Silver Kitsune Clan 03

Mari blinked and then blushed. "Sorry and I have to admit I had to wonder what it would be like to take you to bed." She blushed even more with that admission. "Um, I shave. I prefer it smooth and for some reason so does Geoff. Why? Don't any of you shave?"

*And you wonder why I was so ticked with mother when she sent me down to Dan's?* Geoff said to her over the mating bonds.

Mari had to snicker when he said that. Now she could understand why he was so upset with his mother. She could feel the draw of Rissa's body even though she was sort of mated with Geoff.

Gettie snickered. "I have to wonder as well and I don't normally get into girls and no, not that I know of. There might be some but once we start growing the fur we leave it alone, well maybe tidy it but shave? No." She traded looks with Rissa and both shrugged.

"Hun, how interesting, is it really fur and not hair? It looks so soft." She was really itching to touch it and see. Geoff's was softer than the other men but not as soft as theirs looked.

Rissa grinned. "It is. I take it you have actual hair and not fur? If you are gentle you can lightly touch it but no playing." She started laughing when she said that and watched Mari blush.

She moved forward and using the back of one finger stroked and couldn't help but grin. "'Wow, that is really soft. When she stood up she shrugged. "Even if I did have fur down stairs it is still far more coarse than your fur. The only real difference would be it would be straight and not curly." Before she could do anything else she squeaked when Gettie lightly stroked her groin. "Hey, ask first darn it." She snickered though.

"That feels really different. I wonder..." She was wondering what it would be like to shave though you would have to be careful down there. As she was thinking she slipped into the water and sighed.

When they hit the springs she stripped down and dunked a toe in and nodded; it wasn't going to be too hot for her babies. Once she was sure she slipped into the water and sighed. "Oh my, that feels good."

The rest of the morning was spent talking about boys, girls, fashion, and all the other things that women talked about. Mari discovered she was the youngest by a fair amount of the three of them. Gettie was over 40 and Rissa was over 30. That made her feel a bit wet behind the ears, but they were getting along quite well.

~~~

The previous week had been hectic for Mari. That first day hadn't been too bad since after lunch much of it had been talking to various people setting up schedules for computer training. Training needed for the counsel introduction, time for her to read the binder Jake had given her and a few more things. The following day she hit the floor running and didn't stop until early evening. Even after dinner she had to do some studying. From what she understood, the introduction to the counsel was when she really was going to begin to be Geoff's mate.

Right now she was his future mate, once the council gave their stamp of approval she would be his mate-apparent and once they actually held the mating ceremony in six months then she would officially be his mate. It all sounded rather stupid since if they gave her wolf any crap she would take him as her mate and they could go to hell. First off in the morning she would be bathed and then dressed in her formal gown. Once that was done she would be taken to the spirit house and introduced to the spirits and they would hopefully give their stamp of approval.

If that happened then she would go in front of the council for their approval. Very rarely would they try and disapprove the mating if the clan leader approved. From some veiled comments she had caught there was one particular councilor that was going to be a pain in the ass. Now whether that was because she was a lycan or because of Geoff she didn't know and didn't want to ask.

By the end of the week that she had been there she was about ready to go and find a hole to hide in. What was really bad was she had gotten stressed enough to go to the training building and started working on the exercises that she had been taught to work her anger and frustration off. Gettie had been really helpful but both were learning their jobs and that was adding stress. Thankfully Sheliae had taken Gettie under her wing to help teach her the ropes of being an assistant.

When she had gone to the gym, she had been noticed and finally one of the trainers had come over and started working with her. She was small and petite but she could kick like a mule and he was having fun working with her. Granted he didn't tell her that and grumbled and grumped about silly women doing things they didn't need to but he kept working with her. "Who taught you girl?" He asked gruffly.

"Alpha Danilo Legarith sir." She grunted as he punched her in the ribs.

"Hmm, have to meet him one of these days and you need to watch your left side, your defense is weak there." He continued working with her till she had been there for a half hour. "Adequate. Maybe in twenty or thirty years you will be more than adequate."

