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"When will you be coming back, Matriarch?"

Bast cast her eyes to her mate, regarding the brown-pelted, sullen-faced Trianii carefully as he held her daughter in his arms, stroking her back as she sniffled. "2 weeks. This peace talk with the Corporate Sector Authority will likely take that long, though you should not be surprised if it takes longer. I do not expect these human invaders to have changed their ways such that we will come to an amicable arrangement so easily. I shall inform you when I am on my way back, Ka'un, you have my word."

Ka'un frowned, stepping out of the way as their servants stepped out of the manor carrying luggage to the nearby luxury speeder. "Very well. Hopefully by then your mood will be fairer. There was no need for that just now," he said quietly. "Most children do not expect to have their nose cuffed simply for seeking affection- she will miss you, even after this."

Bast raised an eyebrow, running a paw through her blonde hair. "All of our children have learned to comport themselves the way a true Trianii noble should. The earlier she learns her place and proper mannerisms, the sooner she will shine all the brighter for us."

"We named her Syrra for a reason," Ka'un replied, nuzzling the little golden ball of fluff in his arms as she shivered. "She already shines like a sun in the sky. I would think it would be important to be less harsh for something so trivial."

Bast sighed. "As I recall, _you_wanted to name her Syrra, and I granted you that. Regardless of her name, a sun in the sky will fail to shine from behind the cover of clouds. We Trianii may not be able to control the weather, but we can control our etiquette- give her 10 years and she will learn how to be a proper Trianii noble, mark my words."

Ka'un shook his head. "You know full well she wishes to be a Trianii Ranger. If that is what she wishes then I for one will not restrict her from following in my footsteps- or from going further and helping the galaxy itself, should she have the courage for it."

She checked a time-piece hanging from her robes, starting to move to the speeder as their servants scurried nervously past her and back into the residence. "Enough of this. I must be off, or I shall be late. Take care of yourself, Ka'un- and try to spend some time talking to Ra'Tasum, to see what is wrong with him."

The male Trianii glared as he followed behind her, carrying the snuffling cub with him as she nuzzled into his neck. "There is _nothing_wrong with him, Bast."

Bast gave him a cool stare as she stepped into the speeder, the chauffeur glancing nervously at the Matriarch. "His closeness with his commoner friends suggests otherwise. Should he grow up to raise his tail for others, I will hold you accountable for not setting him straight- he looks up to you, after all. Farewell, Ka'un." She gestured for the driver to proceed- within moments they had shot off down the path past the grain fields, the roar of the speeder fading away as it sped over the apex of a distant hill and disappeared from out of sight.

Ka'un sighed, feeling dejected as he continued to cuddle his youngest daughter, though he made every attempt to ensure his sadness was not injected into his voice as he spoke. "Feeling better, Syrra? It's okay, you're not in trouble."

The kitten snuffled, drawing away from her father's neck and wiping her face, sadness evident in her deep-sapphire eyes. "I dunno... what I did wrong, Father..." she whimpered, a paw reaching up and rubbing her scuffed nose tenderly, squeaking slightly in pain as she brushed it a little too hard. Ka'un felt a pang in his chest at the sound, leaning in and pressing his lips on the tip of her nose affectionately.

"You didn't do anything wrong, my golden fluff-ball. Your mother..." He paused. He hated having to make excuses for Bast all the time, trying to reflect her in a positive light when she did something he found to be unwise, if not unacceptable. But for the sake of his daughter's peace of mind, he was willing to lie. "... Your mother is just scared, that's all. She's worried about having to talk to the bad humans, wondering if they'll keep their promises."

"Will they hurt her?" Syrra asked, her eyes wide with fear.

Ka'un smiled. "No, they won't. She'll have some of my friends from the Trianii Rangers watching over her- the best of the best, fluff-ball, heroes and fighters." He set her down carefully and chuckled as she hugged around his thigh, running a paw through her hair soothingly and wrapping his tail around her. He looked up, see an orange-furred, white-striped servant approaching them cautiously.

"Sir? Shall I take your daughter in for you?" she asked meekly.

Ka'un shook his head, treating her to a warm smile. "Relax, Sitan. As I've told you many times before, there is no need for you or any of the other employees to stand on ceremony with me, when Bast is not around. But could you have someone prepare Syrra a meal? I think she needs a little pick-me-up. I'll bring her in myself, in a moment."

Sitan relaxed visibly, looking less apprehensive and more positive as she nodded. "Of course, I'll get right on it."

He got to his knees as the servant left, looking into her face and wiping away her tears with a gentle paw. No matter how he was feeling at any given moment, looking at his daughter and holding her seemed to make every negative feeling ebb away. She looked so much like him in his eyes, and yet her features... they were not his, nor Bast's, nor an amalgamation of the two- but as far as they were concerned, he had only ever seen one other Trianii just as beautiful.

All of these things brought a smile to his face as he pet behind her ears. "You still want to become a Trianii Ranger, don't you?"

The cub brightened, her tail swishing excitedly. "Yes, I do!" she chirped. "I wanna be a hero like you, and help people, go to other planets and see new things!"

Ka'un grinned. "What about being a Jedi, like your ancestor? Would you like to learn to use the Force and help people throughout the galaxy?"

Syrra's eyes seemed to light up for a moment at the possibility, before they were dimmed slightly, looking nervous. "Mother says... it's dangerous to be a Jedi right now- bad people are hunting them down and hurting them. I... I wanna learn to use the Force, though," she added hopefully.

Ka'un tousled her hair. "All darkness passes eventually, cub. When it does, it will be safe to find you a teacher to openly instruct you. Before you know it, you'll be a master of the Force and helping people from here to Coruscant." Warmth radiated from his chest as he saw his kitten beam up at him, the realities and difficulties of such a path amounting to absolutely nothing in the face of hope and joy she had. Having no words to express her excitement, she lunged into him and hugged tight, Ka'un chuffing with laughter as he picked her up, tossing his daughter into the air and catching her as she giggled.

"Why d'you keep doing that, father?" she asked as she nuzzled him.

"I keep trying to put another, brighter and happier sun in the sky," he answered, purring deeply and holding her tight as he walked her back into their home.

