Blood Oath Chapter 13

Aurora rolled over looking at the clock as the red numbers glared 4:35 AM at her. She gave a loud groan as she rolled onto her back. There was no way she was going to be going back to sleep. With a huff she got out of bed and moved around starting to get dressed. Until she saw a black vest hanging from the door with a note attached. ‘Miss Aurora I do apologize for the short notice but we will be having a short press conference before you leave. Wear the attached clothing and be ready by 8am.’

Aurora groaned as she grabbed the vest. On the front right chest was a shield of Wynnar. All across the chest and back was ornate silver stitching standing out against the black material. A pair of black leather pants accompanied the outfit. Sliding the vest on Aurora grumbled to herself as she fastened the buttons up the front.

Adjusting it a little she finished getting dressed walking out into the hallway. The entire place was silent as she padded softly down the hallway, her soft soled pads barely made any sound against the carpet. Entering one of the small reading books she sat down heavily picking up a book. Thumbing through it she didn’t read so much as just scanned the pages idly.

Two hours and three books later Aurora finally heard Red grunt down the hallway as he stirred. Getting up she walked down to his room opening the door. Red was still half asleep sitting on the edge of his bed. Looking up at her he huffed seeing her outfit. “You better be the coffee fairy bringing me my daily drug” he smiled half lidded.

Aurora smiled as she walked over sitting down next to him. “Sorry I’m not. Seems the president wants a press conference before we leave.” Red groaned as he looked at the clock. Leaning over he rested his head on her shoulder. “So what will you do when we get back?”

He shrugged sitting back up and slowly moving around. “Ill have to go see the council pretty well as soon as we land. After that I’m really not sure. May oversee the new city, may go back to traveling.”

Aurora bit her lip as she nodded. “But you won’t be staying in Vail will you?”

Red smirked as he pulled a pair of pants on. “No, that just isn’t my stick ya know. I like to be out and about.”

Looking down Aurora nodded slowly. “I understand. I’d live to explore but I have so many obligations now. I have the kits and Sorin waiting on me. And while I’m sure they would go if I asked I know Sorin at the very least wouldn’t be thrilled.”

Red smirked and nodded. “Well here is my two cents. Do what you want. Ziggy will follow you anywhere and you know that. Annabelle and the boys I don’t see leaving but I get the feeling Gerhard and the others have a solid hold on them. As for Sorin well what does your heart say?”

Aurora sighed shaking her head. “I don’t know. I love Sorin with all my heart but my feet won’t stop itching with the want to see more. I know that sounds terrible but it’s true.”

Red smiled and reached over gently rubbing her shoulder. “Youll make the right choice for you. I know you will. Besides if you ever get bored with Sorin I’m always available.”

“get in line” she smirked shoving him gently. Red chuckled as he got around getting dressed.  “So red I need some real advice.” She looked up at him worried.

Stopping where he was red nodded sitting down next to her. “Go ahead.” He smiled

“Its about us. Well what we did. I know you said that Kanaima are different than people on the issue but I’m still worried.”

Red nodded as he shrugged. “Personally I don’t know Sorin well enough to advise you. But honesty is always best. Yes we did it one time and given the chance I’d do it again. But that being said I know how you feel about Sorin. Give it a day or two after we land, get your feet under you and see if you even want to stay with him first off. If you do tell him the truth, it was spontaneous and only once. If he is like most from our race he won’t think twice about it and it’ll be dismissed without much conversation. If not we’ll just take it in stride like you’ve always done.”

Aurora nodded as she sighed heavily. “Ok ok I see your point. I guess I need to get around and get breakfast. Will you go wake Frost for me?” Red nodded as he stood up finishing getting dressed.

Aurora walked out of the room just in time to see one of the manor valets taking her bags out if the room and walking outside. Shaking her head she walked down to the kitchen grabbing a breakfast that was already waiting for her. After finishing her meal she sighed and looked at a clock on the wall. Groaning she made her way slowly to the front lobby.

The president was already standing waiting on her. He smiled as he pulled on his jacket and nodded. “This will be brief just a notice to the public of what’s going on before rumor gets the better of everyone.” He smiled and nudged her arm “don’t worry I will do most of the talking you just have to stand there. Maybe answer a few simple questions.”

