Chapter 40: Family

Kyra groaned quietly in her sleep as she repositioned herself, unable to get comfortable. Riddick watched her as she settled, a little frown creasing her brow before he lay down beside her, keeping himself between her sleeping form and the cave opening. Kyra's eyes opened and she glanced back at him and smiled sleepily. He reached out and wrapped his arm around her as he moved forward until her back rested against his chest. She relaxed against his body, leaning into his warmth as sleep fell over them both.

The wind began to pick up across the planet's surface. Great dust devils started to spin and dance over the flat plains making the harsh landscape even more hellish as dawn spread its gloomy light over the planet. The sun rose, instantly heating the air as it arced slowly into the sky. The horizon below the sunrise became suddenly blurred as a great wall of dust rose and rushed howling across the flat landscape, absorbing the power of the now seemingly insignificant dust devils as it devoured the planet's surface.

Riddick awoke to the sound of the monstrous wind flying overhead. Kyra was long used to the sound and continued to sleep as he left the cave and looked skyward. The night before he had been able to see distant stars and planetary systems, but now there was nothing but the flying storm. Riddick knew that they were trapped in their canyon until it passed; however long that would be.

A dim, diluted light somehow made its way into the canyon, illuminating it. It was dark enough however, that Riddick left off his goggles as he moved about, exploring the small valley Kyra had made her home. He examined the spears and knives she had made for herself and found that he was impressed. Kyra had not only found a way to survive, she appeared to have done very well for herself and their unborn baby.

He turned when he heard movement from the cave to see Kyra emerging; her eyes darted around the valley, searching for him. They stopped their search as they locked onto him, a brilliant smile lighting her face. He watched as she made her way over to him, enjoying the innate grace in her movements even with her heavy burden. Her hair was wild as it hung loose over her shoulders. She had braided some of it to keep it out of her face adding to her untamed, dangerous beauty.

Suddenly, she tensed and the smile slid off her face. "DOWN!" She screamed.

As her scream reached his ears he felt a movement behind his back, coming from the opening where the valley met the narrow canyon. Instantly he dropped and rolled to his left. A heavy THUD shook the ground. Riddick looked up as he pushed himself to his feet: There, lying right where he had been standing, was a massive lizard-like creature about seven feet long from its short, blunted snout to the end of its long, thick tail. Its scaled hide was a mottled orange and black, the perfect camouflage for its surface existence. The legs were long for its body, allowing the creature hold itself well off the hot dust as well as crouch low against the wind. Long, deadly claws graced the four agile toes which gave the lizard the ability to climb the high, steep canyon walls. A perfect predator. "Beautiful." Riddick thought as he admired the creature. A sharp knife was protruding from one of its glazed yellow eyes and it twitched spasmodically as its nervous system shut down.

Riddick cast his silver gaze around the remainder of the valley, searching for any more of the deadly quiet creatures. He saw none and yanking the deeply embedded knife from the lizard's eye, he wiped it on his pant leg and made his way to Kyra, keeping alert to any movement, smell, or sound in the valley.

Kyra rushed towards him as quickly as her heavy body would allow her. "There will be more. They never hunt alone… I don't know what they are doing here. They have never come into the canyon before, they like to wait on the surface for food." Concern and a little fear shown on her face; she felt useless and helpless with her ponderous body and she knew well the dangers and abilities of these creatures. What were they doing in her canyon?

"Are you okay?" She asked, knowing the answer but unable to stop her mouth from forming the words.

"Yeah." Riddick said softly, catching her in his arms as she reached him. "Thanks." He whispered against her ear.

He could feel a smile break across her face as she buried it against his chest, then suddenly, her whole body tensed. Riddick had heard it too. Together they turned toward the canyon opening.

There, standing stiffly on its muscular legs, was another lizard. At its feet was the half eaten corpse of a man. Riddick heard Kyra's quick inhalation of breath as she recognized it as one of the mercs who had brought her here. Suddenly she understood how Riddick had found her and why he had left last night. It was over. The mercs wouldn't be coming back for her. A small wave of relief washed over her before her attention was drawn back to the lizards. Behind the lead lizard was its pack; yellow eyes glistening as they surveyed their prey.

The pack had found two fresh kills on the surface and they had been drawn down into the canyon by the smell of more blood. While they had been feasting the storm had come up, trapping them down in the canyon. They had taken their prize and were searching for a way back up onto the surface and to their den when they had spotted these two new meals, standing alone in the valley.

"Shit." Kyra whispered as she saw how large the pack was and unconsciously reached down and rested her hand protectively on her stomach.

Riddick saw her movement and, moving slowly so as not to set off the horde, he reached out, handing her the small throwing knife she had used to kill the stray.

