Imperial Guard – 005 Ethos of Solbrecht
Chapter 6 The Oghuni Teh Neywa, Part III
Baika, Jacky and Freya
Having only a vague recollection of what had happened on the night before, Baika had no one to blame but herself for the consequences of her actions. She would not have felt even a drop of regret, if not for the trouble she was in right now.
Aside from doing her best to avoid Myrann, which wasn't difficult, for every time she saw his guilty face he went out of his way to the same, the past couple of days continued to feel like living a dream. She had Jacky to thank for that. Their close friendship had evolved into so much more in such a short period of time and so unexpectedly, that even after being reprimanded for sharing a hammock, by Eloah nonetheless, she still had trouble comprehending that all of it was real.
Now she had an appointment with her grandparents, and that would not have been a problem if not for the fact that they were members of the Oolaht A'kai. Eloah was known for being relentless when it came to the rules. She hadn't even tried to appeal to any kind of sensitive side, for she knew she did not have one. Adamant to make her statement in front of the council of elders, she racked her foggy brain, struggling to come up with words that could persuade the leaders of her tribe.
"My ahmo is not gonna like this," she said in a monotonous voice devoid of emotion, staring in the direction where Eloah had disappeared behind the residences, leaving her standing with Jacky and Freya at her sides.
Her friends had the same cringing look on their faces, for the weight of the matter had been perfectly conveyed by the harsh tone at which Eloah had addressed her, and her alone. As it should be, or so she thought, given the fact that Jacky was not a member of the tribe and was therefore not to blame. Still, Eloah had addressed her friend after her lecture, and demanded that the two of them would appear in front of the council by the end of morning. If there was anything she could have done to spare Jacky the trouble, she would have.
"I'm sorry, Bai," Freya said while rubbing her bare shoulder.
Instead of looking at her, she turned her head toward Jacky, who continued to fiddle with the strip of cloth that formed the top part of her poetyo by winding and unwinding it around her arm. Jacky's ears drooped down to match the expression of disappointment on her face, as well as the concern that drew its lines over her brow.
"No," Baika sighed. "I'm sorry, Jacky. This is all my fault."
Jacky shook her head, letting go of the poetyo, the loose end fluttering down to the ground.
"Nah, I tried to warn you, but it's not like I did anything to stop us from sharing that hammock, now did I?"
Was that an actual smile creeping along her face? Wondering if this was her imagination at work, a kind of aftereffect of consuming too much alcohol, like the mild hangover that made her head feel like it was too heavy for her neck to carry, she also wondered if this was the effect she had on her friend. Some mothers would call that a bad influence, for even as a young girl she had made quite a name for herself when it came to naughtiness, her natural curiosity being responsible for most of it. But it was also what drove her into becoming an Imperial Guard officer, and she therefore carried a sense of pride for turning what some considered a flaw into a professional career.
Still, she could not let someone else become the victim of her own shortcomings, and certainly not someone she called her best friend and hoped to call her mate someday. Digging her toe claws into the ground in frustration she took a deep breath of cool, humid morning air, looking up at the titanic flat crown of the Ohnu to Morii, her leaves glittering with fine dew droplets in the sun's early morning rays. High above them, the dome's panels were already hard at work to regulate the amount of light falling through them for a gradual warm up of their controlled environment, with multiple panels flipping between reflecting and allowing light to pass through every millicycle.
"Let's go home," she muttered under her breath. Turning around to face the hammock, she retrieved the light blue strip of her poetyo from under it, ignoring the grunts of considerable annoyance of the two male Orkehts who had woken from Eloah's loud tone of voice as they continued to laze in their hammocks. The one closest to her rocked one leg over the edge, eyeing her with a gruff expression on his face after an exaggerated yawn. "Oh don't look at me like that! It's time to get your assess out of bed anyway!" she snapped at him, after which he turned the other way with a growl and a loud snort.
After the three of them applied the top parts of their poetyo they trudged toward the house where Lyssl, Hyht and Lanali were waiting for them, or so Baika figured. There was no doubt that her parents had been informed in person by Eloah, so her steps became slower and slower the closer they got to her home. And it was a small village, despite the ample room between the buildings, gardens and the little groups of trees where many more hammocks had been set up for the visiting delegates to comfortably spend the night.
Great, because that means I'm gonna get the same lecture at least three times today.
Throwing a couple of greetings in the direction of the groups of hammocks and people's doorsteps as the village began to wake up, she squared her shoulders before crossing the last bit of distance to the entrance of her parents' house.
"Ohne'ka ti chi'et," she greeted upon entering. The interior of her roofless house already caught the light of day, a dimmed group of panels crawling over the dome's curvature, following the sun's angle to create a shaded spot the size of the house's footprint. "Before you get angry, I'm sorry."
As it turned out, Lyssl was there to hear her greeting and her apology as the three members of her family, all dressed in their colorful poetyo, were adding the finishing touches to another extensive breakfast. Lanali had taken her place, kneeling on one of the rugs, as opposed to the floor pillows which were common up north, situated in a circle around the cups, bowls and platters placed on the polished planks of the floor.
Her mother greeted her back without much enthusiasm and the mere politeness one would expect from it. Although Baika did not have the intention to sit down and pretend like nothing happened, her mother still decided to block her way, one hand on her waist, the claws of the other scratching at the side of her muzzle.
"I heard from Eloah about what happened."
Baika scoffed.
"I wouldn't expect anything else from that cranky old-"
"Baika!"
"Oof, I went too far this time," she thought, watching her mother's stormy gray eyes glitter with the intensity of a hurricane.
Lyssl did not often raise her voice, even when angry, so she knew that if her mother felt the need to do so, she had reached the absolute limits of her patience. The flattened ears and tail tip that struck the floor with a ferocious tap were clear signs that there was none left.
"All right, I'm sorry. Can we switch back to Preidogian now? I'd like to explain a few things."
