CHAPTER 17
VALMIR
This might be the first time in all my days that I know what being giddy feels like.
No wonder Skarr constantly has that slightly idiotic smile on his face every time he mentions Vivi.
I fear I'm wearing the same idiotic smile as I glance over at April, making sure that she's handling herself well on the hike back.
It's been three days since we stayed in the hunter cave.
Three days of rolling in the furs with my mate, touching each other frantically, and mating constantly.
April is the first thing I see when I wake up, and she is the last thing on my mind when I go to sleep at night with her in my arms. I don't even mind that her pet crawls into the furs and sleeps on my feet.
It makes her laugh, and there's nothing in this universe I love more than April's laughter.
"It's steep right here," I tell her as we climb a narrower path. After days tucked into the hunter cave, we're finally returning to the beach encampment. Part of me is sad to be leaving. It's been nice to leave the world behind for a while, where nothing exists beyond the entrance of the cave.
"Gotcha," April says.
I pause to watch her climb, and when she walks across a particularly slippery looking shale outcropping, I put my arms out to act as a cage so she doesn't fall.
It doesn't feel like enough protection, so I move to the outside of the path, blocking her in closer against the rock. This will ensure she's safe.
She notices me hovering and gives me an odd look. "It's not that bad of a climb, Valmir. The path we took on the way here was worse."
"Yes, but you're...you know." I touch my chest, indicating my khui. At some point during our sojourn in the cave, resonance had changed from the insistent, frantic song of mating to something gentler. It means that resonance has taken hold, and April is now pregnant with our child.
Therefore, she must be protected at all costs.
April stares at me, a mixture of incredulity and amusement on her face. "I'm also the same physically as I was three days ago."
"Yes, but..." I rub my chest again, where the song has changed. "It feels different now."
Her smile grows broader. "Tell you what, you can rub my feet again tonight."
"I would love to do that," I tell her earnestly. If anyone else had suggested I rub their feet, I'd probably try to amputate those feet for them for assuming I'd be subservient. But when April suggests it, I love the idea. I like to take care of her, to make sure she's content and happy.
No wonder Skarr thinks all females have mind control.
"I'm not going to start showing for a while anyhow," April says. "We have plenty of time. More than enough time to replenish the hunter cave, too. We should do that sooner rather than later."
"And we will, but I want to head back to the others first. Get more supplies and check in.
" Make sure that everyone knows April is now my mate.
Make sure that there's even a beach settlement to go back to.
Perhaps the sea creatures have torn everything away.
If so, we'll need to adjust our plans. Live underground with Tal'nef and Set'nef's people, the Ancestors.
Or head deeper into the mountains to the south to visit the other sa-khui tribe.
Wherever April is, that's where I want to be.
As long as she's at my side, I'll go anywhere.
April's khui is humming to mine, the song delicate and pleasing.
I imagine it sated, like mine feels. Like we've accomplished something and now it can rest. It's strange to think about resting, though, because every time I look at April, I want to throw a fur onto the snow and pull her down with me.
So...the khui might be satisfied, but I am not. I will probably never get enough of April and her laughter, April and her determination, April and her mindfulness of her environment and the world.
I wonder if the child will be more like her or like me.
"How long do babies take?" I ask. Is it strange to feel excited about the prospect of the child?
Before, all of my energy and need was focused on mating April.
Now that she is truly mine, I cannot help but wonder what our child will look like.
Will it have her bright, charming laugh?
Her naked skin? I hope so. It would be interesting if it looked like me, but far, far more interesting if it was a copy of her.
April just laughs at my impatience. "A while, okay?"
"I'm just trying to establish guidelines." We continue walking, and when the path flattens out, she reaches for my hand. Not to steady herself, just because she wants to touch me.
It makes me purr.
"Guidelines, fair enough." April's fingertips are cold in my grasp, so I wrap my hand tighter around hers to keep her warm.
"Well, let me think. Human babies take about nine months to be born.
I don't know how long praxiian babies take, but from what I've learned from the other women at camp, most of them are pregnant for several months longer.
Except Veronica. Apparently Ashtar has super sperm or something. "
"That's a horrifying visual and something I never wanted to know about Ashtar."
She chuckles, and her free hand goes to Makana in his sling.
The creature is in his favorite spot, nestled between her breasts (coincidentally my favorite spot as well).
"I'm just saying, it's probably going to be close to a year before a baby arrives.
Plenty of time for us to get used to the idea of being parents. "
I'm already fascinated by the idea, but I don't tell her. Don't want her to think I'm too eager...even though I am. "It gives me plenty of time to make your hut, at least."
"And for us to have a blessing ceremony," she agrees. "That has to happen before we move in so we can establish a connection with the land and thank the people who lived here before us."
I nod. April is very careful about being respectful of this world, and I want to honor that, too. "Just tell me what you need and we will make it happen."
"How bad do you think it'll be on the beach?" she asks me, a worried look on her face. "You talked to Devi about it. Do you think everything is going to be gone when we return?"
"I don't know. She said last time that all their huts were crushed and they had to rebuild them.
Some they didn't even bother to rebuild.
They just used the building materials for other huts.
If this is like last time, then we can expect all the huts to be destroyed.
None of them will be rebuilt until the snails leave. We will be doing a lot of camping."
"I don't mind camping. I just don't want anyone to get hurt. And I hate the thought of everyone losing their homes. I don't understand why they'd build on the beach again if everything is just going to be destroyed every few years."
"From what Devi said, they were uncertain how often the creatures would return or if they would.
Now she knows their pattern." I can appreciate Devi's way of looking at things.
She must know the guidelines of how these creatures will act before she can move forward.
"But as for leaving, I don't think it was considered.
It's their home. The cove provides everything for them, and the weather on that side of the mountains is fairer.
I think they'd rather deal with snails than the cold. "
She makes a face, her expression full of sympathy. "I would too, honestly. This cold is brutal."
"Do I need to warm you up?"
April grins at me. "Not in the middle of a trail. But you can tonight."
I look forward to that.