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NADIA

The air was crisp but not uncomfortably so. A wide blue sky, spotted with cumulus clouds, created the perfect atmosphere for the ceremony. Today was a special day, in more ways than one. The she-wolf stood perched on a small, flat rock by the shores of Lochlyn, looking out onto the open stretch of grass that was Lakefront’s pleasing view. Most of the pack was gathered below, milling about like many colored beetles. Nadia waited a minute longer, prepping her words in her mind for the seventeenth time.

“Wolves of Chandor!” She cleared her throat and stepped forwards, balancing on the rock with her tail upright. A smile stretched across her features, matching the gleam of her golden eyes. “We’re gathered here today upon the shores of Lochlyn for a grand celebration: the arrival of Spring, and the union of our own Dayanara and Navindru. My blessing goes to you both.” Her gaze found the pair amongst their packmates, both seeming to glow with shared joy. Nadia’s own heart swelled.

“Before we dance and dine, our new couple will take their vows here, in the sun’s warm light. But I won’t babble any longer; so, would you two step forwards?” The Alaka’i beckoned gently to both Navindru and Daya, then hopped off the stone with a wag of her tail. She glanced sideways, seeking out the familiar pelt of her Maika’i, Owl Totem Kaija. The dark-pelted lass would take the honor of leading the vows ceremony.

NAVINDRU

He was not so used to the attention, it was both nerve-racking and exciting all at once. Even now he was unable to keep still; constantly shifting weight from one paw to the other. Beside him, Dayanara stood, and he could tell she felt equally anxious and eager without even asking. Though he knew what was coming, he still started slightly as their Alaka’i offered for him and the dark brown she-wolf to approach the front.

Paws trod carefully through the grass as he made his way towards Nadia, ears pricking with intrigue. Her smile was contagious and he found himself grinning again, glancing from the leader over to Daya again. His tail gave a light wave of pleasure as he came to a stop, still kneading paws in the cool soil. The temperature was just right - not too cold, not too warm. Though there had been snow on the ground just weeks before, the Lynx Totem could feel the arrival of spring in the air.

“Thank you,” Navindru managed to add to his alpha, smoothing his ruffled fur. His heart thudded loudly, but when he met Daya’s eyes, everything eased once more.

DAYANARA

Daya released a shaky breath as she observed her fellow pack mates file into the area, hushed conversation filling the air. Confessing her love in front of Navindru was one feat, but this was on a whole new level. Her paws lightly tapped against the earth, still moist from the recent snow melt. She had never been good at speaking to others, let alone a whole crowd, so her respect for anyone who had the ability to do that spiked.

Her heart practically jumped out of her chest as Nadia’s voice rose above all the others, silencing any small talk. She rolled her lips inward as the mateship between herself and Navindru was mentioned, taking a quick glance around as a few eyes turned towards the pair. But then she found her companion’s chartreuse eyes, and all those nerves melted away, replaced with a toothy grin.

As he moved, she fell into step with him, walking at the same stride and pace. If one didn’t know any better, it may have seemed as though they had planned it. Once they had approached, Daya dipped her head in respect to her Alaka’i. “Thank you, Nadia.”

RENYK

Though the dark wolf showed himself for this summons, once he learned what exactly it was for he contemplated turning back the way he came. His throat felt tight with emotion, as if someone had their teeth clamped down over it. His chest ached. It was… beautiful, and he hated everything about it. This… ridiculous union. This lie that was love.

He recognized the looks in the eyes of the two for whom the ceremony was for, for he had been there once. Not in their exact place, for his former pack had been quite different, but he remembered happiness, and he remembered compassion, and how much she had loved life. Everything was beautiful to her, even though she was blind. He’d grown to wonder if he was blind and she was the one who could see, but she was dead now. She was gone. Returned to the earth. Like she’d never existed except for the dream-like memories that festered and oozed like an infected wound in his cold heart. Those memories should have made him happy, but they only made him sad, which turned quickly to anger.

Renyk took a step back, almost overwhelmed with the scene before him, but he held his ground. His expression, though tight, remained stony. He would not show weakness.

RHYS

She had been ecstatic to hear that two wolves were to be married, especially knowing that it was Daya and Nav, two wolves whom which she grown to care for dearly. She was so happy for them! The young Owl had never seen such a ceremony before, but had always dreamed of it. How wonderful it all sounded—the ideal fairytale. To find another to love and cherish, to tether yourself to someone who would be at your side forever, a promise that assured you would never be alone again.

Perhaps the she-wolf idolized the concept far too much, for in truth, she knew precious little about love. In the romantic sense, at least. She loved a great many of her packmates, but so far the romantic kind of love seemed to evade her. There might have been a time where she thought she cared for Akela in such a way, but alas… it was never meant to be. She had been but a child then, and in some ways, she still was. A child in an adults body seemed to describe her status best.

She lingered at the back of the crowd, though her eyes brightened when Kaija was mentioned. She stretched on her toes to try and see over the heads of her packmates, trying to catch a glimpse of her mentor. She wanted to observe and learn everything she could, for one day it might be her who lead Chandor’s lover’s in a bond that would solidify their bond for life. It was a serious matter, not one to be taken lightly.

But as she stretched her head above the crowd, her gaze found another grey pelt that did not belong to the kind and gentle Kaija. Renyk. He was like a black sheep amongst wools of white, his presence radiating dark energy into the otherwise joyous atmosphere. Why did he always look so… angry? Haunted? Miserable? There were many words she could use to describe him, but never could she settle on one. The wolf was an enigma, one she was not sure she wanted to delve into. She had to trust Nadia’s judgement in his character and her decision to have him live here amongst the peaceful Chandorians.

She slowly pulled her gaze from the dark wolf, returning to her search for Kaija.

