11:22 Hannah and Marth
"That was, um, that was great." Marth murmured, exhausted.
"Yeah, it was. I mean, wow." Hannah replied.
"I think I understand why guys get so excited now."
"This was my first, did you know that?"
"No. I hope it was better than my first. As a girl, I mean."
Suddenly, the two deermorphs heard the voice of a third. "I don't believe this! You two do remember that the wedding starts in half an hour?" Lateisha thundered in tones that would have had Naomi nodding in appreciation.
"Uh, uh, we just lost track of time?" Hannah began.
*No point getting mad" Lateisha thought *There isn't time* She took a deep breath through her nose. No question, both Hannah and Marth reeked of sex, and every deermorph in the wedding party and the congregation would smell it.
"OK, go to the creek, freshen up for five minutes. Meet me back here. Now!"
Hannah and Marth skeedaddled. Lateisha turned to Su Yin. "OK, Su, I'm holding you partially responsible. Get some pine branches we can rub those two down with before we apply the costumes. That should dry them off some and help cover up the smell. We should rub ourselves with pine too, so it's not just the two of them. Jenny, go tell Rob to bring some of the spare flowers and body paint over here and then go to the main area and tell John there's a situation and the bridal party may be a few minutes late but I don't think so. Then go get Lady Leticia ready. Oh, and keep it zipped about what happened here. We don't need this to be the topic on everyone's minds." The two deermorphs scurried off to carry out the boss bridesmaid's wishes.
11:30
"You ready, boss?" Drake asked.
"Yes, I'm ready." Jeremy answered, but in reality he felt kind of faint. Everything was happening so fast. A few months ago, his biggest worries had been getting his grades up enough to get into law school, and now he was a husband-to-be, a prospective father, and the leader of a herd of genetically engineered, evolved, intelligent, bipedal deer.
No matter. He had made his choices, and he would live with the consequences. And Leticia. . .the image of his bride floated across his consciousness, and Jeremy knew his choices had been good.
11:32--Leticia and Jenny
"Are you ready, Miss Leticia?"
"Oh, Jenny." Leticia was crying. "I'm so happy. But I feel so bad for Marth."
In her mind's ear, Jenny heard Lateisha's stern "Keep it zipped about what happened here." *OK, but I don't have to go into details.* "I saw Marth a few minutes ago. He seemed to be coping OK."
11:35 John and Father Tyminski
"Uh, Father, apparently there's a situation with the bridal party and we might have to start a few minutes late. Sorry."
"Never knew a wedding yet to go off without a hitch. Things are going to be fine, son."