The summer months had passed, and with it the harvest season- though Ekibo was far from the coolest planet under Trianii control, the cold season had set in early. By the time noon had come around, the wind had picked up and blown away what warmth the sun had offered. The change in weather had prompted Ka'un to call off Syrra's lessons and allow her to take a nap while he attended to a few personal matters which concerned her.

He had not spoken to most members of his old Ranger unit in some time, though he had done his best to keep in touch with them over the years. Yet there were a few key members he maintained contact with given their tumultuous history and extra-system contacts, and one in particular he had wanted to touch bases with at least once every month to go over plans for Syrra's future.

He waited as the HoloNet put him through to his top contact with Trianii Ranger recruitment, fingers tapping against the luxuriously gaudy wooden desk he was seated at. He didn't much like being in the study, surrounded by all manner of political texts and data repositories, but it was easy enough to ignore as he waited for the connection to go through. Before long, the projector flickered to life as a tan-furred Trianii female appeared, eyes focusing as she seemed to struggle to identify her caller.

"... Commander Ka'un?" she said, he eyes widening. "It's been far too long!"

Ka'un grinned. "A warm day to you, Atuarre. I hope I haven't caught you at an inopportune moment."

The Ranger smiled sincerely. "Not at all. Where you are concerned, Commander, I can spend as much time as necessary until Pakka or Keeheen need me. How is your family? Are you enjoying the life of high nobility?"

Ka'un rolled his eyes. "You already know the answer to that, it's the same life you ended up leaving- gladly, I might add."

"And I have yet to regret my decision," she said fondly, looking off to the side where either her husband or son was.

"As far as family... they are well. My sons continue to mind their studies, while most of my daughters devote their energy towards temple work. They continue to question why I don't turn up for their services, but I keep telling them I worship on my own," he said quietly.

"Meaning you don't at all, if things haven't changed since we parted ways," Atuarre noted shrewdly. "But that's not what I meant- I know you likely contacted me to talk about the golden glow in your eyes. How is Syrra?"

Ka'un laughed. "Active as always. She keeps escaping home and wandering the streets looking for trouble to get into- I keep telling the workers here to keep their eyes cast upwards if they expect to find her when they lose track of her, she loves to climb on things she's really not supposed to."

"She sounds quite a bit like Pakka," the Ranger replied, "always eager to display his acrobatics."

"How about your son and husband? Are they still doing well?"

Atuarre nodded. "Pakka is still having some trouble opening up to new people. It's just one of those scars the Corporate Sector Authority gave him that will never fully heal, I fear. But he's getting better, and at least he talks to me and Keeheen. Keeheen keeps patrolling Fibuli, to keep his eyes on CSA movements, but he has promised me to keep to the backline while these 'peace talks' are being conducted." She chuffed humorlessly. "I continue to doubt their sincerity, to be frank."

Ka'un sighed. "As do I. But time will tell, and if I have to be honest I keep hoping they'll be true to their word. I may be good at fighting, but I don't enjoy the business of war." He shook his head. "Anyway, you're right- I contacted you so we could discuss Syrra."

"Does she still wish to join the ranks of our Rangers?"

Ka'un nodded, his eyes drawn to the doorway as he saw Syrra sprint past it, two servants chasing after her as she giggled- it appeared as if she had finished napping, full of fresh energy. "Perhaps Bast is right and it's just a phase she'll outgrow... but I keep hoping at least one of my children takes after _me_for a change, and Syrra has already fallen in love with the idea. What kind of father but a callous one would dash the dreams of their own offspring?"

"Very true," Atuarre agreed solemnly. "As you say- there had to be at least one. You have... 8 children?"

"9."

"9? Well, one of them had to follow in your footsteps at some point, yes?"

"Will it matter if she's..."

"A runt?" the Ranger guessed. "No, and you know that. You know_me_, and here I am, a cadet trainer. If you think she'd still be interested years from now, I can easily have someone sent immediately to help prepare her. She'd have 10 years head start, more than enough to cover any deficiencies she might possess- and if she has your heart, Ka'un, then I only expect her to excel, to match your steps. Especially if it's true what you say, that she is a Force-sensitive."

He glanced to the door, grinning as Syrra walked in, levitating a yellow ball above her head. "I wish I could turn the holocam capture right now so you could see what I'm seeing. It's amazing, the things she does." Syrra tossed the ball up, letting it bounce against the ceiling with a sharp thud and causing him to chuckle. "One moment, Atuarre. Syrra, you know your mother finds it unacceptable for you to do that."

The kitten beamed at him. "Mother isn't here!"

"Good point," he replied. "Be that as it may, I'm in the middle of a discussion with someone- if you wait outside and give me a few minutes, I'll be right there to play with you."

"You promise?" she asked.

"I promise, fluff-ball." He watched as she scampered out of the study, followed by two of the servants that he'd tasked with keeping an eye on her. Once the sound of her footsteps could no longer be heard, he returned his attention to the Ranger. "I apologize for that."

"Not at all," she assured him with a smile. "I understand you wanting to shower her with affection. Aarn keeps telling me you're... not exactly happy, where you are."

Ka'un sighed. "It's not working, Atuarre. I know that it's folly to force change in other people, but I had hoped by accepting her as my mate, she'd... I don't know... I'd hoped _something_would change. But she's still the same person she was when we married- cold, focused, distant from her family unless they have something to offer. Not even Syrra has lit up her life the way she has mine."

"I keep wondering why you even accepted," the Ranger admitted, looking sympathetic.

"Because it was expected of me. Because the Rangers needed the political support necessary to extend our range to the borders of Trianii space- or so I keep telling myself."

"You didn't do it to hurt Iaora, did you?" she asked bluntly, frowning.

Ka'un froze. "... No. And I would appreciate you never suggesting such a thing again."

"You love her," she pressed.

"... I do. That's why I respected her decision when she said no. As much as it hurt, the decision was hers. I only wish we'd had more time."

