by L M Lacee
‘Thank you Peyton. I will explain that to my parents.’
‘Have your brothers arrange transport if needed, get your parents off that world. Bring them home.’
‘I will… we will. Thank you again, and for the other as well, I think it is time the Elders decided to come clean.’
‘Huh, that sounds like Trina.’
Suddenly as he made to leave a flat wooden box appeared in his hands. On the cover was an etching of a male and female with crowns above their heads. Surprised, Jarrod asked Peyton. ‘What is this?’
She sighed in pleasure as she stood and went to him.
‘Well if I had to guess, I would say you have been blessed by our Star Child. You my brother have just been gifted with Adee.’
Jarrod hissed in a breath as Peyton urged him. ‘Open it and find out if I am correct.’
Before he did, he said quietly. ‘You call me brother.’
‘It is how I think of you, as I do Hawk and Willian.’
‘Thank you.’ Hesitantly he turned his attention to the flat box and slowly opened it nestled on a cloud of blue material was a silver rope of Adee.
He looked from it to Peyton and asked softly.
‘Why?’
She gently picked the rope up and told him. ‘You and Trina are more than worthy of this honor. I can think of no one else who is more so.’ She placed the rope in his hand and instantly it formed into two silver rings.
He slipped one over the tip of his third finger on his right hand, where it enlarged and slid down his finger to fit snugly, widening as it did so. Suddenly script appeared on the silver band. The other ring lay in his hand as he bounced it on his palm, he said. ‘I am guessing this one is for Trina?’
‘I would say your guess is right.’
He looked at the ring on his finger and said with wonder filling his voice. ‘This is in star script.’
As his eyes cleared of the confusion he was feeling he asked. ‘What does it say?’
‘It reads, Mind of Maikonia.’
He nodded, then said. ‘Again, I am honored.’
Peyton sighed in delight. ‘I am thankful, now our worlds are looked after, in every way possible.’
He placed the other ring in the box and then into his pocket, picked her hand up and kissed her fingers vowing. ‘I am yours forever.’
In a serious voice, she inclined her head and said. ‘I accept your oath.’
‘Thank you sister of my heart, now I must go and comm my brothers and Trina, who I hope will be amazed and pleased.’ He smiled with a bow and left with a slightly stunned look on his handsome face.
Peyton sat back in her chair and looked out the window so far it had been a day of surprises. Hopefully it would turn into a good one when the ship arrived back with her Warriors. As she watched a bot rollout from under the couch to clean up her spilled coffee, she asked.
‘So Raley, have you ever tasted coffee?’
TWENTY-SIX:
Early the next morn a message came in the form of a minor cousin to the Matriarch. The nervous female could barely speak when she stood in front of Lukkas. She opened and closed her mouth several times, causing him to ask with a healthy dose of pity coloring his words.
‘What is it you want here?’
‘Th… th… the Matriarch said you have to come to a meeting at 09:00 this morn.’
Lukkas eyed the female as he asked Willian who was also on duty with him. ‘Why do you think the Matriarch wants to have a meeting with me?’
Willian pondered the question for a min. ‘No idea, did she say?’
Melody coming with their reliefs, Kent and Sarn remained behind a wall to listen, and just stopped herself from laughing out loud. Once this exchange would not have been possible, now with the influence of the Terran females it was more common than not, especially with the younger Warriors they were more relaxed and their humor was off the charts funny at times as she, Kent and Sarn could attest to.
‘Good point Willian.’ Lukkas turned to the female who had gone a shade darker and asked her. ‘Why does your Matriarch want to see me?’
The female seemed to have forgotten her earlier fear in the face of their humor and blurted out. ‘She does not want to meet you, foolish oaf, your so-called Star Daughter is ordered to a meeting with our First Sister.’
The atmosphere became charged with danger as the humor vanished from Lukas and Willian’s faces. Instantly the Turqualls who had been lazing in the sun came to attention at the implied insult to their Beloved. Truly over her nervousness now and unaware of the danger she was in, the female spat out. ‘You, the First Sister would send to the tank for attitude adjustment. Now get out of my way, fool.’
Willian looked at Lukkas and shook his head. ‘She is as dumb as the others…’
Before he could finish Melody marched around the corner and said in a voice as cold as a winter’s day.
‘It is hard to believe they would send another idiot after my warning. You.’ She pointed at the female. ‘Leave now, unless you would like to see the inside of my jail cell and believe me you are so close to me putting you in there. NOW LEAVE!’
The female threw her hands up in the face of an enraged Melody and forgot she was there to deliver a message. She screamed bloody murder as she ran through the opened port doors. Melody looked at the young Turquall watching. ‘Well?’
With what looked like happy smiles, they raced after the still screaming female, who screamed louder when she felt them nipping at her heels.
Kent asked Sarn. ‘When did we get a Jail?’
‘What is a cell?’
Melody grinned with real amusement as she explained the terms, when she finished Willian asked. ‘Commander are the Turqualls allowed to do that?’
Melody shrugged. ‘Who knows? Rage can take it up with me later, but truthfully I hope they bite her. So what did she want, anyway?’
