Knadyn: A Terraneu Novel (Book Six) (12 page)

“We will do as you ask.” Renee interrupted his son.

“No father, I won’t do as he asks.” Jeromy and his father argued.

“We have another chance to do things right.” Renee tried to get Jeromy to
listen but he was too spoiled and had always gotten his way.

“To do what? Bow and scrape to this bunch?” Jeromy was backing away. “I
won’t do it. We will fight you.” He spat with bravado.

“Then you will die.” Knaleg stood up and glared at the young male. “We
will not hunt you down or torture you. However, know this…if you harm one
person under our protection—”

“What? You will find me?” Jeromy looked ready to snap.

“No.” It was Marcael that spoke this word. Not loudly but with cold
authority. It made every other time she had heard him seem like warm and fuzzy
bunnies. The cold look he was giving Jeromy promised death and chilled her to
the bone to see it, and it wasn’t directed at her. “I will…and I will be
bringing Knadyn with me.”

Jeromy paled and then stormed from the tent.

Renee sighed, “I know nothing I say will mean anything, but I am sorry.
My community will not argue your demands. The leadership will step aside and
not run for the new council. This is a chance for our communities survival. Our
only chance, I will make them see that.”

“We will be building around the new Earth Command Center. This new
community will be a haven for all survivors that want to live here. Those that
do not wish to come here will be allowed their freedom. My males will do
six-month duty rotations at a time. At first to guard and build, then to serve
in whatever duties the new Earth Council sees fit. If they have any concerns,
they will take those to Steve Howard. He is the final authority regarding my
males. The community will start receiving people in six months. If you have any
citizens in dire health, send them right away.”

Kniam glanced around, “Is there anything else?” When it remained silent,
he hit the gavel on the table. “We are done here.”

As they walked back into the new command center dome, everyone was
talking and making plans. “We need an additional twenty-five males to be here
working on building domes. We can have a replication center up and running in a
week. I have talked with Knalech and he has agreed to come for the second
six-month period. I will work the first round to make sure things go smoothly.”
Kneus was ahead of them in their group.

“If you are staying, then so am I.” Gwen was holding Kneus’ hand and Ava
saw her tighten her grip. “I will be able to help with the medical units, and
getting them set up. Not to mention I am familiar with old fashioned medical
procedures. I can wing it if I have to.”

“We can finalize who is coming back to stay when we get to Antilles. We
need someone to go through to Terraneu and arrange for the twenty-five
volunteers. I would like to be considered for the first round.” Knollig pulled
Mairi close with an arm around her shoulders, “It will be nice to see where
Mairi came from and I would like to be a part of making things succeed here in
Scotland. I could work with Steve and help with any diplomatic issues that
arise.”

“Well if you are staying, then so am I.” Mairi laughed, “I imagine that
grandfather will want to come back for a visit too. He is getting really
talented with his woodworking and I’m sure he would be a huge help here.”
Callum McPherson was the man who had helped Kneus get women for the males of
Terraneu. They had used his property that included where the current port pad
and new Earth Command Center were sitting. Without him, there wouldn’t be any
of the next generation of children on Terraneu.

“We will make decisions from Antilles.” Kniam stated again, “I would like
half of each council to remain on Terraneu for decision making there.” They had
all stepped into the teleporting dome and joined the line to go back to
Antilles.

Ava and Knadyn waited for their turn and before long, they were standing
in the staging tent on Antilles. There was a flurry of activity going on. It
hadn’t stopped since the portal went active this morning. There were supplies
of every kind being sent through every minute. There were men planning and
gearing up for the six months stay on Earth. All of them were single. It seemed
like the men were interested in finding mates on Earth. Ava wasn’t sure about
that plan. Could a female that was changed genetically for Earth’s one sun be
changed again for Terraneu? She knew that it had been done for Marcael, his
friend Cole and Baylech. Those three had originally been genetically altered to
use the energy from a spaceship called the Elyon. When they had ended up on
Terraneu and had the change to the two suns, the stress had caused the
snow-white hair. Not that it would matter if it came to mates. She would have
done it for Knadyn. Having white hair was of no consequence.

“I need to talk with Knacayn before he goes back.” Knadyn gave her a
quick kiss then hurried to where his brother was standing. Ava watched them and
knew that Knadyn was telling his brother about her. After awhile Knacayn and
Knadyn hugged then he was walking back to her side.

