Switched

After a moment his voice faded before falling silent. Without looking back to him Proxima addressed her husband

“Done?” she inquired

Corvus nodded “Hm” he responded.

Proxima took her hand away, letting it fall down to her side.

The couple watched as a Kaldera, now the physical age of just about two – three years old, scurried in circles on all fours, chasing her own tail.

The pre-teen turned toddler had shrunk so much her leather shorts no longer fit and lay in a heap a few feet away while her matching crop top remained covering her, no more like an ankle length dress that a small shirt.

Proxima’s eyes had widened and she spoke again

“What do you suggest we do?” she asked.

Corvus’ reply was to turn his back and head for the doors only Proxima slammed her heel down on the edge of his cloak causing him to lurch back

“Ack!” he choked out as he lurched back

“I hate it when you do that” he groaned, reaching to loosen the clasp of his cloak around his neck.

Corvus looked back down at Kaldera and raised an eyebrow, the bloodthirsty slave of Proxima Midnight was now sitting with tail clasped in her mouth wearing a proud expression at having caught her prize.

Still in awe of the odd situation Proxima only seemed to react when Kaldera bounded up to her, wrapping her chubby, child-like arms around the adult female’s shin, regardless of the harsh, cold armour covering her leg, Kalder’s large brown eyes with an innocence Proxima had never seen in her slave.

Corvus had gifted Kaldera to her when the youngster was around 7 or 8 and her mind already tainted by the horrors of a life only those who survived the genocide of their race could know.

Corvus, who had been watching silence, spoke up “You recall the Maws words, it takes two or three days for the crystal to restore itself before the effects can be reversed.” He told Proxima, who sighed

“I’ll send her back to the slaughter decks. They can deal with her” she stated, only for Corvus to stop her

“you think that wise my love? The beasts she is so fond of are now more than three times her size, the caretakers ignorant and negligent enough to allow her to escape in the first place, they would allow the beasts to crush her in seconds” he pointed out to Proxima’s confusion, her eyes narrowing

“You cannot tell me you care for Kaldera now?” she questioned, in her twelfth year Kaldera had torn out Corvus’ throat in a fit of anger and it had taken three days for him to speak normally again.

At her statement Corvus scoffed

“Hardly. Just think of the time you put into training her as you have. To find another, young enough to respond to training would take years in itself let alone the actual training process” he countered, his eyes on the child at Proxima’s feet– his wife considered his words

“I suppose you have a point my love” she admitted, Proxima stooped down, plucking Kaldera by the back of her neck, an extra fold of flesh providing a scruff normally found on young canine and feline creatures in order for them to be carried by its parent.

Kaldera looked like a pup more so than before, with her arms and legs drawn in and her tail between her knees, one elongated fang poking out from her upper lip.

After considering the toddler for a moment she thrust Kaldera at Corvus, who , though surprised, held Kaldera so that she was sitting on his arm, with her back to his chest and Corvus supported the toddler by placing is hand on her stomach. Proxima raised an eyebrow in amusement

“Hm, now I was expecting that image to look far more out of place than it actually does” she teased, crossing her arms over her chest.

Corvus rolled his eyes

“You know very well I was Cull’s surrogate parent when we were younger” he reminded her.

Proxima however was too busy watching Kaldera with an expression that might have been amusement had she not been frowning slightly.

Kaldera had found Corvus’ thumb and was gnawing on the thin appendage with tiny, pointed teeth, Corvus however seemed almost entirely unaware of the action.

Proxima sighed “Well, come on we cannot remain here all day.” She said starting for the door, with Corvus following with the now infantile Kaldera in his arms

“If the Maw sees this he will never let me forget it” he grumbled, Kaldera had begun to gurgle contently as she used his thumb to teeth on.

Proxima glanced at her husband as he fell in step with her

“Do not worry about the Maw my love” she gave a mock comforting smile

“Worry about me letting you forget” she let a sadistic glint come to her eye as she met his gaze, Corvus’ frown deepened

“That…is just cruel” he stated.

