8. Amma

Chapter 8

Amma

A mma's eyes widened at what she saw in his violet eyes. It wasn't just a simple desire, but something more. Something she couldn't let herself believe in, not this soon. "I never really thought about it because of my family legacy. I figured I would go the same route as my mother and find a donor."

"What is a donor?" Suni continued working.

"It means that we find men who are willing to donate their sperm and walk away. It is a common practice in my family."

"And you find males who are willing to walk away from their young?" Suni's brows lowered, and he stopped moving.

"In my world, it's a common practice." Amma said. "There's even a movement named Single Mother by Choice."

"Why would a female want to raise a calf on her own? A mate can take half the load and calves can be a lot of work. I would never walk away from my calves. Never."

Amma had never really thought of the other end of the donor transaction. None of the men her family used ever came back to complain. "For my family, it's the best solution. We cannot tell the men we are real witches. Most would run because they think we are insane, and the others would call the authorities to have our daughters taken away."

Suni snorted. "I doubt anyone could take your calves from you. A dam is dangerous when protecting her young."

"That is true. My mother was nice and peaceful until someone tried to get one over on us. Speaking of mother's, how long has Mia been here? I don't remember hearing anything about her at the gathering."

"Two seasons." Suni pulled out a small dagger and began sharpening it next. "And she is already with calf."

"We are compatible?"

"We are."

Amma stared into the fire for a few moments, thinking about all that implied. Her family would continue even though they were far from earth. She wondered what the hybrid offspring will look like, more human, or more minotaur. "I'm glad that she's found love and happiness. It gives me hope for my own future." Amma took a deep breath. Thinking about her own future would have to take a back seat to her finding more of her family. "Did you guys see any camps like this or come across tracks like mine?"

Gar heard her question as he walked back to the fire, and answered before Suni could. "There was no sign of anyone in our territory."

Amma leaned forward on her elbows and sighed. "I guess it was too much to hope my family came out in the same area as I did. Honestly, I just want to make sure they're not still back in my world in the hands of the mob."

"Our territory is massive." Suni said. "Once we return, I will ask my chief if he can send out search parties. Is there something, in particular, we should be on the lookout for?"

"I wish I could tell you." Amma shrugged. "I came by way of portal and I'm sure the rest of my family will too, but I have no idea where they will open. I guess the hunting parties will have to look for human women camping in the woods."

"It does not matter. We will find your family and they will be welcomed into our village," Suni said.

A few minutes passed with no sound but the sizzling of the cooking meat. Finally, Amma spoke again. "Ok, I have to ask, what did my cousin do that makes you want to take in more of her family?"

"Do there need to be a reason?" Suni asked.

"In my experience, nothing is given for free."

"Is that the way the human world works?"

"I thought it was how every world worked." Amma answered.

"We believe in family." Suni stood and walked around the fire. "You should have this," he held out the dagger, hilt first.

"I should?" She carefully took the weapon and held it out from her body. While a dagger in his hands, it was a machete in hers. "I'm more the ‘run and hide' type girl. I'm more likely to hurt myself with this thing."

Suni chuckled as he straddled the log facing her. His scent of evergreens and spice mixed with his manly musk sent her libido into overdrive. He held out his hand. "Let me show you how to hold it."

Amma couldn't get the thing out of her hand fast enough. Instead of taking the weapon, he wrapped his clawed hand around hers. Amma sucked in a breath at the feel of calluses of a hardworking man – male. She could picture him swinging his morning star in training and battle, a force to be reckoned with.

"Amma?" She felt her name rumble through his body from where they touched. "Amma?"

"Yes, I'm listening," she lied. "What were you trying to show me?"

He chuckled. "Tighten your fist on the hilt," he said, and adjusted her hold. "You do not want to tuck your thumb. If your hit is blocked, it can be broken. Now try stabbing at me."

Amma stared at him in horror. "I can't stab you. What if I hit you?"

"If you are able to stab me and draw blood, I am not the warrior I thought I was. Now stab at me."

Amma clumsily stabbed toward him, but pulled back when she came too close. "I don't think I can do this. I'm not going to need this dagger if you are with me."

"If I am with you, I will be your shield." Suni said. He closed his fist over hers. "This is so you can fight until I reach your side."

The heat from his hand soaked through to her bones and she felt his promise deep in her heart. They may have just met, but there was something about the strong male that called to her in a way no human ever had. "I can't even imagine harming someone." She stared at the dagger. "I just can't."

"You may not have a choice." Suni growled. "You have to know how to defend yourself."

"Is Mia also learning how to fight?"

"Not with her mate," Gar snorted. "Ni'em is one scary male. I do not think anyone would get through him to his mate and calf."

