Chapter 474: Ticking Clock - Part 2
KALLE
Kalle was torn.
She stood, mouth open and arms at her sides, on the other side of the bed from where Gahrye was pushing shirts into a bag. He muttered to himself about Elia and how to manage this, but Kalle just stood there and drank in his wide shoulders and strong arms, the V shape of his body as it plunged toward his leathers.
She didn't want him to go. More, she inwardly battled the very idea. She felt nauseous at the images in her mind of saying goodbye. And raging angry. She wanted to stamp her feet and scream at him that it wasn't fair! It wasn't his job! He was her Mate!
But she loved the Anima, too. Without them, she wouldn't have him. Was there any more bittersweet feeling than being desperate to keep these people alive and thriving, and knowing that to do so would mean breaking her own heart?
"Are you… do you have any idea if you'll be able to come back?" she finally found the courage to ask. His story about reading the winds hadn't included any timeframes. Only purposes. Only cautions.
Gahrye shook his head and stopped packing for a moment to drink her in. "I will try. I hope… I pray I can at least visit," he said. "Obviously the role of the Protectors is to make the traverse safe. I… I pray that means I'll need to use it, often. And every time I do… Kalle, you can't leave. You can't give up. I have no idea what we're going to find there, or how long it will take to navigate. But please…" he put the shirts in his hands down in the bag, then circled the bed to come stand in front of her, "don't ever stop waiting for me. Please."
"I won't," she sobbed and buried her face in his chest.
*****
GAHRYE
Their progress was slowed by frequent hugs and pauses to reassure each other with kisses and vows, but soon Gahrye's bag was ready. He had to prepare Elia. He turned to face his mate. "Even if she is giving in, even if she's… not all there. I have to try," he said quietly.
"I'll help."
Which was good. He couldn't bear to let her out of his sight. He took her hand and they crossed the suite to Elia's room where Gahrye didn't even pause, just opened her door and walked into the dim room.
The room smelled musky, the air humid and sticky. The lioness had curled up on the large bed, but she raised her head when they walked in, her eyes bright on them.
Gahrye glanced at Kalle, then turned back to her.
"Elia, I know you're in there. I know you can hear me. I want you to know… it's safe to go back. Safe enough anyway. I checked. And… the winds… we have to go back, Elia. Even if it isn't safe. We have to. All of Anima depends on it."
The beast looked at Kalle, then back to him.
Gahrye sighed. "Kalle has to stay here."
The beast huffed, then smacked her lips twice and Gahrye nodded, he wasn't impressed either. But when she looked back and forth between them, his stomach clenched. Was this Elia reacting, or was the Beast only reacting to Elia? Was he fooling himself that she could even hear him? Was she too far gone already?
He prayed it wasn't so.
"I need you to trust me," he said. "We have to go back. Can you… can you come out? Please? Elia—if you can come out I can take you back to Reth, do you understand."
The lioness went very still and Gahrye tensed. He and Kalle both waited… but nothing occurred.
"Please, Elia," he murmured. "Try. Please. I can get you there safely if you'll just come out. Fight! This is worth fighting for! I can take you to your mate!"
And for once, he truly understood the impact of those words… and hated them in the same breath.
Kalle squeezed his hand, but he couldn't look away from the beast on the bed. "Please."
But she didn't so much as twitch a whisker. And there was no sign of the ripple that would herald the shift and Gahrye's hope began to shrivel.
*****
ELIA
The beast raised her head to watch them enter, the prey that was kin, and the human who knew the heart of the lioness within.
She watched them carefully, no longer threatened, but defense of the one within was important—she carried offspring. There was no risk that belonged only to her.
The other voice inside began to weep, battering at her chest for release, but she resisted. The one inside did not know her own mind. It was not a healthy mind. It would not help the offspring. She was strong. She would help.
The prey spoke in the tones so quick and strange to her—like the birds when they called, only less beautiful. But the other voice inside hung on every sound.
The mate. She sent the smell of the mate. The prey could bring the mate. The lioness huffed. Reunion was beyond necessary. Instinct said it would save the life of the offspring.
Yet the voice within battered at her again, began the calls that meant anger and despair. The lioness became very still. They could bring the mate. The mate would dominate. The mate was needed.
They would bring the mate. Then she could rest. But for now she would sit guard for the offspring, and for the voice within.
They both needed her.
She dropped her chin to her paws, but did not take her eyes from the prey and the human.
The lioness was still uncertain whether the humans were predator or prey. They had the minds of predators, but the strength of prey. She measured each on its own.
These two were safe for the offspring, the voice inside had made that clear from the first day.
Then she huffed a final time.
Bring the mate, prey. That was who was needed here. Bring the mate.
She shook her head, uncertain if he understood.
Foolish prey.
*****
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