Pure Moonlight (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I suppose. After all, too much time alone might mean an accidental little brother or sister for you," Ghell teased as he carried on.

That evening as Luna returned home from tending to an Elder, lost in her own thoughts and unawares, her hand was suddenly caught and she was drawn back into a familiar embrace. "Evening, Lu," came Jan's voice.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna was caught unaware when Jan grabbed her hand and pulled her back against him. She yelped, her wolf suddenly snarling as her fur stood on end. It brought back bad memories of being captured and it startled her deeply. As soon as she heard his accented voice, she immediately told her wolf to stop and calm. It took a few moments before it actually listened.

"Sorry." Luna said softly as she looked up at Jan. "Things still startle me sometimes."

 

[KieranSoares]

Jan had let go instantly and took a step back when she snarled, his ears laid back against his head. But when she regained her senses and explained her fears, he immediately wrapped her in a hug. "Sorry, Lu... I didn't even think about it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Some of those wounds are going to take longer to heal than I thought." Luna murmured as he apologized and wrapped her up in a tight hug. "The things I saw, Jan...I wish I could forget it all but those images never go away."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You know if you ever need to talk, I'll listen," Jan reminded her softly, and pressed a nearly-timid kiss to her cheek. "I thought I'd walk you home, seeing as we get gone with work at the same time."

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna gave him a soft smile, one of the rare ones that she had spared for people since her return. "I would like that." Luna said as she looped her arm through his own.

She told him about Karn and his news as they walked. She was happy that her two friends had found love with each other. She had been worried how that friendship would be effected since she had chosen to be with Jan.

As they came to her home, Luna noticed that Ruben and Telma were both there, joining the family for dinner that evening. "Would you like to join us tonight? Ma and Da are very good cooks."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know if I should..." Jan murmured and paused before he stepped past the little fence that ringed the property's garden and home. "I might ruin it for your mother."

Kreston came to greet them, kissing Luna's cheek and shaking Jan's hand. "Evening, kids."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She will be on her best behavior. I promise." Luna murmured as Kreston came came to greet them just inside the garden gate. "I invited Jan for dinner, Da. He's afraid that Ma might not want him here, however. She usually doesn't breathe fire until late evening."

Luna smiled at her little joke, knowing that her mother was sweet and kind but cautious after the childhood that she had.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sure she'd breathe fire anytime for me," Jan murmured, but followed them inside. Kreston came back to Selena and kissed her cheek.

"Jan's joining us, love," he whispered.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena glanced up from the roasted boat she was preparing as Kreston told her that Jan would be joining them. Looking into the front room, she saw Luna and Jan sitting down to talk to Ruben as Telma helped her to finish dinner.

"Alright." Was all she said, even if she didn't like the young wolf. "I promise not to say a word. He's a guest of our daughter."

Telma glanced between the two of them, laughing to herself softly. "I'm glad you've liked me since I was a cub." She said softly.

"You, my dear, have never tried to break Ruben's heart." Selena said.

 

[KieranSoares]

"But you were all foolish cubs at some point. Jan's still growing out of it." Kreston kissed Selena and took a basket of bread to the table.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I, dear husband, have never been a foolish cub." Selena murmured as he took the bread to the table and Telma got back to work on the vegetables that would complete their meal.

Luna was pleased that her quiet older brother was making an effort to make her intended mate feel comfortable. She would haven't thank him later for being welcoming to Jan, especially when their mother was still not comfortable with the idea.

"jam has been telling me about all the things you are doing at the lumber camps. Maybe you should talk to Uncle Durban and Boar about some of your innovations." Luna murmured, encouraging her brother to pursue his ideas further.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You have too," Kreston commented to his wife when he returned to her side, but he kissed her before she could argue, and he whispered so no one else would hear, "Especially when we're having fun."


Ruben considered Luna's words with a half-nod. "Maybe... I still haven't quite worked out all the details yet but maybe they'd have some advice."

