"You know you don't have to do this, Hunter."

"Yeah, I know. It's my decision, and I want to do it, Dad."

The two panthers sat across from each other at the kitchen table. The older of the two was sipping a cup of coffee, still in his dressing gown, and the younger one, his son, was munching on a bowl of sugary cereal. Beside him was a large backpack containing everything he thought he'd need.

"You're gonna be away for a couple of weeks. Away from your mother and me, and all your friends at school. I know that sounds exciting, but call us if anything happens, okay?"

"I know, Dad, jeez. It's a tribal event, we're all part of the tribe, what do you think is gonna happen?"

Richard Sharpfang in fact had some idea of what was going to happen. It wasn't done often anymore, and he hadn't personally gone through it, but the option was open to every boy of the panther tribe at a certain age, and Hunter had enthusiastically agreed. Richard privately thought they were going to put his boy through hell. Still, it was Hunter's choice, not his. He sighed and took another sip of coffee.

"I know, just... If it gets to be too much, I'll come get you, okay? I know they won't let anything hurt you, but it's supposed to be intense."

But Richard knew deep in his heart that no matter what happened, Hunter would never leave early. His son was a fierce little cub with an iron will. He would endure anything, any pain, any trials. It didn't stop him from worrying though. Unconsciously, the older feline's paw drifted up and rubbed the spot on his arm where his tattoo was. Hunter would be getting his own, he knew. It made him proud, it really did, but in the moment all he could remember was how much it had hurt at the time.

"I can take it! I want this," Hunter said with a defiant huff. Presently there was a knock on the door, and both panthers stood up. Hunter grabbed his bag and took the now empty cereal bowl to the sink.

"I know," the older man said, "here, before you run out the door. Let me just..." He took a small pot of bodypaint from the table, got on one knee in front of his son, and looked him in the eyes. Gently, he dipped a finger in the pot and made a mark on the kitten's forehead. Hunter was already fairly painted up, but it completed the effect.

"I love you, son."

"I love you too, Dad," Hunter said, looking away in mild embarrassment.

"Now, don't touch that spot, you'll smudge it."

Hunter nodded and gave his dad a quick hug before carefully arranging his face into a stoic expression and running up to the door.

When he opened it, his eyes went wide. Standing at the door was  a very Elderly panther. His fur was more grey than black, and he clinked slightly with every movement from the volume of jewellery he wore: necklaces and bracelets of bone and bead and fang, and a few of silver and gold. He was the oldest and most accomplished panther Hunter had ever known, this was Elder Sharpclaw. Hunter and his father, joining him at the door, both bowed low, and the Elder inclined his head in return.

“Thank you for entrusting us with custody of your child, Richard Sharpfang," the Elder said in a resonant voice. For such an old man, he seemed quite spry.

"Of course, Elder. Please watch over him. thank you for having him," Richard said a bit stiffly, as though completing his half of a ritual. He lowered his voice so Hunter couldn't hear, "he's really excited about this. It means a lot to him. Thank you."

The Elder nodded at Hunter. "Come, young warrior."

the cub tried to contain his delight at the phrase 'young warrior', it was everything he'd ever wanted. He tried very hard to keep his expression neutral and stoic, but his tail gave him away, twitching behind him.

"Be on your best behaviour!" His dad called after them as the Elder led Hunter away and into the back of a van.

Inside the van, another three panthers awaited them. Two of them were older teenagers and seemed familiar somehow, and the third was the driver. All of them looked at Hunter with the same grave, stoic expression he had been trying to master, and nobody said a word.

“Hey Sharpfang,” said one of the teenagers, trying to sound friendly, “I’m Moonshadow, and this is Nightstalker. I don’t know if you remember us, we’re your cousins.”

Hunter nodded politely. He didn’t really remember them, but he took their word for it. After that, the van fell silent, only the with only the sound of the van between them.

"So... Where are we going?" Hunter asked after a bit, to break the silence. The response he got was a stinging cuff on the ear.

"You will speak like a Panther from this moment on," the Elder said, in the soft, purring, ancient language of the Panther tribe. Hunter nodded, rubbing his stinging ear. He understood, although he wished he'd had more of a warning. His Panther wasn't very good, but he could understand the gist.

"Yes, revered Elder," he growled back, long disused parts of the back of his throat making his speech sound rough, "forgive me. May I ask where we are going?"

“That is not for you to know, Sharpfang," the Elder replied, and nodded at one of the teenage panthers, who pulled a blindfold from his bag and tied it around the kitten's eyes.

This ominous treatment did nothing to diminish the boy's excitement; he'd expected something like this. It was all so mysterious and exciting! The van made several sharp turns, making it impossible for the boy to keep track of where they might be going. This was by design, as he was supposed to have every sense of being in the wild, and if he recognized his surroundings in any way, the illusion would be broken. His parents, of course, had been provided with the location beforehand. 

He would be in no danger, but it was meant to feel as authentic as possible. That meant he would be surrounded only by other panthers, his tribesmen, for the duration, and they would all speak only in the panther language. He would also have any electronics or other vestiges of modern society confiscated for the time being. He hadn’t bothered to try to pack any. He wouldn't need them, after all.

Eventually, the van stopped and he was helped out by the two teenagers. Still blindfolded, and being led, he found himself hiking deep into unfamiliar forest. At least, leaves crunched beneath his paws and birds twittered overhead. it was a good bet he was in the forest, and that hunch was confirmed what felt like hours later, when the blindfold was removed.

Hunter blinked and looked around. He was indeed in a forest clearing, and as he'd suspected, he didn't recognize it at all. 

"Come," said Elder Sharpclaw, placing a firm paw on the boy's shoulder. He led Hunter into what turned out to be the centre of a traditional panther tribe village, "for the next fortnight, young Sharpfang, this will be your home. You will live as we lived long ago. You will speak only the ancient and sacred tongue of the panthers. You will partake in our most ancient rituals, our hardest trials. You will earn your name, and much more, young warrior. Do you accept this?"

Hunter sank into a reverential bow. "I do," he said, the unfamiliar syllables ringing clear. He looked up at his Elder, a fiery glint in his golden eyes. "I will, Elder. I will make you proud. I will make you all proud."

