Kits and Space Stations: Chiya and Ketvia's Story

"I just can't believe how big she's gotten!" Ketvia said, for the second time since they'd left Callidei and Battleworn Claw back at the Abstract Destiny. "It's only been a couple months, and she's got to be twice as big as the last time...."

"We just grow quickly," Regius said nonchalantly. His mother Ketvia had been, he thought, disappointed with the brief time she'd been allowed with her oldest daughter. Regius didn't know why, but he didn't like seeing her unhappy to be going home.

Besides, it was true. He, too, had grown in the three months since his hatching, on that very ship. So had his brother, Vir, and his other brothers, Denique and Fidelan, and his other sister, Tripudia. This was their first time back to the place of their birth, for him, Vir, and Trip. It was a trip to visit his sister there, and before that to visit his brothers on the planet below. His mother Chiya had studied hard in the past month or so to master the teleport spell, to make the trip possible.

"Very quickly," Chiya sighed, human formed, and stroked his furry head. He wasn't quite twice the size he'd been when he hatched, but he was close, at five and a half feet tall at the top of his head, making him taller than Chiya's human form. He just hoped that by the time he stood taller than both his parents, in their human forms, he had one of his own, so he wouldn't feel like he was subtly doing something wrong. Trip and Vir were almost as tall, though Trip actually stood even with Chiya.

Right then, though, Regius didn't mind being a little too tall; being taller than Chiya, after all, wasn't nearly as bad as being taller than Ketvia would be! He leaned over a little, and his mother obligingly scratched behind his ears, while Ketvia huffed at the truth of both of their statements.

"Wish I'd known that damn doctor would have sped you all up so much," she grumbled, but didn't protest when Vir ducked his head under her arm. She even gave his shoulders a squeeze. "It just isn't natural."

"At least we have you," Chiya said with a smile for her children, looping her other arm around Tripudia's shoulders, as well.

"And everybody else!" Vir chimed in. "Thanks for letting us come!"

"It was fun!" Trip added happily.

It had been fun. They'd spent an hour or so getting reacquainted with each other and then just playing around, making use of the ship's Recreation Deck with Doctor Schroeder's blessing. It was one of the few places large enough to handle five growing kits and two parents, human-formed or not. Vir had done everything in his power to try to win over Battleworn Claw, Callidei's wolfish little bond, to no avail. It had been pretty cute, actually, and just from watching, Regius decided that Claw would be happiest if left alone. It was too bad, really; it would have been fun to include the little guy in whatever games they came up with. Someday, when he was good enough, Regius wouldn't have minded challenging him to some mock-fights. He looked scrappy, for all he was so small.

Still, playing around with Callidei had been fun, and going to the holo-show afterwards had been even more fun. Regius had never seen what passed for "entertainment" on Star City, since they hadn't been on the station very long after hatching. Vir, Trip, and Calli had liked the show itself more than he had, but he was glad that they were glad-- and quite ready to tease all of them about it, too, especially when Calli started trying to figure out how all the special effects worked. Regius doubted she was right, but it was funny to listen to her muttering to herself, and funnier to elbow her and let her know she was muttering to herself.

And then there had been ice cream. Vir had literally fallen over himself with excitement when he heard that; he had a sweet tooth like one couldn't believe unless one lived with him. Regius couldn't help being a little excited, himself, and Trip and Calli had both been cheerful at the prospect, as well. Claw, of course, just growled when asked-- but accepted the treat when it was actually offered to him, all the while looking as if he were trying very hard not to look like he didn't want it. Nobody was fooled, of course, but they all left it alone.

It had been a long day-- what with visiting Denique and Fidelan on Atu below, first, and exploring their so-called "Ranch of Doom"-- but a good day. A good interruption in the daily routine, and definitely something Regius was looking forward to doing again. But it would be good to go home, too.

"So are we going home, now?" Regius asked.

"Might as well," Ketvia grumped.

"Anyone hungry?" Chiya asked, first, casting a quelling look at their other parent. "We can stop for dinner, before we leave."

"A little," Trip admitted.

"Sorta," Regius agreed.

Vir looked sheepish. "Still stuffed on ice cream...."

Regius rolled his eyes and grinned.

"Well, we can warm yours up when we get home, when you get hungry again," Chiya promised, smiling fondly at him.

"Okay," Vir chirped... and promptly missed a step, causing him to plow into Regius, and take Ketvia, still attached via her arm around his neck, with him. By the time everyone had untangled, Ketvia was grinning again, ruffling Vir's hair and telling him what a klutz he was-- but adding that he was a cute klutz, so he was forgiven.

The cheerful mood lasted through dinner, which was delicious and Regius felt over-full all over again, and then all the way until they got home, right through the teleport and then the walk from the city's appearance-safe zone to their little house under Sanctuary's dome. As soon as it came in sight, however, Ketvia seemed to wilt a little. Tripudia, who had been riding her now dragon-formed shoulders and humming, peeked down as her gait faltered. "Mom?"

Chiya sighed and lifted Trip down. "Inside, children," she said. "We'll come after in a minute."

Glancing once between his parents, Regius turned and nosed a reluctant Trip and anxious Vir ahead of him towards the house. The wards recognized them and let the door swing open when Trip tugged on the handle. All three of them, once inside, crowded to the front-facing window, but Regius managed to get the best seat on account of being the biggest-- just slightly-- and the most commanding-- though Trip stuck her tongue out at him, and Vir made up for it by climbing on top of him to peer over his head.

There wasn't much to see, unfortunately, and none of them were good enough yet with their magic to use it to evesdrop on the hushed conversation. Chiya and Ketvia just stood there together, nose to nose, talking too quietly to be heard, even with the door left slightly ajar. Neither of them looked happy, though.

"What dyou suppose is wrong?" Vir whispered.

"Dunno," Regius answered, whispering, himself.

"Callidei," Tripudia said sagely.

"What about her?" Vir asked, looking down at her. Regius had to shift his weight so he didn't slide right off and into her.

"That's why Mom is upset," Trip said, as if they all should have known that.

Before Regius could protest that how could he know that-- though he vaguely remembered thinking Ketvia had been somehow disappointed-- and why would Callidei have upset Ketvia, anyway?-- their parents came up the walk, Chiya first and looking none too pleased, Ketvia following and looking less than pleased, herself. Regius gave a guilty jump for the spying, trying to turn-- just as Vir tried to hop down from his back-- and they ended up in a tumbled pile with Trip, squeaking and trying their hardest to be quiet. Chiya let Ketvia pass her, the Fire heading upstairs to the room she and Chiya shared, glaring lightly at her back.

Regius shrugged free of his brother and sister, starting after her, but Chiya put a paw in his path. "Just let her be."

"Is she all right?" he asked, peering around her foreleg.

"She will be, in the morning."

And Regius had to be content with that.