When we get up the next morning, my ankle is swollen to twice the size it was before. It’s tender to the touch, and walking on it is excruciating. Josie helps me wrap it tight in the hopes that I’ll be able to limp along, but I can’t even close my boot, much less fasten my snowshoe on my boot.
“What do we do?” Josie asks, a worried look on her face. “Can you walk at all?”
“I’ll have to,” I tell her tightly. There’s no other option. I can’t force all three of us to stay in the cave; it’s not warm enough for a long stay. Plus, there’s a machine that can fix wounds and ailments back at the Elders’ Cave aka the old space ship. “Might as well keep going. We’re close to the Elders’ Cave anyhow, right?” I look to Taushen for reassurance.
“Half a day’s walk if we keep a brisk pace,” he says, frowning down at my leg. “Longer if not.”
“It’s going to be longer,” I say with a wince. “I’ll keep up as best I can.”
“Should you even walk?” Josie asks.
“I can carry her,” Taushen volunteers. “It would be an honor.” His voice is breathless with excitement, his eyes bright.
“I can walk,” I snap. The last thing I want to do is spend the day draped over Taushen and feeling like I owe him. No thank you.
He stiffens and I know I’ve hurt his feelings. The old anxiety and tension returns, and for a moment I hold my breath, worried he’s going to lash out…or worse.
“Let us go, then. The morning grows late.” Taushen’s voice is wounded, his shoulders slightly hunched as if protecting himself from my anger.
I release a pent-up breath and get to my feet. My ankle throbs in response, but I ignore it. “Can I borrow your spear to use as a crutch?”
He hesitates. “What if I need to protect you?”
“Then you can come and snatch it from me?” I extend my hand outward. “I promise I won’t put up a fight over that.”
He doesn’t look happy, but in the end hands it over. “I still would rather carry you.”
“I’m sure you would,” I say, and force myself to keep my voice sweet. “But I can walk.” And I give a hobbling step just to prove that I can.
It’s gonna be a long damn day.
SALUKH
Tee-fah-nee cannot walk.
When the trio limps out of the hunter cave – and they do limp – I am incensed to see that my Tee-fah-nee, my mate, is leaning heavily on a spear. It’s clear to me that her leg is worse today, not better. Taushen tries to put an arm around her and she pushes him away, and I can see the young hunter flinch backward.
Good. She is my mate.
Nor will I allow her to walk all the way to the Elders’ Cave.
As I have followed them, I have taken great care to remain out of sight and downwind. I have covered my tracks and kept my distance. No more. No longer. My female is hurt and in pain, and I refuse to sit back and let her struggle. I jog through the snow, making my way toward the group. They are ahead of me, but they move so slowly that it takes no time to catch up.
As I come into sight, I hear Josie’s gasp. She points in my direction. “Someone’s coming.”
Taushen turns, and I watch as he tenses at the sight of me. By now, he has figured out that this is no coincidence, that I followed them because I did not trust that he would keep the humans safe. Anger blossoms on his face and he stalks toward me, furious.
“What do you do here, Salukh? You are supposed to be hunting!”
“I am watching over the humans.” I gesture at Tee-fah-nee, who, even now, is trying not to put weight on her leg. “She is hurt and cannot walk. I am here to help.”
“You are not supposed to be here,” Taushen protests again. “This is my prize!”
I glare at him. I do not care about prizes. I care about my female. He scowls at me but does not stop me as I approach Tee-fah-nee. Josie watches me with wide eyes, but all I see is Tee-fah-nee’s face, her smooth human features lined with pain.
I touch her brown cheek with my fingertips in a gentle caress. “You should not be walking.”
“What choice do I have?” Her voice is soft, pained.
“I will carry you,” I state, and when she stiffens, I add, “If you will let me.” I must remember her fear, always.
She hesitates, and then nods. “Taushen’s going to be mad,” she murmurs, even as she lifts her arms to go around my neck.
I do not care if Taushen hates me. All I care about is getting my mate out of the cold and someplace safe where she may rest her leg. I lift her into my arms and she weighs no more than a kit. Humans are so fragile, so soft, so poorly equipped to survive. It makes my chest clench with fear.