A moment later Cull emerged from his room, clearly having just just woken from his rest.

Before the couple could attempt to conceal the child Cull spotted her, looking from Corvus, to Proxima, to Kaldera and repeated this twice

“Since when did the two of you have offspring? How long was I resting for…?”

The larger creature questioned with shock and concern.

Corvus rolled his eyes, he seemed to be doing so rather a lot these last few days

“She is not ours, moron!” he snapped

“This is Kaldera!” he added frustrated.

Cull’s eyes narrowed as he regarded the infant recognition dawned of his thick-skinned features giving him an almost comically shocked look

“Kaldera?! The-”

Cull Obsidian gestured to his throat, remembering what a temperamental Kaldera had done to Corvus once.

Proxima nodded “Hm” she confirmed

“She escaped the slaughter deck and found the crystal” she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

Corvus suddenly grunted as Kaldera tossed her head back, whining in frustration, squirming and kicking out.

Cull took a step back

“Since you have the most experience with youngsters brother I think I shall leave…"

Cull gestured to Kaldera’s squirming form

"hatever this is, to you two.”

The couple watched Cull turn and make his way to the training rooms.

 Proxima muttered under her breath

“Supportive as always”

She then cast her eyes to Kaldera

“Kaldera, be still!"

She was  ignored as Kaldera continued to fidget restlessly.

Proxima frowned "What’s wrong with her?” she demanded.

Corvus adjusted the toddler so that he held her in the crook of his arm

“She might be hungry” he said

Proxima looked to her husband

“And what do you suggest we feed her?” 

Corvus thought for a moment

“Her Race are mostly carnivorous, from the time they’re ready to ingest solid food they start on meat.” He recalled, having read about Kaldera’s now extinct race once many years ago

“The slaughter deck will have something suitable”

Proxima nodded in agreement

“I’ll go. I need to give her caretaker a piece of my mind for a allowing her to escape – perhaps I shall bring her his brain to suck on – if I find he even has one” she said, only partly in jest.

To her surprise Kaldera, who had been watching her speak suddenly chuckled, almost seemingly in response to her words. While Proxima left to collect something suitable for Kaldera to eat, Corvus managed to reach their chambers with-out running across the Maw or Cull.

However by the time he reached their bedroom, Kaldera was out right crying and kicking relentlessly to Corvus dismay

‘If I could handle Cull at this age – and he was the size of the average six year old at two – then I can handle Kaldera – Ngh!”

Corvus mental self-assurance was cut off when Kaldera bit down hard with her front fangs

“Little-”

Corvus grit his teeth as the puncture wounds healed instantly.

He put down the child in the centre of the unmade bed, pacing as Kaldera cried and kicked.

Corvus never considered he’d be back in this ‘parental’ situation again, he decided the only thing to do until Proxima returned with something for Kaldera to eat, he would have to entertain the displeased infant until then, however Kaldera was not a typical toddler, she had many traits of a canine.

He approached the bed so that Kaldera was within reach, thinking for a moment, recalling how some of the fledgling Outriders sometimes behaved he hesitated for a moment at what he was about to do, but he wasn’t sure he could stand the sound of her wails any longer.

He lifted his hand and pushed over Kaldera so that she fell back on the soft mattress, Kaldera became silent, dazed at what had just happened, sitting up with a surprised look.

Encouraged because she had stopped crying, Corvus flipped her so that she rolled across the bed, landing not too close to the edge Kaldera chuckled!

The last thing Proxima expected to find when she returned with Kaldera’s food was Corvus engaging in some sort of mild rough-housing with Kaldera as a wild pup would with its parent Corvus pretending to let Kaldera tackle him to the bed, rolling and landing so that Kaldera was placed on his chest on all fours, growling playfully

“Was my journey to the Slaughter deck in vain? Because she seems content enough to be defeating you, my love” she called in jest, letting the steel doors slide shut behind her.

Corvus sat up slightly, using both hands to hold Kaldera.

