It was a week, or seven moons as I began to call it, since I had picked a fight with Roshani. Ever since our awkward hug I'd been avoiding him which worked out fine since he lived on a hill a good distance away from my hut. It wasn't until Takkar
"Where you going?" Sayla asked and I sighed, fiddling with the shell necklace she'd given me. "To see Roshani? Why?"
"He said he'd show me how to grow crops. I thought that would be a big help to our tribe." I replied, hoping she wouldn't make a big deal about me talking to him, especially after our fight. Thankfully she just nodded.
"It's a good skill to learn. At least he's earning his keep." Sayla replied, returning to skinning a goat and I nodded. Excusing myself I hurried away, making the short trip to Roshani's hut just on the edge of a hill. Once there I saw him kneeling beside his crops and I took a moment to watch as he carefully spread the soil over them. Eventually he noticed me standing there and he turned, giving me a tiny grin.
"What kept you?" He asked and I grinned, moving to his side. We spent the next few hours working the fields and after taking a break he offered to show me his hut. Curious I followed him, not seeing the tiny smile that appeared on his face as we walked inside.
"So what did you want to show me?" I asked and he pointed to a club. Shrugging I stepped towards it and quick as a Sabertooth he moved behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I yelped, turning my head just as he planted a light kiss on the base of my neck. "What are you doing?" I hissed, giving him a shove. That didn't even faze him and I yelped as his arms wrapped around my waist, giving my earlobe a flick with his tongue. "Stop it."
This time I managed to free myself and with a glare in his direction, I shoved my way through the doorway of his hut leaving him alone with a slight grin on his face.
"Jerk!" I snapped later, pacing my hut as I glared at the floor. "Thinks he can just take what he wants."
"Valery?" Sayla called and I spun around as she walked into the hut.
"Sorry wasn't expecting you. Why did Takkar have to bring Roshani back here? Couldn't he have left the idiot in the forest with the wild animals?" I complained and Sayla stared at me, obviously not sure what I was talking about. "Never mind."
"Jayma wants to hunt Bear." Sayla told me and I grinned, grabbing my bow. "Angry about Roshani?"
"Yes but it doesn't matter. Maybe I should hit Roshani with an arrow." I replied, following her outside. "He could use an arrow through his stupid face."
"Hunt Bear not Izila." Jayma said, her bow and quiver across her back and I sighed. "Come."
Waving goodbye to Sayla I followed Jayma and two male hunters towards the forest, hoping that this time I would make a better impression during this hunt. Distracted by my own problems, namely that jerk of a Izila, I made too much noise which caused the Brown Bear to hear us. Frustrated I raced after it, whistling for Kion as Jayma and the other hunters stared at me.
"We're catching that bear even if we have to drag it back ourselves." I said as Kion growled, racing ahead of me. It took us hours to track down the bear and by then the sun was starting to set, plunging the land into darkness. Even then I didn't care, kneeling in the grass as the bear wandered right past our spot. This time it's mine, I thought aiming directly for its forehead. It lifted its head, sniffing the air just as I let flew and the bear roared as the arrow flew into its neck. Bleeding heavily the bear still charged at me and I dived to miss its attack, Kion leaping onto its back.
In seconds it was over but not without spraying me with blood and I wiped my face, having gotten used to this during my hunting trips with Jayma and Takkar. Knowing it was too cold to wash the blood off by taking a shower I moved to Kion's side as he took a bite of the bear.
"Valery, bear!" Jayma called to me and I grinned. It wasn't until I heard something roar behind me that I froze. Spinning around just in time for a paw to strike me in the stomach, razor sharp claws just missing ripping my stomach to shreds. Though the blow still made me see stars and I lay on the ground until Kion nuzzled my head, his tail flicking back and forth as he watched me struggle to my feet. "Keep eyes open." She warned, kneeling beside the bear. "Walk free." I heard her whisper to the fallen beast as I stumbled over, shaking the dizziness from my head.
"Not much of a hunter am I?" I asked and she shrugged, skinning the bear as I watched. I winced before I could stop myself though Jayma didn't notice, too busy with the bear carcass. Taking what we needed we left the rest for the wild animals, the wolves not too far from our location.
We moved at a quick pace and soon the village appeared, making me sigh with relief. Good to be back, I thought as I split off from the rest of the hunting party. "Valery, good hunter. But much to learn." Jayma said and I nodded, waving as she headed towards her own hut. Giving Kion a head pat I watched as he raced off into the forest before I headed to bed, only to see someone watching from the shadows. A little unsure I kept walking and that's when someone stepped into my line of sight. I raised my bow only to sigh as Roshani appeared.
"Stop doing that." I snapped and he just grinned, probably thinking I wouldn't send an arrow his way. "Anyway why are you following me?" I asked, heading towards my hut again and he followed me much to my annoyance.
"You are easy to surprise." Roshani commented and I growled, finding my way with the help of the campfires scattered about the village. I had just reached my own hut and was about to head inside when Roshani followed, pushing his way inside before I could stop him.
"What do you think you're doing? You have your own hut." I pointed out as he stepped in front of me. I backed away as he moved closer and closer until I bumped into the wall behind me.
"Don't pretend. You are interested." Roshani whispered, hands moving towards my chest and my eyes went wide. "You do not like me?" He added, rubbing his palms along the animal skins covering my breasts.
"You think I hate you? I don't but I'm not interested in you. Especially not as a mate." I mumbled, gasping when his hands slipped under my top. I bit my lower lip to prevent a groan, worried someone would hear, as he gently fondled my breasts.
"A mate? So you do like this." Roshani answered, kissing my lips as his fingers teased me. My moans of pleasure muffled by his warm mouth I tried to resist as his hands left my breasts. When he cupped my backside, one cheek in each hand, I jerked in his grip and he broke off the kiss. "You want a mate?" He asked and I opened my eyes, panting softly.
"No...maybe, I don't know." I whispered, swallowing before I wrapped my arms around his waist. When I kissed him hard his eyes went wide. Then he reacted, his tongue slipping into my mouth. It was amazing and I fought to breathe, liking the feel of his tongue curling around mine.
It wasn't until Roshani's hands traveled further down that I gasped, in pain this time, and his hands flew away from my stomach. Seeing the confused look he gave me I carefully raised part of my shirt to reveal the makeshift bandage and he stared. "Is that from the kick?"
I nodded and he released his hold on me before he turned around. "Go, Valery." He whispered and I frowned, trying to reach for his hand and he spun around. "Just go." He snapped and I sighed, exiting the hut as he stood there.
Why did he just...stop, I thought as I paced my own hut. I was enjoying myself then he just...quit.
Keeping calm I stared at my stomach, thinking about the fight we'd had and that's when it hit me. "He's angry at himself for my injury." I muttered. "But the arrow hurt me a lot worse and left a scar. Why isn't he sorry for that?"
Not knowing that he was standing just outside listening to every word.