Smiling at her answer, Lukkas told her. ‘She said something about a meeting with the Star Daughter at 09:00 this morn.’
Melody grinned. ‘Well that’s not going to happen, let’s see what they do next. Kent, Sarn, you are on duty for the next two hours.’ She said to Lukkas and Willian. ‘You two are relieved, go get food, Helen will want to know about this.’
Without another word they exited to the waiting shuttle, looking after them Melody muttered. ‘Biggest gossips ever.’ She looked at Kent and Sarn. ‘You know they will send another idiot, so let me know when they get here.’ As she turned to grab a shuttle to the ship, the Turqualls came strolling back, she asked. ‘Have fun?’
They flopped down in the sun, rolling their eyes at her. A black kit came and brushed against her legs and for the first time in a long while a Turquall spoke directly to her. Yes, much fun, she squealed like small runner.
You mean Roment. Melody mind-sent as Peyton had shown her so many yentas ago, keeping her thoughts quiet and simple. She made a pic of a grinning face as she said. That sounds like fun.
Roment yes it was fun. Isa Bacon.
Bacon, that sounds like an Earth name?
It is the Star Daughter named me.
She must think you are special.
Yes, I can hunt anyfing, specially bacon.
Melody felt a twinge of envy at her sister’s easy acceptance from the Turqualls. Sometimes she wished she was more like Peyton, it seemed so easy for her to make friends. Since they had returned from Porquiel, she was finding it harder to be at ease with people or maybe to be accurate, they were finding it harder to be at ease with her. She did not understand why, but she knew something had changed within her, like a switch was half turned on. Sometimes she would find herself walking around in a daze and her dreams were still very unsettled. Perhaps it was just because she was a Commander or she was no longer a people person anymore. Perhaps living in this universe she had lost that something she had on Earth that connected her to people. Although her family still connected with her so maybe not. Netta on occasion, usually when she was beating her at the
shooting range, told her that she seemed to have an affinity toward the Turquall more than she did for two legged people. In other words, Turqualls did not seem to annoy her as much as people seemed to be doing. Melody thought maybe she was right, although the Warriors did not annoy her and they appeared to like her. Maybe she was supposed to associate with other types of people and maybe those people had not arrived yet, and that was why she was half switched on.
With a sniff of disdain for her internal debate, she sighed and said. ‘Well, I have to go.’ She saluted the Warriors, telling them. ‘If you need me comm. Stay alert and be careful.’
She left the terminal and entered a shuttle, the engines powered up as she clipped her harness on, then she automatically reached over and clipped the harness over the Turquall who had followed her onboard. When she was finished he said. Isa, five or six yentas old.
Melody grinned as she asked him. Okay… why five or six?
I wasa difficult.
Melody’s grin widened as she replied. I’m not telling you how old I am.
I says you this, cause I am yours. I did not know it til today. So I ask that you do not growls at me for not knowing I am yours bonded. Yoose think the great Rage tell me bad cause I am kit?
Melody sat back in her seat, feeling a little stunned at his confession. Going slowly so as not to scare him or make him worried, she asked. So when can you bond?
We wasa told we doncha bond now. In old times we did, wen kitten or wen really old like great Rage or Rave, not inbetweener. I do not know why.
Hormones, Melody thought, but kept that to herself. But I thought there was no bonding anymore?
I am yours.
So you said, so you are telling me we have bonded?
Yes.
But you are not the right age?
Yes.
So how do you know?
I doncha know how, I just knows.
Well, that makes sense. Sadness surrounded her as the young Turquall asked. You do not like me, is it cause I am not a real Turquall?
Bacon was jet black with white markings around his ears and eyes. Melody looked over at the kit and she could sense that his feelings were hurt and she just knew he was worried she would reject him because of his coloring. Half of her attention was dedicated to trying to work out how she could read his emotions, the other half of her was on their conversation.
Who said you are not a real Turquall?
My pride wen isa kitten.
Well they were just wrong, you are a handsome Turquall. His head lifted, and his ears perked up until she said. Sure, you are an unusual color for a Turquall.
With that his ears drooped again, he looked so sad, Melody stroked his back from head to tail and told him. ‘That is not a bad thing, it makes you unique, special. You are my Turquall. So dare anyone say you are not perfect, they will see the end of my sword? You are my perfect Bacon. They were fools, all of them, if they do not see that.’
His ears pricked up at her praise. Isa for you, my Melody.
I am for you, my Bacon.
My pride not like me, they made me leave when Isa a kitten.
How did you come to be here?
I fell out of tree onto Rave.
Melody laughed. ‘Right on top of him?’
Yes, he was not funnd.
‘When was this?’
When I was a small kit, he took me with him and Isa hided on the planet til great Rage finds a home and I not havta hided aneemore.
He was sad as he told her this, remembering how hurt and confused he had been when he had been a little kit. Before Rave had rescued him and even after he had taken him to Porquiel he had been scared all the time. Melody pulled on his ear as she told him. ‘I think that was good training for being sneaky and hunting and finding bacon.’
He gave her a smile. It very good.
Melody laughed at his smug tone as he asked.
Do you fink we will bees in trouble?
