9. Suni

Chapter 9

Suni

S uni was in love. He never thought he would fall for a female who was as strong in mind and body as Amma. It wasn't just her naturally beautiful dark skin or her expressive eyes, it was her intelligence and the way she viewed the world. She had survived in a wilderness without knowing anything about the world she had been dropped into. If the same thing had happened to him, he couldn't say if he would react the way she had.

"If that is true, my calves will be terrors." Suni chuckled. "I think at one time my dam threatened to take me and my siblings deep into the forest and leave us to find our way home."

"No she didn't," Amma laughed. "What did you do?"

"Nothing," Suni smirked. "I dared everyone to stay awake. The first to go to sleep had to do the chores of everyone else for three rotations."

"Are you telling me that you didn't sleep at all?"

"Not for two days and we were hyper. I'm sure my dam gave us something to sleep on the third day."

"I would have." Amma shook her head. "I can't even imagine what your poor mother was going through."

"You will get a chance to ask her," Suni couldn't wait for his dam to meet Amma. He knew she would love her and take her under her care like she did Mia. "Not trying to change the subject, but would you mind telling me how you came to this world? Mia said she used a portal; did it remain open? Will it pose a danger to my tribe and family?"

"That's a lot of questions, but I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability. I came here through a portal, but not the same one Mia did. I don't know how she opened her portal, but I used a chant given to me by my mother and the portal closed as soon as I used it. It was the first time I'd used it to travel such a long distance and I doubt I ever want to do it again. Your tribe and family are safe from anything coming from my world through a left open portal, or as much as I can tell you."

"Why did you have to use the portal to begin with?" Rown asked. He was helping his brother clean the kill, but both were listening intently. "You are witches, what would cause you to run?"

"We were told to run because a mob, or a group of people intending us harm, had broken through the front barrier of our home. While my cousins, siblings, and I wanted to fight, my mother said it wasn't the time or place. I'm guessing a massacre on our property would have brought the wrong type of attention to our family."

"What is a mob?" Suni asked. "Warriors?"

"I doubt there was one warrior or soldier as we call them in that group. We were being attacked by an old society that felt witches were inherently bad and yet they still wanted to harness our powers. Before humans spread so far around the earth, we were able to pick up and move to a less populated area."

Suni gripped the handle of his weapon as his body tightened, preparing for a fight. "Is there a way to your world? I will show them the error of their ways."

"I'm sure there is," she placed a hand on his leg, "but I am never returning. My family is here and after we are all found, we will start a new life free of being hunted."

"If any of those who pursue your family dares to drop into this territory," he lifted his claws to the firelight, showing off their length and sharpness. "They will face justice by my claws."

"They would run screaming if they came face to face with you or any other warrior in this world. They're cowards who hide behind hoods and other forms of masks."

"They hide their faces?" Gar asked. "Cowards."

"They don't want their pictures being taken and their true self to be shown to the world."

"What is a picture?" Suni asked.

"It's a likeness of a person. In my world, there is a real fear of anything you do being saved and shared for others to see."

"Here word of mouth is enough."

"My hope is that all my family finds someone as kind and helpful as you to protect them until we are together again."

"There is another witch in a different village." Suni frowned. "I cannot remember her name."

"I believe her name is Jo," Gar called out. "Julian cannot stop talking about her and how she can fight anyone, no matter how big."

Amma removed her hand from his leg and rubbed them on hers. "I don't suppose she's a girl who is tall, curvy, and has an attitude to match?"

"I have not seen her," Suni said. "Mia mentioned her name and that she's something called a battle witch."

"Yup, that's my cousin alright. If anyone was going to make it in this world, it would be Jo." Amma grinned.

Gar nodded. "From what Julian keeps saying, Jo is not only happy but mated. I think Julian wants to be like her when she grows up."

"Julian sounds like a riot," Amma said. "I can't wait to meet her."

"She is an adorable calf. She brings sunshine to my family." Suni said. He couldn't wait to get back home and see his family. Finding Amma had soothed a part of him that he had thought would always be raw. He wanted to introduce her to his family and watch them fall in love with her as much as he had.

"I love little witches. They are so fun to watch as they learn their magic and grow up to be strong, independent women." Amma said.

He felt the same about calves. They all had so much potential and as they gained solars, they developed into adults everyone could be proud of. "Are you ready to eat?"

"With that smell filling the clearing, yes." Amma rubbed her stomach. "I can already almost taste it."

"I know you found some spices, but I bet you haven't figured out that you can eat this leaf." He picked up one of the smaller leaves Gar had gathered and placed some of the juiciest pieces of meat on it before rolling it and handing it to Amma.

"You mean I can just eat the leaf too?" Amma asked.

