18. Amma

Chapter 18

Amma

A re we leaving now?

"Mike." Amma finished packing her backpack and swung it onto her shoulders. "You keep asking that every three seconds. You see me getting ready. Why are you in such a rush anyway?"

We want to explore. Sam answered. There is nothing left here to see.

"You boys are getting too spoiled." Amma picked Sam up and kissed his nose. "Before we came here, all you had was my family estate."

And the forest. Mike said.

Amma placed Sam on her shoulder. "Correct. When we get to a village you can run free. Mike, Astro, climb up." She laughed as the boys scampered up her body and settled into their places.

Suni stuck his head into the hut. "Are you ready? I checked the surrounding forest, and no one has traveled through here in a long time. We should be able to move safely."

"I've packed everything I want to take with me." Amma looked around the homey hut. "I really will miss this place. It was like our very own world. I could pretend everything was right in the world."

"We can return." Suni stepped back to allow her to exit. "Every newly mated couple takes time away from the village."

"Or we can build a secret one, and not tell anyone else where it is," Amma suggested. "It could be our little getaway when things get too hectic."

Suni pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss. "I like the way you think."

Yuck!

He is squashing us!

Amma laughed. "Sam and Mike are protesting. They say you are squishing them."

"Really?" Suni snarled at the animals, who then squealed. "They can wait their turn."

"Suni, are you serious?" Amma laughed harder. The boys were not happy. "You are snarling at three small young animals."

"There's no question where you stand." She patted his arm. "I think I made that clear over the last day and night. Mike, Sam, and Astro are my babies and will always have a place in my heart."

Suni's eyes softened. "As they should." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I just hope there is space in your heart for me."

Amma's eyes misted up. She knew Suni wasn't considered the most handsome of males with his fur missing, scars, and broken horn, but he was beautiful in her eyes. "Suni, it wouldn't matter if the king of the planet walked up to me right now and offered me the world, I would not turn away from you. No one else can compete with you. You're my male."

"I'm your male." Suni quietly repeated.

"Yes, and as my male, you should kiss me. Right now." Amma turned her face up and waited patiently. Suni didn't leave her waiting long. He kissed her hard, pressing against her mouth until her lips parted. She gripped his shoulders and let him take her away.

"I can smell your need," he whispered. "I will not be able to concentrate if I do not take care of you."

"We can't have that, can we?" Amma grinned at him.

That was all Suni needed to hear. He stripped her backpack off and placed it on the ground, and the boys took off for the forest like their tails were on fire. Her shirt and pants quickly followed, and she stood naked in the moonlight. Amma could feel the magic of the full moons rejuvenating her and she looked up toward them.

"Amma, your skin is glowing." Suni's palms skimmed up her arms and pulled her into his embrace. "It is like the Goddess herself is blessing you."

"Blessing us. " Amma dropped her eyes from the moons to stare into her mate's eyes. "She smiles upon our union, and I can feel my ancestors' approval."

"They are not watching, are they? I would rather not mate in front of witnesses."

"They are not watching. They may be dirty old witches, but no one is peeking during our intimate moments."

"Good." Suni picked her up and held her high. "Wrap your legs around my neck."

"Your what?" Startled, Amma grabbed his ears. "Suni!" Her legs tightened around his head before relaxing. She had no fear of falling, Suni wouldn't allow it to happen. What she did know was that with that extra-long, extra thick tongue, Suni knew how to lick her in all the right places.

He ate her cunt like he was a drowning man, and she was the oxygen he needed. She could only grip his horns and hold on for dear life as her body turned to jelly.

Afterward, Amma grabbed Suni's arm and tried to stand on wobbly legs. "Maybe we should rest the night," she joked. "If I try to walk, I will end up falling on my face."

Suni licked his lips and grinned down at her. "I would not allow you to fall, but we cannot stay here. We are already packed."

Amma couldn't really blame him for wanting to move on. It was nice being away from everyone, but she had always been around her large family. She was starting to miss the sounds people made as they went about their lives. She pulled on her clothes and swung her backpack back on. "Mike, Sam, Astro, we're leaving."

Are you sure? Astro burst from the underbrush. You were making a lot of noise again.

She always makes that noise. Sam followed close on his heels.

"I don't need a commentary on my mating habits," Amma said. She picked Sam up and placed him on her shoulder. "Where's Mike?"

Here. Mike climbed her leg to it on her other shoulder. I found delicious grubs.

"Do not lick me," Amma warned. "Suni, want to carry Mike? He ate grubs and thinks it would be funny to lick me with a grubby tongue."

"I will pass." Suni took a step back. "The only one I want to lick me is you."

"Even if I have grubby breath?" she teased.

"Even if."

"You are the best." Amma waited for Astro to climb onto her backpack. "We are ready to go."

"Are you rested enough to walk through the night?" Suni asked. "I want to get halfway to our destination before stopping again. I am hoping we run into a hunting party before we rest."

"Why?"

"It would be better than them coming upon us while we sleep," Suni answered. "I cannot say what I might do."

"Yeah, I don't want you beating up people who protect my cousin. She might take offense to that," she smiled. "You also have nothing to worry about, no one is going to steal me away from you. I'm good to walk for a while, especially in these new shoes." During one of the rare moments they hadn't been exploring each other, Suni had made shoes for her out of leaves, fur, and clay. They were the softest she had ever worn.

