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In this chapter, you get to know the family a little better.

***

The afternoon that was spent resting, playing and enjoying the pleasures of love, quickly came to an end and evening at last commenced. With the onset of dusk, the holiday’s festivities could finally begin. Before joining the celebration, however, the family migrated downstairs for dinner.

The lodge’s restaurant was large and mostly empty when they arrived, yet the kitchen staff were furiously busy, cooking and serving a bevy of aromatic, savory appetizers and entrees. During the Moon Dance, the restaurant dining room was virtually empty, because most families chose to enjoy their meals in the outdoor seating are instead. However, since 3 of the Bravewolf family members would be far from comfortable being forced to eat out in the cold, it was much better for the family to dine together in the warmth of the lodge, instead.

“Hey, Papa,” Kit cheerfully called, as he pulled a crabcake from a plate at the center of the table, “will everyone be able to celebrate if it keeps snowing like this?”

Night took a sip from a cup of steaming hot tea, then glanced out of a nearby window. Indeed, the snow hadn’t let up since it began to rain down from the sky that afternoon. If anything, it was coming down harder. “It’s alright.” Night replied. “Most of the people here thoroughly love the snow, so this will actually make the holiday even more enjoyable for them”

“Oh? Then, that’s good. I’m glad people will have fun.” he replied, taking a bite out of the appetizer.

Night smiled. “You are such a sweet cub to be worried about others, especially people you don’t even know.” Kit practically beamed with delight after being bathed in the light of his father’s praise. Seeing his young son so pleased made Night smile a little more, even though he was full of concern for him. “You know, you don’t have to go out, tonight. I know it’s going to be very cold for you.” he said.

“Can I try to stay with you for a little while, Papa?” the boy asked. “I wanted to try to ice skate with you again. I’ll try really hard not to get cold, again.” he promised.

“Kit, honey, of course you can.” he replied, warmly. “But, if you get cold, you have to tell me right away. I don’t want you overdoing it and pushing yourself too hard. This weather can be dangerous for you.”

“Especially for you, kitten.” Mhina added, as the child was terribly susceptible to respiratory illnesses. “We can’t afford to have you getting a chest infection way out here.”

“Okay.” he sighed.

“Don’t sound so miserable, little mouse.” Mhina cooed. “Just listen to your father and tell him when you start to get cold, alright?” He smiled and nodded his head at that. “That’s my cub.” she said. “Tod, what about you, do you want to go out in this blizzard?”

He sighed. “I’ll try. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to last, but I’ll try.”

“Don’t you overdo it, either.” said Night. “You may not have the medical issues your brother has, but overexposure is still something we have to keep in mind, as well.”

“Thanks, Night.” Tod replied. “But, you guys put up with the heat during the Sun Celebration, so I should be able to put up with the cold, too. OUCH” he yelped, looking to his side and the older brother that had smacked his head, Shade.

“Firstly,” Shade, the free-spirited wolf pup that had earlier been the topic of discussion, “that didn’t hurt. Secondly, that’s dumb.”

“What is?” Tod grumbled.

“The idea that you have to hurt yourself, or compete with others who love you to prove that you love them.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“Actually, that’s exactly what you said.”

“That’s not…” Tod started to protest, when Shade held up a finger to silence him.

“Just because we came to the beach, which was already near home, by the way, and were a little uncomfortable…I mean, there was an entire ocean of cold blue water to cool off in, but I digress…that doesn’t mean you should freeze yourself to show your appreciation or your love to people that love you.”

Tod regarded him for a second, staring into the bright leafy-green eyes that stared back at him. “Every once in a while,” the honey-eyed lion cub began, “you say something that actually makes sense.”

“That’s only because you don’t always listen. If you listened to me, your very loving big brother, all the time, then you would know that.” Shade replied, brushing his overly abundant black hair from his face.

“Shade, you’re so pretty.” Kit said, appreciatively.

“Oh, my!” Shade exclaimed, feigning bashfulness. With playful melodrama, he clutched his chest and fanned himself with his napkin as though he had suddenly become too hot for the room. “Why thank you, child. I receive your generous compliment with the humblest of regards.” he said demurely. “Allow me to repay your gallantry by giving you this gift.” he said, blowing a kiss to his younger brother.

