Ronan
"She is Rhodinian," I breathed as the youngling's wings unfurled.
"No, that's not possible." Aanya shook her head adamantly. "A human gave birth to her. I literally saw her push her out of her vag, and she didn't have wings. Lani's mom was 100% human. And Lani didn't have wings when..." she trailed off, voice going mumbled. "She had two grooves in her back, but I didn't think about it because I didn't have time to think about it. They were right where her wings are."
From what I'd learned of childbirth, Rhodinians were born with their wings intact, furled around themselves. But Lani was undeniably Rhodinian, so they must have come in after birth. Lani had blonde hair that was so familiar. And those blue eyes... but it couldn't be. It wasn't possible.
I stared at Lani's light, translucent wings. "Her mother was human as you are, but her father must be Rhodinian."
Aanya set Lani down on the cot and wrapped her. The youngling let out a small yawn before falling back asleep. Aanya laid on the cot next to her. I did the same on my cot. Soon the lights would turn off if my internal clock was correct.
"You're saying a human and a Rhodinian...." Aanya didn't finish her sentence.
"That's the only logical explanation." My mind raced with the implications. Humans and Rhodinians could bear young?
The lights shut off, shrouding us in darkness.
"Maybe they experimented on her? Im–Impregnated her?" Aanya stumbled on the word.
I shook my head, no. It wouldn't be possible. "Rhodinian seed does not last for artificial insemination. A child has only ever been achieved through coupling."
"Well, there's never been a human-Rhodinian hybrid before, has there?" her voice was almost frantic. "So what do we know?"
"Rhodinians have tried to couple with other species before to solve our population issue. There has been limited success and only through coupling." I explained, voice low and calm. "It's been tested."
"So she was raped here?" Aanya's voice broke.
I frowned at the darkness. "I'm not familiar with that word."
"Forced." Aanya choked on the word.
I recoiled. "Forcing a female? No, never. Rhodinians don't hurt females. They could never."
"The lizardmen, the Szenists as you call them, they've hurt me. Experimented on me. Cut me apart and lasered me back together. They could have forced them to."
I sat up and looked at her. Despite the darkness, my enhancements allowed me to see her. Her eyes were shadowed with fear.
The Szenists words were piecing themselves together in my head.
"He has no information. Now that Specimen 23 and Specimen 56 have expired, we are in need of a new pair."
"He is compatible with Specimen 124."
"We will find out if you're lying, Specimen 124."
Specimen 23 and Specimen 56 could have been Lani's parents. As Aanya said, Lani's mother passed, and I couldn't imagine a Rhodinian male not protecting his own, so he must've passed too. They couldn't mean Aanya and I were compatible for coupling, could they? No, no.
I did not voice my thoughts to Aanya. Her eyes were already scared enough; I would not worry her about this.
"I wish I could have saved her," Aanya whispered into the quiet darkness. "Lani's mom. God, I don't even know her name." Her voice was thick.
I gave her the only reassurance I could. "You will save her daughter."
We will save her youngling, I amended in my mind. Kier was important, but the youngling took precedence. A part of me knew that from the time I laid eyes on her, even before I knew she was Rhodinian.
A fortnight passed, and we settled into a routine. Lani seemed to be a very quiet youngling, albeit curious. She did have a habit of yanking on Aanya's hair.
I did my best to help, but the cage bars proved difficult. The most I could do was try and entertain Lani through the bars to give Aanya some respite, but Aanya really did everything for the youngling. Fed her, played with her, changed her, snarled at the Szenists when they passed the corridor. A fierce protector.
At night, Aanya and I would talk. She'd tell me of Earth and her work there. She told me of her work in maar-ked-ing, but my mind didn't fully grasp the concept. I told her of my work as a warrior, defending Rhodin and travelling the universe with my team.
One night, before we were going to turn in, Aanya came over to the bars, holding a sleepy Lani. She rocked her in her arms.
"Do you want to hold her?" Aanya asked, voice soft.
I stared at her, speechless. Awe filled me. "You would give me that honour?"
"I think you've earned that by now." Aanya let out a twinkling laugh. The sound was so pleasing to my ears– I would endeavour to make her laugh more.
Lani blinked up at me, bleary-eyed. Through the bars, I brought a hand close, and she reached out, wrapping my thumb in her tight grip.
"Are you sure?" I asked, gaze flicking up to Aanya.
"I'm sure." Aanya nodded, trusting me with Lani.
With both arms through the bars, Aanya passed Lani to me.
"Make sure you support her neck," Aanya murmured before letting go. I knew to do that– Aanya tended to repeat instructions to herself without realizing it. Don't forget to keep washing your hands because Lani doesn't have a strong immune system yet, support her head and neck, never ever shake her, don't roll over onto her while you sleep. I thought that last one to be very unlikely, but Aanya still repeated it to herself.
I held the tiny being in my arms, her big blue eyes staring up at me like I was the centre of her universe. I rocked her slowly like I'd seen Aanya do.
Aanya opened her mouth, and the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard left her lips.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often thro' my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
'Tis your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the trav'ller in the dark,
Tho' I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
"What was that?" I asked her, awe-struck for the second time today. Lani had fallen asleep in my arms while Aanya sang.
"Hm?" Aanya looked up from Lani. "Just an old lullaby. My mom used to sing it to me."
"Sing? Singing, that's what it's called?"
Aanya stared at me with a look I'd now come to recognize– one of disbelief at our many differences. "Don't tell me you've never heard anyone sing before."
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AUTHOR'S NOTE
Any predictions for what's coming up next? Thoughts on the chapter?
Comments and votes are much appreciated.
Virtually yours,
Ro