Of Fire and Fury (Book 1: Light-Born Series)

Chapter 8 - Stone

The Omari teepees were built with the same material as the Napua. Long narrow tree trunks stretched up and tied in a point at the top, large elk skins were sewn together and attached to the wood to keep out the wind. It was twelve paces across, large enough for the raised bed where Rabid slept soundly, a small fire that centered underneath the top flap that could be opened to release smoke, and an entire wall of their mixed personal belongings. Because the teepee was new, there were no animal skulls or decorative beads, save for the eagle feathers that hung just inside the tent flap—a symbol of Stone’s father and Stone’s standing.

Stone lay on the ground where he had pulled a few of the skins to form a small soft spot. Unlike Rabid, who passed the night in dreams spun by the excess of fermented drink, the morning came slowly for Stone. His eyes were gritty from lack of sleep, his body ached from a long night of laying on the ground. He couldn’t stop his thoughts this night, and even more than usual they had kept him from rest. At their union celebration, Fox had cornered him. She was angry, of course, and demanded explanation. But how could he even explain it? How could he tell her the Great One had spoken, and he had to obey? And for the other matter she had suggested… but no. Stone shook his head to clear the temptation.

Rabid stirred under the skins of their bed, drawing his attention. He eyed her wild hair, splaying out in knots across the bed. She groaned slightly and rolled over.

“I told you not to drink too much.” He said, trying to keep any irritation from his voice. Rabid forced one eye slightly open, squinting at him. She closed it again and took a deep breath.

“My head hurts.” She mumbled.

“I expect so. Last time I drank that much I couldn’t stand in the sun without vomiting.” Stone replied.

“Please don’t mention vomit.” She said wearily. Stone bit back a smile.

“Here, drink some water.” He grabbed the cup he had prepared the night before and gently pushed it to her lips. After she drank a bit, Rabid opened one eye again.

“Where am I?” she said, pushing herself up and running her fingers through her loose hair. The tie to her braid had fallen out sometime during the night, and without it her thick hair fell past her waist and onto the bed. She looked even more wild than normal, and it set Stone’s heart pounding. He was unable to stop his eyes from flicking quickly over her body. Then he cleared his throat, pushing temptation away.

“You’re home.” He said, and handed her the cup of water. 

With what looked like intense effort, Rabid opened both her eyes and looked around the teepee. Her eyes travelled along the walls until they fell on Stone’s face.

“Are you angry?” she said, her voice sounding small as her eyes dropped to the water in her hands.

“You’ll feel horrible enough, you don’t need any punishment from me.” Stone said, tapping her cup so that she took another sip of water.

“I sort of… liked it.” Rabid said, her cheeks turning red.

“Many have gone searching in that drink.” Stone said, seriously. “Is there something you were looking for?”

Rabid was still staring at the cup in her hands, as if her memory was failing her. Finally, she sighed and said,

“I am not welcomed here.” 

“You will be.” Stone replied, forcing confidence into his voice that he himself did not feel. Rabid drummed her fingers along the edge of her cup.

“Who was that girl?” she asked suddenly. There was a long silence as Stone studied her, thinking. He had assumed she was too drunk to notice. The fact that she wasn’t made him feel a stab of guilt.

“Her name is Fox.” He said.

“Who is she?” Rabid asked.

“She is… you, I suppose, in another life.” He said. Then, seeing her eyes darkening, he hurried to explain. “She had expected us to marry. Last night, she picked a fight about the fact that I returned from a council meeting with you.”

“She expected?” Rabid’s voice was smooth, as if she intentionally left out all the emotion she was feeling. But her feelings were clear in the way she shifted uncomfortably and glanced to the floor.

“If things were different, I might have as well. But…” Stone took a deep breath and blew it out loudly, unsure how to explain. “Fox was just a small part of my life, she never had all of me. I don’t think we would have been happy together for long.”

“What do you mean?”

“She was easy to care for because she was around. But, I didn’t love her, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Stone shrugged, studying the side of Rabid’s face as she mulled this over.

Rabid drew a shaky breath, but swallowed more water rather than respond.

“Rabid.” he said quietly. She refused to look up at him, so he said it more firmly. “Rabid, you don’t have to worry about anything.”

“Yes, I’m sure Fox and I will become very close, just as I will be welcomed into your tribe.” She said cynically. Stone sighed and sat next to her. His heart hurt at her words. Was that normal? He had never felt it before. Finally, Rabid met his eyes.

“Whatever happens, I will not bring shame to you.” He said, trying to reassure her.

“What does that mean?” Rabid said, her dark eyes squinting dangerously.

