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“Thank god Gannen didn’t hear that.”
“What did I not hear?” Our kit steps back into our tent carrying a small bundle.
“Nothing,” my mate squeaks and lowers her arms to her sides. “What do you have there?”
He closes the distance and passes over a handful of nenuphar blooms. “A gift. You said you wished to add flowers to our tent in order to bring some color to it. Now that you and Gogo are mated, you will be sharing our dwelling with us?”
I open my mouth to caution Gannen against making assumptions once more, but Elodie beats me to it. “Is that what you and your gogo wish?”
Our kit’s head bobs quickly up and down. My mate turns my direction and waits for my answer. I have only one for her. “I wish.”
My hearts skip a beat at the smile she gives me. “I wish, too.”
I rub my cheek against Elodie’s in response. “We will take this turn to move your belongings in here then, if that is agreeable?”
She spears her fingers through my floks. “That’s very agreeable.”
“Come. Let us head to the central fire for the morning meal and then we will begin.”
I assist Elodie to standing and Gannen passes her crutches over. He leads the way out of our tent and through the village that has awoken and teems with activity. Hunters—including several Krijese—carrying various weapons stride past us with a nod of greeting.
“Morning,” Healer Sage calls out from nearby where she walks beside her mate who carries their kit.
“Good morning,” Elodie returns her greeting with a small wave of her fingers.
Sorin exits a tent in the not so far distance and runs toward us, coming up alongside Gannen. “I am going hunting with Benham, Cecily, Talek, and Talek’s gogo this turn. Would you like to join us?”
Our kit hesitates before shaking his head. “I have already committed to helping move my momo’s belongings to our tent.”
This is the first time Gannen has been invited on a hunt without me, and while it aches that he is growing up so fast, it will do him good. “Elodie and I can take care of everything. Go with them and bring back a great bounty.”
He looks between me and his momo, who sends him an encouraging smile and nod. After only a short pause, he jerks his chin at Sorin. “I will join you. Let me get my war axe.”
Before he takes off to our dwelling, Gannen throws his arms around Elodie. She embraces him for several beats and he withdraws. He casts a quick glance my direction and then runs back toward our tent while Sorin waits with us for his return. Within a few short moments, he is with us again and the two kits rush off together with barely a backward glance.
Elodie strokes my chest, and I look down at her.
“He’ll be okay,” she says.
I am not surprised she is able to see the worry that plagues me. “My hope is that it will get easier each time.”
“No matter how old Gannen is, he’s still your son and you’ll always want to make sure he’s protected. That’s what it means to be a good parent, and you’re a great one, so of course it’s hard to see him become independent and not rely on you so much. It means you care.”
“We have only had each other for so long.”
Elodie rises up and kisses me. “You still have each other, but now you also have me. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I am glad for this.”
“Me too.” Her stomach makes a rumbling sound, and she splays her hand across it with a laugh. “It’s time to feed me.”
“Let us eat then.”
We continue on our way to the central fire where several of our combined tribe members have already arrived. I walk with Elodie to her favorite seat and once she is settled, I go and grab us both a bowl of kokkra, making sure I add a small bit of shurup nectar to hers.
She takes it from me with a word of thanks as I sit at her side. We eat in silence that is only interrupted by the occasional greeting from a new arrival to the fire. A sharp cry startles us and those around us.
“What was that?” Elodie asks, glancing around for its source.
