Kim's eyes fluttered open to find Tommy's shining eyes smiling down at her. She favored him with a warm grin of her own, then she recalled their predicament. The warmth fled, replace with fear; her body went taut in Tommy's arms.

"It's all right," Tommy assured her. "They're gone. We made it."

"We made it?" For a moment, Kim couldn't believe what she was hearing. She hadn't realized it, but Tommy had thrown off the cloak and lifted the grate. The twilight sky filled the open space where the ceiling had once been. "Oh God, Tommy, we really did make it!" Kim wrapped her arms around him in an enthusiastic embrace, simply happy to be alive; tears of relief blurred her vision, but she didn't care. Her mouth sought Tommy's in a joyful kiss, which swiftly developed into something deeper.

"Tommy?" Kim queried as they paused to catch their breath; the taste of him lingered on her lips. Tommy smiled bashfully.

"We need to talk, Kim," he said soberly, "but not here. I don't know why the slavers and fliers took off, but we'd better not chance their coming back."

Kim nodded, understanding. "Where do we go?" "We can try the cliffs; I thought I saw some caves, and with the cliff face in shadow right now, I think we stand a good chance of making it."

The two cautiously emerged from their coffin-turned-haven. In spite of the urgency to find a safer shelter, they stood there for a moment, staring into each other's eyes. Tommy took Kim's hands in his. Then, the sighing of the faint breeze broke the spell of the moment. With fingers still tightly interlaced, they picked their way through the rubble and emerged from the ruins. A quick scan of the sky revealed no fliers about. There wasn't a sign of a skysled or pursuers on foot. Before them stretched a grassy expanse.

"What do you think; do we chance it?" Tommy asked. "Like you said, we can't stay here," Kim sighed. By unspoken consent, they started out at a sedate walk; if they ran, it might draw unnecessary attention to themselves. Even though they appeared casual, they were alert for the slightest indication that they had been discovered. It was difficult for Kim to stay focused. She was almost supernally aware of the warmth of Tommy's hand in hers, the tightness of his grip, and every so often she would glance up at him to find him gazing fondly at her.

They had barely covered half the distance to the cliffs when dark thunderheads began rolling in. The pleasant breeze began to gust, and the two picked up their pace. By the time they reached the base of the rock wall, the rain had begun to fall.

"Do you think we can make the climb in this weather?" Kim wondered.

"We might be able to reach one of the lower caves; this wall has so many openings, it looks like Swiss cheese," Tommy noted.

"The way they're grouped... they can't be natural. I think somebody created these caves," Kim mused.

"And the hand holds, apparently," Tommy said. "Come on, this shouldn't be too bad."

Tommy started climbing, and Kim followed. There were places aplenty to get a purchase on the rocks; that helped counteract the slipperiness due to the rain. Even so, the climb was probably the easiest they had made since their adventure began. The rain poured down harder, making it difficult to see; by the time the two reached one of the lowest caverns, they were soaked to the bone.

"Well, we were due for a cleaning," Kim murmured through chattering teeth.

As they cautiously entered the cave, they were startled to see that the entrance was covered by a curtain of skins that had been stitched together. They left the drape parted so that they could see. It was obvious that the shallow shelter at one time was someone's dwelling. There were all manner of tools and bowls and things left behind, even some clothing. In the center of the cave was a hole dug in the floor; across it was a series of bars.

"A fire pit," Tommy murmured.

"You don't suppose there's anything to start a fire with?" Kim asked hopefully. Neither questioned whether or not they should risk a fire. A night hadn't passed that they had wished for the warmth and comfort of even the smallest blaze. Kim's teeth were already chattering with cold; body heat could only do so much when one was soaked to the skin.

Tommy reached down into the pit. "There's plenty of wood and stuff in here. If we can find some flint...." Kim helped Tommy scrounge around, and after a bit of searching, they found what they needed. It only took a few failed attempts for them to get a spark that ignited the wood in the pit.

"Mm," Kim sighed, holding her hands out to the delicious warmth. Tommy moved back to the entrance and closed the curtain so the fire wouldn't be visible from outside.

"Let's set one of these bowls outside and collect some drinking water," Tommy suggested. He picked up a scrap of cloth and wiped the container out.

"Omigosh, Tommy, blankets!" Kim declared as she held up the rough covers. They were a bit moth eaten, but otherwise intact. She threw one over her shoulders and wriggled out of her soggy clothing.

"Too bad there isn't any food in here," Tommy mused as his stomach rumbled.

"That'd be too much to hope for," Kim agreed.

"Yeah, there's no telling how long this place has been abandoned." Tommy accepted his blanket from Kim and stepped out of his jeans. "I wonder if there's anything in here we can use for clothing. These have about had it."

"There's bound to be something," Kim murmured. "If not, we can always do something with the blankets. Although, I'd sure hate to lose them."

"We can't afford to take them with us," Tommy reminded her.

"I know. Wishful thinking," Kim sighed, knowing that they had to travel light.

As Tommy settled down next to Kim, there was a commotion outside the entrance to the cave. The two turned to each other, their eyes reflecting fear. Had they been discovered already? Tommy bade Kimberly to wait as he cautiously tiptoed toward the curtain. The noise wasn't repeated, so Tommy peered out warily.

Kim bit her lip anxiously. She was dying to know what was going on, but she didn't dare say anything to give Tommy away. Even so, she drew in a sharp breath as Tommy dropped his blanket and stepped out into the storm. Kim looked away quickly, her cheeks hot. She kept her eyes on the fire as she heard Tommy return.

"What was it?" she wondered as he drew closer. His proximity made her brave enough to look up at him.

"Well, if we can figure out how to clean and cook it, it's dinner," Tommy pronounced wryly. He held out the body of the bird that had been driven against the rocks by the storm. Kim's stomach sort of turned at the thought, but it had been a while since they had eaten last, and meat wasn't something they usually ate since they had no way of cooking it. In the end (and it took some doing), they managed to get the bird roasted. They ate their fill and chased it down with fresh rainwater. Then, their bellies full and feeling safer than they had since their nightmare began, the two lazed about by the fire.

As Kim rested her head on Tommy's thigh, her mind drifted back to the kiss they had shared earlier. Kim's fingers brushed her lips as she remembered the softness and heat of Tommy's mouth. It made her shiver with delight and longing. She gazed up at Tommy; his expression was distant, rather thoughtful. Kim sat up suddenly.

"Tommy, how come you've never kissed me like that before?" she asked directly.

"I don't know, really," he confessed. "I always kind of wanted to; I guess I was just afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid to admit to you and to myself exactly how much you mean to me. I've come close a couple of times, but somehow, I just couldn't make myself say the words."

"I've always wanted to get close to you, but you never seem to open up and let me in," Kim murmured.

"But you did get in; I never fully realized just how much until this afternoon. I thought we were as good as dead, and I was so afraid that I wouldn't get the chance to tell you all those things I wanted to say to you. That's why I kissed you like that. I had to let you know somehow... you did understand what I was trying to say, didn't you?"

"Yes, Tommy, but I'd like to hear you say the words. Do you think you can now?" she asked softly. Tommy caught her hands in his, then he reached up to stroke her cheek, smiling gently.

"I love you, Kim."

As Kim blinked back tears of happiness, Tommy pulled her close, pressing his lips to hers. It was an exquisitely tender kiss--soft and warm and full of emotion. When they parted, Kim found that her heart was so full that she couldn't speak for a moment.

"I've wanted to hear you say that so badly," she murmured when she finally found her voice. The moment almost too powerful, and she had to turn back to look at the fire before she could continue. "In my heart, I've always hoped that we'd stay together--get married, have a family... someday."

"I wouldn't mind that," Tommy replied.

"What's your heart's desire?" Kim queried suddenly.

Tommy paused thoughtfully. "This is going to sound a little strange, but what I really want is for Lord Zedd to be destroyed."

"Oh?" Kim couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"Let me explain," Tommy said with a gentle laugh. "One of the reasons I couldn't tell you I loved you was that I felt it was sort of a promise, and with Zedd's threat hanging over our heads, I was afraid to make that promise because I might not be able to keep it. With Zedd gone, we would have our lives back; we'd be able to do all those things that you want us to do together: marriage, a family.... I want those things for us, too... someday."

