Soar

The air was so pure, so cold and clear, the land spread out beneath her wings, fold after ridge after peak of mountain range below, a vast swathe of forest-girdled, honey-coloured plain to the south: if she squinted, she could just make out the light glinting on the spires and roofs of Vejiitamachi in the far distance.
      **It is beautiful, ne?**
      She gazed up smiling; A'lestrel hovered above her, the high cold wind ruffling the fur of his bodysuit and rioting through his mane, his plait whipping the air, his skin almost the colour of the sky.
      *Oh, yes, hab'lan…*

They'd made love again and yet again after 'lestrel had claimed her, the Zasshu insatiable, wanting her, not pausing until the bite on her neck had finally stopped bleeding. She'd slumped back onto their bed, exhausted, glowing, sated and blissfully happy, gazing up at her bondmate with half-closed, loving eyes. He smiled, stroking soft locks of pale hair back from her face.
      **Rest for a little, zk'aida**
      She sighed happily, then frowned as he rose, draped a silk sheet over her still-quivering body, and headed for the door.
      *Hab'lan…?*
      He smiled over his shoulder.
      **Don't worry, sinam. Zh'leet will pack for us**
      She blinked. Pack?
      *Um, hab'lan? Why?*
      He smirked as the brood - grinning broadly - bustled into the room.
      **We're spending the next two days… elsewhere…**

'Elsewhere' turned out to be a cosy room above a tavern on the outskirts of the Alien Quarter, with a large window looking out over the bustling central market. Ry and Sasa - who were staying in a room across the corridor - brought in their bags, dumping them on the huge bed and grinning as they retired: one of the tavern staff would unpack, later, while the newly-claimed couple ate in the bar downstairs. As the two guards left, Lutra ran to the window, flinging it wide and leaning out, soaking up the colours and sounds and scents below, then turning to the prince, beaming.
      "This is wonderful!"
      He smiled.
      "I'm glad you like it. We'll have a little more privacy here than at the palace - though I'm afraid you may have to put up with being stared at…"
      She danced to him, grabbing him into a hug.
      "Oh, I'm sure we'll manage…" She glanced over her shoulder. "The bed looks comfortable, don't you think…?"
      He pulled back slightly, cupping her face in cool hands.
      **Shall we find out…?**

Lutra loved snuggling into 'lestrel's mane, afterwards, breathing in the spicy-sweet fragrance and pulling the heavy mass around herself. Unplaited, it cascaded down his body, his thighs, half-way to his knees, the texture somewhere between both his parents' - thick and full and heavy, but silkier than a purely Saiyan mane, and with much of the R'ren'nkh'ian sleekness that allowed water to simply slide off. She shivered as his tail wrapped her hips.
      **I would like to eat…**
      Lutra blinked, realising she was hungry as well. She sighed contentedly, hands cupping his buttocks as she nibbled at his collarbone.
      *Do we eat in the bar?*
      He nodded, then stretched.
      **We should shower first**
      Lutra giggled - she was somewhat sticky, and they both smelt of sex… It might be politic to bathe before appearing in public…

The shower had been just big enough for both of them, and A'lestrel had fucked her again - it was fucking this time, raw and enthusiastic and accompanied by much laughter as they tried different positions in the cramped space… Afterwards, both dry and dressed, he'd led her down to the bar, nodding to Ry and Sasa at their table in a far corner. Their host ushered them to another table, polite but not overly deferential, and presented them with a menu, hand-written in Common. Lutra gazed at it, eyes widening as she read through the selection.
      "This is… I don't know what to choose!"
      A'lestrel smirked.
      "Allow me…"

