Chapter 109: Offerings (2)
Maeve looked at it curiously. "Did your parents make it for you?"
Ikarus nodded. "My father carved the bone, and my mother polished the bead before tying them together."
His thumb gently brushed across the worn surface. "My mother told me to wear it whenever I left the settlement. She said it would remind me that no matter how far I traveled, I would always have a home to return to."
Maeve could tell the necklace had been handled countless times over the years. The edges had become smooth from years of use.
"It must mean a lot to you," she said softly.
"It does," Ikarus admitted.
He looked toward the villagers preparing the bonfire, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "But now... I don’t need this necklace to remind me where my home is."
His eyes met Maeve’s. "I already know."
Maeve fell silent for a moment. In other words, Ikarus was telling her that she was his home. Therefore, no matter where he went, as long as he was with Maeve, he would never feel lost.
She smiled softly before reaching for his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I think your parents would be happy to hear that," she said in a low voice.
Ikarus returned her smile. "I hope so."
For a brief moment, they simply looked at each other, saying nothing because the warmth in their eyes said more than words ever could.
Moments later, Cerus cleared his throat dramatically. "What about you, Maeve? What are you going to offer to the sacred fire?"
Before Maeve could answer, Axan spoke up with a perfectly straight face. "She can throw one of her husbands into it." He paused for a second. "I vote for Cerus."
Cerus’s eyes widened. "What?!" he exclaimed. "Why don’t you vote for yourself instead?"
Before the two brothers could start arguing again, Maeve quickly spoke up. "Since I don’t have many belongings yet," she said, "I think I’ll offer this to the sacred fire."
She bent down, slipped off her sandals, and held it up for her husbands to see.
A shy smile appeared on her face. "Axan made these sandals for me," she murmured. "I really like them, but... since I have to offer something to the sacred fire, I think this is what I’ll choose."
The three brothers fell silent. They exchanged glances, and the same thought crossed all of their minds and only then did they realize they hadn’t given their wife very many things.
For a brief moment, all three of them felt deeply guilty.
It suddenly felt as though they had neglected Maeve far more than they had realized. She treasured a simple pair of handmade sandals because there was so little else they had given her.
Axan was the first to break the silence. "Then I’ll make you another pair," he said without hesitation. "A better one. No, maybe not just one pair. Ten, I will make ten pairs for you."
Maeve looked up at him. "You don’t have to."
"I do." His voice was calm but firm. "I made those sandals because you needed them."
Maeve bit her lower lip before asking shyly, "If that’s the case... could you make me a pair that’s also..." She hesitated, searching for the right word. "I don’t know... pretty?"
Axan blinked. "Pretty?"
Maeve gave a small nod. "The ones you made are really comfortable, and I like them a lot." She looked down at the sandals in her hands. "But... they’re just plain."
Axan thought about it for a moment before speaking. "Maybe..." he said slowly. "I can add some color to the sandals."
Maeve’s eyes instantly lit up. "Really?"
A bright smile spread across her face as she clapped her hands together. "That would be wonderful!"
Seeing her so happy over something so simple made Axan smile to himself.
Cerus couldn’t let his brother have all the credit. "Wife, I’ll give you something too!" he said eagerly.
Maeve looked at him and laughed. "You don’t have to."
"I do," Cerus replied with a grin. "Just wait. I’ll find something you’ll like."
Ikarus nodded in agreement. "If there’s anything you need, just tell me." He paused for a moment before shaking his head. "No... even if you don’t need it, if it’s something you simply want, you can still ask me for it."
Ikarus voice was gentle but sincere as he said, "You don’t have to find a reason or make excuses. If it would make you happy, that’s enough."
To be honest, this was the first time anyone had willingly wanted to give her something without her having to beg for it.
Back then, she had even begged her uncle to buy her a new pair of shoes because her old ones had become too small and were already falling apart.
In the end, he had only scolded her for wasting money. The memory still stung in her heart, but before she could dwell on it any longer—
"Leaders! The moon... the moon has changed color!" One of the warriors suddenly shouted, instantly pulling Maeve out of her painful memories.
She quickly looked up at the sky, and everyone around her did the same.
The moon’s silver glow faded little by little until the entire moon was covered in a deep crimson light. It looked as though someone had painted the night sky with a single drop of red.
"The red moon..." Someone whispered the words in awe.
The entire settlement fell silent as a single crimson beam descended from the sky and gently landed on one of the females standing beside the bonfire.
She gasped softly as the light wrapped around her for a few seconds before disappearing.
Immediately afterward, another beam fell onto a different woman, then another, and another.
One by one, the women were bathed in the moon’s crimson light and every time a beam appeared, the entire tribe held their breath.
The males tightly clasped their mates’ hands, their hearts pounding so hard that they could hear nothing else.
Maeve glanced around and saw that some of the women had already started crying, while others closed their eyes and silently prayed.
They were terrified that, sooner or later, the crimson light would stop before reaching someone. If that happened... It would mean one of the females was not pregnant.
However, after some time, the moonlight continued to shine on each of the females in the Azuryn Tribe who had taken part in the week-long mating ritual.
As more and more women were blessed by the moonlight, the smiles around the settlement grew wider.
But on the other hand, Zini grew more and more nervous because she was the only one the red moon had not yet shone upon. Tears slowly filled her eyes, and beside her, Hal lowered his head, unable to hide the guilt on his face.
He couldn’t help wondering if he had somehow failed her.
But just before she broke down in tears, a beam of crimson moonlight finally descended onto the top of her head and slowly spread across her entire body.
For a moment, Zini stood frozen, then her eyes widened with disbelief. "I..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she threw herself into Hal’s arms. "I’m pregnant!"
The entire settlement burst into cheers. "They’re all pregnant!"
"Our tribe is finally going to overcome this crisis!"
The joyful shouts echoed throughout the village and everyone was overwhelmed with gratitude.
For years, they had lived with the fear that the Azuryn Tribe would slowly disappear from the world.
Now, that fear was finally gone.
Soon, their settlement would be filled with the laughter of children once again.
Soon, they would hear the cries of newborn babies they had been longing for all these years.
The males wrapped their arms tightly around their mates, while many of the females cried tears of joy.
Watching everyone celebrate, Maeve felt her own vision blur. Before she realized it, tears were already rolling down her cheeks.
Just then, Lior reached out with his tiny hand and gently patted her cheek. It was as if he were telling his mother not to cry.
Maeve let out a small laugh through her tears. "I’m okay," she whispered, kissing the back of his little hand. "These are happy tears."
Lior blinked at her as if he didn’t understand. Then, after staring at her for a few seconds, he let out a soft giggle.
The innocent sound made Maeve laugh again. "I guess you’re too young to understand," she said, gently wiping the tears from her face.
Cerus stepped closer and carefully ruffled Lior’s hair. "He probably thinks you’re hurt."
He leaned closer to Lior and said, "Hey, you’re going to have more friends soon. And probably some new little brothers and sisters too."
Axan narrowed his eyes and couldn’t help smacking the back of Cerus’s head. "Who are you to decide when he’ll have more little brothers and sisters?"
Cerus clicked his tongue. "Why are you so serious all the time?"