“I’m aging.” Declan said simply. “My wife isn’t.”

(Excerpt of Sororate Chapter Four)

Just then all of the Tribal Elders stood up, which prompted the bridal couple to stand too, as did everyone else.

“You have the blessing of the Lokoti Wolf over your union. You may leave us to start your new lives together. Go with the blessing of your Tribal Elders.” Chiron announced.

Declan held me close, as we stood back and waited for everyone to finish congratulating the ‘newlyweds’ before we could.  I caught an expression of longing on his face, as we watched from afar the dressed-up couple greet the tribe together.  I started to wonder if it wasn’t just that he missed out on having a Joining Ceremony, but maybe it’s because he still felt like an outsider sometimes?   

My mate stuck out with his blonde hair and blue eyes against the majority of the Lokoti, with their black hair and brown eyes. There were a couple of members of the tribe who had black hair but whose eyes weren’t brown because they weren’t full Lokoti; like I wasn’t either.   

I inherited my dark blue eyes from my maternal grandparents.  My English grandmother had wavy, chestnut brown hair and bright blue eyes.  My grandfather was three-quarter Lokoti, as his grandmother had also been Caucasian; so he had the strong Lokoti Werewolf build and black hair, but he too had blue eyes.   Although there was a multi-cultural element to our tribe, Declan’s blonde hair still stood out.

Smilingly, I turned to my tall, strong, blonde-haired mate. “You look very handsome by the way, in your suit.”

“Really?”  He looked on, pleasantly surprised.

“Yup.”  I grinned. “A fancy black suit, suits you.”

“Yeah well, too bad my wife won’t let me wear a tie with it.”  He jested.

He was referring to the fact that every time he tried to put on this fashion accessory, I was quick to remove it.  With his thick neck thanks to his muscle bulk, it didn’t look right.  I also told him to keep his top button undone because if he didn’t, he could look like he had no neck in a collared shirt.

“You didn’t need a tie baby,” I leaned in to say in a sultry voice.  "You’re all man, so much so that the tie is jealous of you.”

A snicker escaped before he growled playfully, “Keep talking like that and you may find you won’t need clothes anymore, either.”

“Ah here we are, Uncle Declan and Aunt Bianca.”  A male voice interrupted.

The middle-aged but strong appearance of Wade Elm, came to stand before us.   He was a Lokoti Werewolf like his late grandfather, Stuart Elm had been.   I was close to the Elm family, not just because I was once married to one.  But because Grant’s older brother Ian, had been best friends with my father. 

He complained, “Look at you two; your relatives are born, marry and die of old age and you continue to look like you belong in a fitness commercial.”

“Wade.”  My mate greeted curtly, as he didn’t appreciate the Elm family humour.  “Why aren’t you dead yet?”

Hastily, I moved along, "How’s it going, Wade?”

“Oh you know…” he sighed tiredly, “…my wife is elderly and my kids are having kids of their own and turning me into a grandparent.  Just as I think I’ve got one set of childrearing done, my kids hit me up with looking after their own.”

“It’s a hard life.”  I joked along.

“Tell me about it!”  He rolled his eyes. “Meanwhile, look at the two of you. You’re both still strong as the youthful couple everybody envies, as Mr. European Werewolf and Mrs. Circulator.”

“I’m aging.”  Declan said simply. “My wife isn’t.”

“Yes and isn’t it convenient that she just happens to be YOUR wife, Uncle Declan?”   He ribbed. “When we’re on the hunt you don’t like to share your kill.  And it just so happens you've also claimed the forever young female of the tribe.”

“Who said he picked me?”  I joked back.  “Maybe I picked him?”

“Hmm, let’s see...”  Wade pretended to think about it, “…Aunt B has her pick of anything natural or supernatural in the world, let alone the tribe, and who does she choose?  The meanest Werewolf both has to offer.  Admit it Aunt B, he clubbed you over the head and dragged you back to his cave.”

“I’ll frickin’ club you, in a minute.”  My mate snarled, bad-temperedly.

Wade laughed in good humour as he came to stand beside as he too, watched Maia and Forrest thank their well-wishers.

He spoke again, “Tell me, what’s it like seeing that 21 year old girl whom you helped raise with your endless babysitting duties, now embark on one of adulthood’s greatest trials such as marriage?  Do you look on and think that in nine months, she could be enlisting your services to help her raise her kids?”

