Manda'yaim: A New Beginning

[Judah Lesan]

Graad nodded when the affectionate was returned. So they were really that close already. The vhett simply figured if Briika didn't see things that way, she would not have returned the sentiment. His heart was glad to know they both considered each other close friends. The frequency they were together may lead some to think they were courting, and perhaps they were. Whatever this was, or would become, seemed natural. Natural was good.

A small chuckle passed Graad's lips as Mesh'la didn't seem excited to get out of the water, but he didn't blame her. The day was hot, but the evening sun was the best time to plant the small, compared to the other fields, garden which the three of them would be sharing. Briika's seeds had been good, and so they would be added to what Graad already had. There was plenty of space.

"When a man is on his own he learns to cook, goes broke eating out, or starves. I learned to cook. Though your uj cake puts mine to shame. It makes me wonder what you could do with a Shatual..."

Graad grinned as he hoisted Mesh'la onto his shoulders. The work she had done was enough to make anyone tired, especially a child. There was no need to make her walk the entire way back. There was something about all this which made Graad want an aliit of his own. For the first time in his life he was jealous of those who had what he did not.

When they arrived back at the house, Graad could smell the roast. Heading onto the small patio, Graad opened the smoker and saw the meat was done to perfection. The garden work could be done while Graad finished up the meal. Briika had been shown the plot before he went to tend to the meal. By the time they were done, Graad had the table set, meat cut, his homemade sauce was set out for anyone who wanted, as well a tossed salad for a something cool and crisp. Again the meal was not fancy, but enough.

"Time to eat you two!"

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

"I guess you'll just have to be patient and find out, but first we need to tag us one up in the north country," she grinned, then delved into the food on her plate. Yes, a camping trip up north for some good old fashion hunting, which Bree thoroughly enjoyed doing and was very good at.

The baar'ur wasn't very strong in hand-to-hand type combat, but she did wield a deadly aim with a blaster pistol or rifle. That skill was all thanks to her buir showing her the finer aspects of marksmanship growing up.

After dinner, Briika insisted [member="Graad Hokan"] and Mesh'la relax on the patio while she cleared the table. When she was done with the dishes, Bree found the two were sitting on a slider swing that the previous owners had left giggling and smiling, and there was a place left between them seemingly for her.

Briika waited until the rugged Concordian slowed the swing down so she could sit down. She flashed him a warm smile, then placed her arm around the shoulders of her daughter, whom seemed to be lulled into sleepiness. The little blonde after a moment slumped down and laid her golden head on her mother's lap. Bree herself was feeling very relaxed as well and her head naturally leaned against Graad's broad shoulder as the sun began to set.

"The sunset from here is beautiful…. Just like at home. Vor'e for a wonderful day from both me and my sleeping angel."

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad returned the smile. The two friends could seemingly speak to each other without the use of words. There were many things which just naturally happened. First the ad laid her tired head in her buir's lap, followed by Briika naturally leaning her head onto Graad's shoulder. Graad reached over and gently patted Briika just above the closest knee as she thanked him.

"You two are welcome any time. I said it last night, but I really do mean it. Mesh'la can come out here to swim whenever she wants also. The summer is going to be a hot one, I have been reading, and she, and Kad's boys, will need to stay cool."

The Concordian mused about the picture which he was part of. He took in a deep breath and released it slowly as he realized this was what it could be like if they were one family. Briika's riduur was certainly a fortunate man, though he was gone. Graad certainly hoped the reason he was gone was because he had marched on, because only a fool would not return to the blonde ladies Graad was learning to care for.

"We must go hunting. The north country sounds as though it would remind me of Springs, and there is nothing like eating fresh game. It tastes better when you know you're the one who killed it."

Graad smiled. He was an jag afterall.

"Your little angel looks like she needs her own bed soon. A sight that just makes a man go, hmmmm..."

That was something Graad couldn't believe he said, but it was too late. His musings had been vocalized, well some of them. He had not mentioned to Briika if nights like this continued to happen it would make people think they were courting. Perhaps they were, but until Graad knew for certain, he was going to be sure to present that their relationship was an appropriate one.

