28. Suni

Chapter 28

Suni

T he fires from the pyres were nothing more than embers as the second moon set and the first sun touched the horizon. Many of the calves were passed out in their parents' arms and the adults were hiding yawns behind their hands. Even Shelly had been taken back home when she had fallen asleep with her head on Nej's lap.

"We will be ready the next time the witches return."

Suni glanced at Ru, who had joined them. "Yes. We have cut into their numbers, I hope."

"The warriors from Qunic have already left with their fallen. Taking your suggestion, I sent word with them that I am looking for more warriors. Hopefully, many will answer the call."

"You are a strong leader. I am sure there will be many warriors joining you soon," Suni said. "I am sorry I cannot stay. I help train the younger warriors and I do not want to abandon them just yet, but if you need help, send word and I will come."

Ru nodded. "Thank you." He paused for a moment. "I must ask, are you sure you want to take Jabari and Kofi with you? Your chief may not accept them."

"It is a risk I must take. If they stay here, they will have a hard time adjusting. Your people will try to show them a better way, but Jabari and Kofi will only remind them of the loved ones they lost."

"You are right." Ru scratched his chin. "Having to think of every angle is not easy. I need to pick my advisors soon, or my brain will turn to mush."

"Pick wisely. They will be your advisors for life."

"That is why I have not done so yet. I would like to send warriors with you until you reach your borders since you are traveling during the day."

"Thank you for the offer. I am not a stubborn male and will accept the help. If we travel quickly, we can reach my village in three rotations."

"You are thinking of traveling during the day even after my warriors leave?" Ru frowned. "Is that wise?"

"Amma speaks to animals. I'm sure she can get us through the dangerous passages," Suni answered. "I need to return before my chief sends out a search party."

"Are you sure he has not already?" Ru asked.

"My chief probably has not, but my dam may have asked him to." Suni chuckled. "She hates when one of her calves is away from home. When we all thought my brother was dead on the battlefield, she made us search until we found him."

"Did you?"

"Yes, and by then he was mated to a human witch with the cutest calf." Suni missed Julian. She was always happy to see him and had the most outlandish stories. "I cannot wait to see her again."

"We have met," Ru said and smiled. "She is a very lively little female and a powerful healer. I can only hope my calves have half her energy."

"She grows on you," Suni said. "I have to remind her daily that she is not as strong as the other calves."

"She will grow to be a strong female. Allow me to get the warriors ready to travel with you."

Suni gave the chief a nod before stealing up behind his mate. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her into the air. "I missed you while you were way over here."

"I have an impatient mate." Amma reached her arms over her head and wrapped them around his neck as far as she could. "I missed you too."

"You know, this position reminds me of when I first entered your cunt," he whispered. "Your breasts cupped in my hands and the sweet sounds you made."

"Suni," she whispered. "We are not alone."

"Let them see how I make my female shake with need." He inhaled deeply and growled at the scent of her cunt. "Let them know you drip with need for me."

"You two get a room," Jo called out. "I don't want to see that."

"Oh, shut up!" Amma dropped her arms and yelled back, "Look away if you don't want to see it." She glanced over her shoulder mischievously. "Suni, how about we give her a real show? Kiss me."

He spun her around and gladly obeyed. Her plump lips parted, and he slipped his tongue into her mouth to play with hers. He loved kissing and her taste was like a drug he would need for the rest of his life.

"I love kissing you," Amma murmured when they came up for air. "It's always like the first time."

Suni could understand. Every time he touched Amma in any way, he felt like a calf who had just discovered his cock. "I feel the same."

Jo trotted over. "Can you two stop all that?" she asked. "There are children around."

Suni frowned down at the little female. "We are not doing anything inappropriate for calves to see."

"If you say so." Jo smirked.

"Suni, put me down. I'm going to smack my cousin," Amma snarled, and glared at Jo. "I saw you and Ru sneaking in some kisses and did I say anything? Nope. None of my business."

"I'm queen here." Jo placed a hand on her back with a groan. "And I'm pregnant. I get what I want."

Amma pushed Suni's chest until he put her down and she ran to her cousin. "Jo, are you ok? Do you need to sit down?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine, the calf just kicked me pretty hard." Jo smiled as Ru appeared suddenly with a stump for her to rest on.

"Chief. We are ready."

Suni frowned at the three warriors who joined them. "I thought you were only sending two warriors, was I mistaken?"

"I was, but I rethought the situation. I want to send you with my best warriors, and they are a set of three," Ru answered. "Holt, Ekoc, and Stine fight well as a team. Sometimes I think they share a single brain."

Suni had heard of warriors bonding while calves and living their lives together, even sharing a mate. "Will you follow orders?" he asked the warriors. "I do not want to repeat myself when action is needed."

"While we are traveling with you, we will respect you as we do our chief," Holt answered. "I have retrained the two deformed warriors for travel."

"You what? Do you think they are animals?" Amma yelled.

Holt took a step back. "No, I was just making sure they were secured."

"They are not a danger," Amma said. "Take the ropes off. They have names, and you will not call them deformed."

Holt quickly untied the males. "I meant no harm. What should I call them?"

"Jabari and Kofi," Amma answered. "They cannot speak right now, but they can understand you. Treat them with respect."

"We will," Stine said.

