Special Thanks to JackieStarSister, TooEasilyDistracted, SecretEnigma, Serpentdragon, Mythfan, XYZArtemis, Hexenwerk, SpiritFighter208, and migrane for your reviews! :D

Thank you also to those who have favourited and followed since I last updated!

Author's Note: Hi, everyone. I am terribly sorry for the late update, but here it is, at long last. Also, just a reminder to readers that this fic is set in between the Season Two finale and the Season Three premiere. I thought I'd written this in the Introduction, but I guess not, and that's my bad. :/ Sorry for the confusion.

Also, also, since a couple seasons have aired since I last updated, I have come to the conclusion that I absolutely despise how the Blade of Marmora is being depicted in canon (with the exception of Krolia; she's fabulous). The idea that the mission comes first above all else is a frightening concept that I am not okay with. So the gist of this note is to say that this is officially an Alteration in sole regards to how Marmora acts. Everything else, more or less, stands as canon, but Marmora is not going to be depicted as what I keep seeing and interpreting in the show. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or concerns about this.

All right, enough schmoozing! Time for some story!

Chapter 5: Trust

"Kolivan?"

"Yes?" Kolivan looked up from his holo-tablet, a gift from Coran with a full library of Altean and Galran histories. He had been reading for the past two vargas and his neck cricked as he moved.

Pidge looked down, shifting her weight from one foot to the other and back again.

Kolivan smiled, set aside his tablet, and patted the couch beside him. "Come sit, Kahira-ta, and tell me what the matter is."

Pidge obeyed but took the couch's edge rather than relaxing into the back. "It's Timalli," she said at last, not looking at him. "She was nice to me before, but now she avoids me. Ever since training with you. Did I do something wrong?"

Ah. So this was what bothered her. "No. No, you didn't do anything wrong. You just scared her."

"I didn't mean to…"

Kolivan was quick to assure her. "I know you didn't. You were protecting a friend and we didn't anticipate that level of loyalty. Fear is a good thing. It helps keep us sharp. She'll come around," he added with a gentle smile.

Pidge looked up at him, brown eyes uncertain behind their glasses. She regarded him for a moment, searching for something. Then she looked away. "Okay." She didn't sound at all convinced and then she left.

-:-:-:-

Kolivan checked the biometrics system to make sure Pidge was in the Green Lion's hangar before he sought out his Blades. It wouldn't do for her to walk in on him reaming out his comrades, especially when she was the reason for him reaming them out.

Not reaming, he reminded himself as he strode down the hall. Clarifying. Checking behaviour, certainly, but in a constructive and non-angry way.

They were all in the common just off the training deck. Judging by Yarrata's slick fur on her head and neck, she had given the others quite the thrashing. Except Regris. Regris looked barely winded as he leaned against the wall while the others stretched lightly on the floor.

Regris, of course, noticed Kolivan's entrance first. "Commander," he greeted, dipping his head.

Kolivan nodded back and gestured to his Blades to remain where they were. He took a seat on the floor, crossing his legs, and ignored how Bavi shot Renen a look.

"Friends," he began.

"Uh oh," Zoshia muttered. "This can't be good."

Kolivan scowled. He was trying to not be the commander right now. He was trying to be a friend to them as well as to the paladins. It was harder than he'd thought it would be because his Blades knew him too well and the paladins barely knew him at all.

Regris pushed off his wall and used his long tail to flick Zoshia's left ear before taking a seat on the floor with them.

Zoshia rubbed her ear. "Sorry, Kolivan. What's this about?"

Kolivan took a deep breath. "The other day scared us," he stated, ignoring Timalli's flinch. "We underestimated the paladins, especially Pidge, and we cannot do that again."

"But, Kolivan!" Shah started, but Kolivan shook his head.

"No, Shah. They are Voltron. They are our greatest and most powerful allies."

"They're children!" Bavi put in.

