Page 17 of Nyanine's Divide

“It is you, my dear nephew. We’ve missed you, son, and I’m so glad you’re home.” Father pauses, noting the tension within Rygen, his head tilting to the side as if he senses something. “I’m so sorry.”

Rygen’s jaw clenches before his chin wobbles slightly. His fists tremble at his sides, and he shakes his head, trying to deny it. I’m not sure what lies his father poisoned him with to feel this level of hatred against us, but I wish I could take it back from him. I wish we could have protected him.

“It’s okay, son. Nothing that happened was your fault. Your father was in pain, and he took you with him, drowning you as much as himself. You survived it all, and no matter what you had to do, I’m still proud of you. Look at you, four mates, successful, what more could we ask for for you? You’re safe and home now, it’s okay to let it go.” Father continues to speak, opening his arms as a stray tear falls down Rygen’s cheek. Ayira gasps, her hands lifting to her mouth, and Tohtor pulls her into his arms as they watch together.

Rygen continues to struggle, his head shaking as he murmurs no over and over, fighting it. “All your fault,” is whispered as his gaze lifts to spear my father with a menacing look.

Father sighs, the look of pity on his face nearly too much. “Rygen, no one was to blame. Lahrulai made her choices, and because we loved her, we listened. We did all we could, this is no one’s fault. It’s simply a tragic event. No matter what your father told you, this is not anyone’s fault, especially not yours. You were just a boy. Please understand. We’re still your family, we still love you. Come home to us.” His arms continue to remain open, hope pouring from him as he waits for Rygen to give in and find his way back to us.

Who knows what he’s lived through, where he’s been, or what his father did. The emotions he’s feeling, the things he’s struggling with, it’s all a misunderstanding, but he has to realize this on his own. We can’t force him to see anything he doesn’t want to. But by the way his lip trembles and his gaze bounces between us, filling with hope and pain, he seems to be seeing the light. Perhaps Father’s words were just what he needed to hear.

“Uncle.” His voice is hoarse, pain-filled, but it cracks his composure, and he falls into my father’s arms, clinging to him. “I’m so sorry, Uncle. We ran away, we abandoned you. Father blamed you, wanted me to hate you, and I tried to. Then Father, he died, and I was alone. I couldn’t get home. I-” He’s cut off bysobs as my father shushes him, not concerned with the details. Rygen was never to blame for anything that happened.

My mother died of illness, that was no one’s fault. We did what we could, but her brother, Rygen’s father, couldn’t stand it. He blamed us for not doing more, for not taking her to a city doctor like he wanted to, but Mother had her wishes. She wanted to stay with us, she wanted natural treatments, and if death took her, she was willing to let it because it was the cycle of life. She was just happy to have the time she did with us, and we respected her wishes.

I always wondered what happened to Rygen and my uncle, they never came back, and when I attempted to find them in the city when I grew up, they were nowhere to be found. I eventually gave up, assuming they didn’t want to reach out to us anymore as the pain was too great. That was understandable. I’d like to know the full story, but I won’t push Rygen to rebuild a relationship with me if he doesn’t want it. We were mere boys of six revolutions at the time we last saw each other.

He pulls back from my father, his eyes darting to me. I give him a sympathetic smile and nod my head slowly. “It’s good to see you again, cousin. I’ve looked for you for a long time. If I’d known you ended up off planet, I would have searched harder. I’m sorry.”

He sighs, stepping forward, and pulling me into a hug. “I’m sorry, too. You were just a boy, like me, struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one. Father let his grief and anger drive him, he wanted to be far away from what hurt him, so he left and took me with him, attempting to poison me against you. I didn’t have a choice. I was ashamed to reach back out when he died, I thought you might hate me for having left you in a time of need. It was better to wall up my heart and survive how I could.”

When we pull apart, I put a hand to his shoulder, seeing the depth of his pain and struggles in his eyes. “I don’t know howyoung you were when he died, but I’m sorry you had to face the universe alone. We’re here now, no bad blood between us. We can be family again, if you’d like. We won’t force you, but we’re so glad to see you alive and healthy.”

