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Extra Chapter: Good Fathers

"You don't have to go, Aralyla," Theo said anxiously. "You could just stay here for another seventeen years."

Aralyla laughed. "Oh, Dad. Stop sulking."

They were in the house Theo shared with Roan, and Aralyla was primping in the mirror of her bedroom while Roan prepared supper in the front room.

As a little child, Aralyla had always been very pleased to say she had two houses and four parents. Now she was seventeen and she was going to move out: tonight was her mating season.

Outside, drums beat in steady rhythm, summoning the youth of the village to enter the sun tunnels. Some of the tunnels were so old and falling to ruin that they were sealed off from the village - especially the tunnels that branched out under the wastelands. A network of tunnels under the village itself had been preserved, and it was to the entry that the drums called the females now.

Unlike the customs of the summer village, the youth of the sun village had a choice in participating. The point of their mating season was to find someone to love. If a youth did not feel ready for commitment, they did not go. The sun wolves honored marriage and love and believed that a wolf should be ready to commit before setting foot in the tunnels. Again, unlike the summer village, children were not expected after the marriage. The only thing expected of the youth was to find happiness.

Aralyla hummed happily as she smoothed mane oils over her thick curls. She had blossomed beautifully into a dark gray female with her father's dark, slanted, and intense eyes. She had round hips and high breasts, and around her throat was a necklace of white flowers Julyan had given her for the occasion. She turned to look at Theo with her long lashes and girlish smile, and he thought his daughter had never looked so beautiful.

"How do I look, Dad?"

"Beautiful," Theo answered weakly, "which is why you should stay here."

"Dad!" Aralyla laughed and came to Theo. She took his arm and smiled up at him. "I promise you: he's a good male."

Theo sighed heavily. "You said you met Apopovi --"

"Aponovi," Aralyla corrected with a laugh.

"You said you met Aponovi where again? At the docks?"

Aralyla rolled her eyes. "What's wrong with that? Where was I supposed to meet him?"

"He's really a fisher then . . ."

Aralyla scowled and went back to the mirror. "Aponovi can provide - and I can help him! We will support our family together. He doesn't need to be a warrior!"

Theo only sighed again.

When Aralyla confessed to her four parents that she was in love, Theo had hoped against hope that his daughter had fallen in love with a warrior, a male who knew how to fight, who could take care of her and protect her. He was crestfallen to hear that Aponovi was little more than a simple fisher who lived in a simple home down near the docks. He protested at once - then protested in private with Roan listening wearily. For the first time in his life, Theo realized what it was like to be Sade.

"Daddy approves," Aralyla went on irritably. "Why can't you just be happy for me?"

Aralyla had always called Roan Daddy and Theo Dad. Yuri was Mommy. And as the years passed, Enya went from Mummy to Mumma to Mom.

Theo swallowed guiltily. Before he could answer, Roan called down the hall that supper was ready. Aralyla wouldn't be staying for supper, of course. Theo didn't move, wanting to protest and willing himself not to.

"I just want the _best_for you," Theo blurted. "And this Apopo . . . he isn't the best!"

"Aponovi!" Aralyla shook her head. "You haven't even met him!" Suddenly angry, she brushed past Theo, and her dark eyes were glittering with unshed tears.

Theo pushed a guilty paw back through his mane and followed. "Ara . . . I only worry because I the want you to be protected! Safe!" he cried as they entered the front room.

Roan was kneeling beside the fire, filling two bowls with soup: one for him and one for Theo. He looked up when Aralyla swept in with her long curly mane flying.

"Aponovi can protect me!" she said loudly, jerking out of reach when Theo tried to touch her shoulder. "Did it ever occur to you, Dad, that perhaps a female shouldn't need protecting! Mom taught me to fight and Uncle Hris taught me to shoot! Aponovi loves that about me and respects that. I love him and I'm going to marry him!" She wrenched the door open and halted, looking over her shoulder at Theo with a whirl of her mane. "We will be happy," she said, tears shining in her eyes, "with or without your approval!" With that, she marched out, slamming the door behind her.

Theo let his frustration settle in the silence that followed. He slouched over to Roan and sat beside him.