Lutra sat back in her chair - a padded seat with a tall, narrow padded T-bar that fitted neatly between her wings and provided a comfortable back and neck rest, a novel design which had taken her a little while to get used to - and sighed contentedly.
      "Oooh, that was good, hab'lan…"
      The prince had ordered a wide selection of dishes from across the Empire, tasters of a large number of different foods rather than just a couple of items. And Lutra had enjoyed nearly all of them, although she'd not been too keen on the mkakit marinated in vlooch which A'lestrel relished, and definitely did not like the sautéed zeerat, which was one of the prince's favourites. Overall, though, it had been a wonderful meal…
      She gazed at her bondmate across the table, only peripherally aware of the few other patrons, the mellow light and quiet music filling the room: A'lestrel smiled back, golden eyes soft. He reached for her hand.
      **Zk'vissin…**
      *I love you.*
      She felt the quiver that ran through him as he raised her hand and kissed her fingers, lips cool against warm skin. A jolt of lust surged upwards from her groin and her fingers tightened around her hab'lan's. He chuckled.
      **There's something I want you to see, first…**

The evening was warm, balmy, second sun just touching the horizon as they stepped outside. The cheerful riotous noises of the daytime market were changing, she realised, becoming softer, less strident as gentle sparkling lights began to appear above and around the entrances to stalls and booths. Braziers were being lit at the intersections of streets, the smells of roasting meats mingling with the fragrance of spices, ale, perfumes and sun-warmed dust.
      Lutra walked hand in hand with her hab'lan, eyes darting from side to side, pausing often to look more closely at the wares on offer, tasting a titbit here, trying a sip of wine there, admiring the cascades of shimmering fabric at one covered stall and the exotic plants at another…
      There were aliens everywhere! For perhaps the first time since her arrival Lutra didn't feel conspicuous; it was so relaxing… Though she was a little perturbed by the familiarity with which some of the stall-keepers greeted A'lestrel. He was obviously well known here, and she had an uneasy feeling - corroborated by some of the outright lascivious leers certain individuals, male and female alike, offered him - that it wasn't because he'd been here shopping…
      But - she reminded herself, kissing his jaw as he turned to her enquiringly, alerted by the tinge of possessiveness in her scent - he was hers, now. They were bonded, and she was claimed, and just let anyone try to interfere!
      He laughed, his tail wrapping tightly around her waist.
      **Zk'aida, you are so ferocious sometimes! Come, you know my past. It's not something I can slough from me like an old skin. But be certain that it is my past. I have no need or desire to resume such behaviour**
      Heart full, she stopped in the middle of the street and pulled him to her, wrapping her wings protectively around them both and burying her head against his neck, nipping at the smooth throat. He hissed, long and low and softly.
      **Ah, zk'vissin… Heart of my heart…**
      She nuzzled him, then gazed up into hooded golden eyes.
      *Shall we go back?*
      **In a little while. We still have not seen what I brought you here to see…**
      Intrigued, she let him lead her to the heart of the Quarter, to a small square hung about with multi-coloured lights. A group of musicians sat at one corner: the centre was spread with a large, faintly patterned heavy black cloth. Ry and Sasa - who'd followed the bondmates at a very discreet distance; Lutra hadn't even realised they were there - retrieved a handful of cushions from the pile tumbled to one side, and they all sat, joining an audience of mixed species in an atmosphere of simmering anticipation…
      They hadn't long to wait. The rest of the seating space was quickly filled, with more people cramming themselves against the low buildings surrounding the square: yet more perched on the rooftops overlooking the area. Caught up in the excitement, Lutra gripped her Zasshu's hand, grinning as his tail wrapped tightly around her waist…
      A sudden low murmur flowed through the crowd as everyone's faces turned skywards to watch as a lone figure gently drifted down to land gracefully in the centre of the square.
      Lutra stared. It was a zn'hre: tall, slender, and quite possibly the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. She caught her breath and turned wide eyes to her bondmate, startled to see tears in his eyes and a small proud smile on his lips.
      "Hab'lan?"
      He inclined his head.
      "'tiisaan. My machii. He comes here to dance three times a year, in honour of Mahrayne and to remind himself there's life outside the Academy…"
      And Lutra watched as the zn'hre she knew was famed across the galaxy, danced from the heart for the people in a cramped square in the Alien Quarter of the capital of the Empire - and it was dazzling and glorious and she was swept up and along by the beauty of dance and dancer…
      The stars were blazing overhead by the time 'tiisaan brought the dance to a close, and there was no loud applause, just an awed and reverent murmur of deep appreciation as beings rose from their places, bowed deeply, and made their way from the square in a blissful, dreamy silence. And 'tiisaan loped over to pull his machii into a hug.
      "Zk'vissin! It has been too long…"
      A'lestrel grinned and kissed him.
      "Heh, I know… we must do something about that…"
      The dancer nodded, then eyed Lutra.
      "This is your bondmate."
      The Zasshu pulled the bashful tenshi forwards with the tail around her waist.
      "Zk'vissin, this is Zha'tiisaan. Zk'viss, this is Lutra che'Porifahn, my bonded mate."
      The dancer took her hand in long, cool, graceful fingers - then peered a little more closely at her. Specifically at her neck. He glanced at his machii.
      "Claimed?"
      A'lestrel nodded. 'tiisaan raised Lutra's hand to his lips, gently kissing the palm. His voice was soft and warm.
      "My congratulations to you both."
      "Th… thank you…" Lutra managed to breathe. 'tiisaan had such… presence… like a force of nature. He inclined his head.
      "We must celebrate…" He glanced past Lutra and sighed, lips twisting in a small moue. "But not tonight, sinam."
      Lutra turned, to see a very large, very hairy alien, accompanied by a couple of Saiyans, standing at the edge of the square, gazing pointedly at 'tiisaan. She swung back to the dancer, who grinned wryly.
      "My... 'minders'." He wrapped an arm around A'lestrel: they were the same height, she saw, and there was a distinct family resemblance. "I'm sorry, zk'vissini, I have a series of performances scheduled over the next eight days and Tion is obviously determined to make sure I'm well rested for them. But maybe later? At the palace?"
      A'lestrel nodded, cuddling the dancer to him.
      "We'll organise something, I promise, after the season."
      'tiisaan sighed, then kissed his cheek.
      "I'll look forward to it." He glanced at Lutra, smiling. "Try and get him to rest, sometimes, if you can. He works too hard…"
      Lutra nodded shyly, feeling herself blush under the candid golden eyes, then with another kiss to her hand and a tight hug to his machii he was gone…