"I understand; it's just that we came so close to losing everything back there in the ruins... Tommy, why can't we live for the moment? Why can't we take what we can while we can?"

"That's all we've been doing since we were snatched from the park," Tommy reminded her.

"Then, why can't someday be now?" Kim asked. "We don't know if we'll even see the morning...."

"We may wake up in the Command Center...."

"Tommy, make love to me," Kim blurted out before she lost her nerve. She forced herself to meet his eyes as she made her request. She saw something flash in his eyes; she sensed his pulse quickening. Yes, he wanted it, too, but something kept him from accepting her invitation. "What is it?"

"You don't know how much I'd like to... but are you sure that's what you want? I mean, here and now, living so close to the edge... but we won't be here forever. What about when we get home?"

"We'll deal with home once we get there."

"Are you sure we're ready? After all, we're only...."

"...teenagers? Tommy, we stopped being teenagers the day we accepted our power coins." Kimberly stood up and shrugged off her blanket. She stood before Tommy shivering in the firelight. She held her hand out to him. "Please?"

Tommy seemed to have difficulty swallowing as his eyes lingered on her body. It was as if he was unable to look away. Finally, he reached out and took the hand Kim offered to him, pulling her towards him. Kim knelt down, ran her fingers through his damp locks, and stroked his cheek. She kissed him gently, lovingly, and felt the tremor which shuddered through his body even as she experienced her own. Tommy wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. His mouth and tongue became more insistent as they embrace; he had finally surrendered himself to the moment. His urgency spurred Kim on, and she met his fire with a fervor of her own. Her hands wandered down to his shoulders and brushed his blanket aside. Kim pressed her naked body to his, thrilling in the warmth of the skin to skin contact.

Slowly, Tommy eased her to the cave floor, resting her on the abandoned blankets. Kim pulled him to her, wanting to feel his mouth on hers again and the velvet of his tongue caressing hers. He obliged, but only for a moment. With seeming reluctance, he tore himself away. He spent several moments just looking at her, then touching her, trying to absorb all she had to offer his senses. He then reached for an exploratory caress. Her body responded, arching into his touch. Fire exploded within her in the wake of his hand. Her body was alive as it never had been before.

His fingers stroked her face and neck and continued lower to her breasts. Tentatively he drew a fingertip across her soft swells; her nipples jutted out to meet his finger. He circled around her hard little knots langorously, expanding the spiral outward to include the whole of her areola. Kim gasped as he took a breast in his palm and squeezed gently. It felt so good!

_More, oh please, more!_ she begged with her eyes; she had tried to say the words, but when she opened her mouth all that came out was a tiny moan. Tommy, however, seemed to understand. With a look in his eyes and a smile on his lips that had Kim's blood simmering, he bent his head to her breast.

"Oh!" she squeaked as his tongue flicked across her taut nipple. She had never felt anything so incredible. A hand went to his head and pulled him deeper into her bosom as his tongue swirled about her sensitive nibs. One moment his stroke was soft and gentle. The next it was hard and rough. A playful nip brought her body up off the ground. It was almost more than she could take.

She was so lost in the way Tommy played with her breasts that Kim barely realized that his free hand was wandering down her abdomen. She felt her hips snap in anticipation. She had been so lost in the sensation of his mouth at her breast, that she had forgotten another taut knot that throbbed with aching for Tommy's touch. Her sex was hot and oh-so-wet, and her clit... she could feel it pulsing with desire. Kim felt tears in her eyes as Tommy's hand finally drifted over her curls and stroked the fleshy mound between her legs.

"Oh, please... yes!" she all but growled as he began to rub gently. She wiggled her hips about, trying to make his fingers hit the right spot. He finally caught on and concentrated on teasing her clitoris. A desperate moan escaped her lips. She wanted to come. She needed to come. Suddenly, she couldn't take the teasing any longer. "Take me, Tommy!" Her voice was so gutteral and raw with her need that she scarcely recognized her it. She didn't care that she hadn't gotten to explore Tommy's body the way he had hers. She wanted him inside her.

"Easy does it, Kim," he urged as he spread her legs wider then pressed himself up against her feverish body. Kim nearly went mad as his manhood teased her hungry sex. Her body bucked against his urgently.

"Please!" she cried.

Slowly, as gently as possible, Tommy slid his hardness into Kimberly's waiting wetness. Her eyes went wide as she felt herself opened up and filled. He met resistence, only to pull back and press on, delving deeper and deeper with every stroke. Inexplicably, Kim felt a bubble of panic rising within her.

"What's wrong?" Tommy gasped, sensing her fear in spite of the overwhelming pleasure he was feeling. "Am I hurting you? I'll stop if you want me to."

"No, it's just that... well, there's nothing for you to break," Kim fumbled. Tommy looked puzzled. "My hymen broke a long time ago. I just didn't want you to think that I hadn't... that I wasn't... you know. You're my first, Tommy."

"And you're my first," Tommy assured her, kissing the tip of her nose. "Actually, I'm kind of glad it's already gone. I really didn't want to hurt you."

"You could never hurt me," Kim murmured. Even as she spoke, Tommy thrust his hips forward; with a suddenness that made her gasp, he was sheathed fully within her. "Oh, God...."

Then, there was no more time for words. Slowly at first, then with increasing rapidity, Tommy stroked his shaft inside Kim. Every thrust made her gasp, and every withdrawl left her aching for more. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her hands digging into his back, Kim tried to urge him harder and deeper. She felt the fire surging within her; she yearned for it to break free and consume her. She reached out to it with her whole being, ready to embrace it. However, Tommy's fire crested too quickly for Kim. His body went taut, and his hips slammed tight against hers as his orgasm hit. With a moan, he collapsed against Kim, exhausted. With a whimper of frustration, she worked herself against his diminishing hardness until the strength of her need forced it from her folds.

"I'm sorry," Tommy apologized, embarassed. "I just couldn't hold back any longer; it felt so good...."

"It's all right," Kim murmured, trying to hide her disappointment; however, Tommy heard her chagrin.

"No, it's not," he replied. He lay down next to her and placed his hand on her smoldering sex. He barely touched her when her hips rocked against his palm urgently. "Maybe this will help."

With that, Tommy slipped a finger up inside Kim. She gasped. He inserted a second, and she let out a moan. Then, he extended his thumb, stroking her pulsating clit as he worked his fingers in and out of her. Kim cried out in delight, her body rocking frenetically on the cavern floor; she worked herself on Tommy's hand almost as much as he worked his hand in and out of her. Kim felt the fire return; it burned just out of her reach, and she eagerly threw herself toward it. Beside her, Tommy watched her writhe in the throes of pleasure, and just when it seemed to Kim that she had reached the pinnacle, Tommy bent his head to her breast and began teasing her nipple anew. That sent Kim screaming headlong into her climax. The force seemed to catch the neophyte lovers by surprise. Shouts and sobs of joy racked Kim's body as she was finally consumed by the fire of her desires. When the wave of ecstasy ebbed at last, Kim collapsed like a ragdoll.

"Thank you," she said in a choked whisper. She almost didn't have the strength to meet Tommy's gaze. He pulled her close, cradling her in their familiar sleeping pattern. His lips brushed hers tenderly.

"No, thank you," he murmured as he pulled the other blanket over top of them. "I promise, we'll do even better next time."

Kim nuzzled against his chest and sighed contentedly as she drifted off to sleep.

It was the gentlest of caresses, but it had Kim awake in an instant. She opened her eyes to find Tommy hovering over her, his face filled with amazement and delight. He had cast aside their covers and was lightly stroking her body. Already Kim felt desire simmering within her; it wouldn't take much to bring her to the boiling point.

"Mm, mornin' lover," she sighed, rolling the word about on her tongue, trying it out for size. It made her feel so good to call Tommy that at last.

"Lover--I kind of like that," Tommy murmured, his smile brightening. He brought his hand to Kim's face to stroke her cheek. "It's hard to believe that last night really happened. When I first woke up, I thought it was all a dream, but then I found you naked in my arms... you are just so amazing...."

