Pure Moonlight (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Selena pressed her cheek against Kreston's chest as he told her that he loved her. She knew that he wouldn't leave her this time. He was devoted to his family, but she worried that they were doing the wrong thing by bringing another child into this great mess. Still, it couldn't change the fact that another one was on their way and there was little they could do to stop it.

"Please don't hate me, Kres." She whispered softly. "I know it's bad timing."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I could never hate you," Kreston muttered against her ear before he kissed her cheek. "All we can do is try to resolve this mess before this cub gets here. We've got Inverness and the whole tribe at our backs. We'll make it." He kissed her lips now and cradled her close against his strong chest. He exuded more strength than he felt he really had, but if there was anything he felt he had to do at that moment, it was to protect Selena and show her that he would be her column of support.

 

[heartofcourage]

A small sigh of relief escaped Selena's lips as he assured her that he would be there for her no matter what. She knew that if times got tough, she could come back to the keep and stay under Brogan's protection until the baby arrived. That made her feel better.

 

[KieranSoares]

Eventually the little family returned to their tribe once proper defenses were set up and the tribe moved back to their new homeland. A rule from the elders stated that, until such a time as the land was deemed safe enough, no child under ten could leave the village without a guardian, and those under fifteen (being the age of adulthood among werefolk) had to be back inside the village before dusk. Everyone was encouraged never to go too far on their own. The trail to Inverness came under patrol by Brogan's men and he offered to send more whenever needed. For the most part, now that the Lunar warriors were ready, they could handle it perfectly well themselves.

Kreston and many other men who were farmers of artisans offered their own blades should the need arise, acting as a reserve. Young Ruben wanted badly to help, but he was too young to do any more than begin training, which Taqu'un gladly offered.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena worried about her son as he started his training with a blade. She thought that he was still too young, but Kreston seemed to think it was a good idea. She bit her tongue as it seemed to make Ruben happen and anything that made him happy she would always allow him to do.

She also kept to herself more and more. She still did the jobs that were expected of her within the tribe, but she was tired and withdrawn. She had made Kreston swear that he wouldn't tell anyone about the baby until she was ready. It would become apparent soon, but she wasn't ready to make the announcement to his family.

 

[KieranSoares]

After a few weeks, Kreston's mother came to visit Selena whilst all the boys were off doing this and that. She had a basket with a lunch for two. She knocked on the door of Selena and Kreston's little temporary home. Dayja hadn't seen much of Selena, but had gotten plenty of visits from Kreston and Ruben. She'd begun to worry and she wanted a little time with the woman who was now through-and-through her daughter.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena answered the door to the cabin and was surprised to see Dayja standing there with a basket of food. She stared at Kreston's mother for a long moment before she stepped aside to allow her to enter.

"You didn't have to make anything, Dayja. I'm not feeling well and the boys are out in the woods until dark." Selena said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know you've been trying to hide it, love, but I know what's going on. A woman always knows." Dayja laid the basket aside and came to embrace Selena gently. Her hands came to Selena's cheeks and Dayja studied her gaze. "... You look worried... and afraid. I know it's not my place to push, but Volgo and I have been worried about you, what with you hiding away so much."

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena was stunned that Dayja already knew what she was hiding. She let out a long sigh as she placed the basket down and hugged her gently. She took her face in her hands and studied her gaze closely. She knew that she couldn't hide from Dayja as she spoke about how worried she was.

"Dayja, I just feel safer staying inside. That hunter knew who I was and who Ruben was. I don't want to cause any more problems here."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That hunter and his kind are few and far between, paid by old enemies of the Golin and Maliar who can't let a grudge go. The only reason he managed to cause any damage at all was because you two weren't ready. But we're all ready now, and it doesn't matter what comes our way." Dayja sighed quietly. "But it's in a mother's soul to worry, isn't it?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena wondered if Dayja knew anything about the daughter that Kreston had given her and they had lost. She held a lot of guilt still, not only for not doing more for that little girl but for also leaving her behind.

