“We’ll all help,” Julie chimed in.
The determined look on their faces along with the help they were offering, made my heart swell to the point of bursting. Iwouldn’t have chosen to be abducted and end up here, but there was no better group of women to be abducted with. I was certain of that. We were a family, we weren’t perfect, but we always had each other’s backs.
Just then little Marcelo started to cry.
“I think he’s hungry,” Julie sighed. “I’ll be right back.”
I could see Orsu walking up to the cabin through the window. He knew Marcelo’s cry and he was there and ready to assist Julie if she needed it.
Tabby started to cry too. “I think it’s her nap time,” Gabby commented as she too left the house.
From the window I could see Tarak, hold up a hand to stop the conversation he was having with Brexl’s dad Trivix. He met Gabby half way, and asked if he could put Tabby to bed for her.
Gabby gave him a warm smile and handed off little Tabby. Their baby girl happily rested her head on Tarak’s shoulder, comfortable in her father’s arms.
It was in this moment that I realized that my friends meantwhat they said, they would help me as best as they could, but all but three of us were pregnant or already had babies. The reality was, they simply didn’t have time to help me. Even with their attentive partners, a baby was a time-consuming burden.
If I decided to have this child, I also had to accept the reality that I’d largely be on my own. That was fine, I determined. I’d been on my own for many things in my life, including helping to raise my siblings. I could do this. One baby was easier than three. We would be alright.
“I want to keep the baby, and I’d be grateful for any help you can give me,” I smiled up at Taylor and the rest of the women in the room.
The space was suddenly filled with whoops and cheers.
“Come see me if anything feels off,” Sozu instructed. “I’ll check on you every other week to make sure things are progressing as they should.”
“Thank you,” I replied, hoping my face expressed the deep gratitude I was feeling in this moment.
“Let’s go tell Drondia and Neelu,” Taylor suggested. “They gave me a lot of advice and herbal teas when I told them.”
“I like that plan,” I agreed and allowed Talia to help me back onto my feet.
I linked arms with Taylor and together we headed for the elder women we all saw as our adoptive moms.
Chapter 5
Zander
After many weeks of hunting in the mountains far from the village, I decided to return to the valley. It gnawed at me being away from Fatima for such a long time, but I wanted to give her the space she needed to grieve. In the short amount of time I spent with Tarak’s dekes I saw first hand how fiercely loyal and protective the human women were of each other. I knew if I left, Fatima would be in good hands, but now it was time for me to return and check on her myself.
I flew over the forest on my wings made of fire and let the cold winter air mix with my flames. Once I spotted the valley, I let my flames extinguish and slowly glided to the ground.
I dropped off the animals I’d slain in the butcher cabin and vowed to skin and clean my kills as soon as I could, but I had to see Fatima first.
There was light coming from the big meeting house that we now called the dining hall. It was where the village gathered for all our shared meals. I headed that way and tried to calm my nerves as I thought about the female who had claimed my heartso thoroughly. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I felt pulled in her direction. I didn’t even know her at the time and yet I knew she was my guiding light.
As I approached the house, I was overjoyed when the door swung open just for Fatima to be the one standing there at the entrance. I thought it was fate calling her toward me, but then I soon realized it was an illness or upset stomach that had caused her to run outside.
She rushed to a nearby bush and emptied the contents of her stomach into the greenery.
I ran to her side and pulled back her hair as her nausea subsided.
“Are you not well?” I asked. “Should I call for Sozu to come heal you?”
“No need,” Fatima replied. “I saw him earlier today. Unfortunately, he cannot cure morning sickness.”
Morning sickness? I knew that phrase. It wasn’t one I’d heard until after I’d spent some time around the human females in the mountain. The phrase itched at my brain and I knew it meant something important, but I couldn’t remember what it was.
“I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll be able to keep anything down for the next few months,” she laughed as she stood back up and rested her hand on her belly.
