Ivy dreaded those words, for the last time they’d been ordered away was when he destroyed the mutant of their brother Boar.
Wisteria froze and Ivy’s heart lurched. “Come on, Wisty,” she said, turning her sister and leading her to the hut. “We must do as he says.”
Nodding, Wisteria fell into step beside her. “Wisty, that is not our real father. For him to appear in this state, the aliens have already killed him.”
“I know.”
Ivy pulled back the flap and tucked Wisteria inside near the fire.
“How could they get to him?” Wisteria asked. “He was such a strong man.”
“The aliens can get anyone, not only the weak. Boar was a strong man as well.”
“What about Momma?” Wisteria grabbed Ivy’s hand and squeezed. “What if they turned Momma into a mutant too?”
Ivy brushed hair from her sister’s lashes and tucked it behind her ear. “We cannot think about that right now. With Daddy now gone, we can return to the clan to see if she’s okay.”
“I still loved him, Ivy. For the man he used to be.”
Ivy palmed Wisteria’s face. “I know. Me too but that was a long time ago. That man died alongside Lily. You mustn’t dwell on it.”
Ivy embraced Wisteria and sat rocking her in her arms while trying to recall the memorable times spent with their father. Unfortunately there weren’t any recent instances that made her smile. He became difficult to live with upon Lily’s death and turned into a vicious, hateful man. He failed to realize they’d loved her too and hurt as desperately as he had.
If Ivy reached further into her past she’d find the happy times but she wasn’t ready to visit those yet. Once she did, it would be very, very sad.
“Are you ladies all right?”
Ivy looked up to see Bronto standing in the doorway, and the compassion in his expression brought tears to her eyes. “Yes.”
“Things are calm out here,” he said softly, which meant her mutant father was destroyed and fed to the fire.
She nodded in understanding. “Thank you. We’ll be out in a little while. You’re welcome to stay with us if you’d like.”
“No,” he replied, shaking his head. “You ladies need your privacy. We’ll be on the back side of the huts chopping trees if you need anything.”
After he left she and Wisteria talked. About their past. Their future. Their current arrangement. They laughed and they cried. About happy times. And sad. Ivy even reminisced about the fun days she’d chosen to ignore.
Then they sat in silence, embraced in each other’s arms. They listened to the men chop down the trees. Heard the trunks hit the ground. They even listened to the silence when the men stole time to bathe after working so hard all day.
After Vulcan returned and handed her and Wisteria each a bowl of what resembled what Momma used to make and called potato-slosh, Ivy ate then stood to leave. “Wisty, if you need me, I’ll be in Bronto’s hut.”
Wisteria’s eyes rolled upward from her food. “Will you spend the night there?”
“If he’ll allow me to.”
Wisty smiled meekly. “Good night, Ivy.”
“Good night. I love you, Wisty.”
“Love you too.”
Vulcan stood beside Ivy and walked her to the door. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. I’m going to walk with Ivy.”
Wisteria nodded while taking a bit of her slosh.
After Vulcan left Ivy outside Bronto’s hut she cautiously pulled the flap aside and quietly entered.
Bronto was by the fire, the firelight dancing over his skin as he lay asleep on his stomach, wearing only a loincloth. Her breath caught and her mouth dropped open at the power he displayed. His arms were folded beneath his head and muscles bulged on his back and thighs. Large black pictures of insects with claws and a curled tail were drawn on both shoulders and along his biceps. They were creepy looking yet so detailed they intrigued her in a strange way.
She couldn’t hear him breathing but his broad back slightly rose and fell. His dark hair was held together by some type of a string, and the thick, black tail lay draped down his spine.
She snapped her lips closed and swallowed, drawing air through her nose. Then she closed her eyes. She’d never imagined he’d hidden such a refined, masculine body behind his full-length furs.
She shrugged and opened her eyes to the comforting visual. Her belly flipped in circles as she soaked up Bronto’s body once more.
She squeezed her hands into fists, fighting the urge to reach down and touch his muscles. She dropped to her knees near his waist, studying the definition along his spine. His body heat radiated close to the ground and it embraced her legs. Little by little she lowered herself to the fur he lay upon. Would it upset him if he woke to find her lying beside him?