I watched the 19 year old Brandon, shake Forrest’s hand before he kissed his older sister on the cheek.  He behaved so maturely, it felt surreal to see.  Mind you, with his girlfriend standing nearby, I wondered if it would be his turn next?

“They grow up so fast.”  I sighed sadly.

Declan agreed, "It seems like only yesterday we cooked for them, cleaned up after them and broke up their fights.”

“Maybe that’s where you went wrong?”  The aging Werewolf mocked.  “If you had just stepped back and let them kill each other; you wouldn’t have to worry about them reaching the age of procreation.”

Right at that moment, Wade’s grandkids Stioux and Maxine, ran in front of us and ceremoniously pushed the other onto the grassy ground.

“You see?”  He shrugged.  “I could break them up or I could save myself the grief.  By letting ‘em kill each other before it’s too late, they’ll never grow up and produce litters of their own.”

Next, we saw a tired Julie walk over and pull up her kids by the scruff of their necks.

“Dad, a little bit of help, please?”  She glared, before she chastised her children, "Look at the two of you!  You’re getting dirt all over your good clothes!”

Wade let out a sigh as if this was asking a lot, before he looked our way; “thank fate that you don’t have any kids…really.”

With that, the grandfather tiredly walked after.  He took hold of his grandson, as Julie dragged his granddaughter and all four of them rejoined the Elm clan. 

Declan and I exchanged raised eyebrows as we both thought the same thing.

“OK…” we shifted uncomfortably.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Declan and I did get a Housewarming but he never got his Joining Ceremony.

(Excerpt of Sororate Chapter Four)

 

We were a little late because the bridal couple was already at the front of the gathering, along with their families.  Declan half pushed and half excused our way through the throng of people, until we were standing with the Sabres and the Riverclaws.  They stood before the Tribal Elders, whom were behind a campfire which was burning in front of the Sacred Totems.

I halted as soon as I saw the bridal couple in the traditional ‘skins’ of our ancestral costume.   Made from either caribou or moose hide, Forrest wore suede pants, shirt and a jacket, which was decorated with tassels and beads.  Maia wore something similar, but instead of suede pants it was a long, suede skirt with moccasins on her feet.

I was hit by the strongest sense of déjà vu… I swear I was looking on Grant and I, standing before the Tribal Elders when it was our Joining Ceremony. 

Both Forrest and Maia had their long, black hair either tied back or plaited in the traditional way.  Their faces were painted with the ‘claw mark’ of the Lokoti Wolf, as were our Tribal Elders whom were also wearing the Lokoti clothes of old.  In the background, we could hear the traditional drum beat which was played at many of our tribe’s ceremonies.

The 24 year old groom led the 21 year old bride by the hand, to stand before the Tribal Elders.  The council moved to sit in a half circle around the fire, which prompted the couple to lower themselves to the ground and then so did the rest of the tribe.  Declan sat down first before he helped me because I felt awkward in my high-heels and cocktail dress.  Once I was seated, I repositioned my woollen coat over my legs so not to give anything away.

“You have the council of Tribal Elders convened here for you today.  What do you ask of us?”  Chiron as one of the Elders, asked the couple.

Forrest spoke clearly for all to hear, “I have come to ask for the blessing of the Tribal Elders as the Guides of the way of the Lokoti Wolf, to take this woman as my mate.”

Declan squeezed my hand as we watched what took place.

“And do you have the permission of your family for this union?”  Meadow as another one of the Elders, enquired.

“He does.” Stone Riverclaw answered.

“And do you have the permission of the woman’s family for this union?”  Hazel Elm asked, another Elder.

Suddenly my mate spoke up, “He does.”

Oh that’s right, sometimes I forgot that Declan was the head of the Sabre family.  He had been the older brother of Derik whose progeny lived on, which meant that my mate was the longest living member of the Sabre clan. 

“He does.” Julius Sabre said after him, whom was Maia’s father.

As the ceremony proceeded, I noticed in the corner of my eye Declan’s solemn expression as he watched the ritual.  I sensed inside of him, a touch of envy when he observed Forrest and Maia drink from the sacred Lokoti Tribal Cup, which looked like a small, wooden, painted bowl.  As we observed the ceremony play out with reverence by our people, I felt his fingers fidget with my wedding ring.  I sensed that in a way, he was wishing this could have been us.

