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Matheau and Beijore XXIV: Family Meeting

Okay, you know the drill by this point in time. Matheau, Beijore, and their kids are all copywritten to me, dont use them without my consent.

The first night in her new home had been cold, lonely, and she had not slept well. She yawned loudly and paced about her home restlessly. She had promised her mother that she would go back and explain to everyone why she had left. Needless to say, she was not looking forward to the discussion, but she would much rather do it now than wait for a prolonged period of time and risk making everyone angrier than they already were.

The morning was cloudy, and the clouds were pregnant with rain. Already it had begun to sprinkle, and an occasional flash of lightning lit the sky in the distance. Though Sasha could fly fairly well, she did not want to risk being caught in the approaching storm. So it was with a heavy sigh that she launched herself off of the cliff to start heading home. The wind was starting to pick up, and the definitely was not good. She hurried as quickly as she could, and was very glad for her extra effort. For no sooner had she landed near her parent's cave than a heavy gale blew through the mountain valley. Rain began to pour in thick, heavy drops. Lightning streaked across the sky and thunder clapped, roaring out it's fury like a great dragon bellowing its rage. Sasha stepped inside, breathing hard and already dripping wet, even though she had been in the rain only a few seconds.

When she entered the main chamber, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up at her. Her mother and father had been playing with her newest brothers and sister. Jocelyn and Aurokhan had been talking to each other quietly over a parchment of paper. What the conversation had been about Sasha didn't know, having only caught a few words of it. There was an eerie silence that choked the room like a thick fog. She must have looked a poor sight, dripping water as she was. The silence was finally broken by a clap of thunder and the scared piping from her younger siblings. Beijore nuzzled her husband and said quietly, "You all have much to discuss. I'll try and get these three settled for a nap and be back as soon as I can." Her father nodded and after gathering up the hatchlings, her mother disappeared from view. Her father was the first to speak, and his voice was soft and full of hurt.

Your mother hasn't told us anything since she came back home yesterday." He said. "Only that you did not want to be found. Sasha, what on earth is going on? Why did you run from home?" Sasha lowered her eyes, full of guilt. She thought her mother would at least tell them something, so it might be a little bit easier for her to explain everything to them. She lifter her eyes and looked at her brother and sister, both of which she could tell were holding back tears, and then back to her father.

"Everyone, I sorry to make you worry so." She said softly. "But there is a lot you don't know that has made me follow this path that I have chosen." Aurokhan looked as though he would speak, and Sasha lifted her claw. "Don't, my brother. Let me explain myself first." He fell still and Sasha began again. "Father, part of the reason I ran is because the child that I carry within me is a son. How I know, I cannot begin to explain. But this child.....he is your son, not Aurokhan's." Aurokhan and her father started visibly and turned to look at one another, while Jocelyn stared at the both of them with an open mouth. "And Aurokhan, my dear brother, I'm sorry......but that is all you can be to me now, is my brother." Tears filled her eyes until they started to streak down her cheeks. She let them go unchecked, for she was not ashamed of her tears. "The child is not yours to care for, and my son and I will not get in the way of your relationship with Jocelyn and your rightful children. It's not fair to them." The storm outside raged harder now and the rolls of thunder were coming more frequently now that it was getting closer. Silence again hung thick in the air before Jocelyn spoke through a sob.

"Do you not love us anymore, is that it?" She stood and approached Sasha as she spoke until she was nearly snout to snout with her. "These past years we have spent together, have they truly meant nothing at all to you? The time that we have spent together, the things we have learned, the love that we have shared, has it all been for nothing?" Sasha did not know how to respond. Of course she loved her brother and sister. She always had, and she always would, but there was part of her that could never again be that close to them. Things had changed far too much for that.

"Joce, you and I have been close ever since we came out of the egg." A small, barely detectable smile crossed her lips as she spoke. "We became closer still through the first months and years of our lives. We used to always tease Aurokhan, especially when he got into trouble. Like that one time he wished he was a girl." At any other time, they all probably would have laughed, but the situation was far too dark. "We have experienced amazing things together, but our life is like a road. No road stays straight forever, there are twists and turns, and roads split. And so it must be that my road must split from yours, dear sister. But roads also merge again down the path, and I am certain that ours will do the same."

"I won't let you go!" Aurokhan broke in fiercely. He moved quickly to Sasha and seized her forearms so that she couldn't pull away from him. "I love you just as much as I love Jocelyn, and I won't let you go. I don't care if the child isn't mine, everything will work out fine, I promise." Aurokhan clung to her pleading, desperate. She knew he was sincere in his words, but she also knew in her heart that this was the best thing for all of them. If she were to stay, it would be unfair to not only Jocelyn, but to their children as well.

"Aurokhan let me go please." Sasha said calmly. "I was your love once, and I will forever love you as my brother. But my decision is my own, and you cannot change it, nor can anyone else. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if you do not release me." Aurokhan looked stunned as he stared into her eyes. He obviously saw the fire glowing there and wisely let go of her.

