Chapter 22
#23 of The Mating Season: The Years Inbetween
Chapter 22
". . . but if Myali marries me," Keeno said happily, "I could have two Zalias!"
Myali giggled. Sitting between her and Ohana, Kilyan rolled his eyes.
"Oh, Keeno," laughed Ohana, "you wouldn't know what to do with two wives!"
Keeno cocked a brow. "Oh, wouldn't I? I'm assuming Kil never told you about my . . ." He buffed his nails on his chest fur and studied them nonchalantly. ". . . reputation."
Yzlo groaned. "Alright, boy, that's enough. Your pussy hunting is nothing to be proud of. You should hang your head in shame."
"Yes, sir . . ." Keeno muttered, putting on an appropriate look of most regret. When his father nodded and looked away, he winked at Myali and she giggled.
"And where the hell is that brother-in-law of mine?" Yzlo wondered. "He should know better than to wander off . . ." His voice trailed away as he looked at someone beyond Keeno's head. "Well, there you are!" he called irritably.
Keeno followed his father's gaze and grinned: Hris was marching their way, a bounce in his stride. The quiver of arrows on his back was practically jingling.
Kilyan, Ohana, Keeno, Yzlo, and Myali were sitting around one of the many fires in the camp when Hris approached. Kel was still off somewhere with Alo, laughing, joking, and reminiscing about their mother. Gurwin, meanwhile, had gone off with Payan to his son's grave. Payan had buried Nikoma with the son she had lost with Gurwin. Kel's mother was now laid to rest with both her little sons in her arms.
Grinning from ear to ear, Hris took a seat between Keeno and Yzlo. Keeno laughed and protested when his uncle suddenly ruffled his mane.
"What has you in such a good mood?" Yzlo demanded crossly.
"What has you in such a bad one?" Hris returned cheerfully.
Yzlo snorted and folded his arms. "I'm all for letting Kel visit with his family, but I want to go home. I have a wife waiting for me."
"Ah," Hris grinned. "Horniness."
Myali laughed softly. She looked at Keeno. "Is all your family this delightful?"
"All of them," Keeno assured her. "And if you marry me, you'll get to see the madness all the time!" He tickled Myali's chin and she fluttered her lashes at him.
Kilyan frowned and his ears flattened. "Stop flirting, you two! I'll tell Zalia!"
Looking over at Kilyan, Keeno laughed. But deep down, he knew the threat was very real. Zalia was very jealous: the last thing he wanted was to have her throw a tantrum while she was pregnant. Keeno guiltily turned his attention to his uncle and father.
"I'm afraid you'll have to content yourself with watching your parents and their madness," Hris told Keeno.
Keeno and Yzlo went very still.
". . . what?" Yzlo said suspiciously.
Keeno stared at Hris in disbelief. He shook his head. "Uncle . . . you can't be serious."
"For once in my life, Keeno," Hris said, "I'm serious."
Kilyan frowned as it dawned on him. "But why would you want to stay?"
Keeno glanced in Kilyan and shook his head. He thought it was more than obvious: Hris had gotten laid. How could Kilyan live his life surrounded by tail chasers . . . and yet remain so blind? Kilyan also had no clue that Kel and Zaldon were arguing because they were in love, though Keeno thought that was also fairly obvious.
"Have you lost your senses?" Yzlo demanded before Hris could answer. "You want to stay here? For what and why? Because you got some tail?"
Keeno saw his uncle's lips tighten. He got to his feet. "Thanks, Yzlo," he said tonelessly, sarcastically. "I knew you'd understand." He turned as if to walk away, but Keeno shouted for him to stop.
"Uncle - wait!" Keeno frowned.
"Don't be dramatic," Yzlo barked. "Sit down and talk to your family!"
Hris hesitated, looking at Yzlo and Keeno with hollow eyes.
"You know Hye is going to kill you, right?" Yzlo went on. "Your parents are dead. You are her only family. Hell, you practically raised her --!"
"She has you and Keeno!" Hris snapped, waving a contemptuous paw. "And a grandchild on the way! She doesn't need me."
"The hell she doesn't!" Yzlo snapped back. He shot to his feet. "So that's what this is about?" he demanded. "You're jealous that your sister has a family and you do not?"
Hris rolled his eyes. "Don't flatter yourself, Yzlo. I have only ever been happy for my sister." He looked away abruptly, and Keeno thought he looked very miserable.
"No," Yzlo said, shaking his head. "Don't do that. Don't look away, don't scowl. Look me in the eye and talk to me! Where is the male I looked up to? Where is that warrior?" He grabbed Hris' arm and squeezed.
Hris finally looked Yzlo in the eye. "Fine. What do you want to know?"
"I want to know why," Yzlo said at once. "If you're going to break your sister's heart like this, I need to know what to tell her."
"Me? Break Hye's heart?" Hris snorted. "Not possible." He sat down heavily, and Yzlo sat as well.
