Have I ever mentioned how much poorer these fics would be without Joules' advice, suggestions, enthusiasm and the occasional thwap over the back of the head from her tail? I haven't? Well, consider it done…

- Amanda.

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Homecoming Pt 5

"Yes!"

The several adults, and two infants, in the suite gave Mahrayne curious looks at her whoop of triumph. The Hassinan beamed at them.
       "I've finally found the - the - " she frowned as she searched for the appropriate word, " - key to understanding formal R'ren'nkh'ia-go!"

Zha'haabron had agreed to let Mahrayne participate in the translation project, and to that end she'd been diligently studying the written form, but she'd found it hard going. For someone who picked up languages quickly and easily, this one had been a challenge. Mahrayne had never come across anything like it before and she was beginning to despair of ever having it 'click' in her mind. But she'd gritted her teeth and carried on - she'd argued too hard to be allowed to be involved in this project and she'd be damned if she'd give up simply because she wasn't learning the language as fast as she normally would. The written form of formal R'ren'nkh'ia-go was beautiful, the script flowed across the page like an intricate decoration - and it was that perception that had finally allowed Mahrayne to get a handle on it.

"And?" Leteetza prompted her with a smirk.
      Mahrayne grinned.
       "The written form of all the other languages I've studied have had a base, static, list of letters or symbols and the words are made up from those, yes?"
      Leteetza nodded.
       "R'ren'nkh'ia-go isn't like that," Mahrayne's eyes were shining, "the meanings of the symbols change depending on where in the word they appear, or what other symbols they are next to, and small changes to the symbols themselves can alter their meaning significantly which increases the base list from several dozen to several thousand different symbols."
      Leteetza nodded again, concentrating on what Mahrayne was saying.
       "I was beginning to think," Mahrayne said with a sigh, "that I would never be able to learn all the variations but - " she grinned at her friend, who grinned back, the Hassinan's excitement was contagious, " - it suddenly occurred to me that I was seeing patterns in the script, and when I stopped thinking of the words as words and started thinking of them as patterns, or pictures, it all fell into place."
      The little female frowned. "I'm not sure I follow…"
      Mahrayne laughed. "I'm not sure I could explain any better, but I have found a way to have this language make sense and now I can begin to learn it properly!" Mahrayne was almost bouncing, and she clapped her hands together in delighted excitement.
       "That's good news, Mahrayne." Zha'haabron smiled at her from his spot on the floor with his hostlings and bondmate.
      Mahrayne nodded enthusiastically, then she frowned. "It is, though it would be even better if I could speak the language as well."
       "You're not able to?" Ti'aasaan asked.
       "No," Mahrayne shook her head, "I don't have the right mouth parts, at the very best I'd have an almost incomprehensible lisp." Ti'aasaan raised his eyebrows inquiringly.
      "It's got something to do, I think, with the way your tongue vibrates against the top of your mouth… here I'll show you."
      Mahrayne placed the little zn'hre's fingers firmly against the underside of her chin.
       "Can you feel the vibrations as I'm speaking?" Ti'aasaan nodded, amused, then Mahrayne placed his fingers underneath his own chin. "Now you say something in R'ren'nkh'ia-go."
      Ti'aasaan smirked then hissed out something that made the High King and Zha'haarak smile.
       "What did you say?" Mahrayne asked him curiously.
       "I said, 'you are beautiful when you are excited.'"
      Mahrayne laughed then kissed him on the nose. "Thank you, but did you feel the difference in the vibrations?"
      Ti'aasaan nodded. "Yes, they were more pronounced, deeper..."
       "Exactly," Mahrayne sighed, "and I have no hope of being able to reproduce that, my tongue isn't long enough or flexible enough."
       "But your tongue is perfectly suited for other, very pleasant things." The little zn'hre smirked suggestively at her, reaching across to tease one of her nipples erect through the fine fabric of her Pankuzu styled robe.
      Mahrayne batted his hand away. "Later. I want to make sure I have this new understanding of the script firmly in my mind." Ti'aasaan looked mournfully at her, like a child that had been denied a favourite toy, and she rolled her eyes.
       "You're as bad as your hostling," she grumbled - no need to specify which hostling she was talking about. Mahrayne leaned forward and hugged Ti'aasaan, nipping lightly at his earlobe. "Later, sinam, yes?" Ti'aasaan chuckled and brushed a kiss over her cheek.
       Mahrayne went back to her study with a light heart; there certainly would be a 'later' with the little zn'hre. Since Zorun had effectively given her permission to play with Ti'aasaan - and Kel didn't have any objections - Mahrayne had happily added Ti'aasaan to her list of lovers. Not that she had a lot of spare time to indulge, her days were very busy and her nights were filled with one or the other of her Saiyans, but she could always find time for the little zn'hre.