"Exactly." Kolivan leaned forward, spreading his hands. "I understand that this is confusing. We must treat them as warriors and allies and friends, but at the same time, we must also remember that they are children. We know what happens when a child cannot trust the adults around him."

Heads nodded solemnly. Yes, they knew. The incident that had claimed four cubs had occurred thirteen years ago, but to the Blades, to Galra who valued children as the universe's treasure, it still felt like it had happened yesterday.

"Trust them," Kolivan emphasised, "and they will trust us. It's already happening, but it's precarious and fragile. We must protect it."

"This is really happening." It was Timalli who spoke, barely louder than a whisper. "Our only hope is Voltron, and Voltron is made up of children."

"Children who are loyal and strong and capable," said Regris. "Children who are taking the universe by storm and making Zarkon's empire sit up and take notice. They have made more progress in a few months than we have in a hundred years."

"That's actually kind of scary when you think about it," muttered Renen.

"Yes." Kolivan looked him dead in the eye. "Yes, it is. But we cannot let that fear poison our perceptions of them and our interactions with them." He let that hang in the air.

"They know, don't they? They know we're scared of them."

Kolivan sighed. "Yes, Timalli. They know. And because they're children, they think that means we don't like them and don't trust them. We are stronger than our fears, my Blades. Let us act like it."

With that, he stood, held the eyes of each of his friends, and then walked out. It wasn't much, this little pep talk, but he knew it was a start. They all had to start somewhere, after all.

-:-:-:-

Kolivan walked onto the Bridge the next morning to have Allura inform everyone that they were running low on food stuffs (having an additional seven (adult) mouths to feed taxed the kitchen and pantries) and so they were set to land on the outskirts of a small city on a planet well-out of the empire's usual patrol sweeps. "You are welcome to join us, of course," she added, smiling at Kolivan and his Blades.

Kolivan inclined his head. "Thank you, Princess. It would be good to stretch our legs a bit."

So it was that they all went, all seven Blades accompanying the two Alteans and the four Paladins who had opted out of wearing their armour in favour of their casual clothes (though Kolivan knew Lance and Keith both took their bayards). Allura had set the castle down not far from the city, so it looked to be a nice walk on the dirt road. Large trees with bright blue blossoms stretched overhead on either side and songbirds flitted between the branches and harmonised with the wide river on the right. As they moved steadily northward, the land rose into high hills, the river cutting away at the cliffs in torrential rapids.

Topping a rise, they looked down in awe at the small city sprawled out before them. Set on an island in the middle of a lake, the town and land were connected by bridges from at least seven directions that they could immediately see. The bridges themselves were wide with what looked like either trees or massive hedges lining both sides.

Kolivan smiled when Pidge pulled on Hunk's hand. "Come on!" she urged, darting forward.

The group came to the closest bridge and stared up in amazement at the great trees that, indeed, grew along the sides, acting as a fence with wide trunks and sweeping boughs that dripped azure petals with the slightest breeze.

But just as they set foot on the bridge, Keith froze, and the Blades stilled, reacting to his reaction.

Allura glanced over. "Keith?" she began, but a fearsome screech interrupted her.

Kolivan and every one of his Blades drew their knives, while Lance, Hunk, Keith and Pidge all summoned their bayards, at the sight of an…

"Holy crow, what is that?" Hunk gaped.

Kolivan would later tell the paladins that it was an owl-leopard. With beautiful silver fur, spotted in dark grey rosettes, and with a creamy chest and underbelly, it was clad in thick leathers about the loins and torso, gold-gilded armguards gleaming on the two forelegs. Wings twice as long as Kolivan was tall were soundless as they pulled up and the magnificent creature landed, claws from four paws clicking on the stone.

It sat on its haunches, settling its wings along its back and curling its long tail over its paws, and inclined its beaked head. "Greetings," it said in a male's deep bass, "and welcome to Ulon. I am Khi, guardian of this bridge. Who seeks entrance into Ulon?"

