And the Winner Is...

By Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Ote’He copyright Mr. Freddy Andersson. Songmark & Songmark

Characters copyright Mr. Simon Barber. Used with permission.

“They have finished their final celebration” Ote’He reported to her teacher. “I believe that she will be gone before sunset. Will you at least send a message?”

Oharu looked up from the stone she was carving, taking a moment to brush stone chips off the rough cloth of her lavalava. “I am permitted no contact” she reminded her student. “In truth, the best message I could send to her is none. In such I show that I have accepted. That she has no reason to care anymore. Her life will continue. My life will continue. Ote’He. With the Gods help I have moved away from her as far as I ever can. Do not ask me to step towards her. Not again.”

“I do not understand Sensi” the young badger agreed. “You love her so much. Yet...” She stopped arguing, understanding that in this subject there was no possibility of winning even an inch. Great Mother Saimmi had spoken, Honored Mother Oharu had listened. Even the Gods had intervened. For a young daughter, one still not a priestess it was not her place to argue. She did not even fully understand her own sister in this matter. Perhaps in the years to come she would have an argument that one or both would listen to. At this moment she hadn’t the understanding. For her the world of love was still black and white. When she understood the greys, only then could she hope to present a valid argument. “The other?”

“I am still denied any contact Ote’He. With any Songmark student, faculty or alumni. This though ends tomorrow at sunrise song. Then.” She reached behind her, taking out a small envelope from her ever present sketch book. “Would you be so kind as to give this to Belle? Should she still be available.”

Accepting the envelope Ote’He smiled. “You have made a choice?”

“I have. It is her decision as to what occurs. Now I must return to my work.” She pointed at the standing stone below her. “He wishes this place repaired. It will take all a long life to do so. It is my hope that I will have the time required.” A smile crossed the mouse’s lips. “Between this and Huakava’s great work my days will be filled forever. Now go, Tehepoa has come to visit. I know how much you have missed him.” Returning to her work Oharu smiled again, this time at the sound of her students cry of glee. It was truth, the two could not be separated. As she worked Oharu remembered her time on Sacred Island. Her time when all things had truly changed.

It had been early morning when she had stepped upon Sacred Islands shore once again. Well before Sunrise song and alone she had stood upon those ancient stones. She was alone as was requited by both ritual and law. “I will wait Honored Mother” the wolf had offered after Oharu had stepped from his water taxi. “You will be accepted. I believe this.”

“I have already been accepted” the mouse reminded her odd friend. She glanced at the freshly shined brass Tiki on the small ships bow. “As you are aware. Else that metal would not now ornament your proud ship. We are both aware that you cannot wait. It is forbidden. Nor is it safe for either of us that you do so.” She held tighter to herself the book Malou had brought from her homeland. A book she had never opened, though it was certain that Saimmi had. “Great Mother Saimmi has told me that I will be here more than the standard day. Perhaps two days, even a week. You cannot wait that long. Besides your wife would think that I am trying to take you away from her.”

The wolf laughed, reaching to release a rope that held his water taxi to the ancient stone dock. “You Honored Mother? Of all on these lands my love has no worry that you would be a threat to her marriage. She knows your true path. Then when I am told I will return. Fair well Honored Mother.”

Oharu watched as the water taxi backed away, turning smartly for its return trip to South Island. Or Eastern, or even Main. Where the wolf went when she did not need him was none of her concern. How he knew when she would need him, where to be she could be found the mouse could not fathom. Turning her back on the other islands Oharu walked up the crumbling stone piers dry surface, making her way to the place where Huakava awaited her. Huakava, and unknown uncounted others who’s spirits might or might not remain here. Sunrise rose as she approached the ancient ruins. A first touch of warmth that moment drew from her unbidden the Sunrise Song. How long between each singing occurred here the mouse could not know, yet it felt right as her rough voice rose to meet the morning light. She finished the song as her foot stepped off the last stone onto land.

