White: Emala's Story (Ragoru Beginnings Book 1)

by S. J. Sanders

  “I’m all right,” she reassured him. “Just a little banged up. Nothing is broken though, which is a miracle, and nothing is bleeding. I’m just going to be tender for a few days.”

  The Ragoru tapped her lightly on the arm and opened his palm questioningly. She frowned in confusion and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

  A vexed expression crossed his face. He touched her chest, his mouth, and then opened his palm with a questioning glance.

  “You speak me, what...” she frowned at him for a second before her brows snapped up with understanding. “Oh! You want to know what to call me... You want to know my name?”

  He smiled and nodded as he drew closer to her, forcing her to tilt her head back further to meet his sky-blue eyes.

  “My name is Emala.”

  His lips quirked and he tapped his heart, his eyes glimmering with obvious affection.

  She chuckled. “I guess you like it.”

  He nodded again and after some thought swept his fingers in front of his heart and then pointed to her and repeated the gesture.

  “Is that—are you saying my name to me?”

  His smile widened further, and he nodded.

  “That is very pretty. Thank you,” she said. “What is your name?”

  He dropped two fingers from his lips and then hooked his thumb when his hand dropped at his throat. She repeated the gesture back to him, but his expression fell, and a frustrated look returned, but he nuzzled her and stepped away to extinguish their fire as if there were nothing wrong.

  She frowned and moved to follow him but stopped short when a sharp twinge of pain flared at the twist of her hips. Tightening her lips, she slowly went through a range of movements to test her mobility. She felt a lot stiffer and more tender than she had the night before. Walking wasn’t going to be pleasant.

  He let out a gusty sigh from where he crouched, his eyes narrowing on her thoughtfully. Emala wondered what exactly he was up to. She was not prepared when he bent down and swept her up into his lower pair of arms. Her fingers dug into his fur as she let out a startled sound. He nuzzled one more time, his blue eyes softening as he peeked down at her and then, without further warning, they were off. He stopped only long enough to pick up the buck he’d left outside the shelter, swinging it over a shoulder effortlessly.

  She wondered how the huntsmen hoped to ever conquer such a strong species. They’d gotten lucky with the northern clans from what her mother said, and only because her mother’s uncle, a greedy and unscrupulous man, had tipped off the Order. It was only for that reason they were able to catch so many Ragoru unaware when gathered for Jaryna’s mating ceremony. Although her mother had been mated in truth to her males for months, the triads had traveled far to witness the event that mingled new blood with theirs and promised a great future for the clans. If those males had been anywhere near as powerful as the one who carried her and a deer tirelessly, there would have been no way that the Order of the Huntsmen would have been successful without surprise on their side.

  Just thinking of her mother and the way she’d grieved year after year for her deceased mates made Emala’s heart ache. If she stayed with this male and his triad, would she end up facing the same fate? The idea of seeing him shot dead by a huntsman made her blood run cold. Part of her wanted to insist that he take her to Myst Sanctuary, or any other nearby village. She couldn’t think of him facing the possibility of being killed because of her. The only thing that stayed her tongue was remembering the unaffected way he accepted the potential threat. If he wasn’t worried about it, should she push him away without cause? Of course there was a chance that his triad wouldn’t feel the same way about it. They could reject her, and she’d find herself alone in a village without resources or friends.

  Refusing to torment herself further with it, Emala pressed her face against his chest, allowing his fur and the heat of his body to warm her. She was grateful that the snow had tapered off at some point during the night, although part of it could also be due to the fact that they were descending the lower slopes of the mountain. The sun felt blissfully warm and whenever they stopped to rest, she could see the telltale signs of rapid melting. Water dripped steadily from the trees and dribbled down rocks.

  The ground grew slushy and bare patches of ground that began to appear around midday were slick with mud. Still, with no path in sight, the male holding her weaved effortlessly between the trees as if he were following a clearly marked trail. These woods were familiar to him. She doubted that she, or anyone else, would be able to easily navigate the confusing tangle of trees the way that her Ragoru could.

