The sun hangs above the city of Chareka, bringing a warmer than usual midday to the inhabitants of Tharhome. She shines, lighting up the city's streets and shining down the sides of the buildings, and is seen with wistful eyes from atop the city's tallest of buildings. The figure is a young felitaur of medium size, fur now quite white with blackened speckles rather than vise versa and wings brilliant to the light. The only thing not so brilliant is her expression as she frowns across the rooftops. She sits alone... for the moment.
Copernicus wings over Chareka, noting he finally got the council to give him some time off. He's been worried about Melora. She's not taking things well and hopes she can forgive his lack of time for her. He banks towards his parents home, and sighs when he sees Melora sitting glumly on the rooftop again.
Copernicus lands with a quiet flutter of wings and spends some deliberate moments folding them as he stands about 20 feet from her, trying to think what to say.
Melora pulls in her wings from their sunning position, leaving room on the roof's edge where she sits. She doesn't turn around.
Copernicus sighs and pads next to Melora, and lies his taur portion down so his flank presses against hers, he softly purrs, "Melora Kecharra? What is wrong?"
Melora glances down then finally shrugs, her voice quiet as she says, "I don't know. I don' know how t'put it, Coper... Mubbe it's jus me."
Copernicus reaches a paw out to Melora, "Please tell me beloved. You've been through a lot lately. I'm worried about you, and I want you to be happy."
Melora's ears flatten back a bit and she glances away, "I'm tryin t'be, honestly I am... I'm gittin well still too. I don't.. I don't know, Coper." Her hand takes his paw, gently rubbing at it. It's almost like twiddling fingers.
Copernicus gently clasps Melora's hand and chuckles in spite of himself, "Trying to be happy? If it's taking an effort then something IS wrong. We have some regions that are well forested, away from the cities. Maybe my people are overwhelming you. I...I haven't heard you play for ages now. Your pipes? "
Melora shrugs her shoulders, "I haven't been playing them.." she says, as though it didn't bother her. The tension in her says otherwise and she says quietly, "I dunno iffin jus putting me in a forest'll do it either, Coper. I'm.. I'm different than ever. Even clumbsy now."
Copernicus leans over and kisses Melora on the forehead, "You're very pregnant, and your body has gone through some serious changes. You just need some time to get used to it. What can I do to help lifemate? I nearly died when I thought I might lose you."
Melora glances over and comments, "How much more pregnant c'n ya get than jus bein pregnant? Very pregnant?"
Copernicus chuckles, "The children get larger and larger as your time nears. That extra weight may explain why you feel you are clumsy."
The young male's eyes are showing his own concern and worry, despite his trying to keep the conversation upbeat.
Melora shakes her head, "no... it's, well, I'm bigger. I notice it. Not jus 'round the 'taur stomach, but all aroun'. M'wings... are heavier. They rattle! I c'nt hunt like this. An what good am I 'round here?" She opens her mouth as if to continue the running babble, then shuts it as if closing the dam.
Copernicus nods, "You are bigger overall. Some of the changes you've been through. Your wings should stop rattling when your new scales are in, so you can hunt again. As for what good you are around here, well, the fact that my family would love to have you join the clan officially, I guess you need more? What would you like to do Melora? What can I do to help?"
Melora lets out a breath then looks down again, her eyes trailing the people below. She shakes her head and says quietly, "Ain't nothin y'can do, or I c'n do. I ain't gotta skill t'fit in here... well, nothin anyone woul' be needin."
Copernicus snugs closer to Melora, "You are still very young Melora, you can learn new skills if you want them. But you have important skills. Your playing is so lovely, you could easily be a professional entertainer here."
Melora glances over quickly, frowning. "That ain't entertainin.. I mean, it's supposed t'be learnin an fer history. Fer brinin th'star's rise an fer sealin th'night.. an I c'nt even do that here."
Melora says, "I don' even know iffin I'm one o'my own race annamore, Coper."
Copernicus's ears, whisker and tail droops upon hearing this, not knowing what to say.
Melora squeezes his hand just slightly then sighs, "I'm sorra.. I mean, y'don't need this type o'worries what wi'all that ya do. I'm... jus lost feelin."
Copernicus snugs Melora, "I know that Melora. I know that so well. Here I am, a supposed leader amongst my people, and I feel like I don't belong anymore."
Melora nods quietly, "least y'don't get funny looks from some o'them. Every so often one of them gits t'staring at me, an I can't help but wanna hide from it."
