“So…you just want me to run as fast as I can?” Veera asked. They were currently standing at the center of town, a couple hours after sundown. The snows of the night before had melted away under Seil’s light, now replaced by a starlit sky as the twin moons soared overhead. To Veera, it was something out of a dream; not the running, but the sky, the air, the man next to her. Everything seemed clear and surreal as she breathed in the cold, rich air of her planet. Yet again, they found themselves mostly alone as the rest of the town made merry around fires and tea.

‘Yes Veera, just let the Lieutenant and I arrive at the right distance first. We will walk about four hundred meters down the street and then I will signal to you when to start. Try to reach us as fast as you can. This is a standard middle distance race among humans.’

“Word of advice love?” Winters leaned in and rubbed her shoulders, eliciting a pleased moan from her chest. Even with his armor on, his hands felt wonderful on her.

“I’ll listen to anything you say if you keep that up,” she replied saucily, enjoying the impromptu shoulder massage.

“Good, then my advice is to pace yourself. I know you might not have a concept of a meter in your head, but it would be a long stride of mine. We’re talking running all the way to the temple of Kel probably. So pace yourself. Don’t start as a sprint.”

“I thought we were testing my speed,” Veera protested, confused as to why she shouldn’t simply run as hard and as fast as she could.

“We are, but the distance is probably long enough where if your body functions anything like a human’s, if you go all out at the beginning, you’ll tire long before the finish. Try putting in most of your effort, but not all. Three quarters or so.”

“What does three quarters mean?”

“You know how Felen used to have four lungs and now he has three?”

“Yes.”

“He has three quarters of his lungs left.”

“Oh…you’re talking about pieces of a whole!” Veera conceptualized her first fraction.

“Exactly. So if your total running ability was something you could split like that, try giving us three quarters today, alright? If you think you can go faster the next time, then do it. If you think the Cauthan body behaves differently from a human’s, then experiment as you like. We’ll be doing this a lot.”

“Thank you for the advice Russell, I think I’m ready,” Veera replied, bouncing on the balls of her feet to get her blood flowing.

“Sure thing feather kitten. You want me to take your cloak?”

“Oh yes, right. Please do!” She stripped the garment off and gave it to him, waving goodbye as he jogged off into the night.

‘I believe your advice was sound sir, but should we be instructing her like that? We don’t know what her body is capable of.’

“All the more reason not to push it Io,” Winters argued, emphatic that Veera not be forced beyond what she was capable of.

‘Indeed, as you wish sir. I see your cardiovascular health has not suffered since arrival,’ Io declared, reviewing her partner’s vitals as his heartrate and breathing rate climbed.

“All that training would have been a pretty big waste if I’d gone soft after a couple months don’t you think?”

‘That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a possibility. What if we had landed in a large Cauthan city and they installed you as a leader, fanning you with palm fronds and feeding you dates?’ Io momentarily styled herself as Cleopatra.

“Io…what?”

‘Now do you see why I’m so happy to have a new project?’

“Yes Io, yes I do. You let me know if you ever feel like you’re truly going insane, alright?”

‘Is humor insanity?’

“No Io, at least nothing I’ve heard out of your mouth.”

‘Then I am not insane, sir. We are here.’ Io’s words brought Winters to a halt just shy of the temple of Kel. Knowing that Veera was waiting in the cold, he wasted no time.

“Go ahead and give her the start Io.”

‘Yes sir. Veera, please begin at the count of three. One, two, three!’ For Io and Winters, nothing changed, at least for the next couple moments. Eventually they did fix on Veera’s figure running at them through the night. She joined them a few minutes later, panting heavily but looking otherwise proud of herself. After spending some time with her hands on the back of her head, a trick she’d remembered from the festival, Winters returned her cloak and they began to walk slowly back towards home.

“So, how did I do?” Veera asked, still breathing deeply, but more regularly.

‘You managed the distance in two minutes and thirteen seconds.’ Io informed her. Veera looked up at her human. After looking around them to check if the coast was clear, Winters had Io project a ticking watch face.

