Chapter 352: 352: Night Words, New Life
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A few moments later... After dinner.
Night settled over Monarch Mountain like a warm blanket. The forge went quiet. The watch posts lit small, steady lamps. Alka took her high circle in the dark and cut slow rings into the sky. The four ants from Mia’s old team held the outer lanes. Vexor on the right sand bowls. Shale on the stone switchback. Flint above the north vent. Needle in the shadow path near the roots. Their calls were low and calm.
Kai walked Luna back to their chamber without speaking. The day had been long. Good work, hard talk, small peace. Now the real talk waited.
Inside, the room was simple. A low stone and moss bed. A table with a clay lamp. Two cups. A window slit that showed a piece of moon and a scatter of stars. Luna sat on the edge of the bed and watched the dark for a breath, then turned to him.
"Now," she said. "Tell me the rest. Tell me the part you did not say at the gate. Tell me without pretty turns."
He did not dodge. He sat across from her so he could see her eyes.
"I met the traveler," he said. "Her name is Ikea. The snake bit her thigh. I killed it. I drew the poison. I stayed until she slept. We shared a small shelter. We kissed. We did more than kiss."
Luna’s throat moved. She did not look away. "You mated with her."
"Yes," Kai said. "I did."
The words sat between them like a stone. Not thrown. Simply set down.
Luna’s fingers tightened on the skin blanket. Her ears tipped back for a moment, then forward again. She took a slow breath and let it out. She wiped at one eye with the heel of her hand and gave a small, hard laugh that held no joy.
"You told me you would bring me to the threshold," she said. "You did not. You left me in the rain and asked me to guess."
"I did not keep that promise," he said. "I am sorry."
"Do not say sorry like a shield," she said. "Say it like a tool."
"I am sorry," he said again. "I will do better. You will know before the night ends, not the day after."
Luna stared at him for a long moment, then nodded once. "Good. And one more thing. Do not bring her into this mountain as a surprise. When you choose to open a door to someone new, I will stand beside you and see her as she is, not as a shadow."
"You will," he said. "No surprises."
She drew in another breath. Her eyes softened around the edges. "I am angry," she said. "I am also not blind. You saved a stranger. You came home. You told me the truth now. I can hold all of that."
She stood and crossed the room. She set her hands on either side of his face and held him there, not to stop him, but to keep him present. He put his palms light at her waist. They stood like that until it felt less like holding and more like breathing.
"I have something to say too," she said, voice quiet. "It should have been first. It had to be now."
"What is it," he asked.
She swallowed. Her eyes shone in the lamplight. "I am late," she said. "I know my body. I can smell you in me. I think I am carrying your child."
The floor seemed to tilt under his feet. Joy rose so fast it hurt. Fear rose with it and made the joy sharper. He did not shout. He did not laugh. He took her hands and kissed each knuckle as if blessing a sacred mark.
"Are you sure," he asked, voice barely there.
Luna sat on the edge of the bed with the lamp painting a soft circle across her cheek. She looked calm, but the calm sat on a deep pool of feeling.
"My body knows," she said. "But if you must, check yourself. Do not leave me to hang alone. I need you by my side."
Kai nodded once. He closed his eyes and sank into the quiet place behind his thoughts. "System, show me Luna’s body’s condition."
[Ding! System Query: Show Mate Luna condition. Full diagnostic.]
The cool presence rolled through him and returned like a tide.
[Ding! Status Scan Complete.
Subject: Luna Pregnancy: Confirmed Embryos Detected: Two Embryo
Viability: High Aura Coherence: Strong and synchronized Projected
Term: Normal range for species, no anomalies Risk Flags: None present]
Kai’s chest warmed. He sent a thought back, steady and precise.
Show me recommendations. Food, training, sleep, aura, and any danger zones inside the mountain.
[Ding! Advisory Package: Diet: High protein cooked beast meat, root stew, and mineral broth. Add small star crystal infusions twice per week in water. No raw essence liquid.
Activity: Gentle daily training allowed. No sprint bursts. No heavy leaping. No cliff work.
Sleep: Eight to ten hours in a warm, stable room. Aura warmth is preferred at night.
Aura: Paternal presence improves embryo aura coherence. Gentle skin contact and steady heartbeat exposure recommended. Environment: Avoid Egg Chamber core for the first weeks to prevent field overlap. Normal halls are safe.
Remedies: Mint or citrus tea for scent sensitivity or nausea.
Intimacy: Moderate mating is beneficial if Luna agrees and comfort remains stable. Stop if dizziness, cramping, or nausea occur.]
One more thing, Kai thought. "Tell me early warning signs I must not ignore."
[Ding! Watch For: Sudden sharp pain. Persistent dizziness. Prolonged nausea with weakness. Unusual chills. If any appear, reduce activity and rest with aura warmth. Reassess after one hour.]
He opened his eyes. Luna had not moved. She watched his face the way a hunter watches wind.
"Tell me," she said.
"You are pregnant," he said. The joy made his voice crack; he steadied it. "Twins. They are strong and stable. You need rest and good food. Small star crystal water twice a week."