Chapter 356

Settling back into Nievtra was a welcome change, even though Sybil demanded that I wait a short time before she give the warning she promised I needed. Marching with a thousand ravenous, only partially civilized keelish was exhausting at best. I was a leader, and I found that I more and more fell comfortably into the pattern of macro leadership. At birth, I'd been nothing more than another of the keelish in the brood, but over the past year and a half, I'd ascended step by step until I was the Zaaktif, a title I'd never thought existed until now. As soon as the ants' presence was no longer actively threatening the city, I guided the newest members of the Empire into Nievtra's walls.

The forest-dwelling savages seemed confused about how to survive when the buildings nearby were obviously not built to be climbed onto, and with how dilapidated everything was, there was no chance for them to climb up that high anyways. While traveling, they'd clambered up as high as they could manage every time that the suns set, and it was obvious that the idea of sleeping on the ground was more than just uncomfortable to them. I quickly apprised several of the Kha'Tal of the accommodations that they would want, but made no demands. The Kha'Tal could be trusted to do what was necessary and effective for the betterment of the Empire.

"You're back!" Trai threw herself at me, laughing. "Did you get even bigger while you were gone? You seem much too large. Will I get as big as you when I finally become Keel? It's just a matter of time, right? Anyways, I hope you saw me and Dad bringing all those big birds back here to draw away the ants. It was, like, really hard to run so far and so fast, so I think I'm going to need to rest. But I want to hear about what you did up there, cause you were gone a long time."

"I'm glad to hear it." I chuckled as the female khatif settled onto the ground. "Rest is necessary for everyone at times. I am glad that you're making sure you get it when you can. As well, I hope you allow those around you to have that same rest."

Trai's eyes darted back and forth at my words, though I'd already known the little terror would never allow someone else peace and rest when she didn't want it herself. Deciding I wanted to add some measure of that same chaos into her life, I remembered why Leera and Greel had joined me on our journey north and back.

"Now, I don't have time to tell you all our exploits myself, but as they were present, I'm sure Greel and Leera are available to answer any questions you may have." As I spoke, I gestured for the two males to step forward. They didn't hesitate to step on either side of Trai as she looked up at me with a face of surprise, confusion, and a hint of betrayal. I revelled in it and waved for her and the others to go their way as Leera and Greel fought to explain how they'd helped in hunts and scouting and so on. Trai was already looking for a way to escape, but that wasn't my problem.

"She may consider you a traitor for that, my Zaaktif." Foire mused as he stepped beside me and looked at his daughter with a faint hint of schadenfreude at the excessively energetic child's entrapment. "But it is good for her to see and experience some measure of how she treats those around her."

"You don't mind her getting surrounded by two males pursuing her?"

Foire flicked his tail. "I don't think they're nearly strong or impressive enough to get her to permit their presences long-term, unless they've changed immensely in the time we've been apart. If she does decide to tolerate them, though, then that is her choice. I don't believe it will happen."

"Fair enough." I replied with a smile. "How was the time without me here?"

"The ants," he spat, "are a nuisance and an annoyance at best, but they remain valuable. I've begun smelling something on them immediately out of the ground that has let me make some guesses about how they feed themselves, but I don't think it's necessary to pursue that thought. The edible plants have been found, though Sybil will be the only one with any information that would actually provide you any use on that front."

"Not what I intended to ask." I gently corrected the Sik'Tal. "I was curious about how you are. I'll get all the reports I could need, want, and more before long, but I wanted to see how my friend Foire is."

As I asked, Foire bobbed his head thoughtfully before answering. "I am… doing sufficiently well. There are many things that require my attention, and I appreciate being busy. There remains something that I feel is missing from my life, and I recognize I miss Treel for her companionship, though not so bitterly as I have before. The time alone heightens that feeling. Perhaps I am not so far off from finding another companion, as Trai has made it clear that , though I am her father, she does not wish to spend much time with me as she finds her own place."

He spoke of difficult parts of his life, but there was no bitterness any more when he mentioned Treel's death, and though he mentioned that Trai wished for independence, he didn't begrudge her that. Instead, it was the kind of melancholic joy that most parents spoke with when referencing their children's growth to adulthood. 

"Has she decided on what she wishes to become in the longer term?" I asked. "She seems too flighty to become wholly Sik, Kou, Hak, or Sou'Tal, though she seems the most suited for the Sou'Tal."

"I'm inclined to agree with you, but it's her choice." Foire flicked his tail noncommittally. "She's a valiant warrior and hunter, and enjoys her time with some of the herds, just the predators. The few that have attempted to control her have been swiftly made to know that they were incorrect to have tried."

"I believe it." I replied. "Thanks for your time, Foire."

"Always, my Zaaktif." He flared his frills as he bowed and allowed me to speak with the rest of the elites. Though I asked Joral, Vefir, Percral, and Shemira for any more information they wished to provide, only Shemira had anything noteworthy to say:

"There isn't much for us to say now before your Zaaktifi's full conversation. She has much to discuss with you, and I suspect that there isn't much that we have to say about our time apart that is important. We did well without you and are happy you have returned."

I took her words for what they were and pressed up close to Sybil as we walked into a complete building, though the roof was only rough thatch and the walls haphazardly placed stone. In the corner, though, was the most important addition to the building and I smiled widely at my mate as we walked towards it in unison.

"What did you have to tell me, Sybil?" I asked as we settled into a bath that someone had warmed for us while I was speaking with some of my elites. Without conscious thought, I vibrated the sands to become more like a liquid, but I cut off as soon as Sybil spoke to me.

"I'm gravid."