In the Beginning . . .
by Elaine Mills
She stood on the edge of the eastern face in the lower
mountain range. It was a brilliantly clear night with the stars
clearly visible in the evening sky. Everything was so peaceful
and quiet she found it hard to believe one of the world's
greatest cities lay, not too far off in the distance. She rarely
came to this part of the mountains anymore, but still, she took
the opportunity to relax a moment after having tracked an injured
deer for most of the day. The deer had been wounded by an
amateur hunter and left to roam in agony. No experienced hunter
would have ever left an injured animal in the condition she had
found this one in. It was now in the back of her old jeep that
her father had bought from the army after the war. She had
eventually caught up with the deer when the poor thing had sought
sanctuary under a bush after it could no longer walk. It was
such a beautiful creature and the anger she felt when she had
been forced to shoot it to ease it's suffering, was extreme. To
calm herself, she had come here to view the breathtaking scenery.
.......................
A roar like none she had ever heard before, suddenly
shattered the quiet of the evening. It was becoming louder as,
whatever it was, came closer. She looked up to see a blinding
trail of flame hurtling across the sky, right before her eyes.
She thought, as it flashed by, that it had been a meteorite but
it had looked enormous and the shape of it somehow seemed wrong.
Deciding to investigate, she followed its trajectory until
with an exploding impact, it fell and shuddered to the earth.
She found it easy to locate where it had come down by going in
the opposite direction of the fleeing wildlife. It took her half
an hour to get to it but the jeep had no problem getting over the
churned up earth, close to the smoldering site. Trees were lying
on the ground and some of those left standing had their top
branches burnt off. As she crested the peak of the rise, she
exhaled in shock at the huge gouge the projectile had left in the
valley floor. Braking hard, she flew out of the car and raced
down the hill. It was unlike anything she had witnessed before
. . . a war zone.
When she reached it, she found that it had not been a meteor
after all but some kind of aircraft. There was nothing left of it
except a burnt out metallic shell but it still wasn't
recognizable as any plane she knew. Frantically searching the
site for any survivors, she felt that it would be a miracle if
anyone who had been aboard, still lived. But as she rounded a
fallen tree limb, there was a body lying against it. She dropped
to her knees and looked for vital signs. Noticing the mist on
the guy's helmet, she realized he must be breathing but she still
checked for the rise and fall of his chest.
......................
He was built like a truck, tall and muscular. So muscular
in fact that it had not been difficult at all to tell the
survivor was male. Trying to dislodge the helmet proved nearly
impossible, so all she could do was drag him to the jeep. It
wasn't easy. He was so heavy she had to rest every ten feet or
so. Finally, she was able to get him into the back of the jeep.
His lower half rested on the deer carcass while his head was
placed on an old blanket she kept there. Hopefully there were no
internal injuries. His skin tight suit was unscathed except for
a few blackened patches and scuff marks. His helmet could be
damaged for the condensation to have appeared on his face plate,
so head injuries were a possibility.
Driving back along the same dirt road she came on, she could
only wonder at the events she had witnessed this night. Muffled
groans emanating from the back of the car, suggested he was
slowly coming around so she stopped the jeep to check him out.
Being away from the chaos left behind, she had time to
investigate the fastener on his helmet. Feeling around, she must
have pressed something right as the whoosh of a vacuum seal
signalled the locks' release. Hair spilled out as she lifted the
cover over his head. She had to clear the blood matted strands
from his face but as she caught sight of his features, she
couldn't help stepping back in total shock. He wasn't human. He
definitely looked male . . . but a male what? His features were
that of a feline or lion. Really, he looked like a lion but with
a human form. Ears that stood up on his forehead, a honey
coloured mane and even a type of muzzle. Although, that didn't
really protrude from his face like a cats' would have. God knows
what the rest of him looked like! As though she had expressed
the thought aloud, he groaned again but this time his hands rose
to his head and he opened his eyes. Golden orbs that looked
glazed, practically glowed in the dark . . . cats' eyes. Even
the pupils were slit vertically like a cats'.
......................
As her form registered to him, he struggled to rise and with
a thunderous roar, he reached out to attack but the effort proved
too much for him. He sank back into the oblivion of
unconsciousness again. With her heart beating and her palms
sweating she could only think . . . what the hell was she to do
with him? What was he? She couldn't leave him here. If he
wasn't found by someone else, the animals would smell his blood
and come looking eventually. The only thing she could think of
was to take him back to her cabin - but first she would tie up
his hands and feet.
Once she got him in her cabin and lying on her sofa, she
found that he was so tall, his feet hung over the end of it. He
looked very uncomfortable. Knowing that he desperately needed
cleaning up, she hesitated getting too near him but eventually
she decided to undo his bonds and wait to see if he woke. Still
waiting an hour later, she knew she had to do something, and
soon. Trying to delay the inevitable, she fussed over the boiled
disinfected water and soft cloth. The uncertainty of not knowing
if these things were harmful to him also worried her but she had
to try.
