case. For now, I enjoy the time we have together.
28
U'DRON
We wake up well before dawn, and R'ven helps me cut my mane off. It is something only the most dedicated of hunters do, to prove that they will not even use their mane as assistance. Mine is too short to make rope of any kind, but I want I'rec and the others to see how seriously I take this. So we shear the sides as best we can, and R'ven cuts off my top-lock, leaving just a little of my mane on the top.
"Very sexy," she pronounces, and gives me another kiss.
I can see there is worry in her eyes, but her smile is bright. She insists on going with me, and when I ask if she wants to bathe, she shakes her head. "I'll bathe after you're gone. I hope I absolutely reek of sex and it drives I'rec nuts." Her eyes gleam with amusement. "Is that bad of me?"
"Not at all." I like the thought far too much. I want them to all know she is mine. "I must bring supplies out to Juth, as I promised. Will you do it while I am gone?"
"Of course. Will you show me where to put them?" She pulls a tunic over her head—one of my tunics, I notice with pride—and belts it at her waist. She looks around and frowns. "Still no shoes. Someone keeps distracting me and I forget to get my clothes from the other cave." She gives me a sly grin. "Guess I'll go barefoot again." She thinks for a moment and then adds a heavy cloak over her shoulders. "Ready when you are."
I leave my feet bare, too. I put on a loincloth since I am gathering food supplies from the main camp, and the females tend to make strange noises of distress if the males walk around naked.
We head to the main camp, holding hands, and I meet with Shail, who greets me with a nod and pulls out the small bundle of food she has prepared for Juth. "Harlow included one of Rukhar's old tunics, just so you know." Her eyes get soft. "That man needs to bring that baby in so we can feed both of them."
"It will take time for him to trust," I tell her. "I am sure he will eventually see we mean no harm."
She nods, eyeing my shorn head with interest, but says nothing else about it. We turn to leave the fire and another female stops us on the way. It is the one called S'teph, with dark hair, full teats, and equally full hips. The female gives us an enthusiastic look. "I would like to help."
Help? "We are putting a small package of supplies on a rock. I am not sure we need help."
S'teph clasps her hands together. "I was working on a psychology degree back home. I want to try to get to know Juth and Pak. I want to build trust with them. If it's okay with you, I'd like to go with you today and put my scent on things, and eventually I'd like to do the hand-off on my own. I think I can break through to them. They just need patience and understanding."
I eye the female, wondering if she is going to get snatched by Juth as another bargaining tool. He will not hurt her, but…I will not be here to retrieve her, either. I can always warn the others, I suppose, so they can be on the lookout for another female going missing. I glance down at R'ven to see what she thinks. She shrugs, squeezing my hand. "Very well," I say after a moment. "But do not stray far from the spot I show you. You do not want to get taken away."
Her eager expression falters. "I thought he rescued Raven?" She glances at my female.
"He did," R'ven quickly adds. "But he's unpredictable. We're just saying to be careful. Come on. My feet are fucking freezing."
"Why aren't you guys wearing shoes?" S'teph asks as we head down to the beach, the three of us, and R'ven gives her a quick answer about broken laces. She lies well, my mate. For some reason, this pleases me. I like her too-clever mind.
We drop the food off at the specified rock at the far end of the shore. It is a rock that is shaped a bit like a fish, with a wide, rounded end and a more narrow, triangular “tail.” On the