Preparations (pt 2)


Ti'aasaan woke slowly, stretching against Jeice, who was cuddled against his back, one hand draped over his chest. The little zn'hre smiled to himself: it had taken several days, but now Jeice felt safe enough to move out of his embrace at night. For which Ti'aasaan was heartily grateful - Jeice had been a warm and sweet-smelling and almost unbearably arousing temptation in his arms…
      'leesaan was awake, lying sprawled on his stomach, gaze fixed on Zha'haabron - or, more specifically, on the king's abdomen. Ti'aasaan stroked the hostling's leg gently, keeping his voice to a low hissing murmur.
      "What it is, precious?"
      'leesaan beamed over his shoulder at his maazi, and pointed.
      Zha'haabron lay on his back, his head pillowed on Radittsu's arm, the big Saiyan close beside him, tail wrapped around one strong blue thigh. Ti'aasaan frowned for a moment, then his eyes widened and he grinned as he realised what the hostling had been scrutinising.
      There was a slight, but definite rounding of the king's belly. Ti'aasaan reached to lay a hand very lightly over the swelling: in unison Radittsu's and Zha'haabron's hands covered his own. The king's golden eyes slowly opened to meet Ti'aasaan's delighted gaze, then glanced down at himself as Radittsu nuzzled his neck, something that almost sounded like a purr rumbling deep in his chest.
      The combination of contented, blissful purr and the *thrill* that rippled through the king and Ti'aasaan woke the rest of the family, who nestled closer to see what was going on - closely followed by Jeice, who sighed, eyes half-closed and smiling dreamily as the family's happiness washed over him. It was wonderful, a distinct contrast to other areas of their communal life…

Dropping the heirs off with Radittsu, who was supervising the outdoor pursuits that day, Leteetza had arrived back from her visit with the king in a foul mood. Jeice had watched as Ti'aasaan wrapped slim arms around her from behind and kissed her mane.
      "What's happened?"
      "He wants me to take the heirs to R'ren'nkh'ia for Moonyear."
      "Why?"
      "He's decided he wants them to be older before they experience their first ouzaru transformation."
      "And this is something bad?"
      She'd swivelled to him, scowling.
      "Not really, I suppose. Missing one at this age won't do them any harm at all - be better for them, really, as they'll have learned control by the next one."
      "So why are you annoyed?"
      "Because I like the run up to FullMoon. It's - invigorating. Exciting. Fun."
      "And you'll miss it all…"
      "Well, not all of it. He wants me back for FullMoon itself." She grinned wryly. "He needs someone to - uh - relieve his frustrations and I can't imagine Kayusu satisfying him for more than five minutes…"
      Ti'aasaan chuckled.
      "So you spend the whole time fucking?"
      "Well, yes… mostly… We fight a bit, too…"
      "I can see why you wouldn't want to miss it. So, you'll be travelling to R'ren'nkh'ia with the family?"
      She shook her head.
      "No: we'll be joining you a hundred days later. He doesn't want them here for FullMoon itself, but he does want them to get some feel for the moon." She shrugged. "Seems odd to me, but it's what he wants…"
      "If you and he are going to be otherwise engaged, it seems like a good idea to me. You'll travel back with Rhoi'i'dat'hzziu?"
      She nodded.
      "And then back to R'ren'nkh'ia once FullMoon's over. And then back to Vejiita-sei once the effects have faded and everyone's back to normal. My first ever trip offworld and I have to spend it going back and forth like a virgin's ass on his first fuck…"
      The little zn'hre laughed and hugged her.
      "But we will be happy to have you with us."
      She kissed his cheek.
      "Yeah. It does have its compensations. And it'll make the brats happy - Kobis has already said how much he's going to miss 'haabron."
      Ti'aasaan inclined his head.
      "I don't think 'raadiin's realised yet that Hijau isn't going with us."
      "He isn't?"
      The zn'hre shook his head and glanced at the prince, who lowered his eyes, expression despondent.
      "Rhoi'i'dat'hzziu wasn't too keen on the idea of his accompanying us, although he would have given his permission, for Zha'haarak's sake. But Vejiita overruled him. As second in command of the Elite Guard, Hijau has to stay here and deputise for the Ssii'iir."
      Leteetza regarded Zha'haarak, who sighed.
      "We are resigned." His voice was softer than usual. "Our reunion will be all the sweeter."
      Leteetza frowned.
      "That's going to be very hard on Hijau. And you do know he won't be able to resist the moon, don't you?"
      The gentle zn'hre nodded.
      "He has already told me what will happen."
      "And you're all right with it?"
      He shrugged.
      "I have no choice."
      For the first time Leteetza realised how difficult it could be for a zn'hre bonded to a Saiyan. She wondered how Zha'haabron felt, how he was going to cope when Radittsu returned for FullMoon. Thank the gods she wasn't bonded, to anyone…

