Komu mumbled about needing to go back and learn what had happened.
I pulled away, smiling at Ondrog. He did not smile back, but looked into my eyes and it seemed almost that he might have smiled. At least his eyes meeting mine were gentle like his hold.
Komu gave him a nod, easing away, and I joined him back to the settlement. Here, the foxes were now the only ones growling and yelling at one another.
Chapter 13
They all spoke Vulpen again. Demik and Mej shouting at one another, each backed by other dog-foxes and vixens, facing across not only different viewpoints but something that had happened.
“You can’t treat them like that!” Mej shouted. “That’s plenty to start without any other—”
“I won’t keep showing them my throat!” Demik yelled—fast, talking over each other.
“When they’re out here, you let Vicos and me talk to—”
“All you do is talk and trade and show them we want to be good little humans like—”
“It’s their world now! If you want to fight them, go on into town and call them out! Don’t involve the clan in your own selfish feuding—”
“We all have a feud! We should have one! They’re savages! What would you—?”
“Yes, brutes to be handled with care and cunning. Not provoked! Not—”
“You adore them so much you should live with them! Why don’t you leave like Tweal? What keeps you?”
“What will you do when they come back here with their pals? Knock them down again and get us all shot?” Mej was drowning out Demik, drawing support from others who nodded around them. “Next time there’s a man around here, you stay away. Stay in the den, jump in the river, hike to the sun, but stay away from us! You may already have done enough damage to get them up here with the Mounted Police.”
“They have no right to—”
“They have every right!” Mej was in his face, Demik finally starting to back down, dropping his gaze, breathing hard. “They’re human beings! They go where they want, take what they want, destroy what they want, and if you don’t like it you fall beneath their boots! That’s their right! They are thousands! We’re not even forty—and that’s counting kits!”
Mej stopped, chest rising and falling, while everyone looked at him or Demik or retreated, shaking their heads and getting back to their work around the dens and fires.
“Vicos? Qualin?” Mej looked around. “You’ll come with me in the morning and we’ll talk to them?”
They nodded, but Qualin said, “Take Neeve instead.”
“Not that I wouldn’t be glad to have you, cousin.” Mej smiled weakly at Neeve. “We know you’re our best diplomat.”
“As well we know I cannot speak to the humans,” Neeve finished for him. “Qualin, I am female. Remember who you’re talking about.”
Qualin suddenly looked old, his face lined and haggard as he rubbed his temples. “Yes, Neeve. Forgive me.”
“Another show of their brutality? Their filthy ways?” Demik snapped. “They treat females of their own species worse often than the mules they whip bloody or the dogs they beat and chain. They would ignore a female coming to talk of important issues. Yet these are the people you would have us bow before? Stand aside? Say since their government issued us with no paper deed for this land it is clearly for their free use? Ask, ‘Would you like our dens? Shall we hunt your food? Turn our young over to you to raise them like cattle? Might we fetch more wood for your fires? Might we shine your boots? Roll your cigarettes? Pan your streams? Cook your meals? Here, take our dogs for your sleds so you can beat and starve them. Have our mates for your beds so you can torture them.’ But, no, let’s not offend them, whatever we do. Let’s treat them with the care that noble brutes deserve. Let’s talk and be diplomatic and tread lightly. We wouldn’t want to hurt their feelings.”
By the time he stopped speaking, Demik’s voice was very soft. Everyone still around was also quiet, watching him. Many more gazes were dropped. Only a few nodded with him, hard-eyed.
Mej stared back into Demik’s black eyes, waiting silently for some time. At last, he answered, “You said it, Demik. Brutes. They do what they want. I’m not arguing with you on that.”
He backed away, starting slowly for the den while he still faced Demik. “Want to meet the next wave?” Looking around. “All of you going to let him run amok again when they’re here? You want to curse them, Demik? Punch them? That helps you sleep at night? That makes you feel like you’re sticking to your values like a good, old-fashioned fox? Fine. Then you’ll die. And after they kill you, they’ll have the rest of us, take the land, turn our dens into housing for the mill workers, and no record will ever exist that we were here. You may be too proud to negotiate, but at least you’ll be straight-backed when they shoot you. While the rest of us are lined up, I’m sure we’ll all take comfort in your pride. We’ll thank Earth Mother and Demik for solving our problems with savages.”
