She is tired. I have not looked into her thoughts, but I can hear her breathing heavily behind me. I would carry her. I would carry her and our ovum, but she would not want this, and so she must walk if we are to get her home.

  I push aside the disappointment I feel at her wish to return home. I do not want to think about her leaving.

  “Sol, I’m sorry, I’m trying, but can we take a rest? Just a small one.”

  We do not have much further.

  I have been leading Sheh along the edge of the forest away from the Northern Mountains and east toward my land. She has done well keeping pace, although I know she is weak and not fully recovered from her illness.

  Only a short time later, I step into the clearing a half days walk from the cave. It is just as I remembered. The frost of the mountain has lifted, and while the air is still cool, the surface of the pool in front of us billows with steam.

  “Ugh, thank you!”

  Sheh steps up next to me. I am surprised when I turn to find her smiling. Her eyes flicker down to our ovum wrapped against my chest, and the smile falters. She looks away. I step to the side, putting distance between us, and she frowns.

  We will rest here.

  I walk to a grassy area set back from the bank and begin to unwrap the cloth from around my chest. Keeping our ovum close has kept it warm, and I am glad when I feel it has retained the heat. I arrange it on a soft patch of moss, making sure to keep it in clear sight.

  “How long can we stay here?”

  Sheh is at the edge of the spring looking over the steamy water. She is tired, and we have traveled long and with difficulty. She is in need of rest.

  We can stay for the evening. You should make use of the spring. The waters will help you recover.

  “Yeah, I can’t swim.”

  She stares longingly across the water. Her sister also could not navigate the seas of Qiton. Tee almost drowned. Perhaps Sheh believes the same will happen, but there is no danger here.

  I go to her and take hold of the strap at her shoulder. Her eyes drop to my hands in surprise.

  You will not drown, Sheh. It is a shallow pool. If you do not go far, you will be safe.

  Her chest rises heavily below my hands.

  “Will you come in with me? Just in case?”

  I glance back to where I have left our ovum, and her gaze follows. She looks down and away, reaching up to her shoulder and pushing my hands away.

  “It’s okay. I’ll just dip my feet in.”

  My instinct is to stay and protect our ovum, but the temptation of being close to Sheh again is too much to resist. It has been days since I felt her, and while I am keeping myself distant, I miss her.

  I will come.

  Her mouth breaks into a wide smile and she nods, pulling at the tie and letting the soft fabric float down to her waist. Again, I am struck by how beautiful she is. How brown. How smooth. The tips of her breasts strain in the cool air.

  She pushes the fabric past the curve of her hips and lets it fall down her legs to puddle at her feet. I follow the cloth, letting my eyes devour every bit of skin that is revealed to me. That feeling is back. That ache. The fabric at my crotch tightens with it.

  “Come on.”

  She holds out her hand and I take it, swallowing her much smaller one in my palm. She’s so small, but still so full and strong. I want to feel her close to me again. To feel her warmth around me.

  I let her lead me into the spring, never letting my eyes leave her as we go deeper and deeper until the warm water laps at her thighs. She stops and turns back, apprehension evident in the shift of her brow.

  “I’m scared to go too deep.”

  I do not know why I do it, except to satisfy the desire to have her close, but I lift her beneath the legs and up against my body. Her heels dig into my flanks, she slips against my skin, tightening her hold on my neck. I spread my hands wide on her plump bottom, squeezing. Her soft gasp floats between us.

  “I will not let you fall, Sheh.”

  I move deeper into the water, gliding so it slowly engulfs us. When it dances about our chests, I stop.

  “Mmmmmmm.”

  Her eyes close as her head falls back. Beads of water make their way down her throat, and I give in to that old urge and flick my tongue out, following the line of her neck. The water is sweet and cooled from the air. It tastes like Sheh.

  “I thought you didn’t like me?”

  When I open my eyes, she’s watching me with a curious expression. The corner of her mouth tilts up. I lower my face again and lick that place too.

