Chapter 7
Zalik
The pain my keeshla is in breaks my heart. Her tears make me want to hunt Dane down and dispose of him. Only I cannot, no matter how much I might wish to. Mostly because he is right. Riley did exactly what he accuses her of doing. And I, even if unknowingly at the time, helped her.
Not that I would change anything I have done.
Dane is unfit to be a baba. It is evident he only searches for Stella as a way to punish Riley, and perhaps even her first nene, although she is dead.
Anyone can see he does not truly care for the kit.
That still leaves me unsure what to do. I must seek the counsel of our shefir.
“Let us go to my village so you may see your kit and reassure yourself that she is well.”
I assist her to her feet and guide us away from the river’s edge. We make our way through the forest that is slightly cooler without the direct light of the sun.
“This is all my fault,” Riley says. “If I hadn’t encouraged Lara’s mad plan to escape, then maybe she’d still be alive and Dane wouldn’t be here.”
“And yet, if you both had stayed on Earth, perhaps it would be Stella who is dead.” I stop us, gently turning Riley so she faces me, and palm both her cheeks. “I am not saying one life is more important than the other, but I think the only winner, if you stayed on Earth, would have been Dane.”
Riley lays her hands over mine and stares up at me with red-rimmed eyes. “I know you’re right, but it doesn’t make the pain of losing my sister any less. Or cause the fear and worry about what Dane might do to go away.”
“The pain you still feel at your tribe sister’s loss shows how deeply you loved her.” I kiss her forehead. “As for that worthless male, you have nothing to fear. No matter what it takes, I will protect you and our kit from him. You have my vow that he will not hurt either of you.”
Riley’s eyes widen. “Our kit?”
I nod. “I have already claimed Stella as mine and since you have as well, then she is ours.”
“I knew you’d found her, but I didn’t realize you kept her,” she whispers.
“The moment I picked her up out of that nenuphar bush, she stole my heart. She is my kit as much as she is yours and no one will take either of you away from me. You have my promise.”
Riley throws her arms around me and presses her body tightly against mine. Her cheek is warm against my chest. “Thank you so much.”
I stroke her hair, the soft curls bouncing beneath my hand. “You have nothing to thank me for. You are my keeshla, the most important person in my life. I will do anything for you and our kit.”
We hug for several moments longer before Riley loosens her hold. She rises up and kisses me. When she lowers herself, there is finally a small smile on her face.
“Let’s go see our daughter,” she says.
We continue our trek through the forest toward the Tavikhi village. In a short time we are near to it. I mimic the call of the mellenje and one of the scouts repeats it back to me. At last, we exit the forest, cross the bari field, and enter another small grove of trees.
“I’ve never been to the village before,” Riley says, scanning the area although it is nothing but dense forest.
“It has grown much in the past three sun cycles since the shefir and shefira mated. Other humans have found mates amongst my tribe brothers and many kits have been born.” It is a great joy to witness, the growth of our village.
Especially when we had come to believe no more of our people would find mates and that no more kits would be birthed.
We step out of the trees, and spread out before us is the Tavikhi village. The entrance is guarded by Rassim and Rojtar this turn.
“Greetings Zalik and human female.” Rassim fists his chest.
I tug Riley against me. “This is my keeshla. Riley, this is Rassim and Rojtar. Rojtar is mated to another human Abby. Their kit is Carter, although he is closer to his majority now.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” She smiles and bows her head slightly.
“The honor is ours. We are happy that Zalik has found his mate,” Rassim tells her.
“Can you please warn the rest of our tribespeople we may have a problem with the new human arrivals? They are to be carefully watched and are not welcome in the village until I speak with the shefir.”
They both fist their chests. and Rojtar nods. “I will make sure the news is spread.”
“You have my thanks.” I fist my chest as well and then with my hand on Riley’s lower back, I guide her deeper into the village.
“That will keep Dane out?” she asks.
“We protect our own, no matter what. This Dane is not a tribe brother. He will not be treated as such. So, yes, he will be kept out until the shefir says otherwise.”