“Each movement of that hand there is a second. There’s sixty of those in one minute and sixty minutes in one hour. You finished in one hundred thirty three seconds.”

“I hope this will become more clear once I learn more of your language Russell, but at least now I have a number that I need to get lower, right?”

“Right. Overall I’d say that time was below average for a human, but again, running is our specialty, don’t take it too hard alright?”

“I won’t darling. After all, I have to let you humans have something, right?” Veera stretched her arms effortlessly behind her to accentuate her species’ innate flexibility. Winters patted her on the back.

“Fair enough Veera. Io, you said we’ll do endurance over the next couple of days?”

‘Yes sir. Veera, I will have to test you twice. Once to determine your capacity for extended cardiovascular activity, and once to determine how far your muscles can be pushed over time. Fear not, I have already thought of a few ways in which to do so. For tonight, please just relax.’

“No need to tell me twice Io, that run took a lot out of me!” Veera huffed, leaning against Winters for a bit of support.

“I suppose I should have known it would be the two of you making a racket at this hour.” A voice called to them from their left. Looking over they saw Gentia silhouetted in the doorway of the temple of Meylith. “Now then, you two wouldn’t just walk by without visiting an old woman now, would you?”

‘I don’t believe you have a way out of this one,’ Io advised. ‘Better just do as she asks.’

“I think some tea sounds great actually. You got any good stuff in there Gentia?” Winters asked confidently, leading Veera by the hand.

“Now that’s what I like to hear! Come now Veera, join us. Most of the acolytes have gone home already.”

“What about Thantis?” Veera poked around for a potential way out.

“Why do you think he’s here?” Gentia quipped, causing Winters to make a victorious noise.

“That means there’s definitely good tea.”

“Yes yes, of course young man, please come in! It’s been so long since I’ve heard a story about your people’s gods!” Thantis exclaimed, poking his head out of the temple’s doorway.

“Hey there Thantis! Good to see you too. So where’s the tea at?” Winters waved a greeting and strode inside.

“Oh enough about the tea already! Veera exclaimed, whacking him on the back of his helmet. “Ouch! That’s not fair!” Everyone assembled laughed as Veera pouted. Soon after, they were all seated on the benches inside the temple with mugs in hand.

“So what were the two of you doing out there anyway? I just happened to look over and see Veera charging through the streets. Clearly both of you are unharmed, so what was the emergency dear?” Gentia asked kindly as Veera looked away in embarrassment, not wanting to give Gentia another potential angle of attack. “Come now child, whatever it is it can’t be that bad.”

“Veera’s asked me to help train her body, now that we’ve been blessed with enough food to not have to constantly worry about such things.” Winters’ explanation earned him a betrayed look from his mate. He tried to soothe her with a whisper. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“That sounds like a novel idea!” Thantis declared. “It is best to take advantage of your body’s strength and grace when you’re young. Good for you Veera.”

“Uh…thanks Thantis I…” Veera was saved from further scrutiny as a Cauthan that Winters had never seen before burst into the temple.

“Oh thank goodness you’re here Gentia. Please, I’m sorry to interrupt but you must come quickly.”

“Now now Suka, what’s all this about? You look like you’ve seen a spirit. Has Merat’s time come?”

“Yes, and it’s not looking good Gentia. She’s in pain and struggling. I knew these snows were a bad omen. To have a cub still in her womb as Kel awakens…” Suka’s pacing set everyone on edge as Gentia looked to Veera and Winters. The expression on her face was one that Winters had often seen as Jess sat on the bridge of her ship. Veera took his hand in hers and squeezed tightly.

“My love,” Gentia looked at Thantis. “Please go and collect fresh linen or bandages, as well as any herbs you may have on hand for pain and bleeding. Veera,” Gentia motioned to the room on the right side of the temple. “Please go prepare a fire. The pit is next to the bed at the end of the row. Once that’s done, please begin heating water immediately. If we don’t have a pot that’s full already there should be some water in the barrels out back.”

‘I see,’ Io mused to Winters. ‘The residence for their acolytes must also function as a primitive maternity ward. I wonder when they discerned the whole boiling water trick.’