  “I did not say I do not like you.”

  She snorts and shifts her eyes into her head briefly.

  “Uh, yeah, you did. You said—and I quote—I do not believe that I should have a crush on you, Sheh.”

  She does something strange to her voice when she restates my words. She lowers the pitch, almost is if she is trying to replicate my tone. It is ridiculous and inaccurate, but I find myself feeling somewhat humored.

  “Dude, you did it again. You smiled!”

  Sheh grabs my face, holding it still, keeping me from relaxing the side of my mouth that lifts slightly. It is an awkward expression. Every expression is an awkward expression, but I find my face moving in these ways more and more as I stay with Sheh.

  Do you like when I smile?

  I would use my voice and please her, but she is still preventing me from moving my mouth.

  “Yes, I do, but don’t change the subject. Why’d you lick me?”

  She lets my face go.

  “I wished to taste you. I could not stop myself. Did it displease you?”

  “Displease? No. Confuse? Kinda.”

  She frowns, and I kiss the creased space on her forehead.

  “I do not wish to confuse you. While I know I should not have a crush on you, when you are near, you are all that I see. I will try to do better to look elsewhere.”

  Her frown increases and she makes a sharp sucking noise with her mouth.

  “What if I want you to look at me?” She keeps her attention averted and fidgets in my plume with one hand. “What if I want you to like me?”

  In this moment, I know that I will never be able to ignore what I feel for Sheh.

  “I will always like you, Sheh. Even if I should not.”

  She releases a deep sigh and rests her head along my shoulder. In the still of the evening, her sweet scent floats around us, and what I now know to be desire surges through me.

  She chuckles and flexes her hips up against he straining length of my cock.

  “You horny?”

  She lifts her head and when her eyes meet mine, they dance with humor.

  “I am, Sheh.”

  I hold my breath as she reaches between us and releases me. I lift her so she can place me at her opening, and as she sinks slowly down, the air whooshes from my chest.

  Sheh.

  I grip her bottom and lift her before lowering her back onto me, eliciting an almost painful stab of pleasure where we meet. I repeat the movement, impaling her over and over.

  “Sol, I can't. I need more.”

  Sheh grips me tightly about my shoulders. Her voice is a desperate plea in my ear. I lift her high until I am almost free of her body and then pull her down, imbedding myself into her with a deep thrust.

  “Ah!”

  Sheh begins to shake just as I feel my own need reaching its end. I increase the force of my movements and flex my hips forward to meet her. She tenses, her legs clamped about my hips, and I surge forward, holding myself deep as I release.

  CHAPTER 12

  LASHAY

  Something warm pulls at me. It feels like a string wrapped around my heart, and it tugs, yanks almost, but gently.

  I roll to my side, turning into the pull and jolting awake.

  My sight blinks on the smooth, brown surface of the egg. It’s a few feet away. After Sol carried me from the water and made love to me again on the bank, he left me to go back to it just as I was falling asleep. I’d immediately missed him, but curiously, I had also been happy that he was there to protect the egg. I worried that it was all alone.

  That feeling of wrongness overcomes me as I stare at it, and even though I want to look away, I can't. There’s that pull. It almost makes me want to scoot closer. To feel that smooth surface against my skin.

  I am sorry, Sheh.

  My head cranes back to where Sol is emerging from the spring. Water trickles down his silver skin like little diamonds. The muscles in his legs flex as his long stride eats up the distance from the water to where we slept. He drops his naked form down onto his heels and scoops up the egg.

  I did not think you would awaken so early.

  Without another word, he rises and strolls off into the wood.

  ***

  I’m just finishing my own bath when Sol steps from the tree line again. I pause at the edge of the water and watch him approach. His head is bent low over his chest where he cradles the egg. It’s wrapped up again, so I can only make out a sliver of the shell. As he gets closer and raises his head a little, I can see that he’s—smiling.

