Age 521, Planet Sadala, Universe 7

Peparia lightly clapped as her brother, Tarble, blew out his candles. It was his 5th birthday, and that meant that he'd be starting his Great Ape control training soon. That year long course was meant to ensure that a child would be ready to see the full moon for the first time or determine if that child were to have their tail removed to ensure they didn't transform.

The second part was never revealed to the child, of course. The full moon was meant to be an exciting time for the child, and they shouldn't have to worry about being shamed by having their tail removed, even though the tail would grow back within the year, because they couldn't control themselves. That was something for the adults to worry about, specifically their trainers.

Peparia wondered silently how her brother would handle things. She'd been successful at handling her own beast, but as a trainer herself, she was thinking more about what her family was going to put her brother through soon.

She couldn't directly train him, of course. As part of their mandatory 6 years of being a Great Ape control trainer, they couldn't train any direct blood relatives. That's why Peparia was trained by an older cousin, and not by her father; there had to be no direct stakes in the failure or success of the student. And while her mother had added some supplemental training to Peparia's regiment back then, her success or failure laid on the shoulders of her and her cousin.

Peparia watched as Tarble tore open his presents, Peparia knew her turn to present hers would be soon. And because her focus had been on training recently, her gift to Tarble would be a more practical one, though she knew he'd like it once she explained it to him.

Tarble beamed when Peparia gave him her gift, tearing it open excitedly. But when he saw it was clothes, he glared at his sister.

"Pep! Why'd you get me clothes?" Tarble said, the tone of his voice saying it all.

"Hey, that isn't just some regular outfit you'd wear to school or a family event. That's your first training jumpsuit. The kind that stretches as you grow," Peparia said, a little more anger in her voice than she'd intended.

Tarble thought for a moment before realizing what his big sister was talking about. "Oooh! Wow, thank you!"

Peparia knelt so she could talk to her brother eye to eye. "Now remember, while I can't train you myself, I will be there to help you out, okay?"

"Okay!" Tarble said excitedly. He leaned in and gave his big sister a big, 5-year-old hug that was both sweet and embarrassing at the same time.

The party continued for a bit before winding down, and just as Peparia was about to head to the gym for some 20 times gravity training, she was stopped by her mother.

"I'm glad I caught you," Cassa said sternly. "We have something to discuss."

Uh oh, Peparia thought. Whenever mom takes that tone, it's usually something bad.

"We've been discussing our agreement with the Chilli, and we've decided it's time for the breeding alliance," Cassa said. "And your father and I have decided that that Arugu and you would have the best possible offspring."

"Arugu?" Peparia said. "I know him. We've come up with some of the policies our houses use to de-escalate conflict between our members."

"Combining that with your fighting prowess and intellectual aptitudes, the two of you would make the perfect genetic doners for this child," Cassa said.

"And if I want to raise the kid myself?" Peparia asked. "I mean, I don't want my child growing up and not knowing their mom. Or their dad, for that matter."

Cassa just smile at her strong daughter. "Doing so will be difficult on both of you," she said. "You'll become household names among both the Dakkon and the Chilli. Your every action will be seen and judged, as will the success and failure of your child."

"I'm aware of the consequences," Peparia said firmly. It was important for her to be able to teach her own child the way Okara and Cassa had taught her.

"Then you're also aware that your relationship with that Ayote girl will be judged too," Cassa said. "Some will question your loyalties if you're splitting them between Lottus and Arugu, and how that will affect the future of your child."

"I'm not breaking up with her," Peparia said angrily. "I care about Lottus, in the same way you and dad care about each other."

"I'm not saying you have to," Cassa said. "I'm telling you that you have to be prepared for the consequences of your actions. You're an adult now, so the house can't protect you if you screw up. Your actions may even have consequences for the house of you really mess up."

"I promise you, I'm ready," Peparia said. "I won't let you or the house down."

"Exactly what I wanted to hear. Now, go do what you were going to do. I'll see you at dinner," Cassa said, and turned and walked away.

Peparia watched her mother walk away, and she thought about things for a moment. She was certain she was making the right choices; her baby would be hers, and nobody would take that right away from her. Arugu deserved the right to be a father too, though that would be his choice.

But Lottus meant too much to her. She'd have to be careful, but Peparia knew that she could be happy.