Approaching cautiously she left the bowl and swab on the
side table while she unfastened the strange tabs on his boots and
gloves. Once she saw his feet, she quickly moved to his hands.
They were the same, both covered with a soft downy fur but the
nails or claws, were what astounded her most. They were
retractable . . . again, just like a cat's would be. When she
pressed the finger pad, the inch long claws projected out. They
were lethal looking talons. God, what was she doing? Here she
was, with something that definitely wasn't human, on her couch
for heavens sake. She could just imagine some hunter, coming
along in a few months and finding her ripped to shreds. Probably
thinking a bear or cougar had got her. The hunter in her,
marvelled at the thought of what an efficient killer this being
could be.
Taking a grip on herself she realized that she could only
treat him as any other person, otherwise she could, in all
probability, go stark raving mad. Trying to complete her work,
she looked for some kind of opening on his suit. It took a while
but she eventually found it on his left shoulder. After perusing
it carefully, she was interested to find that it was the same
basic design as the helmet clasp. After breaking the first seal
the suit just seemed to open of its own accord, like an unfolding
sheet. The seam had run down one side and under the left arm, so
it just peeled right off. She had to transfer him to his
opposite side to get it out from under his body. He was naked
underneath, unless one would call fur clothing. All the rest of
his body was covered in the same soft fur as his hands and feet,
the only differences being the degree in density. His lower
torso seemed to be nearly bare of it. But one thing was for
sure. He was definitely male. That was certainly one thing she
couldn't miss.
Once that chore was done, she found it easier to bathe and
dress his wounds. Thankfully he was still out to it while it was
being accomplished. After she finished washing him, it was time
to clean herself up. Thinking it wouldn't be wise to leave him
alone, she got a clean bowl and filled it with soapy water. She
would clean herself before the fire in the kitchen. It was
getting chilly anyway and she would be warmer there. Besides she
could keep an eye on him this way. The cabin hadn't heated up
yet so she stripped down and luxuriated in the warmth of the only
source of heat that was available, caressing her back.
......................
Not wanting to move in case he was being watched, he opened
his eye's slightly and was dumbfounded by the site that greeted
him. A glowing vision of a bare, gold skinned beauty, stood
right before him. At first he thought it was a dream, that he
was back on his own world and he was looking at a golden furred
female of his planet. He soon realized that this was not so, that
actually, he was looking at a human woman. The glow of the fire
behind her had outlined her form and given her the appearance of
having a golden halo, like fur, all around her. It seemed
strange for her to be unclothed for he had thought humans
regarded clothing as a must in their society.
Feeling eyes upon her she whirled around, only to find her
patient, was up on one elbow and looking at her. She made a mad
dash and grabbed a robe, she had hung on the chair. In her
haste, her long blonde hair came undone from its bun and cascaded
down her back. In shock and blushing, she looked at him but
could not think of anything to say. She certainly wasn't going
to move any closer.
Switching to the difficult human speech he had been required
to learn, he asked, "Who are you?"
Hesitantly she answered, "My name is Lauren. Who are you?"
"I am Rralande. How did I come to be in this place Lauren?"
he asked.
"Your craft came down about fifteen miles away on the
eastern face. I was hunting when it came hurtling over me.
Thinking it was a meteorite or a plane and there may have been
survivors, I followed. I never thought it could have been
anything else. I brought you here for there was nothing else I
could think of to do. How did you come to be here? What are
you?" she couldn't help asking.
"I am, what you would say in your language, a feshla from
the planet Aurlon. My ship was attacked by assassins, out to
kill me. My chief security officer knocked me out and must have
put me in one of the fighters, set on how you say it, um . . .
automatic. It must have been set on the coordinates of the
nearest life supporting planet . . . yours I'm afraid. I am
grateful for your care. Is this your abode - your place of
living?"
"Yes. Who are you, for assassins to want to kill you?"
"I am the son of the King on our planet," as he said this he
dropped back and closed his eyes.
"A Prince?" she exclaimed, half in question. But there was
no answer to her query.
.....................
It was much, much later before he awoke again. When he did
he was very quiet and just watched her working around the room.
He thought, to her own kind, she must be thought of as a very
beautiful woman. It was quite some time before she realized he
was awake again and when she did, the fist thing she noticed were
his eyes, golden brown like fine honey. They were all one colour
except for his irises. "How are you feeling?" she asked. "I
am much better, thanks to you. My head is almost healed," he
stated.
"Healed! I don't think so. You had a very nasty wound,"
she said in disbelief.
"My recuperative powers are faster than a human's would be.
Especially when I am able to rest and concentrate. I thank you
for your consideration but all is well."
With this he sat up and unwound the bandage covering his
head. Gingerly inspecting the site of the wound with his fingers
he found that all was as he thought and he ran his fingers
through his mane. As Lauren watched, she could see his claws
extending and retracting.