Eyeing the other two girls behind her, her mother heaved a derisive sigh, planting a fist on her hip.
"I'm disappointed in you, Baika. You know what our rules say about these kinds of matters."
Somehow she had expected her mother's voice to carry a different kind of disappointment during that statement. One that would actually match her words. Could it be that she wished for a bit more tolerance as well?
"Yes ahmo, I know. But it's not like I can ignore what my feelings tell me. I just wanna know why? Why can't I be in love with another girl?"
Lyssl sighed. Lanali listened to every word they said, as did her father, who decided to take his place next to his youngest daughter.
"Because it is considered wrong."
"Oh yeah? You tell me what's wrong about it."
"Our rules are clear about this."
"That's not a reason."
"Baika, I'm not going to argue with you about something you knew clearly from the start."
Grinding her teeth, she cursed herself for not even being able to change her mother's mind about the matter. If she couldn't even do that, how was she going to change the minds of the elders?
"I'm sorry," Jacky spoke up, stepping forward to face Lyssl. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Lyssl shook her head.
"It's not your fault, dear."
"Damn right it's not," Baika grunted through clenched teeth as she looked at her friend. "Sorry," she muttered as her mother shot her a warning look.
"It's just that my ahmyr has a real knack for bending the rules as she sees fit. Unfortunately our rules are not made to be bent, nor broken." Her mother surprised her all of a sudden as her stern expression softened into one of pity and the same type of disappointment she had shown at the beginning. "I'm sorry girls. I wish there was something I could do."
Baika sighed. At least she seemed to have her mother's understanding, even though that would be far from enough. There had to be some way. She was determined to find it, though she did not have a lot of time for that.
"Forgive me for yelling, ahmo. I'm just so worked up over this."
Her mother heaved another sigh, her shoulders sagging in response.
"Apology accepted. But you're gonna have to face your grandparents and Eloah and the other elders. If you're going to make any kind of appeal, remember to be respectful." She paused for a moment to lay emphasis on that word, continuing only after her daughter nodded. "I know you and Eloah don't always see eye to eye… And maybe that's an understatement but she is one of our most revered elders. Remember that the choices they make have ensured the continued existence of our community for many generations."
"Yeah, well it's not like my sexual orientation is a danger to our community."
Throwing her arms in the air in frustration, Lyssl turned around with a lash of her tail.
"You see, this is exactly the kind of talk that will get you in even more trouble. Why do I even bother?"
"Okay! I'll be respectful. Please ahmo, I don't need another lecture."
"We'll talk about this during breakfast," her mother continued, lowering herself on one of the rugs, squeezing Lanali in between her and her mate. "You still have your daily tasks to perform."
After a much smaller round of gathering and tending the garden of Baika's family, Freya wished the other girls luck before they parted ways, knowing she was now free to spend her time as she saw fit. With the whole of the Ahwali, except for the very old and very young, contributing to their sustenance like every other community on the planet, they only spent a few cycles in the morning of every day working. Not having had a single yoga session from the moment she arrived, she decided to make up for it.
"Lyssl?"
Following Baika's mother back to the house, she brushed the last bits of soil from her knees before following her inside.
"Yes dear?"
Turning around to face her, Lyssl gave her a fond look.
"I really wanna practice some yoga and I wanna ask if I could borrow a rug or something like it."
Flattening an ear, Lyssl frowned, a smile playing on her lips.
"You wanna practice what?"
"Oh, it's a human thing. It's a kind of fitness that helps you to get more in touch with body and mind. It helps me to relax as well as stay in shape."
Slipping a pair of claws under the top part of her pale yellow poetyo to scratch her shoulder, Lyssl balanced on her legs as she bit her lip.
"Sure. Come, I'll get you a rug."
Gesturing for her to follow, Lyssl crossed the shared living space of her home to the small hallway in the back where sunlight fell on the opened tan-colored curtains of the private rooms. Utilitarian like the houses in many of their communities, the living room contained little more than the circle of rugs which always laid in the same place and a pair of small tables, their surfaces made of slices of tree trunk. A large basket filled with fresh fruit and vegetables stood on top of one, and a couple of storage shelves attached to the wooden inner walls held a collection of lidded gourds for storing additional food. A stack of pillows in one corner provided extra comfort during moments where lazing within the privacy of one's home was preferred to the communal spaces outside.
The lack of a solid roof meant that the house didn't have much need for the window panels that were so common in other communities that lacked the characteristic dome of the Oghuni Teh Neywa, although the living room did have one, currently in its open state, for an outside view from the seating corner. The one unique thing and the only piece of technology was the small touch display on the opposite wall for controlling the dome's panels high up above. The interface to the only modern convenience they had accepted to make their lives more comfortable.
Tossing a look inside the other rooms as Lyssl guided her to hers, Freya instantly recognized which one belonged to Lanali. As disorganized as her older sister sometimes was, the little girl surprised her with a made bed covered with soft pink sheets, her hammock suspended parallel to the far wall with its small window panel. She had her own rug, placed on the floor underneath her bed, and embroidered with her name in Cadaii in sky blue symbols. The shelves attached to one of the inner walls held a small collection of simple wooden toys as well as a catcher for holding loose items.
What had to be Baika's old room was not in use and was mostly empty, apart from a similar hammock with bedding in the common off white color. Suppressing a chuckle, as Baika had slept everywhere except for the guest house she had vowed to share with her and Jacky, she waited near the entrance of Lyssl- and Hyht's room. A large two-person hammock was suspended diagonally between the far left corner and a very thick wooden pole in the middle of the room, the sheets draped over the sides to air out the bed.
"I always keep a couple of spares," Lyssl explained, retrieving one from the rolled up collection standing in the corner of the room and handing it over to her.
Its color was the ubiquitous light tan and a small rope knotted around the middle prevented it from unrolling, like the lint around a rolled up letter. Feeling its weight in her arms, the gentle roughness of the material it was made from as she rubbed her hands over it, Freya thanked her as she rested one end on the floor.
