he glanced at the other leaders questioningly. they nodded at him in their turn.
' its time. '
the four spoke as one, and padded into the darkness beyond.
it looked terrifying, heading into the unknown, but they had made the journey so many times they couldn't possible think of it being frightening anymore. in fact, journeying down that secretive and mysterious tunnel was a sort of a comfort, to prove that the clans had always been this way and would always be this way.
the leaders reached the cavern where they would commune with their ancestors, and pick the contestants for the title of elite. the elite were a class on their own. they had conquered the odds and beat the rest.
the cavern had an icy river running through it. he briefly remembered his first time doing it, how scared and bewildered he had been. but again, he had now done it so many times it was a a ritual, a routine that was nothing more than a habit.
but it was so much more.
the title of elite means you get ranked up almost higher than the deputy. if you are elite, your opinion counts even more than the deputy. if the leader is ill, they can pick either the deputy or one of the elite of their clan to stand in for them. if they deputy is chosen, they pick an elite to stand in as deputy. if an elite is chosen, the deputy still acts as deputy.
he braced himself, closed his eyes, and rolled into the river.
the only thing he remembered before sinking into sleep was the ice cold waves piercing deep into his pelt, and the gentle lapping of the water lulling him into sleep.
the darkness clouding his vision lasted for as long as before. he willed himself not to panic, for if you panicked the longer you had to wait before communing with your ancestors. he opened his eyes, relieved to find himself in the warm, summery meadows of their ancestors. his former leader was waiting for him. he knew that if he rebelled, he could withdraw his clan. he didn't exactly like the bloody way they decided the elite, but it was a good way. every time he had to force himself not to look away. every time it was as hard as the last.
he took a deep breath and looked the other cat in the eye boldly.
and walked up to him.
almost immediately he regretted his choice. he did, every single time. but every time it turned out to be alright. but deep in his heart, he knew sometime their luck would be jinxed, and the tables would be turned. no turning back now.
he opened his muzzle to speak.
' greetings. i am here for the ritual of the choosing. i await your choice. '
YOU ARE READING
- nightlark // of sense
Fanfiction' found you, NIGHTLARK. ' wildpaw is thrown into the arena. ' why are you running from your fate, COWARD? ' representing his clan as nightlark. ' face it, you're too weak to SURVIVE. ' [ book one of the series OF SENSE ]
