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Chapter Forty-Nine: Fit to be Tithed

Vernon could feel his pulse begin to quicken as his father led him out onto the empty enclosed porch. It was darker than usual, the dingy, rather weak porch light seemingly unable to stretch the slightest bit beyond the where the screen window should have been. Of course, it only took the wolf a moment to realize this was due to the fact that someone had taken the time to draw each of the weather protection flaps down over them, effectively turning the porch into little more than a slightly draftier room of the house. The weatherized, thick vinyl sheeting was something the Hunter family generally held off putting in place until the first reports of snow began to crop up amid the local forecast. However, despite the fact that the North Meadowlands usually saw snow earlier than other areas of North Mammalia, largely due to being so close to the Canidean Ridge Mountain Range, the first week of October was never quite cold enough to see even the faintest of a dusting. It made it clear to the wolf that the weather covers were tied down presumably as a last-ditch measure to keep some degree of surprise for him in place. An over-sized blindfold to make sure that wherever the staging was set-up, the wolf would be forced to 'take it in all at once' as his 'Aunt' had put it. And while it had for the moment succeeded in hiding the staging from the wolf, the added level of darkness coupled with the strange stillness that seemed to permeate the porch left the wolf feeling all the more nervous. The plastic sheet wasn't that thick, yet the porch was oddly quiet, with little more than the gentle autumn breeze fluttering against the fabric making any describable noise. Was the staging area close by? Was it around the house? On top of his other worries, the wolf's mind was now mulling over those questions.

Vernon could feel his throat starting to dry out as his father walked over to the porch door leading outside, the white wolf placing a gentle paw on the knob before turning his attention back to his son.

"Ready?" Dorian asked, flashing the wolf a concerned expression.

"I-It's right outside?" Vernon asked, his voice breaking slightly as he warily approached the door. Just like the rest of the porch, the weatherized flap draped the panel of the screen.

His father gave a simple, soft nod.

Vernon took a long, slow breath, the wolf's fingers clenching into his paws and out again in spasm a few times as he tried to calm himself. His increasingly dry throat was giving way to a large, scratchy lump forming inside his gullet, one that was growing increasingly difficult to swallow no matter how much he tried to force it down.

The wolf shuddered as he let out a shaky, drawn-out exhale. But for all his efforts to calm himself, the breathing exercises and internal mantras, it had done very little in the way of easing any tension. His mind was still drought with an unshakable panic, centered around the crumpled, meandering scribbling that sat in his breast pocket. And so far it was keeping what should have been a truly perfect, once in a lifetime moment of bliss from feeling nearly as good as it should have.

Letting out another shuddering sigh, the wolf seemed to jerk slightly from his own jumpy nerves before managing a quiet nod of approval at his father.

Dorian reached out, placing his other paw on Vernon's shoulder and patting it gently.

"Y'all will be fine son." Dorian said with a confident smile. Vernon could hear the latch click as his father twisted the knob in his paw. The law wolf let out a soft chuckle. "I'd tell y'all to make me proud but...well..." The wolf shook his head. "Ya already have."

The comment was enough to bring a small, nervous smile to Vernon's muzzle.

"T-thanks Pa." The wolf muttered softly.

Dorian exchanged a final smile before Vernon heard the telltale creak that forced his attention to snap forward. The space between the door and frame was widening rapidly giving Vernon only a precious few seconds to steal one last nervous breath as moonlight spilled into the porch.

But just as quickly as Vernon had drawn that breath, the air had left him in one great his eyes fell upon the world beyond the porch. So many lights, so many vibrant colors, what seemed like so many mammals suddenly staring in his direction with warm smiles and varying looks of excitement and anticipation. All of it hit him like an emotionally charged shock-wave so stirring the wolf braced a paw against the door frame as he struggled to take it all in. On top of the wolves already wracked nerves, the effect was practically dizzying. But thankfully his father had seemed to pick up on it, tightening his grip on Vernon's shoulder in kind as Vernon clasped a paw over his for support.

Laid out in the back meadow, basking under the glow of the bright autumn moon stood a shimmering white archway wrapped in a myriad of flower garlands. Purple and orange mums, and some sort of wildflower the wolf had seen, but couldn't recall the name of, strewn about the structure and extending down to pillars standing off to either side. The colors of the strands were made even that much more vibrant by the strings of flickering golden and lavender holiday lighting tangled into the floral garlands like faint strands of vine, the bulbs shimmering against the petals and leaves like the twinkling stars above.

Even more of the flowers flanked either side of the altar, bound onto the backs of the pawful of fold-out chairs on either side of the aisle where the various members of his family sat. He had easily spotted most of his brothers, still dressed up in the tuxes they had been fitted for along with himself, as well as their mates clad in vaguely matching lavender tithes-maiden outfits among the faces looking up to him expectantly. Some wore broad, encouraging smiles, while others seemed filled to the brim with glee. Qali in particular, who despite her small size was very visible by the way she was jumping up and down on her seat like an excited pup while Trenton kept his arm trained around the edge of the seat as if ready to catch the vixen should she lose her footing. Even Yuri seemed to be able to manage a semi-satisfied smirk as he and Ada watched from their chairs. The sea of faces exuded an energy, a sense of warmth within the wolves chest, but also an overwhelming sense of collective anticipation. The pointed gaze, the expectation behind the eyes. They were all looking at him, patiently waiting for the mammal of the hour to make the next move.

And that's when Vernon noticed it. The deep purple guiding rug for the aisle splitting the rows of chairs down the center had been rolled up to the very lip of the porch steps. They were looking to him not only because he had just arrived on the scene, but the wolf now stood at the very head of the aisle. They had been waiting on him, the whole ceremony had, and the moment he took the short walk off the two small steps down to the base of the rug, the tithing ritual would begin in earnest. It seemed as though unlike Zach and Vanna's tithe, there was going to be no last minute outdoor mingling with family members before everything got started. And without that, any last minute hope of getting any last bit advice on his vows from any of his family members. The wolf was well and truly on his own now.

Vernon swallowed sharply, although the lump in his throat continued to persist as he awkwardly scanned the small crowd of mammals looking up at him expectantly. Suddenly it felt as though there were far too many guests at this wedding, far too many eyes in the crowd that would be there to bear witness to him stumbling awkwardly through his vows. And all it did was add to the growing pressure that was sure to make him to hackle it all up that much worse.

The wolf could feel sweat starting to permeate through his fur as a stray cough broke the growing uneasy silence. He wanted to try to move. To say something, anything. But the wolf found himself frozen in sheer stage fright as his eyes darted around the scene over and over again. Though the smiles remained, along with reassuring thumbs up from a few of his brothers in the crowd, Vernon knew they could smell his growing fear. The wolf was already blowing the whole ceremony and it hadn't even begun. His mind was now furiously barking orders at him. A multitude of commands and plans, some contradicting with each other, but ultimately all falling on deaf ears. The radio was broken, and no matter how much the tower screamed at him to pull up, all Vernon could do was stare at the rapidly approaching crash that lie ahead in terrified silence. He could only hope that Dawn wasn't outside at the moment, or at the very least couldn't see him from wherever she was.

Forward. Vernon was moving suddenly forward. The wolf nearly tripping off the steps as his feet came down firmly on the rug at the bottom of the stairs. For a moment he thought that somehow, as if Freyja had heard his prayers, his body had actually responded to the flurry of desperate pleas and commands coming from his brain to get his body to do something. But glancing over his shoulder he caught the briefest glimpse of his father's paw still hanging out of the door slightly from the ginger push it had given him before the wolf stepped into frame behind him. Dorian flashing his son a quick thumbs up before gesturing the wolf to keep moving.

While it was somewhat disheartening to know that Vernon hadn't powered through his little episode on his own, at the very least his father had given him enough of a push, both figuratively and literally, to get his mind and body moving in sync once again. Turning back to face the head of the aisle, the wolf took a slow deep breath, adjusting his tie for a moment before letting the air out in a long, slow exhale.

"Pa's right." The wolf thought. "You got this." Vernon muttered to himself under his breath. "You'll know what to say once she-"

Vernon couldn't help but flinch slightly as the music began to play from somewhere near the front of the aisle. It was an old song, familiar in tune although not in name to the wolf. A classical piece that he remembered had been played at Zach's and Vanna's tithe to mark that the service had begun. But unlike Zach and Vanna's tithe, it was a simple recording rather than a live band. The soft, pleasant melody played from small speakers situated atop the pillars flanking the altar. The sounds dancing across the gentle autumn breeze and into the wolf's ears.

Vernon cleared his throat softly, taking one last glance at the mammals around him before offering a meek smile as his confidence began to return. The time had come to stop thinking, and start doing.

The first step was slow, methodical. But as Vernon continued down the aisle, his stride incrementally increased in speed and stability. Each step marking a meeting of the various members of his family on either side that quickened his pace and boosted his self-confidence. A goofy grin from his brother Wade, and a soft applause from Giselle. He could only assume she was smiling too, but the wolf hadn't had the time to look up at her as he kept moving. On his other side Ulric and his Aunt Abby, the little armadillo patting the dark-furred wolf gingerly on the knee as he chewed at his claws nervously. A little faster and Vernon was passing by Trenton and Qali. The white wolf grinning softly up at his brother while resting his paws on the shoulders of his diminutive mate in an effort to keep her from springing out of her seat. However, that restriction must have forced all the energy up to the little vixen's smile, as the fox beamed up and Vernon so excitedly that the wolf couldn't help but chuckle.

Behind the pair Vernon spotted Ada and Yuri, the large hyeness holding her mate from behind as she regarded Vernon with a smirk. Yuri had his arms crossed, the dark wolf initially looking away from Vernon as if he were trying to appear disinterested. But looking directly at the wolf revealed that he was watching Vernon from the corner of his eyes. His yellow irises fixed on his brother as he flashed the wolf a subtle smirk. And though it was dark, the wolf could barely make out a flicker of slow motion by the wolf's side. A gentle, swishing form Vernon could only assume was his brother's tail wagging slightly against the seat.