  Emala sighed into his fur. She really wished that there was a way she could figure out his name. It was tiring to constantly think of him as her Ragoru. What in the world would she do when there was three of them?

  Chapter 10

  Vordri stood at the entrance of the den, staring at the mountain that loomed over their territory. The sun lit the skies behind the mountain in brilliant hues of pinks and oranges. Normally he loved this time of the day. He would drink his hot taki, enjoying the flavors on his tongue while he watched a new day usher in. Today, however, he was worried.

  This was the third morning with no sign of Mishar. He knew that his brother had said that he might be out as late as three days. It wasn’t the first time he’d gone out hunting alone and he always came back safe. Vordri couldn’t put a claw on what exactly was disturbing him on this occasion. Perhaps it was the unusual snow. The snow season was always short in their area, lasting only a couple of months before it receded to make way for spring.

  To have snow this early had felt like a bad omen.

  Not that he’d ever considered himself the superstitious sort. He was too practical to indulge in eyeing the signs the way that his second father had. The male had been obsessed with keeping his family in harmony with the will of the gods by every sign that he witnessed, even the smallest of happenstances. Vordri preferred to act with direction rather than building his life around groundless reactions. He honored the Mother, but he felt he did so the best by being a good male in all facets of his life. He only looked for signs when he asked for them. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was something happening that was outside of his control that involved Mishar.

  Even their usually affable lead male, Korash, was beginning to worry. There were few things that caused him to worry now that their triad had become a solid family. It had taken time before they’d been able to convince him that they were not concerned about their ability to attract a mate, but once that was accomplished Korash proved to be a male with an easy disposition. That he showed concern over Mishar’s absence was enough to make Vordri feel like he wasn’t overreacting.

  Korash stepped near the doorway and his gold eyes met Vordri’s yellow gaze. “The sun is warm, but the scent of snow is on the air again. It is going to be a hard winter, I think.” He sighed at Vordri’s scowl. “I know you want to go look for him, Vordri, but be patient for just a little longer. It is still early.”

  “I do not like it,” Vordri snarled. “Mishar is never late. If he said that he would be home by the third day, he would be here with the sun on that day at the latest. Something has delayed him!”

  “It is possible that whatever delays his return isn’t bad,” Korash offered hopefully.

  “What could possibly be on that mountain that would delay him that isn’t worrisome? The only good thing that comes from that place is game, and he would have already hunted and returned. He wouldn’t have lingered there in hope of bringing down more prey without one of us present to help him carry it back to our territory. Mishar is not foolish.”

  “What are you worried about, specifically, brother?” Korash asked.

  Vordri sighed and scraped one clawed hand through the long fur of his mane. “I worry that perhaps something happened in that snow, or that huntsmen discovered him at a moment when he was vulnerable. Our position here behind the seven standing
stones is precarious. We are safe here, but outside of our territory, especially near the mountain passes, we run a greater risk of being targeted.”

  The other male’s brow shot up in surprise. “You think a human would so easily be able to find a way around Mishar’s defenses? He is like a ghost on the snow. I do agree, however, that this situation is concerning. I just do not think we should overreact and leave our territory to hunt him after a small delay. He would not appreciate it if he feels that we do not trust him to hunt on his own.”

  Vordri grimaced. Their triad hadn’t had many disagreements, but after several revolutions, Mishar had grown tired of their overprotectiveness. They had incorrectly reasoned that since the male could not call out for help, that it made him vulnerable. His brother had done the only thing that he could think of: he attacked them both head on. It had not been the playful wrestling from when they were rogs. Mishar had been earnest as he vented all of his anger in his aggressive assault. He hadn’t been satisfied until both yielded. By rights, he could have attempted to dominate Korash and taken the mantle of lead from him, but his brother hadn’t desired it. Instead, he had gained their respect and their oaths to not infringe on his freedom again unless it was absolutely necessary.

