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Hejira: Sanguine Wave

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 32: Tension

“I don’t know what to do Steve. It’s been bothering me for some time now, and I feel torn inside.” Kelly explains.

Sitting beside the orange tabby Sahvorai at a table, the pair are at the furthest edge of the logging camp’s resting area. They look at several grassy craters, left behind from the madrogo attack nearly a month earlier. The craters have become the unwritten symbol of Wildwood’s strength in unity. Glancing over his shoulder, Steve takes a moment to admire the madrogo’s skull, turned into a massive decoration and crowning the roof of the rest area.

“I mean, I want to be there for my kid, and I gave Vahna my word; I don’t like to go back on my word. After all, we’re not going to be a couple, because neither of us really got off on the other’s race, figuratively speaking. I mean, it was fun at the time, but it was just too weird for us, you know?” Kelly continues.

Steve remains silent, his eyes scanning the madrogo skull.

“I wanted to be with Claire, and she seemed ready for it, but her problem is prejudice. She just can’t get over it. I don’t want to have sex with another Sahvorai, but that doesn’t mean that I dislike them. I have a preference for humans, but you’re still my friend.”

“Mhm...” Steve sighs.

“The problem with Claire is that when we had a chance to talk and I shared my feelings, she got really upset. She was fine with me getting Vahna pregnant, but she wanted nothing to do with me if I was going to actually help raise our child. It wasn’t even that it was a child but that it was a Sahvorai child. She flat out told me that she’d help me raise a cute human baby but that she ‘has a line she won’t cross’. That was just infuriating; it’s not the kid’s fault. They didn’t choose to be born, or what race they’d be. Why can’t she realize that I’m actually a better person for wanting to raise my son or daughter, instead of just abandoning them?”

“...”

“Are you listening to me?!” Kelly growls.

“Huh? Oh, yeah! ... I wonder what that weighed before they boiled all the flesh off.”

“... Never mind.”

“Listen, Kelly, you’re doing the right thing by sticking with Vahna and helping her raise your child. If Claire can’t accept that you have a child with someone else, race aside, even if you are still free to be with her, that says more about her personality than anything. She’s probably not a very good person behind closed doors, and you deserve better.”

“Thanks, Steve. I’m glad you were listening.” Kelly grins.

“Eh. Lucky guess.” Steve smirks.

“Asshole.” Kelly chuckles. “We should get back to work.”

“Hey!” Naomi chirps.

Glancing over their shoulders, the two men see Naomi as she stands with her friends, Zahra, Nelana, and a boy named Travahn.

“Hey!” Kelly chirps back. “What brings you here?”

“Brought you both some lunch.” Naomi replies.

Handing them a wicker basket covered with a linen cloth, Kelly and Steve look at an ample meal of cheese, meat and bread, pre-cut to be made into sandwiches.

“I didn’t want your blood sugar going down while you worked out here, plus some extra for Steve.” She continues.

“Thank you!” They both reply in unison.

“Are you sure you’re not the child and she’s the guardian?” Steve asks Kelly.

“Feels that way sometimes.” Kelly quips.

Taking their leave, the four teenage youths walk away from the rest area. Travahn examines the madrogo skull as they depart from the vastly expanded logging camp; the rest area that once sat barely fifty meters from the tree-line, is now nearly a quarter of a mile away. The canine Sahvorai stares in awe with his amber eyes. At five-feet and nine inches tall, he has a sleek, athletic frame covered in short and smooth black fur. His long black hair reaches down to his shoulders and frames his face and long, thin snout. A long, tapering, whip-like tail wags behind him.

“Did Kelly really cut that head off?” Travahn asks.

“He sure did.” Naomi remarks.

“He doesn’t look like he could do that.” Travahn murmurs.

“Sometimes I forget that you’re new here.” Naomi replies, glancing back at him. “Besides, looks can be very deceiving.”

“So I’ve noticed.” He says, his eyes scanning her frame.

“Really?” She grins.

“Mhm.” He nods.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She asks with a raised brow.

“Well, you’re not what I expected. I didn’t think one of the cutest girls in camp would also be the smartest.” He coolly retorts.