"You're amazing, too," Kim responded, reaching out to touch his face, and her hand kept on wandering down to his throat and to his chest. Her smile turned from affectionate to mischievous as she felt the contours of his muscle definition. It was her turn to indulge in the exploration of his body. She looked up at Tommy, seeking permission; he gave it with a smile. However, Kim's grin suddenly faded, and her brow furrowed.

"What's wrong?" Tommy wondered.

"I'm not sure I know what to do," she confessed sheepishly.

"That's what this is all about--finding out what to do. I didn't know what I was doing last night."

"You sure could have fooled me. You were awesome; I never felt anything so good in all my life."

"I started out indulging my curiosity, and then took my cues from you. If you seemed to like what I was doing, I did it some more," Tommy explained. "So what about me are you most curious?"

"Everything." Kim's response was almost a growl.

"Well, then, you'd better get busy." Tommy caught Kim in his arms, then he rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of himself. Kim laughed for the sheer joy of being there with Tommy. Her merriment quickly dissolved as she pressed her lips to Tommy's in a heated exchange. However, she didn't linger. Mouth and hands were all too eager to get to know the rest of him as intimately as he had her. She wanted to proceed as slowly as Tommy had done her, but she couldn't seem to hold back. She licked and nibbled on his neck with an almost ravenous hunger. Tommy didn't seem to mind the heated pace; his head fell back and he moaned softly as Kim's lips worked their way to his chest which was already slightly slick with perspiration.

Kim controlled her impulses enough to gloss her hands over Tommy's strong, smooth chest. She was amazed and delighted to note that the tiny buds of his nipples were as hard as her own. She had never given much thought to his nipples being an erogenous zone, and she wondered if they were as sensitive as hers. An experimental lick revealed that they were, and Kim abandoned herself to licking and playing with them.

As she continued lower, Kim smoothed her cheek down the rippled flat of Tommy's stomach, her hair trailing out so that it tickled Tommy as she went. He wriggled with pleasure at the unexpected sensation. Kim felt the brush of his hair against her chin, but she wasn't quite ready to explore that particular territory just yet. Instead, she laid herself out across Tommy's chest, relishing the feel of her taut nipples grazing his silky skin. It was a move that made them both moan.

Kim sat back and contemplated Tommy's manhood. She had to admit to feeling slightly nervous as she lightly ran her fingers over his hardness. She didn't know why she had such a flutter in her stomach; after all, she had already experienced its power. Yet, for all its steel, she found his shaft soft, hot, and smooth. She especially liked the velvety feel of the tip. As she handled his sex, Tommy moaned deeply with undisguised pleasure, and that helped to quell her anxiety. Her fingers wandered lower, testing the heft of his sac, and lower still until her fingers grazed the curve of his bottom.

"Kim, please, use your mouth," Tommy begged suddenly. Kim raised an eyebrow at that; she hadn't wanted to admit it, but she was dying take him into her mouth. It was such an overwhelming impulse that she was a little afraid to give in to it. Tommy's plea dispelled her doubts.

She proceded cautiously, flicking her tongue out to test the head. Tommy's organ practically jumped in her hand, and his groan seemed to rumble up from the tips of his toes. It was the sound of helpless abandon, and it spurred Kimberly on with a rush. She continued with lips and tongue, slowly gliding her moist mouth all along the length of him. Tommy whimpered--an almost desperate sound--wanting more. His hips gave a sharp snap, a reaction Kim could identify with. Once she had completely bathed his shaft, she poised her lips on the edge of his sex.

"Please," Tommy pleaded, a sob catching in his throat, his tone making Kim shiver with delight. Teasingly, Kim parted her lips and allowed the head to slip inside. Tommy sighed with exquisite longing. The shudder which ripped through his body filled her with a sense of satisfaction. To know that she could bring him so much pleasure with such a simple act... what a rush! Emboldened, Kim went down on him a little further. Unexpectedly, Tommy's hips gave a frenetic thrust, pushing his organ deeper into her mouth. She coughed and pulled back.

"Sorry," they murmured simultaneously.

"Man, that felt incredible," Tommy groaned. "Do it again, please?"

Kim's only response was to open wide and swallow. She took greater care not to choke herself as she let his shaft slide in and out of her mouth. It was difficult to keep from grinning as Tommy's moans filled her ears. Since she couldn't take him all the way into her mouth, she stroked the lower portion of his organ with her hand.

Tommy's hand came to the back of her head; he caught up a handful of hair. Kim couldn't decide if he was trying to hold her in place or move her. She focused on keeping a steady rhythm; Tommy seemed to like that best. Judging from his moans, he liked it when she used her tongue in addition to simply pumping him in and out of her mouth, but he didn't like her teeth. Finally, she found a position that was comfortable for both of them. The movements seemed to come more naturally, and Kim picked up the pace. She was able to accomodate the thrust of his hips without losing the beat.

"Oh God... Kim...." Tommy gasped suddenly. Kim was only dimly aware that every muscle in his body had gone rigid. She was more concerned with the fact that there seemed to be more of him in her mouth. "If you don't... stop... I'm gonna...."

Tommy's warning came too late. His hips thrust forward sharply, and Kim suddenly found her mouth flooded with his salty juices. For a moment, she felt paralyzed; she didn't know what to do. Then, reflex kicked in. A little bit of jism seeped down into her throat before it closed; the rest was rather forcefully expelled as she gagged. Kim hadn't felt so embarrassed since she first caught Tommy skinny dipping. Hot tears stung her eyes and the heat flared in her cheeks as she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. For his part, Tommy hadn't noticed her distress. Eyes closed, his entire sweat-streaked body quivering, he lay on the floor gasping for breath.

"Was that all right?" Kim queried anxiously.

"That was awesome," Tommy gulped, bringing a smile to her face. "Couldn't you tell?"

"It's just that I kind of lost it there at the end...."

"So? I didn't expect you to swallow on your first try." Tommy opened his arms, and Kim snuggled up next to him eagerly. He kissed her softly. "Thank you."

"What's wrong?" Kim wondered, noting the chagrin in his tone.

"Part of me wishes I hadn't come yet; I don't have enough steam to take care of you."

"You could always use your mouth," Kim suggested hesitantly, uncertain how Tommy would react to the idea.

"Would you like me to?"

"We could try it and see."

"You know, we really do need to get ourselves back together and get out of here," Tommy reminded her. "The slavers and fliers could come back at any time."

"I know, but please?" Kim pleaded. Tommy just had to do something for her now; the fire burning in her sex was too hot to be ignored. Couldn't he tell how badly she wanted him? She peered imploringly into his eyes and saw the somber expression melt into a mischievous glint.

"Well, it could wait just a little bit longer...." With a laugh, Tommy reached for her, and with a playful growl, Kim attacked his mouth. Thoughts of slavers and fliers were swiftly set aside until later.

The days and nights that followed their time in the cliffside cave were unlike any Kim and Tommy had experienced since being taken prisoner. Pursuit was still there, but it was not as if their hunters were breathing down their necks. There was time simply to walk instead of run, to live instead of merely exist. They were both grateful for the change. It gave them a chance to explore the new aspect of their relationship. At moments, they seemed like a pair of newlyweds, their attention absorbed by the pleasures they enjoyed and produced in each other. Everytime they made love, they seemed to find something new to excite the other. However, they couldn't become too distracted; whenever they became too complacent, the roar of a skysled or the cry of a flier would remind them that they were still fugitives.

The new terrain was less overgrown than the lush jungle they had fled; there were fewer places to hide, but the walking was much easier. The temperature seemed a lot cooler as well. As they made their way across the land, they found evidence of other abandoned settlements. From these ruins they managed to outfit themselves with much needed clothing, spare flint, and a knife. Anything else would have been too cumbersome for those moments when time and speed were of the essence.

"What do you see?" Kim hissed up at Tommy. He was up a tree trying to scout the land ahead. They were at the edge of an unusually thick stretch of woodland. From the treeline, the land sloped gently into another forested valley.

"I think it's another village," Tommy called back as he climbed down.

