by Ruby Dixon
“Back to the cave,” Raahosh growls, and he stumbles in the snow.
My heart skitters in my chest and I tug on his arm. Playing around in bed is a different sort of activity than slogging through heavy snow, and I worry he’s overextending himself. Just last week, he had a broken leg. “Raahosh, wait. Don’t hurt yourself—“
He grabs the fur of my heavy cloak and hauls me against him. It takes me a moment for me to realize that he’s picking me up and carrying me away. He’s going to try and outrun them?
“Raahosh, wait!”
“They will not take you from me, Liz,” he says fiercely. “You are mine! My mate.”
“They can’t take me,” I say soothingly, trying to pet his shoulder. I’m worried he’s going to hurt himself. “Raahosh, please. You’re scaring me.”
That stops him in his desperate treading. He stops in the snow, and gently sets me down again. His hand touches my stomach, and then he cups my face in his hands. “You are my everything, Liz,” he murmurs before he kisses me.
“I know,” I say, confused.
“Raahosh! Human called Leezh!” Two voices, and new ones. “Do not run!”
We’ve been found.
Raahosh closes his eyes and holds me against him, gripping his knife. It worries me. I place my hand over his, a silent request not to attack.
And we wait.
Part Five
LIZ
Two men approach in the snow, spears in hand. They’re not running, and the spears are used more as walking sticks, so I’m not too worried. Yet.
But Raahosh? Raahosh is beside himself.
“Human called Leezh,” one of them yells again, his hand cupped to his mouth. “Wait there!”
I give Raahosh an uncertain look. There is defeat written all over his proud features, and that concerns me. I slide my hand into his to reassure him, and he squeezes it tightly, then pulls me against him in a possessive hug. “Who are they?” I ask him.
“Aehako and Haeden,” Raahosh replies. There’s a toneless quality to his voice that I don’t like.
“Friends of yours?”
He grunts.
Ah. He’s unhappy because they’ve come to take us back to the tribe and I’m not knocked up and starry-eyed with love.
Theoretically, anyhow.
I pat his back and then rub it. “You knew they’d come after you at some point, right? I mean, from what it sounds like, you ran off with the cookie jar and all.”
His hand strokes my braids. He doesn’t move, but I can feel the tension growing as the others approach.
They slog through the waist-high snow as if it’s no big deal. One is smiling as they approach, and he’s got a friendly, open look to his face that’s nice. His features are blunter than Raahosh’s blade-like ones, but his expression of good cheer makes him that much more handsome. Unlike Vektal and Raahosh, his hair is short, buzzed close to his scalp. It makes his big, arching horns look that much more prominent. He’s a slatey sort of blue all over, and while not as tall as Raahosh, he’s got arms like friggin’ tree trunks.
Earth trees, not the Not-Hoth trees.
The other alien with him looks decidedly less friendly. He’s got the same charm-school glower that Raahosh does, but that’s where the similarities end. He’s a pale, milky blue, almost as muscled as the one at his side, and has a strong nose and square jaw that make him look pissy as hell. His hair is shaved on the sides and the long crest on top is braided and falls on his back.
They’re both wearing simple leather tunics and pants, and armed to the teeth.
Not a friendly hello, then.
“Raahosh! We’ve been looking everywhere for you.” The friendly one moves forward to clap Raahosh on the back, but Raahosh bares his teeth and glares at him, pulling me behind him. The newcomer looks surprised at this reaction. “You knew we’d be out. Vektal set us after you the moment we didn’t resonate.” He claps a hand to his heart and pretends to be grieved.
The other one has no expression whatsoever.
“Hi, I’m Liz,” I say, stepping out from behind Raahosh and offering my hand.
They look at me like I’m crazy, and the unfriendly one pulls his spear back.
“No, I’m not reaching for your weapons. This is a human greeting.” I shake my hand with the air. “You know, like an introduction.”
Raahosh grabs me and pulls me back before they can examine my hand more closely. “She is my mate,” he grits out. “We resonate for each other. There is nothing to discuss.”
