{"sf1_id":320253,"sf2_id":"dmW90oE1","title":"Winter Solstice","author":"Sandwalker","words":2142,"posted_at":"2011-12-26T02:28:00.000Z","tags":["Dog","Human","No-Yiff","Winter"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/320253-winter-solstice","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/dmW90oE1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/02/e9/02e92269-50ad-4304-b098-15fe8ee4c271","description":"A human in a world populated by anthro canines is introduced to one of their rituals, that of the Winter Solstice.","content":"_Author's note: In 2009 I began work on a first-contact novel for NaNoWrimo, but I petered out at 32,000 words, having run into problems with communication between the characters.\u0026nbsp; The races involved are human (not surprisingly), and a canine race (that I never figured out a name for) that resemble Newfoundland dogs._   \n\u0026nbsp;  \n_The following story I wrote for a competition (in which I didn't place).\u0026nbsp; The main canine character in my aborted novel took the main human character for his mate (or would have, had I finished writing), and this story is introducing her to one of their rituals.\u0026nbsp; I'm planning to write a few 'slice of life' stories based around these canines, sort of setting up a world in small pieces, rather than a big world-building exercise._  \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\\* \\* \\* \\* \\*   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nStar-Traveller stood at the window, peering out into the damp fog that tended to rise up on wintry mornings.\u0026nbsp; The human woman could barely see anything further than a few metres, but if she squinted she could make out some kind of activity happening in the centre of the village.\u0026nbsp; \"What's going on?\" she asked, turning to her mate.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\"Hmm?\"\u0026nbsp; Stream-Runner looked up from a feathered cloak that he was busy putting finishing touches on.\u0026nbsp; The slightly heavy-set canine blinked a few times to refocus his eyes, brushing a stray lock of shiny black fur away from them.\u0026nbsp; \"What do you mean?\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe woman gestured out the window.\u0026nbsp; \"Over there, in the village.\u0026nbsp; Is there some kind of celebration that I'm not aware of?\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\"It's the Winter Solstice,\" the canine murmured, going back to his careful sewing.\u0026nbsp; \"It's marked by the flowering of the _g'mar_ lily, which represents love and fertility.\u0026nbsp; They all start blooming on the same day, and stop after two weeks.\u0026nbsp; We make a big deal of it.\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nStar-Traveller looked out the window again, then went to sit beside her larger canine companion.\u0026nbsp; \"Is that why you've been working on this cloak for ages?\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\"Mmhmm.\u0026nbsp; All the partnered menfolk make something, and we present them to our mates.\u0026nbsp; With it we give a single lily and something unique.\"\u0026nbsp; Stream-Runner tied off his thread and snapped it, before holding the cloak out critically.\u0026nbsp; It was about the size of a small blanket; the golden pelt of the _r'buk_ was on one side, and the iridescent feathers of the _nikat_ bird on the other.\u0026nbsp; \"It'll do,\" he murmured critically.\u0026nbsp; \"I thought you'd like a cloak to help keep you warm.\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\"It's gorgeous,\" Star-Traveller said, her blue eyes shining.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\"Thanks.\u0026nbsp; I'm not the best, but I can hold my own against the professionals.\"\u0026nbsp; He folded the cloak and set it aside, then smiled at his unusual bare-skinned mate.\u0026nbsp; \"When the fog clears, we'll start.\"\u0026nbsp; He leaned forward to press his cold, wet nose against the woman's own before licking her lips.\u0026nbsp; \"I'd better go and prepare.\u0026nbsp; I'll see you soon.\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe woman nodded, causing a lock of her blonde hair to fall over her right eye.\u0026nbsp; \"All right,\" she replied, brushing it back.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nStream-Runner picked up the cloak and left the small hut, disappearing into the swirling fog, leaving Star-Traveller to wonder what she'd let herself in for.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe fog cleared up sometime after midday, thus allowing the festivities to get underway.\u0026nbsp; Hearing the distinctive drumbeats of summoning, Star-Traveller left the hut and wandered along the wide well-travelled path that led into the village centre.\u0026nbsp; She looked around at the small buildings that made up the village, arranged in a vague circle, and saw that they were all decorated with the lilies, the likes of which she'd never seen before.\u0026nbsp; She stopped briefly to examine one.