Tokala woke her and checked her hands before going around to the others. She could not remember all of that which she had dreamt but it still weighed on her heart. “We must not let them know of our marks.”
Who would have thought I would be great full for this wound.
As she began to pass around the freshly filled skins of water Dabun came up and handed her the coat back.
“Why? You have no protection at all last night.”
She smiled kindly at the confused woman, “You were very cold last night and Oda was worried so I just gave up my coat. Don’t worry, he only did it for you.”
“But you are part of the pack too and need warmth just as all of us do.”
“I can survive a while without it. Here have a drink before you have to eat.” She handed over the water skin. Then everyone ate their ration and changed into wolf form. All the cloth and water wrapped around her and Tokala grabbed the now very light food bag. They began to run but something caught her attention. She sniffed the air, the wind coming from the west. Wolves. Faint but definite.
“Hopefully we do not meet up with them.”
We will see.
The days progressed the nights colder and no longer able to find shelter to keep them warm. She still gave up her coat to Dabun and would sit by Tokala well after the others had fallen to sleep. They did not talk but sat and watched the others, listening for any sign of danger. The sent of the other pack was no more but the winds had shifted. Who knew where they were now. This night was much colder than the others had been not helping with the bitter sting of the wind cutting through her cloths. She took shelter by an old fallen tree for some barrier to the wind but it helped so little and she sat shivering. When she saw Tokala coming her way she immediately forced herself to stop shivering. He sat beside her and was silent for a moment.
“Will you tell me now?” She merely shook her head not trusting her own voice not to betray her. She wanted to appear strong so that she would get no special treatment. “You will not get any better freezing the way that you do.”
She just shrugged not caring one way or the other as her body began to grow numb. Tokala scooted closer to her and pulled her into his lap before she could escape.
The pain was evident in her eyes. This hurts. We are colder than I thought.
She shifted slightly her face paler slightly for the closeness to another. His hands wrapped tightly so that she could not escape and to surround her with warmth. It helped a lot to take the chill from her bones as she finally relaxed into him even curling closer. She began to get drowsy in her relaxed state speaking very softly but she knew he could hear.
“Five names given to me by those I once knew. Kineks, Namid, Qaletaqa, Hania, Kajika.”
“Why so many?” he whispered in her ear.
“Name given at birth as custom. Name given by my family in secret. Name called in front of the clan. Name given by my charges as it was easier to call me that. Name given to my by the healer upon my coming of age.”
“And what did everyone call you, those close to you?”
My family only ever called me Namid or Hania. The healer always called me Kajika. Everyone else always heard and spoke the name Qaletaqa. Except at birth I was never called Kineks, it never fit me anyway.”
“What would you have us call you?”
She yawned drifting a bit into sleep as she answered, “Kajika or Kaji.”
YOU ARE READING
Fire in the Moons Light
FantasyThis story is about a lone wolf found by an unmated alpha. As the lone wolf struggles with her past shames, Tokala (the alpha) fights to keep his clan safe and his mate from the hands of his uncle. Now if only Tokala could get his mate to accept her...
