Adjustment

"I don't understand…"
      Lutra was pacing, wings quivering with agitation and fear. Zha'haabron watched her sadly.
      "Neither do we, Lutra-chan…"
      She halted and clenched her hands together, fighting back tears.
      "I mean… it's only been two hundred days. He said he wasn't due another until next year… And I can't feel him…"
      The king nodded.
      "I know…" In fact the prince was *radiating* raw emotion at the moment: the king had 'leesaan and Ti'vaasaan *blocking* him in order to make things bearable for the rest of the family. Something else they would need to investigate. "And it is true - his next shizun should not be for at least another three hundred days. Once this shizun is over Vinas will run a full series of tests."
      She bit her lip.
      "And… Radittsu-sama… he had to…"
      Zha'haabron nodded, and Lutra covered her brimming eyes with a moan. The zn'hre laid a hand on her shoulder.
      "It was necessary, torii-chan. You know that."
      She nodded, stifling a sob.
      "But what if…"
      He sighed and pulled her into a gentle embrace.
      "Then we will deal with it."
      Her hab'lan, pregnant with his own father's child? The thought horrified and fascinated her at the same time. That the hostling would be beautiful went without saying. Would she be expected to look after it? Or would Zha'haarak have that task - the gentle zn'hre seemed to be the one who tended the family's children. Then she shuddered. There would probably be two of them; twins ran in that family line… Zha'haabron was speaking.
      "There is no sense in worrying about it right now, Lutra. We will not know until his shizun has ended."
      "I can't help it."
      He kissed her hair.
      "Would you like someone to stay with you?"
      "I'd… I'd like to see him…"
      "That would not be wise."
      She pulled back to look up into solemn golden eyes, her own frightened and anxious.
      "I did last time."
      "I know. This is a little different."
      "Different? How?"
      He hesitated, but she had a right to know. And if he didn't tell her she'd most likely simply go to the harem herself to find out what was wrong. He sighed.
      "It is more… intense than usual."
       She stared at him.
      "… intense…? … does that mean he's going to be hurt…?"
      He answered reluctantly.
      "Perhaps a little more… battered than usual."
      Her tears started again.
      "He was hurt enough last time! Can't you do anything? Tell the hito to be gentle or something?"
      "They do not willingly cause pain, Lutra. They respond to need. If pain or violence is required to ease the need, then that is what they will provide."
      "But it's so… so… brutal…"
      Privately, Zha'haabron agreed: this shizun was already proving to be particularly hard on his hostling. He inclined his head.
      "He will spend some time at the medical facility afterwards, to see if Vinas can ascertain why this has happened. In the meantime," he cupped her chin with one hand, forcing her to look at him, "I will have Ti'aasaan stay with you."
      "But I want to be with 'lestrel!" The quiet wail was heartfelt: the king sighed and shook his head.
      "No, Lutra. I must forbid it until we have investigated the cause of the current situation."
      For a moment she was tempted to resist - but she knew that her bondmate's host wouldn't forbid her anything without a very good reason… She swallowed miserably and rubbed a hand over her eyes.
      "Yes, your majesty."
      He nodded as the little zn'hre wrapped an arm around the tenshi's waist.
      "Come, torii-chan. I'll tell you stories about 'lestrel's childhood if you like…"
      Well, if she couldn't be with him, at least talking about him would help distract her a little. She sniffled and gave Ti'aasaan a watery smile.
      "Thank you, Tia-chan."
      Zha'haabron watched as they walked into the bondmates' room, his expression troubled. He was due in yet another of Vejiita's interminable Council gatherings shortly… He hissed and loped to the comm unit, leaving a message with Limau that he would be delayed, then took off for the harem.

