It was still early in the day, so Sinaan sent orders for the captives to be turned over into our care as the svartalf camp began to prepare for departure. Forelain reclined in her chair while Sinaan, Ra'Shaal, and Fjallindae took turns tending to her needs, or tending to some other preparations beneath the cover of the pavilion tent. As the Faline armsmen disassembled their tents and prepared their gear for departure, they were called by platoons to the pavilion and never returned.
While Matron Forelain's army was sent back to wherever they came from, I led my party over to the captives. Still unable to use her magic, Glenna directed Hlina and Orsa as they examined and healed the captives. There were seven adult female she-wolves including Chenoa, and there were thirteen children ranging in age from infants to seven years of age in alfari-years. They were infants to fourteen years of age in animal years. Nine of the children were females. The other four were male. It was a very small ratio of males to females. Especially once the adult females were included. It would be nearly impossible for this pack to reestablish itself.
The dokkalfar captives were in much worse condition. Once Glenna returned after having taken a census, she informed me of her findings.
"There are nearly three hundred dokkalfar."
I gave a sharp grunt at the number but remained quiet, so Glenna went on, "The vast majority are all female. Only fifty are adults, which means, only fifty of them are above the age of hundred and seventy. The rest are too young to marry, or should have been…"
She paused then to mumble something disgruntled under her breath about indecent men, and yet she completely overlooked the fact that I am eighteen and vastly underage considering I had her, my half-sisters, my grandmother, and all of my other half-siblings by my grandmother as wives, not including my animal concubines.
"I'm not overly worried whether the underage females were married, or not. I can't help what has happened to them in the past, I can only take care of them now that they are my responsibility," I said, which got a sharp look from Glenna. In return, I raised an eyebrow and she submitted with a, "Yes, my husband," letting me know she understood my apathy towards that particular indiscretion.
She was silent for a second and then she continued, "there are quite a large number of them carrying infants, though, or with young children. Their young age didn't apparently keep their men from breeding them."
"How many of the children are male," I asked.
Glenna's eyes fell then to her inspect her breasts, or maybe it was her hands that were holding her breasts, " The only males among the dokkalfar refugees are infants. There are forty-two males, and they are all half-breeds."
"Half-bred with whom," I asked.
"Male Exiles," Glenna answered as she shook her head, "I think you call them humans. We call them the Exiles, but they call themselves the Aesir and the Vanir."
I knew this, of course, I had learned all about the races during my tutelage under Glenna, Frieda, and Hailyn. The Aesir and the Vanir were both considered high-humans, or humans that still lived for centuries versus humans on Midgard that barely lasted eight decades—and might see a century of especially mighty. Another distinction between them was the fact that the Aesir were mostly coastal city dwellers applying their minds and magics towards teknology and creature comforts while the Vanir were rural folk living in small villages and living more agrarian lifestyles.
"It is the same with all of the females thirty years of age and younger," Glenna continued, "It seems that thirty years ago all of their men died in a hunting catastrophe leaving the womenfolk stranded without hunters with winter only months away. Not long afterward the Exiles appeared and offered to help feed the village, but with conditions."
"To marry the women," I said, seeing where the story was headed.
"Exactly," Glenna replied with an accompanying nod, "The wise women, the oldest grandmothers, set limits. The men could only marry women that were widows or of marriageable age. The men complied, each man taking several wives."
"Let me guess," I said in an unsurprised tone, "All of the most beautiful virgins and widows were selected first, then the rest of the virgins, and then the rest of the widows."
Glenna nodded, "Alfari women are all blessed with beauty, but yes there were preferences. There apparently was a steady stream of men that moved to the village, and each one took for himself several wives. At that time there were more than two thousand widows and marriageable virgins. However, apparently, men kept moving in even after there were no more women of age to marry. The men protested and demanded that they be allowed to take the younger women below the age of one hundred and seventy as wives."
"The old matrons were not cowed though we're they," I asked.
Glenna shook her head.
"At some point, some of the old matrons were found dead in their homes," Glenna said her tone grim, "None too subtle warnings were then given to the remaining and newly recognized matrons that if the men were not allowed to marry the young women they would no longer protect them, and what happened to the dead matrons could happen to those that still lived."
"So they caved," I said.
Glenna nodded again.