“Definitely for another time Io, I don’t think we’re just going to be allowed to just sit this one out.” His words proved prophetic as Gentia turned to him next.

“Winters! I need you to go with Suka and collect his mate. Keep her warm and bring her here.” Winters felt his eyebrows shoot into his hair. The order made sense but he still hadn’t expected it.

“What? You want the human to-” Suka began. Gentia cut him off immediately in a no-nonsense tone of voice.

“He’s the strongest being in the village right now Suka, and we need Merat here as soon as possible if she’s having problems. Can you carry her here?”

“No, I admit I surely cannot…but he serves the god of death and…”

“That means that if anyone can keep my Master at bay, it would be me.” Winters spoke in a low voice, rising from his seat to stand above the chaos. Suka fell still as Veera gasped, handing her cloak to him as he beckoned for it.

“Darling, you…” Veera looked up at him with pride and concern plain on her face. He placed a hand on her shoulder before turning back to the others.

“Suka was it? Take me to your mate, please. Time is of the essence,” Winters demanded, noticing that Io had gone into a practical tizzy over the possibility of bearing witness to the process of Cauthan birth. Without waiting for an agreement, he swept out of the temple with Suka trailing behind him. Veera couldn’t help a chuckle despite her nerves as Winters’ voice reached her. “Pick up the pace Suka, I wait for no Cauthan!”

“I suppose that explains a few things; you’d need to get stronger just to keep up with him!” Gentia remarked approvingly as she too headed for the door. “I’m off to try to find at least a couple of acolytes with some experience, though we probably won’t have time to make house calls all over the village. Veera, if I can’t find anyone or if I’m not back in time, you’re assisting.” With that final declaration Gentia left, followed quickly by Thantis. For a long moment Veera just stood still, watching the door.

“By all the gods…” With that, she shook herself into action and ran into the adjoining chamber, lighting a couple of torches before finding the fire pit and beginning her assigned tasks. As she worked, she felt her heart beating quick and strong, both because of the situation and because of the way her human had taken charge, shouldering the mantle of the death god without a second thought because he thought it would help salvage the situation. “Time to do my part then,” she resolved, lighting a spark that set dry tinder ablaze and wood crackling. Satisfied that the fire was fine on its own, Veera examined the nearest cauldron, finding it empty. With a curse, she hoisted it and headed out back. “Please get her here safe love.”

-----

“It’s this one here, on the left!” Suka shouted breathlessly as Winters reached a modest dwelling in the northeast corner of the village. He could already hear the faint cries of labor from within. With a knock on the wooden doorframe, he entered.

‘Oh dear…’ Io spoke, shocked as no fewer than ten faces turned to greet them. None looked happy to see him. ‘Extended family I presume.’ Winters held his hands in the air in an attempt to head off the incoming chaos.

“Please, good people. I’m here on behalf of Gentia and the temple of Meylith. I must take her to them; please let me through.” Winters’ appeal seemed to fall on deaf ears as they continued to stare and stand between him and the bed, only shaken out of it by another pained yell. Suka chose that moment to rush through the door himself.

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“It’s as he says everyone. Now please, move!” The patriarch of the household declared, finally getting the Cauthan surrounding the bed to clear a path. Winters moved quickly, finding a female Cauthan with pale blond fur naked and panting on the hay, her belly full with pregnancy. Her claws and talons were already dug deep into the bedding, a sign of the agony she was enduring.

‘Sir, she’s bleeding. Hard to tell if that’s natural or not. We need to move,’ Io warned him, unable to keep a look of concern from darkening her face. She felt very uneasy in a position of limited knowledge.

“Your name is Merat, right?” Winters asked kindly, kneeling at the foot of the bed. “My name is Russell, I’ve come on behalf of Gentia to get you to the temple where they can help. I’ll have to carry you. May I touch you?” Merat squeezed her eyes shut in pain and grunted as another contraction tore through her. When she opened them again they were filled with fear.

“Please…my cub,” she managed in a painful whisper. Taking that to be as much of an assent as he was going to get, Winters handed the cloak he was carrying to the nearest bystander.

