CHAPTER 15:MARIEL

I laugh as we dash around the back of the office. Karrass and I are avoiding Ajaht. I haven't seen him yet, but Karrass assures me that he is here. This is more fun than I have had in a long time.

>Just a little farther and we're out of here,> Karrass says behind me. I feel like a little girl again hiding from my parents when we really need to be somewhere. I feel so good that I slow down to a walk to give Karrass the chance to catch up with me. He's fast, but no half so nimble.

>Mariel!> I hear somebody call and I stop short. I look back and see Karrass stop short in the shadow of the last building, so I know it isn't him. Then to my horror, Ajaht walks up to me. >Where have you been? Everyone I know is looking for you. Did you not remember that we are to be married within the hour? I had almost given up on you. Let's go, it's not too late.>

He takes me by the arm and marches me out of the base. I can tell that he is furious, that he is just being nice for appearances. >When I get you to myself, your going to regret running from me,> he hisses privately to me. I blanch, but it really isn't noticeable. I look back at Karrass, hoping that he will help me, knowing that he can't.

It is unpleasant to say the least, walking all the way back home with Ajaht towing me. My reluctance makes my hooves slow and heavy and Ajaht practically drags me along.

When we reach the edge of my parents' meadow, my little brother sees us and runs back towards the scoop. >Mariel is home. Mother, Father! She's back home.>

>Not for long,> I say bleakly and Ajaht's grip tightens. >You're hurting me,> I protest.

>You should have thought about that sooner.>

My mother comes out to receive me and ushers Ajaht and me into the scoop. By now, he has let go of my arm and I can feel the blood pulsing back into it.

>Ajaht, tell your mother not to let the minister leave, that we will be there in a bit.>

After he leaves, I try to plead with my mother, but she will have none of it. >I have had enough. This is it. You are so lucky that we decided to wait until it was undeniable that you were gone to call off the wedding. Do you have any idea how your father and I would have looked in the face of your latest stunt? This is inexcusable, but there is nothing I can do about it now. Here is the tsian. Let me put it on you and we can get this over with before anything else goes wrong.>

I barely have time to breath before she pushes me out of the scoop and into the waiting transport. This can't be happening. It's too fast. No way were they making me go this now. I just got home. I am numb as I am handed into the transport and we speed off towards the gathering site. My father smiles beside me.

>Your mother is still angry, but she will forgive you for this. I've already forgiven you. I'm glad you came back,> my father pats my hand and I know that he loves me.

When we come to the matrimonial, I am enveloped by my female relatives and my soon to be relatives. The sheer volume of thought-speech chatter is giving me a headache. I need to be alone. I need to have a moment to breath. I feel hands touching me, smoothing my fur in places, correcting the setting of my tsian (it's like a flower wreath on my head). They all back away and sigh for the breath of fresh air.

But I don't get to enjoy it. The minister is calling for the bride and here's my father. I feel like I'm not really here, like this is not happening to me.

I take my father's arm and we start the bridal march. There is an eerie hush as I walk toward the screen. I look to my right and see my mother. She looks so proud. My knees start to buckle, but my father supports me and helps me forward. When he does this, I remember Karrass. Was it only this morning that he was helping me along in the same manner? I can almost hear him calling me.

Wait, I can hear him calling me. The master of the ceremony stops speaking and every head turns to looks toward the back of the gathering. Karrass is there. He is panting and looking at me desperately, imploringly, but I didn't here what he had said. He takes a deep breath, lets it out and addresses me for what appears to be a second time,

>Please, tell me and you will never have to see me again.>