Mari's Mistake - Ruby Dixon Page 0,95
and I remember the crushing disappointment of a young one's long-awaited welcome only to learn he must be sent to the outcast clan because he showed no horns.
"Okay, longer. Whatever." Mari doesn't seem concerned. She touches her flat stomach and her smile grows a little wider. Mine does, too.
"Ho," calls a voice down the beach, and when I turn, there are a dozen people approaching us. I see M'tok and S'bren and their mates, and R'jaal. I see A'tam and D'see—the new female—and S'sah. Bek is here, and V'rdis of the red skin, and then we are surrounded. I am clapped on the back over and over by all, and it seems as if everyone is pleased to see us return. R'jaal wants to know how things were at the other camp—Croatoan—and R'hosh wishes to know if T'ia was settled. Others help pull the saddle and gear off of A'tar so he can shift to his human form, and…it is a mess of people, everywhere. Everyone talks over one another, and when I look over at my mate, she is surrounded by other females. M'tok's mate C'lie is hugging her with joy in her eyes, and D'see chatters excitedly as my mate just smiles sweetly.
She is so beautiful, my Mari, that it makes me pause. How am I so lucky?
I stare at her, overcome with emotion, and a big hand claps on my back. "It was like that for me, as well," Bek comments, and taps the underside of my jaw, where my mouth is hanging open. "I could not look at my Ell-ee without feeling overwhelmed for many, many moons after we resonated. I still feel overwhelmed, knowing she is mine." His hard face softens into a smile. "Take it for the gift that it is and be happy."
"I shall," I vow, and gesture at the multitude of packs on the beach. "Here. Let me help with this."
The beach camp is chaos all afternoon and into the evening. Everyone wants to see the things brought from Croatoan, and many questions are asked—who has recently had a kit, what did L'la and R'kan's new young one look like, has anyone resonated, how is the hunting…on and on it goes. I find myself racking my brain, looking for the smallest tidbits of information to share with the hungry group. I understand it. In a way, it reminds me of the clan gatherings back on the island. All four clans would come together once every full turn of the seasons and have the proving games. In addition to the games, there were feasts, and trading with other clans…and talking. I remember lots and lots of talking.
It is like that right now, with Mari pulled away to speak with someone or another. First, H'rlow asks about the healer M'lak and her family. Then Leezh wishes to hear about Shorshie and her kits. Buh-brukh wants to know about her new clothes. C'lie wishes to know details about her visit to the healer. My mate gives me a helpless look and smiles, letting herself be carried away by her friends.
I smile, too, because it has been a long time since my mate has smiled so often. Since before the sky-claw attack, I think. She smiled all the time when we first met, and it dimmed when her khui was silenced. She is all happiness on this day, her sweet laughter ringing out, and I will do nothing to interrupt. I am just glad to see her enjoying herself.
"This calls for a celebration," Shail announces by the fire, and a small cheer goes up from the gathered group. She plants a kiss on Z'hren's face and hands him over to V'za, and then turns back to the group, clasping her hands. "I'm thinking stew, and if someone wants to go retrieve some sah-sah, we could have a party."
"Party!" someone calls out, and another female cheers.
"I'll help," B'shit says, moving to Shail's side. "What do you need?"
"Fresh meat, for starters," Shail says. "A lot of it. Do we have time?" She glances up at the sky, gauging the suns. "Or is it going to be dark soon?"
"Dark is not a problem." A'tam gets to his feet. "D'see and I will go to the nearest cache and get fresh meat for you. I know where it is, and she needs to learn."
"Sounds good," D'see says, falling in behind A'tam. They leave the fire, and I glance over at B'shit, who crosses her arms under her teats and scowls