I recalled long ago, something he said on the day he moved in; “but don’t you think that I would have liked a Joining Ceremony?  Wouldn’t it be nice if the whole tribe threw us a Housewarming too?  But instead, we have our one-person celebration squad, of only my Mom supporting our relationship.”

In a small way, Declan and I did get a Housewarming but he never got his Joining Ceremony.  

This made me wonder, does he still wish that we had one?  It was such an antiquated notion to me, these days many Lokoti preferred to have just the Housewarming.  I was surprised when Forrest and Maia declared that they wanted a Joining Ceremony as well. 

As I snuck many a glance towards my mate, I began to see that he saw differently. Declan was such an old fashioned romantic, more so than anyone ever suspected; including myself.  The more I thought about this, I could see many similarities between his romanticism when compared to his faith. 

Before World War Three, his parents had followed Catholicism.  Afterwards, Declan was brought here to be raised on tribal lands in much the Lokoti way.  However, his family did celebrate Christmases and Easters with mine, who also followed Christianity.  Maybe there was a Catholic part of him that desired ritual and ceremony and pomp?   There were many aspects about his life which were Catholic, aside from the gold crucifix he wore around his neck which used to be his human mother’s.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“At this rate, the Bride will get there before us!”

(Excerpt of Sororate Chapter Four)

 

31^st August 2231

 

“B…!”  My husband bellowed from downstairs. “It’s10.45 AM, this thing starts in fifteen minutes!”

As usual, Declan was dressed and ready and waiting downstairs; whereas I rushed about our bedroom half dressed and undecided on what shoes or even a coat to wear, with my formal outfit.

“At this rate, the Bride will get there before us!”  I heard him complain.

I tossed aside my black, high-heeled boots then my black, strappy, high-heeled sandals and even my black, high-heeled ‘Mary-Jane’ style shoes.  None of these were right!  Nothing would go with my red silk, cocktail dress I was wearing.  Oh why oh why, do I only have black shoes in my wardrobe? 

“Don’t make me come up there and get you.”  He threatened.

Knowing my domineering, European Werewolf for a mate, he would.  I started to panic as I went through my shoe collection.  From past experience, Declan would grab me whether I was ready or not.  Next, I heard his heavy jog up the stairs… oh oh.

He walked into the bedroom to catch me bent over in my short dress and black stockings, as I was rifling through my wardrobe.  His eyes widened as he looked me over, appreciative of the way my legs were on display.  I thought he looked good in his black suit and light blue, pressed shirt, which brought out his bright blue eyes. 

However, when his mouth opened to berate, I beat him to the punch.

“I can’t find the right shoes to wear with this dress!”  I snapped.  “So don’t start!”

Coolly, Declan walked over and picked up my black, strappy high-heels from the floor which I had discarded earlier.  Then he pulled me over to the side of our bed and sat me down, before sitting beside.  When he proceeded to put the shoes on my feet, I objected.

“Not THESE ones!”

“Yep these ones.”

“But they’re sandals so they don’t go with stockings!”

“They’re strappy so they’ll go with the cocktail dress.”  He put down my left foot and picked up my right to put the second on.

“I don’t think so…” I started to argue, “…I want to change out of this dress.”

“Don’t even think about it!”

“But a dress isn’t practical, especially not a cocktail dress.  Maybe I should wear my black, pin-striped pants suit?”

Declan ignored my fretting and as soon as he finished, he grabbed my black, woollen coat which was lying beside the others.  He raised me to my feet as he simultaneously placed the warm garment about my shoulders.  The next thing I knew, I found myself being traipsed down the stairs by my bossy husband.

“But – but – but what about my purse?”  I halted half way down.

“I’ve got it.”  He held it up in the air.

“But – but – but I didn’t put on any perfume!”  I tried to pull back.

“You don’t need any!”  Declan snapped back.  “Besides, with your pheromones I don’t need anymore trouble.”

“I HAVE to wear perfume if I’m all dressed and made up!”

When I attempted to turn around and go back, Declan bent over picked me up over his left shoulder!

“NOT AGAIN!”  I complained.  “Put me down!  Put me down right now!”

He ignored my shouting as he carried me out the front door. 