“Is that so?” She giggles, her face blushing.

Zahra and Nelana glance at each other.

“Well, we’ve got somewhere to be.” Nelana suddenly says.

“Where?” Naomi asks with some disappointment.

“Oh just... Uh...” Nelana hesitates.

“Home. She has to help her mom in their garden and I’m going to see my little brother.” Zahra quickly interjects.

“... Really?” Naomi stares blankly at the pair.

“You two will be fine. See you later!” They assure them.

Quickly darting off, Naomi and Travahn stand there. Now left behind by the other two girls, Naomi feels a fluttering in her stomach. She had noticed Travahn when he arrived with a small group of Sahvorai barely a week earlier. Finding him unusually attractive, she was curious, but never had the nerve to speak to him herself. Naomi was silently thankful when he asked to walk with her a few days ago; with the handsome canine boy by her side, she is at a loss.

“N-now what?” She sheepishly asks, turning to Travahn.

“There’s no reason we can’t still spend time together... Is there?”

“Oh... A-and do what?” Her face turns faintly red.

“Walk. Talk. Sit together. Whatever you want.” He suggests.

“I don’t know. I’m probably not very good company.” She murmurs, looking down toward the ground.

“You’re not bad company.”

“Wha-?” She turns her eyes toward him.

“Honestly, I... I really don’t want to spend time anyone else.” Travahn nervously answers, his eyes darting away as he scratches the back of his head. “I’d really like to get to know you more.”

“I’d like to get to know you more too.” She murmurs, her lips curled into a pleased grin.

Sitting on a carved log bench that lines the compacted dirt streets of Wildwood, Sarvah watches the teens from her balcony. Watching Naomi’s smile as she laughs and speaks to Travahn, who visibly charms her, the wolfess’ heart weighs heavy. Missing her lover, she can hardly wait to see him again. It’s already been several weeks since he left.

“Are you alright, ma’am?” Rinahra asks.

“Please don’t call me that anymore, Rin.” Sarvah replies.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize either. It’s alright.” Sarvah says with a melancholy sigh.

“I’m just not used to you being... Well... So nice to me.”

“And for that, I’m sorry.” Sarvah says softly.

“You miss him that much?” Rinahra asks.

Turning to look at her assistant, Rinahra is taken aback by the sight of tears in her icy blue eyes. With a sniffle, Sarvah wipes the tears away and walks toward her assistant, who leans against a small, circular wooden table.

“I’ve never missed anyone this much. I really don’t know how I’ll be able to carry on without him here.” Sarvah begins. “I just... I do so much for my people, to give them a future, but I sometimes feel like the Feather Fingers are robbing me of mine.”

“You do so much for us, and you are appreciated.” Rinahra rests a hand on Sarvah’s shoulder, giving her a light squeeze. “You have a right to be happy, but you also have a duty to the tribe. We need you, now more than ever.”

“I know, but... I just... I wish that they knew what this was doing to me. Sometimes I just want to run away.”

Wrapping her arms around Sarvah, Rinahra holds the wolfess tightly to comfort her. Sarvah’s breath shakes and her fingers coil as she holds the tortoiseshell feline in her arms.

“Would you like to visit him?” Rinahra asks.

Unable to respond, Sarvah merely nods her head.

“Alright. I’ll cover for you. Take your time and tell Gareth that I said ‘hello’.”

“Thank you, Rin. You’re a far better woman than I.” Sarvah replies.

“Remember that on payday.” Rinahra smirks.

After sharing a laugh, Sarvah collects a small pack. Inside the pack in only a single day’s worth of food, a large pewter flash of water, and the Kahr CT9 pistol. Slinging the pack over her shoulder, Sarvah departs her house. Though many notice her presence, few pay much attention to their tribal leader; typically, they only bother her when they are in a state of crisis. Walking through the village, she passes a massive pile of tree trunks as she heads toward the field. Sorted by length and thickness to be relatively even and sturdy, workers cut tapering points into one end of each log.

