Chapter 14
Piper
I’ve just placed the last of my clothes in the chest Katem left for me when a shadow crosses in front of the entrance I’d left open to help circulate air. If it got too stuffy in my tent back in the settlement, I had more trouble breathing so I learned early on to keep the flap pinned back.
“Knock, knock.”
I pivot and find Maeve standing just outside with a baby secured against her chest—facing outward—both of them waving. I wave back and gesture her in. “Good morning. I just finished unpacking so perfect timing.”
“Wonderful. It’s so lovely to have you here, officially.” She strokes the infant’s blond hair. “This is Graham.”
It’s obvious who the baby takes after considering how big he is, but there are definitely hints of his mother, including the round, human-like pupils of his bright blue eyes.
“What a cutie, and thank you. I’m a little nervous about fitting in, if I’m being honest.” I wring my hands at my waist.
“That’s completely understandable. Why don’t we walk and we can talk more?”
“Sounds good.” I follow Maeve outside and we head off.
“I was nervous when I first got here, too, but for far different reasons than you, I’m sure,” she says. “If you and Katem had mated a couple years ago, it would be someone else entirely giving you this tour. Back then, I rarely left my tent unless I had to.”
Maeve glances over at me and grins. It’s not a full, complete curling of her mouth, but it’s soft. Gentle.
“What changed? If you don’t mind me asking, that is?”
“Benham,” she says without hesitation. “Well, my sisters, too, but it was mostly my mate. Before fate chose us for each other, I was always scared. Even for a while after, truthfully.”
She pauses as if remembering those times.
“My life back on Earth was awful. Not that I couldn’t already tell, but London mentioned you’re from the bottom tier like us, so you probably have a good idea what I mean when I say that.
For me, it was more than just being from the bottom tier, though.
I had emotional baggage I brought with me.
” Maeve huffs. “A lot of emotional baggage. Things I never wanted to share with anyone. That’s how terrible it was. ”
Again, she pauses and I’m not sure if she’s centering herself or waiting for me to share my own issues. Since I’m not at the point where I wish to open up to anyone, I remain silent.
“This is where we store everything that isn’t weapons or food.
” She points at the large tent we’re walking by.
“There are chests full of furs, extra coverings for both adults and children, as well as a supplies to erect a few more tents. It’s also where Kyler and Sage store all their herbs, medicines, and various plants.
Before Remi, Zara, Sage, and I found our mates, we all lived in there together. ”
Those must be the sisters she’s referring to. Sage is the only one I’ve actually spoken at length with, but Katem briefly introduced me to all the human females at the evening meals I’ve spent here over the last week.
“I bet that was a lot of fun.” The lull that hung there felt like it needed to be filled with…something.
Maeve laughs. “It was the first time I ever felt like I belonged somewhere. That tent was the place where I think my life truly began.”
A kernel of envy—and a burst of anger—erupts in my gut. Her life began on Tavikh. It’s where mine will end.
Tavikhi and humans alike wind through the village, mostly females and children since the majority of the males are either out hunting, scouting, or down in the training arena where Katem is.
The sun is bright in the lavender sky, warming the air that still holds a slight hint of the night’s coolness that hasn’t quite burnt off yet.
It’s a sign that winter will be here before too long.
“You look lost in thought,” Maeve says.
I blink and focus on her. “Just enjoying the pretty day and the feel of the sun on my face.”
She nods. “The sun is a thing I never take for granted anymore. I embrace every turn that it shines and appreciate its presence.”
“Back on Earth I forgot what it even looked and felt like.”
“You’re not alone.”
From the way she’s staring at me, I don’t think she’s talking just about the sun anymore. I smile a little sadly.
Maeve—along with Graham—and I continue our tour through the village. She points out the weapons stores, the tanning tent where a few people sit outside of and skin animals—which makes me turn away—and the food stores, where we can help ourselves.
“There’s the healers’ tent. You’ll almost always find either Sage or Kyler in there throughout the day if you’re ever in need of a healer. Between the two of them, they can treat most any ailment.”
I study Maeve. Am I reading too much into her words or is this the spiel everyone gets during their tour? Did Sage tell her I’m sick? It’s not clear. She doesn’t look at me with pity, like she knows I’m dying so maybe it’s the basic information all new residents receive.
“Hopefully, I won’t need their services.”
“Don’t be afraid to go see them even for something as simple as a headache. They have this amazing powder that does wonders to get rid of it. Tastes like garbage, but it works great.” Maeve chuckles.