Amma took note of Suni's missing fur, scars, and damaged horns. If Gar thought this Ni'em was scarier, maybe she should worry for her cousin. "To me, you all look a little scary. Even without the horns, you're towering over me by a foot or more." Her eyes locked with Suni's, which glowed red from the fire reflection. "But I still feel instantly safe. Safe enough not to need a dagger."

Suni leaned over and turned the meat. "I am happy you feel safe. A female should always feel that way. Can you just hold onto the weapon for me?"

"I will." She placed it on the log next to her.

"Thank you. The food is almost finished. Do you need anything for your cave?"

"No, I've become accustomed to this area pretty fast."

Suni's attention snapped to something behind her. "What are those?"

Amma turned to find Sam and Mike had gotten over their fear of the males and were tumbling around in a ball of fur. "Oh, those are two of my friends from my world." She laughed when they forgot their play in a race to be the first one in her lap. "Sam is the chunkier one, and Mike is his brother. I've raised them since they were kits. When I dropped into this world, they came along. I'm surprised they are doing so well. I had been afraid the food wouldn't agree with them, but Sam is getting chunkier and Mike is putting on weight too."

Is it safe now? Astro raced from the forest and dived into her lap, upsetting the brothers. They are big.

Suni's eyes widened. "You have befriended a hukua."

"Is that what Astro is?" She stroked behind Astro's ears.

"Yes. Have you seen an adult of his species?" he asked. "They are as tall as my knees and weigh almost the same as a calf. Their diet is heavy in meat."

"Are you serious?" Amma gazed down at Astro in amazement. "He's going to get massive. How old do you think he is right now?"

"A few seasons," Suni answered. "He is too young to be away from his dam. They usually stay in their family group for six solars."

"Do you think he will have trouble growing up without his family?" Amma hated to think Astro would be adversely affected because she was raising him.

"Not if you allow him to be himself. His instincts should help him learn some of the more important things he needs."

"I hope so. I want him to have the best life."

I have the best life. Astro yelled.

"Yes, you do," Amma agreed. "You are going to grow up big and strong."

Suni glanced between her and Astro. "You can hear him? He talks to you?"

"Yes. That is a very simplified definition of my magic. Any witch can be magically bonded with an animal. That animal is called a ‘familiar'. My magic goes a step further. Any animal can be my familiar, or several can at once. And there doesn't have to even be a bond for me to talk to an animal."

"Seems like very useful magic. Something that cannot be used for black magic, right?" Suni smiled.

"All magic has its dark side," Amma explained. "While my family only deals with white magic, there are a few witches who dedicate their life to the dark arts. I took a vow to do no harm when my magic manifested."

"I still cannot see how talking to animals could be turned into black magic."

"While influencing one animal can seem safe, I can influence multiple animals at the same time. Let's take Astro, for example. You said that he will grow to basically be a fighting machine. If I came across a group of adults, I could control all of them to do my bidding. When I was younger, I was told about one of my ancestors whose daughter was executed for being a witch a few hundred years ago. The mother was so distraught that she called up every animal in the forest to attack the villagers. When the sun rose, no one remained. To this day there are stories told about what really happened, but only my family knows the answer. This is why I must keep my magic under control when my emotions are high."

"I see nothing wrong with protecting or avenging your family from those who wish to destroy them." Suni's ears flicked. "Family is sacred."

"While that's true, innocents can be hurt in the crossfire." Amma shook her head.

"A warrior never harms innocents. It is disgraceful." Rown said. "Warriors face each other on the battlefield with bravery and honor."

"Why is your family being hunted?" Gar asked. "Is that normal?"

"Not really," Amma stopped to get her thoughts in order. "Like I said, people believe magic is fake or new age, in my world. For the most part, we are left alone, but there are a few who know magic is real. They want to harness its power and use it to better their lives in ways that magic should not be used in. They are jealous and fearful of my family. Since they can't have what we have, they want to destroy it."

"I can understand. We are raised to fear witches and the power they wield. It was a witch who took away our ability to leave our planet. We do not hunt them. Instead, they live on a mountain away from us."

"You have witches in your species?" Amma was starting to think her mother and the others of her generation were smart sending them here.

"We do, but they do not live among us." Gar answered. "They are taken as soon as they show magical abilities by the High Coven."

"Taken? They don't get a choice?" Amma frowned. "That doesn't sound right."

"‘Taken' was the wrong word. Their family gives them into the care of the High Coven to learn how to harness their powers. They are not captives."

"I can understand the need for young witches to learn how to control their magic. The trouble my siblings, cousins, and I got into was legendary."

"I would love to hear the stories one day." Suni smiled. "In return I will tell you about some of the antics me and my brothers caused."

"Makes me wonder what kind of interesting things the hybrid children will get into." Amma could picture a small child with mostly minotaur features strutting around finding things to get into. "My mom always warned us that our children would be ten times worse than we were."