Allura stepped forward, lifting her chin. "I am Princess Allura of the planet Altea. With me are my advisor, Coran; the paladins of Voltron, Keith, Lance, Hunk, and Pidge; and members of the Blade of Marmora, Kolivan, Regris, Yarrata, Zoshia, Shah, Renen, Bavi, and Timalli."

That sharp beak clicked as each nodded in his or her turn. "Such prominent members of the universe," said Khi. "What business do you have in Ulon, Princess Allura and Company?"

"We are hoping to do some shopping. Our food stocks are low, and we are in need of many other things to aid us in the fight against Zarkon."

"Indeed, indeed. All are welcome into Ulon. Of course, there is a price in order to cross the bridge and enter the town."

"A price?" Allura glanced at Coran who shrugged. "I was not aware that there was a toll."

"It prevents any of ill-will from entering Ulon." Liquid-amber eyes gleamed.

"What is the nature of this price?" Kolivan asked, interrupting whatever Allura was going to say. "If it prevents some from entering, it must be steep."

Khi ruffled his wings, his long tail flicking. "We do not answer such questions," he replied. "Trust is necessary to pay and cross."

"Kolivan, be reasonable," Allura whisper-hissed to him. "We need those supplies. Surely trusting our hosts isn't too much to ask?"

"There's something not right here, Princess." Kolivan never took his eyes off Khi as he spoke. "I don't know what it is, but we should leave." He dared a swift glance at Regris who flicked his tail in a complex series of loops. As one, the Blades closed in around the paladins, hands on their knives. Out of the corner of his other eye, Kolivan spotted Keith sidestepping closer to Lance, his bayard – though not activated – already in one hand.

"I agree with Kolivan, Allura," Keith murmured. "Something's off."

Kolivan did not fail to notice the sharp and surprised looks from Hunk, Lance and Pidge. Even Allura lifted an elegant eyebrow.

"Are you ready to pay?" Khi asked, and to Kolivan's ears his tone was far too innocent.

Allura glanced at Keith who stared resolutely back. She nodded and turned to Khi. "With regret," she said, "I must inform you that we are unwilling to pay the toll. We will not enter Ulon today."

Khi clicked his beak again. "How unfortunate."

There was no discernible signal, though perhaps it might have been the words themselves, for out of the nearest tree in front of them came a second owl-leopard. On silent wings it flew, its claws unsheathed.

"Down!" Zoshia moved first, tackling Lance and Keith to the ground just as the owl-leopard swooped overhead.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Allura shouted when a third guard appeared behind the group.

Blades lengthened to swords and two blaster-bayards hummed as they took aim. Kolivan narrowed his eyes at Khi who sat placidly as his fellow guards winged around them, the gusts from their wings buffeting them. "This is no toll," he spat, his fingers clenching around his sword. "This is theft."

"If you do not willingly part with what we seek, we will take it," Khi announced with a solemn nod. "Clever Blade of Marmora," he added in a sneer.

"What is it you want?" Allura demanded.

The guards came around again, but this time, claws were extended. "Our food stocks are low," was the ominous reply, and horror plunged through Kolivan, which morphed quickly into rage.

"Protect Voltron!" he commanded, slashing at a guard who stooped too low at Hunk. Luxite blades sang through the air and blaster shots echoed off the trees and across the water.

"No!"

Kolivan flinched at the familiar glow of green in his peripheral, though Pidge's bayard did not aim for his face this time. Pidge ran straight for Timalli who stood over Bavi. Bavi lay on the ground, bleeding, and Timalli's ears were flat to her skull as she faced down the owl-leopard in front of her. Timalli, too, bled heavily from a sliced shoulder and her sword hung limply in her hand. Kolivan watched disjointedly as Pidge used her momentum to leap onto Timalli's back (keeping well away from the injured shoulder) and then leap from it, slicing her bayard across the beaked face in a fluid motion. Pidge landed in a roll…and did not make it to her feet.

