I clopped into Zoran's new quarters. They were quite large and beautifully decorated. There were flowers and plants here I had never seen before. Zoran was standing near the far wall, looking out through a transparent bulkhead. He smiled as he saw me enter, turning to me.
I crossed the room to him, looking out into the emptiness of space. I gasped as I got closer. A beautiful nebula was far off in the distance, it's blues and reds breathtaking. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
((Wow.)) I whispered as Zoran slid his arm around my waist.
((What is it like?)) I asked him, tearing my eyes away from the nebula.
((What do you mean?)) He frowned and studied my face carefully.
((Being out there.)) I gestured towards the blackness of space. ((Being here...Making a difference.))
This was the first time I had ever even left the home world. My father was too protective.
((You do make a difference.)) He said, avoiding my question.
((I want to fight.)) I whispered. ((I felt powerless aboard the blade ship. I feel powerless here.))
He took both my hands in his.
((You have more power than you realize. Your beauty alone has the power to bring me to my knees. Your eyes make me forget why I want to leave altogether.)) He placed my hand against his face and I stroked him gently. He closed his eyes and leaned into my hand.
((Your hands will nurture our children in ways I never could.)) His thoughts were soft, and heartfelt. He pulled me against him. ((Let me worry about what is out there.))
Zoran laughed and nuzzled me. ((Besides, I will keep you too busy with our children to have time for any of this.))
((I cannot think when you do that...)) I managed.
His presence was intoxicating and my back legs wobbled slightly. ((Father will never let us marry if you cause me to faint.))
((Breathe, Inara.)) Zoran chucked and pulled back, settling for tracing my face gently with his fingertips. ((I can be very persuasive when I need to be.))
I couldn't believe he was actually mine. Whether we could marry or not, he was mine. Zoran was a prince and a very attractive one at that. He could have any female he wanted.
((Why me?)) I said without thinking.
He frowned and took my face in his hands. ((You don't see yourself clearly. I have wanted you ever since I first saw you at the festival.)) I flushed and had to remember to breathe again.
((I never knew...)) I whispered as he released me. ((Why did you wait so long?))
((I couldn't. We were not of marrying age and my father...)) His thoughts faded before he could say more.
((He doesn't approve of me.)) I had begun pacing, wrapping my arms around myself.
((It doesn't matter. He is a politician. He is ignorant.))
((It matters to me.))
((I want to be with you, Inara. His opinion means nothing to me. He doesn't think badly of you anyway. It is your father...))
((My father is a great warrior!)) I interrupted. ((And I...)) He nuzzled me again, interrupting my thoughts. ((Zoran...))
((I don't care. This isn't about either of them.)) Warmth spread through me and I found myself nuzzling him back. I gasped when I felt a sort of presence in my mind. I felt longing, desire and happiness.
I was feeling Zoran's emotions along with my own! It was Andari, the joining of emotions. It was a very intimate Andalite tradition. I hadn't recognized it because I had never done it.
((Inara...)) He pulled back and groaned, our connection breaking.
((It is your fault, you are driving me mad.)) My heart was racing and I absentmindedly ran a hand over his torso.
((Have you ever...?)) He frowned and shook his head. ((Forgive me. It was wrong of me to ask.))
((It's alright. And, no. I have never wanted anyone before now.))
((Neither have I.)) He whispered, his lids heavy as he peered down at me.
His confession made me smile and I wrapped my arms around his waist. He groaned again and nuzzled me rougher than ever before.
((I heard there was trouble coming aboard, I should have known it was you little sister.))
Zamir smirked at me as he trotted across the grass of the dome to meet me. For a moment, I thought it was my father clopping towards me. It had been so long since I had seen Zamir, and I hadn't realized just how much alike they looked.
((Zamir!)) I shouted perhaps a little too loudly. My hearts swelled as I ran towards him. I was grinning like an idiot and I didn't care who saw me. I couldn't believe it. My brother was alive.
((Easy, little sister.)) He said as I skidded to a halt in front of him. He looked so much like father, it was incredible. His fur had always been the same metallic blue, and his face could have been my father's own reflection. He even held himself like my father did. His eyes though, were a deep golden yellow that he had gotten from my mother.
Zamir hugged me close, our tail blades touching briefly overhead. ((I didn't know you were alive…I thought…)) I shook my head. I didn't want to think of such things. ((Does Father know?))
((Yes. I'm fine.)) He said sadly. ((We lost many honorable warriors. Our T.O. was killed in the attack. We had no warning...))
