Loss - Part 6

Fey'qua'ri felt a profound sense of relief as he set a bowl of seared meat down beside Shre'ka and the young cub immediately plucked up a chunk. Sinking her needle-like cub teeth into the charred flesh with obvious relish, and juice spilling down her tiny chin, the youngster's appearance was so endearing, the shaman smiled. He couldn't help but reach over to gently tousle her hair. But when he did so, Shre'ka ducked away from the attempted touch, her little ears flattening slightly.

Affecting indifference, not wanting to let on her behavior hurt him more than he cared to admit, the Sa'uuk Mo'at drew back his hand, picking up a piece of grilled meat for himself as well. Miffed, he bit into the meat with a snap of his teeth, trying to keep his ears from twitching as frustration rose within him once more. He had thought he was making progress! Shre'ka was finally eating. True to her word, she now ate food when he brought it. The child seemed obedient enough and she responded when he spoke to her, albeit with an almost painful brevity. The cub was even using the bedding he had put down for her. But in spite of all that, her manner towards him remained cool and aloof at best.

Breathing a gusty, exasperated sigh, Fey'qua'ri decided to meditate instead of allowing his little foster furball to get under his skin. Settling himself, the shaman closed his eyes to clear his thoughts, backing his ears when the she-cub remained foremost in his mind. If only she would leave his thoughts in peace as well as she seemed intent on leaving him in peace in actuality. He wondered how her parents, Syr'nat and Ya'lan, had gone about raising her. Concentrating on them, he began to see them very clearly in his mind. And as he calmed himself, feeling the ebb and flow of Sa'uuk as it moved and swirled about him, he became more and more aware of their voices, his dwelling and the village falling away as he drifted along sa'uuk's current.

Shre'ka sat licking the juice of the savory meat from her paws, giving the Sa'uuk Mo'at an occasional furtive glance. He was doing it again! Sitting there so strange and quiet and still. She knew he wasn't sleeping, he had told her that much before at least, but she still didn't know exactly what he was doing. She sniffed in disdain, turning her head away, determined to ignore the old shaman. It didn't matter what he was doing! She didn't care! So what if she had to stay with him? So what if she was bound to eat the food he brought her? That didn't mean she had to like him! Or care what he did!

Her thoughts fanned the flames of her cubish anger and she growled. Fey'qua'ri shushed her. "Quiet, cub. I want to hear them."

Shre'ka's ears pricked forward in surprise, turning to look at him. "Who?" she blurted, before she could stop herself.

"Your parents," the Sa'uuk Mo'at answered.

Shre'ka's ears fell. Tears sprang to her eyes and her little chin trembled. Her tiny chest puffed in outrage as she stood up bristling, her diminutive hands clenching into fists. "You should not say such things!" she cried, stomping her foot. "My parents are dead! They are gone! You can not hear them!"

Fey'qua'ri kept his eyes closed, willing himself to ignore her outburst. "Yes, I can," he replied mildly.

Shre'ka's face screwed up into a furious scowl. She snarled, but it came out more like a sob. "No, you can't! No one can!"

The Sa'uuk Mo'at turned his head and regarded her. "Yes, I can," he responded firmly. "And you can, too," he continued, pinning her with a stern stare, "if you will learn to quiet your heart and mind and listen!"

So saying, Fey'qua'ri returned to his meditations, leaving the little cub staring at him uncertainly, her ears back. Finally she sat back down, trying to mimic the way he was sitting and holding his hands. She glanced up at his face doubtfully, certain he was playing some sort of cruel prank on her, then gave a resigned sigh and closed her eyes.

Nothing happened right away. She smirked to herself. She knew it! The mean, old Sa'uuk Mo'at was playing tricks! She should have known better! It was silly to think he or she or anyone else could talk to her parents!

Just the mention of them made grief swell up in her throat, closing it off, making her feel as if she couldn't breathe. She could see them plainly, her mother's beautiful dark green eyes and bright golden fur, her father's handsome face, russet fur and deep azure eyes, their faces happy and smiling. She smiled as well, seeing them thusly, even as tears slipped down her face. Oh, how she missed them!

There is no need for tears, little one.

Shre'ka's ears pricked. That was her mother's voice! She gasped, emitting a happy little mew as she felt a gentle warmth like the sun on a soft spring day wrap around her. She became aware of another presence, strong, but no less gentle, and infinitely comforting.

Daughter.

Ma'van'tan! Ma'van'te!

Yes.

Shre'ka reached out to them along the eddies and currents of Sa'uuk moving about her, gasping when their spirits entwined with hers.

We are with you, cubling. Remember, we are bound together forever through Sa'uuk. You are not alone for we are here...always.

Shre'ka came back to herself slowly, reluctant to return to the here and now of Fey'qua'ri's dwelling. When she opened her eyes, she found the Sa'uuk Mo'at still sitting there, watching her quietly.

"I saw my parents," she told him. "We talked."

Fey'qua'ri nodded with a slight smile. "So you believe me now?"

Shre'ka thought about that for a long moment. Finally she dipped her ears in apology and nodded. "Yes, Sa'uuk Mo'at, I believe you. I'm sorry I didn't before." She scuffed a foot in the dirt, then glanced shyly up at him. "Thank you for teaching me this."

Fey'qua'ri looked at her. "To be honest, young one, I wasn't sure if I could. Only a few of our People can learn the ways of Sa'uuk." He grinned at her startled expression. "I myself am only beginning to understand why Sa'uuk has brought the two of us together. What you have just experienced is but one aspect of Sa'uuk's power. There are many, many other things to learn. If you are willing, young one, I will teach you."

Shre'ka gazed solemnly at the Sa'uuk Mo'at. Finally, her childish face looking ever so serious, she nodded.

Fey'qua'ri smiled, leaning forward to pat her gently on the shoulder.

And this time, Shre'ka did not pull away.

To be continued...