"I don't think I could ever forgive myself if something happened to this child." She said softly, letting Dayja hear the fear in her voice. "After the last time...my heart couldn't take it."

 

[KieranSoares]

Dayja seemed to know that Selena wasn't talking about Ruben alone. She took Selena's hands and sat down with her. "Tell me your troubles, sweetheart... I'm here to help you. We want nothing more than for you to be happy and your children to be safe."

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena decided that her mother-in-law deserved to know. She told her about Krestina and how she had been born after Kreston had left. How sweet the baby was and how she had only survived a short time. Selena cried as she talked about her daughter, all of the pent up sadness and emotion finally leaving her body as she recounted the fearful birth and horrible days that had followed.

 

[KieranSoares]

Dayja cradled Selena close as she began to weep, and as Selena finally fell quiet, Dayja told her own secret. "I lost my second baby while Volgo was away fighting. I nearly never had Kreston because of it... I blamed Volgo, I blamed myself, I blamed the gods... I'd wanted that sweet little boy so badly, but I only had him for a few hours before he died in my arms. I was so afraid that the same thing would happen to Kreston that I insisted Volgo was the first to hold him when he finally arrived... Some days, I'm still afraid I'll lose my children if I do anything wrong at all..." She sighed quietly. Years of crying over her loss had rendered her unable to do so anymore. With Volgo's help, she'd been able to face the past without so much guilt and pain, but it was still difficult sometimes.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kreston should have been there and I tried to wait as long as I could for him, but he never came." Selena murmured softly, knowing that he had been with his tribe in hiding when their daughter had been born. "He never got to see her or hold her."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He told us you'd been expecting... but he never told us what happened... You know, he's regretted it from the moment he returned home after your last fight. He tried so hard to get back to you, but the hunters..." She sighed. "After a year, he gave up. The few times he did manage to get close in the first months... he was too scared to actually see you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena thought back on the argument that they had the day that Kreston had left. It had been over something so stupid that she couldn't even remember their disagreement. She had been stubborn, Kreston had been right, but he had still left the house and she had lost their daughter.

"It doesn't matter, I guess." Selena said softly as she sat back with a sigh and thought about their lives now. "He's here now and that's all that matters."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It does still matter, but not as much as the present, yes." Dayja reached up to brush her hair back soothingly. "What's most important is bringing this new baby into the world safe and sound, and if I know my son at all, he's going to fight to the last to make sure that happens."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know if things get bad out here that I can always go and stay under my brother's protection. My mother would probably relish the chance to spoil me, but this has always been something I wanted to do alone. My mother has enough worries in her own life." Selena said, repeating what she had always said since she was ten years old.

 

[KieranSoares]

"A mother's life is nothing but worrying," Dayja offered her a gentle smile. "You must know that." She let her hand rest on Selena's shoulder. "But whatever you do, you know we'll be here for you, and now that the Gol Dun knows what its facing, we aren't going to be caught so off-guard if more comes our way."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I still feel like hiding until everything is done. I don't want unwanted attention to be brought upon Kreston and Ruben." Selena admitted, letting her mother-in-law see the fear that she held for the upcoming birth.

 

[KieranSoares]

"They'll be alright, and so will you, dear. There's no need to hide," Dayja assured her, lifting a hand to touch her cheek. "It's hard not to be afraid... but you and your boys will make it through this just fine." Dayja hugged her tightly then, offering all the love and support she could. Dayja was incredibly like Kitty, and for a moment, it seemed that they were one and the same.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena gave her a slight smile and let out a long sigh. "Enough tears for today. Let's eat some of that delicious food you brought."

 

[KieranSoares]

Dayja nodded with a smile in return and laid out the food she'd brought, and the two enjoyed a quiet lunch together until Taqu'un came along after they were done and conversed briefly with his mother before looking to Selena. "Kosovo, sister," he smiled softly. "You look beautiful as always.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kosovo, Taqu." Selena murmured as she glanced down at the food that was still left. "I should have known that you would come the moment that you smelled your mother's cooking."