Pure Moonlight (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Selena greeted her brother in law with a kiss to the cheek. Mako was at her side in an instant, her hand reaching down to ruffle his fur as his little tail swung wildly. When Taqu'un mentioned that Adane had an announcement to make.

"What is that, love?" Selena asked as she got Mako settled at the table between Kreston and Volgo.

 

[KieranSoares]

Adane had always been independent and a touch serious, and practically a mystery to most of her family outside her parents once she was ten and started training early to be a warrior. Taqu'un often joked that she was like Selena if Selena had become a soldier instead of a mother. The same age as Luna, Adane was far taller, athletic, and a bit on the muscular side. Her fur was a rich dark brown like Ellen's hair and her eyes were sharp and golden, to the point that she was sometimes asked if she was related to Kell Aleister.

As all attention was turned on her, Adane sighed, crossing her arms. "Uvore, it's not a big deal," she muttered in her deep but still feminine voice.

"Of course it is," Taqu'un chuckled, wrapping an arm around Ellen's waist. "Go on."

Adane shook her head and finally spoke up, "I... I found a mate." Volgo and Dayja were the first to light up.

"What's his name?" Volgo asked, and Adane shook her head again.

"Her."

"Oh. I didn't know, sweetheart. But that doesn't matter. Who is she?"

"Daniella Serad. She's Erygonian, and works for Khelt Aleister the First here in Inverness. I can't tell you much more than that, but she's a human and she was born in Egypt She came here with Suara Corel's people. I've been working with her a lot the past couple years, and... well, we decided to stick together."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, that most certainly is something to celebrate. It won't be long before Luna and Jan join you." Selena said, glancing over at the two of them as Jan's ears flattened back slightly in embarrassment. "As soon as their home is built."

"Ma." Luna said, chuckling as she took Jan's hand and squeezed it. "We're going as quickly as we can on it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Your 'quick' is pretty slow, cousin," Adane teased with a little smirk. She and Luna had been very close as children, only growing apart because of their professions though they remained steadfast friends. "Maybe I should give your man a hand along with some of the boys."

"That's, uh... not necessary. You have jobs to do and-"

"Our job is to protect and serve the village. And making sure our favorite healer has a good home is about as good a service as we can do. I'll come by tomorrow," Adane insisted. Jan had always been a bit intimidated by her, but he appreciated that she was a decisive and focused woman.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He will gratefully take the extra hands to help." Luna said with a smile towards Jan. "He might not admit it but it is appreciated."

As they were settling in to eat, Ruben and Telma appeared with the youngest members of the family. Telma stopped short as she saw the full room, glancing towards Ruben with a chuckle.

"I wasn't aware that this was a true family gathering. Volgo invited us this morning but we weren't sure the Cubs were up to it." Telma said, Timmal instantly lighting up in her arms as he caught sight of his grandfather. "I see I was wrong."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston rose to meet them, bringing extra chairs with a chuckle. "All we're missing is your parents and siblings, it seems. I don't know if we could fit any more in this little house, though." He came to take Timmal and Katya both for them, more for himself to enjoy the little cubs. "Kosovo, elderek," he murmured to them, nuzzling their little faces.

 

[heartofcourage]

Timmal squealed happily, clinging to his grandfather as he was nuzzled by the older wolf. Katya was calm and quiet as usually, only whimpering in greeting as she was nuzzled against as well.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston came back to his seat, happily holding both cubs until he had to give Timmal to Volgo to free up a hand. The younger members of the family took up Dayja's work and served the meal, and Kreston and Volgo looked after the little cubs so Telma and Ruben could relax. Mako, though still energetic, minded himself well around the infants.

"So Jan," Volgo spoke up. "You're from Sweden, yes?"

"Born and raised," Jan nodded, looking up from his plate.

"Where do you come from exactly?"

"Well... I wasn't really raised around my tribe too much, but they're off toward the Norwegian border. I went to work in Malmo at fifteen and became a sailor."

"Any family?"

"Too much family if you ask me. A bunch of siblings and aunts and uncles. My parents and all their siblings practically raised me and mine and my cousins all together. We probably had enough to make our own little tribe."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We're trying to figure out how best to get them all here for a celebration." Luna said, looking over st her grandfather. "The cost is large but I think we can handle it. We just have to work a little harder and do with less."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Why didn't you mention it sooner?" Taqu'un asked, his ears perked forward. "I would've sent for them weeks ago to be here in time for Jan's introduction into the tribe."

