“I don’t want him,” she says, pouting. “I want you.”
“I don’t want you,” I say as gently as possible. Asha is an old friend, for all that she is determined to make me miserable now. “Our khuis will never unite, Asha. Stop seeking the past.”
She stands up and straightens her leather dress, glaring at me. “That human won’t have you either, Aehako. Best take your pleasure where you can.”
I ignore her as she leaves. I hate that she’s right.
• • •
The next morning, I watch Kira as I sit down in the central cavern and work on my carving. I am making a toy for Esha, who is getting to an age where she is into all her mother’s herbs and needs something to distract her. When Farli was little, I made her bone rings, linked through careful carving, and she enjoyed the rattling sound. I will do the same for Esha. I take one of the long dvisti thigh bones and start working on it. Making a rattling chain for a kit involves a lot of hollowing, and it allows me to sit quietly and watch the humans in the cavern.
One in particular always has my attention. Kira is seated near the banked fire this morning. That she is not in her cave tells me she is looking for someone. That she does not approach me stings, but I’m curious to see who she is waiting for. She looks tired, circles under her eyes, and the colorful, playful streaks I painted on her face last night are gone. Two other humans sit with her, chatting, but she is distant.
When Vektal and Georgie enter the cavern, though, she grows alert. Ah. So she is waiting for the chief. I strain my ears, curious to see what she will say.
She greets Vektal and Georgie easily enough, and then she launches into her plan. “I would like to take a trip to the elders’ cave.”
“The ship?” Georgie asks, curious. “Really? Why?”
Kira looks uncomfortable as she responds. Her body shifts and she touches the silvery shell in her ear. “I’d like to see if I can get this removed. If I can, I’ll need to get the language from the computer there. And I’ve been thinking.” She gestures at the cave. “Look around us. This cave isn’t a natural formation. The doors are too smooth, the ceilings too perfect. I think that when Vektal’s people landed here, they must have found a way to do stone cutting of some kind. I’d like to see if we can do so again. Maybe we can cannibalize parts from the ship and make new cutters. We’ll need more room for everyone.”
Vektal rubs his chin. “It is a good idea.”
“I’ll just need one person as a guide,” she continues on quickly. “Just send me out with one of the hunters and I’m sure I can find my way back once someone shows me the way–”
I’m standing before she can even finish her sentence, my protective instincts getting the better of me. I stride over to where she’s speaking with the chief. Her plan is a mad one. The humans do not know anything about this place. They are not familiar with the snows, the creatures, the dangers. Kira would never make it back if left on her own. I won’t let that happen. “I will take Kira to the elders’ cave.”
She looks over at me in surprise, but I notice she doesn’t protest. She simply firms her little human mouth and then looks at Vektal.
This worries me. She wants to leave so badly she is willing to endure my flirtations? She is indeed troubled by something.
“You should take more,” Vektal instructs. “Other humans need the language as well.”
Kira’s expression grows even more troubled. “Oh, but if it’s a fruitless mission, I don’t wish to waste the time of others. Really, it’s all right.”
“We can keep the group small,” I compromise. “Perhaps three hunters and three humans?”
Vektal nods. “When will you set out?”
I look to Kira.
She looks frustrated. “I would like to go as soon as possible.”
“Tomorrow, then. First light. I’ll ask around and see which hunters wish to go.”
“We have to take two humans?” Kira looks unhappy.
“What’s the matter?” Georgie asks.
Kira gives a quick shake of her head and puts a false smile on her face. “I just hate to waste everyone’s time.”
That’s not it. She’s hiding something, but what it is, I am not sure.
I intend to pry it out of her, though.
• • •
After being pressured, Kira agrees to bring the two humans called Harlow and Claire with us. Harlow is the one with the orange mane and the speckles covering her skin. I remember her because of her unusual coloring. Claire I remember nothing of save that she is extremely quiet. That, and she is apparently sharing furs with Bek whenever she gets a chance.