\u0026nbsp; It was mostly a pale shade of blue, with a dark blue centre, and its long petals were tipped with bright yellow.\u0026nbsp; A strangely intoxicating scent arose from it, making the woman feel slightly giddy, but slightly more alert.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe partnered menfolk were gathered in a circle around the fire, talking amongst themselves as the final preparations were made.\u0026nbsp; Each had a garland of lilies around their neck.\u0026nbsp; The females lined themselves up on the small, low porches that fronted each hut, with some jostling for position as there wasn't quite enough room.\u0026nbsp; Everyone wanted to get a good view of the proceedings.\u0026nbsp; Those canines who were single sat in a group to one side.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nStar-Traveller felt rather out of place, being the only human present.\u0026nbsp; Though she'd been in the village a few months, her knowledge of the canines' language was still rudimentary at best, and the babble of quickly-spoken conversation made her feel rather excluded.\u0026nbsp; She sighed and leaned against the railing, seeking out her mate.\u0026nbsp; There he was, on the far side of the circle, talking to his neighbours.\u0026nbsp; Once again she wondered what it was that had attracted her to him.\u0026nbsp; He looked much the same as all the other canines, so maybe it was his personality?\u0026nbsp; One of these days she'd have to ask him what had attracted her to him.\u0026nbsp; Maybe it was her exoticness; she was the only non-canine around, and he'd delighted in exploring her differences.\u0026nbsp; Her cheeks warmed as she blushed slightly at those thoughts.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nA few minutes later the conversation was stilled by a strident horn blast.\u0026nbsp; When all was silent, aside from the background noise of insects and birds, the Elder began to speak from his chair of office, which stood upon a dais raised several feet off the ground.\u0026nbsp; Star-Traveller tried to listen, but after missing several words in a row she decided to tune out until he'd finished, and hope that she didn't miss anything important.\u0026nbsp; She looked around surreptitiously, and saw that she wasn't the only one.\u0026nbsp; Not surprising, really; speeches are much the same, no matter where in the universe one is.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe Elder's oration eventually wound down, ending with a call to various deities to bless the village.\u0026nbsp; He then announced the start of the main event and sat down.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe musicians, sitting some distance away, began playing, prompting the males in their circle to begin moving.\u0026nbsp; The music was mostly percussive in nature; drums provided a driving beat, and a number of xylophones and slit gongs wove in a staccato melody.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe circle of men moved slowly at first in a clockwise direction, reversing after several measures to return to its original position.\u0026nbsp; They did it again, then they split into pairs.\u0026nbsp; Every second male joined hands and raised them high, whilst the others made a chain to weave through the 'archways' formed.\u0026nbsp; At this point the womenfolk began to clap in time with the main beat, spurring their partners on.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe movements of the males gradually increased in complexity, until Star-Traveller wondered how they'd managed to learn it all.\u0026nbsp; The tempo increased too, until it seemed that the dancers and musicians would collapse from the effort.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nEventually it all slowed to a stop, at which point the men once again joined hands.\u0026nbsp; They raised them high and looked up at the sky, which was partially obscured by wispy white clouds, and began to chant something in what sounded like another dialect.\u0026nbsp; Star-Traveller could understand a few words, but they sounded archaic.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe chant died down to a murmur, then ended with a sudden shout that startled those who might have let their attention lapse.\u0026nbsp; The men crouched on the ground, prostrating themselves before the fire.\u0026nbsp; The Elder stood again, and intoned something unintelligible, then indicated that the men should stand again.\u0026nbsp; \"Now,\" he said, \"you may present your mates with the fruits of your labours.\"\u0026nbsp; He turned and gestured at the porch of his own hut.\u0026nbsp; \"Go forth, one by one, and take your gift.\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nStar-Traveller watched with interest as each male stepped up onto the Elder's porch, retrieved their gift and searched out their mate.\u0026nbsp; They said a few words after they presented their gift, then their mate spoke a few words, and swiped their tongue over the male's nose in what passed for a kiss here.\u0026nbsp; The male then turned and stood with his back to the porch, watching the proceedings.