 |
new roots
“I’m home!” Alassiel entered the home and dropped the days catch on the small table they used for eating. Only silence seemed to be here and so she figured Z’ren was still out at the market place. The Shifter began working on the fish, her stomach was grumbling and she wanted to eat as soon as possible today. Grabbing a few spices, she put them to the side and grabbed a knife to start working. She’d sold everything else and had kept two fish for them for this evening. Z’ren usually brought back anything else they needed for dinner and then they went for their daily swim.
It didn’t take her long to finish cleaning the fish and have them all neatly cut and spiced properly. The shifter wrapped them in leaves and began cleaning up the mess of fish and scales. Z’ren came in not long after, bringing back the few items he hadn’t sold and moving around the table to give Alassiel a kiss on the cheek.
“I hope your day was as productive for you as it was for me.” Z’ren put a few things away before coming back and starting to work on getting the small fire stronger.
“Not bad, I think the Matori find it a little odd that a Shifter is selling fish. Hasn’t stopped them from buying though, if anything the curiosity is good for me.” Z’ren nodded and then took out a letter from his back pocket to extend it towards her.
“I am happy to report that the first letter from your parents has arrived.” Alassiel grabbed the letter and ripped into it eagerly. At least now they could send her letters since she hadn’t moved in a little over a month. It looked like the usual kind of information, lots of news on how her father was doing and some other bits about the rest of the family. They wished her well and there were a bunch of questions about Matori and what exactly it was she was doing there. A smile grew on Alassiel lips, she couldn’t exactly give them details on what it was she was doing, but she’d give them other details.
“So, I hope all is well?”
“Yes, my father is doing good. They’re already asking when I’m going to return.” She chuckled.
“Did you have any plans on leaving soon?” Z’ren asked, glancing at Alassiel. “You’ve already been here for a month and we haven’t talked about you leaving.” Ally moved to go stand in front of Z’ren and placed her hands on his shoulders.
“In all honesty I had not thought about when I am to leave. I don’t feel like traveling and I am quite happy where I am. Why, did you want me to leave?”
“No not at all, I was… you know just wondering.” Alassiel gave him a quick kiss.
“Okay then. Mind putting the fish in for cooking? I still have some things to clean up.”
Z’ren nodded and started on the fish. Alassiel watched his back as he worked by the fire. Z’ren had seemed worried that she would leave him soon, but they had never really talked about being together to begin with. Did he consider them a pair? Did he consider her serious? Alassiel didn’t know. She wasn’t seeing anyone else and she doubted he was too. She was content living with him here, she was more than happy living here for a while but the question was did she want to do it with Z’ren? Was Z’ren her official partner and did he consider her his partner?
Alassiel decided to wait until after dinner to have such a conversation. However her plans derailed when as soon as they had finished he had not let her utter a single word. He’d simply gathered her into his arms and made his way to the beach. From there they did not go into the water but they did lay together and when it was over, Alassiel cuddled up with him under the stars.
“What was that about?” She questioned gently once she’d gotten comfortable.
“I don’t know. I felt like you might leave me and I needed to be with you.”
“Z’ren I’m not leaving anywhere, or at least right now that’s not what I am thinking about.”
“What if you never left? What if you stayed here, forever, with me?” He glanced down at her.
“I don’t know, I’ve never lived anywhere else, my family is back in Juahar.”
“So you’re going to end up going away eventually?” He said angrily, leaning up and making Alassiel moved away from him.
“I said I didn’t know why are you so upset?”
“Because, I thought you’d stay here with me.”
“You never asked me anything!” Now it was Alassiels turn to sound outraged.
“I didn’t think I had to prove anything to you Alassiel. I think it’s been pretty obvious from the start that I like you. Obviously, you don’t feel the same.” Standing up, Z’ren walked away leaving Alassiel by herself.
The Shifter sighed and leaned back into the sand. This was all so sudden; Alassiel hadn’t given thought to any of this! She never had even when her mother had briefly mentioned it a couple times every time her siblings had children. It was simply not something she had thought about at all. Even when Z’ren had entered her life, her first thought hadn’t been ‘he seems like he would make a good father!’.
Getting up, Alassiel went back to their home and found it empty. Alassiel knew it was no use waiting for him; he was angry and needed space to cool off so she would give it to him.
Z’ren was not there the next morning either, but Alassiel noticed that some things had been moved around which meant he had left to go sell his wares. The Shifter decided to keep busy until he returned home and they could have a proper conversation about all of this.
“Z’ren!” Alassiel stood up from here chair and watched as he came in and glanced at her.
“Hey,” he said quietly moving to give her his usual kiss on her forehead.
“Look I want to talk and explain myself.”
“I think we should just drop it Alassiel.”
“No,” the Shifter moved in front of him so he wouldn’t walk around. “You’re going to listen to me okay? This is important. Yesterday you caught me off guard. I’ve never been with anyone else and I’ve never really thought about these kinds of things. They used to make me really uncomfortable because of my family. I have a lot of siblings so everyone is wondering where I never had anyone in my life. I don’t know what we are, but I know you’re extremely important to me and I don’t want to lose you. This is all just so new and I need time to adjust, I don’t want to be pushed into a decision.” Alassiel took a breath, she had nothing to add.
“I am sorry, I didn’t want to pressure you into anything and I am sorry I walked away last night we should have talked it out.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss. “I won’t pressure you into anything I promise. Alassiel I lo—“ A sudden pang made the shifter grab onto Z’ren as she bent in half. Pain was spreading from her stomach and she couldn’t’ catch her breath. “Alassiel what’s wrong?!”
“Something is wrong,” she said through clenched teeth before Z’ren picked her up and made his way to the village doctor. He was pushing through the crowd, screaming at those who didn’t move until they finally reached the hut and the doctor ushered them inside before kicking Z’ren out.
The doctor finally came out of the hut after what seemed like forever and moved to Z’ren.
“There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with her and from my questions I think the answer is pretty obvious. She is with child, her body is getting used to the changes but everything else seems fine.” Alassiel walked out of the hut, thanked the doctor and grabbed a hold of the outstretched hand Z’ren was offering her.
They did not speak. Alassiel did not know what to say and Z’ren was speechless. The Shifter hadn’t wanted to be pressured into making a decision and she couldn’t really say this was being pressured and yet… She still didn’t know what to think of it all. Back home, Z’ren finally spoke up once they’d entered the house.
“Looks like I’m going to have to make this place bigger after all. Unless, unless you plan on returning to your family and keeping the child. Alassiel I am letting you make the decision. Just know however, that you may leave this place but I will leave with you. I will always follow you. My family is long gone, I do not have roots but I want to make new ones with you. It is your choice.”
“Thank you Z’ren,” she kissed him. “How about we stay here for a bit and then see how it goes? I don’t’ want to travel while pregnant.” He kissed her this time.
“I’m alright with that.”
By allowing her to choose, Alassiel felt freer and she knew then that she loved him and he loved her. Now that she knew she was with child however… Alassiel pulled Z’ren close to her, they could spend all day in each other’s arms and that’s how she liked it.
1594
|
 |
Reply
