by Zara Starr
“Arh!”
I frowned and nodded. This was obviously his name, though I found it strange compared to the others. So far, I knew Ella—the one human female—Veruka, Dey, and Scar. I also knew, by process of elimination, that Karr was the name of the tall purple male who had accompanied Ella.
I found this slightly strange since she mentioned being in a triad relationship. I wondered suddenly who else was involved in her relationship—and if any of them had anything to do with my care.
“Arh,” I said and forced myself to smile.
His lips spread out across his face and I chuckled upon seeing those canines yet again. Now that I knew I was actually on another planet, it made sense.
What seemed strange to me was that they ate omnivorous foods—but Arh seemed to lean more towards being a carnivore. Was it just as it was for us on Earth as it was for the Eilahasans? I wondered.
I shoved my mouth full of more of the decadent meats he had brought me, wishing I had some way to thank him—and apologize. But not being able to speak the language wasn’t going to help me there.
Suddenly, an idea sprouted in my head. I realized that body language was universal—it needed no words to be understood.
I stood up then, keeping a tight hold of Tremor’s leash, and walked toward Arh, my arms outstretching as I leaned in and hugged him tightly. I felt him stiffen beneath me and wondered if he had never been embraced by anyone before.
As I looked at him, I noticed that he was just as attractive as Dey and it seemed illogical to me that Ella hadn’t selected him for her triad. But considering how often he was present, I doubted he had a mate.
Could it be that Arh was actually so steely because he had never experienced intimacy?
I pursed my lips and stepped back, glancing up at him as I smiled.
“Thank you, Arh,” I murmured.
Maybe I had misjudged the silent purple man standing before me. Maybe, I too was guilty of glancing at the cover and making assumptions without actually peering into the pages of Arh’s book.
Who knew, maybe there was a larger lesson in all this for me to learn. For the time being, it seemed fate hadn’t allowed me any choice.
Here I was stuck in Eilahas—might as well enjoy the sights while searching for your next voyage, right?
Arh
I had spent most of the day scouring the jungle where I had first come across Mikaela, but nothing seemed any different than it had any other time I had ventured through that part of the woods, which was surprising.
There were no marks, no strange weather patterns, nothing that gave any obvious sign that something strange had occurred there. It was truly like Mikaela and her beast had come out of thin air to appear in my camp.
I had thought that if I found out something about how she had arrived in Eilahas, I could use the information to entice her interest in me, but I learned quickly that was not to be the case.
Still, there were other ways to win the female’s affection, and after learning about her likes when it came to food I knew just the thing to do to make her remember who I was—and not the brutality she had witnessed from me either.
I felt challenged, and yet my spirit knew I had done wrong—something that made me both uncomfortable and dissatisfied.
Is this what it meant to have a mate? A constant uncertainty about where I stood and if anything I did would even matter at the end of it?
I pursed my lips, this was not a thought I wanted to believe in. There had to be more to it than searching for ways to be accepted. I had seen the way that Ella responded to Karr as if her every moment was centered around him, and she seemed to be thoroughly content—as far as my eyes could see.
I strode into the meadow before my mother’s cave with an assortment of smoked meats—some were also cooked. I knew that they could be consumed quickly without needing hours of preparation. Meats that were considered to be special such as summer stag jerky and Tiflis bird.
I even went so far as to bring Karr’s infamous smoked monlas, to see if she had any interest in fish. If she did, I would pay Karr handsomely to give me the finest selection—just to ensure that I was bringing Mikaela the very best to eat. She deserved the best.
I stepped on a branch as I entered the clearing, my eyes locked upon the figure of Mikaela as she held her animal’s tether in hand and the animal proceeded to urinate some distance from the cave mouth.
What was she doing out here... and alone?
By instinct, I wanted to lecture her about the dangers of being outside. But by watching her I noticed that she seemed happier to be in the sunlight, and I understood this was something Ella too had desired.
Did the females of their planet just walk around wherever they chose to unaccompanied? If so, how did they defend themselves against the animals of their planet? Was that why Mikaela had been such a fierce warrior when it came to defending herself?
I decided to do something unusual, unpacking the meats before her and pointing to my lips. She perked a brow as she looked to me and I smirked, having used the information my mother provided to my advantage there was neither brine water nor topas cheese presented to Mikaela.
She seemed happy, kneeling down to begin trying the meats—her facial expressions showing pure ecstasy as she moaned and groaned aloud. The sounds seemed to indicate pleasure, and as she continued to eat I smiled, content to see her feeling better after so many days.
Suddenly, Mikaela leaped to her feet and walked toward me, her arms reaching around to embrace me tightly. I tensed, my mind reeling from what was happening.
I had never before had a female touch me in such a way. Certainly, my mother had done her best to be affectionate, but that was when I was a boy and. Many long summers had since passed.
I slowly lifted my arms and drew them in around her, inhaling the scent of her hair as I relished how it felt to have her in my arms.
