Chapter 9: A Calling
"Friendship must dare to risk, or it's not friendship."
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Bearer's Hall was mostly empty these days. When given a choice of staying or returning to Earth, only a few women had decided to stay on Yaut. Some thought that by staying with the aliens they might be able to see the children that had been taken away for training. Others stayed to enjoy the opulent lifestyle, as it was far better than the living they had been able to eke out for themselves on Earth. A very few stayed for the incredible sexual experience – for them the price they paid with their bodies of bearing a pup for the Hunters was worth the few days of physical bliss every couple of long cycles. Each group thought that their reason for staying was the best and most justifiable, and that the others, especially those that stayed for sex, were not quite right in the head.
The Hunters who's Bearers had chosen Yaut over returning to the Blue Planet, thanked Paya. They would not have to take as much time out from hunting prey or other important business as often to venture to the Blue Planet to obtain mates. Some of them lavished gifts upon their Bearer who stayed, hoping it would further entice them to remain.
Melanie was the sole differing one in the mélange. She had returned purposefully, to save the life of her unborn, and once it was old enough and they took it away to be trained, she planned to return to Earth. In the meantime, she concentrated on getting to know the women in the Hall, hoping to find friendship.
She quickly discovered that the women had divided themselves into groups depending on their reason for staying, and that the groups looked down upon each other, with the two larger factions both despising the ones who stayed for pleasure. She thought it petty and stupid. We were all initially victims, and we need each other in this strange place for comfort and strength. There should be support in the entire group. None of us should feel rejected by any of the others. I wonder how many women back on Earth are facing forms of rejection or even danger for what has happened to them? Maybe some of them weren't as lucky, or perhaps as able to be daring like I was.
As the cycles went by, Mel was finally accepted by the group that was staying in hopes of reuniting with their children. They sympathized with her and admired her bravery in saving her baby. She began to talk to them about the need for acceptance by all the women sharing their plight. Several began to listen and follow her example. Mel shunned no one. In fact, she would deliberately sit next to a woman from one of the other groups and try to strike up a conversation. Much of the time her effort was fruitless, but on some occasions it paid off. Mel was patient, slowly and surely her tactic began to pay off as the previous foes began to socially sustain one another.
Sally came to visit Mel soon after she arrived. The Matriarch couldn't help her curiosity as to what kind of a person Melanie was and just what had attracted Sig'dan to her. Plus, she was always looking for a friend among the women left since she was lonely for human companionship at times. She had many acquaintances, and all the women were friendly to her, but she had not yet made a close human contact. That mirrored her experience on Earth, where lots of people smiled and were pleasant but very few became true friends.
So Sally visited with Mel, not just the one time, but many times and began to get to know her. She also invited Melanie to her quarters for meals and to have Sally's computer programs that translated from Yautja to English demonstrated to her. "If you like, Mel, I will have one installed in your quarters, there's much to learn about and from, this society."
"I would appreciate that," the young woman answered. She had become bored in the Bearer's quarters and declined the gossip sessions that occupied some, or the arts and crafts that others enjoyed. "This will be sort of like getting back to my college classes," she smiled. "May I ask a favor?"
"Yes," Sally responded.
"I used to run, and participate in many sports. Is there a place outdoors that I might at least go for walks? I'm feeling very lethargic - my body is going to pot."
"Would you like to walk in my garden, Mel? It is quite lovely there and cool in the early morning. I will have to arrange for security for you, of course. We can't take any chances."
"That would be wonderful. You mean I might be in danger if I went outside alone?" Melanie was shocked, every Yautja she had come across was respectful of her as a Bearer, and she had not imagined that there might be another side to things.
"I know of no specific dangers, but the Hunters would insist. Pups and mothers are extremely precious to this race."
Sally found Melanie to be an intelligent, pleasant young woman and could not find anything to dislike about her, other than the irrational jealousy that kept creeping up and whispering little things in Sally's brain. 'Her hair is so long and lovely! Look at the way it gently makes its own slightly twisted locks.'
Sally wished her growing hair would do that because it sort of looked like the locks of Hunters. Was her hair what drew Sig'dan to her? Or was it the firmness of her youthful flesh? The smooth lineless face… Well, I bet she doesn't have nice scars like I do! Sally gave a knowing smile, remembering how Ulfr had traced her abdominal scar with a single talon and told her how attractive it made her.
