by Ruby Dixon
I laugh. “I doubt that. More like I’ll still work my tail off and then when you come home, I’ll work your tail off in the furs.”
He gives my butt a sad pat. “You have already worked your tail off, my mate.”
My giggles fill the Elders’ Cave.
SALUKH
I rub at my teeth with a small stick to clean them and watch as my mate sits curled up near the fire, sewing. It is daylight outside and has not snowed for two days, which means I should get out and gather more fuel for the fire, and look for hunting. I am strangely reluctant to leave, though. My chest rumbles contentedly as I gaze at my mate, my khui humming a happy song.
My mate. She is breath-taking to look at and know that she is mine. I watch as Tee-fah-nee bends her head closer to the fire and pushes the bone awl through the furs, then tugs the cord through with long, delicate fingers. Her brown skin is flickered with orange in the firelight, and her wild halo of hair gleams. She catches me staring at her and a small smile curves her mouth.
“What is it?”
I shake my head. “Just admiring my beautiful mate and her busy fingers.”
Her smile broadens. “Your mate wouldn’t have to stay so busy if you’d be more careful with the furs at night.”
I grin, thinking of last night. In my eagerness to put my mouth on my mate, I might have ripped the furs…twice. “Your male is hungry for his female.”
“My male is not just hungry, he’s insatiable,” she teases. Her words are sharp, but the look she gives me tells me that she’s thinking about sex, too. Her breasts are rising and falling more rapidly and I can hear the hum of her khui as her arousal begins. Ah, being a resonance mate is the finest pleasure I have ever known.
I toss the tooth-cleaning stick into the fire. I’ll go hunting later. For now, there’s a very enticing female who is just begging to have her cunt licked—
“Hell-oooo,” calls out a high, female voice in the distance. “Anyone there?”
Tee-fah-nee’s head snaps up. “Ohmigohd! Jo-see!” She scrambles to her feet.
All thoughts of fur-play are forgotten, and I follow my mate as she dashes toward the entrance to the Elders’ Cave. I dug a tunnel through the snow out to the open a few days ago, and it has not yet filled in. Footsteps crunch and my mate does a happy bounce, clapping her hands, as fur-bundled figures waddle in through the entryway, their snowshoes tracking snow inside.
“Jo-see!” Tee-fah-nee flings her arms around the first figure, giving her a long, happy hug. “You’re safe! I’m so glad!” Then she turns to the next one and her happy squeal gets louder. “Leezh! And Har-loh! You’re all here! Where are your bay-bees?”
The one called Leezh pulls off her hood, shaking out bright yellow hair. “Back at the cave. Stacy’s playing day-care while we have a girls’ night out. Or day out. Or whatever.” She looks over at me and smirks. “Sorry to interrupt the hon-ee-mewn.”
My Tee-fah-nee shoots me a look and her face is ruddy with color. “Oh, stop.”
Curious. I hang back and let the females catch up with my mate. They are all chatting excitedly, shedding their furs as Tee-fah-nee takes them in hand and brings them to the fire to dry out. She has no more limp – it has been two weeks and her delicate ankle is healed. She’s radiant with happiness right now, reaching out to touch Jo-see’s arm over and over again, her relief at the sight of her friend evident. The women all move toward the fire, talking about the sur-jree ma-cheen and how Har-loh wants to look at it again and Leezh’s kit is starting to crawl and Jo-see has been at the main cave for the last two weeks and the new caverns have been opened and how wonderful and spacious they are and how Tee-fah-nee should see them!
After two weeks of relative quiet, it feels odd to have so many voices talking again. I feel a pang of regret that my time here with Tee-fah-nee will come to an end, but we will go back to the cave and start our own fire together. The thought is more than appealing, and I press a kiss to my mate’s head as I pass the fire to get more fuel.
It grows silent.
“Well, that’s new,” Leezh’s voice is coy. “Someone’s been knocking boots.”
The words do not make sense to me, but Tee-fah-nee’s giggle does. My khui starts purring at the sound, and I hear hers join in. At once, the women gasp.
“No offing way,” Jo-see shrieks. “For real?”
