The Harcourt Family - Exploring Histories

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

Harcourt Family – Exploring Histories

Welcome, welcome! 

This is a side story off the main 'Harcourt Family' thread, as a request by a friend of mine. ^_^

We're role playing the lives of the main characters when they were younger and growing up. I don't fully know all the details of Saberlin's history 'cause I simply didn't think that far. (Lol) So this is a fun project.

The main story thread can be found here:Harcourt Family Main Story

Setting


The story is set in the family mansion where Saberlin and Cheria were both born and grew up. Saberlin, being the first born son and the eldest child, is the heir to the family household and most importantly, the business.

Saberlin's father and mother, both half-leopard nekojin, owned the mansion at first but after his mother died, his father took a new wife who was part lioness and who also became the mother to his younger sister, Cheria, quite a few years later.

Characters:


Name: Saberlin Harcourt

Age: 9

Description: Saberlin is part leopard due to being from a line of hybrid experiments. He was born with a leopard’s ears and tail as well as sharp, claw-like nails, which he keeps well manicured and hidden under gloves (even from a younger age). Saberlin possesses two medium-sized fangs either side of his mouth and his hair is short/medium length. It falls in soft spikes and is flaxen gold. His eyes are light golden with feline (slotted) pupils.

Other: He can seem distant and driven when he is busy studying and examining things in the world around him, though he is actually gentle and kind once you get to know him. Saberlin has a playful side that sometimes makes an appearance when he’s not too busy focusing on important tasks.

Extras:

Handwriting: It's still developing but mostly neat with few spelling mistakes

Gifts:

Transformation: Is able to turn into leopard form by using a tiny, barely noticeable gold stud earring in his left ear that was developed in the lab.

Foods liked: Fish, seafood, meat. Choco mint ice cream.

Name: Cheria Harcourt

Age: newborn

Gender: female

Description: Cheria was born to a lioness woman and Saberlin's father, a leopard neko. When she transforms, she turns into a lion cub with dappled paws. Her pelt is a golden bronze, with tawny tips on her tail. Her eyes are golden, with hints of brown. Her claws are tiny, but they will grow as she gets older..

Other:

Extras:

Name: Jabe Harcourt

Age: 37

Description: Jabe is the current master of the Harcourt family and inherited it from his father before him (one of a line of hybrid experiments). He has a slightly messy look about him and seems quite casual in attire and attitude though he is serious about his work and running his household. His hair falls in long, messy aureate spikes and his slotted eyes are a fierce flaxen gold. His skin is tanned to a warm medium brown. He keeps his fangs and claws sharp and on display and has a rather rakish grin. The preferred clothing choices are cuffed long sleeved shirts with half of the buttons undone and casual style pants or jeans with adorned black belts, often accompanied by a favoured light overcoat in a pirate-y style and a good pair of boots. Jabe has several scars to show from his adventuring days and expeditions. (In search of people, parts, ingredients, knowledge, research, creatures etc.)

Other: His first wife was also part leopard like himself and their marriage, although an arranged one, was happy. Sadly, she died of a mysterious illness that no one had ever seen before and a cure was unable to be found in time. He met and married Winny after some years had passed.

Name: Winny Harcourt

Age:
Description: She’s a part lioness neko woman who is the mother to Cheria.

Other:

Day of week/Time of day/Month/Season/Weather

Monday/Morning/January/Summer/Sunshine with clear blue skies and cotton puff clouds

Saberlin was currently fast asleep in his bed in his new room, having been awake half the night. His old one had been altered and renovated to make way for his new baby sister and he had been shifted to another room of his choosing. It was one farthest along the hall of the top floor of the mansion, at the very end, near the observatory which his father loved and spent much time in. Their parent's room was on the same floor but it may as well have been on another planet for all the children got to see them. It couldn't be helped that they were busy with work and running a household and going on important trips and speaking with important people...

...So Saberlin and Cheria had a nanny.

Winny stood at the door way of Saberlin's new bedroom, one hand on the doorway, and the other on her belly. She rubbed small circles on it, and went to rejoin Saberlin's father, Jabe. "Jabe, Saberlin's birthday is in two days. You say he was born in the early morning, around 2:00 am on the 17th of this month? The 17th isnt far away...and I was wondering if we should start to plan his birthday celebration...but with me being pregnant...I cant get around much these days. So, what do you think?" Winny looked out the window, admiring the sunshine.
((Winny is Cheria's biological mother, and Saberlin's step mother....))

((I like the names of the parents. ^_^ Saberlin’s birth mother who passed away can be called Edelia.))

A fuzzy golden ear spattered with darker rosettes flickered as the leopard boy turned in his sleep, beginning to awaken to the daylight in the room. Normally, he wouldn’t have slept this late but today was Saturday and he felt he could lose a few hours to rest. Something else had woken him up too. Through the vague lands between sleep and waking, he thought he had heard someone’s voice echoing into his consciousness. Sitting up and rubbing at his eyes, Saberlin blinked and yawned, slightly dazed. “Mum?...”

He thought he could detect a whisper of her scent. Maybe she had been here a few moments ago.

Oh well, today looked gorgeous; he wasn’t going to waste another minute. Slithering out of bed, he held out his arms and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d from claw to tail tip. “Mmmm!”

***

Jabe was lounging on their bed and looked up from some reports he was reading as he heard his wife come back into the room. Giving her a warm grin, he shook his head, his unusually long tail swishing. “That’s right. Sheesh, is it that time already? Kiddo sure has grown fast. I completely forgot about it to be honest, what with the newest developments in the mildslime vaccine. And I discovered a new star. The astronomy team held a vote for the name…over a hundred to choose from” He chuckled and looked up from the papers to admire her in the sunstream pouring in from the window and his smile softened. “Sure, it’s a good thing one of us remembered. I’ll have to make it up to him” Jabe admitted, having forgotten the year before as well. “I’ll send Lura and Rune to help you, along with some of the other assistants.”

"Really, Jabe? You're always working. Take a day off and be with your son." Winny got up and went to the window and looked out. "Jabe, the snow is beautiful!!" Winny turned around and went back to Jabe. "Here, feel this." Winny put Jabe's hand on her belly, and the child within moved. Smiling, Winny leaned down and kissed her husband on the cheek. "I'll go get Saberlin, and he and I can go to the store to see what he want for his birthday." Winny went out of the room, and appeared in the doorway of Saberlin's room. "Wake up, sleepy. You and I have to go to the store to pick up some things, ok?" Winny went in and gave Saberlin a hug. "Saberlin, here, feel this." Winny put his hand on her belly, crouching down so he could reach it. The baby moved, and Winny smiled, ever so slightly with pleasure. "That's your little sister or brother in there. Are you excited, Saberlin?"  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

((Snow?? The story setting (Day of Week/Time of Day/Month/Season/Weather) thingy says it's summer with 'sunshine with clear blue skies and cotton puff clouds' Lol. Sorry, no snow today.))

Jabe sighed and thumped his tail on the bed slightly as it wiggled and swished, pushing away feelings of guilt. "Mm...I know, I know. But I really can't today, otherwise I would. We have a sick mermaid who suffocates in the water down there, 'sjust not natural. I have to help with the operation. Most I can get is half the day off if I shuffle things" he admitted. He was about to go into further detail but was distracted by her taking his hand to place on her belly. Feeling the small movements, he gave that lopsided halfsmirk that his son had inherited and leaned forward to kiss her belly. "Our little huntress. She seems to be doing well" A pause as he listened to his wife. "Alright. Spend whatever you want, that kid's a hard one to spoil" He gave her a two fingered, clawed wave, almost like a salute, watching her leave after pecking his cheek.

Jabe grunted softly and slid off the bed, his booted steps sounding down the hall as he headed off to work. In the back of his mind, he was thinking over what he could do for his son's birthday later that night.

***

Hearing his mother's voice, the leopard child turned around, halfway between getting dressed into a clean shirt after taking a quick shower in the bathroom off his room. "'Morning mother. I'm already awake" he informed her, giving a warm, fanged smile as his tail and ears perked in a pleased manner. He was always happy to see her. "What are we going to buy?" Saberlin inquired as she hugged him. He was always curious about everything.

"Huh?" Blinking with eyes widening slightly as his mouth fell open, he watched her place his clawed hand on her stomach, wondering what was going on. Barely half a second passed before something moved lightly against his hand and he almost withdrew it in startlement, ears twitching back uncertainly. "My...my brother or sister is in there? In your tummy?" he repeated, half fascinated, very curious and a little unsure. How did they get in there? Why? When asked if he was excited, he bit the tip of his tongue lightly and looked down, searching his feelings. "Um...no, not really. I don't know" he replied softly at last. He didn't get to see either parent very often as it was. If there was a brother or sister, maybe they would have even less time to see him.

"Oh, Saberlin, its not that bad. We're going to the store for a very special birthday boy." Winny took Saberlin's hand and led him out to the car. "To the store please, sir." Winny was soft spoken, and made sure that she held Saberlin close, but not too tightly. Once they arrived at the store, she went in, and started to look at birthday decorations.She kept looking over her shoulder to make sure Saberlin was behind her. "See anything you like dear?"

Saberlin managed to bite his tongue but he wanted to protest that it was. However, hearing the shopping trip was for him, he brightened and almost forgot about the recent revelations. “…Okay” He followed obediently as she took his hand and climbed into the back seat with a growing excitement. It wasn’t just that they were buying him a present; it was that he was spending time with her, together.

He followed his mother into the store she had chosen and began to wander around, looking at various items with his ears twitching inquisitively. This was his favourite shop!

Saberlin peered into some glass, egg shaped globes with patterns and colours inside, mouth slightly agape. They were so pretty. There were even ones that had sculpted pictures inside or glowed in the dark. Moving on, he paused to read the box of a ‘grow your own crystal garden’ kit and another for ‘studying sounds’. He looked through a stand of semi-precious rocks and minerals, picking up the stones then turning them around to study before dropping them gently back into their respective places. He also looked at small vials of tinier stones which could be worn or displayed and through the selection of books about the world, physics, science, animals…

Hearing her question, he glanced up and shook his head. “Not yet, I like all of it. It’s hard to choose” he smiled.

Winny smiled, her eyes sparkling. "I know I cant take the place of your biological mother, but I can be your friend. I'm sorry about not telling you earlier about the baby, Saberlin. I thought you were going to be excited about having a sibling. I guess I was wrong then." Winny pulled Saberlin into a hug, as best as she could, then looked in his eyes. "What theme do you like? What interests you the most?" Her pale eyes searched Saberlin's, and then sighed. "I'm sorry..." Winny turned away and sighed. This is going to be harder than I thought! Almost as soon as she turned away, her water broke, running down her leg and getting on her pants and a bit on her tail. Winny groaned inwardly, trying to stay calm. Why now?! Why not with Jabe at home, resting?!

He was taken a bit by surprise when she brought that up again. What a change of subject! Saberlin hugged her back briefly and sighed, pulling away after a moment. (He was at the age where hugs in public were ‘icky’) “It’s okay. No one can replace her but…you two act the same.” By that he meant he got to see Winny as much as he’d gotten to see Edelia, which was when they had a spare moment and those didn’t happen often. “I…I’d like to be friends” he admitted quietly “and…” Saberlin played with the end of his tail awkwardly, searching for the right words “I’m sorry I don’t feel excited about the baby but you weren’t wrong, mum. I am kind of happy” he smiled to show her the truth in the words. “I just don’t know what to feel, that’s all.” Blinking up at her as she asked what themes he liked and his interests, Saberlin perked an ear and asked in confusion “For the baby’s room or for me? Um...well…for my sibling, I guess, I like…uh…I don’t know. W-well, I like stars. Like the sky at night. And…insects…” he tried.

He grew more perplexed when she turned away and Saberlin frowned, biting his lip and lowering his leopard ears. Huh, what was she sorry about? This was more and more awkward by the minute! Grown ups were so strange, he was sure he’d never figure them out.

Saberlin was about to go back to browsing the items for sale in the hopes of being able to decide on one when he noticed something happening to Winny from the corner of his eye. Seeing the water, he didn’t understand and turned red with embarrassment. “Mum, what are you – you can’t do that here!” he gasped, dropping the bag of crystals he held in shock.

"Shhhh, Saberlin. Its ok." Winny ran her hand through her hand. Crouching down, Winny picked up the crystals. "I'm still in shock myself too. Your father and I had it all figured out. My water would break there, and Jabe will be by my side." Winny looked at Saberlin out of the corner of her eye. "Dont worry Saberlin. My 'water' is the clear fluid surrounding the baby. When it breaks, it means the baby wil be born soon. Sooo...that means we have to get home soon, ok?" Winny rocked on her heels, wondering what to do when the first wave of contractions hit her. They werent strong, but just enough to give some shock. "Ok, stars for your little brother or sister, and insects for you!" Winny took off, and came back with the supplies, paid for them, and even slipped in a couple bags of crystals for Saberlin. Once she was done, she carried them out to the car, her tail sweeping the floor, and her eyes a bt blurry. "Come on Saberlin. Let's go." Winny had retreated inside of herself, as usaul.  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

He stared, slightly frozen, as she began picking up the crystals before dropping to his knees to help her, gathering them up shakily and tossing them hastily back in the pouch. “The ‘Water’…what is it? Is it supposed to get broken?!” he asked in quick succession, clearly worried about her. Was she injured and needed a doctor? Was she sick? Why didn’t his father tell him about it if she was? Why didn’t she say anything?

Some of his fears were allayed by her next calming words yet when she said she was having his sister or brother ‘soon’; he went into a new state of alarm. When was ‘soon’? “…what? Th-then we have to go home right away!” he squeaked, looking panicked. Saberlin ran around the shelves with her, helping to grab the things she reached for before Winny’s hand could reach most of them. He fidgeted as she paid for them at the counter and would have asked for stars as well as insects but was too worried to bother with it. “…alright” he answered quietly when she said to leave. Saberlin only felt a small wave of relief as they walked out of the store, wanting to get home as fast as possible. He bit the tip of his tongue and trotted after her, trying to make his ears and tail stay perked as they insisted on flickering and drooping, giving away his agitation. 'What’s going to happen to her?'

Once she go home, she dumped her purchases on the kitchen table and went to find Jabe. She found him in their room, musing over something. She came up behind him, her eyes worried. "Jabe, my water broke today, while Saberlin and I were at the store. Our child will come earlier than we thought." Another wave of contractions came, this time more painful, making her grab on to Jabe, and stiffen her back.

Saberlin watched her hurry off down the hallway to go to the top floor and find his father, listening to her footsteps fade.

He didn’t follow. Instead he stood in the large, quiet entrance hall holding a small bag of crystals and sighed softly, looking down at them. “Some birthday…” he whispered quietly with a small frown.

Shaking the emotion off quickly after a short moment had passed, he studied the crystals inside their mesh bag more closely and gave a very faint smile, his ears and tail settling back to their normal, casual positions as he took a step forwards and looked up, heading off to his secret study base. “Oh well, I’m used to it. I can’t wait to study these” he murmured, sounding happier and very intrigued. He knew if he needed anything, he could call on Silaeca or Iouya, his ‘nannies’, personal servants, bodyguards and…friends.

***

He was chilling out with a mocktail and stacks of research materials, leaning back in a comfy chair with his booted feet resting atop the study desk by their window and sipping the sunset and violet coloured mixed sweet drink through a curly straw.

Hearing Winny approaching, his somewhat tattered leopard ears swivelled and he turned and grinned at her, seemingly unfazed by the announcement. “Is that so? Neat, can’t wait to meet him or her” he remarked, sounding pleased. “Did you two manage to pick out something nice at the store before you dashed back here?” he asked with a chuckle.

He didn’t flinch when she grabbed onto him, letting her squeeze as hard as she liked. “No need to worry, love. We can do this together. Jabe will be with you the whole time. And at the end of it, we’ll have another child” he told her cheerfully, turning around and calmly sweeping his beloved off her feet. He kissed her several times and purred, nuzzling her neck slightly. “Like I said; no need to panic. We stay calm and head down to the medical bay to take care of this. Let’s go!”