“Are you okay?” she asked him. He had already been told by the council
that she couldn’t go until the next six months. They wanted to give her the
extra time to heal just in case. If Ava wasn’t going to be allowed to go,
Knadyn wasn’t going either. She felt bad that because of her, he wouldn’t be
with the rest of his family but she knew he wouldn’t go even if she told him it
was okay. Her father was changed for the one sun of Earth and would be fine.
Gwen promised to keep an eye on him just in case.

“Yes. I am fine.” Knadyn held her tighter against his side, “I know that
they will be safe with the large number of armed men we are sending.” He sighed
heavily, “Six months in our lives is really not that long…”

“It’s understandable to be concerned for your family.” Ava turned into
his arms to hug him, “I know you are going to be worried and miss them. I will
just have to work at a way to keep you occupied.”

She felt the laughter rumble through his chest as much as she heard it,
“You think that you can distract me?”

Rising on her tiptoes she barely touched her lips to his, “I know I can.”
Taking his lower lip in a quick nibble and release, she lowered back to her
feet. This was not the time or place for extended displays of affection. There
was too much going on, and so many of his family and friends were going to
Earth.

In the end, the males going to Earth for the next six months from the
male council were Kneus, Knollig, Kniam and Marcael. Staying behind to run
things on Terraneu were Asteen, Ailech, Baylech, Thian and Knaleg. Although he
had argued and stormed around, Kniam had insisted that not only did Knaleg have
younger children, his twins Ella and Knayon were still school aged…but he was
needed for the security of Terraneu. Knaleg had relented only when it was
promised that he could go on the second six-month run, which would be more
fraught with danger since the community would be integrating the government
survivors with the rebels. The idea of tempering any fighting seemed to appeal
to him and he quieted.

The females going were Gwen, Mairi, Amber and Brennae. There had been
heated arguments on the males part, and in the end, the females held out. They
were going and that was final. Ava didn’t worry for their safety. With that
group of males in charge of their protection, she almost felt sorry for anyone
that got in the way.

At the end of the day, with hurried goodbyes and hugs all around…the
groups going to Earth went through the portal. The rest returning to Terraneu,
headed that way. Through all the chaos, the native Antilleans were a huge help
and Ava respected their contribution to the success of the day.

Tired and worn out their group landed back in Terraneu. Without Amber to
organize the celebration dance usually held the next day, Catherine took up the
reins and Ava found herself volunteered. Tomorrow was going to be just as
hectic.

She had seen the celebration dance six months ago, but she hadn’t been
with Knadyn to enjoy it. Now that she experienced it with him by her side, she
could definitely say she had a whole new understanding of its appeal. Dancing
with Knadyn in the park, surrounded by his friends and family. Lights were
twinkling on every surface, with the banners billowing in the wind and music
floating on the breeze. She would argue this was pretty close to heavenly.

“Everyone brace yourself. The gnowlers are coming through.” She heard
someone yell then there was a flurry of movement as everyone hurried to the
paths.

“What are gnowlers?” Ava was sure she had been told about them, she just
couldn’t remember.

“They keep the grass from getting too high. They eat it and keep it
trimmed. My mother calls them the equivalent of Earth lawnmowers.”

“I am familiar with those. When we came out of the bunkers, the
overgrowth of plants was everywhere. We tried to get the machinery to work,
including lawnmowers, but they were too rusted…” her voice trailed off as a
swarm of small, furry creatures swept through the area. They were making a
half-chirping, half-growling noise. “Oh. They are so cute.”

Knadyn laughed, “Yeah. Until you see that they have a million teeth.”

“Do they bite?” Ava was rethinking her previous opinion on their
cuteness.

Knadyn laughed harder, “No, they are harmless. My sister and mother have
a few as pets. Though no one else has managed it.”

“Their pets… this is terrible. Who is going to take care of their pets
while they are on Earth?”

Knadyn pulled her back onto the grass, “They will have asked Jen or Aunt
Cat to look out for them.”

“Oh.” Ava was relieved that the pets were taken care of. A small part of
her had been hoping that she might get a chance to care for them. She had
always wanted a pet. “That’s—”

“No Star! You cannot go after the gnowlers. Your mommy would be mad at
you.” Ava heard Catherine yelling.

