Page 46 of Across the Stars (Cosmic Threads of Fate #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

MAE

Mae felt her heart race with excitement as she lined up her shot, the bowstring pulling back tightly against her fingers. She could feel Fela’s presence behind her, her protector, as she waited for Xarntu’s signal.

When it came, she let the arrow fly, watching as it struck the rainbow deer with precision. The animal let out a cry of pain before collapsing to the ground.

The herd scattered, but the deer lay on the ground, mortally wounded. Mae felt a pang of sadness as she approached the creature, but she knew it was necessary for survival.

They were born from Z’myu from her energy, their souls were returned to her by the transfer of that energy to another. It was the circle of life, and even though Mae never had to kill in order to feed herself, she understood its importance.

A rush of excitement and accomplishment washed over her as she and her hunting group approached the fallen deer. Xarntu complimented her aim by speaking quickly with a wide grin and mimicking pulling back a bowstring on her pretend bow, while Fela sniffed at the animal, purring contentedly.

Mae followed Xarntu’s lead as she re-taught her the hunting prayer—the same words she had taught her on their first fishing trip—her words foreign to Mae’s ears, but she repeated them anyway.

She closed her eyes, focusing on the deer and her gratitude for its energy and for the goddess Z’myu. She opened her eyes as she finished the prayer and saw Xarntu nod in approval.

Mae had asked Iskzo one day about the meaning of the words of the prayer she was taught, and for the price of a fish, he explained to her what it meant.

Z’myu,

As children of this beautiful planet,

we honor and respect your every being.

We use your resources with care and thoughtfulness,

and strive to protect you from harm.

We acknowledge that we are a part of you,

and that our actions affect your well-being.

May we always be mindful of our connection,

and act with wisdom and compassion.

May we find our way back to your promised land,

guided by your infinite love and grace.

Dear brother, I acknowledge you,

and express my gratitude for all of you.

Your spirit now returns to Z’myu’s care, welcomed by her embrace,

While your body will remain, its energy becoming one with her children.

The words hit Mae hard.

Their meaning shook her to her core, emphasizing how important it was for the speaker to acknowledge the existence of their higher being and how every living thing on this moon was linked to both her and each other in some cosmic layer.

Mae was concerned that she was already too deep—heavily involved with Watai by using the connection everyone kept saying she had with him and through him: Iskzo.

Every day had brought her closer to him, to the point where she was wondering when the other shoe would drop and the world she’d built with him would crumble.

She didn’t need to know their language to understand what they were saying through gestures and body language.

While Mae wasn’t a linguist, after being with them for a little over a month, it was difficult not to pick up on what they were trying to explain.

She was able to trust Iskzo to translate for her anything that was too difficult to gesture, which helped explain changes in their daily routine.

Fela, who had been stalking silently behind them, let out a soft growl, signaling that the herd of rainbow deer was nearby.

Xarntu motioned for them to be quiet, and they all crouched low, slowly and carefully approaching the herd.

Mae rubbed her thumb on the carved markings she’d placed on the rim of the top limb of the bow, signifying she’d been on the moon for thirty-seven days—and had about one hundred and twenty-three more before the harvest season began.

She had about four months to complete the trials, learn their language, and prove her worth before standing in front of the council of all the moon’s tribe leaders to reclaim her wristband.

By the time the harvest festival occurred, she wouldn’t have long before her crew on the Atlantis awakened and wondered what happened to her and where they had landed.

All of her efforts would be futile if they awoke before she could return to Atlantis .

Mae’s heart was pounding in her chest as she followed Xarntu’s lead, her bow and arrow at the ready. She could see the deer now, grazing peacefully, the rainbow colors of their fur shimmering in the sunlight.

Xarntu gave her a signal, and Mae raised her bow, taking aim at the closest deer. She let out a slow breath and released the arrow, watching as it flew toward its target. The arrow hit true, and the deer let out a cry of pain before collapsing to the ground.

Mae felt another pang of sadness as she watched the deer die, but she pushed it aside and followed Xarntu as she approached the fallen animal. Xarntu repeated the hunting prayer once more, this time for the deer’s spirit to be welcomed to the afterlife.

Xaynu and Zylynx approached, helping her gather her two deer to prepare them for transport back to the village.

