A King's Legacy
Chapter 15: Blood
Oust made his way directly to the riverbank after leaving behind the boy and the simple canine. The tiger stripped his dusty clothes, and stepped into the cooling stream, sipping at the water to help relieve his headache and dehydration. The feline gently bathed himself in the refreshing water, stripping the stale stench of alcohol from his fur. After he had finished, Oust rinsed and wrung out his clothes, and put them back on to cover as much of the orange tinted fur on his back as he could with the sleeveless tunic. The mighty tiger began making his way further up the stream, where the bear was waiting for him.
Sir Corper had long since finished with his meditation by that time in the late morning, but he had witnessed the confrontation between the tiger and the human earlier on his way to go hunt for some odd job. The bear himself had nearly stepped in to discipline the foolish tiger once more, but was beaten to the task when the human, of all people, threw up that shield.
Sir Corper had watched the boy actually manage to break through the tiger's anger, and force him to see the folly of his actions... An act that reminded him of something his own human wife had once done for him... It seemed Oust actually had learned something in their lesson after all, so the veteran knew the young one would be back for more debate soon. Sir Corper had returned to his place by the river to wait for the tiger in his usual meditation. He did not wait very long.
As the bear swayed and spun in his flowing routine, the big cat simply took to a sitting position a few yards away. Oust had both knees tucked beneath himself, and both palms resting on those knees, observing the bear closely. The tiger made not a sound as the bear went through his graceful steps. When Sir Corper did reach a stopping point, he finally acknowledged the tiger cub.
"Have you come for another fool's lesson, young one? Or have you come to have a conversation?"
Oust closed his eyes, and tightened his grip on his knees. The large tiger bowed his head forward, showing the veteran the respect he should have the night before. The tiger spoke with his soft tone, the same one he had used with Milky. Oust was finally tired of hearing the spite his usual, snarling voice carried.
"I... I am sorry for my disrespect. I see it is I that knows nothing... I have fought and trained relentlessly for strength my entire life, only to fall short at every trial... Always to be bested. I have done everything I could to make myself a better warrior... To be strong enough to survive... It is not enough, but I do not know how to be anything else. I don't know how to stop being so angry at such an unfair world, and that has forged me into a different kind of monster all together... Not one unlike my sister or father are, but still not as strong... I don't know what to do with myself anymore... It seems so pointless... I have reached my limits, I've reached my peak, and I am still so very weak. I am still not enough to ever be anything more than an angry, foolish spoiled pelt hoping his father would look at him... I am still less of a warrior than even that human runt is..."
Sir Corper listened silently, gauging exactly how aware of his own personal faults the tiger was. The big cat was simply stuck, not immoveable, and a strong enough current in flowing water could move anything, even such great weight off the shoulders of one so young... There was a lot of rage and hurt that weighed the tiger down, and that also weighed his movements down, but there was awareness, too. There was empathy for those harmed by his actions, and remorse for the wrong way he had been merely surviving instead of living.
There was something truly good within the tiger, a goodness that had been crushed by years of layered abuse, but one that had not yet been completely torn out of him. The bear was certain this cub's father was even less pleased about that, as survival of the most ruthless was the Candori way... Many of the Candori cubs never even made it to adulthood, officially, their deaths would be announced as `Training accidents.' It was a marvel that Oust had even survived this far. Sir Corper finally answered the bowing tiger in his usual flat tone, stepping into the edge of the water as he did.
"The current is quite soothing on troubled paws. Come join me, young one. Let the water wash away that rage. Let it lick and cleanse your wounds. Let us have a conversation on strength."
Oust joined the bear in the river, Pausing one final time before taking the first step towards becoming the type of warrior Alora needed him to be. The same warrior that the tiger's own father had always feared he would become. The beast the Candori line's prophecy had foretold: The spoiled pelt that would rise to bring the family to its knees. A beast that would rise far beyond what his abusers ever could.
After his reunion with Stahl and his haircut, Aster had a bit more time to kill before the meeting with the prince and the orc chief, so the pair decided they would pay the forge another visit to see how Rust was faring in his apprenticeship to the orc Tan. Aster was surprised to see how much the pair had already accomplished, as a barrel full of restored and sharpened tools was already finished. The older orc grunted in his usual greeting, finalizing a new cleaver's edge for the butcher with the grazing of a whetstone.
