Page 95 of 80% Beef 20%
Makir gestured us toward the lift tube, and when the four of us arrived at the hovee bay, Sisip—minus the strain around her eyes—stood waiting.
“This rotation’s defeat of the hellsna will make history in Tern, and that’s all because of you and Tuga, Protector JayJay.” The usual flicker in her ears stilled. “I intend to recommend to the mayor and the citizens of Tern the establishment of a protector force. The enforcers will remain responsible for the regular policing, but it’s become clear that if an attack of this nature were to happen again, a military approach would be far more effective.” She stretched on her toes and placed her hand on my shoulder. “And I’ll be recommending you for command.”
My heart, trained to be calm under pressure, almost galloped away.
I swallowed hard.
Do I want that? What if I could go back to Yagras? But Ginger will want to stay close to Geo…
“Oh my God, JayJay,” Ginger whispered.
Sisip squeezed my shoulder before leaving us, her whiskers bobbing atop her smile. “I’ll let you think about it.”
Geo scratched his beard. “I wouldn’t want to lose you for good, but your skills are drastically underutilized as a foreman.”
“You can discuss this later.” Makir bounced on the balls of his feet. “We have something else to show you. A surprise.”
At this point, the idea of a surprise didn’t even register. If Ginger was following Makir, then so was I. Ginger flew us away from the Starry Volcano, her enticing backside nestled against my front. I lifted my face to the sun, its warmth bathing my cheeks.
Afternoon light glinted off the black quartz that jutted from the rocky outcrop as it spread before us. We flew closer, over a structure I’d never seen before. Made of the same adobe-style pink clay as Makir’s dwelling, it perched atop the cliff, overlooking the plateau below. Large slabs of ebony stone meandered through the graneth grass, forming a walkway worthy of my ancestors’ feet.
Once we’d parked next to Makir and Geo, my gaze followed the impressive path. It extended from the dwelling and traveled to the hot spring’s entrance. When I dismounted and stood on the trail, a connection to my ancestors opened and anchored me to the spot. An image of iridescent-skinned Rock Dwellers appeared—my previous guides, nodding in approval.
A hum built inside me, vibrating along my nerves as I reached for Ginger’s hand. A keeper was needed here to preserve ourancestors’ memories. Once my name was cleared, I’d contact Yagras for guidance.
“JayJay?” Ginger’s soft voice broke my trance. My banded wrists throbbed when her hand met mine, even though the nutri-gel gloves had done their job. Geo and Makir looked like they were waiting for someone or something as they moved to the side to give us privacy.
From the arched doorway, Sully, Tino and Sannit emerged. They each bent on one knee, with an arm crossed to the opposite shoulder, heads bowed. Every movement, honed by cent-annums of tradition, reinforced the depths of their respect. A lump built in my throat, and I swallowed hard. My Rock Dweller building crew was honoring me in formal Yagras style.
Memories of working alongside these males flooded my mind, reminding me of the deep bonds we’d formed, and a surge of gratitude overwhelmed me. Only the song of the woodskie soaring overhead broke the silence.
Wide-eyed, Ginger leaned into my side. “What’s going on?”
I coughed to clear my throat and loosen my tongue. Then I bellowed, filling the valley with the elite guard’s call. Sung for a millennium, it gave thanks to the goddess Sola and the ancestors for guiding us to safety. My deep baritone echoed across the plateau, and as my friends joined in, I came to understand that everything I craved in returning to Yagras, I already had here on Tern.
As my song trailed off, Geo’s dogs burst from the dwelling, howling the last notes with me.
Ginger’s voice, pitched much higher than usual, cracked when she crouched low to squish Charz’s and Pika’s cheeks together. “I missed you guys so much.”
Sully stepped forward. “We thank you in the old way for ridding our home of hellsna so that our females and younglings are safe.”
“And future females and younglings.” Sannit grinned. “One day, a female will claim me. Who could deny this shine?” He smoothed one hand over his polished head.
“Bish, it was nothing more than my duty. Any of you, if trained, would have done the same.” Praise, especially formal praise, had never been easy to take, despite the fizzy lightness bubbling through my veins, and I’d already delivered one speech of thanks this rotation. “What is this place?” I asked my crew.
Geo waved his arm toward the dwelling. “We thought it was time you had a place of your own. Sully and I came up with the design, and we all helped with the build.”
“Well?” Makir’s tail flicked in wild, erratic twitches.
“This is for me?” I breathed.
Ginger’s arm wrapped around my waist. “You have a house.” Then, with a hair toss and a cheeky grin, she said, “This better end the whole, ‘if you don’t have a house, you’re not worthy’ nonsense.”
Ginger gave Makir’s long blue braid a playful tug when he hugged her, and Geo snuck in after Makir for one of his own. Then we were alone. In the background, Makir, in full host mode, rounded everyone up.
It hadn’t sunk in yet. My dwelling on Yagras had also overlooked a clifftop. Sully had been there once. The long grass on the plateau below swayed as if alive in the breeze as I struggled with emotion.
I’d been living with my Rock Dweller building crew for over an annum… To have a place to call my own seemed unfathomable. From the smooth pink exterior to the ebony rock pathway to the lush green plants that lined three walls, no matter which way I looked, gratitude overwhelmed me.