"I can't accept that kind of generosity, Taqu'un," Jan insisted, but Taqu'un shook his head.

"Then you're a fool, young man. Your family should be here to meet Luna and our family and see what you've made of yourself. It's practically a tradition among Lunars to see our children off to their futures properly. I'll send a charter in the morning."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Uncle, this is something we want to do ourselves." Luna said as Taqu'un said he would send off the letters the next morning. "We only have half of what we need saved up."

"Love, if it means that much to you, we will help you pay for the rest and you can pay us back." Selena answered.

 

[KieranSoares]

"That would work," Taqu'un nodded, but Jan looked to Luna for her decision. Even though it was his family, it was hers that was offering up so much to get them there.

"Besides, I think they need to see just the Wolf their son has become," Kreston added.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna looked towards Jan as the offer was placed on the table. "I suppose we could agree to that." She said softly, giving him a smile.

 

[KieranSoares]

"But we're paying back every silver," Jan insisted, looking between Selena and Taqu'un.

"If you insist," Taqu'un shrugged with a chuckle. "I'll probably forget about it in a few weeks. You'll have to remind us." He was enjoying teasing Jan. The young Swede was so set on making an honest Wolf of himself.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I gots silvers." Mako announced, looking to Jan and Luna. "Grandpa pays me for my running."

Selena looked at Volgo with a raised eyebrow. "You'll spoil him, Volgo."

"Little cub, you keep your money for something special." Luna said with a grin to her little brother.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm paying him for his work like I'd pay any other person," Volgo insisted, shifting Timmal in his arms.

"We just need to figure out where we're going to put a whole tribe's worth of family," Kreston spoke up. "But I'm sure we can manage."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We'll talk about paying Mako later." Selena said as the conversation turned towards where to house Jan's family. "They can stay at the keep as well. Brogan has more than enough room for a score of people."

 

[KieranSoares]

Jan was quietly overwhelmed at how they were all so willing to help him and his family, and he gave Luna a little smile to let her know he was excited. Things were working out for once in the Swede's life.

 

[heartofcourage]

As the dinner went on, the family reunited and enjoyed teasing one another. When Timmal and Katya went down for a nap with Volgo, Selena soon joined them with a tired Mako. The little wolf hardly napped any more, but he would sit with his Ma and snuggle when he was tired.

"How long have you been giving Mako money?" Selena asked her father in law softly, stroking her fingers through her cub's fur.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not long. He started doing a lot more than just simple favors so i decided I'd give him a little pocket money. He hasn't spent any yet that I know of. I think he's saving up for a satchel like some of the scouts and runners have. He seems to be taking the idea of being a messenger very seriously."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He never mentioned a thing to Kreston or I." Selena murmured, looking down at the little wolf who clung to her side and actually was sound asleep. "I'm not upset if you're paying him for honest work, but tell me next time. I don't want there to be secrets between us. That's how I raised Ruben and Luna too and it nearly did me in when Ruben wouldn't tell em about Telma."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't think anything of it, dear. I'm not sure Mako did either. But I'll keep it in mind." Volgo smiled to Selena softly. "You're doing well with him, my love. I can see just how much he means to you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course he does. He's my baby." Selena said with a serene smile as she held Mako a little tighter to her side. "I just want him to be raised to be an honest man. His brother nearly got his hide tanned for keeping Telma from me and j won't have him making the same mistakes."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That wasn't dishonesty, my dear, just secrecy for Telma's sake. Can you imagine how Katina and Ghell would've reacted if she'd told them back when she was only seventeen?" He chuckled to himself. "And with Ruben being so much older, they might've put most of the blame on him."

 

[heartofcourage]

"My Da kept a lot of secrets." Selena said softly, looking over at Volgo as Timmal flailed his arms at some dream before he settled again with a little sigh, curling up against Volgo's chest. "I simply don't like people keeping things from me, no matter how innocent they are. If I hadn't have overheard him talking about marrying me off to Wick's son when I was young, I probably would not be here right now."