Riley stops and clutches my hand. “Do you think the shefir will say otherwise?”
All I can do is be truthful. “I cannot speak for Zander, but he is an honorable male. He is also wise and takes his time in making decisions, because he considers every aspect of a challenge. He will do what benefits our people and only our people.”
“Except I’m not one of your people. Not really.”
I cradle her face between my palms. “You are my keeshla, and Stella is our kit. I swear, you are one of us now.”
After several beats Riley finally nods. “Okay.”
“Okay.”
We set out once more through the village, although I take us around the perimeter to avoid most of the people.
I do not think she is ready to be bombarded with all the attention.
Once she has been reunited with Stella, I will seek out Zander.
We pause outside Wakiel and Alesha’s tent and I slap their door flap.
Moments later it is pushed aside and Alesha appears. She takes in Riley at my side.
“Greetings, Alesha. This is my mate Riley.”
“It is an honor to meet you.” The elder takes my mate’s hand and bows over it.
“She is also Stella’s nene.”
Alesha lights up at this. “Your kit is lovely. It has been a pleasure to watch over her for Zalik when he has had to leave the village.”
“Thank you for taking such good care of her.”
Alesha squeezes Riley’s hand. “It has been my honor. Come inside. She is with Wakiel at the moment, sleeping.”
The elder leads us into her tent. There, lying in their furs, is her mate. Asleep on his chest is Stella, wrapped in the fur I had placed around her this morning when we woke. At his side is a bottle the Bohnari left, along with the special milk, they crafted for Niella.
Alesha crosses the floor and kneels. She places a hand on Stella and wakes the elder male with a gentle nudge and whisper.
“Zalik is here with his mate. They have come for Stella.”
A drowsy Wakiel holds tightly to our kit and sits himself up. Slowly, he stands with her in his arms and approaches.
“Greetings.” He glances down at Stella who remains asleep. “She has been out for only a short time. Just as she finished eating.”
“Thank you for taking such great care of her while I have been away this turn.”
Wakiel gently passes her over to me. “It has been my pleasure.”
“I am going to take Stella and Riley to my tent and then find the shefir. There is something urgent he and I must discuss.”
Alesha steps over to Wakiel. “I believe he is down in the training arena with the older kits.”
I bow my head. “You have my thanks.”
It is clear Riley is anxious to hold Stella, so I offer the kit to her to carry.
Quickly, but carefully, she takes her from my arms. In an instant, no one else exists.
It is obvious to anyone who might be watching.
She coos and smiles at the kit, stroking her finger down Stella’s face as tears fall down her cheeks.
I nod once more at Alesha and Wakiel and guide my mate outside and in the direction of my tent.
It is situated not far from the healers’ tent.
I chose that spot so were close in case Stella needed either Kyler or Healer Sage quickly.
Perhaps I am a nervous baba, but I do not want anything to happen to my kit.
“I’ve missed her so much,” Riley says. “My tent has been empty without her in it these last few days. How am I ever going to go back to the settlement now?”
“You do not have to. Stay here with Stella. I am not asking you to share my furs, but a kit needs her nene.” A warrior needs his keeshla as well, but I am patient.
“Dane’s going to know something is up if I suddenly move here.”
“He will know you are my mate and mates should be together. He will not be welcomed here so he will not find either of you.” I will make sure of it.
Still, Riley hesitates.
“You do not have to decide this very instance. Go rest with our kit while I go speak with Zander about Dane. Then, you and I will talk.”
Finally she nods. “Okay.”
“Good. Come, I will show you to my tent.”
I guide her through the village once more. Tribespeople glance at us as we pass, but thankfully none approach. We make it to my tent and I push open the flap for Riley to enter. She ducks inside and looks around. I have kept it as tidy as I am able with a small kit to take care of.
“Rest here and I will be back shortly. If she wakes before I return, there are diapers in that chest there.” I point. “There are milk and bottles in the other one.”
Riley approaches and once more kisses me. “Thank you for being so wonderful.”
“Of course. You are my mate.” With that I leave my tent and go in search of Zander.