Private A Quiet Family Moment

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Rayia Si
Ran Dom Kuun, Cathar​

The last few months had been quiet for Jonyna, all things considered. While the Wild Space Rebellion was still growing in strength, Jonyna would every so often slip away into the night to visit home. They didn't need her every second, and she could afford to slip through Mandalorian Space without worry, given her status as a citizen.

If there was one good thing about living under the Mandaloian Empire, it was knowing that her home was secure from Imperial attack.

Her kids could grow up safe.

But she did still worry the other kids she had. She had only just seen Ko Vuto back at the submit for jedi, and she worried endlessly about him. And Rayia Si ...

Jonyna hadn't heard from her in over a year now. Upon returning home, the trio of chaos roamed the halls of the old tree-house like a couple of gremlins, and yet Jonyna could only wonder what her first daughter was up to. Idly, and probably irresponsibly, she put out a holocall to her.

Oh, to be a worried parent...

 

[Rayia Si]

Jonyna Si

---

Din. Din. Din. The trilling of Rayia’s communicator roused the Felacatian from her sleep. Groggy and disoriented, she didn’t recognize the sound at first. It was so foreign to her surroundings. Wind whistled through the abandoned smithery that Rayia had converted to a makeshift dwelling, causing the ivy vines that encroached over the three remaining walls to rustle. The embers of a dying fire stirred, glowing brightly with their last few breaths of life. Rayia’s nose thinned as the lingering scent of wood fire filled her nostrils. Her ear twitched as she located the sound… coming from her communicator.

A glint of surprise filled Rayia’s golden eyes as she gazed at the innocuous twinkling of the communicator’s photoreceptor. She was… receiving a call? Rayia scrambled over to read the name of the caller and caught herself as a lump of shame formed in her throat. Not exactly used to technology, Rayia kept a very limited list of contacts. There was Ko Vuto , Jenn Kryze , Varys Kryze , some of the Jedi Masters for mission purposes, and the last and most important option.

No visual displayed, but the line hissed open with a meek, scratchy word.

“<…Mom?>”

(<> for Catharese)

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Rayia Si​

<Hey kiddo...> Jonyna's voice was much less confident than usual. <Was just thinking about you. Haven't seen you in a bit. Would you mind swinging by your old lady and saying hi? There's a few surprises for you back home.>

The sound of a crash could be heard behind her, as Sula knocked over a lamp.

Jonyna let out a sigh, looking back. She could always use another set of hands around here...

 

[Rayia Si]

Jonyna Si

---

Rap. Tap. Tap. Rayia’s clawed fingers clinked on the metallic exterior of the bulky vox that Rayia used as a communicator. The lump in her throat grew larger with Jonyna’s words. Rayia found it hard to speak. The words just wouldn’t come to her. At least until the sound of the crash echoed through the static of the holocall.

Instantly, Rayia found her feet. She sprung from her bedroll, propelled by feline reflexes and adrenaline. “<Mom, are you okay? I’m on my way!>” Rayia’s eyes swept across the few belongings that she carried with her before finally settling on the crimson leather of her rucksack. It was fortunate that she didn’t have much to gather up. Rayia was out the door in moments, shouldering the strap of her pack and booking it towards the small spaceport that Weik maintained for crucial supplies.

“41, 42…” Rayia counted aloud, fingering the silver pieces and credit sticks within her coin pouch. She’d have to pay extra for one of the pilots brave enough or skilled enough to weather the electromagnetic storms in Weik’s atmosphere to ferry her to Cathar on such short notice. Further still, to burn like hell and make the jumps as fast as possible. A prickle of unease caused her ears to flatten and her tail to retract instinctively at the prospect of space travel. But she pushed it down. Her mother needed her.

Rayia received some pointed stares as she bolted through the crowds of Raan Dom Kuun’s spaceport. Her tail bristled, detecting the motion of individuals around her and helping Rayia narrowly avoid colliding with passerby as she shoved her way towards the Si dwelling.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Rayia Si​

Ran Dom Kuun was about as busy as any other day as Rayia got there. The mechanic of Si Tech was about to greet her, as Rayia rushed past him. The same was with others, the tribe happy to see her, only for Rayia to blitz through the tree. Some found it strange, others just rolled their eyes. The Si Family was always in a hurry, after all.

And yet, as she approached, Jonyna could be heard inside clammering through what sounded like a battle.

"Khos'a, no!" Rayia heard, as she stepped inside to see....

Jonyna, hanging upside down by her tail to a light fixture, holding a 6 month old child, who seemed intent on climbing up her mother. How she got in this position, one may never know.

 

[Rayia Si]

Jonyna Si

---

It took Rayia until she was practically on the Si family doorstep to realize that what she thought were pointed stares were in fact not. That the Cathar of Raan Dom Kuun were welcoming her back. With a chagrinned smile, Rayia waved back. Mentally, she took a note to breathe feeling the beast within settle back to rest. Stress would not help her here. Not that it was particularly easy when what sounded like battle bellowed through the door. She could pinpoint two individuals inside. One, whose movements she would know anywhere, was hanging upside down. The other, a smaller being was reaching up towards her. An interrogation? Rayia thought, despite how implausible her own mind took that to be. Here? In the heart of Jonyna’s own tribe?

Rayia threw open the door and stopped in her tracks. Her golden eyes flickered from side to side as she tried to take in everything before her. “Heh,” Rayia couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “Hahaha!” Rayia started full on laughing at the absurdity of the situation. And, in no small part at her own dread. “K’hosa was it? Let’s give her a bit of space, little one.” Walking over, she gently separated K’hosa from Jonyna allowing her to safely drop to the ground.