Atuarre sighed. "Ka'un, when Keeheen first proposed to me, I said no too. I made the happy mistake of trading comsignal prefixes with him so he could keep in touch- and every time he did, he'd asked. It took two years for me to say yes... and I regret not saying it sooner. I made the mistake of putting my own goals before him, and it cost me time I could have spent with him- I would never have become a Trianii Ranger if I hadn't accepted his persistent attitude and fallen in love with it." She smiled sadly. "It sounds like both you and Iaora did the same: she said no to you because she wanted to devote energy to politics, and you said yes to Bast out of loyalty to the Trianii Rangers."

"Should I have said no?"

"Of_course_you should have said no," Atuarre responded sternly. "Service to society is a noble thing, selflessness to others is a quality the galaxy certainly needs _more_of... but there is no shame in putting it off for a little happiness for oneself, to pursue dreams and secure love for ourselves. If we did not, most of us would be miserable, and the galaxy might be all the duller for it."

Ka'un looked away. "She's coming tonight, you know."

"Some things never change," she said with a knowing smile. "Don't worry, Ka'un- your dalliances will remain a secret to me and my family- I'd never deny you the happiness you truly deserve. Although, I continue to wonder why you haven't up and divorced your mate, taken Syrra and married Iaora."

The commander frowned. "You don't know Bast like I do. I would not put it past her to resort to a lethal response. I'm not exaggerating."

The Ranger nodded. "You have my sympathies for your situation, Commander. One such as you should not have to be so restricted." She paused. "So... shall I go through my contacts and send you details on some of my finest juvenile trainers, for Syrra? I can have one begin her training a month from now and even find a way to keep Matriarch Bast from finding out."

Ka'un nodded. "Please do- I can have her home instructor informed to work in tandem with you in case... in case something should happen to me." He smiled. "Just as insurance. And also... have you heard anything on those rumors I asked you to follow up on the last time we spoke?"

"The Ekiboan Jedi?"

"The very same."

Atuarre shook her head sadly. "The only reports I've come across on this person are at least a decade old. I'm inclined to believe he was nothing more than a myth. If he was real, he was probably just a Force-sensitive who was self-trained. At worst, he might have been an actual Jedi who escaped the Purge- even if he were still active and I_could_find him, I don't know that I'd inform you. It's not worth putting your daughter in danger from the Empire just through association. We have our hands full just with the CSA. In any event, it's either tall tales, or he's inactive- or dead."

Ka'un sighed. "Very well... it was a long-shot, I suppose. Perhaps one day I'll find someone who can educate her on matters of the Force. Anyway... I should probably let you go- I have a daughter to play with before my lover arrives."

"Enjoy the both of them," Atuarre responded with a grin. "And give my niece a hug for me, will you brother?"

"I promise," Ka'un replied. "Take care."

With Bast being forced to attend the peace talks on Fibuli, Ka'un had been given extended leave time to spend with his family- but with most of his children sent away to private schooling facilities or religious institutions, this was mostly a moot point. Ra'Tasum, his youngest son, was among those who was still being educated, and with Iaora coming later in the day he would find it difficult to find time to visit his child and lend him support. Only Syrra was young enough and 'frail' enough, according to the Matriarch, that it was better she stay home and be taught under the watchful eyes of their servants, and it was Syrra that Ka'un felt deserved the most attention at the moment.

To that end, he had spent most of the afternoon playing with her- little more than chasing and hunting games that appealed to exuberant natural instincts of most Trianii children, mixed with the comfort and joy of cuddling after pouncing. Whatever Bast continued to say about Syrra being frail and weak, Ka'un could not see- she was as energetic and fast as the most agile of Trianii cubs, darting from him, flipping, rolling and jumping to safety until he would catch her and attack her with fatherly nuzzles and kisses.

With no schooling for the day and a few hours of playtime, Syrra had zoned out and curled up back in her room, minutes before Iaora arrived. The servants had allowed her in without question- as a member of their family she was free to enter as she pleased. Yet Ka'un noted happily that she did not immediately inquire where _he_was, instead asking where she might find Syrra. Eager to see her niece, she did not notice him tailing her down the hall leading to the cub's room, and he employed all his skill in stealth to ensure it remained that way, watching as she entered the cub's room. He waited a few moments before approaching, peeking around the doorway.

She was sitting at the edge of Syrra's bed, dressed modestly in simple, cream-colored robes, looking elegant yet humble. She wore no jewelry save a wristband he recognized as one he'd given her many years before, wrapped above the paw she was now using to stroke Syrra's face like a mother tending to her child. Every time he saw her, he loved her all the more- but moments like these, interactions between her and his daughter, made his heart sing.

"Iaora...?"

She turned as he stepped into the doorway, smiling warmly at his guest. With a last brush of Syrra's hair she stood up, her blue eyes meeting his own as she smiled back. "Ka'un."

"She missed you, you know," he said as he stepped forward, standing beside the white-furred Trianii and putting an arm around her waist. "As have I. We don't nearly get to see you often enough these days, to be honest."

Iaora nodded, leaning into his shoulder. "Bast made it clear she'd prefer it if I maintain irregular contact with her. But as she's not here and I'm not trying to meet her, I see no sense in depriving you and Syrra my company." She looked up at Ka'un. "I've missed Syrra- _and_you."

He nodded as bent over her, starting to nuzzle into her neck. "How long can you stay?" he asked, a part of him wishing she would say 'forever'.

"I can stay until the Matriarch returns. Perhaps I'll leave a day before so you can prepare your home for her return," she suggested.

Ka'un nodded. "A wise idea. Last time she caught your scent- but it had been 5 years since she had last been bred, I don't think she recognized it for what it was," he said with a chuckle as he began to kiss her. "Though every time you come here... I wonder if we should deliberately get so into it that when she returns, she knows exactly what has transpired."

Iaora mewed softly, leaning her head to the side as he teased her. "She would slaughter the both of us," she warned him, though she smiled. "Are you so aroused that you'd risk that outcome?"

"Arousal has nothing to do with it, Iaora," he stated seriously. "I_love_you. Since the End-of-Harvest Festival all those years ago, I've always loved you."

