Chapter 2

Just a heads up to my readers. This chapter gets a little dark and depressing at the end. If anyone wants, they can pm or review and I'll fill them in on what happens.

Aya and Krishna walked back in silence. Aya stared at the ground, lost in her thoughts. The halfling beside her couldn't think of how to cheer her up at all. Ideas popped into her head, but she quickly found faults with them. It seemed the only thing that'd raise Aya's spirits would be Razer's delight at the news of her pregnancy. She put an arm around Aya's shoulders and squeezed. "It'll be alright, Aya. He loves you. You love him. It'll all work out, sweetie. Don't worry." Aya just nodded numbly. Krishna frowned. She couldn't think of anything she could say or do to cheer her up. Then it came to her. "Hey, Aya? What if I talked to Razer beforehand? You know. Got a vibe for how he may feel about this?"

Aya looked up at her, bright blue eyes alive and considering as always. "That plan sounds suitable. Are you certain it is acceptable to you?"

Krishna's brow furrowed. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"We once shared a mind and body. I know of your feelings for Razer. Would it not be painful to discuss his raising a family with another?"

It touched Krishna that Aya wasn't concerned of her feelings for Razer in the slightest. She expressed no jealousy or worry, merely Aya was concerned of Krishna being hurt. Aya didn't care that Krishna loved Razer. She knew Krishna nor Razer would ever betray her in that way. "Aya. I'm happy for you two. Besides, I'm with Saint Walker and we're happy together."

The shorter girl nodded. "Very well. It is a sensible plan to proceed with."

Krishna grinned. "Be back soon!" She easily jumped up onto a tree branch and was off like a shot springing back to the lake.

Aya smiled her small smile and found herself shaking her head. Somehow she knew Krishna wouldn't take the calm straightforward approach most would take and that it would end up in trouble for her beloved. She turned to head back to their small home. Hopefully, Krishna wouldn't cause too much trouble for Razer.

Razer was hovering over the lake's edge in meditation and seemed completely serene. His thoughts were peaceful and he was completely and utterly relaxed. A shadow lithely crawled along a branch that hung over Razer. His face looked years younger, not wrinkled in frustration or irritation for once. He was calm and happy, at ease. The shadow giggled and sat at the edge of the branch. A few bird-like creatures chirped to one another and flitted about. Krishna leaned back, dangling with her calves hooked on the branch, and stared at Razer's closed eyes, taking a deep breath.

"RAZER!" His eyes flew open, much to her delight, and he made a startled noise, falling into the lake. Krishna burst into giggles, until Razer made a blue claw construct reach out of the water and pull her into the lake as well. She yelped as she splashed down. They surfaced and Razer smirked. Krishna's hair had fallen every which way and fell across her face in random strands.

She laughed. "Come on. Let's go dry off." The pair quickly swam to shore, the water stirred almost sleepily at their strokes. Krishna concentrated and the water fell away from her hair, slowly forming a bubble in the air. She eased the bubble over the water and let her concentration break so that the water spilled back into the lake. The girl watched the ripples it created. When the ripples stopped and the water steadied, she could see Razer gazing at her in the reflection. Krishna turned to look up at him. He stood beside her, but after a moment joined her, sitting beside the lake. Water dripped off his helmet and had settled in the dips and curves of his armor. She wondered why he didn't shake the water off.

He took a moment to gather himself. It always fascinated him, watching Krishna use her powers. A sort of fierce calm would overcome her, but she didn't seem deadly. She simply seemed to be whole, for a moment.

After a long, silent moment, Razer glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Did you come out all this way simply to disrupt my meditation or did you actually need something?" Krishna turned to him and swallowed as she saw a few drops roll down his face and neck. A few trailed down his clan markings as well. His brow furrowed as he looked at her. "Krishna? Is something wrong?" The girl gazed back at him, but was lost in a memory of long ago, very similar to today's situation. A time shortly before his and Ilana's marriage was announced, when they'd spend afternoon's together, always with the threat of those against Krishna's living on Volkreg hanging over their heads.

Krishna squealed as Razer sent a particularly big splash in her direction. It was a hot day on Volkreg and nearly everyone had decided to stay inside or cool off in the water or shade. Razer had snuck off to join Krishna on her land and together the pair had gone swimming in one of the shaded ponds. She glared at him, took a deep breath, and dove under the water. Razer mimicked her and they grinned at one another underwater.

Lilac danced around Krishna's head and white danced around Razer's. She loved his smile and how the lines down his cheeks shifted with his smile. It made her sad to think that in just a few weeks he'd have markings on his chin, showcasing his engagement. Once that happened, it wouldn't be as often that Razer could come to see her. The thought made her lonely, but she wouldn't let it ruin her day.

Krishna pointed up and they surfaced. Razer's white hair was matted to his head and Krishna's hung loose about her head and neck. He reached forward and brushed the strands away from her face. She felt her cheeks deepen in color at the contact. His hand lingered on her cheek and she felt the water shift as he moved closer. Her heart raced as he stared at her. She wanted to speak, but had somehow forgotten how. Razer's eyes began to close as did hers. They were barely an inch apart when Razer pulled back. "Did you feel that?"

Krishna laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, I have to admit I did feel something there, Razer..." She trailed off as he stared at the water, scanning.

"Again! It brushed my leg." Krishna sighed. Some darn sea creature had ruined her from being so close to finally kissing Razer.

