After Ras had found the datapad, Tahiri had tried to put the little Merqaal down for a moment to take it, however both Eeth'Mireth and the baby squeaked and squawked at her. Smiling and sending a gentle reassuring thought to both of them as she sighed.
These two are definitely getting along.
Taking the datapad and thanking Ras again for all of her help for today and letting her know that they’d get to the vendor to pick up some supplies, Tahiri held the baby Merqaal to her chest, letting her continue to chatter and trill along with her Tailring. Holding the datapad steady in the air with her mind as she signed the adoption papers. Zeva happily played with Zoko next to her in the grass.
“Did you decide what you’re going to name her yet?” the little girl glanced up at her aunt.
“Hmm, I’m not sure quite yet. Trying to decide if she’d be particular to a Zabraki name, like Eeth'Mireth here. Or if she’d like a Togrutan name.”
Once they finished the paperwork to adopt Ishi and Minnie had succeeded in getting the loth kitten comfortable enough to hold, the couple made their way over to where Bril sensed Tahiri’s presence. She’d mentioned something about meeting her niece, and Bril wasn’t one to ever pass up an opportunity to meet extended family, so here they were.
Once he could see his godmother, he lifted a hand in a wave, greeting her in Togruti. “Good to see you!”
Hearing a familiar voice speaking Togruti, she turned and spotted her godson and his Tai'shan (soulmate), Minnie. Smiling and waving back to him with her only free hand, she greeted him back in Togruti.
“Good to see you, godson!” Then she switched to basic for Minnie, “Hello Minnow, good to see you again.”
Spotting the kitten who didn’t look like Femi, in the Nautolan’s arms, she sent a pulse to the other three creatures around her to be calm.
“Who’s the new little addition to the pack?”
<@244244163002892288>
Minnie responded to Tahiri’s greeting with a gentle smile and nod. She’d gotten much more comfortable around the Sith since their first few meetings, but she still tended to keep things more formal than how she addressed her own family. It was progress, though.
However, when Tahiri inquired about the precious little kitten cradled in her arms, Minnie practically beamed. “This is Ishi. Isn’t she ADORABLE? Ugh. I want to cry.”
Bril chuckled before shifting his attention to the young girl playing with Zoko off to their left. He caught her gaze just as she looked over to the unfamiliar pair, prompting him to wave at her with a smile.
“Ishi. Aawww yes, she’s absolutely adorable,” Tahiri’s voice gently purred to attract the kittens attention, although realized she didn’t get any of the reactions she would’ve expected. Tahiri’s grey eyes softened as she felt that Ishi was a very special kitten.
Zeva had paused in her play with Zoko long enough to notice the smile and wave of the tall Zabrak. Before she wave back or even greet him, she was bowled over by a very enthusiastic kit. Laughing the tiny hybrid girl, after many lickings and nuzzles with Zoko, she gently pushed her Tuggle off, and got up. Dusting herself off and getting trying to get Zoko to settle down for a moment, she came over although staying very close to her aunt. She had to crane her neck back a little to look up at both the Zabrak who had waved to her and the Nautolan standing beside him.
“She is a very lucky and special kitten to have you two,” feeling Zeva next to her, she glanced down to be sure she was okay. Seeing the girls’ slight apprehension, she swiftly and subtly shifted the Merqaal in her arms, so that she could place her hand on her niece’s head.
“Zeva this is my godson, Bril Teg Arga Erinos, and his Tai'shan, soulmate, Minnow Erinos,” the petite Togruta introduced the two to the little girl, and then nodded from her to them. “Go ahead and introduce yourself.”
“Oh. Yes Aunt Hiri,” the little girl took a deep breath and stepped forward, careful to keep Zoko on a short leash as she smiled and curtsied the best she could with her skort. “It’s nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Erinos. My name is Zeva Ven Drakon.”
Zoko had stopped bouncing around and watched Zeva in curiosity as she curtsied to the larger beings. Tilting his head for a moment, before he slid up beside her and made a squeak-trill sound, bobbing his head up and down twice. Then he nuzzled her leg.
