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 Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 11:45 am
They had stayed for what felt like weeks when in reality it was only a couple of days. They repeated the same things everyday, going to Aisha and praying and then going to live their lives. By the third day Jerarda was beggining to feel a heaviness in her heart. Niggling doubt was beggining to fill her of fear, a fear the Aisha had refused their prayers and thus no lotus would be granted to them. She tried to stay positive for Animah's sake, but when she wasn't aware her mate was catching her with a pained look on her face.
It was the start of the third day, Jerarda was preparing to get ready to go visit Aisha again but was wondering if she should suggest to Animah that they give up. If Aisha hadn't heard their prayers by now...she doubted very much that they would be answered at all. Nibbling on some fresh fruit she was looking outside as others were up and about starting with their own days. How lucky for them to not have to fret about children...she only wanted her mate to be happy...one lotus was all they needed.
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Aminah still felt like an outsider on the strange Alkidike island. They had been there three days already and she couldn’t bring herself to even look at the other Alkidike in the eyes. It just all seemed so… intrusive to her. She wasn’t supposed to be there, and now that she was… and without a lotus… she was beginning to doubt that they should have come at all.
Maybe they weren’t ready. Maybe Aisha wasn’t going to give them anything for their praying and they would go home empty handed. She caught peeks of Jerarda looking just as grim as she felt on the inside every once in a while and she had a firm set to her mouth as she ate her morning fruit and watched the other Alkidike go about their business. Aminah gently put and hand on her free hand and smiled to her mate. “It’ll be alright… you’ll see…” Aminah was saying it for herself just as much as she was for Jerarda, but it was hard to feel the confidence in her voice.
She turned to her own fruit, finishing what was left before leaning back where she sat. “Are we to visit Aisha again?” It was a half-hearted question, but Aminah did what she could to stifle her disappointment.
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Looking over at her mate it crushed her heart to see that look on Animah's face. That expression..a forced smile, it was hard to not want to just wrap her up in a gigantic hug and never let go. At her question she gave a slow hesitant nod of her head, after all one more day couldn't do any harm right? But how much longer should they try?
"Animah...perhaps after today..if AIsha has not.." She couldn't bring herself to say it, it was to hard to just accept that Aisha would not listen to their prayers for children. Not only that but she could tell that Animah wasn't comfertable here, while it had been her home when she was young, this was very alien to Animah.
"I know you must miss our home..I am sorry things are more comfertable for you here..." She managed to say switching the subject.
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Aminah felt the sinking in her stomach as Jerarda started to say what she was thinking… and dreading… deep down before changing the subject. She swallowed hard, the lingering sweetness from the fruit now tasting nauseating in her throat. She reached for her cup filled with water and tried to push back the taste of the fruit.
“It’s definitely not home… but it’s not terrible here.” She smiled to Jerarda, hoping to get her mind off of the thought of going home without children.
“Maybe…” Aminah trailed off. She would have continued if it weren’t for the young Alkidike girl at their door. Aminah nearly jumped where she sat. Was their time up on the island? Were they going to be asked to go home?
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:10 am
It was perhaps the same effect for Jera as she hadn't anticipated anyone else and was on the defensive as the younger sister was at their door. Turning she couldn't help but scowl at first before trying to relax. After all it wasn't like the girl was heckling them, she had just appeared at their door.
The girl was brief, as it seemed that she had run here and she was being summoned to see the elders. She disappeared as quickly as she had appeared leaving both Jera and Animah alone again. Swallowing she had to wonder why the elders were summoning them. Trying to not get her hopes up she looked to her mate and nodded her head.
"Well...I suppose we best go and see what they want." She explained as she went to tie her long dreads back into a pony tail. It was getting heavy, she had though on getting her hair cut...perhaps once they got back home.
"Lets go."
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:16 am
Aminah watched as the girl came, delivered her message, and then left just as quickly. She let out the breath she hadn't even known she was holding and turned to face Jerarda. She was more than a little confused as to the meaning of this. Was this normal? Was it good news... or bad? Maybe the elder was going to tell them that they had failed and Aminah wouldn't be allowed back to the island. Her heart quickened in her chest and she pulled a deep breath in, nodding to her mate. "Let's... see." She reached out for Jerarda's hand, hoping the comfort of it would get her to feel at least closer to normal.
And they exited the hut, crossing the small walk to the elders' council hut. Aminah stopped short of the entrance turning to Jerarda once more. "What if it's bad news? What if I can't come back?" She felt the words tumble out of her mouth. She hadn't outright said any of these things to Jerarda the entire time they were there, but now it was the moment of reckoning and she was losing her nerve.
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:21 am
Slowing Jerarda had been about to step out of their temporary home when Animah suddenly spoke. All her worries were laid out on the table as she spoke that once sentence and turning she enveloped her mate in a strong hug.
"Then we will find another way. Don't fret." She managed hoping her few words could comfort her earthling lover.m "I don't give up so easily." Jerarda teased as she stroked Animah's hair before taking her hand and leading her forward.