Seeing her look, he casually remarked. "We are very
different, your race and mine. My fellow beings and I have tried
to keep your race from the knowledge of our existence as we
thought each race would unduly influence the other. Our
technology is, in some aspects, so far ahead of yours' but in
others . . . yours' is the greater. Lauren, can you direct me to
the place where my transport landed?"
"It didn't land. It crashed and I am afraid that you won't
find anything left to salvage. It looked totally destroyed when
I saw it. But since you asked Rralande, I'll show you where it
came down."
As he thanked her, he realized it was the first time she had
used his name and surprisingly, he liked the rhythmic sound it
had on her lips. As a matter of fact, he was amazed to realize
he liked the whole look of her. Her gossamer hair had a
liveliness to it, like it had a mind of it's own. It seemed to
float like a halo around her head. Her figure was lithe and
slim, as a hunter's would be. On his world, it is generally
thought to be a valued asset . . . that the body be capable of
whatever was needed at the time of the hunt. But she seemed too
small for it and had no bodily defenses like himself. He
wondered what she was doing living in such an isolated spot on
her own.
On the journey to the crash site he did ask her and the
answer interested him. Her parents had died within a few months
of each other and left her with the old hunting cabin. She came
here for most of the year to write her books and recuperate from
the city life. It was only during the deep winter months that
she usually left for the city again. Her father had taught her
all she knew of hunting, but she only ever went anymore when it
was necessary. The old jeep had been another thing her father
had left to her.
When they reached their destination, he was dismayed at the
destruction his craft had caused. Lauren had been right, there
was nothing worth keeping but even worse than that, now there
was no way he could get home. After only a short time, he
despondently made his way back to the vehicle, or jeep as she
called it.
......................
She knew there was something terribly wrong by his silence
as he sat next to her in the passenger seat. He did not talk or
make any move whatsoever, so half way back she asked him, point
blank, what was wrong.
"Now that my ship is just another piece of discarded metal,
there is no way for me to get home Lauren. Even the radio is
burnt to a crisp. I have no way of letting my comrades know
where I am. Even if I did, it would mean risking my enemies
finding out where I am, thereby increasing the risk of your world
becoming involved," he explained tiredly.
"Involved in what?" she asked perplexed.
"My father and I do not agree on anything. We are um . . .
ostracized. He is not a good King you understand. I cannot live
with his treatment of my people and his allies do not allow my
rebellion. I was being sent on a supposedly, exploratory mission
when our mother craft was attacked. I'm sure it was by the
assassins my father's allies sent. I think, in fact I know, I
will be reported as dead and there will be no search for my
whereabouts. But if I were reported as being alive and they
found out, they would come looking for me," he revealed.
"You mean your own father would condone their harm against you?"
she asked in disbelief.
"What does the word condone, mean please?" he wanted to
know.
"Let it happen . . . he would allow it."
"No, I do not think he would even know it happened. He has
many enemies and he would only think that one of those enemies
had killed his son . . . as a warning to him," he tried to
rationalize.
"Your politics and ours are very similar, by the sound of
it," she said.
"I believe so, yes." He shrugged.
"So if you can't go back, what?" she asked gently.
Facing a conclusion he did not like, he said, "I will have to
find some way to exist in your world Lauren."
"But that's impossible! If anyone found out about you, the
first thing that would happen would be your capture. My race is
not known for its tolerance of other species. They would want to
study you, interrogate you and find out about your world and what
you know," she explained.
Just then they reached her home and, after parking the jeep
in the cave she used for cover, they made their way inside. It
was strange she thought, how one could grow accustomed to the
impossible. So much that, it was no longer an impossibility. It
became fact. Much the same as the existence of God.
She carried on as if their arrival and her thoughts had not
interrupted, "The only thing I can think of now, is for you to
stay here. It's isolated, far from habitation and you can see
anyone coming for miles. Even the nearest neighbour lives so far
away that it would take at least a day to get there by foot. But
still, it is no life for you to have to hide yourself away from
everyone and everything."
Disconsolately he concluded, "It may be the only life that
is left open to me Lauren."
......................
In the day's ahead they found that even though they came
from different worlds, they had so many similar likes and
dislikes. His food intake consisted mainly of meat and the
variety in the cabin seemed to suit him. But, like her he mostly
favoured the fish that were abundant in the nearby river. She
was surprised to find that he liked swimming as much as she but
as the day's grew colder, he was the only one who would still go
in. In the daylight hours he would just wear blue jeans and
T-shirt, no matter what the weather. He didn't seem to have any
trouble with the extremes in temperature like she did.
Lauren had her room in the loft upstairs and after Rralande had
recovered enough to get off the sofa, she was able to lay the
back down to create quite a comfortable bed for him. It had then
been moved to the back of the room and partitioned off to create
his own space. Rralande had proved very dexterous in woodwork.
He had made the partition and a new wooden headboard for the sofa
that was his bed.