TADITA

Swiveling her head around to look at the others who had arrived, everyone seemed so excited, a little disappointment or grumbling from some… well… mostly Renuk so far. But a wave of depression washed over her as well, thinking back to her previous mate, the father of the pups that were ripped away from her before she could even see them no need for that thought… snap out of it, its their time for attention not yours. The tawny furred female shook her head, as if clearing her mind and forced her tail to wag to cover up any indication that she was upset.

The golden shewolf slowly stood up, looking for someone to cling too while the event drew closer, not wanting to be the awkward one in the back of the group. It was a day for celebration for a new couple, so Tadita tried her best to keep quiet and let the ones who deserved the attention soak it in.

In the end, The shewolf decided to lay down under the shade of a tree, closing her eyes for a moment while she waited for the event to start, not really interested in getting in anyone's way.

SHIN’AN

As Shin'an watched the bustling of her excited packmates, part of her wondered why she'd stayed longer than the initial announcement. Oh, the simple answer was obvious; she had been raised to be courteous and thus felt duty-bound to offer congratulations to the new couple, but beyond that, she wasn't sure. The rust-coloured she-wolf knew that if she made her presence known, she would have to remain present for the duration of the celebration - it would be rude to just leave, after all - and that was something she wasn't too keen on.

Shin'an had distanced herself from most other pack events, her antisocial nature was no secret to Chandor, she wasn't self-conscious about being alone in the slightest, and nothing had changed within her to make the small female desire to mingle now.

Yet, here she was.

Perhaps she was simply curious? Yes, yes that must be it, for when she gazed over the cheerful smiles, the ubiquitous glee, and the loving gazes shared by Navindru and Dayanara she felt... Nothing.

The topic of romance was something that rarely, if not ever, crossed Shin'an's mind. Mateship out of love wasn't common where she came from - in fact, mates weren't exactly prevalent in general. Not to mention she had never felt the desire to search for a mate, nor harboured any form of strong feelings for anyone outside of her brother and therefore had never had any incentive to think too deeply about the subject on a personal level, either.

I suppose simply observing the occasion would not affect the proceedings, Shin'an mused as she took seat at a relatively close, yet still impersonal space from the gathering.

KAEN

Today was a cause for celebration. Kaen was fully decorated with a crown of flowers rested atop her head, crafted out of the first spring blooms. She had known Navindru for a while now, and while it wasn't nearly as long as others in the pack, it would take a blind wolf not to notice he and Dayanara had chemistry. Kaen wasn't entirely well versed on the ways of romance and love, but she knew enough to recognize a couple blooming. Above all she was glad to see them making it official, and that they were happy together. There was little more heartwarming than witnessing the love and happiness of others. Perhaps one day she would be not only a lynx, but a part time babysitter.

Maybe one day she could stand on that rock, gazing into the eyes of one who loved her just as much as she loved them. But there was so much time to consider that later. The moment belonged to Daya and Nav, who looked so nervous and joyful to be so close to exchanging vows. Kaen's seat was up near the front, a small pile of petals at her paws. She would toss them into the breeze when the mateship was official.

Kaija

As bid, the dark pelt of Kaija stepped forward, eyes shining with a genuine happiness for the couple. She dipped her muzzle in respect to their Alaka’i, the same cheer measured in her smile.

The Maika’i turned to address the pack but, more importantly today, Navindru and Dayanara, who had chosen to be united under the laws of the pack. Perhaps not a life for Kaija— but that wouldn’t stop her from doing all she could to ensure they had every chance to be happy together.

“The words of those so deeply in love here shall take wing above the rest of us today,” Kaija began, voice clear and steady. “—for there is no greater expression of family and devotion for two wolves joining as one, and no greater foundation to help Chandor thrive.

“If either of you have prepared words for one another, you may deliver them now.”

NADIA

Her tail thumped the ground in blatant joy, if such was not already obvious by her wide smile. The soft mumbles of gratitude from both Daya and Navindru made her heart swell, and she merely nodded warmly in reply. Her golden gaze swept across them to the gathered pack, picking up a variety of emotions scattered between the wolves. Her expression mellowed briefly, and she shifted to move out of the way, giving the center of attention over to her Maika’i.

The young auburn female shot a grin back to Kaija as she took a seat next to Kaen, scooping a pawful of petals from a larger pile up front as well. She gave the blue-grey she-wolf an excited smile before facing the front, ears pricking up as her beta began to speak.

NAVINDRU

The sounds faded into the background briefly as he stared, focused and devoted, at Dayanara. He couldn’t keep from grinning, a mixture of bliss and nervousness filling him with constant energy. Flexing paws in the soft soil, he blinked back to reality and briefly tore his eyes from his beloved to watch as Kaija approached.

He swallowed, licking his creamy muzzle. The tip of his tail whisked gently in response to the Maika’i’s words, and he drew in a sharp breath before turning to face the dark brown she-wolf again. His chest swelled with bubbling joy as he met her sunshine gaze. He nearly lost his tongue for a second. That would have been awkward. He was already afraid he was going to stumble over sentences - but there was no time to worry now.

“Daya,” He started softly. “My light, my world.” He breathed, his voice growing louder. He took a step towards her, leaving their noses but inches apart. “My heart is yours; to you I pledge myself. I will be at your side for eternity, I promise you that. You are everything, and I will always love you, no matter if the world turns upside down.” He dipped his head briefly, flushing with warmth. Perhaps speeches weren’t his strength. All that mattered was that he meant those words with every part of his being.

The tawny male lifted his gaze again, ears twitching sheepishly and his smile unwavering.

DAYANARA

Her heart fluttered as the Owl who would be leading the ceremony took her place beside the pair, the moment of her and Navindru exchanging their promises mere seconds away. Daya moved her eyes towards Kaiju and offered a quick dip of her head in a silent greeting before her voice filled the air.

