“That was fairly good. It could have been far worse, at least,” Ratha opined as Antoth joined her on a rough wooden bench that sat in the flickering shadows of the ursae skull. The troupe of Cauthan musicians was in full swing following Antoth’s opening words for the evening, and a handful of newly minted couples danced around the roaring bonfire as heat, drums, and the darkness of evening all played their part in bringing male and female closer, more aware, and more in tune with one another. Antoth snorted dryly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Coming from you my dear, that’s high praise,” he replied, settling down to observe and give his support to the newest group of couples that would soon be bound together in the eyes of the Mother. It pleased him greatly to see several formerly single guardsmen among them. They, of all Cauthan, deserved a mate in his opinion.
“That little bit about people like us will do you no favors with your enemies, however,” Ratha continued in a serious voice, watching as well with ever keen eyes. “It will be seen as self-serving.”
“My enemies?” Antoth responded with incredulity. “Clearly you know something I don’t.”
“Oh come off it, scarface. Not everyone is universally happy that you’re the priest of Seil. Not that any of them matter, pathetic wretches that they are. Even if they can’t see reality for what it is, you might not want to indulge in that second dance you just arranged for yourself,” she advised. Antoth’s face slowly shifted from serious to a smirk, his eyes narrowing as he cottoned onto his mate’s game.
“If you didn’t want to dance you could just say so, Ratha. No need to be so obtuse about it,” he told her, reaching across his body with his free hand to hold hers. She huffed but allowed him to do so.
“You think I’m lying? I’m not.”
“You act like I wasn’t there when I was chosen. I know there were plenty who thought Tarn should take his father’s place, even at his age.”
“And now that he has taken a mate those calls will increase,” Ratha pointed out, eying the strapping young Cauthan who was grinding and dancing possessively against one of Alyra’s maidens, whose claws were glinting unnaturally in the firelight. Both seemed quite pleased with themselves. “Or am I wrong?”
“You’re not. But unless he intends to stage a coup I’m not worried,” Antoth chuckled quietly. “We will see if his humility that day was true wisdom or just deception. I wouldn’t mind giving up the job though.”
“I would mind, so make sure you’re ready if something happens,” Ratha insisted.
“You mean like wearing armor under my robes? That thing you gave me a hard time over this morning?” Antoth asked, prompting her to lean over and bite his lower lip less than gently in a Ratha-esque imitation of a kiss.
“It’s my gods-given job to subject you to a hard time so that you understand what carrying our cub is like,” she excused herself, rubbing her belly. “Of course I don’t want to dance, to show off how damned fat I am and how difficult it is to move with a little one inside of you. I am the Huntress, for Valta’s sake!”
“Then let’s remain here in the relative darkness,” Antoth suggested kindly. “Is that all that’s troubling you?”
“No, it’s not,” Ratha responded immediately, looking down at their baby. “I have too much time to think these days. No hunting, just skinning, gutting, and thinking. I’m always thinking.”
Antoth turned his head her way in confusion as the musicians stepped up their tempo for the crescendo of the first song of the night and the crowd cheered. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“Of course it’s a bad thing, you thick-skulled chesko!” she hissed. “When I’m out there and I think, it turns to action. The hunt demands every bit of attention and intelligence I can muster. Here, inside your walls, all that thinking gets me is agitation and discontent. There are so many possibilities, so many things that could go wrong, so much I cannot control no matter what I do. I always considered the forest my home, but I never expected it to be like this.”
“I’m sorry, Ratha. Thank you for sacrificing your own comfort to keep our cub safe,” he murmured affectionately.
“And that’s the last thing I need, you acting as though I’ve done something special when it’s the bare minimum that any mother should do for her cub. Damn that idiot Daretho to… oh forget it. You can continue to sing your praises to my ears alone, scarface. Maybe it’s Valta who demands I appreciate it, understanding this most important part of how her forests renew themselves.”
Antoth lowered his voice as the instruments fell silent and a round of applause and cheers filled the air for the small group of musicians with their drums and flutes. “I don’t mind, of course, but what does Veera’s father have to do with anything?”
“He started all of this nonsense when he took that girl in and put a cub in her,” Ratha asserted as though it were obvious. Antoth’s confusion grew. “That’s the reason that human decided he just had to barge in here, because he had a soft spot for her and Vash was an idiot. Now look at them all, they’re everywhere you look.”
