Page 35 of Dealing With Drak

“Knock yourself out,” she grumbles.

I frown. “Why should I do that?”

An-nana groans. “Not literally. It means go for it. Have fun, or whatever.”

“Ahh.” I understand. “Another silly hu-nim saying.”

She is so smart and knows the meaning of so many things.

“I will find you a fun creature,” I vow, taking off before she can tell me she does not wish to receive a gift from me. An-nana likes gifts, though she will not admit it. I am already working on crafting another knife for her while she slumbers each night.

I like gifts too—one of the most precious to me being the small hu-nim knife An-nana offered to me in her home. She has had it since her youth, and she bestowed it upon me, a great sign of friendship.

Though, in my heart, it feels much more like a courting present.

Perhaps I will have the bravery to ask for a chosen mating with my next blade for her. Rubbing my chest absently, I hope to wake up my soul seed.

Do you not see how lovely she is? I ask it, frowning.

Shine for her, do you not understand she is ours?

It is fruitless to plead with the seed, but I try anyway.

Soul seeds only glow for someone when The Mother, the Aprixian goddess, has decided to bless two creatures with a union. Once the seed begins to shine, it will only shine for its match. Mates are fated forever with the bond, and it is the most cherished connection. Aprixian males yearn for the day that their chests may light up. Some hope for a mate until their last breath. I do not wish to lose my life before seeing my chest bloom with a mating glow.

Sighing, I force myself to relax and begin to scan the tall grass surrounding me. There must be some sort of creature near that I can explore.

I do not hear any heartbeats, but I do catch the faint sound of grass rustling. Intrigued, I follow the noise with expert stealth, hoping to capture something cute. Perhaps if I find a fluffy little thing, An-nana will be pleased. Females seem to love Rem’s creature Ch’ta after all.

Only the animal that I find at the end of the rustling field is nothing like Ch’ta. It is long and scaly, cold too, like a water serpent. Perhaps An-nana will not find him cute, but he is interesting.

Hmmm.

Using my quickness, I snatch the thing up by its neck, cutting off his head’s ability to snap at me, just in case he is displeased with being touched. Luckily, the slithery creature seems almost stunned when I hold him. Wisely, it seems to fear me, which I enjoy. I smile at it, beginning to walk back to my Mean One.

“Look what I have found,” I boast, puffing my chest out as I come into her view. I do not get too close in case she does not wish to have an animal so close to her food.

An-nana looks up, squinting her eyes to find me. When she sees what I am carrying, she drops her can, springs up from her seat, and screams. It is an unsettling sound of shock and makes me wince.

“Holy shit, Drak!” she yells, voice cracking in surprise.

“Is he not cute?” I ask, wiggling the thing. “He is very odd, but?—”

“That’s a copperhead,” she screams, her voice terrified and panicked.

Is his name scary?

I frown. “Do you not like this brand of creature?”

The horror that paints her expression makes me feel awful, a pit of discomfort swimming in my stomach.

“It’s venomous, Drak! Lethal. One bite from that thing, and I’ll be dead.”

I would never let An-nana die.

“I will not let him touch you?—”

“I’m not worried about me,” she stresses, voice high-pitched and strained. “It could hurt you too. Kill it, oh my god, kill it right now!”

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