12. Amma

Chapter 12

Amma

S he couldn't take her eyes off the emerging alien butterflies. They were much larger than those on Earth, almost the size of a crow, and they had the faces of bats, but they were beautiful. They were joyous in their freedom, and many tiny minds beat at hers as they fluttered around. She smiled as the males started singing a chorus to entice the females while flying in patterns that showed off their markings.

"The songs are so soulful, they make me want to cry," Amma whispered, afraid to startle the creatures. "So beautiful."

"When we get to my home, you will see a dance we call mukula. It is patterned after the dance lurker males perform for their mates," Suni whispered back. "It is one we do before a big battle to strengthen our connection to each other and to ask for the blessings of the gods. We also perform it when a new warrior is welcomed into our ranks."

"Gar and Rown are going to be welcomed next, right?" she asked without taking her eyes off the events unfolding in front of her.

"Yes they will. They will wait until we return, since I am one of the more senior warriors."

"I know it will be just as spectacular as this." Amma smiled when one of the females landed on the back of a much larger male. "Look, I think she found her mate. He's a pretty choice."

"No, he just passed the first test," Suni said. "Now the male has to prove he can feed and protect the female. For the next few hours, he will have to fight any male who tries to win her from him, while making sure she is not hurt. After that, he will feed her until she is ready to mate. Then they will find a place to nest."

"Wow. At first, they reminded me of an animal from my world we call butterfly, but now not so much. "Can you hear their singing?"

"Yes. If you listen closely, you can hear a deep bass. It is the sound of the heart as it keeps the body moving. It's a signal to all who can hear it that the forest is safe."

"I love this." Amma couldn't remember the last time she had seen something so monumental. It was the cycle of life, and she was looking at the starting point. One of the lunkers broke away from the group and landed on her outstretched hand. His wings were a vibrant blue with red veins converging into a body of shimmering gold. It was sad to think that if these beautiful creatures lived on Earth, they would be hunted to extinction within years of being found. She looked down at the lunker. "You're beautiful."

Thank you.

"You're welcome. But shouldn't you be trying to find your mate?"

I will. There are many females to choose from. I do not have anything like you in my memories.

"I am not from this world. What do you mean in your memories?"

I know what those before me know. Those of my blood.

"Are you talking to it?" Suni asked.

"Him," Amma corrected. "And yes." She shivered when Mike's whiskers tickled her ear as he tried to get closer to the lunkers. "Be still, you guys."

My young will now know about you and your kindness. Be blessed. The lurker launched into the air and joined the others in their mating dance.

"It's times like these that I love my magic," Amma said. "Did you know that they have genetic memory?"

"What is that?" Suni asked.

"It means that they inherit their ancestors' memories. I've heard theories of it, but never knew it was something that really happened. Every generation they gain more knowledge. Exceptional."

"I have learned something tonight." Suni stood and held out his hand. "We will move around the lunkers so they can finish their dance in peace."

"I wish we could stay here all night." Amma took his hand, and he pulled her to her feet. "It's magical. For a second, I felt like I'd been pulled into another realm." She wished she had brought her phone so she could show her sisters and cousins when they found each other. Amma doubted anyone would believe her.

Quietly, so they didn't disturb the lunkers, Amma and Suni continued on the path until it thinned too much to follow. Suni motioned for her to walk behind him as he cleared the way. She was entranced by his tight butt. How could she not when his tail twitched from side to side, teasing and demanding she grab it. She was paying so much attention to his butt she didn't notice he had stopped until her nose was buried in the fur on his back.

"A little warning next time," she mumbled, rubbing her nose.

"The trail ended," Suni said. "And I smell someone who is not supposed to be here. He is an enemy to my village and can be dangerous."

Amma lifted her nose and took a deep breath. It smelled like all the other times she took a breath. "What does it smell like?"

Suni growled. "A male is marking territory that is not his."

"How can you tell where one territory ends and the other begins? As a human I cannot smell anything different than the forest."

