23
Hannah
“My love, my Zvezuittuq , my darling, my dushevnayasvyaz ,”
bellows the biggest Chuchunya I’ve ever seen.
I swear he’s twice the size of all the other snow monsters.
His deep voice sounds more exhausted than fierce, but I scoot closer to Gleb, just in case.
“How many times have I asked that you alert me when you hear something approaching our dyla weturanya ? I can’t protect you if I’m behind you.”
“I can hear Vera’s loudmouth for miles.
I knew she wasn’t leading danger to our door,”
Sydney retorts, placing a fist on her thrust hip in defiance.
“What if she’s chased by a polar bear and looking for safety? You would be in danger together?”
Sergei runs his hand over the top of his head, making his hair stand on end, in a surprisingly human gesture.
“Polar bears are on the other end of the tundra.
That’s why the clan migrates this far south in the summer, right? Come on, you big softie, admit it.
I’m right,”
she replies as she walks up to the snow monster twice her size and pokes him in the chest.
I watch in horror as he growls at her.
Wisps of her blond hair dance between them before they burst out into laughter.
Maybe this will be okay after all.
“Sergei, I was wrong.
What happened on the beach, I—”
Gleb sputters as he steps toward the couple.
“You!”
Sergei charges at Gleb as if he’s about to wring his neck.
Gleb has enough time to push me behind him before Sergei envelops him in a bear hug.
He presses Gleb’s head against his shoulder as he squeezes him.
After a moment of shock, Gleb hugs him and pats his back with slow, gentle taps.
The two snow monsters sway as their feelings bubble over. I tear up as Gleb’s shoulders drop and his stress melts into the elder male.
“I don’t care what trouble you found.
I’m happy you did because it brought you home,”
Sergei says, gripping him tighter.
Gleb’s sobs can be heard from within the humongous ball of fuzz that is their embrace.
And with Sergei’s acceptance and compassion, Gleb’s troubles are over.
I just need to live up to my end of the bargain.
After all, I caused everything, didn’t I? If I had clung to his side, Timor wouldn’t have banished us. My lack of trust put Gleb’s standing at risk.
“Next time you face Timor, come to me for backup.
Don’t run off,”
Sergei whispers, shaking Gleb lightly by the shoulders.
“I’ve been worried sick about you.”
“Because you worry about everyone and everything!”
Sydney’s shout ruins their bromance moment.
Gleb remembers they have an audience and pulls his arms in to wipe his face.
Sergei pulls back far enough to inspect his face and help flick tears from his cheeks in a fatherly gesture that warms my heart.
Everyone catches the sniffles as Sergei smooths the fur on the top of Gleb’s head.
“I’m fine,”
Gleb says, struggling with his voice.
His cheeks are red as cherries.
“Hannah and I lived on the central grounds without incident.”
“What brought you south? Was there a problem up north? Were the boats too close? I knew your home wasn’t safe, so close to the coast.
Did any of the sailors or rescue workers see you? Are they investigating the bus sinking?”
Oh no, Gleb.
How will Sergei react to my involvement with Jack? Will he believe Gleb’s murder of Jack is justified? Will he think Gleb should have left me to suffer with Jack? The story is too long and too complicated to tell in one sitting…if it should be told at all.
How much explanation does Gleb owe Sergei?
“No, no, nothing like that,”
Gleb stammers to reassure Sergei.
“We chose to migrate to the central grounds.
Hannah—”
“—wanted to see the hazelnuts and learn the process,”
I interrupt, stepping beside Gleb.
I clasp his hand in mine to demonstrate that we are a unit.
“If we’re dependent on each other to harvest all our food for the winter.
I want to contribute my half. Gleb mentioned he mostly ice fishes for food on the northern grounds, but there isn’t thick ice right now. So, we migrated.”
I squeeze his hand to convey I want to keep Jack’s involvement a secret.
While I support Gleb—it was an act of defense—I don’t know how this group will react.
Timor, the old school leader, ordered my death just for viewing the Chuchunya.
He’d clap Gleb on the back for killing Jack, but what about Sergei? Sergei’s views on consent are pretty civilized, probably due to his human mate’s influence. Would he believe Gleb had no choice?
We can’t risk it.
Besides, it’s none of their business .
“Yes, the fish in the north will be there all zima .
I thought gathering what we could on the central grounds would be smarter—”
“Yes, you’re right,”
Sergei says with tears shining in his bright blue eyes.
“I’m proud you thought ahead and didn’t just fish because that is your strong suit.
I hope you love fish, Hannah.
Gleb is the best fisherman in the clan.”
“I love fish.
I grew up in California, by the sea.”
