Chapter 17
#18 of The Mating Season: The Years Inbetween
Chapter 17
Kilyan followed Lynny through the front room, where all was quiet but for the furious panting of Gurwin and the soft sobbing of Ohana's mother. Idella knelt over her shattered ivory carvings, weeping gently as she plucked the pieces from the floor. Kilyan watched her sympathetically and saw Ohana kneel beside her mother and wrap her arm around her.
Gurwin was sitting on the floor against the wall, panting unevenly as Kel and Yzlo hunched over him. They pressed the older male by his shoulders, cautioning him in whispers to calm down. Kilyan was amazed to realize that Gurwin was actually listening. Gurwin's green eyes found Kilyan and warmed for the first time in Kilyan's life with a silent apology. Then he looked away with flat ears and stared at his lap as Kel whispered to him. Kilyan couldn't believe it: Gurwin was ashamed of himself.
Keeno and Hris were going around the room, heavily cleaning up the mess of spilt platters and scattered drumsticks. Keeno's brown eyes were bright with disbelief that such a commotion had happened. Kilyan wasn't certain why Keeno was shocked: their own families had fought in the same way when they discovered Keeno and Zalia were having sex.
Kilyan glanced around the room a last time before following Lynny outside: Bayne was no where to be seen. He could only assume the feeble male was upstairs in his room, perhaps pacing angrily with his cane - or trying to escape through a barricade Lynny had left, Kilyan thought with a smile.
Outside darkness had fallen, and the white stars winked overhead. Lynny sat heavily on the step and bid Kilyan to sit with him. Kilyan obeyed. They sat in silence for a long time, and Ohana's father stared up at the sky, sighing on occasion or else gingerly touching the pulsing bruise Bayne's cane had left over his eye.
"You let Bayne give Ohana to someone else?" Kilyan said after a while. He tried to keep the anger from his voice but failed miserably. "Is that right? . . . Sir," he added as an afterthought.
Lynny glanced at Kilyan apologetically. "Yes, that's right, pup. I've never been able to stand up to my father, I'll admit it. My mother left him when Zaldon and I were children. She took Zaldon with her. But I stayed. I was Daddy's boy. I'd do anything Bayne told me. . . ." He laughed sadly. "Guess I'm just yet another pathetic male trying desperately to win Daddy's love."
Kilyan cleared his throat. "You aren't pathetic, sir."
"No, I am. I should have stood up to my father. Now you've got to fight Lallo to the death . . ." He sighed miserably. "Ohana has seen so much death since she married that boy. . . ."
"How many of her lovers has he killed . . .?"
"Five."
Kilyan stared.
"Which is why I'm going to ask you to just go home, Kilyan."
"No."
Lynny sighed again. "Kilyan, this isn't a game. Do you understand your life is at risk here?"
"I understand perfectly. I will not go home without her." He looked at Lynny. "I love her, sir."
Lynny shook his head, and Kilyan's ears pricked forward in surprise when the big wolf's face twisted with anger. "You stupid boy," he snarled. "I can't let you throw your life away for my daughter! Do you understand what your father means to me? If you die, Kel will die. He will never be the same!"
Kilyan's ears flattened but he was resolute. "I understand that. I'm not going home."
Lynny swore. He spit in the snow and peered off, his black eyes glittering angrily. "I have to admit," he said after a while, "that I was also frightened of my Ohana ever leaving me."
"I thought as much, sir," Kilyan said with a nod. "But she has to grow up some time."
Lynny looked at him and laughed. "You have a pregnant wife at home, is that correct?"
Kilyan nodded uncertainly.
"One day," Lynny said, pointing a large finger at Kilyan, "the pup in that girl's belly will grow up, and it will go far away, and then . . . then you will understand a father's fear."
