Zabeth Firestone: Firebird

"I might not have been so interested in procreating again if I had thought through the process," Zabeth sighed, a little irritably, as she made her uncomfortable, ungainly way down the hall of the Twisted Fate after another trip to the great ship's massive public cafeteria to satisfy her hungry, bloated, capricious belly. As much as she looked forward to having a chick or two to raise, she did not appreciate what she had to go through to get to that point.

At least she'd managed to keep a few of her friends around her. The staff of the Fate had forced her to send Ielta, Zamah-aisi, and Haliand home, though July remained, as a parent, and she'd managed to argue her case for Kanna's continued presence as a child who needed her care. So what if it was a bit of a lie, and Kanna did not need any care that could not be given by any one of her wards at home? It got her bond to remain.

And, of course, there was Kikira.

The little dragon who was the father of her current batch of eggs was waiting down the hall, just within earshot of her comment. He, after all, was not subject to her own stomach's weird whims while gravid, and he was still shy about accompanying her on such excursions. Actually, he was quite shy, in general, as if unsure just how to be someone's mate, or how much of his presence she would tolerate. It was a rather endearing trait, Zabeth thought, though if he didn't get over it soon it might become tiresome.

Currently, he looked confused. Blinking solemnly at him, she assured him, "It has been nearly a millennia since I've had children, and I must admit I'd forgotten some of the awkwardness and irritations that come with it. Such as," she explained with what of a smile her beak could form, "constantly running off to find something strange and usually difficult to come by to eat. Be glad I do not send you hunting for rare fruits for me."

"I wouldn't mind doing that," Kikira said with a little smile. She expected he probably wouldn't mind, if he had any way of actually finding said rare fruits; it would keep him busy, anyway. It was harder to have uncomfortable silences with a strange partner when one was out and about on a silly quest for bellberries, after all. ... mmm, bellberries sounded good. "How have you been feeling, otherwise?" he asked, falling into step beside her, and she told her rebellious stomach to keep its cravings to itself.

"Expectant," Zabeth quipped, bobbing down to preen a bit of his wing-fur into place for him with her beak. "And slow. But otherwise well."

"Well, that's good to hear." The little dragon paused, then asked awkwardly, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Zabeth clicked her beak at him once before answering; he was a bit silly, now and then, she supposed. "Relax a little, perhaps?" she suggested, mostly amused but a touch exasperated. "I do not bite, Kikira, I promise."

"I know," he said hesitantly. "It just feels like I should say... or do... something." He rustled his pretty wings in a shrug.

Zabeth regared him a moment, wondering how much of his discomfort was because she was so egg-heavy, how much was because of her age and strangeness, and how much was simply because he was shy. She told him gently, "I do not require anything except the company of a friend, but even that I can do without if I make you uncomfortable."

"You don't make me uncomfortable, Zabeth." Well, that was something of a relief. "I suppose I just feel like... I'm out of my league."

That was a phrase she had heard, though it took her a moment to remember what it meant. "Overwhelmed?"

"That's the word I was looking for," he said.

Zabeth nodded. She reminded herself that he was little more than a chick, himself, and had never been in this kind of situation before. "I suppose if it is your first experience with fatherhood, I can understand that. But I can assure you, having been on both sides of the event, there is no reason for you to be concerned."

He smiled a bit. "I'll take your word for it, then."

"Wise of you," she agreed, ducking down again to nibble at his ear with her beak. "I am ancient, after all."

Kikira squeaked and went purple across his muzzle in a blush. Zabeth laughed softly, and teased, "Embarrassed? My dear Kikira, should I refrain from showing affection to the father of my children?"

"N-no," he stammered. "I just wasn't expecting that!"

Zabeth clucked at him in amusement. "Perhaps next time I should warn you, then."

He paused, then smiled. "Nah. It's okay."

"Good, then." She brushed the top of his head with her beak once, then said, "Now, if you would really like something to do, when we get back to the room you can help me preen my back feathers. I find myself rather less flexible than usual, as of late."

