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risstasticwritings · 2 months ago

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“So I'm ready to go to the temple, then?” I put my hands on my hips, determined for the mission to begin.

She nodded, then handed over a large, black leather bag adorned with the moon and stars. I looked inside and saw plenty of snacks, some bottles of water, clean mismatched socks, and a hand towel.

“This should have everything you need. But I need to teach you one more thing, so listen carefully.” Mama said firmly.

I nodded, giving her my best determined gaze.

“If something attacks you, and you can't get away fast enough. I want you to point directly at the sky, and shout 'flare!' as loud as you can.” She said. “This will cause a flare to shoot from your finger and light up the sky.”

“What happens after?” I asked.

“Someone will come to your rescue and escort you home, safe and sound. Now promise me you'll use that spell when you need to.”

“I promise.” I nodded at her.

Mama took my face into her hands and kissed my forehead. “You're my good girl. Make a good first impression for grandma and don't get distracted, okay?”

“I'll try not to,” I said. ”Are there naked statues inside the temple?”

“Yes, but don't laugh when you see their privates.” She said, patting my head again.

“Okay baby, give Papa a goodbye hug and get going! The sooner you arrive at the temple, the better.”

I nodded again, grinning wide. My first big mission. A mission from my mama. I was not going to let her down!

I gave Papa his hug, but he held onto it for longer than I expected. But what was there to worry about?

Purrfectly Imperfect, ch 6

Mama tied a sash around my waist snugly, after I was fitted with her old robe. She didn't hold onto much from her days as a priestess, but I guess she knew to hold onto the robe until it was needed again.

“Priestesses aren't really…supposed to have children.” Mama said, making sure the sash wasn't too tight.

I took a deep breath in and out, just like she showed me. She smiled and nodded to herself.

“Perfect. Now you're my little junior priestess.” Mama said, lightly ruffling my hair.

She paused a tiny bit when her fingers touched a thin spot, and my heart pounded in my chest. Please don't mention it, I thought to myself. Please, please, please.

“Ah, before I forget!” Mama snapped her fingers, and brought out a small old pot attached to a string. “It took me a while to get the rust out, but it should be fine now.”

“Only visitors wear the incense pot, right mama?” I asked, tilting my head while mama put the pot around my neck and secured it in place.

“That's correct.” Mama said, flicking off a speck of dust from my shoulder. ”That pot was your father's.”

“That's right…” I said, “Now I remember! You and papa met when he ran into the temple, so in a panic you grabbed a pot at random and threw it around his neck! So he wouldn't desecrate the sacred grounds…”

Mama laughed softly, “Mhm! Your grandmother lectured me anyway about the whole ordeal… but the rules of the temple were still followed.”

“Sounds like grandma lectured you a lot…” I sighed.

“She did, but you're not going to mention any of it while you're at her temple, okay?” Mama said, scratching behind my ears.

“Now remember, no swearing, no foul language or visual jokes, don't ask too many questions…” She listed off all the rules, “Just locate the Anchor in the temple, and send your power into it.”

My power. I gazed at my hands, clenching them into fists and releasing them. I always had a peculiar power within me. Sometimes it manifested as little lights on the ceiling during stormy nights, other times I was capable of healing small wounds like cuts or scrapes.

I looked at mama, more specifically the twinklies in her hair. I wanted twinklies of my own, so SO badly. But I couldn't keep hair on my head long enough to grow at a good length. I never knew if she was born with them or if they manifested later in life. When I became a grown woman, would I have twinklies of my own, too?

Mama smiled, “You shine in your own way, sweetheart.”

I glanced at my reflection in her jewelry. I didn't see anything about myself shining. My dull brown hair, always frizzing at the top and sides of my head. My eyes, always baggy from countless nights of misery. I sighed heavily, tearing myself away from the sight.

“Do I need anything else?” I asked Mama.

Mama looked me over, still smiling. She softly took my hands into hers.

“No, baby. You're perfect.”

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