Chapter 18
HAL
“I see you are slightly calmer, HaL. How is the bond progressing? Is your beast content for the moment because he is drenched in her scent right now?”
“It’s the first time he has allowed her out of my sight.”
“There are some greedy frackers who want to bathe in their females’ essence all the time. If you do not watch what you are doing, you will have young ones underfoot to the point that you never get another free tic with her.”
I have just ducked under a rather aggressive attack from Oset when the call comes through.
Eirwen is getting ready to have his next youngling.
Oset drops his battle hammer, standing still for just a moment before turning, almost in a trance, toward the medical ward.
I gather his weapon after I secure mine on my back once again and follow along. Troza meets us at the doorway.
“What is wrong, Troza? You never call for me until the youngling is here, and I can hear its cries halfway across the compound.”
“Oset … you need to remain calm, but Eirwen is struggling to bring this little one into the world, and I believe your presence will calm her.”
“She has had no issues before.”
“Each one is different, and she is not as young as she once was. If we deliver this one safely, I would advise you both to take precautions in the future, as I believe another pregnancy could possibly take them both. AMI is overseeing the delivery from Targres Four, ANDI is moderating, and SCOUT is reinforcing the signal so that things go more smoothly from here. It took way too long for me to convince her that she was not going to have this youngling naturally, and she had lost a lot of blood before I got her acceptance. We Hallisteranians are a stubborn race, but we need to learn to use the advancements available to us now. If she had been out on the tundra in the middle of a frost, you would have found her and the baby dead.”
“Are they … will she be all right?”
“I believe so. Right now, it is out of my hands, and all we can do is pray to the Lord of Light that he sees her through this.”
My heart hurts for my friend when I see his proud head bow as he walks into the room toward his mate, her fate unknown.
Troza stands before me, and for the first time, I see her unsure about what she should do. I gather her close in my large arms and take a deep breath, enjoying her comforting smell. Her smaller arms wrap around me, and I settle my head on top of hers.
I have a million things I want to ask and say, but truthfully … none of them matter. She is and has always been my mother no matter the circumstances, so why drag the past along when we have a new future to build upon?
“Do you think she will survive, Dam?”
“She is strong, but she was in active labor for over a rotation before she finally came to me. Now it is a waiting game.”
“Should you be in there with them?”
“No, AMI told me to step out and that she would contact me if needed. I just feel so helpless.”
“That is the very last thing you are. You could have been stubborn as well and decided you did not need any help and possibly lost them both. It takes more courage to ask for help than not.”
The sound of a young one crying has us both looking toward the door. Oset comes running out … “We have a girl, and AMI is asking for you, Troza.”
Both of us are smiling when we look at each other.
“I love you, mother, no matter how or why I came to be, none of that matters now. You have sacrificed your own happiness for me and now I want you to live your life. If there is a male you are interested in, you pursue that. Nothing will diminish you in my eyes. Now go do what you do best and love on that youngling that was just brought into this world.”
She reaches up, patting me on the cheek. “You were and still are my biggest blessing. Now go make me a grandchild since I am not getting any younger.”
My heart is lighter when she strolls back into the med bay, and I find my own already heading down the long passageway toward my mate.
Once again, when I enter the room, it takes me a tic to get my bearings, as things have changed so much.
Entering the membrane on her side, the heat steals my breath away.
I do not find Dawn in her main room. I almost panic until I see a small foot hanging off the side of one of the large chairs.
Walking up, I look over the chair, only to find her curled up and sound asleep.
So much has happened this rising that the darkness has crept up on me, and I find myself yawning.
As much as I would love to curl up next to her, I know I cannot rest in here, but I am uncomfortable leaving her in this chair, even though it does seem to be surrounding her.
Gently, I slide my arms under her. Dawn is sleeping so soundly that she does not even stir.
I turn down the heavy coverings on her bed with one arm while holding her against me with the other.
When I finally settle her in, she turns on her side, and I slowly cover her up, then brush her long red fur out of her face.
I stand there watching until the sweat is running down my face before stepping out.
The coldness of my own chambers is such a relief that I choose to get in the ionizer and then turn in for the darkness. I no sooner lay on my own sleeping platform when I find myself chasing after red fur and her laughter in my dreams.