“I won’t lay with her.” Stone said, as if it were obvious. To be fair, it was to him: it wasn’t uncommon to the Omari. But to Rabid, the words made her eyes widen in dismay. 

“I didn’t realize that was an option.” She whispered, her face dropping.

“Well, clearly blunt honesty is not the best policy here.” Stone sighed, embarrassed. He rubbed his forehead with one hand.

“No, no. I appreciate your honesty.” She said waving her hand. “I just… we don’t… the Napua don’t do that. We are not… free like that.”

“Of course, I forgot.” Stone shook his head at his own foolishness. “You pledge yourselves to one person for life.”

“One person, only.” Rabid emphasized. An awkward silence fell between them.

“It seems I still have a lot to learn of the Napua way.” Stone said, feeling like an i***t. Rabid studied him for a moment.

“When we join bodies, we join souls.” she said slowly, as if she didn’t want to say it, but had to. “We… we become one. That’s not something you do with just anyone.”

Her eyebrows furrowed, as if the thought gave her physical pain.

“Well.” Stone sighed, shifting uncomfortably. “I guess it’s good that I haven’t.”

“What?” Rabid yelped, covering her hand with her mouth to stifle a laugh. Her face had nearly turned the color of the red Omari face paint. Stone focused on his feet rather than meet her gaze. She tilted her head to the side slightly, studying him.

“Why not?”

“Something always held me back.” Stone sighed. It was the truth. Much to Fox’s dismay. It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to, but something deep inside him always made him evade her. Even the night before, when she made it clear that she didn’t care if he was wed to another, her offer felt wrong. Now, he guessed, it was the voice of the spirits, holding him back, telling him to wait for Rabid. 

As soon as the thought came, he pushed it away. That couldn’t be right—Rabid didn’t even want him, not like that. She had made it abundantly clear that she would have stayed with her people rather than marry him. He clenched his jaw slightly, for some reason the thought made a flicker of anger bloom to life in his chest. Stone closed his eyes, steadying his breathing until he regained control. After a long moment of thick tension passed, Rabid’s voice broke the silence.

“What are we now, if not truly wed?”

“Hm.” Stone said, thinking for a moment, staring into her beautiful, dark eyes. “I suppose we are very unlikely friends.”

Rabid smiled down into her cup.

“That reminds me.” Stone said, standing and heading toward the door. “I’ll be right back.”

He stepped out into the morning sunshine, the warmth hitting his skin. He went to the storage barrels just outside their teepee, already filled with food by his kinsman. He rummaged through the barrels, finding good things to eat and placing them on a plate. Then, he grabbed the small satchel he had hidden the night before and stepped back inside the tent.

When he was back inside, Rabid had her eyes closed, a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead. He knew she must feel close to death with the amount she drank; especially, because it was her first time drinking it. Hiding the small parcel behind his back with one hand, he cleared his throat. Her eyes flickered open immediately.

“Let’s eat something.” He said, sitting beside her on the bed.

“What is that?” Rabid asked as he slid the gift behind him on the bed.

“Food first.” He said, holding back a smile. The next few moments passed in silence as both of them savored the expertly spiced food. Rabid let out a contented sigh and leaned back against the skins, he knew the warmth of the food would calm the ache inside her head. Then, she turned to watching Stone expectantly. Finally he pulled the white cloth parcel out from behind him and held it out. Rabid snatched it excitedly, slipping the cloth off with a grin.

“It’s beautiful!” she breathed, as she stared at the dream catcher in her hands. It was just big enough to fit into her two palms, the wooden loop wrapped artfully in thin white rope. The blue and white beads she had worn in her hair on their wedding night clung to the web of twine in the center. Varying lengths of white rope cascaded from the bottom, holding tiny white feathers that fluttered against Rabid’s palms.

She held it to her chest and gazed up at Stone with a grin. The sight almost made his head explode.

“Thank you.” She whispered. Stone looked away, slightly embarrassed. He wasn't going to tell her that it was customary for an Omari man to give his wife. It was for her to remember that he would always chase the darkness away. He would—despite the fact that they were little more than strangers with a vow between them. The thought made his heart clench suddenly. 

Ignoring the feeling, he took the dreamcatcher back and stood on the bed, tying the top loop to one of the beams that held up the ceiling, so that it would dangle just over Rabid’s head when she slept at night.

“I want you to find a home here.” He said, seriously, unable to look at her though he felt her eyes on him.

“Well then, will you help me unpack all my things?” Rabid asked, waving her hand to the various skins piled against the wall. Stone nodded, and they got to work.