Stealth

by C. L. Scholey

  She scooped Dranos up into her arms. The boy was big even though he was half-human. His long white thick hair fluttered to past his shoulders. Dranos was just learning to change into battle mode. The single eyebrow most Zargonniis sported down the sides of their faces was in two separate lines across his high forehead and smaller, much the same as a human. He wore no shirt even in the snow, and neither did Zell. Both boys were clothed in only flexible indestructible black hip-hugging pants and thick black boots a size too big to accommodate their ability to grow before a battle.

  Neither Titus nor Cy’s biological son had need of winter clothing. Zell and Dranos weren’t covered in a fine fur on their chests like their father, but both had the three parallel strips of white across their arms and were immune to weather. Before long, Dranos’s hair would grow longer to cover his bare back entirely. Drano’s eyes were red as were almost all Zargonnii children with the exception of Zell, whose eyes glowed green. The shade of green suited Titus’s dark-haired son.

  “What’s wrong, Dranos?” Titus heard Zabbie ask as he stepped outside.

  “Braylon wishes I was never born.”

  Zabbie looked ready to dispute the statement, but from the red hue that was creeping up Braylon’s throat both knew Dranos had read his brother’s mind. Braylon kicked at a pile of snow.

  “You’re always following me,” Braylon complained. “I can’t go anywhere without you trailing me. Or mother making me take you with me. I’m tired of the endless babysitting.”

  “I’m not a baby.” Dranos sniffed.

  “Then stop blubbering like one,” Braylon ordered. “You’re embarrassing the both of us. You ain’t three anymore.”

  Normally Zargonniis couldn’t cry, the heat from their eyes dried any moisture, but Dranos could. From large red eyes huge crocodile tears slipped. The boy wrapped his arms tight around Zabbie who Titus knew he loved almost as much as his mother, Tempest. The feeling was reciprocated. Zabbie couldn’t have loved the boy more if he were her own son.

  “Why can’t my own brother love me?” Dranos whimpered, his bottom lip trembled. Titus hid a small smile. Dranos had what Zabbie would call ‘drama llama’ qualities.

  “I do love you, you idiot. You just always make me pissed,” Braylon yelled.

  “Mommy doesn’t like you saying that word.”

  “Uuugghhh,” Braylon bellowed and stormed off, shield up and covering his face to mask his fury, though his body language spoke volumes. Every creature on the planet would be wise to give the emotional teen a wide berth. The teen was allowed anywhere he wanted because Braylon could fight like a warrior and had the protection of a two-thousand-year-old Tonan shield. A very demanding and controlling shield which had them both at odds many times.

  “I chased him away—again,” Dranos said on a soft sigh with a frown watching his brother race to high the fence with ease.

  Titus took Dranos into his arms. He was the child of his best friend and he loved the boy like his own. “Does your mother know where you are?”

  Drano sniffed and swiped at his eyes. “Yes. She said I could come over, as long as Zabbie doesn’t mind.”

  Zabbie never minded. She often helped Tempest with him. Dranos was capable of some strange powers. Small easy powers to date, nothing the southern Zargonnii leader couldn’t handle. In fact they all wondered if Dranos was tapped out or would come into more abilities as time went by.

  The girl child of the northern Zargonnii leader Citun, wandered into the backyard. For one so young she was in possession of composure, deep understanding of emotions and a loving caring quality. She could make a room stand still with a single smile. The trees were known to reach to caress her hair as she walked by. She was a stunning child with long flowing locks, and softer human facial features.

  Having and keeping their female offspring had been an interesting concept for Zargonnii males. Brave was welcomed as were all females into the females’ area unlike males. The girl adored visiting her aunt. Brave sported thick black boots, hip-hugging black pants, but also a tanned long-sleeve shirt. As a female without fur she could only generate so much heat into her tiny body. Brave watched as Braylon stalked past her to leap over the fence. She stood silently for a moment then balled her fists, shook her head and continued on.

  “Boys.” Titus heard her grumble.

  Titus’s gaze went to his son. Zell’s green eyes flashed for a moment as they always did when seeing Brave. He had mate-claimed her the day she was born. Brave was three years younger than Zell and though she loved Zell she was only a child and by Zargonnii standards would be for quite some time.