Daya’s eyes never once left Navindru’s as he spoke, dancing with joy. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks as she basked in his words, tail tapping the earth to a gentle beat. She took a slow breath as his vows came to an end, and it was time for hers to begin. The chocolate she-wolf took a second to compose her nerves before she spoke.

“Navindru, my home, my heart. I promise to protect you, to cherish you, and to love you from now until the end of my days. I promise to be honest, kind, patient, and forgiving with you. No matter where life takes us, I will forever remain at your side.”

She closed the distance between them once she had finished, pressing her nose to his and pulling her lips up into a big, goofy grin. Affection and joy bubbled within her and caused her paws to “dance” while her eyes remained locked on her partner in front of her. She had completely forgotten about all the eyes on them then, only focused on the two of them and the love that blossomed.

KAIJA

As the two beautiful vows came to an end, the energy seemed, at least to Kaija, to remain; such emotion stretched between the two wolves, lending a very real testament to what this joining meant to them and, in connection, to the pack.

“With promises made of your own hearts and minds, you, Dayanara, and you, Navindru, are now joined as one here before us all and before the domain. Your connection is strong and steadfast; may your marriage be forever and unburdened, open and devoted.” With a bow of her head, Kaija took a step backwards, the combined gestures giving the newlyweds permission to do more than simply touch noses and dance in place.

Her duty done, the Maika’i turned to surrender the stage to Nadia, her eyes shining in glee for the two wolves.

NADIA

She was on her paws as soon as Kaija had finished speaking, tail aloft with joy and eyes glittering. The happiness in the air was tangible, or so it seemed, and Nadia felt like any fast motion would carry her straight into the sky. Declining that temptation, in case she suddenly sprouted wings, the young Alaka’i stepped back to the center of attention, gaze flicking warmly across the newly-mated pair and the rest of her wolves.

Beaming, she faced Dayanara and Navindru. “Chandor welcomes you in your togetherness! May happiness follow your pawsteps.” With one deft movement, Nadia flicked her pile of petals into the air and shuffled backwards. Grinning upwards at the falling specks, she wagged her tail and then turned her gaze onto the gathered pack. “With that, let us make this a celebration to remember!”

Nadia hopped to the side, dismissing the ceremony and inviting the Chandorians to mingle and play. Two freshly killed elk lay in the grass nearby for mouths to feast upon. The leader stepped amongst the crowd with smiles tossed to each wolf, tail still beating a rhythm behind her.

TADITA

Watching quietly as the two made their vows Tadita lowered her head, closing her eyes for a moment. Mostly everyone seemed quite happy for the two, not saying she wasn’t either, just a flash of jealousy flashed in her eyes, things where falling into place for them while tadita felt her life was falling to pieces. Tadita… stop, This is for them, not you She scolded herself again, standing up from under the tree to congratulate the new couple, cautiously approaching them.

“C-Congradulations you two!” the tawny furred she-wolf stammered, wagging her tail as she awkwardly shuffled her paws. “I hope you two find happiness within each other” She smiled,b but shook her head How awkward, they’re going to see you as a fool She lowered her gaze, an apologetic look in her eyes as she backed off. Wandering over to the freshly caught elk carcasses, leaning down to begin the feast.

Just stay out of everyone’s way, then you won’t bother anyone Tadita sighed, eyeing everyone around her cautiously, panting a bit as she lifted her maw from the carcass before letting out a wide yawn, her stomach felt full and exhaustion crept onto her features as she went to lay back down.

KAIJA

As the celebration began and the pack began to disperse into the space of the get-together, Kaija remained at the edges cheerfully, having made sure to murmur her own personal congratulations to the newlyweds. It truly was a beautiful day for Chandor; even more beautiful than the everyday sort that seemed to cling to the pack perpetually. There would always be a need for more happiness.

She sought out her own little place to sit and relax, to watch the wolves that had become her family uplift one another in cheer. Even shy, quiet Rhys seemed to be eager to take part in the gathering, and that alone was enough to bolster the happiness flowering in the Owl’s chest.

What a wonderful family to be in.

RHYS

She could not help but let her heart soar as the pair exchanged their vows. Her eyes softened as she listened in awe. Kaija eloquently brought the ceremony to a close, and Nadia stepped forward to lead them into celebration. So wrapped up in the moment, she had almost forgotten about that part. Swallowing, she rose to her paws and began to make her way through the crowd. She was not sure what she wanted to do first.

Instantly she sought familiarity, but Renyk’s gloomy presence remained at the back of her awareness. Peach-colored eyes fluttered towards him, blinking curiously to see what he would do next. Would he remain for the festivities? Celebrate? Admittedly, she did not see him as the type… but perhaps she was misinterpreting. After all, she was not necessarily the best judge of character. And Renyk did take time out of his day to escort her through the woods when she needed to collect decorations for this very wedding. She should try to get to know him better before she jumped to conclusions based on first impressions and general appearances.

So she began to make her way towards him, greeting those she passed cheerfully.

“S-so!” She chirped nervously as she approached. “W-what do you think?” She asked him, nodding to the entirety of the display. Perhaps he might feel pride considering he helped participate in creating the atmosphere—even if he was just offering protection while she collected the materials.

KAEN

The formalities of the ceremony concluded, Kaen followed Nadia's example and tossed her pile of petals to the wind. Her tail thumped cheerfully against the ground as she watched the proper festivities begin, slowly making her way towards the feast. She would've gone to congratulate Navindru personally, but she wanted to give him time to celebrate with his beloved. She was in no rush to eat, looking around to see who else was taking part in the festivities, and if perhaps there was someone she could join and chat with before digging into the elk.