Mej ended his slow sliding away and his speech by turning sharply on his heel and striding quickly toward the stray’s den at the far corner of the settlement at the edge of birch trees.
Those gathered watched him go in silence, or only stared at the ground.
Chapter 14
“I have to talk to him…” Komu rested an anxious hand on my shoulder as we reached the canvas and hide den supported on an A-frame birch skeleton. “You need supper? Do you want…?” Looking around distractedly. “Why don’t you wait on this side and we’ll get you something?”
He led me to the flap for Demik’s side, though Mej had gone around to the back entrance that he and Komu shared.
Komu smiled, his face stretching while his eyes were fretful, almost scared. “There you go. Just a minute. I’ll get you some fish from the cache.”
He walked around to the back and I followed.
I kept thinking of what they’d said, some making sense and some not, wondering what Demik had done to the humans, if everyone was all right, if there was anything I could do to help. Probably not. They were trying to look after me. Even if I couldn’t help, I could at least listen and understand. Demik would explain to me, but Komu had led me over here, after Mej. Mej needed us also so I didn’t mind.
Out of sight, Mej was cursing in two or three languages, banging around inside, splashing in a basin of cold water—rustle of clothes, clink of belt buckle.
“You’re going into Dawson then?” Komu asked through the canvas as he paused outside.
“Have to,” Mej snapped from beyond the flap.
Komu tied it back on the outside.
I liked how the den smelled of them. I inhaled, wishing I had my real nose on.
“Can’t it wait until morning? What’d he do?”
“Demik? He punched that bastard Cromly in the face. Lucky no one was shooting.”
“What did Mr. Cromly do that started—?”
“Don’t!” Mej shouted suddenly and Komu jumped. “What the hell difference does it make what he did?” Mej, shirtless and with a hemp towel in his hands, face still damp, leaned out the opening to Komu, voice fierce. “That’s exactly the kind of thinking that could get us killed. It doesn’t matter what the man did. That’s thinking that implies we’re dealing with an enemy to be met on equal ground. If a total fox bit a total grizzly on the nose, would you say, ‘What did the grizzly do to deserve it?’ Like hell. You’d say, ‘What a thick fox. Why didn’t he just dash off? He’s smarter and faster than that bear. Doesn’t he know it?’ The moment you have yourself believing you’re a fox and he’s a fox, or you’re a bear and he’s a bear, you’ve already lost this game. It’s not about justice, it’s not about rights; it’s about surviving in the best possible way, hopefully prospering—just as we can prosper living alongside bears.”
Komu stared at Mej’s boots. “I know. Sorry… I only… You can’t blame him for wanting to punch the man. They’ve decided to go ahead with the mill, haven’t they?”
“Wanting to? Of course. Doing
it? Never. What—?” Mej had just spotted me and frowned. “What’s she doing here?”
Komu glanced sideways and again gave a start. “Oh—I… I thought you were around front?”
“Sorry,” Mej addressed me, suddenly shifting uncomfortably. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m not upset,” I said.
Both looked at me.
A dog sniffed around my feet. A bird flitted past.
Komu rubbed the back of his neck and looked away.
Mej ran his hand backward and forward, through his short hair and huffed out a breath.
“You should—” Mej started and stopped. Again, he looked at me. “No…” he said at last, tone calm. “Of course you’re not. That’s … good.”
“What is it the men want?” I asked.
“They want this land. They’ve poked around before. We all thought they might make trouble in the spring about it, but I think they didn’t have the money or the backing or the right people to commit just then to building a new mill up here after the last fire. They want to build a log trap at the mouth of the Aaqann River, very near where Qualin found you. Then have their lumber mill right here on this ground beside the steady supply. The system now is rough, difficult to manage. Our land would make all the work easier and more efficient for them. It seems the idea hasn’t died after all. A man named Erwin Cromly is foreman at the old mill and has been tasked with breaking ground for the new one away from fire danger in Dawson.”