Casually, he closed and locked it behind, before he carried his wife down the porch steps to his pick up truck.  He pointed his remote key at the vehicle to release the central locking and didn’t put me down again until he lowered me onto the passenger’s seat.  Angrily, I shot him a glare which he also ignored, whilst he walked around the vehicle and opened the door for the driver’s side.

He saw I was still seething as he sat down and did up his seatbelt.  So as he pressed in the ignition code to start the engine, he barked out; “you’re one of the prettiest girls in the tribe thanks to your youthfulness and pheromones.  So stop acting so insecure every frickin’ time you have to dress up to go out!”

“Bite me!”

“I wish.”  He muttered as he reversed out of the driveway.

We drove down the hill and turned left at the first intersection.  Instead of driving into the community centre, he turned towards the Holy Grounds which were situated in the quiet, glassy glade beside the river which flowed through our tribal lands.  He pulled up into the first available car space he saw, before he turned off the engine. 

My husband was quick to jump out, walk around the truck and open my door to pull me out.  I was reluctant to be seen with how self-conscious I felt.  Walking hand-in-hand, he used his other which was holding the remote to reset the central locking.  We joined the crowd as everyone had come today to witness Maia and Forrest’s Joining Ceremony.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“He thought Werewolves were sexist, archaic, primitive beasts.”

(Excerpt of Sororate Chapter Two)

 

When the male Werewolves began to think up a roster over the next month, I lost the last of my already short patience and broke away.  To look like I wasn’t sulking, I returned to the seat beside Sharon as if I were returning to a previous conversation.  The women smiled and then recommenced their discussion about the escalating cost of childcare centres, for those who juggled part time work and young children.

Frickin’ hell, I wasn’t enjoying this Wake.  I had either male chauvinism or baby talk to bounce between.  Not that I blamed the women, for those that were mated to a male Lokoti Werewolf; children were an inevitable part of that marriage.  I just felt left out, since I was the only woman in the room let alone the tribe whose union to a virile supernatural species didn’t produce ‘rug rats’.

In the past, my Calculator Vincent who had been a doctor, examined me for ‘non-specific ovarian failure’.  He ran multiple tests to ascertain I didn’t have tubal disease or endometriosis nor did I have ovulation disorder.  But for some reason things just didn’t add up, my eggs refused to be fertilized nor could they embed themselves in my uterus.  Vincent diagnosed that my differences as a Circulator had unusually affected my biology and it was as if my reproductive system was also in temporal flux.  That day I learned my status as the Last Circulator was responsible for truly making me the last on the line. 

“Excuse me,” I stood up a second time, “I just have to check on something outside.”

The women were starting to look a little disgruntled at my comings and goings and truly, I didn’t mean to be rude.  My head ducked shyly as I slipped out of the room via the front door when I found refuge on the veranda steps.  There I sat, looking up into the changing sky.

It was nearing 10 PM and the sun was only starting to set, thanks to Alaska’s extended daylight during summer.  But in the dusk, I caught one or two stars peak through.  The darker it turned with the onset of evening, the more stars emerged.

“Hallo Mum and Dad.  Man, I miss you guys.”  I sighed sadly at the celestial objects, as if they were my loved ones.  I felt my eyes sting and I continued talking under my breath.  “Mum, I miss how you fought for equal rights for women with the pack.  Dad, I miss how you would talk quietly with Grandfather on your verdict but you’d always hear us out if someone had a different point of view.  I also miss not talking about academic work with you guys or Circulate stuff.  There’s no-one to laugh over time travel stories anymore.”

Then I turned quiet as I looked out at the garden in the twilight.  The Riverclaw as well as the Wisetail families copied off Declan and I, by doing up their gardens after we did up ours.  They used different plants though and made them unique in their own way.  I loved looking on the gardens in summer, at how the flowers bloomed for an extended time or the smell of freshly cut grass.  I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply through my nose and out of my mouth, as I inhaled the change of smell produced as it went from day to night.

At that moment, I was disturbed by the sound of the front door opening and closing, as Declan came to sit beside.  He was carrying two glasses of orange flavoured Fanta and he passed me one.  Then he too looked up into the sky.

“Are you missing your parents and grandparents?”  He guessed.

I nodded whilst staring at the neatly kept lawn, “And my Calculator.”

“Who, Vincent?”  My husband screwed up his face in distaste.  “I don’t know how you or anyone would miss that guy.  He had a permanent chip on his shoulder and especially a grudge about our kind.”