“Drape her with that as soon as I lift her torso. Are you ready Merat? One, two, three.” As Winters supported her shoulders and back from behind, Merat was clothed in the cloak just before Winters shifted and took her into his arms with one fluid motion, eliciting another gasp of pain. She was heavy, but nothing he couldn’t handle. His adrenaline had surged the moment he’d heard her cries. Once the cloak was secured, Winter’s turned and departed immediately as the assembled Cauthan began talking and shouting. “Suka, run ahead and let them know we’re almost there! Go now!” He commanded, walking as fast as he could without breaking into a run that would jar the female in his arms. “By all the gods Io, what the hell have we gotten ourselves into?” He lamented into his helmet.

‘Your guess is as good as mine sir, but at least she’s still breathing deeply. You should maybe talk to her sir, she’s surely scared.’ Winters had no idea what he could possibly say, but took Io’s advice anyway.

“Merat, you don’t need to respond to me, but just focus on my voice and stay with me. You’re doing fine. We’re going to get you to the temple. Everyone should be there already. They’re getting a bed ready for you as well as water and herbs for the pain. We’re going to do everything we can for you and your cub alright? Don’t worry, Kel won’t touch either of you while I’m here. He just decided to bring the snows a bit early so that you and your cub would have something pretty to look at tomorrow morning, alright?” Merat hissed in pain and turned her head against his chest.

“Please…” Her claws scraped audibly against his armor.

“Yeah, I’ve got you. Hang in there. I’ve got you.” Winters willed himself to move faster through the night.

-----

Veera could barely keep track of what had happened since Suka had sprinted back into the temple. Gentia and one other acolyte had returned, meaning that she would also be assisting the priestesses that evening. Her heart had kicked into overdrive at that moment and hadn’t abated since. Thantis was already busy making poultices and boiling bandages while clean linen was laid over the bed nearest to the fire. Veera was just about to sit down and steady herself when a cry of pain echoed from the main chamber to herald Winters’ arrival, along with a very pregnant female in his arms. Gentia took charge immediately.

“Thank you Winters, lay her here please. There you go Merat, easy now. We’re going to take care of you. Veera, boil some more bandages. Thantis, if you’re ready I think we’ll be needing something for her pain immediately. Suka, Winters, leave us. You’ve done what you can.”

“Gentia, my cub. Please…” Merat’s voice sounded fainter to Winters; it made his blood run cold.

“Wait, are you sure you don’t need us?” He asked, stunned that there wasn’t anything he could do to help.

“Yes, now get out of here before you distract us.” Gentia demanded, moving to the foot of the bed as her acolyte spread Merat’s legs. “Oh dear, yes I see. Thantis I’m going to need something to stem this bleeding. Get out!” She screeched, seeing that neither Suka nor Winters had moved. The human, in spite of all of his instincts that screamed at him to remain, grabbed Suka by the arm and led him back into the main chamber. With nothing else to do, they eventually sat on a bench against the wall and waited. Suka immediately began fidgeting with his claws and talons. Winters looked down at his armor. His right arm was coated in a thin film of dark red.

“What a night…” he muttered, grabbing his canteen and moving to the doorway in order to wash his armor clean in the street. “Sorry about that.” He apologized as he rejoined Suka, who looked even worse than he had when he’d first arrived at the temple. The Cauthan didn’t bother turning his head to look at Winters.

“No, don’t. Thank you for helping.” Suka managed in a detached voice, visibly wincing each time he heard his mate in distress. Winters nodded.

“Just doing what I could. Guess it’s out of our hands now.”

“Yes…” Suka wrung his hands as another pained scream reached their ears, along with words of encouragement from Gentia and her priestess. “Oh Meylith, please keep them safe,” he held his head in his hands and pleaded. Winters silently cursed, placing a hand on Suka’s shoulder.

“I used to be a soldier…before coming here.” Winters spoke into the tense air, not bothering to see if Suka was listening. “It’s tough, you know, hearing a friend or loved one in pain. I never got used to it. But if they’re making noise, if they’re suffering…it means they aren’t dead. She’s fighting.” Winters’ attempted encouragement was received silently, signaling to him that the time had come for his own silence as well. The two men forced themselves to listen and wait.

