I more than enjoyed Julie’s company, but I kept that to myself. One small step at a time. I’d woo her at a slow pace that wouldn’t add to her worries.
We bumped shoulders and brushed hands often as we mixed Julie’s new porridge recipe together. I enjoyed every brush of her skin against mine.
“Sorry,” Julie blushed as her elbow bumped me.
“It’s alright,” I assured her in a gentle tone with a smile on my face. Then I gently bumped her again while I had her attention and she laughed at my antics.
“Bump into me any time you like,” I teased her and she laughed again.
We served bowl after bowl of warm porridge to everyone in the dekes and my heart soared at how much our numbers had expanded.
I scanned the room and watched as Tarak and Gabby looked at each other with such love and admiration in their eyes. It gave us all hope that we too might find a mate in the human females. My gaze turned to Julie, who was now sitting at Gabby and Tarak’s table. The two of them looked to Kayla and then to Drovo, whispered something among themselves, and then laughed.
I was glad to see Julie develop a close friendship with Gabby. Perhaps some of her worries would be eased as their friendship grew.
Once the last person was served I took a bowl for myself and sat in the open seat across from Julie.
“Good morning, Orsu,” Tarak greeted me.
“Morning, Savrix.”
“The porridge this morning is very good,” he complimented.
“It’s Julie’s recipe. I showed her our store of spices and it was her idea to put these three together.”
“It’s just a simple recipe.” Julie shied away from my praise.
“Your unique knowledge has brought a new flavor to the dekes and much joy.” Tarak agreed with me, and my heart warmed at my friend’s praise over Julie’s contribution.
“The new members of our dekes have brought many new things to us, and I am glad for all of them.” My Savrix smiled down at his mate, who kissed him on the cheek.
“I’m happy to be here,” Gabby smiled up at him.
“Come on, Lumod is going to teach us how to mend and sew clothes,” Talia commented as she passed our table. All of the females got up from their places and set their empty bowls in the barrel reserved for dirty dishes. Sovu and Jax lifted the barrel and carried it out of the cavern. It was their day to do the dishes, leaving me the free time I needed to put away the spices and to clear the ashes from the fire.
I quickly completed my tasks so I could catch up with Julie. I found it was getting increasingly difficult to stay away from her.
Julie
I looked over to my right and saw Taylor easily weaving her thread up and down through the material. I tried to follow Lumod’s instructions, but I was still stuck on the first step. How did I thread this damn bone needle?
Gabby looked at me from the corner of her eye and then quickly glanced away. I thought that maybe this corded thread was too thick for this needle, but when I looked over at Gabby’s it was the same as mine.
I wiped away the sweat that was forming on my brow, took a deep breath, and tried again, but the damn thing still wouldn’t go through. I felt my body growing hot and my breaths coming fast. My hands grew clammy and the needle slipped from my fingers, dropped to the floor and cracked into two pieces.
I gave up. While still clutching my fabric in my fist, I stood up, and left the room. I walked to the storage cavern and sat down on my furs. Pulling my knees up to my chest, I buried my head in my hands.
Would life here always be this difficult? What if I never learned how to sew? Was I destined to wear bulky hand-me-downs for the rest of my time here? I could feel myself descending the all too familiar staircase to despair when a voice interrupted mythoughts.
“Julie?”
I raised my head to find Orsu standing a few feet away with a concerned look on his face. Usually I’d ask to be left alone when I was feeling this anxious, but with Orsu, I didn’t feel the need for space. He and I had already faced very serious, very real danger multiple times and survived. Being around him now brought me comfort. There was a part of me that knew, no matter what was happening, that I would be safe if Orsu was nearby.
He settled onto the furs next to me and gave me a soft smile. “Do your worries burden you this day?”
“Whendon’tmy worries burden me?” I tried to make light of my situation, but Orsu didn’t find it funny.
“Come, I want to show you something.” The big male got up and offered me his hand.