They'd returned to the tavern and a late snack, then made love gently and sensually, finally falling asleep a couple of hours before firstsunsrise.
      And now they were here, soaring above the mountains, and Lutra could really survey her adopted homeland for the first time… So different to Maurilla… so flat, the clear silver of rivers smooth across the land rather than tumbling in noisy cascades down mountains… And these mountains below them, their snowy peaks sparkling in the double-sunslight, were more massive, older, gentler, though no less solid or inspiring than those on her native world.
      She loved the differences. She loved the warmth, the rich golden lushness of her hab'lan's homeworld, the gentle oceans, the expansive forests - even the vast wet jungles she'd only heard about as yet...
      She flung her head back, pale golden hair rippling in the wind, and pulled her wings in, stooping for the snows below, pulling back to skim the glittering surface before soaring back up to her bondmate. A'lestrel hovered, smiling indulgently, watching the sunslight on her wings, her hair… beautiful…
      She landed in the snow and settled her wings, gazing up at him.
      *Can we walk? Just for a little while? Or will it be too cold for you?*
      He considered. The suns were warm, he was dressed for the occasion - a little while wouldn't do any harm. He landed beside her, nearly knocked over as she flung herself into his arms.
      *This is wonderful, hab'lan! Warm and cold at the same time!* She caught his hand and dragged him to the edge of a steep precipice, pointing to a peak a short distance away. The wind was blowing snow over the edge, looking a little like a pale, slow-moving waterfall. *Isn't it beautiful?*
      He chuckled and wrapped his arms and tail around her from behind, nestling between her spread wings and gazing over her shoulder.
      **Yes, it's beautiful…**
      She sighed.
      *I wish we could stay here.*
      He shivered melodramatically.
      **I'm glad we don't have to!**
      She pouted, then sighed.
      *How high can you fly?*
      He nuzzled her neck.
      **I've never tested it. But probably to just beyond the atmosphere, using ki for protection. Why?**
      *I just wondered…*
      **You want to fly high?**
      She leaned back into his embrace, nodding.
      **Then let us do so…**

