Disclaimer: I have no ownership of Teen Titans
Chapter 6
It wasn't long before a month had passed since Beast Boy had come to live with King Tawaba. He was given a warm welcome back by everyone in the village, especially
Aiyana, the girl who'd first seen him when he arrived. The two had known each other briefly in childhood and she let him know she'd never forgotten him. He was very happy to have an instant friend. The two would do chores and duties together and hang out if they had any free time. But Beast Boy wouldn't have much free time after today.
"Good afternoon," said King Tawaba in his native tongue as he came upon Beast Boy and Aiyana, who were carrying a few buckets and gourds full of water.
"Good afternoon, sir," said Aiyana, respectfully.
"I see you've made a trip to the well," said King Tawaba. "Is the water getting low?"
"No, it's still pretty full," said Beast Boy.
"Good, very good," said King Tawaba. "Garfield, would you mind taking a walk with me?"
"Now?" asked Beast Boy, who's arms were getting tired from holding the heavy water.
"Well, once you've delivered the water," said King Tawaba. "Meet me by the well again and we'll walk from there."
"Okay, it won't take me long," said Beast Boy and he and Aiyana continued on their way. "I wonder why he wants to take a walk with me."
"He probably wants to talk to you about something important," said Aiyana. "That's what usually happens when he asks for someone to take a walk with him."
"I didn't do anything wrong, did I?" he asked.
"No," laughed Aiyana. "If he asks you to take a walk with him it's usually a good thing. If he ever asks to see you in his hut privately, then you know you're in trouble."
"I bet you've been in there a lot," Beast Boy laughed.
"No more than any other child in the village," Aiyana laughed back.
They delivered the water and Beast Boy set off for the well again. He really wasn't sure what King Tawaba wanted to talk to him about, but since Aiyana was sure it wasn't anything bad, he wasn't all that nervous. He really appreciated having Aiyana around to explain small things he'd either forgotten about the village or had never learned. He reached the well and there stood King Tawaba, waiting for him.
"I hope I didn't take too long," said Beast Boy.
"Not at all," said King Tawaba with a smile. "Come, let us walk."
Beast Boy nodded and the two began to walk. They walked along the hot land around the village and even into the nearby jungle. After a while Beast Boy wondered if they were going to talk at all. Perhaps King Tawaba really did only want to walk. Finally, after about twenty minutes of silent walking, the great king began.
"It's been a month since you've come back to us," he said. "Are you happy?"
"Yeah, of course I am," said Beast Boy with a smile. "Actually, I haven't been this happy for a long time."
"Good, I'm glad to hear it," said King Tawaba. "And how long do you think you'll be staying with us?"
"Oh, uh, I'm not sure, to tell you the truth," said Beast Boy. "I mean, I'm only supposed to be here until I feel like going back to the Titans. But, right now, I really have no desire to go back… ever."
"I'm sure our way of life here is much different than that of you friends'," said King Tawaba.
"You have no idea," Beast Boy laughed. "I was going through major videogame withdrawal when I first got here."
"Vid-eo-games?" asked King Tawaba upon hearing the foreign word.
"Their games you play but on the TV," said Beast Boy. "Uh, have you ever seen a TV?"
"No, but I have heard of them," said King Tawaba. "But, we're getting off topic. Tell me, do you truly plan on staying for a great length of time?"
"Well, as of right now, yeah," said Beast Boy. "I mean, I miss my friends and tofu a whole lot, but I think I'd rather be here than anywhere else. Why?"
"Because if you are going to stay I think you should begin the Trials of Manhood," said King Tawaba.
"The what?" asked Beast Boy.
"The Trials of Manhood," chuckled King Tawaba. "It's how a boy earns his right of passage into becoming a man. You are of the precise age of when a young man in my tribe begins the trials."
"So, if I do all of the trials, I'm officially a man?" he asked.
"You will be looked upon as one in our tribe, yes," said King Tawaba.
"Then I definitely wanna do them!" said Beast Boy.
"The trials aren't easy, my dear Garfield," warned King Tawaba. "They often take years to complete."
Beast Boy's excitement faded away. "Years?" he asked.
"Yes, years," said King Tawaba. "Did you think becoming a man would be quick?"
"No, but I really hoped it would," sighed Beast Boy.
King Tawaba laughed and wrapped his arm around Beast Boy's shoulders. "You have not changed since you were young," he said. "You wanted everything right away then, as well."
"Sorry, it's kinda the problem with my generation," Beast Boy chuckled. "So, when you say trials, what are we talking about, exactly?"
"I can only tell you if you're going to take on the trials," said King Tawaba. "So, it's up to you to decide if you want to be looked upon as a man, and take all of the responsibility that will go with the title, or if you want to remain a child in our eyes, without the responsibility or respect."
"Wow, this is actually a hard choice," said Beast Boy, thinking. "I don't wanna be a child all my life and not be respected, but I don't know if I want the responsibility of being a man just yet."
"That's why it's up to you to make the decision," said King Tawaba. "And once your decision has been made you cannot go back on it or you will not be allowed to live with the tribe any longer."
"So, that means if I say I don't wanna take the trials now but then, in like a year, say I do I'll be kicked out?" he asked.
