“No matter what, Elodie will always love you. She will make sure you never go hungry. She will protect you with her life and willdo everything she can to make sure you are happy and taken care of. You do not ever have to worry about that.”
“I know. I just wish the two of you could be mated so she will be my momo in truth.”
So do I. “Elodie and I hold great affection for one another. Besides you and Kala, she is the only person I would truly call family. The three of us can still be a family even if she and I are not mated or share the same dwelling.”
Gannen breathes out another heavy sigh. “Is Elodie very upset?”
“She is upset because you are hurting, and she blames herself. You know how her softer emotions get the better of her.”
His laugh is quiet, but harsh sounding. Like two rocks scraping against each other. “She has more soft emotions than Iris does.”
“Yes, she does. Which is why we must be tender with her.”
He finally turns my way. “I will need to go back and give her my apologies and many hugs.”
I clasp his shoulder. “Yes, you do. She has told you how much better your hugs make her feel.”
“They make me feel better, too.”
“Come, then. Let us return to our new dwelling so that Elodie can receive your hugs and you will both feel better.”
Gannen stands and I do the same. Together, we walk back through the village. It is an unusual sensation to be navigating the current path knowing that when night is fully upon us, we will not be leaving. We will wake up every turn after this one in our new home with our new tribe brothers and sisters. Gannenwill be surrounded by so many other kits who he will continue to grow up beside. Our people will soon begin to thrive once more.
Most importantly, Elodie will be here with us.
Chapter 18
Elodie
What a mess. It doesn’t matter what Ortak says, thisismy fault. I’m the one who has been sending the mixed signals. Not only to Gannen, but to his father. For the last month, I’ve been acting like the three of us are one happy family. I have come to love Gannen like my own son. How could I not? He is sweet, affectionate, and so loving. His hearts are the purest things to ever exist.Of course he would be confused.
I wipe my snotty nose with a small piece of leather and shove it in my pocket. While we were unpacking everything, Alanda had brought a basin of fresh water and some of the berries that act like soap. I use it to wash my hands and splash my face. Not that I think it’ll help the splotchy disaster I’ve made of myself, but it makes me feel slightly better.
Time creeps by and Ortak and Gannen still haven’t returned. I hop back and forth across the length of their tent more times than I can count. My whole body is twitchy. I sit. I stand. I sitagain. Mostly, I worry. I’ve just about given up waiting and move to go look for them myself when the door flap swings open.
When Ortak walks in, my heart drops to my stomach. Straight on his heels, though, is Gannen and the damn organ jolts back to life. I jump to my foot and grab my crutches to rush toward him, but before I can take a single hop, he collides with me and holds me in a tight embrace. I squeeze him back even harder and the tears that had dried up flow again.
“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” Gannen probably can’t even understand me, given the fact I’m nearly sobbing, but I just keep repeating the words over and over.
We hold each other—with him continuously nuzzling his cheek against my chest—until I finally stop crying. I draw back, cradle his face, and kiss his forehead.
“Will you forgive me for hurting you?” I look him directly in the eyes.
“Will you forgive me for running away?”
“You don’t even need to ask. I’ll always forgive you.”
“I love you, Elodie,” Gannen says as if it’s that simple.
Of course, I almost start crying again, but manage to keep it together. “I love you, too. No matter what, okay?”
He nods. “Okay.”
I tug him against my side and look at Ortak. Like always, his expression is inscrutable and yet it’s as if there’s an emotion of some kind…right there, just waiting for me to figure it out. Except, I can’t seem to decipher it.Or maybe you just don’t want to. I ignore the voice in my head.
The silence starts to become uncomfortable. Enough that Gannen fidgets. Finally, Ortak breaks the silence.
“I could scent the food at the central fire on our way through the village. The shefir has asked for all the tribespeople to come to the evening meal so that we may share our first of many together. He wishes to welcome the Krijese into the tribe and introduce us so we can begin to get to know one another.”
