by K. R. Smith
“Fern Wisetail, do you give your permission for your beloved granddaughter Bianca Grace to mate with Grant Elm?” Aunt Beth next asked Grandpa, who was sitting beside her.
“She has my permission.” He said gravely.
“Then Grant Elm, you and your mate may drink from the Sacred Cup. You may prove to us your brave heart and of your mate’s love in return. By adding your bloodline to a vessel that eons of Lokoti Warriors, Werewolf and Human, have spilled their life force into; you will be sealing your fates together and start a new bloodline of Wisetail-Elm.” Aunt Gail passed the cup around the hands of the nine council member until it reached him.
Uncle Ian handed Grant the Elm family knife. He put down the Sacred Cup, which was an old, painted wooden cup as big as a bowl. When I looked inside I saw a small amount of liquid which may have been mead. I watched Grant take the knife from his older brother and he ran the sharp blade over his forefinger, before he dipped it into the liquid.
Dad leaned forward and handed me the Wisetail family blade that Grandpa had given him. Next, Grant watched me unsheathe the knife and I stuck the pointy end into my forefinger. Then I too dipped my bleeding finger into the mead.
To my surprise, Grant took hold of my injured finger and he raised it to his mouth to briefly suck on it. The stinging subsided as I felt my skin start to heal over thanks to his saliva. I don’t think this was apart of the ceremony, but I noticed the Elders looked on in approval. In return I picked up his injured finger to place inside my mouth too. I gently began to suck on it to start his healing.
“The male Lokoti Werewolf has the scent of his mate, as the female Lokoti Werewolf now has the scent of her mate. No matter where either of you should go, you will always have the other’s scent.” Grandpa announced.
To my further surprise, I found that he was right. Suddenly I could smell Grant’s scent much stronger! I smelled his scent like the herb garden, as clear as day.
“Grant and Bianca, you may pick up the cup and drink.” Uncle Trevor ordered.
Together we used both of our hands to pick up the Lokoti Sacred Cup. Grant held the cup carefully as I drank from it first and I guess because I was a Werewolf, I tasted his blood in the mead immediately. Next, I held the cup for him as he drank it down lastly.
Grandpa narrated, “when the Lokoti Wolf created the first Lokoti Werewolf Aru; he did this by sharing his blood with the injured Warrior after a great battle. The Warrior fell whilst fighting for his land and family. The Lokoti Wolf smelled that the Warrior had a brave spirit for going up against insurmountable numbers and he thought that the bravery should be rewarded. The Lokoti Wolf understood why the Warrior Aru had risked his life, as the wolf too fought in the wild for its mate and young. In seeing Aru’s heart was true, the old Lokoti Wolf gave up his blood to Aru to drink. When the old father wolf died, its spirit merged with the Warrior’s. Aru arose healed, as the first Lokoti Werewolf. With the spirit and the blood of the Lokoti Wolf inside him, he shared his blood with the last fourteen Warriors, creating the fifteen members of the pack. With this renewed strength, the first pack of Lokoti Werewolves fought off the invading tribe. From that day on, the Lokoti Werewolf has never feasted on Lokoti flesh, but remained strong as their tribe’s protectors. You share blood today from the Lokoti Sacred Cup, just as the Lokoti Wolf shared his blood to ensure that our people would go on.”
Uncle Harry said gravely, “you have sat by the fire of the Tribal Elders and have heard the story of your pack’s beginning. Your union, Grant Elm and now Bianca Elm, is a new beginning. Bianca Elm you are the first female Lokoti Werewolf and it is fitting that your mate is a male Lokoti Werewolf. Bianca as you are a sign of the new, Grant represents the old. By accepting Grant as your mate, you are undertaking his instruction in the ways of the pack as you are entering under his family’s protection.”
Then all of the Tribal Elders stood up, which prompted us to stand up too as did everyone else.
“You have the blessing of the Lokoti Wolf over your union. You may leave us to start your new lives together. Go with the blessing of your Tribal Elders.” Uncle Donald announced.
And that was it…Grant and I turned around to face our family as well as the tribe, as husband and wife.