  Brave was half-human and half Zargonnii. She favored her mother Storm, in looks. Her long hair reached her behind, but unlike Zargonnii females she was hairless. Though built larger than human females, she was by Zargonnii standards petite. Titus adored her, as did Zabbie.

  Dranos struggled down and raced to Brave. He was laughing now as he took her hand. “You don’t need to kick anyone’s butt for me,” the boy declared and Brave let out an exasperated sigh.

  “Stay out of my head. It’s not polite to look into someone’s mind. It’s like staring at me while I’m naked.”

  “Ewww,” Dranos said in little boy disgust that made Titus chuckle. “Is it really like that?”

  “Yes,” Zabbie said, her look thoughtful.

  “I suppose she has a point,” Titus agreed. “You wouldn’t want to be a peeping Dranos.”

  “Stay out of my mate’s head,” Zell thundered.

  Titus was shocked at Zell’s thundering tone. Dranos drew back. Zell was an imposing figure for a boy. He stood a head taller than most Zargonnii boys. He had grown taller than his mother by his tenth year. Soon he would match Titus in height. Titus knew his son would never harm Dranos, but Zell was touchy when it came to Brave.

  “Well, you didn’t need to do that,” Dranos said and began to cry again. He lifted his hands to cover his face.

  “What did you do?” Brave demanded to Zell, her arms crossed over her chest.

  “He made me read his thoughts,” Dranos sobbed dramatically.

  Titus went to pick the boy up again and gave a hard glance to Zell. “He’s five. Dranos, it’s okay to cry, no one thinks you’re a baby and you aren’t embarrassing yourself. Brave is only ten, Zell. You cannot claim her until she is of age, and agrees. Which won’t be for a number of years if not a few decades.”

  “I have agreed to be Zell’s mate, but I might change my mind if you pick on children,” Brave said. She oozed attitude and Titus wanted to chuckle as Zell went red. He never knew a female who had her fingers wrapped so tightly around a male without even trying.

  “I’m sorry, Dranos,” Zell said. “Please stop hiding behind your hands. I don’t mind that you’re here or when you hang with us. I think having a little brother would be cool. Someone just like you.” Dranos took his hands down and smiled adoringly at the teen, then looked over at Brave who was also smiling.

  “I think it’s time for hot chocolate.” Zabbie took Dranos from Titus and tucked Brave’s hand into hers. The three went inside, sliding through the glass material.

  Titus placed a hand on Zell’s shoulder. “Son you have many years before you can mate. You might want to Holiday with a female Zargonnii before you have a mate. Many Zargonnii females are hoping you will Holiday with their daughters. You have within you the power to give our females power. I know Brave is Zargonnii but she is half-human. Humans think differently than Zargonnii females. They mate differently. If you mate Brave it will be for life and she will expect you to remain faithful forever.”

  “I won’t cheat on my mate. Not after we’re mated or before.”

  Titus sighed, and he heard Ryker chuckle.

  “Uncle, you must know there is no one but Brave for Zell. Castians mate for life too. The concept isn’t too different.”

  “What of you, Ryker? Have you picked a mate?” Ryker and Zell spent most days together. The boys could morph onto both p
lanets with a simple thought. Ryker had his black Castian shield up to his neck to stay warm. Under his shield he wore only hip hugging pants. The boy was big for his age, thoughtful, kind. He had a younger sister at home who seemed to be in possession of no strange skills except one: no matter where she was she knew how each member of her family fared. If Ryker was in trouble, his tiny sister would know and send out a distress mind image to all who cared for Ryker. Ryker adored her and vice versa.

  “I have a long time yet to go. Human females are cute and some are cuter than others but I don’t want to date yet, even though some of my friends are kinda dating. You know how it is.”

  Titus almost laughed out loud. He had no clue how it was. He had never had a date in his life before meeting Zabbie. Earth customs between the sexes was beyond different to his culture. The concept of eating dinner with a Zargonnii female was laughable. She would more than likely try to choke a male to death to initiate the Holiday.

  “I can guess what you mean, but no I don’t understand your ideas of saying you’re going out with a girl one moment then break up a day later, then go out with another and so on,” Titus said.

