Chapter Twenty-Four

The weather was nice and warm, a soft breeze blowing gently as Sophie watered some plants. She and Kyle had built a small pergola of woven twigs and branches for climbing plants and vines, as well as a little shade for those too delicate for full sun. She touched one of the vines with a claw, looking at the delicate tendrils and tiny leaves. They all were nice and healthy, and some had a nice, fragrant smell already, even though only one had blossoms. With a gentle trill, Sophie gave the plants the last water with a little fertilizer mixed in. Satisfied, she turned to the greenhouse, where Kyle had just finished trimming a few of the tomato plants of some sickly leaves. On either side, stood some raised wooden garden planters they had made, complete with chicken wire over the tops to prevent Josey getting in to nibble. Kyle nodded as he put the small shears back into his pocket before putting the plant back inside the greenhouse. He also made sure to check that Josey hadn't snuck in again, before he closed and locked the door. Sophie gave an amused chuff as he turned to her.

"They're all doing well. Should have lots of fruit," he said as he wiped his hands on a rag.

Good. And the vines are looking nice, and the little berry plants already have blooms starting, said Sophie. Kyle smiled and nodded.

"All right, that takes care of the garden. Let's go check the lagoon," he said as he and Sophie went and started up the rover to head to the lagoon.

The four-wheel-drive vehicle had been more than useful numerous times to transport loads of fresh food from the lagoon to the house, or even around the yard. It had been very helpful when they had cute down some small saplings for the woven branch area where they had the vines growing. A short ride saw them at the entrance to the cave where they hid the Talon, and then down to the lagoon.

Kyle smiled broadly as they came out into the warm sun, the winds softly blowing, the sounds of the ocean all around as they surveyed their lovely lagoon. It was teeming with life, now. The Tropocos birds happily wandered about without fear or care, the babies now almost fully-grown. Even from where they stood, Kyle could see the cages filled with prawn and shrimp and clams. Across the outer edge, a large gate of carved Coralyte now stretched, holds cut in it to allow water to flow, and some with metal mesh to prevent anything getting in through the larger holes. But, it had large bronze rollers, so they could open it, should they need. Much thanks went to Hank and Niju for their wonderful work. Sophie hugged Kyle, warm, tender thoughts and feelings flowing through their link as easily as did the warm water that streamed in a small waterfall. The lagoon had been totally transformed from the dull, overgrown and messy area it once was, to an area of bright, warm colors and pure happiness. And I never could have done it without you, said Kyle warmly as he held Sophie's hand. Sophie cuddled him in reply.

We're partners, you and I. That was very true.

Everyday, in big and small ways, they helped each other in more ways, great and small, than either could count. In fact, she had transformed his life so much, Kyle could not fathom how he had been able to exist in any other way, his life before Bonding was like an half-remembered nightmare at the edge of his mind. Sophie purred and lovingly rocked him in her arms before pulling back and glancing at the Tropocos birds as they snapped up little seeds and morsels and drank some of the fresh water by the side of the lagoon. Well, let's get some nice Ablarr for lunch! said Sophie as she dove into the water and plunged her hand into the soft sand to pull out one of the huge Albarr that had been hiding. Kyle went and checked the racks of clams, and got a good size bag of them to take home and cook. He wanted to try that recipe using vinegar and Tarragon to steam and cook them. Sophie eagerly agreed, as it combined two of her favorite foods into one glorious dish. Kyle also made sure to leave a few little bits for the Tropocos to eat before they left and loaded their wonderful bounty into the rover and took off back home.

XXX

Back home, Kyle and Sophie set to cleaning and preparing their latest harvest. They soon would have a full freezer of wonderful bounty from their lagoon. Sophie hummed a tune as she used her tail blade to pry open and shuck the Albarr from their shells. Sophie ate the innards, but some they turned into fertilizer for their garden, and some of the shells could be ground up into powder to repel pests and also add to the soil. Sophie peeled and removed the shells, while Kyle washed the meat and put it into containers for the freezer. Sophie rather liked the vacuum-sealing machine, as it kept things nice and fresh and worked so quick. They left a little out to cook for lunch, and put the rest into the freezer.

Currently, Kyle was cooking a variation on Arcturian clouka, a dish with noodles, meat and some veggies in a thick, cheesy sauce. Some humans had likened it to Fettuccine alfredo, but with round noddles more like Asian ramen. Regardless, it was tasty and a very nice dish, and could be added to as desired. Lunch was nice, especially since Sophie was able to sit with Kyle in her lap, which she always liked, and so did he.

Hmm, such a nice meal, said Sophie as she let her warm feelings flow through their link to Kyle, who responded in kind with his own feelings of content and comfort.