NAVINDRU

He would’ve remained pressed close to Daya had they been alone, but the crowd and the excitement pulsing through the air pulled him back after a lengthy moment. His expression stretched a delighted grin as he glanced from the dark she-wolf to the wolves gathered around them, tail wagging. Following Kaija’s conclusion, their Alaka’i turned the ceremony into festivities. Navindru felt himself relax slightly as the attention drifted away from him and his new mate.

He shook petals off his head and flicked an ear, chest swelling as he took a second to admire the deep brown she-wolf next to him. Before he could speak the sound of steps drawing closer made him turn, ears propping up with pleasure to see Tadita. Her awkward praise was no less warmly given, and Navindru beamed back at her. “Thank you!” He bowed his head in return as she shuffled back, partially puzzled by how uncertain she seemed. His gaze flicked around again; the presence of friends bringing another rush of joy.

To his surprise, he felt rather hungry. Yet the thought of eating didn’t sound all that enticing, perhaps due to leftover nerves. He shuffled forwards, whisking his tail gently against Dayanara to let her know he was moving. He neared the two elk carcasses but didn’t move closer than a few lengths. A blue-grey pelt in his peripheral made him turn with a grin. “Kaen!”

RENYK

It was happy, flower petals were tossed into the air, an act that Renyk did not understand, and the ceremony was over. It hadn’t escaped his attention that a few others seemed subdued, to say the least. But the two mated wolves were happy, and he supposed that was really all that mattered.

He shook out his thick fur, which was starting to fall out in clumps, and as he turned, he was faced with the familiar little brown wolf, Rhys. He looked over at the other wolves again, but he wasn’t really sure what he thought.

“Strange,” he said. “Why do you throw petals?” He asked her. She had told him about decorating and that still made no sense to him, throwing petals made even less sense.

RHYS

She recoiled as he gave his pelt a rough shake, sending loose fur flying around them. She almost sneezed, but suppressed it with a squeaky snort so not to offend him. His question was not a surprise to her, after all, he seemed puzzled by any creative culture he encountered. She gave a bubbly laugh, lifting a paw to wipe her nose.

"I dunno!" She exclaimed after the small fit of giggles. "Does it have to have a point or purpose? It's just PRETTY, Renyk!" Sniffing, she wiggled her nose to shake off what remained of the tickling sensation. "You should go dance!" She nodded towards the crowd of wolves celebrating around the new couple. "You know: Have fun!" Her tail swished behind her, eyes offering encouragement. She was a terrible dancer, and preferred to admire her packmates from afar. She would disappear to practice her own skills, away from prying and judging eyes.

KAEN

Hearing Navindru's voice calling to her, Kaen turned and trotted to her friend, grinning widely. The joyful energy of the event had her struggling to keep her tail still as she greeted him. "Navindru! Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!" She gave him a playful nudge. "May you and Daya have many seasons of happiness together." Flicking her tail, Kaen gestured for him to follow. "Here, why don't you join me? I was about to dig into this elk. Since its your special day, you get first pick."

Trotting back over to the elk carcass, Kaen nudged it with her paw. She had helped to bring this feast down, along with the other Lynxes, and she was proud of their work. At the start of spring they had managed to bring down enough to feed the entire pack, and it would be a grand feast indeed.

SHIN’AN

The young she-wolf watched as her packmates offered congratulations to Navindru and Dayanara. They seemed so happy... Was romance really something so wondrous? It was intriguing, yet some part of her also labelled it foolish; surely being so enraptured in another would cloud one's judgement, no?

Questioning or not, that was no reason to lose her manners, however, so Shin'an rose to her paws and trotted towards the couple, her gait retaining its grace despite her apprehensive musing.

"I wish you congratulations," The black-and-orange female spoke with a delicate dip of her head, her voice pleasant and a degree softer than usual, though still holding its frank tone. "I assume merriment and fertile prosperity also."

Was that correct? Shin'an assumed so, surely that's what they wanted; a joyous life and many offspring? She let her eyes wander off in a subtle display of awkwardness, the last thing she had wanted was to present herself as silly, but she may have done just that.

DAYANARA

Daya released a held breath as the official ceremony came to a close and the festivities began. Despite having no issues with announcing her love and devotion for Navindru, the she wolf was not one who enjoyed being in the spotlight for too long, so she was grateful for the short and sweet exchange of vows. She gave a quick bow of her head to Kaija in a silent thank you before the crowd dispersed and new or old conversations began again.

Daya thanked everyone sincerely who stopped along the way to congratulate the new pair, starting up brief discussions before carrying on. Somewhere along the way, she had lost track of Nav, despite his gentle touch to make her aware that he had set off to satisfy his hunger. Even so, she assumed he had been pulled away by friends to chat, so any worries she had fluttered away. What lingered was a queasy ache in her stomach. Speaking before a crowd wasn’t her forte, and any nerves tended to linger for a while after the event had finished. So, in a hushed tone, she excused herself from the clearing to find a quiet place to ease her mind.

NAVINDRU

A warm smile was given to another approaching wolf, cream-and-orange Shin’an. He chuffed with pleasure, bobbing his head in response to her words. Then he swung around, brightly facing Kaen as she reached his side. His tail wagged furiously, ears folding back as the warm words washed over him. So much happiness! He could hardly contain it all. As she gestured towards the prey, he flicked his ears back up and licked his jaws in anticipation.

“Hah, thanks!” He ambled after her, closing the last few paces between them and the elk carcasses. The fresh scents made his mouth water already. He shot a warm look towards Kaen before slumping down next to the kill, tail beating the ground. Before he bit in, he cast a glance back around at the rest of the gathered Chandorians. Friends, family, acquaintances: all joined beneath the same homeland. A rush of nostalgia arose, but stronger now was the camaraderie he shared, and the new chapter he and Dayanara had opened together.

Home, together.

