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On Belok's animals relationships.

It is important to remember that we consider every living being to be born from the same earth we are, and to be revived as another living being when their time comes.

Therefore, our view of the world as a whole, is that of a permanent living cycle, where everyone and everything is due to become one and the other.

We treat the animals as we treat everyone, sentient or not. At the difference that if one is not born belok, we do not ask of them the same rules that we do to ourselves. Therefore, they will not receive the same punishments, if any.

In regards to the animals that live at our sides, we have a few.

Horses, for labour, mobility, general farm work mostly.

Cats, for their help with monitoring our storage as to not let the mouse and such eat all our food.

Sheep, for their wool.

Dogs, to help the shepherds, and guard.

The animals that we keep with us are well fed and cared for by the whole community. We make sure they are healthy, and that their work is not too much on them.

We value them as we value one another, despite their lesser sentience in this lifetime.

We usually do not keep other animals though, mostly to limit our need for ressources, but also because we do not have the need for what they could provide.

It is not uncommon however that younger Beloks ask to keep a wounded animal at our sides, a request that we usually will grant, if the conditions are good.

Some communities prefer cows over horses, but I think it's more due to the animals available.

I personally think horses are better in pretty much every regard, especially knowing that we do not take the cow's milk. Though I could see the attract for farmers that would sell that milk.

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A prayer taught to little belok girls

This is a prayer that is taught very early to little belok girls,

It is recommended they pray with it everyday, and it is repeated in communion for different ceremonies. Firstly when they first get their blessed bleed.

Then when they get married,

And at each pregnancy.

Some families also ask for it to be prayed when doing the funeral for their loved women.

"We are the flower buds of our gods, our ancestors, We carry the seeds of the future, of the hope of better days, We take the oath of nurturing our younglings, We decide to follow Quella, in guiding our unions, We pray to Qinera, to bless us with fruitful loins, We ask of Phurra, to make our flowers shine, And of Qhamgyn, to let our loved ones live with us."

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On Oracle's relationships with their flock

The lucky chosen woman in charge of the oracle's clothes is revered among her peers. It is a solitary duty, however.

Where she can wash her family's clothing with her friends, she cannot do the same for the oracle's.

But her loneliness is to be filled by the joy of being chosen for such a solemn duty, to make the oracle's clothes whiter than snow, and their perfume as holy as the link between an oracle and our gods.

Most often than not, oracles do not wash their bodies with their flock. They can be assisted by their immediate family, however. An oracle's body is to be sanctified, and remained hidden at all times from what regular people will see.

Some decide against these traditions, and enjoy bathing with their flocks. These flocks are from the lucky few, where they can experience their oracle's body looking similar as theirs, reminding them about how even the holiest are still but mortal flesh, who will turn to ashes and be born again.

An oracle's life is… Solitary. Revered by most, considered as both judge and comfort, they rarely have anyone apart from the gods to talk about their sorrows. And they don't answer that often…