Aella (manxman) - ON HOLD - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

"Welcome to your new family, Ceri"
Seeing the Aella of my dreams made me so happy I almost ventured in their territory just to be able to get to him. Unfortunately, Cailyn reminded me to stay put so I just called for him when he appeared.
Now here I was, reaching my hand for him to finally join our side with no fear or guilt. Finally, I'll be able to be with my Ceri.
My sweet Aella looked torn between the happiness to see us and the sight of Alev being sick. But it was ok. From now on, I'll be there for him and he'll be there for me.
The red headed Aella hunter urged him: "Go ahead, kid. I have better things to do"
I never was one to even notice what the Aellas said, but the way she spoke to him made me want to growl at her. Ceri didn't seem to notice though, he just stepped forward after wiping his teary eyes and smiling.
I started to smile as well, if not for that so called friend of his, Drita. The Aella-hunter was holding his forearm and didn't let him go. She just kept him close to her while glaring at me curiously. I glared back, and before I spoke up, Cailyn did:
"You can join your father now, young Aello"
"Yes, Leader!"
I swear my lower stomach tightened to the way he answered enthusiastically. Ceri removed Drita's hand and took another step forward, but the hunter grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to look at her.
"Drita..." the red headed Aella started asking, but the other one openly snarled her way: "Don't interfere, Rhonwen!"
Ceri flinched: "D-d-drita?"
Cailyn and Alev were glaring at her and I could feel Alev barely holding himself back. I wasn't going to let Alev do or say anything as he just came back from his punishment, and if anything happened to him, my sweet Aella will be crushed. But I wasn't going to leave my Aella in those hands any second longer. So I walked towards them, not sparing a look at the redheaded hunter who flinched her knees slightly in a fighting stance, and ignoring Cailyn who palmed his face.
Drita was looking at Ceri intensely, like she wanted to say something to him, but was doing her best not to. Well, we don't really need to know what she has in her gut, so I pulled my Aella gently
"Hey there, time to go, Ceri"
Drita's glare intensified, but I didn't wait to hear her complaints, especially with the way Ceri brightened and grinned happily as our hand joined and I led him past the limit of their territory, with a smile on my face and my guard up.
Cailyn addressed the other hunter: "Thank Sosanbra for her care and tell her we'll be bringing more gifts to the Aellas and the children soon"
Both hunters bowed to him, although Drita did so reluctantly. And they retreated.
Ceri immediately went to Alev
"A-Aello Alev, I-I'm happy you're back safe"
Alev smiled and pulled him into a hug with his right arm: "My son. I'm happy I finally have a chance to be your father"
Ceri sniffled and hugged Alev back. He deserved to have a father, and he needed this so much. I remembered the first he told me he was fatherless. He was so hesitant, expecting I would judge him because of something he never had control over.
My heart went for my Aella. I sighed heavily; if he cries more I'll be joining him!
Cailyn patted his shoulder: "No need to fear for his life anymore, your father is one of the bravest Aellos on our clan! He's back safe and sound from Saeva, and he wants nothing than to be with his son. Don't tell anyone I said this, but... Aella Dilara did the right thing by hiding you, Ceri. By doing so, she saved your life and allowed your father here a second chance to have a family."
Ceri looked up at his father as to ask if he agreed with what the Leader said, and Alev nodded before dipping down and kissing his head: "Let's go home"
Ceri nodded eagerly and moved to hold his father's arm: "I'll help you, Aello Alev!"
"It's alright, I can walk on my own"
Now that wasn't totally true. Alev came back just a couple of hours ago from Saeva. He was ill and needed to rest. That was considered a miracle, I don't know many who could survive Saeva, let alone live there twice and come back walking. Cailyn suggested he waited a couple of days before he claimed his son, but Alev said he was already ten years late.
Seeing how his father insisted, Ceri pulled away and let Alev walk alone. I noticed the strain that put on Alev, so I took my chance and grabbed Ceri's hand, pulling him a few feet before the other two, and giving Cailyn a chance to help Alev as they walked behind us.
"Hey, you look you're thinking about a hundred things at once. Care to share a few with me?"
"Just the one, actually... I can't believe I..."
He peeked behind us towards his father who was listening to Cailyn go on and on about the last gifts he sent to Halina, like that was more important than what Alev has been through.
