by SJ Sanders
Sara hoped that after the baby came they might travel a bit during summer so she could see more of her new home. And maybe cart new material back to the den, she considered with a silent chuckle. It took little time for Vidok to realize that she needed a bin near the door to keep materials she found, or else they ended up stacked everywhere.
He quickly built one after tripping over a couple larger pieces of wood that seemed to always be in the way no matter where she put them. Sara had teased him that his exasperation with her hobby was in line with every husband from earth who had a crafty wife.
Sara rubbed her belly and grinned down at the obvious small rounded swell of it. Her little beastie was growing fast. She sang quietly to her as she picked up her carving tools and settled herself near the fire where Vidok was cooking. That was for both their safety. After numerous failed cooking attempts--Sara had warned him that she never cooked back on Earth--they settled into an unspoken agreement that he would cook their meals. At least his were edible.
Vidok glanced up from the fire-heated metal plates he was cooking their food on and smiled sweetly at her. She really couldn’t wish for a better mate.
“You know,” he said, “A’Jural will be at the gathering this moon cycle.”
“Really?” Sara leaned forward with excitement as he nodded. “I wonder if he heard anything? He is one scary looking alien though.”
He grinned wryly at her use of the word alien. Heck, she knew she was an alien around here too.
“Yes ulukska,” he chuckled, eyeing her. “He doesn’t come every moon cycle, though it is pretty usual to see him at several gatherings every sun cycle, but he will be attending this one. He will have news I am sure, but he will also be there mostly to trade goods.”
“Sweet!” Sara declared. She looked forward to browsing whatever alien frippery A’Jural brought. Vidok smirked, by now used to many of her regular slang terms. Heh. It made the first few weeks together good entertainment as she tried to explain to her baffled mate many of her more common words and phrases that didn’t translate correctly.
Vidok flipped a bit of meat over and raised a brow at her. “Have you sorted through what you want to take to the gathering.”
Sara sighed and looked at the clutter of carvings. “Not yet, but I have a pretty good idea. Find me a bag and it won’t take me long to sort them out.”
His head jerked in a nod. “Do that tonight mate,” he said, “we should leave early tomorrow so that we arrive with enough time to set up the altar before the gathering begins.”
Sara hummed in the affirmative. She knew to expect that they would be among the first to arrive, and among the last to leave to make sure all of their responsibilities were covered. And this would be every month.
No skin off my nose, I good at keeping myself entertained and it is not like there won’t be plenty to do.
She eyeballed her mate as he cooked, his tail twitching in a nervous habit much like a cat. Yeah, she couldn’t help feeling like there was something he was keeping from her; although he said that everything is fine whenever she asked. Still, it had not gone unnoticed, the last few days since Borax came over, that her mate had been even more attentive, but also seemed to be on edge about something. Sara narrowed her eyes at him, staring a hole through the back of his head.
Vidok grunted. “Is there something troubling you mate?”
“Are you sure there is nothing I need to be worried about?”she asked suspiciously. Gods she hated sounding like the nagging wife caricature, but this was making her nervous as hell.
To make it worse, his slight hesitation screamed affirmative, but he shook his head and set his jaw mulishly. “It is nothing you need to worry yourself about mate.”
Sara slowly lower the bit of wood and carving knife she was holding. “But there is something,” she wheedled.
He sighed, “Nothing definite my love. If it turns out to be anything you will be the first to know, and it will be handled. No sense of worrying about it until then.”
Sara positively glared at her vexing male, tapping her finger in an irritable rhythm on the blade of her knife. She knew from the set of his jaw and shoulders she was not going to get anything further out of him. He ignored her growl and handed her a plate of food. She gave the plate a disgusted look and tore into it.
It better be nothing.
Fondly, Sara gave a gentle pat to the baby nestled deep within her body. She was not letting anything disrupt her family, damn it.