"Well said. Rise, young warrior. Moonshadow and Nightstalker will guide you, and prepare you for what is to come."

the two teenaged panthers nodded at the little boy. It was up to them to see that no actual harm came to him, whatever he felt was going on. One of them gave him a small smile. "Come, we will help you get settled in."

Hunter nodded and allowed himself to be led through the village. In his excitement, he hadn't taken in too many details, but now he started to take notice. He heard the crackling of the great fire, and someone softly playing a flute somewhere. He saw hustle and bustle entirely unrelated to his presence, and he smelled.. a great many things. Sweet herbs and roasting meat, the faint smell of blood, smoke, and a sharp masculine odour that nearly overpowered everything else. He sniffed the air deeply, and blushed slightly. Something was nagging at the back of his mind, but he didn't know what it was until…

"Moonshadow, are there no women in the village?" he asked, glancing around. Every loinclothed, bare-chested, black-furred feline he saw was very unmistakably a man.

“There are some things only the men can participate in, this is one of them. Some of what the women do is a mystery to us, and this is unknown to them. Such is the way of the world."

Hunter nodded, that seemed to make sense. He was starting to feel a bit out of place here. Everyone moved with such purpose, and not a single one of them was dressed like him. In fact, they were barely dressed at all. Some of the men gave him curious glances, raising quizzical eyebrows and causing him to blush again. 

It was becoming clear that his presence wasn't the sole reason for everyone being here. He'd sort of assumed, in a childish way, that everything was set up just for him. Not for the first time, he wished his dad had been able to come with him. It hadn’t been allowed, though. He didn't know why.

The pair of older panthers led him to a rope ladder that looked dangerous, but held their weight surprisingly well. Up and up they climbed, Nightstalker in front of him and Moonshadow behind. Hunter wasn't afraid of heights by any means, he was a notorious climber at home, but even so he did his best not to look down. 

Finally, they reached the top and climbed onto a wooden platform and across a series of rickety wood and rope footbridges, which Hunter started to think of as the catwalks. there were more of them than he'd noticed at first, criss-crossing the entire village, some sloping up or down from one level to the next.

It was only then that he really started to appreciate the sheer verticality of the place. The majority of buildings were not, in fact, the few thatched huts at ground level, but built into the trees, often literally. There were dozens, maybe hundreds of them of all shapes and sizes, half hidden in the woods. It dawned on the kitten that he could actually get lost here, not that that was likely with his two chaperones sticking so close to him.

They finally took him to a small building with a thatched roof, built onto a sturdy branch. It had a curtain covering the doorway and a large window. the furnishings inside were quite spartan, there was a neat pile of furs for sleeping on, not a proper bed at all, although it did look comfortable to the young feline. There was a small table, upon which lay an earthenware jug full of clear water, and on the far wall was a humble little altar to the gods of the panther tribe. There were a few other little odds and ends here and there, but otherwise Hunter got the impression this was more a place for sleeping than one for living.

“This will be your home as long as you are here, young Sharpfang. Take some time to get comfortable," said Moonshadow, who was definitely the more approachable of the pair.

Hunter nodded and slid his backpack off, letting it fall to the floor with a soft thump. He sat down next to it and unzipped it, digging through it. Some of his clothes fell out, eliciting a snort of laughter from Nightstalker.

"What's so funny?" the kitten asked, head tilting to the side in confusion.

"You won't need those, not here. In fact, it's time you got rid of the ones you're wearing, too. Moonshadow, shall we help our young warrior out?"

"Oh yes, I think we'd better. It's our sacred duty," Moonshadow said with a wicked little grin.

Hunter looked between them, his golden eyes going wide in shock and confusion. Moving as one, the pair held him down. Nightstalker extended a sharp claw and sliced through Hunter's shirt with a single smooth motion, tearing the fabric away. Moonshadow did the same with his shorts, and then started pulling on his underwear.

"H-hey! Stop!" Hunter groaned, squirming ineffectually as an uncontrollable blush rose up beneath his dark fur. Moonshadow just shook his head, tearing the boy's underwear off with a definite, final ripping sound, while Nightstalker dug through his bag, pulling out every change of clothes he'd brought.

"Don't you see? We're helping you. Did you see anybody else here wearing outsider clothes?" 

Hunter shook his head, blushing furiously.

"Exactly. And neither will you. You are one of us, not an outsider. You're not to speak their language, wear their clothes, or think their thoughts. Do you understand?"

Hunter nodded. Of course he understood, but that didn't change the fact that he was naked as the day he was born and being pinned down by his two older cousins.

"Go on then, say it."

"I understand that you are helping me, cousin. I am not like the outsiders, I am like you. Thank you for opening my eyes to this fact." The young panther said it slowly, the soft syllables of the feline language taking on a musical tone. The truth of the words dawned on him as they left his lips. He wasn't really like all the other furs on his street, or at his school. He had always been a little bit apart from them, even his best friend Jack. Why, then, should he dress like them? Why pretend, when he was here amongst his brother panthers? His heart had been singing since he arrived here.

"Good boy," said Moonshadow, purring into Hunter's ear. The boy's heart started pounding as his cousin gently ran a paw through his bare fur, caressing his chest, then his stomach, and finally making small circles just above his private parts. Hunter gasped and squirmed. It was… strange. It felt good, but in a way he didn't understand.

"W-wha...?"

"You'll understand soon, little warrior. Don't worry," the older panther murmured, kissing Hunter on the forehead and finally letting him get up.

"I can't just go around naked though!"

"You can and you will until the Elder says otherwise. What is there to be ashamed of, here among your people? You don't have anything every man here doesn't also have. Be proud."

Hunter looked over to Nightstalker, who nodded and grinned at him. "Besides," he said, "you'd have to strip down in front of everyone anyway."

"I would?"

"they didn't tell you anything, did they?"

Hunter shook his head, flushing again under his fur. "Not much. I didn't realize it was all.. public."

"You're not backing out, are you?"