With that, he marched her off to a hidden elevator and straight down to the labs and the medical bays, where there were all manner of machinery, technology and specialist staff to provide any help they may need. If he was at all worried, he certainly didn’t show it. However, the fact that he took her straight there spoke for itself. He didn’t want there to be difficulties because the child was premature.

Winny smiled as he swept her off her feet. "Thank you." She rested her head on Jabe's muscular chest and sighed. She didnt care of she went down to the bay, or stayed in their room to give birth, all that mattered to her that she had the support of Jabe. More contractions came, making her arch her back, and her tail lashed from side to side, showing the pain, as keenly as she could. "Hurry Jabe. Ironiclly, our child deciced to come te day before Saberlin's birthday!!" Little did she know, that the baby, was to be born at exactly the same time that Saberlin was born, making them exactly 9 yrs apart.

He grunted a little and quickened his pace, chuckling softly as her tail whapped into him and shifting his hold slightly to make sure he didn’t drop her. Whilst under the assault of the contraction, she was digging her long claws into his arm without realising. “I’m hurryin’, I’m hurryin…’” he replied in a very unhurried and unharried tone. He didn’t seem to show an ounce of worry about the situation, holding Winny close and wearing a calm expression.

When they arrived in one of several medical bays available, he took her to a quiet birthing room and placed her gently on one of the beds, kissing her forehead and informing the medical staff who asked about her predicament. He then stood out of the way when several midwives, doctors and other specialists surrounded her, taking a seat near her side instead and taking her hand in his. His tail swayed lazily and he leaned back in the chair as he gave her a warm grin. “Lookin’ forward to this. Soon we’re gonna say hello to Saberlin’s new bro or sis” he reminded her, sounding pleased. “It’s happening sooner than we thought but – oh hey, how are you going, Christine?” he waved at one of the staff who just entered the room, gaining a smile in return. “Just fine, Mr Harcourt. The mermaid operation was a success but I might tell you about it later. Hello Mrs Harcourt, how are we doing? I’m Christine, one of the surgeons here” she addressed Winny warmly, with a comforting tone. “I’m also a nurse”

***

Saberlin was standing in his secret study place; a little, very old room secreted away behind a broken panel behind the staircase near the wall on the first floor. It was also attached to a small hole in the wall that led out to a forested part of the grounds outside and went completely unnoticed by most people. It had abandoned equipment and shelves inside and looked to perhaps have been used by a scientist or alchemist once upon a time. Saberlin was lost amongst the pages of a book about gemstones, standing with his nose inches above the pages and the bag of crystals opened, with the rocks placed around the bench and spread on the pages to hold them open. He was studying the picture and information on quartz, reading about the different kinds and seeing how they were formed. It was amazing, and so very beautiful. How did they know to form that way?

Winny nodded. "Fine, when I'm not having painful contractions. Since the baby is two months early, do I need a c-section?" Winny gulped. The last thing she needed was a c-section. I dont think 'm going to need a c-section, I'm already into manual labor! She squeezed Jabe's hand when another powerful contraction came. Pushing herself up, she looked around, and shuddered. brr, its cold in here!

The warm mannered nurse smiled and shook her head as she helped cover Winny with a blanket and assisted the other nurses and midwives in checking her condition. "Only if the baby and or mother goes into distress. We generally don't do a C-section unless absolutely necessary as it is considered major surgery" she assured Winny calmly, checking how far along she was as the other staff administered some pain medication. "But there's no need to be concerned; even if it becomes necessary we are all experienced staff here and take the best care of our patients. We have all the facilities and equipment here for caring for babies who are premature as well, so mother and baby will be looked after"

Jabe helped to keep his wife comfortable, covering her a little with the blanket and continued to let her squeeze his hand, giving the nurses a grateful half smile. He didn't tell her to do anything with her breathing or try to coach her through, simply stayed and offered support by his presence and small actions, letting his well trained medics take care of things.

***

Saberlin paused in his reading about pyrite and pearls with a worried expression. It had been a while since he entered his secret base to play around and he wondered what was happening to his mother. 'I wonder how she is. I hope she's okay. I hope...' To take his mind off of worrying, he'd been trying to read and study but now he was starting to need a break from absorbing so much information. And beginning to grow hungry. Chewing on his lower lip with a small fang, Saberlin sighed and closed the book he had open with a small snap, leaving the room to find his nannies. Silaeca knew of good thinking games to play and Iouya made the best snacks.

Winny squeezed her husband's hand in excitement. She could hardly wait to meet her first child! Sighing, she put the blanket around her shoulders, turned so that she was facing Jabe, and fell asleep. Suddenly bolting upright, she groaned, and fell back. Looking at the clock, she saw that it was 2:00 in the morning. "Saberlin's birthday...." Hearing a thin wailing, Winny leaned foreword. Gasping in delight, Winny picked up her new born baby and cuddled it close to her."Oh, Jabe, a little girl. Saberlin has a new sister!"  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

Jabe waited patiently with his wife, staying even when she fell asleep. He wouldn't want to leave and have her find him gone during one of the most important events of their lives! (even if only for a moment). So instead he continued to hold her hand, watching over her with reflective, light gold eyes.

It seemed to him that the labour was fairly easy and when their daughter finally arrived, he stood up and gave a loud cheer. "A daughter; a beautiful girl! The Harcourts now have a son and a daughter. I'm a blessed man!" he laughed, leaning down to kiss his wife's cheek as the little girl was handed to her. As he looked at his two loved ones together, he was suddenly reminded of another similar occasion and an image of a beautiful leopardess woman holding a small leopard boy came into his mind. Jabe's smile softened somewhat as a nostalgic light came into his eyes. But it lingered only for a moment.

"So, what shall we name this ball o' fluff?" he rumbled happily, looking at the tiny mixed leopard/lion baby and reaching out to gently stroke a still damp ear with the back of his finger (claws well retracted). "She looks a lot like your mother"

***

Saberlin was fast asleep in the secure embrace of silken cool scales, held in the giant, winding red and pink tail of his nanny; Silaeca and sheltered by the velvet black, outstretched wing of Iouya, the half bat hybrid, who was leaning asleep on Silaeca's shoulder. All three were huddled on a large four poster bed in a nautical themed, empty room. It looked like Saberlin had wanted to sleep away from his own room again.

"Well, this ball o' fluff, is getting a very special name. Her name will be Cheria Harcourt." Getting up, Winny carefully wrapped her newborn child in a blanket got dressed, and picked up Cheria, to hold her close. "I think its nigh time to let Saberlin know, hmm?" Winny held her child, and gently stroked the damp ear. Finally windeing her way through the halls, Winny found te bed room, sat on the bed, and gently pried Saberlin away from his nannies, so that he was resting on her chest and lap. From getting to know him, she gently tickled his favorite spot, in an effort to wake him up.

------------------------
Cheria squealed rather loudly, almost loud enough to ake Saberlin. Her stomach growled, showing how hungry she was. Finially finding soem food, she suckled, and then stopped, cuddling up in the blanket and falling asleep.

Jabe pricked his tattered ears as he listened to her chosen name, considering it as he rubbed at his chin, with his tail doing a steady curl-uncurl motion behind him. “Cheria , huh?” he repeated slowly. “Unique...sounds good to me, Dahl”.

He watched his wife get up, dress herself and carry their precious daughter off to meet her big brother, barely batting an eye at all the activity. “Alright, guess I’ll see you later then, love. You’ll have to wake kiddo up; he should be with Silaeca and Iouya somewhere in this place” Jabe grinned proudly, waving her off.

Most women would be exhausted after spending the night in labour then giving birth in the wee hours of the morning but not Winny; she was his powerful, awesome, half lioness gal and she proved her strength and beauty every day.

Sitting back down in the bedside chair with a sigh, Jabe yawned and requested a strong coffee, watching the remaining staff clearing up and cleaning the room and equipment.

Christine smiled at him as she watched a maid come to hand him his beverage, raising one eyebrow at him. “So, is she always full of that much stamina? The lady of the house is one amazing woman” she chuckled softly, shaking her head in admiration. "I wish I had that much energy"

***

The half leopard boy didn’t stir as his mother gently pulled him into a hug along with Cheria, continuing to doze in a peaceful slumber. His nannies stirred awake instantly the moment they heard Winny’s approach but seeing who was taking their charge from them, they merely watched her respectfully, letting her move her child.

Silaeca the naga woman opened one slitted, red and pink eye halfway and flickered her long red tongue as she gave Mrs Harcourt a light smile. Iouya shuffled his bat wings and neatly, quietly, folded them down against his back, his long batty ears pressing back against his skull as he gave a large yawn.

Saberlin’s sleeping expression was one of innocence and calm yet somehow managed to carry a hint of seriousness, even for one so young. “Mrn...nmm! Ah ha ha ha!” He wiggled and shifted a bit in his sleep, giggling involuntarily as Winny tickled his sides and behind his ears, causing his legs and tail to slide around where they lay on the protective loops of Silaeca’s long snake tail.

Hearing some strange sounding, feline accented cries and then the snuffling, suckling sounds of Cheria and smelling the familiar, welcome scent of his mother mingled with his sister’s peculiar new scent, Saberlin bolted awake in a daze and sat upright, blinking a few times while blearily looking around. He looked up at his mother, hugging onto her without thinking and then over at his nannies, trying to piece things together. Okay, so, he had fallen asleep playing hide and go seek. That must mean Winny had come to find him. Wondering what was in his mother’s arms, Saberlin peered down at the bundle which the strange sounds and scents were coming from and reached over to pull the blanket back curiously. “M...mother? Issis her? M-my new lil-sis?” he asked sleepily, slurring the words slightly as he stared at the infant girl.

Winny nodded, and gently covered Cheria up again, being very careful not to cut off the air. "Yes, dear son. This is your little sister. Happy birthday too, to the both of you." Winny nodded at Silaeca and Iouya that they may approach and see the new baby. Pulling back the blanket again, Winny stroked one ear, a smile lighting up her face for the love that she had for both Saberlin and Cheria.

Saberlin snuggled into Winny as he studied the sleepy Cheria in her arms. He noticed her tiny, soft cat ears covered with golden fur and was curious to see they had no spots like his ears did. He also noted that she didn’t have any fangs (yet). She was so small and helpless looking. Was he once that small?

Leaning his head against Winny’s arm and yawning, he flicked his ears and tail lazily as he slowly came more awake. Half-way between reaching out a clawed hand to touch his sister for the first time, Saberlin frowned when Cheria was covered up again, wanting a closer look.

He blinked up at his mother when she wished them happy birthday, attention diverted for the moment. “Wow, you’re right: it is Cheria’s birthday and my birthday on the same day. That must mean we’re each other’s presents” he told her seriously, sounding somewhat pleased.

Still, he clung onto Winny a little more tightly, possessively.

The two odd nannies approached the bundle at Winny’s consent without having to be told twice, both obviously dying to meet the new family member.

Peeking into the blankets once she’d slithered closer, Silaeca gave a soft hiss of adoration and her pink and red eyes glowed delight. Beside her; Iouya broke out into a big goofy smile, showing all his pin-like teeth. “Aww, look at that. It’s a wee lion cubette!” he remarked happily. “She’s almost as pretty as you, Saberlin”

“Iouya!” Saberlin groaned and pushed the bat hybrid playfully, saying his name in exasperation. Iouya loved to tease.

“Sso...are we to be the guardianss of thiss little one as well?” Silaeca asked quietly, trying to hide a growing hint of hope. She had a very light hiss when pronouncing S’s, having worked hard to lessen the hissing effect after she discovered it unsettled many people. Unable to have children of her own, she was already very attached to Saberlin and would welcome the addition of Cheria joyfully.

Winny nodded. "When I go back to work is when you two will be the guardians of Cheria." Winny hugged Saberlin, trying to supress a huge yawn. "Now, its starting to catch up with me. Come on, lets go to sleep.." With out further due, Winny carefully laid down on her side, pulled Saberlin next to her, put Cheria next to Saberlin, put her arms around them, and fell asleep, with Silaeca and Iouya watching over them.

Day of week/time of day/month/season/weather:

Sunday/Morning/January/Summer/Sunny and hot with clear skies


Silaeca absorbed this bit of information looking highly pleased and Iouya's cheeky, cheerful grin seemed to stretch even wider, if that were possible. The two would be able to manage fine between them, even though the siblings would occupy different rooms on the top floor. (Saberlin's was near the observatory at the farthest end of the hall. The parent's room was nearer the other end, somewhat in the middle and Cheria's room was in Saberlin's old room - two rooms along from their parent's room near the other far end.)

***

Sometime later, Saberlin twitched and stirred, beginning to awaken. There was a loud, odd crying sound in his ears and the sun shining through the window into the nautical themed room was strong and bright. Sitting up on the bed, he rubbed at his eyes and yawned, looking around to see where the noise came from.

Yesterday, his birthday may not have gone exactly as he wished, but perhaps they could do something fun today. Little known to Saberlin, Jabe had something planned for that night (since he didn't get to do it the previous night). And there were still the stars and insects to decorate their rooms with.

Winny woke up to a dark canopy covering her and Cheria. "Come on Iouyu, its not time for playing games!" Pushidg the bat wing off of her, Winny stretched and watched her tiny daughter start to wake up. Gently picking her up, with one of her hands behind the head, Winny smiled. "Good morning, little Cheria." Cheria swiped the air with her tiny claws, and opened her ees for a little bit and then yawned. A thin wail started up again, telling Winny that she was hungry. "Ok, ok, I hear you. Let's go see da, ok?" Closing the bathroom door, Winny suckled Cheria, washed her hands, and then went to the kitchen. Before she went to the kitchen, she told Saberlin it was ok to wear his pjs to breakfast. "It's your birthday, and you're the birthday boy."

Iouya laughed and retreated, folding his enormous wings back away. "Well, the sun was so bright, it was falling right on Miss Cheria's face. I thought it would be nice to lend some shade, which I always have plenty of" he replied happily, stretching his wings and yawning. Without further ado, he flapped up to the high vaulted ceiling of the room, found a beam to cling to and hung upside down for a nap, wobbling side to side a little before falling into place.

Saberlin would have listened to Winny, but by the time she finished feeding Cheria and came back into the room, he was already doing up the last button on his shirt and was combing his tail. Silaeca was nowhere to be seen and Saberlin guessed that she must be either freshening up or catching breakfast in the grounds. He trailed after Winny to the nearest kitchen that they usually used, smelling hints of something interesting wafting along the hallway.

Winny entered the kitchen, her ear and tail flicking. "Hmm....what's cooking?" She sat down next to Jabe, and laid her head on his shoulder, while cradling Cheria in her arms. Cheria sucked on her thumb, and then jerked randomly, and went back to sucking her thumb. Winny sighed and tried to flatten the hair that was sticking up. "We need to get her a pacifer, so she wouldnt be sucking her thumb constanly." Smoothing the blanket around Cheria's little nest, Winny smiled at Jabe, her eyes loveningly sparkingly at him.

Jabe looked up over the rim of the soup bowl he held, taking large gulps of the mixture in a somewhat hasty manner. He'd forgotten he was supposed to meet up with his family for breakfast and would have dashed off to start work when just at the right moment, Winny and company walked in.

Putting the soup bowl back down with a carefree thunk, he raised a hand and waved a few half raised, claw-tipped fingers at them, a warm, lazy grin appearing across his features. "G'mornin everybody. Oh, that's seafood soup" he explained regarding the peculiar scents in the air. "Didn't expect to be here this late but my alarm clock broke...good thing it did or I would have missed sayin': Happy Birthday!" he directed this comment mostly at Saberlin, long leopard's tail swishing with a mind of its own as he silently signalled the kitchen staff for more food.

He meant the birthday wishes for Cheria too, although she was too young to understand them yet.

