***
In the years that followed, they grew happy and confident. Logan and Aideen saw each other often as their parent kept the covenant well. As time moved on, they became the best of friends and were always excited to see each other. Eventually becoming aware of the covenant and what it meant, they always knew they were destined to be together.
In the spring that followed Logan and Aideen's twelfth birthday, the Shekowl's and Apollumi's returned home to Natash for another celebration of a Blood Moon Equinox. They planned on renewing the covenant now that the children were older. Two days before the eclipse, the Shekowl's arrived first and Logan spent the next day waiting in anticipation for Aideen's arrival. When at last the Apollumi's arrived, Logan ran as fast as he could towards Aideen. Seeing him coming, she screamed and ran away, giggling. They both, quickly, disappeared into the trees, their parents smiled and nodded their approval while they greeted each other affectionately.
The full, celestial body loomed extra, ordinarily large on that cold, crisp night when the night of the Blood Moon arrived. The families where gathered around the small fire to witness the renewal of the covenant. Bright, white light of the moon, mingled with the crimson glow from the fire, casting dark, dancing figures on the ancient fir and spruce trees that closely surrounded them. Logan remembered it feeling like his ancestors had also come to be witnesses that night. Slowly, a sliver of translucent red- the colour of blood, encroached onto the disk cascading over the surface. Blurring in and out of focus, the dark shadows began to take on a crimson hue. The Shekowl's and Apollumi's gathered close around the stone that sat in the middle of the dying fire. As they had done six years before, each in there turn dragged the ceremonial dagger across the palm of their hands spilling blood onto the rock. Every time the blood hissed and converting into steam, mingling with the smoke of the fire, the vapour rose into the night. In front of witnesses and what ever god may be watching, they again sealed the covenant. Logan and Aideen sat next to each other, watching in awe.
***