Starborn Legacy (A Starborn Series prequel)

Chapter fourteen

It didn't take long for Audrey to settle into life at the top of the mountain. The beats of each day were a lot like her life back home. She began her mornings by dragging herself out from the comfort of Emandi's nest to clean herself in fire-warmed glacier water and enjoy an elaborate breakfast prepared by her host. It turned out that cooking was one of Emandi's favorite pastimes, and they were remarkably good at it for someone with paws for hands.

"Food is truly one of the greatest pleasures this life has to offer us," they explained to her once as she watched them prepare a restaurant-worthy meal of fish and foraged greens. "Trust me, I've been around long enough to know."

When Emandi was around, Audrey peppered them with questions. Unlike Welkin, who had always been cautious about what and how much they told her, Emandi was more than happy to indulge her curiosity. They especially enjoyed talking about themself, and would go on for hours about the many adventures and exploits they'd had throughout their exceptionally long life.

"Is it normal for an Emandi to live as long as you have?" she asked one afternoon as she helped tidy their living quarters. Emandi had just finished telling her about a volcanic eruption they'd witnessed several centuries ago that left her wondering. "Are you immortal?"

Emandi barked a laugh that echoed throughout the cavern. "If we were immortal I wouldn't be the last of my kind, would I? But, yes, it is normal for Emandi to live longer than most other creatures because we weren't born with the ability to procreate."

"Excuse me?" Audrey balked. "Are you saying none of you could have babies?"

"Correct. And what a shame! Our offspring would have been adorable." Emandi chuckled to themself. "Instead of bearing young, Emandi can regenerate and repair ourselves when necessary."

"With magic?"

"Not quite."

Audrey considered this new information for a moment. "So, what happened to the rest of the Emandi then?" she asked.

The great cat let out a heavy sigh. "They'd had their fill of this life. Gradually, as the centuries and millennia wore on, some grew weary, while others felt satisfied. Those who weren't lost to other means simply chose to let themselves pass on."

"But not you?"

"No," Emandi said, their magenta eyes glinting with something that looked like hunger. "I'm not even close to being finished with this one wild and precious life of mine."

The following day, Audrey experienced Emandi's talent for regeneration first hand. She lost her footing while walking along a slope of loose shale that led down to a river of ice melt. Her body hit the ground hard and skidded along the rock with alarming speed. Though she managed to avoid tumbling into the icy water, she didn't make it out of the ordeal unscathed: the skin of her right leg had been scraped raw on the sharp and jagged rocks. By the time she managed to hobble back to the cave, she had bled right through her jeans.

"This is why I don't take you hunting with me," Emandi tutted as they surveyed the damage.

"I thought you said it was because I can't keep up with you?" Audrey countered with a wince.

"That too." Emandi padded over to a water-filled pail that sat next to the low table where they prepared meals. They plucked out one of the shimmering silver fish they had caught earlier and carried its frantically flopping body back to her. Audrey leaned away, eyeing the fish warily.

"What's that for?"

"I can't have you bleeding all over the place," Emandi said instead of answering the question. "Can you tolerate a bit of pain?"