Rralande did not need as much sleep as she and often she
would wake up to find him prowling outside. He had told her of
his ancestors being great hunters and he had proved that over and
over during their own outings. He marvelled at her accuracy with
the gun and her prowess at most hunting skills. She had told him
with pride, of her father's altruism in taking his daughter
hunting, while other fathers' took their sons.
......................
At first, they both felt awkward when they were in the same
room together. He was so tall and powerfully built that he
dwarfed her five foot three inch frame. Whereas to him, she was
deceptively fragile looking, coming only to his chest. When he
was near her, he felt the need to be extremely careful not to
inadvertently hurt her in some way. But when together they would
resist touching, for if they did, it was like an electric charge
between them. Lauren felt her heart beat faster every time it
happened and he felt his fur springing up as if it were trying to
reach out to her. Nothing of the like had ever happened to
either of them before so it was difficult for both to understand
what was occurring. She was an innocent and the feelings he felt
in her presence were so unlike his other relationships with the
women of his world. Neither one nor the other knew how they
should react to the strange feelings coming over them. To him,
mating had been a natural thing and nobody was questioned on
their sexual activity. He knew though that this world's outlook
on the subject had so many do's and dont's that he was hesitant
to discuss his emotions with Lauren. He knew of her feelings
towards him and was aware that she did not find him at all
abhorrent. As a matter of fact, even though she was arguing with
herself about it, he still felt she was attracted to him. Her
scent often changed with her moods and he was so in tune with her
now that he could usually tell what she was feeling at any given
time.
There were times though when his sexuality would overwhelm
him. Feeling it would have frightened Lauren if she knew of his
desire, he would disappear in the woods for a few days until he
had his emotions under control. He wouldn't have left so quickly
if he had known that Lauren would often do the same. Sometimes
leaving the cabin to get away from, not only him but her own
traitorous feelings and drive away to obtain supplies that filled
the already burgeoning cupboards to overflowing.
......................
They had been living with each other for over five months
when the situation begun to change. Lauren could not help but
think of Rralande as male. It was even harder for her to think
of him as an alien. They were so compatible. She had passed her
twenty-second birthday just before he arrived and her
inexperience with men had not prepared her for the awakening of
her young body.
They each started to subconsciously arrange to be together
more often and to touch or just to brush up against one another.
Situations like coming in and out of a room and passing one
another were ideal opportunities for both.
Rralande could not get the image of her nakedness in front
of the fire that first day, out of his mind. He liked the
fleeting touches he had of her bare skin beneath the hairless
pads of his hands.
Lauren also found herself remembering him as she had first
seen him, without his suit on and all male. His soft fur was
like the caress of velvet each time she felt it. After a while
she missed him when she made the trips into town to pick up their
supplies and it wasn't too long before she started to delay her
trips for as long as possible.
......................
One night there was a storm raging outside. While inside,
the situation between them was escalating beyond either Lauren or
Rralande's expectations. Lauren was huddled in bed when the roof
started to leak above her. Soon the roof could not cope with the
deluge outside and leaks sprang up throughout the ceiling in her
loft. She quickly stripped off the dry blankets and took them
downstairs intending to make up a new bed on the one chair left
in the room. Just as she was settling down, Rralande opened the
partition to see why she was up so early. When she told him what
had happened they both climbed the stairs to check out the extent
of the leaks. Once they saw the damage to the room they decided
to bring down everything that could get soaked by the water. It
became obvious that there was not enough room on the ground level
and they wouldn't be able to store everything there. The chair
was the only empty space left and she wanted her mother's chest,
that had stood at the foot of her bed to sit on that.
It was only midnight, too late for either of them to stay
awake and too early to rise. Rralande wanted her to have his bed
but she wouldn't. It was only after a lot of indecision and
discussion that they decided to share the bed. For just one
night, they thought it would be all right. Unfortunately, since
the bed was only big enough for him to be able to lie on his
back, it meant they could only sleep together if they both lay on
their sides. Feeling stiff with each other and trying to keep
their distance, it took a long time for either of them to fall
asleep.
When Rralande woke up just before dawn, he found Lauren's
supple form pressed close against his chest. His arm draped
around her waist and, because she wasn't wearing one of those
suspension things he sometimes found in the bathroom, the soft
swell of her breasts rested against his large hand. Her hair,
mussed from sleep, smelled so fresh and clean. It was when he
inhaled that exquisite female scent of her that the awareness of
his arousal dawned on him. He tried to ease his lower frame and
the evidence of his obvious excitement, away from her as his
pajama trousers could not disguise the changes happening to his
body. Rralande knew the facts of reproduction but had thought it
could only be possible between the same species. He never
thought that two people of different races could feel desire for
one another.