“Welcome child” a voice announced. Wither it was spoken to her ears or only her mind she could not tell. Nor wither it was a male or female voice. For no figure stepped out to greet her, no flickering paw bid her further. So she moved further inland, until finally she came to that great stone door last closed after Huakava’s body had been laid to rest.

“She is not here” that sexless voice answered her thoughts. “As with all, she has passed beyond or been reborn as was her choice. There are no ghosts upon these lands to cause fear among the living.” There was a short pause during which Oharu felt that she was being examined. “So many weights you still carry. Leave behind all that is worldly. Only then may you bring your book and enter with welcome. Your weights though. These must be attended too. You will leave without many of them.”

Setting her burden aside Oharu followed the voices instructions, soon standing before that door clad only in the fur nature had granted her. As she picked up that book Nikki’s wife Malou had brought to Spontoon a soft grating reached her ears. Before her that stone doorway opened easily, if not quite slower than she would have liked. Being in nothing but her fur was uncomfortable, even though no mortal eyes were able to view her nakedness. In truth she was shamed to be so in the open. Shamed that her scarred back should be shown in public in such a holy place. Still without further thought she entered the structure, to have that door close behind her. Yet she was not in the dark, for though strange in shape to her eyes carved crystals glowed with a soft ivory light. Light that left no shadow, light that burned coldly and with no flickering.

“Our library is below. Ninth door to your right child. There you may leave forever your written burden. Afterwards return here.”

Again she followed that voices instructions. Soon she found herself standing in a room filled with ancient statues, rolled scrolls, books and things her mind could not quite classify. Each and every item though looked as new as the day it had been created, or at least she felt it did. Finding a place she laid the book down, noticing at once that its constant apparent movement almost instantly quieted. Looking around her Oharu shivered. So much knowledge. To learn such, that thought built a fire within her. For a few minutes she looked about her noting everything, yet far to well trained to touch anything even though her soul burned to know. To learn. With a deep sigh of regret the mouse turned her back on that room, soon returning to where she had been instructed.

“You have done well child. There is nothing within that room that your mind would understand yet, for it is all of the ancient world. Even your sister cannot understand but a few pages of that book. Enough to know what it is, what it will one day do to this world. Now walk the left corridor to its end. We await you there.”

‘We’ the mouse thought. ‘Of course We.’ Stepping forward she made her way to a large chamber. She had been here once before, watching silently as Huakava’s body had been laid to rest. Now about her were the small stone containers that held every High Priestess’s ashes since the breaking. This place though was not only for women, for at least a dozen male names were carved into stones as well. This was the resting place of all those who helped guide Spontoons people through the ages, and there were so very many places yet available. Saimmi had once told Oharu that there was a greater chamber, one where ashes of simple priests and priestess lay. There one day her own ashes would be laid to rest, should she prove worthy. Here though were the great ones. Here too were the ones brought out of Krupmark’s unholy place. Here one day she would help lay Saimmi’s body, if she lived long enough.

Abruptly Oharu found herself in another place. Again she was in the spirit world, though this time in body. Not simply soul. It was a shocking transition as for a brief instant she had felt cold like no other burn her bones before it was over. Looking about her she found herself in a pleasant landscape, yet different enough to constantly remind her that she was no longer upon the mortal plain. Two figures advanced from the mists. One male, one female though she could not make out their species, for their forms shifted as they moved. Again she could not tell if they were simply spirits, messengers of the Gods or Gods themselves.

“Please sit child” the male offered, again a stone lifting from the ground as he spoke. Sitting the mouse awaited mutely for whatever would come next. “You surprise us. No reminding us that you have already been accepted?”

“You are already aware of this Great Ones” Oharu answered. “To remind you of what you know would be childish.”

“And you are no child” the female asked.

“In all things I am as a child to your own knowledge, your own experiences, your own abilities. I will be learning until my last breath.” Oharu admitted. “Yet still be as a child to you.”

