Oh'Dar's Quest

by Leigh Roberts

  Adia laughed at the image of a matching wolf-sized sleeping mat next to Oh’Dar’s. While he and Nadiwani continued discussing his new sleeping arrangement, Adia kept her expression neutral but slowly inched her leg over, and under the table, she pressed it up against Acaraho’s.

  He dropped his food.

  The others stared at him.

  Realizing that if this continued, he would be trapped sitting there for some time, Acaraho said he was going to retire early and got up to leave.

  As he walked past Adia, he stopped directly beside her and pressed his leg against hers. He placed one hand on her shoulder. Then he leaned over and let his lips and warm breath lightly brush her ear as he whispered, ‘Sweet Dreams.”

  Everything within Adia tightened deliciously in response. The evening could not pass quickly enough.

  The rest talked among themselves as they finished their meal. Nootau asked if he could go and play with Kweeuu, and Oh’Dar agreed enthusiastically. He was anxious to show Nootau all the new tricks that the young wolf already knew.

  Adia’s mind bounced from topic to topic. She bit her lip to try and settle down. She pushed her food around but did not eat. From across the table, Nadiwani threw a mushroom cap at her to get her attention.

  Adia jumped and glared at her friend.

  “Goodness! You two have to tone it down!” Nadiwani’s hands flashed quickly, not wanting the boys to see.

  Adia did not want to tone it down. If anything, she wanted to stoke it up, at least to forest blaze proportions. But Nadiwani’s point was well made. They were acting openly like a paired couple. So far, Adia and Acaraho had support and acceptance of their arrangement from the majority of the community. But there were still a few who looked at them askance.

  Both Adia and Acaraho were kind and humble, wholeheartedly giving of themselves to the community. Adia spent countless hours at the bedsides of those who needed her services. Those who reported to Acaraho respected and looked up to him without reservation. Had Adia and Acaraho been different people, the community might well have turned against them long ago.

  But it was still not acceptable protocol for the Healer to have an offspring—let alone to be raising two. Adia had broken a Second Law by allowing herself to be seeded. Everyone thought Acaraho was Nootau’s father, and to flaunt their relationship openly was asking for trouble.

  Change was hard for the People, and Adia was lucky that things were going this well. Nadiwani was wise to warn her that she had better not push the line too far, and Adia knew it. So she nodded at her friend. Message received.

  Acaraho greeted several of the guards on his way through the hall. He made a point of stopping at the table of the unpaired males to chide them good-naturedly.

  “I was glad to hear of Khon’Tor’s announcement. I am sure you will have a lot on your minds over the upcoming months,” he said.

  The round of males chuckled and nodded.

  Akule volunteered, “I know I will!” He brought his palm down on the table with a bang for emphasis. The males broke out in laughter, and those on either side of him clapped the watcher on his back and grinned knowingly. Akule enjoyed the good-natured kidding of his peers. He had watched other couples for some time, and he saw the goodwill and kindness between them. He hoped the same rewarding experience awaited him.

  Most of the males abandoned their single status within several years, if not months, of becoming eligible. Others, like Akule, struggled with the decision for some time. Usually, those who wanted to live with their mate took longer to decide because it was such a life-changing decision.

  The High Council took great care to match pairs who had the same goals. In Akule’s case, as someone who wanted a true partner to create a family pod, the High Council would not select a mate for him that round if there was not a female with the same goal.

  Not everyone who was paired would establish a family. For many of them, it was a means to an end. As a result, there were couples who came together only for enjoyment and procreation, returning afterward to their separate lifestyles.

  Sometimes, once the offspring came, the pair moved into private quarters as a family unit. But it was not unusual for a mother and father to raise their offspring without ever building a life together as a family.

  The unpaired males often lived together for support and companionship. Unpaired females, however, usually stayed with their family, close to their mothers.

