It's the first day of the spring solstice festival in Haven, and people are in a really good mood, having (mostly) forgotten the near attacks several months earlier. Even some of the Chirr'T'Thar in town are enjoying the celebration without getting TOO many looks. Flowers festoon the city, and lots of vendors, hawking incredibly varied wares, line the streets leading from the docks, where ships from all over have come to sell off items collected in far off realms. Including a lot of fruits, vegetables, and herbs of all kinds.
Chastity steps out of her door, yawing, and giving a stretch, taking in a deep breath of the festive morning air. She looks up at the sky bemusedly. Solstice, she thinks, chuckling. No matter where you go, it's an important holiday. She turns to step back inside, when her foot hits a small, brown-wrapped package. She frowns slightly, bends down, and picks it up.
Andromeda bounces along the colorful streets with Jenora, sniffing and listening and looking at everything, "And here I thought they NEVER had fun here. :)"
Jenora laughs. "Now, now... almost everybody has to have fun at some point."
Chastity frowns at the package slightly, then sits down on the steps, unwrapping it.
Andromeda has to keep remembering to hold her wings close in the crowded streets, "One would think so, but we've met some races that really seem to enjoy being miserable. Oh my, look at all the food! And jewelry! Oh my, those decorated pouches, what are they made of Jenora?"
Jenora hmmmms, and peers at the pouches. "Not sure..."
Andromeda moves over to a vendor who sells "saddle bags", purses, and other leather goods.
Andromeda stares at the material, flexing it, "It seems to be pretty durable, it smells...kind of like those deer I hunt?"
Andromeda purrs, "I've seen a lot of this stuff around since the day we got here, but I've never had a chance to ask how it is made."
Jenora says, "Probably is made from their hides, then. Fairly basic procedure of tanning the hides to cure it. Stops it from rotting."
The vendor is busy making a sale to a young skunk female, who is looking at a new saddle.
Andromeda blinks, "Their hides...? You mean their skin!?!?"
Jenora nods. "The meat is eaten, the skin is used to make things out of. At least, that's my guess; it's not uncommon in many cultures."
Andromeda looks fascinated, "Edible wearable items? What a unique idea. The stuff does seem to hold up well. So, Jenora, I know I've been busy, especially as we get Zilvar's moon base up and running, but I wonder how you've been faring on Nexus?"
Jenora says, "No, no... the skin isn't edible after it's cured, trust me."
Chastity opens the package, and frowns at the oddly-shaped herbs inside. There are five roots, slender and narrow with an odd bluish coloration, and short, frilly green leaves at their top.
Jenora grins, shrugging. "Well, it certainly hasn't been boring, I'll give it that much."
Andromeda ohs and hmms, "Oh well, it still smells good. I'm glad you haven't been bored. Oh, my brother wants me to check in with Chastity for a minute, see how things are going at the "embassy". And I want to talk to you some more about a mating group. Shall we walk over to that side of town?"
Chastity looks up, then stands, pulling her cane and a light coat out form the entry way and closing the door. It's a festival day, there's sure to be some herbalist or apothecary who can tell her what these are. And why they were left on her porch.
Jenora nods. "Let's. I haven't seen Chastity in a few days now."
Andromeda's tail curls around Jenora's for a few seconds, before she pads off towards the edge of the festival, noting to herself that it's nice that Michael lives just across the street from the "Embassy". ;)
Jenora chuckles quietly as she pads alongside the 'taur.
Chastity walks down the steps, and begins to hobble towards the fair. Before very long, though, up ahead she spots two familiar features. Tucking the package under her arm with the cane, she waves. "Jenora, Andromeda!"
Jenora waves back to Chastity. "'Allo!"
Andromeda oohs and bounces towards Chastity, stops just short and gives her a gentle head rub. It's kind of like having an explosion come to a quick stop to say hello. ;)
Chastity laughs quietly, returning the headrub as best as she can. "How are you both doing? Enjoying the fair?"
Jenora says, "Very much so."
Andromeda nods, "Though I don't understand why people want to wear other animal's skin, it seems like their own fur should do well enough. "
Simtra opens up the door from the inn smells the food from the fair, "I wonder if anyone else is there yet?"
