Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
I want that with B'shit, so badly that it makes me ache. With every day that passes, I grow more frustrated with the situation.
Something must change. Something must give, because I do not know how much more I can take.
I return to the hut some time later to see B'shit asleep by the fire. Her eyes look red and swollen, and as she sleeps, her breath hitches, as if she has cried herself into her dreams. This makes me ache all the more, and I sit across from her and just watch her through the night.
There must be a way to fix this. I must speak to someone, I decide. Someone that will have answers. But…who? Not I'rec, who thinks I should focus on another female because he no longer approves of B'shit. Not O'jek…because I am angry he left her behind. D'see already knows my problems…I need advice from a male.
Perhaps R'hosh or V'za. R'hosh has three kits with his mate, who is far more prickly than B'shit. And V'za is older, and has seen many turns of the seasons. If anyone will have advice, perhaps those two. It is a good plan, I decide. I will return to camp and speak with the males and see how they won a female that did not wish to be won.
20
A’TAM
R'hosh stares at me as I ask my question. Then, he laughs at me.
I scowl. I do not appreciate his reaction. "It is a serious question."
He laughs again, his scarred face contorted with amusement. "Is it?" He gives a thin smile, shaking his head. "You ask how do you win that female? You do not."
"Why not?"
"Because she does not want it."
"Leezh wanted you when you first met, then?" I ask, sincere.
Now he scowls at me, crossing his arms. "Resonance changes things. Do not pretend your situation is similar to mine." He points a finger in my face. "I am going to speak to Bree-shit later, and if she tells me she wishes for you to leave her alone, then you had best do it. If you do not, you will not be welcome in this tribe. Do you understand? We are all tired of your fighting. It is clear you two were not meant to be mates."
His words sting. "It is not clear to me," I say sullenly. "She encouraged me to kiss her last night. Why would she do that if she does not wish to be my mate?"
R'hosh throws his hands in the air. "If you can understand the female human mind, you are a greater hunter than me. I have been mated to my female for many seasons now and she still confuses me." He shakes his head. "Do not look to me for answers. You will not like what I have to say."
My tail flicking with irritation, I nod and walk away from him. That did not go well. I had hoped that R'hosh would have advice for me, but when we arrived in camp, he acted as if I deliberately dug the pit and flung B'shit in there so I could keep her out overnight. He has told me I should leave B'shit alone, but I cannot. My mind is full of confusion over last night.
She moaned into my mouth…and then told me no. I find this baffling. If she enjoys my touch, why deprive us of pleasure?
I stalk past the healer's tent, where I brought B'shit this morning. All is silent, which I suppose is a good thing. I do not hear cries of pain or frustration. B'shit is not all that injured. My mate made that clear when we left the cave this morning. She is just sore. But that was all she said to me.
B’shit is a difficult female.
Frustrated with my response from R'hosh, I wander through the encampment. The cluster of Strong Arm tents are set up near the edge of the large longhouse, and I can hear people laughing and talking inside it as they work. I have been inside several times, and it is mostly a warm space for the females to work on crafts and chat out of the bitter cold air. I do not spend much time in there myself, as I do not bother with crafts. If I have skins that need to be worked, R'ven takes them for me in exchange for meat. I pause outside the longhouse, but I do not join them. My heart is too troubled.
I decide to hunt for V'za instead. He is a weathered hunter that has seen many seasons. He had a mate who died many turns of the seasons ago, and now pleasure-mates with Shail. Perhaps he will have the answers I seek.
I find their tent and jingle the shell-beaded leather strap on the outside of the dwelling to let them know of my presence. Shail pokes her head out of the tent after a moment, a bright smile of welcome on her face. "A'tam. What are you doing here? Have you eaten?"