Wedding Crashers

Breeze

I had messed up. I had messed up again. Ice Weaver had been furious with me, not that I could blame her. She had been putting up with me for a while; I was surprised she tolerated me for so long. But ruining that cloak she had been meticulously working on for her niece had been the last morkal nut. I felt terrible, it was turning out to be a grand garment; Ice Weaver had been working on it for the better part of a cycle. I can't believe I somehow got the fibers entangled into the loom I was working on. If only I had realized before it got completely entangled into the simple scarf I was weaving and been completely ruined.

Ice Weaver was not known to be the nicest, though her patients ran deep. To put up with me it had to, but her fury, when I destroyed a cycle's worth of work, was mortifying. I had run out in terror, as she shouted never to step back into her den.

I knew it would end this way, I had been refused from every apprenticeship I had tried: Potter, Bonecrafter, Carver... I had even been rejected from the Harvesters, though they were more gentle with their rejection, saying I just didn't have the knack for spotting harvestables. And it goes without saying that the Healers wouldn't even consider me.

I am useless. I should just go away. Clearly, there isn't anything I have to offer the village.

I'm not sure I actually thought about it. I just started walking, walking away from the village. I have no intention of returning. I don't know what will happen to me, but, likely, I will probably die. This is for the best, they don't need me dragging them down...

"???" I think I heard a rustle in the trees. The hair on my tail began to stand up.

"Oh, hey there." The sudden thoughts cause me to jump out of my skin. Looking around, I spot one of my tribesmen looking down at me from a tree. "I don't usually see people this far out, well except for Hunters."

My body curls in; I have been caught. "Don't worry, I won't rat you out or anything. I've done plenty of unauthorized exploring as well." Jumping down from the tree and landing softly on the ground, he continues, "have you ever come out this far before?"

"No... Never." My cheeks and ears burn, abash at being caught, but he doesn’t show any notice.

"First time, then?" He tilts his head, but I can’t bring myself to respond. "Well, do be careful. It can be dangerous, though you will usually be okay."

With the pleasantries finished, he began slumping against the tree he had just jumped down from crossing his arms, suddenly looking haggard. I was worried that he was going to stop me, but that didn't seem to be the case; My breathing began to slow. "You are the God of Clear Skies' Chosen, right? I believe it was Indigo?" I ask.

"Yeah, yeah..." His hand waves dismissively. Did I say something to offend him? That would be just like me.

"Is that not right?"

"Tell me, if I am this God of Clear Skies' Chosen, why can't I even inspire someone to take up the mantle?" That was a confusing statement.

"W-What do you mean?"

"We only have one Priest here, and he is a foreigner." Is he a foreigner? I guess I had never thought about it. "We can't even generate any local ministers! If I am this God of Clear Skies Chosen, inspiring others to take up the cloth should be the least I can do, but I can't even accomplish that." He is really upset by this, and it is such a bizarre thing to be upset about. "The God of Clear Skies' Chosen? Clearly, people are mistaken."

"So there are things even the God of Clear Skies' Chosen cannot do?" I don't know why but I find this thought comforting.

"If it wasn't clear, I reject the idea of being the God of Clear Skies' Chosen. And yes, there are a lot of things I cannot do."

"But there are still lots of things you can do!" A surge of energy fills me; I want to offer him reassurance. "You can fly and build strange things, and don't you have two Apprenticeships??" That is unheard of. "God of Clear Skies' Chosen or not, you are clearly a miraculous individual!" Of course, I know of his accomplishments. He is something of a celebrity in the tribe.

"I'm not miraculous... But I suppose you are right." He sits up from against the tree. "I guess I should just accept the things I cannot do, and focus on what I can."

I don't know why, but I was happy, happy I had cheered him up. He straightens himself out, and takes a deep breath in and exhales out his troubles. "You know, it feels good to let that go." Indigo Looks over and I can feel him smiling at me. "Thanks for the sage advice." I don’t know what to say. Had I just given sage advice?