“For real,” Tee-fah-nee says, and beams at her. “Salukh and I resonated.” She reaches a hand out to me and I put my palm in hers. There is such beauty and contentment in my mate’s face, I resonate even louder, the song in my breast one of pure happiness.
Leezh and Har-loh both exclaim happiness, patting my mate and pulling her forward to hug.
Jo-see bites her lip and the smile on her face fades a little. “I’m happy for you, but sad for me. Now I’m the only one left.”
Tee-fah-nee’s face grows sad and she extends her other hand to her friend. “Give it time. It’ll happen.”
“We’ll see.” Her expression looks like she doesn’t believe Tee-fah-nee.
“If the ma-sheen,” Tee-fah-nee begins. Then, she stops.
All of the females look at me.
I am not a fool. I can tell when a male is not wanted. I kiss my lovely mate’s brow again and then gesture at the fire. “Remain here. I will hunt something to feed all of you.”
• • •
I hunt for several hours to give the females time to talk amongst themselves. As I walk, I pick up fallen branches and dung chips, adding them to the satchel I carry over my shoulder for fuel. The snow is thick and crusty, and my legs sink up to the shin with every step, but the game is plentiful. I spend most of the afternoon checking traps and then bringing the fresh kills back to the cache I have been using to feed my mate. I add new game to it for the next hunter, and then bring home a fat scythe-beak for my mate.
When I return, the women are not in the main room. I find them all in one of the back rooms, with Har-loh halfway in the wall, pulling on what looks like a lot of colorful sinews. Nearby, Jo-see stands with her hands clasped, a hopeful expression on her face as my mate talks quietly to Leezh. Tee-fah-nee’s face brightens at the sight of me, and my khui immediately starts to purr the moment our eyes make contact.
“Oh, that is so damn cute,” Leezh proclaims. “I’d tell you two to get a room but you have a whole ship already.”
“Are you hungry?” I ask, glancing uneasily at Har-loh as she pulls out the guts of the wall. I did not even know the wall had guts.
“We should eat,” Tee-fah-nee declares. “You too, Harlow. Josie.”
“I’m not hungry,” Jo-see says.
Har-loh sets down the wall’s guts and wipes black smears off her hands. “This is going to take a while, Josie. I don’t know how many days, but it’s going to be a process of finding the burned-out component and then seeing if there’s a similar one anywhere else on the ship. It might be weeks. You’ll probably be back in the main cave by the time it’s up and running. If that’s the case, I can send a runner to come and get you.”
Jo-see nods slowly and the women emerge from the room to come and eat near the fire. It’s clear whatever Har-loh has told her is not the answer she wants to hear. Poor Jo-see. She seems sad. I rebuild the fire as the females talk amongst themselves, skinning my kill and then putting half of the meat on for charring, the way humans like it, and half raw. As the food cooks, Tee-fah-nee settles in next to me and I put my hand on her leg, pleased at the simple action of being able to touch her. I will never get enough of that.
When everyone has eaten enough, Leezh looks over at us. “So what’s the plan?”
“Plan?” I look to Tee-fah-nee.
She puts her hand over mine and gives it a squeeze. “I guess I’m ready to go back to the South cave whenever it’s safe to travel. My leg is better.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jo-see says. “Might as well get my things.”
Leezh nods. “There’s no reason to split the caves anymore. With the new ca
ve system opened up, there’s plenty of room for everyone, even newly mated couples.” One of her eyes closes in an exaggerated motion.
At her side, Har-loh groans. Leezh does it again.
“Is something wrong with your eye?” I ask Leezh.
All four women break into laughter. Tee-fah-nee just pats my knee and murmurs something about me being sweet.
I don’t understand what I missed, but my mate’s touch reminds me of what is important. “If Tee-fah-nee does not want to go back just yet, we will stay here.”
“It’s fine,” she tells me in a calm voice. Her fingers stroke mine. “It’s not like the others can still try to pursue me as their mate. I’ve been thoroughly claimed.”
And her face turns a ruddy shade as the other women titter.