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

"Her own bed would be a welcomed relief actually… Mes'ika and I are sharing right now while living with Kad'ika and kaysh ade, and she has a tendency to dig her feet into my back," Briika answered [member="Graad Hokan"], then chuckled softly as she carefully got up to scoop the little girl up in her arms to take home. "Though I guess that is better than snoring like a bantha. I don't know how Ral'ika ever put up with ner vod'ika. I can hear him all the way down the hall, especially if he's used a bottle to help him sleep."

Each of the Tor siblings had dealt with their angst caused by their riduure disappearing the same. They tended to hold it in until the pain was too great, then either threw themselves into work and/or drank to forget about their troubles. It wasn't the healthiest way to deal with it, and they knew it, but that is how it was; each though doing so on their own time table. Right now Bree seemed to be coming out of her depressive state and moving on where as Kad was still trying to figure things out for him and the boys and where Ralize stood in their lives anymore.

Briika carried her daughter out to the speeder and gently placed the young girl's form in the back seat, attaching the crash webbing around her. When she backed out and turned around Graad was standing there watching. Bree gazed up into the rugged Concordian's dark brown eyes and flashed him a soft smile. Gods his eyes were dreamy showing a caring that made a chill run down her spine.

"Ret 'urcye mhi, ner vod'ika," Briika said, then quickly got into the driver's seat of the speeder before emotions and desire for something she couldn't/should't have got the best of her.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad had not been disappointed at the speed which Briika got into the speeder and said goodbye to him. As they had lingered their look into each other's eyes, Graad had felt a sudden urge to kiss the woman. Her swift motion had prevented him from following through on the strong desire he had, and saved them both from something that would have certainly led to them crossing the boundries of the good friendship which had developed.

The boundry had to be healthy, which was why Graad worked hard the next couple of days. He wasn't avoiding his friend or her daughter, but he knew that the feelings which were forming in his heart were deep, and he had to sort them out before he could simply be there for them. The Mando'ad knew himself well enough to know a couple of days withdrawn in himself and the issue would be resolved, and it seemed to have been over the weekend as he met the rest of her aliit which resided in Keldabe.

Kad had proven to be a master of the grill as he claimed, though, Graad did show him a few tricks. They exchanged a couple of recipes and bonded over their common love for cooking outdoors. The twins were full of energy, and Graad got to see how Mesh'la interacted with others close to her age. She was certainly the better behaved one as the twins tore through the place like a whirlwind and tsunami rolled into one. One could get tired just watching them. Naturally the group setting also kept Graad in check, and he knew he would comfortable with where the boundries had been drawn. While they were not ever vocalized, the two had left them unspoken.

Time passed about another couple of weeks before the call was made to take Taris. Graad had volunteered, but a paying contract saw him pulling from the main troops and escorting Briika. He had suffered a close call when he had taken a bite for Briika from a rhakgoul, but the serum worked, and his anitbodies were used to create a new strain of serum to fight whatever infections would come from effort made by the team overseeing the occupation.

It had been raining, the farmstead needed it. By now the crops were well rooted, and the shoots were poping out of the ground. It seemed near every field had taken to what was planted in it. All good signs for a healthy crop thus far. The day was the first clear day in a while, but the clouds warned of thunderstorm which could break at any moment. Still Graad had to check the crops, and knew it was the only day Briika and Mesh'la would make it to the garden to look at the progress of what they had planted as well as weed the plot. He was looking forward to seeing them as it had been a while since he had seen Mesh'la.

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

When Briika and her ad arrived to work in the garden on [member="Graad Hokan"]'s farmstead, he was out in the farthest field so she just let herself into his yaim like they belonged there. Well he had said his place was theirs…

The time spent apart these last few days had been good though. It had allowed things to cool off between them, hopefully. Bree wasn't quite ready yet to take things further than just offering simple companionship with the rugged Concordian; perhaps someday more as she could not deny the physical attraction to Graad as well as an emotional one that was building steadily. Who could blame her really? He was a great catch as far as possible riduur's went, if she was ever indeed looking to make a riduurok again.

With gathering storm clouds fast approaching, Briika sent Mesh'la inside the house while she went to help Graad bring things in from the field. By the time she reached the vhett, the blonde was soaked as the sky had opened up with torrents of rain as lightning streaked across the sky.

Suddenly, there was the brightest flash of light, then not a second later a loud kaboom sending Bree sprawling downward into the muddy field for cover instinctively… Oh was she a sight now.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad was soaked by the time Briika made it out to the field to help him. He had been foolish enough to think he could get the work done before the thunder clapped and a torrent of rain poured on top of him. This was not Springs where the weather patterns were very predicatble. Instead, this was Keldabe, Manda'yaim, where the weather could change any moment.

