Chapter 15
Ortak
I have stood in line and done nothing but observe Gannen and Elodie.
What is it they are conversing about that appears so serious?
Hearing her tell him she will remain in the Tavikhi village in order to be closer to him because they are friends twisted my stomach in a way I did not like.
They made plans to spend time together, and while I am pleased for a friendship between them, I was disappointed that these plans did not appear to include me.
Jealousy is a rotting seed that grows inside people and can cause them to do vicious and hurtful things.
Kala and I witnessed this nearly every turn in our old village.
King Armik was skilled in allowing jealousy between his warlords to fester.
It was his tool in creating divisiveness and an excuse for arguments that more often than not led to a battle between people.
Yet, I can feel that very seed growing inside me.
It’s quickly followed by shame, because what kind of gogo is jealous of his kit?
After Elodie touched me, I could no longer sit there for fear she would witness my cock hardening beneath my leg coverings.
I have no desire to make her uncomfortable enough that she changes her mind about spending time with Gannen.
His need for her friendship and presence in his life is more important than anything else.
My gaze sharpens on them once more. Elodie is palming the sides of his head and speaking intently to him.
There is a ferocity in whatever it is she is saying to him.
I continue observing until he nods and then he is wrapped within her embrace.
He loops his arms around her and even from this distance the way he clings to Elodie with an almost desperate need is obvious.
Grateful to finally reach the Tavikhi serving the meal, I manage the three bowls filled with stew and make my way back to the two of them.
Just as I reach where they sit, they separate.
Elodie’s eyes shimmer with tears, but they do not fall.
She glances up at my arrival and tries to smile, but it is filled with sorrow.
The silver sparks in Gannen’s eyes are dim. What caused such a change?
I pass each of them their food and take my too-small seat once more. “What is wrong?”
Elodie sputters and draws my kit into her side for a brief embrace. “Nothing terrible, I promise. We were just sharing some emotions and they got the better of us. They definitely got the better of me, but it’s not anything to worry about. I can get a little mopey on occasion.”
My gaze darts to Gannen who does appear to have recovered, because there is faint evidence of the flashes of starlight within the depths of his dark eyes once more.
“As long as nothing is wrong.”
Elodie shakes her head and finally her lips curve upward enough to give me a small glimpse of her blunt human fangs. “Nope. I think we’re both good now, right?”
She leans against Gannen, who agrees with a sharp nod. “Right.”
Both take a bite of their meal so I do the same.
More and more people arrive at the fire while we eat and soon several of them have seated themselves nearby and draw each of us into different conversations.
Benham and Gannen speak of hunting, and I am certain there is an offer from the Tavikhi to join him, Talek, and Cecily once his skills have grown a bit more.
Healer Sage and Elodie speak on how well she is healing.
I am drawn into conversation with Zander to discuss whether Kala has thought any further on merging our tribe with the Tavikhi’s.
The shefir does not attempt to coerce or push, but rather shares that while he would be disappointed if Kala chooses not to do so, he would also understand.
The choice would not be an easy one for him to make either.
Slowly, we each finish our meal and everyone begins to disperse until only Gannen, Elodie, and I remain.
“You will still watch from above the training arena while we are down there?” he asks her.
“Of course. Remember, we shook on it?”
He shakes his head. “That was our agreement that once you are healed you will join us at the bottom to watch.”
“Ah, well, let’s say we shook hands on this agreement too. How about that? Now I have to come over there and watch.” Elodie grins, which Gannen returns.
Out of nowhere, Talek comes to a grinding halt on my other side causing dust to billow up from the ground beneath his feet. Behind him, his tail thrashes wildly. His entire body vibrates with untapped energy, and the wooden staff in his hand shakes with it.
“Are you ready?” he asks. “Cecily is already on her way down there with Carter and Bazel. She will gloat non-stop that she beat us if we do not hurry.”
Without waiting for a reply, the young Tavikhi takes off running at full speed in the direction of the training arena. Gannen shoots a quick glance at me and is already on his feet.
“Go. Elodie and I will be right behind you.”
“I will see you soon,” he calls over his shoulder as he chases after Talek.
Elodie laughs loudly. “I remember when I had that much energy.” She grabs her crutches and stands. “We better get going. Who knows the scolding we’ll get if we dally for too long.”
“You should not let him manipulate your tender heart.”