Khi had moved at last. In a rush of fur and feathers, he lunged at Pidge, catching her whole body in his talons. Kolivan's heart froze in his chest when, instead of screaming, she choked wetly on a gasp.

Kolivan roared, but his rage was lost in the sound of someone else's fury.

"Lion incoming!" Lance shouted, and Allura and Coran hit the ground.

Khi looked up just in time to see a giant, mechanical, green Lion erupt from over the hill. Something at the end of its curled tail glowed and his eyes widened in dismay, his claws clenching in reflex.

Khi fell out of the air half a tick later, his head gone, and Pidge tumbled from his lax claws into Timalli's arms. Timalli fell with her, her shoulder unable to take even the littlest paladin's weight, but Kolivan caught them both, lowering them to the ground, and Shah was suddenly there, as was Coran, ripping tunics into bandages and staunching the bleeding.

There was so much blood. Puncture wounds in Pidge's stomach and back, eight in all. There was so much blood…

The Green Lion landed, and everyone could see her tail poised for another shot, the cannon on her back humming and the energy-blade in her mouth. A tick later, the Red, Blue and Yellow Lions appeared in the sky above the hill. Instead of landing, however, they hovered in midair, thrusters holding steady and all weapons brought to bear.

"Prah." Kolivan had no idea who whispered the prayer (he thought it might have been Renen who was close by), but he was sidetracked by the lull he hadn't noticed until now.

The fight had, at some point, fumbled to a halt, the owl-leopards (had more arrived during the fight? There were seven now, Kolivan thought) staring wide-eyed at four Voltron Lions who were prepared to defend the strangers.

"Oh," rasped one guard. "That Voltron."

"What other Voltron is there?" Keith demanded hotly, but Allura overrode him.

"We are leaving now," she hissed.

All seven guards inclined their heads and clicked their beaks in what Kolivan hoped was agreement.

The Green Lion crouched, opening her maw. The mouth-blade disappeared, but all of her other weapons remained online and trained on her enemies.

Coran took immediate action: "Hunk!" he called as he swept Pidge into Shah's arms, "help Timalli inside." Renen was already at Bavi's side, helping his mate stand and limp towards the Lion.

It was as they were turning away, that Timalli stopped, Hunk supporting most of her weight, and spoke to the owl-leopard guards with a venom Kolivan hadn't heard before. "If the Green Paladin of Voltron dies, we will be back."

Kolivan didn't look back to gauge the reactions; he stepped up the ramp and into the Green Lion. Small lights illuminated a path away from the direction of the cockpit, and he followed it down to what he guessed was the Lion's belly: the cargo hold. Blinkers flashed on different panels which, when opened, revealed first aid kits and blankets.

"Set her there," Coran ordered Shah who didn't hesitate at being given orders by someone else. "Everyone who's bleeding gets strapped in!" he added to the others.

Kolivan watched distantly as cots opened up from alongside the Lion's inner walls, and Shah set Pidge down as Renen helped Bavi, and Hunk saw to Timalli.

Keith rushed in. "Are they in?" he asked, face pale and hands shaking but mercifully empty of the bayard.

"They're in!" Coran called back, testing Pidge's restraints a second time.

It was then that Green rumbled to life. Kolivan stumbled and clutched at a wall as the Lion launched and headed back to the castle.

Pidge whimpered and Kolivan went wide-eyed when the Lion shuddered in response.

"Hush, hush," Coran urged as he and Shah ripped open the kits for more clean bandages. "Steady, Number Five. Steady."

Kolivan tore his eyes away and came up behind Hunk who was in tears as he clumsily tried to bind Timalli's shoulder. "Here," he said gently. "Let me help."

Hunk nodded, wiped his face, and went to grab a blanket instead without saying a word.

