Progression pt 2
"Mahrayne, this is amazing!" Merces, along with the other visiting Hassinan, gaped in awe at the sparkling crystal formations that seemed to drip down from the walls and ceiling of the cave. The soft ki-glow from their guards refracted off the minerals, lending a subtle colour to the mostly clear gems.
"Look! There's the ontibu! Just like you said!" one of the younger females pointed excitedly at the arrangement of rock and crystal Mahrayne had found the last time she'd visited these caves with Zorun.
"This place is so beautiful…" Merces reverently touched her fingertips to a glittering lump of quartz the size of her head.
The performers were going to be on planet for a total of twenty-five days all told; that was twenty-five days for Mahrayne to convince them that Vejiitasei was a good place to live. Already she knew that some - not all - might decide to stay on when it was time for the troupe to leave, but it was Mahrayne's hope that those who didn't stay would take the stories of this beautiful, rich and vibrant planet back to Hassina with them. The sooner the idea that there could be a comfortable life outside of Hassina was planted in her people's collective mind the better.
To this end Mahrayne had organised several trips for the visitors. Not all of the females were comfortable leaving the security of the Academy's building - the high, open sky was too intimidating for a people who mostly spent their lives underground, but the rest of the females were very keen to have a look around. So far Mahrayne'd shown them the palace gardens, the forests and plains near Vejiitamachi and the more interesting parts of the capital itself including the alien quarter where the females had bartered happily for exotic jewellery, material, decorative items and food.
The excursion to the ocean had been particularly successful. Mahrayne and Alida furtively watched the Hassinan as they stood clustered tightly together on the shore, staring at the expanse of water and open sky.
"There's so much of it," Cornu, an older female from a Settlement distant from Mahrayne's own, whispered awe-struck. Her dark silver-grey eyes were wide and almost fearful, the fear tempered – Mahrayne and her twin were quietly delighted to note – by a dawning wonder, and an unmistakable love. Mahrayne could almost *see* the golden field surrounding Cornu swelling and growing, yearning towards the ocean... Mahrayne blinked: the gold haze disappeared and she promptly forgot about it.
*She's going to want to stay,* Mahrayne *whispered* ecstatically to her twin.
*She's not the only one.* Alida replied happily.
One of the females, Corbis, had moved away from the group and was squatting down on the damp sand, absorbed in her examination of the odd, rubbery plants at the water's edge. Corbis, Mahrayne was certain, would be one of the females staying behind. As well as being a gifted singer, the young female was an apprentice brewer and she'd been thrilled to discover the sheer abundance and variety of plants Vejiitasei produced. Corbis tested every new plant she came across by tasting a tiny portion of it, alert for any interesting tastes or...properties it might have. Most of the flora she disregarded after that first taste but in the wooded areas of the palace grounds she'd found a spongy orange fungus that had potential.
"Try this." Corbis, pupils dilated, had offered a minute portion of one of the fungi to Mahrayne who delicately licked the offered titbit into her mouth, chewing and swallowing curiously.
"Now this is interesting!" Mahrayne broke into a rather silly grin as the narcotic and euphoric effects of the fungus kicked in and her vision sharpened weirdly.
"It's got promise," Corbis giggled, "wonder if it could be cultivated?"
Mahrayne shook her head, clearing the residual glitter from her sight; the effects hadn't lasted long, but if the fungus could be refined and concentrated...
"I'm not sure," she pondered, "you could try the library database to see if there's any information on the plant. But don't get your hopes up, unless it has other uses the Saiyans won't have given it any attention."
Of all the trips Mahrayne organised for her kin, this visit to the caves at the southern tip of the continent had, by far, had the best response. Mahrayne had told her story of her trip there to the enraptured Hassinan so enticingly that all of the females had decided to visit, even the few who so far hadn't gone on any of the excursions. It was a full day trip, taking three hours to reach Kamome by shuttle, and this time Mahrayne came prepared. They carried food down into the caverns with them, enough to feed the Hassinan and their Saiya-jin guard adequately, as well as a few thick furs. All of the Hassinan had been volubly delighted to be underground again, and - it was petty she realised - but Mahrayne couldn't help feeling the tiniest bit smug about the Saiyans' discomfort.
"Are you sure you can fucking find your way out of here?" Kelapa growled quietly at her lover as they entered into the darkness. She and Mannga as elites were there as Mahrayne's personal guard, separate from the four, first class warriors assigned to escort the visitors.