“Oh and this is Zoko, my Tuggle,” her smile growing wider.
Minnow waved excitedly at Zeva. “Hiya, Zeva. So nice to finally meet you, and Zoko here,” she said with a smile.
Bril stepped forward and kneeled before the young girl. He offered his hand to shake. “Hello, Zeva. You know, I’ve known your Aunt Hiri since I was little, too.
Her bright purple eyes widen slightly, looking between her aunt and Bril, before reaching forward to shake his hand properly. Her hand tiny compared to his, but she tried her best to have a firm grip.
“Is that really true, Aunt Hiri?”
If her skin wasn’t so crimson, both her godson and niece would’ve seen the heat that had risen into her cheeks. Her eyes betrayed nothing of the embarrassment or annoyance, staying soft as she sighed.
I’m going to kill my brother for coming up with that karking nickname!
“Yes, Zeva. It is true,” her smile turned coy, as her gaze shifted from her niece to her kneeling godson. “I found this young rascal when he decided to follow someone exploring some ancient ruins, just to get unluckily cornered by the creatures inhabiting them. Luckily Solan and I were there, or else he’d be down a limb or two.”
“Whoooaaa. So Aunt Hiri saved you from wild animals?” Zeva looked in awe between Bril and Tahiri.
Bril nodded with a smile. “That’s right, she did. Even as a child, i was pretty good at getting myself into trouble.
"Eventually, Tahiri taught me how to use the Force, so now I can do stuff like this.”
Reaching into his pocket to fetch a handful of credits, Bril held them tightly in his hand. Once Zeva’s attention was fixed on his hand, he opened it, causing the coins to slowly drift up into the air. Then, they started to rotate around each other like they were marching in a line, one behind the other.
Minnie looked over to make a face at Tahiri. There was a softness in her eyes that conveyed how touched she was by seeing them interact. She slid a bit closer. “He really loves children, you know,” she said to Tahiri, her voice a bit lower so as not to interrupt the little show, “My oldest brother, Jax, just had one and Bril’s gone above and beyond.”
Zeva watched in awe and wonder as Bril continued to compel the credits to spin and move through the air above his hand. Even Zoko was watching, head tilting from side to side, standing on his hunches and clasping her arm with his paws. He nuzzled her and chirped with curiosity.
“Whoa, that is so cool,” her smile was from Lekku to Lekku, as she watched Bril. “I hope that I can learn how to do that better someday. Right now I can lift a rock just a little bit off the ground.”
“I can tell. I’ve sensed he’ll always be somewhat a child at heart, and that being said, will always have a big heart,” Tahiri, ever careful to not invade Minnie’s private space too much, leaned just a little closer to her, keeping her voice low as well. “Very similar my brother actually.
"Although I’m very proud of my brother for not only becoming a good father, but also for taking on the responsibility he has,” the Togruta’s voice got a little quieter. “I hope that you and Bril may have a chance at this one day. Both of you would be great parents.”
“You will,” replied Bril, his voice encouraging. “Just remember to take it slow and you’ll become a powerful Force user one day.” Bril extended his fist toward Zeva, gesturing for her to do the same so he could fist bump her.
Meanwhile, Minnie crossed her arms while listening to Tahiri, and forced a smile. “Yeah, that’s great. She really is lucky to have her buir in her life,” she said, the ends of her headtails curling inward a bit as she mused. Then, when she heard the mention of her and Bril becoming parents. “Oh! Umm… maybe one day, yeah. When we’re both ready.”
Zeva’s eyes lit up as she recognized the gesture, she grinned as she giggled.
“Poow-sh,” Bumping his fist with her tiny little fist, and then pulling back quickly as she spread her fingers and made an explosion like noise. “I do that with my papa all the time.”
Tahiri chuckled gently at Minnie’s quick reply to having a family. Her grey eyes glanced at the Nautolan for a moment before seemingly to mist over a little, looking tenderly at the Merqaal in her arms, still talking with its new friend on her shoulder.