They soared upwards until the air was really too thin to breathe, and then a little higher still, and hovered, A'lestrel holding her hands in support as they gazed down and around, the world laid out below them. A steadily ascending shimmer of light marked where a transport had taken off from the spaceport: a duller red descending flare was, A'lestrel knew, the regular incoming cargo shuttle carrying its deliveries of parcels and goods from other parts of the Empire to the capital. They could see the white band of the beach, bordered by the light-splashed deep green-tinged blue of the ocean, and the curve of the coast down to the Kamome peninsula: further out they could just make out the hazy green darknesses of the nearer islands rising from the ocean. Directly below, the long line of the mountain range curved across Matou, dividing the temperate south from the lush jungles of the centre of the continent…
      A'lestrel was watching her curiously. Lutra blinked heavy-eyed at her bondmate, and the prince frowned, pulling her into his arms and dropping groundwards rapidly.
      *H… hab'lan?...*
      **Be still, zk'aida. You need oxygen**
      *Oh…* That might explain why she felt so light-headed and cold…
      A'lestrel carried her back to the small clearing in the forest they'd found earlier, and settled her on the mossy bank of a clear stream, holding her gently until she felt a little more herself.
      **I'm sorry, Lutra. I wasn't thinking. How do you feel?**
      She rubbed a hand over her eyes and smiled tiredly.
      *'m a' right…*
      He frowned.
      **I think I should get you back to the city. You need to rest**
      She sighed irritably - but had to confess he had a point. She still felt dizzy and breathless.
      *Mm… all right…*

Ry and Sasa leapt up from their seats as A'lestrel, Lutra leaning heavily against him, entered the tavern.
      "What happened?!"
      Ry's voice was low but intense as he placed a broad hand under Lutra's free arm. The prince grimaced.
      "My fault. We flew too high and stayed there too long."
      Ry winced, then scowled.
      "You really must remember she's not Saiyan or R'ren'nkh'ian…"
      The Zasshu glowered at the guard.
      "Thank you, I feel bad enough about this without your help."
      "Shall I get a medic?"
      Lutra shook her head, then her wings.
      "I don't need one - I'm quite all right. Just feel a bit light-headed, that's all." She smirked at Ry. "It was worth it. The view…"
      The Saiyan glanced from one to the other of the bondmates, then humphed.
      "Very well. You'd better get upstairs, rest for a while. We'll bring a meal up to you."
      Lutra smiled slightly dopily at him.
      "Thanks…"

An hour later and feeling completely recovered, Lutra lay on her stomach, chin propped in her hands, watching her hab'lan use a fine blade of ki to peel a piece of fruit. Alestrel smirked and cut a fine slice out of the succulent globe, holding it out to his bondmate. The tenshi used her tongue to delicately pull the tidbit into her mouth.
      "I sometimes wish I had ki like you do, aijin," Lutra said after she'd swallowed the fruit, "it would save having to carry a blade."
      Alestrel frowned, puzzled.
      "But you do have ki, zk'aida."
      "I do?" Lutra was surprised.
      "Yes," Alestrel smirked, "how do you think you stay in the air?"
      Lutra grinned lop-sidedly, glancing over her shoulder at her massive, white wings.
      "Your wings aren't the only thing you use to fly." The prince tilted his head to one side. "You didn't know?"
      "No." Lutra frowned. "Are you sure?"
      He nodded.
      "I had wondered how you - tenshi-jin I mean - stay aloft. These," he stroked a wing, "are strong and efficient, but not sufficiently so to support your weight, even given how light you are, and especially given your body shape: the tenshi-jin simply don't have the right muscle for it. You use ki to supplement their action."
      Lutra stared blankly.
      "But… how do you know?"
      He smiled.
      "I saw it, earlier, while your oxygen level was lowered. And having seen it, I was then able to *see* it. It operates on a different level to Saiyan or R'ren'nkh'ian, or hash'shavven ki."
      The tenshi blinked, then her eyes widened.
      "You saw… what does it look like?"
      "The palest golden glow, brighter around your wings."
      "…ohhhhhh…" She gazed at the prince for a moment, then her eyes closed with a blissful sigh as she cuddled close. He chuckled and kissed her forehead.
      "I am glad it pleases you."
      She nipped his jaw, then suddenly pushed him onto his back, licking and kissing and nipping down his body, pausing at his groin. He was already hard - it sometimes seemed to her he was permanently erect! - his tail stroking between her wings. She gazed up, then shifted onto her hands and knees, wings spread to the side as she smirked at him over her shoulder. He teased down her back and between her legs with his tail, earning himself a gasp and a shiver.
      *Hab'lan…*
      Moving to kneel between her legs, he eased into her, tail stroking her mound, hands wrapped over her hips, sighing as she groaned and pushed back against him…

