The Moon-Touched and The Moon
Orin and Serena knelt on their knees facing each other. Serena looked up at her father with an excited smile. Orin smiled at her with gentleness in his brilliant blue eyes.
“You ready?” He asked her with his calm and kind voice.
Serena looked at the blue paint that sat in between them. The light from their cabin glistened off the blue gooey shade. She looked back at her father and nodded with excitement.
“I was born to do this.” She said happily and with determination.
Orin chuckled and softly took both Serena’s hands in his larger ones. He gently guided her as she moved her hands to the blue paint. Orin softly let go of Serena’s hands as she dipped them into the paint until they were completely submerged. Serena smiled at the sensation of the paint moving over her hands and in between her fingers. She gently lifted them out of the dye. Blue leaked from her hands as she looked up at Orin. He scooted a little closer to her and lowered himself a bit so she could reach his chest easier. Serena lifted her blue covered hands and pressed them against Orin’s right side right where his heart thumped powerfully. Serena giggled softly as she felt the soft and warm skin of her father, his whole body exuded the heat that all werewolves give off in the winter. It was like touching a very warm blanket, or a hot waterskin. Though the thing that really got her attention was the gentle pounding of her father’s heart underneath her palms.
“Feel that?” Orin asked her gently with a smile. “Thump, thump,” He mimicked his beating heart.
“It’s like a drum.” Serena answered with a smile.
“That drum beats for you, kiddo, always will.” Orin winked at her sweetly.
Serena chuckled as she took her hands off her father’s chest and looked at the perfect two handprints that now were on his right pectoral. She then looked at her hands, suddenly worrying about how she was going to get the paint off.
“Here,” Orin said gently taking out a rag from behind him and gently wiping off the blue from her hands. “You remember what I told you about this ceremony.” He asked her as he continued to clean off her hands with the rag.
“Your moon touched now?” Serena answered looking at her father.
“I am, moon touched, or moon winked as others would say.” He explained to her. “But what does that mean?”
“That I, belong to you?” Serena asked, not sure if that was it.
Orin chuckled softly. “The blue moon tradition of placing your handprint on your father’s chest isn’t about claiming ownership, it’s about claiming our loved ones as family. Not just for the father, but the children as well. I claim you as my daughter, and you claim me as your father. We are one in this ceremony, we are family. My heart beats for you, and your heart beats for me,” Orin paused and smiled a little like he was thinking about something deeply. “If you’ll have me.” He finished with a soft smile.
Serena chuckled and smiled at her dad. “Daaad,” she said rolling her eyes. “Who wouldn’t want you for a dad?”
Orin chuckled also as he finished cleaning off her hands. “Same reason why a fool wouldn’t want you for a daughter.” He said lovingly. Orin’s face became more serious, still kind, and calm, but a look that conveyed he meant what he was going to say. “And you are my daughter,” He spoke softly. “This blue paint, it’s a symbol, that your handprints are on my very heart, and that will never leave.”
Serena smiled as she looked at her handprints on her father’s powerful chest. “I think it suits you. But what about me, how will your handprints be on my heart?”
“Your still growing Serena, as you do, you get to choose if you want to keep my handprints. But this,” Orin placed a hand on the already dried paint on his skin, this is a symbol of permanence for me. You’ll always be apart of me, while you get to choose if you wish to stay connected with me. This is the privilege of a parent, kiddo. I am the moon touched; you are the moon.”
“But I don’t want to leave you, I want that connection.” Serena answered with slight worry.
“And you shall always have it, just as the moon always guides our world, so will you always guide me.” Orin explained softly.
Serena smiled, understanding what her father was saying. She looked out at the winter-frosted window of their cabin. “You’re going to really display my handprints proudly to the village? The wind is blowing; it might even be too cold for you?” She said looking at Orin with a soft tease.
“Bah,” Orin expressed waving his hand in the air. “I’m a werewolf, we don’t have a word for the cold.” He chuckled. “I’ll be melting all the snow from the village in a matter of minutes.”
“You just want to go for the food.” Serena giggled.
Orin shrugged, “Guilty, kiddo, guilty.” Orin looked over at the window and smiled gently. “Now come on, get your coat and scarf, lets go show the village how two big strong werewolves eat!”
Serena nodded and stood up from the floor before turning when Orin said her name. She turned and he quickly tapped her nose with a finger dipped in the blue paint. “Boop,” Orin said playfully.