Mahrayne finally got to meet the elusive ki-healers. The twin sisters had spent a good part of the morning working with Zha'haarak, and the High King had invited them to stay and eat the midday meal with the family. Mahrayne spotted them as soon as she came back to the suite after the morning's lessons - sitting close together near the balcony door as if it was an escape route - and she beamed and headed straight over to the black-maned females. The Hassinan introduced herself to the pair, smiling as they shyly introduced themselves in turn… and then the questioning began.
       Mahrayne didn't really notice the twins' unease as she fired question after question at them without giving them a chance to reply. How long had they been using ki to heal? How did it work? How had they discovered they could do it? Did anyone teach them? What does it feel like? What was the hardest thing they'd had to fix?
       A bowl of seared meat strips appeared under the Hassinan's nose, stopping her in mid-question. Mahrayne looked up to see a distinctly annoyed Kel standing over her.
       "Good morning, Mahrayne," the warrior said with deceptive sweetness, "how are you today?"
      Mahrayne flushed guiltily.
       "Kel! I'm sorry - I didn't realise you were here."
       "Hn. I noticed." The warrior sat down on a floor cushion, folding her long legs underneath her. She shoved the bowl at her lover. "Eat."
       "Does that mate of yours feed you?" Zh'leet was peering at Mahrayne.
       "Of course he does."
      The brood placed her clawed fingers under the Hassinan's chin and gently turned her head this way and that.
       "You're losing too much weight." she said, "You need to eat more."
       "I don't think I can eat more, Zh'leet." Mahrayne said ruefully.
      It was true - she felt hungry a lot of the time but as her child was growing he seemed to take up more space in her body leaving her less room for food.
       "You’re tired a lot of the time too, aren't you?" Zh'leet frowned. "We'll have to do something about that. If you can't keep up with the child's demands on your body you'll be too weak for the birth. I'll speak to Vinas."
      "I'd rather you spoke to Ayva."
      Zh'leet shrugged. "Whoever. But you're going to need some extra nutrition."
      Leteetza looked up from her children and frowned.
       "It'll have to be something other than the fruity glop, Zh'leet, Mahrayne can't digest plant fibre."
       "I don't have a problem with the fermented fruit juice," Mahrayne said brightly, "could I use that?"
      "I'll discuss it with Vinas - or whoever."
      Mahrayne smiled gratefully at the brood.
       "How soon until your baby's born?" Dari asked the Hassinan softly.
       "Sometime after mid-winter."
      The twins shared a look.
       "That's a long time." Tane said doubtfully.
       "It would be longer still if this was a normal Hassinan pregnancy." Mahrayne grinned. "My mate is Saiyan." she said by way of explanation at the females' questioning looks.
       "Are you looking forward to having a child?" Dari asked, and Mahrayne was surprised to see a gleam of genuine interest in her dark eyes.
      "Oh yes."
       "I'd like to have a child one day." There was a wistful note to Dari's voice.
      Mahrayne's eyebrows rose. "You would?"
       "You sound surprised." Tane said with an almost-smirk.
       "I am. It seems that every other Saiyan female I've come in contact with doesn't want to breed." Mahrayne's glance included Kelapa and Leteetza.
       "Pinattsu wasn't unhappy with breeding." Kel pointed out.
       "She's delighted with her son," Mahrayne said with a grin, "but I think it's the getting pregnant she's not all that keen on."
       "That's not surprising," Kel shuddered, "considering who her mate is."
      Mahrayne grinned at the warrior then looked back at the twins.
       "You come from one of the islands, yes?"
      The females nodded in unison and Mahrayne looked pleased.
       "Why do you ask that?" said Leteetza, who was sitting nearby with 'ani and 'leen cuddled next to her.
      Mahrayne smiled at her friend. "As I've been going through the birth records I've noticed that your twins, more than likely, come from one of the islands. There's only been a few, very few, instances of twins born on the mainland, and in the couple where I was able to decipher the records enough to trace the lineage back, it was always at least one of their parents, or grand-parents, came from an island." Mahrayne continued. "Considering your breeding history," she smirked at the little female, "I'd take an educated guess that you've got islander blood in you."
      Leteetza frowned thoughtfully. "Interesting. My mother does come from an island."
       "And actually," Mahrayne's eyes widened as a thought occurred to her, "even if I didn't know you'd had twins, or were carrying them now, I'd suspect you had islander ancestry anyway."
       "Why?"
      "Your colouring. I've noticed that islanders tend to have lighter coloured manes, with shades of red, while northerners tend to have dark manes, brown or black."
      Leteetza glanced around speculatively at the Saiyans in the suite, and she smirked. "Interesting."

