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The Seduction of Seleste

from the world of the mating season

I Love Him

Chapter 52

After everything that had happened, Keme could not put words to the immense relief he felt to see the sun village on the horizon. Standing on deck with Honiahaka and watching as that distant port grew larger, Keme looked at Honiahaka and grinned, and he was glad to see the sun chief was grinning too.

Honiahaka put his arm around Keme's shoulders and sighed as he looked out at his home. "Home," Honiahaka said happily. "Seems like it's been forever. There were moments when I sincerely thought I'd never see it again, never mind what Master Asku told me. I only wish . . ." He glanced sadly at Keme. "I only wish you and Seleste were calling it home as well."

"Ah, Honi," groaned Keme and rolled his eyes, "don't ruin the moment!"

Honiahaka laughed. "I'm sorry. It's just . . ." He dropped his arm from Keme and faced him. "You're the best friend I've had in a long time. I fear after everything with Kota, Talisa is going to pull away from me, grow more and more distant . . ." His sad eyes wandered past Keme, and Keme knew he was looking at Talisa.

Seleste and the auburn warrior weren't very far. They stood at the wheel with Galilahi, laughing and talking as the first mate taught Seleste how to steer. The ship began lurching too far to starboard, and after playfully batting Seleste aside, Galilahi took the wheel again. Seleste pouted and stuck her tongue out and Talisa laughed.

"Don't worry, Sel," Keme heard Talisa say, "lucky for you, being a chieftess doesn't require much steering."

When they pulled into port at the sun village, Keme was surprised to find a welcoming party there. Apparently, Chieftess Iyira had sent word ahead of them. A gathering of wolves stood holding orange flags on very long poles and they waved the flags happily in the last sparkling rays of the setting sun. Wolves of all walks of life had gathered to welcome home their young chief - as well as Chief Argon himself. The old chief stood in the midst of his muscular entourage, his shriveled paw clutching an exquisitely carved cane. He naturally looked a great deal like Honiahaka, but his cheeks were gaunt from sorrow, his pale mane limp with it. A long shawl was draped around his shoulders, woven with magnificent oranges and reds and dangling with bright blue feathers. An earring was also in his nose and more feathers were in his mane. Seeing his son's tall frame aboard the ship, he seemed to stand a little taller, his face brightened, and he lifted his paw to wave.

"Dad!" Honiahaka shouted, as gleeful as a boy. Watching Honiahaka, Keme remembered for the first time that the sun chief had probably thought his father long dead of despair.

Keme was happy to spy many members of his own family waiting: his grandparents Kel and Aliona, his cousin Enya and her wife Yuri, his brother Roan and his husband Theo, and even Julyan stood with a loving paw on thin little Aralyla's shoulder.

Aralyla was clutching her doll, and seeing Keme when he waved and shouted to them, she waved the doll until it flapped and leapt up and down. It was all Julyan could do to keep her from toppling over in the water. Everyone laughed when Aralyla slipped and Theo - running to her - fumbled to catch her. The family chattered happily as Theo gave his clumsy daughter a hard kiss on the head.

Yes, they were all there. But there was no sign of Zaldon. Noting this, Keme and Honiahaka exchanged grim glances.

The gangway touched down to the cheers of the crowds, and Honiahaka - throwing all dignity to the wind - barreled down the gangplank to his father's open arms. The crowds laughed and cheered as Chief Argon kissed his son on both cheeks -- then proceeded to stretch his cheeks to the amusement of all. Honiahaka groaned and shrugged his father's pinching fingers off, then wrapped him in a hug that lifted him off his feet. The old chief threw his head back and laughed, and the gathered crowds tossed bright orange confetti on the scene.

Still aboard the ship, Keme watched happily as Honiahaka stretched out his paw to Talisa. She seemed loath to come forward but eventually made her way down the gangplank to Chief Argon. Keme could tell her dark eyes were searching the crowds for Zaldon, but before she had a chance to ask after him, Honiahaka had taken her paw and placed it in his father's. Chief Argon kissed Talisa's paw and said happy words to her Keme could not make out from such a distance. Then the chief turned to the crowds and lifted his paws, announcing that their new chief was now home to stay. The crowds cheered again and flower petals were thrown on Honiahaka and Talisa as they stood together, arm in arm.

"Well?" Keme heard Seleste say. He looked up to find her standing beside him, her arms folded, an amused smile on her pretty lips. Her long, straight mane flowed smooth around her slanted eyes as she said, "Aren't you going to go down to them? They're waiting for you, Keme!" She grinned.

