Under His Shadow

[Micah Talith]

::Borleias
::Talith Family Home

It had become a cycle really.

Morning came early for [member="Kira Talith"], much to @Soliael Talith's dismay, although he did his best to show a pleasant and jovial demeanor for his wife's sake. The rising light of the morning sun barely would glint across the ocean's surface, the only sound the crashing of nearby waves and the call of birds greeting the morn.

A brisk breeze would ruffle the gauzy curtains that adorned the vast amounts of wide windows across the island home Sol and Kira called their sanctuary for almost thirty years. Here their children were born. Here they had raised them, watching them crawl, stumble, walk, and run. Echoes of laughter and tales aplenty were saturated to the worn beach wood under Kira's feet and the walls that surrounded her.

Yet there wasn't much laughter to be had around this household. Not for months. Not since Sol had nearly burnt out Kira's necklace to come to the aide of their only son, at his seemingly cry of agony that had lanced through the galaxy at them both.

Had Soliael been unable to travel... Micah would have been lost.

Now their son lay in a coma in his room. The burns and the vast array of wounds had healed, but what remained behind was a troublesome and heartbreaking sight for any mother to see. Micah's left arm from his shoulder bone down had completely burned away, leaving behind not even a stump for a prosthetic arm to attach. Instead, any possible attachment would require deep intergrations with his left flank, now coated in keloid burn scars across the upper left of his chest and down over his rib cage. His face had not been spared, the same burn scars scattered across the left side of his face, a darker pink against his normal tan that had faded from his time in bedrest.

Micah had not awoken from his coma for months. Healers and medics from across the galaxy had come to grant aid at Kira's and Sol's behest. However, nothing seemed to work. It was all up to Micah now.

Yet every passing day that Micah spent unconscious tore a little more out of his mother's heart. It wasn't just Kira, [member="Kaili Talith"] , [member="Aela Talith"], and Maleah were also affected. Each took to dealing with the tragedy in their own way.

[member="Vexen"] had not spent one hour away from Micah's side since Alliance Forces had come to collect Micah and his father had blinked himself into their presence. The Defel refused to leave the Talith's side, and Kira hadn't the heart to encourage her away. Instead the Jedi Master would mother them both, ensuring their needs were met and that the Wraith would brush her fur now and then. They were an inseparable pair when they were young, and perhaps, in some way, Kira believed that Micah knew Vexen was here for him.

Perhaps, knew they were all here for him now. Then maybe, just maybe...her little boy would wake up.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Micah Talith"] | [member="Vexen"] | [member="Kaili Talith"]

Soliael drummed his fingers gently against the kitchen counter, impatience crowning his features.

Time was something he'd never really thought would work against him.

Until very recently it had always been something completely on his side. He'd had months, years, even days always by his side. There was never a cause for concern. Even when he'd languished away in prison for nigh on a century he'd never quite had cause for concern. Time had always been his ally, it had always been there for him, and now it had abandoned him. It was a painful thought in truth, the idea that perhaps his closest friend had stabbed him in the back.

The idea was laughable in a way, time was after all an inanimate force that no one could control, but it still hurt.

His son was caught in a coma, his life ebbing steadily on by with Soliael unable to do anything at all. It was that which hurt him most, his inability to act, his placement in stark nothingness. He was not a healer, he was not a doctor, all he could do was stand there and wait.

That was why time had turned against him, because unlike before, unlike every instance of his life, Soliael could not just sit there and wait anymore. He saw his wife's face, he saw how his daughters looked, and it pained him. He knew that Micah would pull through, he knew that his son was strong, but every day that went by seemed to wound his family more and more. So while Soliael could wait, while he knew Micah would wake up, he wasn't entirely sure that the others thought the same.

It was a wound that he carried, and as he stepped up behind Kira and wrapped his arms around her he tried not to show it through the bond of the ring. "It will be alright."

He whispered quietly.

"He's strong." Soliael sounded confident. "He'll wake up."

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Micah Talith"] // [member="Soliael Devin Talith"] // [member="Vexen"]​

The wooden lounger burned against the skin of her elbow as Kaili kept herself propped up against the exquisite armrest. Her index finger swept back and forth across the surface of her nose bridge and eyebrow as if something had caused her to fall into a state of deep contemplation. In reality she wasn’t thinking about much at all, and that was exactly the problem. Being home had become heavy for her and with each day that passed the uncertainty that seemed to linger on her mind seemed to grow even thicker and unbearable. The breezes that rolled over their little island did nothing for her as they caressed her tanned skin with an uncomfortable chill. For a second Kaili missed Allyson, but unlike Micah she had been one of the lucky ones. Even if it had never felt as such for Kaili. But Allyson had survived with mainly mental scars from the entire ordeal, Micah had not been so fortunate.