"You are... Breeze right? I remember you from the Kite's Klub (TM Pending)."

"Yes..." Is that how he thinks of it?

"It really is dangerous beyond here," he says with a concern in his tone. Was that there before?

"I know..."

"Let me take you back."

"...Okay." I no longer feel like running away.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you shouldn't explore, but when you do, just make sure you have competent companions."

I nod my head. I probably won’t be out "exploring" again. I feel a sudden calling...

Indigo

It's amazing how a seemingly random encounter can change your outlook. If I hadn't run into Breeze out there, I would still be sulking about that ridiculous project of finding an apprentice for Hailstone Priest. Thinking about it now, the idea that I could convince anyone into a role was ludicrous. And even if I could, if it was a role they would not have chosen on their own, would they have come to regret it? If so, that would be on me. She might have saved me from an irreconcilable mistake.

Well, in hindsight, it did completely take my mind off Moonlight Guardian. Now, once again, I found myself without a project, but I could find something else. In fact, The prospect was now exciting. There were so many options to choose from. It was then that I realized that I had fully gotten over my depression. It was like back in the day when I would recklessly roam into the third zone, not a care in the world. There was a new bounce in my step.

"Oh, Breeze!" I stumbled upon Breeze on my stop at the shrine of the God of Clear Skies. "I hadn't expected to run into you up here." In fact, finding any "not children" at the shrine was rare.

"Hi Indigo," she answered back, almost like she had been expecting me. "Thank you for your help the other day. If you hadn't shown up... I would have been lost." She looked more at ease today than when I ran into her in the forest, with her hand resting easily behind her back.

"I don't know about that. It was pretty much a straight shot back to the village. I'm sure you would have found your way." Now that I thought about it, she did seem out of sorts when I found her. Maybe she really was worried she wouldn't be able to make it back to the village.

"Haha," She giggled, putting a hand to her mouth. Huh... Not sure why that was funny.

"What brings you up here anyways?"

"Oh! Hailstone Priest has been gracious enough to take me in as an apprentice." There was an elation in her words.

"W-What?" It was as if she had started speaking English. Her statement was completely out of left field.

"I told him that I don't have much to offer, but he said all that was required was a love of and devotion to the Deity, and barring that, just a desire to serve was enough."

When I was going around making my recruiting pitch, Breeze was not on that list of potential candidates. I wonder how I missed her... It also seemed strange that Hailstone Priest would find an apprentice the day after I had given up on that quest, and with the very person that had convinced me to let it go. I cast a skyward glare.

"Well, I'm happy you found an apprenticeship," I said, still incredulous at this development. Guess it was still in my favor though.

"Hehe," She giggled again. Breeze was very giddy today. Was she always like this? Going by yesterday, I had her pegged as a more serious type. Guess she must really have been worried.

"Okay, old man. Time to uphold your end of the bargain!" I wasn't sure why I was so forceful. Maybe it was because it had been, by far, the most difficult task I have dealt with.

"I'm not that old, Indigo," Hailstone Priest said flatly.

I tucked my chin. "Really?" I guess I would just take his word for it. "Regardless, you have an apprentice. Time to uphold your end."

"...V-Very well." He massaged the back of his neck. As I left to continue my patrol, I found that he was pacing back and forth. Was he that anxious? I started to feel bad for enforcing his end of the bargain until I remembered that this was all for his sake! Well... and Lilac Governess's.

______________________________________________________________

Things moved quickly after that. As nervous as Hailstone Priest might have been, he wasted no time propositioning Lilac Governess. Being the village stand in Guardian, I may have arranged to be present while this event transpired.

I couldn't tell you exactly how it went down—they were using the Whisper—but I can say Lilac Governess nearly fell over when she came to the door and found him standing there—he actually had to catch her. After that, there was a short encrypted exchange that ended with Lilac Governess bouncing on her heels.

