Legends of Belariath
Kefira
She comes from a village of her folk where women are not normally warriors but the keepers of the home. A few though each year are visited by the protector spirits of the warriors and Kefira was one of those few girls. Life for them is never easy as the boys always seem to enjoy picking on them. The running joke during her training was that those chosen girls were actually lovers of girls. The young boys came up with this as tradition states that those women warriors are not allowed to take mate and home and have children their life must be fully given to their training and the service of the tribe. There is only one exception to this and that is the woman warrior may take another woman to mate thus ensuring homes for any orphan children. But that is here nor there as Kef has no such leanings. Many a fight was she in when she could no longer take the mane calling and jeering of the boys. And many was the punishment she suffered for loosing her temper.
Eventually she was able to master her temper so much so that the boys stopped picking on her when it was no longer fun for she would give them no reaction. The years progressed in almost a blur for her she soaking up all the skills her teachers could stuff into her brain. She grew and she enjoyed her life happy with her place knowing she will make a difference in her tribes life by doing her part in keeping them safe. Not long after she turned 19 though she received a summons to the shamans tent. Her father was there and they were both acting a bit funny, unknown to her the tribes guardian had spoken with the shaman..this girl he had chosen for something more and for that she would have to be sent far from the tribe perhaps to never return...but she must also remain in ignorance to this.
She was told that her training was finally complete and that to mark her passage from student to warrior a special ceremony was to be preformed. She found this strange, why would they call her late in the night to do this, why were they seeming to her to be hiding something from her. She stayed silent though training and respect for both her shaman and her father making her trust them even with the strange behavior. She was told to sit by the fire causing surprise in her again..they were going to do this now alone with what seemed to her no preparation... Again she forces the questions down and sits as she is told closing her eyes and bringing the calm she fights in to her mind. She doesn't watch what is happening only sits there with her eyes closed listening as they move about as the low drum starts to throb its beat into the tent. The fire surges bringing light to her closed eyes and heat in a wash over her face. A cup is pressed to her lips and she parts her lips to drink of it, the taste is bitter but she swallows it all as bid. Soon things feel distinct to her the heat of the fire and the sound of the drum all she can focus on they seeming to grow larger and louder with every moment that passes. She feels sleep trying to take her and fights it, she can not shame her peoples by falling asleep during a ritual...where is her training if she is so weak as that.
Silence...is the next thing she remembers. She is stretched out on the ground her mask and hood resting on her belly. Eyes open and look around gaze stopping on her weapons and packs sitting nearby. She is able to focus further away then and sees the village is gone. She jumps to her feet only to stumble a bit with dizziness eyes wide in some panic. Faint memories of a dream intrude on her panic though, the shaman with her protector spirit at his side telling her that this is what is supposed to be that what happens is what is meant to happen. She shakes her head trying to clear her mind but the thoughts will not leave, soon she calms and looks around again, if her dream is more then this is some test she thinks. She picks up her things securing her mask to her face and moves off to discover where she has been sent and for what reason.