Jenora chortles. "Andromeda, you people are spoiled by some of your special talents for extreme environments."
The smell of roasted meat waifs across the road...
Andromeda hrrms, "I can understand protection from cold, but it's a nice warm day today."
Andromeda mrrrs at the scent of very fresh meat being cooked over a wood fire, "We normally only eat cooked meat as a treat, but that really smells good. :)"
Chastity's nose twitches as she takes a sniff. "Oh, my! Smells wonderful! Much better than biomass, I'm sure!"
Simtra quickly heads for where the fair is and tries to keep from drooling from the smells.
Jenora mmmmmmmms, closing her eyes as she inhales deeply.
Andromeda winks at Jenora, "Well, I'm going to hunt that smell down. ;)" and pads off towards the source of the scent.
Its fairly obvious where the smell comes from. Not from the fair, but down the road...From this angle, it simply looks like there's smoke coming out of the indentation in the row of buildings, where Michael's home is.
Jenora chuckles, shaking her head.
Andromeda blinks as she realizes where the smoke is coming from, and stops in the middle of the road and does some quick grooming on her headfur, her ear tips, and smoothes out a couple of feathers in her wings, before trotting over to Michael's place.
Chastity grins watching Andromeda amble off. "I'm getting rather hungry myself, want to follow her, Jenora?"
Jenora says, "We might as well..."
Simtra notices that the smell seems to get getting fainter as he gets close to the fair. Hungry, he follows his nose.
Michael is on the small lawn before his house, sitting beside a crude but sturdy fire pit, with a roasting carcass of some kind over the flames.
Chastity nods, and ambles up the road. "Uhm, someone left this on my porch today," she says, holding out the package. "Now, I know my herbal lore is kind of rusty, but I've never seen these before, or anything like them. Do you happen to know what they are?
Jenora hmmmms, and takes the package, looking them over. "Not off-hand, no... something local to this world, I'd assume. On the other hand, I know someone who probably would know what those are."
Simtra walks quickly and does not seem to be watching very closely where his is going as he nears Andromeda and Michael's house
Chastity tilts her head to the side, the scent becoming stronger. "Oh? I'd appreciate any help, Jenora. Now, if only I knew who it was that put them there."
Jenora says, "No labels or anything like that?"
Andromeda pads up towards Michael's house and calls out, "Michael, are you home?"
Michael looks over to Andromeda, behind her and to her right. "Yes, over here!"
Andromeda bounds over and gives Michael a friendly headrub, "What are you cooking? We smelled it all the way over by Chastity's home."
Michael wrinkles his nose and smiles at the rub. "It is my kind's spring tradition. I was hoping to catch a few of you, so you could share."
Andromeda snugs an arm around Michael's shoulder, "Well, you caught me easily enough. :)"
Michael chuckles, "I noticed. And with less bruises this time."
Michael winks and checks the meat.
Andromeda thtptptpts at Michael, careful not to get any thtptptp on the meat though.
Simtra bumps into Andromeda rubs his muzzle, "Oops, sorry I did not mean to run into you miss."
Jenora pads up beside Andromeda finally, and waves. "Hello, Michael."
Andromeda chuckles at Simtra, "I don't mind bumping into handsome males like yourself, it's good to see you again Simtra."
Chastity finally arrives, her nose twitching slightly. "Michael? Oh, hello there!"
Michael waves to Jenora. "You all are quite in time...I think this is just about ready."
Simtra says, " Ohs, Hio Andromeda and Michael. Glad to see ya's"
Jenora says, "Oh? What is about ready?"
Michael points to the roasting carcass with a long carving knife.
Jenora says, "Ah! I see, yes."
Simtra waves to Jenora and Chastity as they walk up.
Michael says, "Who would like some?"
Simtra puts his paw in the air and hops up and down to be seen, "I would please!"
Jenora smiles, nodding. "I as well, thank you."
Chimera wanders over from the festival as well, and looks over Simtra's shoulder, having to hop up and down to do so!
Michael takes the roast off the fire, and begins to carve pieces out of it.
Chastity grins, "You've gotten quite a crowd here, Michael...
Chastity takes in a big snifffff of the cooking meat. "Ah! What is it?"
