Chapter 6
Aercek
Frak!
Why does my head hurt so bad? The hells did I drink last night?
Rubbing a rough paw across my snout, I groan when sitting up sends shards of pain radiating from my forehead to my jaw.
“Ahstahl, what in the gods’ name did we drink last night, brother?”
A feminine scoff causes my eyes to snap open, and I instantly remember exactly what happened and who I’m with.
Glancing over, I see Ahstahl crouched next to me, his body language broadcasting his deep level of amused embarrassment.
Curling my lip at him, I fold my wings properly against my back and slowly get to my feet.
Chagrin fills me when Ahstahl steadies my wobble, and I chuff a thank you to him.
Peering over at our mate, I’m surprised to see her standing, relatively calmly, where Ahstahl left her.
Gods, she’s beautiful. There’s a smudge of dirt on her adorable, little flat face, and her heavy breasts heave with each breath.
Narrowing my eyes, I see that she’s holding her body stiffly, and I’m sure she’s battered, but thankfully not grievously wounded.
Her dark hair is pulled back in a braid, and her glowing green-brown eyes are curious as she stares back at me.
Lifting my snout, I surreptitiously taste the air to ensure that what my nose is telling me is true.
She isn’t scared.
Why isn’t she afraid?
Clearing my throat, I try to salvage some of my dignity and offer Keelie a respectful bow, ignoring Ahstahl when he sneakily uses his tail to keep me on my feet.
“Greetings, my name is Aercek, and this is my frater vinculum, Ahstahl. You are unharmed, little human?”
To my surprise, she rolls her eyes at me. “Yeah, Galahad. I’m perfectly fine. Your friend there introduced himself while you were taking your little dirt nap. What does that frater vinc something word you said mean?”
Her words end on a snicker, and I hear Ahstahl bite back a laugh at our mate’s quick-witted sense of humor.
“For clarification, I am Aercek. Not this Galahad you speak of, and frater vinculum would be loosely translated to bond brother or brother bond. Ahstahl and I are bound soul to soul for the entirety of our lives.”
Ahstahls’ groan of dismay is closely followed by Keelie rolling her eyes even harder at my boastful tone, and I preen with pride.
Just because I pretend to be obtuse doesn’t mean that I am.
Sometimes, it is easier to let others think you are not quick of wit.
Grinning over at Keelie, I catch her slight wince when she sees my teeth.
Ah, yes. I forgot for a moment.
She is not used to something so non-human.
Ignoring her wariness, I tilt my head towards Ahstahl. “Little brother, my head is pounding. As much as I don’t want to, I think it’s best we go back to the ship so I can rest.”
Before Ahstahl can reply, Keelie interjects.
“Uhm. I’m not sure how far y’alls… ship is, but my camp isn’t too far from here, and y’all are more than welcome to come with me.
I have a first aid kit, and there’s still some ice left in one of my coolers that we can use on your head to help with any swelling. ”
My jaw drops open in shock, and I glance over at Ahstahl again, only to see that he’s just as amazed as I am.
Our mate, our very human mate, is inviting two strangers of an entirely different species back to her camp in the middle of the wilderness.
I don’t know whether to be pleased or alarmed that she’s so trusting of others.
Ahstahl, ever the smooth talker, slings one of my arms over his shoulders and gestures with a wave of his arm.
“How extraordinarily kind of you, but before we leave, may we have your name?”
Keelie’s face blooms with a delightful pink color as she realizes we’ve introduced ourselves twice, and she’s yet to give us her name in return.
“Oh my goodness, how embarrassing. My name is Keelie. Keelie Ann Rutledge, to be exact. I’m a human woman, obviously, from Texas. It’s nice to meet y’all. Thank you so much for saving me from that bear. I definitely would’ve been a goner if you two hadn’t shown up.”
Narrowing my eyes at her, I ask the question that’s been burning my tongue since I roused from my “dirt nap.”
“What is it that you were doing when you came across the bear?”
The color on her face deepens, and she breaks eye contact for the first time, rubbing the back of her neck ruefully before answering.
“I was picking myself some flowers.” She gestures to the right, and that’s when I see a basket on its side surrounded by some sort of woodland fruit and a variety of blooms. They’re lying haphazardly on the ground, presumably where she dropped them.
I’m incredulous.
She almost died… FOR FLOWERS. Of all the foolhardy, silly female things to do! Ahstahl must know I’m about to blast her with my words because he snaps his tail against my bottom jaw, rapping it painfully, and speaks before I can recover.
“Sweet female, there’s no need for embarrassment. You had no way of knowing there was a predator on a fresh kill in close proximity. Here, let us gather your blooms and berries.”
Using his wings, Ahstahl shoves me in the direction of our mates' items, muttering in our native tongue under his breath.
“Shut the frak up, Aercek. She knows what she did was foolish; it’s written all over her face. Her scent and body language are broadcasting her shame and dismay over what her actions caused. We can’t afford for you to chastise her over this. There is no bond tying her to us yet!”
Snarling at him in irritation, I crouch and begin gathering the semi-wilted stems, using my tail and wings to balance. My head is still swimming with dizziness, and I don’t really want to face plant in the dirt again.
“Oh! Y’all don’t have to do that! Really, it’s fine.” Looking over my shoulder, I can see that she’s taken a couple of steps towards us, her hands clenched in front of her nervously. She may have invited us to her camp, but it’s clear she’s not completely comfortable being close to us.
Ahstahl finishes picking up the scattered berries and slowly approaches her, the basket comically small in his large paw.
“There we are! Your basket suffered no damage, and only a few of the fruits appear to be bruised.”
Flicking his tail at me to hurry up, I carefully stand and force myself to approach her in as non-threatening a manner as I’m capable of. Extending my massive paw, the delicate plants clutched gingerly within my grasp, I hesitantly offer them to her.
“Little female, I believe these are yours.”
To my delight, she slowly reaches out and takes the basket and flowers from us at the same time, her scent blooming with a hint of delight.
“Thank y’all. That was really sweet of you both. If y’all are ready, follow me, and we can head back to my camp.”
Ahstahl looks at me, and I nod in agreement.
“Lead on, little female. We will follow.”