Keme's heart fluttered. She had always seemed to understand more than anyone the depths of his loneliness after losing Aiyana. She'd always understood what having a family meant to him. But she was his family too now. Didn't she understand that? They were no longer just waiting for him: they were waiting for her too!

Keme startled Seleste when he grabbed her paw and tugged her after him down the gangway.

"Keme!" Seleste laughed, tail swishing, mane bouncing. "Slow down!"

But Keme couldn't slow down! He'd waited how long to see these wolves again? To know the warmth of Aliona's strong arms, to hear Kel's gruff commanding voice, to joke with Enya, to tease Roan - God. It suddenly seemed as if he'd waited eons to be with them again. Those kind strangers and their beaming faces.

It seemed to Keme that the minute he stepped off the gangway with Seleste, they were swarmed. Her sapphire blues shining with tears, Aliona smothered Keme in a hug. Kel joined the group hug with a hard slap on Keme's back that choked him. Then Enya and Yuri, Roan and Theo crowded in to say hello. Enya hugged Keme tight, called him a knucklehead, and kissed him so hard under his eye he shrugged her off, shouting, "Enya!!!" Roan hugged him as well and gave him a hard clap on the back that echoed very strongly of Kel.

Aralyla bounced up and pecked Keme on the cheek. Keme laughed when she offered her doll for a kiss. He kissed the doll, then laughed again as his little cousin bombarded him with questions.

"Keme, Keme," Aralyla squealed girlishly and bounced up and down, "did you really go to Mom's village? What were the moon wolves like? Did they make you roll in flowers? You stink like flowers --"

"Alright, Ara, that's enough," said Yuri wearily and guided her daughter back.

Keme met Yuri's eye and silently apologized for all the nagging and lecturing she had no doubt endured for helping him. Yuri only smiled, as if to say all was well: she was just happy Keme had returned in one piece. Her ears went flat, however, when Kel's face darkened.

"You are lucky to be alive," Kel began in a hiss. "That Zaldon and Yuri would help you to do this --!"

"Kel!" Aliona warned.

Kel heaved a breath and fell silent, and Keme got the strong impression his grandmother was the only one that would have happened for.

Aliona cupped Keme's face and peered happily into his eyes. "I don't care what you did, I'm just happy to have you back. And Seleste, thank god you found her --!" She squeezed Seleste's small paw, "I knew Keme would find you and bring you home. Keme is one of ours, we don't fail our mates!" Aliona drew herself up proudly and adjusted the dark shawl that cloaked her generous bosom. She placed a kind arm around Seleste and guided her away, all the while asking after her well being, if she was hungry, and she must be so tired after everything that had happened.

Enya glanced happily at Keme and went with Aliona, Seleste, and Julyan. Holding Aralyla by the paw, Theo followed. Kel did not follow, however, and Roan hung back, as if he sensed the lecture that was surely coming and wanted to help Keme avoid it.

Kel stood with his arms folded, his ears back, just regarding Keme a moment. Keme stood very still and was amazed that he could not even meet Kel's eye. It was like being burned with a hot light - he couldn't breathe, he couldn't move. God. What was it like to have stern Kel for a father? It wasn't even fear he felt. No, it was something else. Kel's anger and disappointment gave Keme the deepest feeling of . . . guilt.

"Grandfather," said Roan, "isn't it well enough that Keme lives?"

Kel's bright green eyes darted angrily to Roan, and the younger male fell silent. "That such foolishness could come from a grandchild of mine!" he said, his wrath now turned upon Roan. He gestured a paw at Keme. "We both know what could have happened to your brother! He stands before us because of pure dumb luck. Emphasis on dumb." Kel looked at Keme and shook his head darkly.

"Grandfather," Roan tried again. He came to Keme's side and put his paw on his shoulder. "Keme did no more than what any of us would do for a beloved mate - even you went after Grandmother when she was taken by the sorcerer so many years ago."

Kel's ears pricked forward in surprise. "I asked your father to never tell you that tale!"

Roan smiled. "It wasn't Dad who told it."

Kel sighed and his folded arms dropped loose. Since Roan seemed to relax when this happened, Keme took it as a sign that Kel's anger had passed. He lifted his head and watched Kel hopefully. The older male just looked at them, then he slowly smiled.

"Do as I say, Roan," Kel said in amusement, "not as I do, eh? Your elders make stupid mistakes so that you don't have to."

Roan grinned. "Yes, Grandfather!"

Kel gave Roan a fond rub on the ears.

"Grandfather! I'm not a pup!" Roan cried.