He smiles, nodding rapidly as he blinks before nudging my shoulder with a fist. “I’d like that, to reconnect.” He sighs, letting out a long breath as his eyes roam around, meeting those of his mates before coming back to me. “I can’t tell you how large a weight it’s lifted to be back here and to hear these words, to have this conversation. I feared coming here before, thought it would only cause trouble. I had to fight not to yell all the awful things my father did to me when I was young. I was always conflicted about what he said, if it was true. I’m glad I bit my tongue and listened to Uncle, hear your side. I have a piece of the old me back now, Vahru. Thank you.”

Watching the way his shoulders relax, the easy smile that seems to lift his lips, he’s literally transforming before my eyes into the boy I remember. When he stepped off that ship, he was a stone soldier, hard, resilient, and unyielding. He didn’t want anything getting past his defenses. Now, in mere moments, he’s released the armor and taken a deep breath he needed. It’s insane but wonderful to see. He must have really been dreading this before.

There’s a quiet pause as Ayira sniffles, Rygen turning to pull her into his arms and soothe her. He smiles at Tohtor, reaching out and patting his shoulder in brotherly affection before focusing on his woman.

“A celebration! We must have a celebration to thank you for coming to help us and to welcome Rygen back home!” Father yells out, Tonya singing her agreement in a high pitch that nearly makes me cringe.

Kari laughs, shaking her head. “Every possible excuse to celebrate, and you take it, Chief. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have a problem.”

I chuckle as my father laughs loudly, tucking her under an arm. “Kari, you’ll understand when you’re in my position one day. Celebrating the positives every chance you get keeps a happy village. No one dwells on the struggles or negatives when there are things to be grateful and happy for.” He winks, and she nods in understanding.

Father begins shouting out plans for tonight so they have time to fix the shield and make sure we’re safe to enjoy the open village center. Tonya makes notes, Melodia helps, and Jeff calls for Willa, knowing she’ll be integral to the entire set-up.

By the time the sun is setting, the shield is back in working order, and the village is setting up and coming alive with the sounds and scents of celebration. Food is piled onto tables, drinks set out, lights hung, and the vivid paint is swirled onto skin for dancing around the fires. I stand back and watch as everyone rushes around, laughing and chatting in good fun.

The Nobodies have kept to themselves for the most part. After fixing the shield, Tutkijaa and Alex went back to their ship so he could work in his cave, as he calls it, to make sure all operations are nominal. The others met them at the ship and have stayed there for the most part. Kari and Willa made sure the cabin next to ours was cleaned and set up for Tavionna’s arrival tomorrow before jumping into preparations for the celebration.

“How do I look? Like I belong?” I turn at the voice, finding Rygen beside me, shirtless, with vivid pink paint all over him in swirling patterns. It seems to work well with the bright blue ofhis mating marks along his arms and shoulders, and the smile on his face is wide and child-like. He looks more like the cousin I grew up with than ever before.

“Ha, you look like you let Melodia get a hold of you, but it looks good. Like when we were kids.”

“That’s exactly who got a hold of me. She matched Ayira’s skin with her paint, and then told me to sit down and shut up.” He chuckles, and I join him, nodding.

“That sounds about right. Those little Sautii sure love these celebrations.”

“They seem really sweet, and they seem to love the planet. They’ve already given us shell necklaces, beads, and fish to eat. They’re eager to help us fit in. What you’ve got here, what the village has become, it’s great, cousin.”

I smile at him, turning to nod at Kari as she heads my way. “It’s all because of that little human right there. She showed up and changed everything for us. But it’s been for the best. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Well, hello, boys. Rygen, you’re looking festive!” Kari grins, tying her curls up into a messy bun on her head as she fans her face. “Sorry, I’m so warm, it’s been a hot day.”

“Melodia made sure I would be attending my own celebration and that I would fit in. I didn’t have much choice when she squeaked at me like that.”

Kari laughs, her eyes closing as her head falls back. “That sounds like Melodia, ensuring you don’t miss out by being bossy and sweet at the same time. She’s stolen my heart, that little one.”

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