"It's ok. You can take your time to adapt. And I'll help you with all of it"
His hand tightened around mine and he smiled at me. Now he was looking at me, not thinking about that ghoul Drita or his long awaited hurt father... just me
"I missed you, Ithel"
I grinned and leaned slightly closer to him: "Your beautiful smile and dancing curls never left my mind everyday"
"And I dreamt about you every night"
"Really?"
He nodded: "Really!"
"I wonder what were we doing in your dreams, every night"
I was aiming to make him shy, but his innocence dodged my horniness as he answered: "You came for me, you showed me the way in the forest and you brought my father back to me"
And even though he didn't get my wild comment, his answer tugged my heart. To him I was associated with freedom and his way to his father. That was just so adorable and heartwarming! I couldn't be the strong Aello anymore, I just wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight, feeling the emptiness in my soul filled once more
"You are so cute!!! I missed you, my sweet Aella"
He chuckled and his arms reached around me and hugged me back. And with the way he hid his face in my neck, I knew he was definitely getting shy.
Cailyn laughed when he reached us: "Now tell me the truth, Ceri, who did you want to see the most, your father or your friend there?", he said motioning for me.
Ceri looked like a caught rabbit the way he looked at Alev and me hesitantly
Alev chuckled, and I swear I've never heard him chuckle before. Ceri smiled at his father and I knew I was going to lose if I didn't act fast.
"Leader, don't ask him difficult ques-"
"Alev" he answered, without much hesitation either.
My jaw dropped and Cailyn laughed loud. Ceri looked at me and I almost cooed at him when he innocently shrugged his shoulders. Alev smirked: "Good boy, Ceri"
My Aella looked at me apologetically: "Sorry... but I wanted to see you too!"
I shook my head and sighed dramatically: "I can't, this is too much pain for my sensitive heart" and I pretended to be weak and leaned on Ceri.
Cailyn snorted: "Too much shame, is more like it"
Ceri muffled a laugh and I couldn't help but join in this time. I hugged him close so he could 'help me walk', while in fact, all I wanted, was to take him to my den and have him in my arms.
~~~~~~
We walked for a couple of hours. And it was the best walk I had in months! Six, to be exact. Then, we heard the sound of drums and Ceri jumped in startle and started looking around him
"Wh-what is that! I-is that a wild animal?? I-is it close??"
Of course, I hugged him close to calm him while keeping myself from laughing: "It's alright, it's not an animal"
Cailyn chuckled: "It's the sound of drums"
"Drums?"
Alev nodded: "The Aellos play the drums when they want to call for the others to our village"
Ceri relaxed and blushed slightly, making me poke his peachy cheek.
Cailyn sighed and turned to Alev: "I asked Aleksy to tell the others that they'll welcome you back another day, I guess he didn't deliver the message"
I looked at Alev who looked even more tired than before: "I could go tell them that you're not available today. You need to rest"
He shook his head: "It's alright. It's the tradition to present the claimed son to the rest of the clan as well, and I'd like to do things right for once"
Alev smiled at Ceri who was staring at him adoringly. Cailyn agreed and we continued our way to the village.
Once we arrived, it was full already. We rarely have one of us leave to a neighboring island and come back, but whenever that happened, we'd gather and welcome the Aello back. This also goes when someone dies either from our clan or a child from the Aellas' clan. Usually, the Aellos live on their own. Even though we have a village and are allowed to live there, living alone is a proof of independence and strength. I have proved for years that I can live alone, but the loneliness became too heavy for me since I didn't even get to share my Agape with someone for a long time, so before Ceri brightened my existence, I used to stay in the village a lot; for a while I was like the guardian who'll always keep enough spare food for every Aello who comes by.
But since my Agape, I have been working hard to make my den safer and more suitable for him so I haven't been here until today.
"Aleksy!" Cailyn called as soon as he spotted the young Aello.
Aleksy flinched and turned slowly, then he walked over, not very enthusiastically: "Leader... I'm really sorry" and when his eyes met Alev and Ceri he brightened: "You brought him!!!! Congratulations Alev!"
Alev nodded and Alesky went to talk to Ceri, who was busy staring curiously at what Aleksy was holding in his hands and close to his chest, but Cailyn interrupted them: "I thought I told you that we were not having the gathering today!"
"S-sorry Leader! But it's Essylt's fault!!!"
"Are you telling on me to the Leader, little mouse?"
Essylt walked by, making Aleksy pout. He shook Alev's hand and touched their shoulders together as a sign of greeting, while not even acknowledging Ceri: "It's good to see you alive, my brave friend"
"Thank you, Essylt"
"I guess you got too old for Saeva, huh. The first time you went there, you came back walking straight"
Alev didn't appreciate the crude comment and straightened his stance, making Essylt smirk.
