When we got back, Kiri was playing with bones, and Pānihi was asleep. "Message away," I said. "Want some goat for a change?" I tossed her the goat's head, complete with horns.

She jumped back to avoid the blood splatter. "Thanks," she said sarcastically. "You didn't even de-brain it for me."

I just gave her a smile. "She is looking better," I said, referring to Pānihi.

"She is. We just need to fatten her up a bit and help her get used to her new size. She is going to miss climbing trees."

I looked, and there wouldn't be many trees that would hold her. "No obvious bones are poking out anywhere. No bone plating?"

"No, I think that is a skill we need to develop. I am not sure I want to develop it as I prefer fur," she said.

"Probably best to start on strengthening the bones you already have."

"That was my thought as well," Kiri said.

While Kiri played with bones, I played with gravity, Pānihi slept, and Felix chewed on a bone.

"You know you are still wearing fur, right? Did anyone see you?" she chuckled, "I bet you are going to start rumours of a snow monster out here."

I had forgotten I was in fur. I like fur. I looked down. I only had my knife belt on. Kevin now knew what type of bear-kin I was. That wasn't too bad. I just shrugged. It couldn't be helped now.

Kiri suddenly looked up at me, "You wanna have sex?"

I blinked, "Ah, what?"

"Sex. No, wait, you are ten. Should you have sex?"

"I am an adult of my species. I have never had sex, let alone with a human. Why? Is this a human thing?"

She looked down, "I think it is just a me thing. I have just had a major win, and I am excited and horney, and, well, you are here and I like you." She looked up and said, "And I couldn't have done it without you. If you hadn't taught me Bone Lore, I would never have gotten Bone Manipulation, and Pānihi would be dead."

"Yoboc told me about sex and forming emotional connections."

"Yeah, that's possible. I like you, and I have already spilled all my insecurities out to you. It doesn't have to get emotional, we could just have one time of fun. Or I could just take the edge off and wait until I return to town." She wasn't looking at me anymore. Then she looked at me again, "I am open to developing a relationship with you if you want to try it. You don't get all weird about who I am, and we have a lot in common."

"Do human relationships start with sex?"

"Not usually, but then we didn't either. I know we are only a few days in from knowing each other, but I am the only human here, so using human relationships as a guide is probably not wise. Humans also vary a lot, so every relationship is different. What about Polar Bear-kin relationships?"

"I have no idea, actually. We are loners as a species. Mum or Dad would wander off for months at a time. I think I was Mum's second birth, but Dad's first, so we don't mate for life or anything. I am not ready to have cubs, though."

"Whoa, neither am I, big boy. We humans have a herb we take that stops unwanted pregnancies. I am not sure we can even have kids together."

I shrugged. I didn't know either. I haven't seen half breeds around, but I haven't been around people much.

"I am a loner as well. I would guess most human Hunters are. When I joined the army, it was really hard; people were everywhere, all the time. I had to fudge being bad at things to stay in Basic Training with Leif. After basic, he went Warrior/logistics, and I went Archer/Scout. That was better." At my puzzled look, she said, "Leif is not a fighter. He never has been. But he is the heir, and there are expectations there. Dad said I would hate the army, and he was right. On the positive side, I now have an affinity that can't be hidden as I am bonded to a monster, but I have completed the compulsory military service required for all affinity users."

I nodded.

"So," she said, looking me up and down, "Sex? Relationship? Both? Nothing?"

"I have never had sex and would like to try it, but you look so small. As for a relationship, we can see if that develops."

"I am tougher than I look," she said, "Size-wise, you are big, but I am sure you will fit. Relationship-wise, I am happy to see how this goes. We will be helping each other for a few years yet, so we have time."

She got up and held out a hand to help me up. "There is a stream down here, and we can both do with a wash."

I told Felix to watch Pānihi, and we walked down to the stream. I was only wearing a belt, so I slipped that off.

I had seen Kiri topless before, but not fully naked.

"Humans are strange with only two clumps of hair," I said, looking at her crotch.

"It gets weirder," she said, lifting an arm. "We get a clump under the arms as well. We are mammals, so we have short hair all over, but only in three places with long hair."

We washed each other using that to explore each other's bodies. She wasn't keen on sex with wet fur, but really liked it dry and soft. We tried sex with me in skin, and that was good. I got a very different set of sensations. I really liked it. Maybe skin isn't so bad.

We eventually fell asleep, skin on skin, snuggled under a sheepskin. I never realised how many different ways there were to have sex. Kiri claimed she was not a professional, but she was pretty fantastic.

The morning was fun. Kiri was in a playful mood. Frisky is what you would call it. Pānihi and Felix just ignored us.

