Beginning
Celest
I stood crying as my mother angels body was set alight on her ceremonial funeral pyre, the sunset and the thunder clouds started to collect on the horizon as voices started to sing the hymn my mother had chosen for her funeral. Her death was so sudden and tragic as she was only 45-years old. My mother had been the current Empress of the Stewart family, the people from the local village referred to us as “The cult” or “That weird family” because we live in a family compound. The reason we live so isolated is to protect them as we are shifters, Main coon shifters.
As the funeral pyre died down with the singing of hymns I sigh and thought about my duties id be expected to take over, I knew that at some point the elders would call me to the comity to talk about it and I knew that they would want me to find a mate.
I looked around and almost everyone had left, the sun had set and It was threatening rain, my best friend fraya came over to me and hugged me tightly and as she pulled away she said “Cece, It is really time we find you a mate” I tied to interrupt but she continued on firmly “You know the elders will bring this up and it will be SO much more of an issue if you’re not seen as trying” I finally got a word in “No, I just can’t think of that know” I said in a rush almost starting to cry again. “Come on Cece, I’ll help you. I could set you up on a bind date” She said persuasively as she could. I signed and gave her a pained look “Sweetie no, I love you but please, No”.
“I give up” Fraya said Bouncing on tip toes and flapping her arms and she flounced off. As I watched Fraya walk away my Aunt Carmen came over to me, she was quietly weeping and dabbing at her dry eyes holding her head regally high and gave me a tentative hug. She said trough (fake) sobs “Well, that was more beautiful than I thought, I can’t believe she’s gone” And she rushed off. I stood feeling Stunned and like an ice-pick had been shoved in my back “bitch” I mumbled under my breath, her son made eye contact and shook his head and rolled his eyes in solidarity. We both knew that she was sore that she did not get to be empress when her sister passed, there was even whispers that my mother death had been her fault, but I doubted it.
Feeling exhausted it started to follow the last couple of stragglers to the Big house for the wake before the rain could start, Fraya rushed up to me as I stepped through the door and blurted “The elders, you need to go see the elders right know!” “Oh, shit” I said angerly and loudly then rubbed my eyes and Said “Thanks fraya” “Your welcome” she returned as I left and made my way to the Elders council rooms.
When I arrived at the Elders rooms I knocked Hearing voices and entered sat around a large table was nine of the elders and an empty chair, I sat and greeted them all. They all looked at the head Elder Granma Dot, Dot spoke “We are so sorry for your loss, our empress Angle has left us So soon” she looked wistful for a few moments and then clapped her hands together looking business like (for a white haired, wizened old lady) and continued speaking “ The reason for use calling you here so soon is because we need to talk to you about stepping up as our Empress and your needing to find a mate” “But Grandma Dot” I cut in, She kindly let me continue with a sharp look “ I have met every eligible male in our family that not blood and in the neighbouring village but I not felt the spark you spoke off” I continued with a sigh.
Grandma Dot gave me kind smile and replied softly “We have agreed to give you 3 month to leave the family and travel to see if you can find a mate, during this time your Aunt Carmen will look after the family with our supervision” I sighed deeply and thought ( Oh great) but said “Okay grandma sounds good” With that the Rain started To pour.