[Saberlin smiled and hurried over to sit near his father, looking excited and pleased. "Thank you father! Seafood soup? How do you make that? It smells very...eck...eco...exo...weird" Saberlin remarked, curiously eyeing the odd looking mixture.

Jabe scooted over in his chair, pulling Winny onto his lap with one arm and kissing her cheek as she rested against him. "A pacifier you say? Iouya and Sil Sil should have three thousand of them. Saberlin couldn't get enough when his first fangs were growin' in" Jabe chuckled, almost carelessly dragging a re-filled soup bowl towards him as the waiters flitted round the dining table. The soup swirled and wobbled wildly in it's bowl but somehow, nary a drop was spilled.

Saberlin had just taken a mouthful and almost choked on his soup, coughing and laughing at the same time. A maid immediately started trying to wipe the spilled bits off him with a napkin. "D-dad -" *coughcough* "- Si-Silaeca will kill...*cough* you if - Aha ha ha - she hears you call her that!" he managed.  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

Winny giggled as she was pulled into Jabe's lap. "Hehee! That tickles!! I hop Sil Sil has one that hold on to the clothes. I dont want Cheria getting sick, she's premature, about 2 months early!" Winny took some of the seafood soup and ate some. "Mmmm! Good!"

He used his free hand to pick up the soup bowl, taking smaller, more careful sips this time, with one fierce golden eye on the baby. "They have every kind imaginable. Saberlin gettin' his fangs was a fuss-cub" he admitted with a half smirk, "Once those things were bit through, he wouldn't take 'em, so they had ta keep buying more. Eventually, they ended up with a treasure trove of them. Most never got used."

Saberlin was beginning to grow a little warm in the face with all this talk about him in his infant days and looked up from his breakfast to remind them pointedly "Father, I am nine years old now, you know!"

"Yes you are." Winny nodded and smiled at him. Cheria started to fuss, her legs kicking." Winny held her a different way, smoothingt eh blanket around her until she fell asleep. "She's tired, very tired." Winny murmered, not talking to anyone in patciluar. "So, what's the plan for today, Jabe?" Winny turned to Jabe, her golden brown eyes fixed on him. Cheria stopped sucking her thumb and put her hands by her sides and yawned, big. Winny gently covred her up and rocked her while she waited for Jabe's reponse.

He chuckled at Saberlin's indignant protest and looked over at the slightly bristling leopard boy with an apologetic grin. "Indeed you are. Forgive my lack of respect, son. Nine is a grand old age t'be. Time flies faster than memory for me some days"



Jabe plonked an empty bowl down yet again and leaned back in his chair with a sigh, patting his stomach a few times. "Ahh, that was good~. Hm, what are we doing?" The Master of the Household's ears flicked casually as he thought over the answer to Winny's question. "Let's see, there's that new vaccine to trial again. We still haven't got the darned thing right. And then there's some research to do on that bio-wing structure - see if we can make them lighter and more flexible, easier to integrate with different designs. Then we have a few clients coming in so that should eat up a bit of time and some more studying to do on that weed we brought back from Sithat..." he was counting things off on his fingers as he spoke, putting a claw in the air for each daily task that was listed. In other words, he was going to work for the rest of the day and it couldn't be helped. Winny usually accompanied him, thus Saberlin and Cheria would possibly end up being minded by the nannies until later that night. Unless Winny had the day off somehow...Jabe didn't mind filling in for her where he could.

Saberlin wasn't really paying too much attention to that part of the conversation. He knew they'd be working today and already had things planned out for himself to do. He had some studying with Iouya and Silaeca first of all and then some ideas to decorate his bedroom with the insects Mother bought him. Maybe he'd try and teach Cheria about some of them. Bugs were great - especially spiders and beetles! He wanted to help put the stars in her room too. If they stuck them on the walls and ceiling it would be like outer space and then he could teach her about that as well. He did keep in mind that she was just a baby. But if he spoke in short, simple words and showed her the objects, maybe she would pick up something. Maybe...

"I'll go with you, Jabe. I'll have to leave Cheria with Iouya and Silaeca." Turning to Saberlin, Winny smoothed some fly-away fur. "Will you look after your sister, wouldnt you?"

“Alrighty then, sounds like she’ll be in good hands. Guess it’s time to get started. Come on, partner…” Jabe nodded with a sort of ‘that’s settled then’ look before giving his usual lopsided smirk, sauntering over to Winny and offering her his hand to help her up.

As they were getting ready to leave, he called back to Saberlin and Cheria that he’d see them later on, with a surprise. “But you gotta be good, or we’re feeding you to the carnivorous plants in the greenhouse! Ha ha ha!”

***

Saberlin instinctively gave a small headshake after Winny had smoothed the fur on his sensitive ear, unknowingly sending the smoothed bit back messy. He nodded at her question, taking it very seriously. “Of course mother, I’ll help Silaeca and Iouya. We’ll make a really good team together” he said, giving her a warm smile. He could prove to her that he was a good big brother.

“We’ll be on best behaviour!” Saberlin’s fur stood on end and a shiver went through him at the mention of those plants in the greenhouse. Oh, he knew the ones. He went to visit them once with Jabe and Winny and one of them snapped at him!

The leopard boy turned around in his chair to see a length of bright pink and red tail sliding silently by, the polished scales glistening. “Greetings Silaeca, did Mother tell you we are looking after Cheria today? Don’t worry, I’ll help out.”

Silaeca gave a soft hiss of amusement and laughed quietly behind one hand. “Thank you darling. I am ssure you will be of great help” she smiled, going over to take Cheria off Winny’s hands. Iouya would be along shortly. He was still finishing his short nap in the roof beams.

"Of course you will." Winny smiled as she gently kissed both Saberlin and Cheria. "I got to go, duty calls." and with that, she left with Jabe, her eyes twinkling.
Cheria whimpered, her stomach growling with hunger.
"You think Cheria is going to be ok with Sil and Iouya, Jabe?" Winny sighed and out her head on his shoulder, her tail lashing from side to side.

“Bye mother.” Saberlin said politely as she kissed him goodbye, flicking his ear out of the way temporarily so she could lean in. “Have a good day”

Listening to their footsteps pad off down the long halls in the opposite direction, he slid off his chair and followed Silaeca out of the room and to the left, watching her silk scaled tail slide sinuously over carpet and stone, with light glancing over it. It would have been frightening to see if he didn’t know her so well. Silaeca may have looked scary on the outside but on the inside, she was soft as gecko skin.

color=red]The naga woman shushed his sister with soft noises and rocked her a little, swaying slightly as she moved. She untied a brightly coloured ornament from her waist belt with one hand and dangled it above Cheria, hoping to distract her whilst preparing her meal. Silaeca knew the child was hungry; she could tell by the cries.

She calmly entered the nursery quarters (which consisted of several different rooms, all well stocked with supplies) and slithered towards a tidy, small kitchen built off to the side of the main room, quickly heating some milk up. “There there…it’ss okay.” She cooed patiently, watching the milk heat with one eye and fixing the other on Cheria. “I won’t let you sstarve little cub.”

Saberlin wandered about meanwhile and found what he was after in the drawer of a study desk, pulling out his pens and notebooks then taking three textbooks from their spots in the in-built cubby shelf. He sat up straight in his chair, flipped open a maths book, uncapped a new ink pen and waited quietly for a familiar black shape to sail through the nearest entry port and land beside him with a leathery sounding flutter.

***

Sensing her worry, Jabe circled a reassuring arm round her waist when she leaned against him and gave her a light squeeze, turning off the hall behind a shifting wall panel to a flight of winding wooden stairs. A skylight lit the staircase from high above, shining light by way of mirrors that bounced it around.

He kissed the top of Winny’s bronze ear lightly, continuing to wear his customary smirk. What was there to be concerned about?

Ah, right…she was a new mother. Perhaps that’s why she worried.

“I trust them entirely with the lives of our children. My…first love…was the one who chose those two for the job…and she was very good at sensing the goodness in others.” He told Winny softly. “They looked after Saberlin like he was their own, though I gotta admit; those two make a freaky odd couple” Jabe threw his head back and chortled loudly, walking nonchalantly through the security doors as they whizzed open to admit the pair to the first level of the laboratory. Silaeca and Iouya weren’t really a couple but they’d been working together so long in their current post that he liked to tease them.

"Ah, ok." Winny relaxed, her tail going back to gentle swishing. "So, what is there to do today?" She shrugged on a white lab coat and smiled.
Cheria whimpered and turned away from the brightly colored ornament, and into Sileaca's chest.

Jabe tugged on a much loved, stained lab coat over his clothes and scratched the side of his chin lightly with one claw, doing up the buttons with his free hand. “Lessee…let’s begin with that research on the bio-engineered wings. We need to improve their structure. At the current stage of development, they really aren’t as easy to manoeuvre as our clients would like; too bulky and heavy, takes a lot of work to shift and flap…not like naturally formed wings. They also need to be much more flexible…there have been a few cases when the wings have broken or snapped in places during combat or put under pressure or blown the wrong way in a strong wind draught. And they need to be able to fit more than one body type. Not everyone likes feathers, heh. Not to mention, some clients already have a fair bit of stuff going on, on their dorsal side. If you could bring up the files for me, hon…”

***

Silaeca sang very softly, still swaying side to side to calm Cheria’s cries. She reached over and picked the bottle of milk up out of the warmer, dabbing some drops on her wrist, her forked tongue flicking in and out. “Hmm…itss just right. Here we go, Misss Cheria, eat plenty of thiss” she smiled, placing the bottle in Cheria’s mouth as she swayed back into the main room. She was careful to hold it at the right angle so Cheria wouldn’t swallow too much at once. Hearing a flapping sound, she looked over at the dark clutter landing near Saberlin’s study area and met Iouya’s gaze in friendly greeting, continuing to sing to the baby.

Iouya raised a long fingered, arm-wing in return before folding them away and grinned back at her, turning his attention onto his student. “Alright, ready to start studying your brains out? We left off with time zones and navigation.” He announced cheerfully, sounding enthused.

Saberlin sat up a little straighter and nodded; pen poised at the ready and a determined look in his eyes. “You may begin”

Cheria sucked on the bottle, her eyes closing in contentment. Draining the bottle, she fixed her eyes on Silaeca as she tried to get every last drop from her mouth by using her tongue.
Winny nodded and gently took it up in her hand to look at it. "I see. have you tried using fiberglass sturture and light fabric?" Winny put the wings down and went over to the file cabinet and pulled out the files. "Here you go Jabe. Here are the files."  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

"Wow, you were sso hungry~!" Silaeca cooed at Cheria in amazement, seeing she had drained the entire bottle. For such a tiny critter, she certainly had a good appetite.

The naga went to rinse the bottle and put it in the dishwasher.

Finding a small, clean cloth printed with butterflies, she dampened it and gently wiped the drops of spilled milk off Cheria's face, laughing when she saw that she had somehow got a drop on her tawny soft ear. "Messsy little girl, aren't you? I don't think your earss are hungry" Silaeca's red and pink eyes sparkled as she talked to the infant. She was loving this.

***

Saberlin's notebook was being filled with exercises and drawings of time zones, speeds, naviagtion symbols and their meanings as well as distances and other information. He listened to Iouya intently, watching him write things on a small whiteboard and raising questions every once in a while. The batty one leaned over to tap a bony finger at a page in the textbook they were reading, explaining a particularly tricky excercise about the effects of shifting worlds and different planets and the solar systems on times and daylight hours.

***

Jabe cocked his head slightly to one side, eyes narrowing in thought as he gave a somewhat confused look. "Huh? You mean...well, dunno how well those'd integrate with a functioning system but I suppose we could make models from those supplies and play around with the designs before we start altering the existing ones. Good idea" he replied, clapping her on the shoulder gently to show his appreciation. Taking the sheaf of paper from her, he kissed the back of her hand with a grin and headed over to a desk nearby to work on them.

Winny giggled like a schoolgirl and gently swatted him before she strapped on a pair of goggles and did some chemistry that she started when she first got pregnant. "Jabe? What goes with cobalt? Sodium Chloride, or chlorine?"

Cheria whimpered, for a small gas bubble had formed, and it was causing her discomfort. Her cries started to crescendo, and then descend like a piano scale that was repeating over and over again.

Jabe grunted distractedly at her as he read over the research papers. “Hunh? Oh, er, whatever. Depends what you’re using it for” he replied, flipping over the page he was reading to look at a diagram.

Silaeca put a soft cloth over her shoulder and lifted Cheria to a more comfortable position, patting and rubbing her back to try and work the bubble out. She moved around the room with her, trying to distract her from the pain by giving her things to look at as they moved about and letting her look out the windows.

***

Saberlin was trying to be patient. He forced himself to focus on his English book, tried to concentrate on the assignment in front of him, wrote things down, then scribbled them out again. He chewed on his lower lip with a fang, flicking his ears in annoyance with his tail swishing about.

Finally, when he’d written ‘The infamous pirate Blackberry Blackbeard ruled over the cry town seas of’ he gave a small shout of frustration and tossed his ink pen down, slapping his hands over his ears. “Make it stop!” Saberlin groaned, trying to block out Cheria’s crying.

Iouya bit back a laugh, hiding his grin behind a wing. He was remembering a cub twice as loud as that.

Cheria wouldnt look out of the windows. Finally, she spit up a small amount of liquid and giving a small burp. Her fur was messy, all of her head fur was encrusted with the milky substance she had spit up. ((hey, it does happen. cant expect newborns to get it right every time!!)) Cheria whimpered again, this time more softly. She wanted her mother, to feel the warm fur next to hers.

Winny stretched as a lioness would. "A client asked me to make a really nice dye for their hair of a specify color, since the stores dont carry it. A bit of extra money will do good around here." Winny smiled, and out of habit, she put her hand on her flat abdomen. Then, realizing she wasnt pregnant anymore, she put her hand back on the table and started to chuckle softly.

"Eck!" Silaeca exclaimed, lifting the little kitty girl away from her shoulder carefully. "Good girl. I suppose this means we're going to have to give you a bath though" she told her warmly with a bit of a chuckle, plucking the cloth from her shoulder and using the clean bits of it to wipe off Cheria as best she could.

"How ever did you manage that, wee missy? Let's get you washed up now" Silaeca added playfully, hugging Cheria close and slithering over to a small bathroom, whereupon she filled a baby tub with a little lukewarm water then added lavender and chamomile soap for infants to the mix. She hoped the essential oils and moisturisers would help the baby relax.

***

Saberlin had shifted to another room completely and was lying on some cosy beanbags, his head buried in a large textbook on biology, reading over how plant cells worked. His leopard tail lashed in agitation. He'd read the same page six times now! Ughhh....

Oh well, at least the crying had lessened somewhat. Sil Sil must be doing something right.

He was being tutored by a different teacher on Bio, since Iouya's expertise lay in other areas, but the half bat hovered not too far away, writing up excercises for homework and revision while the tall, moustachioed lab teacher prattled on informatively and answered questions Saberlin fired at him.

Soon, it would be time to take a break and finish studying for the morning. Saberlin was going to ask the nannies to help them decorate their bedrooms with the insects and stars they'd received for birthday gifts. 'I sure hope Cheria cheers up before then. Otherwise we'll have to shout the whole time to hear each other. What made her so sad, anyway?' He wondered silently to himself.

***

Jabe gave a half smirk at that. She was right; money wasn't exactly flowing out of the ground like oil into their house funds. "Hahhh...a hair dye, eh?" He flipped a few more pages of notes, then slapped them down messily on the benchtop, getting up to shamble almost lazily towards the storage rooms where their previous wing models were kept in thriving, living suspension. "I'd add the sodium chloride and see what happens." He called back over his shoulder, touching holographic images that appeared before him and scanning through them by moving his hand over them sideways, causing the line of symbols to slide around like the display on an iphone. He jabbed at some of them, causing sealed compartments holding growing pairs of wings to open and surrender their treasure to him.