Description

NADIA

The air was crisp but not uncomfortably so. A wide blue sky, spotted with cumulus clouds, created the perfect atmosphere for the ceremony. Today was a special day, in more ways than one. The she-wolf stood perched on a small, flat rock by the shores of Lochlyn, looking out onto the open stretch of grass that was Lakefront’s pleasing view. Most of the pack was gathered below, milling about like many colored beetles. Nadia waited a minute longer, prepping her words in her mind for the seventeenth time.

“Wolves of Chandor!” She cleared her throat and stepped forwards, balancing on the rock with her tail upright. A smile stretched across her features, matching the gleam of her golden eyes. “We’re gathered here today upon the shores of Lochlyn for a grand celebration: the arrival of Spring, and the union of our own Dayanara and Navindru. My blessing goes to you both.” Her gaze found the pair amongst their packmates, both seeming to glow with shared joy. Nadia’s own heart swelled.

“Before we dance and dine, our new couple will take their vows here, in the sun’s warm light. But I won’t babble any longer; so, would you two step forwards?” The Alaka’i beckoned gently to both Navindru and Daya, then hopped off the stone with a wag of her tail. She glanced sideways, seeking out the familiar pelt of her Maika’i, Owl Totem Kaija. The dark-pelted lass would take the honor of leading the vows ceremony.

NAVINDRU

He was not so used to the attention, it was both nerve-racking and exciting all at once. Even now he was unable to keep still; constantly shifting weight from one paw to the other. Beside him, Dayanara stood, and he could tell she felt equally anxious and eager without even asking. Though he knew what was coming, he still started slightly as their Alaka’i offered for him and the dark brown she-wolf to approach the front.

Paws trod carefully through the grass as he made his way towards Nadia, ears pricking with intrigue. Her smile was contagious and he found himself grinning again, glancing from the leader over to Daya again. His tail gave a light wave of pleasure as he came to a stop, still kneading paws in the cool soil. The temperature was just right - not too cold, not too warm. Though there had been snow on the ground just weeks before, the Lynx Totem could feel the arrival of spring in the air.

“Thank you,” Navindru managed to add to his alpha, smoothing his ruffled fur. His heart thudded loudly, but when he met Daya’s eyes, everything eased once more.

DAYANARA

Daya released a shaky breath as she observed her fellow pack mates file into the area, hushed conversation filling the air. Confessing her love in front of Navindru was one feat, but this was on a whole new level. Her paws lightly tapped against the earth, still moist from the recent snow melt. She had never been good at speaking to others, let alone a whole crowd, so her respect for anyone who had the ability to do that spiked.

Her heart practically jumped out of her chest as Nadia’s voice rose above all the others, silencing any small talk. She rolled her lips inward as the mateship between herself and Navindru was mentioned, taking a quick glance around as a few eyes turned towards the pair. But then she found her companion’s chartreuse eyes, and all those nerves melted away, replaced with a toothy grin.

As he moved, she fell into step with him, walking at the same stride and pace. If one didn’t know any better, it may have seemed as though they had planned it. Once they had approached, Daya dipped her head in respect to her Alaka’i. “Thank you, Nadia.”

RENYK

Though the dark wolf showed himself for this summons, once he learned what exactly it was for he contemplated turning back the way he came. His throat felt tight with emotion, as if someone had their teeth clamped down over it. His chest ached. It was… beautiful, and he hated everything about it. This… ridiculous union. This lie that was love.

He recognized the looks in the eyes of the two for whom the ceremony was for, for he had been there once. Not in their exact place, for his former pack had been quite different, but he remembered happiness, and he remembered compassion, and how much she had loved life. Everything was beautiful to her, even though she was blind. He’d grown to wonder if he was blind and she was the one who could see, but she was dead now. She was gone. Returned to the earth. Like she’d never existed except for the dream-like memories that festered and oozed like an infected wound in his cold heart. Those memories should have made him happy, but they only made him sad, which turned quickly to anger.

Renyk took a step back, almost overwhelmed with the scene before him, but he held his ground. His expression, though tight, remained stony. He would not show weakness.

RHYS

She had been ecstatic to hear that two wolves were to be married, especially knowing that it was Daya and Nav, two wolves whom which she grown to care for dearly. She was so happy for them! The young Owl had never seen such a ceremony before, but had always dreamed of it. How wonderful it all sounded—the ideal fairytale. To find another to love and cherish, to tether yourself to someone who would be at your side forever, a promise that assured you would never be alone again.

Perhaps the she-wolf idolized the concept far too much, for in truth, she knew precious little about love. In the romantic sense, at least. She loved a great many of her packmates, but so far the romantic kind of love seemed to evade her. There might have been a time where she thought she cared for Akela in such a way, but alas… it was never meant to be. She had been but a child then, and in some ways, she still was. A child in an adults body seemed to describe her status best.

She lingered at the back of the crowd, though her eyes brightened when Kaija was mentioned. She stretched on her toes to try and see over the heads of her packmates, trying to catch a glimpse of her mentor. She wanted to observe and learn everything she could, for one day it might be her who lead Chandor’s lover’s in a bond that would solidify their bond for life. It was a serious matter, not one to be taken lightly.

But as she stretched her head above the crowd, her gaze found another grey pelt that did not belong to the kind and gentle Kaija. Renyk. He was like a black sheep amongst wools of white, his presence radiating dark energy into the otherwise joyous atmosphere. Why did he always look so… angry? Haunted? Miserable? There were many words she could use to describe him, but never could she settle on one. The wolf was an enigma, one she was not sure she wanted to delve into. She had to trust Nadia’s judgement in his character and her decision to have him live here amongst the peaceful Chandorians.

She slowly pulled her gaze from the dark wolf, returning to her search for Kaija.