Kilyan didn't know what to say, so he stared at his black toes. They fell silent, and Kilyan slowly reflected on Lynny's words: Kel meant a great deal to Lynny! Kilyan frowned. But how was that? Unlike Zaldon and Yzlo and Loryn, Lynny had grown up not with Kel but here, in the winter village. They had only seen each other a few times, on those few trips when Kel had come to the winter village.
And yet somehow . . . Kilyan studied Lynny. Somehow or other, Kel and Lynny had become good friends. It suddenly occurred to Kilyan that if anyone knew what was going on with his father, it would be Lynny.
"My dad has been fighting with Grandpa the whole way here," Kilyan began carefully. He glanced furtively at Lynny. "Back when we were still at home, they almost started fighting. I swear Dad was going to hit Grandpa, but he didn't because I was standing there."
Lynny grunted. "I wouldn't be surprised," he said, peering off down the street. He appeared to be listening to something. Kilyan wished he could hear what it was: winter wolves had excellent senses.
"I think they were fighting about Zaldon," Kilyan added. He waited for a reaction.
Lynny was still listening to the distant sound, but his ear twitched and he glanced at Kilyan, surprised. He slowly smiled, and Kilyan knew that whatever information Lynny had, he was not going to share it with him. Kilyan glared at his toes. When were they going to stop treating him like a pup?
Lynny chuckled. "Kilyan," he said, clapping a big paw on Kilyan's shoulder, "know that your father and Zaldon are very old friends. Very old friends . . . who can't seem to stop barking at each other like two dogs over a . . . bone." He squeezed Kilyan's shoulder. "And that is all you need to know."
Kilyan looked away, irate. But that wasn't enough!
Lynny peered off, listening again. "Kilyan," he said, going very still, "go in the house."
Kilyan didn't budge. He pricked his ears forward and listened hard. He was startled when Lynny practically bellowed at him, "Go in the house!"
They both got to their feet as a distant figure appeared down the street.
"Ohana!" shouted the figure, marching toward them fast. "Where are you! I waited an hour and I'm starving! OHANA!"
"Go in the house!" Lynny repeated and shoved Kilyan in the shoulder.
Kilyan ignored Lynny and went down the steps, coming face to face with the approaching stranger. It was a young male. And . . . he was huge. Kilyan gulped as he looked up at him, hardly able to believe he was his same age. His fur was dark gray and his eyes were brown. He might have stood more than six feet tall, and he was rippling with muscles. The breadth of his shoulders was twice the width of Kilyan. Looking up at him, Kilyan suddenly realized who he was. He glowered.
The tall young male looked down at Kilyan impatiently. "Who the hell are you?" he shouted. "Get outta my way!" He tried to shove Kilyan aside but halted again when Kilyan didn't stagger under his paw.
Kilyan held his ground. "You're not going in there."
The young male's face contorted. "You're asking to be snapped in half, shorty."
"Lallo," said Lynny miserably from the top of the steps, "just go home, son."
The apparent Lallo frowned. "What?"
"He said," snarled Kilyan, stepping close to the male, "go home!"
Lallo looked down at Kilyan, and his small eyes slowly darkened as he realized who he was facing. "It's you!" he said and scowled as he drew a knife from the scabbard on his big arm.
Kilyan's ears pricked forward and it suddenly occurred to him that he didn't have a weapon.
"That is enough!" Lynny shouted, lumbering down the stairs. "You will go home, boy!" He shoved Lallo in the chest. "And put that knife away before I shove it up your ass!"
Lallo staggered back and bitterly sheathed his knife. His burning brown eyes were fixed on Kilyan, who had not stopped glaring at him either.
"Daddy, what's all the shouting?" Ohana's voice.
Kilyan glanced back to see Ohana emerging from the house. Her mother came with her, as did the others. The only one absent was Bayne. All the males spilled down the stairs, and Kilyan suddenly felt more confident when Kel and Keeno stood either side of him, glaring at Lallo with the same threat.