Kel laughed. "You'll always be a pup to me. Go on to the celebrations, Roan. I need to have a word with Keme." When Roan hesitated, Kel added, "Don't worry, young one. I don't intend to lecture him. We just . . . need to talk."

Roan glanced worriedly between Keme and Kel, then he nodded, "Okay, Grandfather. See you at the celebrations, Keme." He gave Keme a hard ruffle on the mane that Keme laughingly dodged, then he hurried to follow the retreating crowds.

"Celebrations?" Keme repeated when Roan had gone.

"Yes. Chief Argon has thrown a festival in honor of his son's return. The entire village will be a mess for several days, I fear. Foolish young ones getting drunk in the streets . . ." Kel's green eyes darkened and he snorted. "Kids."

Keme laughed. He couldn't help it. Kel sounded so old.

Brought from his meditations by Keme's laughter, Kel placed a paw on Keme's shoulder and guided him along the wharf. They walked together at the waterside, passing many small fishing boats, chatting wolves, ships, and merchants unloading wares. Kel's face darkened with sorrow, and Keme watched him anxiously.

When it seemed as if Kel wasn't going to speak, Keme finally asked, "Grandfather . . . where is Zaldon?"

Kel's brows furrowed into a sad frown. "You don't know what happened to him? Sylas didn't tell you?"

Keme's ears pricked forward.

"Oh yes," said Kel. "Zaldon confessed everything to us after his collapse. He's been using magic to communicate with Sylas for a long time now. He thought he was keeping it from us . . ." Kel gave a half-smile. "As if he could keep anything from me. At the time, it was small magic, so I let him get away with it. But then, he used sorcery_ _to find where you were, and that is when the magic drained him. I needn't tell you how dangerous sorcery is."

"Is he alright?"

"Zaldon will live," Kel assured Keme. "I just . . . I hate to see him so weak. It's terrifying . . . I. . . ." Kel halted, and he looked so wretched when he looked at Keme, that Keme was frightened for a moment. "I'd rather die," Kel said, "than be without him. Do you understand?"

After a long pause, Keme nodded. "What do you need me to do?"

Kel smiled. "I knew you'd ask."

They continued walking in silence, and such a long time passed that Keme almost thought Kel wasn't going to speak again. The old wolf seemed lost in his thoughts. He walked straight and proud as any young male, but he moved very slowly, and his tail nearly dragged behind him. He was frowning and seeing not his surroundings but his thoughts.

"I honestly don't know what can be done," Kel said at last. "But we need something to be done about Wynn and we need it done soon. We both know Zaldon can not be the one to do it. He has asked to see you immediately when you return. I don't know what he wants you to do - perhaps a spell or - or . . . I don't know." Kel halted and stared anxiously into the distance. He looked at Keme. "But after you have spoken to him, tell me what he wants you to do, will you? He seems adamant that only you can do it, but I . . . I won't see you go barreling headfirst into danger again. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Grandfather," Keme answered reverently, though he knew damn well that he'd decide what was best himself regardless.

As if he had sensed this, Kel smiled. "Heh. But if you are anything like your father, I should already know you will go behind my back to achieve your ends."

Keme scratched his ears guiltily. Kel smiled. He put his arm around Keme's shoulders and guided him on. Walking with Kel felt so familiar that a warmth crept up in Keme, filling him, consuming him. He glanced at Kel and realized for the first time that he loved his grandfather. He smiled as he tried to imagine having grown up with him the way Roan had, a little pup bouncing on his knee, tugging his tail, begging to hear stories of Grandpa's younger days. Such fabricated memories had their charm, he admitted.

"Whatever you decide, Grandchild," Kel said, "just promise me you won't do anything foolish."

"I can try not to be an idiot for the next six seconds," Keme returned. "That will have to do."

Kel laughed. "I missed you, pup."

"I missed you too."

Sun wolves were singing and dancing in the streets when Keme arrived with Kel at Zaldon's clay hut. Kel left Keme on the doorstep with the reminder that Julyan was inside watching over Zaldon and that he, Kel, would be at the chief's great hut only a few streets over.

Keme entered Zaldon's hut and sure enough, Julyan was there. The large silver wolf was seated in a chair in the front room. The fire was roaring softly and he appeared to be . . . knitting. His long pale mane was pulled back in a tail, while short wisps of it fell in his bright lavender eyes. He smiled when Keme entered and held up his work. It was a brilliant yellow skirt, the kind Keme had only seen in the moon village. It was clearly supposed to be a dancing skirt: its fluffy ruffles were arched where the wearer's hips would have been, so that they would bounce when the wearer danced.

