Naissance pt 4

Battered from conflicting emotions and the endless fear and tension of the past few unending days, Mahrayne took refuge in a small cavern well away from the main habitation. In the dark, alone save for her spectral twin, the Hassinan curled in on herself and wept.
       *Heart's light,* she could just feel Alida's touch on her hair, *you shouldn't be by yourself...*
       *H... have to,* Mahrayne buried her face in her hands, *I rejected Zorun, betrayed him, how can I presume to grieve in front of those who truly loved him?*
      Alida slipped her arms around her sister and sighed.
       *You are too hard on yourself.*
      *If I'd remained in Vejiitamachi, at the Academy,* Mahrayne whispered, *I would've been with the zn'hre...*
      *Don't even think it! Would you have your children mourning both parents?* Alida scowled at the look her twin gave her. *Yes, even Korena would mourn. And what about 'tiisaan? What about Kelapa?*
       *I don't even know if she's still alive, 'lida.* Mahrayne bit her lip. *Would I know if she'd been killed? Like Ti'aasaan knew... about Zorun?*
       Alida hugged her twin, tightly, though it only translated as a slight warmth against the dancer's skin.
       *I can't say, heart's light, but perhaps we can find her now, yes?*
       Mahrayne nodded and closed her eyes, consciously *feeling* along the odd connection...
       ... hurting, weary, so weary, but alive...
      Bronze eyes flashed open and Mahrayne smiled tremulously.
       *She's alive.*
       Alida hugged her again, brushing a kiss over her forehead.
       *Be strong, precious, Kel's going to need you, as will 'tiisaan, and your children -*
       She stopped... someone was coming...
       "Mahrayne-san!" Lento flung himself into the cavern, panting. "It's over! The fighting's over! They won!"
      Mahrayne scrambled upright, stepping towards the dim shape she could just discern in the blackness.
       "It's over? Truly?"
       "Yes!" the young Effodio was sparking with excitement. "And when you return to the Capital I want to go too." He drew a deep breath. "Perhaps... perhaps I can help 'tiisaan somehow?"
      Mahrayne smiled a little, already thinking ahead to the preparations needed before departing Kamome.
       "If Malum can spare you I can't see why not." The dancer frowned. "Lento, how did you find me?"
       She couldn't make out his expression in the dark but there was a certain hesitancy to the young male's answer.
       "I've, um, seen you come this way before."
      Mahrayne quirked a fine, white eyebrow. She'd only escaped here a few times and hadn't thought anyone had noticed. Was Lento watching her? Why?
       "We'd best return, Mahrayne-san," the apprentice Effodio suggested.
       "Yes," the Hassinan nodded, wiping her eyes on her sleeve. "Let's go."

Kinu flung himself into his mother's arms the moment she stepped back into the over-heated chamber, and buried his face in her neck.
       "Kuri's been hurt, maazi!"
      Mahrayne couldn't breath - it was if a large band had wrapped around her heart and was contracting sharply.
      "How... how badly?"
       "I don't know!" Kinu wailed. "He's alive but I can't *contact* him!"
       Mahrayne gathered her son and 'jau to her, murmuring reassurances.
       "The Feeodoreeans are very good, they'll do all they can." She glanced over at the pile of furs where Ti'aasaan was huddled with Zha'haarak and the infant Zo'rien. Korena was asleep, worn out with her misery, still curled against the little zn'hre.
       "When will we be returning, Highness?" she enquired softly.
       Zha'haarak's great golden eyes were bleak.
       "Hi'ijaa has said not until there's somewhere warm for us to stay..." he closed his eyes. "There's not much left to return to..."
       "I'll inform Malum," Lento said, his young face sombre as he slipped out of the cavern.

It was six fraught days before they could leave Kamome. Ti'aasaan was a shadow of himself, rarely speaking, pouring all of his energy into his hostling. Zo'rien was so small... Mahrayne was quietly astonished, she'd seen many premature babies born and not a lot of them survived, but she watched, her heart full, as hour by hour the tiny hybrid grew stronger. Vinas didn't say anything but after monitoring the infant closely for the first couple of days the biotech's demeanour subtly changed. Mahrayne couldn't have commented with any assurance but she believed Vinas was a touch more hopeful for Zo'rien's survival.