This made me smile, “He thought Werewolves were sexist, archaic, primitive beasts.”

“And because we still won’t let you patrol, it reminded you of that?”  He raised his eyebrows unimpressed.  “Oh yeah, we’re real bastards for trying to keep the existence of a female Lokoti Werewolf a secret.  We’re real Neanderthals for trying to protect our female, when there are male Werewolves out there who’ve tried to kidnap and claim her for their own purposes.”

“It’s not just that.”  I sighed out.  “There’s no-one to talk to about Circulate business anymore.”

“Hang on, I thought Vincent programmed the Circulate Mainframe to act as your Calculator instead?”

“Yes he did and it does a very good job.  It sends me via email, notifications I should be aware of within Hodge Endeavor or even in the timeline.  But…”  I faltered as my eyes briefly met his before they skipped away again, “…I don’t have anyone to talk to about time travel anymore.”

“What am I, a Neanderthal bastard who’s so stupid that you can’t even communicate with anymore?”  He riled up.  “You can frickin’ talk to me!”

“Oh OK.”  I put on a sarcastically cheerful tone.  “Declan, I’m thinking of visiting Ancient Egypt and taking some photos of the statues of Isis in the temples in Thebes and Memphis.  Now which season do you recommend I should visit in to avoid mosquitoes; or in which Kingdom should I go, New or Middle?”

“Say what?”  He blinked dumbfounded.  “I thought you had a frickin’ smart computer to think of these things for you!”

“I do have a computer for a Calculator to answer my questions but it can’t say to me, ‘oh B, I was in the New Kingdom last week.  It was the time of year when the flooded Nile had receded and I saw this temple with amazing statues which you would absolutely love!’”

“What do you mean, the Nile was flooded?  B, I don’t think it’s a smart idea to visit flooded destinations.”

“The Nile is supposed to flood, Declan!  The floodwaters leave silt which helps crops grow!”

“Well if you already know all of this, why do you need to go there to look at frickin’ statues?”

“Because it helps with my academic work!”  I rolled my eyes.  “My papers generate interest, because my work isn’t just guessing what life used to be like; I provide proof of what it really was like because I’ve seen it with my own two eyes!”

My papers ensured casual employment of guest lectures in the academic field where I was known as Dr. Bianca Riverclaw, which was my mother’s maiden name.  I’d been Dr. Bianca Sabre for forty years and then Dr. Bianca Wisetail for another forty.  I had to start all over again because my other two identities are supposed to have either retired or ‘carked’ it by now.

Since Declan’s always worked at the Garage on Lokoti Tribal Lands he didn’t have to worry about assumed identities.  In fact, if a person ever suggested to him to pretend to be somebody else, he would figuratively bite your head off!   My husband had a low tolerance for anything superficial and calls it as it is, much to my amusement and our tribe’s.  The only time he humours subterfuge is hiding his European Werewolf nature from outsiders. 

“So do you sign at the bottom of your work, ‘written by the Last Circulator, the woman who’s actually been there’?”  He rolled his eyes back.  “If you do, I think we should be more worried of people finding out you’re a Circulator let alone a Werewolf.”

Exasperated, I started to bang my head against the wooden veranda railing.  Declan growled under his breath and instead of putting out his arm to merely stop me, I found myself in a headlock!

“Hey, let go!” I complained.

“Nah, I don’t think so.”  He said coolly.  “You stuffy, snobby, time traveller for a cheat, University Professor.”

So I bit into his side, which made him cry out and loosen his hold.  We were both half laughing and half snarling, as Declan tried to grab onto his wife and I kept swatting his hands away.  Our drinks sat half drunk and forgotten about.

“Right that’s it!”  He growled and his eyes momentarily glowed green when he bent over and lifted me up, onto his shoulder.

“Hey!  Declan, put me down!”  I squealed louder in laughter.

“Nope, I’m dragging you back to my cave Mrs. Neanderthal!”  He stood up and walked away from the steps.

I grabbed hold of his hair and pulled hard, which tipped his head backwards and made him lose his balance.  Together, we tumbled onto the front lawn, with me landing on top.  But then we paused, as our senses told us we weren’t alone.

We looked up to see Stone with his wife and son, as well as Jake and his wife and baby, standing on the veranda in their dignified black clothes; staring at their immature elders who were wrestling in theirs.

