Anita was flabbergasted to say the least. As she walked with Kartok through the market once more, she couldn't help but wonder what he meant when he said she reminded him of his mother. Was she stubborn like her? Was she kinder than his father? She didn't know.
When they finished their shopping and were on their way home, they ran into the others again.
"Kartok, Anita." Guntogg and Brukos greet as they walk up with the girls. Sam was silent for once, Trish was holding Guntogg's hand shyly. Obviously they had something going on between them last night, like Kartok.
"What is it?" He asks, seeing the troubled looks on his friends faces.
"We have some urgent matters to discuss with you." Guntogg says eyeing the girls. Kartok understands and turns to Anita.
"Take your friends and go find some things for yourself. I will get you soon." He says removing the leash and handed it to her.
She nodded, took the satchel of coins and walked with the girls to the human vendors. As they fished through the many lotions and cleansing materials, Thor three stood not far from them.
"Kartok, we heard tell that Surgos intends to claim your female for a mate." Guntogg whispers.
"What!? He cannot!"
"By law, he can. You have not laid your claim onto her and she is still pure. All males know this." Brukos replies.
"She will be furious if she found out."
"Then do not tell her." Brukos says, confusing both of his friends.
"What?"
"Why do you say this?" Guntogg asks.
"If she found out, she would make an attempt on his life. That could mean her death if she attacked him."
"He is right. She must remain oblivious." Kartok replies looking to Anita, who was purchasing lotion.
She felt eyes on her and assumed it was him, so she looked over to them. He sent her a soft look and she smiled a little back before turning away. Brukos and Guntogg shared a knowing look before he turned to them.
"I will settle this myself." He replies before patting his friends shoulders and calling Anita to him.
She and the others walked over and he clipped the leash to his waist. Sam reluctantly stood beside Brukos and Trish basically latched onto Guntogg's hip. Kartok nodded to his friends and walked with Anita back to their home.
When they arrived, it was darker out. Anita made them a simple stew for dinner and settled for the night. After she bathed, she began to rub on her new location. Unscented of course. Kartok had just finished his own bath and walked out in a cloth around his waist. She blushed and turned away, finishing her arm and squirting more lotion on her hand to do her other arm. Kartok watched her lather the lotion onto her skin for a moment, enjoying the way the special lotion brings out her natural scent.
Then he notices she was attempting to do her shoulders but couldn't reach. He took the opportunity to go over and take the bottle from her hands and squirt some into his own. She tensed when she felt his hands on her shoulders but when he began to rub her shoulders, the tension all but melted from her and she sighed. She let her head droop to the side and she hummed. Kartok smiled as his hands dug gently into her soft skin, then running down her back and to her sides. She shivered at the touch while he massaged her back and sides, his hands gliding over her skin while his chest slowly began to inch closer to her. He felt his body react, wanting her closer to him, wanting her to wrap those soft arms around him.
She felt her own body react to his, leaning against his chest as his hands moved up her arms and shoulders, then dragged back down. She closed her eyes and leaned her head down on his shoulder.
"Anita..." his deep voice growls into her ear, sending more shudders down her spine. She turns her head and looks into his eyes, softened with emotion. She slowly turned around and stared up at him.
"Kartok... what did you mean... about me being like your mother?"
He stilled, leaning back a bit and looking to Anita. Then he sighs and turns away, reluctantly letting her go and moving to the bed. Anita didn't realize she was leaning on him until she nearly fell forward when he let go.
"My mother... was very much like you. Stubborn, strong, kind. She was my father's first and only love." He began. Anita sat down beside him as he continues.
"She filled my father with the same hope you do to me. He was happy when he was young, when she was alive."
"...what happened to her?"
"...she died... when she volunteered for the Chiva."
"Chiva?"
"The hunt, to bring back the skull of our most feared game so you could be blooded as one of the clan. One of us." He paused, glaring down at the ground.
"She refused to stay behind. She was stubborn. But she was kind and loving towards me. That is what made her weak in the eyes of my people. So she aimed to prove herself to them all... But she never made it. She was killed when I was just a youngling." He says.
"I'm sorry... but I don't understand how that makes me like her..." she says.
"Its not her personality that makes her like you." He says looking to her.
"She was human."