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"Where are we going love?" asked Talaron as he leapt over a slimy puddle.

Seraisa stopped and turned around and replied, "Sssomeplace new love, away from the village."

She led him over a large mound of debris; a mound that looked like it was made recently from sticks and mud. On the other side was a long stretch of grasses, and trees. The fog was extremely thick here, bringing visibility down to ten feet. Talaron kept his eyes on her, making sure she wouldn't get too far away from him. He could hear the frogs all around them, and also the sound of a light drizzle coming down onto the leaves in the trees higher up. Seraisa stopped and stared up at the hazy looking trees, and then she said, "Okay love. We ssshould sit here."

Talaron looked around and saw a log worn bare by the weather. He took Seraisa's hand and led her to the log. When he seated her he took a seat next to her, staring into her eyes lovingly.

Talaron thought back to a week earlier when both she and he had made love for the first time. They had repeatedly made love all that week, sharing each other's bodies with the lust, and love they felt. He subconsciously began to stroke her hand, and she started to purr. She pulled close to him and took his hand. She then whispered softly, "I love you ssso much Talaron."

She nuzzled his neck and gently kissed his lips. Talaron smiled and he caressed her face lovingly. He smiled and asked, "love, why are we here?"

She pulled back, staring into his eyes and she pulled his hand up to her stomach. She purred and replied, "New life beginsss Talarrron."

He stared at her blankly for a second not believing that she means what he thinks she means. She continued to stare into his eyes, and she gently stroked his cheek with her other hand. Talaron snapped out of his daze and asked, "Are you sure Seraisa?"

She nodded knowingly and flicked her tongue. "I am very sssure love. We have a young one on the way."

Talaron felt his stomach ball up and tighten. He would never have thought it possible, not in the span of time they were together. Seraisa rested her head against his forehead and smiled at him. He knew such things did occur, that being the reason most of the mixed breeds existed to that day. It made sense in a way, but he never would have believed it could happen to him. He took an inner breath and smiled at her, recollecting his wits. He closed the distance with a kiss and took her in his arms again. He wanted to make her happy--wanted to make himself happy.

Talaron cradled her tenderly, "Oh Seraisa, that is wonderful. Love I would never have thought this day would come."

He chuckled and Seraisa smiled daintily at him. She coiled her tail around him and snuggled up alongside him. The drizzling rain fell down lightly across them, covering his hair in small silvery droplets. He smiled and embraced her lovingly, though his thoughts still wandered back to the night when they had first made love. He was so happy that night, and indeed even happy now. He wanted to be with her forever. They remained on the log snuggling with each other until the rain started to fall with heavier droplets. Talaron's hair was quickly drenched and he started to shiver slightly from the inactivity and the cool rainwater falling on him. Seraisa looked up and said, "Love, let usss return to our home."

He nodded his agreement and stood up, helping her rise to her feet. They both walked back home, their arms locked and her tail swaying behind the two of them. Talaron looked down, his mind deep in thought as they walked back to the village. What was his child going to look like? Was it going to be scaled like Seraisa? Perhaps it would be like him, in which case how would Seraisa feel?

He looked at her face and said, "Seraisa, what will our child look like?"

She paused and turned to face him with her eyebrow raised. She smiled and said, "Doesss that matter?"

He shook his head, maybe it didn't, he wasn't sure. He smiled at her and said, "No I guess you are right love, it doesn't."

She smiled at him and said, "I love you dearly Talaron."

He hugged her tightly and rested his chin on her shoulder. He then kissed her deeply wrapping his arms around her. When he broke their kiss they continued their walk. Everything would be fine.

The village slowly crept into sight as the fog unveiled its location to them. There were people busy around the village center; apparently they had another kaza to eat. The one thing Talaron enjoyed about life in the swamp was the different meals offered. Not everything was disgusting to eat, even considering where the animal lived. Seraisa had even shown him some wild plants that were edible...providing him with a staple diet. He even eased some of the vegetation on Seraisa, promising that it was healthier for her. Being partial to meat, she usually declined, but on occasion she would relent. His life was full of more happiness in the Zrask village, much better then when he was alone on the highways.