"Lyssl? About the girls. Is it serious? Could Baika get like… banished for breaking the rules?"
Taking a breath, Lyssl slumped against the pole that held up her and her mate's bed, tapping the back of her head against it in frustration, her toe claws lightly scraping the wooden floor as her feet shifted due to her redistributed weight.
"Freya, I sometimes don't know what to do with my own ahmyr. She's always been like this. Too stubborn for her own good." With her gaze shifting from a point in the sky above them to directly at her, she dropped her shoulders with a sigh. "She won't be banished, I'm pretty certain about that. But she's not gonna get away without punishment from this one."
"Can I be really honest with you?"
Lyssl's gray eyes hadn't lost their kindness from the moment of her request for the rug. She and her daughter looked so much alike. The same eyes. The same build and muzzle shape. The same skin colors, although Baika's stripes were a tad darker. Her mother gave her a pretty good picture of what an older Baika would look like.
"Always be honest, dear. People will love you for it."
"I'm surprised the ideas around here about same-sex relationships are so… I don't know, backwards? Where I come from nobody even shrugs at two men or two women showing romantic affection for each other, and there are many communities here on Solbrecht where this is allowed. Why haven't you changed?"
Her specific question had not been asked during the breakfast discussion and although Lyssl turned her eyes down and heaved another sigh, she gave her a somewhat wry smile. Hunching her back in a playful manner, she pushed herself away from the pole and back to a steady position on her feet.
"I do agree that we may have remained a bit stagnant in some of our ways. Baika is certainly not the first to attempt this kind of a relationship, but rules are rules. The decisions made by our elders have ensured our survival through pretty tough times. Maybe Baika is right. Her relationship with Jacky is not a danger to the future of our tribe, but changing the rules with regard to this matter is up to a small number of people only, and her chances of being able to change their minds after breaking them is pretty slim I'm afraid."
"That's unfortunate." Lifting the rug into her arms, Freya rested her cheek against it, preparing to leave the room when she noticed Lyssl commenced to do the same. "I was really happy for them when they told me."
"I understand, dear. All we can do is wait and hope for the best. Maybe, just maybe they're willing to reconsider their opinion about this matter."
Having decided in advance that she was going to look up a nice quiet spot near the roots of the Ohnu to Morii for her yoga session, Freya strolled in the direction of the enormous tree through a village bustling with leisurely activities. With the delegates of the other tribes mingling with the villagers, everywhere she looked people were having a good time unwinding. Playing games, chatting while enjoying snacks and drinks, or just dozing off in the shade, some with their loved ones in their arms. With the daily chores done all of it was allowed.
It was due to this that there weren't many quiet spots left, but there was plenty of open space around the giant sprawling roots of the tree in the middle of the community. Untying the bow by pulling its string, she unrolled the plain rug on the short grass, pulling one side to rub the blades in one direction for a smoother surface. Deciding to start with meditation, she sat down on her rump in the middle, her pudgy legs crossed, her hands resting on her upper pair of knees.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath through her nostrils, exhaling slowly through her mouth as she shifted focus from the world around her to her own body, starting with a steady rhythm of breathing. Turning her senses inward one by one, shutting out the voices, laughter and activities around her, she felt her chest expand as her lungs gradually filled up with clean air, holding it for a few ticks before expelling it.
What little tension she felt in her strong muscles gradually dissipated as she restored her mind to a tranquil state, not allowing for any kind of interruption to her routine. Forgetting about the concept of time, she continued her breathing exercise until her mind was completely clear, any thoughts she had before fading to the background, pretending for this one moment of inner focus that they were trivial, even if they were not.
Without losing that feeling, without losing her calm rhythm, she gradually shifted into her first pose, unfolding her long flexible legs as she stretched them forward in a straight line. Placing her chin on her chest, she bowed forward until her spine was almost parallel to her legs, her tail stretched and her forearms placed on the rug next to them, her hands pointing in the same direction as her feet. Due to her longer legs, there were some poses she couldn't assume exactly, and she had therefore adapted them to her unique anatomy. It was in the middle of her fourth pose, one of her favorites which she knew was called Vasisthasana, her long legs making this one extra challenging, that a familiar voice interrupted her.
"Hey Freya. Whatcha doin'?"
A little annoyed at first, it was the cheerful tone of his tenor voice and the person it belonged to that made the feeling disappear as quickly as it emerged. That and the fact that her exercises were meant to calm the mind which would have failed if she let negative feelings get the upper hand. Opening her eyes, she shifted into a kneeling position and looked straight into the golden brown eyes of Hohjii.
Standing at a polite distance from her rug, his hands hidden behind his back, he gave her a questioning look, his head tilted to the side and one of his large floppy ears flattened. Shuffling closer when she smiled, he answered with a smile of his own. Hohjii's thickly-built arms and stout legs, especially for an Orkeht, gave him a compact build similar to her own. Counting in her head the number of times they had talked to each other, she concluded that this had to be the fifth time.
"It's called yoga. A set of physical and breathing exercises as well as meditation for calming body and mind."
Folding his bottom lip inward, Hohjii bit it with his front teeth, which included a pair of very small canines, a rarity among members of their race. Absently-mindedly curling a finger around a strip of the top part of his sky blue poetyo, he lowered himself on his legs before kneeling in front of her on the grass, hiding his hands between his chubby thighs.
"That sounds really interesting. I eh… I was gonna ask you if you wanted to join me for a drink. But I see you're busy, so maybe later today?"
"Yeah, sure. I was just…"
All of a sudden forgetting what she wanted to say, her voice trailed off. It was not like she was looking for excuses. It was that Hohjii's visit broke her concentration and brought back the one thing that was bothering her like water breaking through a dam. So much that he noticed.
"What's wrong?"