"So that's it then?" Matheau asked coldly. "You're just going to up and leave, disown your family......all for fear?" He snorted loudly. "No child of mine is that weak." The implication of the statement was as painful as a physical blow, directly applied to her heart. But Sasha was born in her father's image, and her ferocity equaled or possibly even surpassed his.

"If that is the way you feel, Matheau," Sasha said, purposely using his name to make the blow that more damaging. "Then you will never see your son, nor will he ever know his father." Matheau winced, and even Jocelyn gasped and held a claw over her mouth. Matheau stood quickly in anger, snarling at her. While less than half his size, Sasha crouched and hissed right back.

There was a thunderous roar that shook the very walls of the cave; deafening everyone in the room and making all of them clap their claws over their ears. It was not the storm raging outside that had caused the roar. No, this might roar came from an enraged Beijore, who stomped into view. Her eyes, which were normally a deep, calm emerald green, were no darkened almost to black with her fury. "The both of you are acting like fucking idiots!" She hissed loudly, and everyone backed off a pace. She strode towards Matheau and with a snarl; she punched him in the jaw with all her might. The impact was so fierce; Aurokhan, Jocelyn, and Sasha all cringed as though they had taken the blow. The force of the blow knocked Matheau off of his feet and left him dazed. Beijore stood over him with fangs bared. "That is for even thinking the idea of disowning our daughter. And you......" she turned her burning gaze on Sasha, moving to her as quick as the wind. Sasha had no time to react or defend herself, and Beijore backhanded her so hard that she was likewise knocked from her feet, and seeing stars to boot. "That is for being selfish and thinking only of yourself, and for thinking of taking your father's child away from him." She shook her head and growled while her husband and daughter tried to recover from her violent assault.

"You haven't stopped to think at all, have you Sasha?" Beijore paced about to cool herself down. "The decision you have made affects more than just you. Think of poor Aurokhan and Jocelyn. They lose not only a sister, but the one they had chosen as their life mate. Your father loses not only his daughter, but a son too." She paused at the entrance to the cave, staring out into the rain. "And I lose my daughter and a grandson." Matheau had gotten back to his feet and was rubbing his jaw, while Aurokhan helped him clean up the blood.

Sasha's ears were still ringing, though thankfully the stars had stopped flashing. "You know that isn't how it is, mother" she said quietly. "I promised that I would come visit at least once a week."

"But would you keep that promise if you were pissed off at your father?"

Sasha couldn't answer because she knew that if she were as angry at her father as she just was, she probably would not keep the vow. Still, even through the violence, she knew she now had a lot more to consider. She had been selfish in her decision, not for a second taking into consideration the depth of the impact her choice would have on others. One thing her mother had said was not true, however. She was not entirely selfish in her decision. She had been concerned about taking Aurokhan's attention away from Jocelyn and their children.

"Mother, I thought you understood? I talked to you about this yesterday." She shook her head and wiped tears from her eyes. "I have always and will always love my family. But my decision is made, and there is nothing that any of you can do to change it." Aurokhan approached her slowly, and Sasha tensed in anticipation for another attack, but Aurokhan did not strike her. He cupped her cheek gingerly in his claw and wiped her tears away.

"Sasha, is this truly what you want?" He asked, barely above a whisper. "To be separated from us, we who love you with all our hearts? I understand that you are afraid, but Jocelyn and I will be here by your side, and so will other and father. Sasha leaned her head into his claw, enjoying the warmth. She didn't want to leave......but.....

She pulled away from him and walked outside into the storm, and everyone followed her. The rain was still coming down heavily, though thankfully the winds had stopped, and so had the lightning. Sasha stared up into the rain, wincing as the drops fell into her eyes. "Mother, you know about when I will lay my egg, right?" When her mother nodded, Sasha leveled her gaze on her father and brother. "I want father there for when I lay the egg, and for when our son hatches." Sasha spoke quietly but firmly, so that there was no room for debate. "And to answer your question, my brother, give me time, that's all I ask. Give me some time to collect myself and my thoughts, and time to sort out the turmoil within myself." She smiled warmly at him and beckoned him closer to her. When he approached, she kissed his lips lightly. "Do not follow me, please. Wait for me, and I will find you. If you truly love me, then you will let me go for now." Without another word, she turned and leapt off the ledge to fly home. Aurokhan sat in the rain and watched her until she was gone. He dropped his head and closed his eyes, the heat of tears burning his cheeks in comparison to the cold rain. His father, mother and mate all approached him, but only Jocelyn sat down next to him, taking his claw in her own and laying her head on his powerful breast.

"Will we wait for her honey?" she asked softly, nuzzling him for comfort. Aurokhan raised his eyes to the heavens.

"Forever if we have to, love."