“Oh barf, get a room, you two,” Jo-see says and stomps on ahead.
Tee-fah-nee giggles and gets to her feet, smiling at me. “Seriously, this is so great. I’m stoked.”
I’m not sure what stoked means, but it is clear to me she is pleased at her own cleverness. I am, too. “It is a shame we will have to leave them behind if we are all moving back to the main tribal caves.”
“I can plant them there, too. I’ve been saving seeds. I’d like an entire snow garden, if I can swing it.”
“I shall dig all the holes you need,” I tell her.
“I was counting on that.”
We arrive back at the South caves a few moments after Jo-see and it’s clear there is much celebrating. The human women hug and Aehako gives me a friendly clap on the shoulder. “We will talk later about your disobeying my orders,” he murmurs.
“If I did not, the women would have been in danger and the hunters would have been caught out in the storm unawares.”
He grins. “Which is why we will talk later instead of me booting your tail right now.”
I know then that things are fine. He is smiling and not angry, and everyone in the cave is safe. The hunters are all there. Taushen is by the fire with the others, and Haeden has a strange look on his face as he gazes from the back of the cave at Jo-see. I can’t tell if it’s relief or anger.
My sister Farli comes running out to hug me, and the tiny dvisti scampers at her feet. She flings her arms around my neck and I embrace her, laughing. “We have been gone but a few weeks and already it follows you?”
“It does! He thinks I am his mother,” Farli says with a giddy laugh, and then looks over at Tee-fah-nee, uncertain.
“It’s all right,” Tee-fah-nee says, smiling. “You’ve been taking care of him more than I have and he should be yours.”
Farli gasps. “Oh, it is so strange to hear you speak our language! Strange and wonderful!”
“That is not all,” I tell my sister proudly, and move closer to Tee-fah-nee. As I do, our khuis begin to purr in unison, and the sound fills the cavern. Around us, eyes widen in surprise and then delight.
Aehako whoops with laughter and the smack on the back he gives me turns into a hug. “No wonder you fought so hard for her! Your brain knew before your khui did!” He slaps one of my horns.
I smile proudly. “She is mine and I am hers.”
“Then we should celebrate! Who has the sah-sah?”
Both Tee-fah-nee and I are hugged over and over again, everyone in the tribe wishing us well as two skins of fermented sah-sah are found and a celebration begins. There are not many left in the South cave, so it feels like a more intimate gathering, but it is still enjoyable. One by one, my recent rivals approach me and wish me well. There are no hard feelings, though it is evident that they are disappointed. How can anyone compete with resonance? It decides no matter what we choose, and it did not choose them. I see a few eyeing Jo-see with mild interest, but she seems lost in thought, chatting with Farli and petting the little dvisti. My sister has covered the creature with braids and colorful streamers woven into its thick mane. Since he runs around loose now, it is to ensure that no one hunts him by accident, she tells me between sips of sah-sah.
A freshly-hunted snowcat is spitted over the fire and we eat strips of bloody, raw meat while the humans wait for their bits to be cooked. Tasty seeds are passed around, and everyone laughs and has a great time. Jo-see sings a song called “Geeligans eye-land” which causes no end of amusement to the human women. The last of the sah-sah is brought out and Farli pulls out her paints, drawing colorful designs on the skin of anyone who will let her.
I do not drink much. Tomorrow will be a busy day. We will pack up the South caves and begin the trek back to the main tribal caves. There, we will start anew. Tee-fah-nee and I will have our own cave, private and away from the others. Our life together starts now.
She looks over at me as Farli draws a yellow swirl on her brown cheek, her eyes shining with happiness. My khui sings at the sight of her, luminous in the firelight. Mine, it says, singing a rhythm in time with hers. All mine.
My mate.
My cock swells in response as her gaze moves up and down my body and there’s a sultry look in her eyes. Though the fever of initial resonance has died down, I am still aroused when my chest hums along with hers. She murmurs something to Farli and gets to her feet, moving to my side.
“Shall we leave the party early?” she asks me, her hand sliding into mine.
“Are you tired?” I ask.
“Exhausted,” she murmurs, but the look in her gaze is not one of sleep. It is one of promise.