Aurora nodded slowly as they walked forwards together. Even inside Aurora could hear the dull murmur if people shuffling around outside. As the doors swung open she was a little surprised by the sheer number of cameras. And of course as soon as she was in view the cameras where going crazy with flashes and the sounds of shutters clicking.

The president raised his hands as the cameras slowed down in their clicking. Stepping up to the podium that was full of microphones the president took on a very formal and official tone. “I have called this press conference today…” Aurora quickly turned him out as she looked out across the sea of reporters.

Most where standing huddled around the middle if the stage but a few stood back with their cameras pointed at her. She gave them a distant vacant stare like she was looking down at an ant. Looking back at the president he motioned her over. “Now I will open up the floor for miss Aurora Winters, the chief negotiator for the Kanaima.”

Aurora strode forwards. Gripping the podium she looked down as every set of eyes and cameras where pointed at her. “I would like to thank the Federation for allowing us to come into your beautiful capital and work out a new future for our two countries. I know that many people will be nervous or even frightened at our sudden appearance when they have been told we have been gone for so long. I would like to reassure the population of the Federation, we have nothing but good will for you all.”

“I would also like to thank the members of the senate for their cooperation and a special thank you to Senator Travors for being the man to show us how much the federation is willing to work with us. And finally I would like to give a huge thanks to president Taylor for all he has done as well. Truly we could not have done it without you.” Cameras flashed and news reports all scooted in trying to get as close as humanly possible.

The president walked up and patted her on the shoulder. “While I am sure you all have many questions for our guests those will have to wait for a later date. For now our guests must be heading home.” Gently the president lead Aurora away and back inside the building. Once the doors where shut he started laughing uncontrollably. “My god woman you should be a politician!”

Aurora cocked a brow as she watched him laugh. “I don’t see how I could be.”

The president wiped a year from his eye. “That whole part about Travors was magnificent. He hates Kanaima but with just a few words you made him sound like your biggest supporter all while not denying he was holding everything up. Now he has to swallow that pill for at least another month because the media will want to know everything he did and he will be forced to defend the treaty!”

Aurora smiled shaking her head. Hearing a clattering from down the hall she glanced up seeing Austin and her crew all stumbling around with their gear. Frost had come out of her room just behind them before stopping to help pick up one of the camera bags that had spilled out. Red came up next to Aurora from behind and smirked. “This is gonna be good.” He chuckled

Aurora smacked his arm with a huff. “Red be nice, that was me just a few months ago.”

Sighing he shrugged as the group came in setting the bags down with a dull thud. “Did you bring the kitchen sink?” Red snickered walking around. “I hope you guys aren’t seriously thinking about lugging all this around.”

Austin stepped up a little flushed from carrying so much weight. “Well we will have transportation around the country won’t we?”

That drew a laugh from both Red and Frost. “Besides the maybe 10 railroad tracks that hit the major junctions and the stone pathways in the cities you will be lucky to have a trail at all.” Frost piped up with a smile. “Hell when I was trading I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been on anything larger than a foot path.”

“Well what about horses I mean you still ride those don’t you?” Austin looked at them worried.

Red shrugged as he squatted down in front of one of the camera bags. “We do but most people prefer walking. It’s faster and there is less to take care of. You only really see horses out on the farms or along the train routes carrying carts into the towns.” Digging through the bags Red slowly began pulling things out. “Besides you don’t need all this.”

Austin looked to Aurora as it was clear she was becoming flustered already. “Austin breath. Red and Frost know what they are talking about. You’ll be ok. Now take a breath and relax.”

Red snickered as he kept pulling things out. “Where you ever that high strung?” he said looking up at Aurora. “I mean I only meet you after you’d changed and been in Vail for a while.”

“Oh yes she was. Little ball of nerves when I first met her. And God help you if she didn’t get her way.” Frost snickered ducking a half hearted swipe by Aurora. “Oh come on you know it’s true.”

Aurora huffed and shrugged looking at Austin “the trip will change you for sure. Even before I became like this I had toned down my life a lot. Just don’t get in a hurry and take things as they come.”

Red stood up holding out a single bag from the seven that they had originally. “Here that’s all you’ll really need.” One of the guys walked over taking the bag from him as the soft thumping of the helicopters began to approach.

