# Winter Solstice Author: Sandwalker Tags: Dog, Human, No-Yiff, Winter A human in a world populated by anthro canines is introduced to one of their rituals, that of the Winter Solstice. _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.  The races involved are human (not surprisingly), and a canine race (that I never figured out a name for) that resemble Newfoundland dogs._   _The following story I wrote for a competition (in which I didn't place).  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.  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._   \* \* \* \* \*   Star-Traveller stood at the window, peering out into the damp fog that tended to rise up on wintry mornings.  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.  "What's going on?" she asked, turning to her mate.   "Hmm?"  Stream-Runner looked up from a feathered cloak that he was busy putting finishing touches on.  The slightly heavy-set canine blinked a few times to refocus his eyes, brushing a stray lock of shiny black fur away from them.  "What do you mean?"   The woman gestured out the window.  "Over there, in the village.  Is there some kind of celebration that I'm not aware of?"   "It's the Winter Solstice," the canine murmured, going back to his careful sewing.  "It's marked by the flowering of the _g'mar_ lily, which represents love and fertility.  They all start blooming on the same day, and stop after two weeks.  We make a big deal of it."   Star-Traveller looked out the window again, then went to sit beside her larger canine companion.  "Is that why you've been working on this cloak for ages?"   "Mmhmm.  All the partnered menfolk make something, and we present them to our mates.  With it we give a single lily and something unique."  Stream-Runner tied off his thread and snapped it, before holding the cloak out critically.  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.  "It'll do," he murmured critically.  "I thought you'd like a cloak to help keep you warm."   "It's gorgeous," Star-Traveller said, her blue eyes shining.   "Thanks.  I'm not the best, but I can hold my own against the professionals."  He folded the cloak and set it aside, then smiled at his unusual bare-skinned mate.  "When the fog clears, we'll start."  He leaned forward to press his cold, wet nose against the woman's own before licking her lips.  "I'd better go and prepare.  I'll see you soon."   The woman nodded, causing a lock of her blonde hair to fall over her right eye.  "All right," she replied, brushing it back.   Stream-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.       The fog cleared up sometime after midday, thus allowing the festivities to get underway.  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.  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.  She stopped briefly to examine one.  It was mostly a pale shade of blue, with a dark blue centre, and its long petals were tipped with bright yellow.  A strangely intoxicating scent arose from it, making the woman feel slightly giddy, but slightly more alert.   The partnered menfolk were gathered in a circle around the fire, talking amongst themselves as the final preparations were made.  Each had a garland of lilies around their neck.  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.  Everyone wanted to get a good view of the proceedings.  Those canines who were single sat in a group to one side.   Star-Traveller felt rather out of place, being the only human present.  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.  She sighed and leaned against the railing, seeking out her mate.  There he was, on the far side of the circle, talking to his neighbours.  Once again she wondered what it was that had attracted her to him.  He looked much the same as all the other canines, so maybe it was his personality?  One of these days she'd have to ask him what had attracted her to him.  Maybe it was her exoticness; she was the only non-canine around, and he'd delighted in exploring her differences.  Her cheeks warmed as she blushed slightly at those thoughts.   A few minutes later the conversation was stilled by a strident horn blast.  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.  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.  She looked around surreptitiously, and saw that she wasn't the only one.  Not surprising, really; speeches are much the same, no matter where in the universe one is.   The Elder's oration eventually wound down, ending with a call to various deities to bless the village.  He then announced the start of the main event and sat down.   The musicians, sitting some distance away, began playing, prompting the males in their circle to begin moving.  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.   The circle of men moved slowly at first in a clockwise direction, reversing after several measures to return to its original position.  They did it again, then they split into pairs.  Every second male joined hands and raised them high, whilst the others made a chain to weave through the 'archways' formed.  At this point the womenfolk began to clap in time with the main beat, spurring their partners on.   The movements of the males gradually increased in complexity, until Star-Traveller wondered how they'd managed to learn it all.  The tempo increased too, until it seemed that the dancers and musicians would collapse from the effort.   Eventually it all slowed to a stop, at which point the men once again joined hands.  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.  Star-Traveller could understand a few words, but they sounded archaic.   The chant died down to a murmur, then ended with a sudden shout that startled those who might have let their attention lapse.  The men crouched on the ground, prostrating themselves before the fire.  The Elder stood again, and intoned something unintelligible, then indicated that the men should stand again.  "Now," he said, "you may present your mates with the fruits of your labours."  He turned and gestured at the porch of his own hut.  "Go forth, one by one, and take your gift."   Star-Traveller watched with interest as each male stepped up onto the Elder's porch, retrieved their gift and searched out their mate.  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.  The male then turned and stood with his back to the porch, watching the proceedings.   After about half the men had left the circle it was Stream-Runner's turn.  He collected the cloak he'd made, then strolled over to her.  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.   The porch wasn't very high - only about a foot - so the canine didn't have to look up to meet her gaze.  "Star-Traveller, my beloved," he began, "great is my love for you, and that of She-Who-Watches.  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."  The woman nearly laughed at that, but she managed to keep a straight face.  "And this agate, to symbolise the many layers of your personality, and your uniqueness."  Stream-Runner lifted his arms to let the woman take his gifts.   Star-Traveller was suddenly keenly aware of the eyes staring at her, watching to see how she'd respond.  She chewed her bottom lip for a few seconds as she thought.  "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.  This cloak will be very welcome when the cool touch of winter descends upon us."  She lifted the lily and took a long breath of its aroma.  "Much do I love you, but I fear that young ones will not spring from my body, for am I too different to you."  A little note of regret was in her voice as she spoke.  She paused for a moment before continuing, lifting the agate up to examine it in more detail.  It was a large piece of agate, with sharply defined bands of mahogany and burnt umber undulating through it.  "This stone is considered very beautiful by my people, and is often made into jewellery to be worn always."  She smiled widely, hiding her teeth - it still made the canines a little nervous.  "I thank you, Stream-Runner, and She-Who-Watches, for these wonderful gifts."  She leaned forward and licked over his nose, being giving a more traditional human kiss.  Glancing around, she could see heads nodding, as if to say that she'd done well.   The Elder stood again once the last gifts had been given, and surveyed everyone present.  "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.  Those of you who are still single, despair not, for there will be opportunity enough at a later time."  He narrowed his eyes and looked shrewdly at the unpartnered group.  "And you'll have more time to clean up your huts, hmm?"  A titter of laughter rippled around the village at the Elder's humour.   "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."  He grinned and made shooing motions.  "Go!  Enjoy yourselves."   The canines began to disperse, some heading to their huts, others heading out of the village or toward the supply hut.   "You liked my gifts?" Stream-Runner asked, a little anxiously, as he and his human mate wandered back to their hut.  "I'm sure you did, but... it's something we poor males worry about."   Star-Traveller laughed quietly.  "Honestly, I love them.  The cloak is just wonderful; it feels so soft and warm.  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."   The canine leaned in and slipped an arm around the woman, not saying anything until they'd entered the hut they shared.  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.  He guided her over to their bed, a sort of futon made of furs and rushes, and laid her down onto it.  "I'll see what I can do," he murmured, licking at her face.  "In the meantime, I'm here now, so why don't we enjoy this time together?" he suggested, licking at her face and neck.  "I believe I'd like to explore more of your uniqueness...."   She was only too happy to agree. Source: https://sofurry.com/s/dmW90oE1