Michael smiles, "Normally, the entire village would be here for this...So, the more friends I have here, the better."
Simtra steps back to let the females to be served first.
Michael spears the pieces with thin sticks and hands them out. "This is the first catch of the new year. It is an anticipation of the year to come." The meat is apparently some type of deer. Its quite hot, but still quite rare, and seems to have been marinated in some kind of sweet stuff, probably honey.
Andromeda mrrrrrrrrrs as she nibbles on the morsel Michael hands to her, in feline heaven.
Chastity accepts her gingerly, sniffing delicately at it. "Oh, my... I haven't had real meat in... in..." She shrugs, for once deciding that her loss of memory isn't as important as *munchmunchmunchmunchmunch* She blinks in surprise at the wonderful flavor.
Chimera chews on the meat contemplatively.
Jenora smiles, and munches slowly on the meat, purring. "Very nicely done."
Michael finishes his piece of meat, and reaches behind him for a corked glass bottle.
Andromeda has already finished her piece. One of the drawbacks of having a ridiculously high metabolic rate and being the size of a small pony.
Simtra munches on the meat, loving the sweetness of the flavor.
Chastity nibbles at the meat, finishing it. "Michael, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to kidnap you to cook for me for the rest of my life.."
Jenora licks the sauce off of the stick the meat was on.
Chimera keeps chewing on his piece, as if it were a stick of chewing gum.
Michael uncorks the bottle and takes a swig, wincing as he passes the bottle to Andromeda, to pass it around. "And this is the last harvest of fall. It is the memory of all who aren't at this celebration." Its a very strong, bitter ale of some kind or another.
Andromeda's ears go back, and she takes a TINY sip, just to be polite, and passes it on to Jenora.
Simtra is glad to have a large piece of meat and keeps eating.
Jenora sniffs at the brew, then takes a small drink of it as well, handing it off to Chastity.
Michael slices some more meat for those who have finished theirs.
Jenora smiles, munching on some more of the meat. "This is really quite good."
Andromeda has also snagged more meat, and is trying to make it last by eating a little slower. Well, just a little.
Chastity blinks at the bottle, and starts to protest, some sort of tiny alarm going off in her head, but she accepts it, and takes a sip, before passing it to Simtra. A moment later her eyes widen and she makes a bit of a choked sound, gasping for breath.
Jenora blinks, dropping the meat, and slips behind Chastity to grab her, looking her over quickly.
Chastity coughs, blinking as she takes Jenora's arm. "Oooooooh, now I remember.... No alcohol tolerance at all, wheeee....."
Simtra puts the bottle down and goes over to Chastity
Andromeda blinks, "Alcohol tolerance?"
Andromeda moves back, figuring with two people already helping Chastity, she'd just be in the way.
Jenora sighs, and helps support Chastity. "Alcohol has certain effects on most sentients, affecting the body chemistry. It can be euphoric for some people, or a depressant for others. Chastity appears to be, as they say, 'higher than a kite' as her body doesn't know how to deal with it."
Chastity blinks trying to straighten her vision. "Y-yeah... it'll pass inna minute, just need... here..." She sits down on the lawn, taking a few deep breaths.
Simtra backs up a bit to let Chastity have a bit more air and picks up the bottle again and sniffs at it.
Jenora kneels down as she helps Chastity sit.
Chastity shakes her head, then wishes she hadn't, and makes a face, groaning. "Ooooh... And it's not a happy-kind of buzz, either.... I'll, I'll be all right, it was only a sip, and my body isn't used to it...
Simtra takes a small sip of the ale and shutters slightly from the bitter taste.
Jenora nods, and starts rubbing Chastity's shoulders.
Tail flicking in some concern, Andromeda purrs, "And I just thought it tasted bad. ;)"
Simtra looks around holding the bottle out, "Does anyone else want to try it?"
Jenora smirks at Andromeda. "Well, it was rather bitter. Not uncommon for that form of brew."
Chastity's package slips from her hands to the ground, as she rubs her forehead, the color returning to the tips of her ears.
"I guess not", and Simtra puts the bottle down on the ground.
Jenora sighs, and keeps rubbing Chastity's shoulders, helping keep the blood flowing.
