19

Serik

When Kaitlyn explained her vehicle moved on caterpillars, I thought she was mistaken. How can a tiny bug hold up the giant beasts the humans navigate? To double my confusion, she called it an ‘Arctic Cat' when she talked to her brother through her star finder box. I hid in her bathroom just to see what type of animal ran on the backs of butterflies. Does it roll the cylindrical bugs to move? Does it fly with hundreds of little wings on its claws?

I never expected a plastic enclosure the size of my bathing pool resting on metal chains. She explained that bundled tires are called caterpillars…after she stopped laughing at my questions. Together we packed her mushrooms in warm, hard snow called Styrofoam. I learned Wi-Fi, online delivery, and her giant star finder box could bring anything she desires to her door. In a few hours, we filled the vehicle with what she called ‘her essentials.' While I complained I should provide everything for my mate, I had to admit defeat when she asked for hair dye, solar batteries, dried pasta, popcorn, chocolate cookies, and fuel for her cat.

I suggested her Arctic Cat eat the snowshoe hares…

"Are we there yet?" I don't mean to whine, not when my mate's acceptance of me is tenuous. Wedged between boxes of what Kaitlyn calls ‘board games' not ‘bored games' on the floor of the rumbling cat, I traveled with my knees under my chin for most of the day. I take comfort in the case of frozen pizzas rattling on the vehicle's back end. She tied them to the insulated boxes that contain her precious mushroom growing containers. If I survive the trip, I will be fat with delicious food.

"According to Adam's star finder dot on Vera's screen, he should be over the next hills. We left the northern edge of the boreal forest an hour ago. I hope we can reach the clan on this tank of gas," she says, knuckles white on the wheel of the cat. The beast must be difficult to manage because she won't let me touch the control wheel.

"How can I be cold when you have hot air blasting on us?" I ask, wiggling my numb toes.

"What do you mean, cold? Are you okay?" The cat lurches when she turns to check on me. The concern written on her features melts my heart. The clutter squeezes my hips and digs into my back, but the more stuff she brings, the more I'm convinced she's staying.

"I'm losing feeling in my feet. My toes went numb an hour ago," I gripe, bending as far as I can to rub my feet.

"We should be far enough away from civilization that you can stand." She grunts as she yanks a small metal tab over her head. "Unzip this compartment and poke your head out of the top like a baller."

"Do I want to be a baller?" I ask as I shift onto my hands and knees. Towers of boxes topple over onto my back. The pasta ones rattle like snakes. My feet scream as blood floods into my starving toes. Were they always that shade of grey or were they turning blue with frostbite?

"Yes," Kaitlyn says with a giggle. "A baller is a wealthy male. He has everything he wants."

"Hell yeah," I reply, opening the panel she indicated and resting my elbows on top of the vehicles. At first, I cling to the metal frame with the thin plastic covering tucked safely under my armpits.

Snow and wind blow my fringe around my head and sting my cheeks. Behind us, Kaitlyn's cat kicks up more snow than a blizzard. It growls to frighten away predators. I'm grateful she will travel in this beast instead of on a reindeer sleigh for the migrations between the central and northern grounds. Knowing my mate is warm, safe, and not at the mercy of an animal will allow me to travel peacefully.

I must ask Timor about traveling inside the beast to the southern grounds. My home is between two human homesteads who will be curious about the noise. Should Kaitlyn introduce herself, so they aren't suspicious? Or do I hide her as I've always hidden myself? Wouldn't it be wonderful if she befriended one of them and could have her ‘essentials' magically delivered to their places instead of to her box hours away? We haven't discussed how often she will visit the human world…but that's a fight to save for another day.

"I see them! The entire clan is gathered! We will drive into the mating chase!" I couldn't be more excited. Every male will see I'm a ‘baller' and all that I bring to the clan with my new mate. Amazement and envy will replace the pity on their faces.

Yeah, Sergei has the best hazelnut spread, but does he have chocolate cookies to spread it upon? We do.

"We will make a grand entrance," Kaitlyn says, pushing her leg straight. Her cat roars in response. "Just feeding her a little more juice to jump the last snowbank."

"One last thing before we rejoin the group. If a wealthy male is a baller, what's his wealthy female?" I lean toward her and duck my head inside the vehicle to hear her reply.

"I'm your babe," she giggles and shakes her head. The swing of her ponytail along the curve at the base of her spine calls my attention to her rounded curves. The way the seat hugs her accentuates them. "When you are flaunting all you have, it is called ballin'—not like a baby cries—but like playing a ballgame for riches. Now stand up and announce us to your clan."

"After my ballin' for the clan, can I chase you, chernyrozd? Will you run for me in the mating chase and be my babe?" With my scent all over her, there's no doubt she's mine. No matter how many times she stopped our journey to empty her bladder, I made sure she didn't wash off all my scent. However, human females don't wear their decisions on their skin. My mate is complicated and challenging…worthy of a cunning male like me.

