by L M Lacee
Tad told her. We can no longer babysit, we are bonded now.
Red said. Our Patty is very clever, she can make the cookies.
Tad grinned. We have our own cookie maker. Beloved, is that not wonderful?
Peyton laughed. ‘It is wonderful, and I thank you for the baby sitting you did. It was much appreciated. Please do not forget to come and visit the children, they would miss you.’
Patty grinned. ‘They will not, I will make sure they visit. Aren’t they wonderful?’
‘Yep.’ Peyton smiled, pleased for the four of them. Especially the brothers. ‘They really are.’
Jorge called out. ‘Dust has settled.’ He looked at Tad and Red. ‘Are you two up for it?’
Tad replied. Yes, we are excited to find other Prowlers.
Red excitedly nudged Dinas. Let us go, our Dinas.
Dinas grabbed his bags and said. ‘We have to wait for Commander Jorge to give us the all clear, remember he is in Command.’
Tad said. We remember our Dinas.
Jorge gave the command for June to open the doors and signal the all clear. Within seconds, the Warriors exited and took up positions around the shuttle. He then motioned Tad and Red forward.
‘You know what to do?’
Tad said. Yes, Commander. We seek for the scent of Prowlers.
Patty looked worried until Dinas told her. ‘They train every day for this.’
Red called back as they walked to the doors. Do not worry our Patty. This is fun and we are very good at seeking.
‘All right then.’ She called after him.
Jorge made the sign, and Tad and Red were out the door in an instant. They split up, one going left while the other went right, each had Warriors running with them.
Jorge watched until the dust covered their trail, then he signaled the remaining people to leave the ship. A tense thirty mins went by as everyone waited, equipment in hand.
June called out. ‘Thirty mins gone.’
‘Come on… come on.’ Patty whispered.
Suddenly Tad and Red raced back across the surface at full speed. Dinas said. ‘Something is wrong.’
The Warriors went on alert as blue dust rose in the Prowlers wake, Tad called out before he even arrived back. We found wounded.
Red said. Young, many kits and adults, very injured.
Tad said. Our Patty, our Dinas, it is amazing.
Before anyone could ask what was amazing, they said together. Kitolin is here, he is here, come quickly.
Jorge gave the order. ‘We are a go.’
As they jogged behind the Warriors, Dinas asked Tad and Red, who were leading them. ‘Who is Kitolin?’
Tad answered. Our brother, we were sad we had to leave him. He was not Prowler. Mama would not let him come.
Patty asked. ‘Was she your mother as well?’
She was, we were not wanted in her nest.
Tad said. We have different father to Kitolin.
Netta asked. ‘So why is he here?’
Tad replied. He is here for us.
Red reprimanded Tad. You do not know that, Tad.
I know. Tad said with a conviction only a brother can have. Star Daughter, he join our Pride?
Peyton said. ‘Rage has final say, if he is to become part of the Pride.’
Oh, we will hope. Red said to Tad.
Kate asked the two brothers. ‘Is he hurt?’
Yes, he fight bad two leggers when they come for kits.
Peyton asked. ‘What?’
Tad answered. Kitolin fight bad two leggers Netta asked the brothers. ‘Are there any of the bad two leggers here?’
Red said. Yes Knife’s Mama, I take you to them?
‘We will ask, wait for me.’ She said as they started to race away, they stopped instantly as she called. ‘Commander Jorge.’
He fell in next to her as she said. ‘We have a situation.’ She explained what Red had said.
He asked him. ‘Are they alive?’
Tad shook his head. Dead, Kitolin excellent fighter.
Red said. Tad maybe Kitolin not fight, only adults.
Tad argued back. Kitolin fight. I know.
Jorge grinned and said. ‘The loyalty of brothers, what can beat that?’
‘Nothing.’ They all replied.
He issued his orders. ‘Red, take Commander Netta to the dead. Netta find what you can, take unit Nexus.’
The Warriors nodded and joined Netta, who jogged after Red as they veered to the left of the Mountain.