“I was simply keeping her entertained until your return” he insisted, avoiding Kaldera’s attempts to continue their ‘game’.

Proxima crossed the room, placing the container in her hands on the table beside her side of the bed, beckoning Kaldera to her and taking a spoon from the container (swiped discreetly from the canteen on her way back)

Corvus sat on the edge of the bed

“What did you get?” he questioned

“The brain of one of the beasts, it’s the softest organ and easy on her stomach” She told him

“You cannot imagine the looks I was given when I asked the ideal organ for an infant carnivore to eat.” She added, scraping a small portion of the raw brain matter onto the spoon.

Kaldera was reaching for it with both hands, opening and closing her mouth like a fish in her eagerness.

Corvus sat watching his wife feed her now infant slave with uncharacteristic…gentility, for lack of a better word. It made his chest almost ach in a way he didn’t recognize, for now he simply ignored it.

He could think it over when Kaldera had returned to normal.

After ten minutes, Kaldera had eaten and Corvus lifted her into his arms, holding her against his chest with her chin on his shoulder while Proxima sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard with her cheek resting on her fist and her elbow on her pillow watching her husband burp the infant.

Once done, Kaldera turned in his arms, reaching out with both hands, Proxima looked to her in confusion

“What?” she questioned.

Corvus however, smirked knowingly

“I believe she wants you. She is yours after all.” he joked, inclining his head to Proxima, who sat up straighter and narrowed her eyes as she glared at him

“I…really don’t think...” she started

But hen Corvus stepped forward, she saw no choice, and Proxima took Kaldera from Corvus.

He tried not to find amusement in how awkward she appeared with a baby in her arms, avoiding Kaldera’s curious hands as they tried to grab at her horns. Holding the baby away from her body with her hands under Kaldera’s armpits.

Kaldera whined, kicking her legs like a frog with her tail flicking and swishing, trying to find a sense of balance in the unnerving position.

Corvus decided to step in before Kaldera began to bawl again

“Proxima she’s an infant not a grenade”

Proxima raised her eyebrows

"I fail to see the distinction, both are loud and unpredictable" she retorted

Yet she allowed Corvus to lean close, and with some repositioning she was now holding Kaldera close with her arms under her small body. Kaldera, in return had quietened and was curled, almost into a ball with her tail tucked close to her body and a tiny fist grasping the front of Proxima’s un-armoured suit.

With wide eyes Proxima looked down at Kaldera, and slowly her body relaxed, she even lifted a hand to brush away the dark brown, spiked bangs that had fallen across Kaldera’s closed eyes.

Proxima looked to Corvus with a surprised expression; he simply smiled encouragingly with a slight nod.

He then noticed something in the now empty container, lifting what would previously have been a water bottle which now containing a strange, Corvus raised his eyebrows, picking up the bottle with his finger-tips

“What is it?” he asked.

Proxima glanced up

“Milk form one of the pregnant female beast on the slaughter decks. To sooth her if she wakes in the night.” she told him.

Corvus grimaced, putting down the bottle hastily.

Proxima then realized something

“Corvus where is she going to sleep?” she questioned.

Her husband however was not as fazed

“Simple, there” he gestured to the space between where Proxima sat and his usual side of the bed.

Proxima gave him a look that directly questioned her husband if he had taken leave of his senses

Corvus went on 

“I’ll be awake anyway so there’s no  risk of either of us rolling and crushing her” he said casually.

Proximas eye widened in shock

“Crushi-that’s a possibility?”

Corvus nodded

“Sleeping in the same vicinity as a child so small, there are cases where a parent could roll over onto the child and it can crush or suffocate it” he told her

“Though, for myself and Cull there was more of a risk of him crushing me but it wasn’t often that we shared the same sleeping space.” He added humorously.

Proxima meanwhile looked down at Kaldera who was sleeping in her arms by this point.

Of the many planets she’d razed, the millions she’d slaughtered, up close, by hand or spear in the name of the Black Order, in the name of Thanos…she realized that none of them, not one…had been an infant as young as Kaldera.

