I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
Sting – Desert Rose
[Llangon Mountains, Vulcan]
37th Day in the month of T'ke'Tas, YS 9021
In the copper red twilight of Nevasa setting behind the hills, she watched the tall, lithe form of Sovar descend from the plateau, the massive bulk of Warya trailing faithfully behind, setting one giant paw carefully in front of the other. Silhouetted against the rising bulk of T'Khut, Sovar's sharp features and muscle-armored body gave her old friend an almost fierce appearance, and the feline, predatory grace with which he moved did not much to alleviate the impression.
Indeed, one could almost understand why some outworlders chose to keep their distance of this one, struck by inexplicable feelings of unease in the presence of one who by any definition was nothing but another calm, unthreatening Vulcan, gliding silently among them.
Indeed, one could almost understand why some outworlders chose to keep their distance of this one, struck by inexplicable feelings of unease in the presence of one who by any definition was nothing but another calm, unthreatening Vulcan, gliding silently among them.
But to T'Para's sharp eyes there was much more to this dark shape walking towards her, and the knowledge of just how much gentleness slept within this one, how tenderly he would reach for those he held dear, that was merely the beginning. His purposeful stride told as clearly as the desert's evening air that he had reached a decision, and in his languid steps, silent and untroubled, was the confirmation of just what this decision had been.
Standing next to a I'su'ke bush that by now was bereft of all it's bittersweet fruits, she exhaled softly. Why he had chosen this of all places, these hills where fragrant desert flowers grew in abundance around one of the rare, hidden springs, and a plateau high above them invited one's gaze to wander across the stark, forbidding beauty below, she knew this as well and there was a sense of foreboding stirring in the young woman's mind.
His silent greeting floated across her consciousness, and T'Para turned her face into the evening breeze, allowing it to cool her face that was still flushed from the exertion of climbing, while it played with her long, unbraided ebony hair.
In her memory, there was another sitting far above them on that plateau, and a soft, joyous song was riding a wind very much like this one.
Sister and more than sister, this other one was to her, and with a silent, wistful smile playing across her face T'Para remembered the black eyed one who had become a father more than even the Vulcan who had spawned her and whom she had never known.
His silent greeting floated across her consciousness, and T'Para turned her face into the evening breeze, allowing it to cool her face that was still flushed from the exertion of climbing, while it played with her long, unbraided ebony hair.
In her memory, there was another sitting far above them on that plateau, and a soft, joyous song was riding a wind very much like this one.
Sister and more than sister, this other one was to her, and with a silent, wistful smile playing across her face T'Para remembered the black eyed one who had become a father more than even the Vulcan who had spawned her and whom she had never known.
For the first years of her life they had been there, and even after that it seemed they had never been truly gone, or at least not for long. And although she knew the emptiness of missing her friend - from the earliest days when they had still slept in the same bassinet and every attempt to separate them resulted in green-faced cries of outrage that had once brought half the house's inhabitants to their room at a dead run, to the long years of absence that marked their adolescent time - T'Para suspected nothing could compare to the fierce, hopeless longing that she had seen in the eyes of the man now walking down across the sands.
And yet, he had forbidden her to ever speak of it, first and foremost to her.
Illogical in her mind, and more than once T'Para had been tempted to ignore her friend's request, speak the truth for everyone to hear and let the dice fall as they may. Only the deeply rooted desire to spare the family any pain, most of all the two people whom this matter concerned the most, had made her keep her peace for as long as she had.
Illogical in her mind, and more than once T'Para had been tempted to ignore her friend's request, speak the truth for everyone to hear and let the dice fall as they may. Only the deeply rooted desire to spare the family any pain, most of all the two people whom this matter concerned the most, had made her keep her peace for as long as she had.
"Sovar." she murmured in greeting when his footsteps came to a halt next to her, and she nodded slightly in permission as his hand hovered above the wide, lightly cut robe that no longer hid but rather accentuated the fact that she was carrying a child.
Carefully resting his fingertips against the soft roundness, the tall Vulcan spoke in a calm, mildly chiding tone.
"Climbing Llangon this close to nightfall in your condition? A dangerous undertaking, T'Para."
"Truly, if any Le-Matya were around it should come to the same conclusion and wisely avoid she who will protect her young." she motioned to the Lirpa strapped across her back and quirked a humorous brow at the concern that still showed in his face. Oh, that males had to be so illogical and assume pregnancy would somehow weaken a woman.
However, she had to appreciate the fact that at least Sovar did not attempt to follow her every move, possibly place cushions under her feet wherever she deemed to put them, and make a most un-Vulcan fuss over every last bit of her diet. It was truly a relief that he who was her husband had been called away at this time, or else she might have felt compelled to physically harm him. In a logical way of course, merely to prove that she was in every way capable of defending herself.
