Partner

A bit of a quicky, a bit of a closer on a few bittles. The idea for the item to be worn appeared after seeing a pair in one of those trash celeb magazines who wore something very obvious. It was twisted for the purpose of the world and it made me choke on my laughter.

But that's later.

Read, Review and Enjoy.



He woke to find Paw watching him intently. Mik moaned and rubbed at his eyes.

“How long was I out?” he mumbled.

“Few hours,” Paw murmured.

“Blafluus,” the mesa stood and giggled, beating its hands on the blankets excitedly.

They grew up so fast. While the little creature hadn’t gained much weight or height, its few weeks of life and strengthened muscle and honed an already keen mind. Teeth were already showing, though seemingly having no ill effect on the little one’s mood.

Mik reached over and picked the mesa up, pulling it onto his chest and giving it a bit of a bounce with his hands as it giggled. The little one lay down on Mik’s chest, dropping its head heavily onto Mik’s chest with another giggle. Mik looked at Paw and saw the Sidhe watching the mesa with what might have been admiration. The way any father looks at his newborn child.

“Were you two waiting for me to wake?” Mik murmured, laying one hand over the mesa’s small shoulder.

“Mm, sort of, kind of,” Paw murmured, “talked to women, have come up with something for partner with Sidhe like…” a motion between the two of them, “soon it will be ready. And then we wear and such. Though Souse thinks Paw shouldn’t wear one because Paw is Whisper and Whipser claim man but none claim Whisper.”

“He has a point… and until we mate I see no reason to make you wear anything. Anyone stupid enough to hit on you will get everyone’s foot up their ass.”

Paw smiled just slightly, “supposing that is the way it shall be. Mari sent over person who be Paw’s partner. He’s… okay. Taln took pics and selling them to journals who will cover story. He say everyone want pics but only some of them want story. Taln really asking lots for pictures and everyone more than happy to pay. Something called the Times has been talkin to Taln all morning!”

“Times is a big paper, prestigious.”

“Ahkay,” Paw muttered, leaning forward to set his head on the bed by Mik’s hip, “Tribes are urging Whisper to travel. To survey and lead the way. Paw say no. That we all must come to conclusions of self thought. Tribe upset. Leaders falling, no longer knowing how to lead. Old Whisper kept them in firm control. Tell them all, which to which shall breed even.”

A long sigh. Mik extended a hand to pat Paw’s head gently.

“Don’t you have to travel?” Mik asked Paw, “being Whisper and all?”

“Whisper did, to control the tribes more carefully. Paw finds it odd that the Sidhe’s territory is just the size of what one tribe used to claim as own. In Whisper’s old time we have given up too much territory to your people. And across the blackness… Paw hasn’t made it there yet. But Paw is willing to bet that Whisper could not control all Sidhe and so cut off a good portion of the Sidhe population from civilization,” Paw sighed out once more, “and now Sidhe here being all. Farmed? Dappled male is odd. Others were dappled. Oh. Nort was here. Wants to speak to you.”

“He wants the bodies to cut up no doubt.”

“Ah. If’n proper burial given afterwards, then Paw thinks it okay. Sidhe return to earth, give back to Mother,” Paw shrugged.

Something caught Mik’s attention, “why is the dappled male odd? His skin isn’t dappled, just. Pale.”

“Hair, eyes? Sidhe have one, maybe two colours in eyes. Two colours in eyes is like people with two colours. Blue and green. Green and brown. Not blue and green and brown and yellow,” Paw made a swirl in the air with his finger, “all together.”

There was no yellow in the male’s eyes, Mik said as much and Paw frowned at him.

“Perhaps to Mik’s eyes. Paw hopes male survives.”

“Mik does too.” Mik muttered, “besides another Sidhe, he could help us locate other farms before the stock is destroyed. There’s a lot of information in that head of his that we could use, information that could save hundreds of lives.”

“Or destroy millions,” Paw murmured, “If Mik had a choice-”

“What the fuck do I care about millions?” Mik asked Paw, understanding where the conversation was going, “I care about me and you and the tribe. Millions die, civilization is wiped out and the world recovers from our stupidity. Gods return, religion returns. It’s beyond my lifetime so why should I care?”

“But. What if Mik,” Paw pointed at Mik, “was the life that would end to benefit millions?”

Mik snorted, “my life?”

“Philosophical only, Lillow says Mik dies of old age,” Paw waved his hand dismissively, “but if it was your life that would benefit millions, would you give it up?”

“No. Call me a selfish, unbelieving bastard, but no.”

“Why? What makes your life mean any more than anyone else’s?” Paw murmured, “why should my life mean more than yours?”

“Because you are god chosen,” Mik responded, “according to your belief and the belief of almost everyone in Valease and Norash, people and Sidhe alike, you are god sent. Whisper put off his death, waiting for you to learn and to grow. The gods need you and if you die…”

“The world goes on,” Paw muttered.

“The Sidhe go to war. The gods, should they exist, come down from their heavens and slaughter us all. Millions die because the people were too stupid to respect the good gods’ words.”

“Oh!” Paw leaped up and left the room, returning several minutes later with a laptop, he flicked the screen to Mik and tapped several of the buttons, bringing up a picture, “Illuva.”

There was a woman, beautiful face yet mousy brown hair paired with vibrant brown eyes widened in shock. Her sparkling white dress was smeared with mud and blood as a soldier took aim at her with his rifle. In her arms she held a little girl, balanced on her hip. A ragged tear broke the skirt of the dress, slashing into her leg and revealing bone from its depth.

Not tall but she held herself straight, putting her body between the girl and the soldier.

Mik recognised it as the civil war that had very nearly torn apart the fledgling nation of Norash. He had heard of this image. Of the mysterious lady in white who saved the daughter of the first president from rebels.

She was shot and killed. Her image all but destroyed by those who sided with the rebel factions of early Norash.

“That is Illuva?”

“The one and only.”

“Everyone describes her as…” Mik struggled for the word, “average. Even Mari said she was damaged.”

“Does that look like a damaged woman?” Paw murmured.


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