  It was still early when Acaraho got to his quarters. He paced around the room, thoughts whirling. He absent-mindedly straightened his sleeping mat and tidied the items on his worktable. Then he leaned against it, head down, and heaved a deep sigh.

  I am acting like a nervous male on the eve of Ashwea Awhidi. I hope I can get to sleep.

  He pawed through the stack of storage baskets, looking for something to help him relax.

  I know Nadiwani gave me something once; what was it?

  He picked up the tiny baskets and squinted at the contents. One smelled like Lavender. Deciding that was it, he took the leaves and sprinkled them on his sleeping mat.

  I should have taken a long walk to tire myself out. From now on, I’ll have to ask Adia not to tell me ahead of time!

  Despite all his efforts, Acaraho could not get to sleep that night.

  As Acaraho was trying to get to sleep, Adia was pacing around her quarters, also fussing with everything. This is the perfect opportunity, with Oh’Dar staying at his workshop with Kweeuu.

  When she finally lay down, she tossed and turned. The morning sun filtering through the light tunnel found her still awake.

  A while later, Adia’s face lit up when she saw Oh’Dar approach as she sat in the communal eating area. She patted the bench for him to sit and put her arm around him in a hug. He nestled against her, soaking up her soft, motherly warmth. Unwelcome tears threatened to fall, and he sneaked his hand up to pinch them away.

  If Oh’Dar had been torn before, his inner struggle was now unbearable. Overhearing Khon’Tor say that he was a threat to everyone had destroyed any peace he could ever find at Kthama. His thoughts were now filled with plans for finding his Waschini family. Even though he was almost a man, the idea of never seeing Adia again, or Nadiwani, or Acaraho, or Nootau, threatened to make his tears fall once more. How could he spend the rest of his life never knowing what had happened to them? His mother and father were still young, but in time everyone aged and grew old. He wondered who Nootau’s mate would be, and what offspring they might have. And what of Is’Taqa and Honovi, who were also like family to him?

  When I leave, what will they all think happened to me? I must leave some kind of message, something to explain my disappearance. And to explain that they should not try to find me; that this is my choice and that I want them to respect it and let me go.

  Nadiwani and Nootau were nowhere to be seen, most likely not yet having arisen. Acaraho, however, soon joined them. He plopped his food down on the rock surface of the table and stepped over the bench to sit down next to Adia.

  “Did you get any sleep?” Adia asked.

  “Not a lick,” he said, stabbing at his food maliciously, raising his eyes to look at her.

  “Me neither.” She let out a long, deep breath.

  Oblivious to the subtext of their conversation, Oh’Dar had no idea why Acaraho was being so mean to his meal that morning.

  “Acaraho? Would you come out with me later and help me gather some bedding grasses?” he asked.

  Acaraho placed his hand on Oh’Dar’s head and ruffled his hair affectionately. He caught Adia’s eye before answering, baring his teeth at her in a fake smile, but his eyes were twinkling. “Sure. I’ll be back in a little while to get you. But I must first go and throw some trees around,” he answered.

  Adia covered her lips with her hand, suppressing a laugh. Oh’Dar did not know what was going on, but he knew that his mother and the male he thought of as his father were kidding each other about something.

  Acaraho stood
up to leave. “You can bring Kweeuu if you want. The exercise will do him good.”

  Oh’Dar got up and gave his father a big hug. Though he had grown, Oh’Dar’s head still barely reached to Acaraho’s chest. Acaraho gently wrapped his arms around the young man, being careful not to hug him too hard in return. At the same time, he shrugged at Adia, wondering what the affection was about.

  Acaraho had not been joking. He did indeed go down onto the forest floor, and, finding the largest fallen logs, he heaved them overhead as far as he could. One after the other, he expended his pent-up frustration. After he smashed the tenth one into the stack he had created, he brushed off the pieces of bark and splinters and returned to find Oh’Dar and Kweeuu.

