After taking Meztli home, Denahi and his brothers went on fishing that morning before the ceremony.
"So, how you feel brother" Sitka
"Actually, excited. I can't even believe this day is actually happening."
"What totem you think she'll get?" asked Koda curious about his brother's expectations.
"Well, Meztli has a free spirit and she loves adventures. I think it would be a Hawk for bravery."
"Or maybe a deer since she's always disappearing, if SOMEONE just stop suffocating her every time" said Kenai.
If there were other times Denahi would have starting a fight, but with marriage and fatherhood he had become more mature. Even in a point he agreed with Kenai, Denahi had become really suffocating with Meztli. For him it didn't matter what The Spirits said or how old or capable was his daughter, Meztli would ever be his little precious.
After few hours they came back to the village with hands full of fish, after tidying up the baskets they walked to Denahi's tent where the celebrated girl was getting ready. The one who came out first was Jet when he got Denahi's sent, Jet was jumping and barking around him in excitement.
"Hi Jet, you missed me buddy?" said Denahi as he scratched his head and sides.
Then came out Aleu, she was wearing a beautiful purple dress her hair was combed on a french braid with flowers.
"Daddy! Daddy! Look my new dress!"
"Wow! You look wonderful Aleu!"
"Do a spin" Sitka
Aleu gracefully spin making her dress and braid lift.
"Denahi I think you should start to also keep an eye on Aleu. I don't want her to run into a vermin" said Kenai smiling to his niece, who giggled at catching her uncle's hint.
"Kenai's right" Koda "In fact, I think that when the day of your ceremony comes Aleu, you will get a totem that represents beauty"
"Like a butterfly?"
"Exactly! The Butterfly of Beauty"
And speaking of beauty, Meztli was ready, but it was Chayo who came out first, followed by Nita and Aarnaluk, the wives of Kenai and Sitka. Nita and Kenai got married few years after Aleu's birth, they ended up having twins who they named Koda and Bucky, in honour to Kenai's little brother. While Sitka and Aarnaluk were at three months of having their first baby.
"Where's Meztli?" asked Denahi at not seeing his oldest daughter.
"She's inside, doesn't want to come out" Chayo "Meztli come on, we have to get to your ceremony"
"No, I don't like the way I look"
"Ay por favor, you look great"
Meztli shyly came out of the tent, the four brother's jaw dropped before the girl who wore a beautiful blue dress and her hairstyle was two braids tied behind her head as the rest of her hair was loose.
"For how long I have to be wearing this?" asked the uncomfortable teenager.
"Until your ceremony is over" was her mother's answer.
Meztli and Aleu had very different personalities, Aleu was more pure hearted, always seeing the bright side of things and the best in people. Her femininity stand out by not only her way of dressing, but also the way she talked, laughed and behaved. She didn't tolerate abuse towards animals or nature, but she was also too innocent. What worried pretty much her parents for when she got older and she would have to accept the crude reality. As for Meztli, she had a more like tomboy personality like. She loved challenges, adventures and her biggest dream was to become a great warrior like her mother used to be. Meztli was brave, strong, smart, sometimes rebellious with a huge sense of humor, but she always tried to help her parents, the village and most important: to take care of Aleu. Although the most part of the time they fought because of literally everything.
...
All the village was reunited at the ceremony rock. Tanana threw a torch at the pire that quickly flamed on. Everyone cheered and made a reverence.
"Nana" said the voice of a little boy.
Behind Tanana were the four year old twins Koda and Bucky. The shaman took the little boys in her arms as she told the village her speech.
"When each of us comes to age, The Great Spirits reveal to us a totem to help guide us through our lives. Some of us use Protection to guide us" said Tanana pointing at Chayo. When the young woman came back to the village to start a new life The Spirits granted her the totem of The Raven of Protection.
"Others Love" she said pointing Kenai as she gave him his boys.
"Meztli"
The girl got on her feet and walked to the shaman.
"My baby becomes a woman, I'm gonna cry brother" Denahi told Sitka in a nostalgic voice.
