by S. E. Smith
Vox frowned down at Roam. “I didn’t exactly have time to check him over,” he replied gruffly. “I was trying to keep him alive. Roam, are you hurt?”
Riley bit her bottom lip and waited for Roam to answer. She breathed a sigh of relief when he finally shook his head. Leaning weakly against Vox, she touched Roam’s dirty cheek with her fingers.
“I’s okay,” Roam said with a smile. “I’s hurt my paws when I’s almost went over the cliff and I’s think my tail was broke ‘cause it hurt really bad and Spring said it was crooked, but the old dragon’s symbiot fixed it and I’s don’t hurts no more.”
“… Almost went over a cliff,” Riley and Vox murmured in horror, looking at each other before turning to stare back at their son.
“Medic!” Vox roared.
“Doctor! We need a doctor!” Riley cried out, turning around in a panicked circle. “The tent!”
“I’s told you’s I’s okay!” Roam tried to tell his frantic parents. “I’s hungry, though.”
“Food,” Riley whispered with wide eyes. “I’ll get food, you get a doctor to look over him. And Vox,” she said, gripping his arm as he started to turn away. “I’ll skin you alive if you let him out of your sight.”
Vox grinned. “I’m not letting him out of my arms,” he promised. “Go get food for our son. I’ll meet you in the medical tent.”
Riley nodded, watching her mate and son walk away. Her hand fluttered to her stomach as it turned. Focusing, she tried to assure her cat that Roam was alright.
Not Roam, her cat groaned.
Then, what’s wrong, Riley asked in aggravation as her stomach rolled again.
It his sisters that is making stomach funny, her cat snapped. They worse than Roam.
Riley stopped and swayed for a moment. Sisters!
Turning, she looked at Vox when he turned to glance at her. “Vox! You potent Tomcat!” Riley roared.
Vox just grinned. He wondered how long it would take Riley to figure out that their afternoon together had been very productive. He also wondered how long it would take for her to realize that there was more than one cub in the oven this time.
*.*.*
“Abby,” Zoran said, watching as his mate moved among the villagers, asking questions, talking, but most of all listening to what they had to say.
She looked up and gave him a sad smile. He walked over to her. She and the other women had arrived shortly after word had been received that the mountain was erupting. Zoran had initiated an emergency response team that immediately set up temporary lodging, food, and medical services for the villagers displaced by the eruption.
Abby had arrived and begun working with the emergency response team. She had been working tirelessly, pausing to look at Zoran only when anyone new came by in the hopes that Trisha, Kelan, and the others had returned with the children. His chest hurt every time he saw the fear and the uncertainty flash through her eyes when she realized that there was still no news of their son.
“More permanent lodgings are being built not far from the valley,” Abby finished telling an elderly female. “It is very similar to the valley you came from.”
Zoran watched as Abby patted the female’s hand and rose out of the chair that one of the warriors had placed near the bed. He held out his arms to her when she looked at him with an expression that showed what the stress of not knowing was doing to her. His arms circled around her and he held her close against his body as he buried his face in her hair.
“Nothing yet?” She asked in a husky voice.
A shudder went through Zoran and he shook his head. “No,” he said. “Not yet.”
“Oh, Zoran,” Abby fought to say through her tears. “If anything…”
Zoran leaned back and cupped her face in his hands. “They will get him and all the other younglings out.”
Abby bit her lip and nodded. She had to have hope and faith that Trisha, Kelan, and the others would be successful. The alternative was too painful to even imagine.
“Mommy! Daddy!” A young voice cried out behind them.
Abby and Zoran turned at the same time. A low cry of relief escaped Abby as she hurried forward and scooped Zohar up in her arms and buried her face in his small neck. Silent tears escaped her as she held him against her. Only when Zoran wrapped his arms around both of them did she relax and give in to the relief.
Zoran looked at Kelan and smiled. “Thank you,” he said in a quiet voice. “Abby and I… Thank you.”
“No thanks are needed, brother,” Kelan replied, pulling Trisha and Bálint against his side. “You have a very brave, and very smart, son.”