((I am sorry. Is it...Are they back?)) I choked out.
He frowned and looked at me in silence for a moment.
((Do not treat me like a child...)) I said in annoyance. ((I can handle the truth.))
((Yes. They are. I haven't seen you in a year, I don't want to speak of Yeerks.))
He stepped back, holding me at arm's length. He took a deep breath and smiled at me. I could still see pain hiding behind his eyes. I could see guilt as well. Did he feel guilty for surviving?
((But here you are now. Wow, look at you. You are grown up now.)) He began. I reminded him quickly that he was not much older than I was.
He laughed and stepped back from me. ((I am glad to see you, Inara.)) He said warmly. He crossed his arms over his torso and grinned at me. ((You know, you are all Mother ever speaks of. My brilliant little sister is practically famous now. Most of my friends here have asked to meet you when they found you were coming aboard.))
((Is that why everyone is staring?)) I asked, peeking up with my main eyes at the warriors around me. Two warriors were sparring a short distance away. My eyes met one of the sparring warrior's for a moment and he cursed, receiving a blow from his opponent who had taken advantage of his carelessness.
Zamir laughed. ((No, they are staring because, whether I like it or not, you are an attractive unattached female. And a brilliant scientist.)) He said simply.
((I am not unattached.)) I muttered. I began clopping back towards the small lake in the center of the dome with Zamir following closely beside me. ((I wonder if you will approve of my choice.)) I turned my eyes down to the grass.
((Who has caught your eyes? I would meet this male when we return home.)) Zamir asked, his expression warming and turning thoughtful. ((Is he a warrior?))
I stayed silent and just shook my head. Zoran and Breeyar had clopped into the dome then and had started galloping towards us. I turned my face away, attempting to hide the flush in my cheeks.
((No matter, Father will be here in two days to retrieve you. I will find out from him then.))
((Father is coming?))
Zoran and Breeyar had reached us now, and Zamir turned to them.
Zamir bowed respectfully to them both. ((My prince.)) He kept his expression even as Zoran stepped forward.
((That is War-Prince to you, Warrior Zamir.)) Zoran said. He smirked at Zamir's expression of mock surprise.
((A war prince huh? The council must have lost their minds.)) Zamir said, barking out a laugh.
The two males arced their tails forward, touching blades briefly. ((It has been too long, my friend.)) Zoran said, grinning brightly.
Zamir and Zoran were shorms, the Andalite word for tail blade. It meant you had such a deep bond with a friend that you would trust them to put their tail blade against your own throat without blinking. True shorms are rare.
Zamir feigned depression for a moment. ((Twelve months without seeing a female or having any worthy sparring partners.))
Twelve months? Had it been that long already?
Zoran laughed. ((So you waited twelve months just to lose to me, did you? Pity.))
Fwapp! Fwapp! Clang!
Their tails had swung before I had seen them move. They had connected midair, the sound echoing through the dome.
Zoran and Zamir circled each other, deadly tails arced over their shoulders. I backed safely out of range, to stand next to Breeyar.
Fwapp!
Zamir's lightning fast tail cracked as it raced towards Zoran's head. Zoran pivoted left quickly.
Fwapp! Clang!
His blade blocked the incoming strike.
The males around us had stopped feeding and practicing. They all had come to watch. They soon were engrossed in the fight.
Fwapp! Zamir attacked again, his tail cracking at the air. Zoran blocked the blow and... Turning his blade sideways delivered a lightning fast blow to the side of Zamir's head.
Zamir cursed and leapt back.
((Lucky shot, enjoy it. Because you will not get another.)) He taunted.
Breeyar laughed. ((Are you getting slow in your old age Zamir?))
One stalk eye flickered to us for a moment. ((Prince Breeyar, perhaps you would like your own demonstration.)) Zamir taunted.
The two males continued to exchange blows, the sounds of the strikes echoing throughout the dome.
((I am betting on Zamir, I have never seen him lose a fight.)) He winked at me.
I took in a deep breath, their sparring always made me nervous. Even though I had seen it a hundred times. They never seemed to hold back with each other.
I just shook my head in disbelief.
((Perhaps you can tell me who this male is my sister has pledged herself to.)) Zamir said to Zoran.
Zoran's eyes flickered to me for a moment. Distracted!
Fwapp! A blow hit Zoran on the side of the neck and he staggered slightly, springing back gracefully. He let out an Andalite curse.
