***Alright, I'll warn you now. >CUTENESS ALERT<
There, I've said it. There's no sex in this chapter, sorry if that's what you need.
Ah, there's nothing like a trip into the unknown - especially if you're on the run. 0_o
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Book of the Merren Part 11
The horses were off-loaded and had been led far off. Arrax said his goodbyes and offered last minute advice to them all before he picked up Nahl’een and kissed her while she giggled from the tickling of his fur against her face.
He turned to Shaevre and pointed to a large pack at his feet, “You know how I feel about you, fighter, and you know what this is. There are only two at the outpost. I give this one to you. Keep the little one safe, and if we do not meet again, may it keep you alive, wherever you travel.”
Shaevre nodded, “Thank you, Arrax. This means much to me, I have no words, … how will you ever explain …?”
He shrugged with a smile as he picked it up and handed it over, “I have no idea what happened to this or where it went. I think that the officer who was in charge of the stores and supplies must have made a mistake. It wouldn’t surprise me, he was worthless at anything else that he did but keep his seat warm and eat. I will report it as missing from the weapons stores and leave him to explain the disappearance as best he can. Lean forward a little.”
Shaevre lowered her head and in a moment, he had her thin identification collar in his hand, “You won’t need this anymore, but ,… “ he held out a small cube, “This is an emergency beacon. It may take a little time, but any Xer or Merren system in this part of the constellation will be able to locate it. Do not use it unless there is dire need. Remember, the Merren may come to look for you. I leave it up to you to decide if you wish to be found.
If you see a Xer craft in daytime by itself with its strobes on – in daytime, remember, it will likely be me. You may transmit on the guard frequency, but if you get no response after three or four tries, shut it off and get out of the area, understood?”
Shaevre nodded and took the weight of the large pack with a wolfish grin and she turned to carry it to Ny’Zeille’s horse.
Selena found Arrax standing before her, “Walk with me a moment,” he said.
“Shaevre has told me,” he said, “It could happen that in a few days, she may be the only Xer left on this world. She knows this. It says much to me that she has chosen to stay here with you. I am not surprised at her courage, for she has always had that in abundance.
A long time ago, “he said, “I fell in love deeply with a female. She was a very fine bitch, more lovely to me every time that I saw her. But before we knew each other, her time was coming to her just as Shaevre’s is approaching. The female had a sister who was a fighter. The fighter was known to me, being one of the ones in my command. Having a lot of love for her sibling, the fighter searched for a way to help and arrived at a solution. It would not be the best one for the emotional tie which would come of it, but she saw no other possibility. The sister saw no male that she wanted for herself.
As it happened, the fighter was injured in a training exercise and was sent to be healed. Being a young commander and not having many under me, I took it hard and went to visit the fighter personally. I met the sister there, and we paired only hours later, so the fighter’s solution was never needed. I lost my mate a few years later after I’d left the service. Her sister the fighter perished in battle under the command of a fool, so I lost two singular females from my life, as well as the whelps of my female and I.
A little after the death of the fighter, a parcel came for me with the personal effects of the fighter, since she had me listed as one to be notified in the event of her passing. I already knew, of course, and it opened the wound again, a little. The fighter and I had nothing between us but our respect and admiration for each other.” He smiled, “I think that I see some of her in Shaevre, now that I think of it.”
He held out a thin package to Selena, “I kept everything in the parcel out of her memory. This is the solution that was chosen in desperation for my female by her sister. This is used in those cases where a female has no male and wishes none, but may have a close female friend who would help when the female’s first heat comes. I give it to you both and I hope that it gives you both joy and happiness. If you are successful in this between you, then I want you to know that I am happy that you have found each other. Take care of Shaevre. You both mean much to me and it is my hope that we may meet again soon.”
They walked to where Shaevre stood and he and he kissed them both before he stepped back and he and Shaevre saluted each other as members of the diplomatic arm of the Xer nation. Arrax walked back to the cutter to begin the power up for their departure.
“Shaevre,” Xhan began, “I wish to apologize. I thought so little of …”
“I know,” she said, “Have ones such as me risen in your eyes from it today?”
He nodded, “Much. I will come back – if I can. I wish to know you more.”
She nodded with a smile, “Please be careful, and watch out for Arrax. The bootlicks may want revenge for their shaming at his hands.”
“He has already sent their failed fitness evaluations,” Xhan said, “He scored them too low to be allowed the duty or the pay of a remote outpost any longer. The salt transports have been notified, and they all know that I added my signature to his. I may be still a whelp to him, but I am an officer, and now I seek to learn what he can teach me. Goodbye Shaevre.”
He turned from her but before he could take the step, she pulled him back and threw her arms around him to kiss him rather hard. He looked d azed when she released him as Selena and Faith cheered a little.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“I need no reason,” she grinned a little, “I only wanted to do that. I thought that you needed it.”
He laughed a little and then he was gone and they all saddled up after watching the Xerian cutter lift off and climb away rapidly.
