FICLET: A Home for Hope

Someone asked about pets on Gliese and this is the results.


Title: A Home for Hope
Characters: Chandir/Wryn/Enoch
Series: Another Life


Grey and black mist of death swirled around Chandir. The weight of it tried to bring the large dom to his knees, but Chandir braced himself against the onslaught. The colors clouded the vision, only allowing the putrid scent of death through. Trying desperately to see anything, Chandir pushed forward. The mist twisted together creating a heavy curtain. As strong as he was, Chandir couldn’t push through. He yelled out as the colors started to fade, suddenly a small white flower popped through. Then all was gone.

“Anax. Chandir. I am here. You are safe.”

Wryn’s soothing voice drifted over him, reassuring him, bringing him back to his world. Chandir opened his mouth to reassure his husband, but only rasping sound emerged.

“Wait. Let me get you some water.”

Exhausted, Chandir ran his hand through his hair. It came back soaked from sweat. He wondered how long the vision had lasted. It seemed only minutes to him, but time wasn’t a concept visions followed.

A waterskin appeared in front of him. Chandir gave Wryn a smile of gratitude and brought it to his lips. Once the water had soothed his dry throat, he pressed the leather flask to his forehead. “How long?”

Wryn pointed to the window. “The sun is setting.”

Chandir shook his head. They had just finished the midday meal when the vision had taken hold of him. The sun that had been shining brightly above now painted the sky in vivid reds and bright oranges. “Enoch?”

“I sent him home,” Wryn reassured him. “I gave him the task of making our evening meal.”

Chandir worried about his young submissive. Enoch still suffered from the effects of the dying Earth he had come from. Not enough nutrition, air clogged with pollution, poison dumped into the river and streams had made Enoch’s body fragile. He was also a Historian on a planet that didn’t understand the visions. Enoch had been shunned and beaten when he told others of what he’d seen. So the young man tried to block them, putting more strain on his body. All Chandir wanted to do was to go home and wrap his arms around his two men.

“Come. Let’s go home to him.” Chandir ducked his head as he put the strap of the waterskin over his head. The skin would be empty by the time they got home.

“Are you steady enough?” Wryn asked.

Nodding, Chandir quickly tidied up the small cabin that they used to craft their wares. Once the tools were put away, he took Wryn by the hand and walked to their cottage. The last light of the sun slipped below the horizon as they opened the door.

Chandir met Enoch’s worried eyes as he walked in. He opened his arms to his young sub. “I’m fine.”

Instead of running into the waiting embrace, Enoch turned to the wood oven. “I...I....made stew. With meat and vegetables. I don’t know how to make the bread yet. I saw the dough, but I didn’t-“

“Oh Enoch, that’s ok,” Wryn started to comfort the worried Enoch but was stopped when Chandir put his hand on his shoulder.

“Enoch.” His voice came out a low growl. “Come to me. Now.” He waited as Enoch turned around. Suddenly he found his arms full of a trembling sub. “Shhh, all is well.”

“I know the visions are normal here. But, I. It’s. I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t know if everything would be alright.” Chandir put to words to Enoch’s jumbled thoughts. He tightened his arms when Enoch nodded against his chest. Chandir knew Enoch’s past would always be with him. The worry and fear that came with a vision would never fully leave him.

“Come, you two. Let’s eat this delicious stew. Then we should ease our bodies in the bathhouse.” Wryn pulled down bowls from the cabinet and started ladling the thick stew.

With Enoch still in his arms, Chandir maneuvered to the table. He used his foot to pull out a chair, then sat pulling Enoch on his lap.

“I’m ok now. I know you are tired. I can sit in my own chair.”

Chandir squeezed him. “I do not remember asking you to sit in your chair. You are fine where you are at.”

Wryn sat a bowl in front of them with two spoons. “Eat. Both of you. Then we’ll bathe. Then sleep.”

“We best do as the big, bad dominant says, or we may have too sore of a rump to sit,” Chandir whispered teasingly in Enoch’s ear.

Holding up a sturdy wooden spoon, Wryn teased with mock seriousness, “You just might! This spoon can be used in many ways.”

Chandir winked at Wryn when Enoch’s giggle floated through the room. The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Visions often left Chandir hungry. These recent ones that showed only swirls of colors left him even hungrier. Wryn filled his bowl twice before he felt full.

“Enoch, agape, help me clean the bowls,” Wryn gently ordered.

The kitchen was soon cleaned and the men walked in the starlight to their bathhouse.

Wryn went to a small cabinet and gathered a large scoop of peppermint leaves while Chandir and Enoch shed their clothes. He poured the leaves into a bag, then dropped the bag in the hot bath. The bathhouse had been built into a cave where the water came from a natural spring and was heated by a lava fissure that ran deep underground. The peppermint would soothe and calm Chandir and Enoch.

Chandir groaned as he stepped into the water. The hot water and the scent of the leaves Wryn had put in worked their magic. It didn’t take long for his muscles to release the tension the vision had brought.

With a full stomach and the stresses of the day soaking away, another need arose in the large dominant. He reached for Enoch and pulled him close. As his lips explored his young sub's neck, Chandir felt Wryn press against his back. In time the sounds of their passion echoed through the room.

The night had not been completed yet when Chandir’s sleep was broken. The vision was upon him before he had fully woke. Again the colors of death swirled around, obscuring any details. Yet the only thing clearly shown to him was the white flower with delicate petals. Then the vision was gone and a deep slumber claimed him.