Within a day of the end of the conflict, communications between Vejiitamachi and the rest of the planet had been re-established. To Mahrayne's intense and tearful relief Kelapa was in contact with her shortly afterwards. The Hassinan had known her lover was alive but that was all, their bond was too weak, too tenuous to be of any use over distance.
      The Saiyan looked haggard, her eyes dull, and there were freshly healed scars along her cheek.
       "Kuri's lost an arm." was the first thing she said.
      "Oh no!" Mahrayne blinked back tears. "Will he be all right?"
       Kelapa nodded wearily.
       "The medics say he'll be fine. 'haavok and 'honee..." she scrubbed at her face, "The brats got him to the infirmary before he lost too much blood." She put her hand up against the screen.
       "I miss you." the warrior's voice was raw. Mahrayne placed her hand over the image of Kel's own.
       "I miss you, too." It was so inadequate – why couldn't she *tell* her mate how she felt?
       Kelapa flinched, visibly.
       "I have to go."
       "It won't be long, jha-tunovahn, before we're together."
       A tiny smirk moved the warrior's lips.
       "That's the only thing keeping me going, takibi. I have to go. I love you."
       The screen went blank and Mahrayne slumped, tears starting down her cheeks.

Leteetza, Kakarotto and Sasa had not been recalled to the Capital. The reasoning was sound – the family still needed to be guarded, after all – but none of the warriors were happy. Mahrayne made a point of staying out of their way though it was only really Leteetza who ventured below ground. Her first instinct was to offer comfort to her one-time friend - Mahrayne knew 'ani had been injured, and that Radittsu and the Ssii'iin were both hurt - but she didn't dare. Instead, on the few occasions she came face to face with the little warrior, Mahrayne treated her with the utmost deference and quickly got out of sight.

The call to return to Vejiitamachi came at last. The transport set down close to the cliff, acting as a wind-break against the bitter winds blowing in from the ocean. The hybrids weren't really at risk but the full-blood zn'hre still needed to be ki-shielded as they were flown the short distance to the shuttle.
       Zha'haarak, swathed in furs but still shivering, paused at the entrance to the complex to thank the colony's young Leader.
       "Know you will always be welcome here." Malum replied, a formal response, his sister knew, but heartfelt. While the zn'hre were being settled Mahrayne took the opportunity to farewell her brother and his family. She hugged each of the females then happily accepted first Cauda then Tornus – Ientus and Iocor's infant sons – for a hasty cuddle.
       "Be safe," Malum was serious once he had his sister's full attention again. "Stay in contact with us."
       "I will." Mahrayne touched his shoulder briefly.
       "Remind Lento to do the same?"
       The dancer nodded, smiling slightly. The day after the conflict had ended Lento had left the settlement – with Malum's permission – to travel to Vejiitamachi on one of the supply shuttles. The young Effodio had been determined to reach 'tiisaan as soon as possible. Cene and Nenia - his intended females who'd arrived with the last influx of refugees several days before the war – weren't sure what to think about this.
       "Give Kelapa our regards." Ientus' smile was sad. "I hope Kuri recovers quickly."
       "Thank you." Mahrayne brushed her hand over her eyes then smiled down at Kinu and 'jau who were waiting quietly at her side.
       "Let's go home, sinameh."

Her subdued son and his bondmate sat with her on the transport. Kinu snuggled into her side with a tremulous sigh as 'jau enfolded him with arms and tail. Korena was also quiet, having insinuated herself between Buahan and Pirum.
The hours-long journey passed slowly, in near silence...

