Mating Season Read Online Free PDF

excitement that radiated from him. Shila immediately glanced around to see whom he belonged to, but nobody stepped forward.
    "Koll, you did a good job,” the little villager said. “She's beautiful."
    "Yes, she is.” Koll shot her a hungry stare that reminded her of how good he could make her feel. Then he turned to make introductions. “This is Gilby. Gilby, this is ... um..."
    Koll blinked several times and suddenly made a choking sound as his skin flushed right up to his temples. He looked as if his supper had just escaped beneath the ice and splashed him in the face for good measure.
    "I'm Shila, his mate,” she finished for him.
    "Shila.” Koll repeated her name like a rough caress.
    The little villager was all smiles. “Nice to meet you. Come in, come in. Sit down.” He waved them toward a beat-up table and chairs that were currently unoccupied.
    Once again, Shila expected someone to take control of the young fellow, but no one moved. Slowly, everyone returned to their conversations, although they still kept shooting her curious glances. Her new mate followed the little villager and motioned for her to sit.
    When she did, Koll leaned in close. “I didn't know your name.” He said it as an apology.
    "Why would you?” she said. “I didn't tell it to you."
    "I could have asked."
    She just shrugged, more concerned with the little villager taking a seat across from her. “Names aren't important. They're just useful in crowds. Where is this cub's mama?"
    "Cub?” Koll scowled.
    Shila indicated the small male at their table. “This juvenile. He shouldn't run up to other people like that, especially strangers. They could take a swipe at him."
    Koll followed her gaze and gave her another one of his smiles. He didn't bother keeping his voice low. “You think Gilby is a child?"
    "What?” Now the cub was the one who looked horrified. “What are you talking about? I'm the same age as you, Koll."
    "He is?” Shila wasn't sure whether to believe the cub, so she addressed her mate. “But he's not done growing yet.” Then it hit her. “Oh, is he a runt?"
    Koll didn't just smile now. His massive shoulders quaked, and he threw back his head to release a roar of laughter. It was a free and joyful sound, and his happiness smelled like fresh snowfall. The people gathered in the tavern looked shocked at the outburst.
    "Hey! I am not a runt.” Gilby frowned for a moment, but then he chuckled too. “Not all of us have our head in the stars. I'd get a nosebleed if I stood as tall as the two of you."
    That provoked a final snort from Koll before he stopped laughing. The rest of the crowd appeared to have been stunned into silence.
    "Now that we have that settled,” Gilby said, “tell us everything, Shila. What's happening in Idona these days?"
    "Idona?"
    "Your village.” Gilby looked at her mate. “You did find her in Idona, didn't you? I thought you said that's where you were going this year."
    "Found her on the way back,” Koll mumbled.
    Shila shook her head. “I belong to no village."
    "You're two-skinned.” The female voice came from her left where she found an old woman studying her.
    "Elli.” Koll said the name respectfully, identifying the speaker.
    "What do you mean ‘two-skinned?'” Gilby asked the elderly female. “Her skin looks fine to me."
    "Careful.” Koll repeated his earlier warning, this time with a growl at the runt.
    Elli held her head high and spoke to Shila directly. “I can tell by your coloring, though I haven't seen one of your people since I was a girl. You're a Child of Nanook."
    Beside her, Koll released a loud snort. “The Children of Nanook are a myth."
    "Then a myth sits before us,” Elli insisted.
    Shila regarded the woman for a moment before inclining her head. “Long ago, on a world beyond these stars, my people lived much like you. We came here for a fresh start, to reconnect with nature and live in harmony with it. But we discovered the bacteria of this planet were deadly to