Shifter marriage

Marriage-man/woman. Shifters marry their mates. Shifters are attracted to their mates by smell. Potential mates have a sweet spice scent to them. Also they go through a suitability test for each other. The test takes three days to complete and never fails. Most common is feline to feline, or Canine to Canine. Second common is cross feline-canine. Third is feline-elf or canine-elf. shifters find their mates around the age of maturity which around 18 or 19. For the shifters that find their mate before age of maturity they must wait until maturity before marriage and mating. Although they will go though a marking ceremony. shifters that find their mates after maturity they are married within the month. If the shifter’s mate is elf, depending on their culture they will wait to do a courtship according to their traditions. Some times depending on the age of the pair it will be shorten to half the normal time. Mostly it only delays it to six months or one year. The marriage ceremonies differ depending on which it is, canine or feline. Then there is the subcultures but there general traditions. Canine weddings are more quiet, decorations minimal. The ceremony is held outside if weather permits otherwise it is inside a home of the home of the leader of the pack. If found at the age of maturity the first part of the mating ceremony is held at the end of the wedding vows. They take each other’s right hands, then the female bites a mark into the skin just below the thumb on the wrist. The male then does the same to the female on her right wrist. This part of the ceremony is done when mates are found before the age of maturity. The second part of the mating ceremony is done in private either later that night or in the next few days. The second bite is done on the left hip. These marks are permanent even if the mate dies it will still be there. If mate dies young the living mate may remarry but not new mate. Feline weddings are more elaborate. Most are held in a huge cathedral building that has been built in every town or city that has a feline pack. There are few that do hold it outside under a pavilion. Both are decorated elaborately with flowers and shiny things. They also do a two part mating ceremony. The marks are on the inside of the right elbow and left butt cheek. Again the first is done after the vows and the second mark is done in private. When there is a mix between shifters they combine the traditions. Such as the marks, if the female is feline then first mark is elbow and the other on the hip. If Female is canine it is mark is on the wrist while the second is butt cheek. The design of the wedding is up to the couple as they come to a compromise. When it is a mix between were and elf they incorporate their traditions but the marks are the same if their are marrying a Canine or Feline.