A chuckle escaped Graad's lips as Briika hit the mud as though the flash a clap were a battle realted explosion. He could not blame the baar'ur for her reaction as it was one any warrior would make. Taris had been very close to them, and while Graad had learned to make teh transition between the farm and war very well, others still had instinctive reactions. She was a sight to behold however. Her beautiful blonde hair was all mussed up, clothes clung to her tightly, at least it gave Graad an idea of her figure. The vhett offered his hand to help her up, realizing that while they had been apart of the past few days, seeing Briika again un did whatever the few days apart had done. If anyone were to ever ask him one day the moment he knew how sure he was of his feelings for the woman, Graad would always say it was the day he saw her covered in mud after she dove for cover in a freak thunderstorm.

"Come on, let's get you dried off and into something that isn't so wet."

Once Graad and Briika were inside the yaim, the male retrieved a towel for the blonde to help warm her right away. His shirt was the first thing to come off, and he handed it to Mesh'la to toss in his hamper. The young ad knew where it was well as she liked to use his closet as her "secret hideout" often. Leaving Briika for just moment, he returned, pulling a tub out for her and setting it before his fireplace. Hinching over, Graad started a fire and set a large pail of water in front of it to heat up. The rest of the tub was filled with luke warm water as the pail would bring it up to the perfect temperature. While the water was warming, Graad went back to his closet, changed into dry clothes, and got Briika another large towel, and the only thing he could offer by way of dry clothes, his own. He set them all on a small table and placed it next to the tub along with soap and shampoo, again all he had was his own.

The entire time Graad was quiet. Every now and then he would look at Briika and just smile. The porch was covered, so when he had poured the pail of water into the rest of the tub to being it to temperature, he grabbed an ale, and started for the outdoor living space to watch the storm.

"When you are done, come and get me so I can drain the tub, and make us some soup. I imagine you are hungry after helping me clear the equipment. Thank you..."

Graad turned to head out the door, and gave Briika the privacy she needed to wash, picking up Mesh'la on his way out the door so she could watch the lightning.

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

The way [member="Graad Hokan"] was fussing over her was both endearing and to be honest a bit overwhelming. It had been so long since a man had taken to her needs, and definitely not one that wasn't either her buir or vod'ika.

Briika didn't say much when he got the tub ready nor when he handed her some of his dry, clean clothes to wear and another towel, though smiles and thoughtful nods did show up.

"Ba'gedet'ye, ner vod'ika… I won't be long," Bree answered sweetly, then waited until the door clicked shut before slipping off her muddied wet things in front of the fire. She could have soaked for much longer in the soothing hot tub water, but only did just long enough to get clean. It felt a little awkward doing so in a single vod's house when her ad was here as well.

With towel dried hair that was combed out with her fingers, Briika opened the door dressed in one of the large Mando'ad's t-shirts, the hem tied on the side, and a pair of his sleep pants that thank the Force had a drawstring, which was pulled tightly to keep them up. And, the pant legs were rolled up a couple of times too as he was quite a bit taller than her.

The scene between her daughter and him was priceless as they sat on the porch chatting and watching the storm together. It made the blonde's heart swell. Mesh'la had seemed to accept Graad without question into her life; an important male figure missing since her buir's disappearance… Could she be as accepting? Too much to think about right now...

"Boy… The rain sure doesn't seem to be letting up any. You just might get two roommates for the night… If that would be okay with you? I don't want to cross the rising creek down below with darkness falling upon us."

 

[Judah Lesan]

Honestly Graad had not cared if Briika chose to take her time. Somewhere in their visits, Graad always found a way to remind Briika and Mesh'la his yaim was to be treated as their own. The tub might have been a bit much, but Graad simply wanted to express his gratitude. He was a doer not a talker, so taking the time to set up the bath for her, getting her dry clothes, even watching Mesh'la so she could soak, all of it was done to express his gratitude for her help.

Graad turned and smiled as she came out onto the covered porch. Mesh'la was nestled into his arms as she sit in his lap watching the lightning storm roll through. The ale he had gotten for himself remained untouched as he felt guilty about drinking in front of Mesh'la. Perhaps it was fine, but the vhett was not sure how traditional Briika was raising her ad'ika. Besides, Graad was content to hold her in his lap. His life was getting to be so much closer to the dream which graced his sleep almost every night.

