Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
DOREN
The current wasn’t pushing Doren along as swiftly as it usually did, like the ocean itself didn’t want them to reach their destination. Or maybe it was Doren’s own body that was resisting the trip, their tentacles arrayed haphazardly behind them, adding drag and slowing them down.
Dread suffused them as they considered the conversation they were about to have.
Their parents would not be happy with Doren going all the way to Massachusetts—and inland, at that—never mind the idea of themselves taking the journey.
As far as Doren knew, their mother and father hadn’t come to the surface in over a hundred years.
As the underwater entrance to their home appeared, Doren hesitated and girded their loins.
They could do this. The thing Doren was dreading most was their parents dragging Ren into all of this.
Ren spoke little these days, but Doren didn’t think they would appreciate being used as a constant excuse for the family’s isolation.
It didn’t matter. Doren needed to talk to their mother and father. They zipped through the canyon entrance and wound their way to where their parents floated, just finishing a meal.
“It is good to see you, child,” their mother said, her voice ringing with hope and worry in Doren’s mind. “We were concerned. You haven’t been home in days.”
“We sent Bard to speak with you,” Doren’s father chimed in, “but they haven’t returned.”
Doren stilled their floating tentacles for a moment. How is that possible?
“I spoke with Bard. As far as I know, they were heading back here.” Several of Doren’s tentacles wove in on themselves, tensing with anxiety.
Doren’s mother and father glanced at each other, their thoughts emanating a growing panic. That wasn’t good, considering the conversation they were about to have.
“Bard is an adult,” Doren continued, “and capable of taking care of themself. I’m sure they’ll be back soon.”
Their father hummed softly into their mind but didn’t reply. Doren was on edge from the tension already hanging around their parents. Maybe that was why they barrelled on, their words flying ahead of their good reason.
“I have met my bondmate.” The words were out before they could stop them. They hadn’t intended to claim that, to go that far. But the minute they said it, Doren knew it was right.
Both of Doren’s parents’ bodies twitched in the water as if electrocuted. Doren had barely gotten the sentence out before their mother was sending her thoughts a mile a minute.
“How is that even possible? There are no members of our species on Earth who aren’t your family! What is going on with you, Doren?” Her words burst out of her like shrapnel from an explosion.
“My bondmate is human.” The awkward silence that followed was oppressive, and Doren assumed their parents had taken them out of the discussion and were conversing with each other in private.
After a long moment, Doren’s father turned to them and spoke, their thought restrained and calm. “Sweet child, that isn’t possible.”
“Do we know that for sure?” Doren spun around in the water, their thoughts running nervous, excited laps as they reviewed a hundred tiny changes that they’d noticed.
“That is an assumption you’ve made, and yes, perhaps humans don’t have the physiology to recognize it on their end.
But everything you’ve always told me about acquiring your bondmate has occurred with Jake and myself. ”
“His name is Jake?” Their mother’s voice was soft and shaky in their mind.
“Yes.” Doren attempted to slow their thoughts down and consider everything logically. They’d observed some simple differences the last time they had sex, when Doren employed their tentacles fully for the first time with Jake.
“Since I’ve met him, I’ve changed. I can now transform more quickly and shift individual parts of myself with greater ease.
My body temperature has warmed. He is always in my thoughts.
I want to spend all my time with him. It took a tremendous effort to leave his side and come here to speak with you. ”
Once again, there was silence after Doren’s words. They wondered whether their parents believed them or thought Doren was delusional. Doren’s tentacles started twisting as they waited for a response, trying to squeeze out the unease from their appendages.
Finally, Doren’s mother swam forward, grabbing several of their tentacles in her own.
“You did come here to speak with us, though. Why? What do you need from us, my child?”
Doren sighed, blowing out air into the water around the three of them. “Jake wants to meet you. More than that, his grandmother has invited you to come to Massachusetts for Christmas dinner.”
“Massachusetts?” Their father’s thoughts rang with alarm. “That’s hundreds of miles from our home. How would your siblings find us if something happened?”
“Nothing will happen to you. You’ll be in human form. The only person who knows who we are is Jake, and he won’t tell anyone, not even his grandmother.”
“Sweetheart, we can’t.” Their mother pulled her tentacles away, wrapping them around her torso in a gesture of self-protection. “After what happened to Ren—”
“That won’t happen again, Mom!” Irritation leaked out of Doren despite their best efforts to hide it. “Ren trusted someone they shouldn’t have. Not all humans are like that one. No one is going to attack you. You’ll eat some turkey and meet Jake and his grandmother. Then you’ll return here.”
Doren’s father swam to their mother’s side, wrapping his tentacles around her tightly before replying. “I’m sorry, child. We can’t.”
It was a long shot, but Doren had decided it was worth it. They would speak to Ren. If anyone could convince their parents, it was Ren.
