Author Topic: Revka Wolfsbane - The Rite of Passage  (Read 656 times)

Kinga

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Revka Wolfsbane - The Rite of Passage
« on: May 26, 2019, 11:49:54 AM »

Slim legs slowly made their way through the snow, each step made with painstaking precision. Brown muzzle of the reindeer leaned down, carefully sniffling the while mount. The male started to dig, soon revealing the hidden treasure – a shrubbery, likely one of the last this season. Small leaves were still green and fresh, preserved despite the cold. It was a resilient plant, like everything that grew in the Icewind Dale, yet all that stubbornness and will to live came to nothing, as reindeer’s teeth started to nibble the green off.

Revka leaned head on her hand, eyes drifting to another small group of reindeer hurdled together for warmth. Each of the animals had a piece of red cloth tied around the neck, marking them as part of the Wolfsbane herd. No other tribe would dare to touch them, unless they were feeling particular adventurous or desperate. The former did not happen often the latter…

… the latter would happen a little too much.

The herd, counting over a hundred reindeer, was spread upon the plains, trying to graze one last time, before they would be forced to survive eating only lichen off the trees. Revka squinted over the expanse, trying to spot the familiar figure of her sister. A tiny shape dressed in blue, almost impossible to spot in the light of the setting sun. Today they were finally returning home, after two weeks of grazing the herd. The girl hated this duty. Being away from the tribe hurt, but it was a work that had to be done. Well-fed herd would take them further into the North, guide and feed them, in the months following the hunt. Once they return here, come the spring, half of those reindeer will be gone, eaten by wolves, the tribe or simply wasted away in the cold.

Revka pressed both hands to her mouth and let out a long call, almost a song, which rolled down the planes. The reindeer immediately turned their heads towards her, and so must have Sonia. Similar call, a bit lower, but just as resonant, came from that direction, and Revka felt a huge grin forming on her face. She called again, and the reindeer reluctantly moved in her direction. Another call, Sonia’s, came from behind, hurrying the herd.


The girl picked her bow off the snow and headed South, knowing that the herd was following. It would be still an hour before the campsite would be in sight, yet her heart was already beating fast with excitement. Today was her birthday, and she was sure that the feast was awaiting, where her sisters would sing blessing upon the youngest, and father would hug her, saying how proud he was of his little cub. Mother would not join the celebrations, and neither would Nadia, Revka’s twin. Those two celebrated birthday in a… different way, one that she would never be privy to.

Unfavorite.

Revka shook her head quickly, battering the thought away. She wouldn’t let mother’s resentment destroy yet another birthday. This time it was… special, even more special than a regular birthday would be. She was finally coming of age, and would be recognized as worthy of becoming a berserker .  Today she was going to drink, laugh and eat as much as possible. She will take a pretty girl or boy and dance with them, until the legs give up, and Sonia or Tara or other sister will have to drag her away to the tent to get some sleep. Because tomorrow was finally the day. The day where she would show everyone that she’s not just a disappointment, a weakling, the unfavorite.

Her Rite of Passage was coming, and she was hopeful.