"I suppose we do have to go back…?"
      It was their last evening. They'd returned to the tavern after another day spent flying; this time they'd ventured out over the jungle on the other side of the mountains, the cold dry air swiftly giving way to warm moist air filled with the most entrancing, enticing scents… But 'lestrel had refused to land, saying it was too dangerous. Lutra was determined to explore, though, sometime soon…
      A'lestrel's tail wrapped around her ankle, the tip stroking her toes.
      "Yes. I'm sorry we couldn't have had longer, zk'aida, but this is a very busy time for us…" He frowned, struck by a sudden thought. "Has anyone told you about FullMoon?"
      She blinked.
      "Well, I know Vejiitasei has one moon, but it only becomes visible every seven or eight years…"
      "But you don't know the effect it has… Hn…" He inclined his head pensively. There was a prolonged silence.
      "Hab'lan?"
      He offered a half-smile.
      "It might be best if I *show* you."
      She closed her eyes, relaxing, as her bondmate *opened* his mind to her… After some minutes he *released*, and she blinked her eyes open again, frowning.
      "So that's what happens to the Saiya-jin… What about you?"
      He smirked.
      "It affects the Zasshu differently. Some of us have oozaru capability - I don't, neither does 'reysu, but Haabron and Zoraan do, amongst others. But the one thing we all find is that our senses become far more receptive. And -" his eyes twinkled "- we have one thing in common with the Saiya-jin. We all want sex. All the time."
      Her eyes widened.
      "Well, that doesn't sound too bad…"
      "Heh - it's a little like shizun, but without the risk of conception - unless it coincides with shizun, of course, in which case it raises a few problems of its own."
      The tenshi licked her lips, her arousal shooting skywards, much to the amusement of the few Saiya-jin in the bar.
      "Has that ever happened to you?"
      He raised an eyebrow.
      "Of course not. I was born in the last MoonYear - at FullMoon, in fact…"
      She grinned.
      "And this is the next MoonYear…"
      He nodded. She shivered with anticipation.
      "When?"
      "We have fifty days to prepare - then everything stops for sixty days." He smirked. "It used to be for much longer, half a year or more, but fortunately that's no longer necessary. Nor is the alien population required to leave the planet for the duration, although many do, taking the opportunity to return to their homeworlds for a visit."
      "So I won't have to leave?"
      He brushed her cheek with cool fingers.
      "I think not. Though I will check with Vinas to be sure - the season is a very demanding one, and while I know your stamina and endurance are high, they will be stretched to the limit. Trust me. I do not wish you to be hurt. If necessary I can survive without you for the thirty days of FullMoon itself."
      She growled.
      "Fuck that, hab'lan! I'm not leaving!"
      He eyed her for a moment, then inclined his head.
      "We will see… Maazi and many of the R'ren'nkh'ia-jin in the family will return to R'ren'nkh'ia - 'haabron's hosting will be approaching its end and I know maazi wants to be there to greet the hostlings. If necessary you could go with them."
      Lutra blinked, distracted from her petulance. She knew 'haabron was Zha'haabron's sireling and successor, living on R'ren'nkh'ia with his Saiyan bondmate. She hadn't known he was hosting…
      "Hab'lan…?"
      A'lestrel frowned slightly.
      "I would have thought Ti'aasaan would have mentioned it."
      She shook her head.
      "So 'haabron and... Kobis?..."
      "Ah, no. The R'ren'nkh'ia-jin won't accept a Zasshu as High King. Ish'nandra sired 'haabron's hostlings."
      Lutra shook her head, bewildered.
      "But if 'haabron and Kobis are bonded…"
      The prince sighed.
      "Kobis is less than perfectly happy with the situation, though he understands the need for a pure-blood heir. And Ish'nandra is very sweet and very loving, and has been with them for…" he frowned, "ten years, I believe."
      Lutra rubbed a hand over her face.
      "There's so much I don't know!" she wailed quietly. A'lestrel chuckled and kissed her fingers.
      "Don't distress yourself, zk'vissin. You'll learn as you go along." He frowned thoughtfully. "Thinking about it, though, we should perhaps visit R'ren'nkh'ia after FullMoon. It would be courteous to pay our respects to 'haabron and Kobis, and meet the new hostlings."
      Lutra had browsed the information the database held about the desert planet, and now grinned eagerly. It looked like a wonderful place to fly…
      "I'd like that."
      A'lestrel smiled.
      "Then I'll arrange it. However, to return to your initial question… The corps has a number of projects outstanding, as well as the day to day problems the Empire presents, and as much as possible needs to be cleared before the season…"
      The tenshi's wings slumped sadly.
      "So you'll be working even harder for the next fifty days."
      He nodded.
      "I'm afraid so. But afterwards, we have a minimum of a sixty day break - and in reality I understand it's usually a lot more than that."
      She beamed and stroked his groin under the table.
      "I can't wait…"

