Sil resumed feeding her, eating alternatingly, from the same plate. While she chewed, she put the milk catchers back on. She didn't want waste, or worse, to wake in a pool of wetness due to leaking milk. She found this all fascinating. She was assuming the twins rejected the milk after her transformation because the DNA change made the milk no longer good for them but Angelina did not seem to agree with this. She would need to research these things in her mother's lab. Which meant this war needed to end so she could feel confident going without worry of being needed for emergency response.
"What are you thinking about?" Sil asked softly, waiting for her to take another bite.
She took the bite and chewed noting he did not get his next bite. Once done chewing, "I'm curious about what I am. The response to my milk for example. After the change, the twins rejected it but Angelina doesn't mind it. I know the answers must be in Mother's lab… I don't want to take the time to fully research until after the war but…" She cast her eyes down.
"Yes?"
Lana took a deep breath, "do you think we could go to the lab tomorrow? You are home so rarely. I'm afraid to go in case I miss you. I…. I need to try something." She had tears in her eyes, but he could see she refused to let them fall.
His resolve to destroy the dalki and return to his home was getting more firm the more he looked at the pain in her eyes. "Of course." He grinned softly, "besides, I'm curious about what the lab looks like," he put up a hand to stop her because she got excited, "I want to see it with my own eyes. In the morning. In the meantime, you need to eat this delicious food that has been prepared for you by those wonderful women!"
Lana chuckled and opened her mouth. They finished their meal. Sil insisted on cleaning up the twins, the floor, the walls, and putting a clean blanket on the bed. As he started cleaning, Griddlebone and Caser entered the shelter. Lana screamed and ran from the room, cursing herself for not staying open to the messages from the trees.
Sil wanted to run after her but Shalt had gone to check on the Blade kids and Fiza had left without telling him where she went. He was left with all three children. So, he recited a story and acted it out where he could while cleaning up the mess, wondering how she managed this every day.
Lana raced to the side of her beloved friend. He had lost a lot of blood. She surveyed the scene and could tell that Griddlebone willed him to return. Save him! she screamed in Lana's mind. Lana sobbed at his condition. The trees were now showing her his performance while fighting the dalki. He was ferocious. Magnificent. Countless beast lives were saved due to his heroics.
"Griddlebone, get him the corpses of the fallen beasts. As many as you can find. Get the other beasts to help you if they are willing." Lana looked at her imploringly, "he needs the strength. Go."
Griddlebone bowed to her and left without a word but at a speed unmatched to anything previously demonstrated.
Lana immediately started working on the bleeding. She saw one of her new members from the Bree family approaching, "he needs help. I can do some but can you go see if Rene is available? His chances will increase greatly with us both."
She hopped on her beast and rode off toward the infirmary. Lana felt bad because she didn't know the Bree people yet and she assumed one day, Mona may want her people back. For now, her focus was right here, on Caser, the hero of the hour. It didn't take long for Rene to get there, quickly followed by beasts bringing Caser some food. He ate slowly as the internal wounds were slowly healed.
Soon, Caser was back on his feet. The food kept coming and his strength was slowly returning. He decided to lay down and continue eating. He didn't realize just how much of his strength he had used in that fight. Caser heard the humans talking about dalki but had never seen them himself. He had stayed aboard the ship with the babies when Lana went to Caladi. He now understood the threat and wished he could evolve further. His humans were in danger with this threat. He decided to ask.
Those monsters, with they be back?
"I don't know," Lana responded. "Sil is only home for a short time. The goal Quinn has put before everyone on this next push is to take the fight to them, away from human settlements, reduce the civilian casualties. Too many lives have been lost in this war."
Caser sighed, if you step out of our house, I'm coming with you, no matter where it is. Promise me.
Lana smiled, "eat. Regain your strength. I rarely leave without you as it is. I can't imagine a world without my companion as my side. I hope my children form such bonds with your own children."
Caser smiled, Stephie has taken a liking to one of the Blade kids but the others want to stay close.
Lana nodded and smiled. "If the Blade child is willing to properly tend Stephie, then I approve. I'd like to run it by Sil, though."
After quite a bit of time, having eaten the flesh and the crystals of those who fell in battle, Caser was finally strong enough to walk back home. He wished he could have Lana ride him but he knew he needed to sleep. Back in their home, Lana insisted he sleep on his bed in her and Sil's room. She didn't want him to exhaust himself climbing the stairs. Griddlebone lovingly rubbed her head against his.
Lana smiled at the show of affection. She then noticed they were gone so long, Sil had the room cleaned up and had the twins back in the nursery, reading the second book in the series. He seemed determined to memorize that one was well. She chuckled and leaned against the door frame watching and listening.
Sil always looked so radiant when he did this. She wouldn't be surprised if this was his favorite part of being a father. With each recitation, he was instilling in his children the importance of doing well by others and treating others well. She was enraptured by his energy, the glow that surrounded him. By the time the kids were asleep and the story had ended, she seemed to be staring off into space with a tear running down her cheek.
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This story has been re-written as an original story called Feisty Fae. I took my experience from this writing to make the story better. The new version is Romance/Fantasy Adventure. I hope you enjoy it.