Baby Steps

Levent Kartal · 08-09-2012, 06:10 PM

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With the birth of the pups, Cercatori d’Arte’s resident Turk had become warm and vibrant, a beacon of sunshine every time he strolled through the territory. Levent was more than thrilled about the new additions, filled with a fatherly pride he hadn’t thought himself capable of. Not that he had much to be proud about; his children were still wriggling, blind little things and wouldn’t be capable of walking or talking for some weeks yet. They would spend all their time with Hotaru, nursing from her and being tended to, although Lev made a point to come and see them as many times as he dared without exhausting the new mother.

But Aysun and Aiden were still his progeny, Kartals in blood if not in name. They also cemented his bond to the pack, which he’d originally intended as a temporary home while he sought his true goal. Now—now, he wasn’t sure what he wanted. In a way, immortality could be his when the puppies grew and had puppies of their own, although his mind recoiled from thinking too much of his own death.

The children also cemented his bond to Hotaru. A committed relationship was new territory for the flirtatious merchant, who more often than not was swept from place to place and didn’t even have the time to pursue a steadier relationship. It wasn’t always because he wanted to take advantage of the individuals he was attracted to, because he really did like most of them, but it was in his nature to be flighty. With the blind woman, that was different—half because he had the desire to protect her, and half because he knew she could protect herself. Her personality was so rich that he became swept up and enamored with it, and they had gotten closer as a result of parenthood. He didn’t know if he should call her his mate, as they’d never officially talked about it, but something about raising children together had elevated them to about that point.

He mulled over this as he walked through the forest that blanketed d’Arte territory, chewing on a salted piece of deer jerky and glancing up into the trees. He had a feeling that Wilson was somewhere out in the woods terrorizing small animals, but he would allow the tomcat alone time at least for a while. The rocky relationship with his best friend was the only downside to having a pack and family, but he prayed they could sort things out.

His languid posture shifted when he saw another luperci through the foliage, his scrawny shoulders straightening as he peered at the dark shape. He recognized the girl as the one who’d had so much trouble with her optime form upon their first meeting, although there didn’t seem to be balance issues now.

That was what he first noticed about Keldava, but next to catch his attention was her attire—leather armor and sheaths for knives, as well as a quiver slung over her back. His ears pricked then flattened out to the sides uncertainly, and he let out a woof to announce himself before reaching questioningly out with a hand.

“Has something happened?”

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