“But I feel fine now,” Gabby’s voice came through as well.
I knocked at their entrance and they went silent. Tarak pulled back the curtain and looked relieved to see me.
“Julie, come inside. Perhaps you can convince my mate to lie down and rest.”
“Rest? Are you not feeling well?” Sickness was no joke on Valo Prime. We had no modern medicine here. If we got sick with a strange alien disease then it could easily bea death sentence for us.
“No, I’m feeling fine. I just had an upset stomach this morning, that's all,” Gabby argued.
“Why don’t I go get Sozu?” I suggested. “Can he tell if someone is sick or not?”
Tarak nodded his head. “He can.”
“Great! I’ll be right back.” It wasn’t hard to find the young Sirret. He was with Talia, Sarah, and Jax. The four of them had formed a tight-knit friend group and they could almost always be found hanging out together.
“Sozu,” I waved him over. He got up from the table and approached me.
“I need you to come with me to Tarak and Gabby’s cave. Gabby might be sick but we’re not sure.”
Sozu’s face grew somber as he nodded his head. He took his job as the dekes’ healer very seriously.
We walked at a fast pace until we were outside Gabby and Tarak’s cave. I knocked at the entrance and Tarak let us in.
“Savrix,” Sozu bowed with his fist over his chest.
Gabby was sitting on one of the chairs and the young Sirret wasted no time approaching her.
“May I?” he asked, pointing to her arm. I’d observed that was Sozu’s preferred way to use his healing ability.
“Go ahead. I don’t feel sick anymore. I’m pretty sure I’m fine,” she continued to argue.
Sozu didn’t say anything though. He didn’t need to argue. He would know the truth soon enough.
The healer sat in the chair next to her and placed his hand on her arm. He sat there for a long moment looking puzzled.
“What is it?” There was an undeniable desperation in Tarak’s voice. I couldn’t imagine the fear he must befeeling after losing both his mother and sister to illness.
“I haven’t felt this before. There’s something there, but it doesn’t feel like a sickness should. It’s-” His voice abruptly cut off as his jaw hung open in surprise.
“What? What do you sense?” Gabby cut in, sounding concerned now too.
“You’re pregnant. I’ve never sensed a pregnancy before, but I have no doubt in my mind that’s what this is.”
“Pregnant?” Gabby’s hand moved to her belly. Tarak’s hand joined hers as he got on his knees before her.
“We’re going to be parents,” he said with a quiver in his voice.
“We’ll give you your privacy,” I stated as I ushered Sozu out of the room. I spared a quick glance behind me before I closed the curtain. Gabby and Tarak were hugging now, looking so full of hope and joy.
News about Gabby’s pregnancy spread and it didn’t take long for conversations about what this hybrid pregnancy might look like to spread.
“So Sirrets only carry their young for five moons? Has it always been like that?” Gabby asked that afternoon after lunch.
“As far as I can remember,” Neelu replied while mending some clothing.
“Do Sirrets experience illness during pregnancy too?” This time it was my turn to ask. Now that Gabby was with child the possibility I could become pregnant grew tenfold. I liked the idea of carrying Orsu’s child. I’d like to start a family with him. Picturing the cavern filled with our chunky babies brought a smile to my face.
“No, that is strictly a human thing. Sirrets don’t get sick during gestation.”
