Tulani had begun to whimper and Elunara crawled down into her bed. She wrapped her arms around Tulani. "Shh, don't cry sweetheart. I'm here." Tulani turned over and wrapped her arms around Elunara's waist. Darguni began to cry, and Elunara winced. Tulani was still trapped in her nightmare. With regret, she slipped out of bed and ran for the nursery. She picked Darguni out of bed and managed to get his diaper changed. She frowned, he was still crying. She tried to rock him and soothe him, but he didn't want anything of hers. She sighed and wished she could nurse. She looked out and saw Tulani thrashing back and forth.
Elunara sighed. Grogek was still out, a fact with surprised her. He was usually a light sleeper. She winced as she felt all the aches and pains of earlier. Without a choice, Elunara climbed in Tulani's bed with Darguni. Sensing food was near he became more insistent. She tried desperately to wake Tulani, but she only clung to Elunara with tears streaming down her face. At a complete loss, she tugged at Tulani's dress. This caused Tulani to freak out and try to hide.
Elunara placed Darguni in the bed next to Grogek, which seemed to temporarily calm the baby. She pulled Tulani in her lap and tried to wake the sleeping woman from her nightmare. With a sigh, she pulled Tulani up into her lap and was able to carefully dislodge one of her breasts from the dress. Scooping up the baby, she was able to get him sucking. Elunara let out a sigh of relief when he latched on. The sensation caused Tulani to calm almost instantly. Elunara got the three of them adjusted and laid her head against the wall. The baby began to whimper again and remembering watching Tulani, Elunara switched him over.
Tulani woke in confusion. Darguni was in her arms and her top was pulled down. She frowned down at the sleeping Infant. "What in the world?"
Elunara blinked. "Darguni was hungry. Sorry," She closed her eyes again.
"I did not wake up?"
"Nobody did." She mumbled.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." She cradled the baby and climbed out of bed.
Elunara slid down. "S'OK, got to pretend I know what I'm doin'. You were trapped in nightmare."
Elunara rolled over and went to sleep. Grogek sat up and stretched his neck. "Ow." He muttered. He blearily looked down at Elunara in the little bed, then up at Tulani. "Nightmare?"
Tulani sighed. "Apparently." She looked at Grogek. Normally he was up first and getting ready for the day. He sat on the bed, scratched and bruised and looking terrible. "Are you alright?"
"Wildcat." He snorted. "She went from vicious wolf, to raging wildcat in a turn." He stretched and whimpered. "Never challenge her." He got out of bed with a wince.
Tulani shook her head and took Darguni back to his bed. She grinned at the lopsided diaper and straightened it. She went back out and Grogek was staring at his scrapes in the mirror.
He touched one and hissed. "I would cancel training, but I'd like to save face."
Tulani walked over and laid her hands on Grogek's shoulder. She concentrated in the way Ina had shown her. It took more effort than she realized and only managed to do a little bit of repair.
"Ahhh, well that takes the sting out of it at least."
"Sorry, I haven't had time to train with Ina."
He patted her on the head. "It's ok."
"I am not a child." She muttered.
Grogek shrugged. "This I know. I did not intend to treat you such. How would you like me to act?"
At first Tulani thought he was being rude, but then she realized it was complete honesty. "I haven't decided." She finally said.
"We haven't exactly discussed our actions to each other. Aside from the fact we love the same woman."
Tulani laughed. "It is because of that same woman that we have had... intimate touches, and yet don't really speak with one another."
Grogek laughed. "That's one way to put it." He watched Elunara sleep.
"I take it back." She said softly.
He just looked at her.
"You do not treat me like a child. You were being sweet. What I said was unkind. I am sorry." Tulani sighed. "Often, I feel like I am still trying to find my place.
He shrugged and wrapped his arms around her. "I do not think of you like I do Elunara. You are hers, so you are mine. I care for you. I know you were hurt and still tender in the heart. I do not wish to frighten you or hurt you again." He kissed the top of her head and turned back to the mirror.
Tulani was sitting at her desk, quietly sewing when Elunara finally woke up. She groaned as she turned over and stared at the ceiling.
"I'm an idiot." She groaned.
Tulani laughed. "How long were you out there?"
"Seven hours." She whimpered.
Tulani raised an eyebrow. "Worth it?"
"The body is telling me to ask next week." She stretched and felt a pop in her back. "What time is it?"
"Around one or two."
She groaned again. "I can't believe I slept so late."
"How long were you trying to deal with Darguni last night?"
Elunara looked up and blinked. "What?" Realization dawned on her. "Oh, I have no idea."
Tulani sat down her sewing and walked over. She knelt down and kissed Elunara. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
"Nah, it's ok. I don't envy you so much anymore." She laughed. Placing a hand on Tulani's cheek, she frowned. "I was supposed to give today to you, wasn't I?"
Tulani just laughed. "It's quite fine. You take your recovery time."
"Where is Grogek?"
"He went on to training."
"Oh man, he is probably NOT happy with me."
"He may or may not have been cursing your name."
She sighed and sat up. She whimpered and rubbed her shoulder. Tulani put her hands on Elunara and concentrated again. Elunara gave a small sigh. "Oh, that takes some of the ache out."
"It's the best I can do."
Elunara leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "It's good." She stretched her shoulder. "At least I can avoid a trip to Ina. I'm going to go run Mrs. Finister her portrait. I'll be back in a little bit. Might swing by and see how Grogek is holding up."
She grabbed the wrapped package and headed out. Mrs. Finister adored her new portrait and immediately began to bicker with Mr. Finister as to who had the best one. Elunara shook her head as she walked away. She spotted Mayby flailing her arms and wandered over. She followed the woman into her home.
"Where's Tonas?" Elunara looked around.
"He's working right now." Maybe began fiddling with pots and pans. "We saw you... yesterday." She blurted.