Page 53 of HaL

“Here, Mistress Dawn, this will help you relax.”

She hands me a cup of warm hot chocolate, and I feel tears form in my eyes at how this one little thing really reminds me of home … Earth. I tuck one of the many blankets she has brought around my legs and lie back, simply absorbing the scenery. But I jerk suddenly when I see blue flames appear on the wall closest to me.

“Forgive me, I should have shown you this earlier. It’s a moving fireplace and all you have to do is point the remote, and it will move to where you’d like it. The flames are more ornamental than warm, but I have seen them comfort some of the girls more than once. The records we have all reviewed from ANDI confirm that many of your kind enjoyed the sound of a crackling fire on cold days. Can you explain it to me in your words, Mistress Dawn?”

“Snowstorms once meant being stuck at home until the roads became safe again. During those long winter days, many of us enjoyed sitting by a warm fire with a hot drink while watching the snow pile up outside. I remember playing games and putting together puzzles with my parents and brother during those storms. Even when the wind was howling outside, a pot of chili and a cup of warm cocoa made everything feel cozy and peaceful. Of course, some storms could be dangerous, especially when the power went out. Falling trees and heavy snow could damage homes and create serious risks. Still, as a child, I mostly remember the sense of wonder I felt while watching individual snowflakes land on the windowsill and watching the fire late at night, my imagination playing along with the flames as they danced me to sleep.”

“I will try to recreate that for you here, Mistress Dawn, as sometimes memories are the things we pull strength from. Hallister is harsh, but I hope we can find a way for you to make new memories here and find happiness along the way.”

“My happiness is not your responsibility SAGE, even though I appreciate everything you have and are continuing to do for me. For reasons unknown to all of us, I was meant to be here, and I’m going to see why. HaL is my mate, and even though we don’t have the same pull to our other half in the same way they do, I found myself fascinated by him after meeting him on ANDI. But thanks to you and all your little inventions, I can now walk beside him instead of being hidden away.”

“You are most welcome, Mistress Dawn. SCOUT is calling out for me, something about Zura and OrO on Xulas. They are preparing for the Warrior trials and need my assistance.”

“Go on, if I need you, I’ll yell.”

SAGE bows, and in the blink of an eye, she’s gone. I take another sip of my hot chocolate, gazing out over the massive hills as the wind sends snow swirling just beyond the window. When the cup is finally empty, I set it on the little stand beside the chair and pull the blanket snugly around my arms.

I close my eyes, and despite the warmth surrounding me, it’s the memory of HaL’s hands on me earlier that lingers. It follows me into the darkness, the sensation carrying me swiftly into a deep, peaceful sleep.

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.”