Page 22 of Across the Stars (Cosmic Threads of Fate #1)
CHAPTER TWENTY
WATAI
Watai’s hearts raced as his mother growled, silencing the Gathering Hall.
He knew the moment he’d been waiting for would come sooner or later. His mother was going to announce Mae to the tribe. He could only hope that the response would be positive.
Watai looked around at the other members of his wing, sitting where they often sat, off to the side. They were all looking at him expectantly.
When his parents stood, he could feel the weight of the tribe’s gazes on him, and his mother looked at him sternly.
He had to provide Mae with enough training to survive the trials, find a mount, and prove herself worthy of being a member of this tribe, all without relying on his position as wingleader or his relation to the tribe’s leaders.
Watai’s hearts raced as he took in his mother’s fierce expression. She was not to be trifled with. Her word was law in their clan. She scanned the room, her tail whipping back and forth before settling on him and Mae.
“Watai, my son,” she said, her voice commanding and strong. “You’ve brought a being from a distant land, whom Z’myu has accepted as her daughter, into our land and weavetree. Can you tell your people the meaning of this?”
Watai’s mind raced as he tried to come up with a reasonably honest response that would help Mae gain acceptance from the people.
He had anticipated this moment, but he had hoped to spend more time teaching Mae their language and getting to know her before making their connection public.
He glanced over at Mae, who was sitting beside him; she wore a perplexed expression, with her lips pinched together and dark eyes full of worry.
“Z’Aymo, Z’Awnu, my people,” he said, standing up and facing his mother.
“Mae is not just any guest; she is my threadmate. Z’myu has blessed us with our connection, tying us together with her cosmic thread of fate.
Mae was bound to me for a reason, and it is my responsibility to see that she becomes one of the people. ”
“I’ve seen all this,” his mother admitted, face softening. “She will succeed in her trials and become an important member of our community.”
“I will make certain that we adhere to the traditions.” He clasped Mae’s shoulder and gently squeezed it to show that he was willing to stand by her side no matter what.
“Though my Mae came from a tribe that has never known Z’myu’s love, that didn’t matter to our goddess.
Mae has been judged and accepted as one of her own.
We should treat her as one of Z’myu’s children. ”
“I agree.” His mother nodded, scanning the room. “Foreign or not, you shall treat Mae as one of us.”
Watai felt his hearts skip a beat as his mother spoke.He knew she could see the connection forming between him and Mae, but he hadn’t expected her to show her support so soon.
Watai looked down at Mae, who was watching his mother with a puzzled and concerned expression on her face.
“I’ll be keeping an eye on you two, Watai and Mae.” His mother’s tone was full of pride and authority. “And I will make certain that the tribe looks after her as if she were born among us.”
“Thank you, Z’Aymo,” he said, his voice steady. “I’ll make sure I don’t forget my responsibilities as a wingleader while caring for my mate.”
His mother studied him for a few moments before nodding slowly.
“All right,” she said. “However, you must understand that this will not happen overnight. It will take some time for her to learn our language and follow our customs. She will be like a child for some time, and we must not look down on her for it.”
Watai nodded, understanding the weight of his mother’s words. He knew this would not be an easy task, but he was willing to do whatever it took to prove to his tribe that Mae belonged with him—with them.
“I believe the two of you are meant to be together,” she added, entwining tails with her Z’Awnu. “It’s up to you to figure out Z’myu’s plans for the two of you.”
Watai was relieved that his mother seemed to comprehend his predicament.
He appreciated her deliberate silence regarding Mae’s arrival with forbidden metallic items. The tribe’s reception of Mae and her relationship to him would be warmer as long as they didn’t know.
Although Mae was his threadmate, she would have a hard time fitting in with the rest of the community if she didn’t follow their customs.
When he looked at Mae, he couldn’t help a rush of pride and protectiveness for her. He knew she had much to offer his tribe, and he would do everything in his power to ensure her acceptance and safety.
The rest of the morning meal was quiet, with the remaining people in the Gathering Hall peering over at the head cooking pit, openly staring at Mae.
He could see how it was affecting her. Her strong, confident, and curious demeanor was gradually transforming into shy, uncertain, and closed off by the time she turned down his offer for another strip of meat.