"Our males will scent mark when out on patrol or hunting."

"Scent mark?" Amma asked. "Like claw marks or scent marking trees?"

"Something like that."

She took a step to walk around him but stopped when she heard water hitting the forest floor. "Suni!" Amma burst out laughing. "Really such a primal way to mark territory."

"We all know each other's scent," Suni chuckled. "How else would we make sure others knew they were in the wrong territory?"

"I don't know. You could scratch your back like a bear or dig grooves with your claws, or I don't know, there are a lot of ways to do it." She shrugged. "I guess I'm thinking like a human. We put up signs and fences to mark our property lines."

"There are posts in the fields, but in the forest this is better. Why cut down a tree to make a post when the tree can continue to live?" Suni started walking. "Stay close. I do not know if the male has left the area. His scent was still fresh. If we come upon this male, I want you to hide."

"What if you need my help?" Amma chuckled and ducked under the branches when he growled. "What? I can fight."

"Female, you wound me. I am not a weak male and will not need your protection in a fight."

"Don't you remember I'm a witch? My family trained me to fight. I may not be as good as my cousin Jo, but I can hold my own."

"I still want you to run and hide. This male does not fight honorably. Watch your footing here."

"Thanks." Amma stepped over a protruding root.

Can we get down? Mike asked. Climb the trees?

"Suni, Mike wants to know if they can follow us through the trees and be safe."

Suni stopped and his ears swiveled in every direction. "There is nothing in the trees that can harm them. Just make sure they do not come down without asking. They are small enough to be a meal to some of the ground animals."

Okay. Sam practically yelled as he jumped onto a branch and took off with Mike and Astro right behind him.

"Is Astro a tree dwelling animal?" Amma asked. "We found him on the ground."

"No, the adults are too large. They burrow under large tree root systems. If we come by one, I will show you."

"How do you spot their burrows?"

"Look for clusters of thick roots. They have damp earth where grubs thrive, and Astro's kind survives mostly on these grubs. They are salty, and when roasted, crunchy."

"Like a trail snack? I would like to try them." she laughed at his snort. "I may be a woman, but I know that food comes in all types. When I was in my world, I ate grubs all the time. They tasted like peanuts."

"What is a peanut?" he asked.

"A nut." Amma's mouth watered at the thought of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "I know you must have nuts here. A peanut comes from a tree and is rushed to make a paste that tastes amazing on bread."

"We do have nuts, but we do not call them what you do." Suni said. "I have also never heard of a paste made from them. Maybe it is something you can teach my tribe."

"I would love that."

They dropped into a comfortable silence as they continued forward. Occasionally, Amma would catch sight of Mike, Sam, and Astro in the trees. They seemed to be playing a game of catch, or maybe keep-away, with a berry. The feelings they were sending her were happiness and contentment. She liked to see Mike and Sam starting to fit into the world they had fallen into. She would have been worried if they had been left back on Earth. They may have been wild, but they didn't know how to survive without her around. She doubted they would have lasted more than a few weeks.

Something flew out of the trees and hit her on the head. "Ouch!" She glanced up to see Mike staring down at her. "Hey, no throwing things."

It fell. Mike flicked his tail. Sam threw it.

"What happened?" Suni asked.

"One of their fruits got away from them and ended up knocking me in the head."

Suni stopped and glared up at the brothers and Astro. "Watch what you hit." The animals' eyes widened before they disappeared into the leaves.

"Stop trying to scare my friends," she teased. "They are harmless, and I'm sure it was an accident. They would have never hurt me on purpose."

"They are males and should not harm a female – ever," Suni said. "We have walked enough tonight. There should be a hunter hut ahead that we can spend the day in."

"A hut? Like a real hut or another cave?" Amma asked.

"Not a cave. There are small huts built into the surrounding forest for hunters and warriors to rest in on long journeys. They are kept stocked with furs and medical supplies."

"While it sounds nice, I can keep going."