As the months flew by, Talaron noticed changes in his love. She had started to eat more, and also spent long hours out in the swamp wandering. Sometimes she would stay away for an entire day, returning at night to eat and sleep. Talaron started to worry. That evening when she returned from one of her long walks he sidled up alongside her and hugged her. She looked over and smiled at him, rubbing her distended belly where their child was growing. He smiled at her and asked, "Seraisa, love, is there something wrong?"

She tilted her head to the side and said, "There isssn't anything wrong. Why do you asssk?"

Talaron nodded and replied, "Well I am just worried about you. You spend a large amount of time out in the swamp."

She flicked her tongue and came back, "I know dear, I'm sssor,"--she purred and took his hand, holding it to her stomach.

Talaron smiled as he felt movement. She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. He smiled and said, "I love you Seraisa. I just want to see more of you during the day, I get lonely."

She looked down, "I'm sssorry, I can't explain it, but I just like to walk."

He nodded understandingly. After all how'd he come to live here? He gently stroked her side and said, "Well love, I'd like to walk with you one of these days...just to be with you."

She nodded, "I'm hungry, let usss go get sssomething to eat."

Talaron smiled at her and said, "No need dear, tonight I brought you something."

He gestured to a bowl full of stew made from kaza meat and a few of the edible plants he found in the swamp. Next to the bowl was a smaller bowl of water. She walked over to it and then smiled at him. She picked it up and inhaled deeply, smelling the stewed kaza that had soaked in some spices. It was very aromatic and her mouth watered--this was the first time Talaron had made something like this. She was a little apprehensive, but when Talaron came over she gulped half the bowl tasting it. She closed her eyes, separating the many flavors assaulting her tongue and categorizing them as best she could. The blend of flavors was quite something, and she smiled. Talaron stared at her expectantly and then asked, "So what'd you think?"

She opened her eyes and replied, "It tassstesss ssso different, and yet, very deliciousss."

He smiled in satisfaction. He walked over and said, "I thought that you'd like it. I just wanted to try something new."

She nodded and smiled at him. She finished the bowl quickly and then sat on the furs. She invited him over and when he sat down she said, "Talaron, sssoon our child will come."

He nodded and tried to figure out where she was going with this. She continued, "Love, there isss one thing that you ssshould do."

Talaron nodded, "Whatever it is, I'll do it!"

"Go to the ssspiritual guidesss and tell them you wisssh to become Zrasssk."

Talaron furrowed his brows and asked, "Become Zrask? Do you mean become a Zrask?"

She shook her head and replied, "I mean become Zrasssk, asss in do ritual to become Zrasssk, not grow scales like Zrasssk."

He chuckled and she snickered in response. He slowly nodded his head and said, "Fine, I'll go tell them tonight."

She smiled brightly at him, her eyes shining with happiness. She hugged him tightly and burst out, "You made me ssso happy love."

He nodded and rose to his feet. He told her he'd return, and he left their hut. On his way to the prominent leader's hut he saw Raesala along the side talking to a green-scaled Zrask. She turned a smile his way and said, "Good luck Talllaron."

He nodded and then stopped short, how had she known? She giggled, her hiss quite noticeable though she was very good at hiding her heritage. If it weren't for the scales and the tail she'd be mistaken for a human--his fault he had to admit. After all he taught those that wanted to learn about his race, and how to speak his tongue with ease. He had also learned a few things from them, including how to say most things in their tongue, but their vocabulary was limited to that of nature, and that of lore. The most important thing he picked up from living with them was how to use a spear, and this facilitated his hunting excursions with Seraisa considerably.

Raesala said good bye to the green-scaled Zrask and turned to him, "Tallaron, I will be honored to consider you one of usss. I wish you luck."

He smiled at her and asked, "How did you know?"

She looked down and said, "Seraisa asssked me if I thought you ssshould do it. I told her yes, because while we have accepted you, you are not one of ussss yet. She was worried that your offspring would not be accepted."

He nodded comprehending the full extent of what could happen. He smiled at her and replied with thanks. She nodded and he continued his walk to the leader's hut. He was determined not to let them down now...he had come so far already.