Mel's voice interrupted Sally's time travel, "Sally, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Mel. What's on your mind?"
"Well, first of all, I'm really glad you're here. And I'm happy for your friendship. I don't think I could get through this without you."
"Well, thanks! That means a lot to me. I'm grateful to have you as a friend too. Sometimes a girl just needs a break from Hunters – don't you think?" Sally replied with a sly wink. They both smiled.
"It has to be tough on you," Melanie continued. "At least I live with humans. You are constantly surrounded by all things Yautja."
"Oh, don't feel sorry for me. I'm mostly happy with my life here. I'm very happy that I'm…that we're about to become mothers. Even if our kids are half alien. I'm sure you feel the same."
"Of course I care about my child," Mel said, patting her slowly enlarging belly. "I'm glad to be here where we are safe. But I must admit, I'm looking forward to resuming my life back on Earth eventually. Don't you miss Earth?"
"Truthfully, or as the Hunters say, in purity I do at times but not often. I have so much to keep me busy here and I have…close relationships with several of the Hunters."
"Sig-dan has told me that your relationship with him is quite special."
Sally's eyebrows lifted, "He has?"
"Yea. Are you guys in love or something?"
"Well, I most certainly love him and I believe that he feels a great deal for me – but I'm not sure you can label it human love. He…will mate others as they allow if they can produce him children…you know, as you are doing."
"ALLOW?" Melanie was on her feet. "You have forgotten my rape?"
"Not at all," Sally replied calmly, "that was his first mating hunt. His first search for a Bearer of his children. You must try and understand the hormones, instinct and social pressure that drove him."
Melanie was becoming enraged, "I REFUSE to accept ANY circumstances for rape!"
"I do not condone his actions! But I think I understand them. For him to have realized the error and dishonor of his ways is a miraculous thing in one of his kind. Or should I say hybrid as he is half human. Did you know?"
Melanie snorted in disbelief, "He is? Where?"
"Oh trust me, there are differences. If you'd been with a full blooded Hunter, you'd realize." Sally suddenly had to look away and Mel watched her chin quiver a bit.
"Sally, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude to you, it's just that it was such a horrible experience for me. I still have nightmares about it."
"It's ok. Believe it or not, I DO understand somewhat." She kept herself turned away while Melanie watched the Matriarch's usual cool demeanor begin to slide into the ever-present place of grief that Myn'dill's drugs never resolved but only kept at bay.
"Oh My God! You have!" Melanie sat back down in surprise. "Which one? Did he rape you?"
"Yes, I have. No, it wasn't rape but it's is a painful subject Mel." Sally paused for a moment and breathed out in a sigh, "He's dead."
"I'm…so sorry. I didn't know."
"I know you didn't. His name was Ulfr, he was Sig-dan's oldest brother. He was and is very special to me. I know you are not as sympathetic to Yautja culture as I am, but please try to understand. Sig-dan has realized his error and seeks to atone for it with you. He is very ashamed of what he did and he'll never force another again."
"Well, fine for the next woman – too bad for me!" Mel snapped back.
"In time perhaps you can see him differently. He…" Sally was about to tell Melanie that the Hunter cared for her, but seeing Mel's firm jaw set, she ended with, "he is a most honorable person."
The cycles and Melanie's pregnancy continued as she worked with the other women on creating relationships and continued socializing with Sally. They often walked in the garden together before the rays of Yaut's sun fully broke over the horizon. Mel's body grew a little rounder and larger as the pup took up more room. It was still too small to feel a kick or movement but it was growing. The Healer, Myn'dill, had become concerned with some of Mel's test results early on, and was now doing a weekly check on her status instead of the usual monthly tests. But Mel felt fine other than being more tired than usual.
One cycle, he approached her with a sparsely worded request to sedate her and take a few cells from the outside of her womb. He had already explained the need and potential risk if it was not done to the Matriarch and received her permission.
"You want to do WHAT?" Melanie immediately steamed at his question. "Absolutely not! I came here to keep my child safe, not endanger it due to some bizarre procedure that you want to perform."
Myn'dill couldn't understand much of what she'd said, but completely understood that his desire to take cells had upset her. He called Theron on the com and requested to borrow him from Sally. Shortly after his call, both the Matriarch and her translator were hurrying to the exam room where they found Myn'dill doing his usual ooman head pats and saying, "No fear," over and over again. Mel had a look of pure disgust on her face as they walked in.