I smack a hand on Raahosh’s arm, because now I’m getting annoyed. “If you’re done being an utter Neanderthal, I can speak for myself, thank you.”
The newcomers exchange a look. “I am called Aehako,” says the friendly one. He gestures at his buddy. “This is Haeden.” Aehako smiles down at me. “You are Leezh?”
“It’s a short I, actually. Liz.” I correct his pronunciation.
“It does not matter,” Raahosh says, and tries to pull me back again. “They should refer to you as Raahosh’s mate.”
I frown at this. “Hold the fuck up. I don’t get my own identity anymore?”
“You do,” Aehako assures me. “He’s simply being overprotective. Happens with every resonance.” He looks nonplussed, but I see a sneer cross Haeden’s face.
Haeden lifts his chin. “Just like your father, I see. Ignoring the rules as you see fit. Impulsive, headstrong, and foolish. You are your father’s son.”
It’s clearly not a compliment. Raahosh bristles visibly. His mouth curls and I see a flash of his teeth. “I did not wish for my story to end like yours.”
Haeden snarls and lunges for Raahosh, knocking him backward into the snow.
I scream as the men push me aside, Aehako pushing his way forward to break the two men apart. I stumble backward, falling on my ass into the snow. Raahosh snarls again, and then the next thing I know, he’s pushed both of the men aside and is tenderly helping me to my feet. He pulls me against his chest once more and strokes my braids, and I can hear the hammer of his heart in his big chest.
‘Simply being protective’ is perhaps an understatement.
“I’m fine,” I say, patting him on the arm. “I just don’t understand what is going on.”
“Get your things,” Aehako says in a careful voice. He scans the skies. “We have a few hours before the suns go down, and we can get started back to the tribal cave. Rokan says there will be a storm coming in a few days, and you know he is never wrong.”
I look to Raahosh.
He touches my chin, the look on his face thoughtful.
“Do not make this harder,” Haeden warns.
Raahosh just strokes my jaw. “We’ll go with you.”
It takes about an hour to get back to the small, cozy cave that Raahosh and I have called home for the last while. Aehako’s the only one that talks, carrying on a cheerful monologue. Raahosh is silent and Haeden is, too. I’m quiet because I’m watching all three of them, trying to determine my place.
Fact is, they’re aliens. Their culture is different from mine, and what may seem innocent on the surface might end up being a big problem later. So I’m watchful, and I try to absorb everything.
To their credit, they speak English as we go, so I don’t feel left out. Aehako expresses surprise at the sight of our cave, and claps Raahosh on the back for setting himself up such a cozy place ‘right under their noses’. Raahosh doesn’t look pleased, though. He’s pretty good at keeping his emotions under wraps but I can sense his anger and frustration.
“What is this?” Aehako asks and holds up my bow.
“It’s a weapon,” I tell him, slinging it over my shoulder as we pack our things. I make sure I have it and the quiver full of bone arrows. “I use it for hunting.”
“Hunting?” His brows draw together. “But you are female. You should not be hunting.”
“Did I take a wrong turn and land on Planet Chauvinist?” I ask. “I can fucking hunt! What, you think wild
animals are going to be so enamored of my lady parts that I’m going to lure them like some Pied Piper of Pussy? What—”
Raahosh puts a calming hand on my shoulder. “The women of my tribe do not hunt, remember? They are too few in number.”
I snort. “We’ll see about that shit. You’re not exactly outnumbered three to one anymore.” And I make a big show of adjusting my bow on my shoulder, glaring at Aehako and Haeden.
Aehako just looks amused.
We clean out our small cave of extra food and blankets and pack up our water skins. I roll up the extra pelts and when the cave is in order, I give it one last look around. I feel a twinge of sadness that we’re leaving. I’m looking forward to seeing Georgie and Kira and my fellow humans again, but I have to admit, staying in this cave was kind of…nice. Cozy. Private.
And I kinda liked being here with Raahosh. The big jerk’s growing on me. Just when I get settled, we’re moving again. I’m craving someplace to call home.
But then Raahosh takes my hand, and the feeling of loss disappears. Instead of feeling uprooted, I just feel vaguely annoyed that our little idyll is interrupted just when things were getting super sexy.