"This is the last stop before we leave my tribe's territory. I think we should rest and be fresh before we court danger."

"You have a point." Amma secretly thought she could use a rest. Her body wasn't used to the amount of walking they had done. "What about the male you scented earlier? What if he is using the hut?"

"He would not dare," Suni snarled.

"What if he's just passing through?" Amma asked. "Or got lost?"

"He knows these lands as well as I do. By marking, he is insulting my chief. I will kill him if he dares to show his face."

Amma wondered what the unknown male had done to cause such hatred. Suni no longer walked with a loose confidence but stalked forward like a male on a mission. His ears turned every few seconds, listening to the sounds of the forest. One hand rested on the handle of his weapon. She tried to walk quieter, but her shoes were just not made to be silent. When he suddenly stopped and dropped into a squat, she followed suit.

"What is it?" Amma whispered. She laid a hand on his back and leaned to see around him. "Is someone here?"

"Not right now," Suni answered in a low voice. "He was here. I doubt he will return if he scents me. He is a cowardly male."

"Where is the hut?" she asked. "This isn't even a clearing."

Suni chuckled as he stood. "If it was obvious, what good would it be? Look up to horn height and you will see a marking etched into the trunk."

Amma tilted her head back until she feared her neck would snap. "You mean the triangle shape?" she asked.

"Yes. That means there is a safe place around. Make sure you see this sign and not something else."

"I take it this sign is the mark for your tribe." Amma rubbed the back of her neck. "Maybe make it lower for those of us who are smaller."

"See this branch, and how it is twisted?" he said as he pointed to a branch the thickness of a minotaur's fist before lifting it up and revealing an opening. "That is another sign that it is safe for you to enter."

"I wonder what else I missed when I was hiking in the woods. I mean, I probably have passed a few of these hidden gems along the way." Amma said. She walked into the enclosure and whistled. From the outside, she expected the space to be small and crowded, but it was almost as large as her bedroom back home. The floor was covered with a brownish moss that padded her footsteps as she went further inside. Shelves holding baskets were mounted high up on the wall and some type of dried plants hung from the ceiling. She placed her hands on the wall and was shocked to find it was bark. "Am I inside a tree?"

"Yes." Suni had to duck, but once inside was able to stand to his immense height. "This type of tree is the best to make these huts from. They are strong, have a natural funnel to keep the smoke out, and they insulate well." He reached above her head and pulled something from one of the shelves. "Here are furs you can make into a bed while I am away."

"You're going to go hunting? I thought we still had meat from last night."

"We have enough." He sat his pack on the ground. "I want to check and make sure the area is clear of danger."

"Should I start a fire?"

"Not until I return." Suni ducked back outside. "The door locks from the inside. It will not keep anyone out for long, but long enough for me to return."

"What about my animals?" Amma asked. "How will they find me?"

Here we are. Mike shouted as the three males ran into the shelter.

"I guess that answers your question," Suni chuckled. "I will also refill my water skin. Does yours need to be refilled?"

"Yes please." She took out her water bottle, handed it to him, and started laughing.

"What is so funny?" He looked from the bottle to her in confusion.

"To me, that bottle is large, but in your hands, it looks like it belongs to a doll," Amma snorted. "Maybe we can make me a pouch like yours."

Suni cracked a half smile and her heart melted. For a second, he looked like a bashful male on a first date. "I will make you one. We can use mine until I find the material."

"Good. My bottle makes the water taste gross." She took the bottle back and put it in her bag.

"Do not open the door for anyone but me," Suni cautioned before closing the door. Amma waited for a moment to see if he was going to open it again before she latched the lock into place.

With Suni gone, Amma decided to get the place set up for the night. She didn't need all the furs he had given her, and her boys would most likely curl up under the covers with her. With quick efficient moves, she made two pallets, smoothed out the wrinkles, and stood to survey her work. With a sigh, she looked around to see if there was anything else she could do. Finding nothing, Amma laid back on her bed with her arms behind her head and dozed.