"Theo," Roan tisked, "what have you done?" He passed him his bowl. "You promised me you wouldn't push her about Aponovi."

Theo snorted, poking at his soup with his spoon. "Why is it you can say the damn kid's name so easy? Apopo . . . Apopi . . ."

Roan laughed sadly. "You should listen to yourself for a moment. You sound just like Sade."

Theo's face darkened. "No - no, don't say that, Roan."

"You keep trying to make Aralyla do what you think is best. Sounds like Sade to me. He believed it was best for you to be straight. He tried to tell you who to marry. . . ."

"Alright, alright. I see your point. I just want her to be safe and provided for! Warriors make more, and a warrior could protect her."

"Aponovi can protect her just fine, sweetie."

Theo looked at Roan curiously. He, Yuri, and Enya had agreed to meet Aponovi for a dinner that Theo refused to attend. He and Aralyla had a fight about the fact, but Theo was determined to voice his disapproval.

"What's this kid like? Is he buff or something?"

Roan laughed. "You had the opportunity to get to know him, Theo. You blew it."

Theo frowned at his soup. "Come on, babe. I'm trying here. Tell me about him."

"He's not exactly buff," Roan answered, gazing off thoughtfully. "You can tell he's a sun wolf and didn't come here from some other place. He's pretty tall . . . gray fur . . . lovely hazel eyes. . . ."

"Are you going to marry him or Ara?" Theo teased.

Roan laughed. "I'll admit he is handsome. And he's so polite. And he loves to laugh . . ." He nodded happily. "Yes, I can happily trust him to care for my daughter. Aralyla chose well. And why shouldn't she?" He smiled at Theo. "She had a fine example."

Theo looked at his husband with warm black eyes. "Thanks, babe."

They leaned close and kissed.

But Theo still could not accept Aponovi as his new son-in-law. The young male walked Aralyla home after the mating season. Theo waited up for his daughter and took the opportunity to meet her new husband. He hated Aponovi on sight - not because of anything the boy said or did, but simply because he was not the sort of male Theo had imagined for his daughter. Aponovi was tall and thin and hardly athletic. In fact, he had a fat little tummy and his fur smelled like fish. He had a gold stud in his nose - piercings were something Theo hated with a passion - and he wore his long gray mane in an odd bun atop his head.

Aponovi was so tall, the top of his bun hit the doorframe when he swept in. He was elegant and polite, even charming, jingling as he was with fish bones around his throat and ankles. He told a fair few jokes that grudgingly made Theo laugh, then bid Aralyla goodnight with a loving kiss on the lips that left the girl sighing when he had gone.

The moment Aponovi was gone, Theo tried to talk Aralyla into putting the marriage on hold (and staying at home for a few years). They argued again. Aralyla was going to spend a last night with her fathers, but in anger, she moved out that very night, taking her most important possessions with her to the new home she and Aponovi had selected together.

Theo and Aralyla didn't talk for days.

Walking home from patrol as the sun sank away in the sky, Theo reflected miserably that they were acting just as he and Sade had always acted. When Sade wanted Theo to do something he didn't want to do, they would quarrel, then fall into a cold standoff where they would refuse to speak to each other. They would sit in frosty silence over supper, and Amrosa would look at them both miserably as she tried to push a conversation. She always wound up talking to herself.

Theo kicked himself that he was acting just like his stubborn, selfish father. He entered the house he and Roan shared, and as he was placing his spear in the rack, his ears pricked forward when he heard a familiar voice.

". . . beautiful girl who has done me proud," Sade was saying.

Theo looked around and his lips tightened: his father was sitting on the couch beside the fire, talking quietly with Roan and Yaholo. Roan and Yaholo were both sitting in chairs opposite the couch, nodding as they listened to the older male.

Theo smiled to think that Yaholo had become such a good friend over the years. It was he who cast the portals that allowed their family to visit. Unfortunately, Yaholo's tribe was always on the move, so it wasn't always easy to get a hold of him. Sometimes they did not hear from him for years at time. When he went to the Seat of the red wolf to study under the sorceress there, they didn't hear from him for six years. During that time, Fedesda helped them when she could - though it was never often.