Xavier and Malcolm sat on the other side of the aisle, the heavyset russet wolf leaning his head on his mate's shoulder as they both smiled up at him. Xavier raised his paw slightly, revealing Malcolm's tightly gripped with his as they gently waived their intertwined paws toward Vernon encouragingly. While Xavier seemed to remain his naturally stoic self, Malcolm already had a tissue clasped up against his snout, seemingly in preparation for the tears he was about to shed.

But that was nothing compared to Audrey as Vernon passed by the final row of chairs. His mother sat on the seat closest to the aisle, her eyes already glimmering with tears as she clasped a tissue over her mouth with a paw. Her other arm practically strangling the box of tissues she was clasping as she pulled it tightly against her chest. His mother was smiling, at least as far as Vernon could tell by the corners of her muzzle he could see behind the tissue pressed tightly against her snout. But as he passed closely he could hear her faintly whining. The starting sparks of a wail she was clearly trying to hold back until the ceremony reached its zenith.

Next to Audrey sat Dawn's mother, the older ewe matching his mother's tone and demeanor in almost every respect, right down to tightly clutching her own box of tissues to her breast as she silently wept. However, the wolf was certain that compared to his mother, there were several more emotional heartstrings within her being pulled all at once. Like Audrey, Clover was about to bear witness to her own child_'growing up',_ but unlike his mother, the ewe was most likely grappling with a sense of pride and joy that she must have thought she would have never got a chance to experience. With Dawn's past, and the rocky relationship they had once had, Clover must have once surely thought that chances were slim her daughter would ever get married, and slimmer still that she would be allowed to witness it. Vernon flashed the ewe a comforting smile, which seemed to push the ewe into a quiet, joyful sob. Still clutching her tissues, Audrey wrapped a comforting arm around the petite lamb, the wolfess whispering quiet comforts to her as they both leaned on one another for strength.

On the other side, Vernon could see his brother Zach along with Vanna. The cock-sure red tipped furred wolf giving Vernon two thumbs up as Vanna, much like his mother and Audrey held a tissue to her muzzle despite the lack of visible tears. But behind her irises, Vernon could see the faintest glimmer of emotion. Like water hiding at the bottom of a deep, dark well, waiting to rise along with the torrent of rain from Audrey, Clover, and the others members of the family's flood of tears and hoping to hide amongst the overflow.

"Ow! Dags!" It was a quiet exclamation, but enough to draw the wolf's attention away from his relatives and back to the front of the aisle to find himself standing at the front of the altar. Somehow, despite freezing up at the start, Vernon had managed to complete the journey through the sea of excited faces without tripping over himself along the way. It would have been a moment to give the wolf a reassuring pause. But Vernon had barely gotten out a semi-relieved sigh before the podium in front of him shuddered, the speakers letting out an ear-splitting crackle almost in concert with the vibration.

Vernon watched curiously as a single, slightly curled horn rose from behind the podium, a black cable coiled around it as the mammal attached to it tried to pull it away with a frantic hoof. On the other side of his head where a matching horn should have been, there was a mound of gauze fastened to the white fur with medical tape.

With another yank, the mammal was fully revealed. The young billy goat leaning partially on the podium with an arm as he continued to pull at the cord still wrapped tightly around his horn.

"Damn aux cable! Why do these cords always-!?"

"Gus?"Vernon cocked his ears slightly at the sight of the familiar billy standing behind the podium. Gus jumped slightly, the goat clutching the edge of the podium for a moment as he turned his attention to the confused wolf standing in front of him.

"Vernon!" The goat flashed him a nervous grin. "Hey buddy, you uh...?" The billy laughed weakly. "You got down that aisle faster than I expected."

Vernon quirked a curious brow.

"G-Gus...?" Vernon repeated. It wasn't really a question so much as it was the wolf trying to confirm to himself that his friend was really there. "Is that really you!?" Vernon asked, his tone rising hopefully as a surprised smile overtook his muzzle.

Gus' smile grew to match Vernon's, shaking off the apparent nervousness it had been carrying earlier as the billy leaned a little further on to the podium.

"Yep, it's me." The goat rolled his eyes slightly before gesturing to the wad of gauze flanking the left side of his head. "Well ninety-five-ish percent of me anyway."

Vernon opened his muzzle, stammering slightly as Gus' presence truly began to sink in. It was Gus alright, even with his old broken horn removed, there was no mistaking his best friend and former Bug Burga boss for any other old goat. The geeky goat was dressed in a powder blue tuxedo topped off with a black bow-tie. An outfit that looked like the last time it had seen the sunlight was at their Senior prom. Of course, Vernon knew better than that. Neither he nor Gus had ever gone to prom, instead electing to hide out with the other members of Hunter friend flock in the ranch basement playing Beasts and Battlefields all night.

"W-What are y'all doin' out here!?" Vernon sputtered.

"What?" Gus replied with a chuckle. "You think I-?" The goat stopped briefly, turning his attention back to the cable still strung up on his horn and untangling it with his hooves before continuing. The speakers let out another noisy crackle before the wire finally slipped free.

With a satisfied sigh, Gus turned back to the wolf.

"You think I would miss this?" Gus asked with a smirk. "My best friend's tithe?"

Vernon let out a loud, barking laugh, the wolf reaching an arm over the podium and pulling the goat into something that looked more like a headlock than a hug. Vernon ruffled the little billy's hair with a paw, only for the goat to playfully swat back at him, making a halfhearted attempt squirm free of the wolf's grasp. The nerdy goat was definitely a sight for sore eyes. Between the fear over the wolf's lack of vows, and just how formal and prestigious the wolf's surroundings felt adding to the overwhelming sense of gravity, the presence of his best friend provided a sort of grounding that put the wolf a little more at ease, even more so than his family. After all, at this point, Gus probably knew him better than most of his brothers did. And while not in his solepads, the goat most likely had a better idea of the pressures the wolf was currently feeling, and could offer the kind of advice and levity that could actually stand to do him some good.

After some degree of struggling, Gus finally managed to wriggle free of Vernon's grip. The goat quickly straightening his stance as he began to gingerly pat down his now mussed up tuft of hair with a hoof.

"C'mon Vern, I got enough of that treatment from your brothers already!" The goat chuckled. "It's hard enough to keep my cowlick down without you guys ruffling my hair." The goat let out a soft, irritated scoff. "Let alone Yuri trying to scare me every five minutes to try and get me to faint!"

Vernon heard the wolf in question let out a laughing snort from somewhere behind him, only for it to be interrupted mid-way through with a sharp yelp. Glancing over his shoulder, Vernon caught sight of Yuri holding his head as Ada's paw glanced his scalp, the large hyeness that had previously been cuddling up to the dark-furred wolf now scowling at him in disapproval.

Vernon chuckled softly. "You didn't faint, did y-?"

"No, I didn't faint!" The goat's reply was sharp and defensive, as if Vernon had touched a nerve.

"I should be asking you if you're gonna faint?" The goat retorted with a laugh. "I mean you are looking a little pale under the fur. Of course, I would be too if I was standing where you were." Gus snickered.

Vernon stared back at the goat dully. "Har har har..." The wolf rolled his eyes slightly as he attempted to play off the goats assessment. But his expression betrayed his true unease, his ears sagging slightly as he offered the mammal a soft frown. "W-well, I'd be lyin' if I said I wasn't a little nervous."

Gus chuckled. "Tell me about it, I'm running three different jobs tonight!" The goat shook his head. "Deejay, officiator and best mammal!" The goat gestured to the speaker momentarily before turning his attention back to the wolf. "That's a lot of weight hanging off my horns..." The goat stopped himself momentarily, his eyes tracing up to the wad of gauze where his fragmented stump of a horn used to be. "Er...horn..." The goat corrected himself. "Lot of pressure on me to make sure everything goes smoothly, don't you think?"

"Best mammal?" Vernon asked, slightly confused.

The nervous expression Gus had been wearing earlier returned as the goat glanced down at his hooves, the billy tapping his digits together anxiously as he spoke.

"I mean...y'know, if you haven't picked someone already." Gus chuckled weakly. "I mean I know you have a lot of brothers to choose from...so I mean if-"

"Aw, Gus." Vernon laughed. "O'course y'all can be my Best Mam'."

In all honesty, with everything that had been going on regarding the wolf's vows, and the general preparation, Vernon hadn't even given a moments thought to whom among the assembled Hunter brood would have fit the role of 'best mam''. Of course, it was rather strange that not a single one of his brothers brought it up at any point during the day. Perhaps they knew that given the choice, Vernon would have preferred Gus, or more than likely, they knew Gus was on his way, and had assumed the goat would be chosen to take the role. Either way, with no brother promised the lofty position, and with his best friend actually there to take it, Vernon didn't hesitate to assign Gus the part.

Gus flashed a nervous smile, his muzzle twitching slightly before the goat tried to hide it behind a seemingly calmer, cool demeanor. The one-horned billy cleared his throat loudly as he adjusted his bow-tie.

"W-well damn." The goat chuckled. "If ya had said _'no'_I could have just buggered off. No reason for me to be here otherwise." It was the goat's usual sense of humor, and to Vernon the joke was a fairly transparent attempt by his friend to hide just how touched he was by the wolf's offer, even without stumbling over his words to deliver it.

Vernon stared back at his friend knowingly, a wry smile forming on his muzzle. It didn't take long for Gus' facade to give way, the goat letting out a meek chuckle before letting out a sigh.

"B-but seriously, t-thanks Vern." Gus smirked. "I-I mean the others told me I'd probably be the best mam', but I wanted to be sure, y'know?" Gus smirked. "Didn't want to be stepping on any paws."

Vernon braced his neck with an arm as he let out a chuckle.

