They were home two days later. Lana focused on her studies of magic for the time being. She checked on the girls periodically to see how their studies were going. One day, Lana's studies were interrupted when Sam called her and told her Sil was on his way back and he'd be there in a few hours.
She jumped up, notebook and pen flying and ran to her room. She put on a nice dress and got the twins dressed nice as well. They were growing so fast it was hard keeping clothes on them. She asked Caser, Griddlebone and Shalt if they wanted to go with her to meet Sil when he returned because she was getting ready to go. She was so excited, her wings were causing gusts of wind.
They all did so they went to the Cursed Ship together, telling Kattie where she was going enroute. It seemed like forever for her. Her husband had been gone for weeks but it was nothing like when he went home to Blade Island. She wondered if outings like this were going to become common with being on the brink of war. She figured they would and she suddenly resented agreeing to be the wifey who waited at home while her husband did all the dangerous things. She wasn't weak and hated the idea she was being treated like she was. She knew that wasn't Sil's reasoning but still.
Soon she heard the buzzer that said a ship was coming in to the docking bay and Sam was soon at her side.
"A lot has happened in the short time he's been away."
Lana giggled, "you're telling me…. But a lot of good stuff as well. I'm going to need Logan's help but I don't know if he has time for me. We'll see."
The buzzer stopped and the light above the door turned green indicating it was safe to enter the docking bay. Sam opened the door and the family all rushed to the ship that had just arrived, reaching it just as the passengers were disembarking. Borden had arrived with Sam.
"I'd know my brother anywhere!" he said as he went to one beast.
"Vorden!" Lana screamed as she flew into his arms and gave him a big hug.
Raten said something which made Borden realize Lana had Vorden not him. He high-fived Vorden and leapt to his shoulder, taking a seat.
"You always could tell," Vorden said in a strange speech. He was in a body of a humanoid beast with soft black fur.
Lana grinned, "Yeah well…," she patted his cheek with a mischievous grin, "this look suits you!" She giggled then flew over to Raten and grinned even more mischievously.
Raten was also in a humanoid beast that was covered in mud. "You always were a little dirty…." She giggled and gave him a hug and a kiss on his cheek.
Sil came up behind her while she was hugging Raten and growled playfully looking at Raten, "Mine!"
Lana laughed and turned around giving her husband a loving kiss. "I've missed you." She gestured toward Caser, "the twins literally outgrew all their clothes while you were gone!"
"Twins?" she heard Vorden say.
Lana and Sil each picked one up and brought them forward, "these are your niece and nephew Owen and Olivia."
Vorden took Owen and Raten took Olivia. Lana hugged Layla who had arrived with them and Fex. She then glanced at Quinn, "this was your idea, wasn't it!"
She also gave Shiro a hug. "Thank you for this. Truly! My husband looks more confident now."
Lana looked to Logan, "when you can find time, I need you to come visit. I found my mother's lab. There is a lot to understand."
Logan's face brightened up at the idea of a new lab. He had a lot on his plate right now, but he told her he'd come when he could.
Lana took the twins back from their uncles, "I know you guys need to get settled. Logan, could you arrange tags so they can come visit?"
"Of course."
She turned to Sil, "in your absence, I invited a whole bunch of Bree family members to come. Apparently, their members are going missing so I offered them a safe place. Get them settled then come visit!"
As his family walked away, Vorden looked at Sil, "did your wife tell you to visit when you can?"
He chuckled, "I usually stay where Quinn is so I'm available to help him."
"Sil, you are still a child!" Raten yelled at him.
Sam interrupted them, "how about we take a tour of the ship?"
Sil suddenly became excited because he knew what was coming. Soon they were in the training room the kids hung out in. Sil introduced the kids to Raten and Vorden. He had the biggest smile on his face as the kids started playing with Vorden. His beast had a wind ability and was quite fast. Raten decided to be the responsible one and started teaching hand-to-hand combat to the kids.
Deal stepped forward to Sil, "when can we go home again? I miss grass and the sky."
"Let's wait and see if Quinn is going to need me in the next few days before we decide on that." Sil then explained to Vorden, Raten and Shiro that the Blades have their own area on Lana's planet.
"How is that going for her, Sil?" Vorden asked.
Sil then gave the group a recap of everything he knew up until they left to go to Blade Island.
Sam gave them a few days off for training. Sil took that as his cue to move the family to Lana's shelter.
"But only for a day. I want us to be ready for Quinn's next move. The dalki have already attacked but we have been spared so far. We cannot be away for too long."
The kids were elated but then turned somber as the weight of Sil's words hit them. Peter lined them up and they all went through the teleporter. Logan had made tags for Vorden and Raten quickly so they were ready before the decision was even made. Since he didn't have time to explore the lab, Logan refrained from joining them in their visit to the shelter. Sil showed his brothers where the Blade area was and they got the tour. They marveled that the kids could live like normal humans there.
Sil then took Vorden and Raten to his and Lana's house, though he wasn't there as much as he'd like.
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