"Afternoon."
Rust broke his own intense concentration at the comment, and turned around to see his uncles. He admiringly made note of Aster's new appearance. Rust was sweating profusely, with heavy soot marks covering his face and arms where the damp fur clung to him and poked out every which way, but he was still smiling all the while. The meek little fox cub was really stepping his dedication up. He yipped out his own greeting,
"Afternoon guys! Can I help you with anything?"
Stahl smiled at the professionalism. It was odd to see coming from Rust of all people. He answered in a joking manner.
"Just browsing! Heard this place had some good wares."
Stahl was caught off guard when Aster actually did walk up and set something covered in dust on the counter. The human stepped off a ways, and grabbed one other item before returning to the counter. The fox and wolf were still looking at his first choice strangely, neither certain how to feel about it.
"I'd like to purchase these, if you would."
Aster's statement surprised both canines, as they simply stared once more at the chosen wares in awkward silence. Tan made his way over, also intrigued by the selection. He figured he could give a bit of the history behind the helm, but the bracer was of simple enough design, and nothing worth noting.
The helm in question was a custom order the orc had received over twenty years ago, back when the trade between humans and orcs had been booming, shortly after he had chosen to set up his forge in this village. The human noble that had placed the order never lived long enough to pay for it, so Tan had mostly kept the helm around as a decoration at this point, as it was some of his finest work that no orc in his village could ever actually use. It was built for a human-sized head after all. The older orc looked studiously at the boy before he spoke.
"May I ask why? It will fully function as a protective helm as intended, but I'm a bit surprised you even noticed this piece, or why you would want it. I once put many weeks of labor into perfecting this ware, so it isn't like I don't see the appeal... The ears were the hardest part. Well, those and the teeth..."
Aster smiled at the orc, happy to answer.
"Well, for one, I do need to be able to blend in better... Eventually, we will reach places I may need to hide, places being revealed as a human could bring more harm to my prince or allies. This piece seems pretty convenient to hide beneath, and it kind of adds a layer of belief considering the design. If anyone asks, I'm just another beast of Alora beneath the mask... Got a bad burn or something. I know it's a tad ironic... But..." Aster trailed off. Stahl finally chimed in.
"If you like it, get it. You have a point, but you should probably try it on first. You'll need some gloves too, or your fingers will give you away."
Aster just smiled at his wolf's reassurance. Tan and Rust agreed, so the boy reached forward and took a hold of the helm, knocking away a good bit of the dust from the intricately designed piece. Aster smiled down at it, feeling just as curious now as he had been since he spotted it on the shelf the day before. With an easy enough movement, the boy fit it over his head. It was a surprisingly comfortable fit, and the red headband around his neck paired with the helm covered all traces of exposed skin from his shoulders up. He could see well in the helm, (certainly better than the one he had made for The Selection,) and his hearing and breathing weren't badly restricted by any means due to the expertly crafted design. The helm held securely in place when he moved his head, but never hindered his movement. The boy looked over to his wolf, who had an unreadable expression, staring quietly at his mate, deep in thought.
`Fuck... How much temptation must I endure under one moon?'
Stahl was already unreasonably turned on by his boy, and he just knew he was going to have some fun with that helm on sometime soon. It was made to look like a wolf's head, after all, with beautifully detailed, yet simple design. As if fate herself had a say in it, the entire helm was of three tones. Silver for the "Fur." Gold for the ears, teeth, and around the eyes, and black for the trim and outlines... It gave Aster a different air about him, and Stahl loved seeing his boy like that, it excited something within him. His mate may have been a human, but he certainly looked more the part of Stahl's pup with that thing on. The beast spoke his approval firmly. There was no need for any debate.
"Buy it."
Aster laughed a bit at the enthusiasm, catching on that his wolf seemed to like it more than he was letting on. The human pulled the helm free, and set it back down. He grabbed the bracer and turned to Stahl, having him try it on to replace the one he had lost back in the cavern. It wasn't an exact match to Stahl's armor, but it would do for a first gift. Aster turned back to Tan, and asked the price. The orc thought on it for a moment.
"Three gold for the bracer. The helm is another story... You're probably the only one that could ever actually get some use from it now... It would be like me charging you for a piece of your kind's own lost history, human. I don't know that I can sell it to you in good conscience. Please, consider it a gift." The orc bowed his head a bit. Aster objected.