The kiss between them was warm and sincere, gentle and simple. Ka'un heard stories of lovers who cheated on their spouses, who slobbered and drooled into each other as they bred shamelessly, making it clear their focus was on each other's bodies rather than each other's hearts. But someone he loved and respected required better- dignity and passion, strong arms holding her carefully as their muzzles met and locked in place. Their purrs melted into each other, vibrating through their bodies as they held in place for what seemed like hours, until a voice at the door cleared itself.

Ka'un broke off the kiss, looking up to see Sitan peering around the doorway, smiling and blushing brightly through her orange fur at the two. "I apologize, sir, for interrupting your private moment. I thought I should inform you that we have finished the meal for you, Syrra and madam Iaora."

Ka'un smiled. "Thank you. We'll be there shortly." He knew he could trust every employee in the manor to keep this secret- respect and love between himself and their servants ensured that Bast would never know of his infidelity. It only helped that Iaora was equally respectful and kind to them. He nuzzled into her, trying to make the moment last longer.

A yawning squeak from next to them changed the scene, as Syrra stretched out and woke up, purring softly. He eyes fell on both adult Trianii, her bleary eyes focusing on the older female, widening as she recognized them. "Aunt Ioara!" She chirped excitedly, all fatigue forgotten as she tossed away her blanket and jumped into her arms, purring and nuzzling her kin.

Iaora laughed and hugged the soft kitten tightly. "Goodness, you've gotten so big, Syrra. We're just about to have dinner, cub- can you show me the way?"

Syrra nodded, letting go and grabbing Iaora's paw, leading her excitedly out of the room.

Iaora's visits were one of the few reasons Ka'un even bothered to remain on Ekibo at all. As a Trianii Ranger married to one of the most powerful Matriarchs within Trianii space, he was perfectly free to have his own housing off-planet for whatever he dictated as 'official business'- but as Iaora lacked a consistent means of booking off-world flights, particularly with the expenses of the war between the Rangers and the CSA, it was safer for him to remain at home, near where she was.

It was also, remarkably, an easier way for him to keep it secret. Nobody would question her visiting family on the very planet that she, too, lived on; while booking ships to visit whatever world he alone was on would arouse suspicion. There was little in her day-to-day interactions with Ka'un and Syrra that merited close investigation- why should an aunt not express affection to her niece? And it would only be determined that Ka'un was a capable host, to escort his sister-in-law through Drohesh and other outlying cities on the otherwise backwater world.

As for the servants, their lips were sealed- they knew full well why Iaora visited. They would clean the very sheets their activities would stain every night she was there, and they could detect the scent of sex every morning when they returned to work, see the completely nude lovers when they arrived to inform them breakfast had been made- sometimes neither of them would wait until the evening to make love, asking the servants to entertain Syrra for a few hours while they mated.

It was a task they were happy to perform, not only because the servants loved Syrra deeply, but because every one of them approved of the companionship they offered one another. Bast could buy loyalty easily, but they had been hired for housekeeping, not loyalty. Ka'un and Iaora, on the other hand, treated them as kin and friends, and did not ask for more than they needed. What tasks they did perform, they did out of respect and love, and so the infidelity continued unknown to virtually anyone else, as it always had since the two had started their dalliances.

It wasn't just about them, though. It had much to do with Syrra, as well.

"Why don't you do what Mother does?" the cub asked as they talked the last day Iaora was able to stay before she had to leave. Ka'un had been called away to accept a message from his mate, keeping up to date with the events on Fibuli and confirming that she would indeed be arriving in two days time; as a result, Iaora had spent the morning with her, playing all manner of Trianii board games, meant to sharpen the cub's mind.

Iaora smiled sadly as she shifted her game piece across the board. "She does her job very well, cub. Too well, in some ways. Once upon a time, I wanted to do what she did, but... some paths cost far too much, cub."

"I don't understand," Syrra responded, frowning as she set down a piece of fruit. "I didn't know you hadda pay to do a job."

Iaora laughed and rubbed the kitten's ears. "Not that kind of cost. Some politicians are mean bullies who try to do the right thing but hurt other people doing it; some have to be dishonest to get ahead; and some of them give up parts of themselves, like their homes and families and loved ones, so they can continue to do that job. I couldn't match up to what the others were doing, and... one of them hurt me. So I left."

"But you still help people, right?" the cub asked, leaning into the ear-rubbing and purring as she looked up with inquisitive eyes.

"I do," Iaora agreed. Ka'un's friend, Aarn, had given her employment as a business partner at his medical center, where she would provide low-cost options to their clients while also getting some medical training- though she doubted Syrra knew what any of that meant. "But not the same way that your father does. He's far braver and stronger than I could ever hope to be- though I'm sure you could do the same," she said encouragingly, tapping the cub's little nose with a finger with a playful smile.

Syrra grinned. "Is that why you're in love with him?"

Iaora paused. "... Why do you say that?"

The cub shrugged. "I dunno. I see most of my friend's mothers and fathers hug and kiss each other a lot, because they love each other." She paused, frowning slightly. "Mother and father don't, though. I don't think they do." She looked up at her aunt. "Why don't they?"

Iaora cleared her throat nervously. "Sometimes people stop loving others, kitten... sometimes they never loved at all." She felt a pang within her- it was not how she wanted to characterize her own sister, regardless of the truth of it, but there it was. "Your mother is... devoted to her duty, I suppose. She wants to do the best she can to serve others, for you and your siblings to excel. I think sometimes... that gets in the way."

Syrra looked confused, though not upset. "I don't understand."

The albino Trianii smiled. "Would it help if I said that no matter what, your father will always love you? You're his sun in the sky, you know."

The cub grinned. "I know- that why I'm gonna be a Trianii Ranger like him! He says he talked to my other aunt so I can be trained!"

Iaora laughed, tousling the cub's hair- she was wondering when Ka'un was going to get around to asking his sister for that support. "And I'm sure you'll follow in his footsteps the entire way, until the day you meet a male of your own."

Syrra stuck out her tongue, gagging overdramatically in a way that caused Iaora to laugh. "No way- after that, I'm gonna be a Jedi Knight! And I'll carry a lightsaber and save people all over the galaxy!"