Hunter stiffened, glaring at his cousins, his amber eyes suddenly hard. "Never. Whatever trials lay before me, I will face them."

"Good boy," Moonshadow said again, slapping Hunter on the back, "why don't you go out and explore a little. Meet us by the big fire in a couple hours."

Hunter nodded and took a deep breath, steeling himself for the stares he was likely to receive as soon as he pushed through the curtain that served as a door. Being outside without the burden of clothing turned out to be a lot more enjoyable than he'd expected. It was still hot, but no longer stifling. A gentle breeze ruffled his fur in places the wind had never touched before. It felt good.. and it tickled. Hunter let out an involuntary giggle.

the young panther took hold of a rope and pushed himself hard off the ledge, swinging all the way across to another catwalk and whooping in kittenish delight. He felt free in a way he was only just realizing he had never been before. He let go of the rope and landed on all fours, tail thrashing around behind him. He leapt from branch to branch, batting at leaves and taking in the sights of the village. 

On the whole, he got fewer stares than he had before, when he had been dressed like an outsider. The few he still got seemed to be from old men wistful for their younger days, wishing it was them making daring flying leaps through the trees. His nakedness went unremarked on.

After a while of this, the wind changed in some subtle way. Hunter stopped and faced it. His long headfur flowed impressively behind him, his hair tie having fallen out at some point. He sniffed the air, the scent of fresh baking wafted over from what must have been clear across town. His stomach gave a little growl. How long had it been since breakfast, anyhow?

Leaping around like a feral kitten, he crossed the distance in no time at all and landed right in front of a man with a tray of freshly baked buns. He offered one to the boy and Hunter took it gratefully, bowing his thanks and bounding off again with it in his mouth.

Eventually, his play took him once again close to what he was starting to think of as his treehouse. Nightstalker and Moonshadow were standing around outside, talking about something. Hunter climbed up onto a big branch and silently crept forward, trying to get close enough to hear what they were saying and maybe surprise them.

"...are you sure we should be doing this?" Moonshadow asked, placing a cigarette between his lips and lighting it up, letting the smoke out through his nose.

"What do you mean? And give me that, I could only sneak in one pack and it's gotta last," Nightstalker said, snatching it right out of Moonshadow's mouth and taking a slow drag, visibly relaxing.

"I mean he's just a cub. I haven't even seen him since he was two, and you know Elder wants us to do all the dirty work."

"So? We do what Elder says. You don't think you can do it?" He blew a smoke ring and handed the lit cigarette back to Moonshadow. the other teen took it gratefully.

"Oh I can do it alright. I just don't know if the kid really knew what he was asking for. It's not like when you and me did this. And we had each other."

"He'll be fine. You saw him back there, he's a strong boy. I don't think he'll cry like you did. even if he does, big deal. He'll get what he wanted one way or another."

Hunter edged forward on his branch. He was starting to get annoyed that first his dad and now his cousins seemed to think that he couldn't deal with this. He'd show them. Whatever he was expected to do, he'd be the best at it! Admittedly, all the smoke floating up into his face was starting to make him feel a little funny. A little bit dizzy and a little bit frisky. He clung to the branch, rubbing up against it. That felt pretty good too.

"Hey, there's only a couple good puffs left on that thing, give it here," Nightstalker said, taking the smoke again. He took a deep drag, puffing out his bare chest, and suddenly leaned forward, locked lips with Moonshadow, and slowly exhaled. the other panther pulled back after several long seconds, looking dazed, and purred softly.

“Thanks, brother. I uh… thanks."

Nightstalker winked at him. Hunter, who had seen the whole exchange, felt a rush of confused emotions. He felt like he was intruding on something he shouldn't see. He was sure he'd just witnessed something naughty, but he couldn't understand how. He unconsciously rubbed himself against the branch, head spinning from all the smoke. He made a noise somewhere between a cough and a purr, causing both of his cousins to look up at once and jump apart. they spotted Hunter just in time for his branch to break.

Acting as one in the fraction of a second it took for Hunter to fall, Nightstalker caught the boy while Moonshadow grabbed ahold of the broken branch and tossed it neatly into an uninhabited part of the forest behind them.

"What do we have here? A little boy eavesdropping, eh?" Said Nightstalker, his voice low in tones of mock menace, "remind me, brother. What do we do with snoops around here?"

"Looks like our little eavesdropper is excited," said Moonshadow, gesturing at Hunter's sheath. the tip of his cock was just barely visible. Both older boys smirked at each other. “Maybe we should give him a little taste."

Hunter looked between the two, squirming in Nightstalker's grip. His cheeks flushed hotly under his fur. He knew what was coming, and there was nothing he could do about it. Moonshadow grinned and took a final, deep drag, casually flicked the ash, and leaned in, clamping his muzzle around Hunter's. His tongue forced the boy's mouth open, and he breathed the smoke right into Hunter's lungs. the kitten squirmed and then went limp as his head started to spin. the closest he'd ever felt to this was when he had once spun around in a chair as fast as he could for a whole half hour. the older panther’s tongue probed around a little before he finally pulled off. Hunter blinked, dazed, and coughed.

“I think young Sharpfang understands now,” said Nightstalker, grinning and running a paw gently over his cousin's crotch. the kitten jerked and twitched, blushing deeply under his dark fur.

“That… that was…”

“I really shouldn't have done that. It's a nasty habit, really bad for you.”

Hunter nodded weakly. He understood that of course, but at the same time he'd have been lying if he said he hadn't enjoyed it.

“Once the frisky young warrior settles down, we'll go,” said Nightstalker. Hunter looked down. He wasn't just peeking out of his sheath now, he was fully erect. He blushed even deeper and sat down, taking deep breaths. It took longer than it would have had there not been a very pervasive, very masculine musk in the air, but he managed to calm himself down eventually.

When he stood up, his two cousins nodded at each other and led the boy down to ground level and over to the large fire, where several tribesmen were gathered in a large semicircle facing Elder Sharpclaw, who was standing before a large stone altar. Intricate designs were carved into every face; images of panther deities and feral animals were woven together with more abstract patterns. the top, more worn than the rest, was polished to a shine, but nonetheless was covered in dark brown stains. the trio joined the semicircle, Hunter standing between the older boys. His eyes flicked between the Elder and the altar, unsure of what was about to happen.

