Page 15 of Claimed By the Krijese

The basin on the table is filled with clean water and the leather cloth next to it is folded neatly. I didn’t really need to wash like I told Kala, since I took a bath in the river this morning and haven’t done anything strenuous to get dirty. It had just been an excuse to get away. Once I’d recovered from my initial fear, the wariness lingered, even though Kala was pleasant enough.

Recalling the intensity in which he studied me makes me fidget in discomfort. My entire life I’ve been stared at, whispered about, openly talked about without shame, but no one has ever made me as acutely aware of myself and ofthemas Kala. And now I get to spend the next hour or more sitting near to him and Sorin. The unease is already settling in my gut.

Not wanting to be rude by making them wait, I quickly dip the cloth in the water and swipe my face and the back of my neck. Some of the excess water I hadn’t been able to squeeze out runs along the length of my spine making it itch. I try scratching it, but it’s in one of the tricky spots I can’t quite reach. Instead, I rub against one of the wood support beams and let loose a sigh of satisfaction.

“You in here, Iris?” A woman’s voice calls out and she slaps on the hide of the tent like she’s knocking.

“Be right there.” I toss the cloth onto the table and swing away the door flap.

Astrid stands on the other side. “Evren and I wanted to invite you to sit with us for the evening meal.”

Of all the human women in the Tavikhi village, she’s been the most welcoming and has tried to encourage a friendship between us. Not that the rest aren’t friendly, but the shefira, Remi, Zara, Maeve, and Sage tend to stick together most times. Which isn’t surprising, considering they all became friends on the flight from Earth to Tavikh. Well, except Sage. She’d already been here when the four others arrived. Abby is nice enough as well, but she says herself she’s not really a people person.

“Thank you, but I already accepted an invite from someone else.”

Astrid perks up in the genuine bubbly way she has. “That’s wonderful. Who?”

I hesitate. “Kala and Sorin.”

Her wide smile doesn’t falter in the slightest and I love the fact she’s no longer self-conscious about her top two front teeth being crooked like she said she once was.

“I didn’t realize they were in the village today. Sorin is the sweetest, isn’t he?” Astrid cants her head and her forehead wrinkles. “Wait. How do you know them? You’ve only been here for a few days.”

My cheeks grow warm. “I was in the training arena with the kids when Talek brought Sorin down so they could all practice axethrowing. They wrangled me into trying once and I nearly fell on my ass. Kala caught me before I hit the ground.”

Astrid sighs and her entire body sort of melts when she crosses her hands over her heart. “Awww, that’s so romantic.”

I stare at her. “Romantic? You heard me say Kala, right? The terrifying alien who used to murder humans and Tavikhi apparently.”

She waves me off. “That was ages and ages ago. Besides, people do what they have to to survive. Their previous actions shouldn’t be held against themifthey regret their choices, are truly bone-deep sorry, and make amends. Kala and Sorin have been nothing but loyal friends to us. He’s helped our people in more ways than I can count.”

I rear back at the passionate defense Astrid takes on behalf of the Krijese.“Kala’s clearly made a good impression on you.”

She winces. “Sorry. I just know what it’s like to be lonely and desperate for someone to see deeper to the real person that’s hidden behind the preconceived notions and opinions of other people as well as any past misdeeds. Especially ones that are truly regretted.”

It’s my turn to flinch, because she’s summed up my entire life in a single sentence. I’m not sure even I can admit to the depths of my loneliness. People look at me and rarely, if ever, try to see beyond what’s on the surface. To be guilty of the same thing is hypocritical of me.

“You’re right. It’s not fair to judge anyone before I get to know them. If anyone should know better, it’s me. The entire interaction with Kala, after the initial shock, was…well, he did his best to appear non-threatening.” I’d been surprised by howgently he held my hand during the handshake lessons. His palm had been slightly rough, but not unpleasant. It was the skin of someone who worked a lot with his hands.

Astrid nods. “Kala’s a little gruff, but that’s because it’s all he’s known. It’s how the Krijese are taught. Sorin is different, because his father is doing his best to be different and to raise him in the way he wasn’t. I think it’s admirable.”

Now I feel even worse about how I reacted to Kala, especially when all he did was keep me from bruising not only my tailbone, but my pride. Although, I still wouldn’t call what he did romantic. It was…kind, though.

“All right, you’ve made your point.” I smile to take out any of the harshness of my words. “Kala and Sorin are friends and it will be nice to sit with them for the meal.”

Astrid grins back. “Yes, it will. Which means we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

I step out and let the hide door slap closed behind me so we can start for the central fire. “Kala offered to teach me how to properly throw an axe. Talek then suggested I could use my skills and go hunting with them.”

She side-eyes me. “Oh, really? What did you say?”

“I said it was a ridiculous idea for me to become a hunter and that I would be better off finding some other way to contribute to the village. You know Talek, though. He’s innocently positive and couldn’t see any reason I can’t be a hunter like Remi and Abby.” I did also promise Kala I’d think about it before making a final decision.

“What’s so ridiculous about it?” A wrinkle appears between Astrid’s brows. “I’m with Talek on this one.”

My steps falter a second before I catch my balance. Is this an alternate universe I’m living in? Of course, I didn’t take Talek’s assurances too seriously because, well, he’s a child. But now Astrid appears to be championing this idea that I could potentially become a hunter?

“You’re kidding, right?”

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