All of our families walked up to kiss us on the cheek or shake our hands, which included Grandpa as he left his place on the council. After our families congratulated us, then the rest of the tribe did too…everyone that is except Aunt Susan, Declan or Derik, since they weren’t here.
I received kiss after kiss, hand shake after hand shake, as I was congratulated by young and old. All I could do was stand there and smile politely as everyone deigned their goodwill. Even my English and Australian relatives boisterously offered their congratulations…everyone that is, except my Calculator who wasn’t here. He was another obvious absentee.
“Where’s Vincent?” I asked Gran who stood close by.
“Oh um, he said he couldn’t make it because of Circulate business.” Gran frowned.
“What Circulate business?” I asked concerned.
“I don’t know, he didn’t say.” She shrugged. “But he made it sound pretty important. He was working on something in the Viewing Room at Circulate HQ when I last saw him.”
Oh…a heavy, sinking feeling appeared in my stomach. Now why wouldn’t Vincent come to my wedding? Did he know something that I didn’t? I bet he was avoiding me because he saw something in my future with Grant.
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.” Grandfather saw the worried look on my face. “Today is the day you’re meant to be happy, B. No frowns allowed!”
Grant partially overheard our conversation as he was talking to Vine and her husband. He turned to give a curious look.
“Who’s Vincent?” Vine asked, also listening in.
“Vincent is my Calculator.” I told her.
“Huh?” She gave a funny look.
“He’s like an observer.” Gran told her. “He monitors her time traveling and her changes as a Circulator.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Well well! I now have a little sister that can travel through time!”
Grant chuckled at the sound of that as he kissed my cheek, making my grandparents beam at the attention he bestowed.
*****
After an hour of mingling, we could finally leave to start the Housewarming. By now I was starving as well as anxious to change into normal clothes again.
Uncle Ian drove us up to our new house on top of the hill. Uncle Ian - or Ian I should say - laughed out during the drive, “you can stop calling me ‘Uncle’, I am your brother now!”
As soon as my husband and I walked into our new home, we went upstairs to change.
We opened up our suitcases which awaited us in the main bedroom. Whilst I took out the new, yellow dress that Great Grandma made for me, Grant as casual as casual can be, started to undress in front of me. My face turned bright red, as I quickly averted my eyes.
“Excuse me, I’ll just change in the bathroom and wash my face.” I left to his surprise.
After I dressed, I used the sink to wash the paint off my face. It was then that Grant strolled into the bathroom, wearing jeans and a black shirt. His hair like mine, was still done up in the traditional way which I thought looked good on him.
“Hey.” I moved away from the sink to dry my face.
Instead of immediately removing the paint, he walked up to pull me into his arms.
“That’s a nice dress you’re wearing.” He smiled softly in approval.
“Thanks, Great Grandma made it for me to wear today.”
“I wouldn’t have minded seeing you put it on, you know.” He bent his head to rub his nose against mine.
I blushed again as I uneasily looked away. He saw this which made him sigh as he reluctantly released his hold on my waist. Then he bent over the sink as he proceeded to wash the paint off his face too.
Uncle Ian – sorry Ian – stood patiently downstairs, waiting
for us as well as greeting the first of the arrivals. I noticed how easily he mixed in with my Australian and English families, as he seemed to know them. But of course he would, from the time Mum brought them here to fight with the Lokoti against the Invaders before I was born. Ian’s wife Bec also arrived with their kids, as more and more people arrived from the Joining Ceremony.
Our new house wasn’t big enough to entertain the whole tribe and lucky for us it was a beautiful sunny day outside, with the wind chill at a bare minimum. People sat out the front of the house in fold-up chairs they brought, prepared for this kind of seating arrangement. Grant and I helped our families serve the food and drinks on a couple of fold-up tables outside that had been set up. Everyone had brought a dish and a bottle of soda, so there was plenty of food and drink to go around.
“Grant and B, go sit down!” Hannah ordered. “This is YOUR Housewarming! You can’t spend the whole day waiting on people. No-one expects you to serve so let everybody help themselves.”
