Ni'ev part 2

NI’EV: One year ago.

“Brother,” Kyros calls for me.

“No, Kyros,” I reply.

“What? I have not said anything yet.”

“You are likely going to make a foolish request. Be gone. Let me read in peace.”

He chuckles and leaves me with my scrolls. I roll my shoulders and try to sit taller. The chair Kira designed for the library neglected the size of Ezronian males. Although I am high uncomfortable by its small stature, I cannot bring myself to complain about it. I would not want to hurt Kira’s feelings. I have come to learn that Terran females are quick to sweat stress from their eyes in a behavior they call “crying,” instead of turning to anger like Ezronians do.

Nebula enters the library, carrying books. She is a regular in here, because we upkeep the place along with Kira. The library is my favorite place in the pyramid.

She looks at me with surprise. I do not understand why.

“Hey Ni’ev,” she smiles weakly.

I don’t need my honed hunting skills to detect something is wrong. Instinct burns in my chest to protect her, because Nebula is my friend and heavily pregnant with her second child. At the same time, it is not my place to intervene. She is Jaxxon’s female, and it is more appropriate if he annihilates— I mean take care of, whatever bothers her.

She hugs her books tightly to her pregnant belly, as if hiding something.

I remain seated, not wanting to unnerve her with sudden moves or intimidate her with my towering size. I would hate if she miss-stepped and fell.

“Are you alright? Do you need me to get Jaxxon?”

“No, please!” she raises her arms, and her books fall. At her feet lie strips of sweet jerky.

She cries out in distress.

“No! My candy!”

Her eyes produce that liquid all Ezronian men hate. I did not mean to make her this upset.

“I am sorry, Nebula.”

“It’s okay…” she sniffles and stares at her soiled candy. “It’s just that…”

I wait for her to explain why she had been hiding candy. Terrans often engage in strange behaviors and are not the best at communication, but they are harmless and have good intentions.

“Jaxxon won’t let me eat anything sweet. Since he found out I was pregnant, he has been a health-maniac and has me eating leaves all day! He’s just being protective, but I want to snack sometimes and he gets nerve-wrecked when I do. I’ve had to sneak around food and…” she sighs. “I’m just a little stressed.”

“I see,” I reply.

I don’t see. The only relationship I have had is a brotherly one. I have never had a female to care for, but I understand where Jaxxon is coming from. I, too, would be protective, but I would hate to distress my female to this degree. This is a dilemma I have no advice for. My only areas of expertise are literature and fighting. I am a simple male. A lone wolf.

“I am sorry,” I repeat and rise to my feet. I pick up her books and candy because I don’t want her to bend down and do it herself.

“Don’t worry about it,” she murmurs and takes her books and spoiled candy. She leaves with her head down, and I am left feeling a discomfort in my chest.

I made her sad. I hate when this happens, because I have a soft spot for all females and their short, chubby offsprings.

Nebula would have received better advice from my married brothers, who have experience dealing with the shenanigans of Terran females. I am the last single brother. This has never bothered me until today. I dislike that I have read so many works that I am educated in many areas, but cannot help Nebula like my brothers can.

I think hard about this predicament. After many hours, I cannot concentrate in the library, so I walk out. I bump into Rosa— a rounded, tiny female that speaks fast and burns hotter than the sun with her constantly red face.

As expected, she turns red when she slams against my chest and trips over her speech.

“Uh— sorry. My bad, Ni’ev. I’ll… yeah.”

I am patient as she struggles with her words. Many males have shown irritation with her rambling, but I do not mind.

“I’ll get out of your hair.” She steps away from me.

That is an odd thing to say. She clearly would not fit in my hair, because she is deliciously round with her soft curves. I don’t pay her words any mind, because I am used to strange Terran forms of expression.

“It is alright,” I assure her and leave. I have noticed that Rosa does not like the lingering presence of males, so I try to respect this, although I have always enjoyed the smell of her.

My thoughts return to Nebula. I wish to make her feel better, because she is a good friend. Perhaps I should replace the candy she dropped and not tell Jaxxon about it?

I choose to surprise her with my favorite berries that grow in the forest. I pick two broadswords from my wall, and I head into the wilderness. I return in time for dinner with the berries in a satchel. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, because I am sure that Nebula will enjoy my gift.

As expected, I find her in the library.

“Mothers,” I greet.

“Mothers, Ni’ev,” she returns, and flips the page of her book.

“I brought you something.” This perks her attention. She locks her eyes on my satchel.

I place my swords on a top shelf to keep them away from the reach of small ones, and I extend the satchel to her.

“They are berries. Do not worry, I will not tell Jaxxon.”

“Ni’ev!” she squeals. “You’re the best!”

She takes the bag eagerly and digs in. She pops a berry into her mouth and chews happily. I smile and taste two berries as well. They are as sweet as ever.

“These are so good! I’ve never had them before.”

I nod. “I am glad to hear this.”

“Where did you—” she coughs once, twice, and now she is gripping her throat.

No!

“Nebula!” I sweep in and take her into my arms. She continues to cough as I run to Vrox’s room. He is the best medic among us.

Water streams down Nebula’s cheeks and her eyes look around frantically in fear. Panic seizes through me. I don’t understand what is happening. I hate I did this to her.

The next events blur quickly. I set her down and Vrox begins his examination. Nebula is not responding to questions, so Vrox feeds a liquid concoction down her throat. She is struggling to drink when Jaxxon barges in.

“What happened! What is this?!” he rages like I have never seen before.

“I gave her Tunton berries.” I shake my head in disbelief.

How did things go bad, so quickly?

“Terran humans are allergic to that. Fool!”

Jaxxon charges for me, but Kyros tackles him to the ground.

Horror drenches me. I consider finding a sword and running myself through. How could I be so ignorant? I hurt Nebula, and if anything happens to the life within her…

“Leave, Ni’ev!” Vrox yells at me.

He looks angry, too. All the married men in here avoid my gaze. This incident hits home for them, because they have their own females to care for.

“I…”

I am speechless, guilt-ridden, and ready to die.

I walk out of the room, my hands lost in my hair. I pull the strands and pace outside. Jaxxon will never forgive me. I hurt one of the most precious beings on Ezron: a wife, a mother, and my friend.

Poor Nebula.

This is all my fault. I will never forgive myself, and I’ll never get close to a female again.

a/n: The rest of the story continues a year after this incident, but this back story shows Ni'ev's hesitance to get close to Rosa