The atmosphere in the suite had been tense for the last couple of days. Mahrayne had returned from spending the night with Zorun to find Kelapa in a vile temper. The language that emanated from behind the Hassinan's closed door had the R'ren'nkh'ia-jin wincing, until Leteetza borrowed an audio chip from Zha'haabron and set it playing - loudly - until she could hustle the brats, complaining all the way, off to the classroom. The first lesson was a disaster, the children too curious and anxious to concentrate, until Mahrayne arrived, frowning and for once short-tempered, unprepared to put up with any nonsense from her pupils…
      She didn't want to talk about it.
      Two days later Kelapa was still back in her old quarters at Guard headquarters - and Mahrayne still refused to talk about it, even though Leteetza had offered her a sympathetic ear.
      But she was becoming very tense. She needed to do something

Early afternoon. Saiya-jin and R'ren'nkh'ia-jin and hybrids had all left the suite for outside pursuits. Mahrayne hadn't gone with them.
      "Jeice?"
      The subo looked up into Mahrayne's bronze-gold eyes as she hovered at his door. The Hassinan smiled.
      "Are you - busy?"
      He shook his head, lowering the sketch of the new costume design he was tinkering with.
      "No, mistress… I mean, Mahrayne. How may I serve you?"
      She seated herself on the bed, at a little distance from his slight form. While he was perfectly comfortable with her when they danced, and seemed almost fully at ease with her generally, she was still careful to respect his personal space, especially when they were alone. She could wish he wasn't quite so formal in his speech to her, but was sure that that would change, in time. She inclined her head.
      "Would you dance with me?"
      Jeice watched her for a moment, gauging her request. He'd been very aware of her feelings towards him from the start - with his empathic abilities he couldn't not be! - and they'd only grown more pronounced as time went by. Right now, she was positively glowing with a mix of genuine eagerness and enthusiasm for the chance to dance with him, a deep desire to protect him - and a simmering sensuality. He knew she wanted to know what it was like to have sex with him, he could almost see it…
      He smiled.
      "I would be honoured."