“Let me guess, ‘pack business’?”  Sharon raised her eyebrows.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Readers Artwork

I've been lucky enough to receive photos and artwork readers wanted to share, which were either inspired by my stories, or related to them.  I'm sharing them now...

This is a picture of Declan Sabre in European Werewolf form by Stephanie Hanlon.  You can find more of her wonderful work at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Hanlon-Portraits-and-Art/225734217586843?fref=ts

Thanks to Alice Lovell-Young for this clever pic :-)

 

 

This was made by Niina who posted the link to this pic under 'Claimed' here on this blog and here's the address for her site so you can get a better look at the pic and read her review: http://niinas-reading-and-reviewing.blogspot.com/2011/07/review-claimed-novella.html

 

 

 

These photos were taken by Derek Gramin (including the one underneath which he added the wolf leaping across) using his camera.  With the second pic below, he added the wolf as we don't have any wolves in Australia (only Tassie Devils and Dingoes) ;-)

 

 

“However no-one talks of a female Lokoti Werewolf because to outsiders, there’s no such thing.”

(Excerpt of Sororate Chapter Two)

 

6^th August, 2226

 

Three days later, the family as well as the tribe, attended my cousin’s funeral on the Holy Grounds before the Sacred Totems.  I clung to Declan’s arm through the service and it was like my mate literally held me up.  The Tribal Elders sang the funeral chant as the pyre burned the body wrapped in the woven funeral shroud, as Phoenix’s progeny looked on. 

After the service, the tribe split up to go their separate ways as did most of the Elders, to leave the body to burn overnight.  Declan and I left with Chiron and his family for the wake at the old Riverclaw house.  The fourteen other members of the pack and their wives – the ones that hadn’t passed away from old age – came to share food and drink with their First whilst reminiscing about their fallen.

Everyone brought a dish or bottle of soda to share and Declan had made three large plates of goodies.  On one serving plate sat an antipasto mix complete with salami, marinated mushrooms and smoked oysters; on another sat Capsicum and Potato Frittata as well as on the third, Bacon and Olive Cakes.   The antipasto plate he had put together today but the other dishes he cooked up the night before. 

When he made them, I sat up on the bench in the kitchen to watch.  It became the custom in our marriage for most of our discussions to happen over food and this way, I also got to sample what he was cooking.  Declan often interrupted me in the middle of conversation to allow me a taste of what he was preparing.  Last night, this reoccurred and I relished the deliciousness of the samples.  From seeing how quickly the plates of food emptied, it became evident everyone else thought so too.  

In the beginning of the Wake, I was sitting next to Sharon who was busily gossiping to another two wives.  However I started to tune out during discussions of school fees or the best nappy rash treatment.  My eyes wandered over to my husband who was nursing a small plate of nibblies, whilst telling Chiron, Stone and Forrest Riverclaw, as well as Meadow Shallow Water and lastly, Jake Wisetail about our altercation in China. 

“Excuse me,” I stood up to the women’s surprise when my departure interrupted their conversation.  “Er, it’s pack business.”

I used this excuse often, which the women never minded since I was a member.  They watched me cross over to Declan’s side and rest my arm about his waist.  He angled his plate of nibblies my way to share and I stole a marinated mushroom.  Then he moved the plate to his right hand to hold, as his left arm was slung over my shoulders.

“So the Asian Werewolves broke off their attack?”  Chiron double checked.

“Uh huh.”  His Second confirmed.  “I don’t think they’ll be tracking us back here.”

“Are you a hundred percent certain of this?”  Meadow spoke as the concerned Medicine Man.

“Yup.”  Declan straightened.  “They stopped their pursuit.”

Chiron’s eyes momentarily flashed in my direction before he spoke to my husband. “Perhaps for the next couple of weeks, we should have a Werewolf run the borders of our land just to make sure we don’t have any surprises.”

But this got my back up and I said curtly, “But they’re not coming.  I don’t have any warning feelings as a Circulator.  I don’t foresee any further trouble from that clan or breed.”

Our First looked in my direction but for longer this time, before he said, “Let’s call it peace of mind.”

Just as I was about to argue this further, Declan spoke up, “It wouldn’t hurt.”

Then Forrest also sided with our First by volunteering, “I don’t mind doing a run tonight.”

