The lights of the Tribe call us home. Leaping into the air I catch the currents of the wind and glide further than I think I’ve ever managed before, probably because it feels like I’m walking on air. Inga is mine and I am hers.

The world is better than I ever thought it could be. When we land I’m already running to the wide-open gate. Through the opening, dozens of fires and torches are lit and as we close the distance I can see that flowers decorate the opening around the gate and our friends are gathered inside.

Someone notes our approach and a cheer rises from behind the wall. The males run outside, led by Ragnar, cheering us on. I run faster, digging deeper and finding hidden reserves of strength that I pour into my feet. Pounding the sand as I race home.

Sverre and Ragnar stand side-by-side, arms open as they call my name in a chant that the other males take up. They form a line on either side of the opening, wings spread out to touch each other and I run through them carrying Inga home.

We pass through the wall just before the suns make their final dip below the horizon and full dark falls. Inside, small bonfires light up the night and everything is decorated and covered with flowers and decorations made from the meteorite glass. Human females rush us, many of them from the City as well as those who live with us here at the Caves.

I set Inga onto her own feet and they embrace both of us, the crowd pressing in close. There’s too many words spoken to single out any single set of words. They touch, hug, and pulls us side to side as each person gives us their attention.

As the females finish their attentions they disperse and when I turn, the males are standing in a line staring at me.

“Welcome home,” Sverre says, his arms crossed over his chest.

Ragnar stands at his left and Drosdan is at his right. Behind them stand the other males, all of them staring blank-faced at me. Suddenly I’m on the spot, my stomach roils and my scales itch with indecision. Am I to fight or run?

“Thank you,” I say, taking a step forward and blocking Inga from their direct attention.

I am her male, I will protect her. Running is no longer an option for me, she is all that matters. Sverre’s eyes follow my motion as do the other males’. Almost as one, they nod, and then Sverre’s serious face is broken by a smile.

“You did it!” he exclaims and the other males cheer.

“I did?” I ask, confused.

“Of course you did, boy,” Drosdan says. “You’re a male, you protected your female and delivered her to safety.”

“But…” I look at each of them. “We thought you were captured.”

“Yeah!” Inga exclaims over my shoulder. “What happened?”

Sverre’s grin widens. “We wanted to give you a challenge.”

“You what?” I ask, fire raging in my core, pulsing through my veins.

“You needed confidence,” Ragnar says. “A challenge to prove to yourself who you really are.”

“You left us out there,” I say. “On purpose?”

My hands ball into fists angrily. An image of Inga on the ground, paralyzed by fear as the chatteron loomed over her flashes to the fore of my thoughts and I take a step forward.

“Sure,” Ragnar says. “We left you tracks to follow and made sure that there was nothing on your path. We also gathered the beans you mentioned and Delilah has figured out how to make—”

“We ran into a chatteron!” I exclaim, moving to Ragnar and glaring up at him.

It takes all my will to not punch him.

“You what?” he asks, surprise obvious on his face.

“A. Cha-tter-on,” I say, intoning each syllable. “Inga was almost killed.”

“But she wasn’t,” Drosdan says, stepping between Ragnar and I. “And how was that?”

Inga places a hand on my shoulder before I can say anything. It gives me enough pause to consider his words.

“Me,” I say, softly. “I saved her.”

“Did you kill it?” Padraig asks.

“No,” I say, dropping my head. “I drove it off.”

“How?” Melchior asks, surprise in his voice.

“I got behind it’s head and pulled on its mane. I had to get it away from Inga.”

“You did what!” several of the males exclaim in unison.

“He was amazing!” Inga says, stepping up and retelling the story of what happened.

All the males listen with rapt attention. When she finishes, they look from one to another then to me.

“Samil,” Ragnar says, shaking his head. “That was the stupidest, most amazing thing I’ve ever heard. I can’t believe you did that!”

“Yeah,” I say. “I should have killed it.”

“No,” Ragnar says. “How? You didn’t have a weapon and it was threatening your female. Don’t be ignorant. That was incredible and brave. Well done!”

He claps a hand on my back and then the other males do as well.

“Come on,” Drosdan says at last. “We have a feast to attend to.”

The males each slap me on the back as they pass until Inga and I are left standing alone.

“See,” she says. “I told you, you are brave.”

“I guess I am,” I smile.

She links her arm in mine and together we go to join the others. The table is laden with food and laid out in the middle is a special centerpiece, a multi-tiered tray with the blooms of a cvet surrounding it. Small milky-brown balls decorate the tray and everyone is pushing in and taking some.

The treats!

They look exactly as I remember them when my mom would make them. Delilah walks up to us.

“I figured it out,” she says. “Took a few tries but I think you’ll like them.”

I grab one off the tray and turn to Inga, offering it to her. She smiles then opens her mouth and gently I lay the treat on her waiting tongue. She closes her eyes and her mouth and I watch her savoring the flavor.

“OH!” she groans. “That is amazing.”

“Good!” Delilah grins and walks off.

“I’m glad you’re both okay,” Sverre comes up and offers. “We left a trail for you to follow, it should have been safe.”

“It’s fine,” I say.

“He was amazing,” Inga adds, tightening her grip on my arm.

“Yes,” Sverre nods. “He is.”

Rverre, Illadon, and Malcolm run between us, giggling and laughing as they chase each other.

Jolie and Calista walk up, following but obviously not overly concerned.

“Isn’t this great?” Jolie asks.

“It is,” Inga says, leaning her head against me. “It’s all perfect.”

Calista and Jolie exchange a knowing glance, nodding.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Jolie says.

Ladon and Sverre walk up behind them and wraps their arms around them.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” they both say, as their females turn their heads up and they kiss.

Inga glances up at me, then rises on her toes and kisses me too. Love is definitely in the air! When she breaks the kiss my hearts pound fast.

“Inga,” I say. “Will you… stay here with me?”

Ladon, Calista, Sverre, and Jolie watch us, no one says a word. I don’t think anyone breathes as I wait for an answer. Inga looks at her friends, her face serious, then a broad smile breaks.

“Yes!” she exclaims.

The females gasp and cheer while Ladon and Sverre applaud then pull me into an embrace.

“Well done,” Sverre says.

Pride fills my heart but more than that, love. Staring at Inga she is the star of my life. The one thing I’ve needed that I never knew what it was. In her, with her, I am complete. I pull her around to face me, hands on her waist, foreheads resting together.

“Thank you,” I say.

“For what?”

“For letting me love you,” I smile and pull her into a kiss.

“And you, for healing me, for letting me know love too,” she breathes.

We continue our kiss.