Doren couldn’t quite decide why they were so set on getting their parents to Christmas dinner. They could just head back to shore, drive down with Jake, and worry about their mother and father later, but something inside them was insistent.
Jake would be part of their family. Doren was certain of it, more sure of that than they’d ever been of anything, and their parents should meet his grandmother. That should happen now.
After the incident, Ren had relocated to the most remote part of the underwater canyon, a shadowy corner that was essentially a dimly-lit cave. Doren and their siblings took turns spending time with Ren, but all of them found the area depressing. Doren had always dreaded going there.
But if Ren would help, it would be worth it.
“Doren?” Ren’s voice was quiet in Doren’s mind, as if they were speaking from the bottom of a well. Since being injured, they’d grown meeker, preferring silence to interaction, even with their family.
“Ren. I missed you, pibling.” Doren swam into the cave-like corner, letting their eyes adjust to the dim light. Eventually, Ren’s tentacled form appeared, wrapped around the back side of a large boulder. Ren was angled so their scars were hidden in the dark.
Reaching forward, Doren stroked a tentacle across Ren’s hidden torso. “How are you doing?”
Ren didn’t answer for a long moment. The two of them stayed there, touching, listening to the soft sound of the water circulating through their gills. Finally, Ren stirred, inching closer to Doren.
“I’m okay. Some days are better than others. Today isn’t the greatest day. I’m feeling…I don’t know. Lost?”
Doren’s heart clenched at their pibling’s words. Ren didn’t deserve this. They didn’t deserve to be betrayed by someone they believed they loved. Ren had always been kind. They’d taken good care of Doren and their siblings.
As much as Doren loved their parents, the logistics of arriving on a new and unexpected planet had overwhelmed the two of them for much of Doren’s childhood. Ren had always been the one there to guide them, to provide unconditional love.
“I’m sorry you’re having a tough day. I wish…” Doren trailed off. They both knew what the wish was, and how it was impossible.
“Unfortunately, wishes can’t help me. But things do get better. It’s just slow.” Ren’s voice caught as they continued. “I want to be there for all of you more, but it’s so hard to leave.”
“Shhh, you are always there for me. For all of us.” Doren projected all the gratitude and love they had for Ren into those words.
“I don’t know if that’s true. But I want to be helpful. Can I do something for you now?”
Doren petted Ren’s back for a while longer before drawing back their tentacle as they searched for the best way to phrase what they were about to ask.
“I’ve found my bondmate.” Doren projected the words into Ren’s mind, unable to keep their thought-voice steady. “And he’s human.”
A tremor went through Ren’s body, and Doren worried that they’d injured their pibling somehow. After a moment, though, Ren inched further from their hiding place, coming out into the light to make direct eye contact.
Doren was totally exposed to their scrutiny.
“I’m happy for you, nibling.” Ren’s voice was soft, but underneath the fear and uncertainty, Doren could sense the love pulsing through their words.
“Thank you. It’s just…” Doren ran water through their gills, coaxing peace out of the flow of the clear ocean. “My bondmate, Jake. He wants our mother and father to come to Christmas dinner. With his grandmother. In Massachusetts.”
Ren’s tentacles twitched and shot out, grabbing either side of Doren’s head. This position was very familiar to Doren from when they were children and Ren used to watch them.
“They won’t go.” Ren’s words were a statement rather than a question. Ren knew their parents.
“It’s not your fault. They have every reason to be cautious. You were permanently injured in the attack.” Doren searched with two of their tentacles, finding two of Ren’s to latch onto.
“I was injured. But…I don’t regret giving my love. I don’t regret taking the risk.” Ren swirled the water around them as Doren stared, unable to understand what Ren was really saying.
“What?”
“Do I wish my lover had been more honest? That he hadn’t betrayed me?
Yes. But how could I regret it?” For a moment, something flared more intensely than sadness in Ren’s eyes.
“I loved him. I’ll never be ashamed of that.
It was the truth. What he did with that love was awful, but that doesn’t negate how important that feeling was to me. ”
“Oh, Ren…”
At that moment, Ren did something unexpected. They shot out from their dark cavern out into the wider canyon, allowing themself to become illuminated by the rays of the sun.
“I am still burdened with fear and with sadness. I’m still in pain from the memory of the attack. But I will never stand between you and your bondmate. He wants our families to know one another. That’s worth the risk.”
Doren stared as Ren rocketed away. “Where are you going?!”
“I can’t promise anything. But I’ll speak to your mother and father. I won’t allow them to use me as an excuse to take the next step with your bondmate.”
With a quick swirl of tentacles, Ren disappeared down the canyon. Would their mom and dad listen? Doren didn’t know.
They did know they were grateful to have Ren in their life.