I closed my eyes briefly, feeling as if maybe I had a fighting chance. That, maybe, I too could find the passionate love I’d seen reflecting in both Karr and Ella’s eyes—right here with the curvy and beautiful female called Mikaela.
Scar
I watched the cave from a distance. I could never move too far from her because I feared what would happen should she awake with nobody around her.
The rest of us had to go about our usual duties in order for life to continue as needed. I knew that Arh had gone hunting, and Veruka and Dey were gone as well, which meant I wasn’t really needed for anything.
But as my eyes flickered over the scene before me, I realized that Arh wasn’t going to give this one up or resort to his usual tactics. Mikaela’s arms were wrapped around him first, unlike the rest of us.
I knew that Dey too would use his access to her as a way to get closer, and it seemed the three of us would be the ones that Mikaela would interact with the most.
But seeing Arh wrap his arms around her sent a jolt of terror into my chest. An unexpected feeling of emotion that I felt incredibly uncomfortable with. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I noted how Mikaela had been greatly appeased by Arh’s presentation of stag and Tiflis.
I pursed my lips. She had relished my stews but I knew that wouldn’t be enough for her as her strength grew—which it obviously had. She devoured the meat quickly and leaped to her feet like a frolicking stag as it made way through the underbrush.
I stepped forward and coughed to clear my throat.
“Scar,” Arh said, his arms falling from Mikaela’s body as he glanced in my direction. I gave a slight nod.
“I gather the hunt was productive,” I said.
“Aye, and she seems to have loved what I brought her. At least, I think that is what she is trying to tell me,” Arh muttered.
“Indeed, she said thank you,” I said. “When she hugged you, she was showing gratitude for your offering.”
Arh perked a brow.
“How do you know that?” he asked me.
“Because I have done my due diligence in lear
ning some of their tongue—hers and Ella’s,” I admitted.
“How so?” Arh asked.
“Dew is the brother of Dey and he has told me a few of the words. I do not know many, but I do know ‘thank you’ is said in times of giving gratitude. It is a phrase to show appreciation to another being,” I said.
“And what of the hugging?” Arh asked me.
Mikaela’s eyes flickered over me curiously as she watched Arh and I talk. I could sense she wished she could engage us too, which made sense from the way her eyes would glance between the two of us. As if she were searching out some way to comprehend if we were talking about her or not.
I smiled slightly. “Mikaela,” I said, placing my hands together and bowing my head to her. She smiled and repeated the gesture and I turned to walk past her and Arh.
“You did not answer me,” came Arh’s voice echoing behind me.
“Who am I to tell you what her hugging you should mean. She did so of her own accord, as all females here do,” I said matter-of-factly.
In truth, I did know that it was a sign of affection and intimacy. A sign that Mikaela felt secure with him enough to both touch him and allow him to touch her—which made my heart spike once more.
If not for knowing that she would be forced to choose three of us, I would have felt instantly defeated because Arh bore no scars—as I did—and was the most prestigious hunter of our tribe.
There was no way I could best him with those two factors, which meant my only hope laid in continuing to develop that same trust between Mikaela and I.
I hoped that I too could experience the softness of her sweet touch and inhale the alluring scent of her body.
Dey
I sauntered back into the meadow before Veruka’s home cave just in time to see Mikaela accompanied by Arh and heading toward the cave mouth.
I was surprised to see this, having thought Arh went hunting earlier in the day, but it seemed fitting that he would find some time to visit her while the rest of us were away. It was something I had hoped to do myself but had obviously been beaten to.
I pursed my lips. I had spent a few hours speaking with my brother Dew, hoping that by doing so I could find some way to further my interactions with Mikaela.
I had noticed she and Ella seemed glad to see someone from their planet in their midst. But from their behavior, the two females had displayed earlier I was not so certain they would work well together.
I wanted alone time with Mikaela, not for her and Ella to converse at will and completely forget about me.
I slowly approached the cave just in time to hear Scar and Arh speaking.
“Are you worried the physical sign of affection is going to disrupt something?” Arh asked him.
I perked a brow, wondering what had occurred that made him ask such a thing.
“Why should I be concerned with that, Arh? If she happens to have a triad ceremony there will be three mates chosen—I have just as much chance as you do.”
“No, I know that she hasn’t touched anyone else and that seems to have upset you. How long were you watching?” Arh asked.
I pursed my lips. I could sense the tension rising between the two and spotted Mikaela watching them in confusion—clearly unsure of what was going on.
“Hello,” I announced, walking into the home cave and making my way toward her. “Good to see that everyone is here.”
“Dey,” Arh began, walking past Scar in my direction. “Is it true that your brother knows some of her language?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes, he has learned English—well, somewhat,” I said.
“English? Is that what they call it?” Arh asked.