Both seemed to look past Oharu. It was with great effort that she did not turn to see what they were looking at. “Your last breath” the male repeated. “Turn to see what and when that will be.”

“Thank you Great Ones for such an offer. Yet I prefer it to be a surprise.”

“Yes, He was correct to accept you” the female admitted. “You are aware than no living thing stays upon these lands after Sunset Song unchanged?”

“I am aware” Oharu admitted. Her tail though betrayed her as it moved in a nervous twitch.

“Fear not” the male laughed. “What was done to Kansas Smith will not be done to you. You are aware that she will soon find a way to regain her original form?”

“I had hoped so” Oharu admitted. “Though I would have liked to have known the Smith who should have been, not the Smith twisted by her mother.”

“Perhaps in another life you will” the female agreed. “Though if she retains your gift or rejects it is still to be seen. Her mind is a difficult thing to follow, even for we. For not only is she not of our ways, she is unstable. Always desiring to please her mother, yet at the same time horrified by her mothers actions. Her soul is twisted by this in so many ways as to be pure chaos, changing moment to moment. You were correct. Had her father nurtured her she would have been much different. Yet such choices are left to mortals, though there are times we wish they were not. In her future we do not look, for it was with amusement that we watched your unique manner of removing that threat. Even we wish to be surprised when she stands before that dark crystal to make her choice. Will she turn to full darkness, regain her old form. Or will she turn away for that darkness. Accepting your gift for what it is. Still she will be the Smith you know now we think. That cannot be so easily changed. Will she become your greatest enemy or your friend in her own strange way. These things we look forward to discovering. This is of interest to us. Rarely does one bring such entertainment to our existence. And yes dear child, we do wager on the outcome of certain things.”

‘Gods’ Oharu decided at those words.

“But of course. Only we may change what is fully. Child. There are pains you carry, burdens you hold that will forever keep you from being the Priestess we need. If not corrected. Spontoon needs you differently than you are now. It is true that Saimmi needs you as a shield for her warriors. Do you accept this, knowing that to be such will eventually mean your death?”

Oharu fidgeted. It was one thing to speak freely with the spirit of Great Stone Glen. It was another to simply face Gods. A stray though, a wrong decision would be disastrous. Still her Shinto Temple training came to her rescue. ‘Be truthful in all things, no matter the pain.’ “All mortal things perish” she answered softly in her ruined voice. “Nor would I wish to be immortal. Thus death is an inevitability none may avoid. Though I admit that it is my desire to die of old age in my own bed. To die protecting others, that also is a good death. Yes, I accept this fully. Knowing that to save them one day I may fall.”

“An honorable death” the male corrected. “Your choices show you are most honorable child. Do not ever think again that you are not. Still to be this shield there are things about you that must be changed. Will you accept these changes, not knowing in advance what they may be?”

‘To accept.’ Oharu swallowed, abruptly knowing true fear in her heart. They had already told her that what she had done to Kansas Smith would not be done to her, but that had simply been a change in form. From what a mothers bitter milk had starved to what a God had truly intended. A simple change. Standing she walked towards the two, finally stopping only an arms distance away. They could turn her male, change her species, make her unworldly. Anything was possible with a God. Kneeling she lowered her head. “I am yours to change as you need” she answered, though the decision sent alarms of fear through both mind and body.

“She fears” the female noted to her companion. “This is good. It shows that this child is fully aware of what can occur to her. Return to your stone child, no darkness will touch you this day. Your heart has been reduced to ash. This we cannot allow to continue. You must know love, must have a life companion to serve these lands fully. You love yes. Foolishly, yet again this was a choice of mortals. You must have love in return. For having love will bind you further to this land. Knowing this, you will understand this change. For she whom your heart even in its ashes yearns for will never return such. To be the Shield your sister needs you must receive love as well. Still I shall not remove from you your love of the doe, I will though heal your heart. You must then open it to another, for a life alone is not your fate. Not in this life nor any other we can as yet see. Your soul is such that it cannot survive such.”