"Yes, jha-tunovahn," Mahrayne beamed, reaching up to kiss the warrior's cheek, "we all can. Don't worry, we won't get lost."
Kelapa remained unconvinced, scowling down at the Hassinan, who laughed.
"It wouldn't matter if we did get lost because you –" she indicated the edgy Saiyans, "- could blast a hole through to the surface. There? Does that make you feel better?"
"Not a whole fucking lot," Kel grumbled, slyly palming Mahrayne's buttocks through her robe, smirking when her mate's scent changed unmistakably to lust. "But if you can get us all out of here safely I'll be happy to show my appreciation when we get home."
The Hassinan had happily wandered through the interconnected caves for a couple of hours as Mahrayne led them on to the Ontibu cave.
"This is a beautiful place," Merces mused, "and quite comfortable for not being habited. It's dry, with a steady, pleasant temperature. It wouldn't take much effort at all to make a home here."
Mahrayne's eyes shone – that was precisely the sort of thing she wanted to hear. Undosus, another singer and the youngest of them all, having only got her face beads a couple of seasons before coming to Vejiitasei, approached Mahrayne diffidently, laying a gentle hand on her forearm.
"Pahllahn, you should rest now."
Mahrayne suppressed her grimace; 'pahllahn' was a term of respect more suitable to one of the Lead Speaker's females than herself and she wasn't comfortable with it. At Alida's quiet insistence though, Mahrayne had let it go and now all of the females, save the ones that knew her personally, addressed her by it.
"No, a little way further," Mahrayne shook her head, "and then we'll rest. There's something I want to show you."
The Saiyans visibly relaxed when they realised they could glimpse the sky through the crack in the cavern's ceiling; Mahrayne had taken them through to the cave with the big pool in the centre, where she'd caught the vicious, but delicious, serpent like creature. The furs were spread out beside the water and everyone settled to eat.
"What's in here?" Merces asked curiously when Mahrayne unwound a length of thin, strong line, baiting the attached hook with a morsel of meat before tossing it gently out into the glassy black water.
"Something that looks a little like a ghid-lo, though it tastes different. Sweeter." Mahrayne grinned. "Have your knife ready, and cover your hands with something. They're aggressive and they have very sharp spines." Merces didn't have time to ask further as just then, Mahrayne felt the distinctive tug on the end of the line. With a happy shout, she hauled one of the sleek creatures out of the water managing, with Merces' help to quickly kill the writhing and coiling animal before it gouged chunks out of her arms.
Merces eyes opened wide in appreciation as she tasted the creature's dark, succulent flesh.
"Oh, now that's nice."
"Isn't it?" Mahrayne grinned, slicing off a piece to give to Kel. "They seem to be plentiful as well."
"I wonder what other creatures live here?" Merces mused aloud.
"I'm not sure, I haven't been able to find any information about these caves' ecology," Mahrayne handed the hook and line to one of the other females for them to try their luck. "The Saiyans don't like being underground so it's not surprising there's never been a comprehensive study down here. There's plenty of insects and smaller animals to be had I'm sure, and the forest above is teeming with game."
Merces was thoughtfully silent as she nibbled another piece of fresh meat.
"All it lacks to be comfortable here," the older female began slowly, "is running hot water and a method of lighting."
"Water can be heated," Mahrayne murmured, "and the Saiyans have access to a wide range of technology."
"The caves would need to have an easier access, so we wouldn’t have to be carried in by those that can fly."
"That could be done." The females locked eyes and Mahrayne watched as her old friend's expression changed subtly as she comprehended the possibilities.
"It could be done." Merces whispered.
*It will be done.* Alida announced with quiet satisfaction to her twin and Mahrayne experienced the odd fluttering in her breastbone as she recognised the truth…
After they'd finished the food that had been brought along, as well as numerous serpent creatures (dubbed ghid-lodnha, or 'like ghid-lo') that had been caught, the well-content Hassinan, and their less than content Guards, trooped off into the darkness again. Mahrayne took a different path this time to when she'd visited with Zorun, happy beyond words as she explored new corridors and chambers with her people. It was safe here, without a doubt, far safer than Hassina ever was; Mahrayne could feel the awareness of that security thrumming quietly in her bones.
They stumbled into a large cavern, easily as big as the central meeting chamber in Marldus' Settlement, but with a higher ceiling. Almost immediately the singers in the group absorbed the possibilities inherent in the near-perfect acoustics and they began a singing chant that filled the chamber with joyous sound. Time became irrelevant as the Hassinan sang together, clapping out the rhythms as the bemused Saiyan warriors looked on, incidentally providing the light.
