Title: From a Distance Chapter 4
Characters: Chandir/Wryn/Enoch; Rona/Nova
Series: Another Life
The heat of the two men he was sandwiched between sent waves of emotions through Enoch. Home. Love. Protected. Feelings that Enoch hadn’t known existed before coming to Gliese. Lifting his spoon, he brought the thick soup to his mouth.
“Ugh!” He grunted when it ended up on the table instead of his mouth. The warm joy of his two doms sitting so close to him was starting to wan as Chandir kept bumping his arm.
Enoch squeaked as he was suddenly swept off his chair and onto the hard lap of Chandir. Turning startled eyes toward Chandir, he started to speak but was interrupted.
“I need you close.” Chandir’s eyes were serious as they held Enoch’s trapped in his gaze.
Enoch nodded in acquiescence. In truth, he enjoyed being held by his doms. He let his eyes drift to Wryn. His other dom had a look of tolerant acceptance on his face. The stars knew what they were doing when they sent him to these two men. Which gave him the courage to ask, “I know you said after we eat, but can we talk about me being still tied to Earth?”
He felt Chandir’s body go rigid at his request, but Wryn smiled with compassion. “Yes, agape. We can.”
“As long as you stay calm.” Chandir arm tightened around him as he spoke those words.
Enoch willed his body to stay relaxed. “I’m still tied to Earth. Is it because of my visions? But you are having visions of them too. Of these people on Earth.”
“Yes. In a way. Our visions, what we see, are threads in a great tapestry. Everything that has already happened. Everything to come. Everything that is now. All living things, the animals, the plants, the heartbeat of lives we can’t even begin to imagine. All woven together to create the tapestry of the universe. Historians are granted the privilege of seeing the threads.”
The words that Wryn spoke filled Enoch with joy. The joy of knowing he was connected to something so big after spending most of his life alone. Chandir and Wryn were more than he could have ever dreamed of, yet he was tied to so much more.
“Sometimes there is a snag in one of the threads. And just like the blanket that lays on our bed, the snag will pull the other threads closer together. I believe that is what is happening. And the people on Earth are pulling at you. Keeping you tied to Earth so that you feel what they are feeling.” Wryn’s explanation made sense to Enoch. But it worried him as well.
“Does that mean I’ll have to go back? Back to Earth?” Enoch didn’t hear the fear in his own voice. All he could hear was his own heartbeat. He felt the blood rushing through his body. A red mist started to cloud his vision. Before it enveloped him completely, he felt Chandir hold him eve closer. He saw Wryn reach a handout and cup his face. From a distance, he heard Wryn’s voice.
“Agape. All will be well. You are anchored here with me. With us.”
Enoch felt Wryn’s hand on his face. But it was different. Softer. More delicate than his calloused hand. Wryn’s voice faded away as Enoch’s mind was swept back to Earth.
****Earth*****
Nova reached a hand out to cupped Rona’s cheek. The fierce need to protect and care for the leader of their group overwhelmed her. She tried to soothe the lines of pain etched on the other woman’s face.
“We’ve been pushing hard the past few days. We should rest now. A few days. For you to heal and all of us to gather our strength.”
“No. We do not know the seasons yet. We do not know what lies ahead of us.” The pain in Rona’s voice hung heavy in the air.
As she ran her hand over the swelling in Rona’s ankle, Nova continued to appeal to the other woman’s common sense. “No, we do not. All the more reason to rest. With you injured, the need is greater for rest.”
“The others! They mustn’t know I’m weak.”
Nova’s heart hurt for the woman lying in front of her. She held so much responsibility on her shoulders. “Having an injury is not a weakness. Knowing when to rest is not a weakness. They will not think you weak if you call for a few days here.”
“You cannot know what they will think. They will look at me. At my ankle. And they will know that I call for rest for myself. My first consideration must always be for everyone else.”
The words Rona spoke gave Nova the courage to say what was in her heart. Gave her the courage to declare herself protector over the strong woman. “While you are our leader, you do not have unlimited power. You need someone to hold you accountable for your actions. If you do not have this, the weight of all will crush you. Crush your spirit. Your heart. Your soul. You may put the care and well-being of everyone else before your own, but you will be in my protection.”
A war raged in Rona’s eyes as the words settled between them. A war between rebellion and acceptance. Of resistance and of peace. Nova held fast. She let the battle be fought inside the beautiful woman. She knew that no matter what happened, she, Nova, would win the war. Maybe not today, but one day.
She used the one weapon that would end this battle. “If Thora or Terran or any one of the others had become hurt, you would demand rest. Why do you not demand the same for yourself?”
She watched as Rona looked around at the others. They’d all sat down, sprawled against each other. Their fatigue evident. When Rona’s eyes met her’s again, the battle had died out. With a nod of her head, the decision was made.
In a loud, sure voice, Rona spoke. “We’ve pushed hard these past few days. Too hard. I’ve injured my ankle. I would apologize to each and every one of you. We will rest now. And when everyone is in good health, we’ll continue. At a slower pace.”
Nova felt pride swell in her chest for Rona. She’d admitted to her mistake, made reparations, and learned from it. And the other’s admired her for it as well. They all turned to her when she first started speaking. Their eyes glowed with pride at their leader. Knowing they’d made the right choice in following the strong, dark woman.
Thora stood up and walked toward them. “I believe there is a water source close by. There’s an animal trail a few yards away. I would follow it for a while and find it.”
Aria, the woman Thora had grown fond of, walked over as well. “I would help. We will bring water back for drinking. And to soak your ankle in.”
“I’m grateful to you both.” Rona’s voice broke a little with emotion.
As the two women walked off, a man and woman came over, Nuri and Nyneve. “There is a clearing that would offer some protection. We’ll build a fire as Terran and Miku find food for everyone.”
“Thank you,” Nova said as Rona choked back tears. “I’ll help Rona over.”
She watched for a few moments as everyone worked together. They didn’t know what lay before them or what they would find, but they were learning how to help each other. And Nova knew that was what would keep them alive.
***Gliese****
The mist faded away bringing Enoch back to the warm, safe kitchen on Gliese. And to the two men who had captured his heart.
“They are resting now,” he explained.
“And so will you,” Chandir stated.
Enoch felt his whole body relax. He could rest knowing the ones on Earth were safe.
The three men finished their evening meal in peaceful togetherness. When dinner was finished and the few dishes cleaned, Wryn pulled out a book. Enoch loved to be read to and smiled his thanks.
The stars glittered outside as the men lay in bed enjoying each other.
On to chapter 5
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