"Ay no seas payaso" Chayo
Back with Tanana and Meztli.
"You're nervous?" asked Tanana as she put the paint in her face. Meztli just showed her shaky hand.
"I think this might answer your question"
"Oh don't worry, it's a good one. Meztli, I have been on the mountain where the lights touch the earth. And The Great Spirits have revealed to me, your totem. To become a woman, your actions must be guided by one thing"
"Here it comes! I'm so excited"
"Your totem is..."
Meztli's heart was about to come out from her chest.
"Wisdom"
"Like father like daughter" Koda told Kenai
"Wow...Really?" said a vey surprised Meztli.
"Yes, Wisdom"
Tanana placed the totem around her neck.
"The wolf of wisdom, the same as dad"
Meztli turned to see her family, Denahi was amazed and happy, Chayo did a surprised face lifting a thumb, meanwhile Aleu just smiled at her big sister.
"Meztli, Wisdom is one of the most important totems, and you can help others in the most unexpected ways. Let Wisdom guide your actions, and one day, you'll be a woman. And you'll place your mark next to those of your ancestors."
Meztli got on her feet and walked over the wall. Tanana lifted her hand, everybody cheered to the girl who just received her totem. Meztli and Tanana then shared a hug.
Later Meztli was walking through the village alongside with Jet, she was still wearing her blue dress as she was contemplating the totem on her hand. In a moment she heard a voice behind her, Meztli turned around just to meet Ikumak.
"Hi"
"Hi"
"I couldn't say it before but, you look beautiful on that dress."
"Ah...thanks" said Meztli as she blushed a little, since no boy had ever tell her such a nice compliment.
"So, The Wolf of Wisdom"
"It feels weird, you know, to have the same totem as my father"
"Well I'm sure about one thing. The Spirits never mess up with totems"
There was an awkward moment of silence between both teenagers, until Meztli decided to brake it.
"I have to go, my family is waiting for me"
"Sure, so, I'll se you tomorrow, Crazy mad"
"See you then, Scary crybaby. Come on Jet"
Meztli and Jet left Ikumak to lead home. Arriving at the tent Meztli realized her whole family was doing some kind of celebration. I was Sitka who saw her coming first, Meztli was welcomed as a hero by her relatives. She started to hug each one of them as she was congratulated, the family had a great feast in honor to the fresh graduated. Once the family meeting was over, Sitka, Kenai and Koda thanked Denahi for the invitation and left for their respective tents. Even Koda had found himself a girlfriend, who also assisted to the family reunion, she was no one else but Sedna. The little girl Koda met at the ship when they were kids. The family entered the tent ready to rest for the next day, Meztli went behind a curtain to finally take off her dress. She came out now wearing a shirt and blue pants. But despite the good time she spent with her family, Meztli still had doubts about her totem so she wanted to go to Denahi for some advice since they had the same totem.
"Dad"
"Yes?"
"Can we talk?"
"Of course honey, what's wrong?"
"Is about my totem, I have some doubts and I would like to have some advice from you. You'll understand why"
"I see, Chayo"
"Yup"
"Meztli and I will still up a little bit longer. We'll be outside"
"Alright, just don't stay out too late, it's getting dark"
Denahi and Meztli walked to the lake, they sat down in a fallen trunk as they had a father-daughter pep talk. Meztli told him about how she felt, by having the same totem as him she was worried about not being capable to fulfil her father's expectations and ending up disappointing him. Denahi just smiled at his daughter and placed an arm around her. He told her he had feel similar when he got his totem, but she didn't have to feel pressure because he knew Meztli would some day place her handprint on the wall. Since everyone was different and learned in different ways. This made Meztli feel more confident as a smile was created on her face, Meztli and Denahi hugged each other as the father kissed his daughter on her head.
"I love you Daddy"
"I love you too Cricket"
"Thank you for listening to me"
"Hey, that's my job as a dad. And you know what? If you want to we can do a small trip tomorrow, just you and me, what do you say?"
"Really?"
"Sure, we just need to tell your mom first or she'll kill us."
"All right"
