Drakoth POV:

The wind nipped at his ears as he trekked along the ridge, fur boots grinding into the crusted snow with his spear in hand. The air was cold enough to make even a seasoned Sa-Khui hunter like him grunt with discomfort, but it kept him alert while he checked the trap line. It was a good morning for a dvisti calf, maybe a hopper stupid enough to wander near his nets.

Anything to make the trip out of his tribal cave worth it.

His people needed more food before the brutal season began in 2 moons.

His breath fogged the air as he followed the line of bone stakes. The world was quiet except for the low howl of wind threading through the few sashrem trees nearby.

As he moved in the direction of his last traps, he saw one of his high nets sagging under the weight of something caught inside, the mesh pulled tight around a shape that didn’t shift or squirm.

No kicking. No thrashing.

His tail flicked as he strode forward, cautious and annoyed since it did not look big enough to feed more than one Sa-Khei. A dead snow cat, maybe?Hopefully, some beast he could skin or butcher quickly before the storm picked up.

No fur or blue skin. No tail. No horns.

Then his khui woke with a violent purr in his chest, a deep vibration shaking his ribs so hard he nearly lost his breath. He slapped a hand against his sternum as if he could force it to be silent.

After all the brutal seasons of quiet, it chose now to sing?

For this…female?

He pushed down the shock and hauled the net lower. The creature inside twitched weakly, and the light caught your face and form more clearly.

You wore useless clothing soaked with melted frost. Five fingers. Five toes. No claws at all, or fangs for that matter. So unlike the Sa-Khui females. So…alien.

His thoughts stumbled. This must be one of the creatures Vektal spoke of, the strange females that crashed from the sky…he called them…hu-mans?

But he never said they looked so... weak... and strange, but appealing.

His khui thrummed again, more insistently.

His jaw clenched.

His brother Aruk always joked that his khui had to be broken.

Maybe there was truth in it. There was no other reason for this reaction to this weak human female. He was chief of his tribe; he deserved a Sa-Khui female.

He sliced the net open with his bone knife and caught you before you hit the ground. Your body was cold as stone against his forearms. You were half-frozen, barely breathing. Panic cracked through his chest despite himself. Fool. He should not care.

But the khui hummed like it had found a treasure meant only for him.

The storm-wind clawed at them as he gathered you close and carried you toward his hunting cave. Your head lolled against his shoulder. His tail tightened around your calf without thought, an instinctive response he could not stop. Your weight was slight, far too slight for this harsh world.

He kept his steps steady as his mind reeled.

Inside the cave, warmth wrapped around him. The fire he left smoldered low, glow-moss casting soft blue light across the stone walls. He set you on his bedding hides and knelt beside you.

He peeled off your wet clothes with slow and careful movements. Not because of modesty but because he feared you would not warm with them on.

That confirmed you were female.

You were so defenseless. No khui hummed within your body. Nothing to guard you against Not-Harth’s harsh cold.

He ran his fingers over your cheek, turning your head gently.

His tail curled closer, betraying his rising concern.

He shook his head.

“I do not understand why my khui sings for a female with no claws, no horns, and barely the strength to survive a single night,” he muttered, voice rough in the quiet as he spoke to your unconscious form.

His breath left him in a long, frustrated exhale.

And then, suddenly, you woke, your eyes flicking open wide as you saw him.

Then…you had the audacity to kick him in the face with a startled cry.

"Woman, you kick like a petulant Kit." He growled in Sa-khui, rubbing his jaw.