Serena scrunched up her nose as the paint smudged on the tip. “Daad.” She complained with a smile.
“I’m not dad, I’m the big bad wolf, here to eat up the mighty Serena Wolfhart.” Orin growled playfully as he stood and grabbed at her with a teasing smile.
Serena laughed and ran over to the hall as Orin exaggeratedly stomped over to her. All while snorting and growling with a happy grin on his face. Serena chuckled and ran over to her room shutting the door and getting her coat and scarf. She put them on excitedly before wiping off the blue paint from her nose. She then hurried over to the door and opened it to find Orin was halfway down the hall still stomping and moving in playful motions. His hands over his head. Serena looked at her blue handprints on his chest. She quickly grabbed a slingshot Orin had made for her and placed a small pebble she had collected from the nearby frozen lake, a few days ago, in the sling. Orin’s eyes widened playfully as he slowly pretended to try and escape while also making himself an easier target.
“May the Kry be kind,” she said with pretend conviction. She launched the small pebble through the air, and it hit Orin directly in the chest where it harmlessly bounced off.
Orin gasped dramatically, clutching his bare chest with his hands. “Noooooo!” He howled playfully as he collapsed hard to the floor in the hallway. Orin held up his hands to the air and grunted and coughed until he suddenly stiffened his whole body. and then relaxed himself with a powerful huff before his arms limply fell to the floor with a thud.
Serena giggled and moved over to her prostrate father. She got up to him to see his eyes were closed and his whole, still steaming body, was calm and relaxed. Serena looked at him a little longer, her grin slightly fading when he didn’t stir. “Da…” Serena’s words were cut off when Orin suddenly sprung to life and hopped up playfully grabbing her and twirling her around as she yelled happily. He moved to the front room where he put her down and laughed proudly.
“That’s my girl.” He said ruffling her hair with his large hand. “Perfect strike to my vital area’s.” He complemented, pounding the center of his chest with his right fist.
“I have a good teacher.” Serena answered looking at her father with pride. Orin had taught her all she knew.
“I’m going to have to meet them one day.” Orin chuckled playfully.
He knelt to Serena’s level and checked if her coat and scarf were well positioned.
He then rose and nodded his head in approval. Both Serena and Orin walked over to the door that led out of the cabin, Serena’s gloved hand held by Orin’s left hand. “Ready, kiddo?”
“I’m always ready.” Serena grinned teasingly.
Orin chuckled and opened the door as they both walked out in the cool winter air. Orin’s steaming body produced a large cloud of steam as his body heat contrasted with the cold air.
Estikren The Caring
Orin walked with Serena as they made their way to the village. The wind blew cold, sending snow across the land. Steam billowed from Orin’s shirtless body as he moved through the snow-covered ground with ease. The two blue paint handprints that Serena had placed on his right pectoral were completely dry. He looked down to see Serena struggling to walk in the snow—her little red scarf weaving in the air, her legs working hard to move through the heavy drifts. His daughter wore a determined look as she pressed on. Orin chuckled, reached down, and gently picked her up, placing her on his bare, steaming shoulder.
Serena giggled and held her hands up in the air. “Dad, you’re so tall.” She laughed, tilting her head back and opening her mouth to catch snowflakes on her tongue.
Orin smiled as he walked toward the village. “Yeah, careful up there, you might lose oxygen and freeze,” he joked playfully.
Serena sighed and put her hands on her legs, which Orin held to keep her steady and secure on his shoulders. “Hey, Dad, do you think I’ll ever get werewolf winter heat? You’re so warm that I don’t feel cold anymore,” Serena asked simply.
Orin chuckled. “You have werewolf blood in you, so it’s fully possible. But hey, not having werewolf heat doesn’t make you any less of a werewolf. It’s just a biological instinct we werewolves can get in the cold and winter.”
“I just hope that I’ll be able to have it one day,” Serena said calmly.
“No matter what, kiddo, you’ll always be a werewolf,” Orin said gently.
As they got closer to the village and walked into its perimeter, children were running and playing in the snow, laughing. Orin placed Serena down and smiled at her, giving her a wink. He then moved into an adjacent alleyway, out of sight from the people in the village. Serena giggled and followed. They moved to a specific alleyway before Orin knelt to Serena’s level. He made sure her scarf was secure and that she was dressed for the cold.
