Page 6 of Hitched to the Wendigo (Monster Matchmaking #1)

CHAPTER SIX

Sakira

I knelt beside the wounded wendigo child, my hands steady as I applied a poultice of crushed herbs to the angry red gash on his arm. The boy whimpered, his glowing red eyes wide with fear and pain, but he didn't pull away.

"Shh, it's alright," I murmured, keeping my voice low and soothing. "This will help with the pain and prevent infection."

The child's mother hovered nearby, her massive form casting a shadow over us. I could feel the weight of her gaze, a mixture of concern for her child and lingering distrust of me, the human interloper in their midst.

The initial shock and skepticism from the tribe over our marriage had gradually given way to a tentative acceptance. My knowledge of herbal medicine had played no small part in that acceptance.

I finished wrapping the child's arm in clean bandages and sat back on my heels. "There," I said, offering the boy a smile. "All done. You were very brave. "

The child blinked at me, then turned to his mother with a hopeful expression. "Can I go play now?"

His mother nodded, looking relieved. As the boy scampered off, she turned to me. "Thank you," she said, her deep voice rumbling in her chest. "I appreciate your help."

I stood, brushing dirt from my knees. "I'm glad I could help. The wound should heal cleanly now, but bring him back in a few days so I can check on it."

She nodded again, then hesitated. "Sakira," she said, my name sounding strange in her wendigo accent. "I wanted to apologize. For how I treated you when you first arrived. I was wrong to judge you so harshly."

Warmth bloomed in my chest at her words. "Thank you," I said softly. "That means a lot to me."

I was so lost in thought I didn't hear Eryx approach until his arms wrapped around me from behind. I leaned back into his solid warmth, feeling the tension of the day melt away.

"You did well," he rumbled, his breath tickling my ear. "Word of your skills is spreading through the tribe. They're starting to see you as one of us."

I turned in his arms, looking up at him. "Really? You think so?"

He nodded, a proud smile on his face. "I know so. You've won over even some of the most stubborn elders with your knowledge and compassion."

"I just wish my people could see it that way," I said softly.

Eryx's expression darkened slightly. "Give it time," he said. "Change doesn't happen overnight. But it will happen."

I nodded, pushing away the melancholy thoughts. "You're right. And for now, I'm just grateful to be accepted here. "

Eryx leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "You're more than accepted, Sakira. You're loved."

The next morning, I set out early to gather herbs. The wendigo territory was rich in plant life I'd never seen before, and I was eager to learn all I could about their medicinal properties.

As I knelt by a patch of bright blue flowers, carefully harvesting their delicate petals, a twig snapped behind me. I froze, my heart racing. It wasn't Eryx because I would have sensed him approaching.

Slowly, I turned, my eyes widening as I saw a familiar face emerge from the underbrush.

"Kai?" I gasped, hardly believing my eyes. Kai had been my closest friend back in the terramare, a fellow herbalist who had always pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable.

He looked haggard, his clothes torn and dirty, but his eyes lit up when he saw me. "Sakira! Thank the gods, you're alive!"

I stood, torn between joy at seeing my old friend and fear of what his presence here could mean. "Kai, what are you doing here? It's dangerous for you to be in wendigo territory."

He waved off my concern, moving closer. "I had to find you, to make sure you were okay. We've been so worried."

"We?" I asked, a knot forming in my stomach.

Kai nodded, his expression turning serious. "There's a movement growing in the terramare, Sakira. People who believe that the old ways, the fear and hatred of monsters, are wrong. We want peace, true peace between our peoples."

I stared at him, hardly daring to believe what I was hearing. "But how? The elders would never allow it. "

"That's just it," Kai said, excitement creeping into his voice. "We're working underground, gathering support, sharing information. And your union with the wendigo leader has given us hope. Proof that coexistence is possible."

My mind reeled with the implications of what he was saying. An underground movement in the terramare, working towards peace? It seemed too good to be true.

"Kai, I-" I started, but he cut me off, glancing nervously over his shoulder.

"I can't stay long," he said hurriedly. "But I needed you to know that you're not alone. There are people back home who support you, who want to learn from what you've accomplished here."

He pressed a small pouch into my hand. "Inside is a way to contact us, if you ever need to. And Sakira? Be careful. Not everyone is as open to change as we are."

With that, he melted back into the forest, leaving me standing there, clutching the pouch and feeling as though the ground had shifted beneath my feet.

I made my way back to the den in a daze, my mind whirling with everything Kai had told me. An underground movement in the terramare, working towards peace with the wendigos? It seemed almost too good to be true.

