Chapter 10: Already Knowing
The path to Sable's dwelling was a winding one, a journey through the heart of the Panther Village that took Lixue and Korran deeper into the mysteries of their new life together. The village, high among the ancient trees, was vibrant with life and the sounds of nature—a symphony of bird calls and rustling leaves that accompanied their every step.
As they approached Sable's abode, a small, secluded hollow nestled within the trunk of a massive tree, Lixue felt a flutter of anticipation mixed with apprehension. The shaman's dwelling was marked by fragrant herbs hanging from the entrance, the scent of sage and lavender mingling with the fresh forest air.
Korran paused at the entrance, his expression a mix of determination and concern. "Are you ready?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Lixue nodded, steeling herself for the conversation to come. "I am. We need answers."
They stepped inside, the dimly lit space filled with the earthy aroma of dried herbs and incense. Sable, the shaman, sat cross-legged on a woven mat, his eyes closed in meditation. The air was thick with the mystique of ancient wisdom, a place where the veil between the seen and unseen felt thin.
Sable opened his eyes as they entered, his gaze settling on them with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Ah, the new mates," he greeted, his voice a deep, rumbling cadence that seemed to know more than it should. "What brings you to my dwelling so soon after your union?"
Korran's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of unease passing through him. How did Sable know about the mating if he hadn't orchestrated it? Yue Lixue exchanged a glance with Korran, the same question reflected in her eyes.
Korran wasted no time, his tone respectful yet firm. "Sable, we need to speak about the medicine you provided. It contained hallucinogenic and aphrodisiac properties. This was not what we expected."
Sable raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "An honest mistake, I assure you," he replied, his tone light. "You gathered the ingredients, did you not, Korran? Perhaps some were not what you thought."
Korran frowned, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. "I followed your instructions precisely."
Yue Lixue watched the exchange, sensing Korran's growing irritation. She interjected gently, "Sable, we understand that mistakes happen. But we need to ensure it doesn't impact our bond again."
Sable nodded, a hint of annoyance in his eyes. "Of course, of course. It is my duty to guide and protect. Mistakes are part of the learning process, both for you and me."
Lixue shifted the conversation, her voice tinged with urgency. "Sable, have you found anything about curing my memory loss? Anything that could help?"
Sable sighed, his patience wavering. "Yue Lixue, these things take time. I am a shaman, not a miracle worker. The mind is a complex tapestry, and uncovering its secrets requires patience and diligence."
Korran, sensing Lixue's disappointment, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We appreciate your efforts, Sable. But please, understand how important this is to us."
Sable nodded, his tone softening. "I do, truly. I will continue my search, and I promise to inform you of any progress. For now, embrace the present, as your father suggested. Sometimes, answers come when we least expect them."
Yue Lixue nodded, a mixture of gratitude and frustration swirling within her. She understood the need for patience, but the weight of her missing past was a constant shadow over her newfound happiness.
As they left Sable's dwelling, the forest around them seemed to hum with life, a reminder of the world they were now part of. Korran walked beside her, his presence a comforting anchor amidst the swirling uncertainties.
"Thank you for standing up for us," Yue Lixue said, glancing at him.
Korran smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Always. We'll find a way, Lixue. Together."
As they walked back towards the village, Korran couldn't shake the nagging thought about Sable's foreknowledge of their mating. It was unusual, and he made a mental note to dig deeper into the shaman's intentions. Despite the challenges they faced, Savannah felt a renewed sense of hope. She was part of something larger now, a world rich with possibility and connection. And with Korran by her side, she was ready to face whatever lay ahead.
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The village was alive with the soft chatter of its inhabitants as Korran and Yue Lixue made their way through the winding paths. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows that danced like living entities across the ground. They passed by small groups of villagers, engaged in evening tasks, preparing meals, and tending to the woven basket-style primitive lanterns and placing unusual purple glowing bugs inside to light thr walkways of the bridges, that purple glow had become comforting to Yue Lixue. Elsewhere on huge branches of the giant trees, community fires were being prepared that would light the village during this night. A traditional commemoration of a couples mating - fires weren't common.