Elder Sharpclaw cleared his throat and at his signal, someone started to hit a drum very softly, one quiet hit every minute or so. Hunter's ears twitched, but he resisted the temptation to look around.

“We have come together for a rare and joyous occasion. Today we welcome our youngest warrior into our ranks. Young Sharpfang shows much promise, and he will be a great asset to the tribe. All the more so because, as many of you know, he has chosen to undergo some of our more… ancient rituals.” 

Without another word, Elder Sharpclaw gave a signal. the drumbeat, hitherto so soft and so occasional as to be nearly unnoticeable, began to pick up both in tempo and intensity. Moonshadow and Nightstalker each grabbed Hunter by one arm and hoisted him up onto the altar, pushing him down onto his back. the metallic scent of old blood filled his nostrils. From this position, he couldn't see much, and a few thin ropes ensured that he couldn't move, either.

“Don't worry about the binding,” Moonshadow whispered in his ear, “it’s just so you don't move around too much. You're in good paws.”

A wooden bowl was passed around the circle. Every one of the tribesmen took it in turn, raised his loincloth, and pissed in the bowl. In this way, the initiate would be imbued with the strength of each other warrior. Earlier in the day, Elder Sharpclaw had, in a similar ceremony, ingested a sacred mushroom and likewise filled the bowl. All others present had partaken, and now that too was passing into the bowl. Last in line were Nightstalker and Moonshadow, who took the bowl and gently held it to Hunter's mouth.

“Drink,” the Elder commanded. the kitten had no choice but to obey. He opened his muzzle and tried not to gag as hot urine flooded his muzzle. It was nasty, it was vile, it… made him feel light-headed. After a few difficult gulps, piss burning its way down his throat, it somehow didn't seem to mind so much. He felt lightheaded and calm. It didn't feel as repulsive anymore, although it was still gross. 

It was a messy process, and much of it got spilled, the combined urine of every warrior of his tribe flowing across his chest and belly, their scent soaking into his fur. He could taste their virility, feel their strength. the bowl was taken away, and the rest of its contents poured over him.

He should have felt embarrassed, humiliated, but instead he felt elated. Possibly it was the result of the remains of those mushrooms, but he was only struck with an overpowering sense of closeness with his people, with this village. His little cock stirred in his sheath, not for the first time, but this time it was helped along by a paw, he couldn't see whose.

The drumming, ever present now, increased in tempo and the circle started chanting. The paw on his sheath rubbed it expertly, coaxing him to full hardness in full view of the tribe. Hunter, relatively innocent, had not known this kind of pleasure before. He squirmed in his restraints and moaned, his mind floating in a pleasurable fog, only mildly hampered by a sudden, burning pain in his left ear, followed by one in his right.

Hot needles were being pushed through, piercing his ears and sealing the wounds. Silver rings were attached, matching the ones he already wore. Oddly, the pain didn't bother him very much. The pleasurable fog didn't recede, even when he felt a cold razor on his arm, strategically removing his fur in a complex, winding pattern. Lines of bare flesh curled and angled and interacted with each other all across his upper arm and part of his chest. the part of him which was still aware of what was going on took a deep breath. this was it.

The drug, the sacred mushrooms, filtered as it was, numbed his pain. He still felt it, but it didn't bother him, even when the needles started poking into him. The paw working his cock was definitely helping alleviate it. It was, he knew, part tattooing and part scarification. When his fur grew back, it would be a little shorter, a little rougher, and, of course, a subtle but noticeably different shade. The drumming was reaching a fever pitch now, and it stayed that way while he was being tattooed, stopping only when it was finished, when another hot needle was pushed through his left nipple. At the exact same time, for the first time in his young life, he came into the paw of his unseen helper. A ring was deftly slid through the new hole, and his restraints were undone. Hunter sat up on the altar, blinking woozily and panting.

“It is done. the boy will have tonight to rest and decide if he would like to continue,” Elder Sharpclaw said, and the crowd began to disperse. He walked up to Hunter and put a paw on his untattooed shoulder, “you did well, young warrior. Your obligations are more than fulfilled now. If you choose, you may end the proceedings here with no shame. You may enjoy the rest of your time here and relax, if you choose.”

“No,” said Hunter, “I have made up my mind. I will continue,” he looked into his Elder’s eyes, “I decided before I came here.”

“Good boy. As long as you do it of your own free will, I know you will make me proud. You have already endured more than most.”

“Really, Elder?”

“Yes. Your father passed out, as I recall, in his ceremony. That one has no pain tolerance to speak of.”

Hunter giggled at that, swaying back and forth gently. Nightstalker and Moonshadow took him by the arms and sat him down at a picnic table before he could fall down. He was feeling quite giddy, and didn't seem to know what to do with himself. The older boys brought him a large mug of water and a plate of food, and he started gulping it down ravenously.

“Hey buddy, are you doing okay?” asked Moonshadow, looking a little concerned.

“I'm fine. Hungry. Dizzy. Everything feels like it's spinning, but it's better now. Did I do well?”

“You did great, little cuz. We're proud of you. We're [i]all[/i] proud of you. the dizziness will go away over time.”

Hunter ended up eating another three plates of food before the teenage panthers finally led him back to his treehouse. The effects of the thirdhand mushrooms had receded a little, but not entirely gone away, so he was still giddy and chatty the entire way back. By then, the sun was setting, and the three of them, up in the tree, had a fantastic view of it. Nightstalker had lit up another cigarette and was passing it back and forth with Moonshadow.

“Hey cuz,” he said, after a bit, “you know that was my paw helping you out today.”

“Oh, was it? thank you,” Hunter replied, “that was like nothing I've ever experienced…”

“Yeah, only fair you should return the favour, don't you think?” Nightstalker asked, smirking down at the boy, smoke dangling between his lips.

“W-what do you mean?”

The older panther just pulled his loincloth aside in reply. He was already fully erect. “Go on. Help me like I helped you.”