Yaholo was as handsome as ever and still looked like a wild creature with his nose pierced and his blue fur covered in white tattoos. His messy curls had grown right to his tail, and he didn't seem inclined to cut them. Though Kuza was not with him, Theo knew the two were still together, that they were even married now.

Taking up his white staff, Yaholo grinned as he came to Theo. Roan came with him.

"Roan," Theo said at once, "what did you do?"

Roan shook his head. "Do you think I enjoy living this way? I can't stand it when you and Ara argue. I couldn't get you to listen to me. Maybe you'll listen to Sade."

Theo laughed. "Roan, are you nuts? I never listen to Dad."

Roan shrugged. "Maybe you will this time." He kissed Theo on the cheek. "I'll be at Enya and Yuri's if you need me. Yaholo and I have been invited to supper."

"What about my supper?" Theo said, but Roan didn't answer and went out the door.

Ah. This was his punishment for being a stubborn bastard.

Yaholo laughed to see the realization fill Theo's eyes. "You have my condolences," he joked. "I have yet to anger Kuza in such a way that he denies my supper. I dread the day . . . but I know it's coming."

Theo smiled. "Good to see you, Holo."

Yaholo clapped Theo on the shoulder. "And it is good to see you." He glanced at Sade and muttered under his breath, "Good luck in there."

Theo laughed weakly as Yaholo passed him out the door: Sade didn't like Yaholo anymore than their other bisexual friends. Once he discovered Yaholo liked both sexes, he blamed the young sorcerer for influencing his son. Theo thought nothing could be more laughable.

"Hey, Dad." Theo entered the room and sat in a chair opposite his father.

Time had given Sade a few lines around his eyes, but aside from that, he was still as handsome and solemn as ever. With dark gray fur and piercing black eyes, he sat reclined on the couch, completely at his ease and looking very amused. Theo knew why his father looked amused: he was now in Sade's place. Almost exactly.

Theo flattened is ears irritably and looked away. He could tell Sade wanted him to sit on the couch with him, but he was damned if he did.

Even while he was arguing with Aralyla, Theo was still arguing with Sade. Sade had learned over the years to bite his tongue where need be, to keep his opinions to himself, to stop telling Theo how to live - but where Aralyla was concerned, he always voiced his opinion. He was very concerned with the welfare of his granddaughter, and Theo knew he was very proud that Aralyla had "chosen" to be straight. Theo laughed to himself the day he heard Sade say that. Aralyla didn't choose her sexuality. Sade was proud of a genetic accident . . . but Theo supposed all grandparents were. His grandmother had always been very proud of his good looks.

"What are you doing here, Dad?" Theo said, leaning forward in his chair. He clasped his paws and studied his father. "I thought we weren't talking after, you know . . . you pretty much told me my cocksucking might've had a good influence on Ara."

Sade laughed hoarsely and slapped his thigh. "At least her pussy diving mothers didn't make her out to be like them. I thank my ancestors everyday."

Theo scowled. "Don't talk about Enya and Yuri like that. Not in my house."

Sade nodded. "Fair enough. Look at you," he said, regarding Theo mistily. "You're male enough to lay down the law in your own house. That's my boy."

"Why are you here?" Theo said flatly.

"Roan said you and my grandbaby are fighting. Why? You angry she chose a boy and not some girl? Welcome to my world."

Theo's face darkened. "Don't compare me to you! I could care less if Ara ate twat for breakfast the rest of her life! That boy is not strong enough to protect her! He's a fucking fisher. And skinny as hell - and he's got this fat stomach. And he smells like fish!" Theo made a face.

Sade watched his son in amusement. He rubbed his paw up his thigh, and his arm was along the back of the couch as his black eyes studied Theo. "Let's say Ara didn't choose a male. Let's say she chose a female. A female who couldn't protect her from the dangers of the world the way you can. What would you do then?"

Theo halted. He'd never thought of it that way. What would be his excuse for complaining if Aralyla chose a female? What would he do? Tell her that a female warrior couldn't protect her the way a male could?

"This isn't about the boy's physical fitness," Sade said with a nod. "It's not about his occupation. It's not even about the fact that he stinks. It's about the fact that you aren't ready to let her go."

Theo stared at the floor. No. He wasn't ready.

