Gently, he lifted the beast, holding it close to his chest and taking care not to touch the bandaged wound. He stood and turned, meeting Thora's dark wide stare.
"Show me."
She gave a nod, and with a lift of her dress, headed toward the grove of pines. The male fell into step beside her and Ari once more found himself impressed with the rapport between the woman and wolf.
The animal in his arms was not heavy and he had no trouble keeping up with Thora's hurried stride. Finally they stood within the confines of the trees, the hill giving them added protection. Thora guided him to a pile of soft forest brush, where he gently laid the she-wolf. The animal hadn't responded in any way to being moved, deep in the sleep of the injured. When he stepped back, Thora immediately fell to her knees beside her pet. She spoke softly to the still beast, her fingers stroking the top of the wolf's head. After a few minutes she turned.
Pointing toward the hares on his belt, she said, "Give me those."
Ari handed them to her.
"Fetch our belongings. I'll prepare these."
Ari chuckled at the imperious tone of her order. Did the woman not understand what she owed him? She would, soon enough. Still, she was right. Their possessions needed to be gathered. Saying nothing, he strode out of the grove toward Gyllir and his packs.
When he returned and secured the horse, he found Thora had already finished decapitating and skinning the animals. He laid her sack beside her and she immediately reached in to remove a small bowl. A few moments later, blood from each of the hares filled the bowl.
"We must thank the gods for providing our meal." Thora dipped her fingers in the blood and ran it along her forehead and cheeks, and down her nose, then turned to Ari. "You too."
He held back his smile at the command in her tone. While he didn't usually take kindly to being ordered about, he would acquiesce. This time. Later, when he discussed the debt she owed him, he would make clear that she was not the one in charge.
He was.
***
After spreading the blood along Ari's cheeks and nose, Thora set the bowl down and waved her hands over it, an attempt to send the value of the sacrifice toward Valhalla.
"Odin, accept this meager offering as thanks for this food. I also thank you and all of the gods for my rescue today and pray you will see Kata healed quickly."
She glanced up at Ari. With the hare's blood smeared across his face, he looked fierce, like the warrior she sensed him to be. Turning away, she lifted the skinned rabbits and spitted them on a long stick, and turned to the small fire that still burned. Yet, the flames were not nearly strong enough to cook the animals in a timely manner. Propping the stick against a tree, she bent and picked up a rock, motioning to Ari to do the same. She paid him no mind and gathered more rocks, setting them in a large circle around the small pile of flames. Ari handed her more of the larger stones, his hand brushing hers as she took them.
The contact sparked a strange heat that spread through her. She concentrated on her task, picking up larger pieces of kindling and feeding them into the fire, until soon, hearty flames blazed within the circle. She set two large branches upright into the ground at opposite positions of the fire then placed the spitted hares across them. Soon, the smell of the roasting meat filled the air.
She pulled a small cloth from her sack and offered it to Ari to clean his face. He accepted in silence, but his intense gaze bored into her. Now his eyes appeared a dark and dusky blue, like the sky shortly after Sol had ended her race and Mani awaited to make his appearance.
"I must tend to Kata," she said, rising to sit beside her wolf. "Make sure they don't burn."
He arched an eyebrow but said nothing. Thora focused on Kata, gently petting the animal around the bandaged wound. The wolf opened her eyes and the relief that her pet still lived swept over Thora and left her thankful she already sat, for surely her weakened legs would not have held her.
"How do you feel, Kata? Kati is hunting and will bring you food."
Ferocious pain still echoed in the animal's eyes, though now it seemed a little less intense. Was it the salve Ari provided already working? She must believe Kata would soon heal and be well enough to resume their journey, possibly even in a few days. The pace would be slowed for a time, but the need to put more distance between herself and her village stirred again.
Kati returned, two hares of his own caught in his powerful jaws. He placed the dead animals on the ground before Kata and sat, a small whine escaping. Thora smiled and put her arm around him. He licked her face, making her giggle.
"She's feeling better already, Kati. You're a good boy to bring her food."
Another lick and Kati nuzzled her neck. Kata lifted her head and sniffed, the scent of the hare rousing her. The wolf slowly rose up. It took some time before she rested on her forelegs and inched closer to the food. Kati's body shook against her, his tail wagging furiously. He moved to lay snout to snout with Kata. Certain the two would be fine for the moment, Thora ran her hand on each wolf's head then turned to the fire.
Ari still watched her, his gaze heated to a bright and fiery greenish-blue, roving her face and leaving heat in its wake. Her heart raced, her earlier worries about his intentions rising once more. Yet, the concern didn't seem as frightening as it had before. Why? Perhaps it was because she had to admit, her mysterious savior intrigued her in ways she'd never been before. He'd shown several signs of compassion, especially toward Kata. Why did she fear that kindness might prove more dangerous than if he'd attempted to rape or kill her outright?
She tore her gaze away, turning to the cooking meat. The delicious aroma filled the darkening grove, reminding her again of her hunger. When she looked toward him once more, she gasped, finding he had moved silently and quickly. Now he stood before her, making her tilt her head back to meet his stare.
Something feral in his gaze drew a gush of heat to her core. She pressed her legs together, shocked at the ferocity with which her sex swelled. Ari still said nothing, but finally hunkered down in front of her, elbows on his knees.
"We must discuss your debt."
The words hung ominously between them. Thora gulped, her mouth dry as sand.