"Out with it, Uncle," Keeno said. He was surprised to realize how angry he was. His paws were shaking slightly. But the thought of returning to the summer village without his uncle . . . he couldn't fathom it. Growing up, Hris had always been an integral part of his life. When he and Yzlo argued, Hris was there to help them make up. It was Hris who taught him how to hunt with a bow, so proud of their arrow tribe heritage. Looking at Hris now, he thought of the fishing trips to the river, the hunting trips, all the suppers over which they had laughed together, the crazy wrestling matches . . . and Hris holding Keeno above his head when he was small. All of that was over now. Because Hris was ending it.
"Keeno . . ." Hris said apologetically and pushed his mane back from his face.
"I want you to be there," Keeno said with emotion, "when my first child is born!"
Hris looked across the barren fire pit at Keeno, his eyes sad.
All around them, the dawn was steadily turning to day, bright and blue. The river wolves were cooking breakfast, which was - surprise, surprise - fish. Keeno saw little pups running back and forth, giggling as they waved about fish heads. A happy mother chased her giggling toddler, her arms out as the little one mischievously fled with tail streaming.
"You speak as if I could not come and visit you, boy," Hris said. "This is not the end."
Keeno looked away. "It feels that way," he muttered.
"Tell us what is going on," Yzlo said patiently. "Why do you suddenly wish this?"
Keeno looked up to hear the calm note in Yzlo's voice. Seeing how unhappy Hris was, Yzlo was now devoid of anger. He sat calm and reasonable, arms folded, waiting for an explanation.
"Look at me, Yzlo," Hris said, pointing at himself. "I am forty-four summers old! And I have never . . ." He swallowed hard.
Been in love. Hris had never been in love! Keeno stared at his uncle. Such knowledge was a bit shocking. How was it possible? While the summer wolves did not embrace same sex love, they still tolerated it. Tail chasers were allowed to live discreet lives in the village so long as they served as warriors. Some of the most respected warriors in the summer village were tail chasers. Hris was one of them. And for this reason, Keeno had always assumed his uncle was perfectly happy. He stared at his feet. More the fool he.
"I met someone . . . sweet," Hris said with a little smile, "who I think could love me. Who I think I could love! He can't leave his tribe. But I can leave mine. And I am."
Keeno couldn't believe it when Yzlo simply nodded at the barren fire pit. Why was his father not protesting this insanity?!
"Uncle," Keeno scowled, "you don't know the first thing about the river tribe --"
"Keeno . . ." Yzlo said wearily.
Keeno tossed his paws at his uncle. "Well, he doesn't!"
"I know that they accept my kind," Hris said. "I know that, as a tail chaser, I would not have to live in shame. That is what the summer wolves have expected of me for all these years. Among those of the summer, I am not to kiss a lover in public but in private . . . as if it were a shameful act. Here . . . I can be free."
Keeno swallowed stubbornly. "Uncle!"
"Keeno," Hris said quietly, "don't you want me to be happy?"
"I . . . well . . ." Keeno stammered. He frowned at his uncle. "I don't want you to go."
Hris laughed sadly, and Keeno knew he sounded like a child. He didn't care. He wanted Hris to stay with him in the summer village and be a family with him. He wanted Hris to play with his child, kiss it the way he had kissed Keeno, toss it in the air the way he had tossed Keeno. He wanted Hris to teach his child how to shoot with a bow. "Remember," Hris told him once, "if someone is shooting a bow at you, try to take it in the shoulder . . ."
"Come here, Hris Junior," Hris said, holding open his arm.
Keeno fell into that arm, laughing sadly when Hris ruffled his mane and gave him an embarrassing kiss on the cheek.
"The son I never had!" laughed Hris and squeezed Keeno tight.
Keeno grinned, though he still felt the sadness eating at his heart. "You'll visit," he said. "Swear it!"
"I swear it," Hris nodded. "Will you name your son after me?"
"It could be a girl," Yzlo said, smiling.
Keeno glanced over to see his father watching them in amusement. Kilyan had his arm around Ohana and they were smiling at them. So was Myali, who still had her staff.
"So," said Keeno, pulling himself free of his uncle's arm, "who is the lucky guy?"
Hris grinned. "He runs this joint."
Keeno and Kilyan exchanged grins as they realized who Hris meant.
"Cohoma?" snorted Yzlo. "You cradle robber!"
Hris laughed shamelessly. "He's twenty-something . . . that's not so terrible . . ."
"No, but you are," laughed Yzlo.
Hris waved a paw. "Pft. There are males in their fifties who take second mating seasons and claim sixteen-year-old wives."
"Well," sighed Yzlo, "if you think he is worth staying here for . . . Though I have to admit, I will really . . ." Yzlo cleared his throat uncomfortably.
Hris grinned. "I know, Yzlo. I'll miss you as well, my brother."