The Ceremony

          Violet smiled. It was finally time for her ceremony! She could learn how to do magic and go to a Level Two school bigger than her own Level One school, Oakbranch. It was located in an old, ruined human building. Though it was tall, they only used the bottom five floors for the school. At the very top, there was the flight training for those with wings. Like her own vibrant purple dragon wings that matched her eyes. She had been told it looked nice against her diluted calico pattern. She lifted off and flew to the ceremony area, a large clearing with trees and plants. The vines covered a raised platform where the tribe's five leaders sat.

          Each leader had a different role for their community, and an heir to follow them. There was Shimmer, the society's Peacemaker, a fish-hybrid. Her vial glowed a light teal, presumably using her magic to breathe on land. They solved disputes that the society brought to her. Then Rock, the Determiner. Thier vial was a stone grey. His job was to enforce the laws and figure out if they were working. Slate watched with light eyes. Ey were the Representer. Thay meant ey were in charge of listening to the society's requests and told them to the other leaders. The Drafter, Ink, had a dark vial as well. They wrote out ideas for laws that the Granter could pass. Lastly was Shade. The Granter himself. Everyone was scared of him. For good reason, too. He hissed at the gathering crowd, ice blue eyes shadowed.

          Finally, they all stepped forward. “Let the ceremony begin!” Shimmer called in her musical voice. The five Heirs brought out the new vials, ten in all. Each Heir carried two. She heard they matched eye color, so the vibrant blueish purple was probably hers. The light pink, maybe Angel's. Her thoughts drifted to her best friend, a dove-hybrid. Her albinism caused her to dislike the sun, so she usually went out at night. She glanced at the other vials. The magenta... Bloom's. The coral colored one was likely, well, Coral's. She couldn't tell the rest. Perhaps others in different schools. Shimmer stepped forwards with a light blue grey and the dark grey. "River." She called as they got up and walked to the stage. "You have come of age to graduate your Level One school, Ashbranch. From now onwards, you have the right to learn and use magic. Your Level Two school is now Ashleaf." She presented the blue grey vial to the pale blue cat, who bowed and left the stage. "Storm!" She called next. "You have come of age to graduate your Level One school, Oakbranch. From now onwards, you have the right to learn and use magic. Your Level Two school is now Oakleaf." Storm glared at the crowd as he got the dark blue-grey vial. Violet didn't pay much attention as Rock gave Coral and Bloom their vials. Nor when Slate presented Ocean and Deep theirs. She snapped to attention when Angel's name was called, however. She watched her friend step up to the stage. She was assigned Ashleaf Level Two school, and after her was Petal, who got Birchleaf. After Petal, the last leader stepped forwards. Shade. He growled in a strange voice as he called Feather. Suddenly, she heard her own name. "Violet." Shade growled.

          She walked nervously to the stage. It was her turn! But what if she did something wrong? Shade looked at her with an unreadable expression. "You have come of age to graduate your Level One school, Oakbranch. From now onwards, you have the right to learn and use magic. Your Level Two school is now Ashleaf." Yes! Ashleaf! The one she'd been hoping for ever since her One-Three class. She bowed as Shade slipped the purple vial's band over her head. When she looked up, he had a faint expression that almost looked like... a smile? Strange. She bowed again and went back to her seat as the crowd chanted all of their names. "River! Storm! Coral! Bloom! Ocean! Deep! Angel! Petal! Feather! Violet!" Then the crowd slowly dispersed. Before everyone was gone, however, she felt a sharp pain in her head. The landscape faded to black. 

          After a few seconds, it reformed around her into a forest. A stranger, cloaked in shadow, stood over her. She heard a trembling voice say, "Look, we both know you're going to k.i.l.l me anyway. I've said I don't know where she is, and I'm telling the truth." It sounded like... Uncle Leaf? It sounded like it was coming from her... She tried to turn around, but she couldn't do anything. She only caught sight of her black and white fur... Wait. Black and white? Oh no... A Final Wish! She thought. Uncle Leaf... No... She could only watch helplessly as the stranger smiled. "Well, you were right about one thing. I am going to k.i.l.l you." The stranger opened their bloodred vial. Suddenly, a voice blared in her own head. Violet. If you're out there, I need you to leave the city! Quickly! Don't let him catch you! Leaf's last wish. Sent to her. Maniacal laughter presided over her uncle as he slowly faded.