Mahrayne turned back to the twins and smiled. They really were very pretty. Their manes were an intriguing colour and from what she could see under the loose clothing, their bodies were slender, and almost certainly limber. Dari and Tane watched her, a little warily. Mahrayne felt something at her waist; she looked down to see Kel's tail winding around her middle. The Hassinan beamed at her lover and snuggled in closer to her with a contented sigh. She felt Kel's kiss brush over the top of her head, but the warrior seemed a little… tense?
       The midday meal ended and the twins stood up to go.
       "Pleasure meeting you at last." Mahrayne said to them, and her smile, though she wasn't aware of it, was just this side of predatory; the pair hastened away from her with nervous smiles.
      Kel unwound her tail from around Mahrayne, then knelt beside her, tilting the Hassinan's head up towards her.
       "I've got to get those two – " she glanced at Dari and Tane, who were taking their leave of the High King, " – back home. I'll see you tonight." Kel said quietly, her eyes soft and promising, "My turn, remember." The warrior darted another glance towards the twins and Mahrayne could almost hear her 'be good'. She snaked a hand up through Kelapa's mane, cupping the back of the female's head and pulled her down for a long, slow kiss.
       "See you later." Mahrayne murmured, gazing lovingly up at Kel. The warrior smiled lop-sidedly at her.
      After the twins, escorted by Hijau and Kelapa, had left, Mahrayne looked up to see Leteetza giving her a hard look.
       What?

Everyone had dispersed to their various afternoon activities. Mahrayne wandered into her and Kel's room and stripped off ready to crawl into bed for a nap. There was a knock on the door, then Leteetza came in. The little female didn't look happy.
       "Kel's not pleased with your interest in Dari and Tane." she said, getting right to the point.
      Mahrayne sighed. "If she doesn't want to me to go near them, then I won't, but I do find them attractive and it would be hypocritical of me to pretend that I didn't."
      Leteetza frowned. "Just be careful."
      Mahrayne stood in front of the little female and stroked her cheek with the back of her hand.
       "I love Kel, 'teetza, I'd not hurt her again for anything."
       "Hn."
       "This may sound like just an excuse, but I've got close to a hundred of your years of an 'I like - I take' attitude to overcome." Mahrayne said softly. "I'm trying very hard, I really am, not to do anything to upset her or Zorun."
      Leteetza smirked a little. "Did that 'I like - I take' attitude get you into trouble on Hassina?"
       "Frequently," Mahrayne's expression clouded for a moment then she grinned down at the Saiyan, "but unlike here, I wasn't likely to be gutted by a jealous lover."
      The females grinned at each other; Mahrayne leant down and lingeringly kissed along Leteetza's cheek.
       "Busy?" she murmured.
      The Saiyan frowned. "I should be putting together - " She didn't get to finish the sentence as Mahrayne's lips closed over hers.
       "Busy?" the Hassinan asked again, her dark golden eyes twinkling mischievously.
       "Not so you'd notice," Leteetza grumbled sarcastically, but she made no effort to stop Mahrayne undressing her. She grabbed the Hassinan's wrist, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
       "No jewellery." Leteetza said firmly.
       "Wouldn’t dream of it." Mahrayne smirked and pulled the female down beside her.

Leteetza lay stretched out on her stomach on Mahrayne's bed, her head pillowed on her forearms. She flicked her tail lazily over the Hassinan's thigh beads and watched her friend's face.
       "You're thinking of Kel, aren't you?"
      Mahrayne's smile was soft. "I do that a lot when she's not around." She stroked a slim hand down the Saiyan's sweat-sheened back. "After I found out I was pregnant, Zorun wanted to claim me and I kept refusing."
      Leteetza half-smiled. "But then he went ahead and did it anyway."
      Mahrayne was rueful. "Yes, but while I still had a choice in the matter, I told him that if he claimed me it was only fair that Kel could as well."
      The little female's eyebrows rose. "You can't do that!"
       "Why not?"
       "Because… you just can't have two people claiming the same mate!"
       "But why not?"
       "Because…" She took a deep breath, forced down the startled outrage the suggestions had invoked, and frowned.
       "Look, the whole point of a claim is that you belong to the one who's claimed you, ne? You can't belong to two people at the same time!"
       "But I already do!"
       "No, you belong to Zorun. Kel doesn't own you."
       "As far as I'm concerned she does. Why can't I show it?"
       "'rayne…" Leteetza gritted her teeth, grunting in exasperation. "You know how possessive Saiya-jin are! You can't belong to more than one of us!!"
       "But you do."
       The little warrior shook her head.
       "No I don't. I belong to Vejiita - my relationship with Radittsu is at the king's sufferance, and if he ever changed his mind I would have to give Rad-chan up."
       Mahrayne bit her lip - then her face lightened.
       "But I'm not a Saiyan."
       "So? You're living here as one, with a Saiyan mate."
       The Hassinan grinned widely.
       "Yes - but the king has just made that new law, hasn't he? And as far as I'm concerned, I was claimed 'under duress'…"
       Leteetza stared.
       "You wouldn't…"
      "Why not?"
       "'rayne… Please… It would hurt Zorun more than you can know…"
       Mahrayne stared at her friend for a moment, shocked to see - tears? - in her eyes. Why did her two friends want to protect the King's Guard, when they didn't even like him? She sighed.
       "No, I wouldn't. But I could threaten it, if he didn't let me be claimed by Kel…"
       Leteetza frowned, obviously considering the idea, then nodded reluctantly.
       "Well… I suppose it might work…" She inclined her head.
      "Have you mentioned this to Kel?"
       "No," Mahrayne sighed, then she looked at her friend, "Assuming this works, would Kel claim me, if I asked her to?"
       "I don't know." Leteetza looked thoughtful, seriously considering the idea now the first shock was over, "She'd probably love the idea, but not be very comfortable about actually doing it. Zorun did claim you first and Kel can be very conservative about some things – though she'd rip off her own tail before she'd admit it."
       Mahrayne giggled.
       "Do you want Kel to claim you?"
      Mahrayne shrugged, and looked away. "I don't know, it was just an idle thought really."
      Leteetza wasn't fooled, but said nothing; sometimes it was better to let Mahrayne sort things out herself.

