Story Seven - El Primario y Segundo Desafio
Summers had come and gone since Dhezi's arrival, having spent about three years now with his tribe. Time had flown by, while also feeling like he had been with them forever. He has learned a lot with them-- changed a lot with them. Looking back to the person he once was, it's a bit surreal with how much had changed.
There was a difference in how he carried himself, how he acted. He was still silly and playful, loud and energetic-- yet, he was no longer the same child people thought him as.
Back then, Dhezi was just a kid in a grownup's body. He had missed out on a lot of his childhood, and clung onto the desire to make up for it-- clung onto the feelings and experiences he was unable to go through as a normal kid would. Yet, ever since he has been welcomed home in the Sagolii, he has experienced that and much more. He was able to make up for lost time with them, and has grown into a better person for it. More mature, ready to take things on and handle his responsibilities.
With mental and emotional changes, came some physical ones as well. Through the years, Dhezi has learned to take on new skills and strengths, including wielding an axe, chakrams, as well as some magic. Though, still, he remained a tried and true monk, his main power lying within his own raw physical strength.
He still taught the children almost daily on what he knew-- the same way his master had taught him before she had passed. Even if he didn't follow down the Fist's path, her path, he still took her teachings to heart and was sure to pass them down, too.
As far as Dhezi was aware, he had experienced all celebrations and rites he had missed out on prior to his arrival three years ago, so he was going through his daily life normally and without any surprises. It was a life he had gotten used to quickly, picking things up easily as they came at him, as though he was just... meant to be here all his life. It's a conflicting feeling, really. He's happy to be here, happy to finally have the opportunity to be with the family he came from and call the Sagolii his home. Yet...
He misses Ul'dah. He misses his friends outside of the Sagolii; his family. His home.
Tani saw something in Dhezi, knowing that perhaps he was feeling a certain homesickness. Why wouldn't he, when the home he's known all his life was outside of here? So, he decided to talk to Sena and Maryn regarding this, bringing it up to them, and they too noticed it. The three spoke amongst each other, trying to figure out what to do for Dhezi... before deciding on the Desafios.
Every four years, the Sankres hold competitions called the Primaria and Segundo Desafio.
The Sankres have three sects within the tribe; Azuline, Roholo, and Amarila. The way people are separated is by the color of their eyes; blue, red, and yellow. Those with colors between can go with any group they want. These groups (or in this case, teams!) are purely established for sports and competitions, because at the end of the day, everyone is still part of the same pride.
The way the Primaria Desafio is done is by the Matron's Blessing. For those who would like to participate in the Desafio, they must first receive Rahja's blessing. Those chosen would then go up against the others within their groups who have also received her blessing, to see who would come out on top.
So, Tani approached Dhezi one day, bringing up these... competitions.
Of course, Dhezi seemed to light up at the mention of these challenges and good sportsmanship, so why not? He grins and nods, eagerly accepting the invitation. Tani merely grinned in turn, smacking Dhezi's back eagerly and earning a loud 'oof' from her cousin.
On the first day of the Desafio, the challengers awaited to receive Rahja's blessing before moving back to their respective groups, preparing for the games they would be participating in. These games included challenges of strength, as well as wit. These sorts of games will help find the most capable out of all the willing contestants.
When it was time for the games, everyone was sporting their group's colors and wearing their respective feathers upon their heads, the cave practically a giant stadium. There were people cheering and music playing, lots of food and lots of festivities, decorations and colorful lights put up. It was an exciting time for everyone!
Though, when it came time for the contestants to introduce each other and wish each other luck, Dhezi couldn't help but to become Incredibly Nervous at the sight of his cousin Tani towering over him. He sure didn't expect to see her competing-- don't the leaders have other things to do? Though, he also noted how Sena and Maryn were also competing... Strange.
With an intimidating, toothy, fanged grin, Tani loomed over Dhezi with a small narrow to her eyes. "Don't think that b'cause ye're m'cousin I'm gonna go easy on ya, primito."