"Another empty settlement? Who could have destroyed all these villages? The fliers?" Kim wondered. "Why would they do that?"

"Why would they enslave other beings?" Tommy posited. "We don't know enough about them to make any guesses."

"Should we check it out?" Kim asked. "We don't need any more tools, and our leathers are holding out fine so far."

"I'd like to. I can't be sure, but I think I saw a building like the temple we took shelter in. I'd like to learn more about that. The slavers had us trapped, and for some reason, they let us go. I'd really like to know why."

"I'm just glad they did," Kim sighed. "You're right, though. The fliers didn't sound too happy with the slavers when they finally arrived. All right. Let's go have a look."

The two made their way down the hill carefully. There were plenty of shadows thanks to the hour of the day and the imposing line of mountains rising in the west.

"This place sort of reminds me of home," Kim murmured, feeling a little choked up as she remembered the mountains around Angel Grove.

"Don't worry, Kim; we'll see them again," Tommy assured her.

"I know, but...."

"But?"

"Sometimes, Tommy, I want to go home so badly it hurts, and other times... it's just that I know things can't be the way they are here. We have school and our duties as Rangers... we hardly had time to ourselves when we were just dating, but we've gone way beyond that. When we get home, we won't be able to be lovers."

"Why not?"

"Come on, Tommy; back home, we're still considered to be kids. My mom would freak if she knew we were sleeping together."

"So, we don't tell our folks."

"They aren't stupid, Tommy. They'd figure it out eventually."

"I know, but there has to be a way. We can steal a few moments here and there...."

"Stolen moments aren't going to be enough for me... not anymore. Don't you see, you and me together like we are... it's all I ever wanted. Once we're home, well, come bedtime, you'll have to go to your house, and I'll have to go to mine. I won't be able to snuggle up next to your warm body or feel the strength of your arms around me... it'll be so lonely... I don't want to be alone, Tommy."

"Kim," Tommy murmured, wiping the gathering tears from her eyes, "we'll find a way to work it out. It'll be tough at first, but we'll manage. I promise." Tommy words rang with his sincerity, and the confidence in his eyes made hope spring in Kimberly's heart.

"I'm sorry; I'm being silly," she murmured, sniffling back her tears.

"No you're not, love," Tommy answered, kissing her forehead gently then pulling her close. "To be honest, I don't like the idea of sleeping without you anymore than you do."

Kim sighed and held Tommy tighter. In the stillness of their embrace, they heard a sound of not-too-distant drumming and the raucous screeching of birds.

"What is it?" Kim wondered.

"It sounds like it's coming from the village we were heading for," Tommy noted.

"Fliers," Kim whispered nervously, pointing to the sky. A flock of their aerial pursuers hovered over a clearing in the trees. Then, slowly they descended, and the drumming grew louder.

"Come on," Tommy urged.

"Tommy...?"

"Something tells me they aren't out here looking for us. If we're careful, maybe we'll learn something about these guys."

Reluctantly, Kim let herself be persuaded.

Upon reaching the outskirts of the village, the two took shelter in a concealing clump of bushes. To their amazement, the small town was not in ruins or abandoned. From their vantage point, Kim and tommy could see the layout of the entire settlement. The simple wooden huts comprised most of the dwellings, and these were arranged in a semi-circle about the only stone structure: the temple. There was no doubt in Kim and Tommy's minds now about what their sheltering ruins had been. To see the building intact reminded them of the amphitheater where they were to have been auctioned off. Statues occupied niches in the walls, and carvings of every sort decorated the arches of the doorways. Situated on a small rise, the building was open to the sky. More fliers arrived, some descending from treetop dwellings, to settle into the circular arena.

Torches lined the avenue which led to the temple, and the worshipers who arrived on foot also carried torches. It seemed as if everyone in the village was converging on the holy ground. Kim noticed fliers of every color in the cool end of the spectrum; they were garbed much like their counterparts from the auction arena--loose, flowing garments, glittering adornments, body paint... males with headdresses, women with veils....

"Tommy, look. Some of them don't have wings," Kim gasped in spite of the need to be silent. Most of those arriving on foot lacked the leathery appendages.

"And over there, I think those might be slaves," Tommy responded. Amid the noisy throng, Tommy had spotted a huddled group of aliens wearing all too familiar collars. They were being watched by a handful of silver suited guards.

"What is going on here?" Kim wondered.

As she spoke, the crowd suddenly fell silent as if in anticipation. Then, the drums resumed with a steady cadence. The gathering parted to allow a procession of male fliers through. Strangely, they were without adornment or paint and barely wearing g-strings. Tall, lean, and lithely muscular, the six appeared to be excellent specimens of their race, and their skin was the most intense shade of blue Kim had ever seen; it almost seemed to glow.

The six entered the temple, but the people did not follow. They seemed to be waiting. The tempo of the drums increased. Then, Kim and Tommy heard the crackle of an energy whip; the slavers started forward. Hoisted on their shoulders was a cage inside which was a female flier. She was as finely formed as the males who had preceded her--even more voluptuous than the queen had been, as Kim recalled the monarch. Her skin was a vibrant emerald color that seemed to lighten and dark with the slightest shift. Oddly, she was unveiled and wore the same scant covering as the males. Kim felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise as she glimpse the female's expression: predatory, hungry, but something told Kimberly that it was not the hunger for food which governed the flier. _Ripe and ready,_ sprang to Kim's mind. She glanced over at Tommy to comment on the strange proceedings, and she was surprised by what she saw in his expression. It was as if he was attracted to the female.

"Tommy?"

"Huh?" he mumbled dumbly as Kim shook him soundly. Then, to Kimberly's astonishment, he grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her hotly.

"What's the matter with you?" she gasped as she broke away. His leather wrap did little to disguise his erection.

"I don't know. One minute I was fine and the next...." he explained helplessly. "All of a sudden I had this major... testosterone rush, and...."

Kim knew what it was. "Phermones," she murmured. "The female must be in heat or something; maybe that's why she's locked up." She glanced back to see the cage being lifted off the slaves' shoulders. They were replaced by wingless fliers; neither slave nor guard was allowed to set foot on the grounds of the temple.

"No one but fliers are allowed in there," Kim mused. Tommy was still shaking off the effects of the force that had momentarily gripped him and simply looked at Kim in befuddlement. "I bet that's why the fliers were so angry with the slavers who were chasing us. They desecrated their holy ground."

"So they were more worried about getting the slavers out of the ruins than in capturing us," Tommy concluded, his head clearing at last. "Do you think we should try and get a closer look at what's going on in there?"

"I don't think you should," Kim advised him. "Whatever that female is putting off is pretty powerful."

"Whew, you got that right. Maybe we could see into the arena from that hill over there," Tommy suggested, pointing off to his right. Kim followed his arm and spotted a grassy slope rising above the trees.

"It's pretty exposed," she said dubiously.

"Everyone is more concerned with what's going on in the temple. Do you want to know what's happening or not?"

"I am rather curious."

"Then let's go."

The two were out of breath by the time they reached the crest of the hill. They sat wearily and looked down into the small amphitheater. Most of the gathering was obscured from their view, but the dais was visible. The cage had taken the altar's place on the platform. The female prowled about the close confines anxiously. Around the cage danced the six males. The pounding of the drums could be heard easily on the hillside; it had the rhythm of a heartbeat. The tempo increased, driving the dancers and the female into a deeper frenzy.

Finally, the imprisoned female could take it no longer; with a gutteral cry she lashed out at the bars, tearing them apart easily. The instant she was free, she leaped into the air. The six males were quick to follow her. A cheer rose from the spectators as the seven forms streaked high into the sky.

"A mating flight," Tommy realized. "Whoever catches her first will be her mate."

Kim scarcely heard Tommy's explanation. The moons were full in the sky, lighting up the entire hillside; she should have been concerned about being spotted, but she was held in thrall by the spectacle being played out before her. There was such power, grace and beauty in the flight--like a ballet, only performed with a primal fire. The female lead her suitors on a merry chase, toying with them as she banked and dove and looped about in the air. Just when it seemed one would overtake her, she shot higher with powerful strokes of her wings. Already one potential mate had given up. Soon, a second one dropped out, then a third. They returned to the village, leaving the other three to pursue... their mate.

