Piper skips along beside me, clearly feeling more energized than before. Even stopping to smell various blooming bushes, wemake good time. She carries a lone lulebore bloom I plucked for her and every so often brings it up to her nose to smell. Each time she does this, she grins up at me as if I have given her the most precious gift. Yet it is she who presents me with one whenever she smiles.
Daveel and Zalik guard the entrance. Their mutual looks of envy dim my happiness slightly. Both males are honorable and wonderful tribe brothers who deserve to find theirkeeshlasjust as I have.
“Greetings, brothers. This is Piper, my mate.” I lay my fist over my heart. “Piper, this is Daveel and Zalik.”
“Hello.” Piper mimics my gesture. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
They both do the same, and I can tell the greeting pleases them immensely.
“The honor is ours,” Daveel says.
We continue past them and further into the village. I can feel the stares of both males against my back. Piper’s head swivels as she takes in the controlled chaos.
“I didn’t realize there were so many children,” Piper notes. “Human ones as well.”
Nearly all the kits, including the youngest who are able to walk, chase after each other, laughing and having fun. The Tavikhis’ small tails thrash behind them which always fills my heart. For far too long there were only a handful of kits. Our village has grown much in such a short time.
“We continue to celebrate each new birth.”
Tribe members—Tavikhi and human alike—observe us as we stride toward the rear of the village where the elders have all chosen to reside. They have their own central fire for when they cannot—or do not want to—join us at the main fire. Zander and London have moved closer to the elders so they can assist with anything if needed.
“How many tribe members live here?” Piper asks.
“Well over a hundred and growing.” I point at a large tent we pass. “That is the healing tent where Kyler and Healer Sage work. Between the two of them, there is much they can heal.”
That same grief I continue to witness rises to the surface in Piper’s gaze.
“Katem,” a male voice calls out in greeting.
The shefir walks toward us with a small kit on his hip. Dasha has her tail wrapped around his forearm. We all come to a stop together and I fist my chest.
“Shefir, may I introduce my mate? This is Piper.”
Similar to Evren, he reaches out his hand. Mykeeshlaplaces hers within, but instead of shaking it, Zander bows his head over it and rests his brow bones against her knuckles.
“It is an honor to welcome you as our newest tribe sister, Piper.”
“Thank you.” Her voice cracks and she coughs to cover it up.
Zander rises. “This is Dasha.”
His kit places her tiny fist over her chest causing Piper to “awww”. Because Dasha enjoys the production, I salute her in return.
“Greetings to you as well, little one.”
The kit grins, showing off several teeth. Piper laughs and my heart swells.
“My mate has a desire to learn clay making and Alesha offered to show her. I have brought Piper to speak with the elder.”
The shefir turns his gaze to my mate. “That is wonderful news. With as quickly as our tribe is growing, we can always use more items.”
Piper’s cheeks darken. “I could be terrible at it, so I wouldn’t get too excited just yet.”
Zander chuckles. “I am sure whatever you might craft will be perfectly acceptable.”
“I’ll remind you of those words if the time comes,” she says with a grin.
The shefir’s chuckle turns to a booming laugh. “I am sure you will. My shefira would do the same. Katem is truly blessed to have a strong mate. When you are ready, we would like to celebrate your mating with a feast and drink.”