The days settled into a fairly regular pattern. The diplomatic corps - and therefore A'lestrel - worked from sunsup to well gone sunsdown, the Zasshu returning exhausted to sleep for a few hours before starting all over again. When Lutra wasn't helping with the children she spent time in the library, or at the Academy: Ssii'iir Bri'seiyis had requested information about tenshi-jin arts, and after her first, rather nervous visit she'd found herself in demand as an occasional tutor in the story-telling classes - which she thoroughly enjoyed, rather to her surprise. She took time to study her bondmate's heritage, Saiya-jin and R'ren'nkh'ian. Then there were her regular checkups at the medical labs - Vinas was still keeping an eye on her. It was at one of these visits that Vinas announced that he had worked out – given the differences between Maurillan and Vejiitasei time – that Lutra would go through a breeding cycle approximately every one hundred and twenty (Vejiitasei) days: what was going to be interesting was if her cycle and Alestrel's shizun ever coincided... Vinas had seemed to positively relish the notion. He'd been less certain about the wisdom of Lutra staying on Vejiitasei for FullMoon, but agreed to it on condition she reported to him for a checkup every three days, at least to start with, so he could keep an eye on her health. Thinking he was perhaps being too cautious, but also understanding that he'd seen Zasshu and their partners through FullMoons before and knew what sort of things to expect, she happily agreed.
      Half-way to the season a communication arrived for the tenshi from Maurilla…
      Lutra received the news of Rephan's death with satisfaction. In her letter Turlan stated that the Suzerain had deemed it 'suicide', adding it must have taken Rephan a considerable amount of determination to make the cut across his throat so deep and straight with his hands as crippled as they were. Lutra's grin was ferocious; it was unlikely the male had killed himself, doubtless it was the work of some other female he'd tormented past endurance. And as for Veran, there had been no word of her since she'd been turned out of the Palace.
      Lutra wondered briefly what her cousin was doing now - then forgot about her.
      The spaceport was increasingly busy, with quite a lot of aliens departing for their homeworlds, and offworld Saiya-jin arriving back to celebrate FullMoon, and as the season drew closer there was definitely a different feel about the palace - about Vejiitasei, come to that! Everything was more relaxed, but with an undercurrent of happy anticipation. The Saiyans in the family - Hijau and Radittsu, primarily - seemed almost to sparkle, even though they'd both be staying on R'ren'nkh'ia for most of the season, with their bondmates and several of the family zn'hre, just coming back for ten days or so around FullMoon itself. But all the Zasshu would stay on Vejiitasei: Ti'aasaan, Zh'leet and Br'yaan had cheerfully volunteered to stay with them to help care for the younger hostlings. Lutra had wondered about that - after all, Tia-chan was 'haabron's host, surely he'd want to be there for the births - until she found out that Ti'aasaan's mate was staying here too, and that the little zn'hre planned to travel to R'ren'nkh'ia with A'lestrel and herself after FullMoon...