Playing along, Kit caught the imaginary kiss and pressed it to his lips. He gasped loudly and slapped his palms to his cheeks, then pretended to faint by dramatically placing his forearm to his brow, shutting his eyes and slumping backwards in his seat.

“I have taught you well, young one.” Shade laughed.

Both Night and Tod pressed the palms of their respective hands to their brows, shook their heads and sighed, tiredly. Mhina and Blaze giggled, quietly, desperately trying to hide their amusement by covering their mouths with their napkins, seemingly wiping away nonexistent messes from their faces. Kit laughed merrily along with Shade, who had to pause to brush his hair away from his face, again.

Although he was the eldest of the 4 children, among his blood brothers, Shade was in the middle, below Night, but above Blaze. In wolf culture, it was customary that if a middle child was male, that child had to grow their hair out in the same manner that females did. Until he took a mate, or until another child was born into the family, he would have to let his hair to grow.

With his parents passed away, there was no chance that another child would be born. It would just be the three brothers, which meant that if he ever wanted to trim his long, straight, silken hair, he would have to wait until he took a mate. However, at merely 14 years of age, he was still a long way away from being able to wed. So, his hair, from the time that Blaze was born, at which point he became a middle child, all the way to the present, he had let his hair to grow without restriction.

At its current length, his midnight locks would trail on the ground behind him when left unfurled, so he kept it braided, just like the young females wolves did. Because of his lengthy hair, coupled with his natural, almost feminine beauty, Shade was often mistaken for a girl. His gender was so frequently mistaken that he kept a box under his bed filled with love letters from other boys, seeking his affection. …the box had overflowed ages ago.

“Shade, honey, do you want me to braid your hair before going back out?” Mhina asked.

“Yes, please.” he replied. “Thank you, Mama.”

“You’re welcome. I definitely don’t want you to trip out there.”

“Even if he tripped, there would be some dopey boy there to catch him.” Tod chuckled. “Did anyone else ask for your address after Mom and me left?”

The lovely young wolf tossed his hair back in the most flamboyant of ways and answered, “Several.”

Shade and Tod laughed at the situation, and quietly conversed about it amongst themselves while the rest of the family continued their table talk.

“Hey, Papa,” Kit said, “why don’t you and Blaze grow your hair?”

“Hmm…” Night mused, thoughtfully, as he pondered his son’s question. “I suppose I just like keeping my hair cut. This is generally how male wolves tend to look, so I guess I am just like them.”

“Oh. What about you, Blaze?” he asked, turning to his sand-colored brother.

“I just like looking like this because Night looks like this.” he answered.

“I think you look like your father.”

“Yup.” Blaze replied, proudly. “I look like Father, Shade looks like Mother and Night looks like them both since his eyes are purple, like Father’s.”

“But, he looks mostly like your mother, because he’s black and white all over.” Kit pointed out.

“But, he’s big and strong like Father.”

“Oh yeah.” Kit agreed. “Yup, Papa is like you mother and father put together.”

“Which is what all children are. “Mhina said with amusement. “Every child is their mother and father put together.”

“Oh, yeah.” Kit said with a smile. Slowly the child’s smile began to fade and it seemed that the wheels in his young head were turning. His expression became quite dismal.

“Kitten, what’s wrong?” Mhina asked with concern.

The boy looked at his mother, his large pale-blue eyes wide and somehow piteous. He gave a start, as though he were about to reply, but seemed to think the better of it. Instead, he plastered what could only be described as an obviously artificial smile on his face and shook his head.

Mhina looked at her child, holding his gaze and urging, without a word, for him to speak what was weighing upon his heart. After a few moments of being comforted by her lovingly maternal gaze, Kit found the resolve to speak what he was previously unwilling to speak.

“It’s just,” he began, quietly, “Papa and Shade and Blaze look the same and me and Tod look the same, but…” he said, allowing the thought to taper off. Mhina smiled.