"Sally, will you tell this…this doctor that I am not a dog? I'm beginning to get a headache from him jamming my skull down on my spine!"
"It's ok, Myn-dill," Sally said, putting her hand out to catch his and move it away from the woman. "What is the problem, Melanie?"
"He wants to take cells from my body, from my uterus I think. His English sucks you know."
"Mel, please do not insult this Yautja. He is my personal Healer and yours too. Our lives and the lives of our children are in his capable hands. His skills are the finest, and besides – he is my friend." Sally looked sternly at the young woman.
"Oh. Well I feel really stupid now. Just why does he need to do this?"
"Your body is trying to reject your baby, Melanie. The Healer wants to sedate you and take a couple cells from the outside of your uterus. He won't cut you open. This is done with a very fine needle-like suction device. I've had it done myself. With your cells, he will make an artificial womb for the baby – just in case he is not successful in getting your body to grow the baby to term. Do you understand? He's trying to help you. He's trying to save your child."
Comprehension lit up Mel's face, and she looked at the Healer with newfound gratefulness in her eyes. "Will you thank him for me Sally? And…please tell him that I am sorry to have insulted him, I didn't understand."
Sally nodded at Theron who interpreted Mel's words for Myn'dill. The large Healer looked at Mel with softness in his dark eyes and then patted her on top of her head again, saying, "Good ooman." Mel gritted her teeth and kept smiling at him.
She was promptly sedated and the needed cells were safely extracted and taken to the lab where they were given a growth accelerant and placed on the artificial womb form where they would quickly form a vessel to house and supply the pup until term. Myn'dill hoped it would not be needed, but it was best to be prepared.
Mel recovered quickly; in truth there was nothing to recover from besides sleeping until the sedation wore off. She was lying in her own room when she awakened and took in a startled breath to find a Hunter seated on the edge of her bed, but immediately saw that it was Sig'dan.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"I'm okay, just a bit groggy. But my head is clearing fast."
"I heard that you became upset with Myn'dill's request and that Sally and her translator helped you to understand."
"Oh…yea. I'm a little embarrassed about that. The Healer was just trying to help and I…reacted badly."
"There is no need for an apology, this is all new to you and Myn'dill doesn't speak your language very well, does he?"
Mel cracked a grin, "Nope. He sure doesn't!
"As you are doing well, I will leave…I have some things to do," the Hunter said. "Mel-an-ee, I trust Myn'dill with my life, and with your life and the life of our pup."
"I understand, Sig-dan. And thank you for being here with me when I awakened. I…appreciate your concern."
"I think highly of you," the Hunter bowed slightly to her and then left the room.
I'm not forgiving him for the rape…but…he was actually rather nice, Mel considered as she arose and left her room to join the others.
Mel continued adapting to life on Yaut in the Bearers' quarters as best she could. She found the computer provided compelling information as she read about the Hunters, their way of life, Yautja society and any other subject she could think of available for study on the translating station that Sally had installed in her quarters. Sally was right she decided, there was much to learn from this race even though she was growing weary of seeing so many crab-lipped faces and longed for her own world.
The young woman kept herself occupied as an aid to her sanity, but returning to Earth was never far away in her mind. She missed her life there, especially her family and friends. Just have this baby, she would remind herself, and raise it for a little while, and then it will be time to go home. I can do this, I can get through this.
Some time later while sitting down to breakfast in the Bearers' shared dining area, a sudden pain from deep within her lower abdomen sent a scream from her throat as she grabbed her stomach and began to pant. She had never felt a pain like this in her life; it felt like a knife was plunged into her gut and then twisted. She cried out again as she felt another stab. One of the other women ran for a guard who quickly summoned a Healer.
Waves of nausea hit Mel as the pains continued coming, faster and stronger. She was picked up and carried to an exam room where an unknown Healer had the guards hold her down so he could scan and sample. Where was Myn'dill? She was writhing in pain and couldn't hold still for the tests. Bravely, she tried not to scream, but it was too much and tears ran from her eyes as her distress continued.
She blessed the unknown Healer when he finally injected her with something for the pain and then she blacked out. When she came around, Myn'dill, Sig'dan and the unknown Healer were in the room. Sig'dan noticed she was awake and came to her, "How do you feel?" he asked.