  “Me, too,” Zell said.

  Titus realized his son’s thinking was always more geared to the Zargonnii way except when it came to Brave.

  “I was wondering if your females might like to know what it is to Holiday with a Castian warrior…when I’m old enough,” Ryker said with a shrug. “They’re pretty cool.”

  Titus’s eyes widened. He’d never even entertained the idea. Their females were huge, covered in a fine layer of hair, some eight feet tall. They remained unclothed and were a formidable lot, their long white hair brushing the ground. Ryker was too young to Holiday but the idea held merit. With his battle skills the boy would prove to be dominant. The females might not mind. Ryker, when grown, could give a piece of his shield to his offspring. The shield would last for a male but would only protect a female until the age of five. The concept seemed unfair to the female child but like most things in nature it was a way to make certain their kind would procreate. A male Castian could shield any female under the age of twenty-one, keeping her safe and healing any hurts—a luring factor. Once mated, a female could be shielded by her mate and any other male relative.

  “I don’t know what our females would say. The idea of a Castian Zargonnii is mind provoking though. The choice is always theirs,” Titus said. “Before you could join a Holiday we would need to get word to the females. We don’t want all of them returning home in a panic. Everyone would be pissed.”

  “They welcome the idea,” Zell said. Titus knew the females adored Zell. He was the only male on the planet that could enter their area. “They also know it won’t happen for a long time. Females will only mate with a male who is completely grown. They want only the strongest offspring. The females want a son who can shield himself even though the male child must be given to his father. A Zargonnii with a Castian shield would be impressive. They will welcome any female born as they usually do.”

  “What of you, Ryker? Would you welcome a Zargonnii son? You would be expected to care for him.”

  “Well yes, I suppose. I would welcome my son.”

  “Could you give up your daughter?” Titus pressed. “A female Zargonnii would die of heartbreak if you took her daughter away.”

  Ryker pondered for a moment and Titus could see he hadn’t thought that part through. Why would he? The boy was a young teen, there was no reason to be thinking of children. A long talon finger stroked with care down his cheek.

  “I would have Zell ask only a female who will allow me to spend time with a daughter Holiday with me. I wouldn’t take her away unless her mother agreed to a trip when she was older. I have a sister so I think I could take care of a girl but maybe not when she’s a baby. Mom asked me to change a dirty diaper once, and my shield came up it was that gross. Mom just about died laughing. Girls are different; you have to be so careful around them. A girl belongs with her mother, but a father is equally important. My dad is, and I know you are too, Zell. It’s all good as long as I know and can see she’s safe and happy. Boy am I glad I’m too young to Holiday. My head hurts.” He glared at Zell. “If it weren’t for you making cow eyes at Brave, we’d still be tossing snowballs.”

  “How can I have cow eyes when I have Zargonnii eyes?” Zell sounded indignant.

  Ryker crossed his own eyes, made duck-smacking lips and both boys snickered. Zell gave him a playful shove.

  Titus pondered. “A male child is important to his mother too. It would hurt a female if you took her son to live on a different planet for long periods of time. Our females sense their male children no matter where they are here. They love both sexes of their children, but show it in different ways.”

  Ryker laughed and tossed a handful of snow at Zell. “I could have my son here in seconds if his mother was distressed. Who knows, my kid, boy or girl, might even have my ability to take him or her places with the simple blink of an eye.”

  True. Titus chuckled. He should have remembered how sensitive and kind Ryker was. “Our females will adore you…but not for many years.”

  The teens were chucking snowballs at one another. Titus was hit in the head. He grabbed the head off a snowman and pelted Zell. Ryker was howling with laughter as Zell plucked wiggling small branches from his hair.

  “The hot chocolate is ready,” Zabbie called sticking just her head through the glass then ducking back inside.

  Titus and the boys shook the snow off, dried themselves with their heated eyes and went inside.

  The End

  About the Author:

  I love to write about everything and can't wait for an idea that grips me and sends me to a new place. Between worlds keeps me busy, that and chasing after my children and grandchildren and a new kitten. Plus one ornery 116 pound mastiff who thinks he's a lap dog. Welcome into my adventures, and hang on!

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