Even in darkness

[homeless_pard]

Who: Khem, many
When: Several months in to Jason's incarceration.
What: A bright spot in all of this.

Khemrys sighed and tamped leaves into a canister, hands cold against the cool metal. She was...not doing well, she knew that, and in two days she met with lawyers once more before she was at the pickets at the facility again. She was..tired. And sad. But mostly tired? At night she could see him at least, but it was a pale ghost against the harshness of reality.

"Are you alright?" Benny asked, looking up from his seat against the greenhouse glass.

She tried to smile? "I am unharmed, do not worry," She assured, labeling the canister. "I am...simply as I am these days."

"I'm sorry!" the young rat winced.

"Do not worry young lord, you are doing as you must, I have no complaint," She offered.

"We worry," the kid offered softly. "It's almost time?"

Khemrys nodded, "I will gather my things." Her things didn't comprise much these days. Just any bread starters she wished to bake at the Circus and such, but still. She wasn't used to being ushered out the back the greenhouse under an armed guard.

She hoped to never be used to such.

"This way ma'am," the guards smiled, ushering out into the car toward the circus but..."what?" This wasn't the proper direction?

"Doctor Lillian called and asked to divert you to the clinic. Rafael has agreed to the diversion if you agree," the driver offered.

She blinked, "Yes, please, if there is need..." She was still the greatest treatment one might have against silver. A useful skill given her kith and kine here.

The driver nodded, turning as a matter of course, and soon enough they were at the clinic where Lillian met them and...climbed into the car? "This address, Go! Fast."

Khemrys checked her seatbelt then eyed her colleague? "Is there an emergency? An attack?"

"Something like that," the woman replied grimly. "I need you on this."

"OF course," She agreed blankly. Who had dared attack someone here to the point they could not get to the clinic?! She braced herself for loud fighting and perhaps fires at their destination...instead they pulled up to a quiet, sprawling rancher of a home?

Lillian climbed out, nodding, "come. You boys stay here."

Um. She had firm lectures from everyone these days to not be unguarded but she adjusted her own bag and followed her elder friend? "And what may we expe-oh."

OH.

Stepping across the threshold of this house made it feel like home. Warm and thick like honey in summer. It felt like slow, indolent safety and a surcease from pain. She found herself breathing it in, smiling despite herself, "Gunnora."

"Yes yes," Lillian agreed, this is her first...place. We didn't want to tell you in case we...failed."

Khemrys blinked, staring, then shook her head, "but now?"

"Now I Need someone with healing to attend the first birth from a shifter woman," Lillian noted simply. "Wash your hands."

Khemrys went to the sink first and did as instructed, smiling, "you hid this for nine months?!"

"Eighth," Lillian sighed, "she's early."

"Well then," she was clean and rushing for the bedroom to aid the expectant mother. A young rat, no doubt more than a little frenetic as she likely had to stay within the confines since start of her pregnancy but! "Do not worry dear lady, we'll see you with a family," Khemrys assured, taking the woman's hand and feeling through the system. Gunnora's blessing was already descending, heavy and warm, to steal away the pain and awareness of damage as she did at any blessed spot in Khemry's birth world.

She well knew the feeling from birth of her twins.

Better she knew the vespers to whisper as she changed sheets, mopped brows and body, swaddled the screaming infant and the like...

"It worked," Lillian breathed, holding the tiny baby boy. "It really...worked."

"Aye," Khem smiled, mopping her forehead with a cool rag after so much work. "Ad he'll not shift until he comes of age. She will need to have a watcher when she chases the moon..."

"You..." Lillian whispered. "You. You have no idea how beautiful this is in this world. A chance, a real...chance."

Khemrys reeled slightly, worried, "please don't cry..." She had a sleeve to dab against the woman's cheeks?!

"You and your goddess," Lillian smiled. "You've changed things."

She cleaned her hands on a towel, looking down, "change is life, Dame Lillian. And life is important. This home if not a sanctuary for all, we will need a place for women...."

"No," the rat agreed easily. "This was...a first. A trial? To be certain it could be possible. A...bright note in all this." A beautiful, squalling little promise to the future.

"A bright note indeed," Khemrys agreed quietly. "Thank you, Dame."

"Feh, don't thank me, I Just brought you here as insurance," the woman answered gruffly. "So now have those boys take you to your own children.

Khemrys laughed, an honest, but short, sound as she hugged her friend, "of course. Thank you." For this.

For hope and lightness in this world. "My blessing to many more who wouldst choose the path of motherhood."

Lillian laughed, "You and me both. Go. You're weaving on your feet."

Yes yes, a ride home, a shower and food, seeing her own children then curling in bed to sleep and hopefully dream...

...but in a far better mood than she might be otherwise.