"I'm paying you for it. It's worth far too much for me to accept as a gift."
The two bantered back and forth for a bit, before finally agreeing to let Aster pay twelve gold for it. He quickly paid the fifteen owed before the orc could object much more, and the two made their exit a short while later, leaving the pair of blacksmiths to their steady work.
As the pair made their way back to their quarters, Aster spoke to his wolf, casually checking in on him. He knew the day would be stressful for him with the moon hanging over, and he wanted to keep any insecurities or uncertainty at bay for him as early, and as long as possible. The boy had learned his lesson the last moon, after all. Stahl reassured his mate that he was feeling just fine. He was a bit frisky, but fine so far. Aster couldn't help but smile about that, thinking he may press his luck later that night after all.
As the pair came into view of their room, they noticed Mollis was patiently waiting for them. As they got closer, the hare greeted them with a tease, ready to make the boy blush per usual.
"Well if it isn't the newlyweds! You about ready to go Aster? The prince is already discussing trade and supplies with the chief, so we will probably be requested soon."
The human nodded in answer, but put on a playful smile as he began saying something that both lit up Stahl with pride, and made the hare fumble in his own demeanor for a change.
"Poke your fun, Mollis, but just know, he made me finish twice."
The wolf was still snickering at the surprised rabbit as Aster stepped inside to put his new helm away for the time being. He gave his wolf a tender kiss, and departed with the hare.
Stahl stepped inside and went back to sitting in the silence after his short break with his boy, attempting to reach any of his family through his bloodskill. The noble wolf began inciting the required incantation over and over with no answer. He was starting to really worry he never would receive one.
Prince Tyfin had already accomplished a great deal of negotiation that morning, and the orc chief was as satisfied as he had been with the bartering. The gift of the cherry trees proved to be wonderfully received by the orcs, and all graciously accepted trading some travel supplies for a mature grove of thirty, as they even had a surprising solution to the climate issue.
The prince had also established a vendor opportunity, agreeing to allow the orcs to set up to offer their wares at their next celebration or any future festivals. This may come with a rocky start, but the prince felt it would be accepted, and even welcomed by most of his kingdom in time. They established basic treaties for peace between their races that could be drawn up and finalized at a later, more certain time, as well as a trade and intel agreement. The many years of studying political moves were not wasted on the skilled negotiator, and finally, when Mollis and Aster joined his side, the letter from King Calium was brought before the beast prince to openly dissect. Chief Crag simply stood, and brought the note to Prince Tyfin, allowing the lion, the hare, and the human prince to read some of King Calium's final words for themselves.
Orc Chief Husk,
The integrity and survival of our world hangs by a thread, darkness threatens to consume all within these lands, and yet, the beast armies still thirst for blood and vengeance for a crime my people held no part in. For a crime we too, suffered great loss from.
We are in troubling times, my old friend, and I humbly beg of you, as the ruler to my people, please offer the young people of Adamare safety among your tribe. Please, save our children. Our men will stand against our enemies to the end. We will never surrender to such blindly savage vengeance, however, I worry even our defenses may not hold for very long. The beastman king and his armies are nothing short of formidable, despite his blindness, and there is simply too much at stake.
There are far greater evils at play, and I know not if I can stop them from returning in time... Before it is too late, before all of our children are consumed by it. I think I know of a way to fight it back, but it will likely cost me my life by the end of this, a price well worth paying if it means my children may live... Even if it condemns my very soul to suffering in the afterworld.
Still, it will be our children to ultimately inherit this mess, yet again. Our cycle of sacrifice seems to never lessen, my old friend, and we may have to set that upon the shoulders of who comes after, just as our fathers did, for my time in this world surely draws near its end.
I beg of you, save our children. Let them grow into those that would shape this world. Teach them to fight, so their years will prepare them for what is to come... If my son, if my Solis proves to bear my shield after all, all will fall upon his shoulders. He must find the others, and he must do it before the darkness takes hold of both them, and himself. A claim was made. A bargain was struck. I did not choose this. No matter what happens, he will be our final chance to hold it back. The Peacekeeper's duty rests with him alone now. If we both should fall before his time to rise, the final great light that holds back the ancient darkness will turn, and the sun goddess's wrath will finally find her vengeance for our ancestor's great betrayal.
