So not long ago I opened up my tumblr inbox to prompts. These short fictions capture snap shots of certain parts of Kindred exsistance.
A massive thank you to Emma for picking the prompts to send me, and allowing me to use her characters and setting. This particular collection will focus on Clan Tremere
Rite Of Passage - Esther & Tarcisus
It was a test. Oh, how she loathed these, but she would obey, she would always obey for Tarcisus.
He had denied her Torpor for three days when he finally guided her to the ritual room once again. She was parched, it made the back of her throat burn uncomfortably, and irked her Beast terribly. She could feel it poking at its cage, testing the boundaries for weaknesses in the hopes of freedom in any form it could find.
When the door to the ritual room was opened she could hear something rustle and the flapping of wings. It piqued her curiosity, she had no idea what he had in mind for her but now she was interested.
At the center of the room sat on a pedestal was the biggest owl Esther had ever seen. Its feathers were a freckled medley of light and dark browns. She could see it shift its weight from one clawed foot to the other.
Bright orange eyes took her in as Tarcisus closed the door behind her, one predator taking in another. A silent sizing up of one another, Esther was captivated with the winged companion. Silently, she stepped closer to the bird, the feathery horns upon its head drew back, sensing threat in her gestures. It forced her to stop, the skirts of her dress coming to a mute halt with her.
Slowly its feathers smoothed back as the smaller predator relaxed once more. Esther waited patiently for this before advancing more slowly to not spook the bird.
Tarcisus observed from the door quite curious of the pair, seeing the neonate's reactions and carefully cataloging it away to later document it down.
Eventually she stood before the pedestal, her gradual movement had given the animal a chance to adjust. Neither were particularly bothered by the other, to his surprise both were paying him more attention now.
"An Eagle Owl." The observation was quiet, she reached out a delicate hand to touch. The Owl gave a slight hiss but allowed her to handle it.
"This will be a tool in the ritual." Tarcisus stepped closer as the duo acquainted themselves with each other. He was pleased Esther didn't seem thrown by the news.
"You will see and hear through its senses." He gave her a scrap of paper which he allowed her to read and commit to memory before setting it alight on a nearby candle.
Gingerly the bird left the pedestal, perching on her arm. The redhead sat upon the cobbled floor with the bird as Tarcisus stepped away once more allowing her to begin the ritual.
Her voice began low and rhythmic as she willed her senses into the bird of prey. Esther remained as such for hours, thirsty but unwilling to give up easily. Tarcisus remained silent taking up a seat at the workbench to begin writing his notes.
It was a long while before he noticed the room had descended into silence. The owl left her arm and came to his work space it gazed down at the notes he had made the low hoot it gave only made his lips draw into a smile.
"You can see the notes?" He heard her repeat them back to him word for word. His smile only grew larger. "I believe you are ready to meet the Clan Elders now. You're free to go hunt whilst I make the arrangements."
Esther allowed her control upon the Owl to leave it, seizing back her own senses she stood and pecked a kiss to his cheek before slipping out to find her favoured hunting companion and enjoy her well earned freedom.