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As the full moon rose above the horizon and sailed into the cobalt night sky uncounted millions of stars came out to bear witness to a very unique event, for The time for Suki's womanhood ceremony arrived,. Anna and Sally, as this was to be an event just for women to celebrate a newly blossoming woman. Suki being new to the family this ceremony was long overdue

Since Suki was the most recent female adopted into the family, Anna felt it was only right to initiate her into the feminine mysteries of the Erickson clan as part of her overall education, as every female member of the family has this rite of passage when they reach menarche. Suki being a special case, Anna felt there was no time like the present to go out into the woods, scream and eat s'mores.

The raccoon was extremely enthusiastic, having heard about this sort of ritual and finding it to be yet another marker of how she was included in this family. She followed the other femmes into the woods on their property.

Due to the large expanse of woods, they could have a ceremony in seclusion from neighbors and passersby. They crossed the foot bridge that forded a small creek, into a small clearing on the other side. Suki looked about in the small clearing. There were some stone benches in a quartered circle. Ken had built them long ago centering on a fire pit, and Larry and Anna had repaired them in recent years. The raccoon took a seat on one of the rearmost benches (away from the brook).

Sally lit the stack of wood in the fire ring signaling the start of the ceremony.

Anna drew near dressed in a white priestess's robe, and held her arms up and apart intoning...

"In this place, and at this time we once again raise the ancient temple to perform the ancestral rights of womanhood. For one of our clan has reached the age and these ancient rites shall once again be performed to welcome another into the sisterhood of women."

Suki beamed in pride, paying attention to Anna's address. There was a little bit of nervous excitement in her body as she was enjoying yet another new experience. She steepled her hands in her lap, playing with the fingers. It was nice to see the females here as well, and as always great to spend time with her sister-lover and her mentor-lover-matriarch Anna.

Anna turned to face the young raccoon, the reflected firelight made Anna's eyes seem to glow with supernatural power. this sent a tingle of excitement racing down her spine to the tip of her banded tail causing the tip to twitch with energy.

"Suki Amiyah, Your time has come, to leave behind the things of childhood and join us in the society of womanhood, are you ready to set aside the things of your childhood and take your proper place and be initiated into the joys and mysteries of what it means to be a woman?" Anna asked and it seemed to Suki that the woods became silent listening for her answer.

"I am ready Miss Anna. I am ready. I want to take my place...I've looked forward to this day for so long," the raccoon said, standing up in front of Anna.

Anna nodded solemnly then signaled Sally, who silently stepped up to the Raccoon standing near the fire.

"Welcome Sister My name is Sally, and I shall serve as your guide on this journey into womanhood." she said placing her hands on Suki's shoulders and giving her a warm loving and very reassuring smile. This calmed Suki more than she was expecting.

"Thank you Sister Sally." she replied.

"Naked you came into this world, you must once again be naked to take the next step into your new life of the Woman." Sally intoned then ritually stripped Suki tossing her old clothes into the roaring fire.

"These are the clothing of a child, as you now become a woman you need these not, let them be consumed and free your spirit to grow from child to woman."

Suki had wondered why she was asked to dress in old worn out clothing for this ritual, smiling to herself it seemed a fitting transition to her. She let the clothing be stripped from her, revealing her lithe and thin body to the others assembled. The glow of the fire cast a nice orange tint to her brown fur as she looked up a little more confidently towards Anna and Sally.

Priestess Anna seemed pleased. Suki beamed doing her best to not bounce in place from excitement.

"The outer trappings of childhood have been removed and as you stand before us and all the women of the clan who have gone on before you, the body must now be cleansed. Bring her forth, my daughter and we shall wash away the child that stands before us." Anna instructed and Sally placed her hand on Suki's shoulder, leading her to Anna who stood beside her placing her hand on the raccoons other shoulder leading her to the creek.

Pausing at the waters edge, Anna turned to face her initiate.

"Before you, you see the primordial waters, that flow through mother earth and through each woman who walks upon her. You have come to the river of the soul, where we shall wash away all that you were and you shall emerge the Woman you shall now forever be."

"Yes, I see...I will do so," Suki said, stepping fully into the gentle waters of the creek. The water was a bit cool but not unpleasantly so, and the warmth of her excitement certainly kept her comfortable. She looked at the two beautiful women near her, grateful for this experience.