• • •
We part ways with the women in the morning. Both Har-loh and Leezh are anxious to get back to their kits and their mates and are quick to leave. Jo-see decides to return with us to the South cave. “I need to get my stuff if we are all moving,” she says. The smile is back in her eyes and her expression is bright once more.
The snow is thick on the ground and both Jo-see and Tee-fah-nee exclaim over the changed landscape. They are slow to walk the paths thanks to the snowshoes on their feet, and I make sure they have plenty of time to safely cross the sloping ground. I will not rush them as Taushen did. We make camp in one of the hunter caves overnight, and I build a fire for both Tee-fah-nee and Jo-see to stay warm while they sleep. I guard the entrance, ever on alert. My mate is the dearest thing in the world to me and I will not let my guard down for a moment if it would mean her injury.
In the morning, we clean up the small cave and then head on toward home. Both women are in good spirits, Tee-fah-nee smiling instead of her normal pensive look, and Jo-see chatting and singing along the way. I am watchful, but I cannot resist staring at my mate constantly. I could gaze at her fine features for hours on end and never be bored. Truly, I am the luckiest of sa-khui to have won the most attractive, smartest mate. To add to my blessings, we will soon have a kit. My heart is full.
“Look,” Tee-fah-nee calls out as we near the South cave. “My plants are growing!” She tromps forward in her snowshoes, toward the fragile pink stalks that jut from the snow. “It worked!” She digs her furry mittens into the snow as Jo-see moves to her side.
“The plants use the same fuel as the fire?” I ask, remembering her task of dropping a dung cake into each hole dug for seeds.
“I guess it nourishes the seed itself. I just remembered a story about Native Americans and the first Thanksgiving and the Indians putting fish in with the seeds to make them grow, so I thought manure might do the same.” She claps her mittens and beams up at me. “This is so great! This means we can plant our own food and have lots of not-potatoes for the next brutal season.”
She is clever, my mate. I smile my pride down at her. “You are wise as well as beautiful.”
“Oh barf, get a room, you two,” Jo-see says and stomps on ahead.
Tee-fah-nee giggles and gets to her feet, smiling at me. “Seriously, this is so great. I’m stoked.”
I’m not sure what stoked means, but it is clear to me she is pleased at her own cleverness. I am, too. “It is a shame we will have to leave them behind if we are all moving back to the main tribal caves.”
“I can plant them there, too. I’ve been saving seeds. I’d like an entire snow garden, if I can swing it.”
“I shall dig all the holes you need,” I tell her.
“I was counting on that.”
We arrive back at the South caves a few moments after Jo-see and it’s clear there is much celebrating. The human women hug and Aehako gives me a friendly clap on the shoulder. “We will talk later about your disobeying my orders,” he murmurs.
“If I did not, the women would have been in danger and the hunters would have been caught out in the storm unawares.”
He grins. “Which is why we will talk later instead of me booting your tail right now.”
I know then that things are fine. He is smiling and not angry, and everyone in the cave is safe. The hunters are all there. Taushen is by the fire with the others, and Haeden has a strange look on his face as he gazes from the back of the cave at Jo-see. I can’t tell if it’s relief or anger.
My sister Farli comes running out to hug me, and the tiny dvisti scampers at her feet. She flings her arms around my neck and I embrace her, laughing. “We have been gone but a few weeks and already it follows you?”
“It does! He thinks I am his mother,” Farli says with a giddy laugh, and then looks over at Tee-fah-nee, uncertain.
“It’s all right,” Tee-fah-nee says, smiling. “You’ve been taking care of him more than I have and he should be yours.”
Farli gasps. “Oh, it is so strange to hear you speak our language! Strange and wonderful!”
“That is not all,” I tell my sister proudly, and move closer to Tee-fah-nee. As I do, our khuis begin to purr in unison, and the sound fills the cavern. Around us, eyes widen in surprise and then delight.
Aehako whoops with laughter and the smack on the back he gives me turns into a hug. “No wonder you fought so hard for her! Your brain knew before your khui did!” He slaps one of my horns.
I smile proudly. “She is mine and I am hers.”