Hurting…
      A'lestrel was sandwiched between two large hito, both buried deeply within him and pounding enthusiastically, the latest in a long line of similar beings. Dimly, through the need that had taken over his body and filled his mind with mental static, he was aware of a profound sense of humiliation. This was different from the loss of control he suffered during a normal shizun. And he was deriving no pleasure from this at all.
      He'd lost track of time. Sleep was brief spells of unconsciousness, usually while being fucked. On the odd occasion, while struggling back to consciousness, when he was able to think rationally, he couldn't understand why this was happening, why his body was behaving like this.
      And he was worried. No, he was downright terrified. This had come from nowhere, as far as he could tell - when would it end? After the usual five or so days? Longer?
      He caught a glimpse of Zha'haabron from the corner of his eye and whimpered. Maazi accepted that this was necessary - but he didn't like it. A'lestrel knew it reminded him too much of his own early life. In Zha'haabron's case it had come from outside, whereas in his own it was internal, but the end result was the same. He waited until the hito had both climaxed and pulled as gently as they could out of his body, then shakily dismissed them. Surely he could control himself for the few minutes it would take for maazi to speak with him?
      "Maazi?"
      Zha'haabron seated himself cross-legged beside his sprawled, trembling hostling, one hand stroking the soft heavy mane.
      "Zk'viss… I have spoken to Lutra. Ti'aasaan is caring for her."
      "Th… thank you… how… is she?"
      "Bewildered. Upset."
      A'lestrel sank his head into his hands.
      "Lutra… I don't want this, maazi…"
      "I know, zk'vissin. We will do all in our power to discover the cause."
      But that didn't help him - or his bondmate - right at this minute… A'lestrel bit back a sob.
      "Hurts…"
      Zha'haabron sighed. Even with 'leesaan and Ti'vaasaan *blocking* he could feel A'lestrel's pain, from both his feverish, battered body and his emotional anguish. He leaned to kiss a hot bruised shoulder.
      "I know. I'm going to have Vinas stay here, to observe and examine you when he can." And provide emergency medical aid as needed, Zha'haabron thought to himself with dismay, suddenly alarmed as the Zasshu moved and he caught sight of just how much blue blood was on the floor cushions.
      But 'lestrel was squirming miserably again, arousal mounting, eyes desperate and hunted as he tried not to reach for his host. Zha'haabron stroked his mane and beckoned to the two hito hovering at the other side of the pool.
      "Be gentle with him."
      Both bowed deeply, expressions a little anxious. Zha'haabron closed his eyes resignedly and clarified,
      "Be as gentle as you can, consistent with relieving his needs."
      "We will, Sire…"

"I won't really be able to determine what has happened without a thorough examination, your majesty."
      Vinas was gathering together the equipment he thought he'd need - somewhat resignedly, Zha'haabron thought, but then again, Vinas much preferred to work in his own properly outfitted facility.
      "I understand that, Vinas-sama. Nevertheless I would like you there, to tend to his highness…"
      "In between bouts. I understand." The Feeodoreean rubbed a hand over his face: it was a fascinating duty, if a somewhat messy and distasteful one. "Has he been badly hurt?"
      The king lowered his gaze.
      "I do not know. He is in pain, and has lost blood."
      Vinas nodded.
      "And no doubt has the usual bruising and lacerations. Very well, your majesty. I'll do what I can. How many days is it now?"
      "This is the second day."
      "I see." He gestured to the door. "If you are ready, your majesty?"

"He is sleeping, your Majesty. We'd… rather he wasn't disturbed, if at all possible…"
      Vinas scowled, and the guard quailed and stepped back from the door of the prince's room. Inside A'lestrel lay sprawled on his back, exhausted and unconscious. Visibly flinching at the sight of the bruised and bitten body, Vinas quietly produced his omnipresent hand-held monitor and scanned the Zasshu, frowning at the results while Zha'haabron watched patiently. Finally the Feeodoreean straightened up and eyed the king.
      "There's some fairly extensive tearing: I'll patch it temporarily for now, but I'll need him to spend at least three days in the infirmary when this is over."
      Zha'haabron nodded.
      "Can you tell how long that might be?"
      Vinas checked the scanner and inclined his head.
      "Difficult to say. Hormone levels are off the scale at the moment."
      "And his ki is fluctuating wildly." The king laid a hand gently on his hostling's hot forehead: A'lestrel whimpered. "What will you do?"
      Vinas had removed a slender wand-shaped instrument from his pack and was easing it into the prince's flinching body.
      "Take regular readings. Compare the results. That's about all I can do at the moment." He clicked on the device: the prince winced and opened his eyes.
      "Maazi?"
      "It is all right, zk'viss. Vinas is making you more comfortable."
      "Can I come home yet?"
      Zha'haabron closed his eyes against the yearning in his hostling's face.
      "I'm sorry, zk'viss. Not yet."
      Vinas switched off the instrument and slid it carefully from A'lestrel's body, ignoring his patient's growing erection.
      "That should feel a little easier, highness."
      The prince nodded, both hands going to his groin, tail writhing beside him.
      "Yessss…You'd… you'd better go, maazi…"
      Zha'haabron kissed his forehead.
      "Soon, zk'vissin. I'm sure you'll be home soon."

