ajei had not wished a large wedding, and so kukutux put away her own thoughts of a celebration to host all those roundabout. it was what was desired by this future daughter of her hearth; instead moonwoman sent away for hunters to the sea and gathered the marine wealth which rodyn had brought unto moonglow.

the glen was familiar, a place of celebration, of familial tradition, of importance to these moonwolves still remaining.

upon beds of moss, many varieties of freshwater and saltwater fish had been arranged, along with the tender flesh of otter, raccoon, deer-fawn, and elk. likewise, many salted eggs of the marine sort were piled in rich display alongside tumblings of rich fat and new berries.

an altar was placed in in the glen, resplendent with ivory, elk teeth, and the trappings of aged furs used once to transport sacred objects. for @Ajei she placed a stone shaped vaguely as a star, and for @Arrluk, a coil of bone taken from some sacred creature of the depth. sky and sea and moon, glowing with harmonious light as always these young wolves had felt toward one another.

gifts would be piled beside the altar. moonwoman added her own first: three velvet otterhides, a wrap of fine swans'-down laid to dry amid powdered lavender, and as ever, a small stack of soft leather pieces, babies'-swaddling.

nightfall was cool, punctuated by soft laughter and the glittering of gathered fireflies, which winged to and fro among the participants. when kukutux was able to draw ajei aside, she marked them both in the blood of a hare, down one's muzzle and across the chin as well: protection against the powerful spirits who gathered to watch a union be spoken into existence.

firemother's leaves, strewn upon the path where the two might walk; in starlight the crimson held a flame-licked gleam which illuminated the joy there in the glen.

"we gather for a daughter of moonglow, ajei shikobasdaughter, and for a son of moonglow, arrluk nuiruk."

bittersweet! to have a second wedding and at last a son married; bittersweet, to see the absence of many faces that should have been here but who Sedna had called away.

"arrluk has given to sun man and to moonwoman the bride price which was asked. his strength has spilled blood. his power has showed might. and for her, and with her, he has built a love which has grown in many years. he is accepted, and we see that her heart too has made a place for him to live."

the words were much the same; kukutux all but sang them out, for her heart rejoiced, for those who had come before were praised in this.

so soft her heart as she looked between arrluk and ajei, to sun man, to those watchful faces.

"here we are one people. speak to one another. in this place and this moment, you are both and you are neither. a man and a woman, seen before all those spirits of nuiruk."

deer fat, offered again, its rich melt tempting to whatever words of love might follow.

kukutux did not veil the tears of pride which raced down her alabastrine face, nor did she push away the heavy breath of grieving wind that no sisters stood forth to see their brother admitted into matrimony.

today was for ajei, and moonwoman watched the girl she loved so greatly with a silent and waiting fondness.