"I imagine if any one of my brothers were vyin' fer the role, they would have been fightin' each other over it." The wolf sighed, glancing back at some of the other Hunters out of the corner of his eye. "Or at the very least fightin' you for it."

"Maybe Yuri was, considering how hard he was trying to get me to faint." The goat said with a laugh. Vernon could hear Yuri let out another dismissive snort over the music. Like most jokes directed at him, it was clear Yuri didn't care for it. Of course, knowing what Vernon knew now, perhaps there was a part of Yuri that would have actually wanted to stand in for Gus had he not been able to make it. But even if he had come out and asked, Vernon would have probably ended up going with Trenton. After all, just because they had started working on their relationship, didn't mean they had suddenly become best friends. At most, Yuri could at least stand at the same level of eligibility as Ulric in terms of possibly endangering the ceremony somehow. Perhaps slightly higher, consider one couldn't quite predict when Ully might go into one of his episodes, but the fact that he was marrying a sheep would have made the chances of an Ulric_'freakout'_ fairly high. However, the thought process alone had brought Vernon back to the goat standing before him, and the general curiosity behind the fact that he was even there for the ceremony.

"But seriously Gus..." Vernon continued. "How on Animalia did you get here?" The wolf said with a laugh. "I mean, who even told y'all-?"

The goat leaned forward on the podium slightly, raising a hoof and idly gesturing in the air.

"Well,'somebody' told one of their brothers that I was a 'licensed caprid pastor.'" Gus said, flashing the wolf a smirk for a moment before continuing. "And that wolf told your mother, and of course she had my mother on speed dial."

Vernon's smile widened. "So yer ma...?"

"Six-o'clock in the morning and my cell starts rattling off the nightstand." Gus laughed. "Consider yourself lucky Melly didn't end up smashing it to bits before I could get my hooves on it." The goat raised a brow, flashing the wolf a knowing smile. "You know how Melly can be in the morning."

"Oh, gonna throw me under the bus just like that huh?" Came a somewhat snarky sounding rebuttal from Vernon's side. Glancing back in the direction of Zach and Vanna, the wolf could now see a significantly smaller mammal poking out from behind them. It was another goat, a nanny that Vernon instantly recognized as Gus' long-term mate, Melanie Gessenay.

For the most part, the she-goat looked just as she always did. Her long hair pulled into a tight ponytail, and her deep green eyes hidden behind the glare of her thick-rimmed black oval glasses. But unlike her mate, she was at least dressed in something that most mammals would have considered far more fashionable for a tithe. The rather simple, strapless yellow tithe-maid's dress, although not matching the lavender color scheme worn by most of the Hunter girls, felt considerably more fitting than Gus' choice. The hornless nanny rose to her feet, taking a step around Vanna before crossing her arms and cocking her hips as she regarded her mate from ground level with a raised brow.

"You were just as close as I was to throwing that thing against the bedroom wall until you actually read the text." The she-goat said as she crossed her arms. "In fact, I was the one who said it could important."

Gus raised a single finger, closing his eyes as he spoke. "Actually you said 'It 'better' be important." The billy retorted, moving his finger to punctuate his words. "There's a difference."

Melanie simply rolled her eyes, the she-goat adjusting her large, black oval glasses slightly. "Well....that's just quibbling over intent-."

"If I recall, my dear little Mellowmar," Gus continued, cutting the nanny off. "You then followed up with 'Because I swear to Hornunnos if someone isn't dead or dying I'm going to snap that Carrot Phone in half." The billy retorted, moving his finger to punctuate his words.

"Well, I mean there is a difference between saying you are going to do something, and actuall-."

_"How much would you miss your phone Gus?"_The billy continued with a smirk. _"Because it has a date with the garbage disposal."_The goat stopped briefly to adjust his tie, all the while his eyes remaining closed as he spoke back to the nanny in a 'matter-o'fact' tone. "Hell, you woke me the rest of the way up because you were banging the phone against the desk, and I had the wrestle it awa-"

"Alright, alright!" Melanie balled her fists tightly as she let out an indignant huff. "We're here aren't we? That's what matters!"

Gus rolled his eyes, doing his best to stifle his chuckle as the nanny warily strolled her way up to Vernon's side. The heated air around her and her rather defensive posture fading quickly in favor of something unusually timid and ashamed. It was a strange sight, considering she was a largely unapologetic mammal. Her anger was quick to flare in a way that reminded him a great deal of his mother, especially when it came to her billy, and in that way her passionate nature seemed to balance out his best friend's generally calm and largely passive nature. But it was considerably rare to see her try to walk back, or explain herself without some sort of directing prompting from Gus.

"I w-wouldn't have made such a fuss if I knew..." Melanie glanced up at the large wolf, offering him a broad smile as she dabbed at her eye with a hoof. "I'm so happy for you big guy. Really I am."

Vernon knelt down, allowing the little nanny to walk into his arms and wrap her hooves around his neck in a soft hug.

"I know Melly, I know." Vernon chuckled. "I'm just happy to see y'all." The wolf replied, glancing back up at his friend. "Both of y'all."

"Well, when my mom told me what your ma and pa were planning, and how they were hoping I could do them the favor, well..." Gus held his hooves up, a mock expression of surprise overtaking his face as he continued to rattle of his tale. "Honestly, first I was like 'is this a prank'?" Gus said with a chuckle. "I never took your mother the be the type to encourage a_'Yuri prank'_ before, but still..." The goat highlighted the phrase by making air quotes with his hooves.

Vernon couldn't help but laugh as he released his grasp around the little nanny goat and rose to his feet, taking a moment to dust off his pant legs before giving the goat his full attention.

"But then, I was like..." Gus continued, running a hoof through his slicked back hair. _"Vernon and Dawn are getting tithed? It's only been like six months..."_The bill raised his hooves slightly. "Three officially, right?"

Vernon nodded softly. The _'dating period'_really hadn't been very long. But of all the things the wolf was worried about, that simply hadn't been one of them. Tithing Dawn was something the wolf was one-hundred percent certain of.

"So finally, after all that, I was like...'I'll be up there A.S.A.P.!" The goat said with a broad grin. The goat shrugged. "It wasn't even a question mam', I had to be here!"

Vernon smiled broadly, the wolf flashing his teeth. "Aw Gus..."

"Me and Melly were practically on the first train out to the Meadowlands!" The goat continued excitedly, slamming a balled hoof down on the podium so sharply it made the wolf flinch. But the goat was on a roll now, the rising nervousness in his tone feeding into his rambling account of his days events. Vernon knew better than to try and stop him.

Gus leaned forward slightly as he continued, the goat raising an idle hoof and gesturing it in small circles."I say practically because we had to make a bunch of last minute preparations to be ready in time for this whole thing." The billy rolled his eyes. "We were hopping all over downtown like a pair of rabbits after drinking espressos!"

Vernon had to stifle a snicker at Gus' remark. The wolf taking a moment to glance over his shoulder, briefly scanning the crowd on the off chance that somehow his family had pulled another miracle and managed to drag Dawn's friend Judy up all the way from her Bunny Burrow vacation. From what Officer Wilde had told him, the rabbit didn't take too kindly to 'species humor'. But thankfully, at least in terms of actually hearing Gus' remark, the rabbit appeared to be absent. However, the wolf did manage to catch his brother Yuri mouthing what he could only assume was the word 'nerd', in a long, drawn out manner. Although, it may have been loud enough for Ada to hear, as the large hyeness seemed to press one of her mate's shoulders down tightly in response, as if to keep the dark furred wolf from adding anymore than a hushed whisper to the scene. The sight alone was enough the chuckle he had been holding down out of him.

"We were running ourselves ragged trying to get everything we needed and still hit all the right trains to get us here in time!" The goat shook his head briskly. " Naturally we had to cut a few corners along the way, bu-"

"Is that how you ended up in that?" Vernon smirked, gesturing to the billy's tacky attire. The wolf couldn't help himself, the more he watched the goat excitedly tell his tale, the more distracted he was by the eye-catching nature of his extremely retro attire. The ruffles of the dress shirt swishing flamboyantly with each arm movement, demanding the attention of everyone within eye-shot, begging to be addressed. Melanie didn't seem to be doing any better at keeping her cool, the nanny visibly struggling to stifle a giggle of her own at the wolf's remark.

"It's not like I hoof-picked this thing!" Gus whined, crossing his arms defensively. "None of the shops had anything for a goat in my size!"

Vernon could barely contain his snickering at Gus' rather impassioned attempt to justify himself. And looking to Melly for any sort of support was simply not an option. He could tell by the sound of her choked, strangled half-giggles that simply looking her way would cause the both of them to bust out into full cackles. But regardless, their reactions only seemed to further incise Gus'.

"We already stopped at two different tux rental places!" Gus continued. "It was either try a third place and risk not getting a tux at all, or stopping at my parents on the way up and borrowing one from my dad!" Gus huffed.

Now the relic of a tux made all the more sense to the wolf, as he was certain there wasn't a self-respecting tailor in all of Zootopia who would still be selling a suit like that as anything other than an elaborate gag.

"Naw, n-naw..." Vernon held a balled paw in front of his muzzle. It was doing a poor job of hiding his wide smile, but for the moment it was keeping the laughter in. "I-It..." The wolf coughed awkwardly. "Y-ya look fine...really."

The goat ran a rough hoof through his hair, letting out a snort in irritation. But despite his clear annoyance, Gus seemed to be fighting back a smile of his own.

"It's your fault for deciding to have a tithe on one of the biggest wedding weekends of the year!" The goat laughed, leaning his head into his hoof. "Now I have to spend the evening wearing my dad's old senior prom get-up!"

Vernon was somewhat surprised he had hit the nail on the head when it came to just what the old suit was supposed to be for. Then again, perhaps he vaguely remembered it despite the fact that neither of them had gone to prom. In fact, the more Vernon ruminated on it, the more he was certain Gus had shown him the old get-up when they were younger, saying something to the effect of 'even if I had a date, there is no way I'm getting caught dead in this thing!'"

