Arrows of Time - Kim Falconer [190]
‘You’re pregnant.’
‘Huh?’
‘You’re already pregnant, Rosette.’
‘When?’
‘I thought you could tell me.’
Maudi? Are you having a litter?
She wrestled with an army of emotions before bursting out laughing. I certainly hope not, Dray. She continued to laugh until tears streamed down her face.
‘Not quite the response I’d anticipated,’ Kali said.
Rosette was doubled over, holding her sides, alternately cackling and wincing. ‘Is that what Jarrod was trying to say this morning?’ she asked, wiping her face with the back of her hand and gasping for breath.
‘It was.’
‘For a quantum sentient—someone with access to all the words in the universe—he didn’t choose the best ones.’
Kreshkali chuckled at that. ‘Is it Grayson’s?’ she asked.
Rosette stopped laughing. ‘Grayson?’ She let her voice trail off. She got up, brushing the dust from her leggings. ‘I guess this was inevitable, and necessary. Actually,’ her smile deepened, ‘it’ll be fun.’
‘You always wanted a front row seat on humanity, Rosette, and like nothing else, having a baby is just that,’ Kreshkali said, giving her a hug.
‘I’m going to need to adjust.’
‘You’ll have time.’
‘And I’m going to need some help too, I guess.’
Kali reached for her, kissing both cheeks.
‘What?’ Rosette asked.
‘Kalindi Rose, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you ask for help.’
‘Probably not going to be the last,’ she said, rubbing her flat belly.
Teg returned with a massive armload of wood and dropped it to the ground.
‘Did you know?’ Rosette whispered to him as she lay the fire.
‘It was hard not to, the way Kali and Jarrod were going on.’
Rosette cupped her hands around the embers, blowing on them. When the flame was bright, Kreshkali sat beside her.
‘So how far along am I?’ she asked.
Her mother shrugged. ‘I’ve no idea. Your body’s been frozen, you’ve been through a wash of time changes in the corridors and technically dead for days. It’s a wonder the little girl’s still with you. We’ll get Grayson to check on her DNA. We’ll know more then.’
‘Little girl? For certain?’
‘We only have daughters, Rosette. I thought I’d explained that.’
Rosette moved to the other side of the fire ring, avoiding a plume of smoke.
‘You didn’t.’ Drayco, where’s Grayson?
Her temple cat scented the air. In the workshop. Still talking.
She jumped up. ‘Does anyone else know?’
Kreshkali shook her head.
‘And can I shift?’
‘Of course, Rosette. You can do anything you’re accustomed to doing…but…’
Drayco, come with me! She turned back to Kali and Teg. ‘I’ve got to go. I need to find Grayson, and Jarrod too. I’ll see you at the temple?’
‘I thought you were hungry,’ Teg said, but Kreshkali only smiled.
‘The meat isn’t so appetising; I’m craving An’ Lawrence’s Avan-chak!’
Rosette didn’t explain further. She called on the energy of the Elementals, and felt them rush to her like a storm. Her thoughts started to take the shape of a falcon, as was her habit and training, but she altered suddenly, feeling the contours of a large black she-wolf instead. Maybe it was from spending time with the Lupins and the mind-to-mind exchange that flowed between them, but the new form came easily. It felt natural, ecstatic. She morphed into it and tore off, Drayco at her side. She ran hard, relishing the feel as the red earth turned to powder under her feet.
This is new, Maudi.
Like it?
Very much.
Me too. Race you to the fountain?
You’re on!
She took off like a shot. Drayco darted after her, chewing up the ground as he ran.
When she saw the rooftops of Temple Los Loma glistening like an oasis, Rosette eased her pace. Drayco slowed with her, his sides heaving from the sprint. It would seem that neither death nor new life has hampered your strength, Maudi.
She laughed. That’s because I never thought it would. She came to a halt and shifted, the exhilaration of the run coursing through her veins. Her chest rose and fell as she panted. Sweat dripped down her face. ‘I wish there were bathing pools here,’ she said. ‘I would love a swim.’
There