As part of Wildwoods defenses, the logs will be turned into a palisade wall standing ten feet high when stuck into the ground, and no less than one foot thick; Gareth had suggested this to her the night before the madrogo’s attack. Passing the workers, she stops and feigns interest in their progress before heading beyond the sight of the future wall, taking a path into the field. Following this trail, she walks down the sloping land until she reaches a fork, moving left and curling around so that she approaches the lake within the valley that sits to one side of Wildwood.

Approaching the lake, she stops and takes a drink from her flask. Kneeling down, she tops off the container and attaches the lid, which is held on by a simple lever system. Gazing across the lake where Gareth is hiding himself, she estimates the distance to be roughly a half-mile across. Following the shoreline, she walks for nearly an hour, traversing a beach and a marshy inlet before finding a large boulder.

Climbing upon the rock to rest, she looks at the water’s edge. As she glances down, she notices something peculiar and unnatural. Sliding down from the rock, she finds a symbol carved into the sloped form of the boulder. Her lips curl into a delighted grin as she touches the cross that’s gouged into the rock. Climbing back atop the boulder and looking toward the woods directly behind it, she finds that there is a faint clearing. A small, lonely tree sits within this little clearing.

With the top burned by an aura flamethrower and two thick branches that appear as outstretched arms, also trimmed with flame, the tree itself is the image of a cross. Approaching the tree, she finds a long series of instructions upon the bark, carefully and painstakingly carved with a claw. As she reads the instructions, she can feel herself flush beneath her fur. As he had said in his letter, the vague instructions make sense only to her. Following them to the letter, she counts her steps. She had once told Gareth that she has a photographic memory, which is true.

“Count with your feet how many times the she-wolf and panther mated. Multiply by number of different positions used. Turn left so your shoulder faces the lake; step for each attempt to breed. Stop and howl at the moon.” The instructions read.

With their current sexual history as her map, she walks through the woods, turns left and continues. Stopping at the appropriate step, she looks up at the sky and finds a wooden platform connecting two trees together. Nearly twenty feet above the ground and well camouflaged in the branches of healthy, dense treetops, it would be difficult to see at a passing glance, without knowing where to look. A faint tapping makes her ears perk. Cocking her head to better hear, her eyes light up as a gray furred, feline tail drapes over the edge of the platform.

“G-Gare?” She chokes out.

The tail pulls away and a head peers over the edge.

“GARE!” She exclaims happily.

“Hi, Sarvah!” He chirps, waving down to her.

“What are you doing up there?!” She calls out, laughing from her excitement.

“Building my new house.”

“In a tree?” She raises a brow.

“Sure! Cats like trees, right?” He remarks.

“I don’t know. All I know is that you should get down here and greet me properly.”

Throwing a thick, vine rope with loops tied into it, he climbs down toward the ground. Dropping down before her, Sarvah holds out her hands to him as if she were a frightened child. Taking hold of her, she shivers from sheer joy. Closing her eyes tightly, they burn with tears. Her bushy tail wags and she nuzzles his face.

“I love you, Sarvah. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I love you too, Gare. I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too. I have to admit though, I didn’t think you’d get away so soon. I haven’t even finished the first room yet.” He remarks.

“That’s okay. As long as we can be together. But why didn’t you build your house on the ground?” She asks.

“I’m Red Claw.” He shamefully answers. “I wasn’t sure if someone would come walking through the woods on a hike or hunt and accidentally find me. I don’t want to hurt anyone from Wildwood, even in self-defense.”

Kissing his cheek, snout and then his lips, they share a passionate moment. Tongues entwined, their temperature rises. As their lips pull away, she looks to him lustfully with her icy blue eyes, gazing into his amethyst orbs.

“May I see your new house?” She asks softly.

“Of course. The walls and roof aren’t up, but I made rails that slide into place so we won’t roll over the edge and die.” He replies.

“That’s good.” Sarvah giggles. “But how about you show me your bed first.” She coos, kissing his snout.

“There’s a nice, weaved grass mattress up there, built for two.” He says before kissing her neck. He gives her plump buttocks a squeeze and then a light smack. “You’d better start climbing.” He winks.

“Yes, sir.” She grins.