She'd wanted to learn the basics of the hvassah, the sexual dances his kind used to arouse. There were several different types - aggressive, teasing, innocent, distant, submissive, each with their own variations and sub-types - but they had many steps and movements (of hands, arms, body) in common. He'd started by showing her - showing everyone - the simplest dance, one that teased and aroused in a simple, straightforward way. She'd mastered it quite quickly. Perhaps it was time to show her something a little more complex…
      Taking the audio chip he'd handed her, she left his room as he changed, waiting patiently in the common room. Her eyes widened hugely as he emerged, her lips parting as she stared at him.
      The costume - if it could be called that - was made of fine black leather, tight and supple, bands lacing down his arms and legs and across his body and through his nipple rings as closely as a second skin. The scrap of leather at his groin barely covered him, and was held in place by thin laces through the ring at the uppermost base of his penis and - as Mahrayne was to discover later - another ring nestling snugly behind his balls: the thin leather clearly showed the outline of the studs along his shaft. What looked like silver-mounted carnivore's claws hung from his nipples and earlobes, and his hair was tied back with criss-crossed leather bands. And in each hand he held a small, delicate, but very sharp curving blade…
      Mahrayne swallowed nervously. He no longer looked like a waif. He looked - dangerous. Predatory. Mesmerising. And infinitely desirable.
      His lips curved in a cruel smirk as he spun fast and toggled on the audio player with the tip of one of the blades, then swivelled to face her, dropping into a crouch. And the dance began…
Hunter
      It wasn't really music (she'd thought, much later, after she'd recovered from the initial shock and was, with some disquiet, watching Jeice welcoming the hostlings back from their afternoon outside, back in his day clothes and as cheerful and helpful as usual… Why was he so - blasé - about it…?). It was - the sound of wind through leaves, sudden heavy raindrops on dry ground, the frantic breathing of the prey, the pounding of its heart. Something so… elemental, so primal, it was almost painful…
      Jeice had danced a hunt. One in which she was the quarry. Her own heart pounding in time with the steadily increasing pulse on the 'chip, she'd stared open-mouthed at his lithe, supple body, suddenly uncertain as to whether he was in earnest - and deliciously terrified. She'd backed away from him, slowly, never taking her eyes from his hypnotically swaying, twisting, sinuous form. And he'd allowed her retreat, gradually herding her into a corner, where she cowered against the wall, closing her eyes with a whimper as (the music rising to a peak) he hovered over her, arms above his head, both blades pointing down towards her trembling body…
      She felt twin coldnesses very lightly brush her face. Squinting open one eye, she looked into the subo's face as he knelt on one knee before her, the blades resting gently against her cheekbones.
      He smiled, rose and slid the blades into one of the straps at his hips, then extended a hand to her. Still trembling, she took it, surprised when he pulled her easily to her feet. Even more surprised when he spun her around and pushed her down onto the sleeping platform, deftly pulling her loose robe over her head.
      "J… Jeice?"
      He sat over her, straddling her waist, then leisurely reached behind him to let his hair loose, stretching upwards as he did so, subtly pushing his hips forwards. Mahrayne gulped and accepted what she sincerely hoped was an invitation, quickly untying the laces that still - just - held the leather at his groin, freeing his rapidly growing erection. She stared appreciatively - those studs were so much bigger and more prominent than Hassinan beads! - and reached to undo the leather straps around his genitals, but at that moment his hair fell loose and a second later his mouth was on her breast, studded shaft pressing into her belly…
      She bit back a cry as his lips traced her beads, pushing up against him as his studded tongue caressed her nipple, her hands gripping his hips as she tried to push him down her body, mindlessly, only aware that she wanted him in her now… And he leered down at her, shifted slightly, and rammed into her in one smooth, powerful motion that had her shrieking as she came, her legs wrapping around his waist without her realising it.
      As the lights behind her eyelids faded, she realised he was still within her, shifting very slightly, watching her face. And as her eyes drifted open, he began to move - pulling right out and rubbing his erection over her groin, the feel of those studs immediately arousing, then thrusting back into her, building up a steady rhythm, the dual action having her whimpering and clutching at him.
      But this time he made her wait, slowing his movements to an erratic, erotic dance over and into her sensitive flesh as that fascinating tongue teased her nipples. By the time he let her come, what seemed like hours later, she was panting, nearly crying with frustration. But it was worth it. That climax had to be the most intense she'd yet known…
      And still he wasn't finished! She couldn't quite work out how he did it, but he suddenly flipped her limp body over onto its stomach - without pulling out - and pulled her onto her knees, one hand sliding to her groin, the other to her breasts, handling her more roughly this time. And moments later she came again, sobbing, shoulders slumping to the bed, her legs trembling.
      He dragged her upright, into his lap, holding her against his body with one arm as the other explored her body, leisurely tracing the beads along her thigh, her collarbone, her breast…
      "Jeice… please…"
      "What do you want?" It was a deep, sensual murmur in her ear, and she shuddered.
      What did she want? To rest? Not yet. To take control?
      She suddenly realised that she couldn't. She had no control over this entire experience - Jeice had done with her as he wished. Fair enough, it was what she'd wished too, but she was uneasily aware that if he wanted he was quite capable of taking her, against her will, any way he wanted, and she wouldn't be able to do a thing to stop him.
      She couldn't work out why. For his size, he was strong - nowhere near as strong as a Saiyan, of course, but still a force to be reckoned with - but she was bigger and heavier, she could struggle, make it difficult for him… Physically, at any rate.
      Jeice tweaked a nipple, rolling the aching flesh between small strong fingers, and she moaned. It should have hurt. It didn't. Why didn't it hurt?
       …because he's irresistible… he's… enchanting… that dance…the things he can do with his body, to my body…
      "What do you want, hiashiin?"
      She sighed and slumped back against him, shivering as his tongue caressed her ear, the studs clinking faintly against her own earring.
      "Fuck me. Again. Please, Jeice…"
      And being used to a lifetime of servitude and obedience he complied - despite the control his current position afforded - bringing her to climax three times more before she belatedly realised he hadn't yet come himself. She forced her eyes open and gazed up at him blurrily.
      "Jeice… Want you to come…"
      He regarded her sombrely.
      "If I do, it will be a while before I can pleasure you again - except with my mouth and hands."
      She sighed and ran shaking hands through his hair.
      "'m so selfish… sorry… want you to come. Family's back soon. Please…"
      He smiled at her, and she felt his hands doing - something - at his groin. Seconds later a sudden warmth replaced the coolness of his shaft within her, and he somehow seemed… larger. Pulling her legs around his waist he lay full length on her body: she felt the slow, powerful flex of muscle as he thrust deliberately, hips curling forward and back, forward and back, the quiver that ran through him as he froze, eyes closed and teeth clenched as he pulsed inside her. And she came too, one last time, a sweet languid climax rolling through her in slow waves…

