There were some Podlings passing by a forest clearing, and they heard a baby crying. They couldn't resist caring for innocent creatures out there in the wilds. The passersby looked and found a little lizard-like creature that was lost and alone.
The Podlings were at a loss of what to do with it. It seemed to be just a baby. The ones who had found the small creature were one male and one female Podling. They spoke in their own language, of course, discussing where the small one's mother could be, and deciding that there was no sign of any parent. Then they saw tracks of blood and a scuffle, and assumed the mother had been killed by Rakkida when they saw the gory paw prints in the mud.
They knew someone who could help take care of the baby, or might know, so they took SkekDar to them.
It was a small family of Gelflings who had escaped the wrath of the Skeksis so far. They were rogues from the Stonewood clan, but had a happy life away from the main clan. They grew their own food and raised their animals to assist in their family and food. They were dark haired too, which made them look much like Keg had. However, they were very different persons.
The mother's name was Mivoda. She had long flowing hair and was middle aged. Her mate, Chet, was taller than her, and worked as a farmer. The couple had a few kids: Kinama was the oldest daughter at 13. Mati was their middle son at age 6, and Julli was the family's baby. Julli was only a few months older than Dar at 3 months.
They were all having their breakfast when they heard a knock at their door.
"Who could that be?" Mivoda asked.
"Stay here." Chet said. He went to see who it was and then spotted their Podling friends. "Hi there, friends. What brings you by?" he asked.
The female said something in her language and held out a bundle. Chet took it and unwound it. In it, was a little beaked lizard. "Honey, we have something here..."
Mivoda came over to her mate to see. "What is it?" she asked. The kids were curious too when their father had said that.
The Podlings explained what they had seen. Mivoda understood. "They said the mother is dead, attacked by Rakkida, and they heard the little one crying." she explained. "It needs someone to take care of it."
"We already have our hands full with our own kids." Chet said.
"Chet, we can't let an innocent baby be left out there to die. Look at him... well, assuming it's a him. He's so cute." Mivoda was falling for Dar's innocence. He was sucking on one of his own hands right now.
"Oh, alright. As long as he's not any trouble." Chet said. "What do you think we should call him?"
The two of them let their Podling friends go on their way and brought Dar back to the table. The two older kids were fascinated by him.
"We could call him Kasim." Kinama said.
"I like Smur." Mati said.
"How about Ryuu?" Chet said.
"Considering it means 'fiery lizard,' it may be okay. Ryuu he is, then." Mivoda agreed.
The baby had calmed down enough to see his new caretakers, but his hunger began to get the better of him again. He began to stridently cry.
"What do we feed him?" Chet asked.
"He has no teeth. Looks like he may need milk. Let's try it: to not take chances, go get some milk out of the jug." Mivoda said. The thing had come from their pet Nebrie.
Chet did and put it in a bottle. It was still warm. The bottle was offered to Dar/Ryuu and he gladly took his second meal, but his first to be from Nebrie milk. It would become his main food for the next long while.
"Looks like little Julli is going to have an adopted brother growing up. Or do you think will he grow to be more of a pet?" Chet wondered.
"Only time will tell what this little one will become. We have been on our own for so long... Never seen one like it." Mivoda said.
"I think I have, love… Look at the tail, the four arms, and the beak... What if it's a Skeksis?" Chet asked.
"Well, even if it was a Skeksis, the mother is dead. Maybe we can raise this one to be different than the ones we had known about?" Mivoda stated.
"Perhaps we could. But let's keep this a secret from the kids for awhile. I don't want them to know about the problem with Skeksis." Chet said.
"Alright. We'll just tell them that he's a lizard child our friends found in the wild, and the parents are dead." Mivoda suggested.
"That sounds like a good one. I'm sure he'll one day ask, if he ever learns to talk." Chet said.
"We should just wait and see if he is a real lizard, or a Skeksis. That's all we can do right now since we know nothing else about him." Mivoda said.
They had spoken in low voices while their kids were now holding and feeding Ryuu.
….
Chamberlain searched all over for his lost baby. He found no signs of him. Eventually, he came upon the area where Dar had been, then he saw the blood of Gelfling and smelled the bitter scent of the Rakkida. He knew how dangerous those creatures could be and wasn't about to stick around.
Painfully, he decided there was nothing more he could do. He had tried his very best to find his baby. He was certain SkekDar was dead, taken away by Rakkida, along with the Gelfling that had kidnapped him. Grief grew within him, making him impossibly sad and angry.
Sil knew he never should have been out here. He was sore and wouldn't have had much fight in him after only giving birth last night. He started to head back to the area where he had given birth to his child. Heavy tears were falling from his eyes.
This had seemed like such a waste! He had been pregnant for who knows how long... it had been the last nine unums, and just as he had given birth, his baby had been stolen away from him! He had welcomed parenthood when he learned he was expecting. Now, he could only go home with his arms empty, and tell his mate about this tragedy. There would be nothing to tell the Emperor, or so he thought.
Sil slowly made his way back to his carriage and called the Armaligs back to their roles as wheels. He climbed in carefully to avoid hurting himself. He tiredly pulled the lever that indicated he was ready to move. The Armaligs felt it, rolled up, and moved along.
Chamberlain cried a good deal on his way home. He didn't care about anything right now. He only wanted his baby back.
….
Awhile later, the carriage arrived back at the castle. Chamberlain got off carefully because he was still very weak from the birth. He was truly distraught. Sil went to try to find his mate first. He managed to make it to the minor tower where she worked without running into any other Skeksis.
"Hmmmmm. SkekLa." Sil said with a sad tone and a weary frown on his face.
La turned around and was surprised to see her mate. "Sil, where have you been?" she asked, somewhat distant, in case there were others around. She saw that Chamberlain didn't look the same as he normally did. Some of his clothes were in rags down at his feet and sleeves.
