"I'm not going to start showing for a while anyhow," April says. "We have plenty of time. More than enough time to replenish the hunter cave, too. We should do that sooner rather than later."
"And we will, but I want to head back to the others first. Get more supplies and check in." Make sure that everyone knows April is now my mate. Make sure that there's even a beach settlement to go back to. Perhaps the sea creatureshave torn everything away. If so, we'll need to adjust our plans. Live underground with Tal'nef and Set'nef's people, the Ancestors. Or head deeper into the mountains to the south to visit the other sa-khui tribe. Wherever April is, that's where I want to be. As long as she's at my side, I'll go anywhere.
April's khui is humming to mine, the song delicate and pleasing. I imagine it sated, like mine feels. Like we've accomplished something and now it can rest. It's strange to think about resting, though, because every time I look at April, I want to throw a fur onto the snow and pull her down with me.
So...the khui might be satisfied, but I am not. I will probably never get enough of April and her laughter, April and her determination, April and her mindfulness of her environment and the world.
I wonder if the child will be more like her or like me.
"How long do babies take?" I ask. Is it strange to feel excited about the prospect of the child? Before, all of my energy and need was focused on mating April. Now that she is truly mine, I cannot help but wonder what our child will look like. Will it have her bright, charming laugh? Her naked skin? I hope so. It would be interesting if it looked like me, but far, far more interesting if it was a copy of her.
April just laughs at my impatience. "A while, okay?"
"I'm just trying to establish guidelines." We continue walking, and when the path flattens out, she reaches for my hand. Not to steady herself, just because she wants to touch me.
It makes me purr.
"Guidelines, fair enough." April's fingertips are cold in my grasp, so I wrap my hand tighter around hers to keep her warm. "Well, let me think. Human babies take about nine months to be born. I don't know how long praxiian babies take, but from what I've learned from the other women at camp, most of themare pregnant for several months longer. Except Veronica. Apparently Ashtar has super sperm or something."
"That's a horrifying visual and something I never wanted to know about Ashtar."
She chuckles, and her free hand goes to Makana in his sling. The creature is in his favorite spot, nestled between her breasts (coincidentally my favorite spot as well). "I'm just saying, it's probably going to be close to a year before a baby arrives. Plenty of time for us to get used to the idea of being parents."
I'm already fascinated by the idea, but I don't tell her. Don't want her to think I'm too eager...even though I am. "It gives me plenty of time to make your hut, at least."
"And for us to have a blessing ceremony," she agrees. "That has to happen before we move in so we can establish a connection with the land and thank the people who lived here before us."
I nod. April is very careful about being respectful of this world, and I want to honor that, too. "Just tell me what you need and we will make it happen."
"How bad do you think it'll be on the beach?" she asks me, a worried look on her face. "You talked to Devi about it. Do you think everything is going to be gone when we return?"
"I don't know. She said last time that all their huts were crushed and they had to rebuild them. Some they didn't even bother to rebuild. They just used the building materials for other huts. If this is like last time, then we can expect all the huts to be destroyed. None of them will be rebuilt until the snails leave. We will be doing a lot of camping."
"I don't mind camping. I just don't want anyone to get hurt. And I hate the thought of everyone losing their homes. I don't understand why they'd build on the beach again if everything is just going to be destroyed every few years."
"From what Devi said, they were uncertain how often the creatures would return or if they would. Now she knows their pattern." I can appreciate Devi's way of looking at things. She must know the guidelines of how these creatures will act before she can move forward. "But as for leaving, I don't think it was considered. It's their home. The cove provides everything for them, and the weather on that side of the mountains is fairer. I think they'd rather deal with snails than the cold."
She makes a face, her expression full of sympathy. "I would too, honestly. This cold is brutal."
"Do I need to warm you up?"
April grins at me. "Not in the middle of a trail. But you can tonight."
I look forward to that.
CHAPTER 18
VALMIR
For days,I have been envisioning utter wreckage on the beach. Of the entire village crushed underneath massive curled shells and writhing tentacled creatures as far as the eye can see. Of chaos and destruction. I brace myself as we approach the cliffs that will give us the first glimpse below, into the sheltered cove of Icehome, and I try to think of words to reassure April that I will take care of her, that it will not be that bad, that she has nothing to fear with me around.
We get to the ledge and gaze down below and...it's strangely disappointing.
"Oh," says April, surprised and utterly unimpressed.
I know how she feels. "I thought there would be more destruction based on my conversation with Devi."
"Me, too."