C ass sighed as he took his baldric off and layed it out on the bed, he brushed his furry muzzle with his paws and sat down heavily. Being a Ranger was a tough job, but someone had to watch out for the innocents and the unwary. Today alone had seen major skirmishes on the Frontier, they had lost some good friends out there and it wasn’t getting any easier. He sighed again, reached for a pitcher of water, and took a long cool drink. How long had it been since he had been home? How long since he had slept in a real bed instead of the hard ground, or lying in ambush for hours?

He stripped his worn armor off and began the slow process of cleaning himself up and taking care of his gear. an hour passed, two, then he stretched and yawned as he felt the sweet embrace of sleep creep up on him. He poured the pitcher of water into a basin and washed his face again, his fur dull from the weeks spent in the wylds of the Frontier.

Two silky arms wrapped around his thick, feline neck, making him jump slightly. A kiss as light as a whisper touched him on the cheek.

“Hello my love, are you alright?”

He turned around and faced the dark eyes of the feline he loved more than life itself, Solarisa’s eyes danced and sparkled as she put her muzzle under his. He held her tightly, smelling the perfume that wafted off her luxurious fur. The scents of blood and dying washed away in an instant as she took over his senses.

“Yes Sol, I’m fine, it’s just been hard these past few weeks. Jain and Faril were killed during the last raid. I and the Seargent had to go tell their families. It wasn’t easy Sol, it never is.”

Solarisa looked into the eyes of her mate, she saw the tears start to form in the eyes of the gentlest feline she knew. He had taken up with the Rangers only at the behest of the Captain of the King’s guard. His eyes were dull from the months of fighting the Hyooman forces encroaching the border. The entire kingdom was putting forth to the war effort, and many had lost loved ones and whole families. He stared out into the fireplace, lost in a battle somewhere he had never known existed before today. Solarisa wrapped her arms around him and held him tight as he let the tears flow down his muzzle. His breath caught as she soothed the pain like always, and brought him back from the scars and memories of the war.

“So much destruction”, he sobbed,”why do they do this?” We never hurt them or took anything from them.”

Sol mrr’ed softly to him,”Only the Gods know Cass, only the Gods know.”

He leaned heavily upon her shoulder and held her, assuring himself she wasn’t going to go and this wasn’t a dream. She kissed him over and over, reassuring him and showing him that he was home, that he was safe for a while.

They held each other till the deep night set in. She moved away from his sleeping form and went to the kitchen to fix a meal. He was going to be hungry when he woke, and she wanted to make sure that he didn’t need for anything.

Times had changed for everyone during the War, the Hyoomans had attacked without warning after centuries of peace. They destroyed everything they touched and the destruction of the Folk was their priority. She went to a chest in the corner and opened it, a tear ran down her face as she pulled out a letter from her father. He had been in a skirmish a few years ago with the Hyooman forces and had saved the lives of his command at the price of his own. The bright emblem of the Sabres gleamed in the light, her father was one of the elite force and had given everything he had to save them. She wondered how long this would all go on and when it would end. Would she lose another one that she loved? She prayed fervently that he would be safe when he was called back to duty.

Two large paws wrapped around her waist as Cass kissed and nuzzled her neck,”he was the finest feline I ever knew Sol. He saved all those Folk. I wish that he could be here for the special day.”

She brightened as she remembered, their wedding day was the day after tomorrow! She smiled softly at him as he nuzzled her and whispered words of love. She kissed him back and held on to him tightly. This was the day she had waited for so long to happen.

“Remember the day you proposed to me? My father couldn’t believe that such a ragged soldier would ever capture the heart of hhis daughter. But you did my love, you did.”

He laughed, recalling that her father had threatened him with dire consequences if he so much as came NEAR his daughter.

“Oh Sol, he ranted and raved and threw fits when he found out that you and I had been seeing each other. He about killed me when I asked him for permission to marry you.

Her father had been sitting in his favorite chair polishing his gear when the young soldier walked in on him.

“Sir?”

Her father looked up to see Cass standing before him,”What do you want Trooper?”

“I have come to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage Sir.” Cass looked him dead in the eye when he made the pronouncement.

Her father stood up out of his chair, all 400lbs 6’9” of fierce Sabre soldier. He raised a huge paw to his chin and saw Solarisa looking out of the doorway at him. His eyes gleamed with a mischevious light as he stared down at the trembling trooper. He knew what had been happening and saw there was nothing he could do to prevent it. He liked this young Feline even more than Solarisa did, for he saw a gentle and kind soul that would never raise his hand nor hurt his child. To him, that was something he wanted, for he knew if the battles kept up, he might not come home one day and wanted Solarisa not to be alone.

Sol came out and took Cass’s arm in her’s looking at her father with glowing eyes, oh yes, she did care for him very much.

He looked again at the young trooper and smiled, “Cass I will ask you one thing.”

A young face looked up hopefully at the large striped Tiger, “Yes?”

“I ask that you show me how you won that game of cards the other night, because I KNOW you could not have won without cheating!” Her father smiled broadly.

Cass and Sol stared at this distinguished Tiger laughing loudly as he saw their expressions. They stood speechless as tears rolled down his face and he tried to catch his breath.

“I am sorry my daughter, but I couldn’t resist, you both are so serious and life should not be taken that way. It is to be enjoyed and lived to the fullest.”

He took their paws in his, “I give my blessing to you both, I have waited for this moment because I knew it would come. I do not want you unhappy daughter, and your Cass has my approval.”