Gingerly, Hunter reached out and wrapped his little paw around the other panther’s rod. He gave it a couple of gentle strokes, looking up at his cousin for feedback. Nightstalker grinned and blew a cloud of smoke into Hunter's face, making him cough.

“Yeah, like that. Here, why don't we…” the teen lifted Hunter up and leaned back, placing the cub on his belly, his big cock now peaking between Hunter's legs. He stroked the boy's fur and gently tweaked his new nipple ring. The kitten gave a little yelp at the unexpected touch and took Nightstalker’s cock in his paw again, stroking it harder. Nightstalker winked at Moonshadow and mouthed ‘told you’. He let out a lewd moan in the cub's ear, letting him know he was doing a good job. His paw wandered down and rubbed Hunter's sheath, and soon they were both hard and moaning together.

“Hey Sharpfang, remember what we did before, when you spied on us?” Nightstalker asked, taking his smoke out of his mouth and holding it in Hunter's eyeshot. the kitten nodded, groaning and leaning back into the older panther. “How'd you like to try that again?”

“Hey, don't. You're gonna get the kid addicted, and then what?” Moonshadow cut in, snatching the cigarette and taking a hypocritical drag of his own.

“Cousin Sharpfang here is a big, strong warrior now, didn't you hear? He's grown-up enough to make his own decisions, aren't you?” Nightstalker emphasized his words by squeezing and rubbing their cocks together. Hunter nodded weakly and looked at Moonshadow, who sighed and inhaled deeply. the end of the smoke glowed cherry red, and he leaned forward, his muzzle meeting the cub's as he exhaled, blowing smoke right into Hunter's muzzle. the kitten's eyes went wide and he let out a soft purr. For some reason, he didn't cough. He should have coughed. Something in the smoke reacted to something in his system and he seemed to take it easily. He sighed and stroked the older panther harder again. Nightstalker took the smoke back and placed it between Hunter's lips.

“Draw it into your mouth first, and then your lungs. Go easy, okay?” He instructed. Hunter obeyed, ignoring Moonshadow’s slight scowl. Just tonight, he felt very grown up, very mature. Why shouldn't he do this too? He blew a steady stream of smoke and took another in.

“Good boy,” Nightstalker said, nibbling his freshly pierced ear and stroking their cocks together. Hunter took another drag, lost in a smoky haze of pleasure, his young brain swimming in a fungal, smoky, hormonal cocktail. It was a spiritual experience, transcending the overwhelming pleasure of the flesh, and enhancing it all the more. He took another long drag and Nightstalker lifted his chin, leaning around and pressing their muzzles together. When he pulled back, Moonshadow took his place, kissing the younger panther deeply and passionately. Nightstalker came then, squirting a pent-up load onto Hunter's chest.

Hunter's second orgasm was a dry one, not entirely unexpected, but he felt it even stronger than his first had been. He collapsed onto his cousin and they both took a while to catch their breaths.

“Feel.. so good. Oh, here..” Hunter took the smoke out of his mouth and offered it back to Nightstalker, who shook his head.

“No, young warrior. You finish it. Your reward for being such a brave boy today.”

Hunter nodded and readily put the thing back in his mouth, determined to show them how much of a big boy he was. Undoubtedly, he was tripping a lot more than he would be otherwise, the cigarette greatly enhanced the effects of the 'elixir’ he had been given earlier. It was lucky he had his two big strong cousins around to keep him safe in such a state. He was ultimately too buzzed to do anything but get ready for bed, though. He snuggled up in his pile of furs, imagining he was one of his ancestors, living the way a panther should.
–
the next morning, Hunter was woken up by Moonshadow gently shaking him. As soon as he was awake, it was clear that he was still feeling the effects of the previous day, but he could think clearly again, at least.

“Good morning, cousin. I have a gift for you.” The teenage panther held out a leather loincloth, just like the ones everyone else in the village wore, but perfectly sized to fit the boy. Hunter's eyes lit up and he tied it on immediately, a great big grin on his face. He hadn't entirely minded being naked, but this made him feel more like one of the tribe. He'd earned that, at least.

“Thank you, it's very comfortable.”

“Don't thank me, thank Elder Sharpclaw. I was supposed to give it to you last night, but… we were a little busy.”

Hunter blushed at the memory. They’d crossed more than one line last night, but he didn't regret it. He smoothed the loincloth down. “You know, this is the most comfortable thing I've ever worn. Do you think it'd be okay if I wore it all the time?”

“Back home, you mean?” Moonshadow paused, thinking, “people will stare at you. Remember how they did here when you were wearing outside clothes?”

“Yeah.. I don't care though. I'm a panther and I'm proud of it! Who cares what anyone says?”

“Well, I won't stop you. You've clearly already made up your mind, and I learned last night that I can't talk you out of stuff. If wearing the loincloth all the time makes you happy, do it. Now come over here and sit on my lap for a minute.”

“Why?”

“I'm going to fix your hair. Come here.” He patted his lap and Hunter sat down, allowing the older panther to brush out the tangles in his long black headfur. He winced a little bit, but the teen was surprisingly gentle as he first brushed it and then started weaving it into a long braid. Hunter himself usually put it in a quick ponytail and left it at that, but Moonshadow was going all out for some reason. It took a while, but when he was done, Hunter stood up and looked at himself in the mirror, seeing for the first time the new tattoo on his arm and shoulder, his new piercings, and his old ones too. He looked older. [i]Felt[/i] older. He'd done so many grown-up things all in one day.

“Admiring yourself?” Moonshadow asked. Hunter blushed and turned away from the mirror. “No, it's okay. You look good. Very handsome.”

“You really think so?”

“Oh yes, my brave young warrior.” Moonshadow’s tone was slightly mocking, but there was another note to it as well. Almost flirtatious. “Very handsome indeed.”

The older panther nuzzled his cousin with some affection, giving him a hug and smoothing out his new loincloth. The cub shuddered at the touch, blushing furiously. It wasn't common for panthers to show too much affection so openly, and further, he was still processing everything that had happened last night. He wasn't really sure how he felt about all of it. Moonshadow tweaked his newly pierced nipple and winked.

