Guess not. Guess saying goodbye to me wasn’t important to him.
As if she can sense my dismay, Kira wags a finger in my direction. “Don’t stay out too long,” she chides us. “It’s going to be boring here in the caves with just me and Farli. Aehako will be back, but late tonight. That dvisti of yours is going to get showered with attention while you’re gone, just because we’re going to be so bored.”
I laugh despite my disappointment. “He’ll probably love that. Tell Farli thank you for me?” She knows the language.
She nods and we hug briefly. Taushen returns, and then it’s time to go.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t scan the horizon for Salukh as we left.
• • •
Traveling on Not-Hoth is not fun. The snow is endless, and even when both suns are high in the sky, it’s not even remotely close to warm. I imagine this is what Antarctica is like, but the light the suns give off is so faint that we don’t have to worry about sun-blindness. And no penguins, which is a shame. I would have kind of liked to see penguins.
What we do have, though, is snow. Lots and lots of snow and cold air. It snows a little as we walk, dusting our hair, but it’s not enough to slow us down. Taushen is all eagerness, chatting constantly as Josie and I do our best to keep a good pace, our snowshoes dragging in the powder. As far as the sa-khui are concerned, this is fantastic travel weather. It’s mostly clear, the snow isn’t too thick on the ground, and for them, it’s warm. Meanwhile my fingers feel like blocks of ice, my toes feel like they could snap off in my heavily padded boots, and I keep wishing for someplace to sit down and rest. I’m sweating under my thick furs, which makes them stick to my body and ice up. The khui inside me helps me stay warm, but humans are still too fragile to go running around half-naked like the sa-khui.
By the time it’s midday, I’m exhausted and Josie’s steps are slowing, too. Our cheery, light conversation of earlier in the day has dwindled to nothing. Now we just pant and lift our feet, one after the other. At least the terrain is relatively flat. As Taushen said, it’s a baby trail by their standards.
Nevertheless, I’m thrilled when our guide jogs back up to us – jogs!! – and suggests we rest for a time in the protective shade of a nearby cliff. Josie and I gratefully collapse against the stone cliff wall, and even though the rocky base isn’t the most comfortable spot and it’s cold in the shade, there’s no breeze.
“Wait here and I shall hunt you both something fresh to eat. I saw a quill-beast’s tracks nearby.” Taushen holds his spear eagerly. “Will you eat my kill if I provide?”
“Sounds great,” I tell him, offering a thumbs up.
“You’re so sweet, Taushen,” Josie says, beaming at him. “Thank you.”
He grins at both of us and then leaps away, bounding through the snow like a big blue gazelle. He’s got so much energy, and I’m so dang tired already. I can’t believe we have a day and a half of walking to do. Maybe Haeden was right and we are too weak to do this. Too late now, I suppose.
I pull off one of my gloves and tuck my hand into the front of my thick jacket, pressing my cold fingers against my warm throat. “This is…less fun than I imagined.”
“It sucks,” Josie agrees cheerfully. “You’re allowed to say that.”
“It does suck. I’m sorry you came with me. You didn’t have to.” Josie has been a great friend, but I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. It reminds me all too much of the relentless cold we endured in that week of hell when we were waiting for Georgie to come back with a rescue. It also makes me realize how spoiled we are with the sa-khui to protect us and keep us warm and safe in our comfy caves. The males hunt tirelessly while we putter around in the caves. Sure, there’s a lot – okay, an endless – stream of chores to do, but compared to this? I don’t know how Liz does it. I can’t wait to be back home around my fire and playing with my leatherwork.
“I have to admit…I’m not doing it just for you,” Josie says, adjusting a strap on her snowshoes.
“Oh?”
She gives me a sly look. “I’m going to use the sick bay computer and have my IUD taken out, like Kira had her translator taken out.”
My jaw drops a little. “You are?”
“I am.” She gives a happy little sigh and sits up, hugging herself. “I’m ready for my happy ever after, you know? I want to resonate to someone. I want babies. I want a mate that will love me. I’m tired of being single and unloved.”