"A good father is never ready," Sade went on quietly. "I was furious when I found out you were . . . a tail chaser."

Theo snorted. "Did you just call yourself a good father?" He looked up to find his father's square jaw was standing out hard. He lost his relaxed demeanor and folded his arms, regarding Theo with the same cold disappointment that used to make him wince on reflex. He was used to the disappointment now, though.

"I was furious," Sade continued, "because I knew it meant you wouldn't have children, that you wouldn't be happy, that you would be a fugitive and that you would never come home. I was angry that you chose this path when marrying a female would have been so much easier. I was angry that I went through the trouble of putting you with Enya - only to have you throw it back in my face!"

"Are you done?" Theo said bitterly. He got to his feet. "I've heard this before."

"Sit down," Sade said. "I'm not finished."

Theo didn't move.

"I said sit down, boy."

Theo swallowed hard . . . then sat.

"I was so angry with you for being a tail chaser," Sade said, "that it took me years to see how wrong I was. You married that boy, and somehow, it lasted. You seem happy. You have a nice home, a loving husband, a daughter, friends and family. You are more successful in your life than your damn father - and you're a tail chaser. I . . . I'm a little proud."

Theo laughed weakly. "A little?"

Sade looked away. "The _point_is, I was wrong. And one day, you're going to look at Aralyla and realize you're wrong too."

Theo smiled slowly. ". . . did you just admit you were wrong?"

"Don't ruin the moment, boy. Now come here and hug me."

Sade insisted on leaving, and Theo was surprised to learn that his father had also been invited to Enya and Yuri's for supper. In the wake of his father's absence, he sat in the gloom of his empty home and realized everyone had been invited to supper at Enya and Yuri's except him. According to Roan, even Aralyla was there with Aponovi. They had left Theo alone on purpose. So he would have time to think. And he did.

The next afternoon found Theo outside the house Aralyla now shared with Aponovi. Under normal circumstances, his daughter would have been down at the docks, fishing with Enya and the other fishers. Today, however, Theo had a feeling she would be at home.

"I had a feeling you'd come," Aralyla said the moment she opened the door. Like all peasants in the village, she was naked but for her jewelry: Aponovi had already given her the customary ring as an expression of his devotion and love. It glinted on her finger with smooth black stones to match her eyes. In her ears were gold studs . . . and another gold stud was in her nose that Theo hated on sight.

Aside from the nose stud, Theo thought his daughter looked pretty as ever. He looked at her and saw the fat little pup Enya used to nurse at her breasts. But that pup was gone now.

"You gonna say something," Aralyla said when her father remained awkwardly silent. She folded her arms and leaned in the doorframe, her mass of curls tumbling around her shoulders. "Something like 'I'm sorry'? Or perhaps 'I'll never be a jerk again.'"

Theo laughed sadly. "I'm sorry, Ara. I guess I'm just not ready to let you go. Should I be ready?" He realized he must've looked miserable, for his daughter's slanted eyes relented.

Aralyla pushed herself away from the doorframe and opened the door wider. "Come in, Dad."

Theo followed his daughter inside, dreading what he might find. He entered the gloom of the front room to find that his dread was rightfully felt: fishes were on display on the walls, as well as fish bones hanging as decorations. The smell was intense and he wanted to back out, but swords and spears made of whale bone were also on the walls, and the sight made him halt. There weren't many wolves who went whaling due to the fact that the creatures were so rare and so incredibly hard to bring in. It was also believed that whales were sentient beings, but scholars had been arguing for so long and with so little proof that the whaling continued unabashed.

"He . . . hunts whales?" Theo said, stepping uncertainly into the room.

Aralyla smiled as she closed the door. She gestured, and she and Theo sat on the couch near the fire pit.

Aralyla rubbed small paws over her knees as she glanced around the room. "He hunts whales," she confirmed with a grin, and a curl fell in her pretty black eyes. She tilted her head and her lashes fluttered in amusement as her father really took in the room for the first time.

There were treasures everywhere. Gold and ivory statues, paintings, expensive furs over the furniture and ornate pots containing rare plants. The house was modestly large but still contained a second floor. Theo had glimpsed the upstairs balcony while approaching from outside. A lot of peasants had balconies, so he had thought nothing of it. Now he knew better: Aponovi came from a moderately wealthy whaling family who had given him a portion of their wealth after his mating season.

