Underneath the tree, before the final head even hit the ground, Lana was at Kent's side. He whimpered and laid his head on her foot. Lana knelt and healed her son, hugging him close as the tears flowed, releasing the fear that gripped her moments before.
"Aunt Rosalie!" Kent said.
Lana suddenly remembered and quickly spun around. She watched the life energy fade from the young panteri and let out a mournful scream as she raced those few feet to get to Rosalie's side.
Lana placed both hands on her side, sobbing. "Don't leave us. You saved him. Please!"
The light of life was barely perceptible as Lana's hands once again glowed warmly. She willed life into Kent's aunt. The two watched as Rosalie's wounds knitted themselves back together as though they never existed.
Moments later she heard a gasp followed by a groan. Still holding Kent close to her chest, she quickly placed a carcass in front of Rosalie, followed by the other 2 and the heads.
Rosalie ate the first scimmia slowly. She started off eating tentatively. She heard the sounds outside. Based on the twitching of her ears, Lana knew she was thinking.
The sounds changed and Rosalie settled down to savor the kill she wished she had made. As soon as she finished eating, her body was wracked by an intense pain, and she howled as it consumed her. She was writhing in pain when the curtain of branches parted, permitting her family to enter.
Levalis ran to Rosalie's side and sniffed her. He raised his head proudly then his eyes quickly followed his nose to his son's location.
The anger filled his eyes when he saw the dried blood on his Prince.
"How bad was he when you found him?"
After Lana finished describing the condition of the two panteri closest to him, Levalis let out an outraged snarl that rattled the branches.
"Those things are a menace!"
"What do you want to do?" Lana asked him, her face set with a determined expression.
"It's them or us. This is not your fight. Return home and protect my son."
Anger filled her voice, "Not my fight? They killed Kent's mother, almost killed him and his aunt. I understand the need to hunt for food but that was sport. This is my planet, Levalis. I intend to restore balance."
Levalis looked deep into her eyes realizing that was her out loud voice. Every word was filled with emotion. Her rage. Her guilt. His heart swelled with pride. The spirit of her mother was alive within her, and he would get the honor to watch her grow.
Dobin examined the scene and was relieved his sister was okay but worried about the writhing panteri. Kyle saw her and after examining her, seeing a set of tentacles emerging from her back, he smiled then embraced his wife.
Reaching down to pet Kent, he realized his son had been injured.
"Set him down so I can wash the blood off him."
Doing as asked, Lana watched as her husband sprayed Kent with one hand and massaged his fur with the other. Once he was clean, he did the same for Rosalie who had finally stopped evolving.
"That human of yours is quite useful, isn't he?"
Lana let out a blast of laughter, crisp in their serenity. "He's more than useful. He's perfection." Her face beaming with a broad smile as he finished with Rosalie, looking up as she laughed and returned her smile.
"Did I miss something?"
Lana nodded, "you missed me telling you how much I love you today."
From behind her, near the door to the house, Lana heard, "oh boy, here we go again…" She looked over to see her brother shaking his head with a huge smile on his face.
She chuckled, "while we're here…" she walked out into the open and went many paces away. She started bending down, touching the ground in a circular fashion. At each spot a little sapling grew.
Everyone had followed her out and looked at her curiously until Dobin and Kyle figured it out and smiled. Expanding out their settlement was a requirement if they were going to live there. They would just need to be selective about who they invite.
Soon the place was fully grown and the branches reached across to interlace with the existing one, leaving those not near it to drape down, ensuring the area was still fully enclosed.
Lana looked at everyone, tired, "let's go back to the others. I'm tired but I want to discuss the next plan of attack here."
Still holding Kent, Levalis lowered himself so she could climb up. This time, he didn't demand that his son walk. Being in the safety of her arms was perfect for him right now.
Heading back, Dobin stayed on one side while Kyle remained on the other. Both stayed alert even though they knew the trees would say something if a threat appeared before they reached the Purple Forest. Then, all bets would be off.
The trek back was slow because they were tired. It was full-on night by the time they got back to the cave. They all simply went in, had a bite to eat for those who needed it and fell asleep.
Lana and Kyle getting the first good night sleep since they got to this planet now that Kent was back with them. Their son slept on her pillow, nestled in her hair where he belonged.
They slept halfway through the next day but were fully rested. Lana prepared a quick meal then they all went to the dome to fill everyone in on what happened.
They found everyone outside practicing their skills. They stopped when they saw the trio approaching with two panteri at their sides. Lana was carrying Kent once again.
Kai and Nis approached them, "Cadet Abel, Cadet Abel and Cadet Plantwell, care to explain what happened yesterday?"
Kai tried to talk but Nis beat him to it. They had a long discussion when the trio raced away. Nis had to explain to Kai that Lana was safer than everyone else here. It was a long, exhausting conversation. Nis had to take a nap afterward.
Lana provided as detailed an explanation as she could with the guys adding additional details. Kent was eating up all the attention while Levalis glared at his son for acting like a kitten instead of the prince he was.
"So," Lana continued. "This expedition was supposed to take a week. I suggest we spend the next three days hunting scimmia and maybe we'll find something interesting along the lines of our original mission in that process."