Though she was worried as well, she knew that there were only two reasons they were being summoned. One would be that they failed and needed to leave the island, the second would be that a lotus had been granted to them. Obviously she hoped for the latter but she couldn't help but fret herself as they made their way towards the elders homes.
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:26 am
Aminah returned the hug, holding onto Jerarda for strength and stability before releasing and following her forward and into the elders' hut.
Inside... it wasn't just one elder, like Aminah had thought, it looked like it was the whole group of elders on the island. Was this normal? Or was it more serious than they thought. Maybe Aisha was sick or angry, or something else horrible now that Aminah had tried to beg for children, and wouldn't give anyone younglings. She shivered with the thought and waited for the elders to address Aminah and her mate. She was almost sure that Jerarda's hand must have been losing circulation at this point she was holding on so tightly.
She could feel her face tighten into a look of dreadful waiting.
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:43 am
Jerarda could feel her nervousness, though as they got to the elders home, they were put more on edge to see one of them already standing outside as if anticipating their arrival. This couldn't be good right? Trying to brace herself she gave her elder an appropriate greeting of respect although it was a bit on the stiff side.
The conversation was short, weither the elder was trying to tease them or not she wasn't entirely sure. But the words 'you're in for a surprise' felt someone heartening. Squeezing Animah's hand back as they were then led down towards Aisha she felt her heart begin to hammer in her chest.
This could only mean one thing, that Aisha had heard their prayers and was granting them a lotus. She was however not prepared to discover that perhaps Aisha had heard their prayers too well..as they were blessed not with one lotus...but three.
Dumbstruck she stood before their lotus's looking at them like this..couldn't be right. One was normal..but three was fairly rare...
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:51 am
She felt like she could barely breath. The elder mentioned something of being surprised and Aminah felt her heart hammering in her chest. could it be they had a lotus? They wouldn't take the pair of them back to Aisha if there was nothing to show right? They wouldn't take them back to Aisha if they were being kicked off of the island... or so she hoped. Not unless they enjoyed building hopes up before smashing them.
Aminah internally shook her head to herself. That was cruel. They were not cruel, just different... maybe strict, but not cruel.
They reached the tree and Aminah felt herself drop Jerarda's hand in surprise. She counted... and it couldn't be right. They had asked for a child. Aminah wanted many many children, but she thought more than one would be greedy. But Aisha had given three? Her eyes went wide, her hands finding their way to her mouth before she couldn't see anymore. Her eyes had filled up with tears that were desperately trying to spill over. She looked to Jerarda and couldn't form words. A sound of shock and surprise found its way out of her mouth before she threw herself into Jerarda's arms. "Three lotuses." she cried out.
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:38 am
Jerarda stood there, unable to speak for the longest time. The elder seemed to be enjoying her sister's dumstruck expression. Even when her mate exclaimed quite loudly the sheer number they had been blessed with Jerarda wasn't sure if she should be estatic or worried. As Animah threw herself into her arms she wrapped her own around the earthling to share in her excitement. Looking to the elder she was giving the woman a looked that described 'are you sure?' before she glanced down at the lotus's again.
They were oddly colored, fairly unique for lotus's from what she had seen.
"Guess we will need to pick out names..." She murmured still in a state of shock.
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Aminah squeezed Jerarda, her eyes still filling with tears before she let go and looked up into Jera’s face. “Names…” She echoed, her mind still in awe. This was real. They would have babies. They would need names. They would be cared for. They would be loved.
Aminah turned her eyes quickly from Jerarda, to the elder, back to Jerarda, and then to her lotuses. “Can… can I touch them? Are they fragile?” She quieted for a moment. “What do I do now?” She wanted to shower them with affection already, wanted to love them and hold them, even though they were still small lotuses. They would go to become her precious precious babies.
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Jerarda seeing how happy her mate had become felt her own worries fade. Even if she hadn't been expecting three children it was still a miracle to behold. She loved how excited Animah was and how she wanted to touch their lotus's and she was unsure on what they could do now that they had them.
"They are small and fragile..you may touch them and speak to them but gently." Jerarda murmumred as she led her lover towards the slightly larger to the three. What should she say? Hello? She had never talked to a plant before..even if she knew it was going to become a child...
"We can visit them every day..once they are ready to be born the mystic will take them and deliver them to us."
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Aminah let herself be led to the lotuses and knelt down to be close to them. Gingerly she reached out a hand and touched the small fragile thing, almost petting it. It was odd to think that this would become a child in time. She cooed to them and spoke to them, wondering if it was like a child in the womb, and if it could hear through the protective layers of the petals.
She reached for Jerarda’s hand, holding tightly onto her mate. “We have children…” She trailed off.
They would come back and visit them everyday, and she couldn’t wait to say hello to her little miracles.
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Every day they went to visit their babies, Jerarda was amazed to see how quickly the lotus's grew, though it wasn't abnormal growth she had never paid that much attention to how quickly they did grow. She often joked that Animah was spoiling the lotus's and that was why they were growing so quickly, they were excited to be born to met their mothers.
Jerarda was still trying to overcome the worries in her mind, about looking after three babies when she had only imagined they would be granted one. She knew that they wouldn't have any difficulties..but still she couldn't help but worry.
