For Solasta's Sixteenth Season Aisii and Sandoval decided to throw her a party and invited Solasta and Tasa's close friends, Tasa's family, and the few friends that they still had remaining. In the mixed Zabrak/Human culture Solasta was raised in they didn't have any significance for the Sixteenth Season, or any other for that matter. This party was simply because they knew that every year they were still able to see her new season was a gift to be celebrated, and the mid-summer celebration didn't actually correspond to her 'birth date' because they didn't know when it was, but rather the date that Aisii and Sandoval discovered her in the alley on Nar Shadda.
In Cathar culture she was a little too old for the 'Shka ya Raiya mitra' [Rite of the Sun] to celebrate her Coming of Age, but Tasa was determined to make this day special for her so he contacted his Clan Elders to request that the ritual be performed anyway. Along with Tasa's father, his Uncles Itik and Nynorr formed their Clan's Elders and it was from them he needed permission, plus coordinate their attendance to pass judgement on the three trials she must pass. Since Tasa and Solasta were all but inseparable, he had to employ considerable misdirection the entire month beforehand to sneak holo messages to his uncles to set up everything.
The day of her party she woke early to help her parents prepare for the guests they expected later that afternoon. Tasa showed up later than he had planned saying he had run into a group of Separatists who were being a nuisance and delaying speeders trying to enter or leave the region. This was becoming a regular occurrence so Solasta didn't question it, but he had actually been at the Spaceport much earlier to greet his uncles from their trip and bring them home to get prepared. He got started in the yard behind the house with clearing Aisii's lawn ornaments so there was a large enough space for the guests to mingle and had just started on setting up tables when Solasta came outside to help him.
Finished with preparing the snacks inside, Solasta opened the door leading out to the yard and headed out to help Tasa. He couldn't do anything but stop and watch her with adoration as she bounded out the back door running barefoot across the lawn wearing a pair of shorts, shirt knotted to expose her midriff, and her ponytail swinging from side to side behind her. When she was close enough she launched herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck to kiss him.
As they rubbed cheeks Tasa asked, do you want your present early? Solasta's broad smile was answer enough, so carrying her behind the large tree near the back fence, with her hanging from his neck, he kissed her again. As she loosened her hold and stood pressed against his chest with her back to the tree, Tasa pulled out a small flat rectangular container from his pocket and gave it to her.
Inside was a gold chain with a pendant that depicted the Sigil of Illya, the Cathar Light Goddess, with small blue stones inlaid on the intricate points of the design. Solasta's eyes widened and she was speechless, so she simply pulled his face down to kiss him and rub his cheeks to breath in his scent. They had been standing there kissing for only a few moments when the Commander yelled out the window to them "What are you kids doing out there?" and they popped out from opposite sides of the tree to wave at him. The Commander waved and yelled "Get back to work!" and laughed.
When all was ready, Tasa hopped in his speeder and returned home to get ready and return with his family, while Solasta went inside and started getting ready herself. She had picked out a light summer blouse, short skirt, and sandals to wear for the occasion. While she still hadn't warmed up to dresses, she discovered that short skirts still had an air of formality without making her conscious of her height. Plus it showed off her legs, which distracted Tasa to her delight.
As the guests arrived Solasta greeted each of them but began to worry when Tasa hadn't returned. Are the Separatists still blocking traffic? Did the situation escalate and become serious? Was there a something else delaying them? She decided to go inside and check if Tasa had called and left a message, but when she reached the door Tasa stepped outside with his father, uncles, and the rest of his family. Atan and Cudu hugged Solasta and Tasa's mother greeted her with rubbing her cheek before taking the boy's hands and joining Aisii and Sandoval where they were sitting.
Nynorr, the eldest of the three brothers spoke first. "Clans Kosit and Dinn, we gather here to judge this Kii [Child] on her three trials to determine her worthiness as an adult among the tribe. Who has prepared this Kii and brought her before us?"
Aisii and Sandoval both stood and read from their response from a card that Tasa wrote out for them. "Clan Elders, we have prepared our Kii and present her now for your judgement. We beg of the Cath'iri [Ancestor Spirits] to guide her on the trials, so that she may be accepted as 'adult' into our tribe", and canted their heads downward respectfully.
Nynorr continued to Solasta, Three rituals must be passed Kii, are you prepared to be judged?
"Ja Khoro" [Yes Elder] was her reply.
The Ritual of the Hunt will test your prowess in hunting and battle. Kii, since we would not wish to upset our guests with sparring to prove your skill and courage on such a beautiful day, you must instead balance yourself on a pole for the remaining two trials.
Solasta would have laughed at this if she hadn't understood the importance of the ceremony that was taking place.