So perhaps the heavy nature of being home was double ended for that reason alone. Because thoughts that Allyson could have been in the very same seat were thoughts that Kaili had no real urge to think about. The girl pushed against the armrest of her lounger to get herself back on her feet again. The floors of the patio burned against her barefeet too. Everything here just burned. Then again, Kaili had over the course of a week spent more sunhours than she had in all of her life combined. Or well, figuratively at least. The heat did undoubtedly burn, but whether the rest of it was an illusion or not remained to be seen. She didn’t really have any urge to think on it.

In fact, for the most part Kaili didn’t want to think about anything at all. Allyson was away for work, and Kaili had already been to Kiara to ensure that things were running smooth in her absence before returning back to Borleias again. Thoughts lingered on Allyson for a second as the Borleian breeze swept across the blonde’s face again. Her bottom found the pool’s edge, her feet found the water, and even then it all just burned. She wanted a way to distract herself.

Eyes that had watched the waves distort the figure of her feet shifted to the horizon. Vineta was an option, had it not been so expensive. Her beachfront shop where her business had started was not particularly inviting either. In a strange kind of way she wanted to be both alone and anything but. At least around home she had that covered, but it wasn’t exactly saying much. The atmosphere that she experienced around the house just wasn’t the same as it once was and it broke her heart.

A prolonged sigh burst through Kaili’s nose as she stifled the urge to roll over into the pool, clothing and all. It would have been something to do. For a second or two before the novelty wore off.

 

[Vexen]

At some point Kira had insisted that she have her own bedding instead of curling up at the foot of his bed. It was really noting more than a folded over blanket and some cushions but that was more than she had grown up with. One ear stuck up suddenly before Vexen lifted her nose up and turned towards Micah. Her muzzle didn't move at all for a few seconds. Slowly, her ears flattened back down. It had just been a slight change in his breathing.

As she turned her head she spotted a snarl of hair on her forearm. In days gone by that would have been dealt with immediately but now she left it for later.

Vexen had been trying to process some difficult thoughts over the last few days. Her grief was no stronger than anyone else's, but she had nothing else to go to. No other life to get in with whilst they all waited to see whether Micah would recover.

What would she do if he didn't?

What would she do if he did and he eventually moved on?

One day he would probably have a family of his own. A busy life to deal with. She couldn't just follow him forever. These were difficult thoughts. She wasn't a particularly talkative creature to begin with, but she had been especially quiet of late. There was little drive to get up, deal with other people. Vexen didn't even have much of an appetite. Sleep had become the most pleasant part of her routine.

She liked to imagine an alternative timeline where this hadn't happened. Where life was as it had been. Even that didn't bring much relief, or joy. Vexen hadn't felt much of anything recently.

 

[Micah Talith]

@Vexen @Kaili Talith [member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Kira brought her arms up to rub her husband's arms. There was strength in them. Warmth. Encouragement and concern. Kira gave a half smile. He did so much for her. The love for him welled up within her chest. Tucking herself against him, the blonde woman gave a heavy sigh, the air flowing from her mouth as she sank against his chest.

"I know." it was a soft murmur, the distant sounds of waves crashing almost muffling it. Nohei was out there. The young woman was just as confused and lost as the rest of them. All they could do is pull themselves together. To work as a family and support each other. It was just difficult when the house was so quiet without Micah's snarky humor or amused quip.

Seeing him so still and silent was heart breaking.

"You should see how Nohei is doing," she added, giving Sol's arm a gentle pat. Out of all of their children, Nohei was the one who was the most like Devin. With everything that was going on, Kira knew that her daughter's mind was troubled.

"I'll check on Vexen and Micah." turning her head upwards, the Lorrdian gave him a half smile.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Micah Talith"] | [member="Vexen"] | [member="Kaili Talith"]

He kissed the top of his wife's head. "Alright."

Soliael just wanted his family knit back together, not flailing around like this. His son was in a coma, his eldest daughter was distant, and the others couldn't help but feel the effects of that. The wounds were weighing them down more than any of them would admit. The old man squeezed Kira for just a few seconds, then slowly unfurled his arms from around her.

"We shoulder order some food." He told her. "A big meal, get a caterer or something."

Kira had always liked to cook, but now wasn't the time for that. "Just so we can have something nice."

His eyes flickered towards where he knew Micah was still laying. Soliael knew that he would wake up, it would just take time. Time. He frowned for a moment and then smiled at Kira, a confident smile that attempted to be as reassuring as possible. Before she could answer his suggestion however the old man slipped away from the room, knowing that he would carry out his plan no matter what his wife said. He wanted things taken care of for her, and that was that.