"A wise decision on your part, and you know I don't mind. I only have the one room, if you want your own bed, I can take the couch..." he offered as Mesh'la seemed to be nidding off. There was always something about the rain which made anyone feel relaxed enough to sleep. "Even though she isn't mine, I am very blessed that you share her with me. My happiest memories are of when I was her age, long before I learned how cruel the world truly is. I wish she hadn't have had to learn that lesson so young."

Graad stood up, and carried the young girl back inside the house where she began to stir a bit. The room was already made up for the guest Graad never expected to have, so he didn't have to get it ready. The only bit for him to clean up for the night was the tub, which was easily drained with a hose and pump.

In all the rush, Graad had not had anything to eat, and his stomach was growling. He wasn't sure if the others had eaten either, but they had come late enough in the evening to have had something before they arrived. Graad moved to the kitchen after laying Mesh'la on the bed in the guest room and put a pot of Caf on so he could warm up.

"It's good to see you again, ner vod'ika, so far still human... no Rhakgoul tendencies," he said with a grin, his dry humor attempting to gain a laugh.

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

If only… No, those thoughts she would not go to anymore; the ones where she pictured her riduur holding their ad just like [member="Graad Hokan"] was doing now. That was the past. This was the present, and possibly a future, though again too much to think about. It did pull on Briika's hardened heart strings.

After Graad tucked Mesh'la in the guest room, he came back out making light banter with her. Bree followed him into the kitchen area and grinned. "Well that's good to know, then I won't be worried about you trying to attack me tonight," she chuckled. "Really I don't mind the couch… I tend to find myself sleeping there a lot anyways. You take your bed."

While the caf brewed, Briika rolled her head side to side streching out her neck, then reached around with her left hand to massage her right neck and shoulder muscles. "Do you have any pain meds? My medpac is out in the speeder."

 

[Judah Lesan]

"No, really, take my bed. You think you can convince an atin vhett with country manners to let a woman sleep on a couch," Graad asked as he poured the caf.

He noticed how Briika was rubbing her neck and moving her head from side to side. She needed more than pain medicine, which Graad had. A massage would have the pain gone sooner. How he knew being a single man with no one to massage knots out of his back. One could last for days if left alone.

"I do," he said reaching into the cabinet above his sink and grabbing what he had. "Though, if you'd like, I'm pretty sure you'd feel better if I massaged the knot out of your shoulders? I promise my hands won't go below the waist..."

Graad took a sip of his caf. Oh he needed the jolt, and food, but honestly that could wait until Briika felt better. Besides if they were still up, Graad had some uj cake that they could share once the knot was gone. In all honesty, Graad was rather innocent. He may be an jag, but he never really assumed anything was on the table or not. He'd never think to touch Briika in any way other than a friendly, and appropriate, manner. Sure he was a man who had wants and needs, but his intentions were pure.

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

"Not many gentlemen Mando'ade left around here. I better take your offer then… Vor'e," Briika smiled, then winced as a shooting pain went up into her head. Her hand reached out and took the offered bottle of pain med, then she downed four tablets with a sip of caf.

"I trust you, ner vod'ika… Let's finish the caf, then you can massage away," she quipped, taking another sip of the steaming hot caffeinated liquid.

The warmth added to that to which was already there in her lingering just under the surface of her body. It was like that always when Bree was around [member="Graad Hokan"] it seemed. This was both exciting and frustrating as a game of wills was being played inside her head - to just let things happen naturally or resist all temptation as it was for the best.

Gah… Don't try to figure stuff out like this when you have a pounding headache, di'kut.

​"I'm ready when you are… "

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad nodded as he finished his caf. Ugh why did he feel like a teenager taking a girl back to his room for the first time all over again. It wasn't like they were going to have sex, though the tension was certainky there. Graad would be lying if he said he did not want a physical relationship with Briika. The truth was he did, but his will, and desire, to do what was right by her and the riduurok she still had was what made him put the brakes on. He also wanted more than a physical relationship with the woman. A solid friendship was what he wanted, but the closer he got to Briika, the more he desired the other. His will was strong though.

