Chapter 19
Ortak
The evening meal went well enough. Most of the Krijese—the elders and warlords—were tense and did not converse much, but no arguments occurred and no weapons had been drawn.
What did not surprise me was Moshi and Ashrif accepting an invitation from one of the Tavikhi elders to drink with them after the meal.
Apparently it is their evening ritual. They gather in a circle around a fire where all of their tents are located and pass from person to person a jug filled with their special brew. It helps them relax and sleep well during the night.
Of all the Krijese elders, Moshi and Ashrif are the two who have accepted the new way of life we have had to adapt to after leaving King Armik’s tribe. Kala has sought their advice often since becoming our leader. I suspect they will adapt as quickly to this move as well.
With the melding of our two tribes, I am uncertain what the leadership will look like now. I respect the Tavikhi shefir, but being under his rule is a difficult thought to have. The next turn is soon enough to worry about it. I want to enjoy the rest of the evening with Elodie and my kit.
“How about we take these bizeles down to the river to enjoy?” she suggests.
“I will carry yours for you,” Gannen offers and holds his hand out.
She places it in his palm with her thanks and turns to me. “You ready?”
“Aye.”
We leave the fire and slowly cut our way through the village. I am not used to the number of people who wander about. Not only are there Tavikhi, but humans as well. And not only the mates of the Tavikhi warriors, but entirely human families with kits.
“The leaders of the human settlement know any of their people are welcome to leave there and join our tribe,” Zander told us recently. “Iris was the last to come, but prior to that there were a number of family units who joined. Most have been here more than three cold seasons.”
None of the humans we pass glance at Gannen or me in fear, but they do not smile or greet us either. Perhaps in time they will. When they are used to our presence.
The river finally appears and Gannen runs the rest of the way. He stops at a bench and waits for us.
“We have only now arrived and he has already asked to swim with the other kits after the next turn’s midday meal.”
Elodie glances at me. “It’s good that they’re including him. I assume he knows how?”
I nod. “Aye. That is one thing I made sure to teach him when he was younger. I did not want to risk his safety while he did nothing more than bathe. A simple task such as that should not be the cause of his death.”
“You said yes, right?”
“I told him I would speak with you.”
Elodie startles. “With me? Why?”
“Kala and I will be going hunting with Benham and Jodah. We are leaving right after the morning meal and will not return until much later. Gannen is a strong swimmer, but I do not like him being in the water without someone I trust nearby.”
Elodie stops so I do as well. “Are you asking me to watch him?”
I cannot judge her tone. “If you are agreeable.”
“Of course I’m agreeable.” She lays her hand on my arm. “Thank you for trusting me with your son.”
Without thought, I cradle her jaw and caress her skin with my thumb. “There is no one else I trust more.”
As if suddenly remembering where we are and that my kit waits nearby, Elodie moves back. My arm falls to my side.
She clears her throat. “Gannen’s waiting for us.”
I glance at him and he watches us intently and with a hope I do not have the right to give him. “We do not want to keep him waiting then.”
We move to where he stands and Elodie takes a seat on the bench. He’s at her side and passes her the fruit. I remain on my feet. She takes a few bites and laughs as the juice drips down her chin. For half a moment, I picture licking it off with my tongue.
“Back on Earth,” she tells Gannen. “We ate a fruit called a peach that tastes exactly like this. I used to cut mine up and put the pieces over vanilla ice cream.”
“What is ice cream?” he asks.
“It’s this really cold, creamy treat. I don’t know if there are any equivalent ingredients here, but if we’re really lucky, when the cold season returns, we can try and use the cold dust to make some.” There’s a sparkle of excitement in Elodie’s eyes when she says this.
“What does it taste like?”
She hums. “I don’t really know how to describe the flavor. I’ve never eaten anything like it on Tavikh. It’s a solid, yet soft, sweet cream, like shurup nectar, but yet, totally different.”
“I put shurup nectar in my kokkra,” Gannen tells her.
“Me too.” Elodie glances up at me. “What about you? Do you like to sweeten your kokkra as well?”
“It is not to my taste.”
“You won’t say that about ice cream when I ask you to try it.” She grins.
“I do not typically like sweet, but for you I will try this ice cream.”
Elodie blushes and returns to eating her bizele. I have found I enjoy causing that reaction in her. While Gannen dominates the conversation, we finish our pieces of fruit. Several more people have made their way down to the river as well and are seated on the few benches available.
“How about a quick game of Pac before we turn in for the night?” Elodie suggests.