“Go and find some breakfast now, okay? Take your time, we'll find you when we need you.”

Hunter nodded, trying to hide the bulge forming under his loincloth, and grabbed the rope outside, swinging off into the morning.

Eventually, after they had led him roam for a couple of hours, Moonshadow and Nightstalker caught up with Hunter.

“Elder wants to see you. Don't worry, you haven't done anything wrong. Follow us,” Nightstalker said, leading the kitten down a side path. He looked around and, satisfied that they were alone, pulled out a handful of hand-rolled smokes, winking at Moonshadow.

“Wha– where did you get those?”

“Would you believe I got them from Elder Sharpclaw? He saw right through us, but he said we need to keep our charge in the right state of mind.”

“Are you sure this is okay?”

“Lighten up, Moonshadow. Sharpfang wants this. He asked for it, didn't you, kid?”

Hunter hesitated, but nodded.

“See?” Nightstalker stuck one between Hunter's lips and lit it without waiting for further confirmation. “Just do it like last night, take it slow, alright big boy?”

Hunter nodded, taking a small breath and letting out a stream of smoke. Something was different this time. He felt a lot hazier, and oddly calm about the whole thing. He looked at Moonshadow, who shrugged and lit up himself, conceding defeat. He looked a little guilty, introducing Hunter to an awful habit, but if even the Elder was involved, it was out of his paws. He might as well enjoy it.

“What does he want the kid for, anyway?” Moonshadow asked.

“Search me, if it was anyone else we'd be on our way home already. I think he was over by the archery targets.”

“Archery? We're getting Sharpfang high and then we're gonna give him a bow? What does the old man think he's doing?”

“He thinks it's okay, and he's the Elder around here. We're just here to keep Sharpfang from shooting his own eye out.”

“I'm right here, you know. You don't have to talk about me like I can't hear you,” Hunter said, pouting. He took another deep drag and let out a steady stream of smoke. He was starting to get really good at it, which Moonshadow noticed to his arousal… and his slight alarm. Hunter was twelve, he wasn't supposed to be an expert smoker.

Soon enough, they were all finished and the two teenagers led Hunter to where Elder Sharpclaw was. the old man smiled when he saw them. “Ah, here at last. I hope I am not taking you away from too much fun.” the old man suddenly grabbed Hunter's chin and looked deeply into his eyes. The cub squirmed a little, embarrassed. “Good, yes. You are ready.”

Hunter's eyes drifted towards the targets behind them, really just bales of hay with bullseyes painted on them, but Elder Sharpclaw shook his head.

“Not yet. Sit down.” Hunter sat down on the grass. “Good. Sit still and take a deep breath. Hold it. Now let it out. As you let it out, I want you to let go of any thoughts you have about the outside world. Can you do that?” Hunter nodded. “Good. Just take another deep breath, hold it. All your worries about school, your friends, your parents. Let them float away. Here.” Elder Sharpclaw pushed a pipe of some kind into Hunter's muzzle. “In through that, and blow it all out with the smoke.”

Hunter did his best to obey, his eyes getting heavy. All his worries really did seem to leave him, curling away into the air with the smoke. He didn't care what his teachers would think, or even his parents. All that existed was Elder Sharpclaw’s voice and the pipe smoke, in this idyllic forest. Everything else felt irrelevant and silly.

“Open your eyes, young warrior.” Hunter jumped, his eyes shooting open. He had been feeling so calm he'd almost started drifting off to sleep. He blinked, watching a transparent white feral otter frolic around the trees. He blinked and looked up, watching a ghostly hawk circle the sky above him.

“W-wha?” he asked, not able to articulate his thoughts in his current state.

“You see them now, yes? this world is filled with spirits. It always has been, but most people do not have the sight. You do, and I do.”

“Is it because of whatever you've had me smoking?”

Elder Sharpclaw chuckled. “No. that put you in the right frame of mind, but it cannot give you the ability to see. Your cousins can have as much fun as they want with it, but alas they cannot see what you see now. Young Sharpfang, I think you will accomplish great deeds in your life. I have known it since I first laid eyes on you. I even knew that you would choose to wear the loincloth. It suits you, by the way. Very handsome.”

Hunter blushed, and looked around. Almost every place he looked, he saw some small, ethereal feral creature. He waved at a ghostly raccoon and was surprised to see it wave back.

“What are they?”

“Nature spirits. Forest spirits. Some of them used to be ferals, in life. Not all of them though. They can be helpful, some of them. Or mischievous. All of them can be dangerous. Treat them with respect and they’ll treat you likewise… most of the time.”

“M-most of the time?”

“I will teach you about that in due time. For now, you need not worry. The wards around you have always been particularly strong.”

“…What does [i]that[/i] mean, Elder?”

“As I said, in due time. Get up, young warrior. It is time you started to earn your name.” 

Hunter stood and Elder Sharpclaw pushed a bow and quiver of arrows into his arms. He spend an interminably long time being drilled on how to hold the bow correctly, how to nock an arrow, how to aim. How to give it just the right amount of tension. He was abysmal at first, barely grazing the hay bale they had for a target, but eventually, with much repetition, he was able to hit the actual target more than half the time. When he was tired out, Elder Sharpclaw called the lesson to a close.

“I should be better at this,” Hunter complained.

“You will be. You have only been shooting for a day. Give it time.” Elder Sharpclaw gave the kitten a rare indulgent smile, and examined his new tattoo. “Come, we have more work to do this evening.”

Hunter followed along, all the way back to the altar by the big fire. Moonshadow and Nightstalker were already there, one stripping Hunter's loincloth off and the other lifting him up and laying him down, just as the night before. the crowd was already starting to gather, although it seemed smaller than before. Several panthers hadn't stayed, and a few new ones had shown up. they gathered in a tighter circle, this time, and each pulled out his cock, pointing it at the cub on the altar. All at once, every panther man present let out a powerful stream of hot urine, each one hitting its mark with perfect accuracy. Hunter squeezed his eyes shut, nostrils flaring from the strong musky odour. there was no hiding his own arousal, and he was helpless but to lie there and take it…

[i]…And enjoy it.[/i]

There was no point in denying it. the boy loved the feeling of being showered in his fellow tribesmen’s piss. His cock was almost painfully hard, sticking straight up. His head was hazy with musk, with the strange smoke he'd been inhaling all day. His tongue flopped out of his open maw and he purred softly, letting himself be marked. Yesterday, he had accepted this out of duty, but today he was wholeheartedly enjoying it.

