Chapter Text
His knees hurt and the singing of everyone around him was starting to make him dizzy while the fire was blurry and fuzzy from how large it was and from how the light of it hurt his eyes. It was the night of the beginning for him, or better yet to call it the end.
It was the start of his coming of age ceremony, he had just turned 18 and was allowed to have a ceremony, although reluctantly by the elders as he wasn't well liked because of his heritage.
His mother a king cobra with barely enough venom to kill a mouse, and his father a human who had gotten injured and was allowed to stay in the village to recover but never left. He himself was a hybrid, blinding white scales littered parts of his body and unlike a tail he had legs.
Having legs was seen as an inconvenience to him but a freak show to others in the village aside from his parents, he wasn't fast and had a hard time climbing trees and mountains, but that added with how horrible his sight was then it made it practically impossible to do anything convenient. He was always accompanied by one of both of his parents so when he had been summoned to the elders tent the week before, it had been a big surprise to everyone.
He was more shocked when he was made to kneel next to the chief's son, Marco. The other was a Python and one of the biggest in the village, though second to the chief that is, his body ran colder than normal at the sight of the other knowing that the last 5 mates Marco has been matched with hadn't survived the bonding.
He had been made to drink some tea and read what the elders saw in the leaves at the bottom when it was empty, “Undesired Effect” is what they had told him and sent him on his way. After that he hadn't seen Marco for a week but now, by time the moon hits peak he will be sent down into the temple to join the other.
He shivered as a hand touched his bare shoulder making him look up to see his mother, she was smiling at him “hatchling you enjoying the party?” He frowned, shrugging and she chuckled, lowering herself down beside him, her tan tail wrapping around him comfortingly.
“Ma do I have to go?” He whispered just loud enough for her to hear over the noise, “yes hatchling, it is a must and the will of our ancestors. Don't be sad baby this is your coming of age ceremony you should be happy son”, he clenched his fists and his fangs dug into his lip a bit. “Why should I be happy when this is chosen for me, when my future is taken out of my hands and I'm thrust into a loveless mating with someone who's killed the last 5 mates they had been paired with”.
His mom sighed and her tail squeezed him a bit before easing up rolling her eyes “look, it will be alright hatchling. Don't be scared, it's all part of growing and becoming one with your heritage and your land, no matter what happens, we will be here for you”. A tear slipped down his cheek and he nodded “it's time isn't it” he mumbled and the silence he received was enough of an answer.
The music slowed to a low rhythm as they stood, he brushed off his shorts and followed after his mom. He could hear the music finally come to an end as everyone followed behind them, the elders were In Front of them leading them to a river where a small fire had been built next to it. His father sitting next to the fire looked up at them and nodded, the village stopped on the embankment watching as he was stripped and led into the river by his mother, he could feel the elders scrutinizing his body and every movement he made as his mother bathed him.
“It's ok hatchling, we will make you beautiful tonight. You will be happy, you will be alive, you will be free” his mother whispered to him as water poured over his head soaking his hair. Once the elders deemed him clean they motioned for them to step out, not caring for his nakedness he got out and had a cloak wrapped around his shoulders and made to kneel on a log infront of his father who held a bowl of paint with another at his side.
“Pa” he said smiling sadly at the man who looked on the verge of crying, “my boy, my sweet boy, I'm so sorry son” tears trailed down his father's face as he could feel the strokes of the paintbrush run over his face coating it in a beautiful gold paint. It was brushed over his chest and shoulders before the black paint was used, his father painted their family crest on his forehead before adding the lines of purity, soul, spirit, and pride to his face and the last one. The trail of love that was painted down his bottom lip and abdomen stopped at his belly button where it connected to a small skull insignia that was painted there.
Once finished he stood up gripping his coat around him and let himself fall into the arms of his father, “pa, I'm sorry” his father let a sob leave his lips “no son, I'm sorry that I couldn't stop this. Rouge please don't make him do this” his mother hissed and hit his father on the shoulder “Roger you fail to realize this is a right young hatchlings should be honored to go through, our son was chosen for something great and should take it with pride. Now stop this squabbling and perk up we have to be there before the moon gets too high".
He was pulled from his father's arms and forced to follow the elders, this time his mother and his father followed behind him. The ground was cold and wet from the rain the day before, a day he wished would repeat for the next century but knew wasn't possible, he was being led to his death and he wasn't blind or shy about realizing it.
The temple soon came into view making him hesitant, but he couldn't stop, that would only anger everyone. Once they stopped at the large stone doors he turned to face the Chief and bowed his head to the man “none of that son, have faith that this was successful but don't worry if not as we will take care of everything for you, and that it just meant it wasn't fate. Now don't make him wait any longer, he is your future after all” taking a deep breath he turned to the doors as the elders pulled them open just enough for him to slip inside, once the doors slammed behind him he was hit with a thick wave of heady scent calling to him.