"You will let me know if you get tired. No trying to hide it."

"I promise to complain when I get tired. Stop worrying about me. I am going to be alright. Shall we get going?"

"Yes." He placed a hand on her back and led the way into the forest.

"Do you think we will see more lurkers?"

"Not likely. They have mated and are protecting their nests high in the trees."

"That's too bad." Amma wondered if she would ever run into the offspring of the lurker she had spoken to. It would be cool to see if they really did pass down memory. "I can hardly wait to see more amazing sights."

"I will point out everything that might be interesting," Suni said. "Most animals are nesting now, so we will have to be careful to avoid areas where there are young."

While she had told Suni that she needed to wash her clothes, he had made her a soft pair of shoes that made it easier for her to follow him quietly, and a knee length skirt with a tube top. It was empowering to see lust and satisfaction fill Suni's eyes whenever he looked her way. If she had it her way, she would wear the same style in different colors for the rest of her life. Her clothes from home weren't really made for the world she was in and when in Rome, right?

They had been walking long enough that the boys had escaped into the trees when Suni held up his hand for her to stop. Amma peeked around him but didn't see anything. "What's up?"

"We are in another tribe's territory," Suni whispered. "There is a hunting party nearby, and I have scented them. Surely, they have scented us."

"Why don't we just introduce ourselves?" Amma asked. "It would make things easier, right?"

Suni snarled and reached for his weapon a second before they were surrounded. Amma saw five males with their weapons drawn and pointed at them. They were all well over seven feet tall with enough muscles to make five more warriors with a lot of muscles. Two held massive broadswords that looked nearly eight feet. She thought the blades alone must have weighed over a hundred pounds. Another held two long, slim swords as long as the broadswords. Of the last two, one wielded a bow and arrow, and the other a mace. All the males' lips were peeled back in matching snarls that sent fear skidding down Amma's spine. If she had seen them before Suni, she would have peed herself and run as fast and as far as she could.

"Warrior, you are in our territory without permission," the largest of the warriors snarled. "Why?"

Suni grabbed Amma and plastered her against his back with one hand. He held the other up to show he had no weapon. "My name is Suni, and my mate is Amma. I am a warrior of Lnuuk. We are seeking Qunic so she may visit with her family."

The warrior's eyes landed on Amma. "I have seen one such as her. She is mated to our chief, but you are rotations away from Qunic. This territory now belongs to Chief Ru, who has named it Ykot."

"Another village. That is great news," Suni said. "Which one has the human woman?"

"Ykot."

"How is she?" Amma took a step away from Suni so she could see the male speaking. He stood with a casual awareness that belied the fact that he was wound tight and ready to strike. She wondered what he would look like in action. "What is her name?"

"Her name is Jo, and she is well," the warrior answered. "Put your weapons away." He swung his broadsword onto his back. "My name is Zuberi and I am the leader of this scouting party. These other males are Ethan, Burke, Godric, and Idris." He pointed to each one as he said their name. "They may talk too much, but they are the only males I trust at my back in a fight."

"You do not talk enough," Burke growled. "Unless it is to snarl orders."

Amma smiled at the light banter. A leader was well-liked if those under him felt comfortable enough to tease him. "It's nice to meet you guys," she said. "I'm also grateful my cousin is doing well. Tell me, has she been keeping busy?""

"She is a warrior," Godric said. "We have seen her fight, and it is a sight to behold."

Burke smiled. "She turned the other witches to dust. It was a thing of beauty."

"Are you telling me she has used her powers?" Amma was surprised. Jo hated even practicing her battle witch magic, and said it made her feel dirty. "In a real battle?"

"Yes," Zuberi frowned. "What other type of battle is there?"

"Where we come from, we didn't fight," Amma said. "We did a lot of practicing, but that's it. Not to say there weren't a lot of wars, there were, but if we would have helped, the government would have come after us." When the six males tilted their heads to the side, she tried again. "The chief would send his warriors to capture us and kill us."

"They would kill women because of something the Goddess gave them? What kind of barbaric world do you come from?" Idris paced behind Zuberi.

Amma nodded. "In my world, people fear what they cannot explain. We hid who we were and lived very secluded lives, but full of family and fun. I think my mother was right when she said that this was the place for us."

"Before we continue this conversation, are you camping for the day?" Suni asked.

"No," Zuberi answered. "We are close to the Ykot and can reach it before suns' rise."

"I do not know if Amma can continue," Suni said.

"Suni, I can keep going." Amma wasn't tired. In fact, she was feeling a jolt of energy knowing she was so close to seeing her cousin. Astro dropped from the trees onto her bag, and Sam and Mike followed. "Guys, you are getting too big to just drop on me."

"What are those?" Ethan demanded with wide eyes. "Do you turn males into animals to do your bidding?" He took a step back and reached for his weapon.

Suni snarled and reached for his.

"You guys, calm down." Amma held onto Suni's arm to stop him from moving. "I don't turn anyone into animals. I don't have that power. These are my animal friends. The two little ones came with me from my world. I can hear them when they talk."

"Ethan, drop your weapon," Zuberi said. "There is no need."

"How was I supposed to know? You have heard the same stories I have." Ethan released his weapon and crossed his arms.

"Yes, but you have talked to Jo," Burke said. "The stories we were told as calves were not true, or they were colored by the hatred passed down."

"Isn't that the way most history is passed down?" Amma asked.