Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
With each day that passes, I am more convinced that this decision is the right one. Aidy's sickness comes and goes, but the valley remains barren of game. It takes all of my efforts to find things for my mate to eat. Of course, the metlak also expect to be fed. They no longer bring their finds to Aidy, but they still show up at the cave, expecting for food to magically appear. When it does not, they grow surly. They fight one another, and they are vicious. I have had to break up many scuffles between the males where they are close to killing each other, simply because of the lack of food. They can hunt and scavenge. They would rather just sit in front of the cave as we have trained them to do, and expect handouts.
This is my fault. I acknowledge this and acknowledge that the only thing we can do now is attempt to extricate ourselves without causing more pain.
I scout the area around the cave, venturing as far as I dare and looking for someplace that will be safe for Aidy and Valmir to take refuge in. There are rocky outcroppings and small caves aplenty—the mountains here are riddled with holes—but nothing that feels safe enough to send my mate to.
When I return that night, Aidy is in the bathing pool, and Valmir is alone in the front cave. I move toward the fire, stoking it with a few jabs of the rib bone we keep to stir the coals. "No luck," I tell him. "Nothing feels safe enough."
"No sense in doing work that's already been done," Valmir says, speaking slowly and thoughtfully. "You could use one of the sa-khui caves. The ones with all the supplies."
I turn to look at him. "There is one nearby?"
"There's one to the southeast," Valmir says, voice casual as he works on a reinforced bone-and-leather splint for his ankle. "I was there not long ago. It has supplies already and it's safe."
I turn to him, startled. This is the first he's mentioned of supply caves. But I remember I'd found one when we were on the run, and I'd wrongly assumed it was full of supplies for the combatants of the game. Since there's no game… "Explain to me about this cave. What is it like?"
"The sa-khui—those are the natives, the descendants of the mesakkah that were stranded here generations ago—go on long hunts. They fill the caves in the area with extra skins and food and supplies. The hunters make sure that these caves always have weapons and skins and fire-making implements, so no one is caught in the wild without supplies. There's one in particular that's a half a day's brisk walk south of here, in a valley that's thin and shaped like a crescent. Do you know the one I'm speaking of?"
I have to think for a moment. There are many valleys and crevices all around the mountains. The most narrow one I can recall was in the south, and I have to think for a moment. "The one with the hot stream flowing through it?"
"That's the one." Valmir seems relieved that I recall the location. "Excellent. It will take me and Aidy a little longer to get there, but I know there are supplies and weapons. It's a safe spot, and they shouldn't notice us if we're that far away."
I nod slowly. "I like that idea. I want Aidy to be safe, more than anything."
"I understand, trust me." Valmir's expression is sober for a change. "I'll look after her until you join us. And since there's already a good deal of supplies there, we don't need to wait any longer. I can manage walking on my ankle. We've got the scent plants and enough food for a day or two. We're ready to go."
Are we? I want to turn back to where Aidy is bathing in the warm pool. She's been floating on her back, just relaxing in the water. Today is one of her bad stomach days, and she says the heat helps her. She can float all day if it makes her happy. I just want to take care of her. Even so, I'm not sure if we're ready to go just yet. There is more we can do. More weapons to be crafted, more herbs to be gathered to mask scents, more reminding the metlaks that I plan on leaving. Aidy and I have been piecing together a costume that looks a bit like the carvings, so I can wear it when I lead them out and reinforce the idea that I am their Great One…and that I am leaving. But the costume is not done. I rub my jaw, thinking. Valmir is far too eager to leave and it makes me want to stay for that reason alone. "I will need to talk with Aidy."