“I counted twenty at most, Ratha,” Antoth replied in mild exasperation. “So you blame a dead hunter for all this?”
“I blame you for letting him through the front gate without a fight if you really want to play that game,” Ratha shot back. “That’s not the point, scarface. The point is… I don’t know what the point is. Some foolish male decides to knock up a female from another tribe. A generation later his daughter is the herald of a permanent realignment of our lives and our village. Even if we stay and she leaves with them, we’ll never go back to the way we were before those furless aliens showed up.”
“Why not blame Vash for refusing to allow her to farm land near the walls then? Winters landed near her farm,” Antoth proposed. Ratha’s feathers shook in agitation.
“That’s the whole point, scarface!” she hissed.
“It is?”
“Of course it is! One tiny, insignificant, petty decision. One life that was worth nothing until it suddenly wasn’t. Maybe Thantis can look at it all and see his ‘Balance’, but I don’t buy it. A single missed step and you’re the hunted instead of the hunter. Which moment was it that set us on this path, Antoth? And how are we supposed to make this decision now?”
“I see I’m not the only one who’s been doing a bit too much thinking on this,” he replied in a non-answer, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Perhaps we should instead take solace in the fact that whatever happens is likely out of our control completely? Maybe it will depend on what we have for breakfast in a cycle from now instead.”
Ratha blinked twice at him. “Did you just make a joke?”
“It wasn’t very good, I know. But no matter what we make for breakfast we need to decide… or I do, I suppose. You don’t need to make this decision, Ratha.”
“Like hell I don’t!” she exclaimed, jabbing at him with a claw. “Doing nothing, like Nerazek or Staroth, is still making a decision.”
“Then stop worrying and overthinking this, Ratha. What comes will come, and within a few generations no one will even remember much of what we spoke of tonight,” Antoth snapped before taking a deep breath and calming himself. “Sorry for my tone. Have you implored the goddess?”
“I guess having a cub on the way makes everyone irritable, including the father,” Ratha deduced.
“Sadly, I think it’s just us. Staroth looks rather happy with his lot,” Antoth pointed out, gesturing lightly towards the bonfire where the current Guardian of the village was dancing with his pregnant mate. Ratha laughed.
“Oh it’s definitely us too, but we’re just wise enough to not need to put on a happy face. What happens if I’m the Cauthan that condemns us all to death at the hands of those blasted… whatever the hell aliens they are? The walking chesko?”
“And what if we don’t survive the trip to the human homeworld? We don’t know, Ratha. That is the reality, especially if Valta is silent for you. Seil is… inscrutable. I much preferred praying to Uthos.”
“So pray to Uthos, then. I’m sure he would appreciate hearing from you every now and again,” Ratha ribbed him. “Look at us, just talking around in circles and surrendering our fates to the gods in the end. Is this really who we are?”
Antoth took a long look at his mate, taking her hand back into his and stroking the short, dense fur that grew atop her palm. “That is… a poignant question, Ratha. I believe it would be best to make an announcement tomorrow night, one way or another. With luck, the gods will guide us to the correct path.”
“Maybe they will,” Ratha repeated. “Or maybe they will smite us for our hubris, for our attempt to leave their domain when you decide you just can’t be without your dear friend Winters.”
“And now you’re just being a hyrven,” Antoth waved her off casually.
“I notice you chose not to deny that little insinuation,” his mate observed keenly, the bonfire reflected in her eyes.
“There is a difference between one and the other, Ratha. It’s been a very long time since I met or interacted with someone who did not expect something of me in one way or another. Such is our lot as priests, Maran representatives of the gods. Winters did not know any of that, and so we understood each other as aliens and nothing more or less. We were just soldiers. It was… refreshing. I would not choose to follow them on that reason alone, however.”
“Oh good, I was beginning to think he might steal you away from me,” Ratha replied sarcastically. “I’m glad you had such a nice time with him.”
“You act as though he didn’t treat you the same way,” Antoth chuckled. His mate glowered at him.
“Is that what you call it?”
“Well, he certainly didn’t know Veera was a mutt. And even if he did, he had no reason to look down on her for it.”
“So I’m just the evil Huntress who kept that girl from getting herself killed like an idiot out there in the woods? Of course. It’s not my problem that Vash wanted her to starve,” she huffed. Antoth rubbed her leg gently.