Just before the evening meal, Zh'leet handed Mahrayne a beaker full of a frothy grey-pink liquid.
       "This should help stop that child of yours draining you to a husk."
      Mahrayne sniffed the liquid tentatively. It didn't smell too bad, even though Kel – who if she'd been sitting any closer would have been in her lover's lap – wrinkled her nose. The Hassinan took a small sip, swishing the thick drink around her mouth. She swallowed and grinned up at the brood.
       "Needs more salt."
      Zh'leet rolled her eyes. "I'll remember that next time. There'll always be some of that in the cool store, drink it at least four times a day, more if you can, as well as eating as much meat as you can. Understand?"
      Mahrayne nodded. "Thank you." She peered at the drink; she knew she'd get bored with it quickly but if it helped stop her energy evaporating... Mahrayne felt Kel's tail tip stroking behind her knee and she smirked at her lover – if the sultry look in Kel's eyes was anything to go by, she'd need all the energy she could muster.

Dari and Tane were moved into a small suite of rooms directly below the family. As they spent at least a couple of hours daily treating Zha'haarak, this arrangement was more convenient for them than having to travel back and forth from the Alien Quarter - and Hijau felt better knowing they were close to hand if his bondmate needed them.
      Mahrayne scrupulously kept her distance from the twin healers; they were a delight to watch though and she couldn't help looking… As well as being attractive, Dari and Tane moved gracefully and economically around each other with the familiarity of years and Mahrayne again found herself wistfully half-wishing after that something she still couldn't name. The twins got on well with the children, and Dari in particular - Mahrayne couldn't fail to notice - was hopelessly enamoured of Ra'vahn and Za'rayne.
      Though Mahrayne was outwardly never anything more than pleasantly friendly towards the young females they were well aware of her interest in them, and uneasy about it; the Hassinan guessed, rightly, that Kelapa had something to do with that. She sighed, it hurt that her lover didn't trust her completely, but she only had herself to blame for it.
      Well, for Kel's sake, Mahrayne was determined not to follow her natural inclinations - and if she could resist the tingling temptation that Jeice represented, surely she could resist these two…

Mahrayne told Zorun that she wanted Kel to claim her as well. His response was succinct.
       "No fucking way."
       "Why not?"
      The male stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.
       "Because - " he said with deliberate slowness, " - you are mine." He growled. "It's bad enough I have to share you with that b-" the look on his mate's face forced him to reconsider his words, "- female without having her claim you as well."
      Mahrayne's golden eyes narrowed.
       "Before you claimed me without my consent -" Zorun's impassive stare was belied by his agitatedly twitching tail, "I told you I thought it only fair that Kel claim me if you did. Nothing's changed, I still love her as much as I love you and I don't see why I can't visibly demonstrate that."
       "No."
      Mahrayne was getting annoyed with this Saiyan stubbornness and was on the point of threatening her mate with annulling his claim when she suddenly, unexpectedly glimpsed the fear Zorun was hiding behind the immovably stony façade. Her irritation evaporated, or rather, it was swept aside by the surge of loving tenderness for the big male that coursed through her. Annulling Zorun's claim - even saying that she would consider it - would devastate him. She couldn't do that, she couldn't hurt him like that. Dammit. Mahrayne relaxed and lowered her gaze, a gesture Zorun had come to recognize as her submitting to his wishes. The corners of her mouth twitched into a tiny smile at his - relieved - grunt then she found herself being lifted up into a rib-creaking hug and kissed mercilessly.
      Oh well, if Kel was meant to claim her it would happen eventually, now was obviously not the right time.

The weather was hot and getting hotter all the time, not unusual in the run up to the wet season, Leteetza explained, although this year the weather was more extreme than usual... probably because of FullMoon. The Saiyans weren't bothered by it, and the R'ren'nkh'ians were thriving but Mahrayne, adapted as she was to a freezing climate, was having problems adjusting. True, it wasn't as stifling hot as the suite had been kept during the previous cold season, but then at least she'd been able to step outside of it and cool down.
      She coped; she had a lot of cold showers and drank a lot of cold drinks, and when she wasn't sleeping with the hostlings - whose cool bodies kept her temperature low enough to rest relatively comfortably - Mahrayne spent the nights out on her or Zorun's balcony taking advantage of the cooler night-time breezes. Her Saiyans helped too, one or the other of them obligingly taking her flying when it got too hot, the cooling breeze and colder higher altitude a blessed relief.
      It would have helped if she'd been able to go naked a lot of the time, but she still couldn't quite bring herself to do that - outside of bathing - in front of any male except Zorun. Even the lightest of her Hassinan robes was woefully inadequate for the heat, but Mahrayne had brought back from Pankuzu a lot of the filmy garments that had been in Kel's cupboard. They were ideally suited to a hot climate, and while some of them exposed too much skin to be worn outside the suite, they helped make life just that little bit more comfortable for the Hassinan.