“Who is Star?” she turned and then froze in panic. There was a giant
fanged, huge cat-dog like animal stalking after the furry grass eating fur
balls. Then Ava noticed that there were more of them winding their way around
the legs of the dancers, all of them heading toward the direction the gnowlers
had gone. “Knadyn. What are those?” she whispered so that the man killers
wouldn’t hear her.

“What?” He looked back at the crowd and his aunt wrestling with Star.
“You did not get told about the Sacath either?” Taking her hand, he reassured
her, “They are domesticated animals from Antilles. My parents had two, Cebat
and Tabec. They passed from old age recently and mom…make that everyone was
devastated. She hasn’t gotten a new one yet. They had babies though…Lady and
Titan. They are both over there…the golden one and the brindle. They are
getting up there in age too.” Looking around he waved his hand in the direction
of two more, “The black one my aunt is wrestling is Star, she’s my sisters.
That white fellow over there is named Jasper. He was a gift my sister gave to
Marcael. They are hoping to breed them soon.” He turned his face back to hers.

“They are coming this way.” Ava went stiff as a board.

“Do you want me to send them away?” Knadyn pulled her closer, “They are
very well trained.”

Sure Ava thought sarcastically, she could see that. With his aunt having
to wrestle one to keep it from eating the poor gnowlers. Hearing a cooing sound
from her feet Ava looked down. It was a gnowler. Her eyes went to the black
beast stalking toward her, to the fur ball at her feet, and then back and
forth. What was she going to do?

“Knadyn, do something.” She pointed down at the gnowler, then at the
animals stalking it. The white sacath had joined the female. Without thinking,
Ava bent over and picked up the angry gnowler and it began to coo again. With
the sacath right on her heels Ava yelled, “No gnowlers.” The sacath stopped
inching forward their ears perked up. “I said no!” She set the gnowler down
next to her foot and clapped her hands. “Sit.” Now that she noticed, there were
a large number of sacath in front of her. They all sat at her command.

“Looks like we have Brennae’s replacement for the next six months.” A
tall man with kind eyes had been walking by. “My name is Iesti. Stop by the
sorrem holding in the morning if you want to work with the animals.”

Ava looked to Knadyn, “Sorrem?”

“Pack animals. Like Earth horses.” He explained.

“Oh, thank you for the offer.” She smiled thinking she might just have a
job to do for the next six months. The sacath were not happy being ignored and
had taken to rubbing against her. The fur was soft and the animals so friendly
she was soon trying to pet all of them.

“Okay you pests. Go home.” Knadyn waved them away and they moved off. He
saw the way she was worrying her lip between her teeth. “We can check to make
sure they are all taken care of after the dance.” Seeing that she was still
watching them he sighed, “We might have to request dual domes to take care of
those sacath until the Earth mission is over?”

Ava stilled and looked into Knadyn’s eyes, “Do you want to move in with
me?” They hadn’t talked about living together.

“I want you to be happy. If having your own space is vital to that
happiness, I will stay in the dome next door and take half the sacath.”

Ava thought it over and smiled, “I think I will only be happy if we are
living in the same dome. Let the sacath take the other side.”

“Do you mean it? I thought you wanted to move slowly?” Knadyn’s face
shone with happiness.

“That is taking it slowly.” She laughed happily. In another six months
see if they weren’t in New Haven with the other mated couples.

About the Author

On the front of new and exciting I can now say that I no longer have to
trudge off to work. I am now a full time, stay at home, self-proclaimed
professional writer/publisher/editor/social media mogul. (By “professional”, I
mean I don’t have a clue what I am doing, and every day is like riding a roller
coaster trying to get my footing. Nevertheless, what a ride it is.)

I am going to use my time to try to publish a book every few months. I
hope that the formula works for you, my readers and if things go horribly
wrong, I can always slow things down if chaos ensues.

As always, my thanks go out to everyone whose support and kindness gives
me the push to make every day matter, and to write, edit, and publish my
stories.

I am still a one-day at a time, normal person. I have Mr. Stormy, my kids
and a bunch of dogs running around keeping me grounded.

I wish all my readers the best in 2015! Please go out and make a dream
come true for yourselves or check off something from your Bucket list. Life is
too short and you do not want your “I wish I had done that” list to be too
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Stormy