A warmth filled Oharu’s chest as she sat again upon that stone. Within her chest she felt as though some great fire had built within her, yet it was only warmth. For a time this warmth continued, then slowly faded. As it faded Oharu felt a difference within herself. She still loved Molly yes. She would always love her. But now there was an emptiness within her. An emptiness that filled even as she thought of it. Looking within herself she found that the rotted place that had once held her nightmares was healed. Her heat held the doe Molly still, but by less than half did the doe now fill that space. “I will always love her” she whispered.

“Of course” the male agreed. “Ones first love is always ones strongest. Now she is your past. She is part of you yet she no longer rules your soul. Child, we had hoped that Annette would fill your heart. She was the one chosen for you yet it could not be. Now she has moved on. Think of all those you know. Tell us, had you a choice, which would you allow within your heart now. Which of all you know presses hardest now to enter your heart. Find her, see her. Open your heart too her. For she is your future.”

Images passed through the mouse’s mind as she remembered all those closest to her. Images studied, voices remembered, events, conversations, often scent and touches as well. Ada. For a moment the canine seemed to smile to Oharu. Then she turned to take the Svedish feline Angelica within her arms. If not Ada then... “Her” the mouse decided as arms reached out toward her. “We are friends, she has shown interest many times. In truth, yes. I could do no better. I could do much worse. Should she accept her heart I would allow to touch my own.”

“This you will have to discover child” the female admitted. “Though in truth her heart has long been open to you. Still only she may make that final commitment. We have learned you will not accept one who has not freely given herself. Your choice though must be soon, for time is not with you anymore. When you leave this place you will be fully educated as are all who come here. Thus does this weight slip from your shoulders child.”

“Your body has been harmed” the male observed. “It is a harming the such that was never meant for you. It is a harming of such no woman should carry. Such a harm is an anchor to your soul. It will hold you back forever if not healed. Thus I shall heal you.”

Again a warmth filled Oharu’s body, but lower down. Much lower down. At the realization of what must be occurring struck her Oharu’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you” she gasped after that second warmth passed.

“You must leave children to our people child” the female explained. “Your soul passes from family member to family member. Thus you must be able to have children. To do so was impossible before. Now. Now you shall have those children you so desire. Child. You were sent to us in full condition. Those who even now you cannot hate caused so much damage. This was not intended for you. You have done nothing to deserve such. Still by our own laws we may only make three changes, for you are not High Priestess. Two we chose, the third we allow to be your choice. Now a third change. There are many injuries to your body child. Choose which you would have removed.”

“My voice” Oharu answered almost instant. “I would have my true voice again.”

“Of all things” the male asked. “Your fear of the ocean, your ruined back, your once graceful face. Of all these you choose your voice? Know child that in your older days, should you have them, your back will pain you greatly. Know also that mark upon your throat will remain.”

“I know Great Ones. Yet my voice. To sing again in the pure tones. To not have children pull away when I speak, or pitying looks. Most importantly to be able to speak the rituals without constantly correcting myself. It is what I choose.”

“Then it shall be done child” the woman answered. Again for a third time Oharu felt that warmth. When this time it passed she felt her breathing ease. Her breathing no longer sounded as two bits of paper crossing each other, her throat seemed more open. So to was the constant pain of her throat gone. So much granted her. Then her duty ahead would be heavy. So be it. For such gifts were dreams she had once taken as nightmares.

“Before you” the male continued. “Comes that darkness you well know. Understand this child. Though there are many paths still available to you when entering that darkness. Only three result in your survival. On one path your heart carries one through to be with you for the rest of this life. The other you step through alone. But I warn you child, there is a shadow third path that may become solid. This path leads you to great difficulty, great pain. It is not a path you should expect to follow, for along it you must be the cause many deaths. We can see within your soul that this path would cause you great pain for the rest of your life. Now our time for today is done. Tomorrow we will begin instructing you.”

