Bastial Energy by B. T. Narro Page B

honor to be chosen. However, I fear for Zeti.” Again he surprised himself, though Zoke noticed dread creeping into his voice.
    Doe growled. “No! Vithos chose you, and Zeti can endure on her own as many other Krepps have done.” His black claws began to glow.
    Not another word , Zoke told himself. He turned and found Vithos looking at him with the same dangerous smile in his eyes. Suddenly, everything he’d just heard felt fallacious. Something’s wrong about this…or is Vithos making me feel this way? Doe’s mind was set, though, so there was no point in disagreeing.
    “I understand,” Zoke replied.
    Should I try to find Father to let him know about Zeti? I may as well after another visit myself. At least I know Grayol will help look after her…not that she’s going to let him be much help.
    A small pack of food was thrown to his feet. “This is all you’ll need,” Doe said. “Don’t bring anything else. It’s fashioned to be worn on your back. Meet Vithos here at first light. Haemon and I will then escort you to the edge of the encampment. Endure.”
    “Endure,” Zoke replied subordinately. He skirted any further looks from the Slugari or Vithos and left quickly.

 
     
     
    Chapter 14: Family
    ZOKE
     
    Soon, Zoke was back at his hut and found Zeti with an unexpected visitor. Their father, Ruskir, sat in the corner of the room, sharpening his claws with a rusty hunting knife.
    “You here for more food to wager?” Zoke asked, letting his contempt come out in his tone.
    “That depends. What’s in the bag?” Ruskir answered, keeping one eye on his knife.
    “Nothing for you. I’m leaving with Vithos tomorrow, and this is needed for the trip. We’re looking for the hidden Slugari.”
    “Good. Maybe you’ll actually do well for the tribe and find them.”
    Zoke ignored that. “Will you be here with Zeti tomorrow? I can’t, and she needs someone.”
    Zeti grunted to sit up. “I don’t need anyone.” She carefully placed her feet on the ground and shifted her weight from the bed. She teetered and winced but bent her knees to keep her balance. Like most female Krepps, she wore tough leather pants as well as a short leather shirt that came around her shoulders and cut off at her stomach. There wasn’t much underneath it that needed covering, but that was likely to change in the coming months after her shedding.
    “Look at that, she stands!” Ruskir pointed with his knife. “Zeti is much tougher than you, gurradu . She will be an adult soon and already has many strong suitors.”
    Zeti spat. “Your friends have a better chance of stealing an eppil plant from Doe and Haemon’s garden than being my seshar. ”
    Ruskir put down his knife to admire his newly sharpened claws. “You should reconsider how you feel about these suitors. You don’t know what could happen if you ignore them.”
    “I do know,” Zeti replied. “They’ll fight and bring me gifts until I choose one. But I am not going to choose any of them. They’re all too much like you.”
    Ruskir pounded his fist on the table and stood. “They have power among this tribe, Dentar especially.”
    Zoke shuddered at the thought of Dentar and his sister. It was already irritating enough that the Krepp harassed him on a daily basis, but to come between him and Zeti? Zoke shook his head, rage swelling in his stomach. Luckily, he knew Zeti felt the same way.
    “He’s worse than the rest!” Zeti yelled with a slight wobble. She grabbed on to the bed. “And I don’t care that he’s a weapons trader. I have my bow. That’s all I need.”
    Ruskir stood and pointed a claw. “You think you’re better without a seshar ? You’re not.”
    “I’ll wait three years for my friend Grayol to have his pra durren . He’ll be my seshar .”
    If Father knew her at all, he would realize she was joking , Zoke said to himself. However, at the rate Ruskir was breathing, it was clear their father didn’t.
    “Did you take a blow to the head?