"Yes," Suni answered. "Try it." He waited for her to take a bite and chuckled when her eyes widened. "Good?"

"The meat is sweet and juicy, while the leaf has some heat to it." Amma took another bite and chewed with her eyes closed. "I wish I had known about this edible leaf before. It's exactly what I needed."

Suni liked knowing he had given her something special. "Do you not eat leaves in your world?"

"In many cultures, yes. I just never really thought about trying to eat them here. Where do these grow?"

"I gather you have seen the bushes near the riverbanks?"

"Yes," Amma said around her food. "They have long thorns."

"Right. If you are clever enough to avoid the thorns, you can pick the spicy leaves." Suni rolled his own wrap and took a bite. "If someone my size is pricked, even a little, it will render them unable to move for a rotation. I don't know what it would do to you. If you want more of these leaves, I can help." He stuffed the rest of his food into his mouth so he could roll another leaf for Amma. When he swallowed, he asked, "Do your animals eat meat?"

"Yes." She glanced over at her little friends and began to break off some of her meat, but he stopped her.

"There is plenty to go around without you having to share." He took some of the raw meat and put it before the animals. The two small, strange ones squealed before digging in. Suni called out, "Gar. Rown. Enough, come eat. You can finish after."

The two brothers washed their hands in the stream before joining them by the fire. Suni was proud of the way the young males had started to cure the skin while preserving the meat. They had even excelled at tracking, which would come in handy when they began their duties of patrolling.

"I never thought I would like to be away from home so much." Gar rolled his meal. "It gives me the opportunity to think."

"What thoughts?" Rown slapped him on the back of his head before dropping next to him. "You have air between your horns."

"We are twins! If I do, you do too," Gar snapped back.

"I know what you mean, Gar," Amma said. "There is something about being out in nature that clears the mind. In my world, I used to hike deep in the forest and camp for a few days. The time alone would give me the energy to deal with a bunch of hyper young witches."

"I do not know what Gar is talking about," Suni said as he cut his eyes at the males. "He is never separated from his brother."

"That is different," Rown said. "We have been together since the day we were conceived."

"In my family, twins are celebrated," Amma said. "Usually, the two girls have the same powers. One is a magnifier."

"I would love to meet more of your family," Rown said. "If they are anything like you and Mia, I will like them."

"If you find anyone, feed them like this and they will follow you anywhere." Amma licked her fingers before going on, "And I mean anywhere ."

Suni coughed to cover up the groan that slipped from his lips. He wished they were alone so he could explore her words more. Would she be willing to follow him back to his village? Back to his house? Would she be open to being his mate?

He noticed she had finished her wrap and quickly rolled another. When he tried to hand it to her, she shook her head and patted her belly.

"I'm full. Thanks."

He frowned. She hadn't eaten nearly enough to be full. "Are you sure? There is no reason to limit what you eat. We have plenty."

"I have a smaller stomach than you do. I've eaten all I can fit into it."

He was doubtful, but his father had taught him to never call a female a liar. He quickly finished the wrap and started another for himself. Gar and Rowan were keeping up as young hunters who had worked all day should. Even the animals took another helping.

"What is that?" He frowned at the odd container Amma lifted to her lips.

"It's a water bottle."

"Water bottle?" He cocked his head to the side.

"Yes." She handed it to him. "It keeps the water cold and filters out the junk. Well, I hope it filters all the stuff out here."

He sniffed it before taking a sip. The water had an odd taste to him that he didn't like. "This is unique."

"You mean you don't like it," Amma said and laughed. "You can tell me without hurting my feelings."

He unhooked his water skin and handed it to her. "Try this."

She took it and sniffed it like he had. "It smells different." She took a sip and nodded. "Now, that is some fresh water. Where did you get it?"

"Upstream."

"Are you telling me that the water in that stream tastes this good without being filtered?" Amma shook her head. "If I had only known. Can you show me how to make one of your water skins?"

"I have an extra one at home," Suni answered. "If it is not to your liking, I will make you a new one."

"I'm good with a hand me down. What do you drink besides water?"

"I think you will like brikji. It is a sweet drink most of us have for midmeal. It gives a burst of energy while being refreshing."

"I like a little pick-me-up in the morning. A nice cup of black coffee with toast. I already miss coffee."

"I do not know what coffee is." Suni frowned. "If you tell me, I can find it for you."

"I doubt there's coffee here but if I see anything like it, I will let you know." Amma promised. "I should warn you; coffee is usually not sweet unless you dump a lot of sugar in it. If you drink brikji at midmeal, what do you drink to wake up in the morning?"

"A warrior should always wake up alert and ready to protect what he holds dear," Rown blurted.