Chimera holds a hand out for the bottle.
Simtra folds his ears back and hands to bottle off to Chimera, "Oh, I'm sorry. I did not mean to miss ya."
Andromeda flicks an ear, wondering how Chimera always seems to be around, "Are you sure you want to risk Chimera getting...euphoric?"
Chimera nods to the fox and takes a sip.
Jenora grins. "Given Chimera's rather different biology, I'm not sure it would have any effect on him at all."
Chastity finally takes in a deep breath, and smiles up at Jenora, patting her hand. "Thank you, dear. I'll be all right, now, I think."
Jenora smiles, nodding. "All right."
Chimera holds out the bottle and licks his lips a bit. "Who wants it next?"
Simtra takes a few small bites from the sweet meat to get the bitter taste out of his mouth and watches Chastity with concern.
Chastity sighs and stretches, resting her hands on the ground. One of them brushes against the package. She looks down at it, and her eyes widen. "Oh! Gosh, almost forgot about them..."
Simtra hmms, "What is that Chastity? Did you get something today?
Chastity nods to Simtra, picking up the loosely-wrapped package. "I found these on my doorstep today. I'm afraid I have no idea what they are, they're completely new to me."
Jenora nods to Chastity. "The person I mentioned who might know what they are is a squirrel named Samantha. Not spent much time with her myself, but she was one of the earlier contacts here, and I've heard a fair bit about her."
Chimera looks curiously at the package.
Simtra keeps his voice low, "What is it? Anything special?"
Andromeda has been rubbing up against Michael every chance she can get, but now purrs, "Samantha? I've met her, she lives in a house tree, right?"
Jenora says, "That's the one, yes."
Chastity hmms, and nods to Jenora. "Can you introduce me to her at some point?"
Michael ponders the bottle and takes a long drink, closing his eyes and staying quiet.
Simtra finish the meat and rubs his belly happily.
Jenora nods to Chastity. "Sure."
Andromeda's tail flicks in curiosity, noting how quiet Michael has become.
Michael gestures to the bottle. "Last offer?"
Chimera says, "What was that stuff, Michael?"
Chastity smiles quietly to Jenora. "Thank you. I can't recall getting strange packages from unknown senders." She looks to Michael, and shakes her head quietly. "No, thank you. I'm afraid I shouldn't."
Simtra waves his paws in front of him, "Uh, no thanks Michael."
Jenora smiles, standing up. "I'll help you finish some of it off, if you need more help."
Michael tosses the bottle into the fire, the glass breaking as the flames leap higher. "Its made from a certain kind of sturdy mountain berry. Very toxic in just about any other form than this."
Michael says, "Oops. I apologies...But have some more meat, if you'd like. This kind doesn't save well."
Chimera says, "What does it try to save?"
Jenora nods. "That's all right. Yes, I'd love some more of the meat."
Andromeda tries not to look TOO hungry as she also nods eagerly. :)
Chastity smiles quietly, 'I think some more of that sounds delicious.'
Michael slices off a big piece for Jenora and another for Andromeda. "Well, its to keep memories, sort of."
Michael (and some for Chastity. :)
Simtra burps softly and stays seated.
Jenora says, "Oh? Well, I'm sure we'll be remembering this day for a while."
"It's a very nice day," Chimera agrees.
Jenora finishes off her meat, then stretches.
Michael cuts off a piece for himself and chews on it, watching everyone else, adding wood to the fire when necessary.
Andromeda has curled a wing around Michael, and looks up at Jenora, "Oh, I wanted to ask you more about forming a mating group Jenora, if you are still interested?"
Jenora says, "I think so, yes..."
Michael amicably scritches Andromeda's back in return.
Simtra blinks and listens.
Andromeda nods and mrrs at Michael, "Well, assuming you do decide, we need to choose a third before we go hunting down a male. Any suggestions?"
Jenora says, "Not yet, no."
Michael is obviously paying attention, but staring into the fire, tracing the flames with his finger, or are the flames tracing his?
Andromeda nods and looks at Chimera, "I rather doubt Kainudy would be a good choice, what do you think?"
Chimera blinks, "You're asking me?"
