Page 16 of Darik's Quest

“Did you ask the goddess for a baby?” Nicolle couldn’t even imagine how a conversation like that would go.

“Not exactly but I suspect she took a hand in the events that led me to Mia. I asked her for something else, which she also granted but let me tell everyone at the same time.”

Nicolle sat on the platform step and rubbed Mia’s back as she napped. Her heart was full of joy, having Darik home and meeting the child he’d adopted on his strange trip. Love for both surged in her and along the mate bond.

Aydarr and Jamokan came to a halt in front of the platform, eyeing the family scene with astonishment.

“I’ve been to the world of the ancestors,” Darik said, raising his voice to be heard by everyone crowding close. “The Great Mother sent me there on a quest to solve a problem we weren’t even aware we had in our own time here. I’m to tell all the Badari what I saw and experienced. And I had the chance to rescue this child, now part of my family, and return with her to our time and place. Her name is Mia.”

“I welcome Mia to the combined packs,” Aydarr said immediately, placing one hand on the baby’s head lightly. “She is truly a daughter of Badari.”

“I welcome Mia to the canid pack,” Jamokan said, also touching the child carefully. “We’re honored to count her among our number.”

“We’re here to listen,” Aydarr said as Jamokan finished. “Did the Great Mother summon you to the grove then?”

Darik shook his head. “No, I stole a flyer and went there on my own to ask her to help me.”

Nicolle blushed, sure she knew what issue he’d risked so much to try to resolve. Therein lay the root of the problem itself, however, because he hadn’t talked to her about any of this prior to flying off on his own, attempting to fix their situation. Remembering all the things she’d said to him in the privacy of the hospital room, when she wasn’t sure if he could hear her or not, she resolved they would have those conversations again soon and not one sidedly either.

Beside her Darik was telling an incredible tale of his journey and the adventures he had. At one point he stopped and looked directly at Aydarr. “I met one of your ancestors, the high chief Javon. There can be no question about the fact you’re descended from him. The two of you resemble each other to a degree that you could be brothers. We had dinner together and he helped me refine the map I spoke of earlier. I have the map in my satchel here.”

“I look forward to hearing more of this man,” Aydarr said after a brief pause. “And the items you brought are treasure for all Badari. The artifacts must be safeguarded and properly displayed.”

Frowning Darik said, “The things that are Mia’s remain hers. They’re all she’ll ever have of her birth family and I can’t agree to give those away. This satchel is her father’s, for example, taken by me from their home. The map, yes the packs can have it, because the ancestors drew it for me and gave it to me, but not her treasures.”

“Perhaps we can compromise and allow things like the satchel to be part of the exhibit for now,” Nicolle said. “With the understanding they’re her personal possessions and she can decide what’s to be done with them when she’s older.”

“I have no wish to strip your daughter of her inheritance,” Aydarr said. “I’m excited on behalf of all the Badari packs to have actual, tangible historical artifacts of our past when we’ve never had anything before. Nicolle makes a good suggestion. The Pack Historian will consult with you.”

Oh yes, Nario’s mate Aliana will be beside herself when she finds out where Darik has been and what he brought back with him. Nicolle hid her smile. Let’s hope she doesn’t ask the goddess if she can go time traveling.

“Continue your narrative,” Aydarr said. “We’re in suspense to know the rest of your journey.”

Darik resumed where he’d left off and his small audience in the stone circle was utterly silent as he detailed his night being chased by the enemy and then his discovery of Mia the next day, continuing on to his trek with her, the battle with the alien predators and his final encounter with the Great Mother at the spring. At this point he removed the curious necklace he’d been wearing and parted the two crystal bottles, handing one to Dr. Garrison, who immediately wrapped it in her scarf and held it as if it were supremely fragile. Nicolle was glad to see the doctor’s caution after everything her mate had gone through to obtain the water.

He handed her the other one now, taking Mia from her so Nicolle could open the amethyst stopper and drink. “I want to take no chances with this water,” he said. “I want to see you drink this gift from the goddess before anything else happens.”

She took a sniff but detected no aroma. Lifting the tiny vial to her lips, she swallowed what he’d brought in one gulp. The water was cool on her threat and tingled a bit going down but there was no other effect Nicolle could identify. Hoping the trace elements would do what the goddess had promised Darik, she took Mia from her mate. Humming a lullaby under her breath she swayed a little watching the baby’s face as she lay dreaming. Whatever happened or didn’t happen for her and Darik in the future as far as having their own biological child, Nicolle was ecstatic about their daughter snatched by her mate from the turbulent times on the ancestral world. We’ll keep you safe, she thought. We’ll make sure you have a bright future.

When Darik finished his recitation of the adventures he’d experienced on his quest, there was silence and then Jamokan threw his head back and howled like the wolf his inner predator was, voicing his approval and support for Darik’s actions. Aydarr joined in with his own predator’s yowl and the other Badari in the small group added their voices while the human mates, Nicolle included, cheered and clapped.

“We’ll have to discuss how and when to have you share this tale with the combined packs,” Aydarr said when the acclaim died down. “I think it’s essential we do it soon.”

“I agree.” Darik stepped off the platform. “The Great Mother made it plain she wanted me to tell what I’d seen and done to inspire our people to fight on, and to ignite a new spark in their hearts.”

“And to give hope to other couples like us, who’ve been trying to have children,” Nicolle said, unable to allow this vital aspect of the trip to receive less attention. “There’s a future waiting for us which includes children.”

“More than a precious one or two born against the odds,” Dr. Garrison agreed, moving to join them. “May I suggest we take Mia to the hospital for a well-baby check before you take her home?”

“And a bath,” Nicolle said with a giggle. “She’s a bit grubby.”

“I did my best.” Darik sounded a bit offended.

“And you did great, honey, but I suspect there was a lack of soap where you were.” She patted his arm.

“Listen, doc, what we need is something to feed her,” Darik said, opening the leather satchel and extracting a bottle full of off-white fluid. “This was fresh goat’s milk yesterday, probably spoiling now but I think it’s what her parents were feeding her, based on what I found in their house.”

“Goats?” Nicolle asked.

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