The Rite

Title: The Rite

Part: 1/1

Rating: PG.

Warnings: This is a story inspired by the World of Warcraft online game. So if you don't know about it, this fic might not make much sense to you.

Beta: No beta for this story.

Feedback: Yes please.

Disclaimer: I don't own World of Warcraft. I do however pay Blizzard Entertainment for the right to play a multitude of characters spread out over several servers.

Summary: This is a short story about a young tauren druid's rite of passage into adulthood.

Kanei was only a few winters old, when he first heard the trees whisper to him. In the gentle breeze, their leaves mumbled comforting words and the branches sang wild disharmonic songs in the storm. Only a few more winters went by, before he was sure the very earth tried to tell him something. Was it The Earth Mother whispering to him? He listened with all his might, but still the small voices eluded him. Always were they whispers in the wind. Mumbles in dark. Never were the words clear and audible.

When he finally asked his father what it all meant, only a single moon before his hunter's rite of passage into adulthood, his father immediately sent word to arch druid Runetotem of Thunder Bluff, and the reply was what he had expected. The boy was to begin training as a druid as soon as his rite of passage was complete and he was to perform the druid's rite instead of the hunter's.

At the next full moon the sweat lodge was built and Kanei was prepairing for his spirit journey. His father had only one caution to give, and was allowed nothing more by the traditions of the rite.

“My son... follow your spirit wolf when it comes, no matter how it appears. The wolf will guide you.”

He was then left alone, as all of the elders and his parents withdrew, knowing they would not see him before his journey was complete.

He entered the lodge and prepaired to wait. He knew the time would be long and chanted the traditional spirit summons while keeping the steam thick and white. Many hours later, the steam seemed to thicken in front of his weary eyes and he was ready to follow the wolf when it materialized. But the form thickening was not a wolf. Not even an animal. It was some humanoid form, that was unfamiliar to him. Tall and slender, with brilliantly white hair flowing around it, eyes glowing with the light of the moon itself. The feminine shape approached him and smiled. He felt the smile in his very soul and knew this was The Earth Mother's essence, granting him a precious gift.

He fell to his knees and gasped in the heavy air.

“Mother. I am your servant. May your wisdom and strength guide me, that I may serve you fully.”

Her laughter twinkled like silver bells in the mist and her ethereal hand gestured for him to rise.

“I am not The Mother. I am merely a messenger. The Mother will not grant you your journey in this vision. But she will guide you to the eternal vision of the Emerald Dream, if you are truly her faithful servant.”

He stood before the messenger, trembling at the intensity of the moment.

“I am faithful. I will follow her path, tend her children, share her light. I am ready.”

Again her smile wove it's way around his very heart and he felt his chest might burst from it.

“Indeed you are young one. But the journey is long and you will be tested. You have been warned.”

In a breath of wind from the suddenly open tent flap, she was gone. Kanei felt like weeping at the loss of the divine presence.

In Moonglade a young night elf woke up from her vivid dream, her long white hair drenched in cold sweat. Disturbed by the sense of reality of the dream, she sought out an elder immediately. When she had related her dream vision to the elder, he held her face with tenderness and said with tears in his eyes.

“Blessed child. You have been chosen by Elune. You are her vessel. It is a great gift. Treasure it.”

She bowed her head and cried along with the elder, thanking Elune for the marvellous blessing she had been given.

End.