Chapter 2: Ruffled Feathers

The sky of Ananke was growing brighter, heralding another beautiful day. Somehow, the beauty did not quite reach his spirit. The feeling of despair was slowly eating at him, wearing him down.

“I should have told Leda the truth,” Paul muttered to himself. He threw the curtains together, shutting out the growing sunlight. “She deserves it.”

He threw on some clothes, not paying attention to what he was wearing. He mindlessly went through the motions of his morning routine. Once he was finished, he realized it was time for breakfast.

The meal was far from quiet. The whole family was discussing plans for the day. Caitlyn was having a picnic by the lake and recruiting her family to go with her. Ilene and Lysia were trying to bully Elara into enjoying fresh air and sunshine.

Elara turned to her father for help. He sadly shook his head. “It will do you some good, Elara. Besides, I am going myself.”

Giddy from her victory, Caitlyn turned her attention to Leda. “What about you, Leda? Any plans?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Leda replied. “I have some urgent business that suddenly came up. I will need to leave sometime today.”

“When will you be back?” Rand asked. It had only been four days since Leda had recovered from the last battle. The three day recovery period had almost driven Paul mad, but no one had spoken to Leda about. She was unaware of how long she had been unconscious.

“I don’t know,” Leda answered, shaking her head. “It’s nothing dangerous, though. Just some boring hum-drum.” She hated lying to her family, but she didn’t want to worry them needlessly.

“I’m going with her, Rand,” Paul added. “To keep her out of trouble.”

Leda stared at him angrily for the smart remark, while Rand laughed. “Heaven help you, son. You’ll need it,” he said.

“That’s not fair!” Leda cried. “Who is going to defend my honor if the two of you are destroying it?!”

“Believe me, my lady, your honor is still intact, for the moment.” Paul’s remark made Rand laugh even harder as Leda’s face went through various shades of red.

“You’ve had your fun at my expense, Paul Rodan. I will have mine, too, but later,” Leda vowed. Turning her nose up at him, Leda rose from the table and took her breakfast dishes to the sink.

“I am going for a walk,” she announced to her family. Then she turned her attention to Paul. “I wouldn’t go by the lake. You might wind up wet.” Then she stalked out of the room.

Paul rose and took his dishes to the sink. “Well, since I have been ordered to stay away from the lake, I will take a stroll through the gardens. We will probably leave in a few hours. Thank you for your hospitality, Rand.”

“You are welcome here anytime, Paul. Especially during one of Leda’s moods.”

Paul smiled. “I will remember that, sir. It may just come in handy.”

As he walked away, Paul heard Elara turned to her father. “Dad, that was just awful, what you two did to Leda. How could you....”

* * * * *

Paul now regretted his toying remarks with Leda earlier. He shouldn’t play with her like that. It will take a while for her to calm down and be civil to him again.

He had also blown his opportunity to talk to her alone. He desperately needed to talk to her. He had to get this burden off his chest before it soured everything.

Paul sighed, stretching his arms and shoulders. It might be better to wait and talk to her after the dream issue has been settled, he thought. He hoped that Leda’s dream was just a dream, but the fact that it was recurring slimmed the possibility.

He glanced at his watch. They would need to leave soon and decide where they were going. It would probably be best to see Rei first before alarming Serenity. With one last look at the garden, Paul turned and went inside to pack.

* * * * *

Leda had her two suitcase in the den by the time Paul had finished packing. Paul stilled when he entered the room, awed by her beauty in the streaming sunlight from the window. Seeing someone out of the corner of her eyes, Leda turned to face him.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked coolly.

Paul nodded. “I believe I have everything. You?”

“Yes. Everything is arranged for our trip to Mars. We need to be leaving now.” Without further comment, Leda picked up her suitcases and crossed the room toward the door.

Paul grabbed her arm. “Leda, wait.” Leda dropped the suitcases, one nearly missing his foot. “I am sorry about this morning. I got a little carried away at your expense. I don’t want the two of us stuck together in a tiny cabin for countless hours with you still mad at me.”

Leda sighed, her face slowly losing its anger. “I am sorry, Leda. Will you please forgive me?”

“Yes,” she said, giving him a small smile. “I don’t know I am so touchy these past few days. Everything just feels off. Come on.” The smile grew. “We’ve got a mission.”

“Aye, ma’am.” Paul gave a mock saluted and gathered his suitcases as Leda picked up hers. “I wonder if the twins are home.”

“Oh, Paul, bite your tongue!” Laughing, the two left the house.


