Harmonizer's Evolution (Balancer's Soul cycle) (15 page)

She grinned, but Veronica spoke.
“It has been three weeks since she has hatched. We had to visit Firon and Clarein first because they are closer to our home. We spent all day flying here to come show off our new daughter.”

“She is as beautiful as you are Veronica.” Connor complimented and Veronica winked at
him. Then he spoke to himself
as he stood up. “Three weeks, huh. High intelligence… able to touch another’s mind…” Then Connor looked up at his Harmonizer brother. “Sorono, she is very knowledgeable for only hatching three weeks ago. Have you allowed her to touch your mind so that she may learn at such an advanced rate?”

Sorono grinned and his tone turned to ancient and proud.
“Indeed, but
we only allow her to learn languages
at this stage
, and we give her mental images of certain objects to reference the words for her understanding.
We do not push our thoughts into them in an attempt to create another of ourselves, the result would be an abomination.
Right now she has the mental strength of an adolescent human. We do not give her everything
she wants
or else her mind will be overloaded
and cease to
function
. Later this evening we will teach her to count
numbers
.”
Then he smiled to his daughter.
“Shannon, isn’t there someone else you need to greet?”

Shannon knew almost instantly that he meant
Sarah
. She turned her dark golden eyes on
the other person
and smiled shyly. She then took a measured step forward and had to rely heavily on her tail to maintain balance. Her walk
seemed
shaky at best, but she did manage to make her way closer.
Sarah
tried to walk closer, but Sorono shook his head. He wanted her to walk
and get used to it
. He didn’t want to spoil her.

She sto
pped about two feet away
and tilted her head.
“Hello Aunt Sarah
, I’m Shannon.”
She raised her right hand and
Sarah
took it. Her hand
felt
hard and smooth, but surprisingly warm.

“It’s a pleasure
to meet you too.” They
released
each other’s
grip.

Then her eyes drifted down. Her scaly brow drew together.
“Mother, you showed me what Aunt Sarah looked like, but she looks different
now
…
She’s rounder in the middle.
”
Shannon pointed at Sarah’s
belly and looked up at Veronica.
“She looks to have a growth. Is she alright?”

Connor and Sorono both chuckled, but Veronica shook her head
at the simple misunderstanding
. Shannon’s mother walked closer and dropped to her knees once she reached
them
. Shannon had a quizzical expression
as Veronica pointed to Sarah’s
belly from a few feet away.
“Remember
what
I told you
yesterday
. Unlike us, the
ir species
carry their children inside themselves.
They don’t lay eggs.
Your aunt doesn’t have a growth, she’s with
young and she will give
a live
birth
.”

“Oh,”
Shannon’s eyes lit up with childlike wonder as she looked at
the round
belly
once
again
with wide golden eyes
.

Sarah
stepped closer to the child. “If you
’
r
e
very
gentle you may rub my belly.” She then
glanced at Veronica. “
Is she able to use sonar?”

Veronica shook her head while
maintaining
eye contact with
Sarah
.
“No, it will take another ten years until she will be capable of using any form of her abilities. She is only capable of telepathy until then.”
Sarah
nodded
and grabbed for the bottom of her
coat. Veronica looked carefully at her daughter and warned
“Be
very
careful when you touch her. Use the back of your hand so you don’t accidently cut her skin
with your claws
.
We don’t want to harm the baby.
”

Sarah
pulled
her
sh
irt up a little bit to reveal her
huge belly. Veronica watched carefully as Shannon used the back side of her hand and brushed it against
the smooth
belly. She was very careful.
“Wow, it
’
s all soft and…what was that!
?
”

“That was them kicking.”

“Them?”
Sarah
looked to Veronica
as
her
large
eyes narrowed
.

“Yes,
them
.” She
replied
happily. “I’m carrying twins.”

“When will be the time of their arrival?”

“Not soon enough.
I’d say within the next few weeks or so
.
” She
explained to
Veronica that she
i
s on bed-rest because the time
i
s near.
Veronica
gave her congratulations
and asked if she could touch. She didn’t need to ask, but
Sarah
never
once
told her that. Shannon moved to her mother side as Veronica used the back o
f one of her fingers to brush the
bulge.