-----

Io had done nothing but pace Winters’ visor for a good hour and a half, perturbed at being left out of the room and doing her best to interpret the sounds she was hearing thanks to Veera’s earpiece. For the life of them, they couldn’t tell if the changes in Merat’s voice were good or bad signs. After about an hour Veera had run out of the room and into the storehouse. She passed them again with a bundle in her arms, not saying a word as the sounds of Merat’s labor continued to weigh on their nerves. Just as Winters felt he was about to go mad from inaction, a final earsplitting scream reached them, followed by a distinctly new cry over the din of the other voices in the delivery room. Both of them let out a long and harried breath.

“I think you’d better get in there Suka. I hope your family remains healthy. Congratulations,” Winters advised, praying that both mother and cub would live to see the sunrise. With a silent thank you, Suka did just that, passing Veera on his way in. She had left to give the family their own time with one another and the more experienced healers of the village. Winters stood and looked at her. She looked tired and worn, her feathers ruffled and her tail drooping from stress, but smiled at him all the same. It was a sad expression that pierced right through his armor and tugged directly at his heart.

“Russell…” Her eyes looked misty and far away as he stepped closer to her.

“Veera, you alright?”

“He was…” Her vision began to swim as Winters removed his helmet. She felt her knees go weak.

“Veera!” He held her to him as she looked up into his eyes. Her body felt ready to collapse, both from stress and from an insistent demand that she knew would never be fulfilled. “Veera, what is it? Talk to me!” He demanded softly, cradling her to him. She felt small in his hold.

“He was so beautiful!” Veera wailed, surrendering herself to tears as Winters could do nothing but stare past her into the distance. The sounds of a proud father and relieved mother weighed heavily on them both.

-----

For the second time that night Winters walked through the empty streets, carrying a woman in his arms. This time he said nothing. There were no words he could ever say to ease the pain that Veera was suffering. Wrapped in her cloak she clung to him desperately, as though the world might wrench them apart at any moment, displeased at their unnatural union of human and Cauthan.

‘Oh Veera…’ Io whispered only for him, looking down helplessly at her partner’s mate. ‘I’m so sorry. To think moments ago I was jealous of her, that she got to be there to witness the miracle of birth and I had to wait outside.’ Io sniffed and wiped her eyes, filing away another note in her ‘Veera folder’, surely going through the motions in order to give the two of them anything else to pay attention to. Winters was thankful for the privacy his helmet afforded him, unable to completely avoid the salty sting of tears in his eyes. Powerlessness was not an emotion he enjoyed feeling, and he’d done so an awful lot that evening. After what seemed like an eternity he finally delivered them home, finding it dark and cold. His helmet more than compensated for the lack of light, and he moved to lay Veera down on the bed before removing his armor to the sounds of her soft sobbing. When he was clothed for bed and had set Io down to provide just a bit of light, he sat on the side of the frame, looking down at Veera who’d curled into a ball as if to ward off the world. Knowing that tonight would not be a playful one, Winters decided a new approach to sleeping was in order, rolling up their old chesko blanket into a bedroll and placing it at the head before taking Veera’s cloak from her and covering her with the new blanket instead. He then joined her, coaxing her to extend her body enough to rest her head on the pillow. Using his hands to guide her, Winters slowly turned her to face the wall before snuggling up behind her and wrapping his right arm across her chest. His left arm fit under her neck and completed the embrace. It was the only thing he could think to do. He wasn’t sure it would ever be enough.

“Thank you,” Veera sniffed, tilting her head so that he could kiss her cheek softly. “I’m sorry…”

“Shhh…Veera, it’s alright.”

“I want to be a mother Russell,” she pleaded desperately into the night. Winters could have sworn he felt his heart break in two at the sound of her voice. “I just…when he was born…that little cub seemed like the most beautiful thing in the world. I couldn’t help but envy her…even in all of her pain. The look on her face when she finally held him…when she fed him his first bite of food. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it,” Veera whispered as she pushed back ever so slightly into him, trying to draw closer to his warmth.