  Part of him argued that it was in fact necessary. It could even be an emergency. The only thing that kept him from acting on it was the thought of the disappointed way that Mishar would look at him if he chased after him as if his brother were nothing more than an unruly rog who’d escaped from the den. Worse, it would diminish his brother’s trust in him.

  “How long,” he growled from between clenched teeth, “should we wait before we do something about his absence?”

  Korash frowned again toward the mountain. “I say that we give him the day. If he hasn’t returned by two sun-marks past midday, then we will track him. Until then, we will return to our den and prepare for the storm that is coming. I doubt it will arrive before nightfall, but I have a feeling this one will hit us harder in the valley than the last snows that rolled down from the mountain.”

  Vordri grumbled but followed Korash back inside. He left the doorway open to let in as much fresh air as possible. Once the snows started coming in earnest, the den would be sealed much of the time against the elements. If they were unlucky and a storm moved in before his brother returned, he would have an honest reason to be concerned. Although their fur could protect them from much, and they were a hardy species, little could save a lone male caught out in a storm. If they didn’t find Mishar before a storm hit, there would be a good chance that he wouldn’t be found at all.

  He shuddered. He’d seen the decayed remains of Ragoru who had died in blizzards. The blackened flesh falling away from bone had made him sick. The idea of finding Mishar in such a state... Vordri shook his head, angry with himself. He would find him in time. As soon as the second mark passed, he wouldn’t delay in finding his brother’s trail.

  He paced restlessly through the central den, refusing to acknowledge Korash’s exasperated sigh. Every now and then, he turned toward the door to stand at the opening and scent the air while his eyes searched for any sign of the returning male. The wind had changed direction, much to his frustration, and Vordri lost all scents coming in from the mountain. It didn’t stop him from trying to at least catch sight of him. As the day progressed, even Korash began to alternate with him in scanning the hillside for any side of Mishar while Vordri grew increasingly impatient.

  At the first mark following midday, he had enough. With a snarl, Vordri grabbed a premade pack of supplies from their storage room and strapped it to his body. The sink of the leather straps into his fur was always uncomfortable, but it was a small price to pay for a pack that would remain secure as he traveled. As a younger male, he’d once attempted to travel with the strap lying loose over the surface of his pelt and had nearly fallen off a cliff in the mountain passes when his bag tangled in the brush growing near the edge.

  Korash followed close behind as he made for the door. “I thought we agreed to wait until the second mark?”

  “It is close enough,” Vordri muttered as he pushed out the door. A few flakes fell on his nose, which had him looking up at the pale gray clouds above. The sunlight was swiftly snuffed out by the looming presence of the approaching storm. As if to agree with his assessment, the wind picked up stirring his fur and he cursed. It was moving in faster than either he or Korash had anticipated. “We must hurry!” he snapped when he saw Korash lingering back, a startled look on his face.

  Curious as to what surprised his triad brother, Vordri peered in the same direction and drew up short. Mishar’s silhouette had emerged from the trees, a fat four-horned tail-flapper over one shoulder and something else carried in his lower arms. The tail-flapper overpowered the scent of the other kill, but it smelled both exotic and familiar. What was it? Had his brother been so ambitious to foolishly hunt another beast? It wasn’t like they didn’t have plenty of dried meat to get them through the winter. It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t chide him. Vordri was too relieved to see that his brother was well.

  Korash opened his mouth to speak. “Vordri, wait...” But he didn’t heed him. He loped toward his brother, a relieved smile on his face until the full force of the scent that he’d dismissed hit him. He slowed to a walk and then stilled, his eyes widening when he saw what his brother carried.

  A human! His brother brought a human to their territory!