She'd felt better, afterwards, although the problem hadn't gone away. In fact, given the way the returning Saiyans had halted and stared at her, then glanced at Jeice, with varying degrees of shock, bewilderment and outright anger, she'd just made it much, much worse…
      Then Kelapa arrived on the balcony, expression determined, caught the Hassinan's arm and dragged her to her room, kicking the door shut and turning to her.
      "I thought over what you said and you're right. I'm being too possessive. I'll go and talk to Zorun, we'll… try… to…"
      Her voice tailed off as her eyes widened, nostrils flaring.
      "You… you fucked him?"
      "Kel…"
      "You fucked Jeice?"
      To Mahrayne's absolute horror Kelapa's eyes filled with tears. Her voice shook.
      "How could you? How the fuck could you? You don't give a fuck about anyone but yourself, do you?"
      "Kel…!"
      But the warrior was gone, the balcony door swinging slowly to and fro as she headed skywards.

The next three days were miserable. It didn't help that the weather was unpleasant - a slow-moving storm had swept in from the ocean, bringing a steady downpour of rain and occasional gusts of cold wind - and for the hostlings' sake the children were forced to use the playroom in the afternoons. Mahrayne took lessons as normal - even tried to be as cheerful as normal, but she was obviously unhappy and worried. Leteetza finally took her to one side early in the afternoon of the third day and told her she had to sort things out. The children were suffering, the Saiyans had enough to cope with with Moonyear in full sway, Jeice was positively cowering again, and it was unfair to the R'ren'nkh'ia-jin to force them to endure such a tense atmosphere in what was, effectively, their home. Especially with the king needing calm and tranquillity right now.
      Mahrayne had looked shocked, then guilty. She'd apologised to Leteetza (her formal apology to the family came later) and hastened off to Guard headquarters…
      … and they didn't see her until the following morning, smiling brightly, sporting some new bruises on her neck and in much better humour.
      Kelapa was back in their room, too. Obviously they'd resolved matters between them. And to Leteetza's relief, Kel's attitude towards Jeice hadn't changed. Except perhaps that there was the occasional speculative gleam in her eye when she thought he wasn't looking…

Vinas looked up from the monitor with his by-now very familiar expression of smug satisfaction.
      "Excellent, your Majesty. Everything is progressing perfectly. And I can now give you a due date: two hundred and sixty days time."
      Zha'haabron sighed and smiled - then frowned uncertainly at his bondmate as Radittsu stiffened.
      **Beloved? What is it?**
      *Later…*
      "It will probably be safest if we remove the hostlings rather than let them be born normally. It would be tragic to have come so far only to have problems at the last minute. Now, I know the old R'ren'nkh'ian anaesthetics are no longer effective for you, your Majesty, and from what we've been able to discover the new compounds are likely to be equally ineffective, so we've been working on something new. After all, the middle of giving birth is not the time to confirm whether drugs work or not." He raised a jar of unpleasantly-shining green oil. "This acts as a local anaesthetic. It's powerful, quick-acting, the effects wear off quickly, and it's applied externally - no need to worry about any drugs harming the infants. We do need to test it on you, but I'd rather do that once we're on R'ren'nkh'ia, in case your homeworld's temperature or atmosphere changes the lotion's composition. Oh, don't worry," he added at Radittsu's worried frown. "My whole team is coming with me: any problems and we'll have a fully equipped duplicate of the lab here. All of us want to make this birth as safe and painless as possible. Now, any further questions?"
      There were none. With a delicately-phrased order to return in three days time for another check-up, Vinas ushered them out of the medical centre.