"And maybe some crushed blueice leaves. They add a really gorgeous base to any colour pigments - really intensifies it. Warning though -'s hard to wash out if you add that. Stuff stays permanent for three months" He missed her sweetly odd guesture, too busy extracting a small pair of wings from a tangle of veinlike and plantlike 'wires' growing out of the ends.

Cheria waved her little hands in the air and putting them back into the warm water. Then she started to whimper again.

Winny nodded. "Ok." She added the salt and the leaves in and was rewarded by a sizzle, and then a pop. "What was that all about?" She got up, took the tube from the heater, out in the cooling rack using tongs, and stretched some more. "Jabe, I have to take a break, ok?" Winny gently kissed him on the cheek and went upstairs, not even taking her lab coat off. Once she realized that her lab coat was still on, she took it off, and then went to the nursery. Getting there, she heard Cheria whimper. Coming in, she took Cheria out of the bath, seeing that she was scrubbed clean. Dressing her (and putting a fresh diaper on), Winny held her close. Finally, Cheria fell asleep, sighing contently. Winny found a soft blanket, and wrapped her daughter into it, making sure it wasnt too tight. Finding Saberlin, she sat down next to him, looking at his textbook while rocking Cheria.

Silaeca lightly splashed Cheria, trying to make the bath time more fun. She laughed at the little return splashes the leo-girl made with her hands and tail, though she was slightly puzzled as to the continued crying. They weren’t seriously distressed whimpers by the sounds of them, yet it let Silaeca know that this child would perhaps take a while longer to get used to being away from her mother than her elder brother had.

The snakelike lady was a little surprised at the appearance of her Mistress but she graciously snaked aside and let Cheria be taken out of her care. Her sugar pink and red eyes gazed almost blankly over the goings on, though she greeted Winny warmly enough and, checking a clock on the wall, was astonished to see it was lunch time already. “Oh,…iss, that the time? How are thingss going at work today, Misstresss? Did you find any good combinationss for that permanent hair colour you’ve been working on?” she smiled curiously, following a good distance behind when Winny went to see what Saberlin was up to.

***

Jabe was dripping some sort of lubricating liquid into the tips of one of the wing-stem systems however, he paused what he was doing and returned the kiss with a small purr. “Okay, sunshine. See you in a bit. If I haven’t shrivelled away by the time ya get back, I should still be here. I’ll check up on that hair gunk for ya if you’re gone for long” He chuckled quietly to himself when she walked out wearing her lab coat, counting down under his breath “Three…two…one” and laughing openly when she returned just as he predicted to take it off before disappearing again. He knew where she was going and didn’t blame her if she took the rest of the day off. He’d allow ‘bring your kids to work’ day every day if it wasn’t so dangerous down here.

***

The leopard boy looked up from his homework when something rocked the beanbag he was sitting on and broke into a wide catlike grin, tips of his fangs peeking out. “Mother. Good to see you. You finished work early today!” he purred softly, jumping up from the beanbags after a few failed attempts (they kept trying to suck him back in) and hugging her arm. His tail swished around loopily, as though it wanted to play. “I’m finished studying for now. Let’s decorate our bedrooms. I saw some fascinating spiders and a big praying mantis in those bugs that you gave me.” He looked at Cheria and blinked, sighing suddenly in vague disappointment. “Ah…she’s asleep.”

Winny smiled and stroked her stepson's head. "OK. Cheria's tired right now. But, let's go decorate the rooms, hmm? Then you can show me the spiders. " Tucking in the blanket more securely around Cheria, she glanced over at Silaeca and Iouya. "Want to help us?" Cheria whimpered a bit, but was calmed down by her mother. "Its ok, Cheria. Its ok."  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

Saberlin wiggled out from under her hand after a second, messing his hair back into place. He paused for a moment, digesting her offer and his smile dimmed. "...Alright. But we're not to decorate Cheria's room till she wakes" he stated firmly. He'd promised to be a good big brother after all. Good brothers played nicely with their siblings, didn't they? They didn't leave them out.

"I'll show you what kinds of spiders they are, mother! I was studying them last week with Iouya and he knows all different species" he told her proudly, grasping her left hand in both his own as they headed into the children's bedrooms. He ran and fetched the packets of presents she had bought for them, fishing them out of a secret hidey hole where he kept them in a wooden chest.

***

Iouya opened his mouth to shout "Yeah! Slimy bugs! Spiders! I can show you which ones taste the..." However, the excitable bat-like one was cut off before he could finish. Ruffling his wings, he shuffled on the spot impatiently, playful energy bouncing under his inky skin.

Silaeca smiled politely but declined. She lightly held a hand in the air palm outwards as she waived the offer. "No thank you...it ssoundss like a nice activity for you three to do together. If you wouldn't mind though, Misstresss, Iouya and I would like to go and find some lunch" she knew that Winny probably wouldn't mind the nannies taking a break for a while. Silaeca knew some one on one time would be good for them. The family didn't get to see each other enough in her opinion.

Iouya quietened and let Silaeca decide for them both without complaint. He knew she had her reasons.

"OK. What ever is best." Winny went with her excited son and looked in awe at the different spiders. "Wow. You are lucky to have Iouya as a teacher.

Silaeca led the way out of the room, her undulating coils unwinding and silking over the ground silently in a pink and red patterned ribbon. As the tip of her tail disappeared down the hall, Iouya sauntered along behind it, his wicked, hooked talons making clicking sounds where they made contact with patches of hard floor. They were heading out into the grounds.

***

Standing in the middle of his bedroom, clutching the small mesh bag of insects, Saberlin looked up at the ceiling and all around, clearly trying to spot the best and most believable places for them to stick on.

Once he had decided on a few places, he carefully tipped the selection of insects out onto his bed cover, spreading them around so they could see them better. Kneeling down on the thick Persian rug draping the floorboards, he picked up a large, hairy, dark brown coloured spider with eight ‘boogy’ eyes and inspected it.

“Yes, I am” Saberlin replied somewhat haughtily to her comment “But…I’m even more lucky to have him as my friend. Iouya said he sometimes eats spiders but only when he’s realllly hungry…and there’s no fruit around” Saberlin informed Winny, glancing up at his mother with his tail dancing a slow to-fro, to-fro against the ground. Holding the spider out for her to see, he continued “This one is a Huntsman. They’re very friendly. Most people don’t like them because of their large size. They like to watch you and come and say hi” he smiled at the realistic looking arachnid in his hand, marvelling at the clever design. “I sometimes see them in my den. Oh, that one there is a Black Widow and this one’s a Katipo…and that there is a Golden Orb spider. They spin strong thread made of beautiful gold and these tiny little Quicksilver spiders come to share her web.”

Winny gently took a spider in her hand and examined it. "Now, what is this one?" Cheria woke up and yawned. She looked through blurry eyes and rolled a bit on her blanket. In the lab, the hair dye was thickening, and almost no one was there to stir it, so it would get thick and clumpy, and not smooth and 'creamy'.

Her son’s light gold eyes drifted towards the spider in her hand and he stared at it a moment, trying to work that one out. Tilting his head, he lifted a hand to stroke his chin, like he’d seen his father doing, narrowing his eyes. “Hmm…let me see…that one is – oh, that’s a Cross Spider! They look frightening but I don’t think they’re dangerous to people. Aren’t the legs cool? It looks just like a big yellow ‘X’” he smiled, poking at a striped rubber leg. “Okay, let’s put that one…over there!” He indicated a place on the wall just above his bed, where the spider could be seen day and night among posters of different world environments.

***

Sniffing the air curiously and wrinkling his nose, Jabe took a short break from working on the newest wing model to check out where the source of the peculiar smell was coming from. It was like burning rubber and Vaseline mixed with the scents of green leaves. Suddenly he slapped a hand to his forehead and groaned. “Darn it, I forgot; Winny’s hair stuff!” Just as he was about to reach the table where she’d left it, there was a strange halo of blue light round the beaker it was in and then a terrific BOOM!

Bits of charred grey blue gunk splattered everywhere, searing holes and grilling marks in all they fell upon. “Arrggh! Fff-fudgemagickit!” Jabe yelled, dancing in agony whilst trying to wipe off the blob that landed on his cheek.

All that remained of the hair dye mixture was a small burst of blue flames, which were flickering their way through some loose bits of paper with the instructions for making the dye.

Winny put the spider right where her son indicated. She adjusted it ever so slightly and then stood back. "Is that ok?" She looked at her son. Then she remembered something. "I'll be right back, I have to check on something in the lab. You will watch your sister, right?" Winny dashed off, her pin straight hair flying behind her. Grabbing her lab coat on the way in, she tugged it on when she saw Jabe with the blob on his cheek. "Oh dear, did it explode on you?" She preceded to wipe it off, but she stumbled, and fainted clean away.

Saberlin scrutinised the spider where she had placed it, stepping back and looking at it from different angles before giving a playful nod. “Yes. It looks very fine, mother, thank you” he smiled, hugging her somewhere round the middle since that was only about where he could reach and giving a soft purr. Letting go, he pattered over to the pile of rubber bugs and gathered two big handfuls into his arms.

“You’re good at decorating, mother. Here, let us both get some insects and stick them everywhere! Cheria can have…this one!” he announced happily, choosing a colourful moth with furry antennae from the pile. However, just as he turned round, Winny said something about having to be somewhere else and dashed off, leaving him with his sister.

The smile slipped from Saberlin’s face as a few winged and many legged creatures plopped to the floor. His tail and ears dipped in disappointment. “…r-right” he called after her vanishing footsteps, uttering a whispered sigh.

Hearing a little gurgling noise somewhere behind him, near his feet, he turned to see the half lion, half leopard girl snuggled on a soft cushion on the floor in her blanket and silently knelt down by her, holding out the moth for her to take. “Here Cheria, you may have this one. It’s got pretty wings, see?” he said softly, giving her a small smile. “Look at this: moth…moth.” He repeated its name, making it hover around by her face to catch her interest.

***

Jabe shrugged and gave a short, wry laugh. “Explode it did, sorry darlin’. It would’a bin just right ‘cept I forgot it was on the burner. I was too absorbed in getting the wings right - I’m real sorry, love. That’ll be an interesting new scar though…” he admitted with a wince, not seeming too bothered by the fact that something had just melted a searing purple-blue mark on his face. Down here in the lab, explosions were common occurrences.

He stood still, allowing her to wipe the scalding, melted glob off his cheek. Jabe was about to thank her for doing so when Winny swooned and crumpled without warning, falling in a dead faint.

Jabe gasped softly, catching her before she hit the ground. Scooping her into his arms, he gently brushed some of her silken, tawny hair out of her face and called her name, worry clearly evident in his eyes. “Winny…Winny, darlin’ what’s the matter? It’s okay, I gotcha…Winny…Winny!” he tried softly shaking her awake, continuing to call her name. When she didn’t respond immediately, Jabe beckoned a lab assistant over with a hooked finger and asked him to summon a doctor, checking Winny’s breathing, pulse and temperature while he waited with her. His tail brushed side to side over the ground and his ears drooped and flicked in agitation. "Not my Winny...Winny."

Cheria grasped the moth, gazing at it with unfocused eyes. Then she turned her gaze to her brother, and gently touched his face with the moth in her tiny paws.
------------------------
Winny couldnt feel anything. She was burning (around 104 f), her pulse was high, and her breathing was on the rise. Something was seriously wrong with her. Her tail and ears where still, showing almost no life at all.

Her big brother watched her closely, unwilling to completely let go of the moth toy yet in case she hurt herself with it or dropped it on her face, which he was certain would startle her.

Holding its wing in the tips of his fingers, he smiled down at her. Stopping still when she looked at him, he blinked a few times as she brought the moth close to his face, going cross eyed and seeing multiple copies of the insect. Saberlin giggled and his tail waved gently. “Why…Thank you very much. Is this for me? Big brother can have it?”

He saw that some of her blanket was slipping off and pulled it over her again, making sure she wouldn’t get cold from drafts near the floor.

***

Jabe’s brow furrowed in concern and he sucked air through his teeth in a sharp intake, removing his hand from her skin with a spike of worry. “Much too high…her temperature’s dangerously high!” he observed aloud, which fortunately was heard by the doctor as she approached. “Then let’s get her cooled down. What temp do you think?” she asked, helping him carry Winny to one of the medical rooms swiftly and gently.

Jabe chewed his lower lip with his fangs, something his son copied without realising it. “’Bout one hundred and four farenheit, maybe a little more. She was fine earlier on though. It’s come on all of a sudden.” Seeing as she was having difficulty with her breathing, they administered an oxygen supply, Jabe placing the mask over her face so that she’d be comfortable, even though she couldn’t feel it. He dipped a clean cloth in some cool water and placed it lightly over her forehead whilst the doctor measured her pulse and her blood pressure again. Jabe didn’t like to admit it but he was scared. He had already lost the love of his life once to a terrible illness; he could not bear to do so again. It’d be like some kind of cruel joke. Old scenes and memories relived themselves in his head.

lightgray]“Edelia, don’t say that kinda junk. Don’t say that yet! You can’t just give up…what about our son…our work? We…we were going to go on that holiday together. The kid needs you. I need you. I love you, Edie!”

“Jabe, I’m sorry. I do wish we had more time. But I…I…don’t have more time. It’s all run out. My love, I’m not afraid to die. I’ll be…watching over you and Saberlin…and I’ll always love you. Always, for infinity.”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t heal you…I’m sorry, I couldn’t find the cure…I'm sorry-!”

“Hmmm…it’s not your fault. We just ran out of time. Don’t cry…smile for me, alright? Remember, all things…work together...for good.”

Winny laid still, her mouth slightly open. She couldnt feel the cold cloth, yet inside, she was struggling. In her mind, a memory of little Cheria being born flashed before her, so she struggled harder, though it didnt show on the outside.
-----------------
Cheria giggled with delight and wiggled in happiness. Waving her tiny speckled paws, she silently asked to be picked up.

More medical staff came to assist and an IV was administered to keep Winny from becoming dehydrated. With a fever so high, she would be sweating a lot and could lose water easily. Jabe soaked the cloth in cool water again and wrung it out, replacing it gently and smoothing some of her damp, golden brown hair away from her face. He helped loosen her clothing so more air could breathe near her skin and cool her down.

The doctor who had assisted him before injected a shot of something, but Jabe was too distracted to see what it was. He knew they were doing everything they could to help her though.

A nurse began asking him questions as she pulled Winny’s medical records and he answered them as best he could. “Nope…don’t think she’s had any allergic reactions to stuff before. Uhh…sorry, can’t remember what she ate today. Oh, that. Was a thing of hair dye mixture. Nah, it landed on me! She was upstairs with the kids. …Both healthy last we checked - Oh damn.” When the nurse asked about his children, Jabe’s thoughts snapped to them and his tail lashed around, accidentally knocking someone’s clipboard flying. Standing abruptly, he apologised to the oblivious Winny and the other staff then excused himself to make a quick phone call, notifying the nannies to watch over the kids again. There were many pairs of eyes in a house this size who would gladly watch over them for the Master and Mistress, so he doubted they’d have come to harm.

However, now Jabe wanted them observed for signs of illness as well. Saberlin had all his vaccinations up to date; it was mostly Cheria he was concerned about. ‘Huh, seems like somethin’ wants to do away with all the Harcourt females at the moment. Mebbe we’re cursed'

***

Watching the ‘Fuzz Ball of Cute’ reaching out to him, Saberlin gathered from her body language (being part feline, he was attuned to recognising and interpreting it naturally) that his little sister wanted to be held.

Letting her have the moth toy to chew on while deciding what to do, he bit his lip lightly, quirking an ear. “Um…Okay, you want to be picked up? Well…mother usually does, but I can try.” He offered uncertainly, wondering what was taking Winny so long.

Shuffling closer to Cheria, he reached his arms underneath her and then, unsure what part to grab onto, grabbed under her arms and awkwardly pulled her up on his lap, blanket slipping off as he did so.