As I approached our home, I saw Eryx standing at the entrance, his posture tense. He must have caught the scent of human on me, I realized.

"Sakira," he said as I drew near, his voice tight with concern. "What happened? I smell a human male on you."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was sure to be a hard conversation. "Eryx, we need to talk. Something unexpected happened while I was gathering herbs."

I told him everything about Kai's sudden appearance, the underground movement in the terramare, the hope for peace between our peoples. As I spoke, Eryx's expression cycled through surprise, anger, and finally, a guarded hope.

"This could change everything," he said softly when I had finished. "But it's also incredibly dangerous. If the wrong people found out about this movement..."

I nodded, understanding his concern. "I know. But, don't you see? This is what we've been hoping for. A chance for real change."

He pulled me close, his large hand cupping my face. "You're right. But we need to be careful. Very careful."

The next few days passed in a blur of activity. I threw myself into my work with the tribe, determined to prove myself even more valuable. The news of the underground movement in the terramare had given me renewed hope, but it had also filled me with a sense of urgency.

One afternoon, as I was showing a group of young wendigos how to identify medicinal plants, a commotion erupted at the edge of the clearing. I looked up to see Eryx burst through the trees, his massive form tense with alert.

"Puma," he growled, his red eyes scanning the area. "A large one. Everyone, get back to the den."

The young wendigos scattered, their training kicking in as they moved swiftly and silently through the forest. I followed, but Eryx was suddenly at my side, his arm around me protectively.

"Stay close," he murmured, his eyes never stopping their vigilant scan of our surroundings.

We had only taken a few steps when a blood-curdling screech split the air. From the corner of my eye, I saw a blur of tawny fur launch itself from a nearby boulder.

Eryx moved with lightning speed, pushing me behind him as he met the puma's attack head-on. The two massive predators collided in a fury of claws and teeth, their roars echoing through the forest.

I stumbled backward, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched the brutal fight unfold. Eryx was powerful, but the puma was quick and desperate with hunger. As they grappled, the big cat's claws raked across Eryx's chest, drawing blood.

Without thinking, I grabbed a large branch from the ground and ran forward. "Hey!" I shouted, swinging the branch at the puma's head. "Over here!"

The puma's attention snapped to me, its yellow eyes narrowing. It was a foolish move, I knew, but it gave Eryx the opening he needed. With a roar that seemed to shake the very trees, he lunged forward, his massive hands closing around the puma's throat.

The fight was over in seconds. The puma went limp in Eryx's grasp, and he tossed its body aside like it weighed nothing.

For a moment, we just stood there, both of us panting. Then Eryx turned to me, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and fear.

"What were you thinking?" he growled, closing the distance between us in two long strides. "You could have been killed!"

I stood my ground, meeting his gaze. "You were hurt. I couldn't just stand by and watch."

His expression softened slightly, though the worry didn't leave his eyes. "I appreciate your bravery, but please, never put yourself in danger like that again. I couldn't bear to lose you."

I reached up, placing my hand on his cheek. "And I couldn't bear to lose you. We protect each other, remember? "

Eryx sighed, leaning into my touch. "You're right. But next time, perhaps stick to throwing rocks from a safe distance?"

I laughed, the tension of the moment broken. "Deal."

The news of the puma attack spread quickly through the tribe. As I tended to Eryx's wounds, applying a salve of crushed herbs to the gashes on his chest, a steady stream of wendigos visited us, all coming to check on their leader and, to my surprise, on me as well.

"You showed great courage," the elder said, her ancient eyes fixed on me with newfound respect. "Few humans would dare to face a puma, even to protect one of their own."

My cheeks warmed at her words. "Eryx is my mate," I said simply. "I would face any danger for him."

The elder nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Perhaps there is hope for our peoples after all," she mused before taking her leave.

As night fell, Eryx and I retreated to our private chamber, exhausted but content. As we lay together, his massive form curled protectively around me, I thought about the future.

"Eryx," I said softly, tracing the lines of his face with my fingertips. "Do you think we'll ever truly see peace between humans and wendigos?"

He was quiet for a moment, his red eyes thoughtful in the dim light. "I believe it's possible," he said finally. "It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight. But what we have, what we've built here is proof that it can be done."

I nodded, snuggling closer to him. "I want to do more," I said, feeling a surge of determination. "With the underground movement in the terramare, and the respect we're gaining here. Maybe we could start building bridges, finding ways to bring our peoples together."

Eryx's arms tightened around me. "It will be dangerous," he warned. "There are those on both sides who will resist change."

"I know," I said. "But isn't it worth the risk? For a future where our children, human and wendigo alike, can grow up without fear and hatred?"