"Ara's been begging me for a dancing skirt," Julyan explained. "She discovered my secret knitting fetish and begged and begged. Her fathers think she's too young, but the girl is fourteen! They should let her start waving her tail a little for the boys around the village . . . or for the girls." He smiled.

Keme grinned. "Nice. Gonna knit me one next?"

Julyan laughed. "Oh, you! I assume you're here to see our favorite tall, pale, and brooding. He's upstairs in his room. He should be sleeping, but knowing him . . ." Julyan tisked and continued his work.

"Right. Thanks," Keme said and made his way up the stairs.

Having once been Grand Sorcerer, Zaldon's clay hut had a bright blue front door - a symbol of a high status - as well as an upstairs. In fact, it was very much like Yuri's hut, consisting of the same white bear furs, intricately carved furniture, and colorful walls. As Keme moved up the second floor landing, he looked around, reflecting that his grandparents lived here with Zaldon and Julyan. Their home was so tidy, smelled so good, and was so beautifully painted. He wanted to say it was because of his grandmother, but he got the feeling Julyan did his fair share of cooking and cleaning.

Keme wasn't sure which room Zaldon and his parents shared, but he didn't need to be told: he could smell Zaldon before he even reached the top of the stairs. It was a musky smell not unlike Yuri's . . . the smell of magic. And something else. Something warm and inviting that was all his own.

The smell brought Keme to a curtained room at the end of the corridor. Here, sunlight reached pale and purple through a single window. Keme could see the twilight ebbing away, could hear the distant laughter and shouting of the celebrating sun wolves. Along the darkening streets, torches were being lit. Keme could see the flames winking into existence one after the other. Seleste was out there somewhere, drinking wine, laughing with Talisa, dancing with Honiahaka.

Keme paused outside of what was certainly Zaldon's bedroom. He heard a cough and Zaldon's voice called, "Come in here, pup. No use keeping me waiting with dramatic pauses."

Keme smiled and passed through the curtain. The room was as cozy and neat as he had imagined. The walls were painted a pretty light blue, wooden shelves held colorful trinkets, dusty books, old bowls of war paint, small corked bottles, and all manner of odds and ends. A small fire pit in the center of the room emitted smoke through a smoke hole in the ceiling, and through the smoke hole, the last rays of fading sunlight filtered in.

Zaldon sat upright against several pillows in a large bed against the wall. The bedside table held his medicines, empty meal plates, and drinks. There was a chair pulled up beside the bed, as if Julyan had been there, caring for Zaldon and sitting with him only moments before.

Keme was glad to see that Zaldon did not look as bad as Kel had made it seem. There were more lines around his eyes than before, and he looked very tired, but he remained as large and imposing as ever. The bed sheets were pulled up over his steadily ripening belly, and he seemed very at ease as he rubbed it and smiled at Keme. His white fur seemed to glow in the building gloom, and as if to beat back the coming darkness, Zaldon lit a few candles on the bedside table and told Keme to sit.

Keme moved into the room and sat on the chair near Zaldon. A long silence ensued as the older wolf's black eyes studied Keme. Keme shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It was like being read by Askuwheteau all over again.

"Grandfather said you wanted to see me," Keme said at length. Anything to break the silence.

"I hope he wasn't too hard on you." Zaldon frowned. "I know he was very upset to learn that Yuri had helped you slip off the way you did. I was naturally upset as well. But knowing that Kel has probably already lectured you to tiny pieces, I'll let it go for now."

Keme laughed. "Thanks. So . . ." he glanced anxiously over Zaldon's weary face. "Why aren't you allowed to use sorcery? I mean, Yuri explained that it's dangerous and that's why it was banned here --"

"For the same reason Askuwheteau never used it," Zaldon returned, and Keme stared at him. Zaldon smiled. "There are many hidden places in our world, Keme. Phanyah is but one of them."

"But - how did you --?"

Zaldon tapped his nose and his black eyes smiled at Keme. "It stayed with you. The scent of Phanyah. Its leaves, its moss, its trees . . . you still carry it with you. Will take a long time to get the scent off. Perhaps it will never leave you. And of course, only those who have been to Phanyah would recognize it."

Keme tilted his head and studied Zaldon. There was more to this old wolf than he had ever guessed. He suddenly wanted to ask a million questions about all the places Zaldon had probably been, the things he had probably seen. But he knew better than to ask: there were more important things to be dealt with.

Sensing Keme's curiosity, Zaldon smiled again. "Perhaps another time, pup. When I am not feeling so . . . tired."

Keme laughed: he could tell Zaldon wanted to say shitty.