“I…” Winters found no words would come. Veera instead turned in his hold to face him, her watery irises just barely visible thanks to Io’s illumination. Another small sob escaped her lips as she pressed their noses together.

“I’m sorry for being a selfish woman.”

“Veera, what did I just-”

“Even if you say it, I can see the pain on your face. I can see it in your eyes. Did you ever want children Russell?” She asked, causing him to cast his mind in a direction it rarely went.

“I…I didn’t get to think about it much as a soldier, but yes, I suppose I did in the end,” he told her, knowing that even if he’d never thought so consciously, that eventually he’d answer in the affirmative at some point in his life. He found it difficult to fathom the idea of leaving nothing behind in the world when he died.

“Would you give me cubs if you could?” Veera inquired in the faintest whisper. Io’s light glowed brighter for just a moment.

“Yes.” Veera sobbed and kissed him all at once, a soft and wet sensation on his lips that spoke volumes of the aching that Veera was feeling inside, pain that she’d never been able to fully express. It was all Winters could do to just hold her close and stroke the back of her head. There was nothing he could say to console her. No discussion of adoption or fostering would ever fill the void of a womb unused. He had never felt so weak, even during his last moments on the Lancer. Not being able to fulfill the deepest desire of the Cauthan he’d come to love was like salt in an eternal wound.

“I love you Russell.”

“I love you too Veera.” She buried her head in his chest and prayed for sleep, the sweet release of slumber to deaden the hurt.

-----

Io remained awake the whole night, attempting to process everything she had learned in the hours before, as well as practically rewriting her entire set of subroutines devoted to sympathy and empathy. Her systems would not let her forget the hurt in Veera’s voice or the helplessness in her partner’s eyes. Instead, she watched as the two of them drifted into sleep, subconsciously becoming a tangle of limbs, fur, skin, and feathers. She found it beautiful in its own way, an affirmation of their desire to persevere in spite of the adversity of life. As the first light of dawn began to filter into their home, Io noticed a new soft coating of snow outside. Knowing that they would at least wake up to that, the VI finally managed to calm herself enough to enter standby.

-----

As Veera slowly woke, she felt a sudden burst of anxiousness and fear flow through her as she realized that she was alone under the blanket. She was about to cry out for her mate when the smells and sounds of cooking breakfast reached her. After a few calming breaths, she decided to remain curled up in bed, not ready to face her human after the night prior. How could life be so cruel, she lamented. Turning something so miraculous and wonderful into a source of pain for us… Her breath caught in her chest as Winters returned, sitting on the bedframe and turning to face her. He held out a plate with eggs, bacon, and toast. Her nose twitched at the marvelous scent of his simple cooking.

“How you feeling?” He asked her with a small smile. “Hey c’mon, look at me feather kitten. Eat something while you’re at it too.”

“What’s the occasion?” She replied meekly, accepting his offer all the same and sitting up to eat with the utensil he offered.

“You mean other than the fact that we both felt like shit last night?”

“You’re crude Russell.” She popped a bite of food in her mouth. “This is delicious. Thank you love.” He was rewarded with a peck on the cheek.

“Food makes everything better,” he informed her playfully, happy to see a smile on her face again. “And look outside. Kel saw fit to give us a nice view again today.” Veera followed his extended arm to the doorway, taking in the orange light of winter morning reflected off the snows.

“What did I do to deserve you Russell?” She asked softly, taking another bite of her meal.

“Hmm?” He made a questioning sound as he took a large bite of eggs.

“You see? That’s what I mean. I was…we were…in a dark place last night and you just…erase it all. It’s warm in here, you made me food, you pointed out the snow because you knew it would make me happy, you do that silly thing when you try to talk with your mouth full.” Winters blushed and looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. “And that. I love it when you do that.” Her human couldn’t help but shrug and go back to his food. When he’d finally swallowed and his cheeks were a lighter shade of red, he looked at her.

“Do you want to go back and see how they are? Or would you rather pretend it never happened?” He asked, his tone making clear that he didn’t judge either choice to be the ‘correct’ one. Veera took another bite while thinking.