"Takibi, we should be going or it'll be dawn before we fucking get home." Kelapa eventually murmured in Mahrayne's ear. The Hassinan nodded reluctantly, she was quite comfortable snuggled back against her Saiyan and would've been happy to stay the night here in the caves, but Kelapa was distinctly uncomfortable - it was time to leave.
It was very late by the time they returned to Vejiitamachi. The Saiyans were palpably relieved to be on the surface again and they ate heartily on the shuttle flight back. Mahrayne cuddled drowsily into her lover, her hearing half-tuned to the happy buzz of conversation from the other Hassinan; the trip had gone well and Merces in particular was afire with enthusiasm to explore the caves properly.
Yawning, Mahrayne said goodnight to her kinfolk at the shuttle dock and then Kelapa flew them both straight back to their suite. They were alone tonight, Kuri was staying with the family, which suited Kel admirably.
"See, I told you we wouldn’t get lost, yes?" Mahrayne grinned at the warrior. "How are you going to show me your appreciation?"
"Haven't really thought that far ahead," Kelapa smirked, wrapping her Hassinan in strong arms, her tail coiling softly around a golden thigh, "Guess I'll just have to make it up as I go along…"
Merces had brought a bundle of correspondence from Hassina with her. Mahrayne smiled as she read the expected news of Nonnia's pregnancy, though she sensed her tertera's terror through her demurely joyful words.
*She thinks she's too old.* Mahrayne sighed to her twin. *She's not, of course, and Olla will look after her anyway.*
*Nonnia's used to being the one who does the looking after, this is all very new for her.* Alida smiled, cuddling in behind Mahrayne, ethereal chin resting on her sister's shoulder.
Nonnia's letter also contained the news that young Astolan, Mahrayne's elder brother, had died from a lung infection. His mother was distraught, even though she'd barely had any contact with him for years, and Astolan was devastated at the loss of his heir. Mahrayne was largely indifferent, she hardly knew her brother, save that he was too similar to their father to be at ease with.
*This means Malum will have to take over,* Mahrayne frowned, her younger brother was a hunter to his soul; being constrained by the boundaries of becoming Astolan's heir, with all the attendant stresses of running a household would be torture for him. *He won't be happy about that, unless…*
*Unless?*
* Unless Nonnia's child is male.* Mahrayne searched her twin's face. *What can you see?*
Alida breathed in, deeply and slowly, dark-golden eyes drifting closed as she *focused* ... and Mahrayne saw with her...
... Malum, visibly older, the chronic pain from never completely healed injuries marking his open countenance, sitting cross-legged between two very young males. One was unmistakably his son, and the other, the twins knew, was his brother...
Mahrayne drew in a shuddering breath as she came back to herself.
*A male. Good, the onus won't fall so heavily on Malum then.*
*It will be many years before the child can take over the responsibilities though, Malum will still nominally be Astolan's heir in the meantime, and that's providing that Astolan will let Malum step back.* Traditionally, a father's eldest son inherited the household though it wasn't unknown for it to go to another son or relative – even a female – if they were more suited to the task.
*I think he will,* Mahrayne asserted quietly. *He knows Malum's heart will never be in it, and he'll bring up this new son as his heir. Fortunately the child will have Malum as an influence as well. Hopefully he'll be less... stiff than his father.*
A dead male's females, traditionally, went to the care of his next younger brother or another related male. Young Astolan's two females, according to Nonnia, were not in the least perturbed about being handed over to Malum. For a start, Ientus and Iocor made no secret of their happiness with their male plus he'd sired children on them both within their first year together. Munia and Monile were childless after eight years with Astolan, as well as having no particular fondness for him - the pair were quietly optimistic about their future.
Mahrayne enjoyed having her people around, feeling deeply content in their company, much as she did with Dignusia and Peruro. She spent a lot of time with them at the Academy, sometimes with Kel, sometimes with Kinu and 'jau, and always the females welcomed her. Mahrayne was still bothered by the marked deference some of them showed her, but for the most part she was relaxed and happy to be with them.
Kel was less happy for Mahrayne to spend time with the aliens, some of them were still way too familiar with her lover for comfort, but the Saiyan couldn't escape the conclusion that being with her people made Mahrayne happy. It was all right though, she trusted Mahrayne implicitly - she would not betray her.