Tad led the remainder of the team into a tunnel which split off into several tunnels. It was easy to see which way they had to go. The Warriors had placed glow lights on the walls leading into the cavern.
It was not the largest cave she had ever been in, and at a quick count, Patty thought there had to be at least eighty to a hundred adult Prowlers. She could see around fifty kits, all of varying ages huddled in a corner, fear holding them quiet. Not every Prowler had wounds, some were just emaciated. Her heart broke, the scent of blood, hunger and despair mixed with stale air, along with something that smelled unhealthy, like swamp gas hung over the cave.
‘It is the dying breath of the moon.’ Peyton called out to Dinas, who nodded worriedly. He then issued his orders to the Warriors and Artars.
‘Make sure your eyes are covered, if you feel unwell, use your breathers. I would prefer you only stay in here for short periods of time, no more than fifteen mins.’
Kate also ordered. ‘Please be careful, there will be some Prowlers who are hungry and they don’t always…’
Peyton pulsed out a pale silver light, which instantly relaxed the tension of the Prowlers in the cave. Kate looked at her and smiled. ‘Thanks, that is a handy trick.’
‘It is, they will be okay now.’
Melody stood on a boulder which jutted out from the cave wall, every Prowler turned toward her as she spoke. ‘Greetings, I am Tocho Melody and we are here to help. We understand you have fought off attackers and have survived. The Star Daughter has come to take you home.’
Peyton waved when Melody indicated her. ‘So let our healers help you. We will assess you, and then someone will take you to our ship where you will receive food. I swear on my honor as Tocho and on behalf of Maikonia’s Pride Leader Rage, you are safe.’
The tension dissolved further at the mention of Rage. Murmurs echoed around the cavern and an older male stood and bowed to Peyton, then Melody. Thank you, great ones.
FOUR:
Kate started issuing orders and within mins they had established a treatment area at the front of the cave. The Warriors erected more lights as air floaters snapped open. After a brief consultation with Kate, Dinas and Patty decided they would administer treatment to whoever needed it immediately and stabilize others for transport. While Kate oversaw the operation and helped where needed.
Jorge and Melody were with the Artars who were going from Prowler to Prowler, checking each one to see what they needed. When they came to a Prowler who did not need immediate medical attention. They appointed a Warrior or Artar to take them back to the cruiser where food and cleansing showers were waiting for them.
Peyton asked Tad. ‘Which one is Kitolin?’
He took her to a male, no older than twenty, he appeared not to have eaten for some time, his ribs were showing and his skin was loose. The Prowler laid on a ledge hardly big enough for his long body. Someone had sliced him with a knife or sword from shoulder to hind leg. The cuts were deep and infected.
Kitolin opened pain-filled purple eyes, causing Tad to step back and say. He was not like that when we left him.
‘I remember.’ Peyton agreed, the Prowler barely resembled the healthy Kitolin they had left on Porquiel. Gently, she asked as she rubbed his ears. ‘Why are you here, Kitolin?’
He struggled to talk, and it was easy to hear the pain in his voice as he said. Come for brothers.
‘How long ago sweet boy?’
Luneras ago, find moon. Fight Raiders, protect kits
.
‘Brave Prowler.’ She crooned as she stroked his head. He sighed and closed his eyes again.
When you get purple eyes? Tad demanded to know. You not have them when we leave.
Kitolin sighed again as he said. When make first kill, eyes turn purple.
Melody came over and placed her hand on Tad’s head, halting his next words. ‘That is enough Tad, Kitolin needs his strength. There will be time to talk to him later.’
She looked at Peyton over his head, and her eyes held the same knowledge Peyton’s did. His first kill had not been here.
Tad took a step or two away from his brother as he asked fearfully. Did he mean Raiders? He softly answered his own question. I think he did not.
Neither Melody nor Peyton replied, instead Melody gave Tad a comforting pat as she called for Kate. ‘Kate over here?’
She rushed over and took in the situation at a glance. Then placing a hand on Kitolin’s head, she told him. ‘Alright young one, I have you?’
Melody explained. ‘Kate this is Kitolin, Tad and Red’s brother.’