Chastity tilts her head to the side, listening to Jenora and Andromeda.
Jenora says, "Agreed."
A muffled buzzing sound can be heard in the distance, and a felitauress lands with someone riding her back. She gives the figure a very friendly embrace and walks off. Even from here, you can tell the figure is blushing a bit.
Michael sees this and chuckles.
Jenora grins, waving to the new arrival.
Michael peers over at the herbs, finally noticing them.
Simtra turns around to see who everyone is looking at.
Chastity blinks, and looks over at the figure.
Chimera watches too. Maybe this is the male Andromeda mentioned being hunted down.
Michael says, "Where did you get those?"
Michael points to the package.
Andromeda hrrms to Chastity, "Do you have any advice Chastity? I was wondering how you choose your mates?" then silences herself, not wanting to interrupt Michael.
The figure starts to head up the stairs to the Embassy, but stops, sniffing at the air. His tail starts to swish.
Chastity looks over at the package. "These? Oh! They were on my doorstep this morning." She picks them up, and offers them to Michael. "I don't know what they are. You recognize them?
Chimera waves to the wolf at the door. "We're over here, WolfSinger!"
WolfSinger barks, "oh, hello! That smells good whatever it is."
Chastity blinkblinks, and looks over to Andromeda. "Er... mates? Oh, my.. It's been so long, I can barely remember when I started seeing Fai-- er... seeing..." She sighs and rubs her forehead in frustration. "Damn this not remembering!" she murmurs. She looks up. "I'm sorry, Andromeda. I can't even remember my own courtship."
Michael glances up at the figure before the 'embassy', while accepting the small plants. "I've seen them before, they're hard to find. They do something, but I can't remember what. Never was that important to me, I suppose."
Chastity looks over to the new arrival, and smiles, her lapse in memory forgotten. "Hello, WolfSinger!"
Jenora waves to WolfSinger...
Simtra smiles and wavies to WolfSinger and makes some room on the ground.
Andromeda waves a wing towards the wolf, "Good to see you. I see your ride thinks you are cute. :)"
WolfSinger's ears flush red at Andromeda's comment.
Michael waves hello, handing the herbs back.
Chastity nods to Michael, "I see. Well, at least I know they're native to here."
Michael smiles back, "They might be."
Jenora chuckles.
WolfSinger looks around. "you all having a party or something?"
Chimera says, "I don't know, WolfSinger."
Andromeda purrs, one wing still around Michael, "Of a kind. The whole town is celebrating the solstice, we're celebrating our friendships, I guess."
Chastity says, "'Might be....' Oh, dear, back to square one."
Michael smiles, "I was celebrating my peoples' holiday. The rest are trying to find more mates. I think."
Jenora smiles to Chastity. "Well, there's another person to talk to yet."
Michael nods to Chastity, "I'm sure you could agree, the word 'native' is rather uncertain here."
WolfSinger barks, "MORE mates? ::blush!:: I have yet to find one... this planet needs some she-wufs. "
Chimera smiles, "I could make you one if you like, WolfSinger."
Michael smiles, "I hear the harbor master has nice-looking daughters."
Simtra hmms, "Mate hunting. . . Thats a good idea Michael."
Andromeda hrrms as she looks WolfSinger up and down, "I'm sorry, we're not allowed to get a non Chirr'T'Thar male if one of the mating group isn't a Chirr'T'Thar. But I'll let some friends know you're looking WolfSinger. ;)"
Michael smiles comfortably, with amusement, at the discussion.
WolfSinger looks at Chimera. "errrr.... MAKE me one? How?"
Simtra stands up, "I hope you guys will excuse me, I think I need to take a look around in the fair before it get too late in the day."
Michael remembers something and taps Andromeda on the shoulders.
WolfSinger eepppsss!! He blushes visibly under his fur at all the mention of finding him a mate.
"You probably don't want to hear the details," Chimera says. "But first you'll need to get a whole new wardrobe."
WolfSinger barks, "errrrr.... ummm... I like me the way I am, thank you very much. =>"
Chastity blinks at Chimera and WolfSinger.
Jenora shakes her head, just grinning at the conversation.
