Arriving at the village's sacred grounds, the patch of land surrounding The Great Tree was densely filled with pink flowers which looked similar to that of cherry blossoms. These flowers, unique to this planet, shared an impressive root system with the sacred tree, as they were an extension of the tree itself.
It was the time of year when the tree was in full bloom and the energies being emitted off the tree were at their strongest. The many occupants of the village would often spend their time here, as the people visiting the tree would often feel a sense of tranquility washing over them as they basked in its presence.
When Alena set foot under the tree, she felt a soft warmth being provided by the root blossoms at her feet. Elijah, who also stepped into the blossoms, couldn't help but to wiggle before leaping into the tree. Alena laid down into the bed of blossoms and immediately, a soothing sensation loomed over her as she gazed up at the foliage and branches above her. As Elijah had made himself quite comfortable on one of those branches.
The vibrant green leaves of the tree were traced with a near silver lining which would sparkle in the sun; the veins of the leaves bearing a pink blush, which nearly matched that of the root blossoms. Tiny pink flowers like that of lace were nicely knitted amongst the foliage, and occasionally would flow down from the tree, steadily falling into the bed of blossoms and the surrounding area within the gentle breeze.
It was here within the village, which she had visited many times throughout her life, where Alena felt most at home and ease.
Tatalia set down the bag at the edge of the blossom bed before making her way over to Alena, and nestled herself into the blossoms next to her. It was a beautiful day out in the village. The position of the sun was just right and the gentle breeze carried the pink, lace flowers throughout the scene.
Tatalia shut her eyes briefly as she breathed a sigh of relief, as the occasional flowers of lace fell onto them, giving a gentle brush as they slid off their cheeks.
"Mom," Alena began, "when will I get to come back here again?"
"It's hard to say," he mother started to answer, "You see, when a nekomata reaches their tenth birthday, she needs to be prepared for the world. The trials you'll face and the journey you must take all stemming from this initiation are different for every nekomata. It could be weeks, months or even years before being completed," she concluded.
Alena almost felt shocked and frightened, but the feeling of the ground and blossoms around her continued to soothe away these sensations. This new information was difficult for her, as it would be for anyone so young.
"But what if I don't want to go?" she asked tearfully.
"I'm sorry darling," he mother stated, "The initiation is a sacred practice of our kind, just as is this tree here. I truly wish we could avoid pulling you away from this place, but there's nothing to be done," she tried to explain.
Alena's eyes welled over as a heart broken sensation whelmed over her, so much so that a couple droplets trickled down her face. As her tears fell into the blossom bed, further strands of grass miraculously bloomed into additional blossoms around her, enhancing the calming auras. She laid there with an almost empty expression as her mother reached over and caressed Alena's cheek, wiping the tears from her face. Naturally she meant well, but this only made Alena tear up more as she began to pout.
Elijah seeing this, lept off the tree and plopped himself on Alena's chest, as he began to purr in an effort to comfort her.
Upon making eye contact with Elijah, little Alena started to feel more at ease. She knew that if there was one thing she could count on, it was that Elijah would always be there to comfort her.
As Alena took a deep breath, Elijah kneaded her, which encouraged Alena to pout no longer. He was a sweet cat, and easily remained her best friend.
"Better now?" her mother asked.
Alena gestured with a single nod as Elijah then instinctively cleaned the tears off her face. Tatalia caressed her daughter's head before sitting up, tucking her legs along her side. Elijah too got up, curious. As she propped herself on her knees and stood up, Tatalia smiled down at her daughter, showing a sense of affirmation.
Alena grabbed ahold of Elijah and lifted herself up with him in her arms as she glared up at her mother. Alena was lost for words.
"There's my strong girl," Tatalia spoke, caressing her daughter gently.
When Tatalia looked down to brush out her dress, a firmiliar face approached her.
"Good afternoon Tatalia. Another pleasant day we're having," greeted Mora.
"Ah! Yes, good day Mora," Tatalia replied, offering a curtsy.
Mora returned to her a gentle bow. The two of them were close, having been in the village together for many years.
As the two spoke, something strange came over Alena. Wind seemed to rapidly flow up from the ground beneath her, startling her. Alena sunk herself down, burying her face into Elijah's coat, hugging him tight. Even though her clothes and hair seemed to wisp in the rising breeze, Elijah's fur remained still. Root blossom petals were blown upward in the immense gust of wind, while the leaves and branches of the tree began to weave and sway. The sounds enveloped by the disturbance of wind were great, and as the ever flowing blossoms densely filled the air, all things were suddenly void as Alena once again found herself within a white space.
She gasped, looking into her hands and seeing that Elijah was not there. Quickly straightening herself out, she turned her attention throughout the empty void, trying to find anything. Then, there in the distance she saw it.
Standing an undeterminable distance away was the faint, white silhouette of a woman whose hair too was an undeterminable shade of ginger, facing the other way.
"Mom?" the young girl called, bearing no carry in her voice.
The sound of wind seemed to return as her site bled into white.
At that moment, Elijah rolled out a long, bellowed meow, staring up at Alena as she remained motionless holding him. This is when her mother and Mora turned to look at Alena, seeing her eyes frozen and empty. They both gasped at the site.
"So it's begun," Mora stated.
The two of them walked over to her, and when her mother asked, "Alena?" she blinked as the focus returned to her eyes. Alena looked up to Tatalia.
"Mommy?" she asked.
Her mom gave Alena a tender smile as she placed her hand on Alena's head. "It's okay my dear," Tatalia assured her, "You're growing up so fast."
"I'm sure you have many questions," Mora began, "we all do arriving at that stage. It's just a wonder how you arrive to it so soon."
"Alena my dear, I'm afraid we must leave here soon. You're going to have a lot to learn in a short time," Tatalia explained tenderly.
"You're going to need to be ready for the road ahead," Mora added.
Elijah and Alena seemed confused, as they turned their attention to one another, hoping to come to some kind of an answer to the words laid out before them.
"What do you mean?" Alena inquired softly.
Tatalia knelt down, picking a blossom from the ground and dressed it into Alena's hair.
"You'll see soon enough," Tatalia said, as she placed her hands on Alena's cheeks. Her touch was warm and gentle. With a kind smirk and glossy eyes, Alena's mother had but one thing left to say.
"Smile~"
Alena's time at The Great Tree was short lived.