CHAPTER 12 #3
We pass by the main fire, and as always, there are several people clustered around it.
The smell of stew hangs in the air along with the varied scents of the tribe.
As we walk past, April stands up, her eyes wide as she stares at me.
Makana is in her arms, and she is clustered with females stitching in leather.
She looks shocked to see me out and about with Bek, her expression incredulous.
Is this not what she wanted? For me to make friends? Why is she filled with such disbelief?
Her incredulousness changes to an expression of vague hurt, and once again, I wonder what I did wrong. How do I keep messing this up?
"Everyone! Listen everyone! It's happening again!" Devi rushes into the camp, pointing excitedly at the shore. "One of the nautili is beaching itself! Cephalo-pocalpyse is here!"
"Ugh, here we go again," Liz says, her hands on her hips. "Show us."
"Oh, it's impossible to miss," Devi cries out, euphoric. Her face is bright with enthusiasm, and she races back down the beach again, waving the others after her. "Come on!"
Everyone scatters, trailing after Devi. Bek walks away and I linger by the fire, watching April to see if she is going to join the others or come and talk to me instead.
She hefts Makana higher and approaches me with slow steps, expression uncertain.
"I thought you weren't feeling well enough to go out? "
I arch a brow at her. "I thought you wanted me to make friends?"
"Is that what you were doing?"
"More or less." Probably less. I'm not sure if Bek would consider us friends at this point. It's the longest conversation I've had with any male other than Corvak, so perhaps that counts. "Why? Do you not like Bek?"
"I like everyone. I'm just a little confused that we had a conversation and you shut me down, and then five minutes later, you're doing exactly what I said."
"Maybe I changed my mind." We stare at each other for a long moment, and I wait for her to tell me what's really bothering her, why she's been acting so strange since we returned.
There's a massive splashing sound down by the shore and a cry of awe rises up from the group that's headed in that direction.
"You want to go see the snails that Devi's been so excited about? "
"I don't know," she admits, and her hand moves over Makana's fur. "You don't think we are going to eat them, do you?"
"I don't know." At her grimace, I gesture at the distant shore. "Let's go see what all the fuss is about."
April nods and moves to my side. I put a hand at the small of her back to guide her, and just being able to touch her like this sends heat flaring through my veins.
She feels so good right next to me. Perfect, really.
Like it's the spot she was meant to be in.
The warmth of her caresses my skin, and her delicious scent floods my nose, mingling with the sea air.
I want to wrap my arms around her and just... drink her in.
She pauses after a step, gazing down at our feet. "Your ankle. How is it?"
"Fine," I lie. It feels hot and achy right now, but I'm not ready to go lie down again. Not when we're actually talking. "Come on. I'll protect you."
She arches a brow at me as if my promise to protect her is amusing, but she doesn't refute it.
Perhaps she's realizing that even with a wounded ankle, I would give my life to ensure she's safe.
The realization that I'd give my life for a female I'm not even sure likes me is a sobering one. When the kef did that happen?
We head closer to the beach, rounding the bend and passing a few more huts before the first nautilus comes into view.
It's...massive.
A spiral shell the size of April's hut is upright in the shallow waters, the waves pounding against it.
As I watch, a dozen greenish-blue tentacles push out from the mouth of the shell, shoving it farther up the sandy beach by a good length.
Water fills in the trench behind it, and the creature pauses in the breaking waves.
"Kef me," I mutter.
"I...don't think we're eating it," April says, voice faint.
We both stare up at it in silence. When Devi had said that the beach would become invaded by creatures — nautili, she called them — I'd pictured the ground being littered by the smaller shelled things that cluster on the rocks at low tide.
She's said these were enormous, so I pictured big snails... maybe the size of my hand.
Not the size of huts. Somehow that part didn't sink into my head.
We watch as the creature slowly pushes its way up the beach, ignoring the people who are clustered around to watch.
All the tribe has gathered to stare in awe, mothers holding the hands of children.
Ashtar has both of his sons in his arms, hefted up so they can watch.
The big shell beaches itself and continues further, until it is tucked right between the hut shared by Steph and Juth and the supply hut that is shared by Tal'nef and his brother.
The shell shifts and rocks, and the edge of the supply hut crumbles, the wall falling inward.
April clutches Makana to her chest. "I should get my stuff out of my hut if I want to keep it."
This, at least, I know how to do. "I'll help you."