“Sleep child” both ordered. “For it is well past Sunset Song” the female continued. “It will be days before you finally return home where your sister awaits you. Remember this though. Only those who so serve our children as you and your sister are so many times gifted. Do not think to stand above others, for they serve as best they can. For gifts may be withdrawn, should the cause be needed.”

Then she was again in the mortal chamber. Past Sunset Song? So much time had passed yet it felt as though only minutes. Still her body was now exhausted. Laying on the strangely warm stone floor Oharu tried to sleep. So many changes to her. She knew that her life would be spent repaying those Gods for their gifts. Yet she could never have asked for greater ones. More importantly, even without them she would serve just as fully as she would with them.

When Oharu awoke food and water awaited her. Plain food to be sure. Simple fruits, a paw full of nuts. Cool water. When nature spoke she found that the stone door was already open. After returning it closed again behind her. Again she found herself before those two. Again the stone rose for her to sit. “This” the male started. “Is our lands before the Great Mistake. We warned them. Yet in their great knowledge they thought themselves all knowing. Look before you at what once was.”

Before Oharu an image of Spontoon came into being. Had she known what she was looking at the mouse would have called it a full color topographical map. Her short return to education had not reached yet that point. As she studied what was before her the map turned slowly. “Moon Island has changed” she noted. “I was aware that the waterfall had moved, but that Eastern Island is only half what it once was? South Island is shorter and there are many small islands shown that no longer exist.”

“Such was the cost of their failure” that male voice answered. As Oharu watched the map changed, before her eyes it became what she knew of today. “It can never again be as it was. Such was the madness released upon that day.”

“How many” Oharu asked, her soul shocked by what had been shown her.

“Died?” the female asked. “All but less than two hundred. Those all one the Southern most point of Main Island. They survived only because they took instant action. Of all who were. Of all who could have been. Less than two hundred survived to carry this warning, their culture to your future. Of all the priests and priestess only one priestess survived. For she was tending an ill child that day. All others died in the actual event, or while trying to slow or record it. For no mortal could have stopped that destruction.”

“How much will you allow me to remember” the mouse asked suddenly.

“Very little” the male answered. “Consciously. As with all your sisters. You are not High Priestess. Upon your mortal shoulders is not the great weight of full knowledge. Though she calls you sister and secretly claims you as her second not even she may remember fully. I am afraid child that as trained as you are, as powerful as you are and will one day be, mortals are simply to weak to survive such a weight of pain without falling fully into madness. Even your sister remembers little more than you will. For such a weight of death will always crush a single soul.”

“Amelia. Helen, Saffarina?”

“Have their place. They too will be taught. They too will not remember. Now we will speak of the nine anchors...”

Again Oharu slept upon that cold stone floor, yet to her exhausted body it felt as soft as any bed she had ever laid upon. When waking food awaited her again, as did the open stone doorway. Though to her mind only a few hours passed at each meeting it was certain that a day had passed. As to the why, this took three days for her to realize. She was being taught what she should have known had she been born upon these islands. Though her year of hard study had given her enough to stand against the fragment, it was just enough. To her was being given the knowledge that she would have had, should she have been born to Spontoon. That and more, for within her mind now she knew how Great Stone Glen had once looked. How Sacred Island had once looked. How and where all the nine anchors had been. It was knowledge she would not consciously remember, still it would be available when she needed it. Should she need it. When she realized where the male shrine on Moon Island was located she almost laughed. How would the military react, when finally it realized that it had built its modern mess hall directly over those ruins. And still the days went by, still she learned more and more until finally on the seventh day that door did not remain open, but closed behind her when she answered nature.

