Ice
Ti'aasaan huddled in the snow against the rocks as the screaming wind ripped the last of the heat from his small body. Too cold - far too cold - to move, it felt as though his blood was slowly beginning to freeze in his veins, ice crystals forming in his joints...
"What do you think?"
Ti'aasaan glanced up at me, smiling delightedly.
"I like them very much."
I smirked and sat cross-legged beside him, tickling the hybrids sprawled in his lap.
"Good! Now, which will be which?"
Our children had been the focus of intense scrutiny for all ten days of their lives, with Vinas and his team demanding samples of bodily fluids at least once a day (much to my annoyance), and Zh'leet and - to a somewhat lesser extent - Gh'veen watching over them like... well, like the last parents of an almost-extinct race. It would have been funny if it hadn't been so bloody aggravating.
But the babies didn't seem to mind too much. Or rather, one of them didn't. The other had already almost perfected a high-pitched, oddly Saiyan hissing snarl, and was practising using it at every opportunity, accompanied by a glare and a sharp-clawed swipe at whoever happened to be within range.
The other - well, the other could charm the food from a Saiyan's mouth. The big, black-rimmed golden eyes gazed up appealingly as the little creature smiled shyly then slid its thumb into its mouth and gurgled... Ti'aasaan had bitten his lip hard, trying not to laugh as he watched me, unsentimental, un-maternal me, dissolve (to my eternal embarrassment) into a soft-voiced gooey heap of adoring motherhood the first time the hybrid had tried it. An hour later I'd realised what had happened and determined not to let the infant get away with it again - a resolution I managed to keep, oh, about 30% of the time...
Ti'aasaan had lifted the placid, cooing baby to his chest, licking very gently at the pale amethyst skin of the soft neck as one small hand gripped at his plaits.
"I suppose this one will have to be Ti'ani."
I'd laughed aloud.
"Uhuh. In that case this little horror..." the other hybrid glowered at me, then wrapped his tail tightly around my wrist and grinned up into my face, "must be Le'leen..."
The Naming was a low-key occasion, but very precious to us all. And to my astonishment, Hijau was present...
I accosted Radittsu afterwards, tugging at his mane. He ruffled my hair, grinning down into my eyes. I frowned and inclined my head in Hijau's direction.
"Uh, why's he here?"
The captain shrugged.
"He asked to be. I saw no reason to refuse him." He frowned slightly. "Does it bother you?"
I bit my lip, then shook my head.
"I guess not. I was just surprised, that's all."
Radittsu pulled me into a hug.
"He wants to be close to the family. I want him to be close, too. When I'm not here, you and he will be the first line of defence, should any kind of danger threaten."
I nodded, relaxing slightly.
"Makes sense. Wish you'd warned me, though."
He chuckled. "And how could I have managed that?"
I'd grinned wryly. I'd been so busy with the hybrids - and he'd been so swamped by bondmates and hostlings when he wasn't trying to juggle his official duties with his much-preferred family ones - that we'd had no time to do more than greet each other in passing since the babies (all nine of them) had been born...
Hijau had stationed himself on the edge of the family group, watching the activity eagerly, his expression fascinated but uneasy as though he wasn't entirely sure of his welcome. I was about to play hostess and go and gather him further in when Zha'raadiin beat me to it, grabbing the Saiyan's hand firmly and dragging him, bemused, to his host, where the child insisted on being lifted and cradled in warm, tanned arms as Ti'aasaan and Hijau talked together. I glanced at Radittsu, who was blinking in surprise: Zha'raadiin had never been so well-behaved.
"What's that all about?"
Radittsu shook his head. "I dread to think. But let's not shake the tree. If 'raadiin's happy, it means a quieter time for all of us!"
I frowned. "D'you think Zha'haabron will mind?"
He shrugged. "Doubt it. He likes Hijau."
"Oh?"
He grinned. "Most people do."
Well, that much was true. Hijau was a thoroughly amiable person, and considerate with it. Not to mention, now I thought about it, very attractive...
"What's he like? In bed, I mean."