~~~

The night before the actual ceremony Geoff took her away from everyone early and to their room. When she walked in the lights were down, the stereo was on low with some soft music and candles had been set up in a number of places giving a soft glow to everything. From the dining area wonderful smells could be scented and she sighed and leaned into him. "This looks and smells lovely Geoff." She leaned into him but tensed when he accidently touched one bruise the old man had left.

"Don't blame me; it was your assistant's idea. You have been working so hard this week and have been so worn out. I decided that we were taking tonight off and having a nice romantic dinner, a soak in the bath and a good rub down with some aromatic oils." He led her into the kitchen and Gettie was in there looking like she had the first night she had arrived.

Mari had to smile and gave her a good hug. "Thank you Gettie."

Geoff let her hug her for a few moments before gently taking her away and leading her over to the table and held her chair for her and then sat down himself. "I tried to remember some of your favorites from back at the clan house but then remembered how much you had enjoyed the salmon. Tonight is the flank and not steak cut."

Getty brought over the salad and smiled slightly. "For your wolf we added a bit of lightly fried bits of rabbit just so she is somewhat happy with the rabbit food." She lightly dressed their salads as requested before stepping back and letting them eat. She had already poured a cup of coffee for Geoff and tea for Mari.

Eventually the meal was over and Gettie cleared the table. "The bath water has been run and the salts you prefer have been added. The massage oils are in the warmer by the bed and a water proof sheet has been placed over it. Enjoy your evening and if you need anything please call me and don't hesitate." With a slight bow she took the tray away and closed the door behind her.

Inside Mari had to shake her head before being helped to her feet by Geoff. "I am feeling very special tonight thanks to both of you. I do love you Geoff. I know that I have some trust issues and it is hard for me to express my feelings but I do. You of all people I do trust even though I still am having a problem trusting men, or strange men." She leaned into his hug and nuzzled his chest.

"I understand Mari and mother as well. I think she had sort of an idea of how bad you had it growing up but didn't realize just how bad it had been. Dan was good for you and I am going to take what he started teaching you and finish the job however long it takes." He nuzzled her hair. "I love you too Mari. Thank you for even beginning to trust me."

The rest of the night went by quietly. He slowly made love to her and made sure she was completely satisfied before he took care of his needs.

The next morning early there was a knock on the door and his sisters as well as Gettie walked in. "Good morning and we are here to steal your future mate from you Lord Geoffrey." Gettie moved forward and snapped out a robe for her to put on so they could take her to the cleansing room.

Mari rolled out of bed and was glad she had put on her panties during the night and allowed Gettie to help her put the robe on. "I will see you later Geoffrey." Ana stayed behind to help him as well as well as his manservant who came in after the girls left. "Well time for you as well Geoff, Manfred is going to help get you clean and I am going to get out your formal robes and jewelry and chains that you are going to need."

Geoff stood up and grimaced. "Great, headache time." Manfred smiled slightly and led him to the bathroom. The cleansing was for Mari since she wasn't a Kitsune and needed to be purified before going to the spirit house. Geoff wasn't going to be going there since he was the clan heir and had already been accepted by them.

Mari was shown down the back stairs and lead to a quiet chamber that was octagonal and had heavily embroidered tapestries on the walls. The four main walls showed the four major phases of the moon and the four smaller walls showed the minor phases of the moon and various symbols that represented what they meant. The center of the floor was sunken and there was a drain at the center of it. At each of the major walls was a large steaming jug of scented water and at the minor walls were small jugs of oil.

Once inside Gettie took the robe off and Allie helped her remove the panties and directed her to the center of the room. While Gettie was putting the robe away Allie carefully pinned her masses of hair up on top of her head so it wouldn't get wet or oily. Once they were ready a quiet chanting could be heard coming from the sign of the new moon and Gettie collected the large jug of water at that wall and carried it over and handed it to Allie.

