Chapter 88 - Skann kelek-aushfa

S'chn T'gai Sordd's Residence, Shi'Kahr District, Vulcan.

After stepping out of the sonic shower, Sordd pulled on some light 'casual' clothing suitable for the season. It was agreeable not to have to put on the extra layers that had been necessary while residing on Earth. He breathed easily. Being off-world had placed pressure on his inner equilibrium and now that he was back on Vulcan that pressure had lifted; there was now no need to counteract the effects of an alien environment on his body systems by constantly adjusting his inner bio-controls. He had awoken early that morning, refreshed, after his very short nocturnal rest. Even his time of meditation had been 'easier' than what he had become accustomed to while living at the embassy.

As he did not have to report for work for another week it would give him time to help Mimi get used to her new surroundings. She had four weeks before she was going to start her part time work, assisting Hakausu Sakht with a research project. Although they were not going to be working in the same departments, Sordd found it agreeable that Mimi would be working in the same building as him. The children would be back to school in two weeks' time, the traditional summer break being over.

He briefly checked on Mimi who was still fast asleep. That was logical considering the day she had had yesterday with the shock of a brand new, very different, culture on her system. He would let her sleep on, she needed the rest. He set the environmental parameters in his room to several degrees lower than the temperature necessary for his own comfort. He wanted to make things as comfortable as he could for she who was his wife. It was obvious from her reaction the previous evening that it would be quite some time before she would be able to sleep in her own room. He did not find the thought of this to be disagreeable. Nevertheless, during his time of meditation he had realised that Mimi needed a space that she could call her own. Currently the room next door was not fulfilling that role; he would broach the subject of redecorating later in the day. Even after redecorating, if she chose to sleep in his room that would be more than agreeable. He wanted her to have the choice. His jaw clenched. There would come a 'time' when his need would make that choice for them. Not wanting to dwell on such things he moved on to thinking about something else...

He was reminded of the time when T'Shahel, Avarak, and himself had first arrived on Earth. Even their short time passing through immigration had taken its toll, particularly on the children who had never been exposed to such emotionalism. When they had arrived at the embassy, the children had partaken of end-meal before going straight to bed. The next morning, they had slept well past their usual time for waking up. He had meditated a LOT. For the first few weeks they had not ventured further than the gardens of the embassy. Despite this, the children's sleeping pattern had taken a long time to settle to within what was normal for Vulcans of their age and stage. Eventually they had acclimatised. Sordd was confident Mimi would do the same.

He checked his personal padd and responded to a number of urgent messages. He also arranged a meeting with Denek, to discuss household matters. He then checked once more on Mimi, who was still fast asleep, before going down to the kitchen to prepare a tray for her first-meal.

*'*

"Avarak, have you fed I-chle this morning?" Sordd asked as he poured some savas-masu, fruit juice, into a carafe for Mimi's breakfast.

Avarak, who was having plomeek soup made by T'Pina for breakfast, turned to look at his father. "Ha, sa-mekh. I then turned him out into the grounds."

"Rom!" Sordd nodded his head in approval. He turned to speak to T'Shahel, "T'Shahel, can you obtain a yon-savas and a gespar from the tsorau?"

T'Shahel nodded her head, "Ha, sa-mekh!" She gracefully rose from her seat and went to the pantry to collect some fire-fruit and gespar fruit. While she was doing this, Sordd started to prepare Mimi some Vulcan alam-tei.

*'*

The voices of T'Shahel and Avarak penetrated into Mimi's dream. She was with them on a trip to Furnace Creek, Inyo County. The heat was oppressive, far too hot to venture any further than the front porch of the house. Mimi groaned a little as she awoke. She slowly opened her eyes before quickly closing them again. The room was far too bright! She sighed back into the pillows, not wanting to move.

Eventually, she managed to open her eyes. She stared straight ahead at the russet-coloured walls and beige coloured ceiling. Light, with a reddish hue, was streaming in through an open window. There was a painting of an IDIC on one wall and an intricate tapestry hanging on the other. She had no idea what the symbols on the tapestry meant but just looking at them had a soothing effect. Mimi stretched herself out and sighed. It was then she heard a growl.

Mimi gulped. She barely breathed as she was frightened to make another sound. Just at the moment when she thought the growl might have been a figment of her imagination, she heard another growl and the unmistakable sound of claws scratching on the terracotta floor.

Mimi did not know how long she lay there in the silence, silence apart from the growls and scratches. If it was going to eat her, whatever it was, surely it would have done so already? Not wanting to make any sudden moves, she very slowly sat up, while hiding behind the light blanket. She peeked around the covering. Her eyes went wide at the sight before her. A large, black bear-like animal with incredibly long fangs was lying on the floor at the foot of the bed. It looked like one of Avarak's or Spock's toys. This was definitely not a toy! Because she had stirred, it stirred also. It sat up on its hind legs. It was massive and it was now blocking the door.