The genuine concern on his face and in his voice touched her. It made her wonder if he was also a good listener.
"It's my friends. Baika's in trouble. Does that sound familiar?"
He chuckled.
"Actually it does. What did she do this time? Wait, is it serious?"
"Serious enough to have to appear in front of the elders."
"Oh no."
"Baika and Jacky are in love, and one of the council members, Eloah I believe is her name, found out."
Hohjii shuddered, flinching when he heard the name.
"Ai, that's unfortunate. Our rules clearly state that a sexual relationship may only be sustained between a man and a woman."
"Yeah, so that's what's bothering me."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Okai'ru."
"Freya, I…"
Flattening an ear as he averted his gaze, it was her time to ask. She felt a question burning and there was something he was keeping from her. She did have a hunch though.
"What?" she asked playfully, trying to look him in the eyes by bowing her head.
"Maybe this isn't the best time."
"Spit it out."
"Well I… I kinda like you."
His eyes flashed between looking at the ground and in her eyes, his voice lowered to a near whisper, having pure shyness written all over him. She didn't mean to be cruel, but it was endearing to watch him struggle with his feelings.
"Oh? What do you like so much about me?" she teased.
"Uh, well I uh… I think you're real sweet." A shy chuckle followed, after which he finally looked at her for longer than two ticks. "And uh… I think you're beautiful too."
"Reallyyy?"
"Yes. I… I like a girl with a little firmness."
"So you think I'm fat. Is that what you're saying?"
She almost laughed when he choked on his apology. She didn't want to be mean, but his shyness made it so amusing.
"N-No, no, it's not that," he stammered. "I just... I didn't mean to-"
"Hohjii, it's all right," she laughed. "I'm sorry. I'm being mean. Besides, I know what I look like, and it doesn't bother me one bit. Other than that, you got a little bit of that firmness yourself." Bowing forward she gave him a pat on his thigh. "I like you too. You're really cute."
"Okai'ru. I wasn't… sure how you'd react. I mean, you're going away again in a few days."
Heaving a mild sigh, she scratched behind the base of her right ear, thinking about what it would mean if she started anything with Hohjii right now. The first concern that crossed her mind was her family back on Sogowa Prime. Leaving them behind would be the biggest hurdle. Other than that, her career took her away from any permanent home for long periods at a time. Baika served as a prime example of what that could do to a relationship, unfortunately. Remembering Lyssl's words about honesty, she decided to tell him what was on her mind.
"It's just that I've got my family back home. And I'll be up there most of the time."
"I know." He made it sound so simple. Like it didn't matter at all. Except it did. She did not want to end up disappointing him by making any commitments. "Will I see you again?"
"Why do you have to make it so difficult?" she thought. "That's one promise I can make, given the fact that Baika and I will always be friends." He smiled. It was as if her promise gave him hope. But there was something else he longed for. Because she really wished for things to be different, and guessing there was no harm in granting his unspoken request, she beckoned him closer. "You want a hug, don't you?" His only response was a shy nod. "Come here."
Despite his longing, he shuffled closer to her on his knees, waiting for her to take the initiative. Crawling toward him, she wrapped her own firmly-built arms around his neck to hug him tight, watching his short tail make calm sweeping movements behind his back. He wasn't too shy to return her hug, holding back a little, like he didn't know where to put his hands so he went for a safe position high on her back. His untainted natural scent was strong, yet pleasant. Leathery mixed with something earthy and grassy. Then there were the strong vibrations that his neck and chest transferred to hers as he purred.
"Your purr machine sure is working fine," she giggled.
"Hmm." She was doing him an indescribable favor, that was for sure. Touching her beak to his as they parted, she kept looking into his eyes. Without all the obligations she carried on her shoulders, if things had been different, she wouldn't have doubted for long. "Will you teach me some of that 'yoga' you're doing?"
"Really? You wanna learn how to do this?"
He shrugged.
"Why not? If it's that beneficial to a healthy mind and body, I'd love to know more about it." He frowned, one floppy ear flattening. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," she laughed. "I'm just surprised. Every time I ask my shipmates to try it out with me they start making all sorts of excuses."
"I'll go get my own rug," he said as he leapt to his feet. "I'll be right- Whoa!" Tripping over his own legs as he tried to spin around and run at the same time, he swayed helplessly for a fraction of a tick before falling flat on the grass. "I'm okay," he groaned as he picked himself up.
Chuckling as she watched him walk away without looking over his shoulder, figuring his cheeks and ears were now even redder than during their intimate moment, she crawled back to her rug on her knees to resume her exercise. She would love to finally teach someone else.
"I'm so not looking forward to this," Baika complained, her ears sagging when they reached the entrance to the Oolaht A'kai's private meeting spot.
It was separated from the communal part of the garden of tranquility, where many other community members and their honored guests were spending a peaceful afternoon, by what looked like a little roundabout of trees and bushes, bordered by the same tall hedges that surrounded the different meeting spots, ensuring that private meetings stayed private. Being on time when one was asked to appear was part of being respectful, and with time being a relative concept within her community determined by the angle of the sun, she went on her way with Jacky in tow as soon as the chores were done.
The council had been in session for the greater part of every day since their guests arrived, discussing with the delegates of the other tribes the matter of the drought, as well as other issues affecting the region. From the natural food supply, to the influence of modernization, with so many leaders and emissaries in one place they made sure to spend their time well. As the talks continued during the evening meal, she hadn't had the chance to have a chat with her grandparents yet. Now that she was about to, she wished the circumstances were different.
"Let's just tell 'em everything," Jacky suggested. "What else can we do?"
"You're right, I guess."
Each taking a different path around the circle of trees and bushes that prevented a look inside the meeting area from the communal part of the garden, they met up on the other side, entering the domain of the tribe's leaders. The council assembled on a large rectangular patch of grass, a circle of trees providing natural shade with their lush flat crowns. Rows of different species of plants sporting brightly-colored flowers lined the hedges on all sides, spreading their natural sweet perfume while being aesthetically pleasing.
