Seasons Change and So did. . .

Abebi trotted alongside Sandy.  Three more blocks and they’d reach the beach.  Jogging seemed like fun as the sun broke through the clouds.  The mountaintops capped with snow glistened as the clouds gave way to sunrise. 

Sandy chaffed her hands and picked up her pace.  “Are you sure Doc Newstein okayed this?”  Sandy glanced sideways.  Abebi kept pace with her. 

“Doc said exercise was fine.  He suggested working out to help with my pregnancy as well as keeping me active.  He wasn’t sure if he saw twins or triplets when he did the ultra sound.”  Abebi laughed as Sandy grabbed her side.  “Be careful.”

“I’m trying to.  You and your sense of humor!”  Sandy stopped outside Agua Caliente and leaned against the wall.  “Really twins?”

Abebi smiled.  “No, he tried to do an ultra sound.  Too soon to see much.  Definitely heard a heartbeat.” 

Sandy shoved off the wall.  “Come on we got three more blocks to go.  How did Jackson take your talk?”

Abebi shrugged and trotted ahead of Sandy.  How did she explain Jackson’s nods and smiles at her last set of words?  Lupa Prime, even their exact definition defined her.   Hearth and home he got and offered his own experience from his youth.  The last three had left them both quiet and contemplative as they walked back to town.

“Well what did you tell him?”  Sandy caught up with Abebi and nudged her as they jogged in place waiting for the crosswalk signal to change.

“Why’s it important?”  Abebi put her fingers in her ears, stuck out her tongue, and took off down the sidewalk. 

“Well. . .”  Sandy panted trying to catch her breath as she increased her pace coming up alongside Abebi.

“Well what?”  Abebi slowed as they came to a storefront window.  A nursery display took up half of the window.  The other half of the display had school age children depicted as they walked to school caring backpacks and wearing new clothes.  Abebi swallowed hard.  Would she face this alone?

Sandy laid her hand on Abebi’s shoulder.  “You’ve got friends.  If you’re ready to share, you will.”

Abebi walked to the bench two stores down and sat.  “I can tell you the words I chose but I’m still defining them.”

Sandy nodded, sitting next to her.  “That’s okay.  Mickey and I didn’t know what words we needed until we were married three years.  Even then, we changed it so many times that we gave up on exact definitions.  Now we write things down and compare notes about once a quarter.”

Abebi took a deep breath, opened her mouth to speak, and gasped.  “Oh my Lupa!”  She grasped Sandy’s hand, placed it on her stomach, and smiled.  “Did you feel that?

”

Sandy nodded vigorously.  “Wow that is a strong kick.”

Abebi wiped tears from her cheeks.  “Joy is beginning to take shape I think.  Maybe contentment is not far behind.  Commitment might be made up of these as well as love.”

Sandy chuckled.  “Love is elusive in defining it and quantifying.  I’m glad Mickey doesn’t mind sharing.  Come on, Remo’s afternoon delight with Mrs. Macintosh is scheduled for this afternoon.”

Abebi followed Sandy back up the street, wondering if Jackson understood what he was in for.

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Happy weekend Gang!

So we learn Abebi's other words.  Commitment, joy, contentment, hearth and home.  I'm sure we'll learn more as  Abebi's ideas on sharing come out.  Is Jackson ready to embrace a pack wide commitment and marriage?  Trying explaining that one to a Southern raised shape shifter.  

Well the cold weather is not far off.  I'm off to work on edits for my release coming out in January.  I'll share more when I've got more news.  Until then, share a good book with your loves and spice while staying warm.  I know I will.

Smiles,

Solara

Oh Shit Now What!?

"Damn it, Anna! No you can't have him too." Nitchell dove deep into the wave rushing toward the beach. “He’s human and mortal. Not immortal.”

Nitchell shook his fist at the dark haired beauty lurking just below the surf of the raging torrent.

“What is this human to you?” Her dark blue eyes sparkled and grew dim as flashes of sun light broke through the wave.

“He’s my ward. The one I have to watch over as part of my penance. Now stop giving me shit and do something about the wave.” Nitchell fluttered his wings as he worked his way toward the surf hoping he’d convinced the sea death enchantress to help him.

Anna’s kin belonged to the same clan as Nitchell’s. Problem was sirens and deathwards followed their own rules. Entrance into their domain came at a price, loss of life or possible immortality amongst Oceana’s spirit world. Humans didn’t understand or they promised what wasn’t theirs to give, their soul and eternity. Not that an eternity amongst the denizens of the deep was awful, but their disdain for non-aquatic beings didn’t help. Nitchell had to straddle a fence that left more than its fair share of splinters in his sea sprite posterior.

“Anna, he’s trying to help her. I warned him about getting too close. The music beguiled him. I sensed her death chant.” Nitchell leapt into the air. “Please Anna, spare him. I can’t fail again. I want to go home at some point.”

A deep-throated laugh split the air. Nitchell inhaled sharply. Sea devils looked for easy prey amongst humans stupid enough to try to dive into depths where even creatures of the ocean stayed away from. Shit, had he lost Cason to Anna and a co-hort.

“He is not mine to spare or take.” Anna tossed her long black wet hair over her pristine white shoulders. “Neither is her life ours to dwell on. Nitchell your charges are yours. The sky gods hold their fates in their hands.”

Nitchell breathed and turned. Two dark eyes watched him from the wave growing in intensity. He shuddered. Staring a sea devil down was a feat that not many lived to talk about. As third in line for Oceana’s regional heir, Nitchell knew he’d win if he kept his cool. Focusing on the area below the eyes, he inhaled and puckered. A shrill whistled followed.

Several silver fins broke through the water swimming toward him at furious clips. Whistles and echoes sounded as the herd of dolphins rushed toward Nitchell. Three dove through the wave dispersing it.

A loud groan followed by Anna’s parting words filled Nitchell’s ears. “Nothing will be as it seems. Remember you deal with things none of us understands and yet you will know what to do when it is necessary. Good luck with your human and his mermaid.”

A large black tail split the wave and disappeared. The two halves raced toward the shore breaking the surf line well away from where Cason and the mermaid lay.

Nitchell sonared his thanks to the dolphins. Raising his head to the sun warming the beach, he whispered, "I don't know why, but help them. I can't do it alone."

A familiar sound drew Nitchell's attention, two wolves raced along the beach heading straight for them. Sea wolves owed their loyalty to none but themselves. But this pack had taken he and Cason in. Would they also accept a mermaid?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another weekend is upon us. Summer is fading into fall with in a few weeks. How time flies when fun is being had and warmth is upon us. Remember to tell your loved ones you care. Share a good book or two with your spice and lovers. It's worth the time and effort.

SOLARA