While Veronica touched
,
Sarah
saw Sorono nod as he looked down at Connor. They were having a private conversation. Then the two of them looked to
her
with mask
ed expressions. They knew that she
was staring at them and they cut their conversation short. Sorono then spoke
“Veronica, what would you like to do? You said you’d explain what you wanted after coming here.”

Veronica drew her hand back and looked back at her mate.
“Yes I did. Actually I was wondering if we could stay here until Sarah delivers her children. She said
they will arrive soon.”

Sorono silently watched his mate with loving adoration. Then he smiled positively.
“I do not see why not
, we have
the
time
. But where would we stay?”

“That’s easy!” Connor stated and drew attention
upon
himself. He stood just as proudly
beside
Sorono and continued stating
“Sorono and I
will
go
over
to the old clearing where we used to train
and hone our new abilities
. We could erect something
with
in a few hours
,
if we go now. We can make a quick cabin out of the local trees and it would keep all of you sheltered from the elements.”

“Well what are you waiting for?”
Shannon said from her mother’s side.

Sorono chucked at his spirited daughter.
“Very well. We will come back when the shelter is made.
”
Sorono looked down to his side.
“Lead the way
to this clearing
of yours
, little brother.”

Before Sarah
could say anything
,
her
mate took off into the sky and flew westward to the rocky clearing. Sorono
began
following right behind and soon the trees obsc
ured her
vision of them.

“What should we do for now, little one?”
Sarah’s
focus
returned
to the ancient K
eeper and her young daughter.

Shannon looked around and saw the
cottage. She pointed
“May I go play in there until Father returns?”

Veronica looked at
her
and
Sarah
nodded.
“Alright, but be on your best behavior.”
Shannon let out a hissing giggle and walked towards the front door.

Sarah
trailed after her as she became stumped on how to enter
the
home.
S
he didn’t know how to use t
urn
the
doorknob.
Sarah
entered Veronica’s mind and said
“I’ll keep an eye on her. There is some wood behind the cottage if you’re cold and need to make a fire. Enjoy the quiet time while I play with your daughter.”

“Thank you.
When you become a mother you’ll love
to
take up
any respite that is offered. Let me know if Shannon gets into something she shouldn’t. Now it’s time to knock the chill off me with a nice warm fire.”

As
she
showed Shannon how to open a door, Veronica
began
walking around the house
to take
her
up on
the
hospitality
.

Sarah
followed behind the inquisitive Shannon and it felt terrific to enter the warm room. For the next few hours Veronica kept peering
in
through the window
,
making sure
her daughter heeded her words. Sarah
had taken off
her
coat and the young Keeper
remained
fascinated that
she
didn’t lay eggs like her mother. Veronica stayed in mental contact the entire time.

Before
they
knew it Shannon
grew
exhaus
ted and collapsed on the sofa. Sarah
gave her
a
blanket and she seemed so content sleeping in front of the crackling fire.
Sarah
sat with her and rubbed her soft scaly head while conversing silently t
h
rough the wall with Veronica.
She
still liked
so excited that she was able to
make
a daughter after such a long time. She was always so easy to talk too.

It had already beco
me dar
k outside
well
over four hours ago. Sarah
then felt Connor’s mind and he said they were finished
. Veronica looked to have also gotten the message
because she was leaning back
, glancing through
the window and Sarah
understood
that it was time for Shannon to go
.

She
stood up and very g
ently
slid
her
arms under Shannon’s sleeping body.
She
felt
slightly heavier than
one would
imagine.
Solid.
She
opened the front door and Veronica was already waiting. She took Shannon into her arm;
still covered in the blanket. She
mentally told Veronica she could borrow it to keep her warm.

Soon
their
bonds told
them
that
their
mates were close. They entered the clearing silently.
They were both a little dirty from their hard work.
Veronica held up a finger
over her lips
for everyone to be silent.
The
men
instantly
saw the sleeping child
and hovered in the air for a moment
. Sorono entered
their
minds and told his mate to follow him to their temporary home.

Veronica smiled at Sarah pleasantly
.
“Thank you for the respite. We’ll see you in the morning.”

Soon the Keeper family silently flew over the trees.

Once they were go
ne Sarah
asked “How did it go?”

He smiled her private
smile and
her
heart stared fluttering. “
They could live in th
ere for a year after what we accomplished
. It is secure and pretty much weatherproof. Here let me show you.”
She
then felt the comforting feeling of Connor’s mind bru
shing with hers. He began to show her
what they did.