Lallo only had eyes for Ohana, however. Seeing her at the top of the steps, he scowled and started toward her, but he was met with the wall of males that stood with Kilyan. He halted and glared at them all.
"Going somewhere?" Kilyan quietly taunted.
Lallo's beady eyes glared down at Kilyan. "If you think you're leaving here with her, you are sorely mistaken."
"No!" Ohana shouted before Kilyan could answer. "This is not happening!" She started down the steps, but Kilyan heard Idella caution her to stop. "Mom!" Ohana protested. "Let me go - Kilyan, Lallo, don't do this!" she sobbed. "P-Please!"
"Take her in the house!" Lynny barked at Idella.
"No! Daddy - don't let them fight!" Ohana sobbed as her mother dragged her away. "I love you both!" she shrieked, startling both boys. "I love you both!"
Lallo swallowed hard and looked down at Kilyan, as if he was small and annoying. "Do you see what you do in coming here? You should have just stayed away, summer wolf."
"Maybe you shouldn't have married a female that was already claimed," Kilyan snarled back.
"Alright, that's enough," Kel said, lifting a paw. "If the two of you are determined to fight, we will do it fairly."
"And as winter wolf tradition decrees," Lynny added heavily. "You will fight to the death with knives. No dirty fighting. No throwing mud in each other's faces. Nothing below the waist. No rocks . . ."
"I know the rules," Lallo snapped, broad chest heaving. "The question is, does he? He's not even winter wolf. Why must I acknowledge him? I should just snap his neck and be done with it."
Kilyan's lips tightened.
"You will obey the traditions," Lynny growled, grabbing Lallo by the ear. "Or I will snap your neck my damn self!"
"Owowow, alright, alright!" Lallo wailed.
Looking up at Lallo, Kilyan remembered that he was just a boy like him. Just a dumb kid. And yet, tradition and custom decreed that they must fight to the death. Kilyan was filled with the intense need to walk away, but he thought of Ohana crying in the house - Ohana, who he could not be without. Ohana . . . who would spend the rest of her life in an unhappy marriage if he backed out.
"The boy doesn't have a second?" Gurwin barked behind Kilyan.
Lallo made a face. "A second? To hell with a second." He pointed at Kilyan. "This will be over in two seconds. Five if I have to chase him."
Kilyan tensed and started forward. "Do I look like I'm running!"
"Kilyan!" Keeno shouted.
Kel grabbed Kilyan by the arm and held him back. "Do not let him bait you, my son," he muttered in Kilyan's ear. "If you fight this battle with anger coursing through your veins, you will lose. Take a breath . . . and calm down."
Kilyan took a shuddering breath, letting the anger slip away. Kel was right. If didn't calm down, his emotions would be the end of him. He looked at his father and was suddenly very grateful he was there with him.
"If we've done with the smack talk," said Hris, glaring at Lallo, "then perhaps we can get this over with?"
Yzlo nodded. "I agree. The boy wants to brag. Let his actions speak for him."
Lallo blushed and scratched his ears.
Lynny went down into the street and drew a circle in the mud with his foot. "The opponents will fight here. The one who survives . . ." He swallowed miserably. ". . . walks away with my Ohana."
Lallo squared his huge shoulders and confidently strode to the circle in the mud. Kilyan knew he had every reason to be confident - especially after killing five other males.
Keeno turned to Kilyan. "Here, Kil," he said, removing the knife that hung around his neck. He passed the sheath to Kilyan and looked at him seriously. "Don't die."
Kilyan hung the sheath around his neck and nodded. He was turning away when Gurwin took his elbow. Kilyan turned to face his grandfather, surprised.
"I do not intend," Gurwin said adamantly, "to stand here and watch as a grandchild of mine dies. You _will_win this fight, Kilyan. And I will tell you how."
Kilyan looked at his grandfather, waiting.