Orin ruffled her hair playfully. He looked up when he heard someone approaching—a man in a red and white suit with white fur lining the edges, a long white beard, and a red hat on his head. The man held another red hat, similar to the one he wore, in his hands. Orin stood and smiled calmly at the approaching man.
“Wow, Orin,” the man laughed with a wide grin. “You weren’t kidding.” He walked closer and put both hands on Orin’s shoulders as he looked him over. “You really aren’t cold?” he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
Orin chuckled and shook his head. “Hey, Iren, not really. My internal body heat is keeping me quite toasty.” The snow on the ground around Orin was actually beginning to melt because of his werewolf body heat.
Iren grinned and chuckled again. His eyes moved to the blue paint handprints over Orin’s heart. “Wow, so you’re moon touched, right? That’s the right name for it?”
“Yep,” Orin said, looking over at Serena with a kind smile. “Just had the ceremony.”
Iren nodded and smiled, leaning his forearm on Orin’s arm. He leaned on Orin as if he knew Orin wouldn’t let him fall, then smiled over at Serena, giving her a glad grin. “You happy to be affiliated with this lunk?” Iren joked to Serena.
Serena nodded. “I choose Dad as my dad this year. I’m excited to choose him again next year,” she beamed at Orin happily.
“Wait, it’s a yearly thing?” Iren asked, looking at Orin.
“Serena isn’t linked to me like I am to her. She gets to choose, but she’ll always be my daughter,” Orin explained. “I am the moon touched; she is the moon.”
Iren chuckled and slapped Orin’s bare muscular arm. “Well, Mr. Moon Touched, you ready to be the most famous werewolf of all?” Iren placed the red hat with a pom-pom on Orin’s head. He then walked over to a large box in the alleyway, opened it, and pulled out a big red sack full of presents. The sack had a white fur trim at the top, making it look festive. Iren tried to lift it, but it was very heavy for him. He strained to lift it. Orin chuckled softly and picked up the bag easily, slinging it over his back and holding it securely with his left hand.
“See, that’s just unfair,” Iren smiled at Orin. “Not only did you pay for and get every kid in the village a gift in this bag, but you can lift it with no issue,” he huffed playfully.
“That’s why I’m the helper, not the Red Hatter,” Orin said humbly.
Iren laughed and walked closer to Orin with a grin. “You make a great Estikren the Caring. You sure you’re not his reincarnated self? In all the imagery we have of Estikren, you fit his likeness perfectly.” Iren turned and looked at Serena with a gentle smile. “How do you feel about your dad being the most famous werewolf in the winter?” he teased.
Serena smiled at both men, her eyes wide with amazement. “Dad, could you be Estikren?”
Orin chuckled and shook his head. “I’m not that old, kiddo.” He smiled at her. “Estikren is a good werewolf. I’m happy to step into his shoes again.”
“Well, the kids absolutely love you, Orin,” Iren said happily. “You really commit to the role of Estikren.”
Orin shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head with a happy, handsome grin, his sapphire-blue eyes gleaming. “All I do is speak with an accent. The northern countries of our sister continent, Celesta, are fun to imitate—the way they drop their Rs is fun to do.”
Suddenly, a woman hurried over to them with a smile on her face. “You two ready?” she asked Orin and Iren. Iren nodded and adjusted his beard.
“My beard straight?” he asked the woman.
“Yeah, same question,” Orin added, feeling his own neatly trimmed, short black beard.
“You both look great,” she told them, laughing a little.
Orin looked over at Serena and knelt to her level again, keeping the sack over his shoulder. “Okay, kiddo, you good to go with Myra for a little bit?”
He glanced at the woman who was waiting for them to get started, then back at Serena. She nodded. Serena hugged Orin around the waist. “Love you, Dad,” she said cheerfully.
“Love you too, kiddo,” Orin answered affectionately.
“Come on, Serena,” Myra beckoned. “You’ll see Orin after the parade,” she promised.
Serena moved over to Myra and looked back at Orin, who stood and smiled kindly at her, giving her a playful wink. Serena giggled and followed Myra to the end of the alleyway, then turned and was out of sight.
Orin stood there with a gentle smile on his face. He looked at Iren, who was smiling at him. “What?” Orin chuckled.
“That little girl adores you. How do you not mess that up? I can barely handle my own kid,” Iren said.
“Showing them, unconditional love is the only way I see it. Kids are just growing—they’re innocent. So why get mad at them?” Orin answered as he and Iren moved to the end of the alleyway.
“Yeah, but you never blow up at anyone, adult or otherwise,” Iren insisted.
