Page 14 of Scarred

Suni climbed out of bed with a grunt and straightened the furs. Glancing toward his fire pit, he remembered he had promised his parents a visit this morning to share first meal. He would start his fire later. He strapped his morning star to his back and left his cold house behind. Suni was halfway to his parents’ house when he heard calves playing. He wasn’t surprised they were up before many of the adults. Calves’ minds were too active for them to sleep for long periods. Since he was always one of the first adults awake, the calves were always happy to see him and didn’t care about his broken horn and overabundance of missing patches of fur. They loved to hang from his limbs and see who could get to his shoulders first.

“Uncle Suni!” Julian screamed as she ran at him with her arms outstretched. “Up?”

Suni caught the small human female and lifted her high in the air before she could run headfirst into his leg. She screamed for him to toss her higher and threw her arms out wide. He laughed. “Little star, your father warned you about running so fast.”

“I know.” She kissed his scarred cheek and melted his heart a little more. “You always catch me.”

Suni hugged her close. “No matter how high you go, I will always catch you. But I want you to still be careful. You know your sire will go crazy if you scrape your knees again.”

“I told Papa I’m going to be a strong female.” Julian curled her arm and puffed out her chest. “A warrior just like him and I can heal myself.”

Suni hid his smile from the small human. He had no doubt she would become one of the tribe's most powerful members. Her magic was already beyond any he had ever seen, and from what Mia had said, it would only get stronger. “You are going to be an exceptional adult.” He sat her on the ground and patted her hornless head. “Until you are older and stronger, I want you to be careful.”

“I promise, Uncle Suni.” Julian gave him a big wave before diving headfirst back into the calf play.

“I am already getting gray fur.” Suni turned to find his brother Ni’em leaning against the low wall surrounding the calves’ play area. “She sleeps like the dead and is up before the suns are even thinking about rising.”

“Remember when we were calves? I doubt Dam ever had a moment of peace, which reminds me, where is your mate?”

“I left her sleeping,” Ni’em answered. “She has been overly tired lately.”

“With a daughter who moves at full speed every waking moment, I can understand.”

“That is what I keep telling her.” Ni'em turned back to the playing calves. “I came to gather Julian. She ran out of the house without eating first meal. How is she going to grow if she skips meals?”

“I am sure she will be fine,” Suni chuckled. “With the amount she ate last night, she is not going to starve any time soon.” He cheered when Julian leapt from a stump and landed on the back of one of the older calves. “It is amazing how she learned to use her smaller size to her advantage. When will she start her warrior training?”

“I am still trying to talk her dam into allowing her a practice sword.” Ni'em scratched his chin and continued, “Julian will have to start soon or she will lag behind others of her age.”

Suni nodded. “When she starts, let me know. I would like to be there for her early lessons. I have a bow and arrow set I would like to gift her.”

“She would like that, and so would I. I would feel better knowing she is not in the middle of any battle. Now, what about you?” Ni'em turned to face him.

“What do you mean?”

“I have noticed you drawing away from the family. Last night you left last meal early.”

“I was tired.”

“You can lie to yourself but not to your brother. What is going on?”

“I am feeling restless.”

“Are you still worried about not finding a mate?”

“Yes.” Suni saw no reason to lie. His younger brother knew his deepest desire. “I am getting older and worry I will be alone in my elder years. I have been thinking that maybe I should try visiting other villages. I cannot expect a willing female to walk into ours.”

“You are not still punishing yourself for what that female did to you, are you?” Ni'em asked.

“You mean – “

Ni'em covered Suni’s mouth with a thick hand. “We do not speak her name, ever.”

“I was not going to say her name.” Suni pushed his brother’s hand away. “I was going to say I am not punishing myself because I did nothing wrong. She felt that by losing my horn, I lost my maleness. I still have a working cock.”

“No one is doubting the working of your cock.” Suddenly his eyes grew large. One of the larger calves had picked Julian up and swung her above his head. “Put her down! Excuse me, Suni. I must rescue my daughter. Stay safe.”

“No need to worry about me,” Suni said. “I do not want to worry Sire and Dam. Can you tell them I will be back as soon as possible?”

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