Simtra waves goodbye to the group and starts to walk off in the direction of the noise of the fair. He yells back to Michael, "Oh and thanks for the meat Michael!"
Michael yawns and stretches, tossing another piece of wood on the fire.
Michael says, "You're welcome!"
Andromeda purrs, "Take care Simtra."
Jenora waves to Simtra. "See you later!"
Chimera says, "All right, WolfSinger."
WolfSinger barks, "bah... females forming mating groups? thats a lot different then a wolf pack... =>"
Chimera says, "Enjoy the festival, Simtra!"
Andromeda hmms, "So how do your females choose a male then WolfSinger?"
WolfSinger barks, "well, errr.... the male usually chooses for one thing.... "
Chimera says, "What one thing does he choose for?"
A moment of total shocked silence from Andromeda, before, "The male chooses?!?!"
Michael laughs, nearly falling off the stool he was sitting on.
Jenora laughs, resting her forehead in her hand. "Yes, Andromeda... the male chooses the mate in more cultures than the female."
WolfSinger barks, "well, the strongest male usually picks the strongest female, and they're knows as the Alpha pair, and are the leaders of the pack... then the second strongest male picks the second strongest female, and so on.... ::BLUSH!::"
Michael slices off a piece of roast and offers it to WolfSinger.
Chimera blinks at everyone. He knows it's really just an illusion fostered by females, after all.
Andromeda ponders the implications for a minute or two, then seems to come to the same conclusion as Chimera, but decides not to say anything.
Jenora nods to WolfSinger. "Sounds like a usual arrangement for wolves."
WolfSinger ooooss!! and thanks Michael for the food, which he quickly eats. :>
Chastity arches an eyebrow, amusedly, as she listens, keeping her opinion (what little there is of it) to herself.
Andromeda can't stop her curiosity, "How do they determine who's the strongest?"
Michael raises an eyebrow, cutting another piece off the carcass, now looking rather small, offering the piece to WolfSinger.
Michael whispers in Andromeda's ear.
Jenora says, "Ah, culture shock. Such a wonderful thing."
Michael makes an effort to smile innocently.
WolfSinger barks, "well.... they play-fight allot. More like wrestling. And... ::thinks:: well, you just kinda know where you fit in, I guess."
Andromeda blinks at Michael, "Wow, that IS a tough test." and she looks at WolfSinger with new appreciation.
Andromeda thinks, . o O (Seeing who can hold your breath longest while being tickled. Pack life must be rough.)
WolfSinger blushes slightly.
Chastity chuckles softly, "I wonder how poor Rokh got to be where he was, then."
WolfSinger munches on the roast. "mmmm.... this is good."
Chimera asks, "Greco-Roman wrestling?"
Andromeda hmms and ponders, maybe her mother was right, and you do need to let a male THINK they are partly in charge?
Andromeda purrs, "Who was Rokh, Chastity?"
WolfSinger barks, "but, since I haven't even SEEN a she-wolf around here yet..... ::blush!::"
Chimera says, "I don't suppose you'd have to fight another male for her then, if you find one. Or would you have to fight her to determine who was strongest?"
Chastity blinks at Andromeda. "Who?"
Andromeda looks a bit concerned, "You just said "I wonder how poor Rokh got to his position" a minute ago."
WolfSinger barks, "no... the males and the females don't fight each other...."
Andromeda hmms at WolfSinger's comment, figuring that clinches it, the females LET the males think they choose. ;)
Michael throws the last piece of wood on the fire.
Chimera blinks in confusion. "How can you be mated if you don't fight with each other?"
Jenora looks very interested in the fire for now.
Michael sits back, watching and listening to the conversation, smiling in amusement and absently scritching Andromeda's wing.
Chastity blinks at Andromeda again. "I.. did...?" She frowns. "Rokha--... Rokh... uhm... I think he was a wolf.. or a lupine...."
Jenora nods to Chastity. "You did say that."
WolfSinger's ears are now almost beet red with embarrassment.
Chastity sighs, and rubs her forehead. "One of these days I'm going to remember half the things that pop into my head."
Andromeda ponders at Chastity, "I'm not sure we'd know enough about your physiology to try, but we could give you an examination, see if there is a reason for your memory loss?"