“Given the fact that he seems to go out of his way to encourage you to shoot at him or throw your blade at him, I’d say he understands that now too. I’d go so far as to say he enjoys it.”
“And now I feel unclean,” Ratha spat in exasperation, shaking her feathers gently. “Don’t know if I’d be able to survive being surrounded by humans like him.”
“So you have been thinking about it.”
“I already told you, I refuse to sit around and let someone else decide for me like the others. I keep trying to pick apart that dark-skinned human’s words, figure out how he’s lying to us. But I can’t pin anything down.”
“Did it ever occur to you that he isn’t lying; that things out there are as he says they are?” Antoth asked with a sigh. She clicked her tongue right back at him as though he’d insulted her.
“Of course it occurred to me! But I won’t need to worry about this sort of thing if what he said is true. We will demand to be trained in their martial and industrial arts, seize their technology for our own purposes, and make sure we can live independently with the help of your good friend and that spirit of his. Maybe. At least I believe that sort of thing is possible with Valta’s blessing. I must… ruminate further on such things. If he is lying to us, however, that’s what we need to worry about.”
Antoth hummed from low within his chest. “I didn’t think you’d been considering this so thoroughly, not that I’m complaining. I don’t mind telling you that I too am lost in thought more often than not.”
“Such is our fate, to ruminate on the nature of the gods while everyone else enjoys themselves,” Ratha declared importantly as the rest of the village did indeed enjoy themselves.
“I already told you that we could dance if you prefer,” he reminded her.
“And I have already explained why I do not wish to do so. It would not be enjoyable. We can fool around later tonight. Your tongue being in places it should not is much more pleasing than dancing in any case. And stop with your stupid feathers, giving us away. You’ve done it so often by now that you should be happy, not embarrassed. I’ll suck yours.”
“Ratha!”
“Hush you, that’s not the point. No one is feeling any pleasure tonight unless we make some progress on this. No matter what we decide I will give birth to our cub next year and we will need to raise them and their siblings together. I refuse to allow them to grow up in a household where their parents could not come to an agreement on the most important question facing our people in the history of our pathetic little civilization. I really wish I had not listened to Thantis’ old tales of the kingdom by the salt waters. It’s been so long and we still live like this.”
The bonfire snapped and sparked as Antoth ruminated on her words. “We did it so that we could be free.”
“And we are free… for now,” Ratha admitted seriously. “But one day we won’t be free.”
“Was that a statement or a possibility?” Antoth wondered. Ratha fluffed her feathers quickly in a sign of indifference.
“How should I know? All I know is that we were weak, and we’re now even weaker. So what matters more, Antoth? Dying on your own terms or living in the hopes that you don’t have to? You know how easy it would be for even a handful of humans to enslave us, keep us as pets.”
“And we would be better off dead,” he finished. Ratha stared at him.
“Was that a statement or a possibility, scarface?”
“A statement,” he confirmed, pausing again to bring his paws together in applause for the musicians as Russell led Veera out towards the bonfire in anticipation of the third song. She was wearing the slim-fitting garment he’d made for her the prior year, and her pregnancy was easy enough for anyone to see if they chose to look. Whispers and murmurs flew through the crowd as the remaining villagers who were not in the know got a good look. Many other couples, including Thantis and Gentia, stood to join them as a slower song on wooden flutes wafted over the clearing. The two priests watched intently. “And there you have the alternative, at least for our females. It is my understanding that Meylith will not bless human females in such a way.”
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
“You don’t have to remind me,” Ratha snorted. “I doubt even humans breed with their pets. That’s something for another time, I suppose. I can only imagine how much of a disaster it will be if more than a handful of females consider humans as anything other than a last resort.”
“I’m not sure I even want to ask if they have some way of getting around that,” Antoth agreed. “So what do we do, Ratha?”
“Wait, you’re asking me?” she demanded, drawing her knife and using it to clean the dirt from under one of her claws. “How should I know?”
“Because I think you are as decided as you let on during the council sessions,” Antoth explained, his face softening ever so slightly. “But here when it’s just the two of us I’m getting the sense that you’ve considered this far more in depth than you let on in front of the others. And you are my mate.”