  Bewildered, he stared as his sibling came nearer, the male’s ears drooping no doubt due to Vordri’s horrified response. But what else should Mishar have expected? Humans were never to be led near a den! The closer his brother got, the more convinced he became that Mishar had to be operating under some sort of compulsion. There was no way his brother would bring a human into their territory—to their very door—unless he was being forced to. Vordri refused to allow that creature to harm him. It would pay. It would die painfully, and then Mishar would be released.

  Vordri tore through the trees with a furious growl, not even noticing the way his brother’s eyes widened in alarm, or the defensive tense of the male’s muscles. His vision was fully narrowed in on the strange human clinging fearfully to his brother’s fur like a parasite. It would die by his claws.

  Chapter 11

  Korash hurried after Vordri. He didn’t know how he ended up in a triad with brothers who didn’t pay attention to any attempt he made to lead. At first, it had frustrated him. Vordri was too protective of Mishar to tolerate any displays of dominance. Vordri himself took everything only as a suggestion, half of which he willfully discarded. Once again, his inability to exert any influence on his brothers was going to have unfortunate results. This time with far worse ramifications than the time Vordri gorged himself on maple syrup the one time they’d scouted to the far north to see if he could locate any of his clan. A full day of caring for his triad brother, sickened on the sweet substance, had been enough to try his patience.

  This was bound to be infinitely worse. He’d never explained to his brothers the ways of the northern clans. Although he knew that Mishar and Vordri had a father from the clans, he also knew that he hadn’t shared certain things with them, such as the arrangements between certain human families and the clans. Korash had known, from their inability to fully comprehend exactly why Ragorus would wish to assemble into close-knit family groups, that they would have a harder time accepting some of the mating traditions among his brethren. Females held onto their own smaller parcels of land within the larger clan territory since they weren’t comfortable living in close proximity with other female Ragoru. The males hunted together throughout the larger territory and had strong ties with their clan brothers. Yet the clans had one true peculiarity that no other Ragoru from the southern territories would ever understand: a carefully guarded secret.

  Every generation, a triad among their clans would be selected to receive a human mate from a family who had bargained with those who’d brought the Ragoru from their dying plane
t. According to the oral traditions of his people, once it had become apparent that the indigenous species would not willingly mix with the Ragoru, they found families spread throughout the lands that were willing to select one of their daughters who would be joined with a Ragoru triad.

  He remembered when it happened for his brother. Mek, several seasons older than Korash, had been overjoyed when a human female, after several seasons mingling with suitor triads, agreed to mate with him and his brothers. It had been a momentous occasion for the clans because an unheard-of five other females had also selected mates. Never before in anyone’s memory had so many females agreed to mate. It was normal to see anywhere from five to ten females during the courting seasons, but rarely did more than one or two females choose from among the males. Most returned to their human families. It was such a momentous event that the clans planned a great gathering to celebrate. By the time of the gathering, his brother had even more reason to celebrate. He had already bred a rog on his female, due to arrive in the spring.

  Korash vaguely remembered Mek’s mate. He’d seen her a few times in passing but he had only just entered into his maturity and spent much of his time traveling among the territories of the clans as young males did in order to bond with males to form his own triad. He’d been happy for his brother but hadn’t been particularly interested. He wasn’t yet ready to mate himself and rarely gave much thought to females. He was enjoying being on his own too much. He’d seen her from a distance once, her dark mane twisted and pinned to her head as bright green eyes regarded everything around her with interest. She had seemed so sweet that he’d been relieved when, upon arriving late to the gathering, that he hadn’t seen her bloody body among the ruin of corpses that had littered the area. The other human females hadn’t been so fortunate. Their bellies had been ripped open down to the sex and their innards pulled out. He was already numb by the time he came upon the bodies of his parents and siblings in various states of slaughter. Seeing Mek dead had pushed him beyond what he could endure. Korash had cried out to see that his eldest brother had been left slumped over the bodies of his triad brothers, his head nearly severed and his hand clenched tight.