Cleansed

[Rhonya]

The night was closing in as the troops of the Rebellion left the Refuge, battle-ready and looking quite fierce and intimidating, a force to be reckoned with.  One shape however kept to the shadows of one of the hills in the distance for now, keeping out of sight mostly and it moved away as the troops moved out of sight.  Soft footfalls were heard as the bare feet of the figure stepped on the slightly damp grass.
The hem of the dark brown robe was also damp with moist since it dragged over the tops of the grass helms that the figure stepped on, bending them before the robe passed and they bounced back into place. The type of ground changed gradually though as the figure moved closer to the lake that was behind the refuge, green toes now digging into sand. The figure passed into the moonlight now, shining down from above the lake, lighting up the features.

She was female, wearing a simple brown robe and a black wolfmask, adorned with red and brown markings. The usually long, flowing hair that always had come out from under the mask was missing though, an odd sight maybe to those who knew her for longer already. The female shaman stopped walking at the edge of the water, her toes touching it, her heels still dug into the sand slightly. Rhonya stood there for a moment, closing her eyes and spreading her arms. 
Her chest rose as she inhaled deeply through her nose, the cool, fresh air filling her lungs before leaving her body again through her mouth, warmed up and forming a small mist in front of her face before disappearing. Her arms lowered again as Rhonya opened her eyes once more and she turned on the spot, reaching for the leather bag that was hanging from her shoulder, kneeling into the moist sand. She took out a large, white candle and put it on the sand next to her. That was all she needed, actually.

Rhonya put the bag to the side more now, drawing a circle in the sand around the candle with her fingers, also adding a small rune there before turning a little on her heels, making another circle with a rune, turning again, making four in total, one half drawn into the sand under water’s edge. With her firestone she lights the candle before standing upright, a light breeze making the flame flicker, but it keeps burning.  Softly her voice sounds as she opens her mouth and speaks, a bit hesitantly at first, but getting clearer and more confident as she goes along.

“Fire that burns in me, that keeps me strong and alert, that keeps me going, hear my call..” As she said this, she moved her foot back, stepping with her toes into the circle with the candle.

“Water that flows through me, that helps me focus and aids me mend those who are in need of it, hear my call.” Her foot moved again, this time dipping her toes into the water.

“Air that blows around me, that keeps guiding me in the right direction, that keeps me up, hear my call.” Now the circle to her right was being touched lightly by her toes.

“Earth that is beneath me, that keeps supporting me and prevents me from falling, hear my call.” The last circle now, the sand shifting slightly as she pressed her toes to it, before stepping back in the middle of the four circles again.


“Spirit of elements, I wish to apologize. I have acted wrongly in the last few weeks, misused your gifts and turned them against my tribes members. I know I have done wrong, and I ask to you to please consider aiding me again. My blood has been cleansed, I am free of the curse.”

Her eyes closed and she raised her hand, harshly ripping the skin of her palm along her tusk, splitting it open and creating a deep wound, blood already dripping down in the sand. Her fist clenched and red, bright droplets of sand fell down in every circle as she held it above them all in turn. She fell on her knees next and just placed her hands in her lap, not minding her robe getting bloody. Her hed lowered a little as she concentrated, waiting… waiting for an answer, if it would come.

For a while all kept silent, she could hear only the sounds of nature around her.  Without any warning though, the wind suddenly picked up and blew around her, blowing harshly. Her wolfmask blew off, revealing the completely bald head that was underneath and took most the shadows away from Rhonya’s face.  She opened her eyes now, looking up as her gaze fell on the water that was in front of her. It rippled, as if something was moving it, but there was nothing visible. As she looked at the candle she noticed it had burned to a stump and the sand on the earth rune had shifted slightly. Nothing more happened though and Rhonya sighed deeply. The elements were so unclear sometimes..

Rhonya just stood up, gathered her things and removed the ritual circles with care, looking out over the water for a while. She would try later, see if they would heed her call perhaps, or if they were still angry. For now, all she could do was wait. Wait until the others would come back from their fight, or move on to a new location and she would be told where to go. She hoped everyone was alright…

[Sadok]

((An enjoyable read with a great shamanistic flair! Looks like Rhonya left a message on the spirits' answering-machine, but they're still not calling back.))