Now stuck on the floor with a baby on his lap, Saberlin leaned forwards, stretching out to grab hold of the lightweight blanket with one hand while his other arm curled around Cheria’s middle. He draped it over her again as neatly as he could in his position and after a bit of wriggling, seemed to find a comfy posture for his legs, long tail sprawling in a soft curl alongside him. “There…how is that?” he asked after a moment, tail tip curling up slightly at the end as though it was questioning also.

Cheria laid her head on his chest, her temp rising, just like her mothers. Whimpering, she brought two curled fists up and rested them next to her head, one on each side. She closed her eyes and fell into a light sleep. A flapping noise failed to arouse her when a worried look was shot at Saberlin as the bat nanny folded his wings.

Being only nine years old, Saberlin wasn’t an expert at being able to tell what a healthy, normal temperature should be. So it was unremarkable that he didn’t realise there was anything wrong with Cheria, even when Iouya shot him a worried glance.

The boy didn’t flinch at the sudden sound of dark wings behind them, having detected the bat hybrid’s approach with his feline hearing. Without turning around, he smiled and spoke. “Greetings, Iouya. Did you have a good lunch? We’ve been putting bugs every – ah…Cheria!” Looking down when Cheria began to fuss, he jiggled her a little like he’d seen his mother do, trying to shift her into a more comfortable position. “Nn…Sorry, I must be holding her wrong. Sorry, little sister. It’s odd, I don’t know where mother went. She was here one minute and then she dashed off. She’d know how to hold her…oh.” Saberlin blinked, mouth falling open. “She fell asleep?” Cheria never went to sleep that fast. Saberlin pouted and his ears flicked in a worried fashion. Maybe he did something wrong. “…help us?” he asked plaintively, appearing at a loss as to what to do.

Iouya nodded at the cheerful greeting, licking some fruit juice from his chin. “Uh-huh! There were some delicious ripe peaches in the orchard so we feasted on those. Well, I did.” He patted his stomach with a laugh. “Silaeca found six mice and a sparrow!” Iouya grinned and padded towards them, shuffling his wings into place. “Sure! I’ll take a look at her. Here, let me see.” He smiled warmly, gently reaching out to take the babe from her brother. Noticing she was a bit flushed, he placed a smooth, cool hand on her forehead and under her chin, his smile diminishing to be replaced by a thoughtful expression. “Hmm…it seems like your little sister might have a cold or something. As for your mother, don’t worry. She’s caught up in something at the moment and can’t get away but I’m sure she’ll make time for you as soon as she can” he said softly, unwilling to reveal any further details that would upset Saberlin. He knew why he’d been summoned and also that Winny was ill, though not how serious it might be. “Anyway, sorry to cut a fun time short. Gotta take the lil’ one to the doctor. Stay here with Silaeca and I’ll come back and help you decorate, yeah? The Cross spider looks great up there by the way!” he offered cheerfully, already heading out the door.

Saberlin chewed his lip for a moment, looking at Cheria (the moth toy still wrapped up in a fold in her blanket) before he came to a decision and perked up again, ears pointing skywards. If she needed to go to the doctor, that was okay. He’d play with her later on when she was better.

And mother, well, that was normal routine. If she had to work, she had to work. At least she’d got to spend some time with them rather than none at all. Since she tried, he knew she cared. Saberlin was happy. “…Alright. That sounds enjoyable. See you shortly then” he replied, tail swishing happily as he waved them off. He had no idea.

Cheria started to wail, her skin burning. She thrashed around, her eyes blurred and her soft hair sticking. Whimpering, she was quickly brought to the infirmary, where her mother laid immobile, with an oxygen supply over her nose.

Winny was knocked out for four more hours, and then opened her eyes. "Jabe?" She whispered. Her eyes were unfocused, and she thought she heard Cheria wailing. "Is Cheria ok?" Winny tried to smile, but closed her eyes instead, resting them.  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

Jabe hadn’t left his wife’s side the entire time she laid there, struggling for life.

Just when things had looked their worst, he ordered the staff to administer a special medicine through the IV attached to her arm; a rare and expensive medicine that usually cost thousands of dollars and was difficult to make. It was known only as ‘Lakora Outurin’. It took many years to get it right and had numerous risks and side effects, making it a risky proposition. However, he was desperate not to lose any of his family members and had administered a tiny dose each to Winny and Cheria. There was still plenty left over – he’d been careful, using a diluted amount.

What a relief it was when it seemed to be working! Jabe broke into a grin and laughed, wiping tears that pricked at his eyes as he took Winny’s arm and hugged it, kissing the back of her hand. “Thank God, you’re awake! We almost lost ya…three times, we almost…glad yer comin’ right, sweet one. Hang in there - don’t leave yet. Our baby is fine. Saberlin is with the snake and the bat…Cheria is going to be okay, she’s recovering faster than you.” He chuckled. “Our daughter is a tough one. She’s got that determined streak that runs in the family” He started up a loud, happy purr, the sudden sound startling several people around them. “When you’re all better, let’s go on that trip together, to the rainforest to research those weird critters we heard about”

***

Saberlin's bedroom looked like a nature discovery shop - well, more like one than it had previously. The insects, spiders and other bugs and beetles broguht it to life, like the natural world had come indoors. The leopard boy was sitting on Silaeca's glistening, loosely coiled snake tail, reading aloud to her and showing her pictures in a book about bugs. He sounded passionate about what he was saying, his champagne eyes sparkling, hair and fur blowing in a small wind driting through the bedroom window which was flung wide open to reveal a pale blue sky. A little mesh bag of glow in the dark stars and moons was clutched in one arm.

"That's great to hear, Jabe." Winny chuckled dryly. "I guess I shouldnt have gotten so busy quite yet. The child bed fever never struck this hard before." Her forehead was still burning, but not as hot. Cheria cried, the IV making movement difficult. Winny propped herself up. "Cheria sounds hungry... looks like I need to feed her..."

He frowned at her admittance then chuckled, shaking his head. “Your enthusiasm for life hasn’t faded one bit m’dear. Wouldn’t want it any other way. Jist, maybe y’could take at least a small break after havin’ a child the days previous to yer normal activities.” He laughed again. There was no stopping Winny it seemed - once she had her mind set on something, she went and did it, (apparently).

Giving her hand a small squeeze and another kiss on the forehead, he left his wife’s side to go over to the source of the crying and brought Cheria to Winny, placing her in her mother’s arms. “Here we are then. Stop yer fussin’ Yer getting’ fed now” he told his daughter, though the words were gentle despite his ears and tail flicking in dislike at the volume of her cries.

***

Meanwhile, wandering around the mansion for fun and to see what there was to do, Saberlin was eagerly leading the way up to the highest parts of the outer rooftop. Silaeca and Iouya were following closely behind their young charge, smiling or grinning at people they passed – mostly maids and housekeepers or servers carrying trays, books, clothing…

The leopard boy pushed open the door to a little tower with a short, windy staircase and followed it out onto some charming rooftop gardens, meandering amongst neatly planted squares of bushes, flowers and miniature trees and between white wrought iron tables and chairs until they came to a high point looking out over the railing to the grounds below. “Alright, this spot should do. If we launch from here, we should be able to get high enough” he mused, turning around to look expectantly at Iouya, his expression neutral but his tail wiggling with silent excitement. “Can I climb on your back now, please?”

Iouya laughed loudly but quickly lowered the volume at a glare from Silaeca. "Keh-heh! Okay, okay...get on quickly, afore someone sees. Ohh, I just love flying! Come on, come on..."

Silaeca rolled her eyes. "I can hardly believe you two have never been caught doing thiss yet. It doess look awfully fun however..." whispered the naga slightly wistfully, sliding her red and pink gaze over the area and tasting the air with her tongue. "All is clear" she murmured softly, speaking mostly to herself.

This prompted a spiky grin from the bat-like nanny. "That's because we have such a good look out sentry. You always do a great job Silaeca" he complimented, kneeling to let Saberlin clamber up.

"Because if his parents knew then we'd probably be fired" she reminded him, though she couldn't help letting a small smile twitch at the corner of her mouth.

Winny turned to the other side, not wanting to embarrass her husband in public. She let down her shirt and let Cheria suckle. Cheria suckled with all her might, trying to suck out every last drop. Switching her to the other side, Winny made sure that her daughter was well fed, so she switched Cheria on the other side, which she drained also. Her cries quealched, Cheria lay in her mother's arms contently. Winny adjusted her shirt and leaned back with little Cheria laying on her chest, her two fists on each side of her head, and her eyes closed. Cheria sighed, letting out the gas that was inside with a small and very very very quiet burp. Winny smiled and pulled the blanket over her tiny daughter and smiled gently before falling asleep her self.

Jabe stretched and yawned before tucking the two in, gently pulling up the soft blanket over them both. Seeing Winny’s tail hanging over the side, he tucked it under the blanket too, chuckling softly.

He would have stayed longer but for now, there wasn’t much else to do apart from letting them rest, so he decided he’d check up on Saberlin before heading back to work.

Pacing through halls and along stairways, Jabe searched all over the mansion for Saberlin and his two assigned guardians. He was about to give up and go restart a new base mixture for Winny’s hair dye mix when he heard laughter floating through a large bay window in the hallway, stopping him in his tracks.Turning to peer out it with flicking ears, he had to look twice at what he saw. “What on Gaia do you think yer doin?!” Jabe called out, flinging the window open in astonishment.

***

Saberlin felt free and light. He loved the soaring feeling in the pit of his stomach, the weightless ease with which they moved through open space, the flap-flap-flapping sounds and the small whooshes of air rushing past his face, making his hair and cat ears dance. “Go on, go on! Do another flip! Do a somersault!” Clinging to the flying fox hybrid’s shoulders, he urged Iouya on in excitement, his spotted tail streaming behind him in the breeze stirred up by two giant, velvety wings. They were plunging in a fancy twirl and dive when they heard the shout. Iouya automatically broke the dive and veered in another direction by instinct and Saberlin jumped, losing his grip on Iouya’s shoulders and nearly falling off. Scrambling to regain his grip, he pinned his claws in Iouya, eliciting a loud yelp. “Ahh, f-father?!” Saberlin looked like a cat caught with his paw in the bird cage, startled surprise crossing his face, along with a guilty look. ‘Shoot, we’ve been caught. Fly that way!” he told Iouya in desperation, lowering his voice a notch in hopes Jabe missed the words.

***

Watching the bat flap off with his son, Jabe stepped back from the window and roared with laughter, clutching his side. They’d misinterpreted his shouting as disapproval when what he’d really wanted to say was ‘congratulations on having such a good idea and you better hope your mother doesn’t find out’. “Wonder where Sil Sil is? Bet she’s in on that too. Thought of that all by themselves did they? Ah ha ha!” Still laughing his head off, he marched back to work, glad that his son was safe, more or less. He was relieved he didn’t seem to show any signs of illness and was in good hands. Jabe didn’t believe in mollycoddling the boy and so long as the flying lessons were kept a secret pastime, he reckoned what people didn’t know wouldn’t bother them. He hummed a happy tune as he shrugged back into his lab coat and began gathering all the ingredients for the mixture he was going to attempt.

Winny woke up briefly to out Cheria in a different position, and make herself more comfortable too at the same time. Wrapping Cheria up in the blanket, she gently smoothed her daughter's hair and relax, her tail flipping up and down underneath the blanket. The med that Jabe had administered her were working, and she felt immensely better, and her fever was going down quite quickly. She smiled and closed her eyes, her baby girl sleeping next to her. When she woke up for the second time, she looked around her. She was in her room, that she shared with Jabe. "Why am I here, and not down in the medical bay. Hearing shouts, she gathered Cheria in her arms, found where the shouts were coming from and gasped. "Saberlin!! What do you think you're doing?! Get to firm ground young man! I want a word with you!" Her eyes went wide at the sight of Saberlin flying with Iouya was alarming, even though she knew that Iouya wouldnt do anything to hurt her son.

They were rocketing past a section of the mansion out towards the small forested area and the hedge and flower maze section of the gardens when Saberlin heard shouts for the second time and jolted uncomfortably, his fur puffing out. “That sounds like mother! How did she see us here?!” he asked, dumbfounded. Looking around for her before locating Winny at the window of his parent’s master bedroom, Saberlin’s ears and tail drooped in disappointment and he frowned at having the flying lessons cut short.

Iouya, completely unperturbed by the fact, knew who had caught them and started to laugh, halting his flight and turning to hover upright in mid air, flapping to stay afloat. “Hello there Mistress! How about this fine day – perfect flying weather. Ha ha. Care to join us?” But to Saberlin he whispered with a cheeky smirk. “Whoops, looks like our luck ran out. Caught twice in one day! I tell ya, I’m much harder to spot at night…hee hee.”

Saberlin as his passenger gasped, clutched on tighter and wrapped his tail hastily around Iouya’s waist as he slipped down a few inches, pulling himself back up with his hands whilst trying to remember not to rely too much on his claws. “Um …certainly!…night time – it is understood!” He whispered back, feeling a twinkle of hope at that.

Disappointment softened from this offering of their flying adventures being able to continue in secret, he looked back up to face Winny with a slightly guilty look on his face then crowded it out with a big warm smile and called back to her “Coming mother…We shall be there right away.” There. She wouldn’t suspect anything~!

Winny stood at the bay window for just a moment longer, watching Iouya land gently on the lush grass bordered with fragrant flowers. Cheria shifted, her tiny toes curling and uncurling. Barely a day old and she had gotten sick and better in the same day. Placing her in the sky blue and yellow bassinet next to the master bed, Winny stroked her daughter as Cheria went to sleep.

Hearing the door open and close, Winny turned and saw her son standing there sheepishly. "Saberlin, you are the most trying kit that I had to....hug!!" Winny walked up to her son and 'captured' him in her embrace. Going back to the bed, she flopped down and smiled. "I forget how heavy you can get." Pulling him closer and into her lap, she hugged him. "Promise me this Saberlin," she looked at him with her fierce golden eyes "that you wouldnt have any more flying lessons without mine or Jabe's permission, ok?" Winny stroked his ear, while pondering some thoughts. "Would you like to hear a story, Saberlin, about how your father and I met?" Cheria whimpered, her tail flicking. "Hold on Saberlin." Winny went over to Cheria and picked her up. "I'll be right back, so dont go anywhere, Saberlin." Winny went into the bathroom to change Cheria and then she came back out and sat on the bed. "Would you like to hold your sister, Sabe?"

Saberlin was looking at the floor and when Winny started speaking he kept his gaze firmly fixed there and chewed his lower lip with one fang, unable to look her in the eyes. Suddenly embraced, he flinched then stood in surprise for a moment before awkwardly reaching his arms around her and returning the hug. A hug wasn’t what he’d been expecting at all. Where was the reprimand? Where was the lecture? She sure hadn’t sounded too happy a minute ago!

Saberlin let out a breath he’d been holding without realising and followed her over to the bed once released, a small smile playing around the corners of his mouth. He clambered up onto the end of it, bouncing a little on the springy mattress. “Why is that amusing, mother? I’ll be all grown up soon, you know” he pointed out to her matter-of-factly, unaware of the sound of those words to a mother. He was glad he’d gotten a little heavier. That meant he was getting bigger. He wanted to be as tall and strong as his father. His tail swished happily.

Saberlin giggled a little as his mother pulled him into another hug, this time promptly returning it with a small squeeze of his own. He loved being able to spend time with her. But the happy look quickly vanished into a more serious one when she pinned him with that amber-gold gaze that only one with cat slitted optics was able to do so well.

Oh, that. Saberlin felt disappointment settle in his stomach…until he registered what she had just said. His ears pinged up. “With…without permission? Does that mean you’re letting us continue?” A wide smile blossomed over his face as his eyes filled with hope and gratitude. “Thank you so much mother! I promise…I promise not to take any more flying lessons when I am meant to be studying…etcetera” he added, nodding his agreement.

