April, The Fool and Pasta???

Cpt 1- Rite of Maturity 

           April stretches out and looks around. She and her mate Fooli are gonna take the test today so that they can have kids. “Wake up wake up,” she jumps on the hulking figure that is Fooli. 

          “April, stop it…” he mutters, “I wanna sleep!” 

          “Fooli, “ she whines. “Come on, I need to get this done!” she tugs on his whiskers as he finally wakes up. “Today is the day isn't it??” 

          She prances around a bit and giggles. “Yep hahaha,” she bolts out the door as Fooli follows, still half asleep. She giggles with Linguini, the magma-eyed mutt that they are pals with. She no doubt convinced him to go along too…someone has to keep them out of trouble. “Come on!! It's nearly time for the first part!!” she and the two stand at the front of the village as their friends get the supplies ready. The massive arch is made from knotted oak trees. They turn left at the village shop as Fooli watches his girl. She prances about and glitches to where she needs to be to prepare for the journey. Other drak give them gifts and food for the trip, other trinkets and charms to stave off bad luck. For Linguini, its to keep an eye on the two. They will set out at dusk…but until then the three must prepare and get things set. Fooli and April go to the spot near the waterfall, “I can't wait for our return” 

            Fooli nuzzles her. “Me neither,” he smiles looking at the small drak next to him…his mate. “Someday babe someday.” 

          April smiles as she prances about with one last romp thru the city as the ceremony preparations pick up. April helps with the streamers as Fooli and Linguini help with keeping April safe and sound. Humans and drak gather to celebrate the next stage of the journey. April, Fooli, and Linguini sit at the head of the table as the drakes watch. “Tonight we celebrate the rite of maturity for these three, April, Fooli, and Linguini. They have grown up and become proud drakiri. We feast and celebrate their journey tonight into adulthood and soon to have kids too” the main one winks at them. “To the three!” 

         The entire hall echoes as April and Fooli find the balcony. “Tonight is the night…” she laughs. “It seems like only yesterday we were kids playing together.” 

        “Are you a little nervous?” he asks her. He can tell in her eyes she's scared of not doing it right. “I'm right here,” he nuzzles her, “Always right here” 

        “My big fool,” she chuckles as she glitches slightly. “I can't quit now. It's what we've wanted!” 

        Fooli smiles. “You bet.” 

        Linguini finds them, “There's some spring water in here, are you guys gonna come in and have some?” he calls. 

        “In a minute.” Fooli says, “When we return maybe start a family?” he asks April. 

        She smiles as she nods, “Yea you big fool,” she chuckles, “Come on,” there's music going as she jumps in as Oak stands in the background nodding to Fooli in respect. 

        The human performers use wind and ice to create snow and shimmering crystals in the air causing them to rain on the three. Two Quillin step forward almost twins in their coats as they freeze the rain from the humans and create snow, a woman steps forward as she holds her hand and freezes the rain almost as if she stopped time. April, Fooli, and Linguini gasp at the command of the performers. 

         “Welcome to the celebration, I'm Head Acrobat and the humans are my troup,” she smiles, spinning as ice follows, “As you may have guessed I'm an ice elemental, the one on my left is Flame,” the woman shoots a jet of flame at the audience as they gasp, “I assure you no harm will come to you, the one on my right is Wave, whose skill you saw earlier,” she waves, “And the one above me is earth, Terra. We are the elementals,” she smiles, “And I wish to extend a special thank you to Oak for letting us perform for these three about to go on their journey,” she says lifting a hand as Wave lifts the water into a ball and Ice sends an ice ball thru it as she smiles. Terra holds her hands uplifting ice and the other two above them as the 4 dance. Lands on the pool in front of them as she skates across it making small patterns where she steps. She stands as music starts, Terra and Flame start a beat as it starts to resonate across the water, causing ripples across. She states across jumping up and spinning as she lands, her footwork like an ice dancer of her world, Wave throws her a waterfall as she catches it and smiles as she throws it up as it becomes a snow cloud. 

      April laughs stomping her foot against the floor whistling and cheering on the performers on, Fooli and Linguini cheer along with her. They are so swept up in it they can't tear their eyes away from it, “They are really good!” 

        Ice skates forward, “Now for our Lion dance,” she disappears as one of the twin drakes jumps at her. The goqin starts with the drums as she appears above with Terra as Flame and Wave appear on the field. Drums appear and other instruments appear from almost nothing if not for the flames and ice they emit. The beat starts as Terra launches Ice in the air and she spins as Terra makes steps for Ice and Flame uses the fire drums to light up the flames in patterns as fireworks go off in almost a beat like a pattern, sparks shimmer in the air as the twin drake run ribbons across the ice barely touching the paper-thin ice. Once they set that up they both tug the cords sending Ice up and into the air as she grabs a trapeze bar and starts swinging and using it like a balance beam. 

          “That's so cool!! Fooli this is NUUTTTTS!” April laughs watching as the crowd cheers the dancers on, “Ice you the best”
        Ice hears that as she smirks. She launches off the bar as Flame catches her and they balance on each other's hands. Both girls leap off as they call oak, a primal and the twins to them. 

        “And to our three going on the adventure and rite,” Ice smiles, “We hope this final gift lets you travel safe and sound on your adventure,” she smiles, “We hope this last dance goes a long way to foster peace and prosperity between our two nations.” She stands as they form a circle in the center of the massive arena. April, Fooli, and Linguini smile as the floor lights up and starts pulsing with the steps of the Draks. The three start dancing along to the music as Ice smiles. “If you will allow me, April, Fooli, and Linguini can join us in the last dance,” April doesn't hesitate to glitch up to her, and Fooli and Linguini walk up to Ice. 

          “This is so cool and you're so good at this like SOOOO good at this...what is this called?”
          “A cipher, usually something we end our programs with as a way of getting the audience involved and having fun,” she laughs, “It's not about the beat it's about what you feel.” 

           “Feel?” April asks. 

          “Yea, in here,” she touches her chest over her heart. “Close your eyes and feel it,” she says. 

         April ponders that and gasps as she starts moving from side to side with the rhythm adding her beat to the growing drumbeat, Ice goes first as she pops and locks it as she uses her ice powers to create snowflakes as April uses her Thunderous roar to shatter the crystals as she laughs. The beat grows as the drake and humans dance together. The beat takes on an almost oriental drum sound accompanied by various instruments. April looks around as she, Fooli, and Linguine are left in total darkness. Lights radiate from the center as Fooli starts to step across the ice.. it's reacting to the steps!! They begin a beat as the lights flash up and the others are to the side letting April and her friends take center stage. April smiles at Fooli as she roars again, this time small crystals rain down on them as they dance. It ends with fooli and the rest in a v with the twins, Oak, and the primal behind them as they all bow. 

         April laughs, “That was incredible, my heart is beating so fast.” 

         The rest of their friends gather at the arch for the final part of the ceremony, as she laughs and is still humming the beat to herself. The elders wait as she, Fooli, and Linguini walk up to the arch. 

         “May the light guide your way and you may never be lost. May your steps be sure and you never lose sight of your home.” 

         Ice steps forward, “May it be the evening star shines upon you,” She sets a crystal around April's neck. “This crystal will guide you in the darkest times. Use it well.” 

        April, Fooli, and Linguini take one last look at their home as they look ahead and walk into their future.