Chapter 9: His Little Bird
#9 of The Mating Season 4
Chapter 9: His Little Bird
"Zalia, you must honor your husband by letting him figure some things out on his own. Sometimes you have to let a male fall on his ass before he sees reason," Kel said, walking slowly at his daughter's side. His paw was on her back almost as if he was guiding her through the trees.
Zalia looked much like her father and older brother: the same glossy coat of black fur, the same rare beauty. But Zalia's black mane fell in straight tresses to the small of her back, and instead of her father's gentle green eyes, she had her mother's big sapphire blues, an eye color she had passed on to Enya. She wore a deep blue shawl over her breasts (the mark of a female who was not only married but past the age of seventeen) and a worried frown.
It was a bright spring afternoon, and after pinning the sheep early, a troubled Zalia had torn her father from Zaldon and Aliona in order to seek his advice. Kel had proposed a walk through the forest, and shouldering his spear for the sake of protecting Zalia, father and daughter entered the northern forest that bright afternoon and strolled side by side as Zalia related her troubles about Keeno and Enya.
Zalia confessed she had a horrible feeling something very bad was about to happen, for she, Keeno, and Enya had all had a terrible argument the day before, which ended with Keeno storming out of the hut and never coming back, not even the next morning. Zalia had gotten up early and hurried out to the fields with the sheep, not wanting to see her husband at all. Now she walked at her father's side in tears, relaying all her troubles.
"But what do I do about Enya?" Zalia wondered miserably. "I told her about the customs of the summer village, but I know she's not going to listen to me. She never listens to anyone -- except Yuri. Only Yuri! Dad, what do I do?"
Kel watched his daughter anxiously, and Zalia felt some small comfort when he placed an affectionate paw on her head and stroked her mane, then pulled her under his arm.
"My daughter, if something bad is going to happen to Enya, there is probably little you can do to stop it. As I learned with your brother, a parent can never be an omnipotent, omnipresent being. But you say Enya only listens to Yuri?"
"Yes," Zalia confirmed with a miserable sniff.
"Then, my daughter, let Yuri be your voice. Ask Yuri to warn Enya against acting rashly: her very life could depend on her ability to control her willful spirit."
"Thanks, Dad," Zalia said thoughtfully. "I'll try that!"
Kel smiled, happy to see his daughter put at ease. "Now about Keeno: just give him some space and some time to cool off. He's acting this way because he's scared for his child. He doesn't want to believe Enya likes other females because such a thing could result in her death. He would much rather pretend it isn't true, and as a result, he will probably go to any lengths of denial before he even admits to himself that his daughter is in danger. I know . . . my father was much the same way."
Zalia looked up quickly when she heard the grim note in Kel's voice, but as he didn't elaborate, she didn't press him. She had come to her father rather than her mother for advice because she knew Kel was experienced in such things: like Enya, Kel liked wolves of the same sex and had struggled for years before he and Zaldon and Aliona had come to some sort of arrangement that even now could result in a stoning. Knowing all these troubles might be in store for Enya, Zalia rested her head miserably on her father's shoulder, and Kel squeezed her in his arm and kissed her on the head.
"If Keeno doesn't come back for a second night," he told Zalia, "I want you, Enya, and Yuri to come stay with your mother, Zaldon, and I. I don't like the idea of the three of you alone."
"Yes, Dad," Zalia said, wiping away her tears.
They walked on, and Zalia suddenly felt very lighthearted. She was so glad for her parents, who always seemed ready to comfort her and offer advice. She was doubly grateful that Kel had not died ten years ago: sometimes she didn't know what she would do without her father -- though Kilyan was his favorite. Kilyan had always been his favorite. But that had never bothered her: so long as Kel loved and protected her like any good male should, that was all that mattered. And glancing up at Kel and seeing the gentle look in his eyes, she knew she loved him with all of her heart and that he loved her twice as much.
"How time flies," Kel said sadly, tweaking Zalia's chin. "It seems just yesterday, I was teaching you how to walk."
Zalia laughed at her father's misty eyes. "Oh, Dad! Maybe I'll have another pup and you can raise that one!"
Kel laughed. "For a fee this time. I'm getting too old to keep changing swaddling cloths."
"Mmm," said Zalia, putting a finger to her chin and pretending to think. "How does a kiss sound?"
"Jackpot!" Kel cried, and laughing, Zalia rose up on tip-toe and kissed her father on the cheek.
"There," she said. "You get one in advance and another after you change her first swaddling cloth."
"Ah, so the next one's a girl? Keeno doesn't want a son?"
Zalia snorted. "Keeno is a son."
Kel chuckled. "I admire your patience, Zalia. Young husbands are often a female's first test at motherhood."
"I think I'm up to it. I raised Keeno, didn't I? And I'm halfway there with Enya . . ." Zalia sighed, her thick lashes angling down. "Enya's so mad at Keeno. She told him that she hated him, that she'd rather die before she married a male. Dad . . . do you ever wish you could have married Zaldon?"
"Everyday," Kel answered at once. "But, Zalia, my story is a little different from Enya's. I love your mother as much as I love Zaldon. Enya is only in love with Yuri."
"Yeah, you're right. If only Keeno would just let Enya go to the sun village! I thought of sneaking her there myself, of asking Zaldon to take her away --"
"Zalia!" Kel warned, suddenly stern.
"Oh, come on, Dad!" Zalia cried stubbornly.
"Zalia," Kel scolded. "To involve Zaldon in an abduction -- in taking a male's daughter against his will and without his knowledge -- could get Zaldon killed if things got out of control. The village could even decide to stone you for defying your husband! Now I know it isn't right and I know it isn't fair, but your place as a female dictates obedience to your husband. Foolishly defying these customs often ends in death. I have not raised a fool for a daughter."
Zalia stared angrily at the dirt path as they walked along, and she realized with a sinking heart that even though she was an adult, she was as powerless as her daughter simply because she was a female.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Zalia demanded sulkily of the ground. "Stand back and watch Enya dig her own grave?"
Kel stopped on the path and faced his daughter. The green eyes were sympathetic but grave. "I know the helplessness of parenthood, Zalia. Don't make the mistake of thinking I do not. Every second that I couldn't protect you and your brother, I felt helpless. And as a child grows older, it just gets worse, until it is no longer your place to tell them to wash their paws before supper. When a little bird reaches its time to learn to fly, you can only teach it so much, then it must use its wings on its own. Enya is getting old enough that she's about ready to spread her wings, Zalia, so let her. Besides, I know another little bird who left the nest early and did just fine."
Kel smiled affectionately at Zalia, and feeling a warm surge of affection for her father in return, Zalia rested her head again on his shoulder, and father and daughter continued down the path through pale fingers of sunlight and the soft twitter of the birds.