Love, Against All Odds

III - Chapter 4

The dual suns hung low in the sky, announcing the start of a new day on the cooling planet. Becca didn't mind it, even if she preferred to be in bed. Instead, she was guiding the two tacked horses from the stable to the front of the cabin. She stood and held the reins while she waited for her lover.

Everything around her was peaceful and whispered to her to remain here longer. A piece of her felt five years old again, wanting to stay at the cabin in hopes her parents would arrive soon. But she knew they were in the afterlife and ready for her return. One day, she told them, just not right now. Her thoughts were fragmented by the cabin door's creak, and she straightened up when Kal exited it.

In her hands, Kal held a large, iron padlock and an old key she inserted into it. She twisted once, then twice, and the padlock's shackle swung free. She turned to the door, jerked on the its handle, and worked the padlock into place.

Leaning to her right, Becca watched her lover set the padlock, hindering anyone wanting to get into the cabin. There was very little to steal from the house or property, but a random person might take residence if they found it. The property's secret location reminded her of the cloth map in her jacket, which she fished out from the inside pocket.

Kal approached Becca while tucking the padlock's key into her pants' pocket.

'I almost forgot.' Becca held out the abused map.

Kal accepted it and put it in the same spot as the key.

'Are you sure you're ready?' Becca asked, zipping her jacket back up.

After a low rumble, Kal rested her hand on the sword hilt at her side. 'Ja.'

Becca gave a faint nod, and her attention traveled back to the locked cabin.

'You are not,' Kal said.

Becca sniffed, thanks to the cold air bothering her nose. 'You think I want to give this up?' She signaled the beautiful landscape that hid them away from the scariness of Tarrak. 'I could stay here... with you.' She and Kal started putting the reins over the horses' heads, then mounted them. 'For a long time,' she whispered to herself.

Kal was first into the saddle, adjusting her body until she was comfortable. She peered over at Becca and promised, 'We'll return.' She tapped the horse's side while saying, 'And so will my rut.'

Becca frowned, still trying to get situated in the saddle. She hadn't ridden in the many years since Dorlon taught her, but most of the lessons returned to her. 'Wait. What?' She urged her horse to follow the much larger, darker one. 'Aren't you going to take suppressants now?'

Kal looked over at Becca, who rode behind her along the trail. 'Do you wish for me to take suppressants?'

'I feel like this is a trick question,' Becca replied and ducked under a low branch. 'Do you really think you'll rut again? What if it was just a one-off thing?' She was rambling while her mind launched into thousands of directions at the idea of Kal rutting once every two noreds.