“That’s the thing, you don’t ever know if your truly ready to become a parent or not till it happens,” her tone saddened a moment, before becoming determined. “I had that chance, and then it was ripped away from me. I know now that I wasn’t then ready yet, but now all I can hope for, is that I’m able too. If not… well I’ll be the best aunt, godmother, and alpha, I can be.”
Tahiri gently lifted the Merqaal up a little further on her chest, nuzzling it’s forehead with her nose, before it chittered and nuzzled her cheek back with its snoot. Eeth'Mireth, partially sensing something, partially just wanting to get nuzzled to, squeaked and did the same to her, before also doing it with her new sister as well.
“Your papa’s a cool guy, then,” Bril replied. Feeling the emotional weight resonating through the Force from both Minnie and Tahiri prompted Bril to glance in their direction. They must have been speaking on something important.
After a moment of contemplation, he turned back to Zeva and grinned. “Say, Zeva, have you been training Zoko? Why don’t you show me over here what you’ve taught him?” He gestured to a small patch of grass near where they were standing, but just out of earshot of the two women. Seldom did they speak on their own; usually, Bril was always with Minnie when they got together, leaving few opportunities for them to bond.
–
Minnie kept her large, seafoam-green eyes trained on Ishi while Tahiri spoke. By now, the kitten was asleep, having curled into a tiny ball of white fur.. “I had no idea that you wanted children,” she admitted with a slight frown, “there’s a lot I don’t know about you … that I haven’t tried to know.”
She pulled her bottom lip between a set of pointed teeth, and chewed on it gently. “I’m sorry,” she said after a moment of tense silence, “You’re family to Bril, so I should take steps to know you better just like he’s done with mine. It’s just …”
She couldn’t find the words.
Zeva beamed, “He is cool. He’s gonna teach me how to drive a soup bike, er… s-w-oop, swoop bike. Yeah that’s what it is called. I think.”
Then she tilted her head, and looked between Bril and Zoko, “Hmm, no. I have not started training him yet. But I have gotten him to stay next to me, and behave… sort of.” Quickly grabbing a handful of treats from a bag, she went with Bril to show him how she did it. Giggling as Zoko tripped over his tail while bouncing between the two of them.
The Elder’s features fell a little, feeling the tension in the air between the two women rise a bit more. Bril had mentioned the fact without going into any details, that Minnow didn’t like Force users, more specifically Dark Side users. But in his usual exuberance had insisted that she would accept Tahiri, even if she was a Sith, once Minnie had gotten to know her. While the Togruta didn’t doubt that, as she had friends even in Clan Odan-Urr, those who were purely Light Side Force users, it still didn’t change the fact that she knew there would always be an underlining fear, the mistrust that came with being a Sith.
“It’s alright Minnie, I understand. All too well do I understand.” The moment was still tense even as she paused, almost shocked in herself that she was revealing this, but she felt that maybe it would help. “I’m a Sith, everyone knows that Sith are constantly looking, fighting for more power, using fear to control people, and even manipulating those that they get close to just to gain more. Not caring if hurts those around them, just so long as it’s for their own gain. Whether it be for rank, glory, or power itself.”
“I can’t say that I’m not a Sith, as I took this path to learn how to use the Force and gain enough power to protect those I love. However, I have no ambition to rule over others, if I’m put into that position then I want to rule out love, not fear. In my first clan, Tarentum, I was in charge of a small squad, they knew what I was capable of, as a Sith apprentice. I made a promise our first mission out that we would all make it back safely if they trusted me. I got some very disbelieving looks, but I kept my promise. Out of the 6 squads that left on mission, only 4 came back, except my squad was the only one with no casualties. My squad was loyal till the end, even when I became Aedile of House Mortis, they put in a transfer just to follow me to my new station.”
