Chapter 5
Ortak
Ever since we left the Tavikhi village, Gannen has not stopped talking about Elodie or the fact we left without seeing her one last time to make sure she is okay.
“We were the ones who found her,” he says and not for the first time. “Should it not be us that makes sure Elodie recovers? That she is eating and resting? She needs someone to take care of her.”
“Healer Sage and Healer Kyler have far more skills than we do. They are capable of seeing to her and ensuring she is doing all the things needed to heal properly. There is nothing for us to do besides return home to our people.”
“We should have at least said goodbye.” Gannen huffs. “Elodie will think we do not care for her. She will think she is easy to dismiss.”
An ache grows inside my head at his constant chatter. “She will not think that. Even if she does, it is not our concern. We ensured she reached the village with her own kind.”
“Iris is her kind, and yet she is our concern. Why is Elodie not the same?”
“Iris is Kala’s sivalla. She is a member of our tribe because of this. Elodie has no connection to the Krijese, therefore, she is not our concern.” I try to keep my tone even. “Once she is healed, she will return to the human settlement and forget all about us the way we will forget all about her.”
Gannen stomps loudly and passes me with angry steps. “I will not forget about her.”
I have no wish to fight with my kit, so I let him go.
One turn, he will understand. Soon, our small village comes into view.
We have adopted a few of the Tavikhi ways like ensuring that a central fire always burns and food of some kind is available any time in case one is hungry.
Ashrif tends to the flames, while Moshi washes the platters from the morning meal.
Given where the sun hangs in the sky, it has only recently ended.
Gannen reaches the elders first and gestures heatedly. Even from the distance, most of his words reach me. The two males listen as my kit talks, darting glances in my direction until I finally reach them.
“Gogo seems to think I will forget Elodie, the female we found and took to the Tavikhi village.”
“When you have lived as long as we have, one does have a tendency to not remember people from our past,” Ashrif tells him. “It is the way our minds work and nothing to fear.”
Gannen turns mulish. It is not often he digs his heels into something, but there have been a few cases over the seasons. This is clearly another one.
“I will not.”
“Then you will not,” Moshi says, as if it is that simple. I am certain he has no interest in continuing the argument either. “Come, eat. Both of you. You will feel better.”
The elder picks up a bowl he has just finished cleaning and, from the pot, scoops out a helping of what appears to be some type of stew. He passes it over to Gannen before filling up a vessel for me. My kit moves to one of the benches on the far side of the fire, leaving me with the elders.
“I am uncertain why he has developed this sudden and intense attachment to the human. He speaks to Iris, but not often. So why this female?”
“Perhaps he hopes to receive a momo the way Sorin did,” Ashrif says. “We have all seen how much Iris and her kit adore each other. Gannen has never had that. He is still young enough to wish for these things.”
That is my concern. While I hope to one turn have what Kala and Iris do, that does not mean I wish for it to happen with the first unknown female I come across.
Gannen does not seem to have the same thoughts or hesitation.
Elodie was kind to him, so I should not be surprised he may have developed a sense of emotion toward her.
He has always felt things far more strongly than I have.
“She is an injured female who will return to the human settlement once she is well. I am certain, after that, she will not give either of us another thought, aside from perhaps a small sense of gratitude.”
Ashrif and Moshi study me in a way that makes me want to fidget, but I stay still.
Finally Moshi speaks. “I do not know this female you captured and then rescued, so perhaps you are correct. However, I have come to learn that many of the human females are different. The few I have met are kind, thoughtful, and accepting. They are also stronger than we believe or give them credit for. They also know their own minds and will not hesitate to share their thoughts.”
“Moshi is right,” Ashrif adds. “Instead of making decisions that are not yours to make, what if you allow this female to choose? Perhaps she will only feel gratitude for saving her life. Perhaps, in time, she could feel more. If you have even the slightest interest in learning more about this female, then perhaps you should try.”
I glance over at Gannen. “Would it be fair to him, though? What if Elodie does not wish to be a mate or a momo? I do not want my kit hurt if he is somehow hoping for her to play that role in his life.”
“You should talk to him,” Ashrif points out.
As much as I may not want to admit it, he is right.
Gannen has never mentioned wanting a momo.
Just because he may have developed some sort of attachment to Elodie does not mean anything.
Perhaps he sees her as a potential friend in the way Sorin sees Healer Sage.