‘Nice to meet you Kitolin. Tad, don’t worry, I will look after your brother.’
Kitolin raised his head a fraction and opened eyes. He thumped his tail twice, and they heard him say, I am Kitolin, I am for you.
Shocked, Kate stood still as her eyes teared up, then she smoothed her hand over his head, whispering. ‘I am Kate, I am for you. Now hush my brave Prowler.’
He sighed and said. Alright.
Tad gently nudged him. We say kay.
Kay.
Yes, kay.
Kay.
I just said we say kay.
Even through his pain they could hear the humor in Kitolin’s voice as he once more said. Kay.
Peyton laughed and said. ‘I think he is saying it after you, Tad.’
Tad growled as he told her. I forgot that Kitolin can be most annoying.
Patty arrived and asked Kate. ‘So what do we have here?’
Kate explained and with a nod Patty took out her scanner while Kate washed out the wounds. Kitolin, for all his bravery, winced and jerked a few times as they cleaned the wounds.
Kate softly told him. ‘You will need to stay still my Kitolin for this next part, but I promise this will not hurt.’
With that she hypo-sprayed him, as Patty pulled out her glue gun. Peyton must have said the name out loud because Kate accompanied by the evil eye said. ‘It is not a glue gun.’
Peyton said to Melody. ‘Looks like one to me.’
Melody grinned as Kate asked. ‘Why are you here?’
‘Here… here or just here?’ Peyton waved her hand around the cave.
Patty and Kate both stopped working to look at her and Kate asked. ‘Are you really necessary?’
‘Rude and snippy.’ Peyton told Melody, who said nothing but smiled a little as she looked at the cave ceiling.
Peyton then focused on Tad as she asked. ‘Tad, did you and Red do a check of all the caves?’
He looked at her and ducked his head, shaking it in the negative.
Jorge walked over, speaking as he arrived. ‘We are almost done with the most urgent cases. One more hour should see us done.’
They all heard June’s voice echo throughout the cave as she called the time. ‘One hour and thirty mins.’
Jorge eyed everyone in the small group and noticed the tension. He saw Tad shift slightly behind Melody’s legs and asked sharply. ‘What has happened?’
Melody explained. ‘Tad and Red did not check all the caves?’
‘Tad here now.’ Ordered Jorge as he pointed to the ground in front of him.
Tail down, ears flat to his skull, Tad slinked forward and sat in front of Jorge with his head hanging low. Yes, Commander Jorge.
‘Look at me, Seeker.’
Tad lifted his head and in the sternest voice anyone had ever heard Jorge use before he demanded. ‘Is this true? Did you not fulfill your duty?’
It is Commander.
‘Were you told not to complete your orders?’
No Commander.
‘Consider yourself and Red on report.’ Jorge told him.
Dinas arrived unseen and hearing what had happened, stepped forward, ignoring a sad looking Tad. ‘Commander, you wanted to see me.’
Jorge drew in a breath and said. ‘I did, Netta has asked for you, something about expertise.’ He looked at Tad. ‘Seeker guide the Commander to where Seeker Red has taken Commander Netta.’
Yes, Commander.
‘On my way.’ Dinas looked at his mate who stood, mouth opened, gun in hand and tears in her eyes. ‘We are military, as are Red and Tad. My heart, it is what we are.’ He left at a jog with a very sober Tad pacing beside him.
Jorge gave a nod to Peyton and marched off to help someone. By the line of his back, they could tell he was still very annoyed.
Patty angrily rammed the med-gun in her bag. ‘He is wrong, you are all wrong, they are young. So they screwed up, big deal. No one was hurt, and no one died. He was too hard on them. You expect too much from kits.’
Melody corrected her. ‘They are fifteen, which means they are juveniles, not kits.’
‘Your point?’ Kate asked with a glint of temper showing.
‘They are young, yes, but they know better.’
Patty nodded, then stated. ‘That is all fine and good, but no harm was done. I am sure they will learn. Putting them on report was unnecessary.’ She busied herself with running the scanner over Kitolin again.