He had worded his promise carefully. This way, if they were too busy to get hold of to ask whether he was allowed to go flying…well, he HAD said, ‘when I am meant to be studying’ and ‘etcetera’. Heh, that meant there was room for exceptions. Well, only if he couldn’t get hold of them to ask them. He did mean to keep the promise as much as he could.

He leaned into the stroke on his ear and felt his whole body relax…ahhh, so nice. His ears were always his sweet spot. Saberlin replied to her question almost dreamily, eyes closed. “Certainly mother. I’d love to hear. How did you mee…” his eyes flew open again at Cheria’s crying, the peaceful moment ruined. Saberlin sighed somewhat huffily then flopped back on the bed, staring at the ceiling while he waited for Winny to return from the bathroom.

When she came back, he was still there on the bed but had sat up again and was now staring at the wall, legs dangling over the edge of the bed and eyes unfocused, lost in his own thoughts. He looked up when Winny asked if he wanted to hold his sister and frowned. “Only if you’re going to tell me that story. Otherwise, I shall decline. I have many things to do” he replied, glancing over at Cheria. She was cute…without realising it, he was already holding his arms out to receive her.

Winny nodded and pulled Saberlin into her lap before she put a sleeping Cheria in his chest. She guided his hand so that it supported her head. "it was the first day of Kindergarden, and there at least nine other neko-children running around...." Winny told the story as if it was yesterday, the memories vivid in her mind. She concentrated on the story so much that she didnt hear the door open and close.

A young lioness woman in her early twenties tried to keep a bunch of nine neko-children from escaping the class room as she greeted parents and kids. The last parent to enter was walking stiffly, as if he had a broken bone. She guided a small neko-child towards a group of neko-children playing and looked over the parent. The parent was a handsome Leopard-neko, his feline eyes darting around the room. She noticed a small neko-leopard child clutched at his leg, his clothes slightly rumpled. Winny bent down to the leopard-neko child's level and spoke in a reassuring voice. "Hello there! my name is Ms. Neka." Standing up, she looked directly at his eyes and noticed how handsome they seemed. Winny blushed and looked at the floor. "Hello sir. My name is Winny Neka. I'm the kindergarden teacher." Her tail lashed from side to side, sometimes curling up and uncurling. She was nervous, and she hoped that she didnt sound nervous, but professional.

He held perfectly still while she placed Cheria in his arms, afraid of hurting her somehow. Once Winny finished positioning his arms, he kept the position carefully, terrified of dropping Cheria or waking her up. He stayed tense until he began to get absorbed into Winny’s story and slowly relaxed without noticing, leaning comfortably against her.

Jabe wore a half grin as he crept into the room, finished with his work in the lab for today, enjoying hearing the familiar story. He checked his watch…yep, in just a few hours it would be time to go to the observatory for Jabe’s birthday surprise to Saberlin. He was glad Winny and Cheria had recovered so quickly, although it had meant sacrificing some of their most expensive medicine. The rare medicine that customers would have paid for would have provided funds to fuel more research and equipment - but it couldn’t be helped. Besides, to him, the lives that he wanted to use it for were priceless.

His eyes gleamed as he took in the sight of Saberlin, Winny and Cheria all together. “Well well, ain’t this a nice liddle scene. Mind if I butt in?” he spoke up, sitting on the end of the bed and hugging them all at once with a low chuckle. He hadn’t freshened up from work and still smelled of sweat and various chemicals and metals. The details of the story she was telling sprang clear to his mind, like they’d happened only that week.

Taking a few hours time off from his busy schedule, Jabe had brought Saberlin to this kindergarten to find some playmates for the boy. He had been spending a lot of time with just the company of the nannies and the usual household staff and Jabe thought it a good idea to get his son to socialise a bit and meet some kids his own age. The social skills would be needed later in life when he took over the business. They needed to be honed as much as possible.

The kindergarten was recommended by a friend of his, partly for being one of the best in the area and partly because it catered solely to half felines. It was one of the more pricey places but Jabe had no intention of enrolling Saberlin here, not that money was an issue. This was mostly an exercise disguised as a play date. Casting his eyes around the room, Jabe grunted a none too quiet curse at the stiffness in his leg, which had been broken and was taking longer than he’d like to heal. “Bloody crocodiles! Next week, I’m wearin’ Faultian armour on the expedition.”

He looked down at the sound of a woman’s voice speaking to his son and gave Saberlin a sharp nudge, “Go on then, give ‘er tha proper greeting” he grinned. “Say hi”

Saberlin straightened up and gave her a small bow. “Pleased to make your acktence” he replied. “You may call me Saberlin.”

Jabe let out a guffaw and slapped his son on the back a few times, almost sending him flying. “Heh, there ya go! Good kid. Show ‘er yer manners. An’ my name is Harcourt. Jabe Harcourt. Sorry if I scare ya, love. It’s the claws an’ teeth, eh?” he chuckled loudly, having noted her blush. “Yeah, you look a lot like a kindy teacher. Don’ worry too much about the formalities. We’re only here fer today”

Or so he had said. Over the next few weeks and months, he would find himself returning to the kindergarten, hoping to see ‘Ms. Neka’, despite Saberlin’s insistence that the other kids didn’t really like him that much and they weren’t really getting along together. “Nonsense, it’s good fer ya ta make some friends, kiddo. Can’t just have yer own compn’y all the time.”

Winny continued the story as she nodded at Jabe. Cheria nuzzled Saberlin's chest, and was lulled back to sleep by his gentle heartbeat.

Winny smiled and took Saberlin to where the other neko-children were playing. She let her mind wander while she watched over the neko-children. It was love at first sight, and she was head over heels in love with Jabe Harcourt.

Months later, it was the last day of school, and Winny looked at the clean orderly room. She wouldnt be back next year though. Earlier, Jabe had called her on her mobile asking her to bring Saberlin home. She agreed and wrote down the instructions on how to get there. She bundled up a tired Saberlin and got her winter sheepskin coat on and put on her boots and mittens. "Come on Saberlin, time to go home." Winny hoisted him up, and carried him out to her car, then she put him in his car seat (Jabe had dropped it off in the morning) and buckled him in. Getting in the front seat, Winny started up the car and drove slowly to Jabe's house, since it was snowing thick and fast. Once she got there, she parked in the driveway, unbuckled Saberlin, and walked up to the door carrying a tired leopard neko-child. Ringing the doorbell Winny scooted farther into the protective covering, trying to keep Saberlin and herself warm as the worst blizzard in history raged on.  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

Saberlin started to purr very softly, making a sound like a small fish filter buzzing against the side of the tank. He liked this story very much. “Go on…what happened next – ahh!” He jumped when Jabe spoke out of nowhere, unnerved that he hadn’t even heard him creeping up. Wriggling in Jabe’s embrace, he complained with his fur all puffed out from the fright “Father, you smell like an experiment!”

Saberlin couldn’t suppress a small laugh though, when Jabe childishly bounced a bit on the bed, making everyone bounce a little. “Hey, you’ll wake up Cheria!” but he was grinning. “Finish telling the story before we can’t hear it over her”

Jabe gave him a look as if to say ‘where are your manners?’ and Saberlin added “Please!”

Ruffling Saberlin’s neatly brushed hair, Jabe chuckled at more protests. “Alright, now where were we...”

Down in the secret laboratory of their family business, where he could usually be found when he wasn’t off on expeditions or meeting with important people or treasure hunters, Jabe Harcourt was busily working and researching things, so a butler came to the door instead.

Swinging the large wooden doors open, he bowed and stepped aside, motioning for Winny to come on in. “Welcome to the Harcourt residence. Please make yourself at home. The master will be with you shortly”

No sooner had the man said those words however, than a strange circle of light made out of rainbow patterns and colours materialised in the middle of the lobby. There was a tremendous BANG! then a shower of sparks and smoke after which something large and heavy flew out of the portal and scudded across the marble floor like a cannon ball, shouting the whole way. “Ahhhhh!”

Thud! The figure came to a crunching halt against a stone pillar near the far wall and a vase wobbled dangerously before falling and crashing upon the head of Jabe Harcourt, who was clutching a giant beribboned bouquet of roses of the most peculiar blue ever seen.

Winny stepped into the lobby, and looked around, amazed. Seeing the rainbow light and the figure scuttling across the floor, she put one hand up to her mouth, in shock. After Jabe had crashed into the stone column and had the vase crash on his head, she knelt down and started to pick the pieces of vase of his head. "You gotta be more careful, love." Seeing the blue roses she opened and closed her mouth, not being able to say anything. "Ja-!" For a flash, she wondered if he asked her to bring Saberlin home for her to come and propose to her. Could it be possible? Winny wrapped her arms around Jabe's neck and buried her nose into his shoulder, smelling the sweet odors of the lab. "Why are the roses blue Jabe?" It came out muffled, but she didnt care.

Jabe let out a low groan that was part growl, grimacing at the pain that thundered through his head and shoulder. “Unnnhh…what’d I hit; a Morakkian Stonebeast?”

However, he grinned through his daze when he saw and heard who was talking to him. “Winny ma treasure, it’s you. Here, I want ya ta have this…mind the thorns” careful not to scratch her with his claws, he held out the bouquet of roses to her, which had somehow miraculously not been crushed.

“They’re one o’ the rarest things in this world, these blue roses, an’ I offer em to you with all ma heart. Oh, and I mean that liter’lly. I’m not s’good with words but - ” and here he paused, reaching into his unbuttoned shirt to draw out something which he always kept close to his chest, in a secret pocket sewn into his shirt.

A stunning blue flash twinkled briefly as it caught the light and he held an exquisite crystal up where she could see it, at eye level, on a fine golden chain.

Looking past the sapphire blue crystal, he met her gaze with a leopard’s shining golden stare. “…you comin’ along after Edelia were as rare as these roses here, nothin’ short of a miracle. An’ this blue crystal is one of a kind. We found it on one of our expeditions an Edie would never let me sell it…now I know the reason why.” His smile softened and his expression became strangely serene. “Winny Neka, I admit with no shame whatso-ever that I love you. Ta me, yer more precious an’ more beautiful than these treasures. To me, you and your love are priceless. So, whaddaya say – wanna marry me?” He ended this seemingly life changing question with a nonchalant, bright grin, leopard tail waving.

Saberlin, standing by, looked on curiously, reaching out a small hand to touch the velvety petals on a rose.

Winny took the blue roses, being careful of the thorns. "Jabe these are wonderful, hopw you came to get them, I have no clue.Yes!! I will, Jabe. I will." She let him put the blue crystal on her neck, and she gently against him, and then suddenly remembered Saberlin. "Almost forgot about Saberlin!" She smiled at Saberlin and scooped him up and stroked his ears, the sweet spot that she knew he'll have, after many restless naps and nightmares. Winny figured the crystal that still hung around her neck as her testament for her undying love to Jabe. Cheria opened her eyes, yawned and shifted in Saberlin's arms.

Saberlin wore a gentle, happy smile as they finished the story. He glanced up from watching Cheria give the cutest yawn he’d ever seen when he noticed Winny fiddling with something that had flashed a spark of glowing blue out of the corner of his eye, seeing the crystal. His smile widened and his eyes glowed brightly. “I say, that was quite an amazing tale. It - hey!” He’d wanted to ask more questions but didn’t get the chance.

Finding himself blinded in the space of a blink, he flailed in confusion, wondering what was going on. Cheria was taken from his arms and he wondered why she didn’t start crying. Swiping at the blackness in front of his eyes, he realised it was darkness spray (like the stuff they used to blind Firaish temporarily in the other rp).

He felt his hand being taken by someone and was then playfully pulled to his feet so that he sprang up from the bed like a jack in the box, almost tripping over his own feet. “Whoa –what’s going on?”

Jabe took his daughter off Saberlin, popping Cheria in a makeshift sling he had fashioned out of a silk sash and tied round himself, so that she was perched on his back and could watch the action from there.

Bouncing up from the bed, he took Winny’s hand in one hand and kissed it before playfully pulling her and Saberlin to their feet.

Having successfully blinded his family with darkening spray, he tugged them out of the room and along the hall, up flights of stairs and through a few secret shortcuts so they would have no idea where they were going. They reached outdoors, with the cool night air kissing their skin, though there was no wind. Jabe was laughing heartily, obviously enjoying the confusion he was causing. “N’kay and now it’s time for the grand finale to end a spectacular day celebratin’ two marvellicious people comin’ inta this world on this date – nature’s fireworks!” he declared bursting with excitement. “Hopin’ we don’t get smushed to smuchons by a fallin’ meteorite but boy – wouldn’t that be a way ta go!” he guffawed.

Jabe had just finished saying this when the darkening spray wore off, vanishing like thinning mist from before their eyes. Saberlin was going to tell his father in politely annoyed tones that his dad was completely insane when something else distracted him and he gasped, open mouthed up at the sky as brightly burning streaks shot over it, each one attached to a streaming, sparkling tail. “Wowwwww! A falling star shower! These are HUGE!” he shouted, mesmerised. He was right – the stars and comets raining over them were giangantic. So large, he could have sworn he heard the noise they made as they hurtled by. And the colours – it was like an exploding rainbow.

Cheria clutched at Jabe's shirt with her tiny claws. Her ears twitched even though they werent open yet. Her golden/brown eyes blinked and peered over his shoulder, watching the darkness spray while Jabe finished leading her mother and brother. When they were finally outside, she snuggled against his shoulder and closed her eyes. Winny took Cheria off of Jabe's shoulder and cradled her in her sweater. Winny's mind went back 7 months earlier, while she watched the comets fly by in rainbow colors.

Winny woke up as Jabe got out of bed. 'Can I stay home from work? I dont feel good." Her stomach turned, a wave of morning sickness in full force hit her, making her bolt upright, get out of bed, lurch to the bathroom, closed the door and retched. (I know, horror stories about being pregnant!) Her fur was rumpled from where she slept on it. "I really dont want to go to work today.: Winny shivered, suddenly cold. After flushing (for good manners) and washing her hands, Winny started to get dressed, going slowly, since her stomach was still queasy, still in the throes of the morning sickness. Finally, she made her way down to the kitchen, her normally perky ears droopy and her eyes a bit dull. Listlessly shoving a salmon wrap in her mouth, Winny chewed and stared at a spot on the table that didnt exist. Finally, the morning sickness wore off, making Winny a lot happier. Her formally droopy ears perked up again and her formally dull eyes brightened again. She notified the waiter that she wanted another salmon wrap. Full of her preferred breakfast, she leaned back in her chair and sighed. She closed her eyes for a second and ended up in a light sleep. Winny didnt hear Jabe or Saberlin come in the kitchen to get their breakfast. Her tail curled peacefully and sometimes she sneezed, making the cutest face that her daughter would inherit.

It would be one of the best birthdays he’d ever had. Saberlin would remember this night many years later.

He didn’t know how long he stood there watching the sky, refusing to leave until it was over, when the last bright star arced overhead, trailing its tail behind it like a glittering veil til it faded out of sight.

He lingered for a while even after they vanished, quietly contemplating what he had witnessed with a gentle smile on his lips. ‘That…was astounding…!’

“Hey! Hello, still awake in there?”

Saberlin blinked a few times and looked around, coming back down to earth to see a sharply clawed hand waving in front of his face, the rings on its fingers clinking slightly. “Y-yes Father?”

He’d been interrupted from his thoughts by Jabe, who was regarding him with one hand on his hip and an eyebrow raised. “Welcome back - have a nice trip?” Jabe paused for laughter at his own joke before he turned and began striding away, beckoning his son with two clawed fingers, “Don’ just stand there like a statue. C’mon and follow me. There’s a second part ta yer birthday present”

“…as you wish” Saberlin’s tail curled and twitched inquisitively. He was confused but he didn’t protest; content with being surprised instead.

Following his father, he was led away from the tower into the round observatory building on the top of the roof.

