Sun & Moon

Chapter 33 - Astrid

"Yeah, but I think you wanted an edgy haircut for an edgy Sigma."

"Shut up," Bianca playfully nudges me.

We reach Guru's house where Alex lends a helping hand to Ganzorig in making tea. Rio starts the fire in the living room. As Guru takes a seat, he starts making small talk, despite the fatigue and tragedy plastered on his face. He tells Rio how glad he is that Ganzorig seems to be getting along quite well with Alex as he struggles in making friends in Sanctuary.

"When the Sun Goddess chose Ganzorig, he was more than willing to do her bidding," Guru says. "He's never gotten along well with other tigers, but with my wife's love and affection, he has learned to tolerate his brethren well."

"May I ask," Bianca speaks hesitantly, "about the story behind the scar on his face?"

"He doesn't talk about that much, but as you probably suspect, it was caused by a tiger."

Bianca sits back and nods, prodding the old man no further.

"Perhaps, Ganzorig can come along with us in tracking Valentina," Rio suggests. "We could use his help as a local of these lands."

"Then go with you, he will," Guru nods.

As tea gets served with a side of biscuits, Rio devises a plan to track down Valentina. When he tells Ganzorig that he's tagging along, his face grows with concern.

"The people of Sanctuary are quite vulnerable right now," he says. "And I would like to stay back to help rebuild it."

"I couldn't expect to keep you away from your home, but I was thinking you should consider rebuilding elsewhere," Rio suggests. "If Valentina comes back, that might be the end of Sanctuary. You're sitting ducks up here."

"Plus, the steep climb thousand-step climb leaves much to be desired," Alex quips.

"Where do you suggest we relocate?" Guru asks Rio.

So, Rio offers to pay for their lodging in the town below where they will be safer among the humans than isolated in this mountain. Guru seems hesitant at first. Then, Rio proposes to help them eventually rebuild near the town and provide financial assistance for the project. Guru asks where they will get the sort of money to repay for this, and Rio suggests that he will purchase several businesses in the town, loan them to the tigers and, in time, the profits should settle it, enough to even expand and grow Sanctuary to become a haven for fostering stronger tigers.

I sit back, keenly listening in on all of this and feel utterly useless. The Sun Goddess may have chosen me to receive this golden eye, but I can't shake the fact that I did not earn this through any merit of my own; only because Rio marked me. The only leadership experience I have is in manoeuvring a rowdy class of middle schoolers to harmonize in sync for band and orchestra. Synchronizing a group of tigers is a whole other thing.

With the agreement in place, Guru sends Ganzorig out to announce the exodus of their people during which the rest of us pack our bags for the journey ahead.

As we enter our room, I share with Rio my insecurities. He swings me around and holds me by my waist, staring deeply into my eyes. The pupil of his blue eye dilates.

"Astrid," he speaks softly, "you were chosen and through that virtue alone you are as capable as I to successfully lead the tigers. They already revere you enough as my destined mate."

I scoff. "That's my point exactly. They don't know me for me, they know me for you. Besides, I got pummelled like a ragdoll by Bianca yesterday. I literally don't have anything to show."

"Yet still, the Sun Goddess chose you." Rio strokes the side of my right eye, golden through the blessing of the Goddess. "And so did the Moon Goddess because you are my equal."

I smile at him, hoping he's right about that. All the Sun Goddess told me about our bond is how strange it is. Until I discover the truth, who's to say Rio isn't correct in assuming the purity of our bond.

This may be the fresh mark on my clavicle speaking, but as I stare deep into Rio's eyes and I breathe in his minty musk, I trust him in what he says, a hundred percent.

"And I choose you, Rio," I tell him sincerely. "You are my destined mate."

I step up on my tiptoes to kiss him, the electricity between us zapping me on and awake. This kiss feels just like that dizzying and unexpected feeling from that one fateful night at Oscura, except now I can let myself freefall and be washed over by his waves. And I let that wave wash over my worries, too.

Rio picks me up easily and brings me to the bed, taking off his sweater.

"Do we even have time?" I ask in consideration of our timeline while also drinking in the view before me.

"I'm up for the challenge," he says as he hooks his fingers onto the waistband of my pants. "Are you?"

The excitement behind his confidence—despite the exodus that awaits us outside—is hard to deny the very moment he kisses up and down the side of my neck. I nod in response and we tumble together.

At the start of our journey, most if not all of the elders were deeply scornful and objected to the big move, after all, they were some of the founding members and citizens of Sanctuary. But Guru delivered a rousing speech about how Sanctuary is not a place but a people.

"Do not be afraid," he said, "for the Sun Goddess watches over us."

At that, Guru gestured towards me, leaving me terribly self-conscious of my new golden eye. The crowd erupted in whispers and when I could think of nothing to do except humbly bow before them, the resounding cheer that followed made me realize that I could not fail these people. They finally relented to leaving their mountain sanctuary.

Somehow, yet again, I found myself in a position thrust upon me without a choice of my own. I fought against it so hard the first time, but I eventually caved into my undeniable feelings for Rio. Now, I must remind myself that I got this golden eye because of my connection with Rio. Everything that's happened has had a reason. No matter how uncomfortable that makes me feel, I must carry out my duties to the best of my abilities.