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The many months after she had allowed herself to give in to her feelings for Kian had been.. dare she think.. damned near blissful. It wasn’t even as if much had changed in their daily lives, but the connection was far more real and intense than Rhonann had thought it could be. She felt safe with him, and, she hoped, he felt safe with her.

Of course, the dream had to be interrupted. First, it was Kylldra. Rhonann’s old nemesis had finally poked his head out from underground after years of hiding, and the fire to find him and avenge her family flared sharp and hot. It had been muffled over time, but the reminder that he was still walking around made her feel like it was just yesterday that he had revealed to her the atrocities he had done to her life. If it hadn’t been for him-! She had the chance though. Kian had been called to his sister’s side out in Zena, but Rho had refused to let her latest lead slide. They had agreed that she would keep tabs on Kylldra and wait for Kian to return before going after him, and Kian had gone.

Kylldra didn’t stay in one place though, and neither did Rhonann. She had left notes; a trail for Kian to follow if he returned before she did. She knew where Kylldra was. All she had to do was get him in her sights and pull the trigger. She couldn’t wait and let him slip away again!

Sitting on the porch of a small inn in on the other side of Tale, Rhonann looked utterly lost in her head. A bolt was spinning idly in one hand while the other rested over her stomach as though it was sore. The bolt had borne Kylldra’s name for years. It had hungered for his blood, just as she had. Yet, here it was, spinning uselessly with a vanished purpose.

She had to find Kian.. but by the gods, what would she say?!

The bolt continued to spin aimlessly between her fingers, accentuating the fact of the matter to the windling. It embodied what she was feeling, even though it was essentially a pointed stick. It spun faster and faster, as though trying to shake off the weighted emotions running rampant. When an employee of the inn came out to ask if she needed anything, Rho flinched with surprise and the bolt flew from her fingers. “Ah, no. No.” Not from the inn, anyway. What she needed was, well, how could she even describe it? Maybe a walk was in order? Or she could hide in the room she was renting. Just something to get people to stop asking if she was okay.

She pushed herself up from the chair, eyes rising to seek out the bolt that she had dropped. Instead, she saw two beloved forms headed her way. She froze instantly, a mix of joy and concern making her limbs heavy. Her mouth opened to call out, but then closed without uttering a sound. Part of her had been afraid that face would be gone for good, old fears clawing to keep hold in her mind. Now that he was standing in front of her though, a new concern took over. How would he react?

Fighting back the tears that attempted to fall, she ran forward to leap at the hybrid, burying her face against his chest. She was silent for a long moment before releasing a long sigh. “That -curses and insults!- Kylldra is in the next village,” she said in a rather defeated tone, keeping her face hidden while a frustrated fist hit lightly to Kian’s shoulder. “It was s’pposed ta be done. I was gonna finish it.” Growling roughly, she hit his chest again just to expel the energy that was going to make her explode.

The concern shown for her wellbeing practically increased Rhonann’s insecurity in her decision. Could she really feel safe if she didn’t end Kylldra’s life? Knowing he was out there alive and well would surely be a strain. However, the thought of getting blood on her hands in her current situation… “Kian.. I still want him dead,” she growled more. “I want ‘im dead like nothin’ else. He’s a plague an’ should be six feet under.” She went silent for another moment, eyes shifting into the general direction of where she knew Kylldra and his crew to be. Arms hugging around herself, she looked up at Kian’s face desperately. “I don’t know what ta do. There was nothin’ ta lose before.”

Kylldra was a fierce enemy. He was a seasoned lowlife and had a crew of other lowlifes at his disposal. Even if she got a killing shot in, they would come after her. She couldn’t take on all of them. Rho wondered what would happen if she didn’t take care of him now, though. What if she just left him to go on with his ways? What if he stumbled upon her in her new, vulnerable form? Her stomach pinched with indecision. Her old family deserved justice, but her new family deserved to be together and whole.. Biting her lip, she suddenly grabbed Kian’s hand and put it over her belly. The usually flat surface sported the slightest bump by now. Her expression danced between joy over the additions growing inside her, and fear of what might come depending on their decision with Kylldra. “I can’t risk all of you on him. Kian, what do I do?”

Rhonann felt an uncomfortable chill go down her back at Kian's insistence. She knew he would do it for her if she asked him to. After all this time of declaring how she would personally get her revenge, he must have been confused from one side to the other. He wanted the closure for her almost as much as she wanted it for herself. She knew he understood, and that made it that much harder. "I know we could handle whatever he tried throwin' at us, but it's different now."

