreed, beaming. Good luck, Raistlin. :D
You too. Rai slithered off, sensing that the conversation was closed. Indeed, Halifax was moving over to talk to her bondmate, but a smile was on her blue face. Pleased, Rai looked for someone else to talk to.
All of a sudden, Rai heard a high-pitched whistle. Jumping a foot in the air, Rai whirled around to stare at a rather irritated-looking Athena. She saw Starre and co. gathering with the other bondmates, chattering away but growing silent as Athena glared at them.
Excuse me! Athena called. It is almost time for the ceremony, so would all the shrapes please form a line in from of the ceremonial rock?
Rai's heart skipped a beat, and she slithered quickly over to stand next to Halifax, whom she now considered a friend. She, of course, was on the end of the line. Gulping, Rai watched in awe as the great Kalian slithered out, and perched, coiled up and incredibly imposing, on his rock.
Welcome, all, he said, smiling. Today, we are celebrating the Shantel of the shrapes of Faiamitsukai and Striking Echo. They are an interesting and varied clutch, as you can see, and they have all worked hard during the first part of their lives to become the shrapes they are now. Today, they will take their final step to becoming Bishen.
Rai did her best to stand still, but she was becoming more and more nervous. She watched as the first shrape, Eimin, was called up and given a magical item called a 'Muted Charm.' Next, Jiyuu Touhi received a Glacial Gorget, and the twins Chayala and Verdara got red and blue Treasurer's Collars.
Martia received pretty horn-jewels, called Fury Stones, that dangled from her horns and fell around her face as she slithered happily back into line. Next, Halifax stepped up. Rai's stomach sank. She was last.
Halifax returned to the line with a new Mire Shard stone. Rai smiled, and Halifax nodded back, looking very proud of herself. Then, Rai turned to face the Kalian, a sort of icy terror building up inside her, growing every second that the Kalian didn't call her name. What if she was forgotten? What if she was not worthy of becoming a Bishel? What if the Kalian just said 'I'm done' and decided not to give her her magical item? What if--
Raistlin, come forward.
Heart pounding in her chest, Rai slithered foward and sat before the Kalian's rock. The old arboreal looked so regal up there, and she suddenly felt very small. She bowed her head gracefully. The Kalian didn't seem to notice; he was probably so used to it by now that it was nothing new or exciting. Trying not to visibly tremble, Rai listened to what the Kalian had to say.
You, like your brother, have become a champion for justice in the world. Your spirit is commendable, and you have never given up, even when faced with challenges larger than you could imagine. I give you this Chaosblood Jewel. It will allow you the breath weapon of balls of red energy and purple fog, that can injure your foes as well as provide you with cover to escape under. You also, with practice, can project illusions, thus tricking your enemies into seeing things... or not seeing things, as you choose. Use this skill with restraint, and use it to help those in need.
Rai positively glowed.
Beaming, she bowed her head as the jewel was slipped over her horns. Then, she bowed again, and returned to the line, not at all embarrassed by the enthusiastic cheers of her eight supporters. Starre was especially loud, thumping her tail and whistling. Finally, Rai gave them a little Look, and they quieted down. Grinning, Rai turned to listen to the Kalian's closing words.
You are now Bishen of the Machesri Clan. I know you will all make our Clan proud, so continue your explorations and quests. Congratulations!
With that, Rai leaped into the air and did a gleeful figure-eight. She was a bishen! And she had purple fog powers.
Just to show off, she concentrated, and tried to release a little spurt of the stuff. However, what came out was more like a glowey red thing that fizzled and popped, finally letting out a wisp of lavendar smoke. Blushing, Rai decided that she needed to train a bit more. Well, okay, a lot more.
Shrugging mentally, she spiraled downward to land on Starre's shoulders. Laughing, the girl scooped Rai up in her arms and kissed the Terran-Arboreal on the forhead.
"You're all grown up now!" Starre said tearfully, hugging Rai to her chest. "What am I going to do with you now that you can blast me with red energy?"
Rai giggled, and put a wing around Starre's shoulders.
Right about then, the tentacled bondmate of the twins came over, and introduced herself with a string of letters that Starre decided to condence to 'you.' "That dragon of yours is very pretty," she said, making Rai blush happily.
HI! something hollered, and, in an instant, Rai was on the ground, tackled by a blue something-or-other.
Er...hi, Rai said, startled. She looked up to see the twins themselves, fraternal red and blue now-bishels, both sporting their Treasurer's Collars with unabashed pride.
Sorry about her, Chayala, the red, said guiltily, shooting a glance of death at Verdara, the blue. She hasn't taken her medicine today, I guess.
Aww, silly, Verdara giggled, putting a webbed paw up to her mouth. I don't have medicine!
Rolling her eyes, Chayala walked away.
Well, HI RAI! Verdara continued sitting down in front of the harrassed-looking Terran-Arboreal. I'm VERDARA, but you can call me Dara or Dum-Dum Dara, which is what Chayala calls me. And...this is SIR PEEP-A-LOT! Yeah, he's...wait! @_@ Where are you going? Come back! With that, Dara chased off after the bird, leaving a rather confused Rai all alone.
Okaaaay, Rai said to herself, crawling over to her bondmate, the beautiful red and purple jewel hanging between her eyeridges and bouncing a bit with each of her movements. It was a nice feeling; the jewel was cold, and she was still a bit hot from standing nervously in line. It seemed as though she'd been in a different time, back in the ceremony. It was as though she'd been outside herself, watching as the magical object was placed around her horns.
Whatever the case, Rai was a bishen now. She could see the others running happily toward her, eager to celebrate.
And she was more than happy to join them.