Aurora smiled at Red and Frost as they both looked up. The president clapped his hands then rubbed them together. “Alright everyone the helicopters are almost here, I want to wish you all the very best of luck. God speed and farewell.” He smiled at them as the doors to the front lawn swung in as one of the largest helicopters Aurora had ever seen touched down.

The massive aircraft was so big that the smaller personal helicopter that Aurora recognized as a military rig looked like a toy. As the back ramp of the helicopter opened she Aurora and Frost all walked out together keeping their heads down under the stiff wind coming off the rotors. Climbing up into the open space Aurora was happy to see her bags where there waiting along with several very large crates.

Behind them the door to the back slowly shut as the last of the film crew got inside. Everyone took a seat as the blades spun back up and the helicopter lifted off. “How long do you think it will take to get back?” she asked looking over at Red.

Red shrugged as he got settled in. “In this big hunk ohhh…. Maybe… eleven hours if we don’t have to stop for fuel.” Aurora grunted and nodded as she leaned back in her seat. Gratefully she noticed that Frost was chatting away with Austin while another guy filmed. Laying her head back she huffed before slowly falling asleep to the steady thumping of the helicopter blades.

Waking with a start she looked around confused. Everyone was still in the helicopter but it was almost perfectly silent outside. The dull thumping of the helicopter blades was no longer present. Looking around she noticed Red coming from the cockpit. “ahhh she is finally awake. You know you snore by the way.”

Aurora growled pinning her ears back and sticking her tongue out at him. “Ladies don’t snore thank you. Why is it so quiet all of the sudden?”

“Well you do. We even have it on film. And I asked the pilot to put the helicopter in what’s called stealth mode. We fly a lot slower but the helicopter makes very little noise. You said you wanted to surprise everyone right?”

Aurora nodded as she glanced out the window just in time to see the first mountains. “Ahhh we are back.” She said smiling. Austin and two different guys with cameras came over and started filming. Though it was night time a full moon lit up the world outside like it was day for Aurora.

A short time later she felt the helicopter begin to descend into the trees. As the machine touched down the back opened up to a small clearing. Lifting her nose Aurora caught the smell of pine and fresh mountain air. Giving off an audible groan of relief she slowly walked out and into the shin high grass.

Behind her the others slowly came out. Two of the men helped Red unload their gear leaving the crates since the helicopter was not leaving. Looking around Aurora was stunned when her senses caught the faint scent of Sorin. Looking around more closely she realized they had landed in the clearing outside of town where Sorin would go to train.

Beaming she ran over and picked Frost up spinning her around. “We’re back!!!” she laughed before taking off across the field jumping and sliding around like a kit. Red chuckled as Frost joined her and the film crew recorded it all. Finally Aurora came back over nearly bouncing. “Come on let’s go I wanna see my kids!”

Austins jaw hit the floor as she looked at Aurora “youre a mother?” she asked bewildered.

Aurora snickered “Long story, they aren’t biologically mine. I will tell you that story another time” She shouldered her pack and Frosts as she was nearly bouncing again. Much to her annoyance the group seemed to move far too slow for her liking, but never the less a few short minutes later they where on the edge of town.

Aurora got a strange sense of déjà vu as she looked around. Street lights lit up the paths as the dull hum of traders going here and there winding down for the day filled the air. Smiling as they came out between two buildings at the edge of the square she glanced over at Sorins forge. All the lights where off but the faint glow of embers from the forge still remained. On the other side of the square Kathie’s Café was also closed but the smell of coffee lingered in the air.

Smiling Aurora motioned the group onwards. Up the hill they trudged to the inn. Flicking her ears around Aurora could hear Gerhard and Sorin along with an unfamiliar female voice chatting away noisily. Mixed in she heard the clatter if plates and Annabelle talking to guests. Looking back at the others she smiled ear to ear. “Here goes.”

Swinging the heavy wooden door inwards all the sights smells and sounds hit her all at once. The smell of fresh food mixed with the scents of all the Kanaima. People’s chatting coming to a sudden stop. Looking at the bar Aurora smiled seeing Sorin and Gerhard on either side of the bar chatting away. Sorin seemed frozen in place but the same could not be said for Annabelle.