Pausing for a longer moment, the memories, though years old, were still painful. Taking a deep breath, she continued, solemnly. “I never asked them to protect me, we were a team. When the Collective attacked Castle Tarentum, my squad helped with the evacuation. I wanted to make sure that everyone else got out before I left, but then I was ordered to leave myself. That team made sure I got to my ship, but before they could jump into another shuttle themselves, a section of the hanger got breached and ocean surged in. My ship was already lifting off, but I tried to stay long enough to rescue as many of them as I could. Out of my squad of eight men, I managed rescue five, the other three were swept away too fast. By the gods, two of them even had to hold me back from diving into water to find the others. Those men are like brothers to me now.”
Turning to Minnow, Tahiri smiled gently, “I’m won’t ask you to trust or accept me right away, just because I’m Bril’s godmother. When YOU are ready to talk and get to know me, I’ll be here to answer any questions that you have. But I want you to know that I value family and friends, trust, respect, love, and loyalty above being powerful, or even in power itself. My culture is all about the tribe, being together and looking out for one another. I’ve lost many of those I could count on to look after me. So until my last breath, I will never stop caring for, or looking after those I call my family, no matter what happens.” Tilting her toward Minnie to emphasize the last sentence.
Bril released a little gasp. “A swoop bike? You sure you’re big enough to ride a swoop bike?” he asked, playfully teasing her.
He slowed his gait a tad to keep pass with the child, and watched Zoko hop along between them. “You love animals just like me and your Aunt Hiri, huh? I don’t have as many animal friends as she does, but I have a little pack of my own.”
Zeva’s face and Lekku scrunched up a little, before she sighed.
“No, I am barely big enough to sit with him on his swoop racer bike,” her voice sounded slightly defeated, her bottom lip pooching out a little in a pout, before she brightened back up. “But he said that if I eat right, and when I get bigger, he’ll make me a custom swoop bike that fits me just right. He promised.”
“Come, Zoko.” Tugging on the leash a little as the little Tuggle kit had gotten distracted by an insect that crossed his path. Zoko looked back at the insect and then at his master, then saw the treat she was wiggling between her fingers. Excited, he forgot all about the bug, instantly catching up and fell into step beside her, looking at her with those large eyes of his.
“Yeah, I love animals a lot. Zoko is my first pet though. Mother wouldn’t let me have a pet, but that was because we were moving around so much and her health was not good,” she reached over to scratch the Tuggles head, then looked up at Bril. “Aunt Hiri does have a lot of pets. What do you have for your pets?”
Minnie was quiet for a long time, fidgeting with the beskar kom'rk worn on her arms while ruminating on Tahiri’s explanation … on her history. She could tell that she was being earnest and genuinely meant well, but … why did this all have to be so kriffing difficult? “Thanks, Tahiri,” she said, almost muttering, “I appreciate the sentiment. It’ll just take time.”
Bril was as close to her as any Force user had ever been, and that trust, that vulnerability, had been earned through a lot of time, patience, and hurt on both sides. Bringing yet another into her fold wasn’t impossible, but it would take time.
Bril frowned at first when he saw Zeva’s face scrunch. He hadn’t intended to hurt the girl’s feelings, so he gently bowed his head in apology. “Well, you’re growing all the time. I think you’ve even grown a bit since we’ve been talking!” he grinned, lifting up his hand to mime himself measuring her height.
He followed along, listening to Zeva quietly while atching Zoko hop along. When she mentioned her mother, it reminded him that he hadn’t met her, yet. He didn’t recall Ro-Tahn having a girlfriend the last time he saw him.
“Yes, Tahiri has a lot. I have three at the moment: Kesh is my tanarook. They’re kind of like ravens but a bit different. Dregg is my anooba, and Zikk is my momong. They’re an interesting bunch, that’s for sure. Maybe I’ll bring them by sometime next time I visit Aunt Hiri and your dad?”
“Take the time you need, I can wait,” Tahiri nodded, then tentatively reached the back of her hand towards Ishi. “May I pet Ishi?”
“Really?!” The little girl looked up at Bril, standing up as tall and straight as she could, her smile beaming.
