Changing of the Glads by Joy Spraycar

he, too, eventually felt Max’s mind inside his own and recognized what his son truly was. 
    The day Max turned sixteen his father marched him the two miles to the church and turned him over to the priest.  That was the day Simeon came into his life.
    This Elder from Selestia sat Max down and explained that using his mind in the way he had been was wrong.  From that time on, Simeon spent two or three hours each and every day teaching Max about where he was from and what he and Zalphia had come to do.  He also helped Max reach out, find the practical side of his future mate, and how he could use his mind powers to sustain her, add power to her own thoughts, and support her through her trials.
    Many times Simeon found his pupil reduced to tears, hiding in the straw pile inside the barn, struggling with all that Zalphia was subjected to.  But Simeon taught that even the pain and suffering would be worth it in the end. 
    In the third year of Max’s training, he nearly lost Zalphia to the injury which left the deep scar in her abdomen.  The one she had tried to hide from him.  Simeon lent the strength of his own mind to help heal her, but Max was determined to save her before she was killed in the arena. 
    Not long after that, his village was overrun by soldiers.  Simeon hid his young charge and used every trick Max had learned to save him from being taken.  When they were again alone, Simeon explained that someone had discovered Max had powers, just as with Zalphia. 
    Now was the time for Max’s life to change.  He needed to focus on Zalphia.  Quit using his mind, so no one would sense what he could do.  Max was sent to a Glad training center, and within a year was fighting for his life inside the arena.  Simeon promised long ago that this part would not last long, but it had been eight years since he’d uttered those words.  Eight long years of waiting, suffering, and fighting.  But now, here they were, about to take the next step and save a whole planet from destruction.
    Zalphia had suffered so much in her short life.  But now, they were finally together.  He should have known she’d been chipped, but he was so taken with finding her and escaping that it simply did not cross his mind.  That certainly explained why he’d lost his connection to her all those years ago.  Platy had used every means to destroy Zalphia, as if she had been informed what means would keep him and his mate apart.  But there was no way she could have known that, could she? 
    Max shook his head.  It didn’t matter.  All of that was behind them.  Platy was gone, and the arena was their past.  They would turn this world back to its chosen course.  Yes, when Zalphia learned how to direct her powers, they would save humankind and then return home to spend the rest of their days at the head of Selestia’s council.
     
    The meadow now spread before him.   Max paused at the tree line.  To be joined together, he must first find the flowers which only bloomed under the light of the moon.  It would require some time to gather enough flowers and make the sacred Moonflower wreaths.  One for the altar which would hold the moonstone.  And the other for his bride.  He would place a wreath of flowers on Zalphia’s head as a symbol of their union and its benefits to mankind.  Then, with the power of the sacred moonstone, the Elders would witness the rite.  If it were approved by the great God above, the cloudy white stone would turn to dust. 
    Max felt the growing pressure of anticipation.  To be around her and not take her before this ceremony was hard, especially when she thought nothing about sitting close to him totally nude.  How strong did she think he was?  The power of the stone hidden in the pouch hanging from his waist lent him the strength to keep his desires in check.  Merely touching it reminded him of all that was at stake and what would be lost if he succumbed to his passions before the sacred ritual of