That's just Essylt. He's very strong, very proud, and most of all, very rude. The Leader asked him with an exasperating look: "Essylt, what have done to Alesky this time?"
"Nothing, Leader, other than the usual"
I felt Ceri tense considerably, I knew because I still had my arm around him and on his further shoulder. I leaned down and whispered while rolling my eyes: "He always eats Aleksy's dinner"
He gave me a silent 'oh' and calmed down. Damn that Essylt, the last thing I need is making Ceri afraid of other Aellos!
Aleksy pushed his hands to show what he was holding to the Leader: "He said he ate my baby rabbit! I went running back to my den and forgot to tell the others that Alev's gathering wasn't happening today!"
Essylt shook his head in disappointment to Aleksy, while Cailyn stared at him bored, like he couldn't defend him against Essylt for such thing
My sweet Aella released a gasp: "That rabbit is so cute!!!"
Aleksy grinned and walked closer to show his tiny rabbit to Ceri: "You like it?"
Ceri started at the small thing in awe, while Essylt snorted.
Cailyn was wise when he walked with Alev towards the other Aellos and called for Essylt to keep him from spreading more joy over Ceri as well.
"I'm raising it!" Aleksy said proudly
"Really? That's amazing!!"
"You've never seen a rabbit before?"
"I have, but never a baby rabbit! I never thought they could look this adooorable!"
My lower stomach tightened, say 'adorable' again?
Alesky handed him the rabbit and Ceri looked so new to all of this. I caressed the bunny's head with my forefinger: "Aleksy is now training to protect his son when he gets to claim him. He's not very patient, so he's learning to be a father to the rabbit until he gets a real kid to raise"
"Aleksy, that is so awesome of you! You'll make a great father"
And the young Aello couldn't look prouder. Seeing how Ceri was gentle with the small creature, he agreed to let him hold it for a while and went to help prepare the food and show the Leader that he was working, maybe to remedy to his mistake of earlier.
Soon, the Aellos' number elevated. They'd welcome Alev and then Ceri, some more enthusiastically than the others.
Well, first, many of the younger Aellos didn't really know Alev. He wasn't very chatty and we'd only see him a few times a year. It's only lately that I understood that he became that way after he thought he had lost both his beloved Aella, Dilara, and his son Ceri as a baby.
Also, some other Aellos were here just to... kind of check things out. They weren't happy knowing that Alev's mistake in the past by taking the same Aella four times in a row had caused such a wreck within the Aellas' clan. They weren't totally wrong since the Leader at the time, Halina, had to give up her title to cover for the birth of the child. But even after all these years, and even after Alev's punishment, some Aellos didn't have the will to forgive.
Luckily, Cailyn was clear on his decision not to bother Alev or his son since he completed his punishment. And I hoped those few Aellos who still held a grudge didn't show it towards my Ceri.
We were sitting in a circle now, with Cailyn, Alev, Ceri and myself laughing and talking to the others. I was glad to see that Ceri didn't even suspect the few grumpy Aellos, since many others kept him busy by asking about their children.
After we ate, it was time for the show to begin. Cailyn turned to Ceri and spoke clear enough for everyone to hear: "Young Aello Ceri, from today forward you are part of our clan. All Aellos welcome you as their brother, and they shall help guide you to become a brave and proud Aello, although I believe if you follow your father's steps, you will need no further help"
Ceri smiled and bowed in respect. I was happy as well because I could feel the Leader's words made my Aella happy.
Cailyn turned to the rest of us: "Well, let's show the new boy how the Aellos dance, shall we?"
The first two stood in the middle of the circle of Aellos. They bowed their heads to the Leader, and then turned to each other. They exchanged a couple of words before one of them swung his bat with full force, almost knocking the other off his feet.
Ceri jerked in surprise, and I put my hand on his and blamed myself for not explaining to him before hand: "They're just fighting, it's alright"
"A-a-alright?" he whispered and pulled the little rabbit closer, hiding it from the sight as if it could comprehend the scene developing before its dark little eyes
I chuckled: "They're showing their skills to welcome you, Ceri"
"Me??"