If you allow humanity to perish, the world will shift in balance. The very power of the gods will shift in balance, and the world will lose the light that holds back the darkness in the sky. Please, defend our light. Defend our children, so they may defend our world in return...
My Lunai, my Solis, if somehow, you've made it... If you survive to read this... Protect each other. You have everything you need through one another. Defend the light, defend your namesakes. And if the world takes that light from you, let it all fall into darkness, for there can be no light in a world you two do not survive. I leave everything to you, my children. I will be near. I will be your guide when you are ready, until my heart's, nor my blade's protection is needed. I too, will make a bargain. You two are the light of my very life, and you will either share that light with the world, or use it to burn everything to ash.
It is your fight now. It is your fate, my children. It is your choice.
You bear the legacy of a king. Choose wisely.
Calium Aureus, The King of Adamare.
Aster didn't make a single move at first. His attention snapped back to a single word, and the boy could only stare, not prepared for the sudden anger he would feel after reading the letter. Something dark inside of him stirred as he sat in his silence, processing what he had read. His true name, was Solis Aureus, he had a sibling, and he really was the last king of man. Aster stood, without a word, and left before being dismissed. Nobody stopped him. Nobody dared to.
Stahl was sitting on the bed in silence, still trying his best to contact his family to no avail. The wolf heard the crunching of boots in the dirt, and knew his boy had returned, albeit, far more quickly than the warrior had expected him to. When Aster stepped through the doorway, Stahl immediately stood and walked to him, speaking firmly as he reached out and laid a gentle hand on his arm.
"What happened?"
Aster looked up at his wolf, and told him everything. When he spoke his true name for the first time, something within the boy shattered. Aster didn't even realize he had shed a tear through his anger. Stahl pulled his mate closer, and the two laid down on the bed while Stahl gently stroked his love, whispering the softest reassurances as he did so, desperate to comfort his mate's aching heart. Finally, Aster admitted what had bothered him the most.
"I had a sibling... Their name was Lunai. I knew that was a possibility, but to known for certain makes it hurt more... Why was my family taken from me? Why did the gods let me live, but take everyone else?. Sir Corper was right, I should have died with the rest of man, anything different was an injustice."
Aster buried his face into his warm spot, and let himself cry into his wolf's chest once more in his potent frustration. Stahl truly understood that pain and anger... He had asked himself the same question many times. As his mate caved beneath his sorrow, Stahl spoke in a whisper, finally telling his human what he had avoided really talking about with anyone for over two years.
"When my brother Silbern was killed, I asked the gods the same thing. The moment I felt that jolt through my bloodskill, I asked why they would take the next great leader of our pack, and leave the third son... That loss split my family in two Aster... We've never been the same. I haven't even seen my mother or my younger brother since then... My older sister visited briefly a while back, but I could tell, being back at our home estate was too hard for her. We all carry so much guilt for what that demon took from us that day... My father more than anyone."
Stahl stopped for a moment to trail off, allowing the painful emotions he had kept buried to surface once more beneath the moon. Aster kept his head low, but listened to his mate carefully. Stahl solemnly picked back up a moment later.
"It took me a long time, but I finally realized something, my love. We don't know our reasons for being here. We may think we have an idea, and we may have goals and aspirations, but we never know why we get to stay, and others have to leave, even when we would trade places with them if we could... As a cub, I always imagined Silbern would grow up and be the head of our house. I thought that was his destiny, not to be slain by a demon's arrow... But you know, if all of that bad stuff wouldn't have happened, I wouldn't have ever joined The Selection to stay close to my father. I wouldn't be here to hold you like this..." The wolf shifted uncomfortably, hoping he was making the point he wanted to.
"Aster, you may not see it, but I am so grateful the gods spared you, because that has brought you here to me. I do not know why your family was taken from you, but know this... You are always a part of my family. Whether it's as Aster Venatus, Solis Aureus, or whatever other name you may discover, you will always have a place with me as an Aschefell. I will always be your wolf, my king. You will always find your family with me... And the thing is, families may grow smaller through loss, but they may grow larger through love. I only pray that I get to see what kind of family our love may create someday."