Zamir chuckled.
Zoran was completely entranced now. I envied their raw power and grace. They were both practiced fighters, some of the best I had ever seen.
Zamir sliced at the air, his tail moving in a figure eight, causing Zoran to be pushed back.
I had seen him use this maneuver before. He told me it intimidated your opponent, and helped hide the direction of your next strike.
Fwapp! Zamir's tail arced forward, aimed for Zoran's face.
I sucked in a deep breath, but Zoran's blade knocked Zamir's to the side.
Zamir attempted to leap out of the way of Zoran's next strike.
Fwapp! Fwapp!
He wasn't fast enough. Two strong blows hit Zamir's front legs, causing him to tumble forward, off balance.
Fwapp! A third blow knocked Zamir's tail away as he attempted an off-balance strike. The blow knocked Zamir to the ground and Zoran pinned Zamir's tail to the ground with his own. He placed his right fore hoof gently on Zamir's throat.
Prince Breeyar cursed.
((I suppose there is a first for everything. Prince Zoran, that is my best fighter pilot. Please do not injure him too badly.)) Breeyar said, laughing.
Zoran removed his hoof and helped Zamir to his hooves. Zamir dusted himself off and smiled.
Zamir turned his stalk eyes from Zoran to me and back.
((My baby sister?)) Zamir said, his nostrils flaring for a moment. I felt nervous at his reaction.
((You aren't even half a year older than I am!)) I muttered in annoyance.
He eyed Zoran for a moment and I waited in silence. His muscles relaxed and I let out the breath I was holding in.
((You always did have bad taste, little sister.)) Zamir said, smirking.
I burst out laughing, mostly from relief as Zoran came to stand by me.
((Inara-Nahele-Darath. There will be a transport arriving the day after tomorrow to return you to the home world.)) Breeyar informed me and my smile faded.
I just stared at him. ((I am not going anywhere.)) I said. ((I can help here.))
I needed to do something to help. I did not wish to return home yet.
Nobody ever listens.
((Your request is denied. The Electorate demands your safe return.)) Prince Breeyar said simply.
My nostrils flared and I felt the anger welling up inside me.
((My Prince.)) I spat, moving until I was face to face with Breeyar. ((You say you fight for freedom, but you deny me mine. You take away my right to fight for myself, and for my people.))
((Inara...)) Zoran sighed.
Breeyar stared at me wide-eyed, shocked at being addressed so. He barked out a laugh.
((This one has got some fire in her, I like that.))
I hated how easily I was dismissed.
I clenched my fists and stalked off, away from them. My tail twitched involuntarily.
((You will be on that transport Inara.)) Zamir called after me.
I passed two young warriors who had been practicing their tail fighting techniques. They had stopped to stare, their tails still poised.
((What are you looking at?)) I snapped.
The look I returned them made them both suddenly very interested in a patch of escalonia ferns.
((How long?)) I asked Zoran when he found me later by some therant trees. I caught one of the small pink leaves as it fell and twirled it between my fingers.
He clopped over, pushing aside the ferns and branches. His face was still hard.
((I do not know.)) He answered.
I breathed out a sigh and turned to face him, letting the leaf drop. I smiled up at him.
((You should be happy. I am happy for you. This is what you wanted, right?)) I said brightly.
His face fell, and he looked tired suddenly.
((I thought I had lost you before. On the Visser's blade ship. I feel like it is happening again.))
I stepped forward, placing my palm against the side of his face. I stroked his face gently and he shuddered, closing his eyes.
((Hey, I am right here.)) I said softly. ((I don't care what father says. We will find a way.))
I let my hand fall and he opened his eyes, his expression pained as he took my hand in his.
((I could be gone a long time. I would not expect that you would wait for me. Even though it would be my wish.)) He said heavily.
I turned all four of my eyes to him. ((I chose you. I will always choose you.))
I held up a hand to show I was not finished.
((I know this war will be hard on all of us. And, I understand what I am getting myself into. I can handle it. When you return, I will be waiting.))
His eyes warmed. He smiled and squeezed my hand.
A loud thought-speak voice rang throughout the ship.
((YEERKS! We have a Yeerk pool ship coming out of Z-space. They are on an intercept course.))
((Go!)) I urged him.
Zoran turned and galloped across the dome, disappearing into the shaft of the ship. Warriors were racing for the exit long before the announcement had finished.
((We will be within firing range in ten minutes.)) The computer relayed.