too." U'dron glances back, then keeps paddling. "But it will take more than a fur to overcome a lifetime of distrust. He will scout out our camp and watch us for a while. And he will come looking for the things I have promised in exchange for you."
I huff. "You're still going to give him all that stuff?"
"I said I would." He glances down at me. "Juth will expect me to, and so I shall. I will set up a place near camp and leave them for him. He will know they are from me, and he will see that I am a hunter of my word. Perhaps eventually he will come and barter for more and more."
"And eventually might just stay?"
"Eventually," U'dron says, smiling. "There are many reasons to stay, after all."
"Oh?"
He nods wisely, his paddle moving in time with his arms. "Their names are S'teph and B'shit, and F'lor, and—"
I chuckle, smacking his knee. "And Raven?"
"No," he tells me, his expression serious. "She is taken."
My heart squeezes with a secret thrill at that.
19
RAVEN
I must have dozed off at some point, my head still cradled in his lap, because U'dron touches my shoulder to rouse me, and when I sit up, it's completely dark. He immediately jumps into the water, shocking me awake, and then I see it—a distant campfire.
We're home. Thank god. I'm smiling even as utter weariness surges through my body. Seeing the encampment has made me realize just how exhausted I am, and I'm looking forward to going back to my comfortable nest of furs and blankets, and sleeping until the metaphorical ice cows come home.
"Hold on," U'dron tells me, and he tugs the raft toward the shore, wading through the roiling waters. When we scrape onto the sand, he holds out a hand, and I take it. My legs ache from being tucked into the same position all day and I wobble toward him. His expression changes to one of concern. "Are you all right?"
"I'm just tired," I say, forcing a smile to my face.
"You are cold, too." He frowns at me, then puts a hand under my chin. "Your lips are almost the same color as my skin."
"They're not supposed to be that shade," I joke. "It's fine. Just lead me to the fire."
U'dron's frown deepens. He glances at the distant fire that seems much farther up the beach than I originally thought. No one has come to greet us yet—they're too far away to notice that we've arrived. He shakes his head and then bends over. It takes me a moment to realize what he's doing. His arm goes behind my knees and then he hefts me into his arms, honeymoon-style. Oh. "I can walk," I protest. "Really."
"Let me take care of you, R'ven. Has no one ever taken care of you before that you must fight everything?" He looks down at me with amusement.
No, no one has, actually. I've been the only person I could ever depend on all my life. It's a sobering feeling to realize that he's looking out for me, too. "Okay," I say softly. "Thank you." I tuck my head against his chest…and immediately fall asleep again.
The next thing I know, I hear the chatter of excited voices drifting through my dreams.
"She is fine," U'dron says in a polite but determined voice. "She just needs to sleep. She will talk to all in the morning."
Oh. I struggle to wake up, but my eyelids feel so damn heavy and U'dron's big body is so warm to snuggle against. I yawn, trying to crack an eye open. Veronica's concerned face appears through my lashes, as does Sam's. Behind them, I can see many others, and it sounds vaguely as if the entire tribe is out here.
A hand touches my ankle. "She's just tired," Veronica tells the others. "It's all good."
"Let her sleep," Raahosh says, his voice sharp. "She can answer all your questions in the morning."
"I'll go unroll her blankets for her in the cave," Sam volunteers.
"Do not bother. She is sleeping in my hut tonight."
"Is that okay with her?" Liz's voice is sharp, cutting through my sleepiness. I manage to give a tired thumbs-up, and I hear Liz laugh. "Okay, fine then. See you two in the morning. Get some sleep."
U'dron murmurs something, the low rumble of his chest soothing against my cheek. I let out a little sigh and drift back into dreams, warm and cared for and adored.
20
U'DRON
R'ven's form is light in my arms as I carry