The elder Trianii smiled, pulling Syrra into a hug. "You can do both- it's not so bad, cub. Your father makes _me_very happy, after all."

Syrra cocked her head. "If he does, then why aren't _you_my mother?" she asked curiously.

Iaora hesitated again. "Well... because your mother gave birth to you, obviously."

Syrra shook her head, looking a little sad. "Nuh-uh, but mother's are supposed to love their children. Sometimes I feel like she doesn't love me. And sometimes... sometimes she's mean to Ra'Ta. He cries sometimes when he's at home, he says he's scared mother will find out his secret."

Iaora frowned. She knew Bast did not favor her youngest son, who was 12 at this point, but she had no idea that Syrra knew what was troubling the cub. "What secret?" she asked.

The cub looked down guiltily. "I'm not s'posed to say..."

She leaned forward, putting a paw on her shoulder. "I promise not to tell, kitten- you know I haven't before, right?"

Syrra looked hesitant, but eventually shuffled closer, whispering. "Ra'Ta... he likes another boy. And they... they did stuff together," she said bashfully, a red glow appearing on her cheeks. "But the boy he liked went to another school, and now Ra'Ta misses him, and he writes letters every day to him. I think he's in love too. But he made me promise not to tell!" she chirped defensively. "I dunno why he would be in trouble, but I don't want mother to cuff his nose again like she does all the time- so please don't tell on him!"

Iaora's heart sank. "I'm sorry... that's awful to hear." Of all the things she expected to hear, it was not that Ra'Tasum was attracted to another male. She could understand why the cub wanted to keep it secret- it was an abomination to their beliefs, the kind of thing many parents would forsake their own children for. And Syrra had no idea how serious this would be. Bast would undoubtedly want to change the boy, hurt him badly in some way, or torment him for the rest of his life.

And Iaora knew such a response was not right. Among the many beliefs her family held dear, she did not accept hatred against homosexuals. She knew she would have to tell Ka'un- he alone shared the same view as she did. She put on a brave face, leaning in and nuzzling Syrra. "Your mother will never hear it from me- and I'll do everything it takes to protect him too. If she won't act like a mother to him, then I will."

Syrra looked relieved. "That's good... he's a nice brother, I know father loves him a lot."

"I certainly do, cub," Ka'un said, smiling at the two as he leaned against the door frame. The cub let out a happy chirp, jumping to her feet and jumping into her father's arm, nuzzling him. It didn't seem to occur to her that he might have overheard what she had just told Iaora, but at the moment it didn't seem to matter as he spun her around once and made her giggle. He set her down and knelt, kissing her forehead. "I'm done talking to your mother, cub- Sitan has dinner ready for you, go and eat, alright?"

"What about you and Aunt Iaora?" she asked.

"We'll be there in a little bit," Ka'un promised her, bopping her nose with a finger. "Go on, before it gets cold." He watched with a warm smile as she scampered off, her bare pawpads slapping against the warm stone until she was out of sight. He sighed, getting back to his feet and looking at Iaora sadly. "So... he fancies another male of his age, then?"

She swallowed, nodding. "Syrra clearly doesn't know what that means... bless her heart for not judging her brother the way anyone else would." She stepped forward, grabbing his wrist. "Ka'un... Bast must _never_find out. It's the one point that she refuses to change stances on. I don't know why she focuses so much hatred on that kind of love, but... it wouldn't be safe for Ra'Tasum."

He nodded. "I'll do all I can to prevent him from being harmed by her. I know very well what her stance is like." He squeezed her paw. "But will you promise to look after him, if I'm ever not around to be there for him when he needs it?"

Iaora nodded vigorously. "Of course, love. Every one of your children."

Ka'un sighed. "There are days when I feel that Ra'Ta and Syrra are my_only_children... the rest are Bast's alone."

"She and Ra'Ta need their mother," Iaora said sadly.

Ka'un smiled. "They _have_their mother. They have you."

Iaora stiffened, feeling confused. "I... I don't understand what you mean."

The Ranger slid his arms around her waist and nuzzled her. "I know you'll keep your promise. I know you'll watch over them if I'm ever not around. And I know you'll love them both as if they were your own... Iaora..." He paused, a sad smile on his face. "When I look at Ra'Tasum, and Syrra especially... I see the son and daughter I should have had with you."

Words failed her as she tried to form a response, her muzzle moving but no sound emanating from it. Her attempts to speak were foiled as he brought his paw to her lips, then kissed her gently. The action helped her breath as she relaxed in his arms, content to merely accept what he had said, pressing back against him as they both tried to make the moment last a lifetime.

Before long, however, he drew away, wordlessly taking her paw and leading her to the dining hall.

Night brought with it an unexpected cold, prompting Ka'un to withdraw an extra blanket for Syrra after the cub ate and went back to sleep. It had been a pleasant scene, with the servants taking a break from work and conversing with the three as they ate- a scene that never took place while Bast was around. Their loyalty to the family was solid, yet they lacked any love for the Matriarch herself- but where Ka'un, Iaora and Syrra were concerned, they were worth serving and spending casual time with.

But once Ekibo's sun had set, they had retired to their own homes, leaving much of the manor empty and silent. The hallways were illuminated with the white-blue glow of the moon overhead, casting deathly still shadows throughout the home. Where there had once been pleasant discussion and laughing, there was an eerie stillness. The only sounds one might hear were the ones coming from the master bedroom.

Ka'un could admit that Bast's body was impressive- strong, fit and yet fertile with wide hips and respectable breasts. It was attractive, to be sure, but Ka'un preferred to body of the female dancing before him- she was slightly toned, slim and agile in most respects, though she possessed curving hips, a round rump and comparatively larger, beautiful breasts; yet is was the way she moved as she twisted and undulated before him which made his chest burn with desire and need. She had shed all her clothing save her wristband, proudly showing off every inch of her naked form as she moved in time to her own heartbeat, which to Ka'un seemed to match his own, even growing in pace as his arousal grew, the display diverting blood to his sheath as he sat back with his legs open, allowing Iaora to see the effect her erotic dance had on him. She breathed heavily, not from exertion but from the thrill and eroticism of the act as she swayed her hips around, every movement devoted towards enticing the male she wished to breed her.

