The pleasures of the flesh were secondary to their race. Something not kept as sacred between a couple as some others. The mating ritual included sex, but it was so much more. It was the melding of two bodies into one, the sharing of memories and experiences. Their bodies became hyper sensitive to every touch, their senses amplified so much so that Aghet could see every bead of sweat in perfect detail on Qrev's body. She felt every brush of skin against her like a fire heated blanket. In the darkness created by the night outside and the curtain pulled to hide the bed from view, Aghet saw that both of their bodies were glowing a faint gold.

Aghet had never experienced such a thing before, seeing how the mating ritual was impossible without a bondmark between the pair. She had also not felt the terrible burning that still remained in said bondmark. Flaring pain that came in spurts, disrupting the ritual's purity as it pressed upon Aghet thoughts of doubt. She knew, if Qrev and herself had actually cared for one another, it would have been an experience never forgotten. As it was, Aghet didn't feel as in tune with the world around them as most said she would.

Both of them had lain pressed against one another for the rest of the night, bondmarks touching and sending constant waves of pain through Aghet's navel. When she had woken from the stupor the ritual had put them in, she had an immediate surge of anxiety, but Qrev had been asleep, arms curled loose enough around her for Aghet to squirm out easily.

Before she checked the closet, she first checked her bondmark, breathing a sigh of relief. It was white, which meant the ritual was working. A week more, each night when the moon was at it's highest point, then she would hopefully be with child.

It would stay white for that long, as well. Raising many a remark from others.

Pulling the thick curtain aside, Aghet quietly left the bed, picking up a thick robe folded neatly on the table not far away. Slipping her arms through it, she fastened the clips as she took one last peek at Qrev, who was still sleeping peacefully. Looking past him out the window, Aghet saw the last glimpses of the moon. A shaded one, as was her choice. Her child would be born on the darkest night, where the most dangerous creatures came out to play and the strongest were shaped into warriors.

When she entered the closet, Aghet didn't catch sight of the turbak at first. It was still inside the basket, but it had managed to squeeze itself down lower so it could close the lid. Aghet creeped over, lifting the lid and peeking inside. The turbak had curled itself into the cloak Aghet had given it like a bird in it's nest, but it's eyes were not closed. It was staring at nothing, with the same dead expression on it's face.

It looked up as she stared down at it, and lifted it's gloved hand again, just holding it up for her to see.

It had lost it's white glow from before, and the whisp had left. The orb was now it's original electric blue.

"I don't know what you want me to do with that." Aghet told it, and thought for a second, studying the basket. It was sturdy, made of wood and lined with cloth, with two hefty handles on both sides, locking the lid in place if need be.

"Don't make a sound."

Aghet told it, waiting for it to respond, but it just stared, as was the usual.

"Alright."

She breathed, shutting the lid on the turbak and lifting the basket. Her eyes widened, and Aghet dropped it to the floor, breathing heavily. She had underestimated how much the night before had drained her. Her body felt sore all over.

Blowing a huge sigh, Aghet reached through her robe to her chest, drawing two fingers down her power mark. A rush of energy flowed through her, and Aghet shook herself, feeling the strengthening in her muscles as she lifted the basket with little to no trouble at all, turning and peeking out the closet.

Qrev was still sleeping, so she sneaked past toward the back entrance, pulling the curtain back and looking both ways before exiting.

No one was in sight, seeing how it was quite early in the morning and they had all drunk so much last night. Aghet only saw one person, and that was Verd, one of the only children in the village. Which meant his mother, Frud, would not be far away.

Verd waved at her, and she smiled back. The kid was always covered head to toe in thick cotton clothing. Frud was constantly worrying about him getting sick, and wouldn't even let the poor guy play with the five other children in the village that often. Verd's unique mark was on his forehead, which looked like a crown, and the little tuft of green and black hair atop his head looked like a struggling little bush that had taken root there.

Thankfully, Verd seemed to be a mark bearer. Him and two others out of six. If the three couples that had attempted a mating ritual succeeded, hopefully there would be more. Along with her own, a daughter being the most wanted at the moment. Women in the tribe, while tending to have weaker marks, could mate with any other mark bearer, including those of their own sex.