I nodded, and he still looked scared: "T-tell them to stop"
"It's a tradition. They're fighting in a friendly way. Whenever a new boy joins us, we welcome him with a gathering like this one, we share food with him and we show him our strength so he'd seek to be strong and brave. Usually no one is severely hurt from fights like these, but as hunters, they do amuse us"
He gulped and listened to me carefully. One of the fighters hit the other head to head and Ceri looked away. Some of the Aellos laughed silently at him. Alev was too tired to notice, so I nudged Ceri with a smile, trying to ease his worry: "Don't look away. I know you're new to this, but they're giving a show to honor you and Alev"
He seemed to think about that for a second, before renewing his determination and watching the fight again. I kept my arm stretched behind him, touching his lower back from time to time and making him smile towards me. Between flinching and smiling, a few rounds have been already over.
"How about the new boy shows us his skills?"
One of the Aellos suggested and the others started pitching in between those who wanted to see if he could use his fists, and others who wanted to keep the tradition that the newcomer, who's usually around seven, only watches his new clan fight.
"Well, I think he's old enough to fight on his own, I mean my son is thirteen and he has his own den already"
Ceri only stared at Essylt and his obvious challenge. Maybe he looked calm to the others, but I knew that he was really scared and feeling cornered right now. I remembered when he told me that whenever he's pushed to a corner, he'd lose his ability to talk and defend himself.
"My son is yet to learn our ways, Essylt. Unless you want to fight him while he wasn't among us for even a day yet"
Alev looked ready to take upon Essylt's offer. The rude hunter didn't back down though: "He's seventeen! That mouse Alesky is sixteen and he's ready to raise a kid already!"
Before Alev answered and this got any scarier for my sweet Aella, I stoop up and patted Essylt's shoulder: "I guess you're thirsty to get beaten today, Essylt"
The crowd laughed and Essylt smirked: "Lead the dance, lonely wolf"
"Ithel!"
I smiled at Ceri who wanted to stand, but Alev put his hand on his shoulder reassuringly. I gave Alev a thankful look; I mean, how could they even suggest that Ceri would fight! Look at him, so cute and innocent with his pouty lips and sunny curls... so pretty and more innocent than the baby rabbit he was holding.
I bowed to the Leader and he raised his hand, declaring the beginning of the fight.
~~~~~~
We circled around slowly, ready to pounce at the first opening. Essylt smirked like he had already won. His crude games never worked on me, unlike the others, I wasn't driven by proving my virility.
Our tribe goes for hundreds of years. We used to be much more hostile and territorial than we are today. Our aggressiveness even towards each other led to fatal fights. At a certain point in time, the stronger Aellos would keep several Aellas, willing or not, under his mercy. They treated them like property and prizes. It is said that the spirits stopped blessing our tribe and that the number of Aellas drastically diminished. And that was when they decided to take the younger children and retreat to the mountain alone. Being very domineering, the Aellos tried to force the Aellas back, making them do everything in their power to survive on their own, despite the horrid weather at the top of their mountain.
I've also been told that our clan a couple of decades ago were fond of fighting to death. But Cailyn and his father, who was Leader before him, instated that it was forbidden to kill each other to gain favor with the Aellas, and that bravery was shown in the way an Aello raised his sons and treated well his Aella, more than the number of brothers he killed. With lots of patience, Cailyn and his father encouraged futile hostility less and less, leading to today.
Although we no longer fight for the pleasure of killing or over women, it was still established that the strongest among us got the best Aellas, which meant the best and most children. It was well established for me that I never felt eager to amaze the Aellas before, so I never really took interest in such fights and used my skills for hunting only.
Essylt snarled and swung his weapon at me again. He regained my attention back and I avoided it easily as I realized I've been fighting him mindlessly. I smiled and I also realized that I was going through the history of my clan in my head like I would tell it to Ceri.
I ducked, dodging another attack, and pushed Essylt with my shoulder, making him lose balance and fall on his side.
Yeah, I need to explain all the things I know about our history to my Ceri. I bet Alev will be nicely surprised if he found out that Ceri knew so many things.
"What are you grinning about?"
Essylt's rough voice wasn't enough to wipe the smile off my face, especially when I caught a pair of beautiful worried eyes gazing my way
"I was just thinking of something beautiful"
Essylt grunted and attacked again. This time I received a heavy punch on my right temple. Before letting the feeling of pain got to me, I quickly put my arm around his neck and pulled my arm back, bringing him to the ground with it. I hit him nicely with my elbow, making everyone cheer.
I smirked at looked proudly at Ceri who was applauding, making me grin
Well, who would've thought;
with the right Aella for me, even I liked fighting to prove my virility