“When you are ready to try again, you need only tell me.”
The wind blows stronger and Piper shivers.
“Come, let us put our coverings back on and return to our tent. I will get a fire going and then bring us something to eat while we warm ourselves.”
“That sounds good.”
I assist my mate to her feet and while we both step into our leg coverings, I keep a close watch on her, because I do not like her coloring or the way her teeth make noise. We pause at the nenuphar bush so that Piper can retrieve her cloth foot covering. As we walk toward the village center and in the direction of our tent, her breath sounds change.
At long last, we arrive at our tent. I guide her inside and toward our furs.
“I will start the fire while you change into dry coverings.”
“Okay.”
From right outside the entrance, I pick up several pieces of wood and place them in the shallow pit in the center of the tent, along with a few twigs. Using the rocks kept nearby, I strike them together to create the spark needed to light. It takes several tries, but eventually, the wood smokes and a tiny flame catches. I fan it to encourage its growth until at last, the flame builds as does the heat it produces.
I glance over at Piper and find that she is wearing her new coverings and has also wrapped herself in a fur. Still, she shivers. I lift her in my arms and move closer to the pit. With her safely in my embrace, I lower us so we sit a safe distance from the fire, but close enough to feel its warmth. She remains seated on my lap with her head tucked under my chin.
“This is nice,” she says.
“Are you getting warm?”
She nods. “Uh huh.”
“Good.”
We remain like that until Piper’s body stops trembling, and yet I do not release her. I have told her that this is the path Deeka has laid out for us, and yet, I grow angry. Whether it is at our goddess or whichever deity the humans worship, I do not know. I am angryformy mate. For the fear she feels. The helplessness. The worries she carries, because there are many.
I glance down at the top of her head and make a vow that from this turn forth, I will be the one to carry them for her.
Chapter 20
Katem
I push the furs off my heated flesh. Not even during the hottest turns of the warm season has it been this uncomfortable in my tent. A moan fills the air, but it is not one of pleasure. I sit upright and search for the source of the sound. The fire is nothing more than embers, but even in the dim light I can see Piper at my side.
Her skin color is dark and wetness beads across her brow. The chest covering she wears is soaked and her body trembles. She swivels her head and moans again.
“Piper?” I lay my hand on her brow. Her flesh feels as if it is on fire.
She coughs and appears to be having trouble breathing. Fear rises up inside me. Carefully, I pick her up, keeping the fur wrapped tightly around her and rush out of our tent toward Kyler and Zara’s. Unless I have no other choice, I will leave Healer Sage to sleep since she has a young kit. I reach their dwelling and smack the door flap.
“Kyler, I need your help.” I shift my and Piper’s weight back and forth with an urgent lack of patience.
Rustling sounds come from inside and, finally, he appears with leg coverings he is hastily tying. His eyes widen at the bundle in my arms.
“Katem? Wh?—”
“Piper is ill.”
“Zara, I must go.” Without waiting for a response, he jumps through the doorway and throws his arm out. “Come, quickly.”
We race to the healers’ tent and Kyler shoves aside the flap. He heads straight to the banked fire, but glances over at me.
“Put her on one of the beds and get some water from the table.”
I do as he says and hurry to the familiar place where a jug and several cups sit. When Jodah had nearly been killed by a luani during one of our hunts, I would often come and assist either Healer Sage or Kyler with making sure my tribe brother drank.
