Page 69 of Mates for the Raskarrans #1-6

The females must pick up on the shift in mood, for a few of them look uncomfortable, shifting their weight and wrapping their arms round themselves as they look round at our faces. Then Liv marches forwards and steps inside the hut.

“ Bigenuffortwo, ” she says.

The fierce one steps forwards, propping her spear against the wall and stepping inside with Liv. The messy-haired one - Sam - also steps up.

“ Roomies? ” she says to the fierce one.

Then there is chatter among the females as they start to separate themselves into pairs, and the sound of their voices lifts the mood in the village.

It is hard to feel sad for things long lost when their high, excitable voices chatter away, their faces all smiles as Liv allocates each pair a hut.

Maldek appears moments later, arms full of pelts, followed by others who have all sorts of supplies and comfort the females will need.

Soon the females are all busy making up their beds and cleaning the huts.

My Ellie looks up at me with a curious expression, and I think she wants to see the place that will be ours.

But there is something else I wish to do first.

I take her hand, guiding her through the bustle of activity to where my father is waiting on the edge.

He acknowledges me with a nod, his eyes sliding down to my linasha and growing wide.

He touches a hand to his heartspace, and I know he is remembering his own linasha, my mother, taken from him when they were both so young.

My heartspace has ached for him, and for me, so many times.

It aches again now to know that my mother will never know my Ellie.

Unless her spirit is one with the trees and the flowers.

Unless she watches over me in the leaves and branches. It is a comforting thought.

“You have been blessed,” he says, voice rough with emotion. “Anghar, this… this is a very fine day. A very fine day indeed.”

I cannot help standing tall, my heartspace full of pride as I wrap an arm round my Ellie, drawing her to my side.

“Her name is Ellie,” I say.

My father smiles at her, tapping his chest. “Harton.”

My Ellie nods, then raises a hand out towards him. My father takes her hand, closing his much larger fingers around hers.

“Welcome, daughter,” he says.

We do not get as far as my home before we are pulled back into the celebrations.

I notice that Maldek is missing, a couple of the other warriors, too.

Gone to take care of the Cliff Top tribe bodies and to patrol our territory, I think.

But everyone else is in high spirits. The elders have brought out our best food supplies - a feast for our new tribe sisters.

After days of travel rations, I am eager to taste good food.

Someone takes out the poffi berry drink that Torfen, the eldest member of our tribe, spends his time brewing.

It warms the belly and makes the headspace pleasantly fuzzy if you only have one.

I hope Sally is able to tell all the females this.

It would be best not to welcome them to the tribe with a sore head tomorrow.

Shemza returns to the group just as cups are being poured.

He is handed one first, and he reports that Vantos is resting, that his injuries will take some healing, but that he will live to tell the tale of his heroic battles against the Cliff Top tribe.

We all laugh and joke, but I sense much relief among my brothers.

Shemza takes a seat next to the female with the injured arm.

She is a pretty, delicate little thing, and I smile as Shemza checks her over his attentions serious and doting.

And a little unnecessary, I think, but the injured female does not seem to mind.

I get my Ellie a cup of poffi berry drink and pass it to her.

She takes a sip and passes it back to me.

This simple pleasure of sharing with her while my tribe surrounds us is almost enough to bring tears to my eyes once more.

My father is right, I think, as she nestles herself against me, her head resting against my shoulder, my tail twined around her waist. This is a very fine day. For all of us.

The female youngling - Jassal, I learn her name is - enchants the other members of the tribe.

Her father, Jaskry, is the subject of many probing questions.

The hunter seems a shy sort, and I learn from listening in that he and his family have lived alone for many seasons.

He is unaccustomed to being among so many.

I decide I will invite him on a hunt in the morning, get to know him some so he has friends among the tribe he can turn to.

I try to take note of all the new names, but it is difficult.

Not all of them are name shaped, and while the long ones tangle my tongue, the short ones wriggle out of my headspace.

There is Liv, Gregar’s mate and Sam, who seems to be my Ellie’s particular friend.

I think these two are the most important for me to learn for now.

There is the one with hair like fire, the fierce one, the one who is also a healer.

And many others as yet unfamiliar to me, whose particular traits I do not know yet.

So many new faces to learn. It is the best problem to have.

As the poffi berry drink is passed round, the females relax more, chattering to each other.

I wish I knew what they speak of - if they are satisfied with their new home and new tribe, if they think any of my brothers desirable as mates.

Maldek said that no others had visited the dreamspace, but they were not close enough to the tribe members who stayed behind, perhaps.

Perhaps tonight a few more bonds will form.

And I am not out of hope for Maldek, Rardek, Vantos and Shemza yet.

I think of the things my Ellie suffered on her home world, how closed she was to me at the beginning.

It would not surprise me if some of her sisters are simply not ready to consider a mate.

I think of how my Ellie was trying so hard to hunt for her tribe, with no knowledge of the sands or the forest. Perhaps her headspace reached out to mine, seeking the knowledge I could give her.

I do not know, but I am grateful, so very, very grateful, to call her mine.

The sun has long since gone down when we finally start to drift back to our huts.

Liv makes sure all her sisters are returned to their homes, as if there was a chance they might lose their way around our little village.

I think she means to check on them, to ensure they are comfortable, that they feel safe.

She will make a fine chieftess, I think. A fine mate to Gregar.

She comes to my Ellie last, and they exchange a few words before embracing. Then my Ellie turns to me and takes my hand once again.

“ Rest ?” she says.

“ No, ” I say and grin at her, sweeping her into my arms and carrying her back to my hut.

And though I wish to take her straight to my bed, remove her clothes and taste her, I resist, setting her down just inside instead so she can take a look around.

It is a modest hut, but I think I have decorated it nicely.

I have some ensouka bones, boiled and then carved, that I traded for with one of Ferzan’s tribe.

An old travel tent that became too worn to protect against the weather I have hung from the roof around my bed.

It made me feel as though I was out hunting even when home, but now I see it will also be a private little space to share with my linasha.

I look to her now, a little anxious to see her response. My Ellie steps forwards, touching her fingers to the bone carvings, then traces her way round the space.

“I know it is not the grandest hut in the village,” I say, the words tumbling from my mouth, my tongue loosened by the poffi berry drink.

“But it is warm and dry and very comfortable. And if we have younglings and need more space, I will build it for you. If you wish to change anything, I will gladly help you. I want you to be happy here, linasha. I want this to be your home.”

My Ellie turns to me. It is clear she has understood none of my words, but she gives me a wide, bright smile.

“ Home, ” she says, gesturing all around her.

“ Home,” I repeat.