He cares for her deeply, but he loves Iris more than anyone.
“Thank you for your wise counsel.” I incline my head and make my way to Gannen.
When I sit next to him, he does not acknowledge me, but rather pushes his food around in his bowl.
“I am sorry we left before you could say goodbye to Elodie.”
His movements pause, but the silence continues.
“What is it about not doing so that makes you so upset?”
At last, he looks up at me. “What do you mean?”
“She is not a member of our tribe. Merely a stranger we happened upon. Granted, she was injured, but before we discovered her and took her to the Tavikhi village, she was entirely unknown to us. She was not even alert for the majority of time we were with her. Yet, you are extremely angry about leaving without speaking to her again. I am trying to understand why.”
He does the human shrugging. “It did not seem right. We found her. Saved her. She had no fear of us. She was…kind. She liked us.”
How Gannen determined that in the short amount of time Elodie was awake in his presence I am uncertain. They spoke very little.
“Is that all there is to it?”
He shrugs again, and I release a heavy breath. “Perhaps we can return to the Tavikhi village in a few turns to make sure Elodie is healing well. We will give her some time to rest and recover first.”
His head jerks up and his eyes widen. “Really?”
“Aye.”
Gannen jumps to his feet and bounces. “Thank you, Gogo.”
I gesture for him to calm himself. “Finish your meal and wash your dish so Moshi does not have to do twice the work. Then we will head out into the forest once more where I will show you a few more ways to track.”
He shoves the last two bites into his mouth, grabs my empty bowl from my hand, and races toward the small river that runs along the outskirts of our village.
I head toward Kala’s tent to let him know we have returned but will be heading out again.
He and Sorin may be out hunting already, but I will stop there regardless.
Voices come from inside the tent, but they are not the sounds of mating. I cannot make out who they belong to though. I smack the hide door.
“It is Ortak.”
Shuffling sounds greet my ears and the flap swings aside. Kala steps out.
“Welcome back,” he greets me. “How are our Tavikhi brothers?”
“They are well. Zander sends his regards as does Healer Sage.”
“Sorin has been mentioning taking a trip to their village to see the healer and her kit now that the warm season is upon us. The cold season was far too long for him to go without checking in on them.”
It is no secret that Kala’s kit is fascinated with the halfling.
He is extremely protective of Makahla and dotes on her endlessly.
She loves every moment of it as well. It is clear there is a deep affection between them.
“Perhaps when Gannen and I go back in a few turns to check on the injured female, Sorin can accompany us.”
Kala cants his head. “You are returning to the Tavikhi village?”
“It would appear so. My kit is quite taken with Elodie. Possibly in a way that will end up with him being hurt.”
“You think she will be cruel to him?”
I shake my head. “My fear is his affection will be that of a kit to his momo and she will not return that affection. At least not to the same degree. Gannen has not ever spoken to me of his wish for a female in his life, but that does not mean he does not want it. She was kind to him, but what if she cannot—will not—give that to him, if that is what he is looking for?”
Kala is silent, but I can tell he is thinking.
Finally, he asks what has been on his mind.
“What about your wishes? You say Gannen has not spoken of his need of a momo, but you also have not spoken of your wish for a mate. Are you hopeful of having that, one turn? Would this be a female you would consider for a mate if you were both open to the idea? Perhaps she is like Iris in that she too would like a family to care for.”
I know nothing of Elodie. Not of her past. Not even of her present.
Is she the type of female I would consider for a mate?
I do not have an answer to that question.
Despite not being Krijese, her face and form are attractive.
Even given that fact, physical traits are not the most important part in choosing a mate.
Kala claps me on the shoulder. “There is no need to decide this exact moment. Continue thinking, and if you would like to see this female again—get to know her and have her know you—my family clan will accompany you. I am certain Iris would enjoy visiting with her friends and showing off how much Jiasha has grown.”
He steps back inside his tent and I am left standing there with no more answers to my questions than when I sought our tribe leader out. Pounding footsteps approach, and I turn their direction. Gannen races toward me and comes to a skidding halt when he nearly collides with me.
“I am ready, Gogo.”
His enthusiasm is evident. It would appear mine is as well, because I am suddenly looking forward to teaching him all the things I know. I am not as good of a hunter as Kala, but there are still many things I can pass on to my kit.
“Come then. Let us see what beasts we might be able to track and hunt this turn.”