Melody grinned, he was so young, not much older than a toddler in human years. She reassured him with another stroke of her hand and a soft voice. ‘I do not care, you are mine, but I am thinking there will be no trouble with us bonding. From what I understand it is instinctive, hardly anything we can stop. We will have to talk to Rage and Peyton.’
We will talk to the great Rage and Star Daughter?
‘Yep, they should know?’
Itsa good, I hasa called the great Rage and Star Daughter.
‘Well okay.’ Sighing and rubbing his head, Melody asked. ‘Why is Rage great?’
Because he is verry big and can fight ans win and he is Star Daughter’s chosen pride leader. He find new home, a safe home, him is great.
‘Oh I see.’
I am very hard to see wen dark. He told her as though he had to make sure she had a reason to keep him.
‘I know sweetie, I think that will come in very handy in the future.’
For bacon?
Melody laughed. ‘Yes for bacon and for many other things.’
My Melody.
‘Yes my Bacon.’
There are others like me who wish to be with two leggers.
‘Well, we better do something about that then.’
My Melody.
‘Yes my Bacon.’
The great Rage and Star Daughter scare me.
‘I understand that, just remember you have me now. I will not allow them to scare you, but you like Madam Peyton.’
Bacon nodded. I do starlight smells relly nice. But my Melody, Star Daughter is diffent.
‘Well, she is one and the same and both are nice.’
If you says so. Wills, they yell at me. I do not like yelling, it hurts my ears.
‘They will not. You tell me if Rage does.’
I will.
When they landed and disembarked, waiting for them was Peyton, Hawk, Rage, Rave and Fanharr.
‘Greetings, guess what happened?’ Melody asked her hand resting on the head of Bacon.
Peyton, her eyes sparkling with suppressed laughter, said. ‘What, do tell, we are all agog with excitement.’
They heard Hawk mumble. ‘Bat shit crazy.’
Rage and Rave nodded as they walked next to him. Fanharr was beside Bacon and it looked like they were talking, as he didn’t seem distressed Melody said nothing. Entering the lift, Melody relayed the visit from the cousin.
Peyton said. ‘I know Darby showed me the vid. I swear I could not stop laughing and the guys got to Helen in record time, I’m telling you gossipy males.’
Walking along the corridor to the dining area, Peyton mind-sent to her. All is well Rage and Rave are a little unsure about you and Bacon hooking up.
Melody snorted out loud. ‘You make it sound so dirty.’
‘I do not.’
‘Do so.’
‘How can you say that?’
‘Hooking up? Sounds like a quickie.’
‘Eww! That’s bad.’
‘Isn’t that what I said?’
‘No.’
‘Huh, thought I had?’
Helen walked over when they entered the diner.
‘Bacon darling, you are such a clever boy. I heard you chased away that nasty piece of work, so I hid something nice for you, go see if you can find it.’
He looked at Melody. My Melody, it smells wonerful, may I?
Bacon, if it smells good, and it’s from Helen you know it must be terrific, go hunt. But Bacon, you must never just go and hunt by yourself.
I know Fanharr and Rave says we muss always get pemssion. I get pemission from you. Tat is good?
Permission, yes it is, now go see what she hid for you.
A familiar voice spoke to her as he ran off, Rage said. Well done. He is still young and needs guidance, he will ask your permission before he does most things. The bonding is unusual, but I have confidence you will manage.
Another voice, Rave’s this time, spoke to her, but he seemed to be angry as he stated. No, he is too young for bonding, we do not bond.
It is not normal. He snarled at Melody as he asked. The bonding must have been forced. How did you do it?
Melody snarled right back. ‘I did nothing to force this bonding it is as natural as he is, as honest as he is and…’
My Melody is everyfing alright, you are yelling. A very unsure, slightly scared youngster asked. Isa, come back?
Melody softened her tone and quietened her voice immediately, as she called to him. ‘No Bacon, all is well. I am sorry I did not mean to upset you. I was discussing something with Rave, keep hunting.’
Silence met her words, then a snuffling sound came. I am hunting well, Chef Helen is very cleva.
Melody told them. ‘Yelling hurts his ears.’ She smiled as she told Helen. ‘Bacon and I have bonded and as you can hear Rave is upset. Bacon told me that bonding’s only happen when they are little kits or adults, not at Bacon’s age apparently and Bacon says you are clever, he has not found the treat yet.’
Helen wiggled in her seat as she said to the Turqualls. ‘Well all I can say is you should be happy he is a wonderful young boy.’ No one corrected her statement or the fact she called him a boy and not a Turquall. ‘He is delightful, always polite and as for you adults.’ She looked at Rage, Rave and Fanharr. ‘This is your fault, you have no one to blame but yourselves.’
Rave growled loudly until Rage snapped at him. Everyone heard him say. Do not, brother. I understand your concerns but do not.
Fanharr said quietly. I would like Chef Helen to explain how this is our fault, our blame?
A subdued Rave stated. He is not ready for bonding, it is not normal.
‘I beg to differ.’ Peyton interrupted. ‘It is normal, it always was. Just because you or more likely the other Turquall, the so-called norms, do not bond and have forgotten or suppressed that side of their nature does not make it right. He is obviously ready.’