"Correct," said King Tawaba. "But, you don't have to make the decision right now. Take as long as you need to think it over and when you're ready come and give me your decision."
Beast Boy suddenly realized they'd not only walked back to the village, they were outside of King Tawaba's hut! The grand king entered his hut and left Beast Boy standing outside, with much to think about. The young man sighed and decided to take another walk, but this time alone.
He followed nearly the same path he and the king had taken. His mind raced with thoughts and questions. Was he ready to begin the process to be a man? He certainly wanted people to look at him as a man rather than a kid. But how hard were these trials going to be? He wished he had some general idea. Why did becoming a man have to be difficult? And why did it have to take so long?
Suddenly there was a puff of smoke in front of him. He jumped back and gave a small yelp of surprise. He couldn't believe what he was seeing; a package had just come out of nowhere! He looked around but saw that nothing else was out of the ordinary. He bent down and looked the package over. There was an odd stone atop of it and, to his amazement, it was addressed to him!
He took a seat in the shade of a nearby tree and opened the package up. There were a few things inside, but a note lay atop of it all. He picked it up and read it to himself.
Beast Boy,
Here are some things from home we thought you might like as well as a letter from each of us. I'll explain how I got this package to you in my letter.
-Raven
Beast Boy smiled. They hadn't forgotten about him! He looked through the package and was quite pleased with what he found. A few brand new comic books, fresh tofu, a picture frame with a recent picture of his four friends in the tower, a notebook, and a box of pens. He grabbed the letters and chose to read Cyborg's first. He knew it was his because it smelt like motor oil and hamburgers.
Hey BB,
Hope you're doing well in Africa. I bet you're really missing videogames about now, right? I beat the high score on Mega Monkeys: Bananas of Tomorrow. I know, I set the old high score, but I thought you should know anyway. The tower is really different without you here. It's so quiet! I'm just joking, of course. We all really do miss you. Just this morning I was making breakfast and waiting for you to walk in and yell at me for cooking meat. It took me a while to remember you weren't going to come in. Oh! I just got the new speakers for the T-car! I'm going to install them tomorrow. I'll let you know how they work out. I guess that's all for now. Write back soon!
-Cyborg
p.s. The comic books are from me.
Beast Boy smiled and put the letter back in its envelope. It was nice to know Cyborg really missed him. He was his best friend, after all. He looked at the three remaining envelopes and chose Starfire's next. Hers smelt like perfume and mustard.
Dearest Beast Boy,
I can not express how much I truly miss your presence. The tower does not feel like a home without you here with us. But I know you are to rejoin us someday and that makes me feel much better. I miss seeing you do 'the face' and telling your jokes that cause only you to combust with laughter. Recently I discovered the art of piercing ones ears! I have always thought it was a form of punishment but Robin has told me it is a form of fashion and beauty. I am going to ask Raven if she would like to do the female bonding with me and get our ears pierced with rings together. Do you think she will say yes? I hope she will. Please write me a letter back, friend. I miss you!
-Starfire
p.s. I submitted the picture into the box for you.
Beast Boy was even happier to know that Starfire missed him as well. And he knew he'd have to thank her for the picture, since he'd forgotten to bring one with him. He chose to read Robin's letter next, which had the distinct smell of hair gel.
Beast Boy,
The team has been doing alright, but of course missions have been a bit harder and more complicated without you. I can think of four missions off of the top of my head where I was really wishing you were there, with us. But, your health is far more important, so please don't return until you're ready.
-Robin
p.s. The tofu is from me.
Beast Boy had to laugh. That was Robin for you; short and to the point. But, he was surprised he'd sent him the tofu. If he were going to send anything, he thought it'd be something meant for training. But, he'd think about that later. Now there was only one letter left and, by process of elimination, he knew it was Ravens. He could also tell it was hers by the sent of the envelope; herbal tea and lavender.
Dear Beast Boy,
I hope the appearance of the package didn't scare you too much. I sent it using a porting-stone. It's a stone I've engraved with a spell that will transfer objects between two places of my choice. When you drop the stone atop of something it will be transported to me and vice versa. Make sure you don't lose the stone.
Beast Boy remembered seeing an odd stone atop of the package when it had first appeared. And then he remembered allowing it to slip off when he picked the package up. He quickly ran over to where the package had appeared and looked for the stone. After ten minutes, he was sure it was lost for good. He sighed and took his seat beneath the tree once more and continued to read Raven's letter.
Of course, I'm sure you already have, so there's a second one in the box.
He looked in the box and, sure enough, there laid another stone. Relieved, he continued on with the letter.
Everyone misses you here and so it was my idea to send you a care package and letters. Don't disappoint the others and not write; they want to hear how you're doing. As for me, I have to admit, it's been uncomfortably calm around here. The energy around here hasn't been the same since you left. Your absence has affected everyone, so don't waste your time there. Make it count.
-Raven
p.s. The notebook and pens are to write us back with. And I gave Robin the idea to send tofu. He wanted to send you a book on how to train yourself. You're welcome.
Beast Boy smiled to himself and put the letter away with the others. Make it count, that's what Raven had written. And he was going to do just that.