I nodded, looking past him to Scar. “Aye, it is,” I said. “Scar, has Mikaela been outside today?” I asked, wondering why I had seen Arh walking her back to the cave.
Scar pursed his lips and gave a slight nod. “Aye, I think Arh kept her from venturing far off though. I happened upon them coming back inside.”
“Indeed, she was walking the creature in the meadow, staring at the sky like she desired to fly away,” Arh murmured.
I chuckled.
“Perhaps she does,” I whispered, though inside I prayed not.
Seven
Mikaela
The evening before, I had found myself surprised when Arh both properly introduced himself to me and presented me with the most delicious food I had eaten in ages. However, I felt a bit strange when Scar had walked into the yard and noticed me hugging him.
Here I had thought the place was a ghost town, but it obviously had eyes in places that I did not even realize. Hell, Tremor hadn’t even barked to indicate someone was coming when Arh had first appeared, and it made me wonder why.
I pursed my lips, eyes dashing out over the fire as I watched Veruka, Dey, and Scar all conversing while they ate.
Arh had taken leave again, and I found myself disheartened by not seeing his face. Maybe I had been wrong to call him The Brute because now it seemed like an entirely different person was presenting themselves to me. But what I didn’t understand was why.
I scooped up Tremor and smiled at him.
“It really sucks only having you to talk to. Maybe we should go visit Ella?” I asked. Tremor began wagging his tail and suddenly Dey turned to look at me—as if he had understood what I had said. “What?” I asked.
“Ella?” he asked me.
I nodded. “Yes, Ella,” I repeated, wondering what he would say.
I still did not understand the connections of all the purples, but I had begun to suspect that Veruka was the mother of at least a few of the males who were seeing to my care.
He pointed at me and then tilted his head, pulling a stick from his satchel and pointing to the ground. I perked a brow. Did he want me to write something? That wasn’t exactly my best subject and I frowned in response.
All I wanted was to talk to another person and actually understand them. I couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for Ella to come here, and want to stay, without having any sort of communication standards.
What did Dey expect from me?
He began drawing shapes in the dirt and I suddenly realized what an idiot I was. He was trying to use pictures to explain his thoughts—a sign of obvious intelligence, and the very definition of art.
The Eilahasans were obviously incredible people, but that wasn’t enough for me. I needed to learn ways to communicate, and I needed to do so immediately.
Especially if I wanted to find a way off this planet.
Arh
I was unsure of what to do with myself but could feel the tensions rising between me and Scar within my mother’s cave—and that wasn’t a place I dared to be disrespectful.
However, he had been right when he said ‘if Mikaela chose to have a triad ceremony’. What if she didn’t wish to have one at all? Did that mean I was forbidden from knowing her as a female?
These thoughts had never before been awakened in me and now I wondered what the council would do should I choose to engage the feelings that Mikaela had stirred within both my heart and groin?
I wanted her—nearly as much as I wanted the great stag I had slaughtered for presentation to Ella. The difference, however, was Mikaela had embraced me of her own accord whereas Ella had shunned me from the moment she had laid eyes on me.
Perhaps it was possible that fate had been laughing at my misfortunes all along, knowing that one day this female, this curvy creature I had been blessed to touch, would find me desirable despite us having gotten off to a fighting start.
Had she finally begun to notice the value I had to her? That I only wanted her happy, healthy and protected?
If so, what did that mean to her? What did it mean to me? And what if she did choose not to participate in the triad ceremony unlike what Ella had done?
There was defiance in her, I noticed it from the start, and it seemed that going along with what others wanted was just not something Mikaela had been created to do.
I worried about what the Council would do and knew my time of silence was growing still. Especially now that so many knew of Mikaela’s existence. Though Karr had agreed to allow her to heal before she was presented to the council. To give her ample opportunity to be of sound mind when they finally asked her to make her selections.
I had so many questions, and as much as I wanted to remain near her I knew that space away was needed to reflect upon my own desires.
The last thing I wanted to do was end up rejected and scorned by yet another female I had worked so hard to attract.
And, yet, Scar’s warning voice wouldn’t flee my head. What if she never chose? Would the hug I received be all I would ever get by way of reward from her?
I prayed not, but only the future really knew.
Scar
I wasn’t angry about what I had seen, but I knew that Arh would make it a challenger scene if I let in on how I truly felt.
Then there was knowing that Mikaela had made it clear to Ella she did not wish to stay on Eilahas—a fact that I knew wasn’t likely to change from the way she continued to try venturing away from the cave.
But, I also knew the tension that had formed between the two of us was fringing on a fight, and I did not want that to occur while visiting Veruka’s home.
I enjoyed cooking for her, and considering the many necessary healing duties she had, it was good for me to do so. But should Arh and I disrespect her home, I could only imagine what the repercussions would be.
So, noticing him leave of his own accord had admittedly shocked me. This wasn’t usual for him, which meant my words must have struck a chord within and he needed space to consider what was actually happening around him.