ZOLAYA

"That is a mouthful," I tell her, pleased that she has stopped her crying long enough to give me her name.

She gives a little snort as if I am ridiculous. "No more than yours is."

I rub my chin. "This is truth. Do many of your people have such long names as you do, Ar-yee-yon-yah?" I deliberately pronounce her name wrong, desperate to wring another chuckle from her. Anything to make her smile.

I am rewarded with a soft giggle. "Air-ee-aw-uh," she corrects, and then her lips tilt in a reluctant curve up. "But my friends call me Air-ee."

"Now that I can fit my tongue around," I tease, wondering if she will pick up my flirty meaning. I am not normally so bold, but there is something about her fragility that fascinates me. When her cheeks turn flushed with color, I wonder if I have gone too far. "So, we are now friends, Air-ee. I like this."

She looks as if she is still contemplating that. Her hands hitch the blankets tighter around her shoulders, as if she can somehow hide underneath them and pretend this world does not exist. I notice her fingers tremble like leaves and her face is very pale. This is more than the sorrow and upset that the other females have. There is true terror here, and I wonder at it. Are we so fearsome? Or is it something else?

But she lifts her chin—so brave—and gives me another curious look. "Do you have a nickname?"

"You may give me one," I tell her proudly.

"Can I call you Zo-Zo?"

"Not that one," I say, disgusted. It sounds…foolish. My response earns another snicker, though, and I decide to go on. "You do not wish for me to call you Air-Air, do you? I sound like a scythe-beak calling for its kits."

Her eyes widen and she snorts again. I notice as she relaxes, the color starts to return to her face. That is good. She is distracted. My poor little sad bird. I wonder at what goes on in her mind, what has alarmed her so. She has reason to be afraid, of course, but surely as time passes it should ease. Hers only seems to deepen.

"Zo-lie sounds a little weird on my tongue," she admits to me. "And so does Lie-uh. Maybe just Zo?"

"If you like that, it shall be so."

"But not Zo-Zo." It takes me a moment to realize she is teasing in her timid, awkward way.

"Not if you wish for me to retain my virility as a hunter." I straighten my shoulders and pretend to mock swagger. "Look at that fierce beast that has been felled! Who was it, you ask? Why it was the great hunter…Zo-Zo."

Her lips twitch and the tears have stopped falling from her eyes. "I guess that does seem a little…ill-fitting."

"I should have a strong, manly name," I tease her, fascinated. Of all the humans, she is one of the most delicate. There is a tiny one with a broken leg sitting with the others, but she chatters on and on to any that will listen, which tells me her spirit is stronger than her form. This one with the big name, she seems more fragile in spirit, more wounded. She looks as if she needs a friend more than any other, and I can tell that her crying and her fear have worn the others thin. They do not look at her with sympathy as the afternoon slides toward night, but ease toward annoyance and puzzlement. Like she is a problem.

I do not think of her as such. I simply see her sadness and terror and want to help. So, if I must be a fool to bring a smile to her face, I shall do so. "Why were you lying back in the snow? Were you tired?" I ask, curious.

Air-ee brushes her mane back from her face and shakes her head. "I don't think I could sleep if I tried. Too…clenched." She purses her lips. "I was practicing my breathing."

"Practicing…breathing? Did you forget how?"

Her sputtered laugh makes me feel warm and she just half-smiles at me and shakes her head again. "It's a calming exercise."

"Ah." I study her. She is more aware than I thought. When her gaze flicks over to the others, I see the wariness creep back in. She knows she is not well liked, and it makes me even more protective of her. I want to pull her against my chest and shield her away from the harshness of this place, the disdainful looks of the others when she cries. I would protect her from all of it. But I do not think she would welcome my touch.

Not yet.

Air-ee glances behind her and frowns. "Is…Nora coming back?"

"Not until Dagesh has filled her belly with kit, I imagine." I give her a curious look. "Are you envious?"

Her eyes go wide with surprise. "I…no! I just…" She puts a hand to her chest, over the too-baggy tunic she wears. I notice it is Pashov's cold-weather tunic and I feel a stab of jealousy that she is wearing his clothing. I do not like that. "She said she could feel it moving," Air-ee explains, and her fingers move over the tunic, clenching it. "Is…is it supposed to? Or is there something wrong with mine?"

"It only moves if you resonate," I tell her, and she looks strangely relieved, the tension in her shoulders easing.

"Oh."

"You can listen to my chest if you like. Hear how quiet mine is." I gesture at my bare skin, wondering if she will be brave enough to put her small pink ear there. I should like that. But she only blushes and shakes her head, huddling under the blankets.

There is an exclamation from the group and both Air-ee and I glance over. Pashov pushes forward even as a brown-maned female with a sturdy figure jumps to her feet. The song of resonance fills the air, thrumming over the conversation, and as I watch, Pashov pulls the female into his arms and twirls her about. She presses her face against his—surprising him—and then loops her arms around his neck.

"Another resonance," I tell Air-ee as we watch the new pair hold hands and race off into the snowy plain, looking for privacy. I am envious of Pashov and his newfound happiness. My khui remains silent, as if it is still choosing, or has decided against such measures.

"Is this common?" she asks, and I can tell her fear is rising again. As she speaks, another female with a dark black mane and pale skin gets to her feet and grabs the front of Zennek's tunic and then pulls his face against hers. Another, then.

I bite back my growl of jealousy. Will all of the hunters resonate this day except me? "Not common," I tell her. "Our tribe had only a few females before your arrival." I have not seen many resonances in my day. Females are too rare. I should be glad that my friends are receiving their heart's desires, but I cannot help but selfishly think of myself.

Air-ee licks her lips and glances back at me. "I appreciate the company, Zolaya—"

"Zo," I remind her, liking the nickname.

"Zo," she agrees, her small face still so sad and worried. "But maybe you should be with the others instead of me if you want to get a mate."

I rub my chin, grinning ruefully. "Am I that obvious?"

She pinches her thumb and forefinger together. "A little."

I shrug and pretend not to care. "If it happens, it will happen regardless of where I stand. I can sit here and wait for my khui to sing out its need. Once it finds its female, there will be no quieting it."

Air-ee's hand clenches over her tunic again. "What if you don't want it to happen?"

"Resonance always chooses," I tell her, but there is an odd feeling in my chest. A tremble, and then a low, thrumming feeling that grows stronger with every passing moment. I am shocked, and then joy bolts through me, making me leap to my feet. I gaze around the group of females but none seem to catch my eye…

Until I look back down at Air-ee, huddled in the snow. My khui sings out, then, loud and enthusiastic.

"But what if you don't want it?" she whispers, and clutches at her tunic with desperation as she gazes up at me.

What if, indeed.