Sounds of children laughing and the beat of their footsteps against the ground as they played echoed through the air. Tsend paid no heed to them, picking flowers in the forest of tall grass that swayed with the wind. His favorites were the sun-yellow dandelions that grew plenty on the steppes, reminding him of his mother's eyes.
Today was the day. The day he'd be considered a true man. It was customary for his clan to hold a ceremony on the day a boy would transition into manhood. It usually consisted of testing his abilities in the three manly sports: archery, horseback riding, and wrestling. The young boys were usually around the ages of 9 to 11. Soon after this ceremony, they would be married off to their betrothed.
"TSEND!"
Ears perking up, he gathered the flowers he had picked before sprinting off to the yurts. The wind in his face, soles making contact with the ground, wings outstretched, soaking in the warmth of the sun. A vast blue sky smiled down, hugging the green hills, glancing at its reflection in the crystal-clear rivers that surrounded the group of yurts. Safety, tucked away from the prying claws of faraway enemies.
Awaiting him was his mother, a tall woman with long black braided hair, phoenix eyes, and a smile plastered on her face.
He was scooped up into sturdy arms, held tight in the embrace. The scent of wildflowers and sweets always surrounded his mother, associated with late-night stories, comfort, and love. There, behind her, he made eye contact with his older brother, Altan. The two had different mothers, but he still considered him close family.
Tsend gave him a smile and waved goodbye, walking to the family yurt. Inside was his father. Tsend knelt down, paying his proper respects, as did his mother.
"Hö'elün, my dear, stand up. My son, stand."
Patting off the dust from his deel, Tsend looked up at him. The weight of time had taken a toll, deep lines carved his face, skin tanned by years in the sun, midnight black hair sporting patches of white and growing ever thinner. His shoulders seemed heavy with the responsibilities of being the chief.
"Come, sit."
With a nod, he went to sit on his father's knee, fidgeting with his hands. Ears pushed back, tail flicking side to side.
"No need to be so timid. How can you live by your name if you are so easily scared?"
He laughed deeply, like the roar of a river or the sound of a thousand horses running. Although it did not soothe Tsend's anxiety, the poor boy refused to even make eye contact.
"Today, you will become a man. No longer a child. My father said to me, on the day of my ceremony, 'A man fails seven times and rises eight.' It means to never give up because there will be a day you will rise to your destiny."
His father patted his back and kissed the top of his head, being wary of his horns, which had begun growing quite sharp. Tsend hugged him before hopping off his knee and returning to his place beside his mother. She told him to go and get ready while she spoke with his father. He happily obliged, skipping out of the yurt.
While walking toward his personal yurt, there was a peculiar smell in the air. It burned his nose and pulled tears from his eyes. The smell of burning wood and felt—smoke. It was smoke. Merely moments ago, the pure white yurts towered like giants over him. Now, they were engulfed in flames. The flames reached for the heavens as if to cover the entire sky in orange and red. He panicked, falling backward, fighting against his cowardly legs. To no avail, he was surrounded. The yurts seemed to scream in agony, their bones shone through the patches in the felt before too becoming black and glowing. Wails, cries of sorrow rang through his ears. Everywhere he looked, there was fire. Shadows danced to the terrible rhythm of feet rushing to escape this new hellscape.
There, amongst the crowd of distraught people were his family. They stood still, watching him with such intensity that the surroundings seemed to melt away, leaving only a gaping abyss between them and Tsend. Their faces melted as if they were engulfed in invisible flames. Skin revealing muscle, bones charring, eyes melting from their sockets, leaving behind a Soon enough, they too melted away, leaving him all alone.
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"Tsend-"
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"TSEND"
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"TSEND WAKE UP"
Shocks ran through his veins, jolting him awake.
"Wh-what?"
"You were scaring me! Why were you crying?"
Tenderly, he put a hand to his eyes, which were wet with tears. Blinking, he let the remaining fall down onto his bed.
"Oh- I'm sorry, I guess I just had a bad dream."
Börte sighed with relief, her long blue hair let loose, gracefully draping over her exposed chest. She rubbed her temples. What ever will she do with this man? Well she must figure out the answer to that question since she decided to marry him after all. Extending a hand, she dried his face off,
"Don't be, I'm sure it was. Now shall we get changed?"