Theo looked at Aralyla, who was watching him with eyes crinkled up with silent laughter. "He's . . . rich?" Theo managed.

"He's rich," Aralyla repeated, laughing. "He didn't tell me for the longest time, and I understand why. He didn't want me to want him for his wealth. He didn't want you to like him for his wealth either. He wanted my family to accept him for himself." Her eyes glittered sadly. She bowed her head, and her curly mane swept forward as she fiddled with her fingers. Theo looked at her and thought she reminded him a great deal of Yuri in that moment.

"I came to tell you I was going to try to accept him," Theo said soothingly and rubbed his daughter's shoulder. "And that I was sorry for acting like my head ends in a point."

Aralyla lifted her face and laughed. "But then you'd be apologizing everyday!"

Theo grinned. "Alright. I had that coming."

They smiled at each other.

"So . . ." Aralyla said uncertainly. She frowned. "You're going to be nice to him now?"

Theo sighed heavily. "I always tried to be nice, I just failed," he said with a half-smile. "I'll try harder. I'll try to stop . . . telling you how to live. Your grandpa taught me that."

Aralyla brightened. "So the talk with Grandpa paid off?"

Theo laughed at the smirk on his daughter's face. "Paid in full. I realized I didn't want to be like him, to put you through the misery he put me through . . . because of his selfishness."

"He's _still_putting you through," Aralyla said wisely.

"No," Theo denied, frowning a little. "Your grandfather was a lot worse eighteen or so years ago. We weren't even talking then. I'll die before that happens to us," he said and squeezed her paw.

Aralyla smiled widely. Suddenly content, she dropped her head on Theo's shoulder and closed her eyes as her father's loving fingers stroked her curls.

"Now you know he can protect me."

Theo snorted. "If he can bring down a damn whale, he can protect you."

Aralyla laughed girlishly.

"What I don't understand is how he manages to fight whales and keep that gut of his."

"He likes cake."

"Ah."

"And he's rich too," Aralyla said smugly, "so you can't say he can't provide. He makes even more than a warrior!"

"I won't pretend I'm not pleased about that. My only worry now is that he'll go whaling and make you a widow . . . I'll kill him!"

Aralyla laughed. "Dad . . ."

Theo blinked, reflecting on the senselessness of his words. He laughed. "Well, I'm your father, Ara. There's always something to worry about."

Aralyla snuggled up close and hugged Theo's chest. "I'm glad you're my father. Aponovi's father didn't approve of me."

Theo scowled. "What! You're perfect!"

Aralyla laughed at her father's indignation. "He wanted his son to marry a sorceress so his status could move up even higher."

"Your mother is a sorceress!"

"High society doesn't count Mommy because she didn't give birth to me . . . I'm just a fisher like Mom. A peasant."

"You aren't _just_anything," Theo said angrily. "You are my little girl - which makes you a mate that Apopo's father could only _dream_of for his son!"

Aralyla squeezed her eyes shut. "Oh god. This isn't going to go over well . . ."

"What isn't?"

"Aponovi invited his parents for supper tonight. I was going to invite you and Daddy --"

"-- and Enya and Yuri."

"Yes."

"I promise I'll behave . . ."

"Dad."

"I will!"

"You have to promise you won't get angry and attack Aponovi's father. I know how you are."

"Pft. If I attacked him, he'd never talk about you again. He wouldn't be able to."

"Dad!" Aralyla sat up and pushed a weary paw back through her curls. "This is exactly why --!"

"Alright, alright," Theo sang, holding up his paws. "I'll be on my best behavior. But if he opens a mouth about you, do not expect me to sit back and remain silent!" Thinking of Aponovi's arrogant father, Theo glared at the opposite wall, not noticing how Aralyla smiled at him fondly. His lashes fluttered in surprise when she kissed him on the cheek. He looked at his daughter to find her looking at him with large eyes warm with love.

Aralyla squeezed her father's paw. "Thank you for always standing beside me, Dad."

Theo rubbed his nose against hers, and she giggled. "I'll always stand beside you . . . my Ara."