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nAfter about half the men had left the circle it was Stream-Runner's turn.\u0026nbsp; He collected the cloak he'd made, then strolled over to her.\u0026nbsp; She noticed that whereas the other men had to mostly use their noses to find their mate - they all looked quite similar, after all - Stream-Runner didn't have to; she stood out like a red rose in winter.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe porch wasn't very high - only about a foot - so the canine didn't have to look up to meet her gaze.\u0026nbsp; \"Star-Traveller, my beloved,\" he began, \"great is my love for you, and that of She-Who-Watches.\u0026nbsp; Together, we bid that you accept our gifts - a cloak to shield you from the cold, for you have no fur; a lily, to show our love, and our hopes of a child.\"\u0026nbsp; The woman nearly laughed at that, but she managed to keep a straight face.\u0026nbsp; \"And this agate, to symbolise the many layers of your personality, and your uniqueness.\"\u0026nbsp; Stream-Runner lifted his arms to let the woman take his gifts.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nStar-Traveller was suddenly keenly aware of the eyes staring at her, watching to see how she'd respond.\u0026nbsp; She chewed her bottom lip for a few seconds as she thought.\u0026nbsp; \"Gladly will I accept these gifts,\" she answered in a loud voice, stammering slightly out of nervousness, \"for they show that you know me well.\u0026nbsp; This cloak will be very welcome when the cool touch of winter descends upon us.\"\u0026nbsp; She lifted the lily and took a long breath of its aroma.\u0026nbsp; \"Much do I love you, but I fear that young ones will not spring from my body, for am I too different to you.\"\u0026nbsp; A little note of regret was in her voice as she spoke.\u0026nbsp; She paused for a moment before continuing, lifting the agate up to examine it in more detail.\u0026nbsp; It was a large piece of agate, with sharply defined bands of mahogany and burnt umber undulating through it.\u0026nbsp; \"This stone is considered very beautiful by my people, and is often made into jewellery to be worn always.\"\u0026nbsp; She smiled widely, hiding her teeth - it still made the canines a little nervous.\u0026nbsp; \"I thank you, Stream-Runner, and She-Who-Watches, for these wonderful gifts.\"\u0026nbsp; She leaned forward and licked over his nose, being giving a more traditional human kiss.\u0026nbsp; Glancing around, she could see heads nodding, as if to say that she'd done well.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe Elder stood again once the last gifts had been given, and surveyed everyone present.\u0026nbsp; \"Each of you standing here before me are very lucky; to have been blessed with mates shows that you are favoured by She-Who-Watches.\u0026nbsp; Those of you who are still single, despair not, for there will be opportunity enough at a later time.\"\u0026nbsp; He narrowed his eyes and looked shrewdly at the unpartnered group.\u0026nbsp; \"And you'll have more time to clean up your huts, hmm?\"\u0026nbsp; A titter of laughter rippled around the village at the Elder's humour.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\"So,\" he continued in a brisk manner, but with a slight glint in his eye, \"if you now feel so inclined, you may go and have some private time, or you can help with preparing food for tonight's big dinner.\"\u0026nbsp; He grinned and made shooing motions.\u0026nbsp; \"Go!\u0026nbsp; Enjoy yourselves.\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe canines began to disperse, some heading to their huts, others heading out of the village or toward the supply hut.   \n\u0026nbsp;  \n\"You liked my gifts?\" Stream-Runner asked, a little anxiously, as he and his human mate wandered back to their hut.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm sure you did, but... it's something we poor males worry about.\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nStar-Traveller laughed quietly.\u0026nbsp; \"Honestly, I love them.\u0026nbsp; The cloak is just wonderful; it feels so soft and warm.\u0026nbsp; And the agate... I'd like to have it made into a necklace, so I can wear it and think of you when you're not around.\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe canine leaned in and slipped an arm around the woman, not saying anything until they'd entered the hut they shared.\u0026nbsp; He pulled the door shut behind him, and lowered the thinly-scraped hides that served as blinds down over the windows, easing the hut into cosy dimness.\u0026nbsp; He guided her over to their bed, a sort of futon made of furs and rushes, and laid her down onto it.\u0026nbsp; \"I'll see what I can do,\" he murmured, licking at her face.\u0026nbsp; \"In the meantime, I'm here now, so why don't we enjoy this time together?\" he suggested, licking at her face and neck.\u0026nbsp; \"I believe I'd like to explore more of your uniqueness....\"   \n\u0026nbsp;  \nShe was only too happy to agree.\n\n  \n  \n\n"}