The Varkari

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I was a puddle of goo when I finally came to, half asleep next to him on the moss that was scooting us around in swirling patterns. Rahzgaur finally got up and was putting his pants back on while talking to Aldar telepathically. I couldn't hear anything, but I could tell Rahzgaur was saying something.

Aldar chattered loudly, lying on his side, then flopped his head back down.

"Aldar," Rahz grumbled.

The mogka gave him a few dismissive clacks. I snickered. He didn't want to get up. I couldn't blame him.

Rahz growled. "First my mate defies me constantly and now my mogka. What am I going to do?" His fists were on his hips and I covered my face with my hands to avoid laughing at him. He sighed. "I suppose there won't be any sharing of the olkalot tonight."

Aldar lifted his head and looked over his shoulder, crests rising up. Then he was on his feet, turning around and stretching like a cat.

Rahzgaur shook his head and picked up the saddle, placing it on the mogka's back before tightening the straps. Aldar snatched my shoes off the moss and glared at his rider with a challenging lavender eye.

"Hey!" I got up, rushing over to grab the edge of one shoe.

The mogka slurped them into his mouth without breaking his stare and ignored me. I pushed up his leathery lip, but only saw a double row of sharp teeth and promptly dropped it.

"He's going to carry them," Rahzgaur said, finally. The Admiral put a foot in the stirrup and swung his leg over, settling whatever argument there was between them.

I was still a little bit dizzy and disoriented from his venom, so I took the hand he offered without much consideration to other plans. He pulled me up like someone had handed him a loaf of bread instead of the weight of an entire human and placed me in the saddle facing him with a leg over either thigh. Confusion must have shown on my face because he spurred Aldar forward at the same time he tapped his chest. "Sleep."

"I can't just sleep on you while riding backwards through a jungle full of monsters," I pointed out. I kept my lips together and yawned without opening my mouth obviously, but I'm sure he could tell.

His yellow eyes dragged lazily to the path ahead and he let out a breath like he was going to say something he had told me a thousand times. "When will you learn that I will not let anything harm you? And neither will Aldar."

"You said that Varkari are not the only apex predators here."

"But we are the smartest," he said, proudly. He tapped his chest again and I huffed, plopping my head on him.

His constant heat radiated into my cheek and seeped under my clothes. I sagged forward, crossing my arms between us as the air grew chilly with the setting sun.

"More beasts come out at night, so we must always be sure to return home before it is dark," he explained.

"You are not making me feel better," I mumbled into his skin.

"It is not meant to. It is to eliminate ideas of running away. The nearest village is a full day and night travel from my home on foot at your speed, half a day with Aldar, and a few hours in the lift. Varkari only go out at night when we are hunting predators for rites."

I did not want to think about this right now. All I wanted was to soak up his warmth and return to the house to sleep. "What kind of rites? Like to get your First Token one?" My eyelids were heavier than I thought, sinking together. He was very comfy.

"No. That right is determined by blood and only altered after birth if a male fails at many skills. It is a great shame to lose a rank. Predator hunting is required for a male to be considered an adult or to settle disputes. Sometimes it is for competitions. The Varkari love games that test strength and prowess."