“Nope, not mad,” I lied.
“You are mad, and I get it. I said I’d stay put and I didn’t. But!” Ashley's entire demeanor changed as she pointed back down the tunnel. She lit up withexcitement.
“I found something amazing! There’s an old village down this tunnel with crumbling buildings and goddess statues, and-
“You went outside?!” I ran a hand down my face, unable to believe what I was hearing. She could have been attacked by an animal or taken by the other dekes if they had been around.
“Not for long! As soon as I heard a roar, I went right back inside.”
“A roar?!” This just kept getting worse and worse. I wanted to pull her to my chest now more than ever. I wanted to hold her against me and never let her go.
“Just one small roar.” She gave me a forced smile.
“You could have gotten lost or hurt,” I lamented.
“You would have found me,” Ashley teased.
“Nothing could stop me from finding my way to you, but that’s besides the point.”
“Aren’t you at all interested in the village?” She changed the subject. “What if it was your ancestor’s old village? Have your people always lived in the valley or did they move there from somewhere else?”
I’d never heard of our people living anywhere but the valley and I never thought to ask about it.
“I am interested in seeing the village, but not today,” I admitted. I’ve had enough adventure for now and it sounds like you have too.”
“That’s fair.” The corners of her mouth turned up in a guilty smile.
“Do you need help with that?” She pointed to the prey hanging limp from my belt.
“No, I’ve got it. You just promise me you won’t go anywhere when I’ve got my back turned.”
“I promise,” she smiled again.
“Walk with me,” I tugged on her arm in the direction of the large flat rock I used as a table to skin the animals that I'd killed. I would have to let go of Ashley’s hand again soon to prepare my kill for eating, but I could put off doing so until the very last moment.
“I missed you while you were gone,” Ashley said in a voice barely above a whisper, as if she were afraid to say those words aloud.
I pulled her hand up to my lips again and gave her a reassuring kiss across her knuckles.
“I missed you too.”
Chapter 16
Ashley
“If you don't want to explore the village today, what should we do instead?” I asked as we ate lunch.
“We can work that clay.” He pointed to the container that held the ball of clay I’d cleaned earlier.
“Oh, I’d love that.” I immediately got up to grab the clay. Axon was hesitant to let go of my hand, but after a moment he did so.
Ever since he got back and was able to take my hand in his without any issues, he seemed much more relaxed. He still insisted that we hold hands for “desensitization purposes,” but he was able to let go without that same fear in his eyes that he’d had the first time.
“Where should we do this?” I asked with the large ball of clay in my hands.
“Over here by the entrance. We can easily get water to work the clay by sticking our hands out and gathering rain water.
“Good idea,” I agreed. “You grab the crystals and I’ll meet you over there.”