My soul fills with hope and pride.
Gleb described himself as the young whippersnapper of the clan with no skills or talents.
To hear a male he admires brag about him makes my heart sing.
I don’t have to look at him to know how much this means to him.
“ Dushevnayasvyaz is never wrong,”
Sergei replies, nodding slowly.
I’m sure he’s measuring us for compatibility, but at least he seems to like what he sees.
“I will show my support at your mating chase.”
“We will as well,”
Artyom says from the edge of the group.
“Gleb’s lack of common sense is balanced by Hannah’s advanced knowledge of the stars.”
“Stars?”
Sydney asks with a wrinkle of her nose.
Uh oh.
I’m not ready to have a showdown with her—not after I just witnessed how important Sergei’s support of Gleb is to him.
Not for the first time in my life, I wish I used my mathematical talents to do something mundane like sports stats or insurance billing.
“That’s good.
We will need help from the stars in what we hope to accomplish before our kit arrives,”
Sergei says, rubbing his chin.
“Did Vera and Artyom fill you in?”
“They know,”
Vera replies.
“Come inside, this part of the forest listens,”
Sergei says and leads us into his underground lair.
Wowsa, as I descend the stairs of Sergei’s central home, it’s obvious this couple has their shit together.
Every inch of the walls is covered with hanging equipment in two sizes.
A large net hangs beside a smaller replica with carved designs on the handle.
A massive bow takes my breath away with its whimsical story of moose and reindeer carved into its frame. Of course, the smaller bow next to it is just as stunning with its design of flowers and vines.
At the bottom of the stairs are shelving units that house labeled baskets that would put a furniture boutique to shame.
Some of the baskets are woven reeds and sticks, while the larger ones are made of various colors of leather.
The result is a riot of browns and gold that resembles a pile of autumn leaves.
Most of the baskets are empty. Their colorful, fragrant bouquets of herbs hang overhead in neat bundles. Between the herbs and the Chuchunya’s natural vanilla scent, Sergei’s home smells like a Beverly Hills spa. I half expect someone to offer me a robe and slippers next.
We slide through a crevice—everyone but Vera, who just walks through it—to enter their main cavern.
It’s an explosion of luxury and color.
The mosaic on the floor catches my attention first.
Pink shells, purple sea glass, and crystals are embedded in grey rock to create a floral bouquet under our feet. Furs of various shades of grey cover two of the walls and frame crevices leading into their other rooms. A wall without fur has a shelving unit of tiny baskets, all adorned with precise labels in curly, girly handwriting. The final wall has water gently cascading down to the floor.
I wander to the waterfall wall to investigate where the water goes.
Sure enough, there’s a French drain at the bottom with removable strainers to filter the water.
Under the strainers, the water disappears into what must be the bathing pool room on the other side.
“We had a ceiling cave-in when I first moved in, so I got to redecorate the place how I wanted it.
Oh no! The cavern didn’t collapse.
I thought separate beds in separate rooms were appropriate when I moved in and when I tried to create a wall…the Fates brought the house down,”
Sydney whispers with a small ch uckle.
“What is it they say? Dushevnayasvyaz is never wrong ?”
“Well, I was wrong to add this water feature,”
Sydney says, growing serious.
“It’s pretty, but the cold water makes the room cooler than I’d like in the early spring.
And while I found the noise soothing when we first built it, the constant trickle makes me have to pee constantly now that I’m pregnant.”
“Yeah, then that’s a no on the water feature for me,”
I reply with a nervous giggle.
Hopefully, Sydney’s less grouchy when she’s less pregnant.
I haven’t heard her say one positive thing since we met.
Having Madison on my hip this summer made my biological clock tick in my ear, but Gleb has baby fever.
Come to think of it, this whole clan has baby fever.
I’ve always wanted a big family—to make up for my lonely upbringing—but if all these ladies are pregnant at the same time, there will be a baby boom…without disposable diapers.
“My dear, stop fussing over Gleb’s new mate and join us,”
Sergei calls from a circle of cushions in the center of the room.
Five furry puffs like bean bag chairs are settled in front of boulders carved like chairs.
More carved boulders are scattered on the outside of the circle without poofs.
Artyom sits in one boulder cup with Vera cuddled on the poof at his feet.
Sydney waddles to Sergei, so he can help her down onto the poof in front of him. Okay, then. Gleb beams from ear to ear when I choose the poof at his feet without anyone telling me.
Stick with Gleb and it makes the other members happy.
I think I can handle that.
“This zima, we must make an extra cushion for Gleb’s new mate.
Serik’s spot works for today because I don’t wish to involve him and Kaitlyn in our plan,”
Sergei says to kick off his meeting.
