Chapter Eleven – Autumn Warning
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Sarai quickly improved, which was not merely a testament to Thomas’s skill as a Healer, but a remarkable miracle (and, Jared thought, proof of Thomas’s magical abilities). Within weeks she was able to sit at the table, and had begun to fill out with the game that Jared brought every night, and the fruits and supplies that Thomas grew or donated.
As the Mating grew near, and Jared prepared to return to his village for the great Event, she was able to sit on the porch as Autumn quickly approached, and enjoy the waning summer days.
“You must stay the winter, I’m afraid,” Thomas grumbled to the girl, not entirely sure if he was pleased, or foul about the matter. “You won’t be well enough to travel far for several more months, and by then we’ll be nearly snowed in.”
“But where is Jared going?” She demanded, feeling betrayed and alone already because her ‘angel’ was leaving.
“Your pet, darling, has a Vidos life out there,” Thomas said wryly. “He’s a very strong, full-grown male who has never taken a mate, and this year’s Mating is only days away. He’s poised to become Chief of his entire Village.”
“Mating?” She grimaced at the uncouth term.
“The Vidos females…” Thomas sighed heavily, realizing that this was going to require a little bit of explanation. He sat down on the edge of the porch, watching Jared pull his newly-tanned hides from their frames, and prepare his traveling supplies. “First, know this; Vidos do not think of females the same way humans do. Neither the male Vidos, nor the female Vidos. To them, a female is the most valuable thing in life. She cannot be entrusted to any but the most seasoned fighters, older males like Jared who have come into their prime.”
“Prime? Just a moment, I want to know; how old is Jared? I was only four when he rescued me, but he doesn’t look changed.”
“You mean how long do they live?” He smiled with half of his mouth. “Oh, your average Vidos will live a hundred and fifty or so years, a big strong fellow like Jared possibly two.”
“Two hundred years?” She laughed, delighted.
“Vidos are made of stronger stuff than humans. Now listen and stop interrupting.” He cleared his throat, which led to a hacking cough, and a long spit. Living in the wilderness alone for twenty years hadn’t reflected well in his manners. He wiped his mouth on his arm. “Females are always guarded by a male, from the time they come into their time of Mating, or late puberty. Their male will mate with them when they are of age for eggs.”
“By the God,” she muttered, in distaste. “Do you have to be so blunt about it?”
“This is how they speak of it,” he said dryly. “If you ever learn the Vidos tongue, you will have to endure worse than this.”
“May I learn the tongue?” she asked softly of him.
With a hint of a smile, “well, that will give us something to do this winter at least. Now, the female lives in her mate’s cave, and is rarely seen outside but for puttering about the village. Sometimes, groups of females will get together and go hunting in the local area, with a male or two standing guard.”
“It sounds like a rather closely-watched life,” she said darkly.
“To a human, yes. These are not humans. They are more social than we are, they live in great nests and sleep in piles on top of one another, friend or enemy makes little difference. If they all grew up as hatchlings, they will sleep on top of one another like hounds.
“When Autumn sets in, the females of a village all go into heat at once. This is the Mating, the most important time of the Vidos year. From what I hear,” he cackled, purposefully disregarding her sensibilities as a Lady, “the females are voracious. They’ll drag any male into their cave if they can get their hands on them. So their mate has to stand double-duty; both keeping her appeased in the back of the cave, and keeping the other males out, in the front. I hear it’s exhausting.”
“That is barbaric!”
He cracked his knuckles, just getting into it. “Not only that, but who mates what female determines the rank structure in every Vidos settlement. A Chief often mates two, three, even four females, and has to keep them all from escaping the cave during Mating Week. Therefore, he’s the biggest, strongest, best fighter in the village. If he shows even a hint of weakness, another stronger, younger male will try for his cave, fight him down, and take his females. Thereafter, the young male will be Chief, and the old Chief will become something of a relic. An advisor, they tell me, but still, a relic.” He glared at the tree nearest him, as if the plant was accusing himself of being such a relic.
“I don’t think I want to hear more…”
“Jared here is next in line to take his Chief’s cave. Last year, as he told me last night, the Chief almost lost, and all of the males sensed that he had just withstood his final Mating. Tomorrow morning, Jared is going to go back….”
“I can’t hear any more,” she said, painfully getting up, and hobbling back inside the house.
Jared looked around, sensing that she was leaving, and stared longingly at the door like a lost puppy.
Thomas sighed. “Go on, Ja’kh’redd. I was telling her about the Mating, I think she has no stomach for war.”
Jared snorted. “Yes, well, she is a human.”
“Yes, she is. Remember that.” Thomas said the last two words so pointedly that Jared was curious, and looked at him with a lowering of his hawk-like brow.
“What do you mean, old man?”
“The Time of Mating is too close for your thick Vidos-skull to be thinking clearly. I’ve seen you cuddling up to her every night like a lovesick hatchling.”
Jared was shocked. “What?! How could you… how could you suggest that I… T’oma, she is a human!”
“Yes. She is.” He got up, glared at Jared, spat, and went inside after the girl.
Jared stared at the door, shocked, his mouth slightly ajar. Perhaps it wouldn’t have shocked him so much if Thomas hasn’t been right.