Introductions

"Well, since you already know Blackfire," you say, "let me introduce you to Onyx, the Shadowan..."

Onyx waves hello, a little nervous.

"Foxy the foxgirl..."

Foxy shakes hands with your parents, tail wagging.

"And Nuh, the telepath."

Nuh smiles with her eyes, and shakes hands as well.

"But of course," you mother says, "only Blackfire is your fiancé, yes?"

"Y-- wait, what?" You are confused, and maybe a little scared.

"Well, that is part of the meaning of giving someone an aach-cha," you mother explains. "Not only is it a symbol of deep, powerful love and devotion, but it is a symbol of your wish to one day marry the person you give it to."

Your head nearly snaps off as it quickly turns to look at Blackfire, your eyes wide open. She shrugs, and sheepishly smiles. That is as good as saying she knew about that extra symbolism, as far as you're concerned.

"I didn't know that..." you admit to your family. "Blackfire didn't tell me!"

"Well, now you know," you mother says. Then she leans in close to whisper to you, "And I trust you have only had 'relations' with her, yes?"

You immediately know what your mother wants to know, and you clench your teeth.

"Yes," you lie. "Only with Blackfire." You force a smile, and so does Blackfire, who could hear everything your mother said.

"Now, how has it been for you two?" you ask. "Since I left home, I'm sure it was just you two, right?"

"Oh, no," your mother says. "At least, not all this time."

"Yes," your father adds. "A year or two after you left, well..." Your father waits, unsure what to say. "We had another child."
"What?!"

"Yes, she is over at a friend's house, but should be home soon," you mother says.

"She?! I have a younger sister now?!"

"Mother! Father!" a young girl says as she enters. "I'm home!" At the door way is a young girl, barely in her teens. Unlike you, she is a normal Tamaranian, with green eyes and red hair.