A Nagas tale

Hope for a peaceful life

In the days that followed my return, I took up looking after the girls so Audrey could sleep. She would randomly sit up startled muttering about the girls crying. I needed to calm her down enough for her to get back to sleep. 'That must have been traumatizing.' I look at Audrey who ends up falling asleep with her head on my lap. I look at the girls who are still soundly sleeping. Audrey told me everything that happened in the week I was gone. I felt guilty for leaving her behind with the girls knowing how fussy they were when I was gone. Thoren had taken Loki to parenting classes my mother offered for him to understand how to care for a child born in this world. I look at Audrey as she sleeps recalling the number of women who committed suicide due to their lack of aura. They struggled to connect with their child who could not feel or see them. My mother took up the responsibility to teach the men how to care for the children and help aid their partners with caring for their children. I caress Audrey's cheek hoping this had not hindered her connection with the girls. "How are they doing?" My mother walks into the sleeping area. I look at the sleeping trio and sigh. "They are catching up on the sleep they missed out on," I answer. She sighs "I cannot believe the callousness of Leader Loki." I nod wondering how he could be so cold to Audrey when she was struggling. "I'll do a quick check-up on the girls." She tells me. She walks over to the girls and checks their throats. "their throats are a little irritated from all the crying, but I don't see anything alarming." She murmurs. I sigh knowing I at least had some good news to tell Audrey when she woke up. "Kogen, if you are going to keep traveling to Zeras, I suggest you bring them along with you," she warns me. I nod understanding now that it would be for the safety of the three for me to bring them along. The repairs on the Island are tiring and taking care of the reports coming in only added to my plate. I would want to complain about my issues but I understand that we are all under a lot of stress. It's been three days since I came back and the added task of child care seems to chip away at my time to take care of the stack of documents. 'I've done this before with Yyvonne so I don't mind but having Audrey to worry about it seems more stressful.' I asked Yuri to come to the village as soon as he could to open the rift. Audrey was worried about the snake tribe that evacuated to her old world. I want to bring them back with the rift but I am not sure how successful that would be. I look at Audrey feeling her jolt. She sits up her eyes filled with worry "The girls." she gasps. I turn to my mother who was startled by Audrey's sudden awakeness. I hear Astrid whine quietly 'Is it time for them to eat?' I watch Audrey scramble off the bed still half asleep. "Audrey, why don't you sit." My mother stops her. Audrey looks at the girls clearly worried about them. "They will start crying." she whispers. I walk up to her and quickly carry her back to bed "I understand you are worried but you are half asleep." I tell her. She looks at the crib where Tabitha starts whining. I sit down and hold Audrey in my arms trying to calm her down. My mother handed her Tabitha who was becoming more vocal. Audrey quickly cradled the grumpy girl in her arms "It's okay Tabby momma is here." she whispered I moved my arms around her waist letting her adjust her body. "Hm Tabby is a hungry baby." she coos to try and calm Tabitha before opening her shirt to feed her. I listen to Audrey as she talks to Tabitha assuring her that there is enough food for her to eat. That day Audrey was more alert than the days before. She sat with me at the desk with the girls sleeping in their crib nearby. Astrid woke up annoyed but she was not dirty and it was not time for her to eat yet. Audrey stood up and picked her up. I watched as Audrey walked around the library with Astrid. She told her about the library and the number of books. She was trying to use her voice to calm Astrid down. She told me about this method before and how it worked only with Astrid while Tabitha was not too fond of the walks. She was doing her best with what she knew to keep the children calm and content. She had not found how to calm Tabitha down other than feeding her. I watch Thoren walk into the library. His face lights up when he sees Astrid awake. "Oh! look at this beautiful little princess." He coos walking up to Audrey and Astrid. "I see she's adapted to listening to voices." He tells Audrey. She looks at him a bit curious he smiles at her. "I believe you learned this before from Ashthoren, but before he split his soul it was rare for Naga's to be born with aura." He explains. Audrey nods "So Naga's taught their children how to recognize them with their voice instead of their aura." he explains. Audrey looks at Astrid who calmly listens to them talk. "This little lady seems to have recognized your voice after all of that talking you've been doing in the past week." he pats her shoulder. Audrey tears up looking back at me. "Astrid knows it's me." she sobs happily. I smile happily at the good news Thoren has just given her. I look over at Tabitha who is already awake. She is not making a fuss in her crib she flared her aura finding me sitting next to her she simply kicked her feet in excitement. A small toothless smile pulled at her lips before she let out a delighted giggle. 'I see she isn't grumpy anymore.' I sigh turning to Audrey who spoke to Astrid some more. A delighted giggle escaped Astrid. I can tell Audrey's worry melted with such a cute giggle. "Oh! Your smile is so cute!" Audrey squeaked. She walks over to me to show me the smile Astrid gave her. "Astrid this is Daddy." she sits on my lap. "Kogen say something." She demands "She already feels my aura what's the point of talking?" I ask. Astrid lets out a surprised laugh before reaching her chubby hands out and grabbing at the air. I feel my heart stop with how cute Astrid looked. "Oh my god, you are so cute!" Audrey squeaked in delight. I look at my wife and child feeling the stress of their damaged relationship fade away. 'This must be bliss for Audrey after a week of crying fits.' I  turn to Tabitha who is quietly kicking her legs waiting to be picked up. I give in to her cute demands and pick her up holding her against my chest. She laughs delightedly kicking her legs some more. "It seems the girls are in a better mood today." Thoren chuckles. Audrey turns to Tabitha and smiles "You are so giggly today." Audrey tickles Tabitha's feet earning herself a giggle. ' I hope things remain his calm for a while.' I sigh loving just how calm this world felt around Audrey and the girls.