“OK.” Grant smiled in relief. Then he took hold of my hand and led me to go and sit with him in two spare seats that were next to Ian and Dad.
They were talking with Mum, Gran, Grandfather, Grandpa, Nana, Great Grandma, Uncle Harry, Vine and her husband; when they instantly paused in their discussion to smile on our appearance.
“Here’s the blushing bride.” Mum teased.
“Shut up!” I did blush.
“That was too easy! That girl blushes like a strawberry, all it takes is one word and she blushes!” Ian ribbed.
“But she still has a curious mind though.” Grant told his brother. “Did I ever tell you guys about the first time B and I ever talked about matrimony?”
“No.” Dad gave a curious look.
“It was when she was 13 years old.” He announced, still holding onto my hand.
“13 years old, huh?” Grandfather chuckled.
“No way!” I guessed what he was about to do. “Shut up Grant!”
“No Grant, don’t shut up. I want to hear this.” Ian nudged his brother.
“It was the night I babysat B when you were in Australia.” Grant told Mum and Dad.
“You talked to Grant about matrimony when you were thirteen?” Mum raised her eyebrows.
“Shut up!” I felt my face burn. “It wasn’t like that!”
“Here we thought that this was an ARRANGED marriage with us doing all of the arranging! But as it turns out, that B has secretly arranged this all along!” Ian pretended to act offended, getting more laughs.
“I was putting B to bed after her beating me at poker.” Grant told my family. “‘Grant?’ she asks. ‘How old are you?’”
“Why do kids always ask THAT question?” Grandpa shook his head.
“Now that IS a good question.” Uncle Harry smirked.
Grant went on, “I’m 23.’ I tell her. ‘When did you turn into a Werewolf?’ she next asks. ‘13 years ago when I was 10 years old, after my father died.’ I say. Then she asks again, ‘Uncle Ian’s a Werewolf too, isn’t he?’ ‘Yep.’ I tell her. ‘How come Uncle Ian is much older than you?’ she next inquires.”
“Because our parents knew that Grant would suck at being an older brother so they made him the youngest.” Ian added on.
“Be quiet Ian!” Vine rolled her eyes. “Grant would have made an awesome older brother.”
He continued, “‘Because my parents had him 10 years before me, with a couple of girls thrown in between us who are my older sisters.’ I tell her. ‘Are you the youngest in your family?’ she asks. ‘Yep.’ I tell her. ‘Is everyone in your family married?’ she asks. ‘Yep.’ I tell her and then she asks in this innocent little voice, ‘Why aren’t you married?’”
Everyone cracked up laughing!
“She had you picked out from the start!” Ian guffawed as I turned as red as a tomato.
Grant laughed, “So I scratched my head and said, ‘Because I haven’t met the right one yet, I guess.’ Then B asks, ‘How will you know if she’s the right one?’ Five years later, when B found out about our engagement? I found her sitting on top of Sunset Point, she says to me in this worried voice, ‘But I’m not the one.’ She remembered our conversation. So what did I tell you, about how I saw our arranged marriage?” He turned my way. “Ah yes, that’s right. I told her that I see myself as lucky to be marrying her. I told her how I felt like I’ve won a prize in a competition I didn’t even know I had entered.”
Everyone smiled on his words, then at how he put his arm about my shoulders.
“Grant Elm gets Bianca Wisetail. Grant Elm gets to marry the first female Lokoti Werewolf. Grant Elm gets the prize, the tribe’s trophy bride! How does it make you feel, B? To be passed around, to be decided over like you were property?!”
Just then I shuddered as Declan’s angry words sent chills down my spine.
My husband looked on in concern. “Are you cold B?”
“Ah yeah.” I rubbed my arms to stave off the goose bumps.
“I’ll get your jacket.” He stood up and went inside the house to retrieve it.
I watched him disappear and when I turned back to the group, I saw everyone was watching his behavior with approval. Nervously I looked down, as I pretended to be pre-occupied with straightening my dress when secretly my thoughts were churning about somebody else.
What would have happened if this had been Declan’s and my Housewarming? I could just hear his smartass retort if I said I had been cold; “then you’d better put a jacket on then,” and he wouldn’t move from his seat.