The movement ended as she sank to her knees, ending the traditional Trianii fertility dance in a traditional submission pose, her head bowed to the one the dancer was meant to perceive as her mate. Ka'un stood as was customary, lifting her head up and offering his paw to her- he drew her up back to full height, the two now as equals as their muzzles met and their arms wrapped around each other. Ka'un let out a muffled groan into her muzzle as his cock brushed against the smooth bellyfur of his lover, throbbing slowly as the tool rested between their bodies. A paw slid between them, Iaora grasping the shaft and exploring the length through touch, her fingers sliding along each soft vestigial barb lining the top, sides and underside of his rod, making Ka'un shiver each time she caressed the thick, soft nubs.

She whimpered as Ka'un returned the favor, sliding his paw between her legs and against her unguarded cleft. Rather than attempt to squeeze her thighs together in a futile attempt to force his paw to withdraw, she moaned and rocked her hips into his hand, gritting her teeth as he roughly teased her swollen mound. The dance had been as much for her raising arousal as it had been for raising his, the effort making her warm snatch moist with desire. She arched her back, breaking their kiss and mewling the moment he slid his thick fingers into her slick tunnel. Dizzy with lust she clung to his shoulders, instinctively rolling her cleft firmly into his palm.

He drew back, pulling her along as he got back onto the bed and guided her into his lap, looking up at her with admiration and love in his eyes. It was far too difficult, if not impossible, to tell her precisely how beautiful she looked to him in that moment.

But the look on her eyes and the smile on her face told him she knew.

"Is everything alright, Ka'un?" she asked, purring as she settled into her seat.

He nodded. "Everything is perfect, right now."

He laid flat on his back, letting her lay atop him and they continued to kiss and nuzzle. Paws felt each other up, pressing against their sides, stroking down their shoulders or bellies. He reached up and cupped each of her ripe breasts, drawing a delicate moan from the albino feline as his fingers pressed gently into the warm, plush globes- she responded by flicking her tail around his prick, squeezing around his shaft firmly. A thick, lusty growl rumbled from his throat as they felt each other. Every second that passed, Iaora shifted her hips back slightly, holding her lover's cock into place as she backed up, until her netherlips touched against the pointed tip of his maleness, sticky strings of female arousal combining with the copious output of precum drooling and spitting from Ka'un's cocktip.

She chirped as the male Trianii suddenly grabbed her hips, yowling passionately as he pulled her down and impaled her, a full 8 inches of throbbing Trianii flesh buried in her cleft. Larger than most males of their kind could hope to be, she could feel every firm barb scrape deliciously against her interior walls, mewling as send tingles of bliss throughout her loins. Without any conscious thought she squeezed around his girth with crushing pressure, making it difficult for her to lift her hips up. She jerked almost uncontrollably as those barbs scraped on their way out, until half his length was still locked in her netherlips. With a breathy moan she sank back down and set the rhythm, bouncing repeatedly in his lap, the Ranger beneath her bucking his hips up with perfect counter-thrusts and spearing his throbbing cock deep into her crevice.

The thick slap of her folds and backside impacting against his hips and thighs echoed through the empty manor, supported by their labored breathing as they made love. Deep purrs vibrated through both of them as their paws continued to roam and explore each other- as familiar as their touches were, they kept revisiting the same places, eliciting waves of pleasure as they caressed each other's erogenous zones. Ka'un's paws supported his lover's backside, guiding her tempo and the strength with which she drove her hips down- Iaora's paws brushed through his thicker chest fur, clinging desperately to it as she continued to bounce in his lap, her heavy breasts swaying as her vertical movements kept them moving.

Time passed as she continued to breed herself on his pole, gasping each time he bucked harder up into her sensitive cleft, or when one of his many barbs slashed against her g-spot. Despite desperately desiring the sensation to continue, she felt her strength begin to ebb away, causing her to lean forward and drag herself back and forth against his cock. It was a position viable enough for him to grab her muzzle and kiss her, a pause in coitus following as he held her close and shared a simple, intimate moment. While she struggled to regain her stamina, he took control by driving his strong hips up into her backside, hard enough for his sac to swing up and slap against her rumpcheeks.

The kiss broke off and they found themselves staring into each other's eyes, Ka'un's left paw cupping her cheek. "I've missed this, love..."

"Sex with me?" she purred, though she knew it was not was he was referring to.

"Be my mate," he plead with her, groaning as she squeezed around him again.

She laughed. "I will, until your wife returns."

He stopped, looking up at her seriously. "I mean it. Marry me. Help me find someone to administer a union between us. I'm tired of being so alone, Iaora... I want to know there will be someone waiting for me every time I come back from patrol."

Her face fell. "I... I can't..." she whimpered.

"You don't need to be afraid..." he purred into her ear, rolling in place and setting her on her back, thrusting deep and hilting with her. "It would be secret... it wouldn't interfere with the work you do... it would be yours and mine- between us."

Iaora looked up at him, tears forming at the corner of her eyes, her chest constricted as she tried to form an argument. "My body... I can't give you a child..." she moaned as he continued to thrust into her cleft, his strength and endurance unrelenting.

"I don't want another child," he said softly, kissing at her throat as he bred her, his paws holding her shoulders in place as she writhed beneath him. "I want you. I want a family with you and Syrra in my life. I want the chance to run away with you both, to have the life I dreamed of with you."

The tears rolled down her face, brought on by a mixture of incredible bliss melded with sorrow and desire for the man that held her. There was a difference now between what she felt every time she copulated with Ka'un in the past, and what she was feeling now. Her loins burned with need, yet couldn't compare to the ache in her chest as she tried to speak, to give him her answer. She struggled to say something, anything, finding it nearly impossible between her apprehension to give him an answer and his deep thrusts.

"It's our last night together, Iaora... after that, there will be another period where I'll long for you to return... 19 years, so much wasted time- I want the family I asked for so long ago..." He held her down, arching his back as he began to roll his hips into her, plunging his member into her depths with powerful, grinding thrusts. He could feel every inch of her inner walls bear down on his flesh, forming the perfect sheath to his cock, shaping itself around him as he hammered it again and again into her. His hips were sore from the beating they administered to her, a satisfying ache in his pelvis that flared up and only accentuated the build-up in his balls as they stung, demanding release.