Quickly Soliael moved through the house, his gaze flicking through the rooms as he tried to catch a glimpse of Nohei.

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] // [member="Micah Talith"] // [member="Vexen"]

There was no rolling into the water. Kaili had nearly slipped into it by accident on her way up from the ledge, but nothing really came of it. She had let the water dry off from her shin down on a lounger before walking back into one of the greater rooms. She had memories of Aela sitting here, reading books at times when she wasn’t on her room. Then again, Aela and books were just about two words that were synonymous with one another. Didn’t matter much where she was, there was always a book nearby. Just about the same as Kay always haddroids or other more advanced tech around her, really. In the end each Talith kid had their own little field that were separated enough for it to amuse the youngest to no end.

Aela with her books.

Kaili with her machines.

Maleah with her beasts.

Micah with his coma.

No, that felt wrong. Her mind had tried to find a word like tracking, or knowledge, or alchemy, or anything that was a skill and not a state of being. Yet ‘coma’ was the word that her mind had chosen when there were so many others to pick from. It wasn’t a thought that crossed her mind all that much when she wasn’t at home, but something about the atmosphere had her in a state where she couldn’t think about much else and it frustrated her. She wanted to leave, but to run away felt like the most selfish thing she could do. Yet there was nothing she actually could do, and that was what frustrated her the most.

The eyes that had peered over the horizon as she sat by the poolside now peered over the very same horizon again, albeit from the padded edge of a couch. The winds blew through the open door and carried the curtains back and forth with a hauntingly calm sway.

It had to end some day. Micah would wake up and things would go back to normal.

It just had to.

 

[Vexen]

Vexen had almost managed to drift off when she heard Kira's footsteps. The Defel knew each of the talith family by the sounds they made. If she actually took the time to explore the house her sense of smell was strong enough to make where each of them had been. But she didn't leave this room very often. Just as she hadn't left her isolated safe haven in the station over Ithor until she absolutely had to.

One ear perked up and swivelled towards the door, but Vexen stayed where she was.

 

[Micah Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] @Vexen @Kaili Talith

"Catering?" Kira would mull over this with a twitch of her nose. "We'll see." it was a two part tug when it came down to it. On one hand Kira wanted to be able to cook food for her family; although Devin by far was the better cook. The Lorrdian could bake. Cook, well, even after two decades there were still a few times when Kira in her excitement would burn the meal. Her husband had to save them those time by soothing Kira's ruffled nerves and making dinner instead.

On the other hand, Kira was also mentally and emotionally exhausted. All she wanted was for her baby boy to wake up. With a ghost of a smile, blue eyes would trace the path that led to Micah's room. Coming up to the threshold, she caught sight of the faint lift and perk of Vexen's mussel.

"Good morning, Vexen," her voice went drifting over the pair. "Hungry?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kaili Talith"] | [member="Micah Talith"] | [member="Vexen"]

Soliael stepped into the living room after searching what felt like the entirety of the house.

He'd never really thought about just how big their home actually was, though it was incredibly noticeable while you were looking for someone. There was the den, the kitchen, the Library, the living room, the kids rooms and the master bedroom. That wasn't even mentioning the observation deck or the observatory. Part of him wondered for the first time if perhaps he'd made this place a bit too big, though the idea of that was a little bit absurd in it of itself.

Mostly because he had four children and growing up they had been an absolute nightmare of energy. If the house was any smaller they'd have had nowhere to hide. "Nohei?"

Soliael called out as he spotted his daughter.

The former False God held a certain amount of care in his tone. The youngest daughter of the Talith family wasn't exactly more sensitive than any of the others, but Soliael wanted to walk on eggshells with all of them, even his wife. Again he felt as though he had to be the pillar.

The one everyone could lean on.

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] // [member="Micah Talith"]

Her back found the comfort of the couch as her back pushed deeper and deeper into the cushion within. Her neck arched back and her eyes set on the ceiling for a second before they closed. Outside she could hear the gentle breeze of the wind and the slow crashing of waves against the shore, yet inside all she could hear was the subtle rhythm of her own heartbeat. They drowned each other out with infrequent intervals as the sensation of her own heart beat against her neck and jaw. The stress wasn’t good for her, probably, but she was coping at least. Somewhat.

“Nohei?”

The girl’s eyes blinked open and she sat up straight again. Her torso turned to look at her father as he approached.

“Hey,” She said. “Something wrong? Something happen?”

“Any news?”