Timalli hung her head when he returned and draped one over her. "Thank you," she whispered and turned her head away, but not quickly enough that Kolivan didn't see her tears. Hunk mumbled something, patted her good arm, and drifted away to where Lance, Keith and Allura stood in a state of shock.

Kolivan stayed where he was, though he had finished his work, his fingers touching the cot on which she lay. He didn't dare leave, for fear of interfering with Bavi's or Pidge's medical attention. Coran was swearing ancient Altean curse words under his breath, not exactly a good sign, and so Kolivan stayed out of the way.

Hesitant fingers touched his and he looked down into Timalli's tear-stained face. "How is she?"

Kolivan glanced back toward Coran and Shah. Zoshia had joined them, lending her hands and more bandages. He looked away, avoiding the scene and Timalli's begging eyes. "I don't know," he said at last.

They touched down what felt like only a couple doboshes later, and Coran, Shah and Zoshia carried Pidge away, the paladins and Allura following. Kolivan helped Timalli stand, but she shrugged away from him when he offered to take her to a cryo-pod in the infirmary.

"Let me, Kolivan." Yarrata came up behind them and took Timalli gently away.

Renen helped Bavi limp down to the infirmary, leaving Kolivan and Regris alone.

"I suppose we wait now," Regris commented quietly. For once, his tail was still around his ankles.

Kolivan said nothing, looking about at the room and the blood smears and the discarded and soaked linens. Sighing, he laid a hand on the Lion's wall and said, "Any chance there are some cleaning supplies here?"

"Kolivan?" Regris asked, concerned.

But Kolivan was listening for the Lion's response. She took a while, and he wondered if she was surprised by his question. Then, a panel at the back blinked at him. Patting the wall, he walked over, opened it up, and smiled at the heavy-duty gloves, cleaners and tools.

Both he and Regris got to work.

-:-:-:-

Dinner was a quiet affair that night. They still hadn't gotten the food supplies they needed, so it was an unappetising mix of food goo and what preserves were left in the pantry. Bavi, Timalli and Pidge were still in cryo-pods, though the two Blades were scheduled to emerge before midnight. As for Pidge…

"She'll need a few quintants," Coran told them over the meal. "She lost a lot of blood and a couple of her organs ruptured."

It was a long few days. Kolivan duly noted that Pidge was never left alone; one of the paladins was always with her, and, Kolivan also noted, one of the Blades was always present, too. They kept out of the way, didn't offer any conversation unless the paladin started it, but he knew their nearness and loyalty to Voltron helped ease the frenetic nerves and unbearable wait.

When Pidge stumbled out of the pod on the fifth day, she was greeted by her teammates and the Blades. After a round of hugs for 'Team Voltron', Timalli approached as Pidge gave Hunk another hug.

"Pidge, I would like to thank you for coming to my aid," Timalli said quietly. "It took great courage, and I thank you for it."

Hunk set Pidge down whose face was suddenly flushed red. Pidge stammered on her reply, clearly confused. "Uh, you're welcome, I guess, but…isn't that what teammates are supposed to do? We protect each other, right?" She looked up, and Kolivan was once more struck by how small she was. Timalli was the shortest of his group of Blades, but Pidge barely came up to her chin.

Timalli was clearly at a loss for words, but she nodded at last and said, "Of course you're right. We trust each other, too, to provide that protection when we need it most."

"And every other time in between!" Lance put in, interrupting the gentle moment.

Timalli was smiling now and she nodded. "Of course."

It was when they were filing out that Kolivan felt a light tug on his sleeve. He and Regris (who was beside him and had obviously been caught, too) looked down at Pidge.

"What is it, Kahira-ta?" Kolivan asked.

Pidge smiled up at them. "Green says thank you," she said and then she raced out the door to catch up with her brothers.

Kolivan watched her go and heard Regris sigh beside him. "What's wrong now?" he asked.

"Nothing," Regris replied. "Nothing at all."

-:-

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