Twisting Fate

An alarm rang, alerting the two women sitting on the couch. Mira was working on her new line of electronics, holding Zenith on her lap. Zenith, blushing, got up in haste, eliciting a laugh from Mira...her baby was still so shy.

The still-blaring alarm caused the sleeping Ren to frown in annoyance. He wanted to shut off the noise and go back to sleep, but Terim's arms wrapped around his waist tightly, pulling him into an embrace. Terim, too, was trying to bury his head in Ren's back to escape the abrupt, jarring sound.

Zenith shut off the alarm and approached the sleeping children. Gently shaking Terim, who was clinging to Dorion as if his life depended on it, she said, "Hey sweetie, wake up. It's time for your medicine. And stop crushing poor Rion, will you?"