Stepping to the table nearest him, Tasa retrieved the 1 meter wooden pole that was approximately 15 cm in diameter (6 inches) and a mallet, which he had hidden there earlier. Pounding the pole into the ground a quarter of its length, he turned to help Solasta stand on the exposed end and realized the pole, her height, and the short skirt needed a solution. While she slipped off her sandals, he returned to the table to remove the white linen cloth that covered it and wrapped it around Solasta's waist before helping her stand precariously atop the pole.
While she balanced herself, Uncle Itik spoke next.
The Ritual of Wisdom will test your ability to think and reason. Kii, you have proven yourself to be wise with the teaching of lessons to Tasa and your own exceptional achievement in your studies. This we value as one day you may be called upon to lead the tribe and teach others through sharing your knowledge, as you have demonstrated.
Lastly, Tasa's father spoke.
The Ritual of the Heart tests your loyalty and devotion to the tribe. Kii, you have proven yourself both loyal and devoted to the tribe with the care and affection witnessed with the kitling's, your Elders from both Clans, and that which we have witnessed with Tasa.
Nynorr raised his hands skyward and pronounced, "Solasta, we the Elders have judged you worthy. No more shall you be known as Kii and are accepted as Merai [young adult] among the tribe, as witnessed this day by Raiya [the Sun-God]."
With a respectful nod of her head, Solasta said "Sadis Khoro" [I bow unto you Elder] and Tasa took her hand and helped her off the pole, while the guests politely applauded.
The rest of the afternoon Solasta mingled with her guests, and when she wasn't holding hands with Tasa they could be seen sharing a slow affectionate blink whenever their eyes met. Tasa's mother had been observing them and whispered to her husband while subtly motioning towards their direction, I don't think it will be long before we celebrating a Soul-Binding ritual, to which Tasa's father chuckled.
When they stopped to thank Major Gegne for coming to her party he beckoned her to sit with him. "I know you're parents are advancing in age and if something should happen, or you need anything, don't hesitate to contact me. Even though I will be retiring soon myself, I still have connections and we in the Republic Navy take care of family." She thanked the Major and assured him that they already had made their plans but would remember his offer.
The afternoon wound down and after all the guests left Solasta changed from her party clothes to help Tasa clear the tables and chairs from the yard. When they finished a light dinner was waiting for them and they ate outside while night began to fall all around them. It had been busy day for both her parents so they stepped inside after dinner and turned on the holo to watch the reports of more skirmishes with the Separatist in the western regions.
With night upon them Solasta and Tasa could still clearly see the pole that was still stuck in the grass in the dim light. Solasta asked Tasa, "Did you have to balance on a pole or did you spar with an Elder?"
"No, I had to spar with my Uncle Itik and it was a tough match," said Tasa.
"So you beat him?"
"The sparring matches aren't to determine a winner, my uncle's goal was to push me as hard and far as he could to judge whether I was worthy." explained Tasa.
"Ah, well I bet you can't balance on that pole now," she challenged him.
"Oh yeah?" He ran to the pole and leap onto it where he balanced himself while Solasta walked out to him.
"Can you balance on one foot?" asked Solasta.
"Sure," and he raised his left leg and balance his weight onto his right foot.
"Can you catch this?" and Solasta threw her half-eaten roll at Tasa who turned his head just in time to feel it ricochet off his chest, knocking him off balance, and he fell to the ground landing on his back.
"You little..." he started to say, but Solasta had already closed the distance between them and laid on top of him as he lay in the grass. Running her hands through his jet black hair she stretched forward to kiss him full on the lips while Tasa held her face in his palms. Stroking her cheeks he gently drew his fingertips down along the sides of her neck, drawing a deep throaty purr from her, before continuing down her sides where he rested them on her waist. They kissed deeper, and both were becoming intoxicated on the mix of hormones and pheromones that were being generated.
When he moved his hands to her haunches he subconsciously, and instinctively, extended his claws until they penetrated the fabric of her shorts and dug into flesh. Shocked, Solasta put both hands on Tasa's chest and immediately pushed herself upright, her eye's dilated and heart pounding, she whispered, "What are you doing!?"
Also surprised at he did, Tasa asked, "Sorry, did that hurt?"
"No, but why did you do that?"
"I'm not sure... it seemed like... you didn't like it?"
"No - I mean yes, I liked it, but... we can't, not yet."
Solasta rolled off Tasa and laid beside him with one arm draped across him and her head on his chest listening to his heart beat. Tasa spoke first, "In my heart you're already my Life-Mate, and I can wait for us to finish school or the Navy, but I can't help the way you make me feel." Solasta looked into his eyes and stroked his cheek saying, "You make me feel the same way, and we're going to have an entire lifetime together. I promise."
Tasa pointed out the constellations to her as they laid there holding hands and watching the night sky.