"Razer, I..." She trailed off as she felt something grab her ankle and pull her underneath. Krishna only had an instant to see the look of shock on Razer's face before her vision was blurred with water. The girl looked down to see a sneering fat boy reach up and wrap a hand around her throat, choking off her air. Bubbles escaped her lips as she clawed at the hand. He swam down, pulling her along until they entered a hole in the wall. He climbed up into a small cavern that must have hidden under the lakeside.

"Ahhh!" Krishna yelped as he threw her down and her head smacked off the rocky floor. She groaned, coughing up water, and glanced up at her attacker. He was one of the sons of the few families that still hated her. Most were beginning to come around to her and she had even ventured into town a few times, with Razer's company, and some had greeted her, chatting with her. "What do you want, Rico?"

He grinned devilishly and crossed his arms over his chest, scanning her up and down. He was a plump boy. A round head sat on his shoulders, a neck somehow not there, and his limbs were thick with muscles that were encased in fat. In short, a fairly unattractive and fairly intimidating fellow. "The nerve of you. Swimming with a Volkregian and dressed like that! Trying to seduce him and make him yours, halfbreed?" Krishna didn't know what he was talking about. Her swimsuit was a black two piece outift. Black shorts with a black halter top was simple enough and not too revealing. Most of the older women would have some form of mesh or something of the sort covering their belly and some of the more regal or rich families would have swimsuits that appeared to be more like dresses, having to maintain "appearances" at all times.

Rico stepped closer and leaned in close. "You need to learn your place." Krishna glared he reached for her. Oh, how she would have loved to dump a tidal wave on him or have the earth shift beneath him, throwing him to the ground! Unfortunately, she was still weak from being choked and drinking lake water in place of air and couldn't gather enough strength.

"Get away from her..." A voice growled from the shadows. Rico began to turn, but then an arm shot out and a fist slammed into his jaw sending him skidding into the dirt to Krishna's right.

She looked up, startled to see Razer walk out of the shadows. Water dripped off of him and he gazed at her. It was incredible how two boys could be so similar yet so different. Both of the same species and in just swim shorts, yet that's where the similarities ended. Razer was sweet, muscular, kind, where Rico was cruel, mean, and harsh. He glanced to the groaning Rico then offered a hand to Krishna to help her stand. "Come on..."

They turned to hurry from the cave when hands clamped down on their shoulders, throwing them back. "Going so soon?" Rico chuckled darkly as blood dripped down his face from a deep cut on his forehead. He turned to Razer and pounced. The two rolled around brawling. Krishna glared and ran forward, sending a powerful kick to Rico's stomach. He dropped to his knees. Forget fighting fair. She fought to win.

Krishna smirked at him and he grasped his fist, leaping forward, sinking his punch into her belly. Krishna's eyes widened and she dropped to the ground as he continually reigned blows down on her and her stomach. The Halfling cried out in pain, unable to squirm free. He leaned close and whispered to her as he grazed a knuckle against her cheek. Razer saw the exchange and grabbed a rock, slamming it into Rico's head. The boy's eyes rolled back and he crumpled to the ground.

Krishna weakly sat up, scurrying from the lifeless body, and stared in horror. "Is...is he...?"

Razer helped her up. "Just unconscious. Come on. Can you swim?" She nodded and with Razer's help they swam out of the cave and up to shore. Razer looked her over. "Are you sure you're..." He was cut off midsentence as Krishna turned and retched. "Krishna!" He looked to see her pink blood pooled on the ground as well. She whimpered weakly, dropping to her knees.

"No...no...no..."

Razer looked from the blood to her. "Krishna...?"

Krishna wouldn't be able to hide it. She couldn't, not from Razer. She began to talk, her voice trembling with heartbreak. "A...a couple months ago...a few boys from town found me after I went shopping and..." She looked to him with a childlike fear in her eyes. His eyes widened as he realized what she meant and she nodded. "The miscarriage will be official in a few days, but the blood coming up pink instead of my usual purple is the first sign." Her eyes watered and the tears made small ripples in the puddle. "I didn't care about how the child came into the world or was created. They would have been mine and I would have loved them and never let them be lonely..." She placed a hand on her stomach. "Rico knew. He had been one of the boys who...who..." She swallowed. "He told me I had no right to bear a Volkregian child. That's why in the cave he..."

Razer knelt beside her and pulled her in close to him. She turned and sobbed into his chest. He closed his eyes, feeling her shake and cry into his chest. There were no words of comfort he could give her, nothing he could do to save the baby. All he could do was hold her and let her cry. That was all he could do...

"Krishna? Krishna!" Razer was close to her, shaking her shoulder gently.

She blinked as she pulled out of the memory. "Huh? Did you say something, Razer?"

He smiled at her kindly, amused. "I asked if you were alright."

Krishna looked down. "Yes. I...I was just remembering the last time we went swimming..." She looked up at him. "That time, I told you a child had left this world. This time, I'm telling you a child is entering it.

Razer's eyes widened in shock. "You mean...you're pregnant...?"

Krishna laughed softly. "Yes and no." He looked confused so she elaborated, looking back to the lake. "I haven't told anyone yet, but I am pregnant, yes, but...I'm not the only one." Krishna took a deep breath. "Aya is pregnant as well..." She looked back to Razer and saw his paler than usual face staring at her in complete and utter shock.

Well, first off I apologize for the wait. I've had a lot going on the past couple months so unfortunately I haven't been able to update. Please don't be mad... Secondly, I come back and give you a depressing chapter...yea...I wish I could have given a cheerier chapter, but I wrote the main chunk of this a while ago. I hope my chapter wasn't a let down. Please review and stay tuned! (Also, still accepting name ideas and unusual powers backstory etc. for the babies. Like a little contest.)