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Or did their hold on him, however it came about, cease to be effective? Magical shackles that had an expiration date? Or a curse that had finally been broken?
After two years, more than seven hundred days, on this earth, in this time, Kai finally accepted that he was here for good. He was alive and free. And no one was taking this life away from him.
Second, “home” came with a built-in family courtesy of Ere. In this incarnation, he had parents, a sister and her mate. Ason(who used to call him Uncle, but now simply called him Ere, because it was what “grownups” did). And, of course, Sorin.
Ere’s family immediately adopted Kai as well. Mama Bear doted on him as if she’d given birth to him herself. This was a far cry from being hatched from an egg, surrounded by large predatory cats tens of thousands of years ago. Creatures that didn’t look anything like him.
Even he and his “brothers” Rai and Sai didn’t look like each other. Dragons came in all shapes and sizes. The earth, sky and sea dragons looked as different as their Animal Spirit counterparts—cats, raptors and snakes.
At least, that’s what Kai thought. Perhaps others only saw what they expected to see. Enormous creatures with sharp teeth, long claws, a multitude of thorns and horns, and hard scales. Viewed in that way, he supposed dragons were clearlydragons. But to him, they were all unique.
Now, he was surrounded by people whocaredabout him. Who tried to feed him, make sure he was comfortable. Who kept him company and listened attentively when he spoke as if he had the most interesting things to say.
It was strange and…pleasant to have his own people after all these millennia alone.
Third, this modern world—twenty-first century America—was a mystery to him. His new family spent a good deal of time and patience explaining everything, but it was Tal he liked to learn from the best. For, the ancient warrior shared Kai’s consternation of this brave new world, and they often empathized with each other and shook their heads at the same stupid things.
Like how everyone had a “device,” more than one, and couldn’t look away from it for five minutes. How people contorted themselves into metal contraptions to travel to and fro instead of riding horses (which still existed, Kai was pleased to note) or using their own two feet.
They lived in wooden or concrete structures that had lots of glass and bright lights. “Plastic” everywhere. Everything was difficult to get to, tucked away, instead of freshly killed and laid out in the open.
Anything with lids was especially difficult for Kai to unravel with his big clumsy hands and thick, calloused fingers.
Why didn’t they all work the same way? Why did some cans need special openers, and sometimes different kinds of openers, while other cans you pulled open with a tiny tab up top? A tab that Kai always broke before he could tear anything open, without fail.
Why did some bottles require twisting one way, while others required the opposite? Some you pulled, and others you pushed before you pulled. Some you screwed, and others you popped open with a click.
It was endless, the things Kai had to learn. Until finally, he decided that anything with a lid wasn’t worth him getting into.
Everything was soft in this new world where humans and “technology” ruled—the beds, carpets, chairs. Shoes had to have thick padding, the thicker the better. Food was cooked or processed until even toothless old women could swallow without chewing.
Clothes, however, he didn’t mind. If he had to wear them (and Ere assured him he did), then he might as well wear fabrics that were so light, they felt like they weren’t even there. “Jeans” and leather he made exceptions for.
That being said, Kai drew the line at underwear. Modern under garments were too restrictive. Didn’t let his male parts breathe.
He couldn’t help but think that the braies and loincloths he’d worn on some of his missions should be brought back in this day and age. At least those contraptions let his parts dangle relatively freely the way parts should.
And then there was modern men.
They baffled him. They wore strange clothes and shoes. Put things in their hair. Under their pits. Sprayed themselves full of noxious fumes, until their natural smell was so overpowered that they no longer exuded any pheromones. How would a female know when she foundthe one? She wouldn’t. They might as well have cut off their balls.
And they were so fuckingsoft.
Even the ones who spent hours each day lifting weights uselessly. Running on machines that didn’t take them anywhere. Always staring at the same scenery, usually a screen with moving pictures.
What was the point? Their muscles were merely inflated like an overripe melon afterwards. It wasn’t permanent. Modern men were madeweak. Easily broken, fearful of pain.
Where were all the warriors? Had they gone extinct?
Kai felt like all therealmen could be counted amongst his family and friends. Which was yet another reason he preferred to stay in these mountains far away from populated cities. Though he was still acclimating to this new life after two years, he felt most at ease here.
It was home.
He was content.
But…
Every time his family traveled to another place for a time without him, especially Ere and Sorin, when he had time to himself to reflect, tofeel…an indefinable melancholy descended. A sadness that made him lethargic, made him want to hibernate until his family returned.
