There Comes a Time for Trial and a Time for Error [Mission] (Closed)

It seems like the only bright side of this was that the dingos cleaned the carcass for him. Biran grabbed the skull from the mess of what used to be a buck and began his journey back home. Tired and famished, he couldn't wait to just get back home and get to bed. The ceremony he waited all his life for didn't even sound appealing anymore. At least he was alive. What was a few more hours anyway?

Upon returning to the village, cheers, smiles, pats on the back, and encouraging words fell upon Biran. They had all guided him to where he had first started where his father and five other children were at. Some looked like they were holding on to a thread while others were in a much better well taken care of state. The mission was to survive the night and bring back a sign you hunted and killed something. Snakes, deer, rabbits, and even a dingo lie before your father as he looked upon them. He waited another hour to see if anyone else would be making it, but it seemed as if only 6 of the 10 children had passed this test.

"The six of you have managed to survive the night one way or another. The challenge was to test you. Some had found this challenging while others walked through this was if it was nothing. To those who had seen nature at its worse...you are true hunters. It takes great courage and strength to step into the unknown and return alive even after this world throws its worst at you. You could have easily given up and died. You could have come home and said it was too hard. But you did not. You were tested, and you proved you could. As I had said yesterday, I not only wanted you to hunt something, but to explain to me why you hunted it. Once you are finished, I will take a paste and give you a marking. From there, a celebration will be held for your completion. Food, drink, and your paste tattooed upon your skin. We will begin with the first one who came."

Ulf went down the line. The owner of the Dingo pelt had done so out of power. To show he was fierce. The owner of the rabbit had said his skills were lacking and he simply could not catch anything more. A girl had taken down a deer as well, saying it was a struggle for her as she originally had come across them after fleeing from a snake. Another girl had caught a fowl by means of a trap. And the boy to your side had the snake that he had caught just before returning home.

Now it was Biran's turn. What will he have to say?

Biran didn't really want to talk about his kill or his night. He wanted this embarrassment to be over. As he heard some of the other kids speak though, he realized that most others had a hard time as well. He wasn't entirely alone and he shouldn't feel ashamed. He puffed out his chest, confidence rising. He did it. He passed his trial and he was going to become a man regardless. "I hunted this buck because he was large enough to provide food for the night and his pelt would be warm or provide some coverage should it rain or become cold. I had the intention to hunt something more impressive...but the wilds proved harsher than anticipated. I'm just glad to have made it back...with my life." Humble and practical. He looked to his father then, sorry to him that he was not more impressive. But his confidence returned once more. He shouldn't be sorry. His father was looking at a man, one without remorse. He'd put this trial behind him and learn from it to triumph again.

Ulf nodded and awarded him his marking upon his arms and chest. These markings would be different not only from the men and women here, but from the men and women of the tribe. Only hunters were given this honor. Those who felt the calling to build or craft, though not lesser of a person, were marking free. They were given amulets of their trade, something hunters only got if given to them by the others. But that was another story.

Ulf told them all to rise, rise as proud warriors of the tribe. Their skills would be called upon many a time from here on out. But for now, it was rest and then a feast later. Congrats Biran, we all didn't think you were going to make it.

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