And before she realised it it was the night before the family left for R'ren'nkh'ia, and the suite was full of her bondmate's zhi'ma'a and zhi'maa'chin, a lot of whom she hadn't met before - although she'd heard tales about most of them…
      It was completely bewildering, and she couldn't take in a lot of what was happening: much of the evening she remembered in little snippets.
      Ry turned up accompanied by a tall, muscular zn'hre whose thigh-length emerald hair was elaborately plaited, and a rather shorter Saiyan whose red mane swept upwards like a dark flame. The zn'hre - 'raadiin, A'lestrel *told* her as the trio approached - grabbed his machii into a ferocious hug and leered at Lutra over his shoulder.
      "Always said you had good taste…"
      'lestrel growled and shoved himself back, glowering at the warrior, tail lashing - then grinned widely and tossed him a small ki-ball, which 'raadiin deftly caught and dissipated.
      "And you can keep your hands off, unless you want to lose them…"
      'raadiin pulled himself up to his full height, gently took Lutra's hand, and kissed it, eyes flicking to A'lestrel.
      "As if I would dare come between you and your zk'aida! Tch…" he smirked at the tenshi. "I hope you can teach this manuke some sense, torii-san."
      Ry chuckled. "Heh, that'll be the day…"
      The Saiyan prince grinned at her. "Yeah. But good luck trying!"
      A'lestrel wrapped his tail possessively around Lutra's waist and smiled at the princes.
      "You're going with maazi?"
      'raadiin's expression softened.
      "I am."
      Kiraz elbowed him in the ribs.
      "He's missed 'fallon."
      'raadiin scowled briefly at his friend, then smirked.
      "I cannot deny it. I'm looking forward to sparring with 'jiisa too. Kiraz is staying here, though."
      Lutra could swear a dangerous red light glimmered deep down in the Saiyan's black eyes.
      "No way I'd miss it…" He glanced over his shoulder to where Pirum, 'selaan and Ti'ani were sitting with Le'leen, playing with the hostlings. "I have plans…"
      A'lestrel chuckled - then his eyes lit up as he caught sight of the latest arrival. Kissing Lutra's cheek briefly, he loped over to the balcony and grabbed 'leesaan into a tight hug.
      **Ah, zk'viss… and we still haven't managed to get together!**
      The dark zn'hre laughed and cradled his machii closely.
      **And won't be able to until after FullMoon. Never mind, zk'vissin. Anticipation will make the occasion all the sweeter** He glanced across the room, smiling gently at Lutra, who smiled back: they'd met briefly in the library when the tenshi had been searching for information about R'ren'nkh'ia and 'leesaan had retrieved it for her. **I understand you have claimed your little bird…**
      A'lestrel nodded. 'leesaan brushed a finger across his cheek.
      **Was that wise?**
      **She wanted it**
      **And you?**
      **Yes. I, also**
      **Then I am glad…**
      **Will you sit with us to eat?**
      The elder zn'hre chuckled.
      **Thank you. I'd be delighted…**

