Chapter 2 (Illustration 2)

A/N: Welcome back. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and remember that there is a link to the illustration for this chapter on my bio. Please remember to read and review. And, as always
Keep on Reading
-ToAC

It was midwinter, a year after the final battle with the soul eaters, and a blizzard was howling, covering the entire landscape with a clearing in the forest, two figures were huddled closely together in a small shelter, trying to keep warm. The smaller woman shivered. Sensing this, the larger man took off one of his many layers of clothing, and wrapped it around his shivering partner
"Are you sure, Torak?" Asked the woman
"You need it more than I do, Renn" Replied Torak. The pair remained huddled together until the snow stopped. The two stepped out of their shelter and looked around. The blizzard had left a thick layer of snow, covering every single surface. Every tree and rock was covered with white frost. Every single step the pair took crunched.

Torak watched as Renn looked around, wonder in her eyes. Wolf trotted over to the man and nudged him on the leg. Torak reached down and patted the grey animal on the head. Walking over to a fallen log, Torak brushed it off and sat himself down. He watched with admiration. Wolf was running with Darkfur and Pebble, chasing after Rip and Rek playfully. He watched Renn laughing at the scene, and smiled. He cared for her so much.

Six months before, when he was off hunting with the Raven clan's hunters, one of the men had asked him about his feelings. After Torak explained them, the older man just smiled and said that Torak and Renn were soul-mates, two people destined for each other. This had shocked Torak and he was unsure on what to think about it. However, now, watching the flame-haired girl laugh at the magical scene in front of the pair, he understood. The pair had been through so much, and all the way through, they had been together. From bringing the Nanuak to the mountain of the world spirit back when they were in their twelfth year, to defeating Eostra the year before.

Torak was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't Renn sit down next to him until she lightly punched him in the arm. This snapped him out of his daze.
"Care to share your thoughts?" Asked Renn
"Just thinking about how much has happened since we met" Said Torak
"There's a lot, isn't it?" Responded Renn

Torak made a decision there and then. He took Renn by the hand, and lead her to the middle of the clearing
"Renn, six moons ago, when we were with the ravens, one of the older men told me something, and It has been in my mind since then. So, I have a question for you. Renn, will you be my mate?" asked Torak
Renn was shocked by this. Not by the question, but by the forwardness of the question
"Yes, Torak." Answered Renn. Torak didn't notice at first
"I mean it's alright if you say no- wait, what?" said Torak
"Yes, Torak, that's my answer" Responded Renn
Torak pulled Renn into a tight hug. Due to their height difference, the hug lifted Renn off the ground. The three wolves howled in joy, responding to the couple.

Torak and Renn had the official ceremony of the wedding marks, and blessings done when they were next in the raven camp. Before the ceremony, the pair was separated and prepared, with the female elders dressing Renn in a dress with raven feathers on the shoulders. Meanwhile, Torak had the tradition of asking the father's permission, which in this case was Fin-Keddin, as he was Renn's guardian. Fin-Keddin agreed, and he added that Torak had had his permission since he and Renn had left the clan the year before. This made Torak smile. The pair were brought out to the main clearing of the camp. All the clan were assembled, and the ceremony began. The first stage of the ceremony was the pair's souls being bound together by Dark, which involved marks being tattooed onto the right arm of both Torak and Renn. The next stage of the ceremony was the vows, which had both promise to care for the other, for Torak to provide for Renn if and when she is with child, and for them to remain together until death. Both completed their vows, and the ceremony was complete. That night, there was a large party. There was a large feast, celebrating the new mates. The pair laughed as they talked to the other adults in the clan. They were given a few gifts, including a new bow for Renn, and various items meant to bring happiness. The clan had even made a separate shelter for the new couple so they could have some privacy. The partying continued late into the night, and every member was happy. The new couple decided to stay with the clan for a while, at least until the end of the next moon. After the moon, the pair travelled back into the forest and continued to explore, until Renn was heavily with child and she could no longer hunt.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this. Please remember to read and review. And as always,
Keep on Reading
-ToAC