Together they field dressed the deer and put it in the basket for the trip back. Mae felt a sense of accomplishment, but also a respect for the life they took and the importance of hunting for survival.

She thought of Watai, knowing he would be proud of her progress. She couldn’t wait to show him what she had accomplished today.

Mae’s expression caught Xarntu’s attention, and she gestured to the surrounding nature. “You like it here, yes?”

“It’s beautiful. I never want to leave.” Mae nodded, mirroring her gesture. “ Kes’ Xyvin. Nyi Qe’xen syan. ”

Xarntu grinned. “That is good. You belong now here. With us.”

Mae’s heart swelled with a mix of emotions, feeling a sense of belonging but also a hint of sadness at the thought of leaving her old life behind. She pushed the thoughts away and focused on the present, grateful for the new family and home she had found.

When they arrived at the tree, Watai and the rest of the wing were waiting for them. They all pitched in to help unload the baskets from Fela’s back to the Community Space, making the long and exhausting process much easier.

Once they were done, Mae walked toward the lake, with Watai following closely behind.

She could feel his eyes on her, taking in the blood on her body from dressing the rainbow deer she had shot.

She gestured toward the water, indicating that she needed to clean up.

Watai nodded in understanding, and they walked down to the shore.

As she stepped into the cool water, Mae felt a shiver run down her spine. The sensation was invigorating, and she could feel the tension in her muscles start to ease.

Watai gathered the cleansing leaves from his belt pouch and offered them to her. She took them and turned around, presenting her backside to him.

Mae felt Watai’s gentle touch as he helped wash the dirt and blood from her backside. The warmth of his hands and the soothing scent of the cleansing leaves made her feel comforted and cared for. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes and savoring the moment.

As he washed her, she couldn’t help but think about how safe and protected she felt with him. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had tended to her needs so thoughtfully.

As Watai worked, Mae took in the surroundings.

The lake was surrounded by tall trees, their leaves providing a natural canopy overhead.

It was peaceful, with only the sounds of the water lapping at the shore and the occasional splash of a fish breaking the surface.

Mae felt herself starting to relax, and she couldn’t help but feel grateful for this moment of solitude for the both of them.

Mae felt a sense of peace wash over her as she relaxed in Watai’s arms, as if this was some cleansing ritual, a symbol of his commitment to care for her and of his pride in her successful hunt.

She could feel his love and admiration in the way he touched her, and she knew that she was in good hands with him by her side.

When he finished washing her, Mae turned to face him, a small smile on her face.

Mae felt a warmth spread through her chest, feeling like she truly belonged here with Watai and his people. “Thank you,” she said, tears of happiness in her eyes. “Ira’Ayn, Watai.”

Watai leaned down and kissed her softly, with a love that made Mae melt into him, certain this was where she belonged.

His arms tightened around her as he whispered in her ear—words she couldn’t recognize, yet their meaning was clear.

Pride. Reverence. Devotion she hadn’t realized she longed for until now.

Heat rushed to her cheeks as her heart fluttered with happiness at his words.

Xarntu, Xaynu, and Zylynx came over, clapping her on the back, congratulating her on her first kill.

They returned to the tree and climbed its long spiral staircase, which was made of twisted roots and connected all of its levels to the Gathering Hall.

Mae felt a sense of pride and belonging as she walked alongside Watai, carrying the tray full of nuts, fruits, and raw meat. The heavenly smell from the bonfire mixed with the scent of roasting meat filled the air, making her mouth water.

She had hunted successfully for the first time, and she felt even better prepared for the trials now.

She had no idea how long it was going to take her to prove she could hunt with a bow and arrows rather than a psyblaster, but she was glad that she’d achieved one skill needed to be useful for the tribe.

Mae could see the admiration in Watai’s eyes as he looked at her, and she felt her cheeks flush with pleasure. She was grateful for his presence and for the way he had been so patient and supportive of her throughout her journey.

As they reached the spot where Watai’s wing usually sat, Mae noticed that the other members of the tribe had already gathered around the bonfire. She saw Xarntu, Yawix, and the twin brothers, Orox and Yutesi, among the familiar faces.

Mae sat down at the cooking fire with Watai’s wing, her arms full of all the food that she had gathered. They had all just finished a successful hunt and were now ready to feast.