That was all Melanie seemed to be able to take, as the she-goat let out a loud, snorting laugh. Vernon glanced over to find her practically howling at the moon above, her glasses lifted slightly to allow her hoof to rest gently over her eyes while the other braced her stomach.

"It's true!" The nanny laughed aloud. "I-It was his o-old mam's, pft!" Melanie placed a hoof on her knee to keep herself steady as she struggled to get a hold of her laughter. From somewhere behind him, Vernon heard a distinctly hyena-sounding cackle. Although whether Ada was laughing along with them, or it was simply her nerves acting up, the wolf wasn't sure.

" Yes..." Gus let out a tired sigh. "It was in fashion during the North Meadowland's _'Discow'_senior prom of '87." The goat shook his head. "Bu-"

"Mister Hornsley w-was so proud of it!" Melanie cut the billy off, her added insult to injury coming out in a semi-hissed statement through parted teeth. The she-goat pawed at one of her eyes weakly, wiping away the stray tears that had began to form.

"A-And when Gus asked about h-his real tux, he said 'if it was good enough for me, it will be more than enough for you!'" Melly hissed.

"'Good enough for me' my hoof." Gus said bitterly, the goat flashing his friend and exhausted expression. "He wouldn't give me his good tux because they had another wedding they had to go to."

"Oh." Vernon replied. His laughter little more than a few stray snickers now.

"They wanted to be here." Gus grimaced softly. "But y'know, the short notice and everything..."

"I figured." Vernon replied.

"They do send their love though." Melanie interjected, letting out a pleasant sigh as her laughter died away. "And Misses Hornsley says she owes you both a wedding gift."

"That makes my parents, and us..." Gus said uneasily, the billy rubbing at his neck with a hoof. "Picking out a wedding gift requires actual time and thought, which...er..." The goat muttered. "We didn't exactly have."

Vernon chuckled softly. "It's alright, I'm just glad yer both here."

The goat grasped at his tuxedo with a hoof, tugging at it slightly while gesturing at it with his other hoof. "That's why I was willing to put up with wearing this hideous thing for the evening!" With a final terse tug, the goat released his grip on the material, slapping his hoof against the podium as he let out an exasperated sigh.

"I wasn't going to take a chance of being late and letting you and Dawn down." The goat said, with a small smile. "If not as the deejay, or the pastor, or even your best mam'." The goat's smile grew slightly, revealing his teeth despite his expression looking somewhat uncomfortable. "But y'know..." The goat shrugged. "Your best friend."

Vernon smiled widely, the wolf once again reaching over the podium to pull the little billy into a hug. Unlike last time, this was more of a genuine hug, lacking the playful hair-tussling as the wolf reached an arm around the billy and pat his back affectionately. Gus' did the same in kind, the goat doing his best to work a hoof around the wolf as he returned the gesture with as tight a squeeze as he could muster.

"I really can't..." Vernon chuckled. "I really just can't tell ya'll how glad I am to see y'all both." Vernon's voice broke slightly as he pat the goat on the back. "I've been frettin' so badly over this whole thing over the last few hours."

With a final pat, the goat drew back from the hug, taking a moment to straighten his bow-tie before eyeing the wolf curiously.

"Really?" Gus asked. "I know you said you were nervous, but that bad?" The billy continued.

Vernon watched as Gus' irises darted from side to side, the goat seemingly scanning the crowd before leaning toward the wolf. Gus placed a hoof against the side of his muzzle, presumably in an attempt to better hide whatever he was going to say from prying eyes and ears.

"You aren't getting cold feet are you?" Gus whispered in a serious, concerned-sounding tone.

"Naw." Vernon shook his head briskly. "That ain't it."

The goat looked immediately relieved, as if he had narrowly avoided a conversation he wasn't entirely sure he was suited for.

"Then what's the problem?" The billy asked curiously.

This time it was the wolf's turn to lean in close, the large mammal placing a paw aside his snout as he spoke in a hushed tone.

"I'm tearin' my fur out over these vows." Vernon whispered. " I can't get anythin' good down, and I'm purty much out of time!"

Gus drew back slightly, the goat tugging at his own collar in clear discomfort. It was a gesture that did little to ease the wolf's fears. Seeming the realize this, the goat attempted to hide his unease by putting on a shaky smile.

"I uh...er.." Gus scratched the gauze on his head before placing the hoof to his chin, the billy stroking his beard in thought. "I'll be honest Vern..." The goat's poor attempt at a smile faltered. "I want to have advice for you, but-" Gus shook his head. "This sort of thing isn't really my strong suit."

Vernon's ears flattened against his head as he let out a soft whine.

"Y'all ain't got nothin' that isn't canned advice?" The wolf pleaded, gesturing to the mammals behind him. "C'mon mam', you're the one who wrote all those B and B campaigns!" The wolf whispered in a strained tone.

"Yeah, but that's about killing monsters and fighting ancient evils!" Gus replied. "It's not the type of writing that calls for a lot of prose and flowery language!"

The goat continued to stroke his beard thoughtfully. "If only Broomie was here." He sighed. "He's great with poetry, that's why he always play a bard."

Vernon let out a tired groan. Dylan Broomie, another member of their beast and battlefields sessions and friend from college would probably have had decent advice. The pudgy little sheep took great pride in writing poems and lyrics for his characters to recite, and was probably the wordiest mammal Vernon knew aside from Dawn.

With that, Gus leaned around the podium, gesturing Melanie to join the impromptu huddle. Melanie carefully leaned up on her hooves to join the pair.

"Melly, Vernon's having trouble with his vows." Gus whispered.

"Ooh." Melanie retracted sharply, as if she had been jabbed with a pin. "Really?"

Just like Gus, Melly's candid demeanor was doing little to instill confidence in the wolf.

"Yes." Vernon muttered. "Really."

Melanie glanced back to her mate. "Like...how so?"

"Like I ain't got nothin' written down here good enough fer Dawn that's what!" Vernon hissed. "It's a mess, and I'm out o' time!" The wolf whined. "Please tell me y'all got some advice that doesn't boil down to 'just say what feels right'!"

Melanie bit her lip uneasily.

"H-Honestly that was the advice I was going to give." Melanie's replied weakly. The she-goat nibbled at her hoof nervously for a moment, before seemingly realizing she was eating at her own hoof polish and stopping herself.

Vernon let out an exasperated sigh before thumping his against the podium, the wolf's stance slackening as he allowed his head to rest there.

"Honey! D-Don't press y-yer face down l-like that!" It was his mother's voice, the warbling tone was choked with the sound of tears as she called out. "You'll m-mess y-yer make-u-up up!"

Vernon let out a beleaguered groan.

"I mean, he looked nervous, but I figured that was just pre-tithing jitters." That had come for Melanie. She had spoken in a hushed whisper, though it had failed to be hushed enough for Vernon's ears to be unable to pick up.

The wolf let out a tired sigh, bringing his head up enough to furrow his brow at the goat couple.

"I'll remember this when y'all get tithed, or wedded, or whatever goats do." Vernon huffed softly.

Gus seemed to freeze at that remark, the discomfort and unease over the idea visibly etched into his features as he glared back to the wolf. Melanie however, seemed undaunted by Gus' apparent horror at such a notion, flashing the goat a wry smile.

"Goats get married just like sheep do." Melanie said, briefly regarding the wolf as she spoke. "It's why Gus' can even perform Dawn's part of the ceremony." The nanny raised a curious brow as she leaned in slightly closer to her mate. "And just when is our wedding coming along Gussy?"

Gus groaned, his muzzle tightening around clenched teeth. But Melanie continued undeterred.

"Six years is a long time to make a girl wait." Melanie flashed the goat a wide grin before turning her attention back to the wolf slumped over the podium. "Don't you think so Vernon?"

Gus rolled his eyes, gesturing a hoof to his mate as he glared down at Vernon.

"Thanks for getting her started." The goat lamented.

The wolf offered his friend a meek smile. "Hey, what are friends for?"

Gus rolled his eyes, letting out a derisive snort before opening his muzzle. But before the billy had a chance to deliver whatever sort of comeback he had come up with, a sudden, loud, but all too familiar_'clack'_ sounded out over the relatively quiet procession. The startling sound caused Vernon to jolt to his feet, his ears standing sharp and alert as his heart forced it's way back up into his throat. There was no mistaking the sound of the old, creaky porch door slamming back into its frame, and considering that Vernon had seen the majority of his family and friends already waiting outside, there seemed to be only one possible mammal left inside that could have been the cause for the noise. He knew that once he turned to look back toward the top of the aisle, he would see his mate standing there waiting for him. Looking back at him with those enchanting green eyes and glowing smile, looking to him with an adoration he was certain some other mammal with proper vows was more deserving of.

With that realization, the wolf's throat suddenly felt very dry. The lump that had rapidly formed in his gullet seeming impossible to swallow as the sweat began to pool on his brow. All the while, that frighteningly familiar sense of paralyzation had started to creep back into his muscles, forcing the wolf stock still as his lungs struggled to expand against his frozen chest. The sense of stage fright was coming back in full swing, and Vernon could barely fight back against the tide of emotions and thoughts that were now flashing through his mind at light speed. A series of frightening scenarios playing out like film strips in his head, showing the wolf every possible way he could ruin the ceremony for himself and his mate in horrifying clarity. Whether flubbing his lines, or stumbling over the podium somehow, each scene came to a conclusion with his 'Honey Lamb' in tears thanks to his ineptitude or clumsiness.