***
It took a full day of travel to get to the gathering place, marked out by the familiar simple circle of trees and standing stones that Sara remembered from the last time Vidok had brought her to Borax’s den. Last time it was as a refugee begging for aid. This time she came as an artisan, priestess and new tribal member.
When they arrived Borax was already busy, with two boys trailing after him, setting out the festival torches. A ruby-red cat-like female with short fur, clearly of another alien species, was fussing and chasing after two toddlers who appeared to be about a year apart. All the children had their own unique red facial markings and the gem-like eyes of their mother, with the exception of the blue eyed baby. The only girl among the children, she was blue-eyed like her father and had red markings not only on her face but also streaking down her belly.
Though she would never make the observation out loud to the couple, she thought it was fortunate that the VaDorok genetics had been primary in that pairing. His mate was beautiful with her bright red fur striated with dark burgundy red striping, but the VaDorok depended on their white fur to be able to blend into the indigenous landscape for safety. Offworlder mates were obviously coddled and kept tucked away safe, or allowed outside under the supervision of their larger snow-colored mates. But the children would grow up and need to be able to take care of themselves. Sara was instantly grateful that VaDorok genetics would thoroughly trump her own.
“Vidok!” Borax called cheerfully and waved. The female scooped up the youngest and made her way to her mate’s side to greet them. Her stare was so like that of a predator that it was almost unnerving, until she broke it with a wide friendly smile.
“You must be Sara, it is such a pleasure to finally meet you,” Nadar greeted her. Her voice had a soft purring lull to it. That was wicked cool. “I am Nadar, Borax’s mate. When Borax told me that Vidok and others of our tribe found offworlder mates I was so pleased. We offworlders must stick together,” she gave her a saucy wink which made Sara grin. She was certain she and Nadar would be be fast friends.
Vidok leaned down and pecked her on the cheek. “Rest and visit with Nadar, ulukska. It was a bit of a tiring walk for you. I will set up the altar.”
Nadar roped her arm through Sara’s companionably as Vidok headed to the center of the clearing.
“I can’t tell you enough how glad I am that your people have joined our community,” she trilled, her eyes gleaming with pleasure. Thankfully her species was not as large as the VaDorok, so she was only several inches taller. Sara didn’t feel like she was going to get a crick in her neck trying to meet the other female’s eyes.
“I am from Forad,” she continued, “and we are a very social species, living in large family groups. It took me a long time to adjust to so much isolation.” She laughed gaily at herself. Sara had to admire a woman who could find humor in her own lot. “But that is what falling in love with a male of the VaDorok gets you. Offworlders are rare though. It happens occasionally when warriors are called upon to aid the Intergalactic Council.
“In my case, my ship crashed here and Borax found me. The people were welcoming, but some of the females were less so, especially when Borax and I mated. Of course, my family was not happy. The Forad are at critically low levels of female population. My family saw my decision to stay here as nothing short of abandonment of my responsibilities. To have that plus deal with sour VaDorok females--it hasn’t been easy.”
She scowled at the memory for a moment and then gave Sara a w
an look.
“I am afraid that you will find that many of the VaDorok females are just as reclusive as the males, although they do often meet when gathering water or other provisions to exchange gossip. Still it makes me miss the closeness I enjoyed with my sisters and friends back home. I think that your den is the closest one to ours than any others, and of course until your arrival that did me little good since Vidok was a bachelor,” Nadar giggled.
Although, back home, Sara wasn’t terribly social and had few close friends, she found that she really enjoyed Nadar’s companionable nature. They spent what had to be a good hour chatting, and playing with babies. Out of the corner of her eye Sara could see Vidok laughing with Borax near the finished altar with the dark blue Edoka male, nodding every now and again to a new arrival filtering in.
Nadar slanted a grin at her, “Vidok used to be quite the desired bachelor. Although it has been many years, I do remember the way females panted after him. That was when my eldest, Balar, was a baby.” She waved to a female she knew. “You will meet Balar later. He has twenty sun cycles, and as a male in his first stage adulthood he is a Scout. I don’t get to see him as much as I would like, but he always returns from the southern border of our territory for the gatherings. He is such handsome young male--uh-oh.” Nadar froze as Borax and Vidok stopped laughing and positively bristled at the same time.