Gulping, Dhezi shook his head and gave a sheepish smile. "N-- not at all!" And that was exactly what he was nervous about.
The challenges available were those of strength, agility, one's roar, strategy, quick-thinking, and reflexes-- but also, teamwork. Everything else is fun and exciting to see how people tackle, yet teamwork is integral, as well, for those in the same group as well as with the others. The tribe does not work on one person, it works on everyone.
The Roholo would be the last to compete against each other, so it gave Dhezi plenty of time to nearly keel over from nerves. He's never done anything like this, he doesn't know what's going to happen.
Before he knew it, he was lining up with 4 other Roholo members, including Tani. He kind of blanked for a second, yet came right back when he heard one of the elders call out, 'Let the games begin!' with raucous applause and cheering following after.
Being grabbed by the shoulders, he was yanked backwards and led towards the first challenge by Tani-- before being led to another. Then another. And another. And another.
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Back to back, there were challenges that showed off his abilities and capabilities. These events went from day all the way to night time, everyone exhausted from these games and yet still so excited and eager to learn who won!
Tani passed a glance over towards Dhezi, a knowing expression on their countenance along with a smile. The elders approached the three groups, looking over each miqo'te that had participated with a scrutinizing gaze, before making their choices. With a hand around his wrist, Dhezi was pulled out of the Roholo, while Sena and Maryn were chosen out of the Azuline and Amarila.
Blinking owlishly, Dhezi looked to the elder, before towards his two uncles... A wide grin would grow on his face as his ears wiggle, his tail wagging just a tad as cheers erupted! Hooray!
Yet, Dhezi froze upon hearing the elder call, "Welcome to our new lideres!"
His gaze grew wide-eyed as his pupils blew as round as saucers, staring towards the elder with lowered ears. "... Lideres?" he inquired, softly, before his gaze flicked over towards his uncles before falling onto Tani who slowly approached him. Placing a heavy paw on Dhezi's shoulder, the older Seeker nodded while offering a gentle smile towards Dhezi.
"The Primaria Desafio is done every four years for us to see who will become the next three leaders of th'tribe," he explains, grinning toothily down at the younger one. "'nd y'were chosen out of all a'us t'represent th'Roholo."
Remaining silent, Dhezi kept his gaze on Tani with an indiscernible expression, something within him stirring at this sudden responsibility. "I--... Why didn't ya tell me?" he inquired softly between them, and the older one merely shrugged. "B'cause I knew ya'd be a good fit fer th'spot," she answered, yet something was left out. They merely stared down at Dhezi with a scrutinizing look. "Well? What do ya say?"
Letting his wrist drop from the elder's hold, he stares down at the ground as his ears flatten back to the sides of his head as his tail droops. Opening his mouth a few times, it shuts and continues to shut every time he tries to croak out some words, before simply settling on shaking his head.
Tani merely continued to smile, canting their head to the side as they squeeze Dhezi's shoulder. "Speak, primo. Ye're among family, 'nd most importantly, people who love ya 'nd understand ya."
Looking back up at them after a moment, he gulps down a lump in his throat before shaking his head again. "... I can't. I can't take that position," he mutters, before Tani prods further by asking 'why?'
"I-. I have responsibilities elsewhere-- I-- I have other family t'go back ta 'nd see again. I cannot commit ta bein' a leader here, b'cause I'm still a leader somewhere else."
Tani's lower eyelids push up a bit, nodding. "I know, primo. I'm glad y'know it, too."
"-- Wh-? Y'ain't...mad?"
"Not at all. In fact, I'm happy that ye're able t'know where yer priorities lie. It's okay if y'can't lead us, it ain't th'end a'th'shard. Dhezi, we knew since th'moment y'got here that yer heart ain't one that stays in one place ferever. It drifts, 'nd y'go wherever it takes ya, 'nd honestly I kinda envy ya fer it. But like most everyone else here, I know this is where I will stay 'till I move on to th' great plains, but do y'think that's somethin' fer ya?"