Her time on Sacred Island was over. Oharu could only hope that she had learned all that had been shown her. Almost she forgot to take her lavalava cloth. Only after walking several hundred feet down the path did she remember it. Embarrassment caused her to blush. Had her fur been thin enough it would be obvious that blush had reached to her breasts. Even as she dressed the mouse wondered at her ability to so easily forget her state of undress. Yet even as she walked back down towards the shore Oharu realized something else had changed about her. Her clothing felt restrictive, cumbersome. How long would such a change take she thought. Months, years? Exactly how long had she remained in that other world. Though only seven days had passed in her mortal world, how long had truly passed in that place of the Gods? Perhaps she would never know, for even as she walked those memories of her teaching passed from her mind. By the time she reached the waiting water taxi Oharu had consciously forgotten almost all she had been shown.

“Great Mother spent nine days” her wolf companion informed her as Oharu sat in her accustomed place.

“Great Mother was taught more than I” Oharu replied, abruptly reaching up to place both paws at her throat. Her voice was back. Her voice from before the hanging. These were the first words that she had spoken in the mortal world and their sound was a shock to her ears. Her companion though remained silent. For he and his kind had seen, had heard greater changes than a voice being returned to sweetness. She could sing again. Sing as she loved to sing. Not croak like some beaten frog. Yet for the rest of their voyage Oharu remained silent. Fearful that her voice would return to that harsh sound she had lived with for over a year.

Two days later within the confines of that school known as Songmark two young women were working. Their dorm had made a surprise profit from selling Carmen’s unique design of waterproof clothing along with the new portfolio. Around them were weekly bags of letters, many holding offers of marriage from various furs. Those had been tossed aside in the most part, though Carmen had kept some of the interesting ones. Those Belle and her classmates had noted always held photographs. At the moment though both Belle and Carmen were ‘home’ while there two roommates were off. Ada to South Island and probably her last days with Angelica. Prudence to, well wherever a private place could be found for Prudence and her native hyena love. Supposable the two were setting accounts straight, this being the last free day until their graduation or absolute failure next week. Instead the rabbit found herself staring out the rooms single window towards Main Island instead of tallying numbers.

“I still available” the anteater offered. “We both know she cursed of heart. You have no choice.”

“She’s just rather cute” the Southern rabbit answered. “A friend, nothin more.”

Carmen laughed, though it was a soft laugh. “You never act this way about girl ever before. Belle Lapinssen you are many things. My good friend. Companion. Can trust. But this time you are great fool. Go to her. Now. I finish with numbers.”

Belle shook her head no, turning back to the work before her. “She’s on Scared Island going through her own testing. What can I do? Kill Molly? Oh sometimes ahd just love to wring that little mad doe’s neck. It’d just make Oharu hate me. Until Molly is outta her heart I’ve no chance. But we did have us one wild fling before third term started. Oh will that be something tah remember in mah old age. Why girl. She wore me out. Completely.”

Carmen had the decency to blush, though her long tongue did flicker out as though to test the air. “I am still available” the anteater reminded her friend. “I will not exhaust you. Often.”

Belle laughed while picking up her pen. “Hon. You an I are friends. We will be friends until we die. But nothing more. Now where are we?”

“On Spontoon, hoping we pass Songmarks final year.” Belle just laughed. She was, Carmen noted, back in a good mood. That was important.

Late that evening Oharu stepped into Great Stone Glen for the first time in over a week. She had remained on South Island these last two days, learning to live in the mortal world again. She found that the Glen was as clean as she had left it, though a door of sorts had been fitted on her small hut and the window shutters were down. Stepping in she senses more than scented the feline awaiting her. “Great Mother” she said in greeting.

“Has been waiting some time” Saimmi answered as she stepped from behind Oharu’s hut, fresh reeds in her arms. “I have been repairing your hut my sister. A limb fell and damaged it. Your voice has been returned to you. What else?”

Walking down to where her superior waited her Oharu bowed as was her norm. Then carefully she reported what had been given her. “Yet I remember little of the time” she admitted. “I am aware I know many things, still I cannot remember them.”