Cockblocked by the aliens. Damn it.
• • •
We walk in the direction of the setting suns for a time. I’d say it’s west except that’s how it is on Earth, and this place is most definitely not Earth. When the skies turn pink and a washed out orange, we head for a small copse and make camp. Aehako has been picking up dung chips as we walk, and has a bag full of them for fuel.
It’s…probably a good thing I didn’t shake his hand.
We bunk down for the night around a campfire, and Haeden immediately stalks off to the ridge nearby and says he’s on first watch. Works for me. He’s not exactly a ball of fun, and I’ve got Raahosh if I want to hang out with someone quietly seething.
As I settle in near the fire and wrap my fur cloak around me, Raahosh grabs his spear and leans down to kiss the top of my head. “I will find some fresh meat for you.”
“Oh, but…” I watch him leave the small camp, and then it’s just me and Aehako, who’s feeding another dung chip into the fire. I frown at him. “You’re not going to go chasing after him?”
“Why?” Aehako shrugs easily. “He will return. You are here.”
Ah. So it’s not Raahosh that’s the hostage. It’s me. Gotcha. He’s right, though. As long as I’m here, Raahosh will return. Just the thought of that kind of gives me the warm fuzzes. Whatever else happens, Raahosh has my back. I’m determined to do the same for him.
But my feet hurt and it’s nice to sit by the fire, even if it’s cold outside and there’s no shelter from the elements. I scoot a little closer to it and prop up my wet, booted feet so they can dry a bit. “Tell me how the others are doing. Are they all well?”
“Healthy as can be,” Aehako reassures me, and a big smile splits his face. Despite the situation, I like the guy. I think it’d be impossible not to. “Your friends have brought much joy to our people,” he says. “For a long time, we thought a mate was a dream, and it is now a dream possible for many.”
His words make me wish Raahosh was here. I scan the trees, but my ‘mate’ — I’m still coming to terms with the whole situation — is blowing off steam by slaughtering dinner. “That’s nice.”
“We are all squeezed into our caves like quill-beasts in a snow storm, but no one is complaining.”
“Mmm. Did anyone, you know, get a vibrating cootie?”
“Resonate?”
“Yeah, that’s the word.” I’m sure Raahosh has said it to me before, but he also says things like ‘mine-mine-mine-mine’ and ‘your cunt is full of my seed’, so I sorta have to pick my words carefully around this guy. “Did anyone else resonate?”
“Oh, yes.” He stirs the fire. “Georgie you know of, of course. Pashov and Stacy resonated for each other right away, I think before her khui was even inside her. I am surprised you did not hear it.” He chuckles.
“Mmm,” I say again, because my memories of that night are of me saying ‘no’ to the cootie and Raahosh stepping on me to hold me down and forcing me to absorb it. That was not the big guy’s best moment. My betraying cootie purrs at the thought of Raahosh, though, and I rub my chest absently. “I don’t remember Stacy all that well. Is she the weepy one?”
“She cries some, but less now that Pashov is there to dry her tears.” He grins and sits back to relax. “The one that weeps the most is Ariana. She is Zolaya’s mate. He is much beleaguered by her tears.”
“Yeah, I imagine this is all pretty new to her.” Were the only ones that resonated the girls from the tubes? “What about Josie? Or Kira? Or Tiff?”
He shakes his head. “No resonance yet for them.”
“Oh.”
“They are young,” he says. “There are many years ahead of them. Plenty of time to resonate to the right man.”
“Mmmhmm. And no mate for you?”
He sighs, and for the first time, his laughing smile falters a little. “No mate and family for me yet. Plenty of time for me as well.” But he looks wistful. “Marlene and Zennek, too. And Nora and Dagesh.”
Dagesh has a weird name – the way it is said, it’s almost like the middle syllable is swallowed and chewed up again. It’s definitely not a human sound. So I just say “Good for them. I hope they are happy.”
