Chapter 25 - Zyntarr
“You did not fly with the rest of us,” Zarriko comments, after I had touched foot on his village grounds and told them how I am to join their exchange.
I grunt. “I was late to leave with the rest of you.”
He and his males eye me. I am larger than almost all of his males. “You are injured, and your eye is truly unseeing,” Zarriko comments now that he is seeing me without a patch.
“Zee!” his little female says, chastising him with a playful swat to his stomach. “That’s rude! What he means is,welcome, it’s nice to have you with us.”
I do not think that is what High Spear Zarriko meant at all, but I nod my head in thanks. “I am injured, yes. But I am healed by the healing tool and am still useful to the tribe.”
“We were hoping for more females, not an unsightly, injured male to feed,” someone from the gathered crowd mutters, earning them a glare from their High Spear.
I level Zarriko with a look of my own, and despite my mis-matched eyes, I hope he can see the intent within them. “I will be useful to you and your tribe.”
I am looked up and down, my size clearly being assessed. “Yes,” Zarriko says. “Even we have heard of your strength, Zyntarr. I will not be turning you away this day.”
Sophia, his High Spearess, swats him again. “Of coursewe’re not turning him away! Come, some of the other guysfrom Rynn’s tribe are over here prepping the fish for the smokehouse.”
My jaw tightens. I do not wish to spend time with males or females from my tribe this day.
Sophia must witness as much in my expression. Halting, she glances quickly to her mate. A silent exchange occurs between them - an exchange in which they are clearly trying to decide what is to be done with me.
“If it pleases you, I am skilled with a blade,” I sniff, looking off to the side where there is a group of males gathered, watching me like they fear I am about to launch my spear at them. I am earning a glare from one of those males. He looks at me as though I’d just stood on his tail. He looks familiar too, but it does not matter to me. I turn back to my new High Spearess. “If your Hunters bring kills in need of gutting, skinning and preparing for the fires, I can do this work for you, and I will do it alone.”
“Ok, sure. Whatever you want to do.”
Whatever I want to do? I want to fly three thousand wingbeats back to my Bea. I want to scoop her up and take her away from every other male so that no other heart-stars may ignite in her presence. I want to hide her away, just for myself.
Sophia’s smile falters when I do not return it. “Why don’t you come and eat before starting any chores? You must be hungry,” she says, turning and walking away for me to follow.
“I am not,” I mutter, only for my shoulder to be forcefully shoved from behind.
I glance back to see my new High Spear fixing me with a stare that could leave scars. “Youwillshow respect to my Sophia,” he grits out dark and low, skin-stars dancing up and down his arms like he’s itching to use them to tear me apart.
I cannot argue this. Nodding, I turn to follow his mate.
Chapter 26 - Bea
“Thanks,” is all I say as soon as we land at Zarriko’s before I’m leaping down from the random Trixikka I’d forced to bring me here.
“Wait-” the guy - he did tell me his name but my head’s not screwed on right now - says. “We cannot just run around another tribe without-”
“You can go back now,” I throw over my shoulder as I start to pick up my pace, heading toward where I see a small gathering of Trixikka.
“But-”
I don’t know if he carries on talking, or if some of Zarriko’s guys come to ask him what the hell is going on. I don’t care. I need Zyntarr, and I need him now.
One of Zarriko’s males that I’m headed for notices me and stands from his seated position. He suddenly wears the smile of a guy who’s being approached by a woman at a bar, but that very smile slides right off as soon as I open my mouth. “Where is Zyntarr?”
“Uhh…” he looks around at his clueless buddies.
“We know not of this male,” another is faster to respond, “but perhaps we can take you to the cookfires and feed you after your flight?”
“Have you come for the exchange?”
“Can I show you around the village?”