Buahan loved the Pankuzu garments and one day she came bouncing back from seeing her father with the news that her papa had said he didn't mind her wearing clothes like that. Mahrayne smiled back at the happy young female, thinking this was the perfect opportunity to teach her to sew. The Saiya-jin she associated with, unlike the Hassinan, didn't seem to make anything for themselves - everything they wore or used was manufactured elsewhere out of sight - it certainly wouldn't hurt for Buahan to at least know how clothes were made.
       Mahrayne had the idea of taking the princess to the fabric sellers in the Alien Quarter and letting the young female choose her own fabric for her clothes. A nice idea in theory but the Saiya-jin-no-Ou would only agree to it, Leteetza said, if they were accompanied by some of the Elite Guards. So it was arranged and shortly after the midday meal Mahrayne and Buahan, plus Ti'aasaan and 'tiisaan - who weren't going to be left out of this - and consequently 'viirel, flew with their selected guards, Kelapa included, to the Alien Quarter. 'fallon had shyly asked at the last minute to come along too, the timid little zn'hre gazing wide-eyed around him as he stuck close by Ti'aasaan.
       The Hassinan had been prepared to spend a long time perusing the stalls with Buahan, but the little princess knew precisely which types of fine and subtly patterned fabrics she was after and found them quickly - it was 'tiisaan who took all the time making his selection. Mahrayne tried not to show it but she was flagging in the heat, her eyes were hurting from the glare and her lower back ached from standing for so long. Kel gently pushed her into the shop, where it was a little cooler and dimmer, and made her sit down on the chair the stall owner hurried to provide.
       "I'm sorry." Mahrayne sighed, leaning wearily into Kel. She was fed-up with how quickly she was tiring nowadays despite the amount of time she spent resting and the litres of 'meaty glop' - as Leteetza had dubbed the nutritive drink Zh'leet and Vinas had concocted between them - she was consuming.
       "It's your own fault," her lover teased, "you were the one who wanted a brat."
      Mahrayne just grinned at the Saiyan, and when she was sure no one was looking, softly ruffled the fur at the base of the warrior's tail.
       "But you can make it up to me later," Kelapa said huskily.

Back in the suite, the afternoon passed quickly as Mahrayne gave Buahan, 'tiisaan and Ti'aasaan a basic lesson in clothes making. Jeice was intrigued and he happily joined in, he and 'tiisaan concentrating their efforts more towards making costumes than everyday clothes. By the time the evening meal was being served, Mahrayne had helped her students measure and cut out the pieces for the basic garments they could begin to sew together tomorrow.
      In the bath that evening Mahrayne relaxed back into Kel's arms, smiling fondly as Buahan and 'tiisaan discussed in detail with her the sorts of things they wanted to make.

Though Zha'haarak was healing well, and Dari and Tane were doing wonders for him, the gentle zn'hre was still in pain a lot of the time. Mahrayne also knew he was chafing at not being able to use his hands properly yet and she did what she could to help. Zha'haarak was always happy to have his hair combed but what he really liked Mahrayne to do for him was to tell him stories. Mahrayne loved story-telling, not as much as she loved dancing - but while she danced for her own pleasure, she told stories for the pleasure of others. And Zha'haarak was a wonderfully appreciative audience, the gentle zn'hre becoming so deeply immersed in her tales he was able to forget the pain for a while. Mahrayne had hundreds of stories memorized, from many different cultures, and she had the sensitivity to be able to modify them to suit her audience. For example, in a Hassinan tale about a legendary hunt for a giant ontibu, she put the emphasis on the atmosphere and excitement of the hunt, not the physical hardships, as she knew Zha'haarak wouldn't enjoy hearing about that. And in another, humorous story from Ellim, Mahrayne had subtly played up the low-gravity aspects of the planet, helping Zha'haarak feel what it would be like to be able to bound lightly along a mountain ridge.

Mahrayne had been a little nervous when she discovered Hijau watching her with Zha'haarak. She half-expected the Captain to tell her to stay away from his bondmate, but he'd smiled instead, a genuinely warm and friendly smile, and thanked her for helping the prince. Mahrayne was relieved, it looked as though, at last, Hijau had forgiven her for whatever it was she'd done…