“Astrid came by. She’s going to the meadow and river to collect some herbs, some medicinal flowers, and asked if Enoch wanted to go along. It’s the river that Enoch loves so much. The one he always had visions of on Earth. The one that brings him peace.” Wryn poured the rest of the muesli in Chandir’s bowl.

“Thank you, agape,” Chandir said. “I worry that he’s out there. I can’t figure out these visions. I had another last night.”

“He’s worried,” Wryn emphasized he’s. “He’s never seen either one of us unsettled from what the stars show us. I thought you and I could talk out again the visions you are having while he’s out. Then we can reassure him when he comes back.”

Chandir ran his hands through his hair. “The stars have never eluded me like this. There are only colors. Swirling all around me.”

“A rainbow of colors?”

“No. Just black. And greys. They overwhelm me. I can’t see anything.” Chandir’s voice was full of exhausted frustration.

“Just black and grey? No other colors?”

“No. Black and grey. As oppressive as death. Except.” Chandir stopped. He let his mind review the visions that had plagued him. “There’s always a little white flower right before the vision ends.”

“Oppressive as death? Are the stars telling you of a death to come? Or maybe one that has already happened?” Wryn asked.

Chandir shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve not seen death. It just feels that way. The only thing I see clearly is the flower.”

Wryn suddenly stiffened. “A white flower? Like bloodroot? That’s what Astrid said she was collecting!”

The leftover presence of death from the vision had fear piercing Chandir’s heart.

“He’s alright. He’s just down at the meadow.” Wryn’s voice was full of determination. As if he was commanding the universe of Enoch’s safety.

“I have to see for myself.” Chandir shoved his feet into his boots. Wryn was waiting at the door when he was done.

The men all but ran to the meadow. Chandir’s heart stopped when he couldn’t see his submissive. He heard the sound of the water rushing in the river. The snowmelt from Tarvos and the mountains rising the waters and strengthening the currents.

“Enoch!” Chandir shouted as he ran toward the river.

“Here! We are here!” Astrid's voice drifted to them.

Chandir’s heart stopped as he crested the hill to the river. There sat Enoch with tears streaming down his face. Chandir felt the confusing conflict of anger and protectiveness rise in him. Anger that something had caused his beloved pain and protectiveness to stop any harm coming to him.

“Where are you hurt? Show me!” Chandir demanded. He ran his hands over the frail body. He couldn’t find any injuries.

“I’m, I’m not harmed. Chandir, I’m ok. I”m not hurt,” Enoch softly reassured him.

“Then why are you crying!”

“He’s unharmed, Anax. He’s sad for the Lykos pup,” Astrid explained.

Chandir noticed the small furry pup in Enoch’s arms. “Lykos pup? Where did he come from?”

“We found her.” Astrid emphasized “her”. “She was alone.”

“The mother and other pups are over there.” Enoch pointed toward a bend in the river where a pile of branches and other debris carried by the floods had collected.

Chandir watched as Astrid led Wryn where Enoch had pointed. He couldn’t see what Wryn did but he could just make out a tuft of fur.

“I think she’s the only one to survive. I don’t know how long she’s been on her own. Astrid had some goat milk in a flask. I fed her some.”

“That was good of you,” Chandir reassured him. Most of Enoch’s life had been the search for food. Being hungry was a constant state for him. His sub wouldn’t, couldn’t, let any living soul suffer the pains of hunger.

Wryn walked up and knelt beside them. “I’ve sent Astrid on home. She said they had gathered enough of the bloodroot for the day.”

Chandir watched as Wryn ran his hand down Enoch’s back. A silent conversation was held between the two dominants eyes. “What will you name her?” Chandir asked gently.

“What? Name her?” Enoch asked.

“She can’t live on her own. She’s too young. She’d never survive. And Lykos make wonderful pets. Loyal and protective,” Wryn explained.

Chandir chuckled. “They are often as protective as dominants. And you need another dominant. Wryn and I can barely keep up with you.”

“A pet? I’ve never had a pet.” He left unsaid that pets hadn’t been part of life on Earth for many decades. There was little enough food for humans.

Chandir heard the wonder in Enoch’s voice. “You have one now if you want one. But she needs a name.”

“A name. I don’t know any names. Would you help me?”

Looking into Enoch’s eyes, Chandir knew the perfect name. “Elipzo.”

“Elpizo? What do you think?” Enoch asked the pup, lifting it so they were nose to nose. Enoch giggled when the pup licked his face. “I think she likes it. How did you choose that name? I’ve never heard it before.”

“It’s the ancient Greeks word for hope,” Chandir explained. He watched as Enoch’s eyes glowed brightly. Hope was something Enoch was just learning to have.

Snuggling the pup close, Enoch replied, “It’s the perfect name for her. What do you think, Wryn?”

“Yes, a perfect name for her. I *hope* she house trains fast!”

Chandir laughed and stood up. Before he could speak a rainbow of colors swirled around him. No greys or blacks. Vibrant blues and yellows and greens. Scenes of Enoch and the pup broke through. Enoch with the growing pup walking together to the library. Enoch lying in the sunshine with Elpizo beside him. A larger, older Elpizo sleeping in front of the fireplace. Through all the scenes calm and peace permeated the vision. Then the vision dissipated and he saw the concerned look on Enoch’s and Wryn’s face.

“The stars have given their approval as well it seems. Come, let’s go home.”

End