"But why does sorcery affect you so much?" Keme couldn't help wondering. "Yuri used it to heal me faster," he admitted sheepishly and hated it when Zaldon frowned. "But she didn't get as tired as you. She barely batted an eye after she did it!"

Zaldon sighed and his dark eyes wandered thoughtfully over the furniture, over the bright walls. "They all think it was the magic that made me ill. That's only part of it. Many years ago," he looked sadly at Keme, "your grandfather fell ill, pup. Kel became so s-sick . . ." Zaldon swallowed and put a big paw to his eyes. He looked up and his face seemed hollow just from the memory. "We thought he was going to die. Your father braved many dangers to find me and seek my help. I came to the summer village, and instead of healing Kel, I took his sickness into myself. That same sickness came back on me, I know that now. I almost died. But I would have gladly died. I love him."

His explanation finished, Zaldon stared mistily into space. Keme sat watching him, a small smile on his lips.

"You really love my grandfather, don't you?"

"Since we were pups. I looked into his eyes and . . . I fell . . . so hard." Zaldon cleared his throat as if he had caught himself. Keme couldn't believe it when his white cheeks flamed the tiniest bit.

"Anyhow," Zaldon said, "I had to relearn some basic magic skills in order to contact Sylas, but I couldn't sit idly by while you and the others were in danger. I'm sure Sylas has told you by now that the fox kingdom is falling apart without Wynn. Wherever she's gone, she's taken the magic with her, and now, any creature can get inside Miras Eii, mortal and immortal alike. The foxes are so devoid of magic at the moment that a bunch of wolves could just go in there and take over."

"Ouch," Keme said.

"Oh, wait, it gets better," Zaldon said with a helpless laugh. "If something doesn't wake Wynn up, she could keep draining the foxes of magic. Eventually, they'll all die. That includes Sylas and Aayan."

"But what can I do?"

Zaldon looked at Keme, a small smile on his lips. "You can wake your sister."

"I can?"

"Of course you can," Zaldon said and began rummaging through the drawer in the bedside table. "Even though you don't look it, you are half shemale, Keme. Magic is in your blood. Your strength alone is proof of the magic that is in you. Long ago, shemales once had other powers besides their strength. The stories say they are the first children of the foxes, and in turn, are the mothers of the wolves. Shemales ran with foxes for thousands of years, long before the first mortal wolf took shape in their womb."

Zaldon finally lifted a hemp bracelet woven with feathers from the drawer. He held it up in the candlelight and Keme stared at it.

"What's that?" Keme said quietly. He took the bracelet when Zaldon gave it to him and examined it, turning it over in his fingers. Aside from the feathers, small stones had been woven in the bracelet as well. The stones glittered in the candlelight and were dark as blood in color. It reminded him a great deal of the moment when Yuri handed him her own feathered bracelet. That moment seemed so very long ago now.

"I have imbued it with protective magic," Zaldon answered. "I needn't tell you there are many dangers in our world, Keme. Your strength is basically a magic power. Tahki was able to drain your strength by feeding off your magic. I'm guessing the bears of Phanyah used their poisons to tame you as well. With that talisman, no one will be able to take your magic from you."

Keme lifted his brows and stared at the bracelet. Its blood red beads winked innocently in the gloom. Zaldon naturally wouldn't know it, but the shemales had also subdued him. He wondered if the bracelet would have worked against them as well.

"Had you come to me before you let Yuri send you gallivanting off," Zaldon added sternly, "I could have given this to you."

Keme looked up guiltily, his ears flat. "What will it protect me from exactly? I mean, what can I expect to encounter in Miras Eii?"

"Not in Miras Eii, outside it. Lone wolves, wild bears, mountain cats, hostile tribes . . . and wood nymphs."

Keme lifted his eyebrows. "Nymphs?"

Zaldon laughed and nodded. "Nymphs. I could explain, but I'm getting sleepy, and I'm sure you want to go and join the celebrations."

The cele--? Oh yeah. Keme hadn't given the celebrations a second thought. But now, he could hear the wolves outside laughing, playing lutes, singing, and he suddenly had an intense desire to get drunk.

"Goodnight then," Keme said, rising as he slipped on the talisman. "Want me to bring you a wine skin back from the party?"

Zaldon laughed. "And give Kel something else to nag me about? I'll pass."

Keme laughed too. He went to the curtain but paused to look back at Zaldon.

"Forget something?" the white wolf asked through a yawn.

"Yeah. Something really dammed important: thanks."

Zaldon smiled. "Protecting your family, Keme, has become second nature. Go be young and have fun. Leave us old males in peace." He waved Keme out.

Keme grinned and ducked out the curtain.