  As he entered the Great Chamber, he burst out laughing. Oh’Dar and Kweeuu stood waiting as agreed. Except that Kweeuu was sporting a set of large baskets suspended on each side, supported across the cub’s back by a wide, woven band that was somehow secured underneath. Adia and three of the guards were standing off to the side, also chuckling at the sight.

  “Are you ready, Oh’Dar?” Acaraho asked. He choked down another laugh but could not stifle a broad smile. How in the world did the boy even think of such a thing, let alone get the wolf cub to put up with it?

  Oh’Dar was smiling from ear to ear, proud of his latest innovation.

  The magnificent Acaraho and his adopted, innovative Waschini son spent the rest of the day gathering the materials that Oh’Dar wanted. Kweeuu was freed from the contraption of baskets so he could romp and play before being pressed into service to carry it all back.

  Acaraho watched the lanky grey wolf race through the underbrush. He was a mere blur as he jumped up and down the high rocks, picking up sticks and tossing them into the air as he ran. Acaraho counted back to when he had brought Oh’Dar and Kweeuu back to Kthama and figured the cub still had some months to go before he would be close to maturity. But once he reached his full size, Kweeuu would weigh well over half the boy’s weight.

  Oh’Dar called for the cub, who immediately romped back. He stood there, chewing on the stick still in his mouth, and bounced up and down a few times until Oh’Dar released him to run some more.

  Daylight began to fade, and once Kweeuu was loaded up, they headed home.

  It was the evening mealtime when they returned. Oh’Dar intentionally paraded Kweeuu through the eating area so everyone could see how docile the wolf cub was. Oh’Dar worried about what would happen to Kweeuu when his master left Kthama. He doubted that a grey wolf would last long among the Waschini and hoped Nootau would adopt the cub and continue training him. To that end, Oh’Dar made sure the three of them spent as much time together as possible.

  Adia spent the day hoisting storage baskets around in the supply room. Selecting the largest baskets, heavy with Goldenseal, Ginseng roots, and Willow Bark, this was her equivalent of Acaraho’s tree tossing. She bent over to catch her breath, hands resting on her thighs. Her whole body felt tired, and that was good. After a full meal, she was sure she would sleep well. She chose to eat in her quarters that night, afraid to risk Acaraho’s playfulness once again winding her up to sleeplessness.

  As twilight approached, Adia prepared for sleep, quieting her mind and thinking about anything but Acaraho. When the room was fully dark, she lay down and stretched out. Breathing in to the count of four, holding it and breathing out for a count of eight. She soon dropped into a peaceful sleep.

  She looked around and realized she was once again in Acaraho’s quarters. Adia had never been there in real life, but as before, she knew she was there. He lay a few feet in front of her, his great length reaching from the top to the bottom of his sleeping mat.

  She admired him as he slept, and while she did so, her heart started pounding. Her breath deepened and slowed, and her desire for him began to swell within her.

  She did not wish to startle him, so she willed him to awaken. As if on cue, his eyes opened, and he saw her standing there in the dim light.

  This time, Acaraho took control. He rolled off the sleeping mat and stood up. He walked slowly over to her, his eyes never leaving hers. He took her face in both of his hands, bringing her closer so he could kiss her. Just as the first time, it was slow and sweet. Not demanding, just tender expression. He caressed her hair, then slid his hands down to her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her. Her arms went up around his neck, and she leaned herself into him. After a moment, he gently pulled her away, and this time his kiss was more urgent, more forceful, and her longing for him stirred deeper and stronger. He slipped one arm under her knees and swept her up into his arms.

  Carrying her over to his sleeping mat, he set her down gently, then lay down alongside her.

  Adia looked into Acaraho’s eyes and willed time to slow. She did not need to worry. Now that they understood what was happening, he was going to take his time with her.

  Acaraho took her hand and raised her fingers to his lips, kissing them slowly and gently, never taking his eyes off hers. She had to close her eyes several times, overcome by the waves of pleasure that coursed through her center. She ran her free hand through his dark hair, then followed it down to where it met the hard muscles of his shoulders.

