Topic: Ocean Breeze, Clear the Cobwebs from my Heart.

Cailet

Date: 2007-08-04 22:33 EST
Lunch on the docks was light and laughter, something Cai hadn't felt in a long while, at least since Nireck had vanished. Sebastian was a lot of fun, making her feel at home and making sure she ate her fill.

After they had parted ways, Cai took off down the seashore to walk and think. As far as she knew Nireck wasn't ever coming back, and she couldn't honestly say she really missed him. Sure it was hard to hunt as pregnant as she was, a job that a mate would usually share but Cailet hadn't even gotten used to that before he vanished.

"Is it wrong to have given up so easily?" She asked a passing gull.

"Nah! Nah!" The gull screamed back.

She continued walking down the beach, the wind blowing at her skirt, outlining the curve of her belly. She giggled a little and put a hand on the top of the curve purring softly to the child within.

"Well baby, we heard it on the wind, We move on."

Cailet

Date: 2007-08-08 01:54 EST
The tide never stops.

In and then out again never ceasing just because someone says "Wait stop!"

The heart was the same.

It beat even when the world seemed to be turned up-side-down.

Cai's mind was in a whirl. Sebastian said he liked her. Hugely pregnant, desperately awkward and completely accident prone her. And from the look in his eyes, and the way he held her hand when they walked together.. he meant it.

It wasn't a possibility Cailet had really thought of, someone wanting a relationship with her, but she liked the little thrill it gave her. And truth be told, she liked Sebastian too. He always made her feel calm and safe. Nireck had always made her feel rushed. From day one, it had felt like he was tying to coax her into feeling that they were "destined" because of their similar races.

Cai didn't think it was love, just lust and her own lonely desire for a family after Tobi married that had her going along with it. Time apart made her realize that she never could have lived like that. At least not forever.

A sudden sharp pain in her side had her gasping, and turning back to the small sea cave she had taken to staying in the last few days. Time to rest, maybe in the morning she'd find 'Bastian and schedule that boat ride.

Cailet

Date: 2007-08-13 02:28 EST
The sea cave was as safe as Cailet could make it when the first pain hit. The small tugs and kicks she had felt from the baby were nothing compared to this. She moved deeper into the caves to the dry warm chamber she had selected to den in and lay down in the pile of furs there.

Another pain hit. She should have listened to Bastian when he pleaded with her to stay somewhere else.... She was so frightened and alone. A soundless cry of anguish was wrenched from her with another pain.... a prayer for someone, anyone to come and help her.

It seemed like hours passed before anyone came. Tobi took one look at his sister and paled. She was lying there weak and listless, blood, not a life threatening amount thank the gods, pooling around her.

"Oh Cailey, you should have called sooner. You know I'll always come." Tobi knelt beside his twin.

One kitten had come already, wrapped tightly in the birthing cords, still and lifeless. And still she labored. With Tobi's help three more kits were delivered well and whole.

Near exhausted the last thing she asked. "Tobi, will you bring Bastian here? To see the babes?"

Tobi nodded and kissed his sister lightly on the forehead, wrapping the stillborn cub carefully. Cailey would want to see her daughter later he would not take her away yet. And then he set off to find Sebastian.

Cailet

Date: 2007-08-16 17:32 EST
"Daddy why is the ocean salty?"
"Because of all the tears cried by sailor's wives over ages little one."


Standing on the deck of Sebastian's yacht looking out over the ocean, Cailet cried. She seemed to do that a lot anymore. Sebastian had asked her to write something to put on little Alice's headstone. It was the hardest thing Cai had ever done. Over an hour had passed and still she sat there blank paper in her lap, just watching the waves.

The kittens were settled in their basket in a shady spot not to far from their mother. They owed Sebastian so much the four of them. Cai felt so lost at times, she was glad when he took over and gave her a direction. A soft mewing from the basket drew her attention from the waves. She moved and knelt beside the kittens.

"What would you say to your sister Emma, had I not been such a stubborn fool?" Stroking the distressed little white kitten seemed to calm the mother just a little. Emma and Alice would have been identical had Alice lived. There was something heart wrenching knowing that Emma would always be missing a part of herself, just like Cai and Tobi missed Imili.

And then she knew what to write.

Alice Imogen Kaut

Those we love
even for a moment
never leave our hearts

Cailet sealed the scrap in an envelope, and had someone deliver it to Sebastian for her.