He maintained eye contact with the leader of the pack, daring him to move as he stepped slightly in front of Kyra, guarding her and their baby from the deadly creatures.

The stare off continued until, simultaneously, they launched themselves forward engaging in a fast and furious battle. The rest of the pack jumped forward as well and Riddick all but disappeared beneath the writhing mass.

A yelled caught in Kyra's throat as she watched the lizards attack and she jumped forward as well, slashing and cutting her way into the brawl. Eerie screams warbled in the air as lizards fell, only to be replaced by another snarling monster. Time lost all meaning as they fought, Kyra on the outside, fighting the few that turned and attacked her while she tried to get into the mob that was attacking Riddick.

Finally, after what could have been seconds or hours, Kyra could see Riddick again as the pack's numbers dwindled. He was covered blood and gore; moving with perfect deadly efficiency. She struggled on, trying desperately to maintain her balance with her ponderous stomach as she ducked and dodged the great claws and lethal teeth of her opponents. At last, with a final thrust of her knife, it was done.

Riddick yanked one of his long, curved shivs out of a lizard's back and made his way over the scattered carcasses to Kyra. They looked each other over, searching for any injuries. Both were scratched and bruised, and Riddick had four evenly spaced tears across the front of his shirt revealing long, narrow gashes running along his muscular abdomen. They needed to be cleaned but didn't appear to be threatening.

They were both relieved the other had made it through so well, and Kyra grabbed Riddick into a tight hug, ignoring the filth that covered them both. They remained that way for several minutes until suddenly, Kyra gasped and one hand reached down and grabbed her stomach, while the other made a death grip on the side of Riddick's torn black shirt.

"Kyra?" He asked urgently.

"Oh God!" She said, amazement and a little fear evident in her voice, "it's the baby. God, Riddick! My water just broke."

Without any hesitation, Riddick scooped Kyra up into his arms and carried her back into the cave, laying her down gently. A sharp pain cut through Kyra, causing her to gasp and grab onto Riddick's forearm as he pulled back. Her short, blunt nails dug into his skin but he remained still, letting her hold on until the pain had passed. Once it was over, he helped her get comfortable and went to get some water. He washed himself at the spring, and returned to the cave to wash Kyra as well. After the blood and gore was gone from her skin and hair, he returned to the spring to get some fresh water. She would need it in the hours to come.

When he returned he found her in the throws of another contraction. Sweat was already beginning to bead on her forehead and her knuckles shown white as she clenched her fists. He set the water down close by and sat behind her, pulling her back against his chest as she relaxed again. Time passed slowly as the contractions became closer and more intense, but Kyra never let a scream pass her lips.

Riddick had seen men die, torn apart, and tortured. He was used to seeing pain and suffering, had caused some of it, but nothing hit him as hard as watching Kyra struggle through the pain she was now going through. He whispered softly in her ear and held her hands as wave after wave of pain overcame her. Tremors ran up and down her back as her muscles tired from the hours of strain.

Finally, after what seemed like days, the time came and the head came into view. Riddick left his place behind her and went down to help the baby come into the world. After the head came, the rest of the body came quickly and Riddick held his tiny son in his large hands. With the utmost care, Riddick cut the umbilical cord with a clean shiv, cleaned him with some scraps of cloth and the water and wrapped the now squalling infant in some soft leather Kyra had prepared for him as she sat alone in the cave awaiting his birth. Carefully, he set the baby in Kyra's waiting arms.

Kyra looked down at the tiny little boy in her arms and felt tears run down her cheeks. He was perfect; dark like his father, with a head full of wispy dark curling hair. As he settled into his mother's arms, his crying subsided and he opened up his eyes revealing a deep, dark brown - Riddick's eyes before they were shined. "Riddick…Look at him." Kyra's voice was soft with awe.

Riddick couldn't take his eyes off the scene before him; the love shining so openly on Kyra's face as she looked at their son, and the peaceful face of his child. Happiness filled him. He was complete. He smiled and bent down catching Kyra's eyes with his own, she smiled at him, letting the love that was overflowing from her for him and their baby shine into his mercury gaze. He leaned in and gently brushed her lips with his and settled himself in next to her, reaching out to trace his finger along the baby's cheek.

Minutes passed as they sat there together, a true family. Kyra finally broke the silence, "Riddick, I want to name him Brac. I heard it on Furya; it means 'free'… I never want him to know anything but freedom. All of us together, forever free."

She looked up into Riddick's face questioningly. He smiled that slow, sexy smile she loved so much and nodded. A smile broke out on her face and she leaned forward and kissed him lightly before she glanced back down at the now hungrily searching face. She pulled her shirt open and guided the tiny mouth to her breast. Her breath caught as he began to nurse but the pain quickly eased and she smiled again. "Hello Brac Richard Riddick."