"So when do we get to meet your male?" Mahrayne was relaxing with Merces in the Hassinan quarters while she waited for Kelapa to come and pick her up.
The younger female breathed out a sigh.
"I no longer see him."
"Oh that is a shame!" Merces said, "I'd heard he was quite something." She tilted her head enquiringly. "May I ask what happened?"
Mahrayne looked down into the remnants of the thick, clear liquid in her glass.
"A failure, on my part, in understanding."
Merces watched her closely.
"I'm sorry to hear that, 'rayne," the older female said softly.
Mahrayne shrugged.
"I'm not surprised it happened." She hated the self-pitying bitterness tingeing her words.
"Ah, precious," Merces took both the younger female's hands in hers, "I have known you all your life, I was there for your birth – I have watched you all your life." The singer's eyes were soft with love and compassion. "Trouble always finds you, 'rayne. You have an uncanny knack for disruption. You're not an easy person to know and yet... " Merces shook her head ruefully. "You're not like the rest of us Mahrayne."
Almost, almost Mahrayne opened her mouth to tell her old friend the truth of her birth.
*Not yet, heart's-light,* Alida's voice whispered softly in her mind, *they don't need to know yet.*
Merces glanced over Mahrayne's shoulder to the door and she grinned.
"Your other Saiyan's here for you," she leant forward to fondly kiss the dancer's cheek, "and she looks like she wants to make patterns with my blood. I'd better let you go, eh?"
Mahrayne twisted around to smile lovingly at Kelapa, whose expression of aloof watchfulness didn't change save for a softening of her gaze and tiniest twitch of her tail tip.
"Don't worry," she murmured to Merces with a chuckle, "Saiyans always look like that. You get used to it."
The Academy was fairly humming with activity as staff and students prepared for the winter concert. This was the Academy's first performance, a chance to showcase the talents being nurtured within.
'tiisaan was still sulking. It didn't matter that his solo performance for the visiting dignitaries would take place before the concert, or that he was going to be a highlight of the Summer concert, he wanted to be involved, fully, in this one. Mahrayne, to her surprise, found she would have happily swapped places with him.
"Bri-sama, I'd rather not be in the performance," Mahrayne had hesitantly told the songwright when the concert's structure was first being planned.
"Why ever not?" Bri'seiyis made no attempt to hide his surprise.
"Well," she looked down at her protruding abdomen, "I don't think I'll be physically capable..."
That was merely an excuse, not the real reason for her reluctance, and Bri'seiyis knew it. The striking zn'hre regarded her with a soft smile.
"Oh?" was all he said, eyebrows lifted in polite enquiry.
"'rayne, you have to!" this from 'tiisaan, who had actively involved himself in the planning. "I can't be in it so you have to!"
Mahrayne wavered; the hostling was gazing at her with big, imploring, golden eyes – damn she hated it when he did that.
"I – don't know..."
In truth, Mahrayne found the idea of dancing in front of so many people made her feel unaccountably shy. The Hassinan didn't perform, as such, dancing was an integral part of their culture - everyone danced, some just loved it more than others – but to be on display like that... And there was the other, darker, reason. Since her break with Zorun Mahrayne had actively avoided Saiyans, dreading their anger and disgust with her; to dance in front of them - even interspersed as they would be with other alien races - without the protection of the Academy's walls, would leave her so very, very vulnerable. Mahrayne glanced sideways through her lashes at Jagung, sitting watching her impassively – she honestly didn't feel strong enough to face any hostility. Not yet.
"Please reconsider, Mahrayne," Bri'seiyis softly entreated her, lightly brushing cool fingertips over her wrist, " you are as much a part of the Academy as any of us."
"Please, 'rayne, please?" 'tiisaan cuddled into her side, wrapping slender arms around his mentor.
Mahrayne smiled tremulously and pressed a kiss to 'tiisaan's fragrant hair.
"I'll think about it."
Between Bri'seiyis' support, 'tiisaan's unsubtle prodding and Alida's gentle assertion that Mahrayne needed to face her fears, the Hassinan eventually agreed to join in the performance. To that end she choreographed a piece for her bell-dancing students and gratefully accepted Bri'seiyis' offer to help choreograph something for herself. Despite her reservations, Mahrayne was drawn along by Bri'seiyis' enthusiasm and soon she found herself happily submerged in concert preparations. The songwright suggested making Mahrayne's pregnancy the focus of the dance - after all new life, children, were precious to all. After some thinking, Mahrayne had a flash of inspiration about her dance partner. Tion, the female Korijin was delighted to be asked and soon Bri'seiyis was able to leave the two females alone to work on their ideas.
