Jen watched as Ray went through a symptom she too hoped to feel she sat beside him and rubbed his back â€œtake it easy..â€ she comforted rubbing gently before dipping her hands into the water collecting some for Ray to drink â€œHere you goâ€¦â€ she smiled to him offering her sleeves all wet. It was clear that she too didnâ€™t understand clothes much like Azrial had thought about them at first and still sorta does. Jen helped Ray wash his feet hands and face gently using her sleeves as a cloth and her hands to carry the water. â€œI bet its hardâ€¦â€ she said with a whisper â€œFor him to be here tonight, he and Nicki always lead the ceremony side by sideâ€¦ it was awe inspiring to be frankâ€¦â€ she looked to Ray, â€œBut you should know that Auzi talks about you a lotâ€¦ he is always saying things you have taught him. I really want to see the den, he says its as soft as a cloud. If that true?â€ she was so curious and honest it was adorable. Finally they stood and headed back to the fire where the males had been waiting.<br/><br/>Once they arrived Brace, Roule and Azrial sat around a small round table. The furs were clean and washed sitting to dry over to the side out of the way. The deer looked perfectly marbled and delicious, while the elk was done with intense skill and attention to every curve, wein, muscle, and what seemed: every hair of the creature. The corps had been thoroughly washed and cleaned to make sure they were safe to eat. Before each of Brace and Roule was a red lilly flower, before Azrial was a black rose all the flowers were on the floor. Brace waited as Jen walked over to him taking his hand while Azrial walked to Ray and laid a hand on his shoulder. â€œRay I need you to sit over here for a few moments okâ€¦â€ his voice was hard to determin, but his eyes were honest with grief and sorrow as he lead Ray to a rock that had been dressed in moss and furs to make it soft. Once He had gotten Ray seated and taken his place again by the black rose Ray heard the music of his flames stop and change:m<a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJE7e6rAvT0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJE7e6rAvT0</a>m<br/><br/>Azrial stood with his head bowed and as he spoke his words were loud and strong, they were brave, and dignified however his head did not rise as the tears formed rivers falling to the soft dark earth under him. â€œMy Brothers, and my sisterâ€¦ this is a night we and our kind look to each month so that we can again become hole and join with they in which we love with all our heart so much thatâ€¦ we would give our life and even greater our soul to them willingly.â€ As he spoke the couples took hands looking at each others and the( chours of the song) of the flames all grew together singing beautifully so all could hear. â€œWith leadershipâ€¦ we open doors to the futureâ€¦â€ Brace and Roule reached to their mates and removed the tops blocking the chests they and hearts they were soon to need, â€œAnd with obience we follow each otherâ€™s leadâ€ Jen and Niomi followed the example. â€œWe share on could nights our heatâ€¦â€ All of their chests including Azrialâ€™s began to glow a very bright red, â€œWe melt away the burdens that weigh one another down..â€ their skins began to fade away revealing the flames flickering inside, all of them wincing with pain. â€œWe take pain for each other as a way to show we will stand strong no matter whatâ€¦ that when we pledge our hurts we know that pain may follow said promiseâ€¦.â€ Azrial paused to shake his head as images of Nicki flashed unrelentingly through his troubled mind, however this time Ray would not feel his pain nor see the thoughts, that had stopped as soon as Azrialâ€™s flame had become visable. â€œWe reach deep within ourselves and remove all that we can give for our matesâ€¦ â€œ as this was said each removed the flames burning deep within their breasts including Azrial â€œAnd we give all that we are and all that we will ever be to one anotherâ€¦â€ Jen had tears running down her cheeks as she and the others swapped flames. Azrial himself sat his flame on the rose at his feet letting it burn. â€œWe get through hard times by allowing our mate to heal our wounds..â€ the couples laid their hands on one anothers chests and their hands glew a bright blue the skin began to mend itself, exept for Azrial who stood his head still down to hide his ever flowing rivers. â€œThen we ensure to share our love with a kiss each and everynight.. to seal our promise till the day when again we swap souls and seal our lives to the one we have chosen as oursâ€¦â€ the couples kissed sweetly like that of a wedding â€œfor these are all things true mates do for one anotherâ€¦ no matter how much it is a burden.. we give and ask nothing inreturnâ€¦.â€ The couples looked to Azrial as he rose his head, though he had cried the entire time Ray had never seen him look so at peace. â€œAnd as true mates join our family we eat and dance to bond not only love but also for new lives to come in a joyious and happy occasion!â€ he glanced at Ray and smile his mouth opened and  he threw his head back and flames burst into the sky which were soon followed by the others.<br/><br/>They paused after the ceremony was over and let the rose finish burning all their heads bowed low in respect for the recently departed mate of their alpha and leader. They waited and kept calm, Azrial spoke words softly only three of which were heard "Rest well...beloved.." his eyes gave one last tear before he sat up and the family hugged him and told him it was ok. He dried his face and seemed completely happy once more after a few calming breaths.<br/><br/>Azrial walked to Ray and smiled to him â€œSorry that took so long, are you hungry?â€ he asked kissing Rayâ€™s forehead and rubbing his child as Niomi and Jen got together, Jen wiping his tears away and Brace was reassuring Roule he had done nothing wrong for him to suck it up. Azxrial looked at them all and laughed some â€œIts hard the first timeâ€¦â€ he commented and helped Ray up. â€œOk guys its chow time!â€ he called out walking to where the meat had been cooking.