“Then we should celebrate! Who has the sah-sah?”
Both Tee-fah-nee and I are hugged over and over again, everyone in the tribe wishing us well as two skins of fermented sah-sah are found and a celebration begins. There are not many left in the South cave, so it feels like a more intimate gathering, but it is still enjoyable. One by one, my recent rivals approach me and wish me well. There are no hard feelings, though it is evident that they are disappointed. How can anyone compete with resonance? It decides no matter what we choose, and it did not choose them. I see a few eyeing Jo-see with mild interest, but she seems lost in thought, chatting with Farli and petting the little dvisti. My sister has covered the creature with braids and colorful streamers woven into its thick mane. Since he runs around loose now, it is to ensure that no one hunts him by accident, she tells me between sips of sah-sah.
A freshly-hunted snowcat is spitted over the fire and we eat strips of bloody, raw meat while the humans wait for their bits to be cooked. Tasty seeds are passed around, and everyone laughs and has a great time. Jo-see sings a song called “Geeligans eye-land” which causes no end of amusement to the human women. The last of the sah-sah is brought out and Farli pulls out her paints, drawing colorful designs on the skin of anyone who will let her.
I do not drink much. Tomorrow will be a busy day. We will pack up the South caves and begin the trek back to the main tribal caves. There, we will start anew. Tee-fah-nee and I will have our own cave, private and away from the others. Our life together starts now.
She looks over at me as Farli draws a yellow swirl on her brown cheek, her eyes shining with happiness. My khui sings at the sight of her, luminous in the firelight. Mine, it says, singing a rhythm in time with hers. All mine.
My mate.
My cock swells in response as her gaze moves up and down my body and there’s a sultry look in her eyes. Though the fever of initial resonance has died down, I am still aroused when my chest hums along with hers. She murmurs something to Farli and gets to her feet, moving to my side.
“Shall we leave the party early?” she asks me, her hand sliding into mine.
“Are you tired?” I ask.
“Exhausted,” she murmurs, but the look in her gaze is not one of sleep. It is one of promise.
I grin. “Then shall we go and find our furs?”
“Sounds like a wonderful idea to me.” She glances around as if to see if anyone is watching. Then she gives a small shrug of her shoulders and pulls me toward the cave she shares with Jo-see. Someone hoots in response and I laugh, because this cave has no secrets. This time, though, it does not matter if they know. We are mated. Nothing changes that.
Let them know I will take my mate to my furs and lick every bit of her flesh. Let them hear her cries of pleasure. It will let them know that she is mine. My mate, my resonance.
My everything.
Chapter Eighteen
JOSIE
I sigh as I watch Tiff and Salukh not-so-furtively sneak into the cave for some nookie. I’m happy they’re happy, but being with them the last few days is trying my last damn nerve. They resonated. Great. I’m stoked for them. Jealous, too, but mostly stoked. What’s hard is that I keep worrying about me. I’m the last single woman, the last lonely human. Am I going to have a cave by myself? Am I going to be stuck in someone else’s cave like a reject? Am I going to have to listen to everyone else make out and know that I’m never going to have a mate because Harlow can’t fix the stupid surgery machine?
I stare glumly at the fire. Even all the terrible sa-khui singing (and man, they are terrible at it) and the alcohol can’t get me happy. It wasn’t so bad when I wasn’t the last human alone. I didn’t feel like a total reject then.
Now? Now I feel like a total reject.
It’s a feeling I’m kind of used to, after being dumped from a half-dozen foster homes growing up. Here, though, I felt like I was part of a family, at least for a while. Then one by one, the family paired off with mates. Not just any mate, fated mates. And now they’re all popping out babies and here I am, still sitting on the bench, waiting my turn.
A small movement catches my eye and I look up from the fire to see Haeden scowling in my direction from his vantage point in the shadows. He looks pissier than usual, which is kind of a feat for him. Our eyes lock and he crosses his arms over his chest, as if daring me to confront him. Whatever. I make a face at him. I don’t know why he’s got a hate-boner for me but I’m tired of it. I’m a little pleased – and weirdly disappointed – when he stalks away.