-Epilogue-

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to inform you that as of today, the first day of autumn, the Raven Lukas Seascale is officially a member of the Greatclaw family, having taken Aria Greatclaw as his mate. The ceremony was presided over by Arnis Greatclaw himself. As such, Mr. Seascale would like me to pass on his resignation from the society of Ravens, effective immediately. He will be living here in Nirca for some time should you need to contact him. I have been asked to convey similar desires from Kent Fletcher, who will likewise be living here and is likewise mated.

I hope this note finds you well.

Ben Ryefur

Recorder, Township of Nirca

Ben held the note up for Lukas to see. "There. How does that look?"

Lukas quickly read the note, absently reaching up through the window to dip his claw into the mouse's inkwell. He placed a small mark on the paper and smiled. "It's perfect. Though not really true."

Ben scoffed, folding the paper and sealing it. "It will be as soon as you get out of my hair and get to the roundhouse, before you're late for your own ceremony."

Smiled and turned from the window. "I've got plenty of time. See you there?"

Ben smiled after him. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, my boy. Now go, before Bula skins me for keeping you."

It was an ideal ceremony, simple and beautiful the way dragons prefer it. Lukas and Aria stood on either side of Arnis at the foot of the stairs to his home, with most of the town spread in a circular crowd behind them. Both wore around their necks woven wreaths of the white flower Aria had given to Lukas on their journey. They both had a small, traditional honour guard, Johen, Sabra and Kent on Lukas' side, Bula, Jinn and Ben on Aria's.

Arnis addressed the crowd, presenting the to-be-mates. He gave a short speech, brought up a few embarrassing moments from Aria's childhood, then got on with the ceremony. If Lukas and Aria heard any of it, they didn't react. Several people in the audience could be heard commenting between themselves on what a pair they made, smiling softly at each other from across the small podium.

Finally Arnis finished, and the new mates leaned forward to touch their noses together amid the thunderous cheers and applause from the crowd, both dragons smiling hugely. They exchanged no vow or word of bond; in fact neither of them said anything throughout the entire ceremony. It was hardly necessary.

That night, hours and hours of celebration later, Lukas found himself at the edge of the town square, his scales a glossy black in the bright orange glow of the fire. Somewhere behind him he heard the crowd's cheer and Kent's happy yip. He and Jinn had been dancing for hours, both of them still wearing the wristbands from their own mating. Lukas inhaled deeply of the cool air and smiled to himself as he wondered for the hundredth time that day how he got so lucky.

He was about to turn and rejoin the crowd when the newly minted Aria Seascale appeared beside him like a serene ghost. She smiled and kissed his jaw line gently. "You're missing our party."

Lukas chuckled softly, nuzzling her in return. "I know. I was just thinking."

She nipped gently at his ear fin. "Yes, I know."

He quirked an eyebrow at her. "You do?"

She nodded smugly and nestled up against him. "I know. You've done it before. You didn't say anything for a while, and then you kind of snuck off." She twined her tail around his. "What are you thinking about?"

He smiled and wrapped a wing around her. "Lots of things. Mostly about you. It's still a lot to take in, how much everything's changed."

She crooned softly. "Changed for the better, I hope."

He laughed. "Definitely. And from where I'm standing it only stands to get better."

Aria looked up at him, and he could see her eyes in the dancing firelight. She started to turn, pulling gently on his wing, smiling playfully. "Come on, big thinker. Kent and Jinn are making us look bad. Come dance with me. You can look at the stars later."

He smiled back at his mate. "Lead on, fair lady." And he turned, following her back to the noise of the crowd and leaving the stars to wheel silently by themselves on a perfect October evening. "Lead on."

THE END