Ratha was quiet for a long spell, looking first at her hands and then around the circle of onlookers that made up the edges of the bonfire clearing. When she found her target she deftly returned her blade to her sheath and stood. “I want you to wait here. If you’re with me I won’t get the answer I want,” she said cryptically. The Huntress walked left past the ursae skull and around the ring, sidestepping dancing couples and musicians with ease until she came to stand in front of none other than Natori, who was enjoying the spectacle along with a handful of his warriors, including the one who had bent Veera’s feathers. Ratha of course glared at him first before looking down at the human leader.
“Good evening, Ratha. Is there something that I can help you with?” Natori asked, standing and offering her his seat. She motioned for him to be seated once more.
“I do not need your pampering. And I prefer it when you are not towering over me,” she explained bluntly as Mendes cocked a brow when the translation came through. “You can answer a question for me.”
“If I am at liberty to do so, I would be happy to!” Natori smiled up at her, still almost of equal height thanks to his size and Ratha’s shorter stature.
“I want to learn how to use one of those,” the Huntress declared, pointing with a claw at the rifle that Corporal Mendes was carrying slung over his shoulder. She didn’t know what they did or what they were called. All she knew was that Veera understood them, and that she had called them death. “And when I am proficient, I want one of my own.”
Rex chortled with laughter. “I’d say you’re in trouble, Lipp.”
“I believe it would be best to keep the peanut gallery silent until our friend here can either understand English or is equipped with her own personal translation device. He was complimentary, I assure you,” Natori tried to assure Ratha.
“So he said something stupid. That’s what males like him tend to do. It’s irrelevant. Is that a no?” Ratha asked sharply, not wanting to sway the Admiral one way or another but unwilling to remain there wasting her time. Unfortunately for her, however, Natori was as circuitous as ever.
“It’s not a no, Ratha. I can think of a handful of people who would be happy to train you or any of your species in the handling and application of firearms. That doesn’t mean you would be permitted to carry it on your person at all times, however,” he explained poitely. It was obvious the moment his final sentence was translated. Ratha narrowed her eyes and looked at Mendes.
“You don’t allow them to be freely carried in your home, but ours is acceptable?” she pointed out. Natori opened his hands in supplication.
“I think you of all Cauthan would understand the desire for a bit of protection and insurance in an unfamiliar environment? Have I mentioned that the food was absolutely spectacular today?”
Ratha snorted, unwilling to assert she wouldn’t hold onto her bow in similar circumstances. “You can inform the bakers and hunters yourself. So you’re saying you would teach us but I would not ever be able to do anything with them?”
“Ratha, the nature of a spacefaring military vessel is such that any firearm would be heavily regulated no matter who it belongs to, especially a rifle. I am sure that we can come to an arrangement regarding sidearms such as this,” he pointed to the holstered pistol at his hip. “For more general carry. I assume we are operating under the assumption that you will join us on our way back to Earth, yes? If so, things will be much more open once you are on the planet itself, especially less inhabited regions. I understand this may be difficult to grasp, but there are so many humans who live so closely together, without threat from beast or their fellow man, that the ability to carry any weapon is… well from your perspective I suppose you would consider it to be seriously restricted.”
“I don’t believe you,” Ratha told him immediately. “Next you will tell me there are no human criminals.”
“Ok, I like her. How do I say that I like her… not like that though?” Rex asked immediately.
“Try moving your feathers around,” Lipper suggested, prompting both Natori and Mendes to look silently at them. Rex held out a hand.
“Look, all I’m saying is that laying out the whole modern second amendment debate isn’t going to get us anywhere right now. It’s not like they need to write that sort of thing down here, right? I’m right, right?” he wondered, looking at his teammates for support.
“Of course he would have a point when weapons are involved,” Orlova admitted. Natori smiled but called for quiet, explaining to Ratha so as to pre-empt a less than favorable reaction to aliens joking around in a language she didn’t understand.
“Private Rex here says that I’m being too nuanced, and he supports your view on personal protection,” the Admiral summarized. “So I suppose I can describe the situation thusly. We will be happy to train you and your fellows in whatever skills or professions you have an interest in, to the best of our ability. In the case of firearms, those of you who might choose to serve in our armed forces will be given their own. For those of you who would prefer there to not be any strings attached, you may trade for or purchase a weapon rated for civilians either aboard or on Earth.”