Mej blew out his cheeks. “The trouble is, Dawson City is growing so fast, and there’s so much rich timber country along the Aaqann River, and there’s money to be made…” He slowly shook his head. “Anyway, ours is a good spot. They want the land and we need to talk over the situation with them. Not punch them just for being the brutes they are.”
“Couldn’t we share it?” I asked.
“What?”
“Share the land? Fox clans form multiple families for sharing of resources and protection. Humans have their city all together in a row of buildings. They’re sharing with each other too. Couldn’t they mill and we live and … share?”
Again, they looked at me for some time, then away.
“I’ll … mention it,” Mej said. “Thanks. I have to go into town and check that Cromly’s not all up in arms about this. Buy him drinks if I can find him. Then we’ll try talking tomorrow. There’s more than him to deal with, thankfully. You stay here with Demik, all right?”
“I want to see Dawson City again.”
“I know.” He rubbed his hair. “Maybe tomorrow night? Not that I wouldn’t love the company, but there have been too many involved in this for one night already. Get some supper with Demik. He’s the one who needs you most right now.”
I nodded.
“Mej,” Komu started.
“I’ll go alone. Don’t want it looking like we mean any more trouble. Vicos and Qualin will come in the morning and we’ll see the authorities.”
“Mej, think about it. It’s not safe. Let me come in with you. I’ll find a game. I’ll stay out of your way. But you shouldn’t go down there alone on those trails.”
Mej sighed, nodded, turned away. “Change your shirt. Clean up. We’re starting to look like miners.”
“As long as we don’t smell like them,” Komu muttered and followed.
Mej stepped back out in a minute, buttoning a shirt, and offered me a hand, which I took.
“Don’t worry about it.” He kissed my knuckles. “You can help us just by being around.” Looking up, he smiled into my eyes. “Be your enchanting self. Komu and I will eat something in town and be companionable with the whites. You? Salmon on a bed of herbs and mushrooms roasted with salt and salmon oil?”
I returned his smile, mouth instantly watering. Even as he said it, I realized for the first time that I’d smelled something like it in the evening smoke and cooking aromas during Demik and Mej’s argument.
Mej took me back to the fires. Demik was still arguing with others, including his father, in front of Skeen’s log den.
Neeve gave us both full plates.
“You get him,” Mej said in my ear. “Hardly as if he’ll listen to me, but he’s tired and hungry after the day and he needs to settle down.”
I went to Demik. “We have supper for you.” I stood on my toes to kiss his cheek, taking his hand in both of mine.
Demik let out a breath along with a tightness in his shoulders that slipped away like rain down glass.
“Twilight blessings,” he told the others in a tired voice, and followed me while they bid us good night in return.
Mej, snacking on Demik’s fish, gave us the two plates at their den.
The dog-foxes did not look at each other, but Mej kissed my forehead as I bid him thanks and blessings.
Then Demik and I sat on the timber before the den in evening sun while dogs sniffed around us hopefully. We watched Mej and Komu off along the trail for Dawson City before Demik looked down at his plate.
“Thank you. I suppose I’m not terribly hungry…”
I ate instead, gulping fish and swallowing soft mushrooms. After a minute only staring at the horizon, Demik smiled, gave me more from his plate, and did eat after all.
I finished mine and half of his before leaning into Demik’s shoulder while he was still eating.
“Sorry, Summit.” He chewed and swallowed. “All you need is to find your own clan, and you’ve come to a clan with enough troubles that it might be hard for us to help.”
“You’ve already been helping.” I snuggled in, holding his arm. “And what I need is you—all of you.”
He turned his face to my hair, watching me, though I couldn’t see his eyes with my head on his shoulder.
After a pause he said, very softly, “Thank you. For coming to us. For your blessings in all their forms.” He kissed my head.