There were no guards. Anyone who entered here either had an appointment or a very good reason as it was forbidden to be used by anyone else. The council was in session, all of its seven members present, seated on little rugs which she knew were embroidered with their names, giving every member a fixed place in the circle. The circle's diameter was large enough to have all of them face the entrance and it was Eloah, seated in the middle, who gestured for them to come closer.
With reluctance in every step, Baika approached the council as the leaders continued to talk amongst themselves in a calm tone of voice. For the talks regarding the matters greater than the tribe, many more rugs embroidered with the words 'honored guest' in Cadaii and Preidogian had been placed to nearly complete the circle, leaving a narrow path to the center, where two plain rugs were placed side-by-side with the long ends facing each other.
As she and Jacky took their designated places, kneeling reverently in front of the watchful eyes of the elders on the two rugs, Baika felt a slight shiver crawl up her spine, even though it was far from cold under the tree cover. During meetings it was customary for the elders to wear poetyo in the common tan-colored variant to radiate a sense of neutrality and because of the current gathering of leaders, they seemed to have fused with them for the time being.
"A'na chi keh," Eloah greeted them, the cold tone of her voice inducing another shiver.
Greeting them back the same way in perfect unison with Jacky, Baika continued to sit with her head bowed to a slight degree, while making sure to maintain eye contact when speaking. Both were considered signs of respect. Shooting a glance to her left, her friend followed the instructions she gave her to the letter. To avoid laughing, she did her best to refrain from making up more reasons why Eloah's face was always pinched up like she was smelling something bad.
At least the faces of the other elders either held kind or calm expressions, her grandparents included. Ssyla gave them both a faint smile, her gray eyes radiating the same warmth as her daughter's. Rahn frowned, his amber-colored eyes expressing his regret over the current situation. Although they were her grandparents, she knew very well that their opinions would only hold any kind of value if she could persuade the others.
"Baika, daughter of Hyht and Lyssl," Eloah continued in her chilling voice with its raspy quality, even after clearing her throat. The old woman's way of sounding neutral was to be as emotionless as possible, which kind of had the opposite effect. Although her mother had insisted that it wasn't the case, she had always suspected that Eloah simply didn't like her, though she could not come up with any non-ridiculous reasons as to why. "You have been requested to appear before us with regard to your relationship with the young woman named Jacky on your left. Let us begin. You are aware of the rules regarding relationships within our community, is that correct?"
"Yes, I am."
"Are you also aware that by having a sexual relationship with another woman, you have consciously broken one of them, is that also correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"State it."
She did not like Eloah's tone of voice. She did not like the thought that this miserable old woman with her drooped ears and wrinkled face might be secretly enjoying this. And most of all, she did not like being accused of what should not even be regarded as a crime. With reluctance dripping from every word, she quoted it, while scraping together the courage to defend her own actions.
"Any permanent relationship of a sexual nature may only be sustained if the participants belong to opposite sexes."
Focusing on the stinging sensation as her unsheathed claws dug themselves deeper into her thighs, she forced herself to look at any point on Eloah's face that was not her eyes. After the last word crossed her lips, a moment of silence followed that made her hearts pick up the pace. She wondered, and even doubted that Eloah cared about her reasoning, but it was her own grandmother who felt the need to inquire.
"Why did you pursue this relationship, Baika?"
Taking a breath to squeeze as much conviction into her answer, she responded without a trace of doubt or regret, straightening her back to look each of the elders into their eyes.
"Because I love her."
From the corner of her eye she saw Jacky turn her head for a tick. Some of the elders whispered amongst themselves, though aside from a few stray words she could not pick up on what was said. Eloah shook her head without breaking eye contact, while her grandparents had pitying looks on their faces.
"It does not matter," was the old woman's unrelenting response.
"Fine! I accept punishment."
"Baika!" her grandmother warned her.
Ignoring her she continued, catching everyone's attention. If she was going to be frank, she was going to be brutal as well.
"If anyone should be punished, it should be me."
"If you would be allowed to continue this relationship, how do you see your future together?" one of the other elders asked with a soft breathy voice.
He was a tiny male, occupying the leftmost rug, his arms crossed over his chest. Two rare cobalt blue eyes were set in a short-muzzled, wrinkled face and his long shriveled tail with its faded striping curled all the way around so its tip ended up next to him on his rug.
"Why are we even considering this?" Eloah intervened, adding a frustrated snort as she turned her head in his direction with a tug.
"I would like to hear Baika's opinion as well," one of the other women added, ignoring Eloah's indignation. Baika felt it. This was her moment. Now she actually had some of them listening and maybe even considering a different outcome of this meeting. In her thoughts she thanked her grandmother for even raising the question that intrigued some of the others. But they were not out of the woods yet. "You, a healthy and fertile young woman, would deny your family the blessing of a child and the continuation of your bloodline?"
"I'm prepared to have a child with another man."
Now even Jacky was staring at her and she watched a few mouths fall open in astonishment. She knew very well that anything she said within the walls that bordered the domain of the Oolaht A'kai were binding and could be held against her at any point in the future. If they were going to force her to go to any lengths to make this work, she would show them that she had what it takes.
"Are you prepared to give up your place with the Ahwali?" Eloah asked, making it sound like the final question before the passing of judgment, her eyes glittering with what could pass on for cruelty.
"Yes, I am," she answered, laying emphasis on each of the words.
"No!" It was Jacky's voice, raised to a near shout, that made every head turn in her direction, including her own. The look on Jacky's face managed to frighten her, a mixture of sadness and anger, her multi-colored eyes, a side effect of being a child of two races, gleaming with tears. Still kneeling, she had shifted her whole body on the rug to face her, her hands balled to raised fists, as if preparing to beat some sense back into her. "I will not allow you to do that," she said, her voice scratching like a broken record.
