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Description
Bauwen is uncharacteristically quiet and has been the whole day, meditating on and off on the oath she's going to swear. All day mages drifted in and out of the Menagerie careful not to disturb her, perhaps knowing saying even a word to her would inevitably disturb their own peace as well.

Not talking was so hard! But the spirits didn't speak, they only acted. And today she hopes to follow their example. Today she would dip into that consciousness and fully reconnect with her past lives. And maybe if she asks nicely, just maybe, one of those will guide her forward.

She wanted to look her very best the first day as a true Mhorian and managed to sit still while Guildmaster Giuseppe brushed through the many gnarls she accumulated wandering through the woods, not even breaking her silence with a giggle when the pinecone's plates had broken and he'd had to find another. She hopes he can do something with her endless curls to make her look more mature. Something like Foxwood's primly edged cheek fur, or her Ma's windswept look.

Her two eldest siblings had done this already, but she had only been around to watch Caleb cut his paw beside the expansive wall that held the pawprints of all those who came before him. Bauwen had held her breath at the sight of his bloodied paw wondering if it hurt, thinking how annoying it would be to walk around on a healing wound.

But now that her time has come and she's selected where she'll leave her mark, Bauwen only finds herself feeling calm. She'd chosen an antler Nuncle Serren promised would make a good cut and washed it in the clear waters at the base of the Faefyre Falls this afternoon. She asked Laelan to carry it for her while the family made their way to the Menagerie, and now he'd placed it at her side. She bumps her head against his affectionately as he recedes behind her to rejoin their parents and siblings and takes a deep breath catching sight of Caleb, already consecuted, already an adult, already knowing what he wants to do for their pack.

Bauwen exhales in nervous little puffs. It's not that she doesn't already know it's just...
Well.
She wants to do everything.

She wants to remember that which has been forgotten, like her Pa. She wants to heal all that need it, like her Ma. She wants to provide for those that cannot provide for themselves, like Aunt Maeve. Bauwen doesn't know if she can protect those that cannot protect themselves, like Foxwood had sworn to do, but maybe she could still stand when others fall like Aunt Faolan?

Nuncle Serren hadn't lied, the antler slices into her soft paw pad with minimal discomfort-- honestly, getting caught between brambleberry bushes yesterday had hurt much more-- and the fresh wound oozes heartily. While waiting for enough to come to make a good mark n the wall she takes a final look at her family though her child eyes and sees Ma biting on her bottom lip, her eyes as foggy as they'd been the day she'd brought them to the Hollow. Bauwen winks at her the way she's seen her Pa wink at Deborah when he thinks he's being sly but is really being goofy. Beyond her family the Mhorians who had chosen to attend look welcoming, waiting for her to join them in the oath that binds them.

When the blood has coated her paw enough Bauwen is certain she'll leave a good print among the others she leaps to her back legs and catches herself against stone with her uncut paw. A quick survey finds the unmarked spot she'd chosen and then she rests the cut among the others. The stone is refreshing, even cooler than the early autumn night, and it temporarily dulls whatever ache she'd felt before. The feeling invigorates her and her voice breaks the air with the first Oath she'll ever swear:

"Journey before destination, life before death.

I swear to seek justice where it is lacking.

But, in the end, balance before all else.

We are Mhor."

-----

Can't believe my girl's all grown sobbing and wailing.
Thank you both to Ira and Lu for letting me grab Giu and Serren for the specific little roles they played in this!

ft.

Description
Bauwen is uncharacteristically quiet and has been the whole day, meditating on and off on the oath she's going to swear. All day mages drifted in and out of the Menagerie careful not to disturb her, perhaps knowing saying even a word to her would inevitably disturb their own peace as well.

Not talking was so hard! But the spirits didn't speak, they only acted. And today she hopes to follow their example. Today she would dip into that consciousness and fully reconnect with her past lives. And maybe if she asks nicely, just maybe, one of those will guide her forward.

She wanted to look her very best the first day as a true Mhorian and managed to sit still while Guildmaster Giuseppe brushed through the many gnarls she accumulated wandering through the woods, not even breaking her silence with a giggle when the pinecone's plates had broken and he'd had to find another. She hopes he can do something with her endless curls to make her look more mature. Something like Foxwood's primly edged cheek fur, or her Ma's windswept look.

Her two eldest siblings had done this already, but she had only been around to watch Caleb cut his paw beside the expansive wall that held the pawprints of all those who came before him. Bauwen had held her breath at the sight of his bloodied paw wondering if it hurt, thinking how annoying it would be to walk around on a healing wound.

But now that her time has come and she's selected where she'll leave her mark, Bauwen only finds herself feeling calm. She'd chosen an antler Nuncle Serren promised would make a good cut and washed it in the clear waters at the base of the Faefyre Falls this afternoon. She asked Laelan to carry it for her while the family made their way to the Menagerie, and now he'd placed it at her side. She bumps her head against his affectionately as he recedes behind her to rejoin their parents and siblings and takes a deep breath catching sight of Caleb, already consecuted, already an adult, already knowing what he wants to do for their pack.

Bauwen exhales in nervous little puffs. It's not that she doesn't already know it's just...
Well.
She wants to do everything.

She wants to remember that which has been forgotten, like her Pa. She wants to heal all that need it, like her Ma. She wants to provide for those that cannot provide for themselves, like Aunt Maeve. Bauwen doesn't know if she can protect those that cannot protect themselves, like Foxwood had sworn to do, but maybe she could still stand when others fall like Aunt Faolan?

Nuncle Serren hadn't lied, the antler slices into her soft paw pad with minimal discomfort-- honestly, getting caught between brambleberry bushes yesterday had hurt much more-- and the fresh wound oozes heartily. While waiting for enough to come to make a good mark n the wall she takes a final look at her family though her child eyes and sees Ma biting on her bottom lip, her eyes as foggy as they'd been the day she'd brought them to the Hollow. Bauwen winks at her the way she's seen her Pa wink at Deborah when he thinks he's being sly but is really being goofy. Beyond her family the Mhorians who had chosen to attend look welcoming, waiting for her to join them in the oath that binds them.

When the blood has coated her paw enough Bauwen is certain she'll leave a good print among the others she leaps to her back legs and catches herself against stone with her uncut paw. A quick survey finds the unmarked spot she'd chosen and then she rests the cut among the others. The stone is refreshing, even cooler than the early autumn night, and it temporarily dulls whatever ache she'd felt before. The feeling invigorates her and her voice breaks the air with the first Oath she'll ever swear:

"Journey before destination, life before death.

I swear to seek justice where it is lacking.

But, in the end, balance before all else.

We are Mhor."

-----

Can't believe my girl's all grown sobbing and wailing.
Thank you both to Ira and Lu for letting me grab Giu and Serren for the specific little roles they played in this!

ft.