Something in the back of her mind kept urging her to contact Uh'luka. She rehearsed what she'd say to him. She even daydreamed about what would happen if they ran into each other on the street, or in the market. Fear and uncertainty always stopped her. As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks added up to months, Asha felt increasingly anxious about reaching out to him.
When her wrist device vibrated, Asha turned off the hologram in front of her and sat up. It was a voice message from Ain that said, "Remember, the party is today."
Asha groaned. She'd forgot.
Without the sound from the hologram, the baby began to fuss. Its legs twitched and its hands balled into fists. She reached out to rock the chair. After a minute, he settled. Asha tapped a button on the wrist device and held it closer to her mouth to record.
"Sorry Ain, I'll have to cancel."
Not a minute later, her two hounds rose to their feet. A beep sounded at the door. She already knew who it was. Asha lifted the baby out of the seat and carried him to her room. The crib was suspended from the ceiling. She set him in it for a nap, then went to the door.
She put her hands on her hips, "Ain, what are you doing here?"
"I've come to pick you up."
"I don't feel like going to a party."
"This is no ordinary party. It is a clan event. There are no invitations--if the guard at the door recognizes your name, you're allowed in."
"So you have to be popular?" Asha snorted, "What makes you think we'll get in?"
"You've canceled on me twice already. You're going to this event."
"I'll go to the next one. I promise."
"You'll go to this one."
Asha shrieked when Ain threw her over her shoulder, "What are you doing? Put me down!"
"I'm taking you with me, against your will if I have to!"
She shoved at his back to prop herself up, trying to prevent the blood from rushing to her head, "You have to let me get dressed at least!"
"You'll go then?"
"Yes, yes, just put me down!"
Ain set her on her feet and she padded to her bedroom. She glanced at the crib before slowly sliding a drawer open. Being as quiet as she could, she picked out an outfit and laid it on the bed. She didn't realize Ain had followed her until she went to remove her shirt. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him take a step forward.
Yautjas weren't shy about their bodies. He probably thought he was going to get a free show. She let go of the hem of her shirt and walked over. Asha shoved him out and closed the door. Just in case he got cocky, she turned the lock.
Showering and dressing didn't take long. Yautjas didn't have the same hair though. They didn't make hair dryers or straighteners. She had to get creative. After an hour, she heard a tap on the door and then Ain's voice.
"What are you doing?"
She went to the door, "Shh, he's still asleep."
"What are you doing?"
"Getting ready. What does it look like?"
"It doesn't take that long."
"If you want to help, run to the store and buy some silver body paint."
Ain did as she asked, then watched the baby sleep while she got ready. The hounds paced back and forth at her feet. Asha straightened her long black hair, then braided several strands and added the silver beads. The silver paint was applied to her eyelids and fingernails. Ain rested his head in his hand when she began putting on jewelry.
She didn't understand why Ain was so restless. They arrived at the party on time. Looking at the mansion of a house, the lights, and the crowd in the front yard, Asha wished she'd stalled longer. She drew in a breath to quell her nerves, then strode forward. Thanos and her other hound walked at her side. The baby was cradled in her arms.
She opened her mouth to state her name, but the guard dipped his head and extended his arm to invite her inside, "Come in."
"Thank you."
The hounds had to file behind her to get through the door, and even then she heard one of their spines scrape. Still, she was glad to have brought them. They stuck to her sides, creating a buffer from the crowds and preventing her from getting jostled or her toes getting stepped on. Hearing all the voices, the baby's eyes opened. Asha rocked back and forth to keep him from crying.
When she looked back for Ain, he was still outside the door. The guard wasn't letting him in. Asha spun and headed towards them. The hounds nipped at the ankles of any yautjas that didn't get out of her way quick enough.
"He's with me."
The guard kept his eyes on Ain.
Asha stepped closer, hardening her voice, "I said he's with me. Let him in."
The guard rumbled but stepped to the side to allow Ain to pass.
She punched Ain's shoulder, "I didn't even have to give him my name."
His green eyes narrowed at her with a growl, but she couldn't help but smile at his envy.
Asha assumed she wouldn't recognize anyone. As they were walking through the courtyard though, she spotted a familiar face. His amber eyes were unmistakable. Besides, he was the bulkiest male there. The skulls on each shoulder only made him look larger.
Zagros walked up to her right away, but it took a minute for him to take her in. His eyes were drawn to her long, bright red loincloth first. They lingered on the dagger strapped to her hips. His eyes went from the lines on her belly to the three jagged scars on her forearm. A deep hum pulsed from his chest.
"You've never looked more like a proper female than now--and with hounds at your side and a suckling in your arms as well...It is a gorgeous sight."
She felt her cheeks redden. The heat climbed all the way up to her ears. Asha bashfully dropped her head and crossed an arm in front of her stomach. Here he was calling her gorgeous and all she could think about was the stretch marks on her belly.
Zagros nudged her arm out of the way then lifted her chin with his fingers, "Don't be shy. Every mark on your body tells a story. Show them proudly."
Her lips curved into a smile.
"I have faith your boy will grow into a great hunter."
"How did you know its a boy?"
"I kept up with your file even though I didn't visit. You've done well for yourself. I suppose you haven't given Uh'luka a second thought?"
Asha's lips parted slightly, considering a response.
"Or maybe you have?"
"Um, I'm going to go to the bathroom. Do you mind holding him?"
Zagros carefully took the child from her arms.
She turned away so quickly Ain had to grab her arm, "You don't want to get lost in here. One of the guards has a very fierce reputation." He led her through the house then pointed down the hall, "Go left then right twice."
"Ok."
"Left, right, right."
"That's pretty simple Ain, I got it."
Asha strolled down the hall. She took a left, then a right. At the next junction, there was a sign. Her reading skills hadn't improved much, but she recognized the 'authorized personnel only' signs from her job. It told her not to go right. She hesitated, but Ain had been very insistent it was another right.
She swung around the corner and immediately noticed the two armed guards stationed the hall. Asha kept her eyes ahead of her as she passed them. Still, the grey dreads and pewter beads caught her attention. She scrutinized the red and black mottling out of the corner of her eye.
Asha stopped, then took a step back as she turned to the guard, "Uh'luka?"
Neither guard moved a muscle.
Her eyes roamed over him meticulously. There were more bands in his hair, more scars. His armor was scuffed, and a couple of spikes on his mask were broke. Though she couldn't see his face, she knew it was him. Her heart pounded and her stomach rolled with a mix of both glee and dread.
She realized she was just standing there, staring at him, "It's good to see you."
When he still didn't say a word, Asha rubbed the back of her neck, forgetting everything she had waited to tell him.
"...I was thinking maybe we could go for a walk, or get something to eat, and just talk."
Asha stared up at his mask lenses, waiting for a response.
"Uh'luka?"
Silence.
Her eyes slowly dropped to her feet, "Right. You're on duty. I shouldn't have bothered you..."
Ignoring the crushing weight in her chest, Asha looked down the hall. There weren't any bathrooms. She'd made a wrong turn after all. It was nothing but a dead end. With a Yaut hound on each side of her, Asha turned on her heels. She kept her head high as she walked away.