“You too,” I whispered back. “I love you, Demik.” I’d meant to tell him I was sorry about the men, that I hoped something could be worked out for everyone, that I didn’t blame him for punching someone if he’d felt like he had to. But I was already falling asleep against him.
Chapter 15
Day 9
Komu should have stayed in the meeting with Mej and the elders. He should have followed what was said, cared about his mentor’s opinions at the very least. Instead, he just wanted to run.
Not run away from them. There was nothing offensive about the thoughtful elders like Qualin and his own dam, or even the disgruntled ones like Teefa or Gurmin—who agreed with Demik that humans in general were no use and whites in particular were an abomination to Earth Mother. It was simply a debate—and a dull one at that. No, Komu longed to literally run.
He hadn’t noticed how routine his life had become since maturing enough to move into the stray den. Chores, fishing, gathering, preserving for winter, evenings in Dawson City trading, gambling, tricking miners out of their gold with Mej. Day in, day out.
Then this trail with the outsider, the vixen who’d claimed their hearts and needed their help. Already, first full day back, Komu longed to set out again. Last night following Mej into town, now this listening to all the human land and sawmill and home debates was less than unfulfilling. He should be moving: pouncing in fur, dancing in skin. Or anything if it meant he could move with Summit.
She may favor Demik—and Mej—but she did like him a little, didn’t she? Komu hadn’t supposed he’d caught her nose at all—and never expected to—until she’d seen him in fur that first time. Since then he’d wondered. How far could it go? For her, just like for everyone else, was he an accessory to Mej? Or did she really care?
Would she dance with him? Would she run with him even if Mej wasn’t around? If she did, would she only do it because she was sweet and gregarious and danced with anyone, or because she favored him? With her, so overflowing, so bright, how would he know the difference?
Here he was, listening to Mej and Qualin and Teefa arguing as if indeed Mej’s shadow. Me
j had blown through a lot of gold dust last night just mollifying Mr. Cromly; getting him and his friends drunk. Now Vicos offered his take on the morning’s conversations in Dawson City. Teefa cut him off, snapping that they were all too kind to the humans, that Demik was right.
Kind? Were they kind to humans? They wanted to keep their pelts and keep running for another winter. They were smart with humans. That meant a certain amount of mollycoddling. It didn’t mean being kind to them.
Mej was offended by her word choice. Another argument ensued.
Komu sat in silence. Running, dancing, roaming the trails or casting a net—anyway would be a perfect way to spend the day as long as he was with Summit.
That night of her on stage with Mej, the image of her body, the way she moved, the flow and sensuality of her, the way she made him feel, burned into Komu’s eyes like sunlight—even now.
Would she dance with him like that? Probably not. Worth a few dreams, though. Even seeing, smelling, touching her for an instant was worth a fantasy. Getting carried away. She didn’t really like him. Right this moment she was hanging on Demik, way over at the canoes where he worked on the edge of the settlement. Demik, of course, was ignoring the meeting. Everyone knew how he felt about their lifestyle lately.
While Mej and Teefa were busy, Komu found himself slipping away from the circle. Next thing he knew, he was on his feet. A few lazy Malamutes lifted their heads to watch him. No one else even seemed to notice.
Why did he always have to be a shadow? He wasn’t a wolf with a silver he obeyed. He wasn’t a human with a rulebook. If he liked to say hello to a friend at the boats there was no one stopping him. If Mej happened to be occupied elsewhere … oh well.
Komu walked casually in soundless summer moccasins below his wool trousers. He felt warm in sunlight that his black vest absorbed over a pale blue shirt, sweating by the time he drew near to dry-docked canoes—though he should not have felt that warm.
Demik brushed on a new pitch seal. The stuff was hot from the fire and stank with an acrid bite that blocked Komu’s nose. Demik must have warned Summit to stay clear of the mess. She lay on her back on rocky earth thirty paces away, giggling while a litter of ten-week-old puppies climbed and nibbled their way over her.
Fox's Quest: A Foxy Reverse Harem Shifter Romance (Foxes of the Midnight Sun Book 2) Page 7