  Being a Healer, Adia had never been schooled by the older females in the art of lovemating, as they did the young females waiting to be paired at the Ashwea Tare. She did not know what to do, only that she wanted to please him as he was pleasing her.

  Adia instinctively rolled on her side to face him, laying her leg up over him, drawing him closer to her. Acaraho shifted his weight and moved closer in response. One more shift and he was positioned fully against her. No rushing this time; they lay together caressing and exchanging impassioned kisses, each enjoying the other’s desire.

  It was so exquisitely pleasurable, suspended in the moment of waiting, that she did not want it to end. But eventually, Adia’s need for him won out, and she could stand it no longer. She placed her hands on his hips and tugged him toward her. Understanding, Acaraho finally pressed himself fully forward, burying his desire deep within her. She gasped with pleasure and then again at each slow stroke he delivered. As happened the first time, it was more than either of them could ever have imagined. This time they dragged it out, enjoying each moment, the feel of their bodies finally joined and intertwined, their hands and lips on each other until their movements intensified and they could hold back no longer. And, just as it had been before, after they found release they collapsed in satisfaction and drifted into sleep, this time in each other’s arms.

  Morning found them as before, each awakening in their own bed. The memory of the previous night was crystal clear. There was no dreamlike quality; it was as real as if it had happened. Neither of them jumped out of bed that morning; they each took some time to savor what they had shared the night before.

  Adia made no effort to move, soaking up the delicious satisfaction of the burning longing that had troubled her for years.

  As she lay enjoying the sweet scent from the dried flowers and leaves of her sleeping mat, she wondered if there were any differences between what she experienced with Acaraho in the dream state and what it would be like in reality. She would never know, and so put it out of her mind. She rolled over to enjoy a few more minutes of rest. She did not see how it could be any more pleasurable than what they had now.

  The next few months passed quietly. More and more, Oh’Dar began staying overnight in his workshop. When not there, he spent time with Nootau and Kweeuu, even making a second sleeping mat for Kweeuu so the cub could sometimes stay overnight with Nootau in Nadiwani’s quarters. At first, the Helper crinkled her nose at that idea; Kweeuu was no longer a little round ball of fluff and was well on his way to becoming a full-grown grey wolf of well over a hundred pounds. However, she relented eventually.

  Oh’Dar was slowly preparing them for his absence.

  As spring approached, Oh’Dar’s sadness deepened. He found himself watching Adia and Acaraho more, memo
rizing their voices, their movements. He did not understand why, but he could see that they were growing closer and closer. It comforted him to know they had each other. And he was grateful for the quiet nights when he could grieve privately in his workshop.

  Chapter 5

  Oh’Dar lay in bed many nights thinking through each aspect of his departure. He did not want anything to be traceable back to the Brothers. As it came time to leave, he would cut his hair shorter, no longer in the style they favored.

  Lying on his side, he mentally inventoried his supplies. His new coverings were nothing like those of the Brothers. He had made sure never to use any of their bright dyes. He wrapped his foot coverings differently. The Waschini would most likely suspect that he had been with the Brothers all these years, and he did not want anything to corroborate this. As soon as possible, he would exchange his self-made wrappings for Waschini clothes if he could do so without being caught.

  As Acaraho had taught him, he would try to observe as much as possible before giving anything away about himself.

  Oh’Dar had made a small carrying pouch for the locket that he hoped would help to identify his family. It took him many hours to come up with a unique design. He based it on the general style of the Waschini riders whom he had glimpsed as they passed through in the spring. He was finally satisfied that it looked more Waschini than anything else.

  He started staying in his workshop longer and longer, getting his family used to not seeing him for a day or so at a time. He would need a head start because he could not travel as fast as the People and anyone tracking him would overtake very quickly.