But running counter to the overwhelming fear of hackling the tithe up was the other parts of the wolf's mind that were once again screaming at him to move. To simply turn and face the music. He could hear his the various members of his families in his head, recalling their reassurances to him that everything would go smoothly. His mother, his father, his brothers and sisters, hell even Yuri. He could hear the collective advice of each mammal as they had spoken to him throughout the day, and picture them as they were when he first strode nervously down the aisle. The confident gestures and encouraging smiles battling back the tide of fear and uncertainty that was lapping at the wolf's courage. But what managed to break the dam of fear, and spur the wolf into action was the memory of Dawn's smiling, tearful face when he had brought up the idea of marrying her on the train ride just three days earlier. That beautiful face, and those lovely green eyes glimmering with such hope and joy. Much like Gus had been afraid of letting Vernon and Dawn down by simply not being there, Vernon was more afraid of letting his Honey Lamb down by being too afraid to try.

Balling his fists, the wolf drew in a sharp breath, taking a moment to put on a braver face before turning to face his future. But all his effort to rally his courage gave way to momentary confusion when he became aware of Gus and Melanie's curious expressions. Gus in particular didn't seem fazed or spurred to get his notes together and straighten his stance. Instead, he seemed rather bemused by whatever was going on behind the wolf, the billy wearing a smug grin more befitting of someone like Officer Wilde than the dorky mammal that stood before him. And Melanie, while not as smug, seemed to be trying to stifle a giggle or two at the sight behind the wolf. It was most definitely the kind of reaction that one would expect came with the gravity or importance that the bride's arrival.

"Ah, there's Mister back-up plan." Gus said with a chuckle.

The off the cuff, albeit rather curious statement, was enough to get the wolf to turn around without hesitation. And while he hadn't been sure exactly what to expect based on Gus' comment, he still could barely wrap his head around just who he was seeing.

At the end of the aisle, and closing in fast was a small, distinctly familiar ram. The older mammal dressed in a fine green suit and matching top hat, which he kept clutched to his head with a hoof as he rushed toward the altar. His horns neatly polished, and his wool finely maintained much as the wolf had remembered it being from the fair two days prior. And his expression almost as equally as constipated looking as when the diminutive sheep had led an angry mob to his mother's stand with the intention of running them out of the fair entirely. There was no mistaking it, the mammal currently heading Vernon's way was none other than the North Meadowland's representative, Damon Ruddy.

The wolf couldn't even begin to fathom why he was there, or why he was currently barreling down the aisle as fast as his stubby little legs could carry him. For a moment he assumed the worst, that the little ram had gone out of his way to personally try and shut down the couple's tithe for some spurious reason. Perhaps he had somehow caught wind of the whole affair and dug around to find some ancient law on the books to use to as a means to shut down the wedding. But the fact that Gus had referred to him as the _'back-up'_had piqued the wolf's curiously enough to keep from taking a more defensive posture as the ram finally arrived at the front of the aisle.

Damon Ruddy leaned a hoof against the altar, the little ram gasping for air as he drew his other hoof across his brow. Apparently, the short sprint had taken a lot out of him.

"Damon Ruddy..." Vernon grumbled. The wolf couldn't help but sneer at the tiny ram after everything he put he and his mate through, let alone his family.

The little neatly dressed lamb glanced up at Vernon with a somewhat pathetic expression. He held a finger up as if he was going to speak, but his labored breathing prevented little more than a few stuttered and incomplete words from slipping out of his muzzle between gasps.

"Vernon, this guy was gonna be the back-up _'caprid officiate'_if I wasn't able to make it on time." Gus interjected, seemingly speaking for the winded ram.

Vernon quickly turned back to his friend, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Ruddy?" Vernon asked in a bewildered tone. "Y'all mean he was gonna...?"

"Y-your father..." Damon wheezed, drawing the wolf's attention to the ram doubled over to his side.

"H-He asked me p-personally if I could f-fill in." The ram gasped. "A-And after what happened I-I..."The ram shook his head briskly, his hat nearly slipping off his head in the process. "I knew I had to help...I had to m-make it up to everyone." The ram panted, shifting his hat back in place with a hoof.

"To your family, to you and your mate." The ram straightened himself up slightly as his breathing seemed to ease. "I-I shouldn't have stood by and let what happened well...happen."

Vernon crossed his arms, furrowing his brow dubiously at the little ram. "Didn't seem too broke up about it at the time." The wolf muttered. "Only thing you seemed worried about is pleasin' the mob." Vernon snorted. "Gotta look good fer re-election right?"

Damon Ruddy let out a sad sigh as he took a moment to straighten his own bow-tie, dusting off the fringe of his jacket with an idle hoof.

"I'll be honest with you young Hunter." Ruddy murmured uneasily. "I had no idea that crowd was bandying about your family until they lead me to the stand." The ram scoffed. "Practically dragged me there with that she-wolf egging them on." The little sheep took a moment to adjust his hat once more, carefully aligning the rim with the edge of his head wool in an attempt to hide his receding wool line. "I'll admit it's a rather poor excuse, but...well...I panicked." The ram lamented. "I just slipped into public relations mode, and promptly shoved both hooves in my mouth at every turn."

Vernon let out a derisive snort, turning his snout up and away from the ram.

"It was wrong of me." The ram muttered. "Even if I didn't know your family personally, it was still morally reprehensible." The diminutive ram sighed. "But that said...while I may be a government official." Ruddy continued. "I was your mother and father's friend long before I took this job." The ram chuckled weakly. "And I realized a little too late that I may have let my political aspirations get in the way of the loyalty to the mammals who helped get me where I am now when they needed me most."

The ram glanced over at Audrey, offering the she-wolf a meek smile.

"For as long as I can remember ol' Dori has always been there to save my mutton." The ram chuckled. "Even way back in kitnergarden, that ol' law-dog was always keeping me out of harm's way, even at the cost of his own safety." The diminutive ram shook his head. "And I'm well overdue on repaying the favor."

The she-wolf smiled through the wad of tissues she had clamped against her snout, blowing into the paper so sharply it pricked up a few ears in the crowd before the she-wolf switched over to a fresh tissue.

"I may get a few angry phone calls come Monday if the tithe makes the local papers." Ruddy continued. "But it's a price I'm more than willing to pay."

"I don-.' Vernon mouthed in confusion. "I don't think I fully understand." The wolf was dumbstruck. Surely the ram even being here was a major risk to his image in the eyes of the North Meadowlands population. Yet here he was, prepared, or at least, he had been prepared to take Gus' place at the altar should the goat had failed to show. Vernon was stunned, so much so he could barely muster a response.

"I me-mean Gus...?" Vernon finally managed, glancing back to his friend. "I mean he's here...?" Vernon pointed a claw back at the one-horned goat.

Ruddy nodded briskly. "Thankfully so." The sheep offered a meek smile. "I was worried I would come off a bit more...eh... impersonal had I been up there." The diminutive ram rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. "It probably would have been awkward for both you and Miss Bellwether."

Vernon furrowed his brow in confusion.

"Then yer just here for what?" The wolf asked. "To give yer blessin'? Apologize? Both?" Vernon said with a huff.

"Well..." The sheep said, clearing his throat sharply as he pulled open his jacket. Reaching into his breast pocket, the ram extracted a folded piece of paper, and with a few flicks of his wrist the document fell open. "While I'm sure Mister Hornsley will do a fine job as your minister, I'm afraid I'm the only one among us who can certify a partnership license for the both of you on such short notice." The ram concluded, holding the paper up toward the wolf. "Although...I would be lying if I said I didn't find it fortuitous, as it....well..." The ram paused, seemingly slightly uncomfortable. "It gives me something I can help provide the both of you with after all the trouble I've caused."

Vernon grasped the edge of the page, leaning down slightly in order to better make out the writing. A cursory glance was enough to tell the wolf it was indeed a partnership license, something the wolf had almost entirely forgotten about since he and Dawn had discussed it on the train ride up to the North Meadowlands. Indeed, it had been little more than an afterthought at the time, something the pair would have to wait until they returned from the holiday to start the process of certifying, but its importance could not be understated. While the tithe or wedding held a symbolic importance to the couple, as well as their families, it was the _'partnership license'_that acted as the legally binding announcement to Animalia as a whole that Dawn and himself were a real couple, and a permanent one.

"Y-You mean...yer gonna-?" Vernon quirked a brow at the ram curiously.

Ruddy gently pulled the document free of Vernon's paw before gingerly folding the paper back up and carefully placing it back into his breast pocket, giving the pocket a pat with his hoof as he flashed the wolf a small smile.

"You two can sign it right after the service." The ram's smile broadened. "And I can guarantee you I will have it processed first thing tomorrow morning!" Ruddy tapped his thumb and forefinger together sharply, an attempt to imitate a 'snap' that those without hooves could more easily perform. "Won't even take my first sip of morning coffee till it's processed."

The ram closed his eyes, letting out a chuckle as he pulled at the edges of his jacket. "Your partnership license may be registered in the Meadowlands, but as you probably already know it doesn't matter where you have it filed in order for it to be considered valid in the city." Ruddy shook his head. "And It won't take nearly as long either, I can assure you." The ram stated proudly.

Ruddy was right, of course. Vernon had known the risks when proposing the idea to Dawn on the train ride up. Even if they had promptly filled out the application, and submitted it the day they returned to Zootopia, there was no chance the license would have been certified the same day, let alone the same week for a number of reasons. The largest of which was that, for whatever reason, perhaps in the name of mammal inclusion, or because such jobs were already not ones that were associated with speed, most lower level civil service positions were held by sloths. That fact alone assured that the license would have taken weeks, if not months to be processed and actually make it to the desk of a mammal who could actually sign off on it. And that was barring the document didn't go 'missing' at the hooves or claws of some moral busybody who had a personal vendetta against pred/prey relationships. Needless to say, in Zootopia their partnership license would have realistically taken months to process even if they filed it tomorrow.

But here was Mister Ruddy, a mammal who knew the circumstances but was willing to guarantee them a license by tomorrow morning, fully certified and legalized, perhaps even at the cost of his political standing. The ram taking it upon himself to clear the last barrier he and Dawn would have been faced with upon returning to Zootopia, and thus allowing the two to simply relax and enjoy the ceremony without having to worry about that extra step.

