---
When the preparations were done, Luna asked Kai to change into something worthy. He washed battle grime away, donned a vest of midnight chitin plates polished to mirror sheen, and cinched a cloak woven from Blueloom's cast off scales. Luna approached him with a coil of moon vine, its heartsap luminous.
"We braid two loops," she explained softly, deft fingers weaving the supple stalks. "One rests on my wrist, one on yours. When the aura vows seal, the vines root into living bracelets, nourished by our pulses. We will become husband and wife."
Kai extended his arm. Luna wrapped the loop thrice, whispering ancient syllables: "By crescent's curve and midnight's hush, tether spirit to spirit, heart to heart, soul to soul."
A tingle of cold-sweet sap seeped into his skin where the vine touched.
Then he bound hers. The vine shimmered pearls.
