It was not unexpected for her words to draw forth Auora, but Katja's silver eyes still closed briefly against the surge of unfamiliar fear. Auora's words washed over her... "I volunteered. I am ready to fulfill my destiny and take our concerns to the gods. Katja ... my dear little sister. From oasis of spirits I will watch over you. I will never leave your side again." Words spoken in norsk, a language few out of her family had bothered to learn beside their native German and the common tongue, let alone the strangers surrounding them. It lent a surreal air over the interaction, as though time had stopped just for them to speak. "Auora..." came the whisper of a word from her black marked jaw, but Auora spoke. "Now, let it happen." She ached at the words but her eyes, when they opened, were steadfast and accepting. "Let it be known that this woman, Au?ra Finnvi, has claimed this honor of her own free will. May the gods be pleased with her."
She licked away the blood on Auora's face, the ritual cleansing taking on a tone of tenderness, a last goodbye, that while hidden from the crowd would translate to the one wolf who knew her best. "Jeg elsker deg," she spoke softly, for Auora's ears alone for this was not part of the ritual. "Jeg vil se deg igjen n?r jeg bli med deg i Valhalla."
She pressed gently with her muzzle on Auora's shoulders, guiding the older woman. Auora obligingly tucked her feet beneath herself and reclined upon the raised earth, lifting her own muzzle as Katja's parted jaws touched her throat.
Time stopped then for Katja - like the very dust motes froze upon the air, the silver glow of the moon chilling the air. It was as though she had stepped out of her body, and was watching herself frozen there. Is this right? she cried to the full, listening moon. Yes, the breeze whispered back to her. The gods would not ask a thing if it was easy... She came back to herself in a rush. Auora would scold her as if she were a timid child, and rightly, to hesitate so. She gave no respect to her sister or their gods by delaying.
Her jaws closed over the big veins of the throat and felt the life-heat fill her tongue with an iron tang. She pulled back in a single swift motion to allow the offering to pour onto the stones. The light filled her eyes til they glowed silver as she raised her face to the moon, sending prayers winging along the light-path to the gods. Freyja, guide her and shelter her within your hall. Let all be joyous, for she would have it be so. Care for her. Love her as I do. This was not done in vain.
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