Carefully resting his fingertips against the soft roundness, the tall Vulcan spoke in a calm, mildly chiding tone.
"Climbing Llangon this close to nightfall in your condition? A dangerous undertaking, T'Para."
"Truly, if any Le-Matya were around it should come to the same conclusion and wisely avoid she who will protect her young." she motioned to the Lirpa strapped across her back and quirked a humorous brow at the concern that still showed in his face. Oh, that males had to be so illogical and assume pregnancy would somehow weaken a woman.
However, she had to appreciate the fact that at least Sovar did not attempt to follow her every move, possibly place cushions under her feet wherever she deemed to put them, and make a most un-Vulcan fuss over every last bit of her diet. It was truly a relief that he who was her husband had been called away at this time, or else she might have felt compelled to physically harm him. In a logical way of course, merely to prove that she was in every way capable of defending herself.
Growling softly, Warya pushed his enormous furry head under the she-biped's elbow and sighed contentedly when his friendly greeting was rewarded with a warm hand scratching him behind the ears. It would still be some time before the new cub would arrive, but the Sehlat was looking forward to it. It had been too long since he had known the joy of teaching a tiny one to walk, show it the beauty of the gardens and then fall asleep with a trusting head leaning against his fur.
"And now that you two are keeping me company," T'Para could not quite keep the gentle teasing out of her voice "I doubt even the boldest predator would dare to approach."
"Indeed." the brow climbed just another 0.5 centimeters and the young woman was deeply relieved to see that the calm, unshakeable serenity had returned to Sovar's face.
"You will speak, then." it was not a question, rather an acknowledgement of what she already knew.
"It is logical." his level gaze rested on the fires of rising T'Khut, but even with his face in the shadows T'Para could see the brief flicker of an expression.
"So it is." the young woman breathed the clean, fragrant air and did her best to hide the fact that she had heard him speak a name in his mind, a voiceless call out into the emptiness of space, and just underneath a flame, a silent emotion that echoed even louder in the complete stillness that surrounded it.
"Indeed." the brow climbed just another 0.5 centimeters and the young woman was deeply relieved to see that the calm, unshakeable serenity had returned to Sovar's face.
"You will speak, then." it was not a question, rather an acknowledgement of what she already knew.
"It is logical." his level gaze rested on the fires of rising T'Khut, but even with his face in the shadows T'Para could see the brief flicker of an expression.
"So it is." the young woman breathed the clean, fragrant air and did her best to hide the fact that she had heard him speak a name in his mind, a voiceless call out into the emptiness of space, and just underneath a flame, a silent emotion that echoed even louder in the complete stillness that surrounded it.
"You agree." His deep baritone held no inflection whatsoever, but his face was still turned up towards the stars that slowly began to shine through the haze of Nevasa's last rays.
"How could I not." She certainly had played what people called 'Devil's Advocate' after Sovar had asked for her counsel, but to T'Para there had never been any question how he would eventually decide. Nor should there have been. "Nam-tor u'sha'yut." she said calmly, but with an iron certainty in her voice.
Much to her surprise, the dark shadow next to her gave a small huff that was by Sovar's standards an outright display of amusement. "You are quite correct, t'sai, and I was a fool not to see it from the beginning."
"How could I not." She certainly had played what people called 'Devil's Advocate' after Sovar had asked for her counsel, but to T'Para there had never been any question how he would eventually decide. Nor should there have been. "Nam-tor u'sha'yut." she said calmly, but with an iron certainty in her voice.
Much to her surprise, the dark shadow next to her gave a small huff that was by Sovar's standards an outright display of amusement. "You are quite correct, t'sai, and I was a fool not to see it from the beginning."
"How will you proceed?"
"I am expected to announce my decision, so that they who created this predicament may plan their next steps." there was still amusement lingering, and Warya purred happily that his friend was obviously feeling better, but T'Para's sharp ears also picked up another, subtle undertone. The one that told her certain people had made an enemy they should rather not have.
"I am expected to announce my decision, so that they who created this predicament may plan their next steps." there was still amusement lingering, and Warya purred happily that his friend was obviously feeling better, but T'Para's sharp ears also picked up another, subtle undertone. The one that told her certain people had made an enemy they should rather not have.
"However, I plan to employ a strategy I have learned from the one who is our ne ki'ne. I shall be…" there was a silent, carefully contained flame in his dark eyes when he finally turned his face downwards and met the young woman's gaze "…unpredictable."
[End Log]
Sovar
V`shar tra-lan
V`shar tra-lan
T'Para
V`ket ne`zhel-lan
V`ket ne`zhel-lan
(NPCs apb I-Chaya)