"Out in wilderness for treats, but had pains. Had our baby, Illustrator..." Sil explained with a terribly sad look, holding her hands. "Too pained to come home at night. This morning, baby found gone!"
La looked at him with a shocked expression. She gasped, "Gone? How? Who took it?" she demanded.
"A Gelfling! Smelled, but not saw. Tried to follow scent. Lost at water crossing. No tracks. Tried and failed to find. So hard to find..." Sil broke and let out a sob.
La forgot all discretion, and held him. She could see how upset and devastated he was, and her own heart felt like it was frozen due to the loss. She wrapped her arms tight around the Chamberlain, trying to soothe him. "Is there any chance of finding him?" she asked.
"Rakkida attacked Gelfling. Found tracks, and blood… so much blood! Sure killed baby too. Had called him SkekDar..." Sil sobbed.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that alone... I would have been there with you if you let me. I wish you had told me where you were going..." La said.
They held each other tight for awhile. Then La brought it up. "I am sorry for having to tell you this now… but the Emperor wants to see you." she said.
Sil really was in no mood to deal with his leader, but he wouldn't refuse him an appearance if requested. "Yes..." he said. "Then, must go..."
La accompanied him to make sure he could still stand and walk alright. They both entered the throne room together. The others were all in there. They made sure they were not touching one another in any suspicious manner, and Sil made sure to keep his tears dry.
"Welcome, SkekLa and SkekSil." the Emperor greeted as he saw them. "I see you have returned, Chamberlain. Care to explain something to us?"
"Explain what, Sire?" Sil asked.
"The Scientist told me something interesting. Is it true you are carrying a childling?" So asked.
Sil and La's eyes widened. How could he know that? Unless… SkekTek had betrayed his secret! How could he?! Chamberlain took mental note to get him back later, but now, an explanation would be needed.
He looked down, wearily. "Was... true." he admitted.
"You were carrying a childling, and never said anything?" the Ornamentalist asked, shocked.
"Yes, he was." La replied for him. "I knew too."
"The Scientist tells me that there is another parent. Who is the other parent, SkekSil?" SkekSo demanded.
Sil looked at La. They both knew it was evident, it was impossible to keep the secret any longer. "I am the other parent, Sire." La spoke up nervously, dreading the possible consequences.
"It was experiment only." Sil lied, trying to protect them both. He knew the Emperor usually respected experiments. "It led to expecting baby by surprise. Not know of it for so long. Movements started and SkekTek examined me. He tells me I was carrying baby. I was going to tell when time was right. Was going to tell when I got back to castle, but while out in wild on way back, I had baby. No longer carrying it."
"Where is it then?" Tek demanded.
"Gone. Taken, by Gelfling!" Sil snapped angrily. "Then, killed by Rakkida!"
"Good! The last thing we need around here is another Chamberlain!" the Garthim Master sneered. He had returned last night.
Sil and La glared at him angrily.
"Here is my decree as your punishment. For not telling us about this, and intently hiding it, the two of you are not to be anywhere near each other for the next three cycles of the Sisters. Even at the table, and no visiting each other's quarters. The rest of us will be watching you at all times. And Chamberlain, the Scientist is to examine you to make sure you are not carrying anymore babies."
Sil knew not to refuse. He didn't want to be anywhere around the Scientist at the time, because Tek had told without his permission. He would pay for that.
"And to make sure you are having the exam, SkekUng is accompanying you both." So declared.
Sil whined in contempt. "Please, not that, my Emperor."
"Yes. Go!" So ordered, stomping his scepter.
Sil, Ung, and Tek left the room to go to the lab. La stayed behind. She was not happy about this punishment, but at least it wasn't banishment. Especially since, even if this was painful, there was no baby to worry about. But her poor mate, the pain and trouble he had gone through alone, the labor and losing their baby... And now, an embarrassing exam without her to make sure he was alright, and his most hated enemy watching it happen.
…
In the lab, Tek and Ung made sure that Sil was forced to lay down and Tek pressed on Sil's belly and it went down more than before. He had been telling the truth. There was no longer any baby inside him, but some more fluids came out of him. Birth fluids would be clearing out for awhile.
Chamberlain cried out in pain as his sore belly was pressed on. Then, Tek noticed that his breasts were full.
"Did you feed the baby, Chamberlain?" Tek asked. "Your breasts are all so full and fat. More than I've seen on any other Skeksis before."
"Yes, one meal."
"And now, there's no baby to feed off you now. I hope it hurts. Also makes a good punishment." Ung mocked.
"Stop it! Not take your crap now!" Sil snapped.
"I want samples of everything to know what to expect should there be anymore in the future." Tek declared.
Sil's breathing sped up. That would mean… more humiliation! "NO!" he cried out in distress, but Ung held him down.
"You will lie still or else!" Ung growled at him. Sil glared at him and bared his teeth. He had no choice. Sil also figured this was part of his punishment too.
Tek went to take a sample of some of the birth fluid. He was just curious to know more of what was going on with Sil's body. He would have liked to examine the baby if there had been one to see. He also took a milk sample. Sil was uncomfortable about that, but Ung enforced it.
It wasn't long for Tek to finish. Sil was glad for that. Right now, he just wanted to be left alone. Tek gave him a vial of water to quench his thirst, since he had decided Sil would be dehydrated after what he had been through. He also offered some medicine for the pain the Chamberlain was obviously feeling.
Sil drank the water and threw the vial on the floor angrily. Ung marched him out of the lab. Sil only wanted his own room and bed. There, Ung left him alone, but he was to stand out in the hallway on guard duty. The door was closed.
Once he was on his bed, Chamberlain let himself cry until he passed out. This was the worst return he had ever gotten!
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