Aikuen Returns

Characters: Aikuen, Will, Amy

Location: Kentar's Cabin

Kentar's Cabin

It's about an hour after Aikuen left the camp far south from here. He swam from the camp, back to village. It washed of all the blood, paint, and grime that had built on him over the past 3 days or so. He swims underwater toward the wharf in the harbor. The otter bursts from the water to land on his footpaws, landing on the dock. He shakes the water from himself, before running toward the center, then to Kentar's cabin. Some of the dock workers are a little surprised as the explosion of water, and the appearing of a beast. Everyone except otters of course. The older otter takes off his headband, and knuckle wraps before entering the cabin. He is just about to collapse, he has been awake for four days. And the adrenaline in him is running out. He walks up the stairs, and enters their room, "Fira..." he closes the door.

The younger otter, who has been waiting for him to return, jumps from her chair. And runs over to hug Aik, burring her face into his. She has gone all emotional, and squeezes the crap out of him. Never wanting to let go. For anything. Her bump has gotten exceptionally bigger over the past few days. Now its really beginning to show through her dress. Aik smiles and hugs her back, even giving her a little twirl. He buries his face into hers now. After a lot of hugging and burring, kissing and holding. Aik sits Fira down back in her chair, though she is unwilling to remove herself from him, so she immediately bombards him with questions, about everything. Aik nods and starts to explain. And then remembers that he would tell the others. He goes over to the door, opens it and yells, "Will... I'm back... Come here... I want to talk to you..." and he goes back in to sit on the bed next to her. Holding her paw, waiting for his son to enter. So he can tell what happened.

Amethyst had caught a cold the other day and is sleeping off the last of it in bed. Will is curled up next to her tired from tending to her alone having not wanted to bother Fira who he'd noticed was often upset since his father's disappearance. The rats have both slept in much longer than normal and in doing so missed lunch. Will groans and rolls over as he hears somebeast calling him. He rubs his face and changes into his day clothes quickly as the sleep leaves him and his brain matches the voice to a name. He gives Amy a small kiss on the cheek as he whispers to her still sleeping form, "Do you know it's after noon? And sounds like Pa an th others are back. I'm gonna go see what's going on an eat some lunch, just haller if you need anything." Then he's out the door and after a quick stop at the kitchen to throw something together to eat the rat heads off to his parent's room.

Aikuen is rubbing his face against hers. Or she is rubbing her face against his. Hard to tell. Until Will comes into their room at least. Aik looks very tired, almost like he just going to fall over. But he does manage a smile and a wave to the young rat, "Will..." he nods, and pats the spot on the bed next to him, "Everything alright? Everyone okay?" Fira rubs her eyes, with the back of her paw, and smiles. Stroking the paw of her husbands. Still waiting for him to explain.

Will stares at Aikuen for a moment. Yes that is beyond a doubt his father but wasn't he in disguise when he left? The rat is sure he was dressed up as Zekeal last he'd seen him. "Where were you? Are Kentar an them back too?" he asks.

Aikuen says slowly, head turned so Fira can read him, as he explains, "Kentar, Garnet, and Chris. Are all safe. Down south from here..." he takes a deep breath, "Sorry i didn't explain why i was gone. But i had to go look for them. And i only told her." he gives her paw a rub. "See... About three days ago, Robin came up to me. Very hurt. He told me that the stoats had been captured. I told Fira, and prepared to fight. With group of soldiers behind us, we searched up and down the shoreline... We were searching for them for three days. And yesterday night. Me and Robin found the entrance to a tunnel. After running around for what seemed like an eternity... Then we found Kentar at the end, early this morning. We took them back to the camp that we set up. They are resting there now..." he takes a deep breath again. He told what he knew. And left out a lot.

Will nods a little, "So they're alright an you are too? ... how b- how soon will they be able t come here?" He was going to ask 'how bad off are they' but he sees no need to upset Fira more. "We're all fine far as I know," he glance at Fira in case she wants to add anything, "Amy's been sick with a cold last few days but she's better now. She's sleeping right now."