I mean, this is the boy who tossed me into the freezing river to remove his own transgressions! I inwardly moaned as I closed my eyes…yep, this wedding to Grant Elm was probably for the best. I just hope that I’m up to the task.
*****
Another hour passed of sitting beside my new husband, wearing the cardigan he brought out. I forced myself to smile at everybody who approached.
Most of the time he held onto my hand which earned more looks of approval from our families. I half thought it was kinda sweet at how he was entering matrimony so willingly; whilst the other half of me wanted to cry out, “what’s wrong with you?! We hardly know each other!” Aside from seeing him at social functions and that one time he babysat me? I hardly knew anything about him.
OK, so he drives a black jeep. Alright then, he builds furniture with his older brother. Very well, I certainly knew his family. I mean c’mon, growing up in isolation from the rest of the world thanks to nuclear fall-out can really make a group of people bond together. But I had no idea what he liked to do for a hobby? Or I hadn’t a clue what kind of music he liked. What if he doesn’t like ‘Iggy Pop’?
What if we take turns cooking for each other and he doesn’t like what I make? What if he never lets me drive his jeep when I need to get groceries? What if he’s a chauvinistic pig who tries to make me do all of the housework?
“B?” my thoughts were interrupted when he passed me another cup of soda he had thoughtfully retrieved when he poured himself a cup.
“Oh, thanks.” I smiled impressed at his consideration.
Frickin’ hell, so far his behavior today has really pushed up his score card. Grant 56 points and Declan 0.
B, this is your wedding day! Stop thinking about the boy you swore to hate for the rest of your life! Instead, think of the man that you’re sworn to. Er, hello? Priorities!
When Grant returned to his seat beside mine, I surprised him by abruptly asking, “have you ever pushed a person into the river?”
“Um maybe.” He looked on with amusement. “Why? Has Ian been complaining again?” he next looked over to his older brother.
“What’s that?” Ian enquired.
“Have you been complaining to B about the time I pushed you into the river when we were fishing?” Grant ribbed.
Vine and Hannah cracked up laughing as they recalled what the brothers were talking about.
“Yeah pull the other leg, Grant!” Ian looked em
barrassed. “I slipped!”
“What, at the same time as Grant’s elbow connected with your rib cage?” Hannah teased.
“Grant couldn’t push me into the river if he tried!” Ian fired up.
“Especially if he were only 13 years old and you were 23.” Vine smirked.
“Never in a million years.” Hannah winked, which made me laugh.
The Elm’s cracked up laughing at their eldest brother as my husband’s hand reclaimed mine once more.
“B, you just wait until Grant tries to impress you with his ironing skills. His clothes come out more wrinkled than before he turned the iron on!” Ian retorted.
“At least I didn’t nearly set fire to my clothes by leaving the iron turned on!” Grant taunted.
“You did what?!” Mum laughed out loud.
“Oh great, here we go.” Ian rolled his eyes.
“You actually left the iron on your clothes and then you walked away?” She carried on.
“Thanks Grant, thanks for giving Jess more ammunition to use on me!” Ian growled at his younger brother.
“And YOU gave ME a hard time for my washing machine breaking and flooding the laundry?” She got all riled up, “and you leave an IRON turned on?”
“Shut up Jess!” He harrumphed. “Hunter told me about the time you forgot to pick up B after school one winter and B ended up having to walk home in a blizzard! Now that’s WAY worse than an iron burning through a shirt!”
“What?” She immediately turned defensive as she looked from him to her husband. “That wasn’t my fault! I was at Circulate Headquarters on MARS!”
“Oh that’s even better! You don’t just leave tribal lands but you leave behind an entire PLANET whilst your 12 year old daughter has to walk home from school in a blizzard!” Ian pretended to take the high ground.
“Hunter!” Mum whacked Dad on the arm. “I told you I was going to Circulate HQ. Why is this MY fault?”
“You didn’t tell me WHEN you were going to Mars, you just instantaneously phased out of the house when I was away repairing the Huntington’s greenhouse.” He pointed out. “I assumed you would go AFTER picking B up.”