With a loud crashing of plates being dropped Aurora found herself being full force tackled by a grey furred missile. Wrapping the kit up Aurora lifted her off the ground spinning her around. Before she could even complete a full revolution she found a much larger set of arms wrapped around her.

Burying her nose into his fur Aurora inhaled the scent of coal mixed with pine that was Sorin. Freeing one arm from Annabelle she wrapped it around his neck as she found herself choking back tears. Sorin was putting in stereo in her ear trembling slightly.

Their moment only ended when a loud “FROST” came booming from outside. Turning Aurora peaked one eye out just in time to see Blake run over and embrace her. Aurora couldn’t help but smile seeing both of them crying. Then all at once Aurora heard the thundering of three more sets of feet.

Looking up just in time Aurora found herself being jumped by two more balls of fuzz. She smiled seeing the boys and ruffling each of them on the head. Looking around there was one she was missing. She finally spotted the blue and amber eyes of Ziggy staring back at her from behind the bar. What she did not expect was when Ziggy ducked down and walked away.

Before she could follow Aurora found herself surrounded by others. Gerhard along with several other members of the city crowded in all wanting to say hello and congratulate her on a safe return. After several minutes if slowly ducking and weaving around she managed to get to the edge of the group. This was only really accomplished after Blake had announced rather loudly that he was going to be a dad causing the whole crowd to shift their way.

The whole time Annabelle had been clinging to her side, Aurora sat her down on a bar stool smiling as she straitened the kits messy hair.  “Whats wrong with Ziggy?” she asked as she wiped some of the tears away from belles face.

Shrugging Annabelle sighed looking behind the bar. “I think she is just scared. She was really worried you weren’t coming back.”

Aurora nodded and smiled kissing Annabelle on the head. “Welk I am back. Now I know you want to spend time with me and we will but right now I need to check on your sister. And we need rooms for everyone.” Annabelle smiled and nodded hopping down and grabbing the keys. Aurora smiled and walked around behind the bar and into the private residence.

Once she was in the back she could tell things where going better. The rooms where neat and organized but not to the point to where she thought Kathy was doing it. Looking around she quickly found Ziggy’s hiding spot amongst a pile of towels waiting to be folded. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw Ziggy’s tail poking out from the towels as it twitched.

Aurora made a conscious effort to pace around the room making some noise before walking back out. Once outside she ducked down and slowly inched back to the door quiet as a mouse. From the stack of clothing she heard the rustling if material as Ziggy poked her head out and looked around. Almost looking smug Ziggy climbed out if the towels and brushed out her fur that was standing up turning her back to the door.

Aurora swooped in with a flash and scooped Ziggy up “gotcha!” she snickered as the kit gave a loud squeek of surprise.  Aurora was more than a little surprised though when she felt the needle sharp claws of Ziggy dig into her arm. Reflexively dropping the kit she shook her arm with a soft hiss. “Oww”

Looking up at Ziggy Aurora paused. The kit was equal parts rage and terrified. Aurora slowly crouched down getting on her knees as she looked at Ziggy. “Baby come here.” She said opening her arms up. Ziggy stayed still for long enough Aurora wondered if she was going to move.

Then the tears started flowing as Ziggy ran into her arms sobbing hysterically. “You left me! You swore you wouldn’t be gone long!” the small kit was holding to Aurora so tight it was a miracle she didn’t hurt herself.

“Shhhhh I know baby. I am so sorry.” Aurora blinked back hot tears as she held Ziggy tightly rocking her back and forth.

Ziggy looked up at Aurora with a face of pure determination “never leave me again.” Her face melting from determined to scared again as her bottom lip quivered.

Aurora smiled and nodded slowly as she nuzzled her kit. Ziggy looked up at her and licked Aurora’s cheek purring loudly. Aurora in turn licked her back completely covering the side of Ziggy’s face in slobber. Both of them laughed and tousled about for a minute before Annabelle came in. “I got you guys in rooms one through five but Sorin wants you to come to his place.”

Aurora smiled and looked down at Ziggy before shouting out. “Sorin you can keep it in your pants for one more night!” outside she heard people erupt in laughter. Shaking her head Aurora smiled taking the girls under her arms and holding them tightly. And all at once it hit her. This was her home and this was her family. All she could do was throw her head back and laugh then cry as she held her daughters tightly. She knew she would never give this feeling up for the world.