Radittsu stared at me blankly for a moment, then tapped my nose.
"I don't think that's any of your business."
I felt myself blushing. "Sorry."
He smirked, and murmured, "Talented. And that's all I'm saying. Let's have a drink."
It wasn't until later, when we'd finally managed to settle all the babies to sleep - Ti'ani and Le'leen hardly ever seemed to sleep: I'd almost given up trying to make them, they seemed happy and healthy enough on the half hour naps they took every now and again - that I had a moment to wonder about the future. My children's future in particular. But it was only for a moment: the subject was too complex, and I was too tired, for me to ponder for long, and with Zh'leet keeping the little princes, Ti'ani and Le'leen occupied in the bathing pool, I snuggled against Radittsu's back, wrapping myself in mane that wasn't covering the babies, and fell deeply asleep.
Ti'aasaan tried to draw in a whisper of freezing air, his lungs tight, the skin of his face feeling as though it was cracking with the slightest movement. At least the cold had taken away the pain at the back of his head, where he'd been hit so hard he'd not regained consciousness until he was far too cold and weak to *call* for help...
The cold season had come early, with a light frost silvering the leaves of the climbing plant on the balconies a good ten days before normally expected. The little princes had stared out of the window, their eyes huge and wondering, then little Zha'haabron turned to Radittsu.
"Dadda? What is it?"
He smiled at them from the bed, where he was wrapped around the babies as usual.
"Time for you to climb into warm clothes!" He glanced at Leteetza, who grinned. She'd had thickly furred bodysuits made for all the zn'hre: Zha'haabron had, as ever, resigned himself, testily, to the warmer gear - Radittsu had come to the conclusion his bondmate simply didn't like his skin being covered any more than was absolutely necessary, and put up with the fur suits because he had no choice. Ti'aasaan and Zha'haarak, however, were delighted by their outfits, finding them so warm and so comfortable they made the cold season almost worthwhile enduring. Leteetza had taken great pleasure in having the outfitters visit the palace to discuss colours and styles, wrapping Ti'aasaan in thick fine bevoth hide, dyed a rich turquoise and trimmed with wispy silvery vixd fur, while Zha'haarak was swathed in the black and soft grey striped pelt of wild hachdin. And they both relished the smooth softness of the silk undersuits against their skin...
And as for the infants...! Could there be anything more adorable than a bundle of tiny zn'hre in a rainbow mix of supple furs, tumbling and laughing together as they watched the snow from the windows of their warm, safe suite?
Ti'aasaan didn't think so.
He shifted as best he could, the tiny movement sparking agony through icy limbs. He supposed he should be grateful he could feel anything - at least it meant his nerves hadn't died. Yet.
He had no idea what had happened - although the fact that it had been a blow to the head that had rendered him unconscious, rather than something more sophisticated, argued for a Saiyan assailant rather than any other species. Whoever had organised the event had waited until Zha'haabron and Radittsu were well on their way back to R'ren'nkh'ia, and therefore too far away to be of any use, before taking action...
He'd had a call from Vinas, requiring him to attend a special examination - something technical to do with a possible breakthrough in their efforts to make the Ssii'iin's hosting of his bondmate's offspring safer. Well, of course he was going to hurry to the lab as quickly as he could - after he'd seen his bondmates off at the spaceport, anyway.
Zha'haabron had frowned at him, the hood of his black fur bodysuit shimmering with a light dusting of fine snow.
**Sweetheart, you should be back at the suite, in the warm**
**But this is interesting, my Ssii'iin!** He'd raised his face to the sky, holding out a heavily gloved hand to catch the tiny flakes, then smiling at his king from within the fur hood, golden eyes bright. **I've never known anything like it before!**
**It is also insidiously dangerous. You are not to allow yourself to become too cold - and believe me, it can happen almost without your realising it. Stay warm and be guided by Leteetza**
The little zn'hre had nodded gravely. Radittsu hugged him.
*He's right, little 'un. You really must take care.*
**I will, I promise. It's just - this is so pretty!**
The Saiyan had chuckled and stroked the cool blue face with a warm hand.