“…but, no one looks like me.” she said, finishing the youth’s thought. Apologetically, he nodded his head. “And you’re worried about how that makes me feel.” she said, a statement rather than a question, to which the child nodded his head once more. “Oh, my little love…” she sang. “That doesn’t matter to me at all. In many ways, I prefer it like this.”

“Prefer it?” he asked.

“Yes.” she answered. “You are all my children, because I chose to love you and care for you all as a mother would. But also, I am your mother because you all accepted me and allowed me to call of you, my children. Every day, I know that I am truly blessed, because every day, you let me be a part of your lives. I am so grateful for that privilege. I love you boys so much and I always will. It’s because of my love for you, that I am glad I didn’t give birth to any one of you, because this way, you will never have to worry that I love one of you over the rest. You’ll never have to wonder, ‘Does she love her biological children more than me, her adopted son?’ Since none of you grew inside me, that thought will never enter your minds and you will never doubt that I love you all, equally.

“So, if I had to decide between growing a cub within me, or having 4 perfect cubs that have the peace of mind of knowing that their mother loves them just as much as she loves their siblings, well you can guess which choice I went with, right?” she said, smiling warmly at her sweet child.

“Aww, Mama…” Shade said, unexpectedly leaping up from his seat and over to Mhina, hugging her warmly. “Thank you.” he whispered.

“Me too!” Kit exclaimed, jumping from his seat and over to his mother to hug her as well, followed almost instantly by Blaze who did the same. The last to join the pile was Tod who leisurely walked over to the bunch and added his love to the top of the heap.

Night looked on with a heart swollen with love. This was his family and he couldn’t be prouder or happier to be a part of it. Mhina’s love for the boys spoke for itself, but it did his heart well to see the tender exchange, all the same. Her unbiased devotion to her children, children that she chose with her heart instead of her womb, meant so much to them and to him as well. Not every person would accept the lives of children that were not born of themselves, or at least from other members of their own family, but she did, without reservation. Children that didn’t share her blood and even children that didn’t share her species, all of them were hers and all of them she called, son.

***

The evening festivities were celebrated in reverent cheer. Music rang throughout the snow covered wood and lively dancing kicked up flurries of powdered snow around energetic feet. Children built snowfolk, played snow games and skated on the ice. Seers showed visions of futures, pasts and romances to those who sought them, while healers held demonstrations on the uses of tonics, healing herbs and other healing remedies to visitors that were interested. Sculptors gave demonstrations on pottery and woodcarving while weavers showed onlookers how to make dreamcatchers, bracelets, necklaces and charms.

Night and Mhina shared a courtship dance, while Shade taught Kit a festive lunar dance of joy. Tod sat with Blaze and watched the others swing and sway and dance their dances. Neither had any interest in performing a dance of any sort before a crowd of onlookers.

Later, the children learned how to make dreamcatchers and charms. Shade made a charm of love for Song, his sweetheart, and Tod made one for his special girl, Tess. Blaze and Kit made dreamcatchers for Night and Mhina while the parents were happy simply watching their children creating their crafts. But, it wasn’t before long when cold began to creep into the bones of the feline members of the family. Sleep began to hit on the youngest members of the family, as well, making any further outdoor activities unfeasible. It was time to call it a night.

Once again, Kit climbed up onto Night’s back and burrowed under his coat. Mhina and Blaze held hands as they walked back, while Tod and Shade walked ahead and chatted with each other as they all headed back to the lodge. Once the family made it back, they headed straight to the boys’ room.

Shivering and sleepy, the youngest member of the family needed a little help from his father to get undressed and into bed. Blaze fared a little better as he wasn’t at all cold. Still, he was very sleepy and unlike Kit, who got a lift to the room, Blaze had to walk. Now, he was even more tired than when they had started their return. Luckily, Mhina was there to get the pup situated and tucked into bed. Tod and Shade were fine on their own. With the room as warm as it was, Tod was quickly able to shake off the lingering chill of the outdoors.

With the children settled and taken care of, Night and Mhina kissed them goodnight and retired to their room.