22
A R Y A
➳
How was it that in all the days I'd spent here at the Moonwater Pack I had never been here? A breath of fresh air, the warm rays of sunshine that penetrated through the leaf canopy of the pavilion and warmed every part of my skin, as well as the fantastic view of the dense forest line of the coniferous forest, which bordered directly on the training ground of the royal estate.
I curled my lips in a smile as I watched the action of battle on the pitch and savored the sound of blade upon blade coming from the training werewolves - this was definitely my favorite spot. It reminded me of the battlefield at home. The dusty clay that entered, the various weapons listed. Rowtag and I had challenged each other a number of times to see who was better. Of course, I always came out victorious, but that fact never hurt our friendship - we were best friends, inseparable. We “are” best friends, I corrected myself quickly, ignoring the pang in my heart. “It was no use mourning for my tribe, “I told myself. For Moonwater was my home now. Exactly.
My hands clenched around the stone, ornate pavilion parapet, and I tried to distract myself by looking for the one person on the training ground who wasn't a total stranger. I smiled again as I spotted the blond in the crowd, standing erect and rock solid as always, his sharp eyes pointing out the young soldiers' mistakes.
He was so different from my father. Although he held the rank of king, he was not above doing the work himself and being a friend and confidante to his pack members. He was more honorable than any other chief I had ever seen. “Aee”, Xenos was honorable - honorable and just. And so much more than that.
My heart pounded against my chest like a button as I thought about the previous night. Learning that we were mates had thrown us both off course and shattered any walls and shields that had prevented us from getting closer. And holy Gaia, we had clearly gotten closer; we hadn't slept a single second last night, or rather this morning. Instead, his hands were constantly draping over my body - doing things to him that I hadn't even known could trigger me. And more gracious this mouth! By Gaia's will, I was still completely sore, and hot desire shot through me at the mere thought of it.
As if he had read my mind - or rather smelled my excitement - his head swiveled towards me and his glowing gaze found mine. It was as if I could feel his passionate feelings across the bond, as if they were reaching me from afar. The fine thread between us pulsed violently, urging us to close the distance and snuggle up to one another. And “aee”, I wanted nothing more than that.
In the same instant, Aramis ran across the field and loudly shouted, "Hey, ass with ears, say hello to your friend!"
Xenos turned to the dark curly hair to enclose his friend of two millennia in a tight brotherly hug that consisted of back slaps and growls.
If Aramis was there, then...
"Arya!"
As soon as I turned away from the railing, Zaira threw herself into my arms. A little surprised, I followed the loving hug and hesitantly put my arms around her upper body. I wasn't used to this - Xenos was the only one who touched me like that. Rowtag and I had never actually hugged and I couldn't remember the last time my father did.
"It's been so long since we last saw each other!" said Zaira when I cleared my throat and pulled away from the hug. "I missed you."
"Oh yeah?" I said, amazed, before I had a chance to think of other words. I clasped my hands behind my back and straightened up. "I mean, of course, so do you."
Zaira smiled at my pathetic attempt to cover up my mistake, while her lilac silk dress, which matched her eyes perfectly, flapped in the breeze. "How are you doing?"
That was a sincere question, not some polite phrase. So Zaira was simple, kind and understanding. I had almost forgotten what it was like to be around her. How comfortable and comfortable I felt with her - an effect that really only Xenos and Rowtag had on me.
Ever since I was little, I'd never gotten on very well with girls my age. I had been raised as a warrior, an education reserved mostly for boys. The girls in the tribe” Retanis” should be trained in other occupations, such as harvesting, cooking and sewing - a good mother and wife. But since my father wanted a successor to the chief, I never considered anything else. "Good and you?"
She was about to say something when Reah came up the steps of the pavilion with a small, babbling child in her arms and sat down at the round table, whose indigo-colored mosaic stone top gleamed dreamily in the sunshine.
Zaira's smile grew even bigger as she turned to her son and complied with his silent request to take him in her arms. She stroked his hair affectionately. “Koray, this is Arya. Mommy's friend.”
The little button – the one that looked like Aramis's face; dark tousled curls, green eyes and a slightly suntanned complexion - mumbled, eyes wide, "Aya."
I couldn't help but laugh. I didn't really have that much experience with kids, didn't know what made them giggle and what made them sleep - but this Koray was just adorable. "“Aee”, Arya."
Koray clapped his hands and laughed. "Aya, Aya!" Then he reached out for me. "Aye ho! Aye ho!”
And that's where my understanding of children stopped. I furrowed my brows. What in Gaia's will was he mumbling about?
Zaira, who must have read my confused expression correctly, laughed. "He says; Arya high. He wants you to pick him up."
"Oh!" Automatically, I backed away as if this sweet little man were a little monster, almost clumsily knocking over the chair. pick him up? "I uh..." I look at Reah for help - she laughs. “Aee”, she was right, it was a bit ridiculous. Arya, daughter of Honaw, was acting more than a little improperly in holding a child.
"Come to Aunt Reah, honey." Zaira handed her son to Reah and then sat down next to Reah at the table while the little button chuckled and played with Reah's black Rastas.
Not wanting to sit idle, I grabbed the pitcher from the table and poured lemonade into glasses for all three of us.
"So, do you all have a dress for the ball yet?" Zaira asked the group, then took a sip of the cool, refreshing drink with a nod of thanks.
"Honey, as much as I love you, why on earth do you still think I'd squeeze into a dress?" The indignant look on Reah's face spoke volumes. Glancing sideways at me, she said, 'Zaira pushed Illyria on me to wear a dress before - and a pink one at that! You can of course imagine that they didn't get away with it."