Watai’s wing members sat around the fire, chatting and laughing as they passed around the food.

“ Syan Ny’zyn, Xaynu and Mae ,” Yutesi said, clapping his son on the back. “ Ayn yuni syan ku tyng yev qun’o’mylo. Syan ny’zyn. ”

Orox nodded in agreement. “ Syan Ny’zyn. Ayn zewi aiyshu ku zyum tyng yev qun’Vev’zeo. ”

“ Ayn syan, Mae, ” Xarntu said, clapping her on the back.

“ Kess, Ayn syan, Mae ,” Zylynx added, taking a bite of the roasted meat. “ Nu nvi’ytan. ”

She glanced over at Watai, who was sitting beside his two wing assistants, Drxya and Jie, and wing medic, Enkaia, smiling at her with a proud look in his eyes.

“ Ira’Ayn, ” Mae said, taking a sip of juice for the cup. “ Nya Ira Xarntu and Zylynx .”

Fela let out a loud meow.

“ Ku Fela ,” Xaynu chimed in, earning a nod of agreement and laughter from the group.

“ Kess, Ira’Ayn Fela ,” Mae said, looking at Watai with gratitude, who smiled at her in return, his tail wrapping possessively around her waist.

As the group continued to eat and talk, Mae felt a sense of contentment wash over her from being welcomed into the wing and accepted as a hunter. She was grateful for this experience, and the people she was sharing it with.

Mae couldn’t understand what anyone around the fire was saying, but that didn’t stop her from feeling like this was the place she belonged as she ate, laughed, and listened to the stories that were being told.

The stories faded gradually, and the families left the cooking pit one by one. Watai drew his tail away from her and stood, softly smiling and offering her his hand.

Mae took Watai’s hand, feeling a thrill of excitement run through her. She was still getting used to the idea of being with Watai and the thought of flying on Iskzo made her heart race.

As they reached the ledge, Iskzo swooped down and landed gracefully in front of them. Mae could feel the heat from the space dragon’s body, and she was awed by his size and beauty.

Iskzo let out a low rumble, and turned his head to Mae, his glowing eyes swirling blue and green. “Are you ready?”

Mae nodded, her heart racing with excitement, dropping her hand from his neck.

Watai helped her onto Iskzo’s back before climbing on in front of her, and she wrapped her arms around Watai’s waist, feeling safe and protected.

Iskzo took off, and they flew through the branches and the sky, dodging leaves and tree limbs along the way.

As they broke away from the tree’s canopy, the gorgeous night sky greeted them.

Mae felt a rush of adrenaline as the wind whipped through her hair as they soared. She looked down at the ground, watching as it got smaller and smaller. She felt a sense of freedom, as if she was flying away from all of her problems and worries.

Watai pointed out the stars, and she peered in their direction, entranced by the beauty of the sky and the warmth of Watai’s embrace.

She couldn’t help but laugh in delight as she looked down at the beautiful landscape below. They flew over lush jungles, sparkling rivers, and towering mountains—far away from anywhere she’d ever been.

It was far enough away that the large glowing pink and purple tree in which they lived appeared small in the distance.

As they flew, Mae couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and adventure coursing through her. She had never felt so alive, and she couldn’t believe that she was experiencing this.

It was like a dream she hoped she’d never had to wake up from.

Watai called out her name and pointed to a waterfall in the distance.

“That is our destination,” Iskzo explained, his mental voice livelier than usual. “Watai intends to stay here for the evening.”

“Is that safe?”

“The tribe members clear their territory whenever there is a threat, making its land safe from most predators,” Iskzo explained. “You should be safe, especially since I’ll be guarding the two of you.”

They landed on a rocky outcropping near the waterfall, and Watai jumped out of the saddle, wasting no time assisting her.

His grin was contagious, and he helped her unbuckle her straps and climb off of Iskzo onto the uneven ground.

As they walked toward the waterfall, Mae was overwhelmed by a sense of awe. The water cascaded down the rocks, creating a rainbow in the mist. Watai took her hand and led her to a secluded spot behind the waterfall. There, they found a small pool, surrounded by flowers and foliage.

“ Nya, ” Watai whispered, with a hint of vulnerability in his voice. “Xa’me, Mae.”