Thus began their courtship. It didn't take a genius to recognize that Lilac Governess had readily agreed. If there was any doubt, it was now clear that she had been pining for him for some time. I wondered why she hadn't taken the initiative. However, this was quickly accounted for, when you realized her duties made getting a spare moment very difficult. Still, he would visit her when the children were more or less left to their own devices, and would often stop by to pitch in and help. Dusk would inform me that things were less chaotic and more fun when he was around. I guess Hailstone Priest really was good with kids.

At this time, the plan of getting the older children to supervise the younger kites was starting to bear fruit. She couldn't leave them unattended, but she could give herself some breathing room. She would also inform me that she had her eye on some promising recruits as Governess apprentices. I was happy for her. Looked like things were finally looking up.

It was mid-summer when the two exchanged masks, it had only been two weeks, which is short for a courtship by any standard. I guess they had been having a kind of courtship long before it became official, one so clandestine that even they hadn't been aware of it.

Seeing as there was going to be a marriage, and that the Elder was responsible for officiating such ceremonies, Snowcap Elder gave me the lowdown on how marriages worked.

"I'm surprised they are getting married so soon after they exchanged masks, I thought engagements lasted much longer," I said.

"There is no set length, but usually between one and six moons is typical," the Elder answered. He would explain that basically, the engagement existed primarily to make all the necessary arrangements. This involved spreading the word, making living arrangements, and acquiring furnishings. There were probably other things, but you get the idea.

Lilac Governess and Hailstone Priest's wedding was scheduled to be at the beginning of winter. Hailstone Priest expressed frustration at how long it would take, and Lilac Governess conquered. Apparently, the wait was due to acquiring a residence. Lilac Governess lived at the Kite's Klub (TM Pending), while Hailstone Priest had been crashing at an elderly woman's den since he first sojourned—either place was unsuited for a newly married couple if you catch my drift.

There was, as previously mentioned, a shortage of unoccupied dens. So a new one needed to be commissioned. I personally oversaw its construction, even pitching in to do some of the gross boring.

"Wait, what about Mesa and Morning-Sun Hunter's engagement? They have been engaged for cycles now."

"That is a special case. People usually wait until they have a role name before they get married. While this isn't strictly necessary, they have decided to follow the traditional path." Okay, that made sense, though Mesa was an adult by any chronological standard; the Yutsuukitsuu were nothing if not sticklers for tradition.

"You know, this will be the first marriage I've seen." Now that I said it, it did seem strange. 9 years of life and I'd not witnessed one wedding?

"That is because there hasn't been a wedding in some time," the Elder said glumly.

"Really? Isn't that like... a problem?" Because of Yutsuukitsuu policy—you can't date fellow tribesmen—out-of-wedlock births were mostly unheard of.

"Well, we have been having a dry spell of sojourners for the last several years." He shrugged. "This does happen sometimes, but it will pick back up eventually." Let's hope so. There is nothing worse than legions of horny males with no outlet.

"Well, what if it doesn't?" I said, being the eternal pessimist I am.

"I would imagine we would have an increase of tribesmen leaving on their own sojourns." Ah, that makes sense.

As for the ceremonies themself, these were not big shindigs, well not usually. Since this would be the first in some time, it would probably warrant some pomp and circumstance. I know I said way back when that they were not really pomp and circumstance people, but they would still come out to witness important milestones.

___________________________________________________________

"What do you mean you are taking a vacation?" I was flummoxed when Mesa announced his intention to take some time off, and even the Elder was caught flat-footed.

"Nothing too long, about a week I would venture." He said it like it was already decided, but in truth, since he was an apprentice, he would need Snowcap Elder to sign off on it.

"It's not like I have a problem with it, but what are you doing that you need to formally request 10 days' absence?" Snowcap Elder said. I could understand his confusion. If an adult didn't feel like working, he just wouldn't work and that was the end of it. This might happen for any number of reasons, including just needing a break, but it wasn't something you announced in advance.