“Years of experience,” Orin replied calmly.
“Ha, years? You look like you’re in your prime, Orin,” Iren laughed.
“I’m older than I look,” Orin winked.
“Yeah, some of us think you really might be Estikren if you start talking like that,” Iren teased, smiling.
Orin chuckled. “I’m not that old, remember?”
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out across the village. “Happy Red Hatters Day, everyone!” the voice announced. “If everyone will please listen up, Vork-blasts have been seen roaming nearby, attached to a sleigh. And we all know what it means when Vork-blasts are around during the wintertime!” The whole village began to cheer as the children started to shout, “The Red Hatter!”
“Time to put on a show,” Iren said, getting ready and slipping into character.
“Everyone, welcome The Red Hatter!” the voice announced. Iren stepped out of the alley and started to wave as everyone cheered, children jumping up and down with excitement.
Orin watched with a smile as Iren walked confidently to the town square, his voice lower and filled with cheerful energy as he called out, “Happy Red Hatters Day!” to everyone in the village, or, “Thanks for finding my sleigh!” or, “Red Hatters Day is saved!”
Orin smiled at his friend as they entertained and waved at everyone. The announcer spoke again: “And now, my friends, it’s not Red Hatters Day without The Red Hatter’s best helper. You all know who he is—the keeper of orphans, the giver of gifts, the most famous werewolf of the winter season! The kind, the wonderful, the gentle, Estikren the Caring!”
The whole village erupted into cheers as Orin walked out of the alley and onto the main road. Orin waved and smiled at all the villagers. Unlike for The Red Hatter, many children ran up to Orin and circled him, laughing with joy as some jumped up with their hands in the air. Orin smiled and bent down, letting the kids climb on him like a tree. He chuckled as they crowded around, climbing over his shoulders, head, and arms. Some tried to sneak a peek at the gifts in the red sack he was carrying. Orin stood and walked forward, kids running around him and a few hanging off his right arm, all laughing.
As Orin moved to the town square where Iren—the Red Hatter—was waiting, he looked over to see Serena with Myra, both waving at him with excitement. Orin grinned happily at Serena and winked her way as he and the kids following him made their way to the center of the village.
Soon, Orin stood next to the red sleigh that he had helped the blacksmith make for this event. Everyone became silent as Orin stood beside the sleigh.
“Estikren,” Iren called in his booming, jolly voice.
“Yes, Red Hatter,” Orin replied happily, using the accent he used for Estikren. All the children gathered around, quietly waiting to hear what the Red Hatter would say.
“These children seem good, don’t they?” Iren asked.
“I’d say so!” Orin replied loudly with a wide grin, smiling kindly at all the kids. “My werewolf sense doesn’t detect any bad behavior.” He joked with the kids, winking at them teasingly. Many of the kids giggled with Orin, as if they were keeping a secret from The Red Hatter.
“Very well, Estikren, you may give each child one gift,” Iren insisted.
“Oh, of course, Red Hatter—many gifts it is!” Orin shouted with joy. All the kids yelled and ran up to Orin as he knelt on one knee and placed the pack on the ground. He opened it and pulled out a bunch of gifts. All the kids gasped with joy. As promised, Orin gave more than one gift to each child, as they opened their carefully wrapped presents that he and Myra had wrapped a few days ago. Orin smiled happily, seeing the children’s faces light up with joy.
Soon, Serena was in front of him with a smile on her face. “Oh, Serena Wolfhart, right?” Orin asked with a wide grin in his accent. Serena grinned and nodded happily. Orin reached into the now emptier bag and pulled out the gift he’d gotten for her a few weeks ago. He handed it to her and smiled lovingly at his daughter. “There’s more at home, kiddo,” Orin whispered to her in his regular voice. Serena smiled wider, nodded, and ran back over to Myra. Orin watched with joy as all the kids in the village played with the toys he’d gotten for them.
Iren hopped off the sleigh and rested his hand on Orin’s bare, powerful shoulder. “Happy Red Hatters Day, Orin.”
Orin smiled at Iren. “Happy Red Hatters Day, Iren. Now come, I wouldn’t be Estikren if I didn’t have a gift for the Red Hatter.” Orin pulled a gift for Iren out of the red sack.
Iren laughed and took it, smiling at Orin. “You really are the best, you know that.”
Orin chuckled. “It’s just gift giving,” he answered humbly.
Happy Red Hatters Day!