Two chased after the canny female hard, but the third seemed to hang back. To Kim it seemed as if he was considering the options, studying the contest, letting the other two wear themselves out. However, he was even more cunning than that. While the female was engaged with taunting the duo, the third flier climbed higher into the sky. Then, while the female's attention was occupied with the erstwhile pair, he dove. Too late, the female sensed the attack from above. She whirled about only to be carried off by the third male. Biting, kicking, and clawing, she sought to break free of his grip, but he would not let her go. At last, she capitulated, baring her neck. He accepted the offering, and the female cried out with what Kim thought was a cry of joy, for in the next instant, the two bodies had all but become one.

Kim could not take her eyes off the sky, yet she was suddenly very aware of Tommy sitting next to her. She didn't need to look at him; she could hear his rapid breathing. She could feel his heat. She could smell his scent, and she could almost taste his need. Her entire being yearned for Tommy to take her.

"That was so... so...." she stammered thickly, trying to regain some control of her senses. They couldn't... not out on the hillside... unprotected... vulnerable....

"... inspiring?" Tommy murmured thickly as his mouth descended upon her exposed throat. Kim gasped, and a shiver raced through her body by the abruptness of his attack. Yet, instead of pushing him away, she pulled him closer, and she let out a cry of ecstasy to rival the cries of the newly mated flier. The touch of his lips fairly burned her neck; she couldn't bear it any longer. Pulling his head away from her throat, she sat up and savaged his mouth. As their mouths met in a hungry kiss, hands tore at their clothing. They were hardly even aware that they had stripped.

Gone was the tenderness that they normally shared during their lovemaking; their bodies burned with an uncontrollable passion which dictated their pace. Tongues tasted. Hands teased, stoking the fire higher and hotter. Kim squealed with breathless delight as Tommy's hardness drove into her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and urged him deeper. Kim needed him to be in her, be a part of her, to be one with her. Her hips met every pounding stroke eagerly. She could almost see the flames in Tommy's eyes as she felt her own inner fires threatening to consume her--she wanted to be consumed. Her body tensed in anticipation, her nails digging into Tommy's back; he was taut as well.

_Do it, Tommy! Take me hard! Take me now!_ she shrieked in her mind, incapable of uttering the words. With a roar like thunder, the fire crashed through her. A scream, a sound unlike any she had ever made before, tore forth from her throat as she felt the molten desire rush out of her body. Kim was only dimly aware that Tommy made that same sound even as his fire poured into her.

It was several long minutes before Kim regained a semblance... of consciousness. Her exhausted, sweat-soaked body lay trembling beneath Tommy's. Her senses seemed preternaturally sharp as she lay there recovering from the most intense climax she had ever had: the scent of charred wood brought in by the light breeze, the sharpness of the dewy grass that pricked her back, and the sound of cooing high above.

"Tommy?" she rasped, surprised that her throat should be so raw. She brushed aside the hair that was plastered to his face. Slowly his feathery-lashed eyelids fluttered open, and he gazed down at her with his warm brown eyes. Tommy said nothing. The strength of his hug and the tenderness of his kiss said it all for him. Tommy slid his weight off Kim, and the two lay entwined in each other's arms as they gazed up into the unfamiliar heavens. They sleepily watched as the sky-born lovers billed and cooed in each other's arms.

"What happened to us?" Kim wondered.

"I don't know, but that was incredible," Tommy replied.

"You know something? We finally did it."

"Yeah, we finally came together." It was something that they had tried so hard to achieve, coming close but never quite reaching it. The two fell into a companionable silence. After a few moments, Kim raised up onto her elbow and studied Tommy's face in the moonlight. His expression was distant. He didn't even seem to notice when she lightly drew her hand along the length of his body. She paused when she reached his inner thighs, her fingers exploring the scar that scrawled up his right leg. She supposed she had noticed before but hadn't paid all that much attention to it.

"Where'd you get this scar from?" she asked.

"I was on the back of my cousin's motorcycle; we crashed. The doctors had to give me a new inseam. Good thing it didn't go an inch or two higher," Tommy related with a wry chuckle.

"Is this the reason why you always wear such long shorts?"

"Mm hm."

Silence again. Tommy's eyes were fixed on the sky, and he looked thoughtful.

"What are you thinking about?" Kim wondered.

"Hm? Oh, nothing," he mumbled, his face coloring slightly.

"What is it?" she pursued.

"It's kind of silly," he demurred.

"Please... ?"

"I was remembering some of my daydreams from back home," he answered. He rolled onto his side so he could look at Kim. "This may sound funny, but I always wanted to make love to you under the stars. Out in some field or on a hill--someplace where there wasn't a soul around for miles so it'd be like we were the only two people in the world. Naked under the stars... it was like we were part of it all--I know I'm not explaining this very well. I used to try and imagine what you'd look like with the moonlight shining down on your hair... your body.... "

"Tommy, that's beautiful," Kim murmured.

"What about you? In your fantasies, did you have a favorite place for us to make love?"

"Not really, but there were always candles or a fire. We'd... be surrounded in a glow of warm light, and there'd be darkness beyond. It was like the rest of the world couldn't touch us."

"I'll have to remember that when we get home."

The two cuddled close and drifted off to sleep under the gaze of the stars.

"No, it can't be. That's impossible, Zordon!

"Billy, you must believe me...."

"I know how you feel, Billy; I didn't want to believe it either...."

Billy slapped Adam's hand away. "I was there; I know what I saw, what I did...."

"If you don't trust our word for it, examine the data from the computers."

Billy ripped the printout from Alpha's hand, rapidly digesting the data contained in the report. He shook his head in denial, but the results were irrefutable.

"Damn...."

The images from Kimberly's dream swiftly faded as she knelt beside the stream, overcome by a wave of nausea. She felt her stomach heave and turned her head to hit the plants beside her. When she turned back to the water, she observed her reflection; her face was pale, and she had dark circles under her eyes. She hadn't been sleeping very well of late, and she looked a little thinner. That was understandable; her appetite left much to be desired, and at any rate, she was having trouble keeping what she did eat down. _The flu,_ she tried to tell herself, but then why was she only sick in the morning? In the water, Kim saw a look of fear in her eyes. She couldn't deny the truth any longer: she was pregnant.

As she finally acknowledged that fact, a host of concerns crashed in on her. What was she going to do? She didn't know a whole lot about being pregnant, just the stuff they taught in health class. Her aunt had had regular check-ups when she had been pregnant, but there was no doctor here. How would Kim know if everything was all right? How far along was she? What if the baby was due before they got back home? Who would deliver the baby?

_Get a grip, Kim,_ she tried to tell herself, but her fears had run away with her. _Oh God, this can't be happening to me! I'm not ready to be a mother yet!_

She still had a year of school left; she might be able to work things out so that she could finish, but being a mother meant she'd have to give up gymnastics... and what about being a Power Ranger. She'd have to give up being the Pink Ranger. What about her teammates? What would the others say? What about her mother, and what would she tell Tommy? She'd have to tell him something soon; he'd figure it out as soon as her belly started to swell. What would he say... ?...

Tommy... amid the fear and uncertainty, a bubble of happiness floated to the surface. She was going to have a baby. Tommy's baby, something she had dreamed about. Of course, she'd always imagined that it would happen when the two of them were older and certainly not on an alien planet. Thinking of Tommy helped calm Kim down somewhat. Granted, he probably didn't know anymore about babies than she did, but at least she wouldn't have to face this alone. He'd be there for her.

_And anyway, women were having babies long before there were doctors to deliver them._

Kim was sitting at the water's edge, her knees pulled up to her chest and sort of rocking back and forth, when Tommy finally came looking for her.

"Kim, are you all right?" he asked.

She looked up at him and saw him give a little start. What had he seen in her face? Happiness? Anxiety? He couldn't have missed the tear streaks. She could tell that he was conscious of the fact that she had vomited again. He sat down beside her and placed a hand on her brow.

"What's wrong? Are you sick?"