Some kind of bond had been building between them in the last
few months and at first he thought it was just a bond of needing
. . . of wanting someone close . . . not anything sexual. In
fact, it was even more than just sexual attraction. He had
developed an instinct towards Lauren. He knew when she needed
him for something, or if she was feeling down or sick. She had
even surprised him a few days ago when he had hurt himself with
the axe while chopping the wood. He had not uttered a sound but
she still came running just as if she had known - somehow, that
he needed her. He had heard of something like this happening
between partners on his own world . . . their mutual
communication without words, but he never expected to find anyone
like that for himself.
Lauren had been awake since she had felt him move but
because of their close proximity she had not wanted him to know.
It was only as he tried to take his arm away that she rolled over
to look at him. As her knee came into contact with his arousal,
she knew then why he had tried to edge away. They could do
nothing but gaze into one other's eyes. Both knew what was
happening but were powerless to do anything to break the magnetic
hold. They did not want to. There was only one course of action
left to them and neither could deny their yearning for it to
become reality. Still, some small sense of sanity remained in
Rralande and he attempted, one last time to halt their headlong
journey to the inevitable.
"We shouldn't," he said. "No, we shouldn't," she
agreed.
"This isn't right," he said.
"Isn't it?" she asked.
To say he was startled by her answer, would not be telling
the truth. More like, he rejoiced in it.
"Lauren, I have no experience with a human woman," he
whispered.
"I haven't any at all . . . human or feshla," she said,
half in jest. She withdrew her hand from beneath the blanket to
touch his chin "All I know is that I feel as if we have been
together all our lives. These past months have been the happiest
for me in a long long time. You are a part of my life now
Rralande. I want the closeness we have shared since I found you,
to grow. I don't believe there is anything wrong in the way I
feel for you . . . and what we are feeling now, is just a natural
progression of that closeness."
"Yes, I feel the same Lauren. I have tried to deny my
feelings, mainly because of our differences but something always
draws me back to you. If it were not for you, I would have given
up long ago," he tried to explain.
"Sh," she murmured, and drew his mouth closer to hers. She
didn't have to guide him to her. He came of his own accord.
Slowly, gently, their lips touched. At first, each afraid of
rejection, they only explored one another's lips. They did not
press the contact. But soon, their longing could not be held
back for another moment.
The flame of passion both had tried to deny, flared between
them. They could only go ahead and investigate the boundaries of
their hunger. Both felt exhilarated and took great delight in
discovering the other's body until eventually, their desire had
to be quenched. The sensation of his rough tongue on her nipples
was such an erotic stimulus that she moaned in tormented ecstasy.
His mouth on hers was exquisite. Just the shape and texture of
it caressed her entire body. In contrast to his, her smooth
velvety tongue running lightly over his protruding teeth proved
to be his final undoing. He rose above her, leaning on his
forearms. Instinctively, her legs parted of their own accord.
With undying love, their eyes met and held. Each knowing that
what they embarked on now, was meant to be, since they had first
known each other.
She felt his first thrust right to the very core of her
being. Wrapping her legs around him, she urged him on until they
were both in mindless pleasure. They fit together as if molded.
Their movements synchronized as one. Lauren rejoiced in the
sound of a low rumble, a sure sign of Rralande's heightened
passion, that began deep within his chest. It didn't sound like
a purr or a growl. More like a finely tuned motor, slowly
becoming louder as it reached it's peak performance. She
couldn't help groaning herself when Rralande extended his claws
and ran them through her dishevelled hair. The engrossing thrill
she felt as the lethal nails gently scraped along her scalp was
indescribable. Gradually, their joining reached it's destined
conclusion. Simultaneously, both Lauren and Rralande cried out
their mutual climax. A tremendous clap of thunder outside
reached a crescendo just as they both culminated in the ultimate
expression of love. His seed now within her, they both reached
out for comfort from the other. In that moment of unequalled
rapture, they were one, not alien and human, but one.
They still held each other as he gently disengaged and lay
beside her.
"You felt it to, didn't you?" Lauren asked.
"Yes, I felt it too. We cannot deny what has happened
between us Lauren. We were meant to be here, together."
She was glad to hear him say it and showed him by kissing
his neck and holding him even closer. They fell asleep just like
that.
......................
Weeks passed and domestic life suited them both. Rralande
had fixed the leaking tiles and was now sleeping in the loft with
Lauren. They were so happy just to be together, without any
interference or outside influence. Lauren had decided to stay in
the cabin throughout the whole winter season. Their loving came
naturally and with the passing of time, the possibility that what
they did may be wrong, was never thought of or expressed by
either.
......................
She first noticed her body changing just over a month later.
Her monthlys were overdue by more than a week, but what worried
her more was that it was getting harder to do her jeans up and
her breasts were swollen and tender. Knowing what the symptoms
usually meant, she decided to say nothing until her trip into
town brought confirmation by the local doctor. Stunned by the
inconceivable, she could only listen when he verified she was
approximately nine weeks along in her pregnancy. She knew that
figure couldn't be right. It hadn't been that long since the
first time she and Rralande had made love.