Ruffled Feathers The sky of Ananke was growing brighter, heralding another beautiful day. Somehow, the beauty did not quite reach his spirit. The feeling of despair was slowly eating at him, wearing him down. “I should have told Leda the truth,” Paul muttered to himself. He threw the curtains together, shutting out the growing sunlight. “She deserves it.” He threw on some clothes, not paying attention to what he was wearing. He mindlessly went through the motions of his morning routine. Once he was finished, he realized it was time for breakfast. The meal was far from quiet. The whole family was discussing plans for the day. Caitlyn was having a picnic by the lake and recruiting her family to go with her. Ilene and Lysia were trying to bully Elara into enjoying fresh air and sunshine. Elara turned to her father for help. He sadly shook his head. “It will do you some good, Elara. Besides, I am going myself.” Giddy from her victory, Caitlyn turned her attention to Leda. “What about you, Leda? Any plans?” “Unfortunately, yes,” Leda replied. “I have some urgent business that suddenly came up. I will need to leave sometime today.” “When will you be back?” Rand asked. It had only been four days since Leda had recovered from the last battle. The three day recovery period had almost driven Paul mad, but no one had spoken to Leda about. She was unaware of how long she had been unconscious. “I don’t know,” Leda answered, shaking her head. “It’s nothing dangerous, though. Just some boring hum-drum.” She hated lying to her family, but she didn’t want to worry them needlessly. “I’m going with her, Rand,” Paul added. “To keep her out of trouble.” Leda stared at him angrily for the smart remark, while Rand laughed. “Heaven help you, son. You’ll need it,” he said. “That’s not fair!” Leda cried. “Who is going to defend my honor if the two of you are destroying it?!” “Believe me, my lady, your honor is still intact, for the moment.” Paul’s remark made Rand laugh even harder as Leda’s face went through various shades of red. “You’ve had your fun at my expense, Paul Rodan. I will have mine, too, but later,” Leda vowed. Turning her nose up at him, Leda rose from the table and took her breakfast dishes to the sink. “I am going for a walk,” she announced to her family. Then she turned her attention to Paul. “I wouldn’t go by the lake. You might wind up wet.” Then she stalked out of the room. Paul rose and took his dishes to the sink. “Well, since I have been ordered to stay away from the lake, I will take a stroll through the gardens. We will probably leave in a few hours. Thank you for your hospitality, Rand.” “You are welcome here anytime, Paul. Especially during one of Leda’s moods.” Paul smiled. “I will remember that, sir. It may just come in handy.” As he walked away, Paul heard Elara turned to her father. “Dad, that was just awful, what you two did to Leda. How could you....” * * * * * Paul now regretted his toying remarks with Leda earlier. He shouldn’t play with her like that. It will take a while for her to calm down and be civil to him again. He had also blown his opportunity to talk to her alone. He desperately needed to talk to her. He had to get this burden off his chest before it soured everything. Paul sighed, stretching his arms and shoulders. It might be better to wait and talk to her after the dream issue has been settled, he thought. He hoped that Leda’s dream was just a dream, but the fact that it was recurring slimmed the possibility. He glanced at his watch. They would need to leave soon and decide where they were going. It would probably be best to see Rei first before alarming Serenity. With one last look at the garden, Paul turned and went inside to pack. * * * * * Leda had her two suitcase in the den by the time Paul had finished packing. Paul stilled when he entered the room, awed by her beauty in the streaming sunlight from the window. Seeing someone out of the corner of her eyes, Leda turned to face him. “Are you ready to go?” she asked coolly. Paul nodded. “I believe I have everything. You?” “Yes. Everything is arranged for our trip to Mars. We need to be leaving now.” Without further comment, Leda picked up her suitcases and crossed the room toward the door. Paul grabbed her arm. “Leda, wait.” Leda dropped the suitcases, one nearly missing his foot. “I am sorry about this morning. I got a little carried away at your expense. I don’t want the two of us stuck together in a tiny cabin for countless hours with you still mad at me.” Leda sighed, her face slowly losing its anger. “I am sorry, Leda. Will you please forgive me?” “Yes,” she said, giving him a small smile. “I don’t know I am so touchy these past few days. Everything just feels off. Come on.” The smile grew. “We’ve got a mission.” “Aye, ma’am.” Paul gave a mock saluted and gathered his suitcases as Leda picked up hers. “I wonder if the twins are home.” “Oh, Paul, bite your tongue!” Laughing, the two left the house.


Chapter 3: Reply of the Priestess Jupiter's Gone