She smiled and wrapped her arms around her father’s neck,”Oh father. Thank you. Thank you.”

He gathered her tightly into his arms and hugged her, “I want only the best for you my daughter, and I think you have chosen wisely.”

They sat down and settled the wedding plans that night, talking long, long into the early morning hours. A few months later, her father was gone, and they remembered him in the kitchen of the house he so loved.

Cass and Sol laughed as they remembered that night, a huge Tiger laughing and joking with them as if life had no more meaning than the moment. They walked paw in paw to the bedroom to retire and get ready for their wedding.

The day arrived without warning, and Sol stood in her bedroom bathed in silks and lace finery that brought out everything that was beautiful in her. She paced the room and her friend tried to calm her down.

“Sol, if you keep doing that you’ll be so tired you won’t last the wedding” the little Jaguar said.

“I know, I know. But this is it..this is the day we’ve waited for for so long. I am so nervous Thaila.”

“Don’t you think he isn’t nervous? He’s been courting the most beautiful feline in the Shire.”

Solarisa laughed, “No Thaila, I’m not the most beautiful. You are very pretty and will find someone soon too!”

Thaila laughed and hugged her friend as they heard the musicians start the wedding songs.

Cass sat and tried to compose himself as he looked himself over in the polished silver mirror. He thought his fur too dull, his uniform too dirty. He couldn’t satisfy himself no matter how he tried. His buddies from the Ragers watched and laughed as he looked dismayed at the reflection.

“Will you stop Cass? Good grief, its like you’ve never been to a wedding before!” They laughed out loud at the shocked look on Cass’s face.

“This is MY wedding you dolts,” he hit his friend Kair on the arm, “and yes I am rightly nervous.”

A lithe fox laughed, “Well Cass, if you don’t want her I will be glad to take her off your hands.”

Cass shook his head vigorously,”No Malth, I couldn’t give her up for all the gold in the world. She is the one I’ve loved and the only one I will love.”

His friends nodded, for they had seen him out in the field missing her so much it hurt him. They knew and they agreed.

The musicians were heard starting up the wedding song and they took Cass by the arms and led him out into the bright light.

Hundreds of Troopers and Officers lined the broad path, family and friends and others looked upon the vision of Solarisa as she shone in the sunlight.

Cass stood at the altar and watched as his shining angel walked down the path, flowers entwined in her fur and silks flowing in the small breeze. Her eyes sparkling as she saw Cass standing in bright burgundy and black, his buckles and leather burnished to a high gleam. He stood proud and straight as he knew this was the moment he had waited for all his life. She walked slowly up beside him and put her paw in his as they turned toward the altar.

A huge Ursine came out from an arch behind the altar, his lumbering stride and menacing look offset by the smile on his face and the twinkle in his eye as he looked upon the couple in front of him. He winked at them before turning to the assembly.

“Is there anyone here who objects to the marriage of these two? If so, speak now and face me in hand to hand combat!”

Laughter rang out as the assembled crowd roared their approval. They raised clenched paws in their agreement of the joining.

The Ursine turned to face the couple.

“Do you Cass, take Solarisa to be with you through life, in sickness and health, and in the best and worst times?”

Cass swallowed, “I do.”

The Ursine nodded and turned to Solarisa.

“Do you Solarisa, Take Cass to be with you through life, in sickness and health, and in the best and worst times?”

She smiled brightly, “I do.”

“Please say your vows.”

Cass turned and kneeled before Solarisa,”I, my love, pledge my heart and soul to you in all things. That I may always prove my love to you by my very existance. With every beat of my heart you shall be the first and last thought on my mind. You will be my reason for living and for enjoying the things that are given to me.” A tear ran down his face as she looked down on him and smiled warmly.

She kneeled beside him and looked into his eyes,”And I, my love, will always think upon you when we are apart. That none shall come between us save the long dark night that e’er falls upon everyone eventually. Even then I shall strive to join our souls together once again. For you are my passion and my fire, my air and water. The life in my body will be only for you my beloved.”

Tears sparkled in her eyes like gems, she saw the winning smile that had won her heart come over his face.

Cass put a wreath of FyreGems upon her brow as he kissed her paws. She lay a wreath of Jewel Flowers upon his head as she kissed his paws.

A huge paw covered theirs as the Ursine spoke,”Let no Folk sunder this joining of souls, for forever in each others eyes the flame of love shall burn as bright as it does this day.”

The entire gathering kneeled as the Ursine continued.

“I, Lysus, ask of you both. Shall you begin this life anew with each other?”

Cass and Sol answered as one, “We do.”

“Then I, before the grace of the Gods above, pronounce these two joined in Mind, Body and Soul. Forever shall they be so.”

The assembly stood and waited silently.

Cass and Sol stood, he removed the lacey veil from her face as they kissed deeply and lovingly. The crowd bowed their heads to honor the joining.

They turned to the assembly and smiled as the cheering broke out for the couple.

Shock came over them as they saw a large Tiger in full Dress standing at the back of the crowd, his body transparent as he smiled. Tears washed down their faces as they saw her Father one last time, he waved and a whisper came to them on the summer breeze.

“I love you both my children, and I shall always be here if ever you need.”

They waved at the figure and cried out their love for him also.

He smiled once more and waved as the wind took him.

As the cheering died down, they remembered what he had always said, “Love is not forever, it is always.”

With that thought they walked into the waiting crowd to greet them all.