Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
He looks upset. “I jumped the gun. Made a mistake. Niri is working on him right now.”
“She is your healer?” I do not understand everything he said, but it can be told another time.
“Of a sort yes.”
“Will he live?” I feel the tears approach again. “He is fearless because I have raised him since he was a kit. He does not know to be afraid of sa-khui. He does not think he is food. He is a pet.”
Mardok looks even more pained at my words. “It’s my fault. I’m going to make this right for you, I promise.”
I do not understand how it is his fault. Did he make the flash attack Chahm-pee? “The healer will cure him,” I reassure him, though I do not know if this is true. “All will be well.”
He studies me. “I have a million things I want to ask you, Farli.”
“And I, you. We are one.” I wait for him to bring up our resonance, but when my khui sings louder to him and he remains silent, I realize…I am the only one resonating. It is like when Vektal met Shorshie and he told us that she did not resonate until she had a khui. Oh. I am disappointed to realize he does not feel what I do. Well, I must simply go back to the tribe and organize a hunting party to go after a sa-kohtsk so my mate can remain here with me. I have so many things I need to tell him, but when I look back at him and he is half-naked and his skin is covered with the strange, whirling designs, I am distracted by his nearness.
Some hunter I am. A handsome stranger walks in front of me and my mind turns to scrambled eggs, like the kind Stay-see makes for breakfast.
“How did you get here? To this place? And aren’t you cold?” He crouches near my feet, looking up at me expectantly.
“Cold? In here? I am sweating.” I fan my face with my hand. It seems easier to blame my flustered, heated cheeks on the warm air than my own need. “It feels nice outside. Good weather.”
He looks surprised. “This is good weather?”
“In the brutal season, it is much, much worse. More snow. The air is so cold it hurts to breathe in.” I shrug. “But then it warms all over again and the suns come out.”
He shakes his head. “Kef me. That’s incredible. And it doesn’t bother you? The cold?”
“The khui keeps me warm.” I tap my breast. “The humans were cold before they had theirs put in. You will be fine once you acquire one.”
“A khui?” He repeats the word, though it is clear he does not know what it is.
“The creature in my chest,” I tell him. “It keeps me healthy and strong. It protects me from getting sick. It makes the air safe to breathe. It picks the best mate for me so we will have strong kits.”
He looks distracted, and it is clear to me he is not listening to my words. “A symbiont,” he murmurs. “Does everyone on your world have these?”
“Every living thing. Even Chahm-pee has one. You can see it in the eyes,” I tell him, gesturing at my face. “They are bright blue with life, not dead and lifeless.” Like yours. I do not say it, because that would hurt his feelings. He cannot help it. He will have bright, healthy eyes once he has a khui in his chest.
“Blue eyes,” he murmurs. “Well, that explains it. Come on. We need to tell Niri before she removes your friend’s symbiont and does more damage than she thinks.”
I put my hand in his again and let him lead me to the back of the cave-ship. Anywhere he wants to lead me, I will happily go.
Chahm-pee is fine, though I do not think Niri likes the idea of leaving the khui in his chest—or mine. Their reactions do not bother me; I am told Shorshie and the other humans had a similar reaction to the thought of having a khui, but now they are content and healthy. A khui is a good thing. Chahm-pee’s wounds have been closed up and the blood wiped off his fur, but he is still very quiet and unmoving. I stroke his nose, worried. “He will be all right?”
“He just needs to sleep,” Niri assures me. “We will keep him in med bay overnight, and he should be good to go by the morning.”
Such a fast recovery for such a terrible wound. I am impressed. “You are a good healer, Niri.”
“Mm. Can I talk to you for a minute, Mardok? In private?” She gives him a pointed look and steps to the far end of the room.
Mardok looks over at me, and then follows Niri. A moment later, they are talking in their strange language, the one I do not understand. Niri is clearly agitated, her tail flicking as she talks. Mardok does not seem happy either, but his body remains still and attentive, like a hunter waiting on prey. I can hear them speak, even if I cannot make out the words, and I am sure they are talking about me. They do not like that I am here, for whatever reason. Perhaps they worry about their safety? I know my chief would be concerned to hear another cave-ship has landed, even if it is one full of friends and not enemies.