There was quite some activity around the spiritual leader's hut, it seemed that a new Zrask had been born and it was being celebrated. One day soon his child would be here, and the same type of event would happen. He smiled and walked beyond the throng of people, entering the hut. There was a spicy scent in the air, almost like cloves, but a little less intense. He walked over to a doorway blocked by a hanging skin and gently scratched on the side of the wall. A head peeped out from inside and looked at him briefly. Then before he could say anything the Zrask spirit guide pulled him into the room. He muffled a protest as he nearly lost his balance and toppled, but he held his tongue.

The Zrask wore a leather necklace with three teeth on it, and also a florescent blue feather dangled from it. He smiled at Talaron and then asked, "What you want Talllaron?"

His name was well known now because of his strange appearance out from the swamp. He smiled and bowed his head in politeness and then replied, "I wish to become Zrask."

He cocked his head to the side in silent contemplation and then he reached out his hands, feeling Talaron's head. Talaron looked into his gray eyes, noting the years of wisdom imparted on this Zrask. The Zrask flicked his tongue briefly and then tilted Talaron's head down to the floor. He continued to feel certain junctures of his head, his neck and also his shoulders. It was a very odd experience that sent shivers down his spine. The Zrask pulled away and let him right himself. Talaron looked at him waiting for his words, but the Zrask just stared at him blankly. Talaron thought for a moment that he had just died on him, but he still breathed. Then as if snapping out of a trance the Zrask tilted his head and said slowly, "Yesss Talllaron, you can do ritual. Mussst be here tomorrow early. Eat little."

Talaron nodded and said, "thank you sir."

The Zrask smiled and nodded, and then he turned away from him. Talaron took that as his leave and quickly exited the hut. There was still celebrating outside the hut, and Talaron caught sight of the young Zrask that was born. It reminded him of a little Sauran, and even the colors were strangely off-key. This newborn had nearly ebon scales with flecks of gray spread across them. His thoughts turned to what his own child would look like. He walked back to their hut, and he found Seraisa lying on the furs, her eyes closed as she slept. Talaron walked over and sank onto the fur bed with her, cuddling up next to her carefully so that he wouldn't wake her. He kissed her gently on her forehead and he closed his eyes. Sleep didn't come to him for another hour as his thoughts wandered. He was curious about what the ritual would be like, and also what his child would look like. He heard of the Zordiak rituals, and he also knew about the Wedding ceremony of the Ramna, but he wasn't even able to guess what a Zrask ceremony would be like.

In the morning Talaron woke to Seraisa's gentle nudging. He smiled at her lovingly and sat up. She gave him a light kiss and said, "You ssshould go now."

He blinked, his mind not catching what she said. Then with a nod of acknowledgment he rose to his feet, stretching, ready for the ceremony that would make him a Zrask. There was the usual presence of butterflies in his stomach as he casually walked to the leader's hut. His greatest apprehension came from the lack of knowledge about the ceremony.

The same Zrask met him outside the hut. In his hands were two items. One was a bag, and the other was a knife. He handed him the items and smiled. Talaron furrowed his brows in confusion and asked, "What are these for?"

"They isss ssso you collect itemsss."

Talaron nodded and asked, "What items do you need me to get?"

"Wrack brath root, sssumth petal, and cathi cane."

Talaron shook his head and said, "I have never seen any of those things before. Where shall I find them?"

The Zrask smiled and said, "In ssswamp."

The Zrask disappeared into the hut leaving him outside to figure out where to find the small list of items. Talaron shrugged and walked back up the path to find Seraisa, and ask her where he could find the items. When he reached the hut she was not there, he grinned and thought, "So much for that idea."

He saw Raesala and decided to ask her, but even as he neared she quickly disappeared into her hut. He scratched his head completely confused. Did he do something wrong to her? He shook his head deciding that he didn't do anything, and then it registered. This was a part of the ritual. They weren't supposed to aid him in any way about finding the things.

He sighed and turned up the path to the swamp proper. The swamp was its normal dreary self this day, but he had grown accustomed to its gloom. He looked around in the undergrowth, hoping to find something that could be one of the items he needed, but he wasn't even sure he knew what he was looking for. Talaron knew that he needed to find a root, a petal--perhaps from a flowering plant, and a cane. He knelt down and looked at the base of the bush. Perhaps the roots of the bush were the roots he needed? He looked at them and knew for sure that they weren't the ones, most of them being smaller then his littlest finger. He chuckled and said to himself, "Well now what?"

