Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 133: The pain of living
The first to be willing to try the cleansing ceremony was Nyx.
Visha had wanted to speak to Nyx privately. What happened at the Fox tribe had yet to be resolved. Unexpectedly, Nyx was willing to come forward and do the ritual.
Visha placed the brazier in the center of the square. She had already made sure to light it. The smoke had just started drifting. She gestured to Nyx to stand in front of the brazier.
Taking a deep breath, Nyx began to speak. "I don’t remember where I’m from. I only know I woke up in the Fox tribe when I was being sold. I can remember bits and pieces. Large houses, silk, pearls, weapons, but I can’t link it to a place. If I close my eyes, I think I can hear people who love me. But I can’t be sure."
"The hazy memory of being thrown to the ground when I arrived at the Fox tribe is the first thing I truly remember. Something that has stayed with me. My mouth being pried open and being forced to drink...whatever it is. I was beaten and bruised."
"If not for the fact that I can save myself when things are critical, I don’t think I would survive. Sometimes, I lose chunks of time. I can’t remember anything during that time. And in the time I can’t remember, I was told that I beat people. It is always people who have wronged me in some way."
"I may not be able to remember many things, but this place has saved me from a fate I know would be difficult. And for that, I will stay and be a part of this pack."
Nyx didn’t wait for prompting. When she finished speaking, she walked towards the brazier, stepping over and allowing the smoke to cover her body. Visha, standing off to the side, handed the cup of tea to Nyx.
After drinking, Visha embraced Nyx and said, "You are loved. You are valued. You are wanted." Then she placed a hand on the brand.
Using the Rite of Vitality, she healed the burn mark.
Nyx’s eyes went wide seeing the brand disappear. Her smile widened. She gave a respectful salute before heading over to join the pack members.
The rest of the newcomers saw the interaction and became more vocal.
One by one, they redressed their grievance. Lina, who refused to be the tribe leader’s partner. Taro, who was cast out because of his half-shifter status. Milo, who refused to kill innocent people, was thrown away instead. Link, who was betrayed by his family and sold.
Their indignation, sorrow, helplessnes and other complex emotions filled the pack bond. The pack sympathised and empathised with them. They embraced them as their own. The more people had their brands removed, the more the emotion in the square changed.
When they thought they were done, Lyra walked forward.
They watched but didn’t stop her. Visha felt that if she thought she needed this, maybe she did. She had Xeno hold Cato and stop him from following when they saw him start walking towards Lyra.
"I have done things, bad things. I don’t know what to confess. I only know this place is where I want to be. I refuse to have myself being used for others’ gain. I don’t want to do the wrong thing. I want to spend my time in the company of people who genuinely care for me....If I am not my parents’ daughter, I hope to find my family."
She stepped through the smoke, drank the tea, and embraced Visha.
"Thank you for helping me," Lyra whispered.
"I haven’t done anything yet," Visha responded.
Lyra pulled away, "You did. You just don’t know it."
No sooner had Lyra and Visha’s embrace ended than the fire in the square started to act strangely. It shot up to the sky, becoming ethereal. Rather than its usual red. It started to give off a kaleidoscope of colour. It shimmered and danced.
Colours would come to the forefront and burn brightly before moving aside and making way for the next colour. The colours weaved and blended. The flames formed what looked like a mouth. Before anyone said anything. It released a deep howl.
The pack members quickly dropped to their knees. Five people remained standing: Visha, Xeno, Uri, Krag, and Chi. They watched the flames bend and stretch. The howl made the caldera shake. A golden light fell on the members of the pack. All of them, regardless of whether they confessed or not, were bathed in a soft glow.
No sooner had it begun than it ended.
The miraculous scene ended with the fire dying down and the caldera falling into silence. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
Visha stood there, unsure of what to say. She hadn’t expected that to happen. She was only trying to build trust with the new members, but it has actually turned into some kind of ritual.
And that howl. She had no idea if anyone else heard. But with the magnitude and the fact that the ground shook when the sound was made. She had to assume that her momentary idea had become a ritual in its own right.
Did it really become a cleansing ritual?
Visha eyed the people standing, unsure of what she should say. Lucky for her, Uri took control of the reins.
"The Beast God has acknowledged our ritual. The souls of our pack have been cleansed. We are blessed by the Beast God!"
His revelation was sonorous. The pack, coming out of their trance, heard his words and began to cheer.
What should have been a regular pack bond and a little therapy turned into something much more.
Tonight, the old and new celebrated. A celebration that brought them closer together. Bringing down barriers that had once existed. The pack is not divided into old and new members.
It is a simple pack, living together, working together, and understanding each other. Regardless of their backgrounds.