Melody looked at Peyton and asked annoyance in her tone. ‘We wait for them?’
She shook her head just as June said over her comm. ‘One hour forty-five mins.’
‘No, we will have to search the other caves, have Jorge ask the other Prowlers to search the tunnels and caves. I’ll do my checks as well and see if anyone is hiding.’
‘As you wish, Star Daughter.’ Without a word to the two healers, she walked away.
Kate stared after her. ‘She is angry.’
Patty said. ‘Well tough, they are young?’
Peyton said in English. ‘Patty, Kate, I love you both, but she and Jorge are right. Both of you know they are right. Tad and Red screwed up. Tell me how you would feel if it had been a Warrior or Draygon who did not search properly. Would you say they are young, no harm done? You know you would not.’ Angrier now at the obstinate looks on both the female’s faces, she said. ‘They had one fucking job which they both train daily for, yet when we need them to accomplish what they do every day in training, they screwed up.’
Kate looked down as she rubbed Kitolin’s head. Patty less militant now, but still annoyed on her Prowler’s behalf, opened her mouth to retaliate but Peyton bet her to it.
‘Yeah, I am pissed off. We should not accept that level of bullshit from them, and neither should you. One day it could be the lives or your children or someone you love. Think on that while the rest of us go and do the Seeker’s job.’
She walked away as Patty’s anger dissolved and she thought about what Peyton had said. Kate kept a wary eye on Peyton as they loaded an unconscious Kitolin onto an air floater. Neither one of them spoke, not having been on the receiving and of Peyton’s temper before had rendered them speechless. Her anger was not something to joke about, she was a very scary.
Peyton was annoyed at the Prowlers for their incomplete search, but was more annoyed at Patty and Kate and their denial that the Prowlers were at fault. She understood Patty’s resistance since she and Dinas had just bonded with the juveniles, but Kate’s attitude baffled her.
She jumped up onto the same boulder Melody had used earlier and pulsed out a wave of blue light. It traveled through the caves and tunnels and stalled. Taking a moment, she breathed in soft centering breaths to calm herself, realizing her heightened emotions were hindering her ability to search.
Raising her hands she let the anger and disappointment fall away. Once more feeling in control she sent out another pulse of light. This time it
was silver and traveled along the tunnels, entering caves and hidden crevices. Then sweeping on into other smaller caves and along even smaller tunnels. Suddenly it revealed a pocket of heat without thinking she jumped off the rock and ran from the cavern.
Following a twisting river of silver starlight which flowed like a stream through tunnels, and crevices until it came to a small opening. She got down on her hands and knees and crawled along the tunnel until she came to an even smaller tunnel, which was thankfully very short.
Lying flat on her stomach she wiggled her way as far as she could, digging and pushing the moon dust from beneath her to make it easier. Squirming some more, she managed to get her upper body through the opening. Wiping the dust from her eyes, she found a natural cave no bigger than a small cupboard. She had her head and shoulders through the entrance and what she saw took her breath away. A small ring of stones sat in the middle of the cave.
Gently she pulled several stones apart and laying curled around each other, were two tiny kits.
‘Oh, little ones.’ Peyton breathed as she slipped her hands under them and pulled the kits toward her. Now came the arduous task of retracing her steps, wiggling backward and using her elbows in a form of the army crawl Melody had shown her once. She eventually made it to where she could stand, and then she looked down at what she was holding in her hands.
Two kits, one black like Bacon, and the other white like Rage with gold markings around their eyes. Peyton could just see the color of gold on the tip of each claw. Amazingly, they looked exactly like the ornament that Frand had given her so long ago. Greetings my bondmates.
Star Mama ungee.
Star Mama ungee.
I am sure you are sweet ones. Please be patient a little longer.
FIVE:
She could feel the kit’s bodies cooling, so she pulsed some heat into her hands, then started to run back to the cavern. A few mins later, she slowed and looked about her at the gray walls and dust laden tunnel. Had she taken a wrong turn, she felt disorientated, as though she had been turned around somehow. She bit her bottom lip and took several paces to the right and banged up against the wall.
