Gifted Pelt

Chapter 37

Astrila nods. "Yes, I will. On our way to the lagoon, I heard music."

Kayi speaks before she can continue with that. "Why is that relevant?"

She gives him a disapproving look. "You didn't let me finish what I was saying. The music was from the wind."

He interrupts her again, an incredulous look on his face. "What!?"

Astrila sighs. "It was sending a message."

Kayi's face sobers. "What was the message?"

Her lips quirk down into a frown as she repeats the words of the wind, setting the air around them trembling. "Something is coming. Be prepared. Learn what you can. Prepare yourself for an approaching journey. The time comes near."

Kayi frowns. "Is the second half of that related?"

Astrila's shoulders lift up and fall back down in a shrug. "I'm not sure. I was going to tell Kōri what the wind told me when my magic told me to go to the lagoon first."

"Why?"

"I think . . . I think it was because the water repeated the message, just before the Ludeag appeared. But it only said the first half of the wind's message."

Kayi nods. "So the second bit must have been meant for you and you alone. Kōri?"

Kōri must have known what Kayi was asking. "I heard the message in the water as well. But I didn't have time to think about it, not when the Ludeag appeared the moment the message ended."

Kayi starts to pace across the floor, stroking his pelt as he thinks deeply. "Could the message have been speaking of the Ludeag?"

Astrila shakes her head. "No. If that had been the case, what would have been the point of the message? We came across the Ludeag the moment after the water repeated it to us. Besides, the message said something is coming and to prepare. Is coming, not has arrived. We wouldn't have been able to prepare for the Ludeag. So the message must have been referring to something else."

"Yes, yes. You're right, Astrila. But what could the message have been referring to? Did you have any indication of it?"

Astrila shakes her head again. "It just said to prepare."

"How? How could we prepare?"

"It said to learn, so maybe we should look through everything you have on other Aos Sí." She hesitates. "Your interactions with humans as well. I think that is the best we can do with the information we have."

Kayi sags and folds his legs beneath him to sit on the floor. "Yes, that sounds like a good plan."

In the lapse of silence, Astrila realizes that she has been so wrapped up in the discussion that the snow in her hands has melted away. Kōri notices where her attention has fallen and hands her a fresh pile of snow for her cheek, an amused smile on his face. He hands her another pile for her leg and she presses it against her skin, sighing as it soothes the burning heat. Effects of the venom, maybe? Tonraq bustles over to her.

"How are you feeling?"

Astrila's smile is warm and grateful. "Much better. I think the cold is drawing the venom out. It burns when it trickles out of the wounds though."

"Yes, but it's better for the venom to be out of the wounds than inside them."

A burst of surprised laughter emerges from her throat. "That's true." She looks over at her father. "Do you want me to help you go over all your information?"

His smile is soft, but its almost dripping with gratitude. "Please."

"When we're done treating these wounds, should I head over to your iglu?"

He nods. "That would be appreciated, but don't hurt yourself getting there."

Kōri interjects. "If she is hurting her leg by walking, I'll carry her over."

Astrila scowls at him, a surge of anger coursing through her. "Kōri! No!"

Kayi escapes the iglu and their banter in the moment between Astrila's shocked response and Kōri's elaboration of his earlier words. "If it will hurt your leg further . . ."

Tonraq saves Astrila from that humiliation. "Her leg isn't damaged enough to warrant that action. However," He twists to look at Astrila directly. "I would suggest not running until you are healed."

Astrila groans. "No running for two weeks. Great."

Kōri frowns. "Shouldn't it be longer?"

Astrila's smile is full of joyful amusement. "No, I heal faster because of my additional Aos Sií blood. Don't you remember talking about that with Tonraq when my hands were injured?"

Kōri gives her a sheepish smile, his eyes twinkling. "I forgot."

Astrila's laugh chimes through the air. "I can see that." Tonraq hums to get her attention and she turns her head to look at him, her brow crinkling in confusion. "What is it?"

"You can go now. Just remember to put on another ice coat later today. I'll see you here tomorrow to join me on the healing runs."

Astrila smiles. "Alright."
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What do you think the message had been warning them about now that we know it wasn't the Ludeag? What did you think of Astrila and Kōri's banter? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.