Yet even with his balls burning and threatening to overwhelm what endurance he had left, he held strong. He had always made sure she finished first, and the offer he had made to her demanded he do the same. He chipped away at her willpower, whispering sweetness into her ears, oaths of happiness if she would only accept him; all the while he drilled her hole, spearing up against her cervix and threatening to breach the entrance to her womb. She cried out his name, but little else beyond incoherent moans and mewling. It would not be long, he knew, before she would give in.

"Ka'un... I... yes...!"

It was there. Her passionate moans sang a song of need, reaching their crescendo as her legs wrapped around his waist and squeezed tight. She grabbed handfuls of the fur on his shoulders and neck, pulling herself up reflexively as she arched her back, screaming as she experienced a mind-shattering climax, searing heat blooming from her womb as she clenched hard around her mate's cock. Ka'un responded with a roar, claws digging into the sheets and tearing them apart as he responded, blasting her womb full of thick, hot seed, the pressure enough to splatter out from around his length as it rapidly flooded her inner walls.

For at least half a minute her nerves sang out in bliss, squeezing around her mate with arms as legs as she refused to let him go. Her breasts rose and fell, pressing against Ka'un's chest as she breathed heavily, the rapid thudding of her heart hammering in her chest. But her failing strength, her exhaustion, finally set in and she released him, sinking into the soft mattress beneath her with a satisfied moan, mewling as he withdrew with still-hard prick from her depths.

She found it hard to focus, blinking rapidly as she nearly dozed off in her post-orgasmic warmth, until she felt Ka'un's paw on her cheek. His deep blue eyes stared into hers, questioning, curious.

"... 'Yes'...?" he asked, hopeful.

Iaora nodded. "Yes... I will be your mate, Ka'un."

He swallowed. "You mean it?"

Her eyes burned with tears. "With all my heart. I'm so sorry... I should have said yes so long ago... I would have known a happier life with you..." She choked slightly, trying to force past the lump in her throat. "Somehow... we'll make it work."

They said nothing else. Everything that would follow would be planned, they knew- they would find some means to wed out of sight. If there ever came an opportunity to flee, Ka'un would seize it and take Syrra with him.

But none of that mattered in the face of the tender moment they now shared, kissing each other deeply and finally succeeding in making the moment last the lifetime they wanted to, if only in their hearts and minds.

Iaora didn't know how long she had been asleep. Perhaps only a matter of moments, or minutes- but the shadows had not shifted perceptibly since she had closed her eyes, held close to Ka'un's warm body, when she was aroused from sleep by quiet whimpers. With only one other Trianii in the manor, Iaora found herself roused from sleep almost instantly, concerned with what might be the matter with Syrra. At almost the same moment, Ka'un stirred from sleep as well, the sound of his daughter whimpering drawing him out of sleep.

She was standing at the doorway in her sleeping tunic, sniffling and rubbing her tired eyes as she waddled forward, stopping a few feet from the bed. "Father... had a nightmare.... I heard scary sounds... I don't wanna sleep alone," she cried quietly, her ears flat against her head as she wiped her face. "Can I... sleep here with you?"

Ka'un paused, looking apprehensive. Iaora frowned at his hesitation, wondering why he did not answer immediately- until she remembered Bast was usually in the bed with him.

"I... I don't know if..."

"I know Mother says no, but I'm scared..." she whimpered pleadingly, cringing as if expecting to be cuffed over the ears. Iaora's heart fell at the sight and she whispered into her lover's ear.

"Let her stay... Bast isn't here, it's just for tonight," she coaxed him gently, rubbing his shoulder. "And I... I want watch over her."

Ka'un stared at her, looking worried. "We just... you and I..."

She shook her head. "She won't know what to make of it. And that matters the least right now. She needs you... and me."

Ka'un nodded, relenting with a smile and turning back to his cub. "Alright- just for tonight, Fluff-ball. C'mere..." He took her paw and pulled her in, the cub's sniffling shifting into a quiet purr as she climbed between him and Iaora, sighing as she snuggled between them.

Iaora hesitated a moment, her paw inches from the kitten's face as she longed to comfort her. It wasn't until Ka'un took her paw and guided it further that she found the nerve to stroke her face tenderly. "What is it that scared you, cub?" she whispered quietly.

Syrra shivered, her eyes closed. "Heard noises... a crying woman calling for Father..."

Iaora blushed. There was no question as to what had caused her to imagine that. She smiled all the same, pressing her nose against the cub's forehead and nuzzling. "You're safe here, cub... I promise I'll watch over you."

Syrra yawned, her small arms clinging to Iaora as she nestled her head into her neck.

"I love you, Mother."

It was as if someone had eliminated all the oxygen from her body. Iaora tensed, trying to will her body into breathing again, but even as she managed to inhale, it was not enough.

Mother.

Her wide eyes flicked up to Ka'un, who looked happier than she had ever seen him in her life. She tried to form words, finding it just as impossible to do so as she had earlier. The cub in her arms had affected her deeply, more deeply that she had ever expected. Rational thought came back to her, illuminating the cause of her shock as her tears started to flow. Ka'un's paw touched her face and leaned in to kiss her as the family they both had desired for so long became a reality. Grief and joy mixed as they both realized how temporary this night was, but joy won out as she managed to articulate her thoughts.

"She called me Mother, Ka'un." She would have screamed her joy to the stars if she knew she would not have woken Syrra, but nothing could stop her body from being wracked with silent sobs as she held their cub... their daughter.

My daughter.

"... He died a month later," Syrra said baldly.

Kajex Surnahm's ears flattened against his hair sadly as he stood several feet behind his lover, the Trianii Ranger and Jedi Padawan knelt before the small memorial that had been erected 15 years prior by the finest stonemasons on the planet. A meaningless scrawl had been carved into the face of it that spoke of his heroism and bravery and noble sacrifice; and absolutely nothing concerning the ones who loved him, the happiness he had invoked in others, or the family he had left behind. It had not escaped the wolf's notice that the humble memorial had not been well-maintained, despite Ka'un having been the husband of an influential and powerful Trianii Matriarch. The only flowers laid at the memorial were the ones that Syrra and her present kin had laid out, 4 in all.