Time wound on and life was rewardingly busy.
Kelapa trembled in Mahrayne's arms, her tail wound so tightly around the Hassinan's forearm Mahrayne was sure it would leave a bruise. But that was the least of her concerns right now.
Kelapa was terrified and Mahrayne wasn't far behind her – she'd never seen the warrior so scared.
"What did Ti'aasaan mean, jha-tunovahn? 'He knows'?" Mahrayne was distantly amazed at how calm she sounded. Kelapa shook her head minutely, still quivering.
"He's going to fucking kill me." she whispered.
"Who?"
Kel confirmed Mahrayne's fears with her next word, though what came after made little sense.
"Zorun." The warrior's voice was almost a sob. "It was an accident, 'rayne, but he's going to fucking kill me."
"Tahnahn, please tell me what's wrong."
Kelapa stopped herself shivering, with an effort, and pulled away from her lover.
"I didn't want you to find out..."
Mahrayne listened with horror and compassion as Kelapa haltingly, eyes downcast, told her about the history she shared with Zorun, about Piturun and how he died – and their child who'd died with him...
"Kel, I'm so sorry." Mahrayne hugged her mate as tightly as she could, trying to surround and protect the female with the strength of her love.
"Zorun's going to fucking see this as me having stolen something else from him," Kelapa whispered hoarsely. "First you, now Piturun."
Mahrayne had no answer to that, Kelapa was almost certainly right.
"But it wasn't your fault. I've seen how compulsive Saiya-jin heats are, and from what I understand the contraceptives weren't all that good back then…"
"Doesn't matter," Kelapa swallowed, "it's my fault. Everything."
"Do you – would it help if you went away for a while?"
"No," Kelapa was quietly determined, "I'm not going to run away."
Mahrayne bit her lip and nodded.
"Whatever happens, jha-tunovahn, I'll be with you."
Kelapa pulled the Hassinan close, burying her face in Mahrayne's thick, white hair.
"Thank you." Her voice caught in a stifled sob. "I love you..."
A couple of anxious days passed and Zorun didn't come after Kelapa. It was Kinu who told Mahrayne why, the cub having sweetly naïve ideas about complete honesty.
The Hassinan was shaken: Zorun had resorted to violence again and hurt Ti'aasaan, but – this news provoked a discordant jangle of unfamiliar emotions – had also bonded with him and sired a child. Mahrayne, literally, didn't know what to think. She shied away from the bitter resentment over their bonding; in spite of her satisfying bond with her twin she still hadn't completely come to terms with her desperate desire to experience that closeness with her mates. And now – and now she was convinced she couldn't see Ti'aasaan any more because she doubted Zorun would be happy with it. And also, to her deep, deep shame, she knew she couldn't bear to look at the little zn'hre and see his happiness. Alone in the suite after Kinu and 'jau had left, Mahrayne dissolved into grief as another valued friendship became dust, and another link with the family was severed.
She didn't have time to wallow though, the winter concert was only days away - and Kelapa needed her. Years of practise helped Mahrayne put her worries aside and get on with life; she was dry-eyed and calm when Kel returned that evening from her shift.
Mahrayne stood and watched the other performers from the sidelines throughout the day of the concert, impressed with Bri'seiyis' adroit handling of the program. Each piece was able to be enjoyed for its own merits, neither detracting from or overshadowing what came before or after. Everyone did exceptionally well and the audience was very receptive, but, as the time for her own performance approached the Hassinan struggled to overcome her apprehension. What if she botched it? What if they didn't like what she did? The only thing more terrifying than facing the Saiya-jin was putting in a bad performance and disgracing Bri-sama.
Shortly before they were due onstage, Tion enfolded her in a comforting embrace.
"Take some of your own advice, sensei," the Korijin rumbled good-humouredly, "ignore externals, focus on the truths of the dance you're trying to convey; bring those truths to the surface and live them."
"You're right," Mahrayne breathed out, consciously letting go of her nervousness, "Thank you, Tion."
But she was still a bundle of nerves when she stepped into the arena...
Kelapa was waiting for her when she and Tion came offstage, wordlessly gathering the Hassinan into her arms, her warm brown eyes shining with love and pride.
"That was beautiful," she murmured, "you are beautiful."
