Lost Bloodline 4 - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The temperature dropped while Koda and Samira wended their way through the forest. Clouds had gathered on the horizon all day, looming over the nearby mountains like a threatening hand waiting to strike down, but holding itself at bay for the moment—but only for the moment.

Samira had spent the last hour chattering away about different subjects, most of them being stories and legends that she’d heard of regarding the origins of her species and the ancient tales of the Moonlit Realm, Thera’s ancient stronghold that the Crooken had taken.

“—and then the high priest commanded the sea itself to give up its due. Moments later, the waves parted and revealed great deposits of shimmering nuggets and flecks of iridescent sand. Silver and gold washed ashore, carried by the waves themselves to present a bounty to the temple. The metal was taken and smelted down to create both decorations and art for the city to enrich its people. The artisans chosen to work with the metal were the most humble to handle such riches and worked to draw the most beauty from the metal that was within their power.”

Samira’s ears wiggled happily as she told the tale, her easy stride as she trotted along beside Koda completely at odds with how quickly they were moving.

“Interesting. And why was it they chose the sea to ask for such a thing?” Koda asked, intrigued by the story.

Samira thought for a moment, her slender fingers drumming against her jaw while she considered it before she spoke.

“It’s not said in the tale, but I would believe that it ties into other tales from the era. Great sailing fleets often carried goods for the different kingdoms, and the sea always took its due from them. I believe the high priest had decided it was time for the sea to return some of its stolen treasure.”

“Ah, but was it truly stolen if it was taken as the sea’s ‘due,’ as you said?” Koda asked with a smile that Samira returned with a roll of her eyes.

“Are the coins extorted by bandits on a highway truly stolen if they are called a tax to pass? The primal gods created the worlds from the raw matter of existence, so everything on them belongs to those gods. The high priest simply reclaimed what already belonged to Thera in her name, as her people needed it.”

“An interesting attitude to take, but I can’t fault it. I don’t know enough about how the power structures work between the gods to really form an opinion,” Koda replied as they darted through a tall stand of trees. “We should slow down. We’re getting close to the location you wanted to see. Also, we should take some time to just enjoy our walk.”

Samira blinked at him in surprise before looking around to take in their surroundings. She slowed a moment later, her bounding stride returning to something more akin to a normal walk in time with Koda.

“I hadn’t realized we were doing that again. It’s been months and I’m still getting used to the strength…” Samira murmured.

“It’s easy to lose track of,” Koda agreed with a gentle smile.

Samira nodded before waving a hand to one side as if to rewind their conversation to an earlier point. “You should think about such things, though, Koda. You are Thera’s Champion, first amongst many to come. You are the highest authority in her name.”

Not wanting to argue it with her, Koda just nodded and fought back a grimace. He didn’t need or want to think about that right now. He was only just getting used to the idea that he was someone that others respected.

Leave the leading to people like the headwoman. She knows what she’s doing, Koda reminded himself. You’ve surrounded yourself with intelligent people, especially your mates. Listen to them and things will work out.

While Thera didn’t communicate with him often, Koda could feel his connection to the goddess within himself. It lay like a power cable burrowed deep into his soul, and more often than not, he felt nothing from it other than a general sense of anticipation. Right now, though, he could sense amusement welling up from the goddess.

Wanting to change the subject away from his potential responsibilities and the idea of having to lead an entire faith, Koda turned the conversation back on Samira for a bit.

“So, Samira. I have a question for you that might be a bit personal, if you don’t—”

“I’d be happy to answer any questions you have! What is it?” Samira interrupted Koda with a grin and an extra bounce to her step.

“You sure about that?” Koda asked in surprise, darting several glances towards the excited caracal woman.

“Of course. I have nothing to hide from you, Koda. You've already proven your trustworthiness to me. So what is it you wanted to ask me?”

Samira’s easygoing answer was so in-tune with her attitude that Koda couldn’t help but smile.

Why did I worry about being awkward? Everything just sails right over her head when it has the potential to be taken wrong, Koda thought with a sardonic shake of his head before returning to the conversation.

“I was just curious, Samira. What sort of plans or desires do you have for the future? Maybe it’s because I’ve finally gotten to stay in one location for longer than a few days, but I’m finally thinking about what is coming,” Koda answered.

Samira hummed thoughtfully as she walked, her tail flicking back and forth behind her animatedly. As they had traveled, Samira had moved closer and closer to Koda until she was walking with her hip nearly pressed into his. The tip of her tail whacked against his leg occasionally as it danced happily behind her, not enough to annoy him, but enough to remind Koda that it was there.

“Short-term you already know,” Samira said after a moment of thought, turning to smile up at him hard enough that her eyes squinted with the gesture. “I want to join your family, Koda. Sienna, Calandra, and Arthene are all so happy all the time, and you seem like a wonderful mate to take care of them so well.”

If it hadn’t been for her previous declaration in the wake of their victory over the trolls, that blunt statement would have made Koda trip in surprise. Instead, since he’d been thinking about just that, it made him snort in amusement.

“Yes, I remember that part,” Koda said with a laugh, reaching over to run his hand through Samira’s sandy-blonde hair. The caracal woman let out a happy purring noise and leaned into his hand, mewling contentedly when Koda rubbed at the base of one triangular ear. “But I meant for the future. What sort of goals do you have in life?”