"How detailed were the readings?"
      The king had accompanied Vinas into his room; next door to A'lestrel's rest chamber, allocated so he'd be close at hand to monitor the prince. The Feeodoreean eyed him closely.
      "Can I tell if he's conceived, you mean?"
      Zha'haabron nodded. Vinas shook his head.
      "Not until his hormone levels have stabilised. I assume you couldn't tell from the ki-signature, since you're asking me."
      "No… Very well. We will have to wait a little longer."
      The Feeodoreean half-smiled.
      "I will let you know as soon as I can determine anything, your majesty."
      The king nodded.
      "Thank you." His personal communicator beeped very quietly; he glanced at the screen and grimaced. A message from Vejiita, annoyed at his continued absence. "I would like a twice-daily report, in any case."
      "Certainly, your majesty."
      Zha'haabron hesitated, unwilling to leave - but there was nothing he could do here; if anything his presence would cause his hostling more distress. He inclined his head to the biotech and hastened from the building.

Lutra couldn't relax. Yes, she loved the stories Ti'aasaan was telling - the one about 'lestrel and the ribbit had had her giggling - but all she wanted was her hab'lan back…
      She shyly approached the king at the main evening meal that evening. He smiled at her expectant expression.
      "He is…" what to say to be truthful yet not worry her? "… being tended. Vinas is monitoring him and will report back daily."
      She nodded.
      "And how is he, Ssii'iin? Badly hurt?"
      "No, not too badly. Vinas thinks a short spell at the infirmary will be sufficient."
      She chewed her lower lip thoughtfully.
      "May I go and see him now, please?"
      He sighed.
      "No, Lutra-chan. Not yet."
      "So it's worse than you're trying to make me think, then?"
      He cupped her face in strong, gentle hands.
      "Little one, it distresses him to be seen in this state. And I know it distresses you also. Please be patient."
      Unwillingly, she nodded slightly.
      "But you will tell me if there's… problems… won't you, Ssii'iin?"
      He owed her that much.
      "Yes, I will."

The following evening Vinas called Zha'haabron to the harem. The king raced to the building - to find his hostling asleep, completely exhausted, curled up on the bed, ki nearly back to its usual high, steady state and, Vinas smiled complacently, hormone levels back to normal.
      "Normal?"
      The Feeodoreean nodded.
      "Normal, your majesty. Please check to be sure, but as far as I can tell, he has not conceived."
      Placing a hand gently on the prince's abdomen, he slumped with the release of tension. No sparks of ki. His zk'aida was going to be so relieved…
      "Maazi…?"
      It was a painful whisper. Zha'haabron carefully wrapped the prince in a fur and lifted him into strong arms.
      "Come, zk'viss. Let's get you to the infirmary."
      "Lutra…"
      Zha'haabron glanced at Vinas, who lifted his own personal communicator and called the palace…

Lutra was waiting for them as they arrived, wings fluffed agitatedly. She reached for A'lestrel's hand, clasping it in both of her own.
      *Hab'lan… are you…?*
      *I will be fine, zk'aida. I just need to rest.*
      She walked beside the king, keeping hold of A'lestrel's hand, as Zha'haabron carried the prince through to a private room and laid him gently on the bed. Vinas glanced at the king, then at Lutra: the tenshi caught the look and folded her arms.
      "I'm staying."
      Zha'haabron chuckled and smiled at the Feeodoreean.
      "I think that is only fair."
      Vinas heaved a long-suffering sigh and carefully eased back the fur. Lutra bit back a gasp - 'lestrel was covered in bruises and bites… She swallowed and settled herself beside the bed, holding his hand.
      *Are you hurting?*
      *A little.*
      It didn't look like a little to her… She gazed at Vinas as the Feeodoreean busied himself with a variety of arcane medical instruments.
      "He will be well?"
      "Oh yes. Three, four days at most." He smiled at her. "You will be staying, I assume?"
      She glared indignantly.
      "Of course!"
      He nodded.
      "Good. I need some samples from you…"
      She blinked at him, frowning, as he efficiently rolled the prince onto his back and eased a large smooth cylindrical instrument into his chitsu. Lutra gripped his hand as he bit back a moan - of pain this time. Vinas smiled apologetically and pulled a fur over A'lestrel's body.
      "That won't take too long, your highness."
      Lutra frowned.
      "What is it?"
      "It heals torn and damaged tissue at the cellular level."
      "Oh…"
      "His highness will be healed by nightfall. Internally at any rate." He watched as the Zasshu's eyes drifted closed. "Lutra-sama, he needs to sleep. Now would be an appropriate time for me to take those samples."
      She glanced from her bondmate to the biotech and back. He inclined his head.
      "I need blood and tissue samples. I will be very quick, then you can stay with him for as long as he is here."
      Reluctantly, she followed him from the room into the main lab, and sat mostly patiently while he took his samples. He smiled thinly.
      "Thank you. You may return to him."
      She hurried back into the room. A'lestrel hadn't moved: she perched on the bed and watched as he slept, holding his hand, smiling tenderly as she watched over him…

