29. Suni

Chapter 29

Suni

" I f I have to leave home one more time to find one of my sons, I will kick you all out of the village."

Suni broke out in laughter as his father pushed through the brush in front of them. Oumi had burrs and knots in his fur, as if he had run without care through the very wildest parts of the forest.

"Sir. Hold." Suni whipped around and moved between his sire and Jabari and Kofi, who were primed to fight with fangs and claws on display. "This male is my sire."

Oumi's eyes widened as he saw Jabari and Kofi for the first time. He reached for the two daggers at his side. "What-who-are those?"

"They are warriors," Amma answered. "They were forced to fight for an evil witch and their physical forms have been changed. They are not a danger to anyone and only wish to live in peace. Their names are Jabari and Kofi."

"Son?" Oumi's hands twitch over his dagger.

"Sire, do not worry. It is as she stated," Suni hurried to reassure him. "They are no longer controlled by magic, and we promised them a home in which to heal."

Oumi studied the two warriors, who stood as straight as they could. "I have never judged a warrior by their physical appearance, and I will not start now. I would caution against approaching Lnuuk before Chief Kellan has been warned. He has been troubled lately."

"I take it the news has reached the home about the witches?"

"We have heard the witches have been spotted more frequently," Oumi answered. "They have not bothered our village, but Kellan is not taking any chances."

"I do not blame him." Suni shuddered to think of what would happen to Lnuuk if attacked. They didn't have anyone like Jo to beat them back. "We had to fight them. The witches do not fight fair."

"Did you expect them to?" Oumi asked.

"No. Did Gar and Rown make it back home?" Suni asked. "They should have explained what happened and where I was headed."

"They returned with tales of a human witch who could talk to animals." Oumi glanced at Amma. "I assume that's you. Son, your mother was ready to roast them over a fire for leaving you alone with an unknown witch."

"I am a capable warrior," Suni said. "I can defend myself against anything."

"Until the day we draw our last breath, your dam and I will worry about you and your siblings," Oumi countered. "How about you introduce me to the little human by your side?"

"Amma, this grouchy old male is my sire, Oumi. Sire, my mate Amma."

"Your mate ?" Oumi smiled widely enough to show almost all his teeth. "Congratulations!" He pulled Suni into his arms and thumped him hard on his back. "I had hoped to see this day."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Oumi." Amma placed a hand over her heart. "Your son is a wonderful male, and he has been nothing but the best since I've met him."

"You can call me sire." Oumi thumped Suni on his back one more time before stepping back. "If you do not mind, Amma, I would like to call you the daughter of my heart."

"I never knew my father," she said. "It would be an honor to call you mine."

Suni loved how his sire was getting along with his mate. He wanted his entire family to fall in love with Amma just as he had. "How are Mia and Julian?" he asked. "I've missed that little troublemaker."

"Julian has been asking about her favorite uncle. She was worried you would get hurt and she would not be there to heal you," Oumi said.

Suni hung his head in shame. "I am sorry I worried the family. I know I left under uncertain circumstances."

"You were hurting." Oumi gripped Suni's shoulder. "You could have come to me or your mother. We would have helped you, but we understood that you needed to leave and find peace."

"And I did." Suni smiled down at Amma. "Are my brothers in the forest looking for me?"

"No, I figured you were not hurt and bleeding all over the place like your brother Ni'em when we found him," Oumi answered. "If you camp here and give me a rotation, I can tell Kellan of your return and warn him of you newcomers." At that, he winked at Amma.

"I am glad we ran into you. I had not even thought of what would happen if we marched up to the gates with unknown males."

"You are newly mated; a lot of things will flee your mind," Oumi said with a smirk. "I will also inform your dam that you are bringing her another daughter. She will want to clean your house and make it inhabitable for a female." Then Oumi turned to Amma. "Do not worry, she will leave the decorating to you. A female should always have a say in what happens within the walls of her home."

"Thank you. I've never decorated a whole house before." Amma rubbed her hands together with glee.

"I cannot wait to see what you come up with." Oumi gave a nod to Jabari and Kofi. "I look forward to getting to know everyone better."

Suni watched the elder disappear into the forest. "Jabari and Kofi, we will rest here until we hear from my sire. Would you mind hunting for something to eat again tonight? I will set up the fire and make sure the camp is ready for the night."

The two brothers faded into the undergrowth. Suni had been surprised when they had been able to move quietly through the forest and leave no trace behind. Whoever had trained them had been a master tracker. Suni doubted he would be able to find them if they decided to run. He was happy the brothers would be on their side if Lnuuk was ever attacked.

"I think I'm going to like your family," Amma said as she helped gather some of the downed leaves to use as bedding. "I thought I would miss having my family together, but if your father is any indication, yours is as crazy as mine."

Suni cleared an area to start a fire and positioned rocks in a circle to keep the fire from spreading. "They can be a lot at times. There is never a dull moment."

"With nine of us living at home, including my mother and auntie, the house was always full of activity." Amma deposited the leaves she had gathered under one of the trees. "Can you tell me about Lnuuk? What should I know?"

"I have lived here my whole life," he answered. "It is situated in the middle of a valley with a clear line of sight in every direction. We have fields where we grow most of the vegetables we eat." Suni squatted and started the fire before continuing, "I think we have a little over one thousand inhabitants living peacefully together."

"Is it set up the same way as Ru's village? I'm excited to see a working market and maybe try more of those flaky pastries. Jo told me that they are usually eaten at breakfast, that's what we call first meal, with bitter tea."

"I can make you pastries every morning," Suni promised. He was thankful his dam had taught him and his brothers to cook. She beat it into their heads that no female wanted to do all the cooking, especially if she was heavy with calf. "Compared to Ru's, my home is similar with only slight differences. We obviously have more housing, and our village has been established for a few generations. Our homes are also larger than those in Ru's."

"Just like a man," Amma laughed. "Always comparing sizes."

"I am always bigger," Suni stated with a straight face.

"Yes, yes you are," she said, and patted his leg. "I promise to always view everything of yours as larger. What else can you tell me about home?"

His ears flicked. "I like hearing you call it home."

"Well, we are mated, right? Or is there a ceremony to go through to make it official?"

"No ceremony. Do humans have one?"

"We often have some kind of wedding ceremony, but being married is different from being mated. And the ceremonies vary widely."

"How so?" He cocked his head. "Do you need this wedding thing?"