  It’s not that little smile he gave me. This is a real smile. Everyone of his teeth are visible. They are white and straight. They look human. Not like Lyqa teeth, which are wider and bigger than human teeth. The new expression transforms his face, taking him from oddly good looking to fine.

  “Sol, you’re smiling!”

  He stops, looking up as if he just realized I’m here. Immediately, his mouth drops to its former rigidity. I almost want to reach out and push his cheeks back up.

  Something very exciting has happened.

  I can hear it in his voice. It sounds different, animated. It makes me curious.

  “Is everything okay?”

  That smile returns. I don’t think he even realizes he’s doing it.

  Things are well. Do not concern yourself with this. Finish your bath.

  He gives me his back and bends over the egg again. I hear the soft sound of whispering. Is he talking to it?

  He sits on a fallen branch and continues to murmur to the egg. A gust of cool air has me quickly tip-toeing to my dress, which I draped over a large rock.

  Once I’m dressed, I turn around to find Sol settling the egg back into its little nest of fabric. He straightens and catches me watching. We stare at each other for a while.

  Are you hungry, Sheh?

  I am. I haven’t eaten since we left the cave. The reminder makes me suddenly very aware of a hollowness in my stomach.

  “I guess I could eat if it’s not too much trouble.”

  It is not. I have prepared to feed you. Do not worry that you trouble me. I will take care of you.

  He says this a lot. Each time it sends a surprising sense of satisfaction through me. Maybe I’ve been waiting for someone to take care of me. Maybe I’ve been waiting for someone who wants to take care of me.

  Sol finds his pack and pulls out one of the roots he got me before. He walks to the spring and dips it into the water to rinse off the dirt. When he holds it out to me, I take it and bring it to my mouth, biting off a large chunk.

  “Mm.”

  It’s crunchy, sweet, and a little bit spicy. Like a sweet radish. I chew quickly, finishing the veggie in half a dozen mouthfuls. When it’s done, stem and all, I lick my fingers and sigh.

  “That was so yummy. Thank you.”

  Of course, Sheh. If you are thirsty, you can drink from the spring.

  I look over to the water and turn my nose up.

  “We did it in there.”

  The corner of his mouth quirks up, and I’m just as shocked as I was the first time.

  I will go upstream and get fresher water.

  He takes a quick glance at the bundle and sets off along the bank. I settle onto a rock and wait. He moves slowly, not seeming to be in a hurry.

  He’s still in that loincloth. I’ve gotten used to seeing all his silvery skin on display. His long, thick arms swing at his sides as he gets further and further away.

  My mind flickers with an image. It’s just a quick flash before it’s gone. I blink my eyes. Sol is still there, strolling along the stream.

  It happens again. My eyes shut automatically and I see myself. I’m sitting on a rock across the water. The wind blows my twists across my face. Subconsciously, I lift a hand and brush the hair aside. I see the action in my mind, and it makes me smile.

  When I open my eyes, Sol is watching me across the water. He holds the gourd in his hands and starts back toward me.

  “Hey, you watching me?”

  I send the thought out.

  It’s quiet. Sol is still on his way back, but now he’s looking at the ground. When he’s finally close, I meet him half way and punch him lightly on the arm. We both wince.

  “Why’d you ignore me?”

  “I did not.” His head tilts in confusion as he holds up the gourd. “Drink.”

  He surprises me by taking gentle hold of the back of my neck and bringing me to the lip of the gourd. The contact makes my legs unsteady. I sip the water, nearly draining the gourd before I stop myself.

  “You’re not thirsty or hungry?”

  “I have an efficient body. I do not require much sustenance.”

  “When’s the last time you ate?”

  “Before I came to retrieve you.”

  That was like five days ago. I was ready to eat sticks after one day.

  “So when will you have to eat again?”

  His mouth turns down in thought.

  “Perhaps in another seven days or so.”

  “A week? Dude, I’d fucking starve to death.”

  “I will not let you starve, Sheh.”

  I roll my eyes. God he’s so literal.

