Page 47 of Scarred

“The suns will be rising soon and we need to continue moving. It is not safe to have a female outside a village gates during the day right now,” Godric said.

A shrill noise pierced the air, and Amma stepped closer to Suni. “What is that?”

Suni wrapped an arm around her. “A female muk in heat. How close are we to their breeding ground?”

Zuberi sniffed the air. “Too close. I will take us around so we do not run into any male muks. They are excitable at this time and will attack us if they can.”

“I want to see them,” Amma said. “I wonder if they look like anything I’m familiar with.”

Suni shook his head. “No. It’s really not safe to get close to them when they are in rut. Males are territorial and will attack anything they deem a threat.”

“I can see how you guys can be seen as a threat with your horns and stuff but look at me. Do you really expect they will see me and think ‘she’s going to harm us?’”

“I do not claim to know the minds of animals,” Suni answered. “But I do know how they react. I will capture one after we reach the Ykot and you are safe. The meat is slightly sweet.”

Amme smiled. “I look forward to tasting it. With some of those spicy leaves.”

“Leaves?” Burke asked.

“She has a fondness for juniper leaves,” Suni answered.

“We have plenty around Ykot,” Zuberi said. “Ethan and Burke, you will scout ahead and make sure we do not come across any males in rut. Godric and Idris, you two will watch our sides. Suni, do you mind bringing up the rear?”

“It would be my honor,” Suni answered. He would be able to keep his eyes on Amma from that point of view too. “Is there anything here, besides the muks, that I should be looking for?”

“Nothing you have not dealt with before,” Godric answered before disappearing into the foliage.

Suni chuckled at the young male. He could remember when he had been dismissive of most dangers found outside of the village. It was always a welcome challenge to find something new, but he didn’t want any surprises with Amma under his protection.

They hadn’t been walking for long when the suns started to break the horizon. Suni was happy the other males were around. Muks had been known to attack hunters without warning. He smiled when Amma’s little animals, who had escaped into the foliage the first chance they got, returned by jumping on her back. Suni noticed they were growing. Soon he would insist they walk on their own or be carried on his shoulders. Amma didn’t seem to notice the extra weight.

Zuberi’s ears rotated when Amma started talking to her animals. Suni was used to her one-sided conversations, but it was amusing to see the confused look Zuberi kept giving her. Amma either didn’t notice or chose to ignore it and continued talking to her friends. From what Suni could pick up, Mike and Sam were overselling their ability to hunt, while Astro stayed quiet. Suni knew the two squirrels couldn’t hunt. He had watched them try, and it had been hilarious. They made too much noise and pounced seconds too late. At most, they could hunt plants.

Zuberi held up a hand and they stopped. “We are nearing the Ykot,” he said as he turned to face them. “I should have asked earlier, but does my chief know you are coming?”

“He does not,” Suni answered. “If I remember correctly, the chief was Volt. What happened to him?”

Zuberi nodded. “He is still the chief of Qunic. Ru was recently given land to start his own. While we are still small, we are strong. I wouldn’t advise having ill intent toward anyone.”

“We are strictly here to visit Amma’s family,” Suni promised.

“If we were here to hurt anyone, Jo would kick our asses,” Amma said. “I am no match for my cousin when she’s angry.”

Zuberi smiled. “She is a powerful female. Suni, I would not touch my weapon if I were you. Jo is pregnant and unpredictable.”

“She’s pregnant?” Amma’s eyes widened. “No way! The women in my family become possessive and fussy when they’re pregnant. This is going to be fun to tease her about.”

Suni frowned. “Maybe not. We do not want her to become distressed.”

“You don’t understand.” Amma’s smile became sinister. “It’s my job. It’s what other family members would do. What are we waiting for?” She started walking and passed Zuberi. “This way, right?”

Suni shrugged his shoulders when Zuberi looked at him. “She is a female on a mission. I am not going to be the one to stand in her way.”

“You have a point.” They started walking and quickly caught up to Amma. “Maybe you should wait for us,” Zuberi said.

“Oh, she won’t do anything to me. I’m family,” Amma said.

Suni supposed she believed that, but he had seen pregnant women do some strange things. Idris strode out from cover and dropped into step beside him.

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