Copernicus hmms, "Well, some of them may be staring because they see a very beautiful female. You know what I've told you about my race in the past? There are probably dozens of males and females who would love to spend time with you m'lady."
Melora flicks back an ear then shakes her head a bit more again, "no.. n'that kinda stare. I've... I've seen a few o'those too. Mubbe it's jus my imagination."
Copernicus ahs, "There are a few who do not know how to deal with a winged felitaur that is not one of their race. Ignore them Melora, they just need to grow up is all. Is there nothing I can do to help you? I'm...sorry I haven't had time free till recently. You mean a lot to me, you really do."
Melora shifts a bit, pushing to the side a little then wrapping her arms about Copernicus. She nuzzles him a little and nods, saying, "I know... I jus wish I caused y'less worry. Y'mean more t'me than annathin."
Copernicus purrs, "And why can't you do the songs you normally do? We have sunrise and sunset, and stars, and even a couple moons. I love you dearly kecharra."
Copernicus returns the snug quietly for a while, just sitting there with his beloved lifemate in the sun.
Melora admits, "Because at first it was since I was inside... c'nt play indoors. Now.. I don' know what I am. I was t'be Historian, an now I don' even know if I'm of the Talorn clan annamore. I.. I gotta find it."
Copernicus purrs, "What do you have to find Melora?"
Melora whispers softly, "what I am... I gotta find out what I am."
Melora looks down on the people a bit longer then glances over towards her mate with almost a half smile on her face, "least there's one thing that ain't changed.."
Copernicus surreptitiously wipes a tear away and blinks as he purrs, "What is that Melora?"
Melora says, "I c'n still hit m'target. Take anne one of those people down there an I c'n hit 'em with a Dimple. I've been practicin.""
Copernicus hmms and grins as he spots one of the crustier old regulators from the council and purrs, "Can you hit him in the right rump cheek? ;)"
Melora says, "Got a Dimple?"
Copernicus nods and pulls one out, grinning as he realizes Melora is going to hit him in his dimple with a Dimple. ;)
Melora leans over the edge a bit then says, "that one, wi'the black circular spot on his rump?"
Copernicus nodnods, "Right in the spot where he's got a dimple in his haunches, if you will. ;)"
Melora takes a half moment of aim then tosses the coin. She watches it the entire way down and there's a momentary flair of magic about her. A count to three and the figure below is spinning about as his rump is 'tagged' by a Dimple from the Sky.
Copernicus senses none of the magic this time, though he's seen it before. He chuckles gleefully, "Serves the old fart right. ;l)"
Copernicus purrs, "Good shot Melora."
Melora chuckles just a little bit then nods, "s'one thing I've still got goin fer me. That.. an I c'n fly a little bit now. Jus don't tell Imbri."
Copernicus snugs, "You can fly again? Terrific. And how is Imbri doing? I know you were startled to see me in my other form again, but we've all been through changes. Imbri saved us both, and she's paying heavily for it."
Melora leans against him again and says, "I figured. I wouldna want t'lose m'taur half. She's been really occupied lately.. tryin t'keep me from bein upset I think. Comin up here was her idea. She's th'one supplyin me wi'coins."
Copernicus snugs, "It's not permanent. She's gotten closer to regaining her form several times lately. Course, like me she'll have to spend time in both forms. I hope my "losing my 'taur half" once a day doesn't bother you too much?"
Melora shakes her head, "only once.. when y'switched on me when we were sleepin close. Kinda eerie."
Copernicus hmmms, "So, Imbri has been giving you ammunition has she? Why don't we see if we can sneak up on her and give her a "cold wet nose from behind"? ;)
Melora says, "A what?"
Copernicus grins and pads behind Melora and demonstrates. ;)
Melora yeeps! A half a beat later she's busy refolding her wings after jumping. "That's... that's.... cold."
Copernicus grins and pads up and snugs Melora, "That's the idea. She knows the game. And I think she can use the lift to her spirits. Then maybe we can spend some time together, talking and snuggling some more. I have a few days off, thank the first mother."
Melora nods her head, "sh'might appreciate it. Even iffin it is indoors. Let's go?"
Copernicus nods, "Lead on my love."
Copernicus purrs, "And maybe we can convince her to take a trip to the forest with us, I could use a break from all this myself."
Melora takes a short hop and spreads the rattling wings to drift down through the rooftop of the building. Doesn't take much and she's swallowed by the building.
Copernicus chuckles and follows behind Melora.
A moment of silence passes, then two and perhaps a third before the squealing sound 'Yieeeep!' comes through the passageway the two felitaur's took. The household just *knows* that Copernicus is home now.