Time Apart -- Brings Them Together
That night, Aeri lay in her bed thinking of Alexei. She wondered if he would volunteer. If she had known that he could, she would have talked him into coming on board with her. But they might have been assigned to different ships. She couldn't sleep. She was tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable. It was too cold. She needed Alexei's body heat. She curled up in a ball, her long fluffy tail curled around her legs. She closed her eyes as tears wet the fur on her face. "Mother Bastet" she whispered in solemn prayer. "Guide my steps.... Keep my brother from harm.... As we endure this time apart.... Grant us both strength and endurance to carry on ...." her voice started to break, "Even though the pain, may be great, your power is greater, and I place my faith into that power, and ask that you surround us with it. May the Fates be kind, and in all things, may we grow wise. May it be so." she closed the prayer with a gesture of faith, and then only then was she able to get to sleep, as she felt the warm energy of the Feline Goddess surround her with love and compassion, preparing her for the journey ahead. She would need her rest. ******Back on the Mainland*****"Shuster, what were you thinking stealing that?"The cheetah's ears wilted, feeling attacked. "Why do you think?? It's so you can be with your sister, we all know you are no good without her to care for and she's probably making a mess of things on her own""Aeri is not-- you know what, forget it, you are gonna bring the law down on all of us, having stolen a State issue Brand! They'll have your hide for this, you'll be some haughty human's throw rug." Alexei countered, folding his arms across his chest. "Look, you two need to be together, I know this, because I've seen it."The room went still. Alexei's face went solemn, eyes a bit wide. "You haven't had a vision for months, why now?""How the hell should I know, you think I can control it? Anyway you two need to be together or something bad will happen. Something big""What did you see?"Shuster just shook his head a swoop of his red hair swished in front of his amber cheetah eyes. "That's not important, the important part is the solution. That's why i swiped this from one of the captains at the docks." he waved the brand stick in Alexei's face The snow leopard eyed it and backed up ... "So you're gonna brand me?"" Would you rather Tybalt do it? You know his hands shake when he's nervous. No, it has to be perfect. Who has a steadier hand than me?" Shuster replied Alexei frowned, glancing at the rabbit, Tybalt who was watching intently, worry in his eyes, making his ears twitch. "Don't do it, Lex"he whispered."If I don't and the dangers come, like Shuster said, I would never forgive myself. Besides this is my best chance of seeing Aeri again." he said, drumming his paw on his arm as they were still crossed across his chest. After a moment, he nodded and gave the other feline a level look. "Mark me" he said.