Page 38 of Captured By The Alien Barbarian
The muscles on his back flex with each of his movements, drawing my eye. It gives me a delightful view of his rather strange—but quickly appreciated—tail and his thick thighs.
“Hey Taccit. Why doesn’t your back have your markings?”
Taccit sighs, grabs a bag, and saunters over to me. I attempt to wiggle over to give him space, but instead, he easily scoops me up. He plops down cross-legged on the ground, leaning against the rock, and gingerly sets me in his lap.
“I have no markings on my back because I have no tribe members to put them there.”
“I thought your markings were like... natural. Not placed. You said they appeared when you found me.” A touch of anxiety swells within me. He had hinted that his markings signified he had found his mate... me. Did he fib about my mate status?
Taccit kisses the scowl forming between my brows. “The ones on my arms are my mating marks.” He raises an arm to show me the intricate design, twisting to flaunt the swirls.
“These markings on my chest display my tribe and some of my achievements, like which weapon I have mastered, or my first kill.”
My fingers trace the markings decorating his pecs and shoulders. Upon closer inspection, they are indeed distinct. The shapes are more angular and less swirly, the colors subdued, and the edges not as crisp. They remind me of faded tattoos.
“I did these myself,” Taccit’s voice is soft and somber in my ear. “This one shows my axe, my preferred weapon. It’s all I have left from my father. I took the weapon with me when I left, even though I probably should have left it behind. This one here was made by him when I made my first kill.”
Sure enough, now that he points out the axe, I recognize the two shapes mingling within the pattern. I wonder how I ever missed it.
“You miss them, don’t you? Have you considered going back to talk to them?”
Taccit hands me something the size of my hand, dark and skinny. It’s meat jerky. I accept his offering and nibble on it, delighted by the smoky taste.
“I miss them every day,” Taccit says. “It’s even tougher when my brothers hunt the same territory as me. I often spot them from afar. Sometimes when hunting is rough, I leave them extra kills in a place where they will find it. They have more mouths to feed than I do.”
“You have brothers? Older, younger, or...” I let the question hang, not wanting to pry. Talking about my sister and family that I willingly left behind still stings. And I left willingly.
My curiosity is piqued, though. For some kooky reason, I had this mental image of Taccit being an only child. I would love to hear some hilarious stories about his childhood antics. I bet he was quite the adorable little mischief-maker.
“I have two younger brothers; Zoran and Balroth. Zoran was really small last I saw him. He was always so stubborn. If he set his heart on something, like swiping fermented makla juice from our progenitors, nothing could stop him. Then there’s Balroth, the second born. He’s...” Taccit pauses, searching for the words, before letting out a little chuckle. “I almost want to say that he was too soft. He has a big heart and it would often get him into trouble. Yet somehow, it was always him also getting us out of trouble.”
I give Taccit a hug when I see his eyes mist over, lost in bittersweet memories. His arms envelop me, holding me close, while his thumb gently caresses my knee beneath the cozy blanket we share.
“Are you truly alone out here? You don’t see anyone?”
Taccit snorts. “Hardly! I can’t survive entirely alone. I do trade with some other clans, even if it is frowned upon by the elders. But the risks are less for me—I have no real goods or females to protect.” He glances down at me, pondering. “Well, until now, that is.”
I suddenly realize how self-centered I’ve been. I’ve been so immersed in my own problems that Taccit’s issues haven’t even crossed my mind. Now, I’m completely dependent on him. He’s juggling the fallout from both of our lives at the same time.
“I am due to meet one of the other tribe members for a trade. You could come. I’m sure there are things you must want, and you’ll be able to request them for the next meeting,” he says hesitantly, as if questioning whether it’s a bright idea.
My eyes light up. “I would like that. When can we go?”
“The meeting spot isn’t too far from here. We can set off tomorrow. Considering your, um, leisurely walking pace, we’ll be back by nightfall.”
Not far away? That stroll sounds like quite the trek! And did he just call me slow? It’s not my fault I was born as a tiny human compared to him.
The prospect of meeting Taccit’s friends, even if they aren’t from his immediate family, fills me with a mix of excitement and anxious butterflies. Especially given the way he talks about the tribes not getting along.
“Are you sure it’ll be safe?”
“None would dare attack me. I am the strongest here,” Taccit winks and smirks, shifting his body to show off his best profile. Then, in an all too human-like manner, he flexes his gigantic bicep like a body-builder for maximum effect. I burst out laughing at his antics.
“Stay here by the fire,” Taccit instructs as he shifts me gently off of his lap. “I will fetch you clean clothes, and your feet coverings, from the cave.”
“My..? Oh, you have my shoes!” Well, they would have been handy when I tried my escape. And when I decided to leave the cave this morning. I’ll have to find out where he stashed them.
Taccit saunters off, his long strides covering vast distances effortlessly. His walk appears so casual, but I know I’d have to practically sprint to keep up with him. Yeah, so compared to him, I might be slow.
