Vieraslayer

When Alja makes her decision, and it's one the Viera never suspect, but that isn't for a while yet.

I Will Remain, Never Alone

"NO. It is absolutely not a good idea! If it was a Viera man like Janzyn, it would be a great idea. We need more males here. Marl is tired of only having female friends. You are not having a Hume live here, and that's final. I will not accept it. It is out of the question. Our favourite little half-Hume is bad enough." Jote was telling Alja.

"Can I get a dog?" Myko asked for the millionth time.

"No. Dogs have fleas. If not for any other reason, I don't want us all getting fleas!"

"No fair. Alja gets a miniature coeurl cub and she probably also gets a family, and I can't even get a simple Paramina husky!"

"You can get a talking parrot. Your parents would like that. Pirates like parrots, according to Jan." Mjrn suggested. She had returned home after her wild night with Janzyn as usual. Only she was pretty tired. She still didn't really want to do much of anything.

"Mjrn, that is the worst idea I've heard out of your mouth yet! Myko barely shuts up! I cannot handle having a bird around that won't shut up!" Jote yelled.

"I can't wait until spring. Your moodiness is driving everyone crazy. What happened to my cuddle-bunny?" Marl asked his mate.

"You tell me, Marl. By the way… Mjrn, it's okay if you bring Janzyn into the village occasionally."

"Who are you and what did you do with my sister?"

"Tran is his father is he not? Tran was kind to me after my precious Gura died. Tran says that Janzyn is just like he was when he was younger. He has changed, Tran has. I don't particularly like how he has changed."

"You have me now Jote. You don't need Train, or whatever his name is." Marl remarked.

Alja wandered off to talk with her sister. Time for more strange advice from the chief wood-warder in Eruyt Village, Rael the Monster-slayer. Otherwise known as Rael the Monster by some of the younger Viera.

Rael seemed intoxicated again. Ever since Kjrs had lost her vision and Myko had been around, Rael had not been herself. Kira had been born blind, but Kjrs had lost her sight fighting a malboro. Rael thought it was somewhat her fault. She had been drinking and messing with Rush for a few years now. If Moogles had made a mistake, it was importing alcohol. Viera were kind of delicate and could not hold alcohol well. Rael was no exception.

Rael was in one of her moods again too. If somebody didn't stop her soon, she'd be off making it with Rush again. She had always been so careful in the fall so she didn't get pregnant, but still…

"Hey Alja! Want some crackers? I got this box of crackers from the Moogles, and I don't like 'em." Rael slurred. She did have a box of crackers, but she was stuffing handful after handful into her mouth.

"If you don't like them, then why are you cramming them into your mouth?"

"I have to."

"No you don't! You're high again, aren't you? Were you out in the Wood eating those leaves that make Viera crazy again? You can't be left alone, can you? Where is Kjrs when we need her?"

"Sometimes it's best to be alone. To be Viera is to be alone with the Wood. And with the Wood-Mother you are never alone."

"Never alone. That's how I will be someday."

"Humes are short lived, sister. Leaving a Viera widowed, and children fatherless. A Vieran mate should last as long as you do. He will mate with you when it is fall, and you will bear many little Viera. Of course, some may be blind like our sister Kira. The defect is in our bloodline. Dana was a mistake, but I was fortunate that she didn't inherit the defect. Kira will not have children because she cannot care for them. One time, I woke up with Jote in my bed. She ate the delicious crazy leaves accidentally…" Rael trailed off. She was still somewhat coherent, and was just starting to spout nonsense.

"Rael! Jote would appreciate it if you'd forget that!" Yelled a familiar voice. Mjrn joined Alja. Rael staggered off to wait until the affect of the leaves wore off.

"Hi Mjrn. I hear somebody went crazy in another sense lately. Hala did that once. She ran off into the Wood. I'm surprised she didn't have a baby that time." Alja remarked. The tips of Mjrn's pure white ears turned pink as soon as she heard that. "What's that about?"

"It's true. I did go crazy and spent all night with Janzyn. And what's more, I'm expecting. I haven't told anyone else yet. I spoke to the Wood this morning, and sure enough. The Wood knows the second it happens, you know that. You're only my best friend, so you get to know. If Jote wasn't so cranky… I think I'll wait until she has hers in the spring to tell her. She just accepted Jan; I don't want her to detest him again. And we have to wait and make sure I don't miscarry within the first few months. That's what happens sometimes, especially with Viera my age. Keep that in mind if things work out with Vaan. You are only two months older than I am."

"Mjrn, that's wonderful! I won't tell anyone, don't worry. I'm really honoured that you told me first. Janson and Slya are going to have a little sister or brother! Poor Myko. She'll be the only one without a sibling. Viera need sisters and brothers. I mean, Jote is going to have another daughter, and you are pregnant too, and Mr. Delf has about eight kids from Jyna. Are you going to tell Mr. Janzyn?"

"He probably knows. We did do it about five times last night."

"Spare me the details, 'kay Mjrn?"

"I will. The details are strictly OFMAJ. Only For Mjrn And Janzyn."

"What do you think I should do? I am clueless. I sent Vaan a letter. I told him I'd give him my love, only I wrote it in Sylvan so he wouldn't know what I was talking about and would seek answers. I hope he comes to see me. I'm not sure whether or not to leave with him. I don't think I will. I think I will remain here. I'd be happy if he spent some time with me. I'm a Viera, so naturally you'd think he'd be interested."

"Personally, I don't think he'd even remember who you are. And I don't really think he'd be interested in a Viera. Humes are very odd. I don't think even my sister understands them."

Fran was happier on the Strahl. No Alvyne to irritate her and no Taji the indecent City-Viera. Taji had mentioned her twin children, Kaila and Yiazmat, had gone off to live in Bhujerba. Fran didn't like Taji's kids either. The boy was named after a horrible beast, and the girl was a mini Taji. Fran strongly suspected that Taji's twins were fathered by a Hume, possibly her long-dead tormentor (and Taji's lover) Darvis, but the City-Viera denied it. Taji's twins were born not long after Fran accidentally killed Darvis.

"Fran, that Alvyne seemed like a nice enough person." Balthier said.

"No. She seemed like a crazy Viera who was obsessed with gummy worms. I swear. She was carrying like ten packages of candy with her. Eight packages being gummy worms."

"Well, in other news, we're nearing Bhujerba. It's a big enough city. I'm sure we won't even see Alvyne."

"I don't like her. I can't explain it. From the second I saw her, something deep inside me just… well, I knew she's deceiving us somehow. I have a strange feeling we haven't seen the last of her. I just hope we don't run into Kaila and Yiazmat again. I had a run-in with Tajianda. She said her children live in Bhujerba now. They're trying to make 'Elva's Viera Lovefest' sell better there. It's popular in Rabanastre and Nalbina, but not in Bhujerba yet."

"It still uses Elva's name even though Jote killed Elva for trying to usurp power about seven years ago?"

"Elva the evil Viera was Taji's mother after all."

"Well, the City-Viera seem to be doing well. Did you see Ktjn's baby?"

"If only all City-Viera were like Ktjn and Krjn…"

"This vacation seems to be just what you needed, my dear…"