"J-Jacky? What're you-"
"It's not worth it!" her friend interjected. "You don't appreciate what you have here. The importance of a place to call home. Of family and friends. I'm grateful for everything my parents did for me, but I never had all this, while I might have if my real parents hadn't abandoned me. But you have! And you wanna throw it all away? All because of me? I think that's pretty darn selfish, Baika!"
Wiping with the back of her hand at the tears that wetted her cheeks with a sniffle, Jacky kept staring at her with an intensity that demanded a response. Taking a pair of quick shallow breaths after holding it during her friend's outburst, she began to consider the possibility that Jacky might be right. Maybe her feelings had blinded her, shutting out rational thought. If anything, Jacky surprised her by showing an amount of courage that even impressed the elders, stirring up a debate between them.
It was as if Jacky managed to contain the twisted feelings of love, doubt and desire, putting her inner conflict in a state of truce. All she needed was a couple of harsh words. For a while all Baika could do was stare at her, trying to figure out what kind of a response would be appropriate. And after long consideration, she figured there was only one.
"I… I'm sorry."
"It seems… that your friend understands our ways better than you, Baika," Eloah spoke in a much warmer tone all of a sudden, though still rather accusing toward her. "That is commendable considering she is not a member of our community."
"Forgive me, if I showed any disrespect. I did not mean to."
Eloah nodded, acknowledging her apology with a soft hum.
"Return to us before the end of today's light. We shall then pass our judgment. You may go."
Crashing on her knees into the soft grass outside the entrance, Baika blew out her breath with a sigh of relief. Taking a moment to catch it, she plucked at the moist strips of her poetyo that stuck to her skin under her armpits and below her neck. She could only guess as to how close she got to being expelled, and due to her own words, no less. The whole confrontation continued to play back on repeat in her befuddled mind.
"You okay?"
"I think… I am. Just gimme a moment."
Watching Jacky's feet position themselves next to her on the grass from the corner of her eye, she could not bring herself to look her friend in the eyes just yet. The Sogowan-Orkeht girl might have prevented her from making the biggest mistake of her life, and she felt too ashamed to admit it. She had gone in with such determination, yet came out with legs that shook like they could no longer carry her weight. And it was Jacky herself who was responsible for this.
"Did you really mean everything you said back there?"
It was the astonishment in Jacky's voice that made her look up. The lowered ears. The matching expression. It was as if they both had trouble believing it. Clawing at the ground between her legs, she averted her gaze, staring at the fine soft green blades that protruded between her fingers as she brushed through them.
"I think I did," she admitted. "Could've been a heat of the moment thing, but still." Looking up once more, the expression on the other girl's face hadn't changed. "D'you really think I'm selfish?"
"That… was kind of a heat of the moment thing as well."
"I've been stupid."
"No, you were blinded. I almost can't believe you care that much about me. Apart from my adoptive parents and the few people aboard their ship, I don't think anyone else ever did."
"I'm sorry," she groaned. Shaking her head she could feel her long ears flap around lazily. "I just couldn't think straight anymore."
"That is something we can agree on," Jacky chuckled. "C'mon, let's find Freya." Pulling herself back on her feet, the first steps she took in the direction of the garden's exit were a bit wobbly, the fresh air blowing past her sweaty skin bringing back that shiver she felt in front of the elders. Freya had told them she would find a spot in the shade of the Ohnu to Morii for one of her yoga sessions, turning the giant tree into their new heading. "Regardless of the outcome, know that I still love you, Baika. They can't take that away from us."
Jacky's voice was close to a whisper, but she sounded determined. Grinding her teeth in frustration, Baika snorted.
"No they can't."
Passing through a village in which everyone enjoyed themselves, they reached the roots of the Ohnu to Morii, its enormous flat crown forming a roof of its own, offering natural protection against the blazing afternoon sun. And its shade was utilized in a never-before-seen way.
"Well, would you look at that," Jacky said, nodding at a group of around twenty villagers that instantly betrayed that they had found Freya.
Their bodies were all positioned in the same identical pose, their legs and arms fully stretched and balancing on their hands and toes in what looked like the starting position of doing push-ups, each of them creating a bit of personal space using their own rug. They had placed them in a semicircle around the rug of the master herself so everyone could get a good view. Freya was in her element, instructing her pupils to arch their backs and force their legs downward with the hands and arms retaining their current position. Few of her pupils seemed capable of matching her limberness, all of them doing their best to copy her.
"Since when did she become a teacher?"
"Since now, I guess. Now that she finally found a few pupils to teach. We should join in. I feel a bit guilty because I promised to share a session with her sometime and never followed up on it. This seems like a good moment."
"I think I could use a yoga lesson by now," Baika said with a sigh. "Freya says it's good for body and mind. Let's get a couple of rugs first."
"Ahhh, that felt great." After her newly-found pupils thanked her for the lesson, Freya let herself fall stretched out into the soft grass, not long thereafter joined on both sides by her friends. She had expected to spend some time alone exercising so Hohjii had delighted her with his request to learn something new. To find so many people, young and old, willing to follow his example had blown her mind. "Thanks for joining in, girls. I think I like teaching my own class. It was fun, don't you think?"
"I should've done this sooner," Jacky answered. "Sorry 'bout that."
"Better late than never, I guess," she laughed. "What about you, Bai?"
Baika's first response was a soft, annoyed grunt.
"You can't imagine how great that felt after what we just went through."
Her friends had arrived not that long after starting with the group and hadn't revealed any details about their meeting with the council yet. Fearing the worst, but hoping for the best, they waited until the coast was clear. Pushing herself up on her elbows, she eyed the painful expressions on their faces.
"So, how did it go?"
Rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands, Baika pulled her legs and feet closer to her body and groaned.
"We just told 'em everything. Said what needed to be said. I think Jacky might've saved my ass. They'll have their answer by the end of the afternoon."