TADITA

Swiveling her head around to look at the others who had arrived, everyone seemed so excited, a little disappointment or grumbling from some… well… mostly Renuk so far. But a wave of depression washed over her as well, thinking back to her previous mate, the father of the pups that were ripped away from her before she could even see them no need for that thought… snap out of it, its their time for attention not yours. The tawny furred female shook her head, as if clearing her mind and forced her tail to wag to cover up any indication that she was upset.

The golden shewolf slowly stood up, looking for someone to cling too while the event drew closer, not wanting to be the awkward one in the back of the group. It was a day for celebration for a new couple, so Tadita tried her best to keep quiet and let the ones who deserved the attention soak it in.

In the end, The shewolf decided to lay down under the shade of a tree, closing her eyes for a moment while she waited for the event to start, not really interested in getting in anyone's way.

SHIN’AN

As Shin'an watched the bustling of her excited packmates, part of her wondered why she'd stayed longer than the initial announcement. Oh, the simple answer was obvious; she had been raised to be courteous and thus felt duty-bound to offer congratulations to the new couple, but beyond that, she wasn't sure. The rust-coloured she-wolf knew that if she made her presence known, she would have to remain present for the duration of the celebration - it would be rude to just leave, after all - and that was something she wasn't too keen on.

Shin'an had distanced herself from most other pack events, her antisocial nature was no secret to Chandor, she wasn't self-conscious about being alone in the slightest, and nothing had changed within her to make the small female desire to mingle now.

Yet, here she was.

Perhaps she was simply curious? Yes, yes that must be it, for when she gazed over the cheerful smiles, the ubiquitous glee, and the loving gazes shared by Navindru and Dayanara she felt... Nothing.

The topic of romance was something that rarely, if not ever, crossed Shin'an's mind. Mateship out of love wasn't common where she came from - in fact, mates weren't exactly prevalent in general. Not to mention she had never felt the desire to search for a mate, nor harboured any form of strong feelings for anyone outside of her brother and therefore had never had any incentive to think too deeply about the subject on a personal level, either.

I suppose simply observing the occasion would not affect the proceedings, Shin'an mused as she took seat at a relatively close, yet still impersonal space from the gathering.

KAEN

Today was a cause for celebration. Kaen was fully decorated with a crown of flowers rested atop her head, crafted out of the first spring blooms. She had known Navindru for a while now, and while it wasn't nearly as long as others in the pack, it would take a blind wolf not to notice he and Dayanara had chemistry. Kaen wasn't entirely well versed on the ways of romance and love, but she knew enough to recognize a couple blooming. Above all she was glad to see them making it official, and that they were happy together. There was little more heartwarming than witnessing the love and happiness of others. Perhaps one day she would be not only a lynx, but a part time babysitter.

Maybe one day she could stand on that rock, gazing into the eyes of one who loved her just as much as she loved them. But there was so much time to consider that later. The moment belonged to Daya and Nav, who looked so nervous and joyful to be so close to exchanging vows. Kaen's seat was up near the front, a small pile of petals at her paws. She would toss them into the breeze when the mateship was official.

Kaija

As bid, the dark pelt of Kaija stepped forward, eyes shining with a genuine happiness for the couple. She dipped her muzzle in respect to their Alaka’i, the same cheer measured in her smile.

The Maika’i turned to address the pack but, more importantly today, Navindru and Dayanara, who had chosen to be united under the laws of the pack. Perhaps not a life for Kaija— but that wouldn’t stop her from doing all she could to ensure they had every chance to be happy together.

“The words of those so deeply in love here shall take wing above the rest of us today,” Kaija began, voice clear and steady. “—for there is no greater expression of family and devotion for two wolves joining as one, and no greater foundation to help Chandor thrive.

“If either of you have prepared words for one another, you may deliver them now.”

NADIA

Her tail thumped the ground in blatant joy, if such was not already obvious by her wide smile. The soft mumbles of gratitude from both Daya and Navindru made her heart swell, and she merely nodded warmly in reply. Her golden gaze swept across them to the gathered pack, picking up a variety of emotions scattered between the wolves. Her expression mellowed briefly, and she shifted to move out of the way, giving the center of attention over to her Maika’i.

The young auburn female shot a grin back to Kaija as she took a seat next to Kaen, scooping a pawful of petals from a larger pile up front as well. She gave the blue-grey she-wolf an excited smile before facing the front, ears pricking up as her beta began to speak.

NAVINDRU

The sounds faded into the background briefly as he stared, focused and devoted, at Dayanara. He couldn’t keep from grinning, a mixture of bliss and nervousness filling him with constant energy. Flexing paws in the soft soil, he blinked back to reality and briefly tore his eyes from his beloved to watch as Kaija approached.

He swallowed, licking his creamy muzzle. The tip of his tail whisked gently in response to the Maika’i’s words, and he drew in a sharp breath before turning to face the dark brown she-wolf again. His chest swelled with bubbling joy as he met her sunshine gaze. He nearly lost his tongue for a second. That would have been awkward. He was already afraid he was going to stumble over sentences - but there was no time to worry now.

“Daya,” He started softly. “My light, my world.” He breathed, his voice growing louder. He took a step towards her, leaving their noses but inches apart. “My heart is yours; to you I pledge myself. I will be at your side for eternity, I promise you that. You are everything, and I will always love you, no matter if the world turns upside down.” He dipped his head briefly, flushing with warmth. Perhaps speeches weren’t his strength. All that mattered was that he meant those words with every part of his being.

The tawny male lifted his gaze again, ears twitching sheepishly and his smile unwavering.

DAYANARA

Her heart fluttered as the Owl who would be leading the ceremony took her place beside the pair, the moment of her and Navindru exchanging their promises mere seconds away. Daya moved her eyes towards Kaiju and offered a quick dip of her head in a silent greeting before her voice filled the air.