She swallowed back the uncomfortable feeling in her gut

“I’m tired.” She stated quickly, moving Kaldera and laying her in the centre of the bed, getting to her feet to begin changing her clothing.

Corvus realized perhaps his words had affected her but he said nothing, knowing she would only push him away if he tried to sooth her.

Proxima moaned as she turned on her side, Kaldera was howling beside her, the towel spread out under her small body was now sodden. She sat up in frustration, Corvus got to his feet and walked around to Proxima’s side of the bed while she pulled the crying infant into her lap, sitting her up, supporting her stomach and rubbing her back

“Quiet, Kaldera” she snapped, obviously to no avail.

“This is the third time tonight!" she complained.

Corvus had taken the wet towel and the half empty bottle to the bathroom, running the hot water until it was scalding, in order to heat up the bottle.

After a few minutes he returned, handing the bottle to Proxima and spread a dry towel on the bed. Kaldera latched onto the bottle, with Proxima holding a finger over the opening of the bottle to ensure Kaldera didn’t take too much at once and choke.

After half an hour Kaldera had finished the bottle and fallen back to sleep.

The next Morning Corvus lay on his back, simply resting his eyes, entirely aware of his surroundings; the twitch of Kaldera’s tail, the sound of Proximas’ steady breath as she slept. He groaned, sitting up from his comfortable position, he looked over and allowed a smile to for across this grey lips.

Proxima was turned on her side to face him, still deeply asleep, with Kaldera lying on her stomach beside her, with Proxima’s arm draped over the infant Corvus chuckled softly at the sight. She carried Kaldera in the crook of one arm and her spear in the other hand as the pair made their way to the room where the Crystal was being kept.

They hoped the relic would be charged enough to return Kaldera to normal.

Proxima knelt to the floor and set Kaldera in-front of her, dressing her in the still too large pair of red shorts, holding her still while Corvus used a long, pair of metal tongs to pick up the crystal, luckily without further incident

“Ready?”

Proxima looked uncertain but her voice was firm 

“Yes.”

She let go of Kaldera and came to Corvus’s side, he set the artefact in front of her and, immediately amused by the object Kaldera grabbed for it.

There was a flash of grey/silver light, and when Proxima and Corvus lowered their arms from protecting their eyes, they saw Kaldera, back to her normal age, looking irritated

“What the fragging hell!” she screamed, leaping to her feet, only to receive a sharp ‘whack’ across her behind from the handle of Proxima’s spear.

It wouldn't bruise and Kaldera was used to far worse but she winced any way, unseen by her mistress

“Let it be a lesson not to wander around the ship when you’re bored!” Proxima said in anger, giving Kaldera another with the handle of her weapon

Kaldera dropped into a crouch looking rather like a scolded dog, pouting and frowning.

Proxima took Kaldera back to the slaughter decks, every so often giving her a sharp smack across the behind with the handle of her spear until she’d successfully herded her servant back to where she belonged, ording Kaldera’s caretakers that Kaldera not be fed for two days as punishment.

However, the next night, when the Sanctuary was at its calmest and even Corvus was sleeping beside her – Proxima turned over, seeing the dish containing the remains of the animal brains she had fed Kaldera. Proxima got to her feet, dressed and hurried out of the chamber doors.

Upon reaching the slaughter deck she entered the pen which Kaldera favoured; the horned female simply stood watching the sleeping pre-teen, who was curled on her side, with her tail tucked close to her body.

Proxima knelt on the bed of straw Kaldera slept on and brushed away the bangs from her eyes. Placing the container beside the makeshift bed. Kaldera moaned in her sleep, leaning in to the touch, a second later her eyes opened slowly, catching sight of Proxima Midnight’s retreating form.

Kaldera sat up in the blink of an eye, but all she could see was darkness, the sounds of beast snorting and shuffling in their sleep – nothing out of the ordinary, and certainly no sign of her mistress. Kaldera convinced herself later that she had in fact dreampt it…hadn’t she?