There was no reason for me to be her, not at all. Beside Toke, it was a handful of middle-aged men gathered in that big hall where I first met that Alpha. That I now know is Toke's dad. The only difference was that they were now all sitting at a long wooden table, and the thrones were empty. Small wooden benches on each side of that massive table were all there was, much like those small cute benches you could see in parks and next to playgrounds. A row of well-burned candles was lined down the middle of the table, and a couple of silver mugs. I had started the meeting by filling myself a cup because I was thirsty, and for some reason, I thought it had to be water. It wasn't! Something sweet, a little thick, and with a burning aftertaste. I nearly choked, coughed, and had to cover my mouth not to spit it out.
Some of the older men just hummed a little and laughed in their beards, and others seemed to be more irritated. Toke leaned down to tell me it was mead. I've never tasted it before, and I am not sure I ever will again! But that had been the very beginning, even before the meeting itself had started. Now, that seemed to be ages ago. My lower back was aching, and my ass was too. These wooden benches were not comfortable over time! It had been discussed where to start digging out new underground storage and how and when they should strengthen the wall around the village. Weapon storage, how much raw metal they needed for the blacksmith, fishing, some kind of celebrations in a couple of weeks. Everything was important when living as they did, I guess, but I sighed. Utterly boring! Not before one of the younger men mentioned "training the females" had I even bothered to try to listen the last half hour. Now, I straighten up and listen.
"You know everyone is welcome at training, Oleg! Females too."
Toke responded, and for a reason; this got me excited. I could learn how to fight, to protect myself. And I liked that idea!
"Yes, Alpha, I know. But that's not exactly what I meant. These human girls are not like us! They are used to another life, and many can't even cook! They can't skin an animal, prepare it, heck, they can't even fish or gut it! They get lost trying to pick berries, for goddess sake!"
I was truly amazed, disgusted, but amazed. Was this dude for real? He wanted some kind of "housewife- school"?
"It is a steep learning curve living here compared to the world they know. A school or something might not be a bad idea. We can have some of the older ladies show them and teach them what they need to know."
I looked at Toke like he just grew two heads and gaped. He, however, didn't seem to notice, they continued this conversation, and more joined in. They need to learn to make clothes, repair their clothes and gear, cook, fish, and take care of the home and children. They needed to learn how to live here and adjust; why don't they even know where to find blueberries? I abruptly got up, and suddenly they all stared at me. Like they had forgotten, I was there at all. Toke gently tugged my sweater and asked me to sit. I yanked my hand back and stepped over the bench, and I walked straight out. There was so much I wanted to say, but I was so angry! What a bunch of idiots! Who the hell do they think they are? I marched back to find Maya and show those old farts!
"I have an idea, but I need your help!"
Maya raised her brows and looked me over before the corner of her lips twitched a little. I was still so angry that my fists were shaking.
"This idea. Will it create trouble?"
The amusement in her voice got me smiling, and I finally sat down next to her and let out a deep breath.
"I hope so! So, you in or not?"
"I'm most defiantly in! What are we doing anyway?"
"Showing those wrinkly old animals that we are better than them!"
I stated, and we both laughed. It's not really what we were doing, but it was what I wanted them to feel. They had so many unused resources here, and they didn't even see it! All the girls, the woman, had so much knowledge with them. But instead of using it, letting them contribute to making this place better, they forced their ways over their head. We sat there for a couple of hours, planning and talking my idea over; Maya formed the idea into an even better one. The more we talked, the more excited I felt over this! A little rebellion in so many ways! I've seen Toke peeking at us between the houses several times, but I ignored him. He would not be part of this plan, not yet.
Instead of finding him when we broke up our little meeting, I went to find the old woman. I walked up and down those tiny paths between the houses, and I realized I had no idea where I was going! Just wandering around like a fool. Then I remembered the training grounds, I could still find the way back from there, and I breathed out in relief as that little house finally appeared in front of me. The house I spent my first night in this village inside. Now it looked like every other house here, maybe a little bigger, but that's it. I knocked on the door before I opened it, hoping I had found the right place!
But it was empty; I said "hello" several times, but it seemed to be abandoned. There was no fire in the fireplace, and the candles were not lit. Maybe they didn't use it? I ran outside with one of the little torches I found by the door and lit it by the fireplace further up in the village. Then I walked through every room in that little house, and I had been right. It was empty. A smile formed on my lips as a new plan formed. Using the little hand-held torch, I lit one of the little lamps with a glass holder around it. Running back, I ran straight into Toke.
"Where have you been?"
"You know where I have been, and you have been checking up on me. So let's not do that!"
"Okay, but."
He started awkwardly scratching his neck, and I crossed my arms, waiting,
"Why did you run out like that then? Some place to teach the new girls how to survive here isn't a bad idea, you know!"
"Maybe not, but that's not what you agreed on or what that boy suggested! What he wanted was a house-wife school! A place to make sure all the girls be exactly what you want them to be."
"No, no, it was not. I mean, they need to"
I cut him off, I didn't want to have this discussion right now, and I wasn't really angry at him. It was more their way of thinking that bothered me, and that would not change over the night. I knew this.
"Yes, yes, it was. Learning how to survive and learning how to sow the means items of clothing are two very different things. But that's a discussion for later. I need some help."
He seemed surprised, but then he smiled,
"Sure! Anything you need, I'll get it!"
That made me smile, and he has no idea what he just accepted!