Barbarian Lover(64)

But she sighs happily and collapses on the furs. “Oh, Aehako.”

“Mmm,” I say and lie down next to her, tucking her smaller body against mine.

“It should be criminal to be as happy as I am.”

I chuckle. “Do we not deserve a bit of happiness?”

She’s thoughtful as I pull the scattered clothing over her naked body to act as a blanket. I don’t want her to get cold. “I don’t know,” Kira says after a moment. “I just worry that the other shoe is going to drop.”

“You are not wearing shoes.”

She laughs. “It’s an expression. It means things are going so well that they are going to herald something bad.”

I kiss her smooth shoulder. “You worry too much.”

Her smile is soft as she looks back at me. “Maybe I do.”



KIRA



The move to the new cave is not what I expect, I suppose. In my limited experience between dorms and my own apartment, packing to move involves boxing up everything at a furious rate, and days of unpacking and placing items in their new homes. But the sa-khui people don’t have as much junk as your average American girl does, and once it’s decided who is moving to the new caves, everyone’s packed and ready to go that afternoon.

It’s a little shocking, but also exciting.

Aehako and I are taking the painted cave. I have to admit I’m excited to have my own cave, especially one that’s already decorated and comes with a makeshift tub. Aehako loads his furs, his hunting tools, and his carving utensils, and he’s ready to go. Me, I have even less than that. My worn leather dress, a pair of snowshoes, and my blankets. I think Aehako’s mother Sevvah takes pity on me, because she fills his arms with a few baskets and utensils from her own cave, clucking over her baby bird finally leaving the nest.

Coming with us to the new cave is a mixture of old and new. Maylak and her family will be staying in the primary cave, since she is the healer. Vektal and Georgie, and all of the newly-mated couples will also be staying with them, since no one knows exactly how a sa-khui/human pregnancy is going to go. Elder Kemli and her mate Borran and their young daughter Farli will be coming with us to the new caves. The elders – all men – will be coming and split into two of the caves. Tiffany, Josie, and Claire will be joining us, along with several of the bachelor hunters who now get to split the big, roomy caves at the front of the South Cave system. There’s a bit of grumbling because the South Caves are full of the single and the elderly, but Vektal wants the elders to teach the humans the way of life here, and who better to do that than someone who’s already lived a hundred turns of the season and is still going strong?

The only couple coming with us that Aehako’s unhappy about is Asha and her mate Hemalo. While they’re a mated couple, they also don’t have a small child, which means they’re a natural pick to come to our cave, and all of the other caves back at the tribal complex are now back to their original uses. One of the hunter caves is now meat storage once more, and there’s an empty cave that Vektal wants set aside in case Liz’s pregnancy progresses faster than expected.

It’s a good group heading to the South Cave, despite Asha’s annoying presence. We hug all around – even though we’re only a few hours walk – and then set out. Claire’s happy as could be, now that she knows Bek is also heading to the South Cave, and Tiffany’s eager to learn more crafts from the elders. Josie’s chattering happily to Kemli and Farli, even though neither can understand her. Haeden’s coming to the new cave as well, and he looks rather irritated at Josie’s talking. Part of me thinks that Josie’s blabbering is good for Haeden, who’s entirely too self-contained and lost in his own thoughts most of the time.

When we make it to the South Caves, people exclaim with happiness and for the next few hours, there’s a lot of eager running around and exploring, checking out each other’s caves, and setting up. A large fire is built in the central area, for lighting as well as to give the area a homey effect. It’s nice and toasty warm for us humans, though I do notice that several of the hunters strip down due to the heat.

“Can’t say that’s a terrible side effect of things,” Tiffany murmurs at me as I gawk at Aehako’s brawny, sweaty chest as he sweeps a branch over the floor, ridding it of debris.

“No,” I say, distracted as another near-naked hunter strolls past. “I can’t say it is.”

At that moment, Asha stomps forward and puts her hand on my mate. “I want to talk to you, Aehako. I don’t like my new cave! It’s too small.”