He stood in the middle of the room, watching Jabe rustle around through shelves and over desktops, looking for something.

“Aha, here ‘tis! Knew I left ya round somewhere, ya rascal. Ere, hold yer arms out for this -”

Holding out his arms to receive this second present, Saberlin’s mouth gaped partly open as he gingerly caught the heavy object that was plonked into his arms, wearing a look of disbelief. “Bu-but…your favourite astronomy guide, you didn’t have to…”

Jabe had presented him with a book…a treasured book that had obviously been well used and loved over many years, its pages dog eared and scruffy, the text faded from countless fingerprints. Saberlin knew it well. Jabe dragged it out and showed him things in it whenever they went star gazing or used this observatory. It had some of the most amazing pictures of galaxies, black holes, clusters, supernovas, planets, moons and rings…some of them not from this sky.

“Yup, that’s the one. Was a gift from some old friends – some of our very first clients if I’m not mistaken, showed us a thing or two about technology from their home world. An’ as I’ve read the thing cover ta cover a million times by now, I figured it may’s well be your turn.” Jabe replied, patting Saberlin’s shoulder. “Hope you get as much enjoyment from it as I have. Y’can read whatever pages y’want in there now. I won’t restrict ya anymore. It’s all yours. When ya read that, I hope you think of me, an’ maybe some of the good time we shared, learnin’ about things that’re bigger than we are. Happy Birthday, son”

He chuckled, then began patting his clothing, searching through his pockets for something else. “An’ I haven’t forgotten yer sister. This is for my little cherry cub” He cooed, holding up a small box wrapped in bright gold paper and waving it in front of Cheria. He handed it to Winny, letting her be the one to help open it for their daughter. “She’ll probly haveta grow into it though”

He had helped to pick it out with Winny – a certain gold ‘something’…in the shape of a lioness.

((Sorry for being so late with this post. I've had some stressful things happening at work lately and then I just could NOT think of what to write next in this roleplay. XP

*giggles* the present is a piece of jewellery! =^_^= I thought I would let you decide what kind since she's your chara. Like maybe a little charm bracelet or a tail ring or something.

Winny propped up Cheria so she could see the shiny gold-coloured box. Slicing the paper with a nail, she opened the box and showed her the lioness tail ring. Cheria gently batted the tail ring and let her mother put it on her tail.
((Sure!!))

-3 yrs later-

Cheria giggled as she raced in the halls of the mansion in her lioness form with her mother chasing after her. "Come back Cheria! You cant run away from me!!" Winny bounded after her daughter in her lioness form, a bronze streak that just missed Saberlin and Jabe. Cheria giggled some more and changed directions, skidding on the floor, her claws making scratches on the floor that would be there in later years.

Saberlin was walking by with his nose buried in a textbook and Silaeca gliding along beside him, talking over something softly as she explained what he was studying while they travelled to the room where he would have his next lesson.

Jabe, who was strolling past on his way down to work, let out a cheer, clapping as the two lions dashed past him and punching a fist in the air. “Way ta go Cheria. Give it your best!” he called down the hall. “You can beat her!”

Laughing, he watched his wife and daughter tear off down the huge hallway, admiring the claw marks left in the wooden boards (and in some places, on the flagstones that made up the intricate floor patterns), with a tilt to his head, a half smirk, and a hand rubbing his lightly stubbled chin.

Silaeca made her lengthy tail into shapes similar to croquet loops, snaking it across the hallway, trying to block the scampering lioness girl’s path. “Young misstresss, you are sscratching up our floors!” she cried. Turning her attention to poor Winny, who was trying to catch her, she added “Besst of luck getting that one to take her bathh!”

Winny stopped next to Silaeca, her tail lashing, as she caught her breath (well, more mainly to talk to Silaeca). Cheria doubled back, this time colliding with Saberlin, who had gone ahead. "Sworry Saberwlin!" She nuzzled Saberlin affectionately. "I lwove you!" Winny scooted closer to Silaeca, rubbing her face against the scales. "You're right of course. I plan to catch her as soon as I catch my breath. I'm not in shape these days. Maybe because I'm probably expecting another cub? I dont know, but dont tell Saberlin, Jabe, or Cheria, ok?" Winny sped off, and then doubled back, with a tiny lioness cub in her mouth. "Got her!" The words came out muffled since she was holding a sheepish Cheria in her mouth, her ear laid back against her head.

“Augh!” Tripping over something fuzzy and gold that had unexpectedly collided with his legs, Saberlin flailed, arms and tail flying out and waving around to help him regain his balance.

Regrettably, these actions only sent the book he was holding leaping out of his hands, papers that had been notes wedged in the pages fluttering out like a burst of confetti as Saberlin fell on his hindquarters with a solid ‘thwump!’ and the heavy textbook landed square on his head. Tilting the book upwards, he looked out from under the pages for his sister, gritting his teeth and giving a low grizzling growl of annoyance. “Cher-i-a!...”

But he got no further than that, trailing off at the sight of the bright amber eyes peeking up at him and the sound of the cutest apology ever.

Saberlin sighed. His flattened ears perked slowly and his lashing tail slowed its movement. “…th-that’s alright. I suppose it was an accident. You are forgiven…this time.” Following this was a smile as he reached out to give her a brief pat on the head; a way of returning the nuzzle she gave. The next words were somewhat quieter but held considerably happier tone. “I love you, too. But big brother needs to study now. There are a lot of important things I want to learn, so we can play later, okay?”

Silaeca lifted one hand to her mouth and tried to stifle soft giggles when the lioness nudged against her. She gently moved her snake body out of the way, away from Winny. She wasn’t trying to be rude, it was just that some areas of her tail were rather ticklish and she didn’t want to wriggle and risk hurting someone with her thrashing coils.

The normally composed snake woman startled visibly at her mistress’s next words, her colour splashed eyes widening in astonishment. She opened her mouth to ask questions but before she could get a word out, Winny had dashed off to retrieve Cheria, padding back down the hall with the sheepish looking cub in her mouth. Swallowing all the things she wanted to say, since she now couldn’t ask them in front of the cub, Silaeca summoned up a smile best she could. “Well done, Misstress. One hundred points-ss!” she chuckled. Then there was an awkward silence as Silaeca tried to figure out what to say. Her tail tip wriggled slightly.

“Well…if you do not mind, Mistress, it seems we had better get on with our lesssonss. I must help the young masster prepare for the tesst this afternoon, yess? If you will excuse us, Mistress?…sorry, we really musst depart…this tesst counts towards his future career. Perhaps…we shall catch up later on, at a more suitable time?” She shot Winny a questioning look, one which gently asked if Winny would like to discuss what she had mentioned before in private with the naga.

Averting her eyes respectfully after the look, she gave a polite bow before slithering over to aid Saberlin in gathering up his lost notes. After which they left, down the hall and out of sight, leaving Cheria to her fate of a bath time.

Winny nodded. "Sure, Sil." Padded down the hallway, she carried Cheria to the master bathroom and proceeded to give Cheria a bath that she dearly needed. "Baths are good for you, Cheria, but then again, you are three, and half feline, and felines arent supposed to like water, but then again..." Scrubbing her daughter with a huge loofah, Winny giggled as she got splashed by her daughter's antics. "Your father would be proud of you, the way you slip and slide!" Winny changed back into human, and slipped into the bathtub after taking her clothes off and closing the curtain so that Jabe (or who else decides to walk in) couldnt see them, and be ashamed. Cheria snuggled up to her mother's skin, her tawny hair wet from the water and framed her face. "I lwove you mommy." Winny stroked Cheria's head. "I love you too. Now, let's get dried off and into some fresh clothes, hm? Then we can have some lunch." Winny helped Cheria to dry off and get her clothes back on. After that, Winny put her own fresh clothes. Going down to the kitchen, she quickly made some seafood soup and ladled it into two bowls, filled to the brim. Setting the bowls down on the table, she quickly said grace and began to eat. Cheria followed suit.

It was a bit after lunch time and Silaeca was happy to bring the supervised study session to an end, watching her diligent student close his books up and set down his pencil. They had done some practise tests and revision sheets, as well as a sort of pop quiz so he’d know the answers to the questions inside and out.

Gathering the scribbled papers up off the desk, she neatly folded and placed them in an envelope then placed this between the pages of the teacher’s manual she would be using to mark them. Silaeca wasn’t the actual tutor for this subject, but she marked and helped out with what she could.

Placing the book-with-envelope in a growing pile of others she had set aside for all the subjects they’d been through, she gave a satisfied smile. She was proud of her young pupil. He always got right into whatever he was studying without complaints, no matter how difficult. “That should do it for our revision for the day. You have worked hard – well done. Why not let uss take a break and have ssome lunch before we ressume?” she suggested, gliding across the patterned stone tiles towards the open door.

Saberlin nodded and stood up from his chair, taking a moment to stretch himself out, arching his back and splaying his claws. “Mmm…certainly, why not? Luncheon sounds appealing” he agreed, walking over to catch up with Silaeca as she led them down the hallway. Partway there, he began to sniff the air, detecting an interesting scent which grew stronger the closer they got to the kitchens. “Seafood soup…and I believe that is mother’s recipe” His ears perked as he quickened his step slightly.

Entering the spacious kitchen behind Silaeca, he spotted Cheria and Winny, who appeared to be just finishing their meal.

The snake woman turned her attention to Winny with a small bow, her long tongue flickering in and out as she tasted the scents lacing the air. “Good afternoon Mistresss. Are we too late to join you for a while?” she inquired politely, glancing over at Saberlin. She probably wouldn’t eat anything here (she preferred her food live and warm blooded) she was mostly asking for the benefit of her young charge.

Saberlin in the meantime, had wandered over to where Cheria was sitting. He took a seat beside her at the table, which looked ridiculously too large with one little girl sitting at it. “Hello, what have you there?” he asked in a playful manner. He knew what it was of course; he just wanted to tease her a little to get a reaction.

Tail swishing mischievously, Saberlin reached out as though he would take her bowl, wiggling clawed fingers “Can big brother have some?” He was trying to make her laugh, not paying attention to Silaeca or Winny for the moment.

Cheria looked up, her tiny nose covered in tiny morsels of seafood. "Yeah, Saberlwin can have some if he can get a 'nother bowl." She smiled and flicked an ear at him. Winny nodded. "Of course. I'm still hungry, and I bet that Cheria is too. Plus, I'm waiting for Jabe to show up." Winny looked over at Cheria, and noticed that Saberlin was playing with her. "Ah, Saberlin, you are the model brother for her."

Saberlin chuckled at Cheria’s response, reaching out to tousle her hair gently. “Thank you for your kindness, little sister. You are the epitome of sweetness.” His eyes gleamed with good humour. “I see you also remembered to feed your nose. Splendid…we wouldn’t want it to go hungry.” He added, his tail still swishing cheekily in a slow ‘to and fro’.

Hearing Winny’s compliment, he blushed and shook his head, waving a hand dismissively. “Oh no…not at all! I’m sure there are other role models” Saberlin stammered, though he couldn’t help smiling. Praise always was a nice reward.

Following his sister’s advice, Saberlin excused himself from the table and went to get himself a bowl, coming back to sit across from Cheria instead.

He would have liked to sit beside her except this way they were facing each other, making it easier to talk. Plus, he knew that if he sat next to her, there was a high chance he would get soup all over him. Placing something on the table in front of them, he broke off a piece and pushed it towards Cheria. “Here, I got some toasted bread for us, freshly baked and with butter. You dip it in the soup” he explained. After a short pause, he quickly added “And then you eat it” just for good measure.

The snake woman nodded and smiled politely at Winny. “Oh, wonderful. Then, we will be happy to join you until the Masster arrives. After thiss, I am taking him over to fencing lessons, archery lessons, biology and science studiess and then geography with Iouya…” she listed, looking pleased.

Silaeca gave an amused hiss at Winny’s observation of her kids, turning to see where she was looking. It was rather adorable sometimes, the way Cheria and Saberlin interacted together.

“Sssss! Right you are, Misstresss. Ssso cute, issn’t it? Both of them are exceptional children. I feel fortunate to be their nanny, you know. Iouya and I are both glad we are in this position. Your children are mosst delightful.” She paused and considered her words, tongue flickering thoughtfully. “Of cours-sse, nobody is perfect…there are the odd slip upss from time to time” she continued, laughing softly afterwards.

“What’s this I hear about slip ups?” came a voice from the hallway and the alarming sight of Jabe Harcourt strode into the room, a huge grin slapped onto his face, clothes charred and shredded and his hair and fur stuck on end. It looked like he’d been mauled by a lightning storm. “Ah ha ha ha! Doin’ some research on the electrical beasties we ordered in from Spark Labs Corp. Fiesty lil’ buggers!” he laughed, going over to hug his wife and plant kisses on Winny before wandering over and plonking himself down at the table. Sprawling out he rested his booted feet on the chair two down from him and sighed happily, glad to be off his feet for a bit.

“Oh shoot-!” Suddenly noticing that the tip of his tail was on fire, he grabbed the end and blew on it, putting the tiny flame out and sending a puff of stormy smelling smoke curling though the kitchen. He signalled one of the maids who were always present to bring him some of the food he could smell. “Seafood chowder for lunch today, huh? My favourite!”

Saberlin tried to stifle laughter and choked on his mouthful of soup instead, ending up in a small coughing fit. “F-father…ev-ry…thing is your favourite!” he managed to gasp out. Mealtimes were never boring when his whole family was gathered.

'Hm. I see. Dis you use my lab coat this time, or your?" Winny picked off a scrap of white fabric off of his shoulders and smoothed his hair back. She laid her head on his shoulders, breathing in deep the scent of the stormy smoke, and then had a small coughing fit that seemed to come from her chest. Glancing at Cheria, Winny narrowed her eyes. "Cheria, use a spoon please, and wipe your nose. I think it has had enough to eat, ok?"

"Ok mommy!" Cheria got a spoon and a napkin and wiped her nose while spooning the soup in her mouth at the same time

Jabe arched a brow when Winny picked off a scrap of what were the remains of his lab coat, flicking his ears back and uttering a low grumble of a purr when she played with his hair. “Truth be told, this is…uh, was, a spare one I grabbed offa the staff. Knew I w’z gonna get sparked and zapped t’day an’ wasn’t sure my favourite coat would survive it” he chuckled, lazily sprawled in the chair. “Someone’s always getten’ blown up down there. If it’s not me, it’s someone else” He lifted a hand and played with some of the tawny silky strands that framed her face in return, gently twisting his fingers in the ends. Jabe didn’t mind her leaning on him during their lunch break, though it made things a little difficult whilst trying to eat something as runny as soup.

He apologized and used a scrap of lab coat to wipe a wayward splash of chowder from her arm.

He was just on his fifth spoonful of soup when she took him by surprise by having a coughing fit and the spoon wobbled dangerously once again in his hand, spilling hot liquid over the both of them. That was odd; she didn’t look like she had a cold. “Y’want ta get that looked at, mabbey. We can’t have ya getting under the weather now” he told her gently, looking at her with light concern as the maid brought them packets of serviettes to wipe the soup off with. “You haven’t been workin’ too hard have ya? If ya need, I c’n take over some of yer research and stuff while you have some time off…evr’yone needs a break sometimes” he offered, wondering where that chesty cough had come from. Was she suddenly allergic to something in the soup? “C’n ya breathe alright?” he inquired offhandedly, sounding more like he was teasing than actually expecting her to answer. It was just a cough, she was probably fine. Jabe Harcourt wasn’t one easily given to worrying.

Listening to what their mother said to Cheria, Saberlin gave a small smirk and pushed over the cutlery holder which held different types of spoons, knives and forks, shoving it closer so that his sister could grab a spoon without having to climb onto the table or leave her spot. “Here you go, eat it all up! Good girl” he muttered to her kindly, giving her another small piece of bread and some more clean napkins when the maid handed them to him. He sat up a little straighter in his chair and went on eating his soup in a slightly pompous fashion, trying to set a good example for her. It was hard when she was so small she couldn’t reach the table properly, he figured. Glancing at the clock above the unlit fireplace, he saw that lunch was almost over. They would have some time to play and hang out a bit before his next classes.