Talaron rose to his feet and walked further out into the swamp. The fog was lightly spread through the swamp, giving him a greater visibility. He eyed up large roots and any vegetation for the ingredients to his ceremony. As the day wore on he was becoming quite frustrated, not only did he not where the things were, but also he was covered in muck from his head to his toes. He pulled himself up onto a piece of raised turf crushing a small almost unnoticed flowering plant with dark purplish flowers. He stared at the flowers and then it registered, sumth petal--purple flowers. He smiled as he jerked the plant from the ground and carefully placed it in his bag. This gave him the motive to search more, and soon he found the second ingredient he was to look for, the brath root. The only reason he found the roots were because of the color they were, brath meaning red. His next item he knew was going to be hard to find...a cathi cane.

Just as darkness crept over the swamp Talaron found himself standing on a long turf of the swamp. There were hundreds of small pole-like plants surrounding the area with a greenish yellow tint to them. He smiled and pulled at one of them. The plant just bended his way and snapped back into place after he let it go. Talaron hauled hard on it, hoping to uproot it, but as hard as he could pull the plant seemed even harder to move. He sat on a nearby log and stared at the cathi plants, their stillness mocking his flustered emotions. He frowned and remembered the second item the spirit leader gave him...the strange knife. He smiled in victory over the plant as he viscously tried to carve at it. What shocked him more was the fact that the plant would not cut, almost as if it were made of iron. He threw the knife down completely flustered and shouted, "What in the name of the nether worlds is this!"

The plants remained motionless, and it made him even more frustrated. He rested his head on his hands and stared at the plants...perhaps he was missing something? He closed his eyes, letting his mind rest for a bit till he could figure out what to do, and he became aware of the sudden rise in the frog and insect chorus. He felt a slight breeze sweep across the swamp...it was soft and cooling. He smiled despite his predicament and he opened his eyes, looking at the cathi plants. "The Zrask were very spiritual, what would one of them do to make the plant want to give itself away?" he asked himself.

He thought he saw a plant stalk quiver, but he displaced it as being the slight breeze, even though they barely moved when he first noticed the breeze. He sighed and said, "Cathi plant, all I want is a single stalk for my ceremony."

The plant did quiver this time and Talaron perked up straight. He smiled thinking that perhaps it responded to kindness rather then anger or frustration. Talaron slowly crept over to the plants and knelt before the one stalk he had attacked earlier. He gently touched its stalk and said flatteringly, "Cathi plant, you are so beautiful. I wish I could take you home with me and plant you in a garden to show off your splendor."

The plants quivered in response and Talaron knew that the plant was magical, having a sort of sentience about it, and the magic to protect itself from harm. He sat down next to the stalk of choice and pulled the bag up closer. He smirked and pulled the knife up to the base of the cathi plant. The plant quivered but Talaron spoke softly, "Cathi plant, have no fear. I'm going to show your beauty to the world, but I need to take a part of you away."

The plant seemed to loosen up, even though it still remained rigid. He gently placed the blade against the stalk and the blade slowly started to sink into the plant. He spoke softly, hoping that it wouldn't harden up with his knife in it.

"You are the most beautiful plant in the swamp. You deserve a better home then this place, one where all could admire your splendor."

His knife nearly sheared all the way through the plant. He stroked the stalk.

"Your like a blooming flower in a field of thorns, a beacon of immense beauty in a dark landscape."

The knife completely carved through the stalk and Talaron gently cradled it in his arms. Little would one know the plant was as hard as wood after seeing his blade cut through it like butter. He smiled in triumph and said, "Thank you cathi plant."

The rest of the stalks quivered, as if giving him a welcome and then they turned as still as stone. Talaron carefully placed the cathi cane in the bag and held the bag close around it with his one hand. He nodded his head in parting and quickly headed back the way he came, back toward the Zrask village.

As he neared the earth bridges he saw Raesala waiting for him just outside the bushes. She smiled and said, "Congratulations Talaron, very few could figure out the secret of the cathi plant as fast as you. Now come, I must get you prepared."

Talaron smiled and then asked, "What other preparations?"

She smiled and said, "To finish the ceremony there are a few other things that need to be done," she paused with a mischievous smile on her reptilian face and then continued, "tonight."

Talaron nodded and said, "Then tell me what needs to be done and I'll do it."

