Somewhere between Celina's kind welcome and the warmth of her lingering as she departed, Hutch became lost to a memory. He could hear Kahala, as clear as he'd heard Celina, whispering, "Welcome home," in his ear.
"I missed you," he replied, smiling as Kahlala set her hand to his cheek.
He'd been gone all day, helping the men of the tribe with harvesting reeds from the lake to the south. He'd barely managed to make it inside, when Kahlala leapt on him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and legs around his waist.
"I know. But I missed you even more," she replied, locking her ankles behind his back as he kicked the door closed behind them. "I just got you back four days ago! I can't believe he had the nerve to ask you to go with him to the lake."
"I'm still a member of this tribe, Lala. It's my duty to help where I can," he replied, hoisting her up, so it was easier for him to carry her into the bedroom of their home, as he needed to change out of his dampened cloths.
"And you are only on leave for two weeks. These are supposed to be my two weeks."
Hutch chuckled as he climbed onto the bed and laid her down.
"The war is over now," he replied, as she pouted up at him, her fingers working their way through the lacing of his shirt. "You can come with me when I go back to Qor'ropi. Cascel's already arranged for us to have our apartment back while we are there."
"I like it here better."
"So do I," he said as she lifted his shirt, forcing it up over his head. "What are you doing?"
"Helping you change. You smell of the lake water, and your pants are still damp," she remarked, tossing his shirt to the floor. "Besides, I told you that I missed you."
"And I'm supposed to be bringing you back to the longhouse to help the Kopi'ama sort the reeds we harvested."
"They will still be working well after I'm done with you," Kahlala stated, pulling Hutch down, before rolling him onto his back.
"Fair point," he said, as she straddled his waist, her hands pressed against his chest.
Setting his hands over hers, her fingers, long and slender, tapped against his skin.
"And it's far more important that I check you over for any signs of injury."
"I didn't get hurt."
She didn't listen. Lifting his hands, she started with his fingertips, examining his nails, palms, and wrists. Dropping his right arm, she focused on his left, working her way up his arm to his elbow, placing tiny kisses about his limb as she went.
"This is completely unnecessary," he commented, even though he wasn't protesting her actions.
"Isn't it?" she piped up, looking at him rather sternly. Dropping his arm back to his chest, she scowled. "What in Diachinak's name do you think I would do without you, Hutch? There are oozula and mantang in those waters. If you don't die outright from the one grabbing and eating you alive, the other will just drag you under and hold you down until you drown, and no one would have seen it happen. And even worse than them, what if the conchon were late to migrate? The others might survive, but their venom would be more than enough to kill you. You aren't like us, and father knows this."
"Exactly, he knows. That's why you don't need to worry so much," he said, attempting to console her. Sitting up, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, kissing at her brow. "Ghan'dono wouldn't have let me in the water if it wasn't safe."
With a huff, she pushed him back down to the bed. "That water is never truly safe. Don't you even try…" she pursed her lips as he offered up his other arm to her.
"You haven't checked this side yet."
She growled, out of frustration, and took his arm. "I think you have learned nothing, and then you show me you understand. You should skip the first part."
"What would be the fun in that?" he questioned with a silly grin. "Back on Earth, there were similar beasts, far from where I grew up, called Hippopotamus."
"Hippo-"
"Pot."
"Pot. Hippo-pot."
"A-mus."
"A moose. Hippo-pot-a-moose." She giggled. "What a stupid name for a creature."
"Laugh all you want; a hippo is just as dangerous as an oozula. They're a bit on the smaller side, despite the very uncanny resemblance, but they are known to be just as aggressive. And the Mantang, those are like a type of shark, and the conchon, would be a jellyfish, called the man'o'war. I think it's a jellyfish. Anyways, they are all very dangerous."
"Then you know the dangers and you still agreed to go with," she said, leaning down against him. "Why do you make me worry?"
