Page 29 of Fated to the Alien Rebel

“Did I not say she would love you?”

“Yes, but don’t Tavikhi worry their parents aren’t going to approve of their mate?”

I shake my head. “If they are mates, then it is because Deeka chose them to be so. If the goddess has approved of them, then there is a reason. Something I am finally coming to fully understand.”

We have not spoken much recently of the mate bond between us or of my lack of soul light. But with each turn of the sun and with every moment I spend with Sage, I more firmly believe that Deeka was right in choosing her for my mate.

With bowls in hand, we re-enter the tent. Nene has poured each of us a vessel of water and she is seated beside Baba. I pass them their food before Sage and I both take a seat on a fur. It has been several turns since I have taken a meal within these walls. I have forgotten how nice it is to sit with my elders.

Nene picks up the stone Sage had left lying next to Baba and passes it over to her. “It is a wonderful skill my son has.”

“He’s incredible.” My mate glances at me and I think pride might be in her eyes.

“Sage and I went hunting for stones earlier. We found some beautiful ones that I cannot wait to craft something on.”

“Are there things like this on your Earth?” My nene asks.

My mate nods. “Something similar although we have a thin, flat type of canvas called paper that most peopledraw on. London is trying to find a substitute for it to help make teaching the children easier.”

My nene cocks her head. “This is a useful skill the shefira is gifting the kits with?”

I have wondered the same thing.

Sage’s cheeks darken. “I’m not really sure, but I’d like to think so. It’s another way to communicate, which certainly can’t hurt. If more humans come to Tavikh with their children and live in the settlement, maybe they can share messages back and forth with the children here. They wouldn’t have to leave the village. Instead, they can write a letter and one of the warriors who goes to help train the men can pass it over. On Earth we used to call that being a pen pal.”

Nene is quiet for a moment, her expressive pensive. “Yes, you may be right. Communication is important. Were you one of these pen pals?”

“It wasn’t really a thing anymore. At least not handwritten letters. We had more advanced technology like computers and the internet to send messages back and forth to people.”

“Your Earth sounds like a complicated planet.”

Sage laughs. “You have no idea. That’s one of the many reasons I like Tavikh. Life is much simpler here. Quieter. More peaceful. Although, I could do without the snow and cold.”

With each turn I am learning bits and pieces about my mate. It occurs to me though, sitting here, that we havenever spoken of her nene or baba. Have they passed onto the lands of whatever god or goddess the humans worship?

“You do not have cold dust or a cold season?” Nene asks.

“We do, but it wasn’t anything I really had to deal with.”

Nene’s brow bones shift and even I am confused. How does one not have to be concerned with cold dust? Sage’s gaze bounces between us and she must sense we do not understand. She sets her nearly empty bowl in her lap.

“On Earth we had a divide between our people. There were those of us who lived in what is called the upper tier. Anyone else was part of the middle or bottom tier. The upper tier had far more advantages over the other two tiers.” Sage stares at the fire and her voice has softened. “We had resources no one else had and the majority of those people weren’t willing to share.”

“And you were one of the humans with these resources?” It is my turn to ask a question.

My mate slowly nods. “I was.”

“Were you willing to share with those who did not?” Nene asks in a neutral tone.

It takes several beats before Sage answers. “I’m ashamed to admit I often was not. Not like I should have.”

My nene leans over and lays her hand on Sage’s cheek. “Deeka does not judge us on our past, but rather on our present.”

Someone slaps the hide door interrupting us. “Healer Sage, you are needed. Quickly.”

I exchange a glance with my mate and we both hurry to our feet. I push the flap aside and the warrior Imir stands there.

“One of the Krijese from the hills has brought a sick kit to our village. Kyler tasked me to find his apprentice.”

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