Anna and Sally stripped and entered the water moving Suki to stand in the center of the creek; the water was thigh high at this point. Suki felt the current tugging on her tail and awakening to the power that flowed along with the water. Anna and Sally began to sing an ancient melody as they slowly pushed Suki into the water, she felt almost as if she were melting, feeling the water wash over her and washing away all that she were. She lay in the water Sally and Anna's grip on her shoulders being the only thing keeping her in this world feeling she could be completely washed away if they were to let go. to her surprise this realization did not frighten the young raccoon, the melody of the song seemed to weave itself into her soul, anchoring her making her stronger and feeling more solid Anna placed her hand over Suki's nose and pushed her head under the flowing water. at that moment Suki was drawn up to her knees a feeling of rebearth flooding into her body, the creek which at first seemed to rob her of warmth now seemed to fill her with a steady confidence. she was drawn to her feet as the two Priestesses finished their song and they drew the newest woman of the clan from the ancient primordial waters, leading her to the roaring fire.

Suki followed along, absolutely captivated by this experience, loving to become a woman in the Erickson tradition. "Oh goodness, Miss Anna, Sister...this...this is an amazing experience for me...thank you all so much...oh..."

"You are a member of the Erickson family now, and this is how we women welcome new members into the society of women of the clan. these rites go back a hundred generations in our family, you are now a full member of that lineage." Anna instructed as they shook the water off their fur and wrung the excess water out of their tails before taking up the towels that Ken must have set by the fire while they were in the creek.

Suki bent over to start toweling herself off, feeling cleansed inside and out from the experience. "This is so amazing...I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful family in every way. I am very happy to be an Erickson."

And by the ancient rites and laws you are now entitled to call yourself one of us if you so choose to do so." Anna beamed "We have much to teach you this night, for there are secrets known only to your fellow women of the Erickson clan and tonight we shall pass them along to you... but you have been given a few bits in your earlier training already but this will be both fun and frightening, for you are about to learn things about being a woman very few femmes in this modern age comprehend. but you my sweet sister, shall not only understand but gain a deeper appreciation of what it truly means to be a woman, for great power flows through your soul carried in the very blood that flows through your veins and once a month as an offering to the ancient goddesses of fertility mortality and feminine power itself."

"I feel ready to take this plunge. I want to learn even more from you...you are both amazing teachers." Not knowing what else to do, she simply knelt before Anna as a sign of respect.

Anna placed her hands lovingly between Suki's ears caressing her until she looked up to meet her eyes.

"You are not the young maiden going through her first flush of womanhood, so there are a lot of things we have already covered." Anna paused, tilting her head regarding the sweet raccoon that knelt before her then smiled. "No matter, we can skip over what your first time will be like--and learning how your blossoming body responds to the erotic touch of a lover... as I recall you already got a gold star in that subject." the elder skunk quipped. Suki blushed hard but grinned wide nodding happily. "Oh yes, Miss Anna, that I did!"

The raccoon looked up at the beautiful matriarch before her. "I have learned so much already. Now I am just...getting used to more of these great feelings of love. I've never encountered a family like you before; I feel, how you say, well and truly home."

As a symbol of becoming a woman, it is traditional for the matriarch, that would be me..." Anna smiled demurely. "To give a gift to the new woman, a toy so you could explore your sexuality, usually it is a slim little thing for one just starting out but..." Anna winked with a nod. Sally presented her with a box she handed to Suki, opening it Suki found her verry own Purple Passion Loverod.

"Oh my!" Suki exclaimed "This is almost the size of...of Mr. Ken! Thank you Mistress, uh Priestess, uh Miss Anna!" The raccoon stammered.

"You are very welcome my dear, now, to end the rite you must jump over the bonfire, symbolizing your having come through fire and flood."

Suki readied herself, noting that her fur was still a bit wet. She took a running leap, easily clearing the fire unscathed and landing safely on the other side. Momentum took her towards a couple trees, and she used those to stop herself. Once there, exhilarated, she looked back at Anna and Sally, beaming with pride, even with some tears in her eyes.

Anna and Sally in turn hugged Suki, and with that the three strode back to the bathhouse for some wonderful relaxation.

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