When Krugi was nothing more than shadows under a starry sky, the duo landed in the pens. Leaving their Sky Beast there before making the quick walk to their home.
As their quiet footsteps played their muffled tunes beneath them, they heard Variants talking to one another about the invasion. Some talked about the third wave of naval assaults on their shores.
Some families even talked about hearing a couple towns went under and got claimed by the Yarnin warriors. Leading to some sense of pressure in Ether, he knew he had to act against this swiftly.
Because if he didn't, then the Variants that are thirsty for war would get to them first. Adding more fuel to the hellfire.
Despite all the rumors and whispering, the two remained mostly calm when they arrived home. The doorknob twisted and they walked right in.
Gentle embers lit up the living room, where Orako rested. His large frame covered up most of the green rug they had over it.
Only leaving the four cushioned pads behind him as possible places to sit and rest.
Hylo waved at the sleeping Orako, trying to send him away to a good dream. She smiled as she quietly walked deeper into the darker portions of their home.
Ether followed close behind, putting things where they belonged and closing for the night. By the time he was finished with the living room and kitchen, Hylo had gone to their room.
And promptly fell asleep in Pearl's welcoming grasp, allowing her cold motherly touch to send her to sleep beside baby Azir.
When he walked down the same corridor, he paused outside of Jakery's room. He could hear some faint sounds coming from the inside. The closer he listened, the clearer it got what was happening inside.
He connected the dots quickly and instantly knew Hazen was inside. She and Jakery figured they would destress after such a day of relaying information to other Variants and striking down ships.
"Never expected Hazen to be so loud about mating," Ether thought to himself. "That or Jakery's a better producer than I am."
The whispers escaped his lungs effortlessly, causing them to vanish in seconds. Making those moments feel like fictional events that his mind produced.
Ether stepped through his bedroom's doors, where he found Pearl caressing her offspring. She was still awake, impatiently waiting for her partner to come back.
When she heard him enter, her full attention went on the biggest task at hand: the invading Conqueror forces. She wanted to get rid of them quickly, but didn't want to do that just yet.
"Hey, Ether?" she whispered. "I'm glad you're back, just wanted to share some news and thoughts with you."
Pearl slowly slid from under her offspring, then caught Ether's shadow in her gaze. "The Trilogy now has a grip on our region and they aren't giving up. I feel like your 'magic' won't work here."
In response, he walked closer to his partner. Placing a tender hand on her stomach, letting Pearl feel the still unnatural warmth spread through her core.
"I'm aware of what you all have to do," Ether answered. "And I know I can trust you with being the offensive leader. So, can you take this charge? I'll try to help in other ways."
"What other ways?"
"Aiding the surrendered," he proposed. "You will order to attack until they surrender. Those that do will be brought to me, and I will take it from there."
"Hmm," Pearl reached down to Ether's head. "I guess that's fair. But only if we can spend some more time together. I feel like you and I have drifted apart ever since this entire ordeal started."
Ether's eyes lit up in the darkness. "Sure, we can go to Yarno again tomorrow. I'm going and will be taking Etherna and Hylo with me, maybe you can come and bring the rest of the family."
"Going back to Yarno? Why do we keep going back and forth?" Pearl sighed.
"Because that's how we can communicate. Unless we can figure out some other way, we'll keep flying there and back," Ether answered with a sour tone.
Pearl picked him up by the shoulders, then carried him effortlessly. "We never get free time now, let alone privacy. Do you think we can find some?"
"Does love fly freely tonight?" Ether joked. "I - I guess, maybe in the bathroom. But that aside, will you join us? We will be bringing the surrendered Variants to Niro and checking in with some allies."
Impatiently, Pearl replied. "Sure, we can go. So I can finally meet this Niro and see what she really is about. But while I'm there, I'll be very - very overprotective of you."
Ether awkwardly laughed. "Won't need to do that if I distance myself from other females."
"Good boy," Pearl approved. "Now, we've talked enough. And I've been looking forward to seeing you again. Let's go and cool off, okay?"
"Okay," Ether agreed.
The duo left the bedroom, leaving Hylo still half awake on the bed. She wondered what they were talking about by 'cooling off,' but she was too tired to be curious.
While she drifted to sleep, she imagined her parents lying on a giant ice cube. Where all of her father's searing flames would ease up and turn to fine vapor.
But that thought quickly escaped as another replaced it. She feared that with Pearl coming along and bringing Azir, she would get pushed away from the picture again.
Letting Etherna and her brother talk and talk and play together all they wanted but in a different place. While effortlessly earning all the attention from Mama Neva and her Yonie.
Just the thought of it began to upset Hylo. But to prevent tears, she pictured herself as a big girl. A warrior beloved by many and feared by many more. The exact same way she imagined her father.
In time, she fell asleep to this thought. It was the only thought that kept repeatedly making her happy instead of upsetting her.