 

[Vexen]

[member="Micah Talith"] [member="Kaili Talith"] [member="Soliael Devin Talith"]


It took Vexen a few moment's to consider the question. It wasn't as if she didn't eat now. It hadn't been the same immediately after the space station. In those first few days Cira had been forced to coax her into eating every time. Vexen didn't have a baseline of size for her species, but she would probably never reach her potential full height after her early years. Hunger had been a constant companion then. In the first year of flying with Micah he had become accustomed to her requesting snacks at frequent intervals. The novelty had slowly worn off. Especially when she realised quite how squishy around the middle her favourite sugary treats had made her.

"'spose."


It wasn't an enthusiastic response, but at least she was eating properly if reminded to.

 

[Micah Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] @Vexen @Kaili Talith

[SIZE=9pt]“Hmm, suppose is it?” Kira replied in a singsong voice, well as much of a positive one as the blond master could give. Her soft steps took her towards the large windows to the right. A brush of her hand and the curtains were swept back, bringing in the soft and warm light of the morning. The sound of distant crashing waves and the smell of salt in the air flowed in. For Kira, she knew that her son wouldn’t like being cooped up in a dreary room all day. No, he was always a lover of the outdoors. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“You need to eat, Vexen.” the short blonde added, padding her way over from the window towards the bed. There her son lay. The bacta dips and the healers could only do so much. His skin was still a light puckered pink where the flesh scarred over and healed. As always, a deep tug in her heart tightened like a fist. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Coming to a stop beside the bed, she bend down to press a soft kiss along Micah’s brow. His hair, normally a shaggy mess, had to be trimmed back on one side to properly reach the third degree burns.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Morning sunshine.” Kira said, offering the unconscious Talith a mother’s smile. Beside her the constant low beeps of the medical monitors kept a constant watch on the Talith. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Maybe we should have a little walk hmm Vex?”[/SIZE]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kaili Talith"] | [member="Vexen"] | [member="Micah Talith"]

Soliael kept his face Neutral, something he was exceedingly good at even at the worst of times. Kira could tell his emotions at a glance, but that was mostly due to the ring that he wore around his fingers. His children had always had a tougher time when it came to that, mostly because for years prior Soliael had acted as both an ambassador, and a false god. He had kept to himself for centuries, and acting, or lying if one told the exact truth, came to him almost as a second nature.

"Not yet." The old man didn't give a single 'no' as an answer, never did. There was always an added word, 'yet', 'soon', something of the like. His confidence in the recovery of his son was more than clear. It was not a false confidence either, not an act, but simple truth that he had already accepted.

Micah would wake up, it would just take time.

"But I was thinking..." He trailed off as he peered around the room. "We should order some food."

There were a few places that delivered to Casa Talith, mostly because Soliael paid them an obscene amount of money to do so. "Something good."

 

[Kaili Talith]

Kay on the other hand did not keep her face neutral. She looked tired, exhausted and worn out. The last few months had not been kind to her and she would lie if she said she had taken it in strides. Her trip to Ilum the days after the news had hit her was something she had taken for the direct reason of creating a weapon for herself should she feel the need for one, but it was just that good old Talith luck perhaps. If there was such a thing.

Still, the suggestion was not for Kaili to brood as much as what to eat. She should have stuck on the topic.

“Atrisian, maybe?” She put on a smile. “Me and Allyson have a place we like to go to when we are around, but it’s not a very big place. Close to the beach where my shop is.”

“I am guessing meat, for Mal’s sake?” Maleah was the odd one out in that regard. Wait, was she even around? “I tried a few vegetarian alternatives every other day or so with Ally. Something about the lower cost and ability to grow it all at home.”

“Can’t go wrong with pizza.” The daughter smiled at her father. “Or noodles.”

“I feel Atrisian. Their spices are great, and the dishes are easy to pick through.”

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] // [member="Micah Talith"] // [member="Vexen"]​

 

[Vexen]

[member="Micah Talith"]

In reflex she narrowed her eyes at the sound of the curtains being pulled. Her goggles adapted so quickly that she needn't have bothered. Vexen hadn't realised how distraught Micah's parents really were for some time. She'd been so wrapped up in her own mind and having her world torn down. Over and over she had replayed those minutes in her mind trying to find some way to fault the path she chosen. To imagine a way for Micah to be better.

The contrast in Kira's voice between trying to gee Vexen up and talking to her son filled her with guilt. One second Vexen was curled tightly in a ball and the next, without a sound, she was stood at the side of the bed.

It was her own mother's voice she sometimes heard. She was certain of that now. Surely she would have been dissapointed if Vexen had gone through all that hardship just to be a burden on some people who didn't need any more weight on their shoulders.