Gannen perks up, because he loves playing this game with her on the machine she has. “Perhaps this turn, we can convince Gogo to play.”
She laughs and flicks her gaze my direction. “Excellent idea. I think now that you guys are living here, we should make it a nightly requirement. Gogo plays one game before bed.”
I narrow my gaze as they both stare up at me. “I am at an unfair advantage when it is two against one.”
Elodie finally stands and within two hops, she comes toe to toe with me. “Who says I play fair?”
My cock thickens at the way her voice caresses my flesh.
She has never used that tone when speaking to me.
It is how I have imagined far too many times how she would speak to me if we were alone in my furs.
Heat slithers through me, and it takes me several beats before I realize I have been left standing there.
Elodie and Gannen have already headed toward the village.
She glances over her shoulder and the look I am given makes me burn.
It also confuses me, because I do not understand this new behavior of hers.
The way she is looking at me is how I have seen Iris look at Kala before they ask Sorin to spend time with the elders and they disappear into their dwelling.
Every tribe member knows what it is they are doing in there. We hear them.
I will retreat to my tent with them and wait until Gannen sleeps. Then Elodie and I will speak.
To give myself time to get my cock under control, I walk slowly and do not catch up with them quickly. They have already made it to my dwelling and wait outside by the time I reach them. Elodie turns to Gannen.
“Let me grab my data pad and I’ll be back over.” She turns to me, but whatever she was feeling down at the river is gone. Her expression is friendly, but no different than it has been the past moon cycle. “If you don’t mind that we use your tent while we play our game?”
“You are always welcome in our home.”
Elodie smiles and ducks inside her own dwelling.
“Let us go in and wash up before she returns.” I gesture for Gannen to enter. “We will bring out a few extra furs for her to sit on.”
“I will place them near mine.” He rushes around, first quickly washing at the basin, and then he throws open one of the storage chests and drags out several furs.
My movements are slower. I wash as well and after, I tend to the small fire that burns in the pit dug in the center of our dwelling. While the sun is out, it is warm, but once the moons are fully in the sky and night blooms, it grows colder. Even during the warm season.
“Knock, knock.” Elodie stands in the doorway that I left open for her. “May I come in?”
“Come.”
She hops inside and Gannen crosses over to her.
“I brought out some furs for you to sit on. They’re over here.” He guides her to the pallet he laid out beside his and points. “Those are yours.”
“Thanks.” Elodie is not graceful, but she manages to lower herself to the bed of furs.
Gannen drops down next to her and sits so close they touch. They began this nightly ritual of game playing nearly a moon cycle ago, but instead of sitting out at the central fire like they have always done before, they are now in my dwelling.
I lower myself to my own furs on the other side of the fire from where they sit and watch them laugh and have fun. No one was more surprised than me to discover I enjoy it.
My hearts swell seeing Gannen being a kit that has no need to war with anyone.
He does not need to fight with other Krijese to keep his place in our tribe.
He has eaten a full meal with no need to worry if it is his last. The way he has thrived in Elodie’s presence eases an ache I have had for so many sun cycles.
She glances up at me and smiles before her attention turns back to the game they play.
The light that sneaks in from the two small holes in the ceiling shifts and dims as the sun continues its trek across the sky and the first moon arrives.
As the night grows later, Gannen leans more heavily onto Elodie and his eyes drift shut more often until they remain that way.
Carefully, she maneuvers out from beneath him, and I quickly jump to my feet and help guide him down to his furs. Not once does he awaken. She covers him and reaches out her hand for me to assist her to her feet. I grab her crutches and offer them to her once she is standing.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “I should head back to my own tent and get some sleep as well.”
I am still determined to speak with her first. “I will walk you to your dwelling.”
“You remember I’m literally right next door, right?” She grins.
“I will walk you.”
“If you insist.”
Elodie makes her way across the tent. I reach the door first and swing the flap aside for her. In a few short steps we stand at her doorway. She moves to enter, but I gently grasp her arm. She pauses and turns toward me.
“You make me question everything.”
A wrinkle appears between her furred brow bones. “What do you mean?”
“Our friendship is the most important thing to me aside from Gannen. But,” I pause to gather my thoughts. “But there are moments when you look at me, and I sense perhaps…more. I do not know what to think or if perhaps I am only seeing what I wish.”
Elodie sighs and drops her head forward. “I know, and I’m sorry.”
“I need you to explain it to me.” I lift her chin so our eyes meet. “Please.”