Chapter 7
The first several days were rough. Between the language barrier, despite the use of translation devices, and teaching Kaba how to live in the real modern world, it had been stressful for both of us.
I did my best to keep my cool and not let frustration get the best of me.
Some incidents I was sure we would tell our friends years from now as cute anecdotes.
Like one day Kaba was learning to walk on two feet.
Kaba’s grip on the bars he used to hold himself upright was so tight his knuckles were white.
Determination creased his brow as the sweat dripped from it.
He grunted as he put another foot forward.
Kaba lost his grip and started to fall forward but instead of hitting the ground face first he shifted, his cute stubby webbed feet hit the wooden platform.
I hurried over and knelt beside him, but as I reached for his head, he shifted back, laughter erupting in sharp barks. I hugged him close, noticing the frustrated tears glistening in his eyes, realizing he was choosing laughter over crying.
I nervously laughed with him. “Are you alright, love?”
He buried his face into my chest as he gathered his composure again. His cheeks were flushed from the exertion. I kissed the top of his head. He took a deep breath and pushed out of my arms with a smile.
“Let’s go again.” His voice was a little raspy but his eyes were clear once again. I stood and helped him onto his feet.
I kissed his hands before releasing them so he could grab the bars again. “You got this.”
Eating was as challenging as walking. First Kaba learned to eat with his hands before moving to the more difficult usage of utensils.
But sometimes he would get frustrated and put his face in the bowl or plate instead.
We had to gradually introduce more complex foods so we didn’t overwhelm his body.
His stomach was not happy the first time he tried cooked food, and neither was his digestive track.
I comforted him as best I could from outside the bathroom.
Kaba had a tough time getting accustomed to using toilets.
From trying to organize his limbs while sitting on the oval seats to having water shot onto his butt for cleaning purposes to his first attempts at standing to pee, it was a whole journey.
He’d seen toilets used on the old shows they were allowed to watch, but the old ones humans used were not like ours.
They were similar but still vastly different.
They had no place for a tail to go if you had one for starters.
These things were what we had to look forward to on a much larger scale when all the therians were rescued. If we could save them. Nozzag said he had an idea and disappeared. We hadn’t heard from him since and frankly Kaba took all my attention even when he thought he didn’t have it.
Kaba had inventive ways to get my attention. For example, urinating in the shower without the water running. The first time he did it, I rushed in because I thought something was going wrong, judging by the loudness of it, as it echoed off the walls of the cubicle.
Worriedly, I asked, “What are you doing?”
Kaba turned to me, pale skin flushed with what I was hoping was embarrassment but judging by his half-hard cock, it was probably arousal. “My pee is magical, my mate.”
I snorted a laugh. “How so?”
With a cheeky wink, he answered. “It always summons you.”
Laughing harder as I leaned into the shower and kissed his cheek before turning it on. “You don’t have to pee anymore to summon me.” I kissed him again. “I’m just a shout away.” I left quickly before I indulged my desire to touch him sexually.
I had not crossed that line even if Kaba had made it clear that he wanted it to be crossed.
I needed him to be more settled into the world before we took that step.
I was also afraid that once he was comfortable in his skin, he’d find someone else more capable and leave me behind as he explored this all-new world.
It wouldn’t be the first time I was left by those I thought loved and cared for me.
I attempted to rise above my insecurities and the memories of the child I once was.
I believed I had moved beyond the feelings of abandonment that lingered from my childhood, especially the day my mother left me at school and never returned.
The idea of a soulmate appealed to me, of there being at least one person out there who was made to love me.
It was why I got so excited when I found the coin that I still wore around my neck and why I started to lose faith when, after two years, I hadn’t found my mate.
As I remembered what was happening at that time, a realization hit me.
I had found the coin the week before I had been sent to the zoo the first time to create the habitat Kaba was in.
I wondered if Kaba was supposed to have been sent there sooner.
I was afraid to ask Kaba what he was doing two years earlier.
Was I supposed to have found him then? Did he suffer two more years because of me?
The questions plagued me as I laid awake while curled around Kaba. I squeezed him tighter at the thought of him and the thousands or more held prisoner all this time. Kaba turned around in my arms and put a leg over my hip.
“What you thinking, mate?” He didn’t open his eyes but merely nuzzled into my neck.
Maybe if I held him and whispered my thoughts to him, they wouldn’t hurt so much. “Two years ago, I was at the place where I found you. I created that cage. Were you supposed to be there then?”
“I don’t know time. Sun rise. Sun set. I no count.” He kissed my neck lightly, sending a shiver through me.
His response did little to soothe my heart. The chances of us ever knowing were slim to none.
“Shield strong. Took many times for summoning spell to work.” Kaba laughed sleepily. “Mate strong.”
As I kissed Kaba’s head, the tension seemed to melt away from his body as his breath grew even and he relaxed into sleep. Yes, my mate was strong. I made a conscious effort to let go of the nagging worry and guilt, the weight on my heart lessening.