Aikuen nods, "I'm fine. Tired. But Fine. Haven't slept in four days... They're fine. Kentar is a little beat up on his back, his leg is a little... He will need to have a crutch till it heals. Garnet, last i saw her was sleeping with Chris on a cot. They both seemed okay..." he closes his eyes, and almost seems to drift off, until he continues, "They might be able to move. Soon..." is all he can say. Fira doesn't add anything. Besides her belly getting huge. And worrying about Aik. She is alright. She is happy to have him back, safe. Aik nods slowly, "That's all i know... There down south if you want to go visit them. Though they are in the surgeons hut, when i left... so..." he shrugs, "Just in case..."

Will chews on his lip a little as he goes over what the otter's told him, "You're ok an Garent's ok an Chris is ok an Kentar will need a ... crutch?" He'd heard of crutches but never seen them in use before. "Is Robin ok?" he asks noticing one of the stoats was left out of the list.

Aikuen tilts his head, and nods. He did forget, "Oh... Yeah. He is fine. He is with me the whole time. He is there now. In charge of their healing..." and he explains, "And a crutch is a stick to help him walk. I used one, when i tore my knee, a little bit ago..." hopefully he didn't leave anyone else out. He doesn't know if Will knows Jasper. He turns his head so Fira cant read him, "And Jasper, if you know him... Is going to have his leg cut off... it got infected, before we could save it..." he shakes his head, "And he will never walk again...

Will ohs. So that's what a crutch is. He hasn't met Jasper but remembers Kentar mentioning him before. "Good. It's good Robin's ok. Jasper's Kentar's friend right? Haven't met him yet but heard Kentar talk about him some. What'll happen to him? He can't walk now so what'll happen to him? What'll he do if he can't walk?"

Aikuen has put a paw on Fira's belly. Fira, who would normally shoo his paw away, places her paw on top of his. She will allow it this time. Aik looks back to Will, "Aye. Jasper is Kentar's friend... Old friend, from back when he lived here. A rat like you." he shrugs at the next part, "I have no idea. I'm sure they have some plan to deal with field personal with problems similar to his. Might make him retire back to his home. He could open up a little store. I don't know. But he will be in a wheel chair for the rest of his days... That i know..." he nods sadly.

Will blinks a little, "He could? Open a shop or somethin'? Hm ... So he's not that bad off, he'll still be able t do something. Just not what he was doing before." The rat chews on his lip a while in thought but says nothing more on it for the time being

Aikuen tilts his head, sort of surprised at Will, "Well yah. Just because he is in a wheel chair, doesn't mean he has to stop doing things. He just cant be doing the same things as he did. I know he is off the field. That's obvious. He might work for... the barrack officers... If he wants too... He'll be fine... He will find a way." he nods, and looks back to his wife. She is still a little teary eyed. But she is not the kind of beast that gets emotional like that. Its the Kid. She smiles as him, still a little confused, but glad he that everyone is safe. Now she has less things to worry about. Aik smiles weakly at her, before resting his head against hers, and he hmms. She closes her eyes, going to nose his face. She also hmms happily. There both glad to be back, and with each other again

Will nods, "That's good that he'll be able t do stuff. I'm glad you're back an safe."

Aikuen smiles and nods, "Aye... Me too... And think she is as well!" he chuckles a bit, and noses her back, "I love you..." he mouths on her cheek. He turns back to Will, "Listen. Will. As soon as Kentar is ready, and healed enough. We WILL be heading home" he rubs her belly, "Leave this place as soon as we can..." he takes a deep breath, and yawns heavily.

Will smiles and goes to hug both otters if he can, "That's great! When do you think that'll be?"

Aikuen chuckles at the hug, and makes sure to hug him back "I'm not quite sure. Three... Maybe two days. Depends on how fast Kentar can heal!" he grins, but doesn't get it. Fira tilts her head at the hug, and does hug him back, being careful with her belly. Aik smiles at them.

Will pulls away when the hug ends, "Two or three more days then we can go home. ... I should go tell Amy and probably get her some lunch," he starts for the kitchen again waving a little at the otters on his way out.

Aikuen nods, "See yah Will..." Fira waves a little bit, and ecks softly as Aik goes back to nosing her cheek. She smirks at him, and allows it, going to nose him back when he stops. But he only stopped because he fell asleep on her shoulder. Which Fira figures out soon enough. She rest her head against his, and takes his paw to place on her belly, and she places hers on top. She will talk to him later about everything. After Aik gets some rest.

