Family Setting
© 2024 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by :iconahro:

“She’s growing up,” Thea said to Meredith and Fuji as the older mare cradled their daughter in her lap.  Jinzi hiccupped and sneezed, the filly clearly still not completely acclimated to This Far’s atmosphere.  The house’s climate-control system was helping her adjust.
Jinzi’s uncles Amir and Berto, both about two years her senior, looked on curiously.
“Yeah, she is,” Meredith told her birth mother.  Next to Thea, Marie and Javid chuckled as Fuji theatrically slumped forward in mock exhaustion, and his wife rubbed his back with one paw.  “She does keep both of us running around.  I’m not sure when she’ll settle down.”
“She will,” Javid reassured her.  He waited a beat and added, “About the same time she moves out.”  His wives grinned at his daughter as Meredith pouted at him.  “Don’t worry, Sunflower, she’ll start letting you and Fuji sleep – eventually.”
“Well, to be fair,” Meredith said, “she’s been sleeping more,” and the golden palomino mare reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of Jinzi’s mane from her eyes.  “But between her and work, it makes thins hectic for both of us.”
“I’m glad things are working out,” Marie said.  “Heard from Varan lately?”
Meredith nodded.  “She said that she was planning on going back to school.”
“Their Fleet Command Academy,” Fuji added.
Her parents’ ears perked at that.  “Didn’t she go to that already?” Thea asked.
“Yeah, in order to make officer’s rank, just like us.  But her promotions to Commander, Subcaptain, and Captain were all under combat conditions.”  Meredith took a sip of water and gave the cup to Fuji so the Komodo monitor could take a drink.  “She wants to make a career of the military, so attending the academy’s higher classes is a good idea.”
“Once Jinzi settles down,” Fuji said, “I think I’ll go back to school as well, and get my degree.”  He and Meredith nuzzled each other.  “We’ve discussed it, of course.”
“Good,” Javid said.  His ears perked as a timer sounded in the kitchen.  “That’ll be the pizza.  Who’s hungry?”
Almost as if on cue, Amir and Berto started clamoring to be fed, and Jinzi woke up and joined them on the second chorus.