It was dark outside when Vinas entered to check his patient's progress - followed by a palace servitor with a covered platter of seared meats and a bowl of mixed tubers and vegetables. A'lestrel's eyelids fluttered and opened.
      "… hungry…"
      Vinas laid a hand on his shoulder as he tried to sit up.
      "One moment, your highness…"
      The Feeodoreean checked the readings on the cylindrical instrument, then eased it out of the Zasshu's flinching body.
      "Finished, your highness. You can sit up now."
      Lutra helped him pull himself up, piling pillows behind his bitten shoulders, then pulled the cover off the platter. Eyes gleaming, she held a chunk of meat to his lips.
      *Missed you, hab'lan… How do you feel?*
      *Better…* Golden eyes gazed into hers. *You know I'm not hosting?*
      She nodded.
      *Vinas told me.* She eyed him nervously, not entirely sure what to say - she thought he looked almost… disappointed? He smiled tiredly.
      *It's good. It would have raised a few problems.*
      She frowned.
      *You're not happy about it?*
      He wrapped a hand around the nape of her neck and pulled her close, kissing her gently.
      *I am pleased, zk'aida. And papa will be pleased too. But I'm concerned as well. I should have conceived, but I didn't. I'm… worried that there might be something wrong. With me, I mean.*
      That simply hadn't occurred to her! Not that she wanted him to have hostlings, of course - but if he couldn't carry them, he might not be able to sire them either…
      No, they were thinking too far ahead. She cuddled into him.
      *Hab'lan, let's let Vinas work out why it happened, first, ne? One beat at a time.*
      He nodded. She was quite right: he was just so used to looking as far ahead as possible, taking account of all the variables of a given situation… he stretched, carefully. Gods he ached…
      Lutra ran a hand gently down his chest, avoiding the bruises.
      *You should rest.*
      He eyed her tiredly, then moved over gingerly to make room for her beside him. Her eyes brightened, then she frowned.
      *Do you think Vinas will mind?*
      *I don't care if he does - though I'm too tired and too sore to do anything, zk'aida…*
      *I wouldn't ask it of you!* She stripped quickly and slid into the bed, rearranging the pillows and pulling him down to rest his head on her shoulder.
      Within minutes he was asleep. She wrapped her arms around him, nuzzling his mane, and drifted into her own slumber.

Vinas ushered the king into the lab, closing the door behind him. Zha'haabron eyed the biotech gravely.
      "My hostling is well?"
      "Oh, yes, your majesty. He will be fully recovered in a couple of days. That's not why I asked you to come." He hesitated, unusually reluctant to speak. The zn'hre inclined his head, and Vinas sighed.
      "I need to do some further tests, your majesty, but my initial findings indicate that this shizun had nothing to do with the effects of FullMoon."
      Zha'haabron frowned, suddenly wary.
      "Then what did cause it?"
      "All the indications are that his highness' reproductive processes are changing, becoming more like Lutra-sama's."
      Zha'haabron stared.
      "What do you mean?"
      "It appears, your majesty, that the bond has far more extensive effects for A'lestrel than we first thought. His body is… trying to bring itself into line with the tenshi's own. Presumably for breeding purposes, though I'll need further study to confirm that."
      Zha'haabron rubbed his forehead.
      "You mean, the Ssii'irin is going into shizun every time Lutra has a breeding cycle?"
      "It looks as though that might be the end result, yes."
      "But that's every one hundred and twenty days!"
      "I know. It's going to cause a number of physical problems for the prince…"
      And for Lutra, thought Zha'haabron, appalled…