Mahrayne was verrrrrry relaxed. She was stretched out comfortably on a floor cushion, her head in Kel's lap. She wriggled blissfully then tilted her head to gaze up adoringly at the female she loved more than anything in the whole universe.
      "You're pissed." Kelapa said with vast amusement.
      "'m not!" Mahrayne said indignantly, "Hassinan don't get pissed."
      Kelapa simply chuckled and stroked the stray wisps of hair away from Mahrayne's forehead.
      Mahrayne had written to Lord Kurumi, thanking the noble again for his hospitality and enclosing another letter for him to forward to Pinattsu. Lord Kurumi had written back and sent her a dozen bottles of the fermented fruit juice - he remembered, he said, how much she'd liked it. Mahrayne had been touched by the gesture and immediately set about designing a wall-hanging for him. In the meantime the bottles had sat in the family's cool store getting nicely chilled.
      It had been a particularly hot day and the fruit juice was a welcome and deliciously cool addition to the midday meal. Mahrayne had happily shared it with the family but still managed to drink nearly two bottles of it on her own. Now it was early afternoon; Radittsu had taken the children outside for their physical training, Zha'haabron was off doing whatever it was High Kings did, and Hijau had gone back to work. In the suite, Leteetza was working at the terminal, Ti'aasaan and Jeice were looking after the babies, and Dari and Tane were working on Zha'haarak. Mahrayne drifted on a gentle flow of contentment, loving the feel of her child moving within her.
      "What are you thinking about?" Kel asked her softly.
      Mahrayne smiled rather soppily. "Nothing much - just enjoying being happy."
      Kelapa smirked at her. Mahrayne's gaze drifted towards the open balcony doors.
       "I've never used dilly in the sunshine, y'know."
      "You've never used it in the rain either."
      Mahrayne's eyes widened, and her pupils dilated.
       "Ooooh! That'd be wonderful… all those little drops of cold water hitting my skin… mmmm…"
      Kel snorted. "If you do that, you're on your fucking own, I'm not going to get wet and cold just so you can get off on the experience."
      Mahrayne pouted. "You've no curiosity, no sense of discovery, that's your problem."

Over the other side of the room, Tane leaned towards Ti'aasaan.
      "What's 'dilly', Ti'aasaan-sama?"
      The little zn'hre grinned. "It's a drug, a stimulant, the Hassinan use. Mahrayne says it increases sensation and can be very arousing."
      Jeice looked interested and Ti'aasaan shook his head ruefully.
      "Don't get your hopes up, zk'vissin, if it's anything like the rest of Hassinan food it's probably a deadly poison to anyone else!"

Mahrayne looked up at her lover, half-hopeful, half-seductive.
       "It's not raining now."
      Kel rolled her eyes. "No, it's not." she said with exaggerated patience, "But do you really think it's wise to use dilly when you're pissed?"
       "'m not pissed." Mahrayne said crossly. "Just - relaxed."
       "Uh huh." The warrior didn't bother to conceal her scepticism.
       "I can do this by myself," Mahrayne pulled Kel's hand to her face and nibbled the female's palm, "but I'd rather you were there too."
       "Oh, all right," Kel sighed in a put-upon fashion, "anything to keep you happy."
      Mahrayne beamed at her and scrambled up off the floor. As she darted into their room, Mahrayne heard Kel speak - she sounded a little annoyed.
       "If this is anything like the last time, we could be hours… at least I've got the afternoon off."
      The Hassinan cursed her selfish thoughtlessness - Kel might have had something else planned for her down-time…
       "We - I don't have to do this right now," Mahrayne said earnestly when the warrior came into their room. "If you want to do something else…?"
      Kelapa blinked, then smirked and prowled towards her.
       "I was going to fly us down to the beach," she wrapped her arms around Mahrayne and nuzzled the Hassinan's neck, "but if you'd like to stay here…"
       "The beach?" Mahrayne's eyes gleamed. "I'll get my hat."