“I’s a leader, daddy. Just’s like you,” Zohar said with a huge grin. “I’s lead the dragonlings, Roam, and Alice to the old dragon of the mountain to saves Christmas.” The smile on his face turned down and his eyes grew sad when he continued. “The old dragon’s a nice dragon’s. He just lonely. He don’t come down no more from the mountain. The mountain went boom.”
Zoran’s hand trembled as he ran it over Zohar’s hair. “I know the mountain went boom,” he said tenderly. “We’ll talk about your adventures tonight.”
“Okays,” Zohar said with a yawn. “I’s don’t want to eat bugs for dinner. Jabir says they’s good, but I’s like mommy’s dinner better.”
Abby gave a watery chuckle and hugged Zohar against her. “I promise no bugs,” she said, pressing a kiss to his cheek before looking at Trisha and Kelan. “The others?”
“All the children are fine,” Trisha promised, adjusting her hold on Bálint. “There was only one casualty that we are aware of,” she added in a quiet voice.
Abby nodded sadly. “To have this happen so close to our first Christmas,” she said with a shake of her head.
Zoran brushed a kiss across her temple and hugged her close. “It gives us even more to be thankful for when we think of what we could have lost,” he said.
“Yes,” Trisha and Kelan murmured. “It does.”
*.*.*
“Ha’ven,” Emma called out, staring at where Ha’ven and Alice were standing talking with Vox.
Ha’ven turned and scanned the crowd. They seemed to know that he was looking for someone special because they parted to reveal Emma’s delicate form where she stood in a small opening. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the late afternoon sun shining down on her. The colors of her aura were almost blinding in their brilliance.
Instinctively, his arm rose and he reached out to her. A slow smile curved his lips as she took first one, then another, and then another step toward him until she was running, the colors surrounding her reaching out to wrap around him and Alice with a warmth and love that left him shaken. His arm closed around her and he pulled her to him, holding her like he would never, ever let her go.
“Oh, Emma,” Ha’ven whispered, pulling back far enough to cover her lips with his.
It took several long seconds before they both felt the slight tapping on the sides of their head. Ha’ven reluctantly released Emma’s lips, staring into her eyes before he felt the tiny hands of his daughter turning his head. He chuckled when she looked at him with a raised eyebrow, so much like her mother.
“You’s kissing mama,” Alice said.
“Yes,” Ha’ven chuckled. “I’m kissing mama.”
A slight frown of confusion twisted Alice’s face. “Does that’s mean Bálint is supposed to kisses me?” She asked, tilting her head to the side.
“No!” Ha’ven barked in surprise.
“Oh’s,” Alice replied with a sigh, turning to look at her mom. “He’s says he’s supposed to protect me’s likes you do’s mama. He’s likes my colors.”
Emma bit back a laugh and shot Ha’ven a look of warning when he started muttering about having another talk with Kelan about his son. She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his to silence his threat to take them back home and never let Alice out of his sight again. He looked moodily down at her when she rubbed her thumb across his bottom lip.
“I’m building a wall around the house by the time she is ten,” Ha’ven swore under his breath.
“Yes,” Emma replied with twinkling eyes. “And she’ll just teleport herself to the other side of it. We have time, Ha’ven. She’s still just a baby.”
“He likes her colors,” Ha’ven muttered darkly.
“Just as I like yours,” Emma told him before she reached up and touched his face with her fingers. “Thank you for bringing her home.”
“Always,” Ha’ven replied in a husky voice. He looked around the small encampment. “Let’s go back to the palace. They have everything under control here and I… I need to hold you and Alice for a while.”
“Me, too,” Emma admitted, closing her eyes for a brief moment. “Do you think we can all fit on the air glider?”
Ha’ven glanced at the transport next to him and nodded. “Definitely,” he said, handing Alice to her. “Sit in front and hold on to Alice. I’ll take it easy.”
Alice giggled and looked at her mom and dad. “I’s been on an adventure,” she said. “I’s slept underground and climbed a mountain. This is for babies!”
