Andromeda is recovering quietly from her wounds gained during her explorations on Nexus, with Jenora watching over her. In the arboretum, a small group has gathered earlier to picnic, and as the evening winds down, the Skygazer family gathers together to listen to Melora. Copernicus, surrounded by Ceres, Libra, Aurora, Imbri, Melora and the two young cubs, Chrissa and Tycho, beams with pride at his family. (And mentally noting that it's more like he's theirs, but why be picky ;).
Melora stretches her forepaws, kneading at a pillow a little in anxiety. Chrissa rests between her forepaws as her momma swivels an ear towards Coper. "Y'sure 'bout this?"
Ceres purrs, "Sure he's sure. Aren't you?"
Copernicus smirks, "Yes, I'm sure. I want to learn about your world Melora, and our cubs need to too."
Melora shrugs up one shoulders and says, "jus.. next t'the knowledge y'all have, this is pretty small. A history o'some of our customs. Though, th'cubs do need t'know."
Chrissa gently noses at Melora's forepaw, purring up at her.
Tycho curls up against Melora's other flank and purrs, while Aurora quietly says, "Knowledge of technology isn't wisdom. Our grinning mate here has told us that often enough. We've learned a lot from you Melora, you just don't realize it."
Libra quietly bites Coper's ear to let that sink in, while Coper and Ceres pet the cubs.
Melora looks to think for a moment then finally nods her head. "Worst that happens, y'git a little tired o'it and not come t'the next. Okay..."
Chrissa lolls on her back contentedly, and batbats in the general direction of Melora's face (which is far out of range of Chrissa's arms).
Melora lifts up her chin and both hands, opening the story quietly as though a passing an image to the listeners. "For many years, long b'fer th' Tali'nor as today roamed th'world, Shara walked across the skies." A hand drifts upwards, marking sky, "it was a gentle pace. That which brought her light t'touch all parts of the land, as th'sun brought warmth t'all parts. N'every night did sh'roam, as she chose her own times t'bless us wi'her sight."
Tycho watches his mother's hands as they move, ears at attention. It's amazing how a full belly can slow down the most energetic child. Copernicus is mostly buried under the three that have taken him as their mate, while they all listen and watch Melora, the fourth, and somehow the center of their group.
Melora says, "this night I tell you of why we greet Shara in the evening, every evenin, and why she races so fast through the skies."
Copernicus rests his chin on his paws, lying prone under the weight of three felitauresses and listens, ears twitching.
Melora a hand now traces through the air before her nose as she says quietly, "Shara raced into the skies t' touch the stars on th'dawn of her Hunt. Th'longest chase of all life, t'step inta th'darkness an spread light t'her children, an b'far the loneliest. She began t'wane an grow pale, slow through th'night sky as sadness drifted t'the ground in beams of pale silver. Each night th'children o'Shara, th'Children o'the Thirteen, watched an'wondered if Shara woul' slow an' be caught, t'fade from the skies as she moved. Worry blanketed th'lands."
Copernicus grins softly at the memories of another "hunt", and the worries that went with that chase. Aurora bats his ear, having heard the story from Coper apparently.
Melora says, "As she passed above, a small boy grew b'low. N'quite inta adulthood, he was apart from those that knew him. He fought wi'in the tribes but wasn't part o'the tribe. Like none b'fer, he ran inta th'darkness of th'forest an away from life." One of those hands goes down to rest on Chrissa in her lap. "Five days he ran as hard as he coul'"
Chrissa prrs softly, nuzzling Melora's hand and gently lapping at its palm with her little raspy tongue.
Tycho mrrps and rubs his head against Melora's flank.
Melora glances down a moment, gaining a gentle smile then looking quickly around before settling back into the story. "On th'night that he tired, he cleared th'trees t'find darkness waiting. Shara had not risen that night and she should have. This he had not noticed, in his sadness, an he stumbled into the middle of the clearing."
Melora's other hand fills full of Tycho's fur, as she reaches down to touch him in her story. "Th'darkness filled his heart, sadness weighing on his thoughts as he lifted his voice t'song. It was clear, sad an filled wi'the feelings he'd hidden for so very long. His name was WindSong, an true t'such he filled th'spaces wi'his sadness."
Tycho mrrrrrrs softly and looks up at Melora with silvery blue eyes, and a hint of the mischief of his sire.
Melora says, "Hearing echos of what filled her life, Shara lifted b'tween the trees t'look down over th'glen."
Ceres flicks her tail by Chrissa's paws, listening to Melora, but unable to resist the cubs.
Chrissa playfully whaps at Ceres' paws, smiling widely.
Melora says, "As he sang to his sorrow, she filled th'glens with light and looked down on him. Perhaps he didn't feel quite so lonely that evenin' as sh'passed overhead. He sang to her of his sadness."
Melora says, "As she set, "
Melora says, "As she left that evening, he watched her silver white glow, touching the ground b'fer him as she passed, then he sait t'wait fer her so he coul' sing to her."
