to the village when he takes T'ia there. I must let R'jaal know Mari and I will be leaving, and that I do not know when we will return.
And I must pack our things for our trip. My mate will need furs and food supplies, a weapon, new boots, and we will both need more gloves. Lots and lots of gloves.
I pull on my layers of clothing, fumbling with the ties on my boots before giving up and leaving them behind. I do not want to wake my mate just to adjust the ties for me; I will just have cold feet this morning. I head out of the hut and the cold air hits my face like a slap. My feet are cold, but it is not so bad. I jog over the sand, ignoring the chill as I head for the fire. Bek is there with his mate, feeding her bits of something as she leans against his shoulder. Buh-brukh and H'rlow are at the fire with S'teph, making root and meat cakes for everyone. It still amazes me that to feed my mate, all I must do is come to the fire and food will be provided. R'hosh has explained to me before that some of the females do not enjoy hunting, and everyone must do their share, so they cook or spend time around the fire sewing or working on skins. The females like Leezh and N'deen do not cook because they hunt. I know my Mari has done a bit of both, and I wonder if she enjoys hunting. Maybe we will hunt together at the new village.
I like that thought.
I eat three of the cakes by the fire, listening to the females talk about something they miss from home called a star-buck. There is hot shrimp tea, but I do not enjoy it like the females do. I eat one more cake when it is offered to me—never pass up on food—and then ask for a meal for my mate. S'teph puts a few steaming cakes into a woven bowl for me, and I jog back to the hut. Mari is still asleep, so I get my heavy log and head for the shore to get my strength-building in. My hand feels tight after last night, my smallest finger tingling and weak, so I work on stretches and closing my hand around a fist-sized rock between rounds. It is a cold, blustery morning, and there is no sign of the twin suns. They are hidden by clouds, and the air carries hints of ice in the breeze.
Yet…I am still happy. It is a good day, for all that the weather frowns down on us.
"Ho," a familiar voice calls as I heft the large chunk of wood over my head in repetitive motions. I turn, holding it high, and see A'tar, dressed in nothing more than a pair of leggings. His feet are bare, too, but I suspect it is because the cold does not bother him, just like the sa-khui. He grins at the sight of me, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth. "You are looking stronger. My mate will be very pleased you are so healthy. She takes it as personal pride when the tribe thrives."
I lower the chunk of wood to the ground, then heft it up to my shoulder and over my head once more. "The wood feels lighter every day. Soon I will need a larger piece."
A'tar laughs. "Just lift your mate instead."
Not a bad idea. "It is good that you are here this morning. I must speak with you." When A'tar crosses his arms over his chest and tilts his head, listening, I continue. "My mate wants to go with you when you take T'ia to the other village. And of course, I will go with her."
"You do?" His eyes narrow.
"Yes. I know your mate has done everything she can for my Mari, but her khui is still silent, and it distresses her. She wishes to speak to the other healer and see if she has ideas." When A'tar's mouth flattens, I realize how it must sound. "Your V'ronca saved my life and we are grateful. I hope you do not see this as an insult to her. It is not meant as that."
He nods slowly, expression thoughtful as he gazes out at the rolling waves. "I understand. My mate has said before that the other healer is stronger than her…but I think she will still be wounded.