Stahl gave his human a gentle squeeze, and a light kiss on the head, making the bristles of the shaved skin tickle at his snout. Aster snuggled just a bit closer to his knight. Stahl always knew how to make him feel better, even when the beast was dealing with his own problems. Aster hated having to rely on his wolf's strength so much, especially on a full moon, but was happy he had such a shoulder to vent on. The two got to enjoy their time alone for another ten minutes or so, until a knock at the door drew their attention from each other. A moment later, and Mollis opened the door with a troubled expression. He stared at the two for a moment before dropping his gaze and speaking quietly.
"Aster... I'm sorry about this, but we need to talk. I need to ask you some things, and I need to know some answers. I can't afford to put it off any longer after what I read back there."
The human just turned to the beast, with an inquisitive, puzzled expression. The hare didn't elaborate any further. It was Stahl who spoke next.
"If you're trying to make a move, it's probably not the best timing you know."
He had meant it as a usual tease for the rabbit, but Mollis didn't even react. This was serious. Stahl read the hare's expression a bit better, and decided he should hear what he had to say. The way Mollis finally looked at Stahl gave him chills.
"I need you to understand... I'm committing treason by withholding this information from our prince right now. This is something as few as possible should know about, for their own safety. Aster should know, but I think you should give us the room, Aschefell."
The wolf and human were both stunned, Aster sat up quickly then, and simply stared at the rabbit. Mollis wouldn't lie about something like this. His friend was actually scared, Aster could tell. The boy looked to his wolf, and nodded.
"I think I need to hear him out, Stahl. Can I just fill you in later? Promise?"
Stahl didn't really like the idea. Aster had dealt with enough already. The boy needed a break, not another weight shackled to him, but this was his mate's choice. He would respect it. He would trust his human. The wolf stood, and turned to give his boy a reassuring, quick lick on his cheek before he stepped outside and closed the door, leaving the pair to their business.
Mollis waited a few seconds, mentally mapping out what questions to ask... Where did he even begin? What could he ask to gauge the boy's knowledge of it? He certainly didn't expect Aster to lay it out for him.
"There's something wrong with me, isn't there? The fire from the guidance stone... That letter from my birth father... That darkness is something bad, right? Those flames were something bad, Mollis... And I need you to tell me what exactly that is... Please."
The hare took a deep breath in relief. Aster hadn't known. The boy wasn't lying, the rabbit would've heard his heart falter if he had. Aster never lied, it was one of the things Mollis liked about him. The boy was a bit gullible because of it, but the hare thought it was kind of adorable, just like the rest of this boy. Well... Perhaps not all of him. The mage answered the boy truthfully as well.
"Honestly, I have no idea what it actually is... But I do know it's origin is based in blood magic. This is a human spell... But not one I have any knowledge of. Blood magic has been forbidden since the fall of man, so there are almost no true practitioners left in this age... Tell me Aster, do you know the laws of our three types of magic? Beast magic, that is?"
The hare paused, making sure the boy had a thorough understanding. He needed to know why blood magic was bad, even if he could use it as a man. Aster nodded, repeating what his brother had taught him, having no idea what blood magic was supposed to be.
"Anima magic is often know as the god's magic. This is something you must be born with an understanding of. Talent comes after luck when it comes to an anima mage's ability. All beasts have select words they can and cannot conprehend in the ancient tongue from birth. The more words your soul can recognize, the more powerful of spells you can learn to speak, often even stringing together new phrases and magic to create a new result all together. On the other hand, if you can only comprehend a few words, your magic ability is nearly nonexistent."
"Of course, how much energy the user's body can supply their magic factors in as well, further separating what makes the top mages the top mages... Cortist is revered as a prodigal anima mage for both boasting a vast magical presence, and an impressive understanding of the language of the gods... As for me... I can't understand a damn word any of you say when you speak that tongue... It sounds like there are three of you whispering at once, but I can't make out any of them... It's kind of unnerving, if I'm being entirely honest."
The hare only nodded, coaxing the boy to continue. Aster took a deep breath, feeling a bit annoyed at the quizzing when there were more pressing concerns on the table. Still, he humored the rabbit, and picked back up.
"Then there's rune magic, known also as the patience magic. By learning the ancient symbols needed, and adorning them into magic circles, you create what is called a rune. Runes have to be charged with various amounts of energy, depending on their desired functions, but with enough patience, anyone can slowly charge up nearly any spell." He continued, repeating what he had learned in his studies.
