Chapter 6. Mate Selection

Today is the coming of age of the majority of female slaves.

Of Course it doesn't mean we were all born on the same date.

Most birth dates have already passed while some are still on the coming days.

The ceremony just made it convenient by arranging a date for all of us.

And it is also convenient since it serves two purposes.

To give a sort of celebration for the slaves and to make it convenient for single adult male to select a mate or wife.

Silver and her mother awakened earlier this day.

They are now sitting by their tent and enjoying the cold breeze of the morning.

Many families around their home are the same.

Some are already lighting a fire for cooking breakfast while some are chopping wood for fuel.

It seems that most people are busy and excited for today's ceremony.

As Silver watchers the families closest to her.

She can see most young females busy with either cleaning or grooming themselves.

Many of them choose to decorate their bodies with necklaces made with various materials.

Some can be seen wearing too much; they look like trees overgrown with vines.

Too excited wearing extravagantly since they can't at normal times.

Some are stranded at choosing what to wear.

Even Though most of their clothes are the same animal hides and fur.

As Silver boringly watches to pass the time. She held her head on her palm and hand to her cheeks.

Observing the once common activities with her new senses and point of view.

But nothing has changed.

Only herself.

If the tribe is a painting then for her eyes most are in grayscale.

Maybe some are more vividly drawn than others.

However Only her mother and herself have colors.

Today is the traditional mate selection ceremony of the tribe. But for the slaves it is the coming of age ceremony.

It is one and the same event just with different purposes for different social status.

As Silver muses she was called by her mother to eat their food.

"Come here and eat. We only have little time to prepare before we set off. Although we're closer to the venue, being earlier will make it easier to look for a decent position." her mother said to her.

"I agree mother. I don't want to huddle with the crowds." Silver picked up her bowl and started eating the food in a graceful but hurried manner.

After a while they have both eaten and are full.

Together with her mother Silver walked towards the gathering place.

The same elders' home she went to sometime ago.

"I hope there is no crowding there now. Or it'll be a mess just to go into position." Silver shared her thoughts.

"You don't have to worry. There's only a few of the participants and you all must be at the center. So it's easier for you. The people will make way even if there is none." Her mother replied as they were near the location.

"There is a crowd. I won't go with you to the center and wait for you right behind the gathering people. Goodluck to you dear daughter. Have fun." Silver's mother sent her remarks and blessings.

If that can be considered. Especially the blessing or is it a curse as her mother said it with a smirk full of malicious fun.

"I will have fun, mother. No need to worry for me." Replied silver while walking and rolling her eyes. Not even bothering to look at her mother.

Even without looking she feels her mothers joyfully expectation.

Actually if she is from her mothers perspective I will also find it funny for one such as myself attending such an event.

An occasion is both useless and unimportant.

There is no gain except a waste of time and effort.

However as a human and a member of the tribe with her own social standing.

She must participate unless she does not want to stay.

But stay she will and so attending is a must for her.

As Silver proceeds toward the center where other participating adolescent girls are crowded.

She told those people in front of her that she is a participant. Thank god they are making way for her.

Silver thinks as she arrives at her destination.

Visually counting only a few participants are left to complete the count.

And while she looks around to pass the time.

At the other side closest to the elders' abode is another gathering.

The difference is that they are mostly male of ages from adolescent to their mid twenties.

And obviously there are the unmarried/non mated males of the tribe.

As Silver observes the males.

She is aware of the constant glances coming from that side.

Evidently those males are constantly shuttling their eyes to look at the females.

"Already selecting their targets? As expected of males! " as Silver jokingly thought to herself.

Ofcourse she won't comment on their practice.

Because the men needed to be fast in selecting unless they want their prospects to be snatched by others.

The single man is much more than the female participant.

So almost half won't be able to select a mate or wife.

"The competition is quite fierce. If not for the presence of the elders and leaders. I wonder if there would be fighting and snatching. I believe if there is then it will be quite bloody." Silver imagined with anticipation and hope for entertainment.

"Oh. How vicious and brutal have you become Silver!" She mocks herself falsely. She actually doesn't mind if everything happens as she imagined.

Although she looks and behaves as a human. Don't forget her inhuman origins and powerful self.

She doesn't mind at all.

Nothing can hurt her here.

At most it will be a little nuisance with all the aftereffect.

And she doesn't want to show her true posture to the world.

The people don't need to know.

And she doesn't want to flaunt at least not yet anyway.

Back to the men she can see different body types and all sorts of height.

The only thing lacking is a fat person.

There are a few that are quite thin but most are slim and with muscles in the right places.

The skin colors are all bronze from lighter to a darker tone.

Rough skin texture with scars here and there as embellishments.

All the aspects of masculinity that are required by a hunter and the forces of the tribe to survive in this era.

As Silver continues to observe and tries to find at least a prospective choice.

Looking for someone less lustful and more kind. For someone of this characteristic it is hard to find in these times.

More or less because men have always been dominant and played the lead role in much of everything.

It made their personality more dominant and stubborn.

Always following their desires and decisions not listening to someone else of power status than them.

This of course includes their wife and mates.

Who is considered to be the lowest of the social ranking.

With these thoughts Silver found her prey…cough.. Silver found a prospect.

A teenage male with the same age as hers.

Looking a little kinder.

Of course that's not the reason.

Silver can feel there's no scent of lust from him. It seems he's not into sex as many of the men currently having thoughts of.

Or he doesn't have it currently. Which is a plus on this occasion.

She'll select him later hopefully he will accept or she hopes to be selected by him in turn.

There are also some who fit her criteria. It depends on luck.