Chimera asks WolfSinger, "So, if you meet a female wolf, but there are no other male wolves for you to prove yourself against, would you still be able to mate?"
Jenora hmmms to Chastity. "You know, there is one thing that bothers me about your memory loss."
WolfSinger barks, "well, ummmm.... I don't see why not. :>"
Chimera says, "But how would your mate know she's getting the strongest wolf then, if you're the only one?"
Chimera says, "What happens if you meet another one later that is stronger? Or if a stronger male comes along?"
WolfSinger barks, "well, ummmm... if I was the only one, I'd be the strongest, right? ::blush!:: and once they pick a mate, it's usually for life...""
Michael grabs one of the bones from the dissected roast and nibbles on it, acting quite uncultured.
Chimera says, "Who's life though?"
WolfSinger barks, "well, ummm.. if one dies, the other is free to find another mate..."
Chimera ahs, and nods. "So the stronger wolf would kill the weaker one to obtain their mate. That makes sense now."
Chastity blinks at Andromeda. "An examination...? You think that might help?
Chastity looks to Jenora. "Uhm... and that is...?
Jenora nods to Chastity. "What bothers me is that it might have been deliberate."
WolfSinger barks, "nonnono... there's no killing."
Chastity blinks, then starts to frown. "I.. don't think I would like that at all..."
Chimera blinks again, "Then how do you get the appropriate mate? What happens if a weaker one eventually becomes the stronger one? What about tax returns? Who has to take out the garbage?"
Jenora says, "Understandable."
Chastity lets out a breath. "Is there any way to tell for certain? If.. if this was done to me, I'd at least like to know for certain...
WolfSinger blushes fiercely! "oh, hush! it's a culture thing. hard to explain!
Chimera says, "Does the ear blushing act as a signal that you are sexually mature then?"
Andromeda is giggling at WolfSinger and Chimera, but focuses on Chastity, "Well, we could probably see how you normally create new memories, and see if there is evidence of tampering Chastity, but no promises."
Michael can't take it any more, and laughs uproariously, falling off his stool as one of the legs splinters.
Chastity nods slowly to Andromeda., gulping. "All right. When.. when can we do this?"
Andromeda giggles with Michael then finally catches her breath, "I'll check with my brother. Hopefully we can have a medical unit out to Nexus in a few days."
Chimera rubs the side of his muzzle. "And if it is a signal, doesn't it interfere with normal arousal? Or does it help you shed excess heat? Perhaps in the snow you can use it to flash heat signals over long distances?"
Michael sits back on his knees, still laughing.
Jenora nods to Chastity. "There are various methods of testing. The block is just too... odd. It's obvious that the memories are still back in there; when you get a close association one of the memories will come back briefly before it disappears again."
WolfSinger barks, "no! it just means I'm embarrassed! I've never had a mate before... so, ummmmm"
Chimera says, "Ah, you were never the strongest or second strongest then? Not even third?"
Michael giggles and gasps, "Oona huuma..."
Chastity nods to Andromeda. "I'd really appreciate it, thank you!" She sighs softly. "That's the annoying thing, Jenora. Over the past two months, I've -know- I've remembered I was married, but I can't for the life of me remember any details, or even -how- I remembered I was married." She's started to rub her ring finger, and notices it. She clenches her hands in frustration. "See? I'm even starting to wonder what happened to my wedding ring, but I only remember I -had- one when I notice myself noticing it's -- aaaagh!"
Jenora rests her hands on Chastity's shoulder. "Calm, calm..."
WolfSinger barks, "I was.... taken from my pack as a pup..... ::whimpers a little::"
Chimera smiles and puts an arm around WolfSinger's shoulders. "I could show you what I know, or else introduce you to Delachiel. She likes fluffy wolves."
WolfSinger barks, "Delachiel? Who's that?"
Chastity takes some deep breaths, closing her eyes. "Right.. right... gah, I'm sorry, I don't usually loose it like that....."
Jenora nods. "All right. You feeling better now?"
"An elf friend of mine," Chimera says. "She taught me all about the physical aspects of mating. I'm not sure about the cultural aspects yet though."
