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A rough scraping sensation inside my throat startles me. Even more so when it travels upward and spills from my mouth in a harsh, grating sound.
“Holy shit, did you just laugh?”
I pivot and find Elodie standing within the doorway, her eyes wide and her mouth parted. She comes fully inside as Gannen scrambles to his feet and rushes toward her.
“Elodie, you are awake already.” He throws his arms around her waist and rubs his cheek up and down her chest.
“I am and clearly just in time to witness one of the best things ever. Has your gogo ever laughed before?”
Gannen releases her only enough to swivel a half-turn in my direction. “That is the first I have ever heard.”
“Well, I for one am a huge fan of the sound, so now we need to make sure it wasn’t a one-off and we get to hear it again,” she says with a large grin.
My sleep had been troubled with thoughts that perhaps Elodie might regret what occurred between us. Or she changed her mind about being my mate. I cannot see into her mind to know if either of these have come to pass.
“Your gogo suddenly has a worried look on his face. I should check and make sure he’s okay.”
Gannen steps back in confusion, his gaze bouncing between Elodie and me as she hops slowly across the length of the tent, closing the distance between us. She finally stops when her chest presses against mine. Her eyes are questioning—seeking—as they scan my face. A smile spreads across her lips.
“Good morning, mate.” Elodie rises up and her mouth meets mine in a brief kiss.
Whatever worries I might have held disappear. “Good morning, sivalla.”
She kisses me once more and then makes her way back to stand in front of Gannen. He stares with hope shining from his eyes. Elodie strokes his face, and he leans into her touch.
“I couldn’t love you more than if you were my son by birth,” she tells him. “Every moment I get to spend with you is the best part of my day. I celebrate the fact you are in my life, and I would be honored to call you my son in truth. If you’ll have me, I would love to be your momo.”
Krijese do not have tears the way humans do, but a mournful sound escapes from Gannen’s throat. Then, he holds Elodie in a crushing embrace as the sound continues until it finally slows, grows quieter, and ceases.
“Momo,” he whispers over and over again, not once loosening his hold on Elodie who keeps stroking his floks and kissing the top of his head.
I approach and embrace the both of them together to form a circle with the three of us. Our family. Finally, we separate, but Gannen does not leave Elodie’s side. Not even when we exit our tent and head to the central fire for the morning meal. Our kit announces to every person we cross paths with—whether they be Krijese, Tavikhi, or human—that Elodie is now his momo and my mate.
They all congratulate us and when Gannen shares the news with the shefir and shefira, neither appear surprised.
“Your god has surely blessed you.” Zander grips my forearm followed by Gannen’s. He bows to Elodie. “We will organize a massive feast in the next few turns to celebrate this happy occasion and to honor your new mating.”
The shefira hugs both Elodie and Gannen. “I’m so happy for you.”
My sivalla blushes fiercely, but our kit straightens with pride. “Thank you, Shefira.”
The rest of the turn passes in a blur with new people offering their congratulations as the sun moves across the sky. When the warriors and warlords return from hunting, they too wish us well. At the evening meal, Kala and Iris approach us. His sivalla has already heard the news and embraced Elodie, Gannen, and to my surprise, me as well when we told her.
Kala grips my forearm and he too pulls me into an embrace. “My hearts beat a joyful sound for you my brother. Our god has blessed us both by bringing us such females to be deserving of. I wish you all much happiness.”
“You honor us.”
Kala turns to Elodie and Gannen and fists his chest. “I welcome you to our tribe and am honored to call you sister.”
Tears spill from her eyes, but she smiles broadly. “Thank you, Kala.”
By the time the evening meal ends and despite how early it is, our kit’s exhaustion is apparent, although he fights it strongly.
“Why don’t we go back to our tent and we’ll keep reading our story?” Elodie suggests.
Gannen gets to his feet and stumbles unsteadily in the direction of our dwelling. I follow closely to ensure he does not trip and fall. My sivalla is at my side the whole way. We enter the tent and Elodie guides our kit to his furs where he lowers himself. She carefully sits next to him and picks up the machine she uses and that she had left here earlier when they were playing games.
Gannen gets as close to Elodie as he is able and lays his head on her lap. I do not typically sit for this nightly ritual they have developed, but on this night, I do. I wish to be near to my sivalla. Her voice soothes me. I could listen to her forever.