It was another beautiful day, warm, clear, the air washed clean by the recent storm. Radittsu gathered the king into his arms and rose into the air, heading for that well-known, well-remembered spot by the lake…
      **Now will you tell me what's wrong?** Zha'haabron took the Saiyan's face into his hands. Radittsu bit his lip and laid a hand over the king's belly.
      "Two hundred and sixty days is right in the middle of FullMoon."
      "Oh…"
      Zha'haabron wrapped his arms around his bondmate's waist and leaned into him.
      **It's all right, zk'vissin. It's my fault - I should have thought of the timing before insisting we try again so soon. Ti'aasaan and Zha'haarak will be with me: we'll *show* you everything when you return**
      Radittsu stared, aghast.
      *You don't think I'm not going to be there, do you? Our brats? After all we went through? I'll just wait 'til next Moonyear.*
      **You will not. Leteetza told me you missed the last one. She also told me what can happen if you miss two in a row. I will not have you endanger yourself just to be with me**
      Radittsu growled and grabbed Zha'haabron's plait, pulling his head back and up to gaze into ebony eyes.
      *Don’t be so bloody stupid. My first children and you think I'm going to miss it?*
      Zha'haabron's face hardened.
      **Oh, I know you will. Because if you don't go of your own accord I will have you rendered unconscious and ship you back here - with an order not to allow you to return until you have eased the tension I can already *feel* building in you…**
      Radittsu snarled.
      "You would, too, wouldn't you, you bastard?"
      The king glowered.
      **These are the first hostlings I have ever wanted. I will not have their sire damaged through some… ridiculous notion of chivalry**
      The big Saiyan stared - then his shoulders slumped. Zha'haabron was quite right. And he knew his own control was slipping already. Missing this FullMoon wouldn't just be dangerous to himself, it could also make him a danger to others. To his children… He bowed his head.
      *Yes, my Ssii'iin.*
      Zha'haabron took his hands.
      **But you'll be there next time, zk'aida**
      The captain slowly raised his head, gazing into beautiful golden eyes overflowing with love.
      …next time?…
      *Next time?*
      The zn'hre kissed the corner of his mouth.
      **Next time…**

The day of their departure drew closer and there was an almost dizzying undercurrent of anticipation in the suite. It became harder and harder for the children to concentrate, and eventually Mahrayne, Ubi and Leteetza gave up, instead letting Zha'haarak and Ti'aasaan tell them about the world they were to visit very soon…
      'tiisaan had been heartbroken when he found out Mahrayne couldn't go with them, wrapping himself around her and weeping.
      "But… But zhi'maa'chin… How will I be able to dance without you there?"
      The Hassinan had gestured to Jeice, sitting bright-eyed and attentive nearby.
      "Jeice will be with you, sinam. I'm sure he'll be able to give you lessons until you come back, yes?"
      'tiisaan glanced doubtfully at the subo, who grinned and nodded.
      "I am of course not a replacement, but I will be honoured to assist to the limits of my small skill…"
      Both Mahrayne and 'tiisaan stared, blinking.
      "small skill!?"
      Ti'aasaan peered over Jeice's shoulder and winked.
      "I think he's trying to be funny…"
      Jeice smirked and leaned back into the little zn'hre's embrace.
      "Maybe just a little…"
      "Do you think that will do?" Mahrayne kissed the little hostling's hair, and he nodded thoughtfully.
      "Jeice is a good dancer. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from him…"

Other dilemmas weren't so easy to solve.
...together...       Zha'haarak and Hijau spent every spare moment together, wrapped up in each other with an intensity that was almost frightening.
      **I… I don't want to be apart from you. Could I not stay?**
      Hijau groaned silently and cradled his bondmate even more closely.
      *There's nothing I want more than to be with you. But I can't disobey orders. And it would be very dangerous for you to stay here. I want… I need you to be safe. Please, my Ssii'irin…*
      Zha'haarak slumped in the strong warm golden arms, fighting back tears.
      **You will be safe, too? You'll take care?**
      Hijau smiled and kissed the smooth, pale green forehead.
      *I promise.*
      And it wasn't enough - nowhere near enough - but it would have to do…

