Page 7 of A Winter Crush
“True, but that doesn’t explain why you are taking it all on a trip to the village. I assume you’re planning to come back sometime today?” Aunty Yelan said. “It’s a lot for a single day.”
“I made a friend in the village. A human named Sariah. I promised to bring her dried ellfish.”
For a second, his aunties didn’t speak. He glanced towards them and saw them exchanging looks.Oh no!
“A friend?” Aunty Suroth asked, eyes bright.
“Oh, I remember Solstice gifts!” Aunty Lela said with excitement. “When we were younglings, we used to give them to the humans during the Solstice season.”
“And you are giving her, thisfriend,a Solstice gift?” Aunty Suroth asked.
“But ellfish is not so romantic, Ori,” Aunty Lela said, shaking her head. “I remember that Solstice berries are traditionalandromantic. A you need a red bow! So they know it’s a Solstice gift.” She turned to Aunty Suroth. “I remember these things.”
“We should go find some!” Aunty Suroth clapped her hands together. “I’ve never found a Solstice gift before.” Aunty Suroth hadn’t grown up in the valley, and as a result, she hadn’t played with humans as a youngling or learned to speak the human tongue. She did like the idea of Solstice gifts, a human tradition.
“She is married and has a child,” Ori said in a rush, knowing the way his aunties’ minds worked. “I think she is also expecting.”
“And are they looking for anyone else?” Aunty Suroth asked.
“Ori, you would be so good as a father!” Aunty Lela said. She turned to her partners. “Can’t you just picture Ori holding a baby? Oh, Ori.” She smiled, and her eyes glistened. “Mila found a human man in the village, and they are married now and have children. She is very happy.”
“But do you think you would be all right living in the village, Ori? Humans are not so good in the caves. Not long-term and not in the winter,” Aunty Suroth said. “If you have human younglings, you must be careful with them. They are so fragile. They can’t handle the cold. Or see very well. They might hurt themselves in the caves! Or at night!”
It was hard to get a word in as his Aunty Lela and Aunty Suroth talked rapidly. Although, Aunty Yelan wasn’t talking, just watching him as the other two discussed his future relationship with a woman he had no interest in.
“The village is not so far away. Even if you live there, we will see you often,” Aunty Suroth said. “You must visit us all the time. And we will visit you. And Liney will come too! I’m sure your brother would be a great uncle to the human younglings.”
“Years ago, as younglings, we’d play with the humans,” Aunty Lela said. “But the oread and human younglings don’t play together like that anymore.” She paused. “I wonder why.” She smiled. “Maybe once Ori starts bringing the human younglings to the valley and Liney starts visiting the village, it will change. Make it like it was.”
“You should bring your friend some dried hakellbet leaves,” Aunty Suroth said. “Sinoe should have some. He always keeps some in his cave. Then give them to your friend and tell her to make tea with it if she experiences nausea. That always helps. Oh! That could be your Solstice gift.”
“I don’t think they are looking for anyone!” Ori blurted.
Not that he knew anyway. And he wasn’t sure if triads were that common with humans, not like they were with oreads. But it didn’t matter anyway; he wasn’t interested in Sariah.
“Oh,” Aunty Suroth said, the excitement and joy fading from her voice as her shoulders slumped.
“Maybe a different human in the village…,” Aunty Lela said.
Ori almost considered telling them about Wareth, but he didn’t want to get their hopes up when the man wasn’t interested. And if he told them, they’d no doubt turn up at the pottery with a sudden need for pots, plates, jugs, and cups. Considering Wareth wasn’t particularly warm towards Ori, the three older oreads descending on him wouldn’t help his suit.
“It would be nice for you to find someone, Ori,” Aunty Suroth said. “You’ve been so good, ever since your parents left the earth. Even though you were still a youngling yourself, you always watched over your brother. So serious. So responsible.” Her eyes glistened. “It would be nice to see you happy, with someone to care and look after you.”
“I’m sure it would be nice.” He toed the dirt with his feet, avoiding their eyes.
“But it isn’t always easy to find someone,” Aunty Yelan said.
“Perhaps you should travel,” Aunty Lela said. “There are many oreads throughout the mountains. That’s how Yelan and I found Suroth.” She smiled affectionately at her partners.
“I wouldn’t want to leave Liney,” Ori said. “What if he needs me?”
“Your brother is doing well, Ori,” Aunty Lela said. “I’m sure he would be fine if you went travelling for a while. He would want you to be happy.”
“And of course, we are always looking after him,” Aunty Yelan said. “You don’t need to be so worried for him.”
“I’ll think about it,” Ori said. But even as he said it, he knew he wouldn’t leave the valley. What if something happened to Liney whilst he was away? He couldn’t risk it. “I should get going. I’ll see you all this evening.” He left the cave, and his aunties called out their goodbyes as he walked away, carrying the ellfish over his shoulder.
He wished it were easy to find someone to build a life with, to find someone to take care of him, but even if he did travel, not many oreads his age were keen to settle down. Many still just found new lovers as they went from place to place. But he wanted someone steady. Someone constant. Someone safe. Someone like Wareth.
