just to tie them for me."
Her brows furrow and she chuckles. "So you've been wandering around in the snows with no shoes on? Aren't you cold?"
I have been so distracted that I did not notice. Perhaps I am getting used to the cold air here after all. I shrug and tuck her layers closer to her, fussing protectively over my mate. "I am not cold, no. Are you?"
She shakes her head and steps a little closer to me, taking my arm and putting it around her shoulders. My chest swells with pleasure and pride, and she fits perfectly just under my arm. "No. Did you find that? The trunk?"
I shake my head. "One of the hunters checking his traps found it and came back to camp. B'ek and I were already with A'tar, so we helped him secure it to carry back."
She licks her lips and gives me a nervous look, leaning in to whisper. "It doesn't look like the other trunk. It looks like a stasis pod."
I nod. "I thought the same thing. We will see what M'dok says."
Many of the males are talking eagerly, but I see unease on the faces of many of the females. R'hosh's mate holds her new child to her teat and keeps the others close to her legs, her mouth in a flat line of distress. She whispers to H'rlow, who stands nearby with her baby in a sling. I do not think they are pleased with the gift left for us this time.
F'rli and M'dok are eventually found and the sa-khui female looks eagerly at her mate, her pet dvisti at her side. "Ni-ree has left you another gift!"
"More knives?" O'jek asks, sharing a look with A'tam.
But M'dok just rubs his jaw and shakes his head. "That's not a gift package. That's a stasis pod." He runs a hand down his face. "Niri, you asshole."
"So your buddy sent us someone?" Leezh asks, speaking up as her mate approaches, a few steps behind M'dok. "I think I speak for everyone when I say 'Hey, what the fuck?'"
"She must have a reason," M'dok says, undoing some of the leather straps across the lid. "I hope." His hand skims over the surface and then a light begins to flash. "There's a message, at least."
F'rli is immediately at her mate's side, touching his arm in a supportive gesture. "What does it say?"
I hug my mate a little closer. F'rli is giving her mate a protective look, and I realize that these messages must be distressing for him. I try to imagine how I would feel if I received gifts from my lost clan back on the island. It would be a reminder of all the hurt and loss each time. I do not think I would like it.
Mari nudges me with her elbow, turning her face up to me. "You okay?" she whispers, worry on her face.
I nod.
Before I can say anything, there's a crackling sound and then an unfamiliar female voice fills the air even as a shimmering image of an older female appears just over the rock. "Don't kill me, Mardok. I'm just doing a friend a favor. She needed a place to drop off the radar entirely. Treat her well, okay? She's a good kid. I'll bring you more food and supplies on the next run. Hope you and that female of yours are doing okay. Tell her I said hello."
"Hello!" F'rli calls out to the voice, smiling.
"She can't hear you," M'dok tells his mate. "It's a message."
"But she said hello." F'rli gives him a puzzled look.
M'dok's mouth twitches and he gives his mate a look of pure affection. "Let's just open this and see who's arrived." He taps his fingers on the rock, and then hesitates, looking over at R'hosh. "Should we?"
The male with the crumpled horn gestures impatiently. "What is one more mouth to feed? As long as they will not be a danger to those here, I do not care."
"If the newcomer is female, we should open it," R'jaal says eagerly. Too eagerly. "All are welcome here." He takes a few steps forward, his gaze locked on the pod. "Surely we cannot turn a female away."
"I bet if it was a guy in there, he'd be singing a different tune," Mari murmurs to me. "He wouldn't want the competition for a mate."
It is on my lips to protest this, but R'jaal watches M'dok and the pod with glittering, fervent eyes. Mari is right. He sees this as a hope for