“We love them dearly, but what we’re asking is breaking clan law.
Timor forbids our early migration.
He claims we need to gather more supplies and says the clouds predict a longer zima .”
“More like he’s wasting the gathering season by hunting for his daughter.
He said Sveta was missing the last time I saw him.
Hopefully, he’s found her by now,”
Gleb interjects.
“She’s still missing and the time to gather supplies is running out,”
Sergei replies with slow nods.
“Timor’s right about zima lasting longer.
The USA National Weather Service predicted an El Nina situation which will bring heavier snowfall later in the year.
Our springtime on the central grounds will be shortened next year,”
Sydney reports.
“Fewer hazelnuts,”
I blurt out.
Luckily, everyone solemnly nods instead of scoffing at my outburst.
“And less game meat unless we hunt in the worst of the snows,”
Artyom says.
“Which means traveling to the herds and far away from our homes in dangerous conditions,”
Vera adds, grabbing Artyom’s hand and pressing it to her cheek.
“Nothing we adults can’t handle,”
Sergei replies.
“We already have Patricika and Adam’s son, Gustav, to look out for, but our baby should arrive in the next month.
If it’s earlier than my calculations, I can deliver any day.
It’s not like I’ve had an ultrasound,”
Sydney says, clutching Sergei’s leg for support.
“I don’t know what having a newborn during zima looks like, but I’m freaked out by childbirth outside of a hospital—”
“Nothing will happen to you,”
Sergei growls as if he can bend the Universe to his will.
“I helped Patricika deliver Gustav in our northern home and she was fine.
All I want is what she had, so…so…”
“We’re migrating from the south to the north without stopping in the central grounds.
Tomorrow,”
Sergei commands.
He pauses to give anyone a chance to argue.
Gleb smiles down at me.
He’s pleased to be included and frankly, I am, too. Having two ladies give birth and raise babies before me means I’ll have an easier time just by observing them.
“When? Artyom and I have our turn looking for Sveta tonight.
We will be exhausted,”
Vera whines.
“Help him tonight and join us as soon as you can.
I know you travel fast…and light.
Syndey and I will leave at first light.
Hannah and Gleb, I want you to take morning shifts looking for Sveta, but be packed to migrate beforehand. Make sure Timor sees you looking for her, so he’s not suspicious of the rest of us. When Artyom and Vera bring your reindeer, you must leave immediately. You can’t be spotted once you shift from searching to migrating. Timor will think you are deep in the woods, looking for her.”
“But we’re shunned,”
replies Gleb.
“He won’t be happy to see us—what if he doesn’t let us help?”
“Timor isn’t well,”
Sergei admits with a shake of his head.
“I doubt he will remember shunning you.
He’s too distraught over Sveta.
His decisions haven’t been sound this season.”
“This is why we think we can get away with an early migration.
He’s too distracted to track us,”
Vera chimes in.
“Patricika and Adam search for Sveta today, so Timor doesn’t suspect they’re leaving too.”
“With any luck, someone will find Sveta today and Timor will loosen up,”
Sydney gripes.
“We must plan as if Timor wants us on the southern grounds.
Patricika and Adam will stay north with Sydney, Vera, and Hannah while the strongest of us backtrack to the central grounds to gather the herbs and hazelnuts drying there from our last migration.
Instead of processing them in the central caves, we will transport them as is—I know some of the leaves will bruise—and do the work with the women up north.
Questions?”
“Why am I staying north? I can ride a reindeer, drive a sleigh, and carry nuts,”
Vera snaps.
“Dump off the little women and go on the grand adventure.
I think not.”
“Vera, who will look after Gustav while Patricka helps me with the birth?”
“Hannah will,”
Gleb interjects.
Everyone stops to stare at me.
“Hannah was a nanny for another human before the accident.
She will watch Gustav. Vera can join us.”
I bite my lip.
Do I want to be separated from Gleb with Skeptic Sydney and her bestie, Patricika as my only companions? Being a part of a family means doing what’s best for the family, right? Not my parent’s toxic atmosphere of putting up appearances.
While it would make me look better to work with the guys, I would rather play with the kids in comfort.
Cuddling a newborn and goofing around with a toddler matches my skillset better than hunting, gathering, and God knows what.
“I am an experienced nanny.
Google me,”
I reply with a shrug .
It isn’t until Sydney whips out her phone and scoffs at a lack of service that I realize what I’ve done.
Once she’s in the open, she will Google me and find pictures of me with baby Madison just as I intended.
However, she will also find my astrology business, my parent’s reward for my whereabouts, and evidence of my relationship with Jack…