Suni smiled proudly at his mate. She had handled Holt with a firm hand without embarrassing him. He felt something crawling up his leg and looked down to see Mike and Sam scampering for purchase as they raced each other to his shoulders. Since the battle, the two brothers had been staying close to him and often rode on his shoulders or on top of his head. He could also tell them apart, both by their personalities and that Sam was just a little fatter than Mike.

"I don't know how I feel about being abandoned," Amma said. She stared up at the little fuzzy brothers holding onto Suni's horn. "I'm used to their weight on my shoulders."

We are tall up here and can see far. Mike shouted.

Yes, tall. Sam echoed.

"I am sure they will return," Suni said.

"I know. Are we ready to go?" she asked.

"Yes." Suni placed his fist over his heart. "Chief Ru, thank you for your hospitality. May your village grow and prosper."

Ru returned the gesture. "Thank you, may your trip home be swift and safe. If you should come upon any more Jo's and Amma's family, please send word. We have our hunters keeping an eye out, but they cannot be everywhere, and Jo's family is good at hiding."

"It's not our fault we know how to work with nature to hide our presence," Jo said. "Amma, I hope to see you again soon."

Amma gave her cousin a gentle hug. "We will come visit when you have your baby. I can't wait to see what a mix of you and Ru will produce."

"She will be beautiful," Jo said, and placed a hand over her stomach. "You guys have a safe trip."

Leaving was bittersweet. Suni felt the sorrow flowing from his mate as she looked back over her shoulder before they reached the forest and Ykot was lost from sight. There was nothing he could say to make it better, so he didn't even try. He only hoped she found peace in his family's acceptance. He knew they would not only welcome her with open arms, but she would become a regular part of their lives.

Holt scouted ahead while Ekoc and Stine kept an eye on Jabari and Kofi. Not that they were a danger, but Suni didn't know if the morphed warriors would have the stamina to keep up with them. He knew next to nothing about them and hoped once they reached his home village, he would be able to learn.

The first sun disappeared beyond the horizon when Suni called out, "We should find a place to rest."

"Are you sure we should stop?" Holt asked. "If we continue at this pace, we can reach the border of our territory before the end of the day."

"My mate is not like us, and we do not know about Jabari and Kofi," Suni said. "We rest. Drink water and eat something."

"I'm not tired," Amma said. "I can keep going for a while longer."

"I still want you to rest." He handed her his water skin and watched as she downed over half in one long swallow, then burped.

"I'm really excited to meet your family," she said.

"You will tell me if you get tired?" he demanded.

"I will.,"

Once he had made sure Amma had drunk a little more and the brothers were fine, they continued walking. Suni felt it the second they stepped back in Lnuuk territory. It was like eating a meal after a long fast. The dirt under his hooves felt like home, and the air smelled like a special perfume.

"This is where we leave you," Holt said. "Safe travels."

"Thank you for the escort. May your journey back home be uneventful," Suni replied.

Stine laughed. "Oh, don't curse us. I wouldn't mind a fight or two before returning."

Holt rolled his eyes and pushed the other male. "Do not mind him. We are sure his dam dropped him on his head more than once."

Suni shook his head as the three males disappeared, but their voices floated back as they continued to argue. "They will have a cold and empty fire tonight if they do not stop talking so loudly," he chuckled.

"They remind me of my family. I think that sending us all here was the best idea our mothers had." Amma linked her arm through his. "I will have to thank my mom when I see her again."

"We both will."

"Are we going to reach your village today?"

"No." Suni glanced up at the sky through the leaves of the trees. "No, it will take two more rotations moving at our pace."

"Are you saying I'm slowing you down like it's a bad thing?"

"Never, my heart. I want to spend more time alone with you before my dam hears about you. Trust me, she will steal you away."

"I can't wait. I miss having a mom around to annoy me." Amma laughed at his low growl. "Oh, please. Don't tell me you do not think the same when your mother is mothering you too much."

"Yes, sometimes. Until she cooks." Suni rubbed his stomach. "She is the best in the village."

"As it should be."

"Jabari, could you and your brother do the hunting tonight?" Suni turned to the brothers. They tried to stand up straighter when he asked for their help, and he realized they needed to feel as if they were as capable as any other warrior. "I will escort my mate to find her favorite spicy leaves."

The brothers awkwardly thumped their fists over their hearts before lumbering into the brush.

"Seriously, how do they do that even in the daylight?" Amma asked. "I was watching them and still lost them as soon as they passed that tree."

"They are well trained trackers." Suni answered. "If Gar and Rown put their minds to it, they could be the same way."

"Do you think we are going to make it back in time for their big party?"

"We will."

"Good. I can't wait. Maybe Mia will have something I can wear."

"I will provide you with clothing. Anything you desire."

"I know, but there are things humans wear that I'm sure you don't."

"Like?"

"Bras." Amma cupped her generous breast and shook them. "These babies don't just hold themselves up."

Suni smirked. "I can hold them up for you."

Amma threw her head back and laughed. "I can just see us walking around with you practically wrapped around me."

"Everyone will know how dedicated I am to my mate."

"There's nothing I can say to that." Amma started picking up sticks from along the tree line. "How about we get the fire going before the brothers return. Don't want them thinking we are slackers."

Suni snorted. The brothers looked at Amma as if she was the reason the suns rose in the morning. He would be jealous if he thought it was romantic, but he knew better. They were grateful to be free of the High Coven's magic and have someone believe in them.

The meal was quiet but comfortable as everyone ate their fill before banking the fire and settling down for some sleep.