“I’m ready to try sewing again.” Julie had a look of determination on her face. “Can you show me how you thread a needle?”
“I’d be glad to.” I smiled down at her. “Come, I have some extra needles in my bed cave.”
Julie followed me to my private chamber and I offered her a chair as I sorted through my basket of supplies.
“Here they are.” I pulled out two needles, some thread, and a stick.
“What’s the stick for?” She asked with a puzzled look on her face.
“The stick is the secret to my success,” I teased.
“Oh, is it?” The side of her mouth quirked up in a smile.
“It is.” I picked up the stick and pulled off a small thin strip of wood. “If you fold this around the thread it’s much easier to work it through the needle.”
I demonstrated by putting the thin ends of the tiny strip of wood through the needle and pulled it through until the thread popped out on the other side.
“Oh! That makes so much sense!”
Julie eagerly pulled a small tendril of wood off the stick and wrapped it around her thread. She pulled it through the needle and danced in her seat when the thread pulled through along with it.
“I did it!” She beamed and I would have given anything to be able to capture this moment for the rest of time. Her look of delight brought a warmth and pride to my soul that I had never known before.
“Good girl,” I congratulated Julie and her eyes suddenly grew wide and her cheeks rosy. Did I say something wrong? Maybe my words didn’t translate correctly.
“Th-thank you.” She looked down and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Well, I should get back to the group and see what the other women are up to.”
I was about to protest and think of an excuse for her to stay when I heard a knock on the wall outside my door.
I pulled back the curtain to find Tarak standing there.
“I wish to speak to all the hunters outside. Can you help spread the word?” My Savrix looked veryserious, more so than usual, and I wondered what he wanted to talk to us about.
“Yes, of course.” I put a fist to my chest and bowed.
“I’ll see you at dinner, Orsu,” Julie waved as she squeezed past me and made her way back down the corridor.
I sighed as she turned the corner and the ache in my chest returned.
Tarak gave me a knowing look and patted my shoulder. “Your time will come, my friend.”
I nodded my head, then went off to find the other hunters as my Savrix had requested.
Chapter 9
Orsu
It did not take long for all the hunters to gather outside at the base of the mountain.
“What news do you have for us, Savrix?” Brexl asked with an anxious look on his face. Despite the fact that he was by far the most fierce among us, he carried nearly as many worries as Julie did.
“Yes, I had nearly convinced Kayla to let me measure her again when I was summoned to come outside.”
Drovo had not looked happy when I’d interrupted his conversation with the human female with the long braids and brown skin.
“I would like to speak to you about the females; more specifically about how to please a female.”
Our group buzzed with excitement. We all knew Tarak and Gab-bae had mated many times. It was nearly impossible to luminesce to someone without mating with them.