Children produced from a same-sex couple were labeled Uriks. They did not have a unique mark, and were always female. Other than that, they functioned as normal as any child. Aghet remembered what her mother had told her long ago, when their race had been completely made of females. Back then, they had not known the terms relating to the sexes, as they were all the same. Cross-breeding with the race they had taken the name of, the Rixit, had created their male counterpart over time.

It was why Uriks were so respected in their tribes. They represented the ancients.

"Aghet!"

Aghet shut her eyes as she heard Frud's shrill, teetering voice, and turned to greet her with a wide smile. Frud was a wonderful lady, but she tended to ramble, and Aghet already felt her energy draining. She wouldn't be able to hold up her power mark for much longer.

"Frud, how are you this morning?" Aghet asked, accepting Frud's kiss on the cheek. She had forgotten in her scramble that she was a tribe leader now, and this would be common.

"A bit tired, but not as tired as you, I think." She giggled, and Aghet's smile began to strain as her back did. She set down the basket, feeling her power mark twinge.

"Yes, I agree. It was a long night." Aghet replied, getting an idea and motioning her closer. Frud did so, excited as Aghet opened her robe just enough for the woman to catch sight of her bondmark's white state.

Frud's face lit with a joy that had Aghet relaxing just a bit, and she watched as Frud took her hand, kissing her palm and pressing it to her chest.

"Darling, I am so happy for you." She whispered, as if thinking if she spoke too loud it might banish the good luck. Aghet nodded, and Frud kissed her on the cheek once more, scooping up Verd as he ran up to her side and wishing Aghet farewell.

Knowing her plan had worked, Aghet hurriedly picked up the basket once more, rushing behind one of the huts out of sight as she made her way to the forest. With luck, Frud would be too busy sharing the news to follow.

As she trotted toward the trees, a shaky arm, bouncing up and down with her run, slithered it's way out of the basket, once again presenting Aghet with it's hand.

Aghet pushed it back inside, setting the basket down on the moss. This part of the woods was well shaded, and would provide ample cover. As soon as she crouched in front of it again, the turbak popped up, scrambling to be released from it's confinement, and Aghet nearly fell over as it tumbled out onto her lap in a mess of limbs.

Scrambling off of her, the turbak sat cross legged a few feet away, staring at the ground with it's wide eyes.

"Please tell me what you are." Aghet told it, scooting closer and making sure she didn't startle it into running. It hadn't so far, but she didn't want to take a chance. Before she forgot, Aghet ran a finger down her chest once more, ending her power mark. Her body relaxed, still sore but not straining anymore.

The turbak held out it's hand once more, and Aghet decided to take it, feeling her palm cool with the contact. She ran her thumb over the top of it's hand, feeling the skin there. The black of the vase that had covered it felt like it had just melded to her. It wasn't what she was expecting.

It stared at her as she did so, and Aghet saw that it's eyes had lost any shape they had, and had turned into two orbs of glowing white light.

Aghet snapped her hand away, and the turbak's eyes focused. Immediately, it got to it's feet, lowering it's arms and standing with them at it's sides, head turned toward the sky. Aghet watched as it's skin rippled, and an image began to form on it's stomach. That of one figure, walking across the rocky mountainside that was the border between the Rixit and the Turbak races.

It was a male Turbak, with mottled skin just like the one in front of her. He carried one long chain in his hand. The only hand, for his right arm was severed at the base.

He looked threatening, and Aghet waited for anything that would tell of where he was, but a moment later the image disappeared, and the turbak shook itself, staring at Aghet and waiting.

"Who was that?" Aghet asked, but of course it didn't answer, and she came up to it, taking it's shoulders and giving it a shake.

"I need to know what that was. Is he coming for you? Is it a father, brother?"

No voice emerged from the turbak, but it did point to her, placing a finger on her chest. Aghet took it off, seeing how a freezing sensation was beginning to return once more. Heart beating wildly as she tried to decide what to do, she grabbed the cloak the turbak had previously been in, wrapping it up and lifting it up onto her hip.

The turbak looked at her, then lifted an arm, pointing deeper into the forest, toward the border.

With one last look toward her village, Aghet followed the direction, leaving a trail of frosted footprints in her wake.

If she was lucky, the turbak would leave once his child was returned. Aghet would leave it, and hopefully wouldn't even meet him face to face.