Daya’s eyes never once left Navindru’s as he spoke, dancing with joy. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks as she basked in his words, tail tapping the earth to a gentle beat. She took a slow breath as his vows came to an end, and it was time for hers to begin. The chocolate she-wolf took a second to compose her nerves before she spoke.

“Navindru, my home, my heart. I promise to protect you, to cherish you, and to love you from now until the end of my days. I promise to be honest, kind, patient, and forgiving with you. No matter where life takes us, I will forever remain at your side.”

She closed the distance between them once she had finished, pressing her nose to his and pulling her lips up into a big, goofy grin. Affection and joy bubbled within her and caused her paws to “dance” while her eyes remained locked on her partner in front of her. She had completely forgotten about all the eyes on them then, only focused on the two of them and the love that blossomed.

KAIJA

As the two beautiful vows came to an end, the energy seemed, at least to Kaija, to remain; such emotion stretched between the two wolves, lending a very real testament to what this joining meant to them and, in connection, to the pack.

“With promises made of your own hearts and minds, you, Dayanara, and you, Navindru, are now joined as one here before us all and before the domain. Your connection is strong and steadfast; may your marriage be forever and unburdened, open and devoted.” With a bow of her head, Kaija took a step backwards, the combined gestures giving the newlyweds permission to do more than simply touch noses and dance in place.

Her duty done, the Maika’i turned to surrender the stage to Nadia, her eyes shining in glee for the two wolves.

NADIA

She was on her paws as soon as Kaija had finished speaking, tail aloft with joy and eyes glittering. The happiness in the air was tangible, or so it seemed, and Nadia felt like any fast motion would carry her straight into the sky. Declining that temptation, in case she suddenly sprouted wings, the young Alaka’i stepped back to the center of attention, gaze flicking warmly across the newly-mated pair and the rest of her wolves.

Beaming, she faced Dayanara and Navindru. “Chandor welcomes you in your togetherness! May happiness follow your pawsteps.” With one deft movement, Nadia flicked her pile of petals into the air and shuffled backwards. Grinning upwards at the falling specks, she wagged her tail and then turned her gaze onto the gathered pack. “With that, let us make this a celebration to remember!”

Nadia hopped to the side, dismissing the ceremony and inviting the Chandorians to mingle and play. Two freshly killed elk lay in the grass nearby for mouths to feast upon. The leader stepped amongst the crowd with smiles tossed to each wolf, tail still beating a rhythm behind her.

TADITA

Watching quietly as the two made their vows Tadita lowered her head, closing her eyes for a moment. Mostly everyone seemed quite happy for the two, not saying she wasn’t either, just a flash of jealousy flashed in her eyes, things where falling into place for them while tadita felt her life was falling to pieces. Tadita… stop, This is for them, not you She scolded herself again, standing up from under the tree to congratulate the new couple, cautiously approaching them.

“C-Congradulations you two!” the tawny furred she-wolf stammered, wagging her tail as she awkwardly shuffled her paws. “I hope you two find happiness within each other” She smiled,b but shook her head How awkward, they’re going to see you as a fool She lowered her gaze, an apologetic look in her eyes as she backed off. Wandering over to the freshly caught elk carcasses, leaning down to begin the feast.

Just stay out of everyone’s way, then you won’t bother anyone Tadita sighed, eyeing everyone around her cautiously, panting a bit as she lifted her maw from the carcass before letting out a wide yawn, her stomach felt full and exhaustion crept onto her features as she went to lay back down.

KAIJA

As the celebration began and the pack began to disperse into the space of the get-together, Kaija remained at the edges cheerfully, having made sure to murmur her own personal congratulations to the newlyweds. It truly was a beautiful day for Chandor; even more beautiful than the everyday sort that seemed to cling to the pack perpetually. There would always be a need for more happiness.

She sought out her own little place to sit and relax, to watch the wolves that had become her family uplift one another in cheer. Even shy, quiet Rhys seemed to be eager to take part in the gathering, and that alone was enough to bolster the happiness flowering in the Owl’s chest.

What a wonderful family to be in.

RHYS

She could not help but let her heart soar as the pair exchanged their vows. Her eyes softened as she listened in awe. Kaija eloquently brought the ceremony to a close, and Nadia stepped forward to lead them into celebration. So wrapped up in the moment, she had almost forgotten about that part. Swallowing, she rose to her paws and began to make her way through the crowd. She was not sure what she wanted to do first.

Instantly she sought familiarity, but Renyk’s gloomy presence remained at the back of her awareness. Peach-colored eyes fluttered towards him, blinking curiously to see what he would do next. Would he remain for the festivities? Celebrate? Admittedly, she did not see him as the type… but perhaps she was misinterpreting. After all, she was not necessarily the best judge of character. And Renyk did take time out of his day to escort her through the woods when she needed to collect decorations for this very wedding. She should try to get to know him better before she jumped to conclusions based on first impressions and general appearances.

So she began to make her way towards him, greeting those she passed cheerfully.

“S-so!” She chirped nervously as she approached. “W-what do you think?” She asked him, nodding to the entirety of the display. Perhaps he might feel pride considering he helped participate in creating the atmosphere—even if he was just offering protection while she collected the materials.

KAEN

The formalities of the ceremony concluded, Kaen followed Nadia's example and tossed her pile of petals to the wind. Her tail thumped cheerfully against the ground as she watched the proper festivities begin, slowly making her way towards the feast. She would've gone to congratulate Navindru personally, but she wanted to give him time to celebrate with his beloved. She was in no rush to eat, looking around to see who else was taking part in the festivities, and if perhaps there was someone she could join and chat with before digging into the elk.