“I’ll consider it, thanks.”
We continue on toward the river and head a little down stream. There’s a small outcropping of the bushes I’ve learned are called nenuphar that hides a section of water.
“This is where we bathe when the weather, and water, are still warm enough to do so.” She points out. “After a few unmated Tavikhi’s got an unexpected show one day, we humans started putting a sock, or other clothing item, on the bush when we’re here, so everyone knows to give us privacy.”
“I’ll make sure to remember that.”
“Do you mind if we stop here for a few minutes? Graham loves playing in the water.” Maeve grins down at the top of her son’s head. “Plus, he gets a bit heavy to carry after a while and I could use a short break.”
“Of course we can stop.” I’ve never spent time around kids, and definitely not infants.
“Thanks.” She sits on the bank and unwraps the leather cloth from around her and Graham until he’s free of it.
On surprisingly steady feet, he walks the last few steps to the water’s edge and squats down to pound his fists on its surface, splashing liquid everywhere. Adorable laughter spills from him and it’s impossible not to smile at his antics. I lower myself next to Maeve to watch her son amuse himself.
“Katem says you have a list of things you want to accomplish,” she says after a few minutes of quiet. “I’m happy to help you cross anything off that I can.”
“Thank you. I’ve only checked off a couple of things, because they’ve been surprisingly easy. Much to my surprise.”
“Are you comfortable with sharing what’s on it?”
Not everything, but I don’t mind sharing a few things. “Katem took me to see the…well it was sort of an ocean.”
“Ah, yes, the ujera. I haven’t seen it, but Remi has gone several times with Zydon and says it’s stunning.”
“It is. I’ve never seen diamonds in real life, but it looked how I imagined they would look scattered over a large surface and sparkling from the sunlight.
The kaleidoscope of colors was nearly blinding for the short time they were present.
” There are nights when I bring back the memory and marvel at it.
“Sounds amazing. Maybe I’ll convince Benham to take me there one day just so I can say I’ve seen it.”
“Everyone should experience it at least once, I think.”
Maeve nods. “What else?”
“Well, you know I’m learning pottery from Alesha.
The weird thing is I don’t even know why I wanted to learn.
” I pause and reconsider. “Actually, I think it was on the ship here. In the recreation room were some data pads, something I’d never used before in my life.
I somehow, randomly, came across an old video of a tutorial and it looked so calming. I did a search and found a bunch more.”
I glance over at Maeve with heated cheeks. “If I tell you something will you promise not to laugh?”
Her eyes widen. “Of course.”
“Another reason I wanted to learn was because when I was searching the data pad for more videos, I found a really, really old movie. The pretty woman in it was a potter. There was this scene where she can’t sleep and she’s working when her boyfriend or husband comes in.
He sits behind her and in the background a romantic song is playing and with his hands over hers, they work on the piece of pottery.
It was sensual the way their fingers twined and glided together and how she was caged within his arms. He kisses the side of her neck and it became this sexually charged thing between them.
” I wave my hands, feeling a little embarrassed, and can’t look at Maeve.
“Anyway, it was just really sexy and that night I had a dream that I was awake, working on some pottery and a faceless man slid in behind me and we played out the scene. It’s a stupid reason for wanting to learn how to make pottery, I know. ”
“Are you kidding? That sounds incredibly hot.”
I glance over at her to see if she’s making fun of me, but her eyes are wide and her cheeks are stained pink. Still, I smack my hand over my face. “God, I can’t believe I told you that.”
“Do what makes you happy or what feels good. You won’t get any judgment from me. ” Maeve’s attention quickly shifts to Graham. She jumps up and sweeps him into her arms just as he’s about to tip head first into the river. “No swimming this morning, please.”
My heart stops beating for a second before starting up again.
That was close. I’m sure she can swim, but I can’t.
What would have happened if he’d fallen in?
I’d have been helpless. This makes me more determined to have Katem teach me how.
Maeve expertly wraps the leather cloth around Graham and herself like she’s done it a thousand times before.
Once he’s completely secure, she stands up.
“You ready to continue the tour?”
“Ready.”
I’m really enjoying my time with Maeve. She has this quiet presence, but she’s also been warm and kind.
Like someone I could really become friends with.
I’m not sure we’ll ever get close enough for her to consider me a sister like she does the other women, but I’m happy to have a friend.
They were few and far between for me back on Earth.
Of course, our friendship will be short-lived so maybe it’s best if I keep my distance and not grow too attached.