"Consider it done," Kikira beamed, and Zabeth decided, given the reaction, that she probably ought to have thought of that sooner. Then, at the very least, she'd not have had to deal with itchy feathers for so long!

~~~~~

"And you promise this won't hurt it?" Zabeth said once more, just to be certain.

"Positive," the spidery creature, Kednati, huffed at it, and plucked the single egg from Zabeth's small collection to add to her collection, for Zabeth was not the only one to be accosted so. Senyen, the other egg-layer, had the benefit of an egg "borrowed", as well, which was more to July's consternation than Senyen's. Even Vienvolt and Twenty-Six's litters of live-born offspring were "borrowed" from-- not that Twenty-Six was around to miss hers.

Zabeth sighed a little, letting the mage disappear with its unhatched offspring, and shook its head. "At least they are not taking one that we made," it told Kikira, carefully settling its ruffled feathers again and letting Kanna, who was hissing to herself, roll over one of the eggs that Kednati had examined but ultimately decided against taking, nestling it back into the warmth of the cavern's soft-sanded floor.

"Mmh," was Kikira's only answer. He wasn't particularly happy with having to give up an egg, even for a few hours-- well, neither was Zabeth, but it was much more relaxed about the whole process of procreation, to begin with-- but he did soothe a few feathers back into place for it. It closed its eyes with a low chirp, glad the little dragon had at least gotten more comfortable with it, even despite its somewhat more obvious descent into gender neutrality, both in appearance-- which perhaps wasn't the worst, given it was not a mammal-- and voice-- definitely more obvious. It had to wonder, if Kikira continued to keep it company, what he would think when it became wholly male again.

Perhaps it would be prudent to see what Kikira's own plans are. "You know that I am taking in one of our chicks," it began, looking at its mate-for-the-moment again. "That was my intent in taking a mate, to begin with. Are you planning on doing the same?"

"I'd certainly like to," Kikira replied, though with a kind of hesitance that suggested he was either wondering what Zabeth was getting at, or uncertain what Zabeth would think of that.

"I had thought as much," Zabeth nodded. "If that is the case... will you be taking him, or her-- or it--" Zabeth's offspring had a tendency to be unpredictable in sex, whether shifting like Zabeth itself, of a more typical sex like male or female, or entirely without sex characteristics for the whole of their lives. "--to your home world?"

"I really don't call any world home," Kikira admitted slowly. "I know where my bond is from, and they like to return there when they can, but we travel so much... I really don't know."

Zabeth clicked its beak again at the idea of its offspring starting off their lives rootless-- there was plenty of time for that later. "That is no way to raise a chick, not when they are young."

He looked chastised, though it hadn't meant the criticism at him in particular, and murmured, "I know," with his head low.

Well, perhaps it could make it up to him. "If you wish, Kikira, I have room. You could, if you wished, stay with me and my family."

One long, blue ear flicked. " ... I still need to give it thought," he answered.

"Of course," Zabeth agreed, nodding. "It could be difficult for you. Star City is not a terribly friendly place, I know, and I hardly a typical companion."

"Star City doesn't bother me," Kikira said, to its surprise. "I've been there before-- I'm just used to moving around. With my own family. Already, this is the longest I've been away...."

"Oh." Zabeth tilted its head at the little dragon. "I admit I had not considered that. It is your choice, whatever you wish to do, Kikira. Merely let me know."

"Thank you... I'll do that."

There didn't seem to be much else to say, after that. Kanna had moved off to sit with July and his eggs, leaving the two of them entirely alone with their own offspring, and Zabeth expected that, with its offer gone so poorly, it would be prudent not to offend poor Kikira further. So, it focused on what it had come here to do: tend children, even if those children were still in eggs. Kikira would make his decision in his own time, and Zabeth would respect whatever it was. Whatever the result, it would still have a chick of its own, and the rest would be out in the world to make their own ways.