"... I--... I wanna say yes, but... I can't-- choose."
"This is not t'make ya choose, primo," she states, taking a firm grip of his shoulders and grounding him. "This is t'help ya realize 'nd come ta terms that y'miss home, 'nd yer family. Y'know, th'ones that ain't here. Ye're not someone who's tethered t'one place-- ya've reached far 'nd wide ta other places 'nd have left yer mark everywhere y'go. Y'really got th'spirit of a true griffin; fierce, strong, protective... y'take care a'yer family, yer friends, all'a yer loved ones. But ye're also adventurous, curious, 'nd free. That's somethin' that no one can stifle or force from ya. No one can jus' force resposibilities on ya or make ya do things y'don't wanna. Ye're th'one who leads yer own life 'nd makes yer own decisions. Ye're th'only one who knows ya best."
Dhezi's ears lowered further the more Tani spoke, nodding slowly and gazing down at the ground, before Tani placed a gentle paw upon his forehead. "Don't think that this changes how we feel 'bout ya, primo. B'cause no matter what, ye're still family, 'nd that will never change. All that I ask from ya, personally, is fer ya t'visit us whenever y'can...aye?"
"A'course--! A'course, Tani..." he croaks out with a hoarse voice, nodding as he smiles and blinks a few times. With a smile of her own, she leans down to press a kiss to Dhezi's forehead after pulling her paw away. "Gracias, primo."
After a moment, the elder approaches once more with a gentle smile, taking Tani's wrist and lifting his arm up. "Our leaders!"
Once more, cheers erupt at the announcement as the three leaders come together, touching one of their hand's knuckles to one another's, before pressing them to their chests.
With this, the Primaria Desafio is completed. Yet, tomorrow would be the Segundo, where the three leaders would go against each other to see who will be the head branch and the wings.
For now, everyone will return to their homes and celebrate with lots of food and some good rest for the next day. Heading to Sena's home, Dhezi took a long bath to unwind from the day and think.
Once it was time for dinner, Maryn and Tani stopped by as well so they coukd all cook some delicious caldo and roast some sandworm meat, sitting around the table and chatting amongst each other. Joining them at the table after his bath, Dhezi continued to ruffle at his own hair with the towel before Tani papped his hands away so he could do it instead, ruffling up his cousin's hair for him but also making sure to help him thoroughly dry it. Not without messing with her cousin a little bit, of course.
Laughing, Dhezi lightly bats at Tani's arms while sucking his teeth, rolling his eyes. They grinned toothily down at Dhezi, continuing to dry his hair while saying, "You have somethin' on yer mind, primo. Let it out."
"-- Why do ya always call me out like this, huh?"
"It's my duty as yer cousin."
"Uh-huh. ... Well, I-... I was thinkin' 'bout...goin' back ta Ul'dah."
Becoming gentler in their ministrations, they looked up towards Sena and Maryn as they took care of Dhezi's hair, and his uncles merely smiled in response. Sena nodded, reaching a hand over to give a hearty pap to Dhezi's arm that rested upon the table, giving it a few fond rubs. "Then go, mijo. We will not keep you here if you wish to return to the rest of your family. Though, we would like it if you visited us again, too."
"Always, tio. There's no way 'm jus' gonna ferget y'all. Plus, y'all know where I live, too, so y'can always feel free t'drop by fer a visit, y'know?"
"Of course. Thank you, sobrino. When will you be leaving?"
"In a few sennights. I wanna see what's gonna happen t'morrow, 'nd then I'm gonna say goodbye t'everyone else."
"Sounds like a plan, kiddo," Maryn agrees with a nod, grinning and also reaching out to pat at Dhezi's arms a few times. This helps the young Seeker release tension that he didn't know he had pent up all this time, releasing a shaky laugh as he slumps and melts onto the table. He muffles into the wood, "Thanks... Thank ya-- fer everythin' y'all have done fer me."