Raesala nodded and replied quickly, "First bathe, clean the grime off you and then the ceremony will continue afterward."

Talaron smirked and nodded, looking down at his grimy body. He chuckled and said, "Yes, a bath would be nice right about now."

She smiled and then parted the bushes and gestured for him to go through, very similar to what Seraisa did upon their first meeting. Talaron could smell a great fire as he neared the village and as he neared it he could see a great flames high in the air. Raesala ushered him into Seraisa's and his hut and said, "I'll wait outside Talaron, when you are finished come out and I'll bring you to where the rest of the ceremony will take place."

He smiled and replied, "thank you Raesala."

She bowed and backed away letting him go wash himself. There were two bowls of water inside the hut, but no Seraisa. He shook his head and started cleaning his body off. By the time he finished both bowls were murky with the slime he picked up on his search in the swamp. He dried off next to the fire real quick and then wrapped a new skin around his waist. After grabbing the bag with the items he walked outside. He didn't see Raesala where she was standing when he entered the hut. He felt a warm hand touch his shoulder and he turned to see Raesala behind him next to the wall. She smiled and said, "Now are you ready?"

Talaron nodded, not sure what the next step was. Raesala snickered and said, "Don't act like you're going to die Talaron. Consider this your re-birth."

He nodded and replied, "You know, I never thought of it that way, but in essence that is what is happening."

She nodded and smiled wistfully. She then said, "Okay, let us be on our way."

Talaron walked alongside her until they reached the center of the village. He saw great tall torches set in the soil around the large fire pit. He noticed four of the spirit leaders standing there, and all around them stood the rest of the village. Talaron bit his lip and walked as confidently over to them as he could with his bag in hand. He presented the bag to the one he spoke with before he undertook the search and said, "I brought you the items you requested and am ready to go on with the ceremony."

The spirit leader smiled and nodded and said, "Then Talllaron, sit," and the Zrask gestured to a log placed upright.

Talaron nodded and sat on it, two of the hunters coming over to his sides. Talaron looked around at all the faces surrounding him and immediately he wanted to run and hide, a stage fright overtook him. He swallowed hard and bit his lip, concentrating on not panicking, and then he heard a loud beat rise up into the air. It was from a set of drums set up along the side. He stared at the drums and felt his mind wandering with the steady beats. He felt his whole body quaking to the beats of the drum, like a wave of pressure against his body. Then he heard a low sound like a hum. It started out very deep and almost sounded like the drums, then it slowly rose in octaves and soon Talaron saw the throng of Zrask swaying to the drums. He smelled a slightly sweet scent and immediately felt his head swimming.

Fingers touched his temples and then he found himself soaring out over the fire. He was swaying to the drums, each beat thrusting him outward, and then each pause pulling him closer. It was like swimming in an ocean against a strong tide. He smiled and then felt a bowl touch his lips, snapping him back into awareness. The contents of the bowl were very pungent, and he tried to resist the liquid touching his lips. The spirit leader nodded at the hunters on his sides and they grabbed a firm hold of him. Talaron felt his heart rate quickening and then felt some of the liquid seep into his mouth. The taste was vile, like a mouthful of slime from the swamp. His body shuddered as the taste of the fluid reacted with his taste buds violently. He gagged slightly, but swallowed the liquid. One of the other spirit leaders came before him with a bowl in her hand. She had a bluish streak down the side of her cheek. Talaron watched her with great apprehension; he was not enjoying this at all.

Talaron felt a slight pain in his chest, but he stared ahead, transfixed by her gaze. He felt his blood streaking down his chest, but he didn't care now. The female spirit leader's gaze hypnotized him. She smiled and rested the bowl against his chest. The blood slowly mingled with the murky liquid and it started to take on the color of blood. Talaron felt the urge to vomit, the taste of bile welling up in his throat. Whatever they had made him swallow, it was not agreeing with his stomach, or his body. The spirit leader pulled the bowl away and swirled her fingers through the liquid, mixing his blood with the blackish slime.

