Celestial's Prayer

Ariṣṭa

Mina always loved to watch the little ones at play, before she would always watch them from the treetops while she was out patrolling. She would wonder at them and dream of the time she would be able to hold one of her own in her arms, proud to claim that it was hers. That was why when she was asked to help at the education center she was elated and eager to accept. Watching them try and transform but only managing to elongate their teeth was always encouraging. Her favorite, though, was when they came to her and asked her to help them with the next phase, even though their markings were merely grayish pencil marks against their skin, their willingness or hope would give in. It was this time of the year, though, that she had been looking forward to the most. The Blessing, it was called, is the process where the cubs between one hundred and one hundred and fifty will finally get their black marks with the full flourishing of their true beasts.

Depending on their beast, it will allow them to take the next step into the clan. Some would become warriors and be sent to a Master to further their skills. Some of the path of the priesthood will be chosen, and they’ll be sent to the Alpha courts to further their knowledge. Others will become the various other parts that secure the clan’s future and security. Very few, however, will be blessed with the jaguar marks that will send them to their mother’s hands to become the future hierarchy of the clan and the Alpha’s consuls.

The blessing isn’t controlled by blood initially but by the internal beast of each individual that they are born with and the will of the gods. While classification isn’t strictly done by defining marks, it can place some where they want to be but not where they should be. In the end, the classifying period is a long, arduous process with each young person’s position being determined by the Alpha and an immense deal of prayer to the gods. Not all people will be happy or satisfied by this situation, but most are. It was this that made Mina’s joyful smile at the little ones falter a bit.

Her sister was one of those that were unhappy at her Blessing. Deeply unhappy.

It started first with the clouded leopard markings, the ones for the priesthood. Unhappy with that, she managed to convince the teachers that she was a warrior, her reasoning based off the fact that her beast was larger than other clouded leopards. With the approval from the Alpha, their father, she was sent to a master where she began an apprenticeship. After a few years, it was apparent that she was neither a warrior nor a huntress. After that, her father had arranged a marriage between his youngest child and a very powerful jaguar consul.

Hard to please, Mina found that her sister would not be happy at any decision, and soon after that she began to disappear. One time it took to send out a pregnant Mina to go search for her and take her home. It had taken Mina and her protective escort many hours over hundreds of kilometers in the cold and snow to finally pick up Maddy’s scent strong enough to allow a period of rest for Mina. She had nestled herself next to a large boulder hidden from sight by both a tree and camouflage, thanks to her white coat. Nestling down, she had begun to nurse her painful and bleeding paws by slipping on the ice and stepping on the broken pieces of a glass bottle. Then her escort suddenly lifted their heads. They were startled by something that was running towards them. The object was obviously running hysterically away from something and didn’t notice the group of large cats. Suddenly, it made a b-line towards them, her escort too slow in reacting when the object, Maddy, in hysterics, jumped on top of Mina thinking she was just a pile of snow and shoving her into the snow-covered ground.

Mina shivered from the memory of the cold being forced up into her chin and belly and the pain as her joints were forced to bend in directions they shouldn’t have been bent. It was shortly after they arrived back to the clan, Mina being carried on the backs of her escort, no longer being able to fully hold herself up, did Mina lose the cub. When Maddy found out what had happened she was devastated and blamed herself. After that, Maddy had dedicated herself to Mina, the two sisters being brought closer together. Also, her father had postponed the pairing of Maddy, allowing her to concentrate on helping with Mina’s recovery and healing, which made things easier for Maddy.

After 5 months of recovery, Mina was pregnant again. Her father, seeing that she was fully healed, started to bring up Maddy’s pairing again. Two months later, he tried forcing Maddy into the pairing and she began to disappear again. This time for longer periods and coming back smelling profusely of humans, this angered their father. Mina begged her father to let her go out to search for Maddy again. She was the only one that was successful in bringing Maddy back, but she was now forbidden from leaving the clan’s living units until she had given birth.

“Mrs. Aurea, are you alright? You’re crying,” without her knowing, a group of her younglings, not yet ready for the Blessing, had gathered around her legs and were looking up at her. The one that had spoken was a little girl of about fifty years of age; she had wrapped her arms around Mina’s legs, her green eyes twinkling with a child’s unknowing concern. Clara was her name, and she was one of Mina’s younglings that had the strongest bonds with her. During her last pregnancy, it was little Clara who would come up to Mina and touch her belly saying a prayer to the gods for a safe delivery and a healthy life.

Fighting back the tears, Mina picked up Clara and tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear. “Oh, little one, I will be fine, no need to worry.” Mina smiled reassuringly and looked Clara in her deep green eyes as she spoke. Clara nestled her face into the crook of Mina’s neck, hiding her concern in the fall of Mina’s hair. “Oh, now Clara, everything will be alright. I’ve already visited the sacred waters of the pool of Beatus.”

“But Mrs. Aurea is your sister as well! What about her?” This time it was a young male with fire in his gray eyes.

Mina blinked at the fierceness in the boy’s eyes, “Marco, I have faith that our Alpha will bring her back, as well as remind the humans of their intrusion upon the Treaty.”

Little Marco folded his arms in a show of frustration. “I bet you there’ll be war again, just you watch.”

Mina blinked again, just barely holding back her tears, but smiled again, “Now, now Marco, we don’t want war-“

“Nor will there be one either.” A strong familiar voice interrupted her, and Mina turned around to see Samuel there approaching Mina’s little group of inquisitive younglings. Everyone gasped at the sight of the next Alpha, a rare sight in the education center and truly a special occasion. Little Clara turned from Mina and reached for Samuel, who took her from Mina, a bright smile spreading across his face. “Well, hello Ms. Clara, how is my favorite niece doing today?”

Clara beamed as all the other younglings gawked at this little-known fact. “Patruus! I am saddened by the loss of my cousin and Mistress Madeline’s capture,” croaked Clara, a sadness reaching through her bright voice and eyes. Samuel sighed, then smiled and put Clara on the ground. He looked around at the admiring eyes and bent down to their level. “Now, little ones, I need you to listen to me and listen to me very closely.” He stared at them intently and his voice had taken on that of one who would, one day, lead the clan. “Our Alpha is doing everything he can to get Mistress Madeline back. While the humans will be punished for their lack of respect for the treaty, I want it to be made clear that there will not be war, no matter what the whispers bring. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes Dux,” replied the solemn group.

With that, he smiled, clapped his hands and got up, “Mina, is it possible for you to be excused today?”

“Yes Dux, she is, actually, I begged her to stay home today but she insisted on coming today.” Before Mina could respond, the head of education Mistress walked up and shooed away the group of younglings, answering for her.

“Ah Mistress Calliel, thank you very much for your understanding and support.” Calliel bowed and left to gather the rest of the younglings inside the education center. Mina relaxed, huffing a sigh before she turned to smile at Samuel. He stepped in and wrapped her in a comforting hug.

“Thank you,” she whispered into his chest as she continued to hold back the insipid tears.

“I saw you out there struggling; you should’ve stayed with me before you came out here. These kids. They pick up on things. Things we wished they wouldn’t.” She gave a shuddering breath, she wished Maddy could be there to help her. “Why don’t you come and run patrol with me?” She sighed and nodded; maybe she could pick up on Maddy’s scent. That’d give her some hope of her return. Since she may not be able to leave the clan.