"I am going on a trip with Morning-Sun Hunter, take some time for just the two of us. She has shown interest in seeing the mountains, so I was going to take her there." The region the Two Trees occupied was boxed in by mountain ranges on both sides. The range to the east was closer, maybe 100 miles away.

"Isn't that kind of far for a week-long trip?" I remarked. If you just went there and back, you would need to clear 20 miles a day.

"I'm not as unfit as you seem to think, Indigo." It's true, I didn't think much of his physical prowess. "And Morning-Sun Hunter can clear a lot of ground as well."

"Well, okay then. I wish you a pleasant trip." Guess I would be picking up his workload for a bit. "When are you leaving?"

"After this conversation."

"...What!?"

"Why such alarm?"

"I don't know. Isn't that kind of... short notice?"

"Is it? What were you expecting?"

"I don't know..." I suppose this was in line with the Yutsuukitsuu's lack of long-term planning. However... "Haistone Priest and Lilac Governess's wedding is in a couple days. I would think you would at least wait until after that."

"I've seen other weddings; they are not difficult to handle."

"Yeah, but don't you want to see them get married?"

"I don't really know either of them." Mesa crossed his arms.

"It will be fine, Indigo." The Elder cut back in. "There really isn't much to performing a wedding, logistically at least.

"Yeah, but isn't everyone attending?" This would be the first wedding in some time.

"Why would you think that?" The Elder gave me a puzzled look. "I imagine there will be a large turnout this time, but most of the tribe will not be in attendance."

"Oh..." I guess weddings were not a big deal. "Well, I guess I'll see you in a week then, Mesa."

"...Yes." He angled towards the door, doubtless to make his exit. Before he stepped through the threshold, he turned his head back and cast a wayward glance that I couldn't quite place. "Farewell, Indigo."

The wedding of Lilac Governess and Hailstone Priest was grand, at least by Yutsuukitsuu standards. As I had predicted, there was a large turnout. However, you could argue that was because Lilac Governess had an outsized impact on a large number of people due to her role. Needless to say, all of the Kite's Klub (TM Pending) were in attendance.

As for the backdrop, it was quite the vista. It was a mild winter night with a healthy coating of freshly fallen snow, with just the faint glow of evening sun casting a red hue over everything. It gave me a distinctive impression of Christmas.

As for the actual ritual, it was similar to what you would expect. The couple would stand before all the assembled witnesses, with the Elder as minister... Well, in this case, more like the bureaucrat at the courthouse; he just asked if they agreed to get hitched. No long speeches, no platitudes, no sage advice, just sign on the dotted line, essentially. Well, there was one more thing actually.

"Very good, you may return the masks to seal this union," Snowcap Elder prompted—the equivalent of "you may kiss the bride.” Both Hailstone Priest and Lilac Governess removed their masks and for a long while they just gazed into each other’s eyes. I imagined they were communicating using the Whisper. For a moment, I felt a flutter in my chest and thought this must be similar to how Dawn feels when absorbing the secondhand romance.

After that long while, they handed the masks back to their original owner and placed them upon their heads. There was no kiss—I had been expecting one—but this ritual felt more compelling. The Yutsuukitsuu were far from grandiose in their customs, but they were packed full of meaning, unlike the superficial grandeur that I had grown accustomed to in another life.

There was also one more thing. The masks looked different now. I was sure of it. There were subtle differences to them like they add a little bit of their own personality to the mask, kind of like how they would be adding a little bit of themselves to each other. Truly, this was far from the shallow mating rituals of which I was familiar.

It was while I was appreciating this touching moment, that I caught a whiff of something unsettling. Something... Burning? I looked around and saw black smoke coming from the other tree, the North tree. Others in attendance had caught on as well, and the attention fell off the newly married couple in favor of alarm at this bizarre sight. And that was when the cry went out, "There are humans!"