"Mr. Ruddy...I..." Vernon muttered, running a paw through his scalp before placing it on the ram's shoulder. "I....I don't even know how to begin to thank ya'll..."

"Don't thank me young Hunter." Ruddy frowned slightly. "It really isn't enough to truly make amends for how I acted the other day." The older ram sighed. "But at the very least, it gives me some form of help I can offer."

Vernon smiled softly at the ram, patting his shoulder gently.

"I think it's more than enough Mister Ruddy." Vernon replied, "And I'm willin' to fergive you." The wolf knelt slightly, extending a paw to the diminutive ram for a pawshake. Damon flashed the wolf a genuine smile, taking the wolf's paw in his both hooves and shaking it with vigor.

"Thank you Vernon." Ruddy replied. "Thank you for giving me a chance."

Vernon smiled broadly. "And thank y'all for doin' this service fer us." The wolf glanced over his shoulder, gesturing his head with a slight bob toward the porch at the head of the aisle.

"I'm sure Dawn would want to tell ya the sa-"

"Miss Bellwether!" The ram sputtered, his eyes growing wide as he suddenly snapped to attention. With a sudden jerk, the ram had yanked his hooves free of Vernon's grip with such force it nearly caused the wolf to stumble on to him. Taking a moment to steady himself, the wolf opened his mouth to ask the ram just what was wrong, but Ruddy had spun on his heels in a blink. The little sheep spinning quickly to face Gus, he nearly lost his hat in the process.

"Mister Hornsley!" The ram's voice cracked slightly as he straightened his hat with a hoof, Ruddy sharply clearing his throat in an apparent effort to hide the break in tone. "A word please?" Ruddy asked, gesturing the goat to lean down to his level.

The goat gave a soft nod before leaning around the side of the podium and bending downward, carefully lifting one of his rather floppy ears as he turned it toward the diminutive ram. Vernon watched curiously as Ruddy leaned in closer to Gus' ear, holding a hoof up to in a clear move to hide his muzzle from Vernon's line of sight.

For a moment the wolf debated internally whether it was worthwhile to try and eavesdrop on the muffled conversation Ruddy was having with his friend. On the one paw, he was growing weary of the continued bursts of secrecy regarding the ceremony and almost everything surrounding it. Didn't the wolf know everything at this point? Or at least the largest, most important things regarding the ceremony? But on the other paw, the fact that the two seemed to care enough to speak in hushed whispers right in front of the wolf must have meant there was some degree of importance to it, and perhaps, that it would be revealed before Vernon had time to really question it.

As if reading the wolf's thoughts, almost as soon as Vernon went to open his muzzle again, Gus' eyes had widened almost as much as Ruddy's had, and the goat quickly drew back to the podium.

Gus cleared his throat sharply, grasping a few of the notes scattered on the podium in front of him into his hooves and tapping them against the surface in order to straighten them all at once. Glancing back up at Vernon, the goat offered a nervous smile.

"Give me two seconds Vern." The goat said, holding up two fingers before quickly placing the cards back on the podium and ducking behind it.

Once again, the podium rattled as the billy shuffled about with things unseen, the speakers letting out another sharp crackle that cut through the melodic song for a brief moment. Another loud crackle, and Vernon had his paws over his ears, his eyes closed tightly in response to the increasingly painful sound.

"Gus! Can y-!?"

"Dags!" He could hear the goat hiss from behind the stand. "Sorry, sorry!"

One more crackle, and the speakers fell silent. In the sudden absence of the music, the quiet fall air briefly filled with the quiet murmurs of the crowd, as well as the faintest chirps of a few stray crickets that had somehow managed to withstand the growing autumn chill.

"Is this part of the-?"

Vernon had turned to ask the ram that had been standing at his side exactly what was happening. But he was already gone, Ruddy having taken a seat at a small desk Vernon had failed to notice on the far left of the altar. The ram offered Vernon a cheerful smile as he waved from his seat.

"You've got this young Hunter!" The older ram called loudly. His voice filled with enthusiasm as he tapped a pen against the desk with his other hoof. "Keep your muzzle held high and you'll do just fine!"

"Hold! O-on!" Gus hissed from backstage as the podium shook again. " I hope it'll be easier to work in the reception area than-Aha! Got it!"

There was one last ear-splitting crackle before another song began to rise over the soft breeze of the evening autumn air. A song that Vernon recognized from the moment the first few keys of the piano drifted lazily out over the loudspeakers. One didn't need to be well versed in any one particular bonding ceremony, whether predator or prey, to recognize the melody. It was played at nearly every single affair, and it signified a very specific moment that was practically universal across all ceremonies respectively. The lovely, enchanting melody that acted as the herald for the bride to make her appearance, and begin her march down the aisle.

Vernon's heart began to beat frantically, well above the tempo of the slow, soothing melody that now surrounded him as it traveled across the cool, crisp night air. He could feel the anxiety returning, the knot within his stomach twisting and gnashing as he tugged uneasily at his collar. That familiar sense of petrification was overtaking him once more, not that it mattered much this time around. At some point, in the confusion and noise created by Ruddy and Gus' antics, he had spun on his heels to look back at his friends and family and gauge their reaction for some sort of clue as to what was going on, and now he found his gaze fixed squarely on the screen door of the back porch. Vernon was sure the expression on his muzzle wasn't all too becoming of an expecting groom. What little he could feel in the creeping numbness that had overtaken his body told him that his eyes were wide, unblinking, as they remained fixed on the door. He could only imagine he looked something like a deer in headlights, something he had always been largely certain was strictly a cervine problem based on the name, at least up until this very moment. A sudden surge of surprise and shock so powerful it left his mind blank, simply staring into the oblivion of the last thing that had drawn his attention.

Well, blank save for one small reassuring thought. That at the very least the wolf could take some solace, however small, in the fact that what was to come didn't require any more movement on his part. He was where he should have been, and facing the right way.

His breathing hitched in his throat as the screen door slowly began to open. The wolf's mind firing off a final smattering of panicked thoughts regarding his vows as if they were flares being fired from a rapidly sinking ship. Words, fragments of poetic statements rapidly shuffling about his mind in a last ditch attempt to pull a vow worthy of his mate mixing with the rising panic that continued to ramp up as each paltry attempt was cast aside as quickly as it was formed together. For a brief moment, as the cacophony of conflicting, arguing thoughts seemed to reach a zenith, the wolf felt as though he was going to faint from the pressure. But as the door gave way to what awaited beyond, the bells, the whistles, the warning flares, all of them were snuffed out in an instant. Hushed and eased into a comforting silence by the sight of the mammal that now stood in the open doorway.

Dawn Bellwether, Floofy, his Honey Lamb. The wolf found himself at a loss for words as his previously hitched breath simply left him. The air pulled from his lungs by the sheer, overwhelming sense of awe that rippled through him like an aftershock. But despite his wordless state, the wolf felt no fear, no sense of anxiety or feelings of panic. It had all left him despite the fact that he simply could scarcely conceive of any word, or words that could do Dawn justice. Surely there were hundreds of words he knew that he could have used, ones he had in fact used to describe her countless times before. And there were even more that he was certain she would have known, but even so, he was sure they would have all fallen short of even beginning to describe the ewe who stood at the top of the aisle. Vernon was convinced there was not a single word in the entire Animanglish language that could properly encapsulate his Honey Lamb in that moment, as well as just how he felt about her. And though it ran completely contrary to all the fear and anxiety that had preceded it over the wolf's desperate struggle to create the perfect set of vows, Vernon felt oddly serene. He was satisfied, even somehow relieved. He had no words capable of describing the beauty of his mate, and yet he felt as if it was the only natural response.

In that moment all the fear, all the doubts that lingered on the edge of his mind simply fell away. As did the aisles, the lights, and faces, everything around him as he stared back at his blushing bride. All the emotional weight that had at one point felt like a crushing boulder simply withering and drifting away like the few stray autumn leaves that littered the meadow in the face of the elegant ewe that began to glide down the aisle. His eyes struggling to take in every facet of the angel that was slowly striding toward him. His best friend and the love of his life, his Dawn.

Her head wool was styled, her trademarked tall spherical poof styled into a lazy 'peek-a-boo' drape over the lens of her right eye. Her traditional tortoiseshell frames swapped out for a pair of lavender cat-eye specs, encrusted with rhinestones on the top ends of the frame. The gemstones twinkled in the low moonlight but paled in comparison to the ewe's own tears as they streamed from her brilliant lime green eyes. Eyes that glimmered with a sense of hope and overwhelming joy as they stared up into his own, never leaving his gaze as she grew closer still.

And her smile...by the gods her smile...The ewe had tried to partially hide it behind the bouquet full of purple, yellow and auburn flowers she clutched tightly to her chest, Perhaps it was modesty or bashfulness that made her seek to hide that warm, inviting smile. Yet even being eclipsed by the floral assortment did little to diminish the effect it had on the wolf. His former numbness now flushed away, and replaced with a surge of warmth and excitement as a smile of his own forced its way from ear to ear.

The gown that clung to her curvy, petite form was simple, but elegant. The pale white fabric appearing to glow slightly under the pale moonlight. The edges of the fabric fading into a dusty-colored lilac at the fringes where cloth met the ewe's soft, peach colored skin. The rather cool tones creating a delightful, enticing contrast to the warm flesh kissed by blushes of pink on her shoulders, cheeks, and snout.

She was glowing, beaming. The light of her radiance exuding from her in waves so powerful that, had there been any lingering fear left in the wolf, it would have collapsed under the sheer intensity of the smile it had drawn out of him, and the joyful tears it had drawn to his eyes.