"But at least I'm staying a little longer than the family…"
      It was true - not that it was any compensation to her Saiyans. Not that they said anything. Kelapa - and Zorun too, truth be told - were doing their damnedest not to cause the Hassinan any problems, although both of them were already aching at the thought of losing her, no matter for how short a time. A little more attuned to their feelings after the incident with Jeice, Mahrayne was trying to comfort both of them - which left her feeling thoroughly drained. So when, two nights before the family left, with both Zorun and Kelapa on night duty, Ti'aasaan asked her if she'd let him comb her hair she'd agreed with alacrity.
      She'd had to help out with the children first, however. Just recently they'd all discovered the pleasures of having someone else groom their hair - except for Kiraz, and 'raadiin, of course, his hair was still short, and anyway, warriors didn't have their hair pampered… - and now did everything they could to talk one of the adults into combing it for them. Rather to everyone's surprise, Radittsu turned out to be the children's favourite comber, with the bewildered but happy Hijau in second place, but Mahrayne followed closely behind… It took some time to give them all equal attention, but it did seem to make them drowsy, and helped them sleep more soundly, which was no bad thing…
      As Zha'haarak and Leteetza herded the last of the children from the bath Ti'aasaan turned to Mahrayne, grinning.
      "My turn…"
      And she groaned with sheer pleasure as he wielded the comb gently but firmly through the soft white mass of her hair, losing herself in the rhythmic stroking motion…
      She had almost dozed off when she felt something cool twine over her shoulder and across her throat. Fuzzily startled, she sighed and twisted to look at him - only to stop, suddenly wide awake, as slender pale blue hands teased over her breast beads.
      They were the only ones left in the pool. The lights had been dimmed, the reflection of rippling water on the creamy-coloured ceiling soothing and captivating. Ti'aasaan's hands were cool, purposeful, stroking over her warm golden skin, and she felt herself shiver as a curl of arousal licked at her groin. His erection - cold and hard - pressed against her back as his cool prehensile tongue laved the base of her throat.
      She moaned, very quietly, and leaned back against him, feeling her nipples harden as he teased them, long sharp nails tracing the tiny ridges in the shivering flesh, one hand slipping downwards, lingering over her navel then teasing mischievously between her lips, tickling the so-important little nub…
      A slow, simmering heat building in her groin, Mahrayne still struggled to pull herself upright, her movement stopped by surprisingly strong slim arms.
      "What are you trying to do?"
      The Hassinan bit her lip as a vision of Kelapa's tearful face rose behind her eyes. Her lover had been hurt enough by her - liaison - with Jeice: she'd be damned if she'd cause the warrior any more grief…
      But this was Ti'aasaan. He wasn't like Jeice - yhallich, he wasn't even really male! Kelapa viewed the zn'hre with a kind of half-humorous affection: surely she wouldn't mind?…
       Not that Ti'aasaan was giving her any choice. The little zn'hre seemed to know exactly where to touch her to cause pleasure to snake through her body like a fissure in a rock face, splitting, growing wider until the lava couldn't be contained. She gasped and turned to him, her body throbbing in time to the pulse she could feel in his erection.
      He grinned, lifted her to straddle his thighs, then lowered her slowly onto his lap.
      Her eyes flashed wide as he filled her. How could someone so small be so big? But the feeling of fullness vanished as another sensation hit her almost immediately. Cold.
      He was so cold! She shivered as he rolled his hips, moving gently within her, hands kneading at her tail beads.
      Cold. And yet… the contrast - between the warmth of the bath water and the soft, affectionate warmth of his pale golden eyes, and the coldness of his smooth, strong, small body - was incredibly erotic. The sensation swelling deep in her groin was new, different, unfamiliar but very welcome as he lowered his head to lap at her nipples, that extraordinary tongue wrapping the sensitive flesh twice then slowly uncoiling, trailing coolness in its wake as she leaned backwards, panting, to give him better access, her hands tangled in his soft, soft hair…
      When he came, a dreamily endless time later, she climaxed with him, relishing the cold tingling feel of his semen within her, so different to Zorun, to Jeice. Sprawling against him she pressed firm kisses to his throat and rubbed her breasts against his smooth chest.
      "Sinam…"
      He kissed her ear. She gazed at him through long white lashes, smiling.
      "Thank you."
      He smiled, lazily, and pulled her to him, his body wonderfully cool against hers, murmuring,
      "My pleasure, zvi'ch…"
      She'd have to find out what that meant, later, sometime… she thought to herself drowsily as the little zn'hre helped her from the pool and through to the sleeping platform - and a deep and deeply refreshing sleep.

© 2002 April 23rd Joules Taylor







Departure
Preparations pt 2
Third Alliance Chronicle Index
Index








Hell. Lit. exile: a place in the afterlife where there is no one else. The worse thing imaginable for pack-mentality Hassinan.

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