Kim glanced up at Tommy, and the confidence that had started to grow a moment ago drained out of her. She felt another weepy fit coming on, and she bit her lip to try and hold back her tears. Tommy's expression grew more concerned, and Kim almost lost her nerve. "I think I'm pregnant."

Tommy was too startled to speak for a moment; Kim watched as surprise played across his features. "Are you sure?" he stammered at last.

"As sure as I can be without seeing a doctor. I have the major symptoms, though--morning sickness and I haven't had a period in two months." Kim glimpsed the flicker of amusement that lit Tommy's eyes as she mentioned her monthly indisposition; she could almost tell what he was thinking about: the cute, cuddly blooding-sucking scavengers that practically attached themselves to her one week out of the month. Now that she thought about it, she should have realized sooner that something was up. They hadn't seen the little furballs since before nearly being caught in the temple.

"You're pregnant," Tommy reiterated numbly.

"What do we do?" Kim asked softly.

"Get ready to become parents, I guess," he replied. Kim felt her insides twisting; Tommy looked as scared as she felt. Suddenly, there was something serious about his expression. He looked away as he continued, "Unless...."

"What?"

"I don't know that we could do it, but if you wanted to try and find a way to...."

"To what?" Kim demanded; however, before Tommy could say anything, the answer came to her. Hot, angry tears slipped from her eyes. "Tommy, how could you suggest such a thing! This is a baby we're talking about--our baby! I couldn't...."

"Kim, I don't _want_ you to have an abortion," Tommy assured her, taking her by the shoulders and forcing her to look at him,... "but I had to ask. Considering the mess we're in... the danger... and I'm not going to be the one carrying a child around inside me for nine months or the one who'll have to deal with the pain of giving birth.

"I'm going to be a father...." Tommy's face lit up at his words so much so that Kim was rather taken by surprise. "You don't know what that means to me, Kim. Being adopted...."

"You're adopted? You never said anything about being adopted," Kim murmured.

"That's because it's no big deal. My folks died in a car accident when I was a baby. The hospital couldn't find any other family, so I was put up for adoption," Tommy explained. "I love my folks--my grandparents, cousins and all; they're the only family I've ever known, yet sometimes it's like there's no connection, like I'm not really a part of them. But to have my own family...." The emotions were too strong for Tommy to finish, but Kim understood. Family meant a great deal to her, too, especially since her own had been torn apart by divorce.

"Kim, I know it's a lot sooner than either of us would like, but I'd like nothing better than for you to be the mother of my baby," Tommy choked out at last.

"And you'll make my baby a heck of a father," Kim replied as she brushed away the happy tear that trickled down Tommy's cheek.

Kim returned to the shelter and sat down; she was exhausted. She hated being so tired--not to mention moody--all the time. Her back ached, her feet were sore, and she was half tempted to strip off her top. Her breasts were so tender that the least little friction was enough to drive her nuts. At least she didn't have morning sickness anymore. She didn't think she was dealing being pregnant very well. Fortunately, Tommy seemed to be handling her condition a lot better than she was; Kim was grateful for his patience.

She emptied the contents of her pouch onto the ground. She had managed to find a wide variety of nuts; she hoped Tommy had better luck hunting. She knew he hated it, but he was adamant about her trying to eat a little better. Sometimes, however, his _"you're eating for two, you know,"_ got on her nerves. Still, she knew she needed the protein, and at the moment, she was really tired of roots and nuts. Luckily, both game and edible plants had been abundant in the valley. They had already been there nearly a week, but she knew that wouldn't last. Yet, the extended stay had given her a much needed rest. She couldn't travel as far and as fast as she would have liked to; sometimes she felt she was such a nuisance, holding Tommy back and all. Kim felt a crying fit coming on; she hated crying so much, but she just couldn't help it.

Kim felt a stirring in her abdomen, and she smoothed her hand over her stomach, which was beginning to show signs of swelling. She figured she was somewhere around four or five months (she placed conception about the night they had watched the mating flight). It was only during the past day or two that she started feeling movement within.

"All right, little one, mama will calm down," Kim murmured, patting her stomach. She seemed to notice the movement most whenever she was upset. She couldn't wait for Tommy to feel the baby moving; he'd be ecstatic. In spite of her exhaustion and worry, Kim smiled and felt a warm glow of happiness spread through her as she thought of Tommy's reaction.

A rustling in the bushes interrupted Kim's fond musings, and she reached for her walking stick.

"Hey, Kim," Tommy called out as he entered their little clearing.

"What happened to you!" Kim gasped. Tommy was covered with scratches and sported a black eye.

"Do I have to tell you? It's really kind of stupid," Tommy murmured. He dumped his catch onto the ground. They still didn't know what sort of animal it was, but they had eaten it before. It wasn't too bad, actually.

"I would like to know," Kim scolded as she retrieved the water gourd so she could help clean his cuts. While she was fussing with him, Tommy set a hide covered bowl on the ground. The bowl was actually the outer shell of some kind of fruit; Kim noticed that Tommy's wrap was shorter by a few inches, and he had lost his hair thong.

"What is that?" she queried.

"Something your body really needs."

"What is it?" she repeated, eyeing the container dubiously. She had her reservations about what Tommy thought her body did and did not need.

"Milk." Tommy unwrapped the container and handed her a bowl of fresh, warm milk.

"Where did you get this?" Kim gasped. Fresh milk wasn't exactly her cup of tea--she remembered trying it on a field trip to a dairy farm back in third grade--but she had to grant that she probably wasn't getting the calcium she needed.

"We're a lot closer to a settlement than we probably should be," Tommy began. Kim knew by the sobriety of his tone that they would be moving on before long. "Anyway, there was a herd of these animals grazing close to the huts. They looked kind of like goats. While I was there, one of the slave-shephards came out to milk them."

"So you decided to give milking a try when the shephard wasn't looking, and got kicked in the head," Kim deduced with a laugh. Tommy shrugged with a sheepish smile. "You doofus, you're wonderful, you know that? Thank you." She gave his bruise a kiss to make it better.

"Just trying to do all I can to take care of you." "You're doing just fine, Tommy. I'm so glad you're here for me," Kim murmured, her eyes getting misty.

"Hey, none of that," Tommy chided gently, wiping her eyes. "We don't want to upset the baby. Hello there." Tommy directed his words directly to Kim's stomach. "How are we today? Are you being a good baby for mommy?"

Kim smiled and shook her head. Tommy had a thing about talking to her abdomen. Maybe the baby could hear him, she didn't really know, but Tommy looked so sweet and so silly whenever he held a conversation with her belly. Sometimes at night, Tommy would snuggle up next to her and simply rub her rounding stomach. On his face would be an expression of awe and wonderment.

Tommy was busy running his hand over her stomach; Kim watched with tired amusement. All of a sudden, Tommy went still, and his eyes went wide. Kim grinned at the amazement in his eyes.

"Kim...." he began in a choked whisper of disbelief. "What is it?"

"I think I felt... there it is again... was that a kick?"

"Uh huh."

"Oh my God." Tommy smiled up at Kim, his eyes bright with tears.

"I think we have another martial artist on the way," Kim mused. She winced as she felt a much stronger throb. "The baby has quite a kick." Tommy flung his arms around Kim, hugging her fiercely.

The moment was shattered by a sudden shrill cry overhead. The two looked to the sky, fear gripping them. A lone flier shot past; he didn't appear to be searching for anything so much as he appeared to be fleeing. His pursuers quickly appeared from the direction of the settlement Tommy had found. Kim and Tommy backed into the cover of their shelter--a cave in the embankment covered by a lean-to. They stayed close enough to the door so that they could watch what was going on.

The fugitive appeared to be slowed by something. His manuevers had none of the speed and grace that Kim and Tommy had associated with the fliers. If he wasn't careful, he was going to be caught. Suddenly, the flier looped around and dove in close to the trees. In fact, he flew too close and crashed into the branches of one of the flat-topped species that seemed popular to the locale. The sickening sound of breaking branches reached Kim and Tommy's ears, and the pursuers began circling around the crash site. The sextet was armed with spears which they aimed into the leafy covering.