It was a light the wolf had always known was there. Something he knew had been browbeaten into submission over the course of the little ewe's life by the likes her father, Lionheart, Doug, and various other cruel and twisted mammals. But slowly, over the course of their time together she had been learning to let that light shine more and more each day, and the wolf savored every little glimmer she willingly shared with him as though it were a treasure more precious than gold.

It was there in the way she smiled at him, in the way she said his name. The light glimmering in her laugh and radiating warmth every time his lips met hers. It was in her soft, comfortable sighs and errant bleats as she nuzzled deeply into his pelt while she slept, her head nestled right up against his heart. A light and heat that would swell to an all-consuming, blinding inferno during their most intimate moments, and smoldered lazily in the afterglow as they lay there curled up with one another, talking until the sun rose the next day. It was Dawn, the real Dawn. In her most pure form. The Dawn he always knew was she was, the way he had always seen her. And that light. That bright, shining, inviting, all-encompassing warm light that came from his ewe, his Dawn. It was glowing for him, because of him. And now, the rest of those closest to him could see his Honey Lamb just as he did.

Vernon wasn't sure how much time had passed watching Dawn march toward him, although it mattered little to the wolf at this point. The only desire he had at the moment was simply to live in it forever. To simply spend an eternity drinking in the majesty and beauty of the love of his life as she drew closer and closer to him. But at some point, the ewe finally arrived, coming to a stop a mere few inches from the wolf. Dawn's smile grew meek, the ewe blushing intensely as she shifted the bouquet further in front of her face coyly.

"H-Hi..." Dawn stuttered softly, the blush across her muzzle intensify as spoke.

"Howdy." Vernon's smile widened to reveal his fangs as he gazed down at the shy little ewe.

Dawn giggled nervously in response, shrinking a little more behind the bouquet of mums and wildflowers clutched tightly in her hooves.

"What's wrong Darlin'?" Vernon asked in an amused tone. He wanted to hug her right then and there, to scoop her into his arms and snuggle up to her cheek, the overwhelming adoration he felt for the ewe only amplified by her adorable behavior. But he had to hold out, at least long enough to get through the ceremony. The wolf watched his mate squirming slightly, the blush never leaving her face as she shyly looked down to the bottom fringe of her dress.

"P-Puppy...I-I-." Dawn murmured, the ewe's voice trembling with what sounded like a mixture of nervousness and excitement. "The way y-you're looking at me..."

"Don't like it?" Vernon asked in concern.

"No!" Dawn's reply was quick and loud, the ewe popping her head up from behind her bouquet to rebuff the wolfs claim so loudly that she seemed startled by her own voice. His bride's blush returned, and she quickly shrank behind the barrier of flowers clutched to the chest once more in embarrassment. Hidden behind the apparent safety of her bouquet, the ewe shuddered before letting out a nervous laugh."I mean I do! Of course I do!" Dawn added. The ewe's tone was significantly quieter, the ewe trying to sound more casual despite the clear nervousness in her voice.

"Like it, I mean..."

Dawn averted her gaze downward. "Oh mutton chops." The timid little lamb murmured.

Vernon chuckled softly. His mate was already painfully cute, and the fact that she was flustered only made her that much cuter.

"Of course y-you're looking at me. I'm the bride, I-." Dawn muttered, seemingly thinking out loud rather than talking directly to her mate. The ewe let out a shuddering, slow sigh, shaking her head as though she was trying to get a hold of herself. "I really am, I'm getting married..." The ewe said wistfully, a dreamy look overtaking her for a moment as she stared back up at the wolf. Vernon watched as a goofy grin crawled across her muzzle. "Oh...Vernon..." The murmured softly. "This is really happening isn't it?"

Vernon chuckled softly. "It sure is Darlin'."

The ewe's blush returned, her muzzle flushing crimson as she shrank back into her shoulders.

"I-I'm sorry Puppy, I-I'm-" The ewe buried her muzzle deeper into her bouquet as she grew increasingly flustered.

"I-I'm just a little nervous is all..." Dawn glanced up at her mate, her awkward smile shifting periodically to reveal her teeth. "And excited! But nervous too!" The ewe stammered weakly. "Is that okay? Is it okay to be nervous?"

Vernon let out a soft chuckle, the wolf bending down on one knee in order to meet his bride at eye level, or at least as close as he could get before placing a reassuring paw on her shoulder.

"You feel however y'all want Honey Lamb." Vernon cooed. "It's yer day."

Dawn had practically buried her muzzle into the bouquet itself by this point, her voice presumably muffled by the flowers as she spoke. "I-It's our day."

Vernon smiled broadly, nodding in agreement. "It is our day."

"I j-just." The ewe averted her gaze slightly. "Everything happened so fast, and I-, I mean-." The ewe glanced back at the wolf uneasily. "I mean I'm so excited, b-but I just..." Dawn shook her head briskly.

"What is it Darlin'?" Vernon asked.

The ewe's eyes shifted away from his again, a pout forming on her muzzle as she slunk back into her bouquet.

"I wanted to-to-." Dawn stammered. "I mean I couldn't-."

With another shudder, the ewe suddenly straightened her stance. Letting out a slow, deliberate sigh. Dawn lowered the bouquet before setting her gaze back on the wolf.

"I couldn't come up with any good vows." Dawn whimpered sadly. "I've been wracking my brain all day and I just..." Dawn shook her head briskly. "Nothing I came up with seemed good e-enough for-!" The ewe's lip quivered slightly, the start of a fresh wave of tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

"Hey, hey..." The wolf cooed softly, caressing Dawn's cheek with a paw. There was a part of the wolf that wanted to laugh at the irony of the whole situation. To know that his mate had been fretting and fussing as badly if not worse than he had over his vows. But just the sight of those tears was enough to cause the wolf's heart to drop. Tears of joy were one thing, but to see his Honey Lamb so broken up over what felt like a trifle now on the most important night of their lives was simply criminal, and the wolf was going to do everything in his power to keep her smiling.

Dawn gently clasped his paw with her hoof, pressing it deeper into her face and leaning into it affectionately.

"Everything I came up w-with just...It just felt like..." Dawn sniffled slightly. "It felt like it wasn't good enough, you know?" The ewe asked. "It wasn't good enough for you." Dawn shuddered slightly. "Maybe I'm not-."

"Hey." Vernon cut Dawn off by placing a finger to her muzzle before shifting it under her chin to keep her eyes on his own.

"Don't y'all even finish that sentence." Vernon said softly, offering his Honey Lamb a warm, gentle smile. "You know it ain't true."

Dawn lifted her lenses, swabbing at her eye lamely with a hoof. "B-But-"

"You ain't alone Darlin'." Vernon said, offering the ewe a meek smile. "Before you stepped out of that door I was losin' my mind over my own vows fer the same reason."

The diminutive ewe quirked a brow dubiously.

"Really?" Dawn asked.

Vernon smirked. "Is it so hard to believe?"

Dawn gave a weak, shuddering shrug, her apparent nervousness causing her to twitch slightly. "I do-." The ewe murmured. "I mean you...I-" The ewe let out an awkward chuckle. "I just...I mean, you're always so much more confident than I am, so I figured..." The ewe slunk back into her bouquet slightly.

"Darlin'." Vernon cooed. "I wanted what I had to say about you to be as perfect as I know y'all are." The wolf continued. "Anythin' less would have been a disservice."

"That's how I felt!" The ewe blurted out, perking up briefly before slinking her muzzle back into her bouquet. The blush on her face returning as her gaze shifted from Vernon once again. "I-I mean...I didn't want to...I was afraid..."

"That's you'd embarrass me?" Vernon asked, flashing the ewe an uneasy smirk. "Er' disappoint me?"

Dawn nodded briskly, her grip around the bouquet of mums and wildflowers visibly tightening as she did.

Vernon placed his paw back on the ewe's cheek, gingerly thumbing away a stray tear as he lovingly regarded his mate.

"You were too, weren't you?" Dawn asked, pressing her hoof over his paw tightly as she looked up at him.

The wolf nodded, letting out a soft sigh.

"Frettin' over the same thing." Vernon chuckled. "What a pair we are, huh Floofs?" The wolf continued, bobbing his eyebrows playfully." Guess we are made fer each other after all."

Dawn giggled softly, kissing the wolf's palm as she continued to nuzzle into his paw.

"You could never disappoint me Vernon." Dawn said, her voice was warm and affectionate, her adoring eyes shimmering back at the wolf as she gave his paw a squeeze. "Y-You know that."

The wolf chuckled softly. "I feel the same way about you Darlin'." The wolf shook his head softly. "Though it does make me wish we'd been able to talk to each other about this earlier today." The wolf continued, bracing his neck with a paw and rubbing it awkwardly. "Would of saved us a lot of worryin'."

Dawn let out a snorting giggle as she withdrew from the wolf's touch, keeping her hoof wrapped around his paw and flashing the wolf an amused smirk.

"Well, they say it is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding." The ewe replied. "Would you want to risk breaking that time-honored tradition over a little vow related jitters?"

Vernon quirked a brow, a wry smile crossing his muzzle. "'Time-honored tradition'?" The wolf laughed, pulling the ewe closer to him. "Who said that? Is that a caprid thing?"

Dawn let out a giggle as the wolf leaned his head on top of her, nuzzling into her styled poof affectionately.

"I read about tithes!" Dawn retorted. "So don't you try to tell me that wolves don't have the same tradition."

With that, the ewe drew back from his grip, holding the bouquet up to create a floral barrier between himself and the giggling ewe.

"Even so..." The ewe let out a pleasant sigh as she threw a glance toward the crowd of Hunters seated nearby. "The girls were there to help me for the most part..."

"Oh?" Vernon asked.

Dawn blushed slightly, her shy smile returning as she glanced to the rug once more. "I mean, they did their best to help me, but..." Dawn rolled her eyes. "I wasn't really listening to them." The ewe laughed weakly. "Everything I wrote down just seemed terrible regardless of whose advice I took."

