Prison Ship Colony 12: A Kha'an for a Tough Omega

Gnashing his fangs once more as he rode with his band to the Peace Lands, Brokensoul regretted how small his band was because they could barely drive Palefang from their lands. By the Sages, there was little he wouldn’t offer to be rid of Palefang!

As they set up camp, Brokensoul noticed Metalsong had wandered off. Not that it bothered him much. Metalsong was prone to vanishing and returning with something of worth.

The spoils of a hunt that shouldn’t have been so fruitful or a bit of information that was too important to ignore.

It didn’t hurt that Metalsong was of Shaman bloodlines. In fact, it explained his uncanny luck in Brokensoul’s mind. Not every shaman needed the bones to see the future. As a follower of the Sage of the Past, Brokensoul studied the ancient stories and could recite many of the tales purely from memory.

Lost in his own thoughts as he set down his gear, Brokensoul jumped when he heard Metalsong cry out, “Kha’an! Come quickly! You must see these beings! Kha’an Brokentalon wishes for your time as well.”

Grinding his fangs silently, Brokensoul stood to his full height as his Tilan hissed at his side. He had nothing against Brokentalon. He often agreed with the younger Kha’an during the past peace meets, but what might Brokentalon want with him?

Even united together, their bands did not have the number of Alphas required to face Palefang, who griefed them both with his thefts.

Going with Metalsong, Brokensoul heard a strong but gentle voice amongst Brokentalon’s band call out playful words. A small being without talons, scales, or even a tail darted his way as that gentle voice teased, “I’m going to get you!”

Brokensoul froze at the sight of the Omega chasing a hatchling. The same race, clearly. Then those eyes looked at him. Green and golden flecks of color mixed. It stole his breath away in the moment before the Omega ran right into him.

Face-first.

Given their height difference, the Omega’s face pressed into his belly, and Brokensoul gently caught him before he fell. The strange creature groaned and then muttered into Brokensoul’s belly, “Sorry… damn, you’re built like a brick house.”

Arching an eye ridge, Brokensoul rumbled out in amusement, “You are a strange little thing, Omega.”

The hatchling shot him a look of fear and dove for cover behind the other new Omega in Brokentalon’s band. Most likely the hatchling’s Papa.

Seeing another hatchling cradled in a sling, Brokensoul noted the brightness of the hatchling’s red and orange scales on the tail that had escaped the confines of the fabric.

What were these tail-less beings? Clearly breeding compatible with his own people, but where did they come from? Were there more? Was the Omega in his arms perhaps interested in finding a mate?

Then Brokentalon’s voice cut through his thoughts firmly, “Release Ben, Brokensoul. He is not why I requested your presence. We have things to speak of.”

Watching Ben as the Omega escaped him, Brokensoul found his gaze drawn to the crimson-colored fur on Ben’s head that was tamed in a braid.

Patting the blanket next to him, the Omega Papa stated, “Ben, come help me with preparing dinner for the Band.”

Unable to stop himself, Brokensoul took a step forward, but Brokentalon cut him off physically.

The younger Kha’an stated, “Ben is not here to look for a mate, Brokensoul. The humans are new to our world and our ways. Give them a chance to learn before you look for more.”

Crossing his arms to hide his disappointment at those words, Brokensoul huffed, “So says the Alpha whose Band sports a human Omega with one of our hatchlings strapped to their chest. What did you wish to speak of?”

Despite baring his fangs, Brokentalon answered, “Palefang has been poaching in your lands. Unlike my Band, yours can not afford to lose any prey to him.”

Narrowing his eyes, Brokensoul sensed an offer hidden in those words and asked, “And how is it that your Band is so well off that his poaching in your territory is not a threat?”

Crossing his arms, Brokentalon answered, “Because my Kha’non has shown me the human way of survival. Of homesteading and farming. If you wish to learn this as well, I will even allow you and your Band to visit my lands.”

Blinking as his arms fell to his side, Brokensoul asked, “Kha’non? Then the hatchling is…?”

Nodding, Brokentalon answered, “Yes, the hatchlings are both mine. One by choice and one by blood. Aidyn chose to share his heat with me, and at no point did I force him into anything. If you find you wish to court a human, keep one thing in your thoughts. Force will drive them from you faster than the howling ice winds send prey scattering.”

Watching as the two Omegas put lumps of something into pots with full lids, Brokensoul asked, as curiosity got the better of him, “What are they cooking? I have never seen anything like it.”

The scent was one he had never smelled before, and he wanted so much to move closer to the unclaimed Omega, Ben.

Laughing, Brokentalon offered, “Come join us by the fire. The bread will be done soon, and it is like nothing you’ve ever tasted, Brokensoul. Let us start our friendship and possible alliance on a good footing. For not only do I have Palefang and his Band to declare war on, but far more Omegas than Alphas in my Band now.”

Chuckling as he settled in next to the fire with Brokentalon, Brokensoul stated, “No other Band can claim such trouble. Most Bands have lost Omegas this past ice season, not gained them.”

His mind reeled at the mere thought of a band where Omegas outnumbered Alphas! That had never happened in all the tales or the histories he had ever learned! No Kha’an would risk just offering up the knowledge of such a gift! What was Brokentalon playing at telling him this?