"I'm, uh… woozy and thirsty," she replied, blinking her eyes to try and clear the view.
"The doctor gave me something for the pain…and then I must have fallen unconscious. Thank God, I don't hurt now!"
He helped her sit up and drink from the bedside cup. It was only then that she noticed her stomach was gone. Where the growing bump had been, there was only a slight convexity. "My baby!" she panicked, "what happened to my baby?"
"It is alright," Sig'dan soothed her, "the pup is fine. It could no longer live inside you. Myn'dill took it and placed it in the womb made from your cells where it will continue to grow normally. It is fine, believe me."
"Can I see it?" she asked, with a scared look still on her face.
"I will take you to see it later, for now you must rest, Healer's orders."
"I felt so much pain…"
"That was your body rejecting the pup. But pups are tough and it survived. Now it will grow to be large and strong, and Mel-an-ee…it is a female!"
"A girl! A little girl…" Melanie slipped back into slumber, still under the influence of medication. Her baby was fine and, knowing that, she could rest.
Sally had insisted on having Melanie's growing pup housed alongside her own so that it could be properly cared for. She still felt occasional twinges of resentment towards the young woman that she had grown fond of, but found it easy to dismiss them as her own insecurity. She was charmed by Sig'dan's excitement that his firstborn would be a female and that he was participating in the saving of the race.
His fetal pup was still very small, and was expected to respond favorably to being in a more normal Yautja environment for the rest of the gestation period as the womb made for her was of a normal Yautja female size – just like the ones for Sally's pups. The High Council had agreed with the Matriarch, offspring from Melanie were worthwhile as the human female had abandoned her family and her planet in order to save her pup. To the Yautja, progeny from such a brave female deserved preservation and propagation.
A few days into recovery from the rescue surgery, Sally and Sig'dan brought Mel to visit her pup. Mel followed everyone's earlier example and nodded in respect to the Matriarch. Normally, Sally wouldn't have tolerated that kind of behavior from a fellow woman, but here on Yaut where everything was different, the Hunters expected Mel to show respect to the High Council ordained Matriarch. As Sig'dan and Melanie conversed, Sally evaluated the pair. She could perceive concern for the female by her mate, but only interest in her child from the human female.
"I'm happy for you both that your daughter could be saved," Sally began.
She was taken aback as the young woman threw her arms around her, hugging and thanking her profusely, "Oh I'm so grateful for you and the Healer and everyone! I am in your debt!"
"You are welcome, Mel," the Matriarch smiled, lightly returning the embrace and finding the last shadowy vestiges of her jealousy beginning to melt away in the light of their maternal bond. "Come, see and touch your baby, I will show you how." She led Mel through the hand cleansing process and over to the large fleshy tissue container in which the woman's child was growing. She explained that this was an organic womb created from Melanie's own cells, just like the ones that housed her pups had been made from her cells. As Mel's pup was female and about the same age as Sally's, due to the long gestation period required when a pup was grown inside a human, they could all be gestated and birthed together. Sally invited Mel to study the pup-rearing training material with her, and Mel replied that she had already been reading some of it.
The next moon of cycles was filled with welcome maternal companionship for the women as they went to visit the pups together daily, occasionally accompanied by Sig'dan. They had much fun trying to figure out the proper names for all of them, and Sally had explained to the young woman how Ulfr's two pups had been named Arndís and Ulfrde.
Sally and Mel studied and considered many names. They obtained input on their choices from Sig'dan, Myn'dill, Theron, the Consort, and even Yin and Yang – until at last the women finally settled on names for their children. Melanie had chosen the name of Signý to honor her pup's Sire which both Sally and Sig'dan found very fitting.
Sally's choosing was a very complicated process as she had to take into account their nine Sires who came from different Clans. She had been working on it for quite some time and had researched names from each of the nine Clans until her final list for the eighteen pups consisted of: Ásvör and Berg-dís, Doru and Phthia, Ixch'el and Xu'nan, Kasa-qa and Pe-batj-ma,Temur and Cha'gan, A'adrika and Char-vi, G'emeti and U'bal-n, Angpet'u and El'u, Tar'ni and Ka-lin'da.