She then held up her hand, presenting a treat to Zoko and had him sit up. Once he was settled enough she gave him the treat while listening to the Zabrak.
“Yes! That would be cool to meet your three pets. What’s an An-oo-bah?” She asked as she got Zoko to lay down for a treat next.
Minnie nodded quietly and stepped a bit closer, presenting Ishi to her. The loth kitten had fur as white as the icy peaks of Selen’s northern peaks, and eyes that possessed a heart-melting, if a little uncanny, inquisitiveness. “Be slow, though. She hasn’t been socialized well, yet,” Minnie explained while scritching at the kitten’s neck with her finger, causing it to crane its head toward her touch happily, “but we’ll get you comfy around folks, won’t we baby?”
“An anooba is a canid species native to my home planet, Iridonia. They’re very intelligent, social creatures with a big tusk and stripes along their backs. Big enouh for piggyback rides, too!”
Tahiri nodded and slowly moved her hand a little and into view of the Loth kittens’ line of sight. At first the kittens pupils widened in fear for a moment and her ears flattened against her head, jerking slightly back into Minnie’s chest. She stopped a moment, the Togruta patiently waited as she left her hand just close enough for the kitten to reach out and sniff if she wanted to. She kept her fingers loose and slowly turned her palm up, a sign to the kitten that she was no threat.
After a few moments the kitten slowly stretched her neck out, tiny nose wiggling, as the little feline sniffed the Togruta’s hand, her eyes darting between the figure reaching for her and the other creatures in her arms. After sniffing the finger tips and along the length of several fingers, taking in each of the scents, she rubbed her chin over the fingers to add her own scent.
As the kitten made that move, Tahiri didn’t move her hand, only gently moved her finger tips in a slow and methodical way, scritching right underneath Ishi’s chin. The kitten paused for a moment, looking up at the Togruta with those deep eyes, before slowing closing them as she gave in, finally relaxing.
“There we go,” Tahiri smiled, while slowly moving her hand up the side of kittens face, still gently scratching the entire time till she got to the side of one large ear. By then the little Loth kitten was pressing into her hand almost pushing it, the scratching felt so good. Tahiri scratched till the kitten pulled away and shook her head. Licking her paw for a moment and then looked between Minnie and Tahiri, her large eyes curious instead of afraid now.
“Ooohh, that sounds like so much fun. Dregg seems just like Solan, he’s got stripes and lets me ride him too,” the little girl cheerfully smiled, while also getting Zoko to sit up, rewarding the Tuggle with a treat.
Tahiri was about to ask Minnie another question about Ishi, when suddenly her commlink dinged, letting her know that a message had come. Smiling apologetically, she made slow movements while getting her own datapad out of her shoulder bag. Telekinetically holding it in front of her while typing in her passcode, and then read the message. Her face scrunched and hardened for a moment, before relaxing again.
“Forgive me Minnie, I hate to cut our visit time short. But something’s come up with my clan and house, and,” sighing, she tucked the datapad back in the bag. “I have to go take of some situations that have arisen. I hope that we’ll get to talk again soon.”
“ Zeva! We have to get going, now please!” The Elder called over to the the little girl and her godson. “Ameeno'nop, I wish we could stay longer, but I have to go take care of situations that have arisen with the clan, and get Zeva back to Ro. He’s already going to be mad with me enough that our day outing was this, now I get to drop off his daughter with a new pet.” She snickered at that last thought.
Initially, the tiny hybrid was a little down, but hearing the urgent tone in her aunt’s voice she thought against pouting. Zeva nodded to Tahiri, and then turned and hugged the tall Zabrak before he was able to get up, whispering softly, “Thank you.”
Then she skipped over to her aunt with Zoko padding eagerly behind her, while Bril followed close behind. She stood in front of Minnie, opening her arms before stopping a moment and asking in a sweet voice if she could hug her. Minnie nodded and Zeva gave her a big hug, being careful of Ishi.
After saying their goodbyes the two pairs went their separate ways, promising to get together again some time in the future.