He took her hand and led her back to his room, and turned the lamp on which was next to his bed. Since he lived alone there were no oils for him to use, or any thing else to rub into her skin. The shirt she wore of his left her neck and shoulders exposed enough he didn't have to ask her to take it off. That would have been awkward to say the least. Instead, he simply waited for her to lay on her stomach before straddling her at the waist.

"Just tell me if it hurts... I'm not exactly known for massages," he said sheepishly.

Graad placed his strong hands where Briika's neck and shoulders met, and began to run with his thumbs looking for the knot. Once he found it, he worked at it, gently, while moving off it at times to massage otjer parts of the back to give the tighter muscles relief. The entire time he kept telling himself not to think about going any further. He said he'd be a gentleman, and he was going to be. The difficulty was something just felt right about this whole thing. Their friendship was dancing dangerously close to crossing the line to full courtship and romance. They could either let it happen, or not. Right now though, Graad didn't think is was the best time for that conversation.

"How is that," he asked, but was not sure he heard a response...

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

"I'm sure you'll do just fine. I haven't had a massage… well in a long time. I'm just happy you're obliging me. Vor'e, ner vod'ika," Briika said, pulling her long, still damp golden tresses off to the left side so the vhett could get to the problem area, trying not to think more about the feel of him straddling her than she should.

[member="Graad Hokan"]'s strong farmer's hands felt so good! Briika was in seventh heaven even though he was right on top of a particularly stubborn knot that was sending sharp pains up her neck into her head causing a migraine type headache. Slowly though, his wonderful ministrations on her tight muscles gave Bree relief. So much in fact that she drifted off to sleep.

If he was to look at her face, Graad would find a peaceful look with eyes closed and lips slightly parted as well as soft snoring sound of someone already in REM.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad could tell when Briika fell asleep. Her body relaxed under his, and the sound of her breathing pattern changed. He was tired himself, and sleep would be welcome, but first he wanted to see what was going on in the world, and galaxy. Why? He didn't know. The news would not be good. He rolled off of Briika where he had been stradalling her, and noticed how peaceful she looked. Gods she was mesh'la. If only he could be so lucky. Reaching for the remote, Graad tunred the Holonet on.

Just as he thought most of the news was bad. Graad set the remote down and watched, his eyes feeling very heavy. He fell asleep without knowing. Dreams came to him, this time they were different than the usual. His mind went olaces he had not let any other part of him go. He was a man after all, and he had been massaging Briika. One of the repercussions was a hormone enduced dream which was rather vivid.

Morning came with sunrise, and the sound of the wild Gamecocks crowing in the distance. Graad's first reaction was to wonder why he was atop the covers, his second to make sure his clothes were still on, and third to look over and see two blondes in his bed. Briika was on the far side, Mesh'la was curlled up in between them. Graad could only smile. He attempted to get out of the bed without disturbing anyone, but Mesh'la was apparently awake and started poking at her mother to wake up.

"Mesh'la, shhhhh let her sleep...."

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika rolled over to face Mesh'la and [member="Graad Hokan"]; a soft chuckle coming from her lips after a morning yawn and a stretch of her arms over her golden bed head.

"I'm awake… Just been enjoying laying here, lounging. Bed is really comfortable. Oh and vor entye for the back massage, ner vod'ika. Headache is all gone!," Bree smiled, then sat up in a cheerful mood. Yeah happens when one actually gets a good nights sleep with pleasant dreams.

"So who's hungry for breakfast, hmm? Last one to the kitchen has to do dishes… " she grinned at her daughter and the rugged Concordian, then bolted from the bed and padded quickly down the hall in her bare feet.

 

[Judah Lesan]

"Cheater!"

The laughter shared by all was something Graad was not used to filling his yaim in the morning. Part of him was feeling guilty he never went to the couch, but Briika never once mentioned it, in fact, she seemed to be okay with the situation as it had happened. Were they dancing very close to the line of friendship versus courtship? Just because they were using a term of endearment to describe the close friendship they had, Graad was beginning to think they were actually courting.

Picking up Mesh'la, Graad ran ahead, and knowing they would lose to the blonde baar'ur, sat at the table. It was a small table, but sat the three of them just fine. This was just one of many meals they had shared together over the past few months. If the two were going to be stuck doing dishes, Briika could cook. Graad would be certain she would. Besides, Briika was quite capable in the kitchen.