Ratha crossed her arms over her chest, cursing her pregnant belly. She knew armor made of bone could only go so far when compared to a belly of such size. “And what about our guards?”
Natori cocked his head slightly, observing yet another round of applause in an effort to not be rude as the dancing came to a momentary halt. “That is an excellent question, Ratha. I am sure we can negotiate an arrangement that is suitable to all parties. As you’ve likely realized by now there are quite a few more rules when it comes to my world than yours, at least rules that are written down. Those of you who wish to learn modern weapons will not be turned away, that much I can promise. Is that… sufficient?” he wondered, watching as Ratha’s feathers shook for a moment and the Cauthan turned on her heel without so much as a thank you. Kaczynski shrugged and smiled at the Jumper team. “I think that went rather well, don’t you?”
“Given that the last time involved her threatening Private Lipper with execution, I’d say the bar was pretty low,” Mendes replied. “But I suppose that leaves a lot of room for improvement. Any idea what that was all about, sir?”
“I believe it was related to the matter you were asked to advise upon several days ago, Lance Corporal. Let’s leave it at that for now,” the Admiral suggested, gently insisting that the question of potential Cauthan elopement from Mara remain hush hush. “Will any of you be fancying a dance this evening?”
“Unless the Ice Queen has thawed out in the fire, I don’t think so,” Lipper remarked, earning an aloof glare from Private Orlova. “And I think taking Rex for a spin would rather confuse the locals, sir.”
“You don’t have the balls, Tom,” Rex snorted good-naturedly. “But I don’t dance anyway, so lucky for you.”
“Boys,” Orlova scoffed, putting quite a bit of complex meaning into that one word.
“They shall be boys indeed, which is why I have a daughter,” Natori laughed. “In that case I would advise you to simply take it all in. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
-----
“Remind me if we ever get into a fight to spend a bit of time talking to a human,” Ratha told her mate as she rejoined him on their bench. Antoth sighed heavily.
“Was it that bad?”
“Not in the way you’re thinking,” she replied. "It's exhausting. You ask one question and you end up with five more. All these rules and exceptions and considerations. Bah!"
"What did you ask him?" he inquired.
"Nothing unreasonable. I wanted to see how he'd react to a request for one of their weapons," Ratha explained as though she'd asked for a cup of tea.
"I'm sure that went over stupendously," he grumbled. "And?"
"Non-committal affirmatives," the Huntress conveyed. "I can never get a read on that human. He always seems unnaturally happy and none of them have any feathers. You're easier."
"I see," Antoth muttered, deciding to take her statement as a compliment or at least a net positive. "Does that change your perspective at all on our question?"
"Somewhat. Not as much as if he'd give me a straight answer. He didn't refuse either though. I'll think about it," Ratha promised, returning to playing around idly with her knife as more and more of the village took to dancing and revelry as the night wore on. Antoth was about to return to his meditations, feeling at peace among the clanking of stew pots and the smell of woodsmoke, when a young female approached them tentatively. Ratha greeted her with her feathers.
"Rena. Don't tell me your father has gotten himself into trouble again," she said. The gray-furred, tomboyish Cauthan tittered in reply.
"I'm happy to report that he's safe around a cooking fire. I was hoping I could ask you a question actually, Huntress."
"Go on then," Ratha replied neutrally, exhibiting a rare willingness on account of Rena being a hunter's daughter. "What is it?"
"I… saw you talking to the big human, Rex. Did he say anything about me?" she wondered. Ratha looked at Antoth, her eyes narrowed. He could practically feel the disapproval radiating from her, but her feathers remained muted and controlled.
"You should be focused on the males of your own age, Rena, now of all times," the Huntress settled on, pointing her blade at the dancing couples for emphasis. Antoth did his best to remain passive and pretend that he wasn't listening as Rena's face fell.
"They don't need or want someone like me," she said quietly.
"What about Xan?" Antoth suggested tentatively. Rena looked down at her talons.
"With all due respect, high priest, I'm interested in an able bodied mate. I'm very sorry."
“Which is not something you should be apologizing for,” Ratha insisted, shooting a warning look at Antoth. He held out a hand palm up, an indication that she was welcome to handle the situation. “What you should be apologizing for is contemplating taking a human for a mate, especially now. Such a thing is an affront to the gods.”
