Welcome to Gaia! ::

Today was the day she had been waiting for. A journey to come, and a chance to prove her worth to her Queen and her sisters. The day started before the sun rose from its slumber, the air cold and dark. Xana woke to the sound of her aunt telling her it was time. Xana slightly surprised she had ever fallen asleep. The excitement seemed too much to get any rest. Yet, she didn't even remember curling up in the nest of flowers and furs that had been prepared to help her rest. Xana should have known Achlys had prepared a concoction to help her sleep and sprinkled it on the furs. It was Achlys who looked down at her now with fur and feather that glowed in the torchlight.

Most of the flock had turned up for the occasion, save for those caring for young or the injured. Xana stood up and greeted each sister in silence. One by one she went to each with a press of her neck to theirs and a gentle touch of her wing tip to the other side of their neck. They follow her as she leads the way to the hot springs.

Once to the hot springs, a raccoon approaches to unbraid her hair while two sisters began to brush her, one on each side. They brush hard and Xana does not show discomfort on her face. It is important to brush out any dirt or the stench of battle.

After the brushing is done, Xana enters the hot spring filled with natural salts and minerals from the Earth. The salts give a clean sting in her fresh brushed coat. Her hair curls and snakes out around her in the water, reaching out further and further the deeper she goes. Xana stops with the water at her sides and reflects on the moment. Torches blaze around the spa painting Xana and the waters in a warm glow of firey colors.

Embers dance across the horizon behind the mountains as the sun begins to bubble from down below, getting ready to breach the line between Earth and sky. The scene of her standing in the pool with her hair fanned out around her, coat glowing and the not yet risen sun is breathtaking. A new dawn approaches fast welcoming Xana in her journey ahead.

Edana wore a feather cloak with sash and cord around her waste for each daughter born to her. The sash against her waist was the blue you see in a cloudless sky. A thinner sash in a royal purple laid on top of that one with a bow, covering all but the edges of the blue fabric. Then a cord of gold wrapped around them perfectly centered, and tucked under the bow. 3 daughters had Edana gifted this herd with, and 3 adornments she wore.
It is a proud moment when a mother is about to participate in their daughters right of passage.

Xana would leave a young mare, and return heir to the throne.

Xana held her breath as her queen approached. Even though that is her mother, she is always a queen first. Xana learned that early on, and it helped her to learn where she stood. Even still, Xana couldn't help but smile as her mother rained the branch over her. She closed her eyes, taking in the vibes of fertility with a deep breath. As Edana leaned in to whisper to her, she froze. Her mothers words like ice. Do not disappoint me. At this, Xana looked at her mother with wide eyes, then down at the water as her mother turned. Such expectation a weight on her head. She shook it off as two sisters began to wash her hair and body, while her mom spoke. She lifted her wings up out of the water, so her feathers would dry. A fat raccoon climbs on her back, nestled between her wings, to help with the washing. It gently goes over her feathers, assuring they were also clean.

Tiny Feather sat perched on the edge of the pool, getting treated in oils. She would leave the roost while her bonded is gone from Northspring. There is no coming of age ceremony for familiars, but Tiny insisted she rise to the same challenge.

Xana ignored those that tended to her trying to focus on the Queen's every word, as she continued her short speech. Her heart quickened in pace. Leaving her flock is something she is prepared for, but she is still nervous. As nervous as she gets before a battle. Though Xana pushes her nervousness down, she still flushes a little. The hot waters could be aiding in her pulse and red color. As light filled the sky, turning the day blue, Xana held her head high. She could do this. The fear of only sons, not even something that crossed her mind. Until her mom sat there looking at her expectantly, after she was done talking. Succeeding at finding a temporary mate was one thing. Having daughters, something you couldn't control on your own. Only fate could decide.

She leaves the waters to go stand by her Queen, wings still extended. Edana aids in covering Xana in oils, though only briefly. The raccoon from the bath, and the one that brushed her hair earlier, join together to brush her hair and braid it while still wet. When finished, they move to her tail. Her Flock sisters add strings of beads and flowers to her hair. Practically shining from the fresh scrub and oils, Xana sets out.

Pausing in her decent, she turns back to look at the picture of all her Flock, standing together to watch her leave. "I will not disappoint you." she says in reply to her mothers whisper, when out of earshot. Edana raises an eyebrow at her, knowing her words, even though she didn't hear them. Time would tell.