"That's me," she declares, leaning toward me for a brief kiss. "I'm Serik's babe. Just a warning, I don't run very fast."

"The better to catch you," I say with a nip to her neck. I rise to my full height as we crest the last hill. The clan stares at us with varying reactions to Kaitlyn's cat. My arms extend to collect the attention and admiration. "You will run without your cat."

"I thought pussy was the purpose," she retorts with a giggle at a joke I don't understand. "Never mind. Don't miss your moment to gloat. Announce our entrance."

"Hello clan! It's Serik's balls with his pussy!" I yell with confidence before Kaitlyn's laughter drowns out the rumbling of the cat. My mouth must have worked faster than my brain because my announcement twists with decoding Kaitlyn's joke. I don't know how I messed up, but it must have been pretty bad for Kaitlyn to find me hilarious.

"No, no, no," Kaitlyn yells. "It's Serik ballin' with his babe!"

Timor glares at us as he cuddles his cowering daughters under his arms. Polina rubs the arms of the young females. Let them fear Kaitlyn and her cat. She's fiercer than those ninnies will ever be. Sydney and Vera bend over with laughter. They tumble to the ground, bringing my mood down with them. Adrik steps out of the way of the human females at the last minute with a scowl on his dark face.

Sergei, Artyom, and Kiril salute our entrance. Their gestures of approval mean the world to me…as does the awe written on Adam's face. His jaw rests on the snow as Patricika takes their kit from his arms. He thinks he owns the tundra because of his Skidoo machines. Kaitlyn's cat would eat them for breakfast.

When Kaitlyn stops the cat and turns off the engine, I repeat her version of my announcement. The clan answers with applause—well, everyone except Sydney, who remains bent over and breathing with her head between her knees to stop laughing. Patricika rubs her back with one hand while balancing Gustav on her hip with the other.

Funny, I don't feel the resentment I held against Patricika as Kaitlyn takes her position beside her. Side by side, I can't help but compare the two strong females. Patricika's toned muscles display her prowess as a warrior. Kaitlyn's strength is in her mind—like mine. She bent the will of the universe to deliver her essentials to her home without spilling blood. She tamed the cat to transport us to the central grounds in a heated box.

Patricika is Adam's equal, while Kaitlyn is his lesser leader. She used her power over him to release him when he couldn't fulfill his promise to the university. Patricika scares her mate half to death by hunting moose while Kaitlyn's knowledge of mushrooms allows her to provide food and medicine—from the comfort of my dyla weturanya.

"Nice of you to join the chase," Patricika quips to Kaitlyn as she passes Gustav to Sydney's open arms.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Kaitlyn says, blowing me a kiss. Her gesture not only notifies me she knows I'm watching, but also allows me to show off by blowing a return kiss.

The grassy area isn't big enough for everyone, despite Sergei's decision not to chase Sydney. They are exempt from the ritual since she's pregnant with his kit.

"I'm happy you chose to come back," Vera says, hugging Kaitlyn. They giggle at my expense when Kaitlyn returns her phone. I won't apologize because I would steal it again. Anything for a chance to chase my chernyrozd.

"I'm here for Serik," she declares, lifting a hand toward where I stand in the pit of prowling males. "Human world, Chuchunya world, or somewhere in between, my place is beside him."

"Is the vehicle Serik's or yours?" Kiril asks, pushing his way in front of Artyom to stand beside me. I lower my chin to growl in his face, but he's too focused on Kaitlyn. It's not that he's interested in her, right?

"It's my Arctic Cat, which I will park in Serik's dyla weturanya. I pronounced it correctly, right?" I puff with pride when she asks me about pronouncing my home the Chuchunya way. Her answering smile to my nod of approval heats my body and releases a cloud of pheromones as my dushevnayasvyaz reaches for her.

"So, whoever catches you will have use of the vehicle?" Kiril asks. Adrik chuckles behind him as if sensing I'm about to rip my hunting partner's head off.

Kaitlyn's smile falls like snow. Her fists bunch on her hips. "If you think to catch me and force yourself on me to get to my vehicle, just know I'll make your life a living hell. You can't handle me. Don't even try."

Patricika and Vera step between the males and Kaitlyn with their backs to us. They use their hands to prevent us from lip-reading. Whatever they say, Kaitlyn whispers "Thank you" in return. Could it be too much to hope the experienced females will help my mate?

"Is it love? Between you and Serik, is it love?" I can't tell if Kiril's interested in Kaitlyn or trying to dig his way under my fur. Between each question he asks, he looks at me out of the corner of his eye. Can't he smell my dushevnayasvyaz? I thought he planned to chase Sveta and make a run for Timor's position as leader. What the hell is his problem?