“Nor do I. Until I need the knowledge” Saimmi admitted. “Then it is there for my use. I too was gifted, yet I think I shall keep secret those gifts. Selfish of me don’t you think my sister?”

Oharu smiled, reaching out to take the reads from the felines arms. “No sister I do not. You must know everyone of your priestess’s to the depth of their soul. Yet you must remain a mystery to us, lest we take you for granted. My students?”

“They are off tending shrines of course. I have asked that they visit their village and not return until after tomorrows sunrise song. You and I. We must talk and that talk must be serious.”

Setting aside the reeds Oharu turned for her water bottle, only to find it filled with fresh water. “I..”

“It is my turn to supply the water. Now we must talk.” Saimmi sat on a log set up for the purpose. “For I have work for you. I have duties you must accept. Most importantly my true and much loved sister, I must know what you are now.

Accepting the situation Oharu settled down on the same log. “Shall I pour” she asked.

That had been over a week ago. Now all things were coming to an ending. Oharu now sat in her hut waiting a special visitor while drawing randomly in her book. Molly had been offered Spontoon citizenship. Had she taken it or not Oharu did not yet know. Molly was not her future but her past, for though she still loved her. Would always love her, an ending had been reached. They would never even be friends, of this the mouse was as certain as she could be. Prudence’s dorm had applied to start a business on Spontoon though in truth it would only be their base of operations. Those four would be much trouble for certain people in the future, Oharu was also certain of that. Amelia’s dorm was returning to Europe. Tatiana had managed passports for the four and Tatiana herself would be leaving for her honeymoon in Hawaii within three days. Millicent would never be fully cured, Oharu knew that deep in her soul. Still her needs had been anchored onto Tatiana. As long as her adopted daughter accepted her burden the English feline would live a happy life. Then there was Angelica. For the very first time Oharu thanked the Gods that Angelica was not her burden.

A sound came from the entryway. Looking up from her drawing Oharu saw who was coming. “Please sit” she called from inside her hut. “I must finish this.”

Belle Lapinssen was caught by surprise. “I expected to meet with Oharu” she explained. “Is she not available now?” For Belle had not heard Oharu’s returned voice.

“She is. She will come soon. I am to ask. Have you have decided?”

“Has she?”

Oharu smiled to herself, though Belle could not see her from the sitting place. “She has. Molly is her past. She moves on now. For there is much work yet for her.”

Belle settled down, looking around her. If it hadn’t been for the sweet voice she would have thought her hostess was Oharu. That couldn’t be, for even in their closest moments last year the mouse’s voice had sounded like sandpaper over metal. “I am in love with her” she admitted. “If it wasn’t for Molly I would ask... No, it isn’t my place to ask for that.”

“Yet you wear best Songmark uniform” Oharu noted.

“Showin off. I passed. All four of us passed though Ada almost failed. Too much worrying about Angelica. Poor girl. She loves that feline even though, like Oharu and Molly there isn’t ah future. Least those two are still close friends. Even when that curse isn’t on her.” Picking up the water bottle Belle noted that it was freshly filled. Silently she poured herself a drink. Water was life and not one Spontoon trained girl would pass up a drink of water when she carried none of her own.

It was time the mouse decided. She prepared to stand, setting her now closed sketchbook aside. “So. If asked by Oharu. You would marry her?”

“Would? Yes, in ahn instant. Forever. Though I would hafta wait a year what with the tailfast ritual.”

Standing Oharu made her way to the closed door of her hut. Pushing it open, wearing her best kimono she looked down at the shocked rabbit from her vantage point. “Belle. I am Shinto. Urako is Shinto Priestess. Now that her Priest has passed to the next life. She awaits on Casino Island to marry us. If you will accept my offer of love. Though I serve Spontoon gladly there is no tailfast ritual between us” she announced.

The sound of a wooden cup shattering against stone as the rabbit ran towards her was her answer.