Even though he enjoyed having her hover near him, sometimes even leaning on him before catching herself in the act, his joy was tainted by the knowledge that she was only seeking refuge from the awkwardness of their situation.
She was surrounded by people who didn’t look like her and spoke an unfamiliar language.
“Watai,” his sister’s threadmate, Oekan, said, drawing his attention away from Mae. “How do you intend to protect your visitor from the dangers that lurk beyond our weavetree while you teach her our ways?”
“I am fully aware of how dangerous Z’myu’s creations can be.
I will protect her,” Watai replied, trying not to sneer at the male who would one day succeed his father as the Z’Awnu.
“Until she is able to hunt on her own, I will keep her in our weavetree’s arms, where she will be safe to roam freely. ”
“Look at her!” Oekan hissed and raised his arm, pointing to her. “She’s practically a youngling. How can she be anything but a hindrance to you, your wing, and our tribe?”
“That’s my concern, not yours.” He jumped to his feet, hands fisted and tail whipping angrily. “We can’t fight Z’myu’s will. Perhaps my sister should teach you more about Z’myu’s ways, because it appears that you have forgotten that we all must obey her.”
“Watai. Oekan. Enough,” his father growled as he glared at Oekan.
“Oekan, we’ve already discussed Mae’s future, and until you have a headdress on your head, you will not question my Z’Aymo’s word.
I will not hear any more of your misguided thoughts about Watai’s threadmate.
Perhaps Watai is correct, and my daughter should look into guiding you on Z’myu’s ways. ”
“I will, Father,” Darha said quietly, bowing her head and gripping her threadmate’s wrist. “I will make certain that he does not bring a private matter into the open like this.”
“See to it,” his mother interjected, staring arrows at the Warchief-to-be. “Such insolence has no place in the Gathering Hall. If it happens again, I’ll question his ability to lead and seek Z’myu for guidance.”
Darha snatched Oekan’s horns and forced him to bow, but Watai noticed how he glared at Mae before his gaze flicked to the ground.
She may have been carrying metallic tools when she arrived on their shores, but that didn’t make Mae a threat or a hindrance.
Z’myu would not have forgiven her or allowed them to be threadmates otherwise.
If Oekan felt threatened, he should discuss it with his threadmate in private, rather than trying to sow doubt with the other wingleaders surrounding them.
Mae was his. He would not let anyone, no matter their rank, harm her.
If Oekan ignored his parents’ warning, Watai was willing to challenge him at the next harvest festival under the arms of the Sacred Heart of Z’myu.
Blood from the original six flowed through his veins.
He vowed he would honor his ancestors by protecting Mae and his people from a weak-minded Z’Awnu.
The only thing holding him back from challenging Oekan on the spot was his reluctance to upset his sister, who had already been hurt by her careless threadmate.
Watai was done with Oekan and the negative atmosphere he had created. He could tell Mae was, too. Judging by the awkwardness of the other wingleaders, it would be best for him to take his threadmate away to calm down before leaving to lead his wing on their tasks for the cycle.
Taking Mae’s hand, he helped her to her feet and wrapped his tail around her waist. She accepted his touch, though her concerned eyes watched him. Watai bowed his head toward his parents, who were staring at them with curiosity.
“May Z’myu smile upon you,” he declared, making sure everyone heard the anger in his tone as he touched his forehead and then the spot between his hearts with his fingertips. “My wing needs me.”
Watai led Mae past the remaining cooking pits, many of which were now deserted because the rest of the tribe had already eaten, socialized, and left for the day’s responsibilities.
The younglings began cleaning the hall and helping the dining staff.
He noticed Mae eyeing the remaining tribe members warily.
“Calm down, threadrider,” Iskzo pathed, sending a wave of comfort through their cosmic cord. “Oekan isn’t worth it. Focus on the task at hand. He’ll have to deal with Z’myu for questioning her judgment.”
“I’m only keeping calm on Mae’s behalf,” he replied, his gaze fixed on his threadmate’s demeanor, checking to see if she was upset by what had happened. “He disrespected me on purpose, in front of my parents and the majority of the wingleaders. He knows I’m a better warrior than he is.”
“For his sake, I hope you won’t have to prove that.”
Mae came to a halt as they approached the entrance to the large spiral staircase that ran through the weavetree’s heart. Her mouth dropped open as she peered down to the ground floor then up to the Arms of the Weavetree.