"It's dushevnayasvyaz, you asshole," she yells. Vera and Sydney giggle. Patricika covers her mouth with her hand to hide her laughter. "Serik, you better catch me before you beat the shit out of him. Tempting as it may be to shut his face sooner."

"All right, all right," Timor says, stepping between Kaitlyn and the male's pit. "Time for the rules. First, congratulations to Sergei and Sydney, who carry our latest addition to the clan. Instead of chasing, they will watch over Gustav, born to Adam and Patricika this past zima season. Adam and Patricika are part of the chase because no dushevnayasvyaz is evident—"

Complaints launch at Timor from every direction. While the other humans fight for Adam's claim on his mate, Kaitlyn looks to me…for reassurance. She plays with the end of her ponytail and shuffles from side to side. Despite her bravado, she's afraid. I remember she said she doesn't run fast, but if she uses her brain, she will outsmart any unworthy male…even me. Now I need reassurance. I blow her a kiss, which she returns with a strained smile.

"Mine," I mouth to her. She nods. I'll tear every male to clumps of fur to stake my claim on her. "Mine."

"I said they can chase to claim one another, and they will chase!" Timor thunders. No one makes a sound…except for his whimpering daughters. As much as I hate Kiril's idea of chasing Kaitlyn, I don't blame him for his second thoughts about Sveta.

"Whatever," Adam says, folding his arms over his chest.

"The females will run first and then I will count down for the males. Males must stay in the snowless circle until I release you or you will be disqualified and without a mate for the next sun cycle. Questions, females?"

"I have one—" Adam says, uncrossing his arms.

"I didn't ask you," Timor snaps. "Three! Two—"

"Split up and run in different directions!" Sydney yells to Kaitlyn.

"One!" At Timor's yell, Kaitlyn runs along the edge of the forest instead of straight backward.

Vera chases her until Kaitlyn ducks onto a path with lower brush. Then she crisscrosses her path to destroy the evidence of where Kaitlyn ran. Ooh, they must have put together a plan. An enormous crash within the forest precedes a tree falling across the entrance to Kaitlyn's low brush area. I'd bet one of our frozen pizzas, Patricika rigged the tree to fall before gathering for the chase.

Timor's daughters jump and scream as the tree hits the ground. Sveta bends her knees to huddle on the ground in tears. Her older sister has the sense to yank to her feet by her elbow. The pair take off in the opposite direction of where Kaitlyn disappeared.

"Males, you have been most patient," Timor says with a chuckle. Svoloch stalls for his daughters to disappear into the forest. It's okay for him to bend the rules for his unmated—yet past the age—daughters, but not the rest of us. Sergei growls when Timor's chuckles become forced. "Three!"

He whirls around to check on his daughters one last time. What is he waiting for—for them to grow up? I want to shout that no one wants to chase them…and they would be better off if any of us were interested. "Two!" He finally yells when we can't hear their sniveling.

"One!" Another tree falls. What the hell are they doing? "Go!"

I do a double take as my clansmen rush past me. Damn tree had me facing the wrong direction! Kiril and Adrik are halfway down the forest edge where Kaitlyn disappeared. My arms pump as I sprint to the downed tree blocking her path. I smell Vera, Patricika, Kaitlyn, the cat's fuel, and something I can't quite put my finger on…

"Bitches marked the trees with red fox musk," Kiril yells with a growl. "We will never track them now!"

"Are they allowed to do that?" Adrik asks between pants.

"We've never needed rules for females until the human ones joined us," Kiril says with a grunt as he mounts the downed tree. "But the joke's on them. We will stink of red fox when we claim them!"

"Speak for yourself," I snap with a boasting growl. My dushevnayasvyaz may overheat my skin and weaken my body's endurance, but I won't stink of fox musk.

The three of us fight swatting branches, a rotting trunk, and one another to climb over the first downed tree. Kiril is the first to fall behind as the second tree requires a vertical jump to grab the lowest branch. I elbow him in the ribs as hard as I can while Adrik is the first to jump. The branch waves in a large arc when he fails to snap it. It's easier for me to grab…and the boost I get from stomping on Kiril helps as well.

"Kiril wanted her truck," I say to Adrik as we take small, measured steps across the downed tree. My balance is better than his, but if I knock him off, he could grab me. If we fell from this height, it would take all season to recuperate. As much as I want Kaitlyn as my own, I want her provider to be whole more. She's not a female who wants to hunt for herself…or spend the zima season as a hungry vegetarian.

"You want her because you've had her charms," Adrik says with a sneer. "She stinks of you."

"Then why do you chase her? We're fated mates," I ask between pants.

"Maybe it's not that I like her, but that I don't like you," he says, spinning with his arms extended.

I round my back to avoid his fist punching me in the stomach, but miss his other arm until it connects with my forehead. My toes dig into the tree's bark. I brace my knees. My arms pinwheel as I try to save my balance. Adrik's laughter follows me to the forest floor, where I'm consumed by a pile of leaves.