After so much time with Vidok, Sara was very familiar with his tells, and was very aware of his hackles raising in aggression. At her side, Nadar hissed viciously. Curious, Sara craned her neck to get a better look.
I wonder what all the fuss is over? And what is uh-oh? That didn’t sound good!
All she could see at first was the jerk who tried to get a hold of her from Vidok ...eh...old what’s his name. Then she saw her. Beside him was a beautiful lithe female. Sara felt positively dowdy in comparison. The female’s body was long and lean, with perfect high breasts and thick white locks glimmering with multi-colored gemstones. She was wearing some kind of fancy robe clipped at her shoulder and hip. But that was not what red flagged the bitch, it was the look she was giving Vidok as she sidled up next to him.
Just what is that bitch doing? I know she can tell from his scent alone that he is mated.
“She has a nerve,” Nadar spit out, showing fangs in a silent snarl.
“Who the hell is pawing my mate?” Sara asked, flummoxed.
She was half tempted to disregard the fact that her rival was large enough to pound her like a pancake and march herself over there to yank out a few of those perfect locks. Self preservation won for now, but if she didn’t stop soon Sara was about to risk certain death to slap the taste out of the the hussy’s mouth.
Nadar hissed, “Ita, she is cousin of Merlor. She thinks she is entitled, and now she is going to make a scene in front of everyone.”
Sara shook her head, bewildered, but rose when Vidok gestured for her to join him. Thankfully, Ifa, curling her lip at Sara in disgust, moved off to the side so she didn’t have to jump a bitch. Sara may have lost that fight but she would have made sure to snatch her ass bald as she went down.
Shaking her arms, Sara released the sudden onslaught of tension, breathing in and out to regain the sense of peace and centeredness needed for the ceremony. Vidok glanced at her worriedly several times. The fact that he was worried meant that there was definitely something to worry about. Something he hadn’t told her, and something that bitch was certainly getting cozy with him about.
Set her ass aside, Sara, she breathed. Find your center in mother Udula.
Sara nodded at Vidok when she was ready. In perfectly rehearsed synchronized movements they lit the altar, and together intone the opening prayers as they poured the offerings out onto the sacrificial fire. The youth she remembered from the rescue, Nadaz, blew a twisted black horn to summon the spirits and announce the opening of the gathering. Just that quickly the moment was over and the VaDorok settled into talking among each other. Sara waited for the other shoe to drop. Sure enough, as soon as everyone settled the female smirked evilly at her as Borax raised his hand for attention.
Fuck, now here it comes.
“People of the VaDorok, welcome again to our gathering beneath the blessed sister moons, the first born daughters of Udula, who shine their blessed light upon us.”
“May we as people ever be blessed,” the crowd returned.
“The gods have blessed our tribe with many new mates, rescued from the confines of a cruel race we have unwittingly been harboring at the furthest northern territory.”
An unhappy murmur raced through the crowd. For many of them this was the first time they were hearing of it.
“Like several of our males, our own warrior-priest Vidok, found a mate among them, answering the call of the ulukskinon. As is the way of the fires, his young grows and we will have a youngling of our priest family, and many more younglings, to join us by the Sun Festival.”
Many people cheered, several others whispered among themselves. Sara’s money was on the whisperers for knowing something was about to go down. She narrowed her eyes as Ita smugly made her way forward. In a clear, sweet voice she addressed the crowd.
“I, Ita, daughter born of a lineaged priest-family house of the eastern tribe, have reached my adulthood and claim dispute on this mating.”
What the ever-loving fuck?!
Is this bitch high? Is mating challenge even a thing?