Chastity nods, albeit a little shakily. "Yes, I.. I should be." She even smiles quietly to Jenora. "Thank you. It's... just the frustration of not even knowing what I forgot."
WolfSinger's ears start to turn bright red again.
Chimera notices the blushing, and asks, "Are you overheating again, WolfSinger? Perhaps a cold bath is what you need."
Jenora says, "Trust me, I understand. There are parts of my own life that I still don't know."
Andromeda pats Chastity's back and purrs, "I hope we can help Chastity."
WolfSinger looks a bit flustered. "ummm... how about a change of subject?"
Chimera blinks yet again. "Really? That's all you need to regulate your temperature?"
Chastity nods, then takes in a deep breath, letting it out in a bit of a 'whoosh.' Thanks, both of you...." She tries a headrub with Andromeda, and hugs Jenora. "I.. guess we'll see what happens."
Jenora purrs, and hugs Chastity back.
WolfSinger eeeppss!
Changing the subject, Chimera asks the others, "So, will you be taking out Chastity's brain to examine it, or is there some other process you use?"
Jenora just _SIGHS_ at Chimera's comment.
Andromeda ers, "No, we can use modulated electromagnetic and other fields to look at brain activity."
Chastity looks startledly at Chimera, then gives a soft chuckle. "I hope they can do it a less.. uhm, painful way."
Chimera says, "How will that tell you if something is wrong?"
Andromeda purrs, "I'm not a medic, but we'll look at how she's storing memories right now, and see if other areas of the brain show a different pattern, for starters."
Jenora says, "Yes, I would expect so. Simple magnetic resonance imaging should do for most of it, I would expect."
Chimera smiles, "Can I watch?"
Chastity looks between Andromeda and Jenora.
WolfSinger sighs a bit, relaxing as Chimera finds someone else to "torture." He wanders off to find a place to sit down.
Jenora smirks at Chimera. "Trust me, an MRI scan tends to be rather boring to watch. And probably even more boring to the person being scanned."
Chimera says, "I don't get bored easily."
Chastity tilts her head to the side. "Boring, maybe... but I'll suffer through that if it'll bring me a bit closer to figuring out what happened to my memory.
Chastity pulls herself up to a standing position. "Well, I should go and see what there is at the fair to see!
Jenora nods to Chastity. "I'm not aware of the details of the felitaur's technology, but usually the primary requirement for an MRI scan is being very very still for several minutes while the scan goes on."
Chastity smiles wryly to Jenora. "It'll still be worth it, though. I just hope it works.
WolfSinger barks, "a fair? so that's what all that noise is going on..."
Jenora nods to WolfSinger. "It is, yes."
Jenora smiles, nodding back to Chastity.
Chimera says, "There was even a kissing booth. But it didn't kiss anyone, so I don't know why they called it that."
Andromeda nods, "I'll talk to my brother immediately Chastity."
WolfSinger contemplates explaining what a kissing both is to Chimera, but decides not too, as that would probably lead to their questions. =>
Chastity nods, 'Thanks, Andromeda. Well, see you all around the fair!
Andromeda nods, "I think I'll check out this "Kissing booth" you mentioned Chimera. ;)"
Jenora nods. "Thanks for the food, Michael; I think I'm going to go wander around the fair as well." She grins. "Ah, new things to see..."
WolfSinger barks, "I don't know if I should go.... all the towns folk look at me like I'm an invader...."
Michael smiles and nods, "Enjoy yourself!"
Jenora waves as she heads out to enjoy the fair.
Chastity chuckles softly, and starts to wander off, the package of herbs in her hand. "And thank you again for the food, Michael!
Andromeda snags WolfSinger's shoulder, "C'mon, no one will bother you while with me. Let's go have some fun. Want to come along Chimera?"
Chastity wanders off down the street to the cheery cacophony of the solstice fair.
Chimera bobs his head, "Sure, Andromeda!"
WolfSinger barks, "errrr... ummmm... well I guess so."
Jenora and Chastity have a wonderful time seeing the sights at the Solstice Festival, while Andromeda takes WolfSinger to the kissing booth, embarrasses both him and the locals running the booth. Amazingly, as the three meander through the festival, they don't QUITE start a riot. So all is well, for now.