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Another year, another festival. Skan had mixed feelings about the festival this year. It was a time to reflect on the past, as well as the future; his mind was wrapped up in the past. His daughter had disappeared last year during the festival, and though he didn't know all of the details, he still felt sorrow when he had to face it without Yinehi's bright smile. Dohi, the Bird's alu'nadi, was doing her best to face the festival this year without her sister, but the wanidatsi still worried. Putting on a brave face didn't necessarily heal a broken heart.

Still, he needed to focus on the present. The joining pool of lions was a healthy number this year; a good amount to strength the clans without putting too much stress on their prey-beast populations.

The heavily tattooed male was laying in his usual spot for the Tree Festvail; a small groove in the ground that had started to develop over the years of performing this rite. An ashy pile of herbs laid before him, with an extra stock of said herbs to his left. His paws were already a bit dirty from preparation, and he exhaled slowly to allow his mind to relax to a more meditative state.

He was ready.

Aric had traveled far to get to where he was now. He hadn’t expected to join a pride after the dispersal of the Kusini’mwezi, yet, here he was, small satchel around his shoulder, standing with a few others looking to gain access to the pride.

The charcoal lion exhaled softly, shifting the small bag made of large leaves woven together. Inside, dried plants he acquired over his travels, a claw he had found stuck in a tree of the old Kilango’ta forests, and a worn antelope’s antler. He wasn’t sure what he would use those particular trinkets for, but he’d find something one day.

Blue eyes watched as another went before him up to the large tattooed male. He shifted on his feet, feeling the sense of nervousness wash over him. He shook himself of those feelings, now was not to time to get cold feet.

Walking up to the Wanidatsi, the lion introduced himself. “I am called Aric,” his name was given to him in remembrance of a fallen family member. The charcoal lion debated what to offer the lion, but ultimately decided on grabbing a tuft of mane and pulled. A few strands of the green hair were grasped in his claws, as he handed it over. His sight flickered to the smoldering plants, curious to know what was being used for such a reaction in smoke, and intrigued to see what would happen next.

Koyu gazed around himself with his one eye, taking in those who were to be his brothers and sisters in his new pride. It had been so long since he had belonged, as himself rather than an object. The faces he saw around him were so different from those he'd been surrounded by when he'd become a slave... a thrall. These faces were laughing, gentle, sober, thoughtful, serene. There was no brittleness, anger, suspicion, resentment, or fury. Even among those who, like him, were seeking to join their number, were of the same sort as those already part of the pride. Oh, they were easy to distinguish, or so he thought... those of the pride bore tattoos scrawled across their bodies. He wasn't entirely certain how he felt about that, but in order to belong somewhere peaceful and calming, he'd practically have given his other eye, much less endure having his hide marked up in such a manner.

He waited quietly for his turn, and when it came, he stepped up to the pale lion. He solemnly pinned his tail down with one forepaw and used his other to pluck hairs from it. He surrendered them to the wanidatsi, speaking quietly. "I am Koyu'kani, and I seek to become one of the Ela'wadiyi." It wasn't flowery or flattering, but he felt it was sufficient. It was plain and honest, as he sought to be. No more violence, bitterness, or anger for him. This was a firm step on the path of a better life for the one-eyed male.

She did not know what brought her to the pride, yet here she was, in a lineup, waiting to be initiated into it. It had been awhile since her own pride had dispersed. Her family was already gone, so all she could really do at this point was start anew, right?

Arezo bint Sareh sighed as she watched a few other lions approach the burly tattooed male. The lions of this pride were definitely intriguing, those older or born in bearing more tattoos then one who had joined. The lioness that had brought her here, her name forgotten in Arezo's mine, bore few. She had told her she had joined many years ago.

Maybe it was the talk with that particular lioness and her bird familiar that made her want to stay. Whatever the reason, the beige female found herself approaching the male. Others had already introduced themselves to him, and clans were being announced. Arezo plucked a few strands of her blonde forelock from her head, handing it over to Skan.

"I am Arezo bint Sareh," she used her full name, although most called her Arezo or Are for short. Shifting a bit on her paws, she paused before speaking her next words, "thank you for welcoming us into the pride."

Skan sighed, stretching his forelegs and shifting the weight on his hind ones. This year's ceremony was going smoothly, and he was grateful for his daughter's help in prepping the herbs and helping to herd the new members to the right area. To anyone new, the Ela'wadiyi would seem like a dizzying maze of lion bodies, trying to differentiate clans and ranks could be a bit overwhelming. As long as there were no more disappearances, he could be satisfied.

The next one to approach was an older lion, taking in the sights and sounds of the pride. Skan wondered if it would take a bit of an adjustment for him to become comfortable with the pride...but that would be the task of the alu'nadi in his future clan.

He accepted the offering, rubbing the fur into the herbs. His own paw darkened a bit from the dirt and ash, but the curling of the fur was giving Skan the bit of foresight he needed to guide this new member to his new clan. He was a seer after all, and a decent one at that.

"Amare. I have seem glimpses of what is to come, and I can assure you that your new home is within the Sky Clan. Welcome to the Ela'wadiyi."

"Welcome."

Skan watched the next lioness with interest. She seemed to have an interesting story. One that Skan wasn't sure if he would ever hear, but the way she carried herself just told him that she was different. She came from somewhere different than many of those that joined, and she seemed ot exude more confidence than many new members. He hoped that would only rub off on everyone else that still needed to approach him, the wanidatsi.

"Thank you for offering a part of yourself to be placed within our ranks," he said to her as he accepted her fur, and dropped it onto the growing pile of ash and herbs. The fur twisted and curled quickly, disappearing into the smoldering herbs. The smoke was thin, but still legible to his trained eye.

"Arezo bint Sareh," he started. "You have a new life within our Shadow clan, and I welcome you to your new home."

Anwen had waited for this moment... The moment of finding a new pride. A new place to call home. Not only for her, but for her avian companion as well. Times had been rough as of late, but all would pay off for the pair in the end, or so she was hoping. With lavender eyes, the white and purple lioness watched as others around her walked up to and met with a pale yellow lion, giving him small offerings to decide which clan they would fit into best. Nervous, Anwen hadn't mustered up the courage to approach him yet, but she knew she had to. It had been so long since she had had any real communications with any others, as her dismemberment from her previous pride had shaken her up a bit. Still, this was something that she knew she must do, to not only be placed where she would fit best, but to once again have a place to call home.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, the white lioness picked up a multi-grayed feather that she had received from her vulture friend, the two having decided that an offering from the both of them would do best. The feather not only represented them both, but also where they came from and where they were hoping to go. Anwen only hoped it would be a suitable choice. Holding her head high and padding forward, she stopped before the heavily tattooed male, the wanidatsi. She bowed her head respectively, placing the feather down upon the ground in front of him. "I am Anwen, and I humbly thank you on behalf of both myself and my avian companion, Adwen." Breathing in deeply once more, the white and purple lioness now waited with bated breath, anxious, nervous, and excited to see what kind of future the smoke held within.