Offering up a cup of fiba ale, Brokentalon stated, “Perhaps you and yours will benefit as well, my newest friend.”

Brokentalon’s Omega mate teased, “Are we going to hear the wooden tent comments again?”

Watching the older hatchling crawl into Brokentalon’s lap, Brokensoul ached to have such a family and nearly missed Brokentalon saying, “Perhaps Brokensoul and his Band will ask new questions. Even if they don’t, it will be an adventure. My Aidyn. My starlight.”

Reaching out, Ben carefully lifted the lids on the pots and called out, “Alright! Break up the love fest, you two. Dinner’s up.”

The other Alphas joined them around the fire, and Brokensoul snorted when Metalsong sat down next to him with a grin. Shaking his head, Brokensoul jibed, “Smell something of worth, Metalsong?”

Watching as Ben cut the strange lumps, Metalsong answered half-absently, “More things than one.”

Narrowing his secondary eye at Metalsong, Brokensoul knew he had no grounds to challenge the younger Alpha or chase him away from Ben, but how he ached to do both. When Ben reached out to them with a slice of bread for each of them, Brokensoul took his slice and let his fingers brush against Ben’s pale hide. Soft but hardened in spots.

Grinning, Metalsong asked, “What is this? It smells like a flat cake but lighter.”

Chuckling, Ben answered, “It’s fiba grain bread. Takes a bit more effort, but it fills you up more. Anyone got a pair of extra bowls for our guests?”

Offering up a pair of extra bowls as he sat next to Ben, Longfang sighed, “Thank the sages you and our Kha’non are such amazing cooks. Nighthowl tries…”

Snorting, Ben dished up the stew for Brokensoul and Metalsong. He huffed, “Nighthowl could set water on fire.”

Chuckling at the sense of humor Ben showed, Brokensoul watched Metalsong take the first bite of the ‘bread’ only to wolf it down within the same breath. He teased, “Try to leave your talons behind, Metalsong.”

Eyeing the piece in Brokensoul’s hand, Metalsong whined, “But Kha’an… Try it, and you’ll get it!”

Brokentalon stated, “My Band’s reaction to bread was the same. Do not fault him for his eagerness. Also, it takes less fiba grain to make bread than it does enough flat cakes to cover the same number of mouths.”

Freezing as he looked at the soft fluffy item in his hand, Brokensoul tried to wrap his mind around how that could be possible. This item alone could help stretch food supplies, and Brokentalon had gifted him this knowledge without asking for anything in return. Brokensoul asked, “How? How could that be possible?”

Ben answered, “One of the science geeks thinks it has to do with how dense the seed hull is. If you just try to digest it as is, it takes your body more energy to dissolve. With bread, that denseness is ground up and is much easier to digest. Also, they think that is why Fiba bread expands three times its original size through the process of rising and baking.”

Laughing at the shock on Brokensoul’s face, Longfang joked, “If you think bread is shocking, wait until you try cheese. Luca takes sour wine and milk, and it becomes a tasty stretchy mass.”

Shaking his head, Ben huffed, “If we could figure out a rennet substitute, then we could try to make hard cheeses, and that stores a lot better for the long term.”

Taking a small bite, Brokensoul chewed slowly as the soft flavor rolled over his tongue. Similar to a flat cake, but lighter and without the fatty taste. It was good. However, Brokensoul decided to mimic Ben when the Omega dipped the bread in the bowl to soak up the stew. The complex stew and the fluffy bread were divine to his tongue.

Metalsong asked, “Could you teach me to make this bread, Ben?”

Tilting his head towards Brokentalon, Ben asked, “Whatcha say, Boss? Can I teach him the family secret recipe?”

Shaking his head, Brokentalon answered, “There will be time later, Ben. I have extended an invitation to visit our homestead to Brokensoul and his Band.”

Watching the Omega’s reactions carefully, Brokensoul noted the bland expression and frowned when Ben grumbled, “Great. More Alphas for the others to fawn over.”

Shifting forward as he finished his meal, Metalsong asked, “Is our presence among you that distressful?”

Glaring, Ben snapped, “I find the fawning annoying! So what if your kind is better than the human Alphas we got dumped on this planet with? I never needed an Alpha before, and I sure as…” He bit back a word before finishing, “I don’t need one now. I can live my life as a stone carver and be content.”

Watching Metalsong crumble at those words, Brokensoul decided he liked that independence. Unlike the Omegas who wanted every protection they could get, Brokensoul found Ben’s strength appealing.

Flashes of memories threatened to overwhelm him as Brokensoul’s mind tried to bring up the Omega he had considered courting once. He didn’t desire to remember them or the massacre that left him so broken that he gained a new name.

Chuckling as he leaned in toward Ben, Longfang teased, “Come now, Benjamin, we Alphas aren’t completely useless.”

Elbowing the charcoal-scaled male away, Ben huffed, “The only good thing an Alpha has to offer me is something I’m not mentioning around kids, and to be blunt, my own hand is better suited. It’s also less messy.”

Watching the younger Alpha get pushed away so openly appeased him, Brokensoul finished his meal and noted the relaxed atmosphere around the fire.

No worries or lingering hunger gnawing at his stomach despite having less food than usual.

Then a sharp sound out of Longfang jarred Brokensoul out of his thoughts.