He was almost disappointed when the streams trailed off, but not for long. Someone, Moonshadow he thought, gave him a heady, smoky kiss, and he felt a paw on his cock, which jumped from the touch. The older panther’s tongue intermingled passionately with his, and he felt something cold and wet against his tailhole. This was new. It was someone's finger, pressing against his tailhole. Pressing harder and harder.

[i]Until…[/i]

Hunter gasped. the finger was inside of him. It was weird, it was alien, it was [i]wrong.[/i] It…

[i]It wasn't bad.[/i] It was slow and gentle, careful not to hurt him. He was starting to enjoy it, especially combined with the feeling of his cock being stroked. the finger wiggled around a little before slowly being removed, leaving a horrible empty feeling in its place. Shortly, it was replaced by a tongue, lapping at his tailhole, getting it slick with saliva. Despite himself, he giggled. Moonshadow, or whoever it was, kissed him deeply again, and then there was a strong, manly scent filling Hunter's nostrils. A gentle paw turned his head to the side, and then next thing he knew there was another panther’s cock in his mouth.

Without needing to be told, he started sucking on it, and was rewarded with a gentle tweak of his nipple ring. Someone started stroking his wet fur, and someone else started sucking his own cock. Another cock very obviously pressed against his tailhole, strong arms holding his legs apart, and he was powerless to stop it as someone entered him for the very first time in his life. It wasn't rough, but it felt huge, bigger than he could possibly have imagined. He didn't know whose it was, and he didn't know who he was sucking, but it didn't matter. His tribe had claimed him, and now they were bringing him into the fold. These were his brothers.

As the panther behind him began to push further into him, he felt something change deep inside. The cock rubbed up against something and it felt.. good. Unbelievably good. He groaned around the cock in his mouth in newly awakened need, his entire body twitching. He sucked hard on the one in his mouth, and unconsciously clenched down on the one in his ass. He was so tight it didn't take very long before both other panthers came, shooting sticky feline seed in both ends, and pulled out only to be replaced with two new ones. Sometimes, the cocks were pierced, adding a whole new dimension to Hunter's confused pleasure. this went on for an uncountably long time, until it felt like every warrior of the panther tribe had had his turn with the boy. Each muzzle on his own cock kept him expertly on the edge for the entire time, not allowing him to finish until the very end. When he was finally allowed to cum, he noted with hazy satisfaction that he had made whoever was sucking him choke a little.

By the end of it, he was panting hard, his belly was bloated with the sheer volume of it and he was exhausted but happy. He barely even noticed that more patterns were being shaved into his fur, a large swath of his chest and his other arm this time. the needles didn't seem to hurt, with his brain swimming in hormones and substances. His ears were pierced again, and his other nipple. He didn't have much say in what they gave him, it seemed. Nobody had asked him, and the only time he shied away was when they grabbed his snout. He tried to object, but they had put a ring through his nose before he could remember how to form words.

When it was done, Nightstalker lifted him up and carried him over his shoulder back to his treehouse. Hunter was barely able to climb into his pile of furs before he was asleep, still wet and sticky. He had a moment to wonder if everyone had to endure that, or if it was because of whatever special qualities the Elder thought he had. He'd have to ask him.

–

the next several days unfolded in more or less the same way. Hunter had a few hours of free time in the morning, then Elder Sharpclaw would drill him in the use of a bow or a spear or even his own teeth and claws, and then in the evening there would be another ritual, where he would be given more tattoos or a new piercing. Every day, they spread further across his young body, complex lines swirling all over him. They weren't tattoos, he realized, they were [i]a[/i] tattoo, a single unified pattern. It was more than any other panther here seemed to have, save one. Only Elder Sharpclaw was as marked up as Hunter was. And every night he would return to his treehouse bloated and sticky and happy.

Although he remained able to see spirits after that first time, he didn't make much effort to interact with them, nor they him. He thought the old man caught him staring at one sometimes, but neither acknowledged it. Now probably wasn't the right time, and Hunter was too tired to worry about it anyway.

Through much practice, Hunter's aim improved a lot, both with the bow and the spear. that being said, his favourite days were the ones where the Elder had him practice with the weapons the gods had given him. He had been shocked to find the old man one day with a thick padded cloth tied around his arm. “Try to attack me,” he'd said. Hunter had hesitated. Elder Sharpclaw was.. well, old after all. “Go on, try to attack me,” the old man repeated.

So Hunter had. He'd tried, at least. He ran up and tried to punch the Elder in the stomach, only to be blocked entirely by his padded arm and knocked to the ground hard. He got up and tried again, getting caught by an unexpected blow and falling down again. It wasn't a hard one, but it was enough that he definitely felt it.

“No need to hold back. You cannot hurt me. think before you act. What advantages do you have?”

What advantages [i]did[/i] he have? He was smaller, faster, younger… oh yeah, and he had fangs and claws. Sharp ones, he knew. He looked at his paws, unclenched his fists, and pounced at the old man. Suddenly, the reason for all the padding became clear. Hunter could bite and scratch as much as he wanted without worrying about hurting the old man. And he did, attacking the padding with all the strength he could muster. It was the most fun he'd had in a long time. It brought out something primal in him.

At last, the day of the hunt arrived. the young panther had been practicing for ages now, and he was finally ready. A largish area of forest had been partitioned off for him, and there were several panthers hidden around, ready to spring into action in case he got hurt, although that wasn't very likely. He was offered a bow, he was offered a spear, but he chose his natural weapons. It felt right, and he still wasn't very good at shooting straight anyway.