She carefully poured it over Mari's back and made sure that all of it was wet. The scent of jasmine arose around her. That was done during a slow 30 count. Once that was done, a lighter chanting could be heard from the minor wall next to it and Gettie gathered the small jug from it and handed it to Allie and she slowly poured scented oil over her back and legs and slowly worked it into her skin where it was quickly absorbed. When she worked it in she made sure not to miss any spots which Mari found slightly uncomfortable since it included her bottom.

The same went for the other three sets of water and oil. The second and third were for each side and the last was for her front. That was not comfortable for Mari either since her groin and breasts was well oiled as well. "Mari this is done under the sign of the full moon and is a wish for fertility which you have proven isn't a problem for you. It is also blessing future fertility and wishes for healthy kits." Allie murmured quietly as she was oiling her down.

Once they were done Gettie handed Allie a towel and she carefully dried any remaining oil off with the same attention to detail that she had rinsed her and oiled her. Once she was done Allie helped Mari back towards the door and had her step up on a low stool in front of a table that contained her garments for the day. Instead of panties there was a lightly embroidered cotton loincloth and thank god it was narrow where it went between her legs or it might have been uncomfortable.

That was secured by a silver chain that was heavy on her hips and had small gems on the dangling ends that hung down almost to her right knee. On top of that was a light over robe that was tied with a string on either side. The under robe hung down to her knees and was a thin silk that was a pale bone ivory color with a mint green embroidery around the edges and the short sleeves. Over that went a heavier over robe that was in her color of a light lilac that complimented her blackish purple hair. The over robe had symbols embroidered in Geoff's main color of antique silver. The over robe had a wide trim that was in a much darker purple that had symbols embroidered in Geoff's secondary silver green color.

Once that was done Allie and Gettie changed positions since she was taller and with Mari on the stool it would be hard for her to reach to braid her hair. The braid was sort of a fancy French braid at the top of her head but a more complex braid further down her back. Laced into it were going to be fine chains of silver that had tiny gems that most closely matched her colors. By the time all was said and done Mari felt like her hair had been pulled and plucked and with the silver it weighted heavy on her head.

"Normally we would have a braid for each of our tails. Since you will only have one tail in your life you will always have a single thick braid. When you look at Geoff you will see that he has three and his mother has nine." Gettie murmured to her. "Now we go to the spirit house to get their blessing. When we hear the tone we will start."

Gettie and Allie were both dressed up but much less elaborately than she was. When she looked at them she noticed each did have two braids and both had a heavy silver chain much like hers with a silver enameled pendant with the Silver Kitsune clan emblem on it. Gettie's wasn't as nice as either of the other two but it was still nicely done.

Moments later there was a low atonal gong sound and the girls formed up on either side of Mari as the door opened and they walked out of the room. They walked down the hall to a door that opened onto a pebble path that led to the spirit house. The air surrounding them was heavy with incense and traces of power. She led them down the path towards the spirit house and met the clan leaders at the stairs leading up to it.

Mari bowed down low to the clan leaders as did Gettie and Allie. Once they bowed back she stood back up and turned and slowly walked to the top of the stairs. Since she had soft shoes on, Gettie helped her off with one and Allie with the other. Once that was done, she clapped her hands to get the spirits' attention and bowed before slowly leading the others into the small building and up to the small altar.

She waited for the next gong and while she was waiting she could feel something in the house with them and it had her wolf's attention. She was sitting in her head and was close to the surface and she guessed her eyes were fairly light at the moment. If she had been her wolf she would be sitting there with her ears cocked as well as her head as she tried to hear something that was just on the edge of her hearing.

When the gong came, she clapped her hands again and bowed to the altar and then turned and picked out two pieces of joss. How many was optional and was up to what the person felt was necessary. In her case one was for Dan for his lost family and one was for Geoff and her new family. For Dan it was a heavy resinous incense but for Geoff it was a light almost vanilla scent though it was mixed in with a hint of cardamom.

She bowed to the altar again before sticking the sticks into the holders and struck the lighter and held it to the tip of the first. "Please bless my Alpha that he recovers from his loss." She murmured before going to the second one. "Please bless my future mate that he is a good leader and a great mate." She put the lighter out and set it down before stepping back and bowing a third time before standing and closing her eyes. Now the spirits would judge her and the blessings she had asked for.