Only then did Rayia register the shock of crimson hair adorning the little kit’s head. “Are they…?” She trailed off, a flicker of surprise evident in Rayia’s eyes as she turned to glance at her mother.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Rayia Si​

Jonyna stared back at her daughter's entrance, blinking a few times as K'hosa was picked up, the kitten looked wide eyed at Rayia.

Rather than dropping, Jonyna just hung there. "Yup. This is your little brother Rayia. Say hi."

Two more sets of sounds poked out from under a blanket on the couch, two sets of very big eyes poking up and setting themselves on Rayia. Finally, Jonyna dropped and landed right on her feet. "It's been a while. And yes, they're all mine. Nal? Sula? Say hi to your big sis Rayia."

 

[Rayia Si]

Jonyna Si

---

Rayia caught her mother’s glare and covered her mouth. Mustering an air of calm, she gave Jonyna a chagrined smile. Her ears flattened somewhat as she waved an explanation. “Sorry, mom. I heard the crash. Thought there was a fight or something,” she said as she placed her forehead against K’hosa’s own and giggled. “Hello you.” And though her gaze was still directed at K’hosa, Rayia’s next words were meant for Jonyna. “It’s so good to see you. I missed you so much.”

It had been a while since Rayia had seen her mother, and the time apart had an effect on the Felacatian. She was much thinner than Jonyna would have seen her. The gauntness lent her a savage edge dulled somewhat by her glee at meeting her little siblings. Rayia’s tail bristled as she became aware of motion coming from two individuals on the couch. Her golden eyes flicked to the location, meeting the curious eyes of the other two little kits as she heard Jonyna call for the other two to meet their big sister. Her eyes glittering with joyous, unshed tears. For once, Rayia was happy to be called sister.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Rayia Si​

The noise that came out of K'hosa's mouth could be mistaken as a meow, but Rayia would recognize as incredibly basic Catharese, the equivalent of a child trying to learn words.

"It's fine, Rayia. These three are gremlins, I swear." Jonyna chuckled as she walked over, giving Rayia a side hug as to not squish K'hosa. "You doing well?"

The two on the couch seemed to just stare, cautiously watching Rayia. They weren't sure watch to make of her at first, making those same half-meows at their brother, trying to figure out if the new arrival was friendly or not.

 

[Rayia Si]

Jonyna Si

---

Rayia giggled at the familiar meowing of the first attempts at forming Catherese words. She remembered well her first lessons. Trying to overcome her natural inclination to use Felacatian phonetic structure had been particularly challenging. And though she spoke the language well enough now, in truth there were moments that Rayia still felt very much like a child.

Feeling Jonyna leaning in to give her a hug, Rayia decided to gently deposit K’hosa to the floor. Though not before giving them one last gentle boop on the nose with her finger. “Boop.” To be honest, Rayia suspected that even if she had dropped the kit, K’hosa would be fine. Jonyna had just demonstrated the archetypical grace and dexterity of the Denik Cathar in managing to land on her feet. Still, better to be safe than sorry. Especially with two of Rayia’s siblings still waiting on a first impression from K’hosa.

Then, Rayia turned to embrace Jonyna fully. Her lips pursed as she heard Jonyna’s question. Pulling a face that could best be described as… complicated, Rayia gave a half shrug. “Well enough. It’s been a…lot.” She glanced at Jonyna. “Though from what I’ve heard, it’s pretty much the same here.”

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Rayia Si​

The small touch on his nose earned a giggle, before he was put down and waddled over to his sisters, who both tilted their head in sync, as Rayia put down their brother.

"The Alliance is gone. We're living in a new age." Jonyna noted, taking a moment to let Rayia go. "Now it's time to pick the pieces back up. Find what we can. Start something new."

Jonyna pulled a small metal badge out of her coat, presenting it to Rayia. It was a starbird, but different than the one the Alliance had used.

"I'm starting a Rebellion. Something out in Wild Space. You're welcome to join, if you want."

 

[Rayia Si]

Jonyna Si

---

Rayia spared a glance towards where K’hosa was wandering towards his sisters. Their synchronized tilt of the head found her idly tapping one of her fingers against the back of her hand. Her tail curled, retracted, and elongated with a mind of its own. The substantial weight of her nerves hung heavy upon the Felacatian as she waited for their pronouncement. Familiar ghosts pressed in upon her mind, haunting her as they rustled forwards. She was all too glad to turn back towards Jonyna when she struck up a conversation.

“Mmm,” she murmured to the comment of the Alliance having passed. Rayia found it to be a moot point now. No use denying it. It was merely fact. “We aren’t as we were. I… don’t think we can afford to be, either.”

Instead, she clutched the small badge that Jonyna had presented to her. Holding it up to the light, Rayia focused on its lacquered surface. The way it seemed to catch the light. Good craftsmanship, she noted. Yet it was more than that too. The faint glimmer emblematic of the spark that the Rebellion sought. Rayia handed the badge of the starbird back to Jonyna.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world…,” Rayia said before amending “…assuming you have use for me.”

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAGS: Rayia Si​

The trio seemed to talk amongst themselves in broken Cathar, and yet each seemed to understand the other perfectly, even if the adults couldn't.

"The mission is the same, kiddo." Jonyna clarified, as she looked to the trio as well. "Fight back. Hit the sith, the Empire, the Diarchy. Anyone who exists that makes it so kids like them can't sleep without fear."

To Jonyna, that was the mission statement. Always.