- "There was darkness. The seed that would take shape had years to grow and the old witch was long gone before she could even see her creation.
Before she could even see what he'd become. He grew from a tree, gaining consciousness only when his antlers cut through the dirt and soil. And by then he was almost full grown.
From above, the Herd was watching him, carefully only once he emerged. A halo of amazing strength floated before him and-"
"YAWWWN, I know this story Akan." I say as I stretch out on the animal pelts behind me. He snorts.
"Ugh you little-the least you could do is pretend to listen." Akan growls at me and I smile back at him. It is winter and the trees on his back are stripped bare save for the pines. Another sign to his discomfort. It's winter in the valley and still Akan will not let me go to the village. It is not for fear of cold I know, he can see I care not of that. I am warmer than any of them will ever be even in the mountains as long as Nims sees it. Still Akan is wary of the humans. Worse in winter the pale sun burns his coat freezing and he is far more irritable than the summer months and spring. I would craft him a coat but....I doubt he'd appreciate animal hides to do so.
My biggest worry however is how thin he is. He walks with a limp, his burly hide shaking on some mornings as his branches shake with frost. I can see even the Great protector needs rest. He curls up like a lion cub to me in the morning and it is hard to rouse him from slumber as his autumn pelt changes once more. The fur on his face is soft and cold against my side and it is hard to feel warmth from him. But I know he will be fine.
He is merely tired. Hibernation has already begun, but for him. His rest lies with that of the bears and squirrels. I am thinking to making him a blanket. Perhaps Mara's skin will make a fine one. Though that snake is hard to find herself, her cave should not be too far from the lake.
Something like mount's tunic, the kind that those strange humans use. Hehe. Akan would be so offended of being a mount. I should find something like a hide to protect them from frost. Frost, Akan has explained to me at length, is like fire only it's so cold it burns.
"I am listening. It's just nothing new." The lion sized beast growls at me and pushes me hard enough to send me sprawling.
"Hey!" I cry out indignantly to being nudged like a toy. I huff and sit back in my blankets.
"Hey is for hirses."
"They're called horses."
"Still domestics. I remember times when stallions would never bow to any creature. Now they eat out of the humans hand like some common pet."
I cannot argue there. I know how Akan feels about....humans and despite me being the exception, his disdain is quite probable. I can't say I blame him entirely.
But still.
"It's not just the domestics is it?"
Akan looks at me, his dark eyes searching and he sighs. "They are killing beasts, Maud. They kill for sport. Take the lives of innocent creatures and hardly use them. Barely for food. I could live with a hunter and know my standing. But a killer I cannot stand."
"Am I a killer to you?" I ask feeling the blood pound in my ears, as I peer up at him, shaky. He gazes at me for a long time, with no answer. But then moves and presses his muzzle against my stomach and I remember the rows upon rows of teeth that could easily rip me apart behind his mouth. He can hear the fear in me, I am not without it, but he doesn't pull away. He pushes me back, I hadn't realized I had stood, and I fall into the blankets. I huff but he hums and presses his head against mine.
"You are no killer. You hunt. But you are respectful. You use every piece."
"I do," I say for it's true. Every piece of the hunt has a use. And since my magic lessons with Mara have begun, I find more uses than ever for things I couldn't eat. Things I wouldn't touch.
"You are a good child, Maud." I swallow thickly at his words, a question burning in the back of my throat. Then why was I abandoned? Akan knows me too well, can sense the turmoil in me and he gruffs and pulls me into his paws, also dangerous the thicker than thorns claws underneath are worse than nettle, and his tongue along my dreaded hair. "You said you found me in a cave right?" I ask.
"Mmhmm. By Mara's guidance, I discovered you there. Amazingly without a mother human."
My heart clenches. "And there was nothing around me?"
Akan sighed quietly and nosed my cheek. I felt his cool breath against my skin and pressed against him, his fur almost silky. I knew the answer. Even Mara had stated such. I had never been touched by a mother. I had no milk scent, no mother scent. I had just....appeared.
I push those thoughts away and enjoy the warmth. Despite how chilled it was, even with winter wear, Akan could be rather warm once he settled down. His pale gray fur reminded me of smoke and ash. On his back I caught a glimpse of his trees dying, or rather as he called it hibernating. Their leaves were dark and falling, the stubborn ones that did not move until the sheer force of wind pushed them away.
In our cave we were warm. Akan hated caves for he could not converse as openly with the Herd as he'd like to, especially with Gouran, the Bear spirit. Gouran stays awake through sheer will, murmuring dreams to his descendants. He reminds them of food and fruitful vallies they had crossed, gives safe passage to the mothers of cubs. Akan reminds me most of him though the two are always in dispute. If anything Gouran is like the father of Akan, the way Akan is to me.
Stubborn old fools.