"Tha'd be nice," she murmured before chewing at the knot if hair on her forearm.

 

[Micah Talith]

@Vexen @Kaili Talith [member="Soliael Devin Talith"]


There was a deep connection between Vexen and her son, Kira knew that. It was evident that faithful day that Kira discovered that her ten year old Micah had brought over a small, trembling creature to the family ship. They were only staying on Ithor to visit the Jedi Academy there, but her son had come away from that particular trip with more than just adventurous tales. They all did.

Vexen and Micah were bound from the hip ever since then. They had a curious relationship, and one might even consider it to be akin to a bond between a human and their pet, but that would define it with terrible simplicity. They were best friends, confidants, guardian and ward. It was simple as it was complicated. Micah was terrible protective of Vexen and vice versa.

"You want your brush?" Kira inquired, catching Vexan attempting to chew through a nat. Micah had made her one specifically for her fur. More often than not the Wraith would be meticulous about her coat. However, ever since Micah's injury, she'd become more and more lax with it. Kira could only believe it was how Vexen dealt with her grief, trying to make sense of it all. She couldn't blame her, but she was still very concerned over the Defel.

"I could help you with your coat." Straightening, Kira gave Micah's head one more lingering brush, feeling the locks of dark hair run through her fingers. Yes, she had to look after Vexen.

Micah would want that.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kaili Talith"] | [member="Vexen"] | [member="Micah Talith"]

His daughters talk of vegetarian food slowly made Soliael raise an eyebrow. The fact that she could survive off such meals was a testament to how much their genetics had been diluted. It wasn't a bad thing of course, but he'd never really thought about it all that much. They would live longer than the average human, they were faster, heard better, and could do things that some humans could only dream of, but they were still so far away from what his mother or grandmother was.

Or even himself for that matter.

It was a good thing really. His children did not need to kill to survive, they didn't need blood, they could just be normal...with a few extra benefits anyway. He smiled slightly, pushing the analytical thoughts from his mind and regarding Kaili. "We can do Atrisian."

He didn't really mind either way.

"Will they deliver?" He asked. "I can pay them an obscene amount of money."

Usually that was enough to tempt anyone.

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"] // [member="Micah Talith"] // [member="Vexen"]

Vegetarian dishes still weren’t exactly on Kaili’s list of favorites, but sacrifices were made for her girlfriend’s sake. She couldn’t exactly deny that a small part of her thrived just a little more on a meat dish than that of a dish made entirely of vegetables and mushrooms, but it was far from as loud as it could be. To no degree as distinct as it seemed to be for her sister though.

“Well, an obscene amount of money is probably a good start.” Kay laughed at her father’s comment. “But you might want to figure out what you actually want first, before you start calling them up with the order.”

The girl rose from her seat and brought out the hologram projection of a screen from the device on her wrist. She flicked away at the buttons, the keys and fields until a small box of noodles seemed to hover before her face. She flicked her wrist towards her father to send a copy of the restaurant’s menu to his device. It was a modest selection of meats and other dishes with a very prominent presence of noodle as to rice, but the option was there.

“Their Jar’Kai Special is awesome.” The blonde said and stepped up next to her father to look at the menu on his device. Her mouth watered at the thought. “Shrimp, nerf beef, bird meats, mushrooms... There are some pretty amazing flavors in there, and it’s all in one convenient box.”

“Have a look, see what catches your eye. I know from personal experience that each and every meal they have are great.”

A thought, a very important thought at that, struck Kaili's mind. “AND DESSERT!” She exclaimed happily. “We need a dessert too, dad.”

“We should order that thing you and mum liked to get, and maybe something to do and make a thing out of this. A night together to get our minds off of things and just… Talk, or celebrate?” She shrugged with slight unease as thought returned to Micah again. “I just think it could do us some good, is all.”

 

[Vexen]

[member="Micah Talith"]

Her species hadn't evolved to naturally read the facial expressions of humans. Those connections that did it were entirely learned. Vexen had never met another member of her own species and had grown up in a family of humans. She had never been close enough to the inhabitants of the Herdship to learn from the ithorians and their visitors. She saw concern in Kira's gaze when it passed over her. Was she afraid she would have to be responsible for the wraith if her child passed away? Vexen would have to leave if that happened. She couldn't be a burden on them.

When Kira spoke up it soothed over her concerns. She regretted the thoughts that had just passed through her mind. "S'alright," she mumbled. She didn't want to be a burden. Looking down she realised how ragged it had become in places. "Well...I'll look after it be'er. But maybe. If you don't mind?"