"The poor thing," Kim murmured, sympathizing with the hunted creature, knowing too-well what he must be feeling. "Isn't there anything we can do to help?"

"Kim, are you nuts?" Tommy hissed back. "I can't stand hanging back here and watching either, but we can't take the chance. I can't handle six of those things by myself--don't even think it." Tommy glared fiercely at Kim as she opened her mouth to offer her fighting skills. "Unless our lives are in immediate danger, I don't want you putting yourself and the baby at risk."

"I'm not helpless, you know," she pouted. "I know. I just don't want anything to happen to you." They turned their attention back to the spectacle above the tree tops. Things had been quiet for an awfully long time. The fliers started to hover a little closer, searching for a sign of their prey. Suddenly, a defiant scream shattered the stillness, and the fugitive errupted out of the foliage, leaving his startled pursuers behind. This time, he did not appear to be weighted down, and with powerful wing strokes, he quickly outdistanced the others. Still, they continued the chase.

"I wonder what that was all about?" Tommy murmured as he emerged from the shelter.

"I wonder what he hid in the tree," Kim added. "He had been carrying something, Tommy; I could see a bundle in his arms when he flew in low. Do you think we should have a look?"

"We'd probably better not; someone's bound to be back to look for it, either the one who left it or his followers. We'd better break camp and get out of here before that happens."

Kim sighed. So much for their peace and quiet. As they gathered up their meager belongings and demolished the lean-to, they heard a crashing in the forest. Something--someone--was coming. The two dove for their cave just as a form burst through the concealing brambles around their campsite. It was a flier--female--and she collapsed as she reached the clearing and did not move.

"It's one of the wingless one," Kim realized, seeing arms but no additional appendages.

"She looks like she's hurt," Tommy mused. "I bet one of those spears got her."

"Tommy, we can't leave her like this; we've got to do something," Kim insisted as she scrambled out of the cave.

"Kim, be careful," Tommy cautioned, following her. Kim approached the injured woman. "She's so still; is she alive?"

"She's breathing," Kim murmured. She reached out to touch the flier; the female didn't even budge. "There's a deep cut on her arm, and it looks like her ankle is swollen. Help me roll her onto her back." When they did, they made another surprising discovery. "She's pregnant!"

"Very," Tommy echoed. The female's abdomen was swollen as if she were near term. Kim absently ran her hand over the firm swell, feeling a sort of connection with the alien.

"She has another gash in her shoulder," Kim said, continuing her examination. She lifted the veil which shrouded the female's face and found only minor scratches. "We can use this for bandages. Tommy, get the water."

While Kim dabbed at the female's wounds, the flier started coming around. She started thrashing, and her muted cries seemed to be tinged with pain. She slowly opened her eyes. She appeared disoriented.

"Kah-eee?" Then, she spotted Tommy and Kimberly, and her eyes widenend with fear. She tried to move, but apparently the pain was too much for her.

"Kim, get back," Tommy advised.

"We have to let her know that we're friends," Kim said. "How?"

"I have a really strong feeling about this, Tommy; trust me."

Kim drew closer. The female eyed her warily. "I'm not going to hurt you; I'm a friend," Kim murmured. She wet a section of the veil and dabbed the female's shoulder wound. The female stayed very still as Kim touched her. When Kim sat back, the flier ran her hand over her swollen abdomen in a familiar fashion. "I'm a mother-to-be, too." Kim mirrored the flier's gesture. Then Kim placed her hand on the female's belly. "You and you're baby are going to be all right." Kim was rewarded by an easing in the female's taut muscles; then, the female suddenly became frantic.

"What the... " Kim gasped as Tommy pulled her out of the reach of a flailing talon-tipped hand.

"What happened?" Tommy wondered. "It looked like you had gotten through to her."

"I had; something frightened her."

"I don't see or hear any other fliers," Tommy murmured, scanning the area.

"It's all right. You're safe," Kim said, trying to comfort the panicked woman. "What's wrong?" The female chattered angrily, gesturing to something behind Kimberly. "What... ?" The only thing Kim saw was Tommy. Then the female made another motion which clarified things to Kim.

"You're the problem," Kim realized, glancing up at Tommy. "Huh?"

"It has something to do with her veil. She was fine with me, so maybe males aren't supposed to see the females unveiled."

"But we've seen unveiled females in some of the villages," Tommy reminded her.

"What if the veiled females are those who have mates?" Kim suggested. "Maybe the only male allowed to see a female without her veil is her mate."

"She keeps making those wrapping motions and glaring at me," Tommy observed.

"She thinks you took the veil off," Kim deduced. "It could be symbolic of taking another man's woman."

"Are you going to convince her otherwise? She's getting really upset; she's liable to hurt herself even more or else hurt you."

"I'll try."

Kim did her best to pantomime that she had unveiled the female; she even showed her the torn and bloodied garment. When the flier tried to grab it away from Kim, she aggravated her injuries and gave a yelp of pain.

"Settle down!" Kim scolded, trying to pin the woman down. "This isn't working, Tommy. You're going to have to back off."

"Nothing doing," Tommy refused. "There has to be some way to convince her that I'm not interested in her."

"Wait a minute, remember the mating flight?"

"How could I forget that?" Tommy all but purred.

Kim tossed him a chiding scowl. "This is serious, Tommy."

"I'm sorry. What was it you were trying to get me to remember--besides what we were doing?"

"When the female finally gave in to the male, she bared her neck to him."

"I thought it was a show of submission."

"Maybe if we did something like that, it would demonstrate that I'm your mate and that you're no threat to her," Kim said.

"It's worth a try," Tommy agreed. "Besides, I don't need an excuse to want to nibble on your neck." He bent his head over Kim's exposed flesh and playfully nipped at it.

"Tommy!" Kim giggled, a shiver running through her. This was not the time for that sort of thing.

"Can I help it that you have a very sensitive neck?"

"Oh you...." Kim's comment was lost as Tommy kissed her. It was several moments before the two recalled that they weren't alone. The flier regarded them puzzledly.

"You've nothing to fear; I already have a mate," Tommy said gently, sliding his arms around Kim's middle and stroking her proprietarily. The female watched them intently as they exchanged warm smiles.

"I think maybe we're getting through to her," Kim observed. The female did seem much calmer. "I'm going to try cleaning her wounds again."

"What should I do?"

"Stay close, but I don't think it'd be a good idea for you to touch her." However, as Kim spoke, a rumble of thunder filled the air.

"We can't leave her outside in the rain, and you can't move her by yourself," Tommy pointed out.

"I would give her back her veil, but it's the only thing we have to use for a bandage. Let me try and show her what we mean to do." Kim tapped the woman on the shoulder then pointed to the cave. She pantomimed as best she could that they were going to carry her inside. The female seemed to understand, for she did not fight when Tommy lifted her up.

"How's your patient?" Tommy queried as Kim emerged from the cave. She found him preparing dinner in the clearing. For two days they had been looking after the pregnant flier (although, it seemed incongrous to call the female that since she had no wings); her surface wounds were healing rapidly, but she was still experiencing a great deal of pain.

"Not good; I'm getting really worried."

"Me, too. I can hear her moans out here, and her people have more acute hearing than we do. If we're not careful, she's going to give us away." Tommy didn't need to say it; Kim knew that they had stayed far too long for their own safety. Still, she couldn't abandon the flier.

"Tommy, I think she's in labor."

"What? Are you sure?"

"No, but I just have this feeling in the pit of my stomach."

"Great, we don't even know how we're going to deliver our child, let alone hers."

"I also think something's wrong; I think she's been trying to push, but the baby isn't coming out. We've got to do something for her or we'll lose mother and baby." The thought brought tears to Kim's eyes and with them the fear that such a thing could happen to her.

"Kim, we have no idea what to do; we can't even take her back to the settlement. Her own people drove her away."

"We don't know that. Maybe the flier who dropped her in the forest kidnapped her or something like that."

"Then someone would have come looking for her before now," Tommy pointed out.

"We can't just let her die!"

"Kim, get back in the cave," Tommy said suddenly, his body going rigid.

"What is it?"

