Chapter ten: Amber
The three spent the next week in the village while Ared's injury healed, although by the time that they were ready to leave, more than one of the Kim-un-kur would be glad to see the back of them, after having had to hold Ared down when he wanted to fly.
The Kim-un-kur were a strange people, decided Tasha as she looked through the food that she had been given for the journey, Fernando sorting clothes and medicinal herbs across from her - they'd also recieved another small pack to carry stuff in. She wasn't sure whether or not she liked this remote mountain village, there were secrets and grudges swirling around, thick with time, and concentrated by isolation. She'd even felt hot, angry eyes directed at her, when she had gone out with Senri a few days ago to hunt.
She grinned at the memory - they'd climbed up to a small plateau, where there were dozens of small goats...
"You're growling." Fernando said, looking up with a raised eyebrow, his handsome olive features had become even more tanned since she'd met him - but his teeth still sparkled white when he smiled.
Tasha blushed, covering her mouth as she realised she was also baring ehr teeth. That was another reason she had mixed feelings about the Kim-un-kur - she was becoming more wolfish by the day.
That's because we're getting closer! Jekyl whispered in her mind, wrapping ghost-arms around her shoulders. It was no fun when you couldn't hear me. can we go hunting again today?
"Shh, Jekyl - I'm busy."
But why are we taking bread? I don't like bread. Jekyl whined, as Tasha turned back to her task, ignoring the wolfcub.
"Jekyl?" Fernando asked, looking rather confused. Tasha winced - she hadn't wanted him to know that she heard the voice of a dead dog in her head. Ared was different - he spoke to the Birdy all the time, and was six, but Fernadno...
You think he'd be a strong mate. So do I. Not as good as Lupa though...
"Shut up!"
"Tash?"
"... uh.... yes?" Tash tried to look innocent, and sane.
"Who are you talking to?"
"Uh..." Tasha strained her ears, feeling them fluff up as she caught every sound in the village. "Senri wants to see us - he was calling." She stood up, stuffing the last of the bread in the bag, and hauling Fernando to his feet before he could protest. "ARED!!!" She called to the sky, her free hand cupping her mouth. The little boy had been up playing with the clouds all day, since it was the first time he'd been allowed to fly all week.
She waited for a few moments, until she spotted a small red figure swooping down. A few minutes later it barrelled into her and Fernando, wrapping its arms around them with a delighted shout.
"Yes Tashy?" Ared asked when everyone had dusted themselves off.
"Uncle Sen wants us, 'Red." She said, taking his hand with a smile, using the nickname Fernando had come up with for him - it was fitting. Ared nodded, and followed the two older children, flying at shoulder height, his wings stirring up the dust. Tasha grinned at him, avoiding Fernando's sharp stare.
"Uncle Sen!" Ared yelled as soon as the kim-un-kur chief was in sight. He was standing wiht his wife - a woman who still maintained a vital energy that leant both grace and elegance to her movements, making her seem much younger than the slightly faded amber hair and faint wrinkles implied.
"Auntie Rosie!" Ared flew over to hug her gleefully - she was his favourite person in the village, especially since she had been the one to decree him able to fly again.
"You wanted us?" Tasha asked, self-consciously letting go of Fernando's hand as Rose's sharp eyes flicked over the two of them.
"You're going soon..." Senri said, blinking.
"Yes, we are - we thought there might be other +anima showing up or something." Fernando said with a diplomatic shrug.
"What this big bear meant to say was that if you're going, then fyou shouldn't go alone - you're too young to take care of yourselves. Especially with Ared." Rose said, resting a hand on her husband's shoulder. "And so, the tribe has decided that you should take one of our more skilled fighters with you to keep an eye on you. Especially since Kim-un-kur prided themselves on their +anima, and now we're feeling left out."
"Amber." Senri said, beckoning.
A young woman with dark auburn hair made her way forwards, the blue beads in the thick mane clicking softly. Her grey-green eyes surveyed the group.
"Yes dad?"
"This is Amber, our youngest daughter, and one of our more talented hunters. Since she's only sixteen, she shouldn't be too out of place." Rose said.
"Heya kiddies. So, you guys are the new generation of +anima?" Amber asked cheerfully. Fernando bristled a bit, and Tasha shot her a glare.
"I turn fourteen in less then a month." Fernando said.
"And I'm already thirteen." Tasha added.
"So she's only two or three years older than you - perfect." Rose said with a grin.
"Not kiddies, Amber." Senri said with a faint frown at his daughter.
"Okay, fine. Well then, I'm Amber. I would have come to meet you earlier, except I was up in the mountains running a message to one of the remote tribes." She held out a hand with a warm smile. "So, what are your names?"
"I'm Fernando, and this is Tasha, and-"
"I'm Ared!" the little boy interrupted joyfully, shaking Amber's hand.
"Nice to meet you. When do you want to go?"
*
Okay, everyone on the site knows the rules - reviews make prompt chapters. since this chapter took only four days, lets get lotsa reviews! The more opinions I get, the better I can make it. In fact - I should be asking questions.
1) How do I improve my writing (more/less description, dialouge, explanation; faster or slower pace, grammatical/spelling errors, etc etc)?
2) What do you want to happen (new +anima, events, sites, etc)?
3) Any other relevant feedback.
If you can or want to answer any of these questions, then please review or PM me, and I shall struggle to improve my writing accordingly! And then I can grow as a writer. ^_^ ~Ratpigeon