13. Suni

Chapter 13

Suni

S uni waited to hear the lock click into position before racing into the forest. He hadn't wanted to worry Amma, but the scent from the dishonorable male was rank and thicker than he would have liked. Kal and his family had been banished after his sister had accused Suni's brother of getting her pregnant and kicking her away. In anger and misguided family loyalty, Kal had stabbed his brother with a poison dagger in the back, twice. They should have been far from the tribal lands by now. A snapping twig was the warning Suni needed. He palmed his weapon as he spun to face the betrayer.

"Kal," he snarled.

"Suni." Kal's fur was caked with dirt, his clothes frayed, and he looked skinnier than the last time Suni had seen him. "I did not expect to see anyone this far from the village."

"This is our territory, why would we not patrol?" Suni demanded. "You should know this and should not have left your markings."

"I am trying to keep what is left of my family safe." Kal said. "We do not have a recommendation from Kellan and no one will take us in."

"You should have thought of the consequences of your actions." Suni's grip tightened on his morning star. "You know your fate should you be found in our territory."

"Wait," Kal held up a hand with broken claws. "I have no excuse for my actions. My sister convinced me that her honor needed restoration. I have since learned the truth and she has left us to fend for ourselves."

"You do not know where your sister has gone? How is that possible?"

"She gathered the little supplies we had and stole away during the day." Kal's shoulders slumped in shame. "Give us a rotation and my family and I will move on."

"I cannot find it in my heart to forgive your dishonorable acts, but the rest of your family deserves to be safe. There is a village close. If you go there and beg for entrance, I will speak on your behalf."

"You would do that?" Kal's eyes widened. "Thank you for your kindness." He dipped his head before disappearing into the brush.

Suni stared after the pathetic male with something akin to pity. Instead of asking questions and facing his brother Ni'em male to male, he had underhandedly tried to kill him, twice. Kal hadn't been one of the best warriors and his hunting skills needed work, but he had been part of Suni's village since birth. He hoped Kal and his family found a place to call home and this time behaved with honor. Kal's footsteps disappeared and Suni returned to scouting. He wanted to make sure the area was safe for Amma when they started to travel again or if she wanted to leave the shelter before the sun rose. When he saw a downed tree, Suni smiled, grubs were delicious and had a lot of protein. He remembered Amma said she hadn't minded eating them back on her world. Suni hoped she would enjoy the ones from his.

He took one more slow turn around the hut to make sure Kal wasn't lurking, killing time until he let his guard down, before knocking on the door.

"Amma, it is Suni."

"Suni." The door opens and he's greeted with her radiant smile. "I was just about to drop off to sleep."

"I had a talk with the betrayer. His family has been living in our territory and I explained he needs to move one." Suni stepped inside and closed the door. "Thank you for getting the beds ready."

"It was the least I could do," she said, "Other than the betrayer, what else did you find?"

He sat his morning star by the door before grabbing the bag of grubs from his belt. "I gathered something you may like. I am sure there are dried provisions I can make last meal from."

Amma opened the bag and burst out laughing. "Suni, I don't know if I should be insulted that you got me grubs."

His ears flattened against his head. "You said you liked them?"

"Oh, on earth, I don't mind them. These are a little bigger and juicier looking." She dug one out and popped it into her mouth. She chewed and swallowed before saying. "Salty with an earthy taste. These are much better than the ones on earth."

"We usually roast them and eat them as a snack."

"I would love to taste it that way. Did you want some?" Amma held a wriggling grub to his lips. "I don't want to eat them all."

Suni opened his mouth, and she placed it on his wide tongue. Before she could pull away, he wrapped his lips around her fingers and sucked.

Amma snatched her hand away. "Suni! I was not on the menu."

"Yet." Suni chuckled at her snort. "We can start a fire now. Would you like a warm drink?"

"Yes please."

He squatted by the firepit and started building a fire with the broken branches from by the door. "Would you mind reaching that pot for me?"

Amma walked to the shelving and tried to reach the lowest. A growl rumbling through his chest as he admired the curve of her spine and tailless backside. He wondered what she would do if he walked up behind her and palmed her plush curves. Would she push him away or allow him to satisfy his curiosity. Could this be something they did every evening when he came home from tribal duties? A simple sharing of household chores.

"Suni, a little help?"

He smirked when he glared over her shoulder. "I like this view."

"Suni!" She rolled her eyes.

Suni chuckled as he pushed himself to his feet and without thinking lifted her up by her hips. The second his claws closed on her soft body, he knew he had made a mistake. How would he be able to let her go? Her curves fit so well into his claws.

"Wow, you're strong." Amma grabbed the pot and patted his arm. "You can put me down now. It will be hard to cook like this."

"What if I cannot?"

She glanced over her shoulder. "What do you mean?"

"I fear if I let you go, you will disappear," he answered honestly.

"Suni." Amma tried to turn. "This conversation would go a lot better if we were face to face."

He grunted. He didn't want her looking too closely at him and finding him wanting. She had only seen two young warriors. What would she think when she saw a seasoned warrior who was still whole? Would she abandon him for another? Frustrated, he lowered her and reached above her head to get the basket where he smelled smoked meat. He would have to refill it before returning to the village, but at least he wouldn't have to go out hunting and leave Amma alone again. Joining Amma by the firepit, he squatted and finished starting the fire without looking at her. He didn't want her to see the desperation in his eyes.

"Suni?" Amma handed him the pot before sitting next to him. "Did I do or say something wrong?"

"You did nothing wrong." Suni sighed. "Look at me," he waved at his body. "I am not a handsome male. My horns are destroyed, my fur is missing pieces, and I have a limp. What would a female like you see in me? When we get to a village, you will see what a real warrior looks like." Suni's chest rose and fell rapidly as he huffed out breath after breath. He hadn't wanted to blurt out what he had. Amma would see him as a lesser male and demand he leave her.

"Suni," Amma's voice was softer than he had ever heard. "Suni. Look at me."

His ears flattened against his skull as he forced his eyes to her face. He expected to see pity, anger, bitterness, or even disgust. Instead, he saw affection? It couldn't be.

"I don't see any of your so-called flaws. I see a strong male who has seen battles and lived to see another day." Amma stood and moved between his legs, placing her hand on his scarred cheek. "I see a male who's escorting a stranger through danger to make sure she makes it safely to her destination. I see you ."

Suni's ears snapped forward at her words. He had waited so long to find a female who saw the real male behind his looks. He could barely move, but he was able to lean into her touch. It was the first touch of kindness from a female who was not his dam. It calmed a place in him that had raged all his life. He placed a hand over hers and closed his eyes.