It was now only a single moon until the pups would be ready to leave their capsules and enter the world. Sally could hardly leave them alone, wanting to spend more and more time with them. As she felt them turn and kick within each womb she fancied that they could somehow understand her as they seemingly responded to her voice and touch. When she asked Myn'dill about this he had told her that it was not improbable that they were already responding to her as they could indeed hear her voice and recognize it, and also feel the warmth of her hand through the thin, strong wall.
In the midst of Sally's growing excitement about the impending births, she noticed that Mel had begun to cool in her attitude towards her daughter. She still enjoyed spending time with Sally and Sig'dan sharing meals, and conversing. However, her visits to her pup had become quieter. The Matriarch would watch as Melanie gingerly touched the container and would then look far away as though she were in deep contemplation, and she never spoke to her pup anymore. Then, Sally noticed that Mel was directing conversations to reminiscing about Earth instead of helping to figure out a detail in pup rearing.
"Melanie," the Matriarch asked her one cycle when the women and Sig'dan were visiting the pups, "Is something on your mind? Pardon me for saying so, but you don't seem that interested in your child anymore." Sig'dan spread his jaws in surprise at the question, and looked at Melanie.
Mel considered how to respond, she didn't want to insult anyone. Turning to the Matriarch she asked, "May I speak freely without fear of repercussion?"
"Of course you may," Sally responded.
"On Earth, I spent a great deal of time feeling that I did not want this child, this pup. Becoming pregnant has greatly interfered with my plans, not to speak of the time required to raise it. I didn't want anything bad to happen to it, of course, and that is why I ran away from my family and came back here. But now that the situation has changed, I'm wondering if what I really want is to go home. You have been studying and preparing, Sally, I'm sure you will do a wonderful job of raising them. I have felt a growing unease over seeing to this child. It seems that there are other things that I want to do."
Sally was not surprised, after watching the young woman for some time, she quickly responded, "I would be lying if I said I wasn't upset to hear this. But I appreciate your honesty, Mel. Motherhood isn't for everyone or every time. If you are certain that's what you want, I would be happy to raise the pup that Sig'dan created with you along with my own. I will even adopt it if that is alright with you? And you may come back and visit whenever you like."
"I would like that, Sally. Sig-dan, I hope that I have not offended you."
Sig'dan, looking somewhat befuddled as his mandibles twitched with emotion, replied, "I do not understand you giving up our child, and in purity, your scent does not agree with your words. Please, Mel-an-ee, please tell us what is really in your mind."
Mel looked down in embarrassment. "You can smell me, Sig-dan? I had read about that, but…"
"Yes, we have very sensitive scent receptors. It helps me to scent you – it helps me understand the meaning behind your words. Your previous words and scent did not agree. Your words said you wanted to leave but your scent stated clearly that you were very sad."
"Well, I AM sad about leaving my baby, but I feel this is best. Do whatever you think best for the welfare of the child, please."
Sally had questions for Melanie, "When do you wish to leave? What will you do back on Earth?"
"I'd like to leave as soon as possible. Back on Earth, I want to finish my degree, and then help other women who have been…in this situation. I suspect that many still suffer mental trauma from the experience and I think that maybe I can help them. This may sound funny, but I believe this is my purpose, my calling in life."
Sig'dan looked to Sally, "Honorable Matriarch, may I speak freely?"
"Of course!"
"Mel-an-ee is hiding something. She has not revealed all her concerns to us about her pup, she scents of subterfuge."
Sally stared sternly at the young woman. On one hand that small voice she thought she'd silenced would welcome the removal of any possible competition for her Hunter, while on the other hand she had grown to like the outspoken female and also was concerned as to why she was making this choice.
"Answer me, Melanie, why do you really want to leave? I need to know why."
Abruptly, tears began running down Mel's naturally ruddy cheeks and she sobbed, "Because the baby will be taken away!" She hid her face in her hands, crying in earnest. Sally moved to comfort her, but Sig'dan was already there with an arm around the weeping girl. Sally said nothing, but a chill went down her spine at his obvious affection displayed right in front of her. I must have a Yautja mind about this, she chided herself.
"What do you mean, Mel-an-ee?" he asked.
"After it's been born and I've raised it for awhile, it's taken away – I've heard about it from the other women."
Sig'an moved his free hand to stroke the dark curling locks, "Do not be sad, things may be different now."
"They might?" she squeaked, raising the tear-marred face to him.