Yue Lixue found comfort in the simple routines of village life. The sense of community, the shared efforts to sustain and care for one another, was something she was slowly becoming a part of. Yet, the mystery of her past lingered at the edges of her consciousness, a puzzle waiting to be solved.
"Korran," she began, breaking the comfortable silence between them. "Do you think Sable truly made a mistake with the medicine?"
Korran paused, considering her question. "I don't know," he admitted. "It's strange how he knew about our mating. It's possible he intended for it to happen, but why he would do so without telling us is unclear."
Yue Lixue nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "Do you trust him?"
Korran sighed, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Sable has been a guide for our tribe for many years. His methods are unorthodox, but he's always had the tribe's best interests at heart. Still, I'll keep an eye on him. We can't afford to be blindsided."
They continued walking, the path leading them towards the left side of the center of the village where a large communal fire was being lit on their behalf. The flames danced upwards, casting a warm glow over the faces of the gathered villagers. Laughter and song filled the air as the tribe came together to share stories and celebrate the simple joys of life.
Korran and Lixue joined the circle, the warmth of the fire. A welcome comfort against the chill of the evening. As they sat among their tribe, surrounded by the vibrant tapestry of life and connection, Savannah felt a profound sense of belonging. Zevaris and Veylan both gave speeches about welcoming her into their tribe and family and how she only added strength to the tribe. Despite the uncertainties and the mysteries yet to unravel, she knew she was exactly where she needed to be and that she was mostly comfortable and cared for right now.
The night wore on, filled with laughter and camaraderie.
Yue Lixue turned to Korran, "Do you have some leftover meat?"
Looking at his mate's beautiful blue eyes, he was curious, as she hadn't eaten any meat at all since she had arrived. Only fruit and this greatly had worried him, "Yes. Hold on, I'll go bring some over."
Within minutes, Korran had dashed away, leaving her alone for what felt like seconds. Returning with boar meat that had been caught by his father and brother earlier that day. "Will this do?"
"Yes!" Yue Lixue nodded gleefully, her stomach growling, as she took a pointed stick and skewered the meat that was cut into slabs and placed it into the fire.
"Stop!" Cried another panther beast nearby.
Another also chimed in, "You'll ruin that fresh meat that Veylan hunted!"
Instead, Korran moved defensively behind Lixue to allow her to continue what she was doing. He was curious and wanted to watch, "Leave my mate be, she has been ill, and I will allow this if she wishes."
After some time, she withdrew the meat from the fire, sniffing it the scent of warm pork, entered her more sensitive nose, and she was hungry, "I've been waiting for this!" She chimed gleefully, and Korran was taken aback by how beautiful her smile was and completely ignored how unusual what she was doing was.
Yue Lixue bit into the first slab of meat and it was a little dry but it was cooked and tasted like roast pork, so she was overjoyed and continued eating until their was none left.
He was just happy that she was finally eating some meat! She had only eaten fruits and greens so that was unusual, especially for a snow leopard. "My little leopard is getting better again." He had to take this as a good sign.
Unfortunately, this has all of the Panther Tribe members who'd witnessed this thinking that she was very strange.
As the fires burned down to embers and the villagers drifted off to their homes, Korran and Yue Lixue lingered by the dying flames. The were some stars visible above were a glittering canopy, as well as the small silver moon and the now larger non-red ringed moon, a reminder of the vastness of this new beastworld she was in and the endless possibilities that lay before them. A faint glow could be seen emanating a subtle blue light from Lixue's side. It was barely noticeable at all to her or Korran.
"We'll find a way to unlock your memories," Korran said softly, his voice a promise that was completely unexpected but very welcomng and reassuring. "And even if it takes time, you're not alone in this. We'll face whatever comes together."
Lixue leaned against him, comforted by his presence. "Thank you, Korran. For everything."
As the last of the embers faded into the night, Yue Lixue closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift into a peaceful sleep, secure in the knowledge that she was no longer alone. Together, they would face the challenges of the beastworld, unravel its secrets, and forge a future filled with more hope and possibility. If given the chance to restore her memory in full... would she go home now? She wasn't sure. However, she still couldn't remember people.
Lixue was so exhausted that she didn't even realise when Korran had lifted her bridle style and had carried her back to his home. The tribes leaders family house, and placed her onto the bed of furs with tender care.