Raw

Chapter Nine - Failure

Upon reaching the encampment, I searched for Father. But when I found him, I couldn't disturb him. He was busy mating. So I found Hektos, who rushed to gather a group of our brothers to assist Fennir and Keenan.

When Father emerged, I hurried to tell him what happened, but my younger brothers all returned. Father hurried to Hektos to be filled in on the details. He listened, stone faced, as Hektos recounted the brutal fight. All four of the full-grown males, my older brothers and the twins, sustained substantial injuries, but not bad enough that they couldn't walk away to heal. When Hektos and the others arrived, the Barg twin fled, and my younger brothers chased them from our land.

Father stroked his chin as he stared at me. "They will return. I must go out to secure my border and mark my territory there. The twins grow too bold."

"We will help you however we can, Father," Hektos said.

Father rested a hand on his shoulder. "I know you will. You're a good son."

Hektos stood a little taller as Father returned into the hut.

The next morning, I woke to pains in my abdomen. "Mother?" I said, curling my knees. Dampness soiled my skin between my legs. I reached down and touched it. Blood came off on my fingers. "Mother!"

She shot up beside me. "Zora?" She looked at my hand, then my crotch. "Stay calm."

She climbed to her feet and woke Hektos. "Go get a bucket of water and a wash cloth. Leave them outside and do not return inside."

"What's wrong?" Hektos asked with heavy eyes.

"Zora needs some privacy. Now go."

Sensing the urgency in Mother's voice, he hurried from the hut.

While I fought not to panic, Mother knelt by my feet and gently coxed my legs open. "It's all right, Zora."

"What's happening?" I asked, my voice tense.

"This is normal. It means you did not conceive."

"No." I pushed up onto my elbows. "I'm supposed to carry Mhor's young!"

"Zora." She pushed on my shoulder so I would lay back. "Usually males keep a female on heat for several days when they want them to conceive, and even then it's not certain. Mhor had to cut your heat short, so I am not surprised you do not carry."

A tap came on the doorframe, then a bucket of water slid under the flap.

"Thank you, Hektos!" Mother called as she hurried over to grasp the bucket. When she returned to me, she set out several clothes, and dipped one in the water. "Now, just relax."

I lay staring up at the ceiling as she washed the blood from me. Once she'd completed her task, she held up a piece of cotton and wound it around her finger. "I will give you two of these. When one fills with blood, trade it for the other and wash the first."

"How long will this last?" I asked.

"About two to three days." She lowered her finger and slid the cotton inside me.

I gasped at the intrusion. It didn't feel warm and comforting like Mhor, but rough and abrasive. "It's uncomfortable."

"It will be at first." She grasped another dress, laying it beside me. "Your dress is soiled. Change before you come outside for breakfast."

I changed, and slipped the spare piece of cotton under the binding of my chest. I had no idea when I'd "fill" the first, so I'd keep it with me to be safe. I grabbed my bloodied dress and carried it with the bucket to the wash area. I left the dirty cloths to take care of later as I was ravenously hungry.