Pure Moonlight (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I don't want to risk you. You're too young and you have too much potential," Urubay murmured, knowing they were being backed into a corner on the matter. "Besides... how can we possibly run when we're stuck on an island and none of us can get passage on a ship without a keeper or money? They'll turn over an entire cargo hold looking for stowaways."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then what do we do?" Luna asked, looking up at the man that had quickly become a very good friend of hers. "I've never had relations with a man and I certainly don't expect you to just because you're separated from your mate."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She was sold to a skinner, Luna," Urubay murmured. "He said he had an order for a red sash and her fur was the perfect shade..." But he shook his head to clear the thought away. He couldn't afford to grieve or lose himself. He'd lost too many people in his life to let grief affect him anymore.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna felt like she had been punched in the belly when Urubay told her that his mate was most likely dead. The thought made her ill enough that she didn't even want to touch the rest of her lunch.

"Urubay, I'm so sorry." She said softly, reaching out to touch his arm. "You should have told me sooner."

There was nothing she could have done to change his mate's fate, but she certainly could have provided some comfort to him in the mean time. She had no idea what all of this meant for the two of them now. He was grieving and they had a master that wanted more were to help with his empire. That was something Luna was not prepared for.

 

[KieranSoares]

"There was no point in dwelling on it..." He lifted his head to meet her eyes. "I... I don't want to force you into anything you don't want. But I want to keep you safe. If you're willing... I don't expect you to love me, but I'll treat you well, and I'll continue to put you and Arys first." It wasn't a situation he wanted for her or for himself, but it wasn't as terrible as being forced into a breeding house as some masters would do when their slaves wouldn't willingly have children.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Let me think about it." Luna said softly as she looked at Urubay. "This isn't really something that we can jump into. I need some time to think it through first."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Take your time," Urubay nodded, finishing his food before Arys came along, having finished her own lunch with a couple other children. He let her curl up in his lap and he held her close, murmuring softly to her about what she'd done that morning.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna left Arys with Urubay and stood to put away their meals. She left the two of them alone for a while as she went in search of Orin. He was quietly eating his own lunch, a mug of the tea she had prescribed him for his pains beside him.

"I hope that brew has been working for you, Orin." Luna said softly, giving him a smile as she took a seat beside him. "There is something that I would like to talk to you about if you have a few moments."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's been doing wonders," Orin nodded, lifting his head to look at her. "The mistress won't need me for a while... what can I do for you, dear?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Urubay and I have been talking. We don't want to bring a child into this situation, but we feel that we have no choice. Is our master so cruel that he would harm us if we continue to deny what he wants?" She asked him, looking up at the man that had been the voice of reason in the household.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sir Evard is usually quite accommodating of the needs of his slaves, until it comes to adding to his collection. Many have refused to bring children into this life, but found themselves sent to the mines or to the skinner depending on how strong they are. And trust me... you don't want to be a miner. Being skinned alive is better than a lifetime in the mines..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, there is no hope." Luna said softly as she thought over what was being asked of her. "Then I have my answer. I won't leave Arys behind."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm sorry you must face such choices... but at least here, you are among friends and Urubay does care about you. I faced a similar choice as a young bull, but my mate and I learned to love one another."

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna nodded, knowing that she wasn't the only one to have been put into this position. It was a lot to process, however. She was young, almost too young to be thinking about such things, but there she was face with life or death. She still held out hope that her family was looking for her and would one day rescue her from this place, but that might be a long time in coming. It was time that she start thinking about how she was going to make the best of her situation.

That evening, after Arys had long gone to sleep, Luna sat next to Urubay as they talked over what they would do. She had told him what Orin had told her and it all looked so bleak.

"I know that you care for me. I know that we are friends." Luna said softly. "There was a man back at home that I was just starting to think about being mated with. I suppose that's all silly to think about now, right?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's not silly," Urubay shook his head. "And you don't have to rush into this. Evard won't think anything of a couple months as long as we tell him we're trying for a baby."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I wish I were home." Luna murmured softly, the first time that she had ever showed her sorrow to anyone since her capture. "My Ma is probably heartbroken. She and my Da were so excited when they had me because they had been apart for nearly 10 years. I don't even want to think about how she's feeling."

 

[KieranSoares]

Urubay drew Luna close and hugged her tight. "I've been thinking the same about my daughters... They're all I have left. But at least we can find peace in the knowledge that we still have family who are free and they'll be okay even if it hurts to have lost us."

 

[heartofcourage]

"My Ma will never give up. Until she finds me, she'll never stop." Luna murmured, tears wetting her fur as Urubay held her tightly. "My brother only just found his mate. There's still so much life to be had out there. It isn't fair."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well... If you're related to the Ghis, you may yet get to live that life," he offered quietly. It wasn't uncommon for family to buy their loved ones' freedom. But the hard part was finding them. Unless someone could track Carver and Hollens, the Ghis and Maliar would he searching blindly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"If we don't try then they'll separate the three of us. Orin said they'll send us to the mines or the skinners." Luna said softly. "So, they'll either work is to death or kill us outright. I'm not ready to die."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I promise you I won't let that happen. Arys needs the both of us. We might not be happy as we'd like, but I'll do all I can to keep us from being miserable," Urubay promised softly. "But like I said... Don't rush. We can do this little by little."

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna finished crying, nodding as Urubay told her that they would take all of this step by step, little by little so that they were both comfortable and not completely miserable. She knew that he was trying to make this situation as smooth as he possibly could and she admired him for it. Still, it was very daunting to think about.

"Alright. We're all in this together." Luna said softly as she lifted her head from his shoulder and looked him in the eyes. "We'll take this slow."

 

[KieranSoares]

Urubay gave her a small smile of reassurance. At least they wouldn't be alone. So Urubay spent a month essentially courting Luna, and Evard seemed pleased that they were spending time together in what little free time they had. Arys seemed glad to have her two parental figures together, though she didn't ask questions or make comment about any of it.

One particular morning, Evade was going to take his newest ship out for a maiden voyage, and he ordered Luna along to tend to his newest sailing crew of slaves and men until those who were seasick could get over it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't want to go." Luna murmured to Urubay as she packed up her herbs and tools that morning that she was suppose to go on the voyage with his ship. "I don't particularly want to be away from here and I don't like boats. It's not like I can tell him no, though."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It won't be long. Just a couple days to make sure the ship is in good enough shape for trading," Urubay assured her. "Besides, your job will be one of the easiest on the ship. Evard won't expect you to be climbing the rigging."

A knock sounded on the door, and Orin's voice drifted through. "Miss Luna, it's time to go."