This story, the world it takes place in (Terrarum), and the characters all belong to me. I would appreciate it if you didn't steal.

NOTE: This story has been edited slightly. Nothing major.

This is just a short story I decided to write one day in response to a writing contest on Gaia in which the only prompt was fantasy. I came up with the world and its Ceremony on the spot and went with it. I'm planning on writing another story (one with chapters) that takes place in this same world, titled SpiderWeb.

Reviews are very wonderful, especially constructive criticism. I'm a big girl, I can take it.

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I ran away from home.

It was my 13th birthday, the day of my Ceremony, the most important day of my entire life. It was the day my whole world would change forever, for better or for worse. After the Ceremony, there was no going back. Whatever animal I chose as a Companion would be mine forever, and I theirs, and that would be the end of it.

I stopped walking and looked through the trees at the sky above. It was a beautiful day; what I saw of the sky was clear and blue, and the sun was shining brightly, casting a beautiful green light over everything. And yet, though this was such a wonderful day, I couldn’t stop the doubts and questions whirring through my mind. What if I messed up? What if I made a fool of myself in front of everyone? What if I chose the wrong animal? What if my Companion hated me or was completely intolerable?

It wasn’t unreasonable to have such doubts. After all, some people did choose badly and wound up with Companions they simply couldn’t stand, but there was nothing they could do about it. After the Elders bond a person with an animal, that person and their Companion become part of each other. They share thoughts and can’t go too far away from one another without physical pain. Sharing that kind of bond with an animal who you dislike... It would be torture.

I sat on a fallen log with a sigh. What would I choose? Many of the younger kids already had ideas about what kind of animal they wanted, but I had never really thought it through. Did I want something strong and fierce to protect me if I needed it, like a lion or a panther? Or maybe a loyal and friendly dog would be better. Perhaps a shy little rabbit to match my personality? Then again, I loved the water, so a fish might work.

I glanced at the trees. A squirrel? Something white and brown flashed by on my right. A deer? Something sparkled with morning dew between two trees. A spider?

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a hissing sound. My skin prickled as something slowly slithered across my feet. A shiver went down my spine and my body went cold as I looked down to see my worst fear looking up at me.

I shrieked as I pulled my feet onto the log with me and stood up. I hated snakes, couldn’t stand them. They were the most slimy, sneaky, terrifying creatures alive. The way their tongues flicked in and out... The sight of those fangs, probably dripping with poison...

“S-Stay back,” I commanded shakily, though I was quite sure it couldn’t understand me. “I’m warning you! Today’s my Ceremony, and if you don’t go away, I’ll choose a Companion that’ll eat you!”

As I watched with wide eyes and a pale face, it raised it triangular head for a brief moment as if it understood, but then slithered up onto the log with me anyway. Paralyzed with fear, I could only watch as it slithered towards my feet again, its tongue flicking in and out of sight. Somewhere in my mind I picked out the dark brown zigzag against its pale brown skin and classified it as an adder, a snake that was poisonous and could be dangerous.

I felt nauseous as it began crawling up my leg, but to my surprise, it wasn’t at all slimy. It was actually dry and smooth, but I still regretted wearing a dress as it wrapped around one of my bare legs.

Finally, the fear diminished a little as I realized the snake was only looking for a warm place to stay and didn’t plan on biting. I need to get away, I thought, taking deep breaths to remain calm. The only way to do that, though, was the get the adder off of my leg, so I slowly and carefully reached down and wedged my hand between my leg and the snake. I was about to start prying it off when it wrapped around my arm instead.

Fear began turning to annoyance. “Why won’t you just leave me alone?” I asked the snake as I wedged my other hand between it and my arm. It responded by wrapping itself tighter and raising its head to look at me.

I stared at it. It hissed innocently. A slow smile spread across my face. “Imagine everyone’s surprise,” I said, “when I bring a snake to my Ceremony and tell the Elders I want it as a Companion.” I let out a small laugh and started back towards home, bringing the snake that would soon be mine with me.

I was ready for my Ceremony. It was a strange choice for me, but I was pleased.