When she reached home, all she could do for a minute was sit
in the jeep with her head on the steering wheel. Nothing like
this happening had ever entered her mind.
He knew there was something wrong. The sense of her
confusion had struck him about two hours after she had left and
it had only gotten worse since then. He had been anxiously
awaiting her return all morning to find out what had upset her.
After she sat down at the kitchen table, he asked her what
was wrong, half afraid of what her answer would be.
"I'm pregnant!" She came straight out with it.
"Pregnant? I don't understand," he said.
"I am going to have a baby!" At his look of confusion, she
reiterated. "A young one."
His indrawn breath was the only sign at first, to show he
finally understood. Dazed, he couldn't help but ask,
"But how could this be? I thought reproduction would not be
possible between your race and mine. The women of my homeworld
only come into their reproductive cycles four times in one of our
years. The signs of their readiness are very noticeable to
everyone, so they only mate at that time if they wish a young
one. It is their choice. The male would only be consulted if he
is mated to the woman beforehand. When do the women here become
fertile?"
"We can make love anytime, although our fertile period comes
once every twenty eight days. But Rralande, I'm worried. The
doctor said I was nine weeks along and it hasn't been that long
since our first time." She observed his faraway look, as if he
were concentrating on something.
"In my world," he said. "Females only carry their young for
six of what you would call, months, before the child is born."
"What!" she screeched. "Ours' take nine months before
birth. So that could mean the baby might come any time after
five or so months. Oh my goodness!" she concluded.
While the thought of having a baby, Rralande's child, made
her joyously happy. She was afraid of what their child could
suffer later in life because of it's differences. Aborting the
child had not even entered Lauren's thoughts for she loved
Rralande with all her heart and she was not going to abort this
child because of what others may think.
Rralande could not express in words, his devotion towards
the beautiful woman he loved. Instead, he caught her up in his
arms and rubbed his leonic head against hers. Declaring his
undying love for her and their child, by his touch alone. At
first, he was staggered that he was actually going to have a
child of his blood but after a long discussion with Lauren, they
realized what this unexpected event could mean to them both.
There was only one decision to make, and that was . . . live
their life as best they could. It was all anyone could do.
......................
Rralande and Lauren often liked to sit together and talk
well into the night on a wide variety of subjects. In all their
conversations about the differences between her world and his, it
was amazing to find out just how many things were the same about
their two cultures. Both believed in one being, that they
thought of as the Creator. They each shared Wars, that at times
had led each world into the insanity of mass murder. Usually,
led by one form of despot on each opposing side. Ancient
civilizations that could not be explained, existed on both
planets. People on Rralande's world often possessed mental
capabilities beyond the normal but they weren't cast out or
ridiculed as they were on Earth. Being of the nobility, Rralande
himself possessed a modicum of these abilities. It was always
thought of as a blessing, not an encumbrance.
Lauren could even tell him of the few books she had read
where people referred to the possibility of a feline race living
within the galaxy. Even though the majority of people on Earth
thought the idea ridiculous, he marvelled at her disclosure. He
had always thought his race's existence had been hidden well from
the people of this world.
......................
Their life carried on as it had before, with the only
difference being the child she carried. Living expenses had not
been a problem because of the funds her parents had left her as
well as the cabin. So money was one worry they did not have to
face. She passed the sixth month but as the seventh month drew
to a close, she knew that the birth was imminent. They had both
read whatever they could find on home birth and tried to keep
their separate fears hidden from the other regarding all the
possibilities that could go wrong. But their main consideration,
even though they could not admit it to the other, was what their
child would look like. They lived in hope and prayed that all
would go well.
The day arrived. It was the fourth week into the seventh
month and she was lying in bed with a raging backache. She had
known just over an hour ago that the time had come, when she had
gotten up to go to the bathroom and her waters had broken.
Rralande had woken up and set the water boiling to sterilize the
items they would need. Her contractions had started as he was
getting the clean linen and baby wraps out. They were coming
faster all the time and the symptoms she experienced suggested it
was not going to be a long labor. That was if you could believe
what all the text books said. Walking had helped to regulate the
pains, but it was the backache that was annoying her the most.
It eased somewhat when Rralande massaged the area. His efforts
helped to stop his worrying and concern for her and their baby,
at least for a short time. When she hugged him in thanks for
what he did for her, the depth of his anxiety showed in the
enthusiasm of his return embrace. He actually lifted her right
off her feet. He mistook her groan of release from the pain in
her back, for pain caused by his blunder. When she asked him to
repeat his powerful embrace, he soon got the idea. After that,
every time she needed him, he was there to comfort her.
Suddenly, she knew it was time to get in position. She didn't
want to lie down so she crouched on all fours and pushed in time
with the tightening of her abdominal muscles. Rralande yelled
excitedly that he could see the baby's head. She pushed twice
more, with all that was in her and the baby fell into his
father's strong arms, screaming lustily.