She then pulled her fingers up showing him the mixture. Talaron tensed up, the beat of the drum resounding in his ears so that he couldn't hear anything. He stared ahead; going into a daze he had no control over. His body shook to the drums, and the fire, and his mind wandered. He thought about Seraisa, his love and his mate. He wanted to remain with her and had to endure this ceremony, no matter how intense it was. The spirit leader started to spread the mixture across his face in a pattern. The liquid was sticky and thick, a blending of blood and slime. The spirit leader caught his gaze and kept his face up as she spread the pattern across his skin. Her fingers swept over his skin, making intricate swirls and patterns on his skin. This sent shivers up and down his back and he felt a cold chill overcome his senses. Talaron looked skyward, watching the burning ashes as they flew up high into the air.

He slowly looked down and out across the group of people. They all had their eyes closed, feeling the beat of the drums and the fire. He saw one set of eyes that weren't closed in the crowd...Seraisa's. He smiled slightly; suddenly less afraid of what was happening and ready to become a part of them. This was the final step, the last day he was considered an outsider. He smiled dreamily at her and then his vision faded to blackness. He was still conscious, able to feel and hear everything around him. Then a voice spoke into his ear...it was a soft, low dreamy voice.

"Talaron, you are one of us now."

His vision flashed back and he saw himself standing upright with two of the hunters under his arms. They were carrying him...carrying him toward a large flat slab of stone where many torches surrounded. They gently laid him back onto the slab and then quickly walked away. Talaron could barely move, the fluid he had swallowed making his body functions slower and more tiresome. He stared skyward, hearing and feeling the many Zrask around him. He breathed in deeply, tasting a sweet fragrance on the air. He then saw a face lean over him. It was his love. She smiled at him and she lowered herself down onto the slab with him. She pulled up close to his body and he tried to reach out and touch her but his arms wouldn't move. Seraisa purred loudly and she kissed him deeply. Talaron closed his eyes and felt with his whole body the many sensations from his contact with her. Then he fell asleep.

Talaron woke and stared up at the hazy trees above. He felt as if he had just slept in a rejuvenating spring. He could smell a sweet fragrance on the air, his senses seeming to be refreshed and enhanced more then before. He turned his head to the side and saw the great fire pit where a kaza roasted. He sat up and looked around, the whole town acting as normal as before he had undertaken the ceremony. Surprisingly he found his whole body was less tense and he could stand up. He looked down over his body, making sure that it truly was his own body, and chuckled when he saw it was so, in more ways then one. He heard a sigh from behind and turned to see Raesala. She smiled at him and said, "Talaron, how do you feel?"

Talaron looked over his naked body and said, "Aside from naked, I feel like a new person."

She snickered and said, "Seraisa is waiting for you."

Talaron smiled and replied with much gratitude, "Thank you Raesala."

She closed her eyes and nodded and then she walked on. Talaron took in a deep breath and walked up the path to their hut. He slowly pulled the flap on the door open and looked in. He saw Seraisa sitting by the fire rubbing her stomach. He quietly snuck over and placed his hand on her shoulder. Seraisa started and then saw him and beamed brightly. She turned and Talaron crouched down, hugging her tightly. He kissed her passionately and said, "I love you Seraisa."

"Love, thank you for doing ceremony."

Talaron nodded and then she said something he didn't quite believe.

"You looked ssso peaceful lying there for the passst four daysss."

He shook his head and asked, "I was lying there for four days?"

She nodded and replied knowledgably, "I have ssseen sssome lie there for ssseven."

He chuckled and said, "Well it didn't feel any longer then a day."

She nodded and pulled him down to sit next to her. Surprisingly Talaron didn't feel hungry, even though he didn't eat for four days. He remarked on that and Seraisa replied, "You will eat tonight love."

She smiled and Talaron chuckled. Seraisa took a hold of Talaron's hand and placed it against her belly. She purred and said, "Very sssoon love."

He kept his hand on her belly, feeling her scales like he never touched them before. He felt movement from within her and smiled. He gently stroked his hand up her stomach and looked into her eyes. She smiled slightly and Talaron planted another kiss on her lips. Seraisa stroked his face with her hands and then they embraced. Talaron stood up and said, "Come Seraisa, let us walk."

She nodded and rose to her feet. Talaron took her hand and led her outside. They walked for the whole day, and at night they ate and then retired to the hut to caress and snuggle with each other. In the early morning hours of the next day Talaron crept from the hut to watch the swamp come to life. He looked at all the small buildings in the village and he took in a deep breath. He was home.