Sara snapped her head around to stare in shock at her mate. Her eyes moved between Ita and Vidok in growing alarm. The look of pure disgust she directed at Sara was not missed by anyone, least of all by Sara’s mate. Vidok, who had been silent, began a menacing growl.
“It is my right,” Ita called out to everyone with her hands raised up. Sara begrudgingly had to hand it to her, girl knew how to work a crowd. “Our females are given this right to challenge any mating with offworld females to see if our own females may inspire the mating heat in our males.” She directed a smutty look towards Sara’s mate. Sara felt her cheeks burn as her temper quickly rose. She was tempted to knock her teeth down her damned throat, or at least die trying. Or break the fingers she was trailing down the broad muscles of Vidok’s chest.
“I am now of breeding age,” Ita stated baldly. “None can dispute my right of challenge at the first full moon period of their mating. I am superior to this offworlder. I am from a priest family and trained from a youngling in the duties appropriate for a mother-priestess. I am a more suitable mate for our tribe’s warrior-priest. I request for the test of mating compatibility.”
She lowered her voice enough so that it didn’t carry beyond them, “You are more than welcome to be present to watch me fuck him and steal away your mate, ugly offworlder.”
Vidok snarled and swept Sara away from Ita, but he said nothing to refute her. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Sara’s eyes bounced between him and Borax, waiting for someone to tell the bitch she had lost her mind, and put her in her damn place. Her heart wilted when Vidok wouldn’t meet her eyes, and even Borax sighed uncomfortably. She swallowed back her tears.
This shit is really going to go down. They are going to let this bitch Ita try to mate with my male.”
“Vidok,” she choked out. “What is going on? You are not really going to go through with this crazy shit are you?”
He turned his head away in guilt. “I have no choice ulukska, she has the right,” he muttered.
Fury fanned through her. He knew! He knew and didn’t breathe a word of it to her knowing that she was going out of her mind with worry. He let her enter this whole situation blind and unprepared.
“Don’t,” Sara grit out, “call me that after you have lied to me. I asked you to tell me what was worrying you, and you didn’t tell me. You told me there was nothing for me to worry about. How, the fuck, dare you tell me that when you obviously knew this was going to happen. If you let this happen, do not call me that.”
Vidok sighed and finally looked Sara in the eye, his silver e
yes brimming with sadness. “Please my love, I didn’t think she would dare do this. Mating challenges are practically unheard of. I barely know this female and am old enough to be her father. I am shocked, but I have no choice but to follow through with this charade.” His eyes harden. “I promise you this, she will not get what she wants. You are my mate. My ulukskinon rose only for you. My body will recognize no other. Please stay my side through this.”
Sara did not feel as confident as Vidok. It was easy for him to make that claim, but Ita was beautiful and he had never had the opportunity to test mating compatibility with her before since she had been under-age. There was a chance that Ita could win.
Borax grunted in agreement with Vidok, a disgruntled expression on his face. “He has no choice, Sara. She has the right to challenge. But I will be there to witness, and you can be there as witness too as is your right. Your mate doesn’t want this. No male wants this. Nadar and I had to endure three challengers.” He heaved a gusty sigh. “It will be over quickly and she no longer be of any consequence or threat to your mating.”
Sara scowled at them both, filled with misgiving. “What exactly will happen with this challenge.”
Vidok cleared his throat, “We will go into the chief’s den and I will have to submit to her. There she will try to entice the mating heat, to try to copulate with me. If my body responds to her at all it will void our mating as not authentic and give her the chance to engage in sex with me to test mating compatibility, to see if that will spark the ulukskinon. If it does she has the right to claim me as her mate.”
He held Sara’s gaze firmly with his own. “But that won’t happen.”
Ita just smirked knowingly within earshot.
Biiiiaaaatch!
Borax shook his head in pity before waving them ahead of him to attend to his den. Several females and males, likely friends or kin of Ifa, smirked as they passed by. Merlor not the least among them. He was taking all too much pleasure in this. Sara knew which little birdy told Ita that the warrior-priest was hitched.