There was disturbing news from Hassina; Pirum's little face was grave when she spoke to Mahrayne over the comm-link.
       "The Ember Caves have collapsed."
       "What? No!"
      Mahrayne was shocked to her soul. The caves had always been there, and from the time she'd first discovered them as a child, they'd been a sanctuary, a place where she could go when she was unhappy and cry and it wouldn't bother anyone. But more importantly perhaps, the Ember Caves were close to Marldus's settlement - which was theoretically situated on one of the most stable areas of Hassina - any sort of collapse near there didn't bode well.
      "Was - was anybody hurt?" Mahrayne managed to ask.
      Pirum shook her head. "No, and the Effodios have declared the area safe for the moment, but there's plans to move the households that are closest to the Caves within the year."
      Mahrayne was too stunned to speak. Pirum lowered her voice.
       "Garrio's females" Garrio was one of the Effodio's in Marldus's Household, "have been saying that he, and some of the other Effodios, are blaming the aliens."
       "But why?"
      Pirum glanced around her then leant closer to the screen.
       "The alien Effodios aren't listening to what ours have to say." she murmured, "They're mining in places that are too unstable, too unsafe."
      Mahrayne became light-headed as panic welled up in her and for a terrifying second it was as if she had inexplicably become part of the home system, her consciousness diffused through and around their single sun - and she was looking out at the space filled with ragged debris where Hassina had been…
       "They have to stop! They have to be made to understand the danger!" Mahrayne gasped out, fighting against a disorienting nausea as her awareness snapped back to the small room on Vejiitasei.
       "The Councillors are doing all they can… 'rayne? Are you all right?" Pirum's large, silver eyes were frightened. "You don't look very well."
      Mahrayne forced herself back to a semblance of calm, and she smiled shakily.
       "I'm just… overwhelmed by…"
      Pirum nodded, then she brightened and changed the subject.
       "Can I still come and visit?"
      Mahrayne pushed the terrified foreboding to the back of her mind.
       "Of course, precious." she smiled. "Do you think Astolan will let you?"
      Her little sister assumed that sly, calculating look that always made Mahrayne nervous.
       "The Lead Speaker and a couple of the other councillors are going to Vejiitasei to see if they can talk some sense into whoever is responsible for the mining - "
       "How do you know this, Pirum?"
      Pirum's smile was brilliant.
       "Marldus told me - after he found me, um, overhearing a conversation while I was looking around the administration zone."
      Mahrayne groaned and giggled at the same time. "Pirum!"
      The young Hassinan's smirk was positively wicked.
       "So anyway he said he couldn't see any reason for me not to come out for a visit at the same time he was travelling, and that Astolan couldn't object if I was accompanied by Council members could he?"
       "When are they leaving?"
       "Transport after next - " Pirum frowned as she calculated the time differences, "about forty Vejiitasei days, I think?"
       "Good, it won't be quite so hot then."
      Pirum glanced over her shoulder.
       "Peruro and Dignusia would like to speak to you before we begin the lesson, is that all right?" Mahrayne nodded. "And then can I speak to Buahan afterwards?" Pirum asked hopefully.
       "If she's not busy."
       "I want to tell her myself I'll be visiting." Pirum giggled excitedly and Mahrayne was reminded, again, that no matter how grown up her little sister could be she really was still just a child.

The two lower status females were also excited. The Lead Speaker had spoken encouragingly to them about going to Vejiitasei and had even suggested that if everything was organised they could travel at the same time as the Councillors and Pirum. The timing couldn't have been better.
      While Mahrayne was on Hassina she'd discussed with the pair the idea of immigrating to Vejiitasei. Peruro had been very enthusiastic, Dignusia less so until Mahrayne had told her about the Muruanian wood-carvers, and shown her some of Ordiff's work. Dignusia was a bone-carver, a very skilled one, and she'd handled the little wooden statuette with reverence, lovingly tracing the smooth curves with gentle fingers.
       "This is beautiful. And the wood is so - " she held the carving up to her nose, and sniffed appreciatively, "- fragrant. I would love to be able to work with it." She looked at Mahrayne hopefully. "Would Ordiff be willing to take me as an apprentice?"
      Mahrayne had gotten in contact with the master wood-carver – not an easy task as he and his family had left Vejiitasei for Moonyear – but her letter, and a small sample of Dignusia's carving, had eventually reached him on Muruania. Surprisingly, things had gone very smoothly once the initial contact had been made. Dignusia had taken it upon herself to negotiate with the old Muruanian over the comm-link – something Mahrayne would never had thought the timid female would be able to do - and she and Ordiff had quickly thrashed out the details between them. The wood-carver was happy to take Dignusia on as an apprentice, incidentally providing room and board for her and Peruro until they could make their own way. In return they would work for the Muruanians - mundane work like cleaning and running errands and helping in the shop - while Dignusia learnt the craft.
      And now that Moonyear was over, the Muruanians were settled back on Vejiitasei and Dignusia and Peruro could make their way over whenever they were ready. The females were both quite nervous – it was a momentous, scary thing they were doing after all – but they were both looking forward to it.

Buahan, as angry as a lava-flow, came into the classroom just before Mahrayne had finished the lesson with Pirum. She'd cheered up though, when the young Hassinan had told her she would be coming out for a visit. Mahrayne smiled fondly at the young females' excited chatter – it would be good for them to finally meet each other – and it would be wonderful to see Pirum again; her little sister was one of the few things about Hassina that Mahrayne missed.

Mahrayne kept herself occupied, mentally and physically, for the rest of the day - deliberately ignoring the gnawing dread that was eating away at her. For the most part she succeeded in keeping her anguish to herself. Miraculously somehow none of the Saiyans could scent it, but Jeice gave her the occasional puzzled look. She made love to Kel ardently that night, almost desperately trying to wear herself out enough to sleep without dreams. Mahrayne didn't want to dream - she knew instinctively what they'd be like…

Mahrayne whimpered in her sleep, and without waking, she rolled over into another nightmare…

"Whassamatter?" Kel asked sleepily, having been woken by her lover's trembling.
      "Just a bad dream." Mahrayne whispered, tears of desolate hopelessness rolling silently down her face.
      "You're safe," Kel mumbled, still half-asleep. She wriggled closer to Mahrayne, cuddling up to her, draping an arm and her tail across the Hassinan's body. "I won't let anything bad happen to you." she asserted before falling deeply asleep again.
      Mahrayne was grateful for the female's warmth and protection, but Kel was so wrong – it wasn't Mahrayne who was threatened, it was Hassina.