Antoth looked seriously at Ratha, but held his tongue. He still wasn’t sure how well he could read her at all times, but she didn’t seem to be enjoying the conversation. Seeing her in such a position at all was rare enough, a side of her reserved only for those she considered to be under her direct protection. Rena’s short feathers were quivering with shame as she stammered a reply.
“B-but I don’t think that-”
“If you do not think you are worthy of being a male’s mate then they will certainly come to the same conclusion, Rena,” Ratha stated. “You are strong and healthy, and I’m sure you will bear many healthy cubs.”
“Thank you, Huntress. I just… I don’t think that any of the males my age see the situation that way,” she replied painfully. Ratha’s stoic expression did not crack.
“Then make them see, Rena. You know how to use a hammer and tongs, don’t you? Males are not so different, especially the young ones. That’s why I chose an older father for my cubs,” Ratha explained. Antoth straightened his spine at the praise, looking just as taken aback as Rena at the idea of Ratha saying anything pleasant about him in public to a third party. The Huntress, of course, carried on as though nothing were amiss. “You have another day of the festival to make your case. Do not be so quick to give up. Hunters who do that end up starving more often than not.”
“I understand that rejection is not easy to handle,” Antoth added quietly. “But you have your own preferred type of mate in mind, do you not? Don’t begrudge others the same. As Ratha said, there is still time.”
“And what happens if I’ve still failed by then?” Rena wondered before suddenly thinking better of herself. “I-I’m sorry, this really isn’t something I should be discussing with you. You’re probably busy and-”
“I mind your acting like a frightened chesko, not the fact that you would seek out a third opinion,” Ratha cut her off. “I’ve known Brythis long enough, Rena. You are the light of his life and he is very proud of you. But such a person will not give you very helpful mating advice, will they?”
“No, not exactly,” Rena agreed. “And my mother doesn’t really understand. She doesn’t look like a male, like I do.”
“I detect a distinct lack of scales on you, Rena,” Antoth tried to reassure her. Ratha elbowed him in the ribs, smirking at his surprised grunt.
“We are here to advise her as servants of the gods, not to coat our words with feathers. She is right, Antoth. She is not a traditional beauty. That is why I said what I did, Rena. You are strong, you are hardy, and you are a smith. That leather dress fits your figure so well because you made it yourself. If you cannot understand why those traits make you an appealing female then do not expect any of them to. I am not your high priest, per se, but I command you to do your best over the next day to find yourself a mate.”
Rena bowed low to them. “Thank you for your wisdom, Ratha. I will try. And you as well, Antoth.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied simply as Ratha held out a forestalling hand.
“Rena, this is as much to protect you as it is to help you. The Mother would not approve of your pursuing an alien at a time like this. However…” Ratha took a deep breath and looked around her, at her village. “If you are unsuccessful and still feel as though you wish to pursue that enormous human, I believe the gods will be more amenable. Look at Veera. The Mother has seen fit to gift her a cub of her own. Now go. You waste time standing here with us.”
Rena’s face brightened as a modicum of her usual energy returned. “I will, I will! Thank you so much for your wisdom, Ratha. Selah to you!”
Antoth regarded his mate intently. “That was unexpected, Ratha. I don’t know what’s less likely, that you actually meant what you said or that you would offer her empty words of comfort. And since when did you speak for the Mother?”
“Since I became one, damnit! And don’t you dare accuse me of lying to one of my own, Antoth,” Ratha hissed, waving her knife at him. When he seemed more confused than anything else, waiting patiently with his hands in his lap, she relented and leaned forward. “Brythis is a good hunter. I don’t know if Rena was given to him as a blessing or a curse. Ever since she was a cub she was full of energy, always dirty, rolling around in leathers or getting into trouble. Maybe she was meant to be a male? I cannot say.”
“So you think they will overlook her because she is not beautiful?” Antoth concluded.
“I don’t have to think. I know. She knows. That’s why she came to us. You must remember being young and stupid. How I lusted after Veera’s fool of a father all because of those eyes and scales of his. That’s what it means to be of that age, I suppose. How long should Rena have to wait for a male wise beyond his years to come along? A day? Yes. A year? Maybe. Beyond that? That just seems cruel.”
“I didn’t know it was the eyes and scales, but very well,” Antoth muttured. Ratha groaned and leaned against him.