"I couldn't say no. Not to Ghan'dono," he replied, as she rested her head against his shoulder. "If not for him, I wouldn't have you."
She groaned and kissed his shoulder. "Foolish man," she whispered, her hair sweeping over his skin as she turned her head and kissed at his neck. "I am the one who choose you for myself. You belong to me. Your obligation is to me, as mine is to you. Do not forget in whose bed you sleep, xalgon. I forgave you the last time you left, because I understood why you delayed in telling me of your post. But leave me without a word, and I will curse you to suffer alone until you come back and beg me to release you. So, it is in your best interest to let me do as I please."
"I can't argue with that logic, my beautiful wife," he replied, gently kissing her forehead. "I am at your mercy."
"Do not call me wife," she whispered, pressing her fingers to his lips. "I don't like it. I am not this. I am more. I am your xalgar and you my xalgon. I will never see your world. Be of your world. You will never have a wife. You do not have one now. We are bound under Diachinak. Only he can ever truly part us."
"You're right. You are my beautiful xalgar and I am your dimwitted xalgon. I'm sorry."
"As you should be. Do not forget again," she replied, before sharing with him a tender kiss. "Although I am not loath to remind you, if for no other reason than to see the color of your cheeks change."
"Well, I happen to find your threats to be very flattering."
"It is no threat, Hutch," she told him, her eyes clear and focused on his, the tempo of her voice, calm, and serine. "Do not leave me. You are not allowed. I do not permit it."
"Okay," he replied as he swept back her hair, tucking it behind her ear, "I won't. Not on purpose anyways."
Leaning forward, she set her lips to his once again. Soft, deep, and lingering. And when they parted, she gently swept the tip of her nose against his. "If not on purpose, promise to find your way back to me."
"I promise. Nothing will stop me from finding my way back to you."
Kahlala was a vision of beauty to him, the way she smiled at his promise. The whimsical tiny cheer, she gave as if she'd won a small trophy to place on their mantal, broke the tension of the moment, and filled their home with a shared laughter and delight. Leaping off the bed, he watched her dance about, singing about how he made his promise, and their god, Diachinak would hold him to it. And he remembered that feeling of her warmth and the way it began to fade the moment she had left him.
Seeing the way Celina behaved with Casimir had sparked a painful reminder of why he was there; of the promise he had once made and revitalized his determination to do whatever had to be done. For as long as it took, he would be the perfect guest. Follow proper etiquette. Use impeccable manners. Treat Casimir's family as if they were his own, perhaps better in some cases. He would tuck away his lingering dislike for Salvador the King, and cling to Casimir that presented himself as the Cascel he once knew to be his friend. Even if that meant lying to himself and everyone else around him to make it happen.
Taking a breath, he forced a gentle smile and relaxed his shoulder. "Wow, thank you for that warm welcome, Celina," he said, turning his attention to Clara who had been silent in her approach.
Seeing her again, this time in cotton pants and a black, wool sweater over a white tank top, with her hair down, Hutch could finally admit that she was in fact, more on par with Kahlala than he'd first realized.
"Welcome back, Dad," she said, moving over to Casimir and giving him a big hug. "Did you bring me back anything?"
"Have I ever forgotten?" he replied, holding up the gift bag. "There's something in there for both of you."
"Mine!" Celina exclaimed, grabbing the bag from him, and hurrying back into the kitchen with Casimir quick on her heels.
"Try not to mind them too much. They're always like this," Clara remarked, grabbing the edges of her sweater before tucking her arms around her waist.
"I don't mind," Hutch replied, casually walking beside her to the jovial sounds of Casimir and Celina as they ran around the kitchen, playfully, together. "It's just very strange to see him act this way."
"So, it's really true then?" Clara asked, grabbing the edge of his sleeve, stopping him from moving forward.
"About?"
"You, my dad, and everything that happened on Illimev?"
"About me and your father being on Illimev together, yes. As for anything else he may have told you, that remains to be seen."