They collided in a tangle of arms and tears. Tula buried her face in her sister's shoulder and sobbed, happy and bitter tears. Happy for finally reuniting with her sister, bitter for all the years they'd lost.
"I can't believe that you're actually here." Wonder's voice broke. "You're really here. You're alive. You're here."
They stood there for a long moment while people kept moving around them and talking in hushed voices so as not to interrupt their reunion. They were just holding each other, crying, and saying nothing because there were no words big enough for this moment.
Finally, Wonder pulled back and wiped her eyes. "Look at us. Why are we still crying?"
"I don't know," Tula croaked. "I'm pregnant and emotional. What's your excuse?"
"I'm not pregnant, although I wish I was, and I'm emotional." Wonder kept one arm around Tula's waist. "Come on. People are waiting for us to be done so I can properly introduce you."
"Yeah, I have some introducing to do as well." Tula turned to find that the others had already disembarked.
Tony, Tamira and Elias, Sarah, Liliat, Beulah, Rolenna, and Raviki were standing in an uncertain cluster a few feet behind her.
Yamanu and Esag had walked over to talk with the people Wonder had been waiting with.
"Ladies, gentlemen, this is my sister Wonder," Tula said, her voice surprisingly steady despite her still being shaky.
"It's so good to finally meet you all," Wonder said warmly. "I've heard so much about you from Tula during our calls. I feel like I know you already."
That was a slight exaggeration, but given the smiles, the ladies loved it. Tula had rarely been given the communicator to talk to Wonder, and then only for a few seconds. All they'd had time for was to say how much they loved and missed each other. Tula might have mentioned the ladies by name once or twice, but she hadn't said enough for Wonder to claim that she knew them.
Her sister was so different now that it was almost disconcerting. She moved through the group, embracing each woman in turn, and saying something to each one that made them smile or tear up or both.
Gulan would never have been so forward. She would have mumbled some quiet hellos and never looked any of them in the eyes.
When she reached Tony, she paused, then extended her hand. "Thank you for taking care of my sister."
Tony shook her hand. "No need to thank me. Tula took care of me more than I took care of her. Your sister is a powerhouse."
That was nice of him to say.
"I believe that." Wonder grinned. "When we were girls, I was older, bigger, and stronger, and yet she always protected me."
"Whether you wanted it or not," Tula added.
"True." Wonder chuckled and turned to the group she'd arrived with.
"Let me introduce you to Areana's family. They are here for her, but since her plane hasn't arrived yet, we can use the opportunity to get to know each other."
So, those were Areana's sons?
Tula couldn't see much of a resemblance to the goddess, but she could definitely see the resemblance to Navuh.
They were both tall, lean, and dark-haired. Both handsome, but not as intense as Navuh, and they didn't project malice. The one with the stylish goatee and Areana's blue eyes had a mischievous smile, a kind of smirk, that made her think of the mythological Loki for some reason, and given that he was holding a baby boy in his arms, that had to be Kalugal. The other one had to be Lokan. He had dark eyes like his father's, but there was warmth in them that Tula had never seen in Navuh's. A stunning blonde stood next to Kalugal, and the one standing next to Lokan was Carol, but not the Carol Tula remembered from the harem.
This Carol was dressed in the latest fashion, wore four-inch heels, and oozed femininity and sex appeal.
"This is Kalugal," Wonder said. "And this is his wife, Jacki, and their son, Darius."
Kalugal smiled. "Welcome to the village, ladies and gentlemen. We are thrilled to have you."
"And this is Lokan," Wonder continued.
Lokan smiled. "It's good to see you all safe. I'm glad that nothing worked according to plan."
"Yeah, me too," Carol said. "Surprised to see me?"