"Yeah, I'll have to write down the exact recipe," Kyle mused as he took another spoonful. Sophie purred as she agreed. Once lunch was done, they washed the dishes and took care of a few chores. Kyle cleaned the windows and Sophie changed Josey's litterbox. Once those were done, though, they thought on what to do next. They had done all the important things for now, and Kyle had two paintings drying and curing. Sophie trilled as an idea came to her. Kyle, bring up the map of Zemura, said Sophie. Kyle did as she asked, bringing up the interactive map of Zemura island. Sophie purred softly as she looked. Kyle, we haven't seen much more than Zeraven and the fields outside. Why don't we try visiting some of the other places? Kyle perked up at this, and gave a positive as he brought up some of the locations.

The Kellion Plains were a very large section of mostly flat plains with lots of soft, rolling grass. The pictures looked peaceful. Sophie agreed, and her inner predator chimed up it was because the flat ground with no cover meant predators could not easily sneak up on prey. No matter what they might think, some part of humans' minds still kept this survival instinct. A little west was the Devron Hills, a place of rolling hills that reminded Kyle a bit of pictures he had seen of Ireland, Wales and similar places on Earth.

Their hearts truly warmed when they saw about the Paw Puddle Lakes, where the Milurian village of Bilu was located, and the pictures of the cute, sweet Milurians playing in the lakes and wetlands made them both smile happily. Bilu was also the sister village of Bilal, which was in the Chwerthin Woods, which literally meant "The Laughing Woods" for the happy Milurians who called it home. Kyle would love to visit these wonderful villages, and so would Sophie, but they didn't want to drop by uninvited, and also Sophie did not want to risk potentially scaring one of the sweet fox-like people.

Then, they noticed that Mercy's Caravan was noted on the map. Upon closer inspection, they were delighted to see the ships Tobias and the others had flown to save the Milurians were parked as living museums and a display of the kind, brave actions that had saved an entire species from extinction. Sophie trilled as they looked at the massive cargo haulers in the pictured, parked and surrounded by a rainbow of wildflowers. Kyle looked up at Sophie.

Would you like to go see? Kyle asked. Sophie thought, and nodded. Kyle smiled. Hey, we could have a picnic, and we could even bring Josey. I think she'd like to nibble some new grass, Kyle mused, Sophie liking the idea. Kyle then made some notes what to bring.

XXX

The next day, Kyle and Sophie packed up a nice picnic, complete with a basket and blanket, and set out in the Talon to have a nice day and explore a little more of the wonderful planet that was now their home. They flew over Zeraven, the Kellion Plains stretching out as far as Kyle's eyes could see into the distance. It was all so amazing to him. He had never seen open fields that big before, let alone ones covered with grass. Sophie gave a soft purr and cuddled him as she watched with him. The weather was nice and warm, and storms were not expected for several days.

There, how does that look? Kyle asked as he indicated a spot that had a small hill. Sophie gave a positive, so he set the ship to land.

The first thing that greeted them was the wonderful smell of fresh grass and the moist ocean air. Josey scampered alongside them as they went and set up the picnic. Kyle first set down the blanket, then set the basket down on it while Sophie picked up Josey and sat. Sophie wore her burnoose, but was comfy and not hot in it. Kyle seated himself next to Sophie as he opened the basket, the wonderful smell of their home cooking wafting out. Kyle had made and packed some of his bisque that Sophie loved so much, but also had made some Crebble Cakes, since Sophie had caught a good number as they spawned in the river, which was now safe since she had wiped the Serrex out. Turned out the strange little creatures like a cross of a crab and jellyfish were quite tasty, and cakes made from them were simply delicious. Kyle had also packed some fresh bread with butter, and some wonderful fruit juice to drink.

Sophie was rather fond of juices like pineapple, Bereba and other such tart, acidic drinks. And of course he brought a bottle of malt vinegar. Two, in fact, as Sophie always drank one. He also made sure to pack two jars of his homemade tartar sauce, which she had just fallen in love with. He also had brought some fresh lettuce for Josey. Just in case she didn't like the local grass. Sophie purred as Kyle ladled up some bisque from the container, and buttered some bread before handing her the steaming bowl. She hugged him warmly as thanks as she took the bowl and dug in, while Josey nibbled some grass next to the blanket. Kyle bit into a Crebble cake and smiled at the delightful taste. But Kyle and Sophie were all smiles, their minds awash in comfort and warmth. It was truly delightful to just sit, have a nice lunch and be warm and safe. Sophie agreed, happily pulling Kyle into her lap as they finished their food and delighted to snuggle with her mate as they enjoyed the day.

This really is a beautiful world, said Sophie as she sat with Kyle in her lap, her tail gently draped across his legs, her large, strong arms lovingly enfolding him.

Yes, but it's far more so because you're here with me, Kyle replied. Sophie purred in reply, her mind tenderly sending warm feelings in return.