“And you’re twice the male he was, literally. We’re supposed to be past that now, Antoth.”
“I still can’t believe you would suggest she pursue a human, Ratha.”
“Why not?” she asked. “If we decide one way they will leave and she will remain. It won’t matter. If we do choose to go, maybe the Mother will see fit to deliver unto Rena another miracle. I would rather she be happy than alone.”
Antoth reached an arm around her. “Being with cub has changed you for the better, Ratha.”
“And you are as foolishly honest as ever, Antoth. I don’t know how many times I need to tell you that I look after my own,” she protested lightly. “Don’t tell me you don’t understand that.”
“Of course I do,” he chuckled quietly. “Why do you think I brought up Xan?”
“Yes, you did try,” Ratha acknowledged, noticing a particular couple near the fire. “I guess I’m not the only one who knows a Cauthan down on their luck when it comes to mating. But we have other matters to discuss.”
“You know I can’t leave just yet, much as I’d like to,” he whispered into her ear. She dug her claws gently into his leg.
“Then be a good high priest and wait. Maybe my depths will bring you an epiphany later tonight.”
-----
“Yo, you good, man?” Russell asked Xan as he led Veera back to their seats. Having been mated for a year already they didn’t feel the need to dance to every song, and Veera’s pregnancy had given her a fonder appreciation for a good seat. Xan scoffed at him.
“I’ve known this was coming for a while. I’ll get over it. Eris made it clear we were never going to work out. She and Gael will be good for each other. She’ll have him on a shorter leash than Fenrir and he’ll have a pretty girl with lots of feathers to put a cub in.”
“Damn Xan, you sound like you’re thirty. Take it easy,” Russell chuckled as Veera looked at the crippled Cauthan sadly. “But hey, I can’t say you’re wrong. Who’s your backup?”
“Your sister,” Xan deadpanned. He and Russell looked at one another in silence for several seconds as Veera and Io did their best to remain inconspicuous. Xan was the first one to break, devolving into laughter. “You set me up so good for that one. You should see your face! You look like you just swallowed shen crap.”
“Yeah yeah, ham it up buddy,” Russell replied, punching him lightly in the shoulder. “Speaking of, where is Alice anyway? And did Anita leave?”
‘Engineer Prakash headed back to the Event Horizon on the last shuttle,’ Io reported. ‘As for Alice, she and Private MacGregor decided to leave together on their own little date this evening. I suggested it, as the two of them partaking in the main affair might have given the wrong impression… to you most of all. It is a date, sir. Please do not blow a gasket.’
Russell cocked a brow as Io indicated the dancing Cauthan around the bonfire. Veera smiled and placed a hand on his knee. “You know as well as I do that she’s right, Russell. Are she and Lachlan going to have a date for real?”
“Sure sounds like it. Or they’ll skip right to step two. None of my business in either case,” Russell remarked in a stilted tone that made it clear he absolutely did consider it his business. Veera and Xan shared a knowing look, having known the human for quite some time.
“Half the village has been asking if they’re mated since they got here, it’s about time,” Xan remarked. Russell rolled his eyes.
“I guess the Cauthan perspective is a bit different than mine,” he stated.
“Hardly. I’d be a surly idiot if my sister was taking a tumble with some guy. I’m just giving you shit about it to ignore the fact that I’m the only guy who’s not going to be a dad this time next year,” Xan explained. “Not even Rena asked me, and she’s half male anyway.”
“Xan! That’s very rude! Don’t you think she feels terrible about that?” Veera scolded him lightly. The former guardsman drew his mouth into a thin line.
“Sorry, I guess you’d know a bit about that too. I’m just frustrated. Things are fine until it’s right in front of your face, you know?”
“Yeah, I get that,” Russell agreed. “So let’s get out of here then. I can grab Fenrir and we can head up to the ship. I’m sure Darius would let us hit the firing range if I’m there with you.”
“You mean shooting those weapons you have?” Xan asked, suddenly perky as his nicked ear stood straight to listen. Russell smiled.
“Hell yeah man, percussive therapy. What do you say?”
“I say lead the way! Do you think Anita would want to come with us?” he inquired, suddenly hesitant. Io grinned at him and placed two fingers on her temple.
‘I’ll ask her right now, Xan. I’m sure she will be happy to be invited.’