"Hot cakes, and sausages, please. Eggs are in cold storage along with fresh juice. We are hungry after last night's storm, aren't Mesh'ika," the endearment slipping.

Mesh'la was not his daughter, but Graad could not help but love her. She'd attached herself to him ever since the first time they'd met and gone swimming.

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Over the next several weeks this scene of the three of them spending time together and sharing meals came to be a regular thing, well as much as their busy schedules allowed. And so much so, that Briika had brought some extra clothes for the girls and stashed them in [member="Graad Hokan"]'s guest room.

Bree really didn't want to think about what she was doing, the implications, but rather just lived in the moment. It just felt right to plug the rugged Concordian into their lives; and as long as Mesh'la was okay with it and desired it was well, that was the way things would be. One could already see the young Detta starting to blossom again after retreating into herself as she grieved over losing both her buir and ik'aad vod'ika.

If an outsider looked in, it would appear the three were an aliit… And still everything was above board between the the adults; the advancement to something greater other than friends just wasn't in the cards yet, though getting closer as time passed by and circumstances brought Graad and Briika to rely upon one another more so. Plus, there was undeniable tension between them… All it would take would be a push, though both had stubborn will power; one could say it was both a positive and negative.

Briika walked out onto the porch where Graad was watching Mesh'la from the slider swing play with a dog that they'd found abandoned down the road and had taken in for now. She smiled at the sight, then placed her right hand upon the man's shoulder and leaned down to offer a cup of caf with the left. A seat was taken next to him.

"So Kad'ika would like me to take his ade for a bit. He is wanting, no needing, some time to himself. I feel for ner vod'ika as he just can't seem to move on, get pass his loss… I was thinking maybe we could go camping with the lot of them. It could be fun and educational at the same time. We could go up north, and you could meet my buire. What do you think… You up for taking on the whole of the Tor'Detta Clan? I can understand if you're not… It's a lot to ask of you."

 

[Judah Lesan]

Things had been interesting over the past few weeks, and very interesting since Briika returned to Manda'yaim from the mission to Elom with her vod'ika Kad Tor. Something had happened, a run in with an old family member, and Graad had gotten the feeling there had been reminders of the life she had once had. Still, Briika was with him, and continued to bring Mesh'la over. The dog stayed on the farmstead as there was room to run, and also served to allow Graad to have something of the two blonde's when they could not be with him.

A gentle touch to his shoulder pulled Graad from his thoughts. He looked up with a smile and took the offered mug with a smile. Eyes followed the lithe form of the blonde as she joined him on the porch swing he was sitting on. Graad took a long sip of the hot, black, caf. By the gods she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. He would never admit it openly, but his stubborn will power hung on by a thread at times, but Graad was a man of his word.

There were days where Graad just wanted to stop Briika from whatever it was she was thinking and just ask her what they were doing. The pair certainly stayed together as if they had joined as one aliit, but they knew it had not happened. Graad feared the conversation though, so he had avoided it, but because he could not bare the thought of not having Briika and Mesh'la in his life. If the answer to that question was not what either of them wanted would it mean they'd have to stop seeing each other as much as they were? That was Graad's biggest fear.

"A camping trip would be fun actually. The north country would be a break from all the heat we've had here, and it is nearing autumn, so we had better before it get's cold."

He initially avoided the idea of meeting her buire. The answer to what they were doing quickly came. Had they simply been "vode" as they had been calling each other with an endearment attached, their would not be a reason to meet her buire. Graad knew this could be something, a pivotal point in their immaculate romance.

Graad let out a long sigh, though it was nothing more than a sigh. He hoped Briika did not read into it.

"I would love to meet your buire. You talk of them often, and with much affection. When we're you thinking of making the trip?"

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

"Kandosii," Briika replied with a sly grin, then continued. "Because I've made all the arrangements. Mesh'la and I will come here first thing in the morning with the boys and pick you up, then we can drive up north to find us a good camping spot along the North Grand Fork. After we're done camping, we can drop by the farmstead in Enceri. Buir is looking forward to meeting you."

With that all said in almost one breath, Bree gave [member="Graad Hokan"]'s thigh a little squeeze, then called to her daughter. "Mes'ika, time to go!" she said, then turned to the rugged Concordian after standing up.

"And I'll see you and Atin in the morning, ner vod'ika."