It was perhaps on a day they got up early to rise and they had started on their way to the Lotus's they were interrupted by a young alkidike who seemed out of breath. Apparantly their lotus's were gone, taken by the mystic for birthing. THey were to arrive ather hut quickly.
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Aminah showered her lotuses with affection the entire time she waited for their babies’ arrivals. She enjoyed Jerarda’s teasing, loving the idea of their daughters meeting their mothers.
It was another morning on the Island, with Aminah finally getting used to the looks of the other Alkidike, when they were greeted by another young Alkidike. It was time.
Aminah grinned to Jerarda and they nearly raced toward the hut. She was almost positive that she was the one racing and Jerarda was trying to help her slow down, but soon enough they were there.
Aminah waited for Jerarda before entering the hut, she wasn’t silly enough to just barge in, what would the mystic do then? She was still an outsider she reminded herself. And outsider who was about to meet her daughters.
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Jerarda shook her head as Animah looked about ready to dive into the hut to greet their daughters. Smiling she raised a finger to her lips as they needed to be quiet while the mystic was working.
"It is custom to leave the mystic to her work. We shall wait out here, when she is ready the babies will be brought to us." She commented although also eager to see their new babes she was wise enought to let the mystic work without interruption.
Taking Animah's hand she led her to a bench that was purposly placed for those who were awaiting their babies. It would take time and would seem like an enternity before the first babe was brought out to them. IN a basket her multitoned hair was fine and gently lay against the infants sculp. She looked more like an alkidike than an earthling, though the white and black hair plus the gems glittering on her body were a dead give away that she was a hybrid.
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Aminah watched with wide eyes as their first child was brought out to them. The mystic laid the basket in Jerarda’s lap and Aminah bent over to take in the sight of her first daughter. “She’s beautiful.” She stroked the two-toned hair and looked up to Jerarda. She had never been so happy. “Let’s name her Jhana…” She cooed, her voice silk as she turned to watch the sleeping babe.
The mystic left them then, returning to work on the other two infants she was helping birth and before long returned with their second child. Like the first she had two-toned hair, crystals on her body, but the rest seemed Alkidike. Just as beautiful.
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 12:05 pm
Jerarda watched as Animah stroked their child's head and coo'd at her the name was apt and appropriate and she nodded at it. "Jhana sounds lovely." She replied as then another was brought to them. Another girl with similar dual tones like her sister, this one antenna seemed short. Though she didn't want to point that out she merly stroked the young ones cheek.
"Can..we called her Rishima?" She inquired softly as she wanted to honor her closest sister. "Shima for short.." She continued as she tickeled the little ones toes earning her a small coo and a yawn. She was of course not ...anticipating their final child to be so very different from its siblings.
As the third was brought out to them she marveled at the long eyelashes and slender frame as she went to remove the babe from the bastket she was met with...something small and dangling at its groin area. "Ah...this one is a boy.." She marveled for a moment completely at a loss for words.
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Aminah cooed and awed at the second baby, nodding with love to Jerarda. “Shima…” She agreed.
Their final child was brought out to them and Aminah thought she was gorgeous. Just as beautiful as her other two. Jerarda lifted her from her basket, and when the blanket fell off of the baby… Aminah’s eyes went wide. “A boy…” Aminah looked at his little boy bits and back to his face. “Was that possible?” She thought back to Rishima who was a man but a child of Aisha. She supposed so. She grinned to Jerarda. “It seems Aisha was trying to cover all of her bases.” She giggled and watched Jerarda’s face. It was marked with… confusion? Disbelief? Did she even know how to care for a boy? It made Aminah laugh out.
“And what should we call our special man?” She cupped his feet, marveling at how small they were.
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The concept of having a boy child was beyond Jerarda's comprehension. She knew men existed for obvious reasons but to think that they would get a boy when it was two females praying to Aisha...well it made her wonder. Sometimes she wanted to ask the great mother tree directly what was going on.
"Ah...I..don't know what do you think we should call her...i mean...him.." She managed watching as Animah played with his feet and finally lowered him back down and pulled the blanket across his small body again. She didn't want him to get cold after all.
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Aminah laughed out at Jerarda’s apprehension to the situation. A little boy. She had always wanted a little boy. Maybe Aisha saw this and heard her. Though from Jerarda’s face she could tell it was much more of a surprise for her. She let the baby be swaddled again and rested a hand on Jerarda’s arm.
Aminah thought for a moment. What would name their special combination of her and her mate. “What about Jerami?” She thought out loud. Part Jerarda, part Aminah.
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Jerarda gave a simple nod of her head, that was about the only thing she could possible do at this current time. Perhaps slightly overwhelmed at the concept of now being the parent of three chilren, one of them a boy she felt a bit apprehensive. But they would be able to do it...she..was pretty sure.
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Aminah couldn’t help but be happy for her children - all three of them, though she could see from Jerarda’s face that it was more than she bargained for. She gave her mate a squeeze where her hand still lay and put her head on Jera’s shoulder.
“We have three beautiful babies.” And then she added as a second thought hit her. “We… might need a bigger tree."
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