“Some are. Some are adjusting. But the entire tribe is pleased. Many new couples and dens created. Soon, there will be many kits running around.” He stretches his legs and then flops on his side in the snow, then props up his chin with his hand. “So many new matings means new quarters for the new families.”
“Oh?”
“No one wants to hear their khuis resonate all night,” he says with a wicked grin.
I feel myself blushing. I suspect that’s not the only thing they hear all night. “Sounds like everyone’s got a cozy set-up.”
“Mm. Cozy for the new couples. Haeden and I volunteered to come after you two. It’s too crowded for a lot of the men. All the hunters are spending much time out on treks. They say it is for the extra mouths to feed, but it is also because it is cramped quarters for those that do not have a family.” He shrugs. “It’s not a problem we thought we would have again.”
“Again?”
Aehako nods and his cheery grin disappears. “Our tribe was larger before. We had many matings, many families. It was a good time for the sa-khui. But fifteen years ago there was a khui sickness that swept through the caves. Many died.” He picks at the snow in front of him. “There was not a den that was not affected by the khui sickness. So many lost mothers, fathers, mates…”
He sits up abruptly and I see Haeden stalk past the edge of the trees. I open my mouth to speak and Aehako gives a small shake of his head, a meaningful look cast Haeden’s way.
Ah. So Haeden’s sensitive about that subject. Got it. “What about Raahosh’s family?” I ask. It’s the first time I’ve actually thought that Raahosh might have a family waiting for him back home. He hasn’t mentioned one. Is it that he doesn’t want to talk about them? Or is it that he lost them in the khui sickness like I assume Haeden did?
Aehako glances around, then leans in. “Did he not tell you of his family?”
I shift forward, lowering my voice. We’re gossiping, but this is gossip I need, so I don’t care. “He hasn’t said anything. Are they at the cave? Or dead?”
“Long dead,” Aehako says in a low voice. “His situation was…an interesting one.”
I move a little closer. “I like interesting.” Plus, I really really want to know. I want to understand what makes my Raahosh tick.
Weird that I’m starting to think of him as ‘my’ Raahosh now.
“His mother, Daya, never liked his father. Vaashan was not a very patient man, and Daya was in love with someone else. But when the khui chooses, it chooses.” He shrugs. “Raahosh was their child and when he was five, his mother resonated for his father
anew. That meant another child. She insisted she did not want his kit. Refused to have anything to do with him. She even went to the chief – at that time, it was Vektal’s father.” Aehako rubs his jaw and looks troubled. “The chief declared that she could have his child, because resonance cannot be avoided. But she did not have to live with him. This made Vaashan furious. He lost his temper and kidnapped her away from the tribe. He took her and Raahosh away and did not return. We looked for them for many years, but no one found them. It was as if they had disappeared. Then, after the khui sickness had killed many, Vaashan returned with only Raahosh, and Raahosh covered in scars as you see him now. We asked him where Daya and his child were, but he said they were dead. Killed by metlaks. Vaashan’s choice to take Daya away and force her to give in to the resonance? To become his mate even though she did not want to? It cost her life and that of their kit, and so the chief punished him with exile. Raahosh was left with the tribe so he could grow up in safety.”
My heart aches at this story. It’s an awful one, and it explains a little as to why he’s so worried he’s going to lose me. “Poor Raahosh.”
Aehako nods thoughtfully. “He went looking for Vaashan some years later when he was old enough to hunt on his own. He never found him, but he said he did find some old leathers eaten by animals, and the old cave destroyed. Whatever was left of Vaashan is long gone.”
Oh, Raahosh. I think of his mother and the baby, dead. His father’s misery. How had that affected such a small child? No wonder he is so desperate to keep me, even if it means pissing off his tribe. It’s the only way he can think to react after his parents’ example.
It’s such a sad story. I lost my mother when I was very young, but I had my father and I always, always felt loved until the day he died. To have such family strife and then lose both like that made my heart break for my alien. This was why he was so possessive, so resolute in his desire to keep me hidden away. Suddenly I want to comfort him and let him know that he’s got me. That I’m his and he’s mine. Cootie or not, I’m having feelings for the big guy and he’s made life here on this strange planet interesting.