No one was surprised when Lara came into the chambers with Metas in tow, in fact - they all applauded and gave playful cheers about their tardiness.
"Ah, so you found him? I was worried he had run away," Myranda jested as the two of them approached the group.
Everyone was dressed so nicely - even Jyriah who had slicked his short hair back and formed a soft set of bangs that was swept up and landed just above his eyebrow.
Even Myranda had braided her hair and had it pinned up - something Metas had never ever seen. Her usual untamed and free hair pulled back so her neck could be exposed was delightful. Her beautiful, slender shoulders were exposed, but the rest of her arms were covered in laced, red sleeves that were more sheer than the base of her dress which matched the same color.
It was here he noticed that all three of the females were wearing the same color, and the same style - and it made him smile wider. "You three are beautiful, and Joss you are quite handsome," Metas complimented and nodded to the silver-haired male who was dressed in a deep red suit.
"We can all thank Lara," Jess chimed in gently. "She made sure all of this worked out while we forced her to take it easy."
"Which is why I was so damn mad," Lara perked up and gave Metas a smile.
Their jovial conversation was cut short when Jhinto cleared his throat. "Please, take your places. The moon is nearly aligned. Exchange your rings, and make sure your moonstones have been touched by the other."
The large crater-like dent had not only been magically kissed, but it was said to be the death site of the original Lunas, Ophelia and Lilith who blessed it with their ever-present souls. It was easy to see why any lycan would believe this adamantly, because the small cave glittered with natural gemstones that hadn't been removed upon their discovery - and the water in the small spring was always clear and seemed to flow from beneath the very surface.
Once the moonlight completely covered the beautiful water, it began to glow with a milky white light and began to swirl very slowly at first, but picked up speed the longer the light lingered upon it.
"Entwine your ring hands and dip them into the water together, and ask the Goddesses to bless your union. Should they be, your rings will change color and you will be unbreakable pairs." Jhinto said proudly and looked around at the four young couples with the tenderness of a grandfather.
"Goddesses who are wise and just, we ask you to bless the couples below with your light from above," he recited and raised his hands into the air as he looked up at the bright moon.
"Please grant them eternal happiness, unending strength, and the patience to support one another when the light is most dim. Should you smile favorably upon these mates, show us with your light and make it known to all." Jhinto finished and then began to mumble some sort of prayer or chant softly under his breath, which caused the water to look as though it were about to boil over.
Jyriah and Joss wore smiles that beamed three miles long; Joss's sincere and about to overflow with emotion, and Jyriah's a goofy, sweet happy one that made his eyes glisten a little with joyful tears. Both of their lips wavered as happiness burst forth between their expressions, and each tried their best to not burst out in cries of joy.
Metas and Myranda were lost in one another's eyes, too focused on the hues of the other to notice the light emitting from beneath the surface - but their faces looked intense as though they were having an entire conversation.
Lara and Ajax had put their foreheads together and closed their eyes in harmony, and with their other hands free from the water, placed them both over their growing baby, with Ajax's hand covering Lara's protectively.
Jess and Veltar had excitement and fear in their gaze. A young or unseasoned fool would think they were terrified of being together, but really they were scared the Goddesses would deny their union for whatever reason. That look of desperation was merely the feeling of longing as each prayed over and over for their love to be recognized.
It felt like it lasted for so long, but really it was over in nearly 30 seconds. Once the water began to settle, and the creamy-blue water calmed back into its calm, clear state - each would be given their answers.
The answer the Goddesses gave was so rare, so unheard of - that it would be an event that would echo not only in their history, but in the legends of the other magical tribes as well.
When each of the pairs removed their hands - their gemstones were glowing bright. It was normal at first, but then when the light died down it didn't quite go all the way out. No, all six rings, even if different colors - all emitted soft lights from their fingers.
Jyriah and Joss had two different colors - Joss's the color of Jyriah's eyes, and Jyriah's the color of Joss's hues. It was quite funny for the cool haired male to bear the gorgeous blues of his mate, while the fiery one held the passionate orange of his better half. They were truly meant for one another - each a complete compliment to his opposite. Each gemstone had the sheen and 'fracture' as corundum.
Myrand and Metas had the same color, as fated pairs often did -- but they weren't solid. Their stones both had two colors that swirled around the other - a beautiful stark black, and a gorgeous bright white, but what made theirs so special were the lines of gold that ran between the colors like they layers of hemimiorphite.
Lara's and Ajax's also matched - but theirs were a beautiful leaf green, with a snowy blue in the center that faded with foggy adularescence. When they moved them, the blue 'eye' in the center did, too - always making sure to be evenly seen with the emerald sea that held it no matter how it was seen. In essence, theirs was a true 'moonstone' that the humans once valued.
Veltar and Jess were still so terrified to look, that they still had their hands plunged in the water, and the two were looking away. Silently, the two decided to shut their eyes and pull their hands out. Neither of them opened them until Lara gasped.
"Why are you two looking away? You should see your rings, they're breathtaking~."
She wasn't lying. They were absolutely wonderful - both of them were 'opposites' of the other - Veltar's a silver base with streaks of amber and black, and Jess's a black base with streaks of amber and silver in a Tiger's Eye like pattern.
"Astounding," Jhinto let out as he watched the stones shine in the dim-lit area that was becoming less bright the more the moon and earth moved.
"What?" Joss asked, eager to learn from his teacher no matter where he was.
"Your stones are glowing. I've never seen such a thing last so long.... They usually lose all of their light by now, but all of yours are still letting of a bit of it - like the moon itself. I have no answers for this, but I will certainly document it." The wizard spoke evenly, but his eyes showed how excited he was to see another oddity in his lifetime.
"You children just keep teaching this old dog new mysteries." He added, and shook his head - but with a smile that was deeply endearing. "I would say that you four are most certainly bonded and blessed by Lilith and Ophelia themselves. Nothing would be more suitable than this outcome. The Goddesses truly are generous and wonderful beings - this must be a thank you, or something more. Again, I do not know - but I cannot wait to write it down."
Many, countless ceremonies would happen from this day forward - but none of them bared the results of this night ever again. There were never any answers given to those with ears that could hear, or eyes that could see, but the legends born from such a rare occurrence tried very hard to fill in the mystery.
There was always one thing that each theory held; whatever the reason - it was because these six shared a bond so deep that time itself couldn't tear it apart. For the Lycans in particular it bore the belief that much like fated mates, there could very well be such a thing as fated packs, too - and with each tight group of friends that formed, the desire to share in that exclusive club were vast and unending - the ultimate dream for any tightly bonded friends.