It stared at her and growled deeply. Mimi frowned, and then pulled the blanket up over her eyes. She knew that if you encountered a black bear that you shouldn't make eye contact with it; they would see it as an act of aggression and go on and wreck the rest of your life. It wasn't a bear in front of her but hopefully not looking at it would help...

Mimi listened carefully. After some time, there was a large thud and then the scraping of claws along the floor continued, or was it the fangs? She peeked out again. The animal had slumped back onto the ground. It was still watching her closely. Mimi hid again.

Eventually, she decided that she would try and get out of bed. She took a deep breath before tentatively trying to place her foot on the bedroom floor. Before she even made contact with it there was another loud growl and she could hear the beast moving to its feet. She quickly retreated. In that moment, she realised she was stuck here for the rest of the day, or at least until Sordd returned. Hopefully, that would be some time soon!

*'*

What seemed like hours later, the door of the room swished open and Sordd entered the room with Mimi's breakfast on a tray. She peaked out from behind the blanket again. When she saw that it was him, a very relieved look appeared on her face.

"Ha'tha ti'lu, good morning, T'Sai Margaret," he said in greeting as he placed the tray on a table, seemingly oblivious to the visitor in the room.

"There is a cross between a bear and a sabre-toothed tiger in the room and it doesn't like me," Mimi informed him with extreme nervousness in her voice.

Sordd turned to look at the 'bear/sabre-toothed tiger cross' "I-chle, is a sehlat, Mimi." He crouched down and reached out his hand. "I-chle, come!" l-chle did not move. "I-chle, come here!" Sordd commanded more forcefully. What looked like a frown appeared on l-chle's face. It looked at Mimi and the frown deepened. Rising to its feet, it walked towards Sordd and dutifully slumped down in front of him. Sordd began to stroke its fur. "You do not need to be afraid, Mimi, sehlats are relatively non-violent."

Mimi raised her eyebrows, she was not convinced. "Relatively non-violent!" She looked on as the animal raised its snout for a little rub under the chin. "He was growling at me…"

Sordd tilted his head, "Is this true I-chle?" he asked the pet as his hand gently covered parts of its face to initiate a light meld. Mimi continued to watch from the safety of the bed. I-chle's eyes closed sleepily as Sordd communicated with him telepathically. After some time, Sordd removed his hand from I-chle's face, then he rubbed him between his ears. He turned to look at Mimi. "I must apologise on I-chle's behalf. He did not know that you are she who is my wife and he was merely protecting his territory."

"Why didn't he just jump up and eat me then?"

Sordd looked at her with an intrigued look on his face. "Pets are not allowed up on beds."

Mimi looked surprised. "Ohh… that's just as well then…"

"Indeed," Sordd replied. "Would you like to have a proper introduction?"

Mimi frowned again. "I'm not sure, he might bite me. Where I come from, relatively non-violent means it could still be violent."

"Now that I have explained the situation to him, he will not bite you. On the contrary, he will protect you instead."

"Are you sure?"

"Ha, yes." Sordd paused for a moment. The way to a sehlat's heart was through its stomach. He stood up and went to the breakfast tray to retrieve a kreila biscuit. "Here, you could give him this."

Mimi took the biscuit from Sordd's hand and examined it. Kreila biscuits were similar to a fruit scone but they were made with something akin to wholemeal flour and oats instead of plain flour. They were really quite tasty. Mimi then looked nervously at I-chle. "You are sure he won't bite my hand off?"

Sordd was amused with Mimi's reaction. She had no reservations when it came to surfing Earth's waters where untamed apex predators could attack at any moment, yet here in the safety of their home she was frightened of the skann kelek-aushfa, the family pet. He suppressed the smile. "Affirmative."

Mimi crawled over to the side of the bed, she wasn't quite confident enough to get off it just yet. She held the biscuit out towards I-chle. He tilted his head and analysed her for a few seconds before moving towards her. Mimi could feel her hand begin to shake but she quickly brought it under control. I-chle sniffed the biscuit before very gently taking it from her hand. He swallowed it in one piece and then his stubby little tail began to wag.

Whomp, whomp!

"If you leave your hand out, it will allow him to familiarise himself with your scent." Mimi did as she was told and left her hand out. Initially, I-chle sniffed her carefully and then he started to lick her hand. His tongue had a very dry and rough feel to it.

Whomp, whomp!

Sordd came over and started to rub l-chle's fur again. It would not be Vulcan to admit that he had 'missed' the animal while residing on Earth. However, the parting had been regrettable.

Feeling a bit braver now, Mimi slowly moved her free hand and began to scratch the animal behind its ears. It began to purr and its little tail twitched again.

Whomp, whomp!

"Well, that was easy," she said with a relieved tone in her voice.

"Ha, yes…" Sordd replied. Mimi would not get any peace to eat her breakfast with the animal still in the room. "l-chle, outside," he commanded. Mimi could swear that l-chle frowned again. He then humphed, before he went hurtling out the room.