Chapter Two

He must have seen the look of surprise on my face, but I think he mistook it for rage. He backed away from the dead carcass slowly. "You can have it if you want." he offered.

"No, no." I replied in a whisper. "It's all right."

He raised his eyebrows at me, definitely wondering whether I had some sort of personality disorder. I raised my hand out to him. "I'm Aliya."

He took it. I felt his strong, firm grip on mine and savoured it, for I had never been touched like that. People generally treated me like a fragile flower, whereas he did not mind my feeling a slight pressure. I enjoyed it.

"I'm Korac." he said to me. Even after we knew each other's names, it took him a while to let go of my hand. I liked that.

"Why haven't I seen you before?" I asked immediately. He smiled at my abruptness.

"I live amongst the Omaticaya clan, but in a group that lives away from Hometree."

I shook my head. I had never heard of such a group.

"It doesn't matter where I live though. You really can take it." Korac said, motioning to the dead carcass on the ground. I had forgotten all about it.

"No. You killed it. You should take it." I replied sincerely.

Without saying another word, he picked up the carcass and put it into my arms. When I was about to speak, he put a finger to my lips.

"Shhh. Don't say anything about this to anyone. You'll be humiliated." he laughed, as if he couldn't care less what anyone thought.

I was prepared to thank him, when I realised that he had only just removed that lingering finger. He started walking the way he had come, and shouted over his shoulder,

"I expect we'll be seeing each other again soon."

Why? Oh, the wedding. If he knew about it, why had he acted so lustfully towards me? As I walked back to Hometree with the carcass slung across my shoulders, instead of thinking of my impending wedding, I was imagining when I would see Korac again.

--*--

Our next meeting was definitely more interesting than the last. Rather than getting caught up in the plans of a wedding I wanted nothing to do with, I spent the next few days letting my imagination run wild, spending all my time looking at the clouds and stars.

He managed to find me at my most vulnerable. Rather than going back to Hometree, I fell asleep where I had been gazing at the stars. When I awoke, early into the morning, I felt a presence near me.

I looked to my side, and there he was. I couldn't believe that he had let himself come so close to me at my most vulnerable. I am a very deep sleeper. I could have cut his skin deeply without noticing.

But somehow I knew Korac wouldn't do that to me. Somehow I felt as if I could trust him.

His arm brushed mine in a deliberate fashion. "Do you come here often?" he asked.

"Only in the last few days." I heard myself say.

He sighed. "Aliya, I can tell something's wrong. Why have you been hiding?"

"I haven't been hiding." I immediately countered to this accusation.

"Please," he replied in a sarcastic tone. "I didn't think you were a liar."

I sighed as well, knowing that there was a long explanation in front of me.

Korac touched my cheek and lifted my head up until we were looking into each other's eyes.

"Tell me everything."