"Owww, I really hope they can find it in their hearts to change their minds. It's so unfair."
"We'll see," Jacky said, combing the claws of her right foot over the grass. "Let's just lie down for a while."
"I promised to share drinks with Hohjii. You wanna join us?"
"I could use one," Baika answered. "Let's just… enjoy a moment."
Laying back down, Freya did as requested by her friends, taking calm breaths in a rhythm similar to her breathing exercises as she stared up at the thick sprawling branches of the Ohnu to Morii, holding up its enormous roof of leaves. Beyond their reach, the transparent panels of the dome divided a clear blue sky in individual squares with varying opacity. Clasping her hands over her belly, her fingers interlocking as they met in the middle, she closed her eyes as she listened to the sounds of light-hearted conversations, laughter, the buzzing of insects, the wind rustling through the leaves, while the sweet smell of grass and soil tickled her nostrils.
"How many snout ridges do you have?" Baika disturbed her mild slumber.
The question was so odd and unexpected she had to ask herself if she heard it right.
"What?" she asked in return when Jacky didn't reply.
"Those little ridges on top of your beak. How many do you have?"
Jacky scoffed.
"Baika, are you on something?"
"No, I just…" Her voice trailed off into laughter, which was so infectious that Freya allowed herself to chuckle, despite the stupidity of it all. "Don't you wonder about stuff like that now and then?"
Moving one hand up to her beak, running her index finger from its tip toward her face, Freya counted in her head the number of times it dipped into the small depressions that ran across its top.
"I think I've got three, maybe four," she answered while recounting. "Not sure. One is pretty shallow."
"Definitely four for me," Jacky answered.
"I think I've only got three," their friend answered the question for herself. "Do you think the number means something?"
"I wouldn't go that far, Baika," Jacky said a weary sigh.
"They have been named," Freya still decided to add. "I looked it up once, but I forgot."
"You see? You do wonder about stuff like that now and then."
"I think it's time for that drink," Jacky decided, pushing herself back up in a seated position. "Who's with me?"
Spending the rest of the afternoon chatting, eating, drinking and playing games, the feeling that time did not exist began to nestle into Jacky's mind. Until the shadows thrown by the Ohnu to Morii and the enormous arched metal pylons that held up the dome grew long and thin. By the time they made it back to the two rugs inside the circle of the Oolaht A'kai, every panel had switched to its fully transparent state, the sun now sending its rays into their meeting garden underneath the trees in its center.
She now had much more trouble keeping her heartbeat under control. To allow herself to breathe normally and keep her tail from hitting the ground in its restless state. Baika had tried to keep herself distracted for most of the time, being fidgety and zoning out when not. The silence was killing, the only thing she was focused on being the people in front of them. It was Eloah who broke that silence, again playing the role of prosecutor and judge at the same time.
"We have reached a decision."
Her voice continued to carry little emotion, like she was reading a statement, without leaking any kind of hint if the outcome was positive or negative. Not that it mattered. There was little they could do but accept it regardless.
"Baika, daughter of Hyht and Lyssl. You, a member of the Ahwali, have broken the rules of our community by engaging in a relationship of a sexual nature with the woman named Jacky on your left. You hereby willingly violated the oath you have sworn to uphold when you reached adolescence. For this you shall now receive punishment."
Turning her head, Jacky watched Baika's shoulders shiver with tension, her breathing turned shallow like her own, staring at the ground with an intensity that could've drilled a hole down to the planet's core.
"However," Eloah continued, making her hearts skip a beat each. "We have also taken the liberty to discuss this matter with the leaders of the other tribes. It has turned out that the rules regarding same-sex relationships differ between our communities. The matter has sparked up much debate, even leading to acts of self-harm and self-banishment by members. In light of these facts, and feeling the continuing pressure of a rapidly changing society, we have hereby decided to change these rules and allow for the bonding of two women or two men under specific conditions."
Gasping at the same time as her friend, Jacky wiped with one hand at the sweat that coated her neck and moistened her poetyo. She almost couldn't believe it. The only thing that kept her from a more verbal and open reaction was the part that Eloah hadn't elaborated yet.
"As for your punishment. You will not be allowed to bond at this time. Return to us at the beginning of next spring. If your feelings for each other have not changed by then, you shall receive our blessing."
"Myrsya," Baika whispered, bowing deeper.
"Secondly… should the need arise for you to have a child to ensure the survival of our community, you shall act in accordance."
"I will."
"And lastly, should you receive our blessing, Jacky will become a member of the Ahwali and take on the responsibilities that come with her new status. Do you both accept these conditions?"
"I do!" they said in unison and with equal strength.
For the very first time Eloah treated them to a modest smile, which almost made her look like an entirely different person. It was like Solbrecht itself smiled upon them, like every single one of the elders did. Ssyla even treated them to a respectful nod, which they appropriately returned by bowing reverently and giving all seven their deepest thanks.
"You may go. We will share the outcome of the talks later tonight. And girls? I believe there's still one hammock of which the bedding needs to be changed."
Standing in the exact same spot where she had fallen on her knees earlier that day, Baika felt like she had been hammered. Every muscle was still tingling, her poetyo was drenched, her legs about to give way once more. And she was still trying to convince herself that this was the real outcome. Eloah's words continued to echo in her ears, her chest and shoulders heaving as she panted with her eyes closed. Until she felt the touch of a hand to her left upper knee, its owner answering the exhausted look on her face with a faint smile.
Turning on the spot and stepping toward each other at the exact same time, she gave Jacky the firmest and sweatiest hug she had ever given her. Grabbing hold of a pair of strips of her poetyo, her friend's chest rising and falling against hers, she intoxicated herself on her scent.
"Something tells me… we got incredibly lucky," Jacky panted.
"You think?"
"Does this mean we can be together now?"
Detaching herself from Jacky, the back of her fingers caressing the side of her neck, she touched the tip of her beak to Jacky's as the other girl breathed into her mouth.