A harsh chill in the air caused all present to shiver from the cold- even though they all possessed body fur and some manner of jackets or shawls, it bit harshly. The rain had not yet started to fall, but the distant rumble signaled it would not be long. There was no cover to be found on the top of the hill where Ka'un's memorial lay, but none among them suggested Syrra cut her grieving short.

Talrik looked at her sympathetically. "How did it happen?" the fox asked quietly. She did not answer, but a voice behind them did.

"Ka'un was called in several weeks after the peace talks had concluded. The terms of the treaty demanded that the Corporate Sector Authority cease all attempts to annex Trianii-controlled planets, which most of CorpSec obeyed without question," Atuarre explained softly. "As a well-decorated commander he was entrusted with the task of patrolling the trade routes around Fibuli, along with his own hand-selected team. It was, more than anything, a political gesture to put the people's mind at peace. Very few others could be trusted to guard our borders efficiently, or with the same measure of courage that he was known for. When a splinter faction of the CSA appeared in Trianii space, he demanded they retreat. They refused and he was forced to fight."

She stepped forward, pulling her cloak tighter around her as she looked over one of the finest Trianii Rangers students she had ever personally trained, sadness on her features as she stood next to her niece. "In the middle of the battle, a second starship entered the fray, Interdictor-class. With no way for Ka'un's squadron to enter hyperspace, they were being battered from two sides. To safeguard their lives and give them a chance to escape, he overloaded his engines and collided his ship into their gravity well projector, removing the interdiction field and allowing his comrades to retreat."

She wiped her eyes. "At the time... I had sworn to my older brother that Syrra would be instructed by the best of my trainers. Because Matriarch Bast outright refused to see her join the Trainii Rangers on the basis of her being too weak, she forbade them entry into her home. But as Ka'un's blood, she could not refuse me, nor prevent me from seeing my own niece. So I took it upon myself to oversee her combat education, using Aarn's business as a meeting location, and then later the Baarok Manor when he became successful."

Syrra nodded, her voice thick and subdued. "I studied medicine from one aunt and combat from another there, until I was 12. Bast eventually found out and tried to put a stop to it, but the yu'nar rejected her plea because they felt it coincided with what my father would have wanted."

Atuarre smiled despite the somber mood, placing a comforting paw on her shoulder. "She could not put a stop to your wishes- or your father's. Despite her attempts to persuade you otherwise, you still enlisted. Ka'un would have been proud of you, Syrra."

Iaora nodded, striding to Syrra's other side and putting her paw on her other shoulder. Though she also wept, her smile was genuine- whatever grief she still felt for the loss of her mate in spirit, was overshadowed by her pride in the woman who had become her daughter in spirit. "I agree. He would have been proud to see how beautiful you've grown up to be, how strong and brave you've been. He would have been joyful knowing you became just as selfless and skilled as he was- and that in the end, you _did_find the means to become a Jedi."

The Padawan nodded, tears rolling down her face. "Thank you... both of you... but for now, I... I need to be alone. Could you all... give me a moment?"

Each of them nodded, all of them starting to move away.

"... Except you, Kajex. Please... stay with me?"

The wolf paused, glancing back at Talrik, Aarn, Iaora and Atuarre before moving back to his lover. He approached slowly, apprehensive and respectful of whatever space she might have needed, until she turned to him. He had never seen so much grief in her sapphire-blue eyes before, wordlessly pleading for him to come closer. She did not need to use the Force to indicate she wanted him to kneel next to her- he got down next to her, putting an arm around her waist as she shook with barely-contained sobs.

"W-would it... would you find it s-silly... for you t... introduce yourself t-to him?" she said between stuttered breaths.

The wolf said nothing for a moment, trying to think of what to say- but the idea of Ka'un's spirit lingering, watching over his daughter was far from the most ridiculous thing Kajex had heard. He didn't need to be convinced, for as far as he was concerned, it was just as real as any aspect of the Force; hard to describe, often invisible- but affecting everyone whose lives it touched.

"... I'm Kajex Surnahm, sir. I've been, for the last 6 months, working with Syrra closely. And... I've fallen in love with her. I hope you approve of our relationship, and where we both want it to go from here. In the time we've known each other, we've fought, bled and loved together, doing good for the galaxy." He paused. "... I wish I had known you in person, sir. Syrra talks about you frequently, always with love and admiration- but you probably know that already. She's honest, though, so I know everything she says about you is true. I can only imagine Bran and Kane would've loved and admired you, too." He hesitated again, trying not to linger too long on them as he struggled to continue.

"I... I wish you had been alive to see how... how great your daughter is, so you could tell her what everyone else tells her- that she's overcome so much with tenacity and integrity. I wish I could tell you in person how she's saved so many lives, including my own, and... more than anything, I wish you had your family back, and that they had you back again. You, and Syrra... and Iaora." Another pause as he swallowed. "I know how important family can be, and what it's like to lose them- which is why I'm going to do my absolute best to be there for Syrra. I'll make sure your Sun in the Sky shines all the brighter."

He glanced at Syrra, who seemed to be calmer. "For now... just watch us. I know she's bound to make you proud. May the Force preserve you." The wolf smiled. "And if you should happen see my dads in whatever afterlife awaits us... I'd appreciate it if you tell them... I haven't wrecked the ship yet like they thought I would. Thanks."

The Trianii burst out laughing, sniffling and wrapping her arms around the wolf as she half-sobbed, half-giggled into his neck, purring gently. "Thank you, Kajex..."

The wolf nodded, nuzzling her forehead and running a paw down her back. He glanced up for a moment, brightening as he saw a tear through the clouds, a glint of gold and shade of blue beginning to show. As he wrapped his arms around her, warmth started to return to the surface, a shaft of sunlight illuminating the both of them and the memorial they knelt by. He smiled again.

"Anytime."