Gurwin tilted his head down as he said in an undertone, "As you know, I killed a lot of winter wolves in the war, boy. The fuckers are strong. If you let that bastard hit you in the face once, it's over. You'll be blinded by your own blood, confused from the blow. The key is to debilitate him before he can do it to you. When he's weak as a kitten . . . take him out."
Kilyan nodded with difficulty. He had never killed anyone before. He was suddenly afraid. He glanced over at Keeno, whose brown eyes were frightened for him.
"Go, my Kilyan," Kel whispered a little sadly. "There is no turning back now, son."
Kilyan nodded again. He knew exactly what Kel meant by that: sooner or later, his career as a warrior meant he was going to have to take life. It was something he had always dreaded. Now, as he approached Lallo in the street, he could hear his heart hammering in his ears, and he wished he could turn back time. He wished he could go back to the year before and simply take Ohana home with him that first time he met her.
Lallo drew his knife as he and Kilyan came face to face. Kilyan did the same. They spread their legs and went into fight stance. Both boys were grim. And though neither of them showed it, both boys were terrified.
"Begin!" Lynny barked.
Lallo lunged immediately - so immediately that Kilyan didn't have time to think. He dodged out of the way, ducking under the larger wolf's arm. Lallo had anticipated the maneuver: he slashed Kilyan's back as they passed each other. Blood tossed in a ribbon across the black sky. Kilyan cried out.
"You're fast," Lallo whispered as they faced each other again. "But not fast enough!"
Kilyan's face hardened. He remembered his father's advice and refused to be baited. Calm. He must stay calm. Cool. Strike with precision. Keep light on his toes . . .
Lallo's fist swung. Kilyan could sense the trick and didn't flinch, instead dodging the knife that came at him from the other side. Lallo swore as his ruse was thwarted. He was forced to follow through with the swing, and as his big body lumbered forward, Kilyan tackled him around the middle.
They went down in a toss of muddy snow. They struggled, their grunts and cries loud in the silence. Kilyan tried to smack Lallo's knife from his paw, but the big wolf held it at bay. Snarling on his back, he tried to punch Kilyan off, his brown eyes glaring fierce through the licks of mane that fell in them. Kilyan blocked with his arm and thought he heard the bone crack. His forearm went numb, and tiny needles of pain pinched his elbow. He brought his aching elbow down on Lallo's face with a nasty crack. The winter wolf swore - and stabbed Kilyan in the side.
Kilyan choked as the knife slid in his flesh. His green eyes grew distant and blank. A red veil slipped over his vision. He could see the others watching in horror, could see the fear on his father's face, could see Keeno standing as if he could not move. The blood pooled down his side and he wanted to pull the agonizing blade away but knew better.
Determined not to pass out, Kilyan gritted his teeth and hit Lallo again, this time with the hilt of his knife. The big male choked and blood spurted. Lallo was blinded. He clutched his face with a big paw and coughed on the blood that dribbled from his eye. Kilyan pulled back and regarded the male, his chest heaving, his body sagging as the life drained out of him. Lallo was blind, in pain, confused. This was the moment. This was the moment when he was supposed to do what tradition decreed . . . and kill him.
Kilyan hesitated.
"M-Motherfucker," Lallo sputtered. He waved blindly with one paw as the other clutched his eye. His big paw found Kilyan's face and closed on it, squeezed hard.
Kilyan roared with pain as Lallo's nails dug in his face, carving up ribbons of blood. He was lucky the male's fingers had just missed his eye. Twisting to get away, he brought up his knife . . . and brought it down in a slash across Lallo's throat.
Blood tossed. Lallo's big paws fell to the snow, and he lay there, staring at the sky as red blood bubbled from his open neck. His dark eyes groggily found Kilyan. He frowned. "T-Take . . . c-care . . ." he coughed and blood slipped from his injured eye. "Take c-care of her . . ."
Gasping and clutching his bloody side, Kilyan nodded seriously. "I promise."
Lallo looked to the sky again . . . and died.