Suni nodded at the young male. "Exactly. Gar, what is another guiding principle of warriors?"

"A warrior's weapon is their life and must be handled with respect."

"Yes." His smile widened. The two brothers were ready. They would make the village stronger both with their knowledge and strength.

"Were you guys doing some type of training?" Amma asked.

"In a way, yes," Suni answered. "I am evaluating these two on their survival skills, weapon skills, and other abilities when faced with obstacles of everyday life. They have passed every test."

"It is because we have had great teachers," Gar said. "We never expected you to be the one giving us our final evaluation."

Suni grunted. "It is my honor to train the next generation. When I finally lay down my weapon, I want it to be with the confidence that the village is protected." He didn't think he needed to tell them the chief was only making sure he returned.

"You have many solars before that time." Gar said. "You are still in your prime."

Suni tried and failed to keep his chest from puffing out with pride. He was in his prime and had a lot to show a female. He hoped Amma would notice and be pleased. "Even my sire continues to pick up his weapon."

"Speaking of being in prime fighting condition, why are all the animals here out to eat me? Well, not all but the ones who hunt during the day seem super interested in what I taste like."

"We are taught as calves to stay hidden during the day unless there are at least ten warriors." Gar said. "From my understanding, it has always been this way."

"I'm lucky I figured it out and was able to find this cave." Amma wrapped her arms around herself. "I had a hard time even connecting with them. I never had a hard time doing that in my world."

"You have nothing to fear. I will be your shield." Suni assured her. "Most predators are not going to attack an adult and the ones who dare become meals."

"I don't want you to get hurt on my account." Amma said. "I'll just stick to moving around during the night. I'm sure I can train myself to be nocturnal."

Suni kept his thoughts to himself. He would have to show Amma with his actions that he was a worthy male and could keep her safe in any situation. "Life is different within village walls. Most everyone is active during the day. Gar, Rown, if you are finished eating, finish dressing the kill."

The two brothers jumped to their feet and returned to their duties.

"As much as I wish I could stay in this spot longer, but I need to start bringing my family together. Do you think you could point me in the direction of Jo's village?" Amma asked. "She can fight, and I think finding her first would be best."

Suni scratched his chin. His chief would be expecting him back in two rotations with word of Gar and Rown's accomplishments, but he couldn't leave Amma in the woods alone. "I will escort you to your cousin."

"Are you sure? I don't want you to be taken away from anything." Amma looked small hunched over and staring into the fire. He could no more leave her to fend for herself as cut off his horn.

"I am sure. My dam would not be happy if I told her I left a female undefended in the forest."

"Suni, we cannot enter into another territory without permission from our chief," Gar said. "We have to return home."

Suni growled at the younger males. "You and your brother will return and inform our chief of my intentions. I will return as soon as I can."

"Are you sure?" Gar asked. "I can stay with you and Rown can return."

"Do you think I will be unable to protect Amma?" Suni's ears slapped backward as his fur puffed out. He would not tolerate young warriors questioning his virility, especially in front of Amma.

"No," Gar lowered his head in submission. "I was not thinking."

Suni huffed out a breath as his fur settled. He turned to find Amma standing and stretching. His eyes devoured her beautiful body. He had never seen such a perfect form. He wondered if she would ever give him permission to touch her whenever he wished.

She yawned. "As much as I'm enjoying our conversation, I am tired. I think I'm still on earth time," she laughed. "I'll see you guys once the suns set. Please don't leave me."

"I would never leave you. Rest well." Suni felt a tug in the region of his heart as he watched Amma disappear inside the cave with her animal friends. His instincts screamed at him to follow her and make sure she was safe, while the more reasonable part of him knew he had to give her time to come to care for him and allow him to share her furs.

"Suni," Gar stood next to him. "I am sorry for speaking out of turn. Are you hoping to make her your mate?"

"Yes." He saw no reason to lie. The brothers would spread the word. He wouldn't have to worry about another male trying to steal Amma away when they returned.

"I am happy for you," Rown said. "It is a blessing."

"A blessing I never thought I would see," he admitted. "I want you both to know you have passed every test I have put before you. I will inform the chief of your accomplishments."

"How?" Gar asked. "If we return without you, everyone will think we failed."

"Inform the chief I have passed you both. He will take your word as warriors. I will back up your words upon my return."

"Will you be back in time for our coming-of-age ceremony?" Gar asked. "It would be an honor if you lead the dance."

"It would be an honor to lead beside your sire." Suni would never take the honor away from a proud sire. "I will make it back in time. Finish smoking the meat and get some sleep. Wake me when the first moon sets so I can take over watch." He left the brothers whispering around the fire and settled with his back against the side of the cave. He would protect Amma with his body.