"We did nothin' fer ya, primo, y'did everythin' yerself. We were jus' there t'help," Tani states, rubbing at Dhezi's head before draping the towel around his shoulders. "We're jus' happy t'have ya back, Dhezi, 'nd we know ya'll come back ta us whenever y'want."
With a warm smile, heart, and a belly full of food, Dhezi went to bed that night with a new sense of adventure in his heart, eager to return to Ul'dah and everyone else soon.
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Of course, not without first seeing the Segundo Desafio! Again, everyone was gathered up to witness the second challenge, where the leaders would go head-to-head. Yet this time, they were outside.
This is the final challenge, and it is one where the three must again receive the Matron's blessing-- before she calls on her fledgelings, Rima, Tega, and Oto. The three may be young-- but that does not mean they cannot fly.
As the three young griffins approached the leaders, they chose their handler for the day. Oto with Maryn, Tega with Sena, and Rima with Tani. Mounting the fledgelings after dressing them with their saddles, they take their reins and take flight.
The magic users of the tribe created rings up in the air for the three to race through, as well as levitated targets and dummies for the three to shoot at and strike.
Readying their bows, the three began their paths into the rings, holding onto the fledgelings with their legs and keeping their balance as they leveled their arms and shoulders, loosing their arrows towards the targets. Each one of them hit, yet some closer to their marks than others. Whenever they flew closer to their targets, they would slice and hack at them with their weapons,
Flying closer towards the sun, the three would then turn and dive back down towards their final targets, releasing their own roars that rang throughout the desert. Each dummy's head is lopped off, Tani's with their axe, Sena's with his blade, and Maryn with his magicks.
Landing back on the sand, the tribespeople would release loud, raucous cheering, satisfied and more with the show and sportsmanship.
With the tallies marked up, the elders look to Tani with renowned pride, taking the Head Branch circlet and dawning it upon their head, while Maryn receives a feather upon the left side of his head, and Sena on his right.
Grinning toothily, Tani then looks to Sena with a playful upwards tilt of his head, chuffing. "Told ya I'd fly circles 'round ya next time, viejo."
Sena couldn't help but to bark out in laughter at that, patting his sobrine's back before slinging his arm around Maryn's shoulders. "You sure did!" he responds with a nod and a grin before bumping his fist to Maryn's chest. "Switched places I see, eh, hermano?"
Maryn merely scoffed and rolled his eyes, poking Sena's side roughly with an amused, toothy grin. "Don't think that you can do my job better than me."
"Hah! We'll see!"
With the new leaders decided and the branches settled, it was now time for the exchange of feathers after thoroughly preening them. The Azuline give the Roholo their griffin feathers on both sides of their heads, the Roholo to the Amarila on their left side, and the Amarila to the Azuline on their right.
After placing the feathers upon each others' heads, the pride takes the rest of the day to celebrate and dance, their spirits loud and free.
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For the next few sennights, Dhezi had packed up his belongings and gave his farewells to his family, also being sure to give his partings to the children he had taught for the past three years, as well. He promised to visit them all every few moons, because now that he has found his pride, he is never going to leave them behind.
On the day of his departure, he gave his family warm hugs, clinging onto the backs of their clothes and letting their embrace linger before parting, smiling towards them. Tani grinned and pressed her fist lightly to her cousin's cheek, releasing a small chuff. "Don't worry, primito. We will see each other again, as long as we continue to live beneath the same Sun. Bajo el mismo Sol."
With a nod, Dhezi grinned toothily with a wiggle of his ears, turning to leave the cave before Rahja had shifted before him. Lowering herself and her wing, she turned her head towards her back for the young Seeker to climb on, causing him to blink a few times from surprise before his grin grew. He lets out a delighted laugh, moving over towards the griffin and giving her a big hug to her neck before climbing onto her back.
With a bellow, she ran out of the caves with Dhezi upon her back before taking flight, carrying home safe and sound.
Bajo el mismo Sol.
