CHAPTER 9
VALMIR
The next morning, I am up early and digging through the supply cave for materials for Makana's cage.
Ironic that the rules of the tribe state I cannot build her a house yet — because of the snail-vasion — but I can build one for her creature.
It feels like this is counter to all the rules of courtship, but April seems to delight in being contrary.
I must admit, I do enjoy a challenge, and I like that she's so fierce and determined in what she wants.
So...a creature den. It must be portable, as I am aware of the upcoming snail-vasion.
It must be bigger than a basket, since she seemed quite disturbed that her pet would live in it.
It must have a bottom of some kind, as I am envisioning a trap set atop him, only for him to burrow away underneath and April weeping and distraught the next morning at his disappearance.
I do not like the thought of April weeping. At all.
I pull out rib bones and thigh bones, big leather hides that have been cured poorly and are of no use for clothing, and anything else I can think of. A cage of some kind, perhaps, but a very long one so he can stretch his legs.
I have vague memories about tall cages. About wanting to stretch my legs or lie down flat, and all I can do is stand, because there is no room for anything else.
I will not do that to another creature. Once I've finished sorting through bones, I look for rope of some kind to tie it all together.
Maybe leather ties if not the dried plant rope?
He might eat that, as a herbivore. Devi would know.
I should ask her, but then she would probably tell me there will be a herbivore-vasion and I will get nothing done.
Leather ties, I decide.
I take my haul out of the cave, and there's enough that it requires more than one trip. On the second trip, I run into Skarr, who seems astonished to see me.
"There you are, Valmir," he says. He looks me up and down, chastising and dismissive. "Not hunting this morning? How will your mate get fed if you do not hunt to feed her?"
Some days I enjoy speaking to Skarr. Sometimes, not so much.
Today is clearly going to be one of those days where he tries my patience.
"I imagine April is sitting by the campfire and talking with all the other females and eating that sludge they like in the mornings.
" I glance over by the fire and see a familiar face. "Your mate's over there right now."
"Of course she is." He puffs up with pride at the mere mention of his bland human female. "A wise hunter makes sure they have a full belly before they go out. And if she gets two meals instead of just one, all the better."
"Mmm." Funny how my mate is "starving" if I am not out hunting, but his is clever for doing the exact same thing.
I wonder if Skarr was hit on the head before they shoved him into a stasis pod.
I shake my head. "No hunting today. My task is to build a home for her creature.
It will let me become one step closer to our mating. "
Skarr crosses his arms over his chest and supervises as I get comfortable in my designated work area. He paces around, watching as I spread out the bones to line up the ones that are the same size. Doesn't help, just observes. "So you still have to do all twelve tasks?"
"Yes."
Skarr makes a surprised noise in his throat. "Huh."
I grit my teeth at the false wondering in his tone. "What?"
"Nothing, nothing." He continues to circle. "It just...seems to me that she has used her mind control on you."
Oh, kef me. Not this again. Skarr is convinced that the human females can manipulate thought. It's asinine, but no one can convince him otherwise. "She has not. She's just a regular human."
"She has convinced you of that, yes. You must be wiser to this, Valmir. Of course she wants you to think that. Then she can manipulate you to her will."
I ignore him, holding two rib bones together and studying the length.
If I tie them together at the end, it makes one long (albeit curved) bone.
I could possibly anchor them to a leather base and have the bones curving upward and meet at the top, where I would tie them together again.
It would act as interlocking fingers do, and give the creature plenty of space, making a tunnel of sorts.
I don't know if this will be enough space for her pet, but if I make the tunnel long enough, I think she will be pleased.
I lay out pair after pair of bones, while Skarr tells me all about the latest thing Vivi has done that he finds adorable.
"When I finished with my story," he rambles, smiling to himself, "do you know she made this strange noise. It was a snort! A snort of laughter that sounded like an animal snuffling. It was the most charming thing I have ever heard. I am going to have to make her do it again."
"Good for you, friend." I finish laying out my track of bones, only half listening. "Do you think this is enough length for her two-fang pet?"
Skarr steps closer, considering. He walks the full length of the supplies I have laid out. It makes a long, winding path along the beach. "Did you intend to make it twice as long as you are tall?"
"I did. He needs room to move about. To stretch his legs.
No creature should be trapped in a cage so small that it feels suffocating.
" I push away any bad memories that float to mind and stand up, feeling the need to stretch my own legs.
I smooth my whiskers, thinking. "I could make this even longer. We have the supplies."
Skarr nods, thoughtful. "I think you are right. Bigger is better. You want it to be the grandest animal cage she has ever seen. That is the key to winning her heart."
Bigger. Grander. I agree. This needs to be the most impressive cage for a two-fang ever created. I want April to see it and be overjoyed at the sight of the incredible home I have made for her new pet. "More bones, aye."
He follows me as I duck back into the supply cave. "So how goes the courting?"
How indeed? I try not to feel smug, but I've still got the scent of her on my fingertips. I can't stop thinking about how she looked when I rubbed her between her thighs, or the choked noises she made as she came. The soft, dazed look on her face. "She let me touch her last night."
"Excellent progress. You've been taking my advice and flattering her?"
I think about April and the way she professes to hate me even as we touch. Flattering her was the last thing on my mind. "Not exactly."
Skarr tsks. "Trust me, you want to compliment her or else she'll use the mind control."
"As I said before, there is no mind control."
"And as I have said, I remain unconvinced."
"You think Vivi is controlling you?"
"Absolutely." A wide grin breaks across his strange, reptilian face. "I am happy to be in her clutches."
Idiot. But a contented idiot. A week ago, I would have thought Skarr was a complete and utter fool for saying such things, but now I am starting to see why he does.
Why he wears his ridiculous tail-sock with the fluffy poof at the end, why he thinks everything Vivi does is incredible.
Resonance changes how you view a female.
Before we resonated, if April had given me her scornful looks and mocked me, I would have loathed her.
Now I find her annoyance endearing. I cannot wait to have her insult me again, because her arousal scent drifts through the air even as she says mean things. It tells me how she really feels.
I think I like her harsh words far more than any soft ones.