“So. You are pregnant.”
“I… I… I thought so…”
“So. You are not pregnant.”
“These things are not always completely accurate.”
“No, they are not.”
“I am not interrupting, am I?”
Retvik glanced out of the window. Outside were two Vahla, members of the Vohran Elite, marching up and down. They looked oddly cute and small, but Retvik knew that deep down, they were dangerous monsters should anything get in the way of that which they were trying to protect.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am sure, Gath. Now is as good a time as any.”
“Alright… Well… I did a pregnancy test because I lacked my familiars. And it came out positive. And I freaked out.”
“You lacked…”
“Two days late. Then I felt the cramps and realised I had been a fool.”
“You know you not only gave me a minor panic, but you also made me look like a fool.”
“I assume the others are asking.”
“Of course they are. You called Psiksi and Elksia and demanded to speak to me. They are asking questions that I feel like an idiot answering.”
“Where are they now?”
“Taking a tour of the Vohra nest. Tenuk suggested I stay with the ship anyway and keep an eye on the weather. Horrible storms here.”
“How bad?”
Retvik glanced out of the window again. “Bad enough that I want to invite the two Vohra inside to keep them warm.”
“I thought you did not like Vohra.”
“No one likes Vohra. The majority of them are controlled by ruthless Vahyra who consume anything that gets in their way.”
“So why…”
“Because this nest needs help.”
“How?”
“They were abandoned… Come on, Gath. You would not abandon those in need, would you?”
“They are Vohra though. Consuming endlessly. If it was not for the Temthans, they probably would have consumed our little collection of races as well.”
“They are not some unstoppable force.”
“They are not unstoppable, but other forces have run into them.”
Retvik sighed. “I have been over this with you before. If we treat every other race like savages, then we are no better than they are.”
“I know but-”
“This nest has been betrayed. They need help. And believe me, they are completely alone. They have no queen, no direction, and even with my limited empathic links, I can feel their suffering. They are starving to death.”
“Oh.”
“Yes.”
“Oh. Well I take it all back. You should go help them.”
“We already are. Delivered a shipment of honey, Tenuk is making arrangements to bring more.”
“Are we going to…”
“Of course not. This is some sort of mining and refinement facility. Mostly metals. They wish to trade their wares to us and we are working things out.”
“When do you think you are coming home?”
“I do not know.”
“You are so far away. I want you back here. I… I need you back here.”
Retvik paused. The rain outside picked up. “Is… is something else wrong?”
“No…”
“Gath!”
“I just feel bad for making you panic and I want you to come home so I can hug you and make you feel better!”
A little smile flickered across Retvik’s face. “I will be home as soon as I can.”
“Thank you…” Gath sighed. “That rain is really strong. I can hear it from here.”
“It is…” Retvik glanced out of the window again. “Please excuse me, my dearest partner. Those two Vohra outside are getting soaked. I need to bring them in.”
“You do that. I love you, Retvik.”
“I love you too, Gath.”
“Stay safe.”
“I will.”