One of the Family

A quiet evening in the Skygazer home. Copernicus's three mothers are talking and chatting and grooming each other in one corner of the living room and have been trying to help Melora feel more comfortable, offering to groom her too if she wants. Copernicus has recently come back from a short trip to a neighboring solar system and found possible trade partners on what was thought to be an uninhabited world.

Shatter, the sheer black female, purrs to Melora, "Looks like your mate is back Melora. We just received a message he's on his way here."

Nebula, the tiger striped birthmother of Copernicus nods quietly.

Metora, a tabby cat felitaur, purrs, "You know, I've also gotten a call from his mating group. Seems they've been wanting to see him lately."

Melora takes a deep breath and nods, "it's no surprise. He's been stayin w'me since alla that trouble I caused.. an waitin t'see iffin I coul' go out there too. I ain't too sure though..." She's working on something, perhaps wood.

Nebula purrs softly, "Maybe it would be good for you to meet his other mates. They are pretty nice, and you can get out of the house for a bit. It must get boring with us here all the time."

Melora shrugs, brushing off the small round tube she's carving at. She says, almost trying to brush off the emotions, "it's easier 'n walkin. Movin this bulk o'mine's like tryin t'roll boulders uphill at times. I.. I jus don' know how I'd deal bein up in alla that black up there."

Metora and Shatter are about to make a comment but YIPE! instead and glare at Nebula.

Melora glances up from her carvings. She looks curious a moment then fingers at the tube a moment longer.

Nebula carefully licks a bit of purple blood from her fingers and then purrs, "Well, it's quite safe out there Melora. My son is a good pilot, and you can get an incredible view of the stars and the world from up there.

Melora turns toward working on the tube a bit more then says, almost worried, "an iffin they don't like me?"

Metora purrs, "They liked Coper. And you're a very beautiful female Melora. As long as your willing to work with them, they'll accept you."

Shatter nods, "They should. It was one of Coper's conditions of the contract."

Melora says, "Work wi'them? B'sides... a bit o'paper don't mean they'll actually like me. Jus put up wi'me."

Nebula purrs, "True enough Melora. But, from what I've seen of you, they'll like you. As for work with them...has Copernicus told you about our society much?"

Melora says, "Some... tho I'm always findin one more thin he'd not realized I'd need knowin.. ya know, stuff y'live wi'every day an never think 'bout?"

Both Metora and Shatter break out laughing at this and Nebula chuckles, "Copernicus is rather notorious for this. You understand that my son is the contracted mate for his three "Wives"? That he shall be the sire for their offspring?

Melora nods her head, "I 'spected that, he'd mentioned there'd be three others 'n he'd be havin kits by them too. Grantcha, s'a little odd t'be all at one time, but not too bad."

Nebula nods, "Well, we have few males that survive to adulthood, so they need to take three mates. The three females help hold the family together by being...mates to each other also."

Melora looks up again from her carvings to blink a few times, the concept soaking in. "He.. uh, didn't mention that t'all..." Her tones are half thoughtful, young and uncertain.

Nebula nods, "I realize you are of a different culture, and a different world. But you are a very lovely female, and if you want to make it easier for them to accept you, you might want to consider that."

Melora wrinkles up her nose a moment and puts a hand over along the bottom of her ribs. A half moment later she frowns and says, "kicking again..."

Metora and Shatter grin and Metora purrs, "Going to be frisky little kits, aren't they. Wow, we're going to be grandmothers?"

Melora takes a bit of a breath then pushes on that rib once more before shaking her head, "I .. I jus ain't considered it much. I ain't thinkin 'bout much ceptin waitin out these two, honest t'be. Their gittin pretty big now."

Nebula nods, "I know. I worry about you two. Copernicus was so worried about you, he's had to deal with his..changing again...and soon he'll have to deal with the inquest for Imbri."

Melora looks up suddenly, both eyes towards Nebula as she asks, "Inquest?"

Nebula nods, "I thought Copernicus told you. There are some...questions about what Imbri did for you to save your life that she has to answer. So a group of us will have to get together and talk to Copernicus about it, and decide what, if anything, will be done with Imbri."

Melora shakes her head, "That.. right. I don' think they shoul' do annathin ceptin git her t'not do it again. It worked, whatever it was. From what I unnerstood, iffin it weren't fer her, I'd not be here."

Both Metora and Shatter, who are leaning against Nebula and grooming her, look at her curiously. Nebula purrs, "Well, I'm hoping it goes well. It was a very brave, and a very foolish thing to do, but I'm glad she helped you."

Melora asks, "Nebula?"

Nebula tilts her head at Melora, "Yes daughter?"

Melora says, "iffin it comes down ta'it, can I speak fer her? I mean.. I'd always figured Healin types were s'posed t'do whatever in ability t'save lives. Iffin it were jus me, then I'd not minded, but these two were in trouble too. I'd like t'say somethin fer her at this inquestioning thing."

Nebula nods, "I don't know if it will come to that. The rules are rather odd and rather strict. The first part will involve Copernicus. He may involve you himself, or if things go badly, I'll make sure you can talk to the board. I don't think we could easily get you to be there the first time."