NAVINDRU

He would’ve remained pressed close to Daya had they been alone, but the crowd and the excitement pulsing through the air pulled him back after a lengthy moment. His expression stretched a delighted grin as he glanced from the dark she-wolf to the wolves gathered around them, tail wagging. Following Kaija’s conclusion, their Alaka’i turned the ceremony into festivities. Navindru felt himself relax slightly as the attention drifted away from him and his new mate.

He shook petals off his head and flicked an ear, chest swelling as he took a second to admire the deep brown she-wolf next to him. Before he could speak the sound of steps drawing closer made him turn, ears propping up with pleasure to see Tadita. Her awkward praise was no less warmly given, and Navindru beamed back at her. “Thank you!” He bowed his head in return as she shuffled back, partially puzzled by how uncertain she seemed. His gaze flicked around again; the presence of friends bringing another rush of joy.

To his surprise, he felt rather hungry. Yet the thought of eating didn’t sound all that enticing, perhaps due to leftover nerves. He shuffled forwards, whisking his tail gently against Dayanara to let her know he was moving. He neared the two elk carcasses but didn’t move closer than a few lengths. A blue-grey pelt in his peripheral made him turn with a grin. “Kaen!”

RENYK

It was happy, flower petals were tossed into the air, an act that Renyk did not understand, and the ceremony was over. It hadn’t escaped his attention that a few others seemed subdued, to say the least. But the two mated wolves were happy, and he supposed that was really all that mattered.

He shook out his thick fur, which was starting to fall out in clumps, and as he turned, he was faced with the familiar little brown wolf, Rhys. He looked over at the other wolves again, but he wasn’t really sure what he thought.

“Strange,” he said. “Why do you throw petals?” He asked her. She had told him about decorating and that still made no sense to him, throwing petals made even less sense.

RHYS

She recoiled as he gave his pelt a rough shake, sending loose fur flying around them. She almost sneezed, but suppressed it with a squeaky snort so not to offend him. His question was not a surprise to her, after all, he seemed puzzled by any creative culture he encountered. She gave a bubbly laugh, lifting a paw to wipe her nose.

"I dunno!" She exclaimed after the small fit of giggles. "Does it have to have a point or purpose? It's just PRETTY, Renyk!" Sniffing, she wiggled her nose to shake off what remained of the tickling sensation. "You should go dance!" She nodded towards the crowd of wolves celebrating around the new couple. "You know: Have fun!" Her tail swished behind her, eyes offering encouragement. She was a terrible dancer, and preferred to admire her packmates from afar. She would disappear to practice her own skills, away from prying and judging eyes.

KAEN

Hearing Navindru's voice calling to her, Kaen turned and trotted to her friend, grinning widely. The joyful energy of the event had her struggling to keep her tail still as she greeted him. "Navindru! Congratulations, I'm so happy for you!" She gave him a playful nudge. "May you and Daya have many seasons of happiness together." Flicking her tail, Kaen gestured for him to follow. "Here, why don't you join me? I was about to dig into this elk. Since its your special day, you get first pick."

Trotting back over to the elk carcass, Kaen nudged it with her paw. She had helped to bring this feast down, along with the other Lynxes, and she was proud of their work. At the start of spring they had managed to bring down enough to feed the entire pack, and it would be a grand feast indeed.

SHIN’AN

The young she-wolf watched as her packmates offered congratulations to Navindru and Dayanara. They seemed so happy... Was romance really something so wondrous? It was intriguing, yet some part of her also labelled it foolish; surely being so enraptured in another would cloud one's judgement, no?

Questioning or not, that was no reason to lose her manners, however, so Shin'an rose to her paws and trotted towards the couple, her gait retaining its grace despite her apprehensive musing.

"I wish you congratulations," The black-and-orange female spoke with a delicate dip of her head, her voice pleasant and a degree softer than usual, though still holding its frank tone. "I assume merriment and fertile prosperity also."

Was that correct? Shin'an assumed so, surely that's what they wanted; a joyous life and many offspring? She let her eyes wander off in a subtle display of awkwardness, the last thing she had wanted was to present herself as silly, but she may have done just that.

DAYANARA

Daya released a held breath as the official ceremony came to a close and the festivities began. Despite having no issues with announcing her love and devotion for Navindru, the she wolf was not one who enjoyed being in the spotlight for too long, so she was grateful for the short and sweet exchange of vows. She gave a quick bow of her head to Kaija in a silent thank you before the crowd dispersed and new or old conversations began again.

Daya thanked everyone sincerely who stopped along the way to congratulate the new pair, starting up brief discussions before carrying on. Somewhere along the way, she had lost track of Nav, despite his gentle touch to make her aware that he had set off to satisfy his hunger. Even so, she assumed he had been pulled away by friends to chat, so any worries she had fluttered away. What lingered was a queasy ache in her stomach. Speaking before a crowd wasn’t her forte, and any nerves tended to linger for a while after the event had finished. So, in a hushed tone, she excused herself from the clearing to find a quiet place to ease her mind.

NAVINDRU

A warm smile was given to another approaching wolf, cream-and-orange Shin’an. He chuffed with pleasure, bobbing his head in response to her words. Then he swung around, brightly facing Kaen as she reached his side. His tail wagged furiously, ears folding back as the warm words washed over him. So much happiness! He could hardly contain it all. As she gestured towards the prey, he flicked his ears back up and licked his jaws in anticipation.

“Hah, thanks!” He ambled after her, closing the last few paces between them and the elk carcasses. The fresh scents made his mouth water already. He shot a warm look towards Kaen before slumping down next to the kill, tail beating the ground. Before he bit in, he cast a glance back around at the rest of the gathered Chandorians. Friends, family, acquaintances: all joined beneath the same homeland. A rush of nostalgia arose, but stronger now was the camaraderie he shared, and the new chapter he and Dayanara had opened together.

Home, together.