Cheria ate her soup more slowly, chewing on the bread. After she was done with both her soup and the bread, she took her dishes to the sink and put them there. The, she climbed up onto Saberlin's lap and got comfortable. Putting her head on his chest, she closed her eyes and dozed for a bit.

"I dont know, Jabe. Maybe it's just the weather." Winny breathed in deep, her eyes closed. Sighing, she laid her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes out of sheer exhustion.  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

The leopard boy scooted back in his chair enough so that she had room to perch on him and also so she wouldn’t lean back on his stomach, which was pretty full by the time lunch ended. He smiled and played with one of her ears, putting his fingers just close enough to the hairs to tickle them and make it flick. “Psst, Cheria.” He whispered, trying to get her attention somehow since she seemed to have dozed off “If you are free after this, would you like to accompany me to my next two lessons? Fencing and archery. I think we have some wooden practise swords you could use and I can show you how to use a bow. You probably couldn’t draw the string back yet but if I help…it’d be fun, yes?” he offered, knowing the instructors wouldn’t mind her joining them if Saberlin had asked her along. He was responsible enough, they had seen, to look out for others besides just himself.

(Cheria trying her hand a little at fencing and archery would be cute, don’t you think! She might learn something…)

He sighed and kissed her ear tip, finished with the meal. Most of it was spilled but he wasn’t interested any longer. “The weather today is a bit erratic. Mebbe it’s all the pollen and such blowin’ round in the air. Anyhow, if ya feel up to it later on, you know where to find me. Otherwise, ye’d p’raps be better to grab some rest. I can handle the electric squirrels” he laughed softly. That was the nickname they had given the fuzzy chimera like creatures that had been sent for analysis.

Suddenly, a cup of tea appeared in Jabe’s vision and he blinked at it curiously. “What’s this?”

“Sss…it is for the Mistresss. Here, Mistresss, would you like some herbal tea? It is a fine tea that usually offers some refreshment to those who are weary” the naga offered, holding the tray before Winny with a slight smile. She had brewed it while they were talking. “It may help”

(that would bee soo cute!!) Cheria nodded and flicked her ear. "Bwig Bwrother help me?" She stretched from claw to tail tip and almost fell off, but she grabbed on to his legs in time.

Winny stretched. "Thanks, Sil. I guess I needed that." Winny smiled and took the warm tea cup in her hand and sipped the tea. "Hmm! Refreshing." She shivered and her tail flickered aimlessly.

"Certainly" he smiled at her question, only too happy to help. "I wouldn't have asked you if I was just going to ignore you and continue the lesson alone"

Saberlin bit back a yowl at the sudden piercing of claws on his legs when she almost fell off his lap. "Ouch! Ah, perhaps now is a good time to leave. We need to get there before the lesson starts" he informed her, slipping off the chair and taking hold of her hand. "Come along, let's go with Silaeca" So saying, he bid good day to Winny and Jabe then followed Silaeca out of the room as she led the way along the hall, down flights of stairs and eventually into the practise grounds, keeping a close eye on Cheria in case she decided to run away.

Once they were in the practise area, he went to find some uniforms and began handing the smallest ones to Cheria, saying what they were as he dropped each article into her arms.

***

Silaeca informed Winny she would meet up with her later as she took the kids to the next classes, going just a bit ahead of them.

Idly scratching at one ear, Jabe watched the red and pink snake lady glide out of the room with his children, amused by the sight of the glittery, scaled tail trailing behind long after they had gone before her colourful tail tip disappeared around the door.

Looking down at Winny, he eyed the cup of tea she had been given. "Well, that was nice of her. And you two are meeting up for a chat later as well? Sorry to interrupt but it looks like I have ta go back t'work now..." Starting to get fidgety and glancing at the time, Jabe carefully shifted to stand so that Winny wouldn't spill her tea when he moved. He lightly kissed the back of her hand. "Anyway, glad the tea's helpin'. I suggest going for a walk in the grounds to warm up a bit though...or if ya feel up to it, come down t the lab with me. We have plenty of electric heating at the moment. But whatever ya decide, you know where to find me..."

Cheria nodded. Slipping on the articles of clothing, she looked like a small sack of potatoes. She gripped her lesson rapier and looked at saberlin through the mask. "Is this how its 'posed to look like?"

Winny smiled and kissed Jabe before he left. "Yeah, me and Sil are gonna be talking. MAybe I'll come down and watch you, not doing anything though. A walk sounds good." Winny got up and leaving her tea cup there on the kitchen table, she went out into the garden and walked.

Saberlin walked around her a few times, adjusting little things here and there and looking from all angles. “Yes, yes, I think that’s how it goes” he mused, going to fetch his own practise clothes.

Pulling them on, he grabbed a wooden practise sword, slightly larger than Cheria's rapier but still one of the smaller 'weapons' and began adjusting his stance and position, showing her how to hold the rapier.

"Now, we stand like this...yes, like that, no, no, move your leg a little....yeah, that's more like it...and move your arms...that's it." He smiled at her behind his mask. "Alright, now, see those practise targets over there? The dummies! We're going to try swinging at those until teacher gets here and the real lesson starts" he instructed, striding over to sets of vaguely human shaped targets made out of sacks, hay, rope and perched on wooden stakes. He patted one lightly, sending a small dust cloud up from it. "So, I'll be your stand-in teacher. This is the target I usually use, which is why it's so battered, however, you can use any of them."

There were a few that had coloured markings on them, indicating number of points gained for scoring a hit correctly and outlining different sections of the target. "When the instructor uses them, there's usually nothing left by the end of our training" he chuckled. "I...have never managed to destroy one yet"

Silaeca stood, or curled up on her tail anyway, some way off at the sidelines of the practise area, watching them both from a distance. She didn't want to get in the way and end up like the practise targets.

***

"Alright. Be safe. Watch out for magpies" Jabe nodded and went back to work, grabbing a new, flameproof lab coat once he was down there, a lightning rod and some rubber dishgloves. He thought about Winny while he worked, in between electrical explosions and experiments of capturing and using energy extraction methods.

He'd try and talk to his wife later, after she'd spoken with Silaeca. Or, if she wasn't willing to talk with him just yet, he'd be content to wait. He wouldn't ask the naga himself, much preferring to hear things from Winny than ask behind her back or hear second hand. He only hoped she wasn't hiding something too important. Maybe she just needed a drink of whatever was in that tea. He chuckled at the thought. It had seemed to help.

Cheria nodded and jabbed at the dummies, testing for what she was capable for. Backing up a bit, she went into 'en garde' stance, an almost perfect intimation of Saberlin's stance. "Bravo, bravo, young Mistress. Almost there." The instructor walked out of the shadows and gently patted Cheria's head. "Very good for a beginner, dont you think, Master Saberlin?" The instructor had her gear on, which accented her dark eyes and hair.

Saberlin paused in showing Cheria different ways to strike at the practice targets and bowed to his instructor politely, straightening up again to answer her question. “Exceedingly good; I believe she has much potential” he stated, glancing over at his sister with a small half smile. He was amazed how quickly she was picking things up.

Turning back to his teacher, he added “She will accompany the lesson today but not to worry, I shall be educating her. I think it would assist me to learn more about my own techniques if I try my hand at teaching others” he explained leisurely. He always did like these classes after lots of book study, they were invigorating and who knew when knowing how to wield a sword might come in handy. Not to mention, he was sure he would be times he wasn’t there to protect Cheria as well. Knowing a thing or two might be useful to her as well. Still, today was mostly for fun and spending some time together. If he couldn’t get away or bring himself to tear himself from his lessons to play with her, he’d bring her to the lessons instead. It was a flawless plan really.

Kneeling down in front of Cheria so he could speak with her more easily, Saberlin helped her adjust her stance and grip on her practise weapon, brushed some strands of hair away from her face then pointed straight towards one of the shorter dummies which was made out of flour sacks and has a funny face drawn on it. It was meant to look menacing but due to the marker pens being exposed to rain, the lines had leaked and turned wobbly, making the dummy look like a slightly crazy scarecrow. “Alright Cheria, we are going to start some serious training on that guy over there.” He smiled, thinking ‘that guy’ didn’t stand much of a chance.

"May I put forth a suggestion master Saberlin? How about you start at the basics, as they are important, just as the tequines I'm teaching you are important. 'Tis best to start at the beginning, eh, Mistress?" Silaco winked at Cheria. Cheria nodded and fell backward as she tried to step out of the 'en garde' stance.

Winny stopped at a bench, and inhaled the sweet scent of flowers. She started to get restless, so she got up and went back inside, to the labs, putting on her lab coat and pushing the doors open with a grunt, she strode into where Jabe was and lightly touched him on the shoulder, not intending to scare (but somehow she did).

Saberlin nodded amiably at his instructor’s words “But of course. I mean to practise only the most basic moves to start out with. I was kidding about going serious on that practise dummy, naturally.” he smirked slightly at her remark about starting at the beginning, somewhat amused.

“Whoops, careful there little sister!” he gasped, turning to try and catch Cheria before she hit the ground. She most likely wouldn’t be hurt due to the padded clothing she wore; he simply did it on instinct.

Then Saberlin had an idea. Glancing up at their teacher, he remembered all the times she had shown him and taught him the basics until he had got them memorised correctly. Even now though, he was still nowhere near the level she was. “Excuse us? Perhaps…would you mind giving a demonstration of the basics for us both to follow as I instruct mistress Cheria?” he inquired humbly. He was confident he knew them but since the instructor was here, maybe they could learn together.

***

“Aargh!” Deep in concentration, Jabe Harcourt leapt about a foot in the air when something brushed his shoulder and the fur on his tail and ears bushed out like fluffy cacti. The screwdriver-like device he’d been tinkering with inside one of the electrical gadgets attached to some of the crackling lightning creatures which had arrived earlier that morning slipped, causing a three little arcs of energy to zap his fingers from some of the compnents. As the screwdriver thingy went sailing thorugh the air, Jabe whirled around, sucking his injured fingers only to see Winny standing there before him. “Oh, it’s you darlin’!” he sighed, running a hand through his wild spikes of hair in exasperation and chuckling at his sudden reaction. “Sorry 'bout that, thought you were a…well, nevermind what I thought. So, how’re ya feeling? Did that long stroll help any?” he questioned with concern showing in those light golden eyes, lowering his voice so that other colleagues couldn’t hear.  

[Incognita Ninja]

"Yes, well, a bit." Winny leaned into her husband's embrace and closed her eyes as she breathed in his scent.
Cheria fell and arched her back. Getting up, she looked a bit dusty, but not hurt. The instructor nodded. "Of course, master Saberlin."  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

Jabe kissed the top of her head and played with her long, silky hair, distracted from what he was working on. "You know...mebbe it's time for us ta take a small holiday. We have a research trip comin' up, in the wild rainforest to th' East. We could have some fun with that." he suggested, smirking at the ideas that popped into his head. "We're both workaholics anyway. Saberlin and Cheria are prob'ly too young ta accompany us this time but mebbe some time off is what you need. It couldn't hurt"

***

Saberlin nodded gratefully, stepping back out of the way so the instructor would have enough room to demonstrate for them. 'I thank you. Watch carefully Cheria. She's only going to show us once" he informed the half leopard, half lioness girl.

As the lesson progressed, they tried all sorts of moves, and learned about different ways of attacking and defending, as well as put them into practise.

Saberlin seemed to know all the basics by heart. They had half an hour of just practising the moves, then Saberlin walked over to the training dummies and pointed at two of them. "Here Cheria, you take that one and I shall take this one. Swing at different areas on the body and watch how your practise sword hits it" he explained. "It's interesting to learn this sort of thing"

(Since I don't know much about fencing, I'm going make stuff up. I really mean 'learning how to fight with swords' but I'm not sure of the word for that, so I called it 'fencing'. Lol. I'm sure there's a lot involved but since we're only roleplaying one lesson here, I don't think we need to put too much detail. Thinking of video game and Anime characters fighting with swords helps...so just write what you can

ALSO: I think when the parents go on one of their research trips, that's how they die. I don't know which trip, but on one of them, it happens.

AND: I'm going to have to move Saberlin's age up a few years in the main roleplay, since he's now 12 years old if Cheria's 3. And there was an 18 year gap between when Cheria disappeared and when they met up again. I think there's a 9 or 10 year age gap between them)  

[Incognita Ninja]

Cheria nodded and swung her 'sword' at the practice dummy. After a couple tries, she was sweating heavily, for the sword was a tad bit on the heavy side for her, and it was the smallest there was. "'Aberlin, 'ow long is this lesson?"

----------------------------------------------------

Winny nodded. "A holiday sounds great." She turned to put her head on his shoulder and slipped into a light sleep. Her hand reached for her necklace and held it, firmly but gently. Letting loose a shuddering breath, she opened her eyes and yawned. "I better take a nap if I want to sleep, hmm?" Winny hugged Jabe and lightly kissed him on his cheek. "If you want to join me after you're done here, I dont mind."  

[Kasumi Roseglimmer]

Saberlin practiced his moves on the wooden target, leaping and swinging his sword in different ways to hit different points of the dummy with resounding whacks and thumps. One time he even sent it spinning around on its post!

The flour sack that was the body of the dummy looked very battered by the time he was done, bits of straw stuffing flying about like confetti in the wind. The dummy hung lopsidedly on its post, its wobbly head with the funny face leering in a goofy manner. Saberlin was panting by then, grinning triumphantly. “Ninety-five…points! Now that…was a good work out.” he puffed, sounding pleased. Looking over to see how his little sis was doing, he smiled reassuringly. “The lesson…is over. We…usually only do an hour” he managed to gasp out, starting to take off his protective gear.

“Nicely done, I can see you’ve been practising” the instructor remarked, coming over to them both with small towels and water.

Holding a glass out to Cheria, she smiled appreciatively. “And you did very well for your first lesson. That was the smallest sword we had I’m afraid. I’m very impressed how long you were able to swing it”

Accepting the towel, Saberlin quickly wiped off the film of sweat he’d acquired then gulped down several mouthfuls of cool, refreshing liquid, catching his breath back. “Th…thank you” he replied to their instructor. Smiling over at Cheria, he happily informed her “Next is archery, if you wish to tag along. We must go over to the archery range though”

***

He stood and held her for a while, somewhat surprised when she drifted off against him. It seemed to Jabe like she was just exhausted. They both worked hard and dealt with household and business affairs but perhaps her stamina had been worn down as of late. He couldn’t think why. Stress maybe?

He kissed Winny’s hand that was grasped around the necklace he had given her, smiling widely as his tail swished happily. He loved her so much and the necklace looked as beautiful as ever on her.

When Winny woke with a shuddered breath and a yawn, she startled him somewhat and he jumped as his fur bristled slightly. “Geeze! you’re full o surprises today. It’s like that movie where the eyes pop open…” Jabe laughed, returning her hug.

“Yeah, go and get some rest sweet one. That walk didn’t seem to help much but tire ya out ev’n more. After all, we don’t want ya to fall asleep in the halls.” he joked lightly. Considering her offer, his leopard ears flickered in a thoughtful manner and he nodded after a short pause. “Sure, I’ll come and join you in a minute. Right after I make some phone calls to arrange our holiday. I think we‘ll be needing it straight away. You go up to the room. I‘ll meet you upstairs” So saying, he called over some of his colleagues to continue the work he’d been working on, leaving it in capable hands.  

[Incognita Ninja]

Winny nodded and left to go to their bedroom, on which she collasped and fell right asleep. Unconsciously crawling under the covers, she snuggled down into the bed, unaware of the door creaking open.

**********

Cheria took Saberlin's hand as they walked to the Archery range. "Is 'is hard, 'Aberlin?" She squinted at the distant targets and shouldered closer to Saberlin.