But Silver is not really worried and she'll go with whatever the result will be.

With power anything else is fragile that can be shattered at her will.

She just Hope's for a little less nuisance so she can just live life to her liking.

As she waited, the quantity of both participants were completed.

At the periphery of the place gathered a crowd of noisy people.

Some are here for family members while some are merely for fun since attendance isn't really required.

At this time the elders proceed to their seats. And the ceremony is about to begin as they ask both the participants to line up facing each other.

There is no fancy procedure to follow.

Just select someone, I like you - you like or don't like me.

It follows this, so it's very easy.

Then comes the giving of the title.

May it be as a wife or a mate.

This is actually the most important for the slaves.

A chance to change their life.

It is also what Silver wants.

To fulfill her wish when she was once her weak human self.

Although she can take it by force, that is of different significance.

As much as possible she wants to take it as how humans would have.

In her case participating in this ceremony and hoping that luck favors her.

The activity has proceeded and many of the girls walk towards their prospects.

Although they didn't talk beforehand, they didn't select the males who had already been picked by another female.

As I said. There is love here if there is then very few.

And at most it is only liking maybe by face or body.

Most slaves just select someone they fancy or who they think will probably accept them.

I can see some males becoming agitated because of the dwindling number of females.

The males amount to much more than the females present.

And many men will remain single.

Most men selected are younger or the same age as us.

I can see some who actually know each other. Friends with benefits? I don't care.

Maybe they are lovers or with transactions.

Anyways with plenty of thoughts Silver walks towards the male she fancy.

"Hello to you. My name is Silver. If you would, can you accept me?" Silver introduced herself and offered to be selected.

"Hello. My name is Trab. And yes, I do if you will have me." The man named Trab replied with kindness.

As they communicate.

Most slaves have been selected with quite a few replacing or denying chosen partners.

Silver pity those men who haven't been chosen.

What a joke. I don't pity them.

They don't lack anything if it's just the sexual release they're after.

They just don't have a largely acknowledged partner.

As Silver and Trab quitely communicate with each other.

Consuming the waiting time.

After a while the Elders announced the end of the gathering and required the listing of those successful.

This is done to both count the additional tribal members and remove their slave status.

Another is to keep tabs on the title mates and slave residents.

Both for counting the tribe population.

As the event ended.

Silver and Trab both agreed to meet the next day.

Just to prepare their dwelling and sort of family gathering from both sides.

As Silver approached her mother who she saw standing under the bamboo edge.

"Mom, I'm here. The name of the one I selected is Trab. We will meet their family tomorrow for formality" Silver said as she approached.

"Trab. I know of him. They live on the opposite edge of the tribe. A very good choice. I don't think you'll be bored for a long time?" Her mother said maliciously.

"I don't care as long as I'm not implicated." Silver responds already knowing what is implied.

"Let's go home. I became tired of waiting." Her mother suggests as she walks towards their home.

Not minding her mother. Silver also walks in agreement.

They walk together and yet they don't look like family.

Just like acquaintances, close but not family close.

Actually nothing changes in the way of their communication.

This is normal for them even before she morphed.

The only change is that she can now appreciate it in another viewpoint.

"I will live for another week or else. Depending on your acceptance of the current changes. After that I will go and myself will be dead for everyone else." Her mother spoke again after a long silence and upon reaching home.

"Yes, thank you. It won't take much time. As you said, a week or less is enough. I congratulate you in advance for being free." Silver replied.

"Don't be funny. I have always been free and you know it.

It all comes to this and I am aware of separation at the beginning." Her mother said with slight reprimand and acceptance.

"Uhm..mmm.. I know. I'm just having fun since I can't feel sad or cry like a normal person losing someone." said Silver.

"We both are a ruthless kind of creature. More realistic and domineering in our ways.

So I'm not surprised we both will move on even after a long time of companionship." she said in addition to their topic.

"And we need each other's protection especially now that I have morphed.

There's almost nothing that could kill us.

Maybe hurt us, yes but only for a moment."

Silver continued with her words while her mother listened.

As her mother took time to reply while looking at Silver.

"Of Course with how long we can live. This separation is nothing. A few years is but a sleep if any of us is willing.

There is always a day we will meet even without trying.

Because the world is only so big.

Just centuries of travel to circle it even if you walk slowly and it is over. "

Her mother commented in a long tirade. As Silver listens lazily.

"Hmm.. yes yes. Let's not continue this topic. Or I'll be bored even without doing anything.

Don't make it harder for us to find something to do in our long life." Silver said immediately stopping the topic of how small the world is. She doesn't want to go crazy with the thought of immediate boredom just after a few centuries.

"Hahahaha." Her mother laughed happily looking at Silver's expression of annoyance.

"I agree. With how fast civilization develops, no matter how long or fast this development is. It can't outdone our longevity, especially you." Her mother said jovially.

"Yes, especially myself. So let's not mention it for how. I want to keep everything slowly, very slow if possible. To keep entertainment in the long years to come." Silver finalized the topic.

"What to do with tomorrow's meeting.? Do you know about the Trabs family?" Silver asked, wanting to plan for the coming meeting.

"Just a normal family. Not of the elders lineage. But a tribesman nonetheless.

His father is a skilled hunter with some woodworking skills.

His mother by the way was once a slave accepted to be a wife.

I heard it was love." His mother replied spot on except for the last sentence she spoke with a pretend dreamy voice.

"Oh. Love. Then I guess something is wrong with Trab. I wonder how he grows up like this? Why always pretend?" Silver with a slight curiosity spoke her mind.

"Who knows. Don't you like it? It won't be boring for you." Her mother replied with mischief.