FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Save Point: In The Field Of The Cage

The Battle At Kalikshutra

Apparently it is traditional here to hold weddings in the empty field of the cage, which is a place outside of town. The cage itself is made of vastly ancient wood, that has ceased to look like wood at all under the actions of generations of rain, and the bars are fastened together with pins of what may be copper or possibly bronze, although it is not possible to be certain.

Someone once built the cage to last forever, presumably to hold criminals or merely the disliked, and leave them out in an empty place under the sky. Later, after a battle, a peace treaty was made here as scouts and outriders from both sides circled the edges of the field, in a desperate mission to strike down an unknown number of maniacs belonging to neither but desiring to continue the killing at all costs. The good succeeded; the deal was made. Their rulers clasped hands in blood within the cage, beyond the reach of blades and arrows.

The cage went unused after that, but it became the done thing to hold weddings there, after some audacious couple decided to marry in defiance of all opposition. They made their statement, and went to their graves old and still together. Now everyone who loves here is married there, in front of the cage, which is almost worn out.

The field itself is covered in grass, but it's quite a sparse sort of grass, pale and gently yellowed like the early wheat, and the soil is visible between the blades. The earth here is also pale, a faint shade of soft grey, but there are more insects of more types moving about over and around and through it than they've ever seen. They do not even halt for larger creatures, moving about and continuing on their way over the feet and hands of any other obstructions in their path. The sun shines down warmly and there are large trees out near the edges of the field, suitable to conceal a number of local facilities catering to the wedding industry. There is a place to get changed into the marriage clothes, to buy beer and other beverages, to prepare a wedding feast and to provide the plates and bowls necessary for such. Even the cage manages to seem beautiful in such a place.

There is some talk of involving a priest or shaman, but it rapidly becomes apparent that they fall well outside the jurisdiction of any local belief systems, which is quite impressive considering the range of services on offer. It seems that the only actual absolute requirement of the service is that both participants should make their mark together as a contract, to be held locally as a record of the proceedings. White paper is available these days, but parchment or even subsequently fired clay would be valid. Cleo springs for a high quality piece of papyrus out of a sense of irony.

Eventually the wedding is officiated at by Sethkill, who holds it according to sethura tradition, so there is a symbolic wide and shallow bowl of water, and a binding ribbon for their forearms. The ceremony is held in the shade of the largest tree, nearest to the cage. Cleo wears a white silken wrap which folds several times about her body and breasts, to eventually loop over itself and hang down between her thighs. Terrowne has come as the Dragon, the stark blackness of its carbon fibre skin about as close as it is probably possible to make him come to formal wear. The contrast between them is remarkable; there is an intensity that it is hard to explain.

As a wedding gift, the Dragon removes one of the inconsistent golden loops from its back-folded and oddly clipped ears, and hands it to her. There is a moment of nervousness as everyone wonders if the ring will go moebius on them, or maybe become some sort of klein bottle (which of course would not bear thinking about, if only due to the effects on the mind). This is followed by collective relief as the ring remains stable and develops a diamond, of perfect clarity and facet cut, which is somehow fused to four small extensions of the metal, two originating either side of the gap where the dragons ear went. They look just like tiny claws, troublingly so in fact, and it goes without saying that neither claws nor diamond were there before.

"You don't have to worry about losing it," says the Dragon. "I can always make another one, in whatever style you like."

"My father kept losing his," Cleo explains to everyone else. "He didn't like to wear it about since it always fell off, and when he did he inevitably lost it. Once while he was cutting the hedge, and once at the ocean..."

It takes a moment for it to become apparent that she is sniffling slightly, not quite crying but close, possibly overcome by the nature of the day and the memories of the lost. The Dragon takes her into its embrace and she lies her muzzle alongside the sleek curve of its shoulder and neck, hugging it fiercely. She doesn't put on the ring, just holds it tight in her hand. The Dragon looks more human than it usually does, holding her close, rocking slightly, caressing her long hair.