N-Vorl and Teresa are leaning casually against the bed's giant headboard. N-Vorl chuckles softly, watching Teresa struggle to nurse both childlings at the same time. She narrows her eyes and glowers at him with thoughts of playful vengeance.

  "I don't see what's so funny. Then, you nurse one of them!"

  N-Vorl cuts his eyes at Teresa and twists his mouth into an unfavorable expression.

  "And how would you propose I do that? I do not have the...Anatomy...Necessary to do so."

  "You could play pretend," Teresa teases. "Or maybe you can invent some kind of machine to do the work for me? Even we humans have managed that. You did once say...'We are all engineers.' Did you not?"

  N-Vorl's eyes become tiny slits in his face and he grins devilishly. Teresa's stomach drops as she realizes she may have opened a can of unsavory worms.

  "N-Vorl, I was only..."

  "Do you really want a device which will do most of the work for you?"

  "I said, I was only kidding. I didn't mean..."

  "I will see what I can have my scientists think up. I may even enlist Glotis' help. I have been meaning to visit her for quite some time."

  "Are you serious, N-Vorl? By the time you do all of that...I won't need it anymore. Besides, it was only a joke. Although, a little help might be nice. Help me with repositioning Erilnis. He's not exactly cooperative. I think he's secretly punishing me."

  N-Vorl carefully repositions the childling on Teresa's chest, making it easier for him to nurse. Teresa smiles at N-Vorl, their faces only inches apart--so close that her eyes threaten to cross.

  "Thank you."

  "For what? For being a father to my childlings? It is my duty."

  "A duty many others have abandoned. I know I got really angry yesterday. But I do appreciate what you're trying to do. I can only hope you succeed. But be careful, N-Vorl. No one likes a troublemaker. Especially, when that young troublemaker could cause their house of cards to come tumbling down. I worry for you. Please be careful."

  N-Vorl presses his forehead against Teresa's.

  "I will try."

  "Please do more than that, N-Vorl. If things get too bad...Don't do anything which might endanger your life. Even if it meant you could not visit me for many years...Cycles of a season...I would much rather know that you are alive. The alternative...I could never live with."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  N-Vorl cups the sides of Teresa's face with both of his clawed hands.

  "There was a time when I would have never thought you could feel such strong feelings for me. I am grateful that I was incorrect in that assumption. Your n'fiis has given me peace from the turmoil which tormented my heart since my father's disgrace. I regret I was not there to end the cruel ooman scientist's torture. It seems, I am always in the wrong place at the wrong time. I will do as you ask. I will tread carefully in regards to the Council of Elders."

  "That's all I can ask."

  N-Vorl lightly kisses Teresa's forehead. His tiny daughter, Enilka, glances up and chitters. N-Vorl's mouth droops and he issues a sad sigh.

  -

  -

  Medical Cabin

  Yau-tala barely glances over her shoulder as Mau-Nis enters the main sitting room. Her mouth forms an angry pout and she pretends not to notice his presence. Mau-Nis strides behind the female settlement leader and places his arm around her waist, resting his head on her left shoulder.

  "I can understand your hesitancy to mate with me. We have only just met. However, I am greatly dismayed that you refuse to even see me off."

  Yau-tala removes Mau-Nis' arm from around her waist, none too politely. She whirls to face him, frustration evident on her countenance.

  "Why should I accompany you to your ship? What is in it for me? You come here...You and your elder...And then, you leave just as quickly. While I must continually undo the damage you and others have done. Childlings who cry every night. Desperately wanting to hold, and be held by, their u'hsks. Females who must take strong elixirs simply to sleep at night. They have fitful dreams of their lovers and sometimes sleepwalk. One female nearly walked into the river during an episode. This is the mess I must untangle. The mess many like you...And your elder...Have left behind. That is why I did not mate with you last night. I have enough on my plate without taking on a possible childling of my own."

  Mau-Nis takes Yau-tala's face in his hand. She does not pull away, her brown eyes staring deep into Mau-Nis' gray ones.

  "You and I both know...There are ways to avoid becoming heavy with descendants. You are a healer...A doctor. You should know this better than anyone. You did not mate with me last night because you are afraid."

  Yau-tala's mouth drops open and her eyes flash with hidden resentment.

  "That is not true!"

  Mau-Nis lowers his mouth to Yau-tala's, effectively silencing her. A moment later, he releases her.

  "You are afraid of falling in love. Especially, with one you so desperately want to hate. Unlike many other elders, N-Vorl truly loves his offspring. You would see this...If you weren't so busy being angry. The amount of subterfuge which was necessary to make this journey...Should be proof enough. He took a great risk. As did I. It is a risk, I would also take for you. If only...You permitted me to."

  Yau-tala's lips part as if she means to speak, but no words come out. Mau-Nis takes this as his cue to kiss her again. Yau-tala tilts her head, to make his job just that much easier. She relaxes a little as Mau-Nis' hand drops to the small of her back. Opening her eyes, she leans back, breaking off their kiss.

  "I should grab the L'so Elixir. Just in case."

  Mau-Nis' brow creases and his eyes narrow, a wolfish grin drawing his mouthparts and tusks wide apart.

  "While you are searching out the elixir, I will advise my elder I will be a little late to our rendezvous point."

  "Sounds like a plan to me," Yau-tala says with a smile.

  For good measure, Mau-Nis draws the settlement leader into another tight embrace.