"You can be sure of that," she panted. Nuzzling to the side of Jacky's muzzle, she licked her cheek. "No one's keeping us."
"Baika?"
"Yes?"
Grabbing hold of her shoulders, giving her a light shake, Jacky's eyes showed a sparkle of that same ferocity she had seen earlier in front of the elders.
"Promise me you'll never give up what you already have." She was about to laugh it off, the corners of her beak curving upwards, until Jacky's grip tightened, introducing her to the sharpness of her claws. Grimacing as she felt them poke through the strips of her poetyo, she ceased her attempt. "All right, I promise. Ow! What's with the claws?"
"Just there to show you that I mean it."
Jacky's grip softened. Savoring her friend's gentle touch with a soft purring as she caressed her cheek, Baika watched the fondness return to her eyes.
"Shall we take a bath before or after?" she teased, feeling that grin of mischief manifest itself on her face.
"After. Definitely after."
"Hmm yeah, if we go before, I'll be smelling of sweat and spit again afterwards."
"It's not fair to Freya though."
"Think about it this way. We do need to change the bedding, and if we do it now the three of us will finally spend the night where we're supposed to."
(uncensored version on AO3)
Once again the evening revolved around the Ahwali's honored guests, in addition to the favorable outcome of the talks and the strengthening of the intertribal bonds. The village bathed in the cozy warm yellow light of cooking fires and torches. Music, song and dance filled the air together with joyous chatter and laughter. Wherever one went there was the smell of seasoning and fresh food in the process of being prepared.
Freya was delighted to share the circle around one of the fires with so many new friends once more. All members of Baika's family were there, including Ssyla and Rahn. With their obligations fulfilled, the members of the Oolaht A'kai were free to spend time with their families. The first thing they did was congratulate Jacky and Baika once more with their relationship, considering the difficulties they had faced.
"It was a tough decision," Ssyla emphasized. "But we decided that by continuing to forbid, it might do more harm than good, considering what has happened in some other communities."
But it wasn't just her friends who received their blessing. She had never really considered the possibility when she decided to follow Baika to her home. In this very village, among her own Orkeht race, on a different world than the one on which she grew up, she had found the unexpected. And in turn it presented her with its own difficult decision.
"I wish you could stay longer."
Hohjii's voice was as warm as his embrace as he nuzzled between her ears with his soft leathery beak. Sitting across his lap, she leaned her head against his chest, enjoying the feeling of his broad arms cradled around her. If only he knew how much she wished she could honor his request. He possessed the rare trait of patience, but she didn't want to test it or make promises she might not be able to keep. She felt she had to spare him that.
"Believe me when I tell you that I wish I could."
She felt his chest expand as his lungs filled with air before he sighed.
"Let's… have some faith. If Solbrecht want us to be together. If it's meant to be, all we need to do is be patient."
She loved the way he said that. Loved how his fingers tenderly stroked over her ears when he said it. It made her snuggle even deeper into his chest, pressing her beak into his poetyo, deeply inhaling that earthy, grassy scent mixed with his natural leathery smell.
"Oww, I'm so happy for you guys," Jacky, who sat on their left, cooed.
"Hmm, myrsya," Freya said, feeling the edges of her beak curve into a smile as she looked into her friend's eyes.
Baika's parents and Lanali felt the need to express their happiness as well. Kneeling in front of them, their backs turned toward the fire, Lyssl wiped at the corner of her eye.
"I'm so proud of all three of you." She shook her head as if she couldn't believe what she saw. "Such strong and daring girls."
"As am I," Hyht added. "Whatever happens in the future, know that you'll always have a home right here, should you need it."
"Myrsya, erseh, ahmo," Baika thanked her parents. "That's good to know, eh girls?"
Freya thanked them in turn, as did Jacky, receiving respectful nods from Lyssl and Hyht. It was Lanali who walked up to her older sister and flung her arms around her neck, her hug accompanied by soft purring.
"I'm happy for you, Baika."
Embracing her little sister, Baika purred in return as she rubbed behind Lanali's ears.
"Myrsya, Lanali. I love you."
"I love you too."
After releasing her sister, she gave Lanali a broad lick on her cheek. Freya watched Lanali's face turn to a pout as she wiped her cheek on her poetyo and once more with the back of her hand.
"Eww! You know I don't like it when you do that!"
"But Jacky does, so why don't you?" Baika teased, poking a finger in her belly. Returning to her parents grunting, her sister kneeled down between them in the grass, her arms crossed over her chest, the scowl on her face only inviting more laughter, even from her own parents. "But, speaking about the future," Baika continued. "I'm so glad about the council's decision. To be honest I… was so caught up in my own thing, I kinda lost sight of how important it all was."
"You're forgiven," Lyssl accepted the unspoken apology. "The Oghuni Teh Neywa as a whole have decided to remain neutral in the conflict between our people and the humans. For the time being that is. We do not want to damage our good relations with the nearby city. They have offered their help in times of need before and with this continuing drought we might need it again. We're going to dig more wells." Lyssl sighed, rubbing at the base of her neck. "Fortunately not everyone seems eager to answer Wyr'Mo'Gwi's call."
"What about the other tribes?" Freya asked.
Lyssl's face had turned serious. For the Oghuni Teh Neywa as a whole the decision was uniform. But the tribes outside their circles were on their own when it came to handling the growing human presence on Solbrecht.
"All we know is this. Most of them will avoid conflict if possible. And I say 'most' on purpose because there are those who feel that things have gone too far. Some have felt the need to take up arms. Unrest is growing in the cities as well. We will remain uninvolved unless threatened."
"Oh good," Jacky said with a sigh of relief. "I don't want to see anything happen to you because of all that."
Lyssl smiled. It was a warm motherly smile, not just reserved for her own children, as she looked at each and every one of them before replying.
"That is my wish as well."