Metora and Shatter and actively grooming Nebula and ignoring what she's talking about. They have heard enough of the silent ones to know it's not something to pay attention to at all.

Melora nods her head a moment then looks towards the entry way. "How long'd they say that it'd be till he'd be here?"

The buzz of felitaur wings can now be heard, and the sound is familiar.

Melora's ears flick once or twice and she chuckles, "guess I didn' need t'ask."

Nebula chucklepurrs, "Speak his name and here he is, I love my son Melora. And I think you are one of the best things that could have happened to him, but I'll never really understand him."

Melora pushes up, quite slowly, and steadies herself. She pads over and gives each of the mothers a kiss on the cheek, "remember that when th'kits are makin a mess o'the place, please."

The three mothers snug Melora and Metora and Shatter snicker, "Well, we're prepared. No way they can be as bad as your life mate was when he was a runt." At which Nebula pinches them both.

Copernicus lands on the roof and jumps inside the first floor, "Greetings my mothers, Melora, how goes?'

Copernicus wonders why his three mothers are laughing so hard, but decides not to ask.

Melora says, "Don' be bettin on it. They're already swingin from m'ribs pretty heartily. An I woulna miss m'bets iffin they're already twenty-five stone.""

Neblua nods, "She did say that your kits are going to be the largest ever delivered Melora. So son, you found some old colonies on a primitive world it seems?"

Melora sort of waddles over towards Copernicus, her midsection swaying with the weight of heavy pregnancy.

Copernicus bounds over and hugs Melora, "Good to see you kecharra. I've met someone you might enjoy meeting also someday. How are you?"

Melora chuckles and nuzzles at her mate, "Puttin little dents in th'floorin wi'my added weight. You m'dear? How was yer trip?"

Copernicus chuckles, "I met some old friends. Delachiel and Jarik were there. Amazing. A nice world, lots of forests, and yes Shatter, a lot of good hunting too."

Melora looks thoughtful for a moment then almost wistful. She shakes her head and shifts to her other paws. "Crowded?"

Copernicus purrs, "No, Haven is a fairly small city, and most of the planet is forested, no obvious cities.""

Melora nods her head and says, "no offense, b'it sounds pretty invitin already."

Melora tucks her wings together again after finding one sliding down and bothering her side. Hide's a bit more tender after being so stretched.

Nebula chuckles, "Actually, it sounds good to us too Melora. It's unusual to have so many of us on Tharhome at once, we're normally much more spread out, but we all came back just so my son could move us to a new galaxy."

Copernicus's ears turn pink as Metora and Shatter frown. Apparently the move is still a sore subject with even them.

Melora nods her head, "I'm sure'n Coper's tol ya that my, um, type don' even use buildins... This one here'd house mosta my tribe an family easy."

Metora nods, "We can't seem to make up our minds. We love buildings and being in space, yet many of us, your mate there included, love the wild things too. Oh, speaking of wild things, your wives called Coper. ;)"

Melora almost giggles, looking actively at her wood carving a moment.

Copernicus blushes again and nods, "I know, I need to visit them soon. And I'll bet they want to meet Melora?"

All three females just nod and smirk.

Melora nods her head, "One o'them kept pipping up 'bout showin me alla grand sights up there... too much bounce."

Copernicus and his three mothers simultaneously say, "Ceres."

Melora says, "s'that who? 'Kay.."

Copernicus takes a deep breath, "Melora, would you like to visit my other mates? I know they want to meet you too."

Melora says, hesitantly, "up there?"

Copernicus nods, "Up there."

Melora bites her lip, looking for one idea then grabbing it, "it's true ya don' weigh annathin up there?"

Copernicus purrs, "Well, not always. We have ways of making artificial gravity, but on their space station you'd weigh about 1/3 of what you normally do."

Melora looks over her shoulders then nods almost too quick, "Go befer I talk meself outta it. I'd like t'walk at me original weight again."

Copernicus hmms, "Are you capable of flying to the spaceport Melora?"

Melora nods her head, "flyin's easy, it's th'walking that's a problem."

Metora and Shatter snug up against Nebula and start some more intimate grooming as Nebula purrs, "Take care you two. And remember what I talked about Melora. Being part of a large family has it's advantages."

Melora nods her head just a bit, "I know.. but I gotta think on that one a bit."

Nebula kisses Metora and nods to Melora, "I know, but I think you would enjoy it, and you'd be less alone. But you have to decide for yourself."

Copernicus blinks and purrs, "What is this all about?"

Nebula purrs, "Don't worry about it son, it's Melora's decision."

Melora makes a bit of a grin an says, patting Copernicus on the rear, "Kits, m'dear. Many o'em." With that she pushes as hard into the air as she can and with the first of several downbeats she's aloft.

Copernicus hmms and notes he'd best get used to females leaving him out of things. He IS married now. With that he leaps up into the air and takes flight alongside his mate.

Melora dips just a little bit then steadies in the wind on her way to the spaceport.

The two fly to the spaceport, and Copernicus commandeers a larger shuttle and works on getting Melora inside. He has a feeling this is going to be an interesting trip.