Sally interjected, "Do you honestly think that I would allow them to take my children, your child, away from us? We are going to continue to play an important part in our daughter's lives, even during their training or there will be hell to pay!"
Mel wiped the tears from her eyes and gave Sally a hopeful look. "Do you think they will really allow that? After all, we're only human."
"And I am their Matriarch! They chose me and by God they will obey me! And the High Council has already given me permission to look into how we mothers may still have contact with our children during training – the trick is that we cannot instill our earthly values in them. They must be raised as Yautja."
Sig'dan stood, taken aback by this news. He knew of the High Council's permission for her to LOOK into this, but that was far from promising that she could see them. His mate was willing to take on the High Council if they did not abide her command regarding her pups? How would the High Elders react to such an order? He constricted inside imagining their unsavory reaction and what they would do to Sally if they ever decided they'd had enough of her.
"Sal'lee – do not push the Council too far! Remember, you govern them only by their consent. They have already taken your eggs, you are not indispensible."
"Oh, but I believe that I am, dearest Hunter," she calmly retorted. "They need me to be the Matriarch until the pups are grown enough so that one of them can assume the title…Myn-dill told me so. And I am willing to leverage that need against my need, and Melanie's need, to continue to be part of the lives of our children as they train."
Sig'dan stayed silent, considering her logic.
"Melanie, will you stay here with me to help me fight for the right to see our pups? For ALL women to see their pups during the training period and afterwards? I cannot guarantee that it will be easy, or without risk, but I am willing to risk for my children."
The still tearful young woman thought for a moment, "I had felt my heart break to leave this child. But I thought that leaving it now would be easier than leaving it later – after meeting and growing to love it even more than I already do. Far better to go to Earth now, when my daughter was still untouched and unkissed than to have it torn away from me. Yes, I will stay and I will fight with you."
Ignoring Sally's presence, Sig'dan touched Mel's face tenderly, "I am happy that you have chosen to stay. Our pup will need you." The woman, full of emotion at her decision, wrapped her arms around what used to be a monster in her eyes and held him close for a few moments while the Matriarch studied something on her wrist com.
As she looked at the mechanism on her arm, Sally came to a sudden decision. "Mel, next cycle, tomorrow I mean, some of us are participating in a very important ceremony. It is a ritual that binds us together in defense of each other and in defense of the pups. I invite you to join us."
"You are scaring me, Sally. We…the pups are in danger?" Melanie's eyes widened and her face looked grim. "I came here to be safe! And now you are telling me we need a ritual to defend each other?"
"Mel, remember that this is not Earth. But like on Earth there are politics and rivalries. We unite to protect our children. Please join us. It would mean much to me if you did," the Matriarch admitted.
Melanie looked at her with furrowed brow. Sally had never requested anything of her before. This must be very important. I should trust her. "Okay, I will. Just what is this ritual?"
"I don't exactly know yet," admitted Sally. "I had suggested a ritual that I had previously attended, but it seems there is a more powerful one in Theron's tradition. I am waiting to learn about it. Theron is returning this evening and will explain it. I mean, if his High Elder permits it. It is all dependent on what the High Elder says because I want Theron to join us in this."
"Would you mind sharing why that's important?"
"Theron is one of the best fighters I have ever seen, Mel. And…my gut just tells me it's important. He is assigned to me and he's here most of the time. If anything were to happen I would feel much safer for us and for the children if I knew he was on our side."
In the way of those who know each other very well, Sally looked to Sig'dan for his opinion. "I can support that assessment of Theron, Mel-an-ee. He is a superior fighter and I trust the Matriarch's judgment. It has always led her on the correct path since I have known her."
Melanie shook her head in understanding and agreement. "I have a strong feeling that Theron will return with his Elder's leave to do this. Then we will unite to safeguard our children! I'm glad you are joining us, Mel and try not to be frightened. We have many strong Hunters beside us."
The three stood together on one side of the pup growing room. On impulse Mel took the Matriarch's soft but strong hand in her own firm grasp, and Sig'dan's scaly dinner plate paw in the other. Sally reached for her lover's other huge hand and felt it surround her own protectively. Gazing into his eyes she saw the luster of his deep feelings for her as well as his feelings for his own offspring and for Melanie. She poured her own love and admiration for him out of her own shining green wellsprings. The pups would be born soon into a world of both fate and parental protection. In her mind, Sally prayed for Paya's blessing upon them all.