“What if the boy doesn’t want to leave his mother?”
“I do not think that problem has occurred either. You need to understand that Father is a huge part of our young lives, and all of us are proud to wear his mark and uphold his name and legacy. Among all the sons, MeK and AvX’s mothers were the only two who openly objected to their sons leaving for training. AvX and his mother are still close and she is a very loving parent. Whereas MeK’s just wanted to keep him under her control.”
“Yeah, she won the bitch of the year award for sure.”
“Did you want to leave? How old were you?”
“I did, and not because I do not care for my mother or my brothers, but I was ready to see the universe and train by my father’s side. Father spent the majority of his younger rotations raising and providing for all of us. He took his role in our lives seriously and was determined to make each of us into our best selves. However, I do go back to BuKoem often to see my mother and the rest of my family, and if I do not contact her once a lunar rotation, she is not happy with me. As to how old I was, let me think as it’s been a while … probably twelve, thirteen orbital rotations. I had not grown into my horns yet, and I can remember them making me overly clumsy.”
“The things that are so normal in your world are strange to me, but I’m sure you find some of our customs odd as well. I can’t imagine being twelve and shipped off to another planet. Just how old are you? You don’t look much older than I am.”
“Our world judges time differently, and without asking ANDI the specifics, I would think I am possibly three times your current age.”
“Heck yeah, I’m messing around with an older man!”
Instantly, I start tickling her.
“Stop, you’re going to make me pee on myself, and I’m comfortable.”
“Are you going to be good?”
“Never!”
“But I made you smile.”
“Flirt, now stop distracting me, I’m learning stuff here.”
“Alright Briar, ask your questions.”
“Now, you’re all named after your home planets, right?”
“Yes, usually the first three letters are our assigned name.”
“Who started that madness?”
“Grandfather, when he named father, DaR after Darverius.”
“I mean, that makes sense. I would’ve run out of names with that many kids too, and at least that way he always knew what world you were from. I guess now that I think more about it, you, MeK, and KyT are as different as night and day, but my mind was not ready for HaL; he’s just massive.”
“HaL is not the largest of us either, SoL is. And he loves to tease me about my tiny little horns, since his almost touch the ground.”
“Keida mentioned that name as well, and if he’s bigger than HaL … well, my mind just can’t grasp that. When we get back online, you’re going to have to show me some pictures or something.”
“SoL is Keida’s favorite uncle and the rest of us never stood a chance. That male would practically hold Keida up in the air so that we could not take her from him. Lord of Light knows we would have needed a scaffold or had to climb up him to reach her. She loves all of us, but nothing like SoL. AvX is probably her second pick, but those two fight over her to this rising like she is a youngling.”
“Such great family dynamics.”
Briar gets quiet, and I take a deep breath, simply enjoying the feel of her warm body lying against mine while sipping on this delicious, hot drink.
“Briar, things have happened so quickly that I have not had the time to thank you for saving my life. I would have died out there if I had not heard your voice and turned back the way I came.”
“I was watching you, and when I saw you turn, I simply reacted. If you hadn’t passed out on me just as we got back up here, I might’ve freaked out sooner, to be honest. But I knew I had to get the heat on and get us out of those wet clothes, or the horror we’d both just gone through was for nothing. I’m so thankful to be here in this moment with you, but I’ll have nightmares about this day for the rest of my life.”
“Honestly, I would not take a moment of it back. You are here safe in my arms, we have food to eat, shelter, and warmth. Allthose other things had to happen for us to be here right now. You are underestimating your strength, Briar. If you had not acted when you did, we would not be here to see another rising. You have stared at faraway stars and escaped a dying world. You are rebuilding your life and taking all the things thrown at you in stride, so you are entitled to fall apart occasionally. Just know that I will always be here to pick up the pieces.”
She hands me her cup, and I set it on the floor as she curls further into my lap. Neither of us says anything else as we are both caught up in our own thoughts. After a while, I feel her body go completely lax and her breaths even out as sleep claims her. Closing my own eyes, I sit here trying not to think about all the things that could have gone wrong.
CHAPTER 13