While Kian's hand pulled away, her own remained in place over her belly. When she had first realized something was changing within herself, she had ignored it. She had a task to do! Then the signs kept increasing, and she had made herself go to a clinic to confirm her suspicions. Now that she knew for certain, she couldn't take the innocent life, or lives, within herself into battle. It was life born of something far beyond what Kylldra could ever touch within her. He would not stain this part of her life.

While she wanted to be cranky at Kian's initial reaction, she couldn't blame him for it either. While parenthood had certainly crossed her mind on more than one occasion, she hadn't planned for it to happen yet! Still, a choice had to be made. She just couldn't make it on her own. Making decisions based on something as precious as children rather than simply her personal agenda was far beyond what she could comprehend at that moment. "If I do, it's takin' them inta a fight I don't got control of. If I don't, he might find us later anyway." She stared hard at Kian, her hands tightening into fists. "Please.."

'Our family's safety comes first.' She and Kian had already become family. They had been dedicated and passionate, and able to take on the world. This new branch of family was a completely different set of the word. They weren't just a family, they had a family. Regaining the thing she had lost so long ago; a loss that had shaped her into the woman she was today! Perhaps it wasn't the best shape, but it is what it is. She couldn't help her parents or her brother, but she could do right by her child.

But what was right? She was going to be a mother! She was still processing that! Of course, now she was pressing Kian for answers after dropping the bomb of fatherhood on him as well. The reflected tension in Kian's gaze did little to ease Rho's indecision, yet the suggestions made her sigh softly and run a hand through her hair. The idea of finally meeting his family was a daunting thought in itself! "He doesn't go ta Zena often, from what I ever traced on him," she offered in reply. That might be their best bet if they were to be safe and still able to deal with Kylldra at some point.

Blue eyes flicked over to the clenched fists.

Cautiously, she reached forward to take a hold on Kian's sleeve and looked up, watching his face as she pulled his hand back over her belly. "Kian?" Her lips twitched with the hint of a hopeful smile, afraid to let too much excitement show when their situation was still so dire. She had to know what he thought though! "This is ours.."

Finally, she smile could shine through. It was strained, still pressed by the worries of the world, but it shone just the same. "If they're anythin' like ye, the world's gonna be in big trouble," she teased, pressing herself into the fresh embrace. She let out a shaky breath and nodded. Whatever happened, they would protect the life growing within her.

After a long moment, she pulled back and gave Kian a tug toward the inn. "I'll get my bag. I don't wanna stay here another night." It was too close to the threat. Too close to Kylldra. She had Kian's support, and was able to think a little clearer now that she wasn't alone. They had made a decision that she could latch onto like a sturdy tree during a bad storm. Now, she just wanted to get on with the plan as quickly as possible.

Rho couldn't help a small smirk. "Darned right ye will," she agreed. Still, she said a silent prayer that the baby would only get the best traits of the pair of them. Goodness knew they had enough less desirable traits on hand. What traits would she want to even pass on? Maybe she would be lucky and they would be like what she could remember of either of her parents.

Heading down the hall, she looked back at Kian with surprise. He brought up some good points! "How'm I supposed ta know?" she replied, brow knitting with concern. A weight had been lifted, but now another regained its place at the forefront of her mind. She had no idea how to raise a child or how to act while pregnant. Surely there were things she shouldn't do anymore, but what were those?

She raised her hand to push open the door to her room and headed straight for the bag on the bed. "I guess I should ask the doc first? I mean, I ain't the first ta get pregnant." To say it out loud!! "How hard can it be?"

The spark of amusement rose at Kian's admission. "Oh, it's ferever imprinted in my brain. No need ta say it again," she assured with a chuckle. Of course, she was in the same boat and could only tease so much without it backfiring. She pet a hand over her belly again. Could they really do this?

"Yeah, there's one 'round here." She threw the bag over her shoulder and looked over the simple room to make sure nothing was going to be left behind. The doctor there was the one she had initially gone to. However, his question still echoed her desire. "I'm sure the next town'll have just as good a doc ta ask, though," she decided.

Handle light walking?! Oh, challenge accepted! She looked over to Kian with her usual determination. "I'll still out-walk yer sorry butt any day." In her head though, she wondered if Akemi might mind carrying her around a bit later. She hadn't been sleeping much since finding out about the pregnancy, and wasn't actually sure how long she'd be able to go.