Preparation

Bard didn’t know how long he had been there, but he was surprised by the meticulous measurements from the catfolk. Sen also had been measured, and they were moving all sorts of fabrics in front of her. Soon it was Bards turn and then they went back and forth.

Bard could see how much Sen wasn’t wanting this, but with some of the other dryads running the show, and with her father’s approval, there wasn’t much they could do. That was, until Kai refused to be calmed and had them come out. Bard was grateful for the distraction, as it allowed them a moment of escape.

However, as soon as they were with Kai, he kept whining. Bard looked about, and then realized why his friend had called for them so fervently. His coat was a mess. With a simple action, of nosing them together and then scratching at his neck, Bard became acutely aware of what he wanted.

Just like he and Sen were getting cleaned, and measured, Kai wanted to be cleaned and have his summer coat taken care of.

Bard tried to explain why that would be a challenge with the current situation, but Kai wouldn’t have any of it. Sen was the one who acquiesced to the plight once Bard explained. She preferred to have some reason to get out of the many requests for measurements and everything else that was coming. As she explained her reasoning, Bard felt it was a good thing too, it just bothered him that they would have even less rest now. However, Sen and Elvira had a different answer. They gathered the women who had little else to do and had them work on Kai, removing his shedding coat for the wedding. The piles of fur began to gather quickly, and so many commented how soft it was. Sen explained how Bard made blankets and other things, from which started a frenzy to collect it all.

However, before it was done, the catfolk returned and then split them up. Sen protested, but her people insisted the rest be done apart. Bard found eager catfolk shifting his clothes around. Some muttered about the filth he had collected on the journey and the abundance of shed fur that like to hide on him. He knew he needed a bath, but they hadn’t allowed him an opportunity to do so yet. Several other things were brought forwards, and Bard noticed how the catfolk talked with some of the nearby dryads in their native tongue. It pleased him to see that spreading. Even some of the dryads greeted him in human tongue. A few came up and asked to see his tokens, and seeing the number around his neck, they moaned. Most had one, a few had two. It was now becoming a competition to gather as many tokens as possible and learn about the world. Bard bit back his retorts. They were blessed to have five nearby who would teach them. Well, four. Protection didn’t like Defender’s children. It somehow paled to how much he had to travel and learn in order to get his. The catfolk took note of the tokens and seemed to converse about making them stand out with his wedding attire. He wondered just how much they were planning on embellishing this for profit. If only he could see Jamil now and dissuade him against this.

With the final measurements and basic draping done, Bard was excused. He briefly caught sight of Jamil, who exited the place Sen had been dragged off to. However, some of the women who had groomed Kai asked if they could keep his fur. They then fed him and kept him away from the catfolk and the location of Sen. For what end, Bard couldn’t discern.

The day began to draw to a close. Kai was busy shaking off the last few strands of fur that would escape. He looked far less patchy and seemed to carry himself with a bit of a strut.

Sen found him and greeted him before grabbing his hand.

“Let’s go get clean,” she chanted, and Bard chuckled at her enthusiasm. With her leading, they approached the outlet for the lake where she pushed him in, clothes and all. She jumped in after and then engaged in a mock water fight. Bard sputtered but joined in, till Kai came and shoved them around with his mass. They instead worked on helping him wash out the last of the shed and then turned to picking out the furs that were sticking to them.

This drew no small amount of attention, as passerby and those seeking water for their chores would watch before shaking their heads.

The next day, Bard was led away from Sen to the blacksmiths. A few dryads explained that as part of the tradition they place antler branches in the hair of the couple, but with his dead hair, it wouldn’t stay, so the humans offered to make him a crown with two antlers to mirror Elwood’s appearance. However, before they could finish gathering measurements, Elwood came and told them to make it of gold. It befitted his status as a higher ranked Elder.

“Higher ranked Elder?” Bard asked.

Elwood chuckled.

“I did tell you, you are my senior. You have nearly double the tokens I have. In olden days, a Dryad with more than twelve would be considered gold and a Dryad with more than seven was considered silver. Those with one are considered earth, and those with more are considered copper. At least, those are the closest words in the teka language. It doesn’t exactly translate over well,” He explained. Bard understood that in the catfolk culture those metals had value and their color was what set them apart in value, with gold being highest as it mirrored the color of sunlight and firelight. But to hear that dryads also had a similar system in ranking the metals, it made him a bit curious. However, after that, Elwood was asked to look over some things and left, while Bard was left to be fitted with the crown.

Simple wires were wrapped around his head to get sizes and shape. That was fitted to a larger metal that was cut to length and then shaped in the fire. After a good quench and much debating over size and shape of the antlers, it was mostly finished. With Bard’s attention being worn thin, they had him leave to work with the catfolk some more on his clothes. Apparently they missed a few measurements.

Amir found him next and brought him to Sen, who looked as worn out as him, if not a bit bored. He then guided them into the woods. Bard retrieved his old flute this time, hoping to have a brief bit of respite so he could join in with the elder’s unique music this time. Dryads were at the clearing and became unnaturally silent as they approached, they then excused themselves as Amir arrived. The girls waved to Sen, probably old friends, judging by her expression.

The trees surrounding the space seemed a bit different, though Bard couldn’t tell exactly why he felt that way.

Amir bowed and Bard heard the familiar clinking of tokens. Not his own or Sen’s but from Amir. It made him proud that more of the dryads had been working on receiving their own. He bowed before the elders with Sen in turn.

In short, they had gathered them to explain what the ceremony would be like. Late in the evening, with a feast and dance after. The humans and catfolk would be invited, however, it was not expected for them to participate in the dance, and some would likely retire early with their little children.