Copernicus purrrrrs softly as he listens to Melora, wondering how much the Chirr'T'Thar suffer from a lack of any real mythology. Having been genetically brought right into a high tech society, the normal period of trying to understand the universe never happened. From the look on Libra and Aurora's face, he thinks that maybe a lot was missed.
Melora lifts one of her hands a little then passes a bit of a smile over to Copernicus as she says quietly, "Two nights passed wi'out her rising. Two nights in which he became sad once more, fer her leaving. As th'sadness grew, he began t'sing of it once more. It filled the air and quicker 'n before Shara rose to listen."
A hand passes over her head and a bit of a grin lifts her lips as she says, "as she brushed overhead, her glow and silver filled his vision and the song became joyous. Light and filed wi'the silver and gol' that was her light. Once more her heart was at ease. Each night he began t'sing for the silver beauty in th'sky, and each night Shara rose earlier and earlier, racing across so sh'could be there as darkness fell th'night b'fer."
Chrissa watches Melora quietly, her eyes shining.
Copernicus's whiskers twitch a bit as he ponders, . o O (Their war was so bad it threw off the orbit of their moon?)
Melora says, "Each night Shara rose t'touch her sky with light as WindSong lifted voice t'night and th'tribes came from far t'hear his music. Nights passed an seasons began t'move. Coldness seeped in and finally illness caught Shara's Singer."
Melora says, "song brushed his lips quietly until he passed into sleep and as his eyes closed a brighter star burst inta life in th'sky along Shara's path. A star now named WindSong as his spirit rose t'join her in her skies. Now we play music, songs very close to WindSong, t'greet Shara in th'sky so she will rise again an' give our nights a little love."
Ceres, the incurable romantic, is wiping her eyes at this point.
Melora drops both arms and bows her head quietly, both ears forward.
Copernicus rises up and snugs Melora close, with Libra, Aurora and Ceres joining in, Chrissa and Tycho get a little smushed, but seem to enjoy it.
Ceres gives Melora a kiss on the nose, "That was so beautiful. So romantic, singing to your love up in the sky. But why did the cold make him sick?"
Copernicus smirks along with Libra and Aurora, and then chuckles, "It was a beautiful tale Melora. I've taped it, I think many other Chirr'T'Thar will enjoy the tale of Shara's rising."
Melora shrugs up both shoulders quietly, "Some o'the historians think that it was b'cause he'd caught an illness an didn't seek warmth when he needed it. Others say he didn't eat nor sleep fer those nights he woo'd Shara. Lotsa thoughts on it."
Copernicus scritches Chrissa and Tycho, "And I think these two are incredibly lucky to have you for their mother Melora."
Melora blinks for a moment then says, "Y'said recorded? Others'll hear me?"
Ceres ohs and nods to Melora.
Copernicus nods, "Yes, if you don't mind."
Melora flicks her ears back and displays the equivalent of a blush. She purrs quietly, "um... no, I don't mind. They might think it .. well, odd."
Copernicus shakes his head, "I don't think so Melora. Other than the rather ribald tales of the First Mother, our history is rather cold and lifeless. I have a feeling that others may be a bit jealous. We have no rich traditions to build on."
Aurora purrs, "You could just relax and enjoy it, rather than lecture us about it you silly mel. ;)"
Copernicus blushes to his eartips.
Melora just makes a bit of a grin as she winks to Aurora. "Y'know, there's nothin that says we c'nt make our own stories on beginnins fer the Chirr'T'Thar . W'could set up Copernicus as th'mighty world mover, an have a strong romance b'tween th'all of us."
Copernicus eeeps, "Joy. Like I need more stories being made up about me. ;)"
Libra purrrs, "Well, for once, WE can make some stories up. ;)"
Melora scoops up Tycho and nestles him between her wings comfortably. "It's better'n letting th'fixing ot'eh stories up t'someone else, isn't it?
Copernicus hmmmms as he looks at his four mates as Melora poses her question. They look at him expectantly, and finally Aurora crosses her arms and purrs, "Well? Isn't it?"
Copernicus purrs, "I'm thinking about it. ;)"
Melora scoops up dear Chrissa and soothes her fur and hair as she nestles the other child between her wings.
Tycho mrrrrrs and curls up to sleep next to his sister.
Melora leans over just a little to whisper to Ceres.
Chrissa prrrs softly, nuzzling Melora's hand.
Aurora and Libra look at each other then shake their heads at Copernicus.
Ceres bends over to listen to Melora, who whispers, "Yes, and th'first story c'n begin on how he's hung th'size of three Chirr'T'Thar, stronger'n ever an good wi' the intimacy. Think he'd stand sittin through a story startin out like that?"
Copernicus blinks as Ceres suddenly bursts out laughing, and doesn't stop for several minutes.
After regaining her breath, Ceres motions to the rest of the group and whispers to them. They all break out laughing, and for the next week, before they finally tell him, Copernicus keeps wondering why all the females on the station keep laughing uncontrollably when they see him.