The rats' room

Will goes to the room which he shares with Amy to give her food and tell her about Aikuen and the stoats. He shakes her a little with his good paw to wake her up. "Amy? Aaaa-me, time to wake uh-up," he calls softly as he sets the tray with her lunch down on his side of the bed. He grins as he leans over her, "Time to get up. It's late and I have news from Pa about Kentar an /Chris/."

Amethyst streaches and yawns, "How late is it? Mmmmf." She sits up with a little help and feels around for Will.

Will takes the maid's paw and lays it against his face, "I'm right here. I got you something t eat. An Pa's back. He's fine. Kentar an Robin got hurt but not bad. Kentar an Robin an Garnet an Chris are with a healer a ways south of here. Chris an Garnet are fine they just wanted t stay with Kentar an Robin til they're better. Kentar hurt his leg but he'll be able t walk on it in a few days an once he can walk on it we'll be going back home! Isn't that great?!"

Amethyst feels Will's face as he talks and nods a little as if she were listening. She's still not fully awake but she gets the general idea, Aik is here and stoats will be soon. Chris is fine and Kentar is hurt only a little and they'll all be leaving to go home in a few days. She nods again, "That's good. That's very good. .... You said there was food? How'd Kentar bust his leg anyway? Least he did better than me." She smiles a bit to show she bares the stoat no ill will for being in better healthier than herself.

Will covers his mouth to stifle a chuckle as he watches the sandwich quickly disappear before he heads back to Aik and Fira's room

The otter's room

Aikuen and Fira are both up. Though Aik is laying on the bed, and Fira is laying next to him, her head tilted toward him. Paw on her mound, that is her belly. They are talking. About what really happened. At least what Aik saw, and knows about. Aik told her about what he saw in the tunnel. What is wrong with Kentar. How close the stoat came to death. Garnets brother. Jasper. Things that he left out, when explaining to them the first time. When Will comes in the room, the otter shuts up. Fira blinks at him, before getting the feeling that they are not alone. She waves at Will. Aik smiles and says, "Will..."

Will's ears caught part of the conversation before the otter fell quiet but he's long since learned to keep such things to himself. "Hi again. I wanted t check an see if you were still ok an stuff. .... I /think/ one those other otters is making supper but I'm not sure. You need anything? Either of you?" he asks not quite sure how to explain his return since he doesn't really /need/ to be there and Aikuen is clearly ok compared to other times.

Aikuen smiles and nods, "Thanks. I'm fine. Very tired still. Thinking about resting for the rest of the day. Before i go back to the tent to check up on them..." he nods at the other part, "They are? Well... if I'm still awake, Ill go down and have some... but don't wait for me..." he yawns. Fira keeps her gaze between them, catching both their conversations. She blinks and looks to Aik. Have to choose between her husband, or food. Sigh. Aik comes first. Aik shakes his head, getting that feeling, "Fira... You can go and get something to eat. Ill be fine... I swear it..." he wink weakly. Fira shakes her head and takes his paw, and places it on her belly. To show what she means to him. Aik grins and says, "Thanks..." he then looks back to Will, "Actually... if you could bring up food... enough for 4 beasts... that would be good..." he smiles, and pats her belly. Fira rolls her eyes

Will smiles and nods, "I can do that. Tell Kentar he needs t get better fast so we can go home. ... but not /too/ fast, we don't need t leave right now or even tomorrow." The rat goes off to find food for the trio of otters and then some. It doesn't take long and he and one of the otter dibbuns bring in trays with many different foods on them for Aik, Fira and the mini-otter. Will could have brought it all in himself but didn't want to be scolded for carrying so much with his one good arm. The otter dibbun is quick to leave. Will isn't mean to the poor otter family but he's never tried to get to know any of them since coming to the cabin and only eats what they cook because the others do. He doesn't actually trust them much even after living in the same cabin as them for nearly a week.

The otters... Well Fira mostly, take the trays, and she smiles warmly at Will, and the other otter. Aik has drifted off burring his face in her neck. Breathing her fur, in and out. Collecting her scent again. Smiling. Fira snorts, as his face tickles her neck when he breaths. But she is happy all the same. She starts to eat the food on the trays. Waste not, Want not. She eyes her bump. And another small worry enters her head. The bump is bigger than it should be. Multiple. She breathes deeply, before going back to eating. Wont know. For another two weeks or so...

Seeing Aikuen has fallen asleep after all, and Fira has set to the food, Will walks down stairs to check on Amy and fill her in on the otters and wait to be called for supper.