“What you might see as manipulation, I see as a lonely boy who desperately craves affection and friendship, and now that he has it, is scared it will be taken from him,” she says softly, but with firmness.
“Not only that, but I wouldn’t allow anyone—not even a child—to manipulate me into doing anything I didn’t want to do. I had enough of that back on Earth.”
Perhaps I have much more to learn when it comes to human emotions. “I ask for your forgiveness in how I spoke, then.”
Elodie grasps my arm and the heat of her touch brands me. “There’s nothing to forgive. We all learn and we grow.”
I cannot tear my gaze from hers as a spark of awareness flares between us.
Her face brightens in color and yet again, my cock plumps and throbs.
My knot pulses with the need to swell and soak her cunt with my seed.
The trill of a nearby mellenje soaring overhead breaks the connection.
Elodie jerks her gaze from mine and roughly clears her throat.
“We should go,” she says and hops quickly away.
My steps are slower to maintain a safe enough distance where I do not have to smell her sweet and musky scent.
Still, I study the curved lines of her hips as she moves.
Elodie is soft in all the places a Krijese female is hard.
Sexual mating with one of our females is not about tenderness.
It is battling for control. It is angry.
Rough. Bloody. A male must physically fight with a female for the right to claim her cunt.
Humans are different. Elodie is different. She will never participate in battle, but will need to be seduced with gentleness and warm feelings. I fear I do not have enough of either of those to give her, even if she wished to receive them from me.
She has reached the top of the hill above the training arena and glances back at me.
Each time our eyes meet, I feel as though she is speaking to me in a language I can neither understand nor hear with my ears.
This time is no different. I finally step up next to her and glance around at the barren spot where we stand.
“I will find a stump for you to sit on.”
“You don’t need to go to the trouble. If you don’t mind me holding onto you for balance so I don’t fall over, we can sit on the ground.” Elodie passes a crutch to her other side so she is holding both with one hand. Her now free one grasps mine, and she begins to lower herself.
My grip tightens and my muscles brace with her slight weight until she is safely seated. She lays her crutches beside her and waves me down. “Come on. Take a load off.”
Slowly, I too lower myself until I am seated close—but not too close—to Elodie.
Still, warmth radiates off her. She stares down into the arena where the kits spar, including Gannen.
He is paired with Carter who blocks each of my kit’s clumsy strikes with ease.
Not far from where they practice, Talek and Cecily fight.
The young human is skilled and the two kits are well-matched.
“She’s really good,” Elodie remarks as if sensing my thoughts.
“Cecily has been sparring with Talek for over three sun cycles. While she cannot match Talek in strength, she makes up for it in speed and cunning.”
“It’s nice of Carter to practice with Gannen,” she says. “Even I can tell how much the older boy is holding himself back.”
“The only weapon I have any skill with is my war axe, so that is all I am able to teach him to use. Being with the Tavikhi and human kits offers him a chance to learn others. It is good for him.”
Elodie glances over at me. “It’s hard for you, isn’t it? Watching him getting older? Becoming more independent?”
I nod. “Aye. Before Gannen, I cared nothing for kits. They did not interest me. A kit was another mouth to feed when we already had so little. It was taking care of another being when I had no desire to care for anyone but myself.”
“You love him.”
I am not sure I understand the true concept of love. “I would give my life for him. He is the only thing in this world that matters to me.” Although, perhaps that is no longer true.
“Gannen is lucky to have you as his father. Not all parents feel that way about their children.” There is a note of sadness in her words.
“Were yours like that?”
Elodie nods. “They were.”
I reach over and thread my fingers through hers. It is one of the few times I have initiated touching with her, but I could not resist offering her this small comfort. “They did not deserve you.”
“Thank you for saying that. It means a lot, because no, they didn’t.”
After that, we sit in silence, still with Elodie’s hand in mine while we watch the kits spar until they grow too tired to continue.
Gannen trudges up the hill with the other three who separate from him after a round of farewells.
He collapses into an exhausted heap, forcing himself between us and rests his head on Elodie’s lap.
“Were you watching me, Elodie?” he mumbles, appearing half asleep.
She strokes his floks. “I was. You did an excellent job. I’m very proud of you.”
“I love you.” His words are barely audible and followed by deep, even breathing.
Elodie does not say the words back, but she leans down and presses a kiss to the top of Gannen’s head.