As the food warmed by the fire, I went back to the river and found a large flat stone that was suitable for cooking. I cleaned it and brought it back to my house as a present for the human female I hoped to make mine one day.
Just as I pulled another dish from the cooking stone, I heard loud cheering outside my house. I opened the door and saw Drovo holding up a tiny swaddled baby high in the air.
“Kayla has done it!” he shouted. “My mate has given birth and is doing well!”
Another round of cheers roared from the crowd that had gathered.
He lowered the baby into his arms and ran a finger along their small cheek. The sietling had brown skin, a blue tail, little horn nubs and black hair like Kayla’s.
“Meet Kavo, my son.” Drovo spoke in a reverent tone as his own sire approached.
“Congratulations,” Drovo’s sire replied with tears in his eyes. “He looks strong in body and spirit just like his parents.”
“Kayla is doing well?” Gabby asked with a look of concern on her face. We’d all been nervous for our friend with the weak heart.
“Yes, she’s resting now” Drovo smiled. “She was amazing.” Pride shown in his eyes as he spoke of his mate.
I looked over at Fatima and longed to speak of her in the same way. She was equally as amazing as all the other females here, if not more so. I wanted to carry her newborn sietling out into the village just as Drovo had done. I wanted to announce them both as my mate and child in front of everyone. My heart squeezed in agony knowing that day may never come. I would settle for just having Fatima near me, but I hoped she would claim me as her mate one day, even without luminescence.
Drovo carried Kavo back inside and the crowd began to disperse. Before Fatima could walk back into her own house, I caught her attention and waved her over. Fatima’s warm smile made my heart skip a beat, and caused my tail to sway behind me.
“Dinner is almost ready,” I commented. “Why don’t you rest inside while I finish cooking.”
“Alright, you can come get me when you’re done,” she gave me a coy smile and I bit back a huff of frustration.
The expression on my face must have given me away though.
“I’m just teasing,” Fatima laughed and patted my shoulder. “Come on, Mr. Bossy pants.”
“I can assure you, I am the one who is bossy not my pants,” I replied as we walked inside.
“Oh, I know,” Fatima laughed again. The tone of it was light and free and I longed to hear more of her laughter.
“Sit, I only have a few more dishes left to cook.” I commanded, and loved the way her cheeks turned red.
“I’ll sit if I want to,” she huffed back with her arms crossed over her chest. I turned back to the cooking stone with a smile on my face. I loved teasing her and I loved that she teased me back.
“What’s that propped against the wall?” Fatima asked.
“It is a cooking stone I found for you by the river. You can have it once we’ve finished your hunting lessons.”
“What? Why can’t I have it now?” she asked with her brows furrowed in confusion.
“Because you are with child. You should not have to cook. You should rest and use your energy on more useful things than this.”
I looked over my shoulder to see she had a surprised but pleased expression on her face. A growl of approval rolled through me. I wanted nothing more than to please her.
“What if something happens to you? Can I use the stone then?” Her tone was light and teasing and I know she’d meant it as a joke, but it made me realize that my death was a sad possibility.
“I will speak with Orsu and make sure he cooks you bacon and pancakes for all your meals. You will be taken care of whether I’m here or not.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have made a joke like that,” Fatima’s voice was thick with regret.
“There is no need to be sorry. I know you were only joking.”
Silence hung in the air for a few long moments before Fatima sat down on the floor next to me and began to stir the soup I had cooking.
“Thank you, for doing all this, Zander. I really appreciate it.”