  “No, I mean—never mind. So what now?”

  He reaches out and presses a hand to my head.

  “You are better. If you feel rested enough, we can continue.”

  ***

  “It’s greener here.”

  I say this to Sol’s back as I climb over a thick, low-hanging vine. We’ve been walking most of the day, and the terrain has gradually gotten less cold and sparse and more dense and humid. There are new sounds. Chirps and buzzing. Something skitters through the brush in front of me and I jump back, almost falling over the vine I just made it over.

  Be careful, Sheh.

  “I am. There was a rodent or something.”

  It will not harm you.

  “I know. It just scared me.”

  You may walk with me if you like. I will be better able to keep you from harm.

  I skip up and slow when I get to his side. Without thinking, I take the hand that dangles next to me. The moment our palms touch, my vision blanks again. My eyes shut.

  Be easy, little one. Do not make contact with her.

  Sol’s voice is a distance murmur.

  My face materializes in my mind’s eye again. I’m standing amidst the thick green vines hanging from the trees above us. My eyes are closed. The view is from above. It’s Sol watching me. The view shifts down to his chest. The smooth, tan surface of the egg comes into view. This close, it’s leathery and softer looking than I imagined. More like a sack than an egg. The apprehension that usually comes when I think of it is gone. Instead, when Sol runs a comforting hand over it, I feel—affection.

  Release her, little one.

  The surface of the egg ripples, and I flinch, jerking my eyes open.

  Sol watches me, his expression apprehensive.

  I am sorry, Sheh.

  “What happened? Why do you keep doing that?”

  I cannot stop it, but I will try.

  He looks away from me, almost like he’s embarrassed, but he looks sad. Of all of Sol’s new expressions, sadness is my least favorite.

  “Come.”

  He speaks the word gently and starts moving again. I spring into motion, but when I try to take his hand, he quickly pulls it away.

  “It is best if you do not touch me.”

  ***

  An hour later of climbing through dense jungle, I brake, bracing my hands on my knees to take a deep breath. Sol doesn’t stop. I’ve been lagging behind him for a while, and he’s a steady moving flash of silver ahead of me.

  “Sol, come back. I need to rest.”

  It’s quiet. He doesn’t stop. He’s been ignoring me since he jumped into my mind, earlier. He dips behind a tree up ahead and disappears from view.

  “Sol!”

  My shout echoes through the forest. I wait, watching the trees for any sign he’s heard me. Nothing.

  I drag myself forward, lifting the heavy vines that rope between the branches overhead. It takes all of my effort to carry my legs over the ones that hang too low to lift or go under. There’s no sign of Sol ahead. I stop, looking to my left and right.

  “Sol?”

  A sharp squawk sounds out just before a flock of bird-like creatures emerges from a bush to my right, flapping right above my head. I duck, covering my face against the frantic flutter of wings.

  I stay cowered until the flapping grows faint, then I straighten, only to come face to face with the low-crouched body of what I can only describe as a fucking saber toothed hippopotamus.

  Grrrrrr.

  The wide snout of the striped, leathery beast flares, pushing out a gust of slimy air. Its thickly muscled front legs bend low to the grown, thrusting its shoulders into sharp points above its back. It shifts to the side, beginning a slow rotation to my right. I freeze. I’m not even sure I’m breathing.

  My sisters hate watching nature shows with me. I’m the jerk always yelling at the screen, telling the damn wildebeest to ‘run!,’ ‘get out the way!,’ ‘don’t just stand there like a dummy and get ate!’

  And now I’m about to get ate. I almost wish I hadn’t talked so much shit about the damn wildebeest because being faced with the moment when you know that the big, lurking animal in front of you is completely capable of tearing you to pieces does not seem like the best time to make any sudden movements.

  The slight shift of my eyeballs as I try to follow the animal into my periphery feels like too much. It feels like at any moment, it’s going to realize I am not a tree, as I’m trying my best to pretend, but that I’m a snack. A whole fucking snack.

 

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