Search for the Extinct [Last of Elves book 2]

Twenty-Three: Kuraĝon

Kuraĝon

She resented the intrusion.

Despite that, she found that the child was gentle with the beastkins, and willing to learn. She didn’t seem to be a typical human. Even so, Kuraĝon kept her distance.

For once, she was hoping for the snow melts.

At last, the day came where the sun seemed warmer, and the snow seemed less cold and less deep. Kuraĝon burst into the main room, spinning, almost giddy with happiness. As she slowed to stumble into her chair, she caught sight of her brother’s amused expression.

She smiled sheepishly, and reached for her breakfast. “Uhh … the snow’s clearing?” she said, hoping that it would explain some of her actions. He only shook his head, but she could see a smile tugging at his mouth.

“Why do you want her gone so much, Kura?”

She shrugged, her good mood suddenly gone. “She doesn’t belong here, Ali.”

“Why not? She’s a child. She deserves to learn just as we did.”

“But Ali! She’s a human! You know. The ones who hunted us?” She waved her spoon in the air, trying to make her point clearer. He turned to lift an eyebrow at her.

“You’re telling me you saw her hunting us?” he asked dryly. “She wasn’t born then, Kura.”

She went red, and glared at him, muttering under her breath. The meal was finished in silence, and she was cleaning her plate just as Aura emerged from her small room. With a grumble, she got to her feet, and banged the door behind her as she went outside.

She stayed there most of the day, satisfying her deep need for snow and the fresh air. Vakt came after her after a couple of hours, and she played with him, helping him work out how to hunt in the snow, and eventually began making her way back home, rabbits and ducks slung over her shoulder.

They were her brother’s domain, now.

She grinned, knowing that he would glare at her, and grumble and complain, but he’d be skinning them as he did. Vakt gambolled beside her, stopping every now and again to sniff at his prey, a rumble in his throat telling her that he wanted it. She only smiled, and pushed him away.

“Ali?” She pushed the door open, letting the crisp air rush through the main room, but her brother was nowhere to be seen. She shrugged, and yanked her boots off, leaving them at the door where he could trip over them, and let Vakt in. He shot for the fire and curled up in front of it, the ice crystals melting in his fur.

Humming to herself, Kuraĝon dropped the game on the side table, where the wood was bloodstained and worn. It was the only place inside that her brother allowed her to put her catches.

After glancing once more at the door, checking that the coast was clear, she rummaged inside the cupboard for the biscuits she knew were there. Munching happily on one, she curled up in a chair, mending the rip in her cloak that she’d found.

The bang and curse from behind her let her know that her brother was back, and she turned around in time to see him kicking her boots to the side. She grinned at him.

“What’s wrong, Ali?” she asked innocently.

He glared at her, pulling his own snow covered cloak off. Now that she looked at him properly, he looked like he’d been buried in the snow. He didn’t bother to answer her, and pulled his own boots off. The girl pushed past him, and Kura returned to her mending, unsure if she wanted to interact with the child.