As she stood there she felt swirls of power surrounding her and a slow tingling flowing over her. The power was building until it was at an apex and her wolf stood up and as the power surged her wolf lifted her head and howled. Little did Mari realize that she had lifted her head as well and howled. It was a light pleased sound and everyone who heard it couldn't help but smile. When Mari opened her eyes on the alter between the sticks of joss was what looked like a small wolfs tail and from where she was standing it looked like it also had traces of sparkling lights that resembled Geoff's colors.

Allie stepped forward and carefully picked it up and turned to Mari and carefully worked it into the thin braid of hair that was hanging down over her left temple. The beginning of the tail was about the top of her ear and hung down about six inches and it felt like it was made of fur. "Clan Leader Lord Geoffrey's future mate has been accepted by the spirits."

"Thank you Clan Leader's Daughter. Take the clan heir's future mate to the council chamber doors and wait for entrance." All of them turned about and filed out of the small house in opposite order till they were out and then Allie and Gettie took position behind her again after helping her get her soft shoes on.

Mari led them back in the door and through the halls till they reached the doors to the council chambers and she met Geoff there. He gave her a slight smile and then became more serious when there was the third gong and the doors swung open. Geoff held his arm out and she placed her hand inside his elbow and walked into the chamber.

Jake announced them in a stentorian voice. "Clan Heir Geoffrey Logan seeks admittance to introduce his future and intended Mate Submissive Lady Marissa Ryan of Pack Alucian." His voice rolled over the chamber in a mellow baritone.

"Admit Lord Geoffrey and his future and intended mate Lady Ryan." Alysson replied. She was sitting in a large and heavily engraved chair. Her husband was sitting in a slightly smaller chair next to her. She was dressed much as Mari was but in different colors and far more jewelry than she was wearing.

Geoff and Mari slowly strolled over to the desk and faced the clan leaders. "Lady Logan, Lord Logan I, clan heir Geoffrey Logan, seek permission to introduce and mate with Lady Marissa Ryan of Pack Alucian. I also seek to have her added to the clan roles as a clan member so that she and her offspring will always have the protection of the Silver Kitsune clan."

"Acknowledged Lord Geoffrey Logan." She turned to the assembled elders. "Does anyone decry the request of clan heir Geoffrey Logan?" Now came the fun part since her mother was definitely going to cause a ruckus.

Elder Harris stood up and called out. "I decry it and refuse to accept it. I challenge her for admittance to the clan."

Alysson started to respond but Geoffrey stopped her. "I will address Elder Harris." He turned and looked at her. "Before I allow my future and intended to accept I just wish to point out to the Elder that it has to be a challenge that my mate can handle. In this case that would be a challenge in the circle and my mate is a lycan. Does Elder Harris feel that she is of sufficient martial might to survive?"

That made her step back and Mari glowered at her and allowed her wolf to come to the front and her eyes changed. "I would be willing to allow Elder Harris any sort of edged weapon of her choice while I go in unarmed if she wishes." Geoff wasn't going to fight her battles for her damn it. That got another step back since there was more than a hint of threat there.

Geoff continued. "Since Elder Harris appears to have seen fit to choose not to challenge my future and intended I will offer her this, I will challenge her in the spirit house or she can quit the room and bother us no longer. If she accepts the challenge and wins then I will forgo the mating. If I win she will refute her elder status and retire to her estates and no longer broach the council unless she is bringing cause to it. If she chooses not to accept then she will withdraw the challenge to my mating." His voice and face were hard as rock.

The entire council room went silent as they waited to see what his grandmother was going to say. She was a seven tailed Kitsune which in theory meant she was far more powerful than Geoff. He was the clan heir and had been accepted by the spirits and that gave him the power of the entire clan as well as many of the spirits. Granted the spirits were fickle creatures but when the clan heir came to fight a challenge many of them would come to him and not the challenger unless there was a good reason.