Mahrayne wound her arms around the warrior's neck, gently pulling her down for a lingering kiss. Mahrayne felt like she was floating, almost light-headed with relief and adrenalin - it had gone better than she could have hoped.
"I feel so… light," Mahrayne breathed, "like I could fly."
"Later," Kelapa smirked, "let's watch the rest of the performance first."
Mahrayne hugged Tion, smiling up at the big female.
"Thank you, Tion, that was..." Mahrayne shrugged and grinned, lost for words.
"I know," the Korijin grinned back, "this 'performing' could be addictive!"
Tion ambled off to watch the rest of the concert with her friends while Mahrayne and Kelapa, holding hands, quietly snuck out to sit with the other Hassinan, just in time to catch a final, awe-inspiring performance that left her entranced and overwhelmed...
It was wonderful and Mahrayne was enthralled. Even with being as closely involved with the preparations as she'd been, the Hassinan had still fallen completely under the spell of the performers, watching wide-eyed as she lived their projected emotions with them, lost in the magic woven in the winter setting...
Afterwards, still buoyed by all she'd experienced that day, her own performance included, Mahrayne was just as happy to have missed the official reception at the Palace; it couldn't have been anywhere near as much fun as the Academy party! Staff and students, friends and relatives, all gathered together in the largest space in the building to celebrate the performance's success with copious food and drink. Mahrayne gladly submerged herself in the revelry until several hours later when a smirking Kelapa gently led her away from the circle dance. Mahrayne melted in to Kel's kiss.
"Still feel like flying?" the Saiyan murmured, stroking a fingertip over Mahrayne's face beads.
"Yes, please, jha-tunovahn," the Hassinan sighed dreamily. "I would like that very much."
It had started snowing again, cold flakes of crystal beauty drifting down from the sky to settle softly over the landscape. Outside of Kel's ki-shield the temperature was freezing, but within it Mahrayne was warm and protected as the Saiyan cuddled her close. Shadowed by Mannga, the females flew in loving silence over the Palace gardens and out to the ocean, skimming the water at the shoreline for an inestimable distance until the dark of night began to give way to the dawn. They returned to their suite, tired but happy, and fell asleep wrapped closely around each other.
Several days before the Hassinan performers where due to leave Vejiitasei, Mahrayne was approached by a small delegation of those who wished to stay behind. There were ten in all, including Merces, Corbis and Cornu, but also the young singer, Undosus, who seemed subdued to the point of depression: Undosus' hitherto inseparable partner, Inaratus, was noticeable by her absence. Beaming and close to tears Mahrayne hugged them all then set about making arrangements for their immigration. She spoke to Bri'seiyis first, confirming that the females would be sponsored by the Academy while they decided their immediate futures, then she spoke to Zyelenyi who was happy to deal with all the bureaucracy.
There had been a farewell feast at the Academy for the visitors the night before they left, a bittersweet time to say goodbye to new and old friends. Bri'seiyis gave a short speech, thanking the Hassinan for visiting and sharing their skills, and extending an open invitation for them to return. The party didn't go too far into the night, the transport to Hassina was leaving very early the next morning.
Undosus and Inaratus, Mahrayne noticed, quietly left the feast together very early on, hand in hand and puffy-eyed from crying - they were obviously going to say their private good-byes. Mahrayne wondered what had happened to split the pair. The females had been born within days of each other in the same household, like Chumie and Testa, and like Mahrayne's sisters had been lovers for more of their young lives than not. It wasn't just curiosity that prompted Mahrayne's interest though, it was the subtle air of foreboding surrounding them.
It was a grey, cold morning at the spaceport as final hugs and kisses goodbye were exchanged while the Hassinan prepared to board the transport. To one side, Undosus and Cornu - she was from the same household as the young females - could be seen speaking earnestly to Inaratus, trying no doubt, to convince her to stay. Inaratus shook her head decisively, gave her lover one last tight hug, then boarded the transport without a backward glance. Undosus stood, a solitary sum of grief amidst those who'd gathered to see the Hassinan off, watching the transport disappear into the stratosphere.
The small crowd began to disperse and still Undosus stood there; Mahrayne was about to go to her, to offer what comfort she could, but stopped when a male Shimosein, one of the Academy students rather than an administrator, came to stand in front of the young female, his gaze softly compassionate as Undosus threw herself, sobbing, into his thin arms.
Mahrayne blinked: had she missed something? Was Undosus staying behind because of this alien male - and would Mahrayne need to talk to her about contraceptives…?
© 2003 June 1st Amanda Mullane