“Kits—lots of kits,” Samira sighed happily, her tail thrashing even faster behind her in excitement. “I want at least three children, but as many as I can care for. It’s part of what drew me to you, Koda. Your family is going to be large, and that will give me many little ones to spoil and teach.”

The way Samira’s voice rose in excitement as she mentioned ‘teaching’ made Koda have to stifle a laugh.

Of course, it all comes back to her stories, Koda thought with a broad smile. But if that is her passion, then I can’t fault her. He carefully did not think too hard about Samira’s insistence on the number of children she wanted, or that he was bound to have lots of kids. He wasn’t against the idea, but it was daunting to consider what it might be like to have that many little ones running about.

Family. Security. Duty. Guardian.

The words echoed up from deep within Koda’s soul, in the place where the ghosts of his ancestors lay within his blood. He still wasn’t sure how it worked or what motivated the power to reach out to him, but it had stirred to his aid on more than one occasion. Each thought echoed through his being like a plucked guitar string, and Koda felt his faint anxiety over the future slowly fade away.

We will handle that when it comes, Koda thought with a firm nod.

The thoughts took less than a second to process through his mind and soul, and then Koda returned his awareness to Samira as the caracal woman leaned into him for the first time during their walk.

Tentatively, he felt Samira’s hand slip into his before she pressed herself into his arm.

“Is… is that what you want?” Samira asked quietly, her tone more subdued than before. “I know you will have your choice of beastfolk, and more of the primal spirits will likely flock to you as well. Arthene talks constantly about how jealous her sisters are of her getting to come to you first—”

This time, it was Koda’s turn to cut Samira off. Rather than speak, though, he pulled himself free of her tentative grip before wrapping his right arm around Samira’s shoulders to pull her firmly to his side.

“Samira, if I didn’t want that, I would have said something back when you first asked Vysin to be the one sent to my home,” Koda reassured her while giving the cat woman a gentle squeeze.

The caracal woman had stiffened when Koda shook her off, only to melt into his side when he wrapped an arm around her. She sniffed once, hard, before nodding while leaning into him. Their walking pace had slowed further now, given the difficulty of walking while entwined like this, but she didn’t mind.

As if it had a mind of its own, Samira’s tail thrashed around until it wound around Koda’s hips like an arm, happily clinging to him in return.

“I’m just taking my time to get to know you, is all. You deserve more than just a quick toss in the bed to add you to my collection,” Koda continued. His words drew a happy purr from the contented catwoman, and she nodded her understanding. “So, besides joining my family and wanting lots of kids to spoil rotten, what other kinds of dreams do you have for the future?”

Samira was quiet for several long minutes, but Koda did not disturb her. He could tell from the way her ears would flatten, then wiggle, then flatten again that she was giving his question some serious thought. Which, for the normally flighty beastfolk, was a good sign.

“I suppose I would like to travel. To see more of the world and its mysteries. To journey to other worlds, at least those that are welcoming to our kind. The stories I have memorized tell of great battles, majestic feats, and awe-inspiring sights. I would like to add new stories to their number before bringing them back home to share with others,” Samira said at last.

“That should be easy enough to do,” Koda laughed, giving her a squeeze about the shoulders, making Samira sigh happily again. “I have a feeling that I’ll be doing quite a bit in the future. If you stick with us, I can guarantee that you’ll be able to see and experience a few oddities, including a goddess showing up in our living room.”

The last part made Samira snort with laughter, as she obviously remembered the awe that she felt when Thera had appeared in Koda’s house one day to tease him about having children.

“And the rest of it?” Samira asked quietly once she had her laughter under control.

“You’ll find your place there, I’m sure of it. And the others will be happy to have someone to help with that part. If I left teaching up to Arthene or Calandra, they’d only teach them how to get into trouble.”

“Sienna would do her best, though,” Samira reminded him, snuggling her head into his shoulder. “They all do their best for you.”

“Indeed they do,” Koda agreed with a smile, briefly squeezing Samira’s shoulders. “I know all of you will do your best.”

At the confidence in his words, Samira let out a heartfelt sigh of contentment and fell silent.

They continued for several more minutes like that, walking through the dimming afternoon light as the clouds slowly crept down the mountain face above them.

Koda only broke the silence when he saw the large ravine through the trees ahead of them. He gave Samira a squeeze, which brought her out of her own thoughts.

“There it is up ahead,” Koda said gently, and Samira’s ears perked up at that. Their affectionate walk had pushed her normally boundless energy aside in favor of introspection, but now that energy was peeking out once more.

“Tell me everything! I want to hear the whole story,” Samira demanded as they came to a stop next to a large boulder that sat on the edge of the cliff. A pair of animal trails wound around it, one to each side, that dove toward a narrow path into the ravine.

Smiling at the memories, and his own eager intent to help people even back then, Koda nodded his assent to Samira before he related the story. He pointed towards the boulder to indicate a path that led down into the ravine.

“Well, to give you context, I had arrived here only hours before, helping to push back the Crooked from the village. The hunters had been arguing over whether they should reinforce the village or head here when I left ahead of them. Following the Crooked back wasn’t hard, and I was hiding right there, trying to figure out how I was going to get in there to help the captives when Sienna snuck up on me…”