Ostium

Chapter 4

I open my eyes and sit up but a blinding headache forces me to lay back down. My entire body hurts but particularly my front teeth. I cover my face with my hand and let out a pained groan, someone is suddenly by my side.

    "Waya, don't sit up yet." It's Bratus and he smooths the hair off of my forehead. He brings some water to my lips and I drink it all. 
    "Where's Röta? Where are we?" I croak and try to sit up again, this time Bratus helps me up. I'm in a large, soft bed in a dark room.
    "We are at Sax's home in Sidus. Saxum's mate is with Röta but before we let her see you, I need to prepare you. I'm not sure if she is going to be fearful." We're in Sidus? Why would Röta be afraid of me?
    "Fearful? Of me?" 
    "Waya, do you recall what happened? I need you to concentrate and try your best to remember as much as you can." I close my eyes and concentrate, flashes of images come at me faster and faster. Traveling through the caves, resting, an attack from the large group of outlaws. The leader with his knife to Röta's throat, trees tearing out of the ground and me ripping out his jugular. Oh my fuck! What did I do? I drop my head in my hands and tears prick my eyes. What if I hurt my Röta? She has to be terrorized. "Waya, I'm going to tell them you're awake, ok?" I only nod but don't pick up my head, I hear Bratus leave the room and dare to peek at the door. A few moments later Röta runs into the room and throws herself at me, I open my arms and catch her. I left out a large breath I didn't know I was holding.

    "Way-Way, you're awake! Atty said you were very tired and needed your sleep. I have been waiting forever for you to wake up! I made a new friend, her name is Nuba. Sax gives her lots of kisses, it's yucky." A laugh bubbles out of my chest and Röta leans back and picks up my upper lip. "You still have your monster teeth, they scare me a little." I look at her confused and run my tongue over my front teeth. I catch something sharp and wince, I taste blood. What the hell? I move Röta off my lap and move to a mirror by the door so I can inspect my teeth. I gasp, my top and bottom canines are longer and slightly thicker than normal, the top ones larger than the bottom. WHAT.THE.FUCK.

I turn to look at Bratus, my panic rising.
    "I have fucking fangs?" I scream-whisper and Röta gasps and covers her mouth before putting her hands on her hips.
    "Way-way that's a bad word!" I pinch the bridge of my nose. 
    "You're right, I'm sorry, Little Wolf." I give her a weak smile. "How are you feeling?" Röta's bottom lip quivers a bit and she lifts her arms to me. I pick her up and hug her, I start to bounce and rub her back. I hear her sniffle a little and squeeze her tighter. "You're so brave, I'm so proud of you. You're such a good girl." I feel her little arms tighten around my neck and her legs wrap around my waist. "Do you want to introduce me to your new friend?" Röta pulls back and nods. She takes my hand as she stands and begins to pull me into the other room, I am assaulted by the amazing smells and my stomach snarls. There is a woman humming while kneading dough, her back is to us. She has her hair in a beautiful teal pattern headwrap, a few black curls have escaped and I see they are tight spirals, even tighter than Röta's. I can see from her arms that her skin tone is almost as dark as her hair, I have never seen skin that color and I am momentarily mesmerized by how beautiful it is.  Röta runs forward and tugs on her long skirt,

    "Nuba! Nuba!" Röta giggles and begins to hug her leg, the woman turns and picks Röta up in her arms and squeezes her tight as she faces me. Her head leaned against my sisters and I was taken back by her affection, it was as if she was her sister and not me. I was not jealous though, it warmed my heart that my little wolf had someone there for her while I was... unavailable. 
"You must be Waya," She said and wraps her free arm around me in a hug. I pull back, startled and Nuba's eyes widen a bit, they are a beautiful amber color. "I'm Nuba, I didn't mean to offend you, I tend to hug everyone." I shook my head,
    "No, I apologize. I was not offended, just startled." I give a shaky laugh and rake my hands through my hair. I swallow and I stand there awkwardly as she smiles warmly at me, still resting her head against Röta who has started to play with one of her curls. She sets her down and walks towards a large chunk of meat resting on a cutting board.