Barbarian's Bookworm

Chapter 2

His mate is a beautiful and fierce thing. Even hiding in the darkness, he can tell how strong she is. She's afraid, which... understandable. At first, he had considered it a game of hunter and prey, him seeking out his mate, listening to his khui resonate in his chest, but with time...

He doesn't know her story, he doesn't know the truth of where she has come from, what struggles she has endured since landing on this planet, nor does he even know who brings her meat and furs. How cold has she been each night, without a hunter to warm her?

He is pleased that she has sought no other hunter for her furs, that she has not taken a pleasure mate, but as he searches for her, he worries - is she hiding because she's nervous, or because she's afraid?

When he eventually finds her, his beautiful mate, he cannot take his eyes from her. She's crouched down, clearly upset, and he wishes he could comfort her, could understand her. He just stares, not knowing what... What is she doing? The skin had been pulled across the doorway, but she is his mate, his khui confirms it, and... even without resonance, he would know her.

He wants to know her, needs to know her, to pleasure her, to comfort her. He wishes he had brought something with him, something from the sled to offer her, but he has nothing but himself.

"Please, do not fear me," he says, reaching out his hand towards her.

It's stupid to even speak, when he knows she does not understand.

She stares at him for a long time, before finally rising, and he gets his first look at her. She is so tiny, only coming up to half his chest, although her hair makes up so much of her. Her skin looks to be smooth, and no tail... he cannot imagine what it would be like to have no tail. She looks nothing like Sakh females, and arguably, she looks strange, but the way her eyes look up into his, the way her skin pinkens slightly as she looks at his hand...

He wants her, craves her, needs to devour her.

Her hand touches his, and he notices immediately how cold it is, and then she jerks it away, as though burned. Had his touch harmed her? He had not even anything. What would cause her to pull away?

The resonance in his chest pounds harder, the soft vibrations of before becoming a coursing need through his bones. He needs to pull her close, needs to bury his face in her mane, needs to protect her, feed her, he needs to-

His Chief comes up behind him, and it pulls Draco away from his staring at his mate. He listens to his mate talk to his Chief, and it confuses him - he can almost guess at the words, but they move so fast... will he be able to do that soon?

"Her hand," Draco cut in, wanting Vektal to make certain she was well. "She burned it, when we touched. Is she well?"

Vektal looks confused, but a few minutes later, he has confirmation that she is not hurt, but it does not answer his question. Why, then, did she pull away?

"She says she will mate with you when you can speak her language," Vektal finally says, turning back to him. "She wishes to travel to the Elder Cave. There is a way that the humans can learn our language, and we can learn theirs."

Without thought, Draco knows that he must go with her. "Allow me to take her there myself, alone. We shall learn each other's language, and then fulfill resonance."

His Chief considers his request, and Draco waits patiently, but he knows... he knows he won't be denied. Resonance is a reason for celebration, and if she wants to be able to speak to him... it is not an unrealistic request.

"I have wanted to send others to receive the download, but resonance is more important. Take her and go, in the morning. I shall ask if she accepts, but if she does not, my mate will convince her."