Twelve years ago...
The morning of the initiation ceremony dawned cool and bright, and Tigerlily could barely contain her excitement as she helped Mary prepare. Leading Mary away as the sun cast its first early rays across the ground, the two of them met the rest of the women of the tribe in a clearing away from the village. Somewhere, Harrison was meeting with the men for the same reason.
The women all participated in bathing Mary, washing her skin and hair and helping her dress in her initiation dress—a white deerskin dress covered in beautiful, painstaking embroidery. They wound feathers through her hair, hanging turquoise and bead necklaces around her neck. Finally, the eldest woman of the tribe, old Mother Blackbird, painted Mary's face with bright blue and crimson streaks. Tigerlily, as Mary's sponsor, was painted next, and she painted the next woman's face, and so on and so on until all the women shared the symbols of inclusion and loyalty. When they returned to the village, they saw that the men were covered with similar markings.
It would be a long day, which wouldn't end until the sun rose the following morning. It would feel even longer still, since every able tribe member was expected to fast until the evening feast meal. The day was spent preparing for the initiation ceremony: cooking and preparing food, gathering wood for the evening's bonfire, readying Mary and Harrison.
Finally, as the sun started to set, the ceremony could begin. One by one, youngest to oldest, tribe members carried a stick to the middle of the village square, creating a huge pile of tinder. Mary and Harrison came last, accompanied by Tigerlily and Little Willow. Wise Eagle started the fire, and everyone waited until it grew into a roaring flame. In the background, musicians pounded drums and played their flutes, as unearthly voices rose in a haunting wail. Finally, when the fire grew large enough, Wise Eagle started circling the sacred fire, chanting his blessing on the night. Other people soon joined in, until the whole tribe was circling the fire, singing, chanting, dancing. Mary and Tigerlily joined the procession, swaying and singing, while Harrison was a little more subdued.
Eventually, Wise Eagle motioned for the procession to stop. Everyone froze, waiting on his words.
"Tonight, we celebrate a blessed event," he began. "Our family grows by two new members."
All around him, people cheered and stomped their feet.
"Who are those who wish to join our tribe?"
Mary and Harrison stepped forward. "We wish to, wise elder."
"And who are those who sponsor these initiates?"
Tigerlily and Little Willow stepped forward. "We do, wise elder."
"To join our tribe, you must make a new life for yourselves here," Wise Eagle said solemnly. "The past, while it led you to where you are, is not what defines your story now. Rather, it is the future that we look to, a future you build here with us. Are you prepared to leave your past and create a new life here?"
"We are," Mary and Harrison answered.
"What proof do you offer us?"
At this point, it was required that initiates throw something from their old life into the fire to symbolize their old life burning away. Harrison stepped forward first, holding up his pistol. "I used this during my time as a pirate to kill and plunder. Now, I want nothing to do with it." He hurled it into the fire, and the wooden base started to char and twist. "I humbly ask to join your tribe and live a life of peace instead."
Wise Eagle raised his hands. "Brethren! What say you?"
Once again, people erupted into cheers.
Wise Eagle motioned for Little Willow. "Bestow our brother with a new name."
Little Willow stepped closer to Harrison, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Brother, be welcomed into our tribe. Our blood is your blood. Our skin is your skin. Our heart is your heart. Our soul is your soul. Your old life is gone, and your new life begins. Your name is no longer Harrison. It is Brother Bear, for you share the bear's great strength and protective spirit."
Silently, two women approached, handing a blanket over to Little Willow. When she shook it out, it revealed the most gorgeous needlework Tigerlily had ever seen, weaving a stunning picture of a bear holding up the stars in the sky. Clearly, Little Willow had worked tirelessly to complete the beautiful gift in time for the ceremony.
Little Willow wrapped it around Harrison's shoulders. "Welcome home."
When Harrison spoke, his voice was thick with emotion. "I am glad to come home."
Next, it was Mary's turn. Wise Eagle beckoned her towards the fire, and she held up a lacy petticoat—the only part of her outfit that she'd kept after the fairies created a new dress for her. "I wore this petticoat for years while I was a captive on Blackbeard's ship," she said, her voice clear and strong. "It is a reminder of everything I went through, all the suffering and mistreatment I felt, all the helplessness and fear that plagued me. But what I went through then doesn't define me now." She hurled it into the fire, grinning with triumph. "I humbly ask to join your tribe and live a life of peace instead."
Once again, Wise Eagle raised his hands. "Brethren! What say you?"
Once again, people erupted into cheers.
Wise Eagle motioned for Tigerlily. "Bestow our sister with a new name."
Now Tigerlily stepped closer to Mary, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Sister, be welcomed into our tribe. Our blood is your blood. Our skin is your skin. Our heart is your heart. Our soul is your soul. Your old life is gone, and your new life begins. Your name is no longer Mary. It is Morning Blossom, for you have weathered night's tribulations and bloomed even more beautifully in the light of the morning sun."
She reached into her pocket, pulling out a dagger with an intricately carved handle. She'd been working for days on it. The handle looked like it was covered with a winding stem and leaves, leading up to a delicate blossom at the base of the blade.
She handed it to Mary, feeling her eyes start to water with emotion. "Welcome home."
Mary grinned at her, joyful tears filling her eyes as well. "I am glad to be home."
The rest of the night was one long celebration, full of food, laughter and dancing. Together, the tribe welcomed the dawn of a new day—the first day for Morning Blossom and Brother Bear as full members of the tribe. Of course, they had become part of Tigerlily's family long before they were officially initiated, just as Tigerlily's life had become forever entwined with Mary's long before Tigerlily became her sponsor. Theirs was a friendship that had been forged through fire, and pain, and hardship—but much like Mary, it only bloomed brighter because of those trials. Tigerlily knew it would never fade or break. What she had with Mary was special, and it would last for the rest of their lives.