Ha’ven paused and looked at Emma. “I’m building that wall as soon as we get home,” he growled, sliding onto the air glider behind Emma and wrapping one arm around her and Alice when they both laughed in delight. “I love you, Emma.”
“I love you, too, my protective warrior,” Emma murmured as they started to rise.
“Bálint says he’s my protector,” Alice laughed. “Just likes daddy.”
Maybe building that wall isn’t such a bad idea, after all, Emma thought in amusement to Ha’ven as they sped off toward the palace.
*.*.*
Mandra nodded as Jabir continued talking. “And’s I shows them how’s to eat bugs, and’s how I’s saved Bálint from a… a… a… herbivore, but he wasn’t really in danger, it justs wanted the food he picked. And’s I almost fall from the mountain, but Alice used her colors, but’s it made her sleepy and’s we couldn’t wake her up. And’s….”
Mandra finally laid his fingers gently against Jabir’s lips to silence his son. If nothing else, it gave Jabir time to draw in a deep breath. He looked up and saw Ariel standing in the doorway to the tented area that had been set up. An amused smile tugged at her lips, but the glisten of tears in her eyes told him that she had heard the adventures their son had been telling him about.
“Hi,” she whispered quietly. “Do you have room for mommy?”
“Mommy!” Jabir said, turning excitedly on Mandra’s lap. “Mommy! I’s been on an adventure with Bálint and’s Zohar, and’s Amber and Jade and’s Alice, she saved me with her colors, and’s Roam, and’s Phoenix and Spring. Spring can digs big tunnels unders the grounds. We’s slept in one and it was so fun.”
“That sounds like quite an adventure,” Ariel murmured, sliding into the chair next to Mandra and holding her arms out to Jabir. She hugged him tightly against her the moment he climbed onto her lap. “Where?” She started to ask before she just shook her head. “I’m just glad you’re safe. You shouldn’t go off by yourself.”
Jabir nodded with a sigh. “I’s knows,” he reluctantly admitted. “We’s just wanted to saves Christmas for you and the other mommies.”
Mandra leaned forward and brushed a kiss against Ariel’s lips when he saw she was about to burst into tears. He could handle anything… anything that is, but Ariel crying. It tore him up.
“How about we go home?” Mandra said, rising out of his chair and drawing Ariel and Jabir with him. “You need a bath. I can see some of the dirt in your ears. Who knows, you might have a bug or two in there too,” he teased.
Jabir’s eyes widened with pleasure at the thought. “Can’s I keep them? Can’s I?” He asked with a pleading look. “Please! I’s takes good care of them.”
Mandra shook his head and chuckled. “You are so much like your mother it is scary,” he muttered. “Yes,” he finally added. “If we find any bugs in your ears, you can keep them.”
“Yay’s!” Jabir laughed in delight. “I’s love them and feeds them and makes them a bed and…”
Mandra gave Ariel a pain-filled glance as he pulled her and Jabir out of the tent and towards a supply transport. He waited until they were aboard before he pulled both his mate and his son into his arms and held them close. Brushing a kiss along Ariel’s neck, he continued to listen to Jabir talk about his adventures and the new animals he saw and the ones he wanted to keep and the list went on and on…
“The next one gets to be more like me,” he whispered in her ear.
Ariel’s delighted laugh echoed through the supply ship drawing smiles from the other warriors aboard. Her heart swelled with love as she leaned back against Mandra’s huge frame, thinking about what he had just said. Jabir was old enough to have a little brother or sister. There was just no guarantee that he or she wasn’t going to love animals just as much as their big brother.
Epilogue
Two days later, everyone sat around the brightly lit tree in Paul and Morian’s living quarters. They had already opened presents in their own quarters at the crack of dawn thanks to the kids… the little ones as well as the big ones. Now, they had gathered to share gifts with each other.
“What is this called again?” Vox asked Riley.
Riley glanced at the long thin tube and rolled her eyes. “A marshmallow gun,” she said. “Tina and I had one when we were kids.”
