Gifted Pelt

Chapter 62

Astrila sighs, staring at the iglu walls. Her father is on his way over from the bay, and she thinks he might just kill her for almost dying. She prods at her side, feeling where she stabbed. Through her heavy overwear, she can feel the tear in her underclothes where the knife sliced them. She lifts the edge to peer at the spot then stops in surprise when she sees it, almost dropping the edge of the parka. Where the wound had been is a scar, but not a normal one. It shines like gold against her dark skin and takes the shape of a star, eight points and all. Snow crunches from the iglu entrance and Astrila whirls, dropping the edge of her garment. Kōri steps inside and his forehead creases in confusion when he sees her.

"What's wrong, Astrila?"

She lifts up the edge of her clothing once more to reveal the golden star poking through the hole in her underclothes. He reaches out to touch it gently.

"Is this where . . ."

"Where I got stabbed?" He nods. "Yes. What does it mean?"

"I don't know. Maybe we'll find out someday, but I don't think that day is today."

Astrila nods and looks toward the door of the iglu, making a move to step toward it. He pulls her back, a small smile on his face.

"Can we have some time to ourselves, before your father gets here? Everything's been so hectic lately-"

He trails off and she looks at him, a smile of her own blooming across her face. She leans up to kiss him once, softly.

"Of course we can, Kōri."

She kisses him again, just as snow crunches outside the iglu. They leap apart just as Kayi steps inside, their cheeks aflame. He looks between the pair with raised eyebrows.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Astrila looks down at the ground, a sheepish smile on her face. When she looks up again, Kayi is shaking with silent laughter.

"Oh, it's alright. You don't have to hide it, Astrila. I'm happy for you both. Of course, I already knew you had gotten close."

Her mouth drops open. "How?"

"Did you forget the bond that wouldn't let him go far from you?"

Her cheeks blaze and for once, Astrila thinks it might be easy for others to see. Mercifully, Kōri just laces his fingers through hers and stays silent. They fall into a brief silence before Kayi speaks, his voice losing all its amusement.

"So, who's going to tell me what happened?"

Astrila glances at Kōri and he nods. She inhales shakily and begins. "Everything started out fine. I had led them to the gold they were searching for. Then the man in red got greedy, and he started to come after me." She takes a deep breath. "Something happened then, something strange."

"What?"

Astrila looks down at her hands. "It's like something through him against the wall. One moment he was coming toward me and the next, he was impaled by the walls themselves."

She glances at Kōri. His face is pale, he looks like he's going to be sick. He waves for her to continue, his hand tightening around hers.

"The other man came after me then, he was filled with rage. A tunnel opened up for me and I ran, on and on through the caves. I had to stop eventually, it would have been worse if I had kept running until I was exhausted. When he caught up to me, he . . . he stabbed me. Right here." She points to her side. "The ground opened up beneath him and swallowed him whole, then I passed out."

Kōri takes over the story from there. "I felt something, like a shiver through the world. You remember, don't you?" Kayi nods. "Tonraq and I ran for the caves and when we got there, we were led straight to her. When I first saw her, I was afraid that she was dead. Her pelt was nowhere in sight."

Kayi jolts and looks to Astrila, his eyes wide. He relaxes slightly when he sees her pelt slung across her shoulders. "Where was it? Did they take it?"

His voice raises in panic at the end and Astrila shakes her head frantically to calm him. "No, I hid it. In the walls of the cave."

He nods. "Smart." He looks to Kōri. "Continue."

"The caves led us to a healing pool, and-"

Astrila cuts in. "That's where I woke up. I was panicking, I couldn't see or sense anything. My magic had to shove me back and calm me down while the healing was still continuing."

Kōri makes a strange noise in his throat. "That's why you looked so scared when we got you out of the pool. I originally thought that it was because of what happened before you went unconscious."

Astrila nods, just as someone bursts into the iglu. It's Arnauyq, Tarkik's partner. His hair is disheveled and his hood tossed back. He gasps.

"King Kayi! Astrila!"

"What is it?"

"Something's happening at the bay."

Astrila drops her head into her hands. "Not again?!"
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That wound scar sounds familiar, doesn't it? What do you think is going to happen at the bay? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.