Sarvah takes hold of the vine rope ladder and places her foot into the bottommost loop. As she begins to climb, Gareth rests his clawed hands onto her sides, running them over her curvy, hourglass figure. She feels herself tremble at his touch. Glancing back to him, she smiles warmly.

“Are you staying long?” He asks rather softly, as if afraid to hear her answer.

“All night.” She replies.

“Oh, good!” He chirps. “I missed cuddling with you.”

“Me too. Gare...”

“Yeah?”

“Please don’t forget to mount those rails before we go to bed.” She chuckles.

“I won’t. You’re all I have left in the world. I’ll never endanger you or let anything happen to you.” He answers.

“Oh, Gare.” She sighs, her heart burning for him.

Climbing up and into his tree fort, Gareth soon follows behind. Once on the platform, he bends his arm and coils the rope over his shoulder and forearm, placing it to the side. Sarvah looks in awe at the layout of the room. The branches of the trees are massive, easily allowing for a moderate structure. At nearly twelve feet wide and twelve feet long, the room has a bed placed near the center. A metal basin with short legs acts as a fire pit; Gareth must have taken it from a storage area, or someone’s home when he left.

One wall is partially constructed, a portion reaching nearly seven feet tall and made of crudely carved boards. A rubbing noise catches her attention and she turns around to see Gareth sliding one foot tall wooden rails into place. Sitting on his bed, she watches as he locks each rail into place. Finishing his work, he sits beside her on the bed, the grass sheaves crunching faintly. They stare at each other for a moment before Gareth leans in, merely content to hold her in his arms. She slips off her pack and sets it to the side, simultaneously lying back, taking Gareth with her.

“It’s so good to hold you again.” He says, nuzzling her face.

“I’ve missed you so much.” She replies.

“I love you.” He coos, kissing her snout.

“I love you too. I’ve never felt more at peace than in your arms.”

“You’re such a sweetheart.” He grins, kissing her again.

“I don’t want to go back.”

With a look of shock on his face, Gareth sits up.

“What’s wrong?” She asks, growing worried.

“I don’t want you to abandon your people for me. I love you and I miss you, but it’s not right, and I can’t ask you to do that.” He explains.

“What if I decided to stay with you?”

“There’s a greater good, Sarvah.” Gareth answers.

“Don’t you want me to be with you?!” Sarvah whimpers.

“That’s all I want, but you’re the tribe’s leader. They need you.”

“But I need you!” Sarvah chokes out, her voice shaking.

Taking her into his arms, he strokes her back softly, nuzzling her neck with his short snout and feline nose.

“I’ve already given up so much in my short life. I don’t want to deprive myself of our love for the next seven hundred years because they can’t forgive you. It’s not fair to you and it’s not fair to me.” She cries.

“I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you, but I’m just one guy. You’re far more important than I am, and you need to guide them; you’re the only one who can. In time, they might forgive, or just forget about me and what I’ve done. When that happens, I can come back and live with you, and that’ll be a great day. Until then, though, it’s best if I stay away.” He says, holding her tightly.

“But I miss you.”

“And I miss you. This is just how it has to be. They deserve good lives too, and no one else in Wildwood can make it happen. I’ll always be right here, waiting for you to visit me.”

Sarvah sniffles and pulls back. Looking Gareth in his eyes, she can feel the pain in his heart. He would do anything for her, except allow her to throw away the tribe’s future for their happiness. In that moment, she realizes just what it is that the town of Wildwood has lost; though she is robbed of the company of her beloved, they have discarded their greatest ally. She can’t help but chuckle at the irony.

“What?” He smiles.

“If only they knew just what kind of man Red Claw really is.” She says with a sniffle. “Maybe then we wouldn’t be in this tree house.”

“I know... Maybe one day they’ll find out.”

Leaning in, the lovers kiss passionately. Sarvah’s hands glide over Gareth’s form and he holds her tightly in his strong arms. She pulls at his clothes and their tongues entwine. Lying back down and taking him with her, both are eager to lose themselves within each other. Though she knows that he’s right, she doesn’t want to face the reality yet. For now, at least, she’ll enjoy his company, while she can, before she has to leave him behind and return to her people.