Exhausted as she was, the sight of her child was more
important than anything. While holding his son, Rralande also
managed to cut the cord and tie it. Telling her at the same
time, "He's beautiful Lauren."
"Rralande, it's a boy! It's a boy," she exulted, knowing he
had wanted a son. "Let me look, at him," she pleaded.
They both gazed down into their son's face. He was
different but, like all parents they thought him simply
beautiful. With both his father and mother's attributes. Even
though so very tiny, he already had the beginning of his father's
long mane of hair, his nose and mouth. But his ears were like
her's and so were his eyes . . . already a very brilliant blue.
He would not have his father's prominent facial features but they
were still more pronounced than normal. His hair was also a
softer gold than Rralande's, more like hers and he didn't have
all the body hair his father did.
Lauren agreed with Rralande when he spoke of how much he
adored his son. They loved every inch of their exquisite child.
After all the excitement, Rralande got them both settled
down to sleep while he tidied up. He spent time just gazing down
at his family, lying peacefully in each other's arms. They all
spent the day recuperating from the birth. Both shed a few tears
when their son took his first suckle at his mother's breast.
Watching him sucking greedily, they thought their worries for his
adjustment to the outside world, were groundless. There was
absolutely nothing wrong with him. He would grow up to be strong
and healthy.
It was heading towards evening and Lauren had just gotten
out of bed after insisting that she was fine. It was time to
start getting up and about again. She had just changed her son's
diaper and had lifted him to rest upon her shoulder when the door
was flung violently open and a mob of armed men rushed in. They
were all similar in appearance to Rralande but these men seemed
bigger, if that were possible. Their fur was much darker than
his but what concerned her much more was that they had such a
menacing look about them. As if they were capable of doing
anything . . . anything at all. Two who were armed, had
stationed themselves next to her and the others had grabbed
Rralande who was struggling violently in an effort to come to her
aid.
"What's going on here Rralande? Who are these men?" she
desperately asked. Fearfully afraid for their safety.
"These are men of my father's regime. They have come to take me
back, but I won't go. That is no longer my life," he tried to
explain to those who held him. But they were not interested in
his wishes.
One of the assailants spoke to Rralande in a series of
growls and grunts. She could understand some of the language
that Rralande had tried repeatedly to explain to her and it was
plain to Lauren that this man was in a towering rage.
Rralande reluctantly explained to Lauren what the angry one had
said. "They will be staying here for some hours until the earth
reaches the right moment in it's rotation for an escape window to
open. They insist on taking me back. My father is dead and I am
now the King."
Lauren could only look upon Rralande in dread. He had not
said anything of her or their child. One of the men shoved him
towards her. Another one made, what Lauren could only surmise
were derogatory comments about her and their child.
Shockingly to her, Rralande roared out a retort and flared into
angry words. He gestured and growled so fast to the one who had
been angry earlier, that she could not follow it. All she knew
was that it was something grave. The colour that had been in
Rralande's face before, disappeared as he spoke. They
left them both in the loft with their sleeping son, under the
false impression that it would be safe to leave them there . . .
that there was no way they could escape. As soon as they were
alone, Rralande began to talk in a furious whisper. "Listen to
me Lauren, you must take our child and escape." "Not without
you," she hissed. "Lauren, you don't understand. They will
not take you back with me. Their orders are to take me and no
one else back to our world so that I can rule but under their
jurisdiction. They call our love a perversion and our son an
abomination." He tried to explain gently but there wasn't an
easier way to tell her. She had to realize the peril they were
both in.
"They intend to kill you both and not leave any evidence.
Even though I am King, it is a hollow crown I bear. They make
the rules. It is their orders' one must follow if one is to
survive to fight another day. If you go now, while they are
occupied downstairs, you may both have a chance to live. I will
feign sleep, here in our bed with pillows bunched up around to
make it look like you are beside me. It will not fool them for
long, but it will be long enough for you both to flee." He
hurriedly revealed.
"What about you? Will you be able to get out?" she
desperately asked.
He hung his head. "I cannot leave Lauren. I must go with
them. If I go willingly, I hope that they will not look for you.
There is only this one window opening today for the ship to
escape and one more happening in two days time. Then it will be
years before a large enough gap in the atmosphere will occur for
one of our troop ships to pass through. They could only send
small fighters in and, as they are only short range, a mother
ship would have to journey here as well. I am hoping that if
they have me, they would not waste funds or time on searching for
something they would rather forget ever existed. But know this,
Lauren. I will never forget. You and our son will be my family,
the only loves in my life. If it takes forever, I will find you
both again, know that . . . my love." With tears in his eyes, he
held them both, tight in his arms -not wanting to ever let them
go, but knowing he must.
"Rralande . . . I love you, I can't leave you. You are my
life, I want no other." She hung onto him.
"To save our son and yourself, you must go . . . and now.
Before it is too late. Please love, do this . . . for all our
sakes," he pleaded.