*Admire it from behind a window, preferably with a raging fire in the room!* He glanced up as Hijau approached: his second in command saluted smartly.
"Any last orders, sir?"
Radittsu shook his head.
"Other than keeping an eye on the family," he gestured to Ti'aasaan, "especially this reckless little one, no. I'll report in as ever, though, and you know how to reach me should it be necessary." He kissed the little zn'hre on the forehead and gazed into the pale golden eyes.
*Time for you to go back. Hijau will escort you.*
Ti'aasaan nodded and turned to hug Zha'haabron tightly, trying to smile.
**I'll miss you**
**I will miss you, also. We both will. But Zha'haarak is here now, and you'll have more than enough to do coping with the hostlings. If you need any additional help, let Leteetza know**
As Ti'aasaan nodded, Zha'haabron pushed him slightly away and touched his face gently.
**Be safe, sweetheart. We'll be back as soon as we can**
Ti'aasaan had watched as the shuttle rose from the spaceport, then turned to Hijau who was standing behind him protectively. The Saiyan smiled.
"May I escort you back to your suite, my Ssii'iir?"
The little zn'hre blinked, startled, then coloured slightly, willing to bet Hijau wasn't fully cognisant of the full meaning of the term. Although, on second thoughts, he had been trying to learn a little more about the R'ren'nkh'ia-jin, according to Leteetza...
He shook his head and smiled back.
"Thank you, but no. I have an appointment with Vinas."
"Then I'll escort you to the lab."
Ti'aasaan sighed silently. He'd hoped to make his own way back, enjoy the sheer novelty of the snow, of being able to be by himself, just for a little while. Hijau tentatively touched his arm.
"My captain has ordered me to see to your safety. I need to make sure you reach home safely. No harm must come to you."
Ti'aasaan had laughed, flinging his arms wide.
"What harm can come to me here?"
What harm indeed?
Hijau had escorted him as far as the main entrance to the sprawling grounds that housed Vejiitasei's principle military academy, the elite guard, the main medical facility and laboratories and the palace, then, very reluctantly, allowed him to make his own way to the lab complex. Ti'aasaan had flown part of the way, until he realised that expending enough ki to remain aloft in the freezing, gusting winds, and the steadily increasing heaviness of the snowfall, was lowering his body heat quite dramatically. He'd landed and walked the rest of the route, intrigued by the way his boots stirred up clouds of powdery snow, enchanted, despite the cold, by the sparkling white landscape around him. And as he neared the 'port-side gate into the grounds, something had slammed into his head from behind...
Who? Who had done this to him? And why?...
He stared at the snow, his half-open eyes aching from the wind and the almost blinding whiteness. He'd lost all feeling in his arms and legs and the lower half of his body: his heart was slowing, his breathing rasping, becoming more and more difficult by the second. Inside, he wept for his children, the ones he'd birthed and the hybrid hostlings he loved so much...
He was dying.
**Zk'viss? Where are you?!**
As the desperate *cry* filtered into his sluggish brain he almost *giggled*. It truly was amazing what went through one's mind when one was freezing to death...
But seconds later the *cry* was repeated, this time more urgently - and from nearer at hand?
**...Zha'haarak...?*
He *felt* the gentle zn'hre change direction, homing in on his position, and seconds later the Ssii'irin landed awkwardly before him, eyes huge and distraught.
**Oh, by all that's precious!! Little one, are you still alive?**
**I... I think so...**
Gloved hands clumsy with the cold wrapped him in three layers of furs and lifted him unsteadily from the frozen ground. Almost immediately he was pulled firmly into much stronger arms and enveloped in a warm ki-haze. He slowly forced his gaze upwards - and into the scowling face of the Saiya-jin-no-Ou.
"Don't think this means I've forgiven you." Vejiita growled, cradling the almost-frozen small body against his own glowing warmth. Too cold and disorientated to make sense of what was happening, Ti'aasaan closed his eyes and gratefully rested his face against the king's chest, sinking into a semi-conscious doze.