“Then I’ll do a run tomorrow night.”  Stone agreed.

“I’ll go the night after.”  Meadow shrugged.

“Night four works for me.”  Jake Wisetail nodded amiably.

He was my cousin five times removed, from my father’s side of the family, who inherited Mum and Dad’s house with their evolution.  He also inherited Dad’s place in the pack by his Lokoti Werewolf DNA activating on the following full moon.  The same time Jake received my childhood home as a Housewarming present for he and his new wife, another adjustment had to be made when he had to take time off work to learn to control the bloodlust.

“Fine.”  I said coolly.  “I’ll do a run on the fifth night.”

However my husband and the rest of the male members of the pack didn’t look happy to hear that, and neither did our First.

“No Aunt B.”  He said seriously.  “Just as you weren’t permitted to patrol during the years of lawlessness after the War, nor can you do so now.”

“What?”  I objected.  “Why not?”

Declan rolled his eyes, “Don’t start this again.” 

But it was Meadow who spoke patiently, “There are humans in Alma who still whisper stories of male Lokoti Werewolves who helped the townspeople rid themselves of a bad element after the War.  However no-one talks of a female Lokoti Werewolf because to outsiders, there’s no such thing.”

“Except to a bunch of horny Asian Werewolves," my husband said unhappily before he turned back to Chiron.  “I think I should go back to China and finish what I started.  I’ll eat the other thirty who know about B.”

“Declan!”  I elbowed him sharply.  “Yeah, what a good idea to help the concept of living quietly; by embarking on another murderous rampage and placing a new vendetta on your head!”

Our First looked on his overprotective Second in the pack.  "No Uncle, there’ll be no further Asian Werewolf blood spilt.  Unless of course they come onto our territory then you can unleash your wrath.  But according to Aunt B, it’s unlikely.”

“Then if it’s unlikely, it should be OK if I go for a run around our borders.”  I tried again.

“Yeah, what a good idea of the concept of no such thing as a female Lokoti Werewolf existing, if a townsperson from Alma catches sight of you.”  Declan repeated sarcastically.

“Oh shut up!”  I rolled my eyes as I stepped out from under his arm.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Your aura has faded.”

(Excerpt of Sororate Chapter Two)

 

The time was approaching 10 PM when we left the Riverclaw’s and went home.  Declan powered down his vehicle in the garage before turning my way.  He opened his mouth to say something, but he hesitated to look on concerned.  

“What?”  I wondered. 

“Your aura has faded.”  He remarked unhappily.  “How about I make us some fettuccine carbonara with garlic bread?”

I knew he was trying to cheer me up, but I felt tired and emotionally wrung out.

“Nah, it sounds like too much of a hassle to cook up something complicated this late.”  I frowned.  “How about just something on toast?”

“What about bacon, eggs, grilled tomato, fried mushrooms, hash browns and toast?”

“Now we’re talking.”  I couldn’t help but to smile.  “I’ll see if the crop of tomatoes in the greenhouse are ready and check on the rest of the plants.”

We both hopped out of his pick up truck at the same time and whereas he went into the house via the front door; I walked around the small building to the smaller one behind, which was constructed of glass.

Our greenhouse wasn’t that large but it had numerous shelves which held planters full of different vegetables and herbs.  The planters on the floor had the taller plants, like tomatoes, cucumber, capsicum, celery, zucchini and squash.  The shelves above had lettuce, radish, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower.  Then the small pots in between grew parsley, chives, oregano, thyme, rosemary, lemongrass, coriander and garlic and we even had a small chilli bush. 

As our food producing plants took the most room, the back right corner had Declan’s orchids on display on a triangular set of metallic shelves.  He had pink, purple, white, orange and yellow varieties, which he paid close attention to.  Upon inspection, the flowers were thriving just as the other plants were which means our Great x4 Grandnephew would live.  I giggled at my mate’s temper which could still scare people and in particular, our human relatives.

Just as I moved away to gather some tomatoes, something caught my eye.  I stopped and turned around to lean in closer, at the pot which was sitting on the floor in front of the orchids. 

The plant was withered and the flower which used to peak out from the top, was long gone.  The soil in the pot was a combination of red and black dirt.  The red soil was from Mars coupled with the black from Alaska.  The plant was the Martian Dandelion that my father gave to me, the day that the Circulate HQ on Mars was destroyed and my parents left for the space time continuum.