“I don’t think I’d sleep well if I didn’t visit, that is if they’re still at the temple.”

“You think they would be?”

“Merat lost a lot of blood last night. Not fatal…at least while I was there, but I think she’ll be in bed for a time.”

“And the kid?”

“Strong, healthy, and takes after his mother.” Veera declared proudly, her eyes misting over again.

“Then let’s finish up here. I’d like to meet him,” Winters said confidently. Io chose that moment to make her presence felt, already clad in her fashionable winter wear.

‘I too wish to observe the small bundle of fur!’

-----

“Well now, I was wondering where the two of you got off to last night.” Gentia waved them into the temple; too tired to poke fun or make assumptions about where they might have been the night before. “I think my mate has the right of it. I should start looking for a successor soon.” She sat down and began to eat a small breakfast.

“Gentia, surely you’ve got many winters left in you!” Veera protested, joining the elderly matriarch.

“That may be so child, but I don’t know how many more sleepless nights I can handle.” She rested a hand warmly on Veera’s.

“How are they? Are they alright?”

“It wasn’t a sure thing for a while, but yes Veera, they are alright. That’s in no small part thanks to you, and you as well human.”

“All I did was carry her here,” he protested.

“Indeed, and because you did we were able to stem the bleeding early enough to allow her to safely deliver her cub. Poor lad’s fur was a mess; nothing a mother’s tongue won’t cure though.” Winters made a face behind his helmet, but Io nodded sagely.

‘Yes that does make sense…no better way to replenish the body than to take in what’s lost. Crude, certainly, but effective. Oh stop making that face sir; you listen to music with far more ridiculous lyrics.’

“That’s fighting dirty Io, using my drop playlist against me.”

‘I learned from the best, fight to win. Will you ask if we can see them now?’ Io demanded impatiently. Unable to deny her enthusiasm any longer, Winters looked down at Gentia.

“Do you think we could visit?” Gentia’s look was both surprised and approving.

“Let me go ask. As you might imagine, mother isn’t feeling particularly energetic. I just got done shooing Suka away so that he could get some rest himself.” The elder shook her head at the thought before hoisting herself to her feet again and walking into the adjoining room. A few moments later she appeared in the doorway and beckoned them in, holding aside the cloth door cover. A pot still boiled over the fire pit, and Winters could see from a distance that seemingly the entire stock of linen owned by the temple, except for those covering the new mother, was being cleaned and disinfected by two of the priestesses. He was relieved to find Merat conscious and seemingly in good health looking over at them, clutching a tiny blond ball of fluff with limbs to her chest. After a silent feathered signal, Veera nodded and approached the bed with Winters following behind.

“Ah, my savior returns,” Merat whispered, looking at Veera. She shook her head.

“I didn’t do much.”

“But you were there. Gentia tells me I owe you both, in part, my life; as well as Laran here.” She looked down at the newborn with a gaze that could only be found on the face of a mother. Veera cooed sweetly as the little thing opened its eyes and realized that it now had guests. The small cry it let out had Io swooning.

‘Aww isn’t he so precious! Isn’t he just a wittle bawl of fluffiness! Sir, his name is Laran and he says hi! Isn’t he just the sweetest little you ever…’ Io seemed to only then become aware that Winters was staring at her, eyebrows at peak extension. ‘My apologies sir.’ Io cleared her throat. ‘Veera has been rubbing off on me.’

“Uh…carry on,” Winters replied, reaching up to remove his helmet. Laran’s eyes opened wide as the human got a new face. “Neat little trick, isn’t it?” He asked, receiving a gurgle of some sort in reply. Veera laughed in delight.

“Could I…hold him?” She asked tentatively.

“Oh, please do. My arms are killing me.” Merat gave her permission as Veera bent over the bed to gently take the little boy into her arms, sitting down so that he could still see his mother. The newborn’s protests died down as soon as he felt the texture and warmth of Veera and her dress. Noticing that Gentia had long ago left them to their own devices, Winters sat himself on the adjacent bed, finding great comfort in watching Veera, the light in her eyes restored by the presence of new life.

Sorry Veera. Thanks for loving me anyway.