Vernon smirked. "I know the feelin'." The wolf replied, eliciting another soft giggle from his diminutive mate. "I asked fer advice, then thought I knew better than the advice they were givin'." Vernon said with a sigh. "Even with Pa."

The wolf paused, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he thought back to his father's words. "Well, maybe he was right after all..." The wolf mused, turning his attention to his lovely little lamb.

The ewe quirked a brow curiously.

"W-what did he say?" Dawn seemed genuinely curious. Vernon could only assume Dawn already knew what his father had done for them to make amends. She probably had the benefit of knowing as much earlier than he had. But he was sure that if he had given the ewe any advice, it hadn't been the same as the advice he had given him. That was something Dorian would have most likely felt was not his place to advise on, it was a task more suited to Audrey, or Dawn's mother.

"That I'd know what to say when the time came." Vernon sighed. "Because I'd feel it."

Dawn smiled warmly up at the wolf, reaching a hoof up to caress his cheek thoughtfully.

"Audrey told me the same thing..." Dawn replied, her smile warm and inviting as she looked deep into his eyes. "She told me..." The ewe murmured. "If I spoke from the heart, then my vow couldn't help but be perfect."

"I think they were both right all along." Vernon smiled. He could feel tears starting to well in his eyes as he leaned his forehead against hers. "This, right here...it's already perfect." The wolf cooed. "Anything we have to say will only add to it."

"O-Oh Puppy." Dawn's lips were mere inches away from his, calling out to the wolf's own to meet them. But just shy of completing the connection, a sudden, loud cough drew the pair's attention back to the mammal standing behind the altar.

"Uh guys..." It had come from Gus, the master of ceremonies, his expression a mixture of reluctance and discomfort. "Look, I hate to break this up but I mean, we're burning moonlight here." The goat pointed a finger toward the night sky as if to emphasize his point.

Gus' interjection was enough to break the bubble the wolf had found himself in since the moment Dawn had stepped out of the house. The world at large now pulling back into view as he became aware of just how many mammals were now staring at them. They were watching intently, the various members of the Hunter brood wearing expressions of awe and adoration aside from his mother. He was certain she was watching as well, but the clump of tissues she was holding up to her face had grown so large it was hard to make out her expression.

Glancing back to his mate he could tell by just how sharply she was blushing that Gus had made her come to the same realization. They had been in their own little world right up until that moment, forgetting the decorum in favor of simply basking in each other's love.

With a jerk, the two almost simultaneously drew back from one another, the wolf quickly rising to his feet as they both turned to face the altar. Vernon did his best to force down the blush he was certain had lit up his muzzle, but it wasn't as easy a task as forcing down tears. At the very least the wolf was thankful he was facing away from his family for the moment.

"S-sorry Gus." Vernon mumbled, tugging at his collar slightly.

"S-sorry." Dawn echoed the wolf's sentiment.

The goat simply smiled warmly in response, letting out a soft chuckle as he eyed his friends.

"Naw, I'm sorry guys..." The goat laughed. "I mean I know this is a big night for you both, but if you start smooching now we'll never get to the actual rites."

"We ain't that bad." Vernon muttered.

The goat rolled his eyes. "Tell that to all the Beast and Battlefield games you guys have derailed with your 'romantic character interactions'". The billy chuckled. "Even me and Melly ain't that bad."

The wolf blushed intensely at the off-pawed comment, shrinking into his shoulders in embarrassment, and while he wasn't looking at his mate, he could practically feel her do the same.

"Anyway, let's get to it shall we..."

"W-wait...wait." Dawn interjected, drawing the wolf's attention back on his glowing bride. "Puppy?"

The wolf quirked a curious brow. "What is it Darlin'?"

The ewe blushed slightly, averting her gaze from the wolf's own as she shifted her bouquet into a single hoof.

"D-Do I look okay?" The ewe asked, grasping her dress with her free hoof and spreading it as she glanced over her shoulder and down the length of her gown. "I mean, it's a little old but I just, I've always loved this dress and I've-"

"Honey Lamb." The ewe's nervous tone was enough to tell the wolf she was just shy of working herself into another ramble. "You look as beautiful as the day I met you."

Dawn blushed sharply, the ewe cowing behind her bouquet one again.

"W-was that the day I was covered in dust and dirt, struggling to get my glasses back and you came to my rescue?" The ewe offered a wry smile. "Or in my oversized hoodie and gaudy Bug Burga uniform?"

Vernon smirked. "Darlin', you could be wearin' an old sac, and to me you'd still be the most gorgeous mammal on two legs."

Dawn practically buried her face in her bouquet at the remark, The ewe's face flushed so crimson it was practically glowing as let out a meek, stammering mutter of incomprehensible words.

"H-handsome." Was the only word Vernon managed to make out.

"What was that Darlin'?" The wolf asked with a smirk. Vernon raised a paw to his ear, leaning slightly toward his mate in an effort to better hear her.

"Y-You look so handsome!" The ewe awkwardly blurted out before shirking back into her bouquet, the ewe giggling like a schoolgirl who had received a compliment from her crush.

The large wolf felt the heat of a blush forming under his muzzle fur as a smile curled across his muzzle. Vernon cleared his throat awkwardly. It was an attempt to ensure his reply wouldn't come with a voice crack somewhere in the middle of it, but the cough already sounded more uncomfortable than any break in his voice probably would have been.

"T-thank ya Darlin'." The wolf croaked.

"Lamb Sakes..." Dawn muttered, letting out another shuddering sigh as she seemingly struggled to compose herself. "I t-think I agree with your father Puppy Love."

The wolf quirked a curious brow. "What do ya mean?"

Dawn shook her head softly. "I t-think you'll be fine when the vows come up. But after that display, I'm pretty sure I'm hopeless." The ewe let out a weak chuckle.

"That makes three of us here..." Gus' off-hoofed comment had been loud enough for the couple to hear, but far too low for it to reach those beyond the altar.

Cobbling up his note cards once again, the goat shuffled them between his hooves before tapping them against the podium a few more times. Glancing down at his cards, the billy mouthed something to himself. A series of words, totally inaudible to Vern, but the wolf presumed it was the first few lines of the rite. He watched the goat repeat the same silent muttering to himself a few times before his nostrils flared with a long, drawn-out sigh.

Reaching below the podium, the goat pulled out a small microphone before gingerly setting it up on the table. Gus gave the receiver a few gentle taps with a hoof, causing the speakers to resonate in time with each percussive thud.

"Testing, one two..." The goat's voice carried out over the amplifier, dulling the music that had already been playing from the moment Dawn had left the house.

"Alright....let me just." Placing his notes down momentarily, Gus once again disappeared behind the stand. The wolf braced himself for another ear-splitting crackle from the speakers, but it never came. Instead, the music simply faded away, and once it had gone silent, the goat returned to his post, scooping the note-cards back into his hooves.

"Something goes right for once...about time..."The goat muttered under his breath. It was a statement that was clearly meant to stay between himself, and the bride and groom. But with the microphone now in place, it easily carried over the speakers well enough that Vernon was sure the first row or two of mammals could hear it. However, Gus seemed unaware, simply pressing onward with his planned speech as he pulled the microphone free of its plastic stand with a hoof and raised it to his muzzle.

"AH-HEH-hem!" The billy cleared his throat harshly. It was a clear effort to draw all attention forward. But glancing over his shoulder, Vernon could see that the Hunters were already focused on the billy, probably since as far back as his sound check.

Seemingly picking up on this, the goat tugged uneasily at his own collar. His eyes briefly scanning the crowd before he began.

"O-okay so..." Gus murmured nervously, tapping the note-cards in his other hoof against the podium idly. "I er...I'd like to start out by saying that I've...well..." The billy rubbed the back of his neck uneasily as he tried press onward.

"I've only ever 'officiated' one_'caprid wedding'_." The goat winced. "It was my cousin's."

"That's alright Gus." Vernon was quick to reassure his friend.

Gus offered him a wary smile, the clearly nervous mammal struggling to keep up a calm demeanor in the face of Vernon's vote of confidence.

"I m-mean I did a good job." Gus continued. "At least that's what everyone told me anyway." The billy muttered quietly to himself as he glanced down at his notes. Gus was mouthing the rites again, the goat repeating them inaudibly to himself once more before turning his attention back to the mic.

"Still, that is about as much experience as I've had with something like this, let alone a tithing ceremony." The goat continued, flashing the crowd an awkward smile. " To top it off, there was no...er..." The goat winced slightly, seemingly struggling to choose his words. "Hard information on how to do something like this, so I sorta...had to make it up myself here..." The billy tugged at his collar once more, all the while the color under his hide growing paler and paler as he nervously explained himself.

"We're sure it' will be fine Gus." That had come from Dawn. The ewe offering a confident, supportive smile of her own to the shrinking billy behind the podium.

"I can't tell you how difficult it was merging a bunch of different rites together and making it sound cohesive." The goat pressed a hoof to his forehead, pressing the cue cards into his scalp. "I started working on it on the train ride up, and have been refining it up until a few minutes ago...so...er..." Gus rubbed at the back of his neck again before glancing back at the crowd. "Pl-please just bear with me...and hopefully this will go as well as when I was rehearsing it."

Glancing over his shoulder, the wolf could see that if his family had any doubts about Gus' capability, they certainly weren't showing it. The sea of encouraging, confident smiles had remained largely unchanged since the wolf had first walked down the aisle. Although whether that put less or more pressure on the goat, Vernon was uncertain.

Looking to his blushing bride to be, the ewe was smiling as well. The wolf could see her hooves squeezing tightly around the base of her bouquet in anticipation.

"Ok....Okay..." Gus cleared his throat once more. "So...let's...Uh...You guys ready?"

Vernon rolled his eyes. "Yes Gus, were ready."

"Y-you can start." Came Dawn's reply.

Gus let out a shaky sigh, giving his notes a final tap against the podium before glancing down at the small bundle of papers.

"Okay, then let's begin."