“Oh no…” I sunk to my knees to get a better look.  I picked up the drooping stalk with the dead flower bud, to see that the leaves were shrivelling too.  “Oh no…” my eyes refilled with tears as my heart sank.  I knew there was nothing I could do as the plant too was on its way into the afterlife.  “Declan!”

Within a minute, my mate came out the back door and headed down the small garden path towards the greenhouse. 

“Yeah?”  He poked his head through the open doorway.  He looked around at the healthy plants as if he were making sure we weren’t returning to ruined produce.  “What’s up?”

“Declan…” I pointed at the dying dandelion, “…look.”

He came into the greenhouse and knelt beside on the cement floor. “Oh," he frowned as he looked on our last piece of Mars which was fading fast.  His large hand moved towards it and he gently examined the shrivelled leaves with his fingertips before he sighed out, “I don’t think there’s anything we can do.”

“Frickin’ hell!”  I cursed.  “First the Martian Circulate HQ gets blown up, then my parents and my Calculator evolves to the space time continuum and now the Martian flower also bites the dust?!”

“And your cousin died today.”  He put in.  “Talk about, ‘when it rains it pours’.”

“Oooh!”  I fumed.  “We did everything right!  We watered it and talked to it and we were careful about fertilizers and whatever else.”

“Well B, it is from another planet.”  My husband shrugged.  “Maybe it needs Martian conditions?”

“But the vegetation on Mars died out!”

“So there you go, it was doomed from the start.”  He rested his hand on my back and gave it a sympathetic rub.

“Oh…!”  I whined as I deflated almost as much as the flower did.

“C’mon baby,” he stood up and then pulled me to my feet.  “Let’s get some dinner into you and I’m sure there’s another stash of Nutella in the kitchen somewhere.”

“No.”  I sighed wearily.  “I don’t want anymore Nutella today.”

“Shit.”  My mate suddenly went still and looked on in shock.  “I think hell just froze over.”

Playfully, I whacked him on the arm and turned to depart from the greenhouse.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lokoti Werewolves aged slower than their human wives or members of the tribe.

(Excerpt of Sororate Chapter Two)

 

The tribe was used to Declan’s and my extended youth because the fourteen other members of the pack could live up to 200 years.  Lokoti Werewolves aged slower than their human wives or members of the tribe.  Our people held the Werewolves in high esteem because of their history of protection.  In return, the tribe guarded the identities of the pack which included us. 

I turned away from the bed to pass my mate a haunted look, “Phoenix was my first cousin and he was the last family member from my childhood.  You and I are the only two left from our era!”

His eyes watered, “I know B, I know.”

Then I threw my arms about my mate’s neck as I clung onto him and cried into his shoulder.

“I still remember fighting with Phoenix when we were little.”  I sobbed.  “I remember when he used to call me bitch-features, how I would punch him for it.  I remember when he used to pull my hair, or once he kicked a soccer ball at my head but it accidentally hit Uncle Jules and the trouble he got into.”

My husband pulled away so his tearful eyes could meet mine.  “Then tell him all of this.”

He gently turned me around and sat me on the side of the bed, before standing closely behind to rest his hands protectively on my shoulders.  Gingerly, I picked up Phoenix’s cold hand and held it between my warm ones.  I looked on his aged face once more to reminisce.

“I remember the Christmas you ate all of the brandy butter before the plum pudding was served and it made you sick.”  I recanted.  “I remember when Phoebe used to read your mind and tell on you when you did something wrong.  I remember playing Monopoly with you and how you cheated by sneaking money and hiding it under the board.  That was until Phoebe told on you and you punched her on the arm.  I remember I punched you back and you tackled me for it and then we both got into trouble…”

Just then Declan chuckled, “Yeah I remember that night, it was when my family was having dinner with your family at Easter.  I was seventeen and B was fourteen so Phoenix would have been ten.”

Stone exchanged looks of amusement with his father at our unusual reminiscing.  Usually when somebody close died, people recalled the best things about the deceased.  However since my cousin and I fought like brother and sister, our best times were spent fighting.  I wanted to remember my cousin like that, in affectionate enmity.

Then I lightly punched the dead guy on the arm, “And that’s for all the times you called me bitch-features and ran away before I could hit you.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~