The Hassinan wasn't sure what she was expecting to see when they disembarked from the shuttle that mid-afternoon but it wasn't this. The city was flattened, nearly everything was gone it seemed – all the beautiful buildings, the gardens... The potential for this level of destruction was something the Hassinan lived with daily but this... This was deliberate, wilful damage. It was incomprehensible. She wasn't given long to dwell on it though, Kelapa was waiting.
      The warrior materialised in front of her, scooping Kinu and 'jau up and enveloping them all in a crushing hug, her tail snaking tightly around Mahrayne's waist.
      *I am so glad to see you.* The females' bond flared into life as their lips met. Mahrayne closed her eyes, *melting* blissfully into a profound awareness of her mate, forgetting everything else for the moment.
      "MaaziKel?" Korena's hushed voice pulled them back to reality. Kelapa released Mahrayne, bending to lift the solemn little female into her arms.
      "Yes, brat?"
      "Can I see Kuri?"
      The warrior nodded.
      "You know what happened to him?"
      "Yes." 'rena whispered, dark eyes wide and troubled.
      "He'll be pleased to see you," Kelapa smirked lop-sidedly, glancing at Kinu and 'jau. "All of you."

The injured cub was being cared for on one of the Feeodoreean hospital ships. The contrast between the clean, clinical interior of the vessel and the general destruction outside was marked, disorienting.
      The group entered Kuri's room to find the cub scowling at one of the Feed medics.
      "What the fuck is going on?" Kelapa stalked over to her son's bedside to glower at the alien.
      "The G'geckans believe they can regenerate Saiya-jin body parts –"
      "NO!" Kuri snarled. "I am not going into a fucking box for a year!"
      The medic tilted his head to one side and frowned.
      "But won't having all your limbs intact be better than...?"
      "I've still got my ki!" the cub grated, "I've still got my tail! I'm still a fucking Saiyan and while I'm needed I won't go away!"
      Mahrayne grinned through tears – Kuri could be as stubbornly proud as his mother sometimes. And speaking of proud, Kel was making no effort to disguise her pride in her son.
      The medic smiled faintly.
      "Very well." he glanced at the others in the room. "I'll leave you to your visitors."
      Kuri smirked at them as the Feed left the room though Mahrayne's heart ached to see the lines of weariness and pain etched into the cub's face.
      "How are you, ani?" 'rena floated up to perch gingerly on her brother's bed. She was carefully avoiding looking at the neatly bandaged remnant of his arm.
      Kuri shrugged.
      "It doesn't hurt so much any more." He grinned as Kinu and 'jau crowded 'round him, all of them falling silent at they *communicated*, touching each other gently, reinforcing the family and friendship bonds. Mahrayne moved to stand beside Kel, the warrior's tail automatically winding around her hips.
      "I'm glad you're back, Maazirayne." Kuri said, then his smirk faltered. "Papa's gone."
      "I know, sinam," the Hassinan leant down to stroke his spiked mane.
      Korena's shoulders shook with the effort of suppressing her sobs and Kuri reached to pull her down to him, nuzzling her gold-splashed mane, offering wordless understanding.
      Kelapa sighed, reluctantly releasing her mate.
      "I have to go, but I'll be back before sunsset." she kissed Kuri's forehead, stroking his mane back from his face before turning back to Mahrayne. *I've been sleeping in here.*
      *Could we all stay?*
      Kelapa nodded.
      *There's room. I'll organise - *
      Mahrayne stopped her with a finger over her lips and a small smile.
      *I'll organise it, you're needed elsewhere, yes?*
      The warrior half-smirked, giving her mate another lingering kiss.
      *I'll see you later.*