Vejiita glared over at Hijau, who was struggling against the howling wind to wrap more furs around Zha'haarak. The gentle zn'hre was at the end of his strength, gasping in the icy air, shaking too violently to be of any help.
"Baka! Hurry it up. There's not much point in rescuing him if they both freeze to death before we can get them back!"
Hijau gritted his teeth and finally managed to cover most of Zha'haarak's body in the furs, then lifted him into strong arms and nodded at the king. The pair raced back to Vejiitamachi as fast as they dared.
Warmth...
He was warm. Every part of him ached horribly; his face felt swollen, his lungs hurt, and he was trembling with fatigue. But he was warm. Blessedly warm.
He struggled to open his eyes, making out Zha'haarak's worried face above his. He tried to smile - then frowned, painfully. There was something wrong...
Zh'leet slid into the pool with a slight splash, her monitor raised, and paused at his side where he rested across the gentle zn'hre's lap, half-floating in the steaming water.
"How do you feel?"
"Alive..." It came out as a hoarse gasp: he tried again. "Warmer. Hurts."
She nodded absently, settling the monitor against his neck.
"It would. Another half an hour, if that, and you'd have died. It's still going to take you a good few days to recover. You're very lucky you haven't lost any fingers or toes." She switched her gaze to Zha'haarak.
"And how are you?"
"I am fine."
She scowled. "Don't lie to me. How's the hip?"
The gentle zn'hre bit his lip. "Painful."
She sighed, resigned. The artificial hip had its limitations: Zha'haarak was still limping and probably always would, and the cold made the joint ache ferociously (of course, that wouldn't be a problem if he was back on R'ren'nkh'ia, but it was extremely unlikely he'd ever agree to be parted from the family...) But he never complained, and Zh'leet could understand why. The slight pain was a small price to pay for the mobility - and loss of the agony he used to suffer - he now enjoyed.
"Will you take some pain-killers?"
As always he smiled and shook his head: all the freed zn'hre had an almost overwhelming horror of any kind of drugs, even mild analgesics... She half-smiled.
"Well, if you change your mind..." She laid a hand against Ti'aasaan's face. "The Ssii'iin and Rhoi'i'dat'hzziu are on their way back: as soon as Vinas called demanding to know where you were we realised something had happened to you, and Hijau contacted the big ape. They turned the ship around - they'll be here in about an hour." She brushed her thumb across his cheek, blinking back tears. "Thank all the gods that you and Zha'haarak are bonded. If he hadn't been able to *find* you you'd have died - and I don't think I could have borne that. And as to what it would have done to the Ssii'iin..."
Ti'aasaan took a gasping breath and weakly touched her hand.
"What's happened?"
She regarded him narrowly for a moment. "What do you mean?"
"Something's wrong..." he rasped. Zh'leet's gaze flickered to Zha'haarak, who shook his head. The ko'ish'n's eyes lowered.
"We... think that your abduction was a ploy to get the king away from the palace. Leteetza called him once we knew there was something wrong, and he insisted on going to find you himself. And Hijau wouldn't let anyone else go with him - he feels guilty for not escorting you all the way to Vinas' laboratory." She didn't mention her fears that Radittsu would hand out his own form of punishment once he found out Hijau hadn't done as ordered. Ti'aasaan was going to feel bad enough about the situation as it was, without being burdened with that bit of information too... She took a deep breath.
"Zh'anah's dead. While Vejiita was on his way to you, someone killed her and broke into the consort's suite..."
Ti'aasaan had paled, his eyes huge and anguished, his hand gripping her wrist with desperate strength.
"And?"
Zh'leet closed her eyes.
"Sheftali and Kayusu, and the heirs, are gone."
© 2001 December 31st Joules Taylor
Ti'aasaan's hostlings: Zha'haavok (yes, really!), Zha'miiron, Zha'selaan.
Zha'haarak's hostlings: Zha'fallon, Zha'jiisa, Zha'viirel, Zha'honee.
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