The first thing he did that morning was go and take a bath. He actually enjoyed the musk he'd built up, but it was important that he hide as much of his own scent as possible, or else he wasn't going to catch anything. When he was finished and dried off, he walked into the designated part of the forest, trying to be as quiet as possible. He padded around, off the beaten path, pierced nose in the air, trying to catch a scent. He caught several, as it turned out. A rabbit seemed promising, a good first prey for a young panther kitten, but… no, his best friend at school was a rabbit. He wasn't sure he'd be able to do that. There was a fox, but he wasn't sure he'd be able to take a feral fox, not at his level. A deer, then? Deer were fast, but so was he. They were bigger than him, but was he not a predator by nature? He certainly was!

So, a deer it would be. He had the scent of one already, all he had to do was close in on it. Nose to the ground now, he followed its tracks, staying as quiet as possible. He tracked it for a good half hour before actually catching sight of it. It was a decent sized feral, all tan fur and antlers. Slowly he approached it, step by agonizingly careful step.

Unfortunately, he stepped on a stick. A loud snap sent the animal bounding off in another direction. Hunter growled under his breath and changed tactics, climbing up a tree and leaping, as silently as he could, from branch to branch. It took a while for the deer to calm down again, but all the while he was tracking it. His ears flicked with every small sound. His golden eyes seemed to glow. He had never been more aware of his surroundings in his life.

He approached the deer slowly, inching out bit by bit on a branch right above it. He grinned to himself, running his tongue over one of his sharp teeth in anticipation. His mouth even started to water. He bunched up, tail flicking behind him, his every muscle coiled tightly, ready to spring. He waited, and counted silently to himself:

[i]One…
Two…
THREE![/i]

With a fierce feline yowl, the boy leapt, all his tensed muscles firing at once. His claws extended and his fangs were bared as he landed on top of his prey, claws digging in deep, gripping the feral. The deer bucked, trying to throw the panther boy off, but Hunter held fast. His claws dug in harder, and he leaned forward and around, biting down hard on his prey's throat. His mouth filled with blood and he almost let go, but he'd come this far. To let go now would not only make him a failure, but it would also be disrespectful to his prey. So he held on until it stopped struggling and fell to the ground. He got up, mouth still ringed with red, and bowed low towards his prey.

“To you, who have given your life so that I and my people can eat, I thank you. Know that your death is not in vain, and go in peace,” Hunter said solemnly. That was the important part, as the Elder had taught him. You had to say it, and you had to [i]mean[/i] it. He could see, faintly, the spirit of the deer leave its body and look back at him before bounding off.

Several panthers came out of the forest, congratulating Hunter and slapping him on the back. Moonshadow and Nightstalker lifted the deer up and carried it back to the village, where it would be prepared for cooking.

“Well done, young Hunter. You have done us proud, and you have earned your name, as I knew you would. Come, let us celebrate,” Elder Sharpclaw said, appearing as if from nowhere. He put an arm around Hunter's shoulders and walked him back to the village.

The panther village was in full party mode when Hunter got back. The village had emptied out some, as panthers seemed to come and go freely, so the deer ended up being more than enough to feed everyone who was still around. When the time came, Hunter didn't need any persuasion to get onto the altar, and soon the drumbeat had started again. 

It was a little more subdued this time, only Moonshadow and Nightstalker were present. Nightstalker gave Hunter one of those sigature smokey kisses while Moonshadow began to finger him and suck gently on his cock. Hunter moaned, still not used to the overstimulation this entailed. He basked in the simple pleasure of it, letting the older boys do what they would. They brought him to the edge quickly and kept him there expertly, sucking and fingering him, tweaking his piercings and giving him secondhand hits of whatever they were smoking. Soon, the finger was removed and replaced with one of their cocks, and Hunter almost screamed in pleasure. He purred and thrust into the muzzle covering his cock, losing himself in the stimulation. He came hard, shooting into the muzzle, and before he could register what was happening, it was removed and there was a sharp pain on the underside of his shaft, right below the head. They had pierced him down there too! It didn't hurt as much as he thought it might, but he probably wouldn't want to do much with it for a little while. He sighed, proud and happy, and went to bed that night with a sense of accomplishment.

–

The next morning, he was shaken awake before dawn. It was time to go home at last. the boy didn't want to leave, he wasn't ready to go home yet, but Elder Sharpclaw wouldn't have any of it. The kitten needed to go back to his parents, and back to school. Back to his friends and his life, forever changed by his experiences here. When he was ready, he met his cousins and the Elder by the altar one last time. Elder Sharpclaw smiled down at him and took a knee in front of him. He reached out and removed the fang necklace from Hunter's neck, and replaced it with one which had a larger fang in the centre, surrounded by two others and separated with beads made of polished bone and wood. He stood and ruffled the kitten's headfur, before guiding him back to the van they had come in. There was no blindfold this time. Hunter was a full member of the tribe now, he was trusted with the secret of where the village was located. The drive home was also much more straightforward, and soon enough he was back at his house, standing on his own doorstep.

Hunter's dad opened the door and looked visibly taken aback at his son's new, much wilder appearance. He had known on some level that something like this would happen, but he hadn't been prepared for the extent of it. Still, when Hunter ran up to him and gave him a big hug, he knew underneath it all was still the same boy. He hugged his son back tightly. “I missed you, son,” he said, “it's been too quiet without you.”

“It was so cool, Dad! You should've seen it! I had the most amazing view from my hut, you wouldn't believe it!”

Richard Sharpfang laughed, “you can tell me all about it later, go put your things away, alright?”

Hunter ran into the house and up the stairs, and Richard stood awkwardly in the doorway for a second. He shook his head but gave the old man a wry smile.

“Kids, right? I hope he didn't give you any trouble. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea, Elder?”

Elder Sharpclaw shook his head. “I'd love to  but I have much to do. Cherish that boy, he has great potential. Goodbye, Richard Sharpfang. It was a pleasure taking care of your son.”

Richard smiled and bowed. He closed the door and sighed. Hunter had survived it, and was more brave than he had ever been, clearly. He was proud of his son, but he knew he'd have to answer a lot of difficult questions when Hunter went back to school. that was a problem for another day, though.