Page 13 of Scarred

“I would love to see who you become,” Amma said. “I’ll be in the forest for a while. Come find me and my friends.”

Thank you for the invitation. The caterpillar continued up the tree until it was lost among the leaves.

You can hear us?

Amma chuckled. She would have to hide her ability if she wanted to move through the forest without constant interruptions. “Where are you? I can’t see you.”

Under here. The bushes moved and a small kit stuck its nose out. Amma’s heart melted as she gazed at one of the cutest baby animals she had ever seen. It had the basic shape of a rabbit, a massive rabbit, but with shorter ears and curly black fur. It stared up at her with beautiful blue eyes.

Amma knelt. “You are adorable. Are you old enough to be away from your mother?”

I do not know where she has gone.

“Poor baby.” Amma could see their ribs and their fur was matted. “I don’t have anything to offer you. We were just about to set out and find water and food. Want to come with us?”

We don’t need more family. Mike snapped. This is our human.

Yeah, Sam agreed.

“Mike. Sam. You both know I have enough love in my heart for all creatures,” Amma chastised the brothers. “What if I hadn’t opened my heart to you when you were young? You want this poor creature to perish out here alone?”

We are sorry. Sam nuzzled her cheek.

“What’s your name?” Amma asked the kit. “I’m Amma and these two are Sam and Mike.”

I am Astro. Where are you going?

“Honestly? I have no idea. My mom sent my sisters, cousins, and me here to get away from an evil group in our world.”

I have not seen anyone like you before, Astro said. I want to go with you. I do not like being alone.

“You are welcome into our group. Do you mind if I carry you?” Amma asked. “Your legs are short, and I don’t want to leave you behind.”

You can pick me up, Astro said.

Amma bent down carefully to keep Mike and Sam on her shoulders. Astro’s fur was softer than it looked, and she took some time to admire him. He was also heavy.

You don’t have any fur. Astro wiggled until he was comfortable.

“Humans have hair, but no fur,” Amma said. “Your fur is soft. We will get you clean as soon as we find water.”

If you want. Astro yawned, showing off his baby teeth. I do not mind.

Amma adjusted him until his weight was distributed enough for her to carry him comfortably before she started walking. If she was going to pick up many more friends on her journey, she would have to think of a better way of carrying them. “Keep a lookout for fresh flowing water.”

There is a stream that way. Astro’s nose pointed to the right.

“What a good nose you have.” Amma praised the small animal. “I need to stay quiet now. I don’t know this forest and need to watch and listen, so I don’t miss any dangers.”

You can talk to me in your mind, and I can hear you, Astro said quietly.

We can too, Mike yelled.

Chapter 6

Suni

Suni couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten a full night’s sleep. It was the same every time his home, Lnuuk, shut down and he was left with his thoughts. He would pass the night staring up at his ceiling, trying to imagine he had a mate by his side and calves sleeping nearby. Sometimes, if he was lucky, he could almost feel the heat of her body pressed to his. It didn’t help that the village was full of calves, or that one of his younger brothers had just mated a human witch with an amazing calf. He envied Ni'em and his beautiful high-spirited calf. If he was being honest, he envied anyone who had been blessed with a family. Every morning as the suns started to rise, he would start to think about leaving and becoming a roaming male. He wouldn’t have to have his heart ripped out every time he heard whispers about how the females pitied him, or a female crossed the street to get away from him.

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