"The town could use it, boss, what with new people moving to Inverness for the safety," Jan offered. He'd always referred to Ruben as such despite how Ruben always told him not to.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It is true. The village has grown by 35 new members and the other tribe has seen five new families arrive. I spoke to Urubay and they seem to want to stay here and build onto their home as they have funds. Perhaps you could work out a deal with the other camps to give them supplies at a cheaper rate." Luna suggested to her brother.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Maybe soon. The Erygonians still don't have their own mill so I might have to work something out with them. Once we've got three running on the rivers leading to town, we'll be able to make more for less cost. I think I might make a little day trip out of it, meeting with some Erygonians that go to town for work. It'd make more jobs for them and even more in town."

"Keep talking like that and Taqu'un might make you his successor," Kreston said with a smile as he returned to the table with more food.

 

[heartofcourage]

"That would make him much more serious." Telma said as she walked in with the last of the meal, giving her mate a smile as Selena soon came in with the roasted boar on a platter. "And he's already too serious as it is."

Selena glanced around the room, struggling to come up with something to say to Jan that would sound sincere. "Jan, I'm glad that you decided to join us tonight. Family dinner is very important to us."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I really do appreciate it, ma'am," Jan told Selena in return, meeting her gaze. He was trying to be as sincere as possible in return. He knew he needed her approval if he and Luna were ever to have a future together.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna looked between her mother and Jan, wondering just how they would react to one another. Her mother was cordial and Jan was just as polite. It gave her hope that perhaps they could work through all of their differences and make this mating work.

"He's been working very hard, Ma." Luna said softly as she took her normal seat at the table and waited for Jan to sit at the seat to her right.

"I'm sure that he has. He knows the rules." Selena said as she took her seat and glanced to the others to do the same.

 

[KieranSoares]

Despite how coldly her comment came off to Jan, the tan Wolf didn't say a word and did his best to remake his impression on the family. Kreston was helping him along when he tripped up, and Ruben seemed in bothered by any slips of etiquette. Jan was almost too polite but he wasn't really himself trying to act so proper.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena could see how much Jan was struggling to make his best impression on the family. Ruben had the same look on his face that she had on her own. They were both waiting for any slip up to pounce upon, which wasn't fair to the young wolf. He was trying to make them all happy, Luna most of all.

"Brogan tells me that you might have found a plot of land for yourself, Jan." Selena said softly, trying to bridge the gap for her daughter's sake.

 

[KieranSoares]

Jan looked up, surprised Selena had found out about that so quickly. "I did... not too far from Urubay. It's pretty overgrown but it'll be close enough to the village and to town for me to work in either place, and it's only a short walk to the river to help float the logs to town."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And you have plans to build a home on it?" Selena asked him, knowing that it was a huge step in the plan to mate with Luna.

"Ma, maybe this is something we can discuss later." Luna said softly, looking towards her brother and her mother. "I just want to enjoy a good meal without all of the questions."

 

[KieranSoares]

Jan didn't say anything after Luna's request of her mother, aside from a simple, "Yes, I do." It sounded almost as if he was trying to tell Selena he wasn't afraid, and he'd prove himself despite her doubts. Kreston thankfully turned the subject away to recent happenings with the tribe.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena simply nodded as Luna asked her to stop. She wouldn't ask any more questions of Jan that evening. She didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable, but there was a lot on her mind when it came to her baby and her intended mate. Instead the conversation turned towards what was happening with the tribe. Kreston seemed to know everything that was going on and Ruben was right there behind him in talking about the issues that they faced.

"The weavers are sending someone to Edinburgh. The queen wants to look at our wears for the palace." Telma added, an excited smile on her face. "There's talk that they might send me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Apparently she wants new rugs and tapestries and curtains, and King Gale has always liked some of the more modern Lunar clothing and he wants to represent his werefolk people too. So hopefully Telma and the weavers can make it there and get a whole palace's worth of work," Ruben added with a proud smile. He'd always loved Telma's work and encouraged her since she was very young.