Witnessing his anguish, she knew what had to be done. "Yes,
I will go with our son but Rralande, you also must know that for
me, there can be no other but you . . . even if it takes an
eternity."
"We must hurry, beloved." As he quickly got the sheets
together to tie into a rope. His claws made quick work out of
cutting strips from the cloth. Out of the window, the rope
dropped. One more width of material was used as a sling to carry
their baby and a few necessities. He dropped the jeep keys in
her hand and ushered her out the window.
"Be careful love. Go somewhere, any place where there are a
lot people." In the one kiss that was all they had time for,
they were able to express their eternal love and the torment of
parting each felt for the other. They clung, for a moment in
farewell and then separated, slowly - fingers outstretched.
"I love you." Each said in unison.
"Tell my son of his father's love. Never let him forget,
for I never will," he whispered.
With tears in her eyes, sobs stuck in her throat, she slid
down the makeshift rope and carefully looked for any witnesses to
her escape. Finding none, she ran through the trees to the side
of the hill that obscured the cave from the view of the house.
Before she rounded the corner, she took one last look at her love
standing at the lighted window. They each raised their hands in
another farewell. Turning, she then ran on to the cave entrance.
Thinking her son was sleeping, exhausted from his birth and
oblivious to all, she glanced down, only to see him staring up at
her as if, in some way, he knew the deadly situation they were
in.
She was able to back the jeep out quietly in neutral and
roll it all the way down the hill without the alarm being raised.
It was only then that her son began to softly cry. Somehow, she
was sure he could sense the separation from his father. Her son
was extraordinary, just like Rralande. It was barely a day since
he had been born and both she and Rralande had felt the strong
link that existed among the three of them. Something, she was
sure to be completely different from what other parents felt with
their children. She started the engine as far from the cabin as
she could and made her way to the main highway that eventually
led to the city of New York.
She had just about reached the outskirts of the city when
lights above her heralded the searchers knowledge of her
position. One huge chrysanthemum of blinding lights beamed it's
way across the sky and she sensed her lover's presence in the
craft above. Somehow, she knew she would never see him again but
the realization of it only strengthened her resolve to protect
their son.
Just as she got to the beginning of the city's built up
area, the car's fuel gave out. Knowing she was being followed,
she didn't hesitate to leave it where it was and start out on
foot. She knew they were very close behind and started running
as fast as she could with her baby in her arms, supported by the
sling. She ran on, getting more exhausted by the minute. Lauren
found it difficult to understand how her pursuers could have
disguised their appearance and be able to follow her without
being seen.
She kept running, into one lane and then another. Finally
coming to a stop at a hospital's back entrance. They were just
behind her, she could feel it. They would soon catch her and her
son if she didn't do something quickly. There must be some way
she could hide her son from them. Seeing a strong empty carton
nearby, she did the only thing she could think of. With tears
falling down her cheeks, she bundled him up as warmly as possible
in the torn sling and some of the rags laying near. Secreting
him in the corner between the stairs and wall where he couldn't
be seen, she cried all the while, trying to keep him out of the
cold. It was the only thing she could think of in the time given
to her.
She kissed her son, promising to come back if she could.
Hopefully if something happened to her, someone from the hospital
would find him. Looking back one last time, she ran on, leading
her pursuers away. Minutes later, black robed figures ran past,
not seeing the precious hidden bundle lying close at hand.
It took longer than she had expected for them to find her and
when they did, there was no way for her to evade them. They
tried to get the location of the child out of her, but she would
not tell. She willingly paid the price of her silence and
embraced the comfort of darkness that claimed her.
......................
In an alley, at the rear of a hospital, a woman of
indiscriminate age scrounges in the garbage for discarded
medications and bandages. When suddenly, close by, a baby's cry
resounds through the night.
Meanwhile, high above the evening sky, a roar of intolerable
pain reverberates through a ship. Each cry - miles apart,
signalled a loss, unbearable to both. Rralande, knowing his love
was gone, wanted to die as well but the knowledge that his son
still lived, gave him the will to survive. One day, he vowed, he
will come back and claim what is rightfully his and God help
anyone who attempted to get in his way.
......................
The woman lifts the child and cries out at the shocking
deformities of it's tiny features. At first, she weeps for him
but then, holds him to her breast with innate kindness and walks
away. Away to a place where other outcasts live in peace and
love. A place where the small one can grow strong without
censure or disgrace.
The man she takes him to, can feel the will to live within
the child and so, gives him a name. A name that epitomizes the
strength the child would need in life. That name? VINCENT . . .
...................
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
About the Author
In 1994 Elaine Mills of Australia produced her Fanzine "Idylls of
The Beast". Elaine is an all season Beauty and the Beast Fan, and
is still faithful to her love of the Series. Should anyone
reading her stories care to write to her regarding them, Elaine
can be contacted at :
Elaine Mills
14 Wilga Street
MADDINGTON
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA 6109