Glancing to the southwest, Kyle could just barely see a few of the giant Bereba Trees through some of the distant mists. They were easily the biggest trees Kyle had ever seen. They grew to be up to five-hundred feet tall, and those were only the biggest ones currently standing. There was supposedly fossil evidence they could get even bigger. The fruit they produced were the size of watermelons, and were frequently found floating in the oceans, as this was how they spread their seeds. However, the Bereba fruit was so potent, it wasn't safe for human consumption normally, and had to be processed to remove some of the proteins and acids that would make humans sick. Sophie, though, had no issues eating it, and very much liked it. He also heard Balwar were able to eat it, and often made their nests in or around the massive trees.

Probably a good thing such large trees are not on our island. If the baby Balwar had jumped from a nest in such a huge tree, he would likely not have survived, Sophie observed. Kyle agreed, remembering saving the silly little thing when he bounced out and into a cliff crevice, narrowly avoiding plunging into the ocean below. The little imp was now able to safely fly, and it always made Kyle feel they could give a small act of kindness. Kyle reached up into the hood of Sophie's burnoose and rubbed her chin, making her thrum with delight. Kyle smiled at the wonderful, warm feelings from his mate's mind as they enjoyed being together.

Kyle was surprised when he felt a small drop of rain hit him on the nose. Sophie snorted as well. They looked up, and the sky above was clear. Kyle laughed as he felt another drop, and several more.

"Wow, Sophie. It's a sun shower," said Kyle in awe. He had never experienced one before. Josey, though, was not amused, and scampered for cover under Sophie's burnoose. Kyle chuckled as he put the plates back in the basket. "Okay, your furry baby. We'll go," Kyle said with amusement in his voice as he packed things up to leave. To be fair, Kyle knew it could be bad if Josey got too wet and got cold. She may have liked to paddle about in a warm bath, but cold water was not good for a bunny. Sophie scooped up the rabbit and covered her with the sleeves of her burnoose. Kyle glanced up as they headed into the Talon, a few clouds visible up the sky, but none above them. So strange to have it rain when it was sunny. He guessed people born on a planet were used to such phenomena, but to him, it was still strange and even surreal. He quickly scampered into the ship and closed the door. Sophie was waiting with a towel to dry his hair and shoulders.

Sure, it wasn't anything like some of the storms they had experienced before, but she didn't like Kyle feeling cold and wet, either. Nobody could ever say Sophie didn't take the absolute best care of her beloved Bonded One. He chuckled softly as Sophie gently ruffled his hair dry and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek when done. "Thank you, Sophie," he said softly, making her purr in reply.

You're welcome, my love, she replied as she caressed his hair. With that, Kyle got into the pilot seat and set a course for him. He also brought up the weather report, and while it would not storm significantly until evening, it would be a good idea to beat it home.

"Well, some nice summer showers will keep it from getting too hot," he mused as they took off, rising into the air. Sophie agreed. The plants would certainly benefit from some natural rain.

As they rose up into the sky, Kyle could vaguely see a few dark thunderheads off in the distance, on the very edge of the horizon. He smiled and nodded as he turned the ship and they headed home. Even with the rain, it was a wonderful day, and he and Sophie were very happy to just be close.

Author's note: This year will mark ten years since I first wrote Kyle and Sophie. So, to celebrate, I am preparing something special for long-time fans, and one of which is one of the real recipes for Kyle and Sophie's foods.

Kyle's Crebble Cakes

1 cup mayo

Breadcrumbs (two separate batches, one IN the cakes and one to coat made patties with) at least 2 cups.

2 eggs

1 pound shrimp (or crab)

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

(turn garlic butter croutons into breadcrumbs in chopper/food processor or Snyder's sweet onion honey mustard pretzels make wonderful breadcrumbs for this)

2 tablespoons seafood sauce.

Dill weed

1 Tablespoon lemon (Preferably pickled in dill pickle juice, (ones with dill fronds and red pepper pod, old fashioned dill pickles, like Tazely's), finely minced. (Including peel).

shallots

1 Tablespoon finely minced leeks. (White section)

Few shakes of Tabasco

Mix all together, fry in oil or place on tray, put in pre-heated oven at 350 F for 25 minutes till golden brown.

Kyle's Homemade Tartar Sauce

Tartar/Seafood Sauce:

½ to ¾ cup mayonnaise.

Into a chopper/processor put: ½ to whole shallot, tablespoon leek, chunk of lemon, dill weed, ½ tablespoon, ½ tablespoon Herbs Provance, bit of onion. Kyle keeps his scraps in dill pickle juice, (Kosher), (all bits of left over shallot, leek, onion, lemon, olives).

1-2 Teaspoons of Malt Vinegar

1 Tablespoon of mustard, (Kyle uses horseradish mustard AND sweet onion mustard, tablespoon of each). Throw in some chives and/or green onions is you do not have leeks. Put everything into processor, mix it fine, combine with mayonnaise and VIOLA!

Kyle uses what is at hand and what he can get his hands on. This is called

Catch-All Cookin'.

Please keep in mind these all were tried at 5300 feet above sea level, so please adjust accordingly.

I hope you enjoy these recipes, and special thanks goes to my loving Mom.