Kinu, 'jau and 'rena elected to stay with Kuri while Mahrayne went to find 'tiisaan. It wasn't too difficult, the young dancer and his sire were on the same infirmary ship. To Mahrayne's guilty relief the zn'hre were alone in the room: she'd been expecting to find the rest of the family there.
      Mahrayne inclined her head to the High King, the Hassinan way of showing respect, but didn't know what to say. He and the others had been through such a terrible ordeal...
      "It was kind of your brother's people to offer refuge, Mahrayne." Even from a hospital bed the zn'hre still managed to exude grace and power.
      "We could do nothing less, Ssii'iin."
      'tiisaan looked gaunt but the hug he gave his teacher was strong.
      "I'm glad you're back, 'rayne," beautiful golden eyes brimmed with tears, "'viirel, the others..."
      "I know, jha-tiludas, I know." Mahrayne pulled his head down to her shoulder as she wept with him.
      "I want to dance for them," the hostling stated quietly after a little while.
      "That is a wonderful idea, sinam," Mahrayne stroked his cool cheek, "it will honour their memory."
      'tiisaan gave her a watery smile.
      "We have recordings of... of 'viirel..."
      "It will be beautiful, worthy of them all." Mahrayne nodded, overcome with sadness. So much loss...
      "Lento's here."
      The Hassinan smiled.
      "He was worried about you, sinam."
      "He's been a good friend." 'tiisaan heaved a sigh. "It's helped a lot."
      Mahrayne wondered if Lento was sharing the hostling's bed and how he felt being in the same room as his lover's father...
      "And he has been of great help in the clearing." Zha'haabron spoke up. "He has an uncanny ability to pinpoint unstable areas in the rubble."
      Mahrayne grinned.
      "He is an Effodio, Ssii'iin, that's what they do..."

She stayed with the zn'hre for a little time then, as 'tiisaan visibly tired, Mahrayne took her leave and went to search out her friends from the Academy. The Hassinan witnessed purposeful activity everywhere she looked and speculated on how she could make herself useful. As it happened, Ubi – the Thinker who'd been in charge of the Palace school – caught up with her as she sat with some of the other students and staff in one of the many eateries temporarily housed in large dome tents erected on the Palace grounds.
      "Mahrayne, good to see you." The female beamed. "I need your help..."
      Ubi believed that schooling for the children – all of them, civilians included - should resume as quickly as possible. To that end she'd been trying to organise space, and materials and teachers, but it was a lot of work. Mahrayne eagerly offered her assistance. This was something constructive she could do, something to focus on while life was dragged back to normal. She'd also been told there were already plans being made for the Academy to begin classes again as soon as space could be found. Despite the recent horrors the mood amongst the Academy's people seemed to be optimistic, and the Hassinan was relieved to know she wouldn't have to worry about being idle while Vejiitamachi was rebuilt.
      Ubi bustled away with a relieved smirk, telling Mahrayne she'd collect her first thing next morning...

It was night-time and the infirmary was quiet, the lighting in the corridors subdued. The room was dark and the children were asleep, 'rena curled up with Kuri, Kinu and 'jau twined together on the mattress they were sharing with Mahrayne and Kel, The females were still awake, though Kelapa was clearly exhausted, stretched out on her back beside her mate, long tail curved limply over Mahrayne's waist. The Hassinan stroked gentle fingers over Kel's breasts, her lips following in their path, raising a contented sigh from the Saiyan.
      *Do you want to sleep?* Mahrayne shifted, trailing nibbling kisses down her mate's belly.
      *Fucking stupid question!* The Saiyan grumbled, but opened lean thighs to Mahrayne's long fingers anyway. The dancer smiled and slid one hand underneath Kel's warm body to tease the fur at the base of her tail.
      *I love you.* she said, twisting to lower her face to the warrior's groin...

Kelapa lay in Mahrayne's arms, snuggled tightly against her mate, oddly energised and further from sleep than she'd been before Mahrayne had made love to her. For her own peace of mind there was something she had to deal with, the sooner the better.
      *Zorun's dead, takibi,* Kel cupped Mahrayne's face in a strong hand, her own eyes misting at her mate's sudden tears. *You're mine, only mine, like you should've been from the start.*
      Mahrayne's lips quivered but she nodded, the bronze of her irises receding to a thin ring as her pupils dilated in a mixture of apprehension and desire. Kel slid her body over the Hassinan's, pinning her securely. She nuzzled Mahrayne's neck, her lips playing over the scar at the juncture of her shoulder. Mahrayne tensed momentarily then relaxed with a deep sigh, smiling at her mate.
      *Yours.*
      *You are my life, takibi.*
      Kelapa bit down on the golden skin, relishing the blood welling from the wound, suffused with warmth and love and bright, bright joy...