Eventually, Kiri got dressed. "It is not normal for humans to go naked," she said, "and I suggest you don't around others, especially without your fur."

I nodded, "I learned that around the dwarves. But you and I are different, right?"

"Absolutely, when we are alone," she eyed my naked skin up and down. I was darker-skinned than she was. She was perhaps halfway between me and her pale half-brother. "Pānihi and I are going for a run and hunt to get used to her new size. We should be back before dark." She grabbed her bow. I noticed her quiver was only half full.

They left, and I looked around the camp. There were piles of bone, racks of drying hides, some cooked meat, and jerky.

I patted Felix and chewed on some jerky as I thought. Kiri hasn't quizzed me on my affinity. I thought she might, especially after sex. It has got to be bugging her mind. I didn't really even know her classes, except Hunter, Monster Hunter and Scout. Now I know she is also an army-trained Archer. What else is she? I guess we will share in due course.

What about my affinity? Astral. I am learning more, but it is slow going. I suspect my attributes are too low for most things. We are talking big skills. I have been trying to affect gravity. Gravity is a planetary-wide effect. I only want to affect it around me, and my aura. That is tiny.

I have two free attribute points. Can I use them for something more than enhancing my existing skills? What would I need for a healing skill? I had no idea what attributes would be needed. It must use the Spiritual in some way, but that is speculation.

I really don't know what I am doing with my affinity, and it is very frustrating. Just off the top of my head, I gave Kiri a number of ways to take her bone affinity. Why can't I do that with mine?

OK, it was not off the top of my head. It was a combination of my Lore skills. So I conclude I don't have the right Lore Skills for my affinity. I don't know where to get such Lore. Kiri is from the larger city of Hrothgar. She might know where to get what I need, and I will tell her everything eventually. I will let the relationship develop a bit first.

To get more attribute points, I have to level a Class.

Ivan Medved Level Physical Mental Spiritual Totals Free Str Agi Per Str Agi Per Str Agi Per Base Attributes 15 12 13 13 8 10 14 9 10 104 Earned Attributes 5 5 7 6 11 4 6 3 6 53 Hunter Scavenger B 11 11 11 14 5 3 44 0 Kill Thief S 3 3 4 4 11 1 Explorer S 2 2 1 2 2 3 10 0 Mass Executioner S 1 1 2 1 4 1 Guard B 8 8 8 8 10 4 2 40 0 Totals 39 36 47 21 21 16 36 22 28 266 2 Constitution 122 58 86

Hunter Scavenger is hard to level now, it is so high. Kill Thief is a possibility. I could set up some situations with Kiri. It didn't level when I killed the Boar, I assume that was because I had the most damage.

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Explorer is getting closer. What do I need to do to level that, as I am not levelling Mass Executioner?

Then there is the Guard Class. If I got some specialised Guard training, that might help me level up. Once it gets to level 10 and Journeyman, I can probably pick up some specialisations for it fairly quickly. That is probably my best medium-term goal. By medium term, I mean 6-12 months of dedicated training and guarding to get the final two levels.

In three months, the Chelonian delegation will arrive. I could join some caravan trips before they arrive to Level Guard. After they arrive, there is a strong possibility we might join them, or know where we are moving on to next.

I need to find out more about Aunty B, otherwise known as the crime lord, the Black Butcher.

I have a nagging feeling that there is something I am forgetting about.

Classes are one thing. Skills are another. There are many skills I could learn. I am focusing on Healing and the Astral. Is that still the right focus? I think it is.

Is there anything in the astral that heals? I looked up. The sun's shape is here behind a layer of clouds. My Plant Lore is Journeyman, and it is telling me the sun is the source of life and energy for plants. Herbivores eat plants, and carnivores eat herbivores. Omnivores eat everything.

I am not a plant. I am a carnivore, or more accurately, I am a carnivore-leaning omnivore, as I eat more than just meat.

My affinity includes astral objects like the sun. Can I use the sun's life-giving power in a healing way? That is a thought. According to my various health Lores, the sun provokes the body to make a vitamin that helps with bones, muscles, and blood and helps fight off disease.

First problem: I am not the sun. Hang on. I am not the sun, but I can create a solar flare, so my affinity can simulate aspects of the sun. I had thought earlier that the difference between lying in the sun, enjoying the heat and the harsh, extreme burning heat was the distance I was away from it.

When I get back, I need to look up the Lore about the health benefits of sunlight on mammals, and how sunlight creates those effects, without damaging us.

I still have a nagging suspicion I am forgetting something.

I shrugged mentally and went to work on stopping gravity from passing through my aura.

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