Hassina was doomed.
      Not immediately, but she'd live to see the planet's destruction.
      It was inevitable.
      Mahrayne knew this as she knew death followed life, but she couldn't understand how she knew…

She stroked her belly, speaking soothingly to her child whose agitation was apparent in his jerky movements. Strange that she should be so calm now while her cub fretted...
      Her baby eventually quietened but Mahrayne didn't sleep any more that night. Wrapped protectively in Kelapa's arms, she stared out of the open balcony door and watched the first sun gradually creep over the horizon - she smiled, there was a poetic sort of inevitability about it.

She was gritty-eyed and exhausted the next day, but she got through, the exhaustion a handy buffer against the residual terrors of the night. She slept deeply and dreamlessly the next night waking the following day feeling her usual cheerful and curious self.
      Almost.
      Deep in her bones Mahrayne knew things were not the same anymore, but as there was nothing she could do about it, she managed to ignore and eventually forget it.

Mahrayne made her way slowly to the Diplomatic corps building. It seemed to be taking forever to walk the distance today and she could feel her energy levels dropping with every step. The 'meaty glop' was generally helping maintain her energy but it was so hot today… Maybe she should have arranged to see Manzano at a time of day when it was a little cooler?
      The lead diplomat looked concerned when he saw her, ushering her into his office and onto a chair before she'd had time to greet him properly.
      "I don't think your mate would approve of you over-exerting yourself, Lady Mahrayne." Manzano was gently reproving as he handed her a beaker of wonderfully cool water. Mahrayne sipped the drink gratefully while trying not to be irritated by the male's tone - he was only concerned for her, after all, he wasn't pointing out her supposed frailty.
      "How can I help you, my lady?" Manzano asked once Mahrayne had caught her breath.
      "I was wondering, sir, if there are any procedures that need to be followed if someone wanted to emigrate to Vejiitasei?"
      The diplomat hid his surprise well. "We'd need to be satisfied the immigrants can make their own way once here, be useful as it were, and that they have somewhere to live."
      Mahrayne nodded. "Is there anything else?"
       "They'll be required to register once they disembark – just standard information such as their name, age, occupation, place of birth and where they can be contacted on Vejiitasei. Why do you ask, my lady?"
      "I know two Hassinan females who would like to move here."
      "Are they kin of yours?"
      "Not directly, no, but they are part of the Lead Speakers Household."
      Manzano considered. "Will you be sponsoring them?"
      Mahrayne shook her head. "They are being sponsored by a Muruanian family."
      The diplomat nodded thoughtfully. "I assume these females have the means of earning their living?"
      Mahrayne smiled. "Dignusia is an artisan – a bone carver – she will be taking up an apprenticeship with the Muruanians to learn wood carving."
       "And the other - ?"
       "Peruro. She is a bead setter." Mahrayne pointed to the small bumps on her face. Manzano looked doubtful.
       "Will there be much call for that skill here?"
      Mahrayne didn't actually smirk. "I believe so." Radittsu, Hijau at his shoulder, had asked her yesterday how much longer would they have to wait for the bead-setter...?
       "And if not," Mahrayne continued, "Dignusia will be happy to support her, though I doubt it will come to that. Peruro also has some skill as a jeweller, and they can both make and embroider clothes very well. They'll be able to support themselves." she finished confidently.
      Manzano was nodding. "I don't think there will be a problem with their immigration then. When do you expect them to arrive?"
       "After the start of the wet season." Mahrayne stood up. "If there is nothing else I need to know...?"
       "I'll contact you if I need any more information." Manzano smiled at her and Mahrayne turned to leave his office.
       "Lady Mahrayne," the diplomat's voice was almost deferential, "do you require transportation to your destination? It's still quite hot outside."
      Mahrayne considered this briefly – did she really want to walk all the way back to the palace? She beamed at the older male.
       "Thank you, I would appreciate that."

Zyelenyi, one of Manzano's aides, flew her directly to the suite and Mahrayne quietly marveled at how unfazed she was now at being carried – touched – by a male. True, there were few males she saw that she found desirable but that was probably because she hadn't yet learnt to appreciate them in that way. Not that it would do her any good to develop that appreciation, she wouldn't be able to act on it anyway...
      She liked Zyelenyi, he was young and cheeky and he had the nicest eyes – a rich, warm, inviting brown like the pelt of a cipot. He briefly touched the jewelled flower pendant she wore, and said – cryptically, to her mind - that he thought Zorun had made a good choice.
      Mahrayne wasn't completely sure the young male was talking about the pendant – and how did he know Zorun had given it to her anyway?
       All of these fascinating little mysteries were promptly forgotten, however when Mahrayne stepped back into the suite and saw the first real indication of Leteetza's pregnancy. The Hassinan's delighted squeal jerked the little female out of her partial doze and before the Elite Guardsman was awake enough to protect her dignity, Mahrayne was upon her, stroking the tiny roundness of her belly and cooing unashamedly...

© 2002 July 14^th Amanda Mullane

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      Something very precious, something worthy of being looked after and treasured.

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