"There's someone out there. Before you came out here, I thought I heard something... I just caught a glimpse of ...." Just then a figure leaped out of the bushes. Taller and broader than Tommy, the violet-hued flier bared his fangs and hissed at the pair, leveling his spear. His nostrils twitched and he cast about the clearing anxiously.

"He's looking for her," Kim realized.

"Kim, get out of here," Tommy urged, shoving her behind him. He had no weapon save the knife, but he pulled it from his makeshift sheath.

"Eee-dah," the flier rumbled menacingly, taking a swipe at Tommy.

From inside the cave came a faint, "Kah-eee."

"Eee-dah!" the flier screeched and charged at Tommy. Tommy leaped clear, and Kim raced for the cave entrance. She didn't want to leave Tommy alone with his adversary, but she had to check on the female; it sounded as if she was really hurting. Kim crawled inside and found the female trying desperately to sit up, but the pain was too much for her.

"Stay still," Kim ordered, but the female continued struggling and calling out "Kah-eee." In the dim firelight, Kim studied the alien woman's face. She recognized the grimace of pain, but there was something else... was it hope? An idea began to take shape in Kim's mind.

"Eee-dah?" Kim queried, trying to mimick the sound that Tommy's opponent had made. Recognition flashed in the female's eyes. Kim pointed to her and repeated the word. The female caught on and nodded. Eee-dah was her name. Kim rested her hand on Eee-dah's abdomen. "Kah-eee?" she ventured, hoping Eee-dah would catch her meaning. Eee-dah's eyes narrowed. She wasn't getting it. Kim reached out to touch Eee-dah's face, tracing the outline of the tatoo on the left cheek. "Kah-eee?" she asked again. This time she received a nod. Kim had to get to Tommy quickly.

When she scrambled out of the cave, she found Tommy on the ground, Kah-eee's weapon poised at his chest.

"Kah-eee, no!" she shouted, rushing forward. Her use of his name startled the flier, and Kim was able to knock him away.

"Kim, what are you doing?" Tommy gasped, staggering to his feet.

"This is Eee-dah's mate. Look at his face; he has the same tattoo that she has," Kim explained.

The flier, furious, rose to his full height and lunged toward Kim. Tommy made to interpose himself, but Kim held him back.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"He won't hurt me, Tommy." Kim said, stepping away from him. She faced the enraged flier as calmly as possible. Again, she was working on a hunch, but it felt right. She looked at Kah-eee and passed her hand over her belly in the same manner that Eee-dah used. Kah-eee pulled up short, hissing nervously.

"Why'd he stop?"

"Did you ever have a dog--especially a female who'd had puppies?" Kim queried. "Even the gentlest of dogs can be very mean when it comes to others messing with her puppies. I suspect the same applies here. I can't tell you why or how I know, but the fliers seem to respect pregnant females."

"Well, he still looks like he's going to rip your throat out," Tommy glowered.

"It'll be all right, Tommy. I think I can get through to him, like I did Eee-dah." At the sound of the name, Kah-eee made a hopeful noise. Just then, the flier in the cave gave a shriek that sent cold chills down Kim and Tommy's spines.

"Get in there; I'll bring Kah-eee," Kim directed. Reluctantly, Tommy did as she requested. Kim held her hand out to the nervous flier. "Eee-dah's inside. Come, Kah-eee; Eee-dah needs you." Uncertainly, Kah-eee reached out for Kimberly's hand, and she led him inside.

When they reached the rear of the cave where Eee-dah was resting, they found the flier gripping Tommy's hand as he tried to give her some water. Kah-eee growled dangerously.

"Oh, knock it off," Kim snapped. "Tommy's just trying to help her." Kim let go of his hand and hurried to Eee-dah's other side.

"She feels like she has a fever," Tommy murmured. "I scarcely sat down next to her when a spasm hit. She grabbed my hand. What a grip!"

"She must be bad; she's never reached out to you before," Kim mused. She looked up to Kah-eee. The male flier inched closer; Eee-dah raised up slightly. Upon seeing her mate, she began to croon softly. Kim made room for Kah-eee and moved next to Tommy.

"Now what?" Tommy wondered. Eee-dah still hadn't let go of his hand.

"Let's hope Kah-eee knows what to do for her," Kim murmured. The two mates conversed; Kim had the sense that Eee-dah was trying to explain things, but her pain kept interrupting. Finally, Kah-eee silenced her chatter. He asked a question, and Eee-dah's answer was a fearful nod. Then, the flier looked to Kim and Tommy, and with a series of gestures, issued instructions to the pair.

"I think he wants us to hold her down," Kim mused. "Should we?"

"He knows more about what she needs than we do," Kim acquiesed. Kim returned to her place on Eee-dah's left. Kah-eee drew up next to her. He favored his mate with what Kim thought was a mournful expression. The chirps they exchanged gave Kim the shivers. _It sounds as if he's saying good-bye._ Eee-dah closed her eyes and looked away. Kah-eee raised his razor sharp talons.

"No!" Kim shrieked, before she could move, Kah-eee slashed out, tearing open Eee-dah's abdomen. The female's piercing cry hurt Kim's ears, and she and Tommy fought to keep their patient down. With horror in her eyes and tears streaming down her cheeks, she watched as Kah-eee reached in and removed something from Eee-dah's body.

"An egg," Tommy gasped. The flier gently lifted the clear oval from the bloody flesh. Kim could see the shape of the infant within. Kah-eee cradled the shell close; dark streaks of moisture trickled down from his eyes.

"A Ceasarean," Kim realized. "She couldn't get the egg out of her body, so he did it for her." Kim glanced down at the dying female. "Oh, Eee-dah, I'm so sorry." Kim looked to Tommy sorrowfully.

"I'm sorry, too, Kim," Tommy murmured. Kim noticed that he was blood spattered.

"Tommy, we can't let her die; we have to do something. That baby needs its mother."

"Kim, there isn't anything...."

"We can try, damn it," Kim snapped. "We have to try and stopped the bleeding." Kim wasn't really thinking, merely acting on impulse, as she grabbed the remains of Eee-dah's veil and pressed them into the open wound. "Find me something else."

"What do you have in mind?" Tommy asked as he quickly handed Kim the pelts left from their last couple of meals.

"Her other wounds healed really quickly; the gash on her shoulder was completely gone in two days. If we can somehow stop the bleeding and get her bandaged...." Tommy helped Kim apply pressure to the wound, causing Eee-dah to gasp. Kim took that as a good sign; it meant they hadn't lost her yet.

"I don't know, Kim; this is a much deeper wound." "I'm not so sure. Look at Kah-eee's claws; the blood barely covers the tips. All we can do is try."

"All right, but we're going to need more materials for bandages," Tommy pointed out.

"Kah-eee," Kim said, and she had to repeat herself several times before she got the grief-stricken flier's attention. Kim held up the bits of cloth and fur that they were using to pack the wound. "We need more of this. Can you find some? For Eee-dah. We need this for Eee-dah." The flier looked at her in total imcomprehension. "God, I wish you could speak English! For Eee-dah. Please!"

Kah-eee looked from Kim to Tommy to Eee-dah; Kim was reward to see that he seemed to make the connection. He nodded, and Kim wanted to shed tears of relief. Kah-eee reached for Kim's hands and pulled them from Eee-dah's abdomen.

"Keep up the pressure, Tommy," Kim said, not quite sure what Kah-eee intended. With great reluctance, Kah-eee placed the egg into her arms.

"I think he wants you to sit on his egg," Tommy joked humorlessly.

"It's so warm," Kim murmured as her hands slid over the smooth, slightly sticky surface. Her face was alight with wonder as she glimpsed the tiny form within. "Look at those tiny wings!" Kah-eee chittered something at her; Kim knew with her heart what he was asking. "I'll protect it as if it was my own," she assured the flier. That seemed to satisfy Kah-eee, for he backed out of the cave to be about his errand.

Kah-eee returned sometime later; he and Tommy set to bandaging Eee-dah while Kim cradled the unconscious female's head in her lap and warmed the egg with her body. When they were finished, all that remained was the waiting.

E-mail: kittiec@starpower.net