Tina glared at Riley and shook her head. No, they hadn’t. They had straws and popcorn seeds that hurt like hell if you got hit with the wrong end. Riley shook her head and held her finger to her lips.
“We can shoot each other and eat them?” Viper asked, looking down the barrel of the toy with a suspicious look. “It won’t hurt like the salt from the shotgun, will it?”
“Of course not,” Mandra replied, shooting both Vox and Viper. “See!”
“Oh boy,” Carmen laughed, looking up as colorful, tasty bullets began littering the air. Who’s “Whose brainchild was this one?”
“Mine,” Cara replied, picking up a small marshmallow that landed next to her and eating it. “I was going to do the soft darts, but Trelon was afraid the girls would hoard them if they found the darn things, then use them against him. This way, they just get on a sugar high.”
“Better at getting them hyped up than the Pixie Stix at Easter for getting them hyped up?” Trisha asked, ducking when Kelan aimed at Zoran and almost hit her.
“Sorry,” he mouthed, blowing her a kiss.
“Pixie Stix?” Melanie grinned. “I haven’t had those in years. I wonder if they even still make them?”
“We could find out,” Cree said, gently rubbing Hope’s tiny back.
Calo nodded. “I know transports make regular trips to Earth. I could ask someone on one of them to bring some back for you,” he said.
Melanie shook her head. “No thanks, I don’t miss them that much. I was just curious,” she replied with a laugh. “They really are nothing but sugar and not very good for you.”
“How is the transition of the villagers going, Abby?” Morian asked, smiling up at Paul when he handed her a cup of hot tea.
Abby smiled at Morian. “Very well,” she said. “They seem happy with the new location and have already begun adding to the buildings. It helped that there weren’t a lot of people displaced by the eruption.”
“It is a shame about Christoff,” Carmen commented, sinking down on the couch and watching as the kids played with their new toys. “I found out that was the name of the dragon on the mountain. After learning more about the way they treated him, I think they got off extremely light. He was too good for them.”
“I basically told them that,” Trisha said with a nod of her head. “At least his older brother finally realized his mistake, even if it was far too late.”
Abby sighed. “I had no idea when I heard the tale and modified it that it was based on a real person,” she admitted. “I feel horrible that
he was killed.”
“He’s not dead,” Phoenix said, looking back and forth between her mom and Abby.
Carmen frowned as she looked down at her youngest daughter. Both she and Creon had avoided talking about what happened back on the mountain in front of the girls. They both felt the girls were too young to deal with the reality of death.
“Phoenix,” Carmen began, looking to Creon for help.
“She’s right, mommy,” Spring said with a smile. “He’s not dead. Aikaterina tolds her that she gave him a very special Christmas present.”
Carmen reached up and squeezed Creon’s hand when he laid it on her shoulder. Biting her lip, she was afraid to ask any more questions, but knew she needed to know the answers. Creon slipped his hand from under hers and walked around the couch to sit down next to Carmen. The other men, sensing that something important was going on, stopped shooting each other and slowly worked their way back to their mates.
“Phoenix, did Aikaterina tell you what gift she gave Christoff?” Morian asked, sitting forward as far as her expanded stomach would allow.
Phoenix looked up from where she, Spring, and Alice were playing with their dolls. Her eyes grew distant for a moment before a small smile curved her lips and she looked at Abby. She blinked several times before a puzzled frown formed between her eyes.
“No,” Phoenix replied. “But, I knows what it is. I’s can sees him. He’s lying in a meadow high on a mountain. His symbiot is next to him and the sun is shining downs on him.”
Carmen bit her lip and looked at Morian who smiled and nodded. “Do you know which mountain, Phoenix? Is he hurt? Does he need help?” Morian asked in a gentle voice. “Perhaps we can help him.”
Phoenix shook her head and turned her attention back to her doll. “No, he’s fine,” she said, reaching for a small hairbrush for her doll. “Edna’s going to takes cares of him.”
Abby gasped and sat back in stunned disbelief. Her eyes sought Zoran’s in confusion. Could it be? Could Christoff be on her mountain? If so…
“Oh, my,” Abby whispered, her hand going to her throat.