"The main issue with rune magic is it can be turned against the caster. If someone breaks the rune, it will explode, releasing whatever it had stored up, so a shabbily strewn together one can be deadly. Furthermore, an age old tactic is just letting your enemy charge it up, and simply activating it yourself, using it against them, as any mage with enough magical ability and understanding of how the rune works can access the trigger. As such, this magic is rarely seen used in combat these days, but is still quite useful for smaller tasks."
Mollis patiently waited for the boy to finish. Aster continued on, finally approaching the end of his lecture.
"And the final type, the most rare type to manifest in a beastman, is Prayer magic. Many prefer to call it gift magic, as it's the only one that seems to work on focus and willpower alone. It is a gift that suddenly reveals itself when a user comes of age, much like bloodskills do, only bearing no concept of inheritance. While anima magical ability can influence the ability of one's offspring, just as bloodskills do, prayer magic follows no such pedigree. The users are seemingly chosen at random."
"There's no requirement to chant anything, but the effects are only ever beneficial. There has never been a negative or malicious use, or effect from this magic recorded, aside of course, from its scarcity. You mainly see this used to heal wounds and sickness, but it can also do things like purify water and toxins, stave off fiends, and even things like enriching soil and promoting life in desolate land. The most skilled users of this magic can even bring a calm to the most bloodthirsty opponent with enough focus."
Aster trailed off, reaching the end of his knowledge on the subject. Mollis remained silent for a bit longer. The boy was correct on everything so far, but there was a fourth type. The hare finally elaborated for the boy.
"Blood magic is the final kind known to our world. This magic was discovered and developed mainly by humans, but beastmen can learn to wield it as well with enough skill... Although, nobody ever should. There's a reason you didn't find this in your brother's textbooks, Aster. Humans cannot use any of the three beast magic types, but they can barter with life and death themselves. This is what eventually led to King Alocer's crusade against your people. This is what killed his queen."
The rabbit paused, he needed to know that Aster understood what terrible things blood magic had caused. The human only listened intently. Mollis continued.
"Blood magic requires sacrifice. It steals life from the user, and sometimes even those around it. It can be used for curses, rituals, and even talking to the dead. HOWEVER, the price is always unknown. The simplest request can cost the lives of fifty, and the greatest miracle can cost the life of a single insect nearby. The potential is unlimited, but so is the destruction. This is chaos magic, it should never be attempted to wield... And yet, somebody used it on you."
Mollis couldn't look Aster in the eye while he revealed this, but he still told him nonetheless. There was too much at stake.
"Those flames came from something sealed inside of you, Aster. I don't know what it is, but only blood magic could've put it there... I suspect I'm one of two people to ever realize it was there, and that was only because of what I saw with my own eyes... Your brother's reputation proceeds him. How long has he known? When did you use the guidance stone with him? That "Smokey reaction," you told me he discovered isn't a thing that normally happens... Is your brother, Cortist Venatus, the one that put this curse on you, Aster? Are you two planning to do something bad? Don't you dare think to lie to me to protect him. I need the truth! As a mage of Alora, and one tasked to protect my prince, I need to know if your brother is a threat to our country. I need to know if you are a threat to our country... I cannot afford to let my own feelings stand before my duty to the crown any longer. I cannot pretend I am ignorant..."
Aster could only take a step back in shock. Sure, he understood the rabbit's fear, especially after that explanation on what blood magic was, but Mollis was finally looking at him then, yet in an entirely different way. He was looking at him like an enemy. Aster felt a part of his heart sink at the realization, and the darkness that had stirred when he read his father's letter earlier crawled beneath his skin once more. Aster had chills. Aster was getting angry. He felt betrayed by the hare's accusation... He felt like an outsider, like he was just a plotting human to these beasts after all...
Stahl slammed the door open, panting heavily. The wolf had to gather the warriors as quickly as possible. His father had finally contacted him. His father was alive. His father brought news of their home. Surprisingly enough to the wolf, neither the human nor the hare seemed to be very thrilled by the good news for some reason.
Hope you enjoyed the spin, and a big part of the reveal. You'll get a bit more soon, but there are other matters to attend to for now. The next chapter tells us the state of the capitol, and the casualties suffered after the teleportation. It feels odd finally pulling the sheet back further and further on this mystery without giving too much away, but I have some tricks left up my sleeve. As always, I appreciate, and eagerly anticipate hearing your feedback! Thank you for following my story. -Pup Bayou