The evening turned into a rainbow, with Ka'reysu and Kinu - 'jau as ever at his back - arriving next, closely followed by Haabron and Zoraan, then Ti'vaasan, Ti'nesia, 'haavok and 'honee in quick succession, and Zh'leet, Br'yaan and a double handful of servitors borrowed from the palace kitchens started handing out platters heaped to overflowing. More family arrived as they ate, and Lutra finally gave up trying to remember who everyone was: she'd sit down with the family files over the next few days and memorise everyone ready for next time, that would be the best idea…
      And then there was a stir as Radittsu arrived… Lutra blinked. No, Rad-san was already here…
      Cheerful greetings were called and growled and laughed as the Radittsu-double grinned, sauntered his way across the room, throwing a casual salute at his grinning original and Zha'haabron (sitting in their usual spot on the sleeping platform) and hauling A'lestrel into a boisterous hug.
      "How you doing, tokage?"
      Laughing, the Zasshu hugged back, then squirmed as a long strong tail tickled his arse.
      "Put me down, baka!"
      "Heh, is that any way to speak to your elder brother?"
      "It is when it's you!" A'lestrel smirked down into the strong face. "Put me down, 'dittsu, and I'll introduce you to my bondmate."
      'dittsu obliged, and A'lestrel turned to Lutra.
      "This, in case you haven't guessed, is 'dittsu. And this," he smirked at his shi'iin, "is, as I'm sure you know, Lutra."
      The tenshi gazed up at the big Saiyan - he looked as though he might even be a little taller than his father! - and blushed. 'dittsu laughed, his deep voice rumbling.
      "Aw, she's cute! How'd she manage to get stuck with a no-hoper like you?"
      Lutra scowled, ready to come to her hab'lan's defence, but 'lestrel grinned and punched his sire-sib. Not hard, but it still rocked 'dittsu back on his heels.
      "No 'jiita?"
      'dittsu's face fell for a moment.
      "No - nor 'teetza: the king needed them for a reception tonight. Heh, better go pay my respects to papa and the Ssii'iin and make their apologies. Save me some bighorn!"
      And finally 'tiisaan arrived, his Korijin partner in tow…
      Lutra was feeling warm and relaxed and very slightly woozy by then: a selection of wines and ales and some rather potent alien liqueurs had been served with the meal. She smiled, misty-eyed, as the assembled family greeted the dancer, standing to hug and pet him as he made his way through the common room: 'tiisaan was without doubt a favourite with them all. He stopped and knelt to brush a cool kiss against A'lestrel's cheek and Lutra's fingers on his way to speak with his sire and Radittsu. The Zasshu stroked a stray lock of bright hair back from his face.
      "All's well?"
      The dancer grimaced, then shook his head slightly, expression wry.
      "We'll be offworld for the season - all of us, almost the whole Academy. Bri-sama has organised a series of concerts and performances right across the Empire - we won't be back until the wet season…"
      'lestrel blinked.
      "Oh…"
      'tiisaan sighed.
      "I know - it was all a bit sudden. But it'll be good for us, new experiences, new conditions, new artforms… It's going to be exciting."
      The Zasshu smiled and hugged him.
      "Then we'll expect a whole new series of dances when you return!"
      The dancer chuckled.
      "That's what we're hoping…"
      "Then we'll arrange our own meetup once you're back and settled."
      'tiisaan nodded solemnly.
      "I haven't forgotten. And I'll insist on it."
      "I'll look forward to it." 'lestrel knelt up, enfolding the zn'hre in a warm embrace. "And you must have a good and productive season."
      "Oh, I will!" 'tiisaan grinned, eyes flicking to Lutra and back. "And you two must enjoy yourselves as well!"
      A'lestrel laughed: the Saiyans and Zasshu nearby grinned as his scent deepened with his sudden arousal.
      "We will, zk'vissin. We most certainly will…"

"They all looked happy…"
      The R'ren'nkh'ian shuttle had just taken off from the spaceport on its way to rendezvous with the royal cruiser in orbit high above. A'lestrel cuddled his smiling bondmate to him, nuzzling her neck.
      "They are happy. R'ren'nkh'ia holds a very special place in everyone's heart: returning there is a treat and an adventure and full of memories… One day I must tell you the history of how the Zasshu came to be. But not now. For now, we should return to the palace. Ti'ani, Za'rayne and I have to spend one last day at the corps - just a little last minute tidying up," he hastened to assure her as her face fell, "then we don't need to see the inside of the building for at least sixty whole days…" His eyes closed as he sighed, smiling blissfully. "We need this holiday."
      She hugged him tightly.
      "When do you start feeling the effects of the moon?"
      He chuckled, and nipped at his claim mark, making her shiver.
      "We already have, zk'vissin. But it will start being really noticeable in about twenty-five days or so, and be at its most intense for three or four days, twenty three or so days after that."
      She snuggled close.
      "So I have about forty days to get ready?"
      He nodded.
      "About that."
      She nipped at his throat.
      "Hadn't we better start practising, then…?"