Bard was surprised that most of the ceremony was action based. A few words would be said by Sen’s grandfather as the sole surviving elder of all the dryads. None else had antlers and so the others, including Sen’s father, would be on the side.

They discussed how they would approach, including riding the white stag that had been brought, and Bard would ride with Kai. It was only fitting to include him, since he had carried them for that whole year.

As they left, some people greeted them. They didn’t seem to be there for wedding preparations, and it was shortly answered when they asked to speak with the chiefs and talk about the preparations against shades. Any playfulness was driven out of the conversation with the levity of the situation. The Dryads didn’t have experience with storm shades, and it was hard to fathom how dangerous those were, especially with the language barrier. Elwood had done his best to explain, but even he couldn’t grasp it. Sen was asked to explain and she and Bard shared what they could. The more they talked, the more the catfolk listened. Bard explained some things they were saying in the human language. And the catfolk discussed different building designs that frankly were hard to comprehend for both Dryad and human.

The talks went late into the night, and Bard asked what it would cost to have the catfolk help with building and planning these structures out. The price was not small, and it wasn’t something they could afford at this moment. Even with everything they had, trading wouldn’t be enough.

“If only we had caves,” Bard muttered. The humans looked at him with a complex expression.

“Are there caves?” Sen asked Amir in Asternum. Amir hesitated but nodded, drawing in Bard.

“They’re dark and full of shades, mostly unexplored and outside the border of what we have designated as Sal Shefa.” He answered. Bard was surprised at how some of the humans nodded, as if they really understood what he had said.

Suddenly, Kai let out a long howl, the kind he used to alert the humans of the shade invasion. It caused many to look on in panic, but others quickly gathered with sunstones in hand. With a clear sky, there wasn’t a threat of storm shades, but still.

Bard and Sen followed and met at the border. The pillars were bright and so was the space. Hardly a gap of shadow was present, but it helped that so many sunstones were brought to enforce it.

Elvira and Ruegar shooed them off, saying they would handle it from here, so the two could go get some rest. Bard and Sen thanked them and left, trying to get sleep, despite the commotion outside. Kai was tasked with guarding them, and even the Elders moved about, covering the land with their song. Bard figured this had happened before, which helped put his mind at ease.

The rest of the week was spent adjusting outfits, helping gather fish, and seeing people return with the game they caught. Sen enjoyed helping harvest the foragables from the wood, while Bard helped skin and prepare whatever they could from the animals. It would help provide items for trade or barter, and whatever didn’t sell, would help with their own livelihood.

At the end of the week, Bard and Sen went to the caves, many sunstones in hand and light sticks. The chiefs went with them along with some of the catfolk who were experienced in handling shades in tight spaces.

They mapped out most of the cave, and the catfolk offered some long-lasting sunstones to keep the place free from shades. The price however was too high, so bartering ensued. When Jamil appeared and saw Bard, he offered lower prices, which that catfolk balked and he scolded. Bard had brought the treasured silver herb in their time of need and had been ripped off. And they still wanted to rip him off even now? Jamil’s arguments persuaded the greedy cats, and they parted at a more reasonable price. Several smaller ones were also bought with the precious metals they could part with. These would be brought in while the bigger ones absorbed sunlight.

Bard watched as many things were prepared, but one thing remained, the threat of the storm shades. Even the wary catfolk had few options they could use against the things. Short of a sun temple, they didn’t have a way to drive them back.

Back at the village, the tales of their adventure were being circulated. Some were a bit exaggerated, but mostly Bard was confused how they had heard about some of the tales. The ones with the shaded elders he could understand as survivors told of what happened, and even he found himself interested in hearing what had happened as they crossed the desert and made their way here. But to hear them talk of elder watcher, and healer, even being driven there before arriving, it caught him off guard. Sen explained that she had told them, because their tale would be recorded symbolically on her dress. Bard was eager to see this, though he wished they didn’t exaggerate the tales. A year to get fifteen tokens was already a feat. Without Kai, it couldn’t be done by any other Dryad couple, even on horseback, or riding deer. Having to exaggerate the tales of the shades that surrounded them at watcher, and other places, well… it bothered him.

The next week brought in more fittings. The clothes were nearly finished, and as such, he hardly saw Sen during this time. His crown was nearly done. It took a few redos to make it so it didn’t slip around as he moved or looked around. A perfect fit was the only option to the smiths.

Bard found that the catfolk had bought up the fur from Kai and presented a large fabric with leaves and sun motifs. Apparently it was for him to wear on the wedding day, and Kai was very pleased once they fitted it.

The days kept on going and the fire pits were dug. Bard began to realize that all present would participate as he saw the dryads prepare the trees and changed them into a hall for eating, and a special canopy that had rounded branches that exuded an aura of elegance.

When he asked just how many were attending, he was shocked to hear it was nearly eight thousand. Four came from all the dryads, and three from the humans who had fled here. The remainder would be the catfolk that were on their way. Bard wondered if Kihana would come. He wasn’t sure he liked the size, but as Elwood had warned, it was a big deal.

Amir gathered him and Sen a few days before, the attire was fitted, and most things were prepared, however, he guided them through a tradition that asked very pointed questions about their expectations for family, home, and more. Bard found it amusing to see how Amir reacted to their answers. Father had given them the same advice and with each answer they gave, the old Dryad looked more at ease.

Finally, on the day before, Bard was asked if he could play some music throughout the wedding. He found the wording strange. Everything was going to happen in one day, but brushing that notion aside, he agreed, happy if he could join the elders.