"I see," I said in a grim mumble as I looked over at the haggard nottalfar refugees. I nodded my head, then shook it. Only three hundred remain out of two thousand. The oldest of the underaged was one hundred and thirty while the youngest was thirteen, and all of them with infants in their arms—if not two or three children in tow.
"Let's get them tended to," I said as I scanned the forest.
"We will never get back to the road in time to catch that other army," Glenna said.
"Yes, we will," I reassured her as I turned to her and slid a hand around her waist, "We will need you able to use your magic as well."
Glenna's black, star-filled orbs seemed to twinkle at that, and she gave a wry smile as she purred, "I look forward to it."
I kissed her then, and let her go so she could perform other duties.
"Coella!" I yelled.
She trotted up, having come from the refugees.
"Yes my lord?" Coella inquired in a voice laced with warmth. So unlike just the day before when she had caught me and Huxian in the forest.
"I need you to run ahead and warn Moonlight Burrow of what's coming. Tell them what happened in Earthmother's Den. Tell them that the Druid Lord of Vale needs their assistance. Warriors mostly, to shepherd these refugees to Valeheim. Also, tell them that if there are any that wish to leave and relocate to the Vale, we would welcome them," I said as I reached out and cupped Coella's chin.
"Yes, my lord," She replied even more warmly as she leaned into my caress.
"Be safe," I added, "I need you now."
"Yes, my love," She whispered.
Her one pink eye held all the passion of a long-time lover in it. Our beginning had been rocky indeed, but just as I had thought, she was passionate. Once she put her heart into it, she was wholehearted. There were no half-measures. That warmth chilled though, as soon as Huxian approached, her one bright pink eye narrowing when Huxian smiled at her. There was still a long road to walk before their relationship was little more than hostile.
Coella turned and moved away in an opposite direction from Huxian's approach. I sighed resignedly and Huxian gave me a concerned look.
"She has remembered that she hates me, hasn't she," Huxian asked.
"It seems so," I replied.
"Mmm," She hummed as she shook her head and then watched Coella.
"I had hoped…" She started to say, but then stopped and shook her head and turned to me, "What can I do to help?"
"Just be your wonderful self," I replied.
She responded by giving me a condescending smirk, so I amended my statement, "As the Messenger of Seline go and assist the Oracle in whatever she needs."
Huxian flashed a grin and gave a nod then headed off after Glenna. As usual, I couldn't help but watch her walk away. Her tail, her hips, and her ass were mesmerizing.
Orsa and Tampa were next, both women towering over me like giants. They were thick and shapely and beautiful. Orsa with brown fur, hair, and eyes. Tampa with golden fur everywhere but her breasts. Those were pale white skin with deep green and blue veins spider-webbing them. Then there was her golden hair and her big brown eyes.
Both of them are mine now, and I have an overwhelming sense of love and attachment for them. It was unexplainable and also undeniable. When I prod the feeling it feels ephemeral and hard to grasp, and yet it was there. As I scanned the area and saw each of my wives and concubines I felt it well up, but when I tried to search my feelings and examine why I caught nothing but air.
"What would you have us do," Orsa asked as she took charge as they approached.
Ever since our marriage night, those two had become inseparable. I wasn't sure what that meant for me, but after the undercurrents of hostility between Huxian and Coella, I welcomed any companionableness.
"Orsa. Tampa," I said with a smile. They returned my smile with grins, and so I continued, "I need you two to run back to Earthmother's Den. Tell them what has happened. I will leave their preparations to them. However, we need aid. Ask if there are any volunteers among them that would be willing to aid in our moving and protecting these refugees. If any are willing to relocate to the Vale, they would be welcome, but if not, then I would release them to return home as soon as we have these refugees within the barrier of Sequoia's Grove."
"We will see it done," Orsa replied, her voice filled with determination.
"Also," I added, "Catch up to us. Return to me, my loves, I need you!"
"We will return with all haste," Tampa assured me.
Then I hugged them both, low around their waists just above their hips. Orsa was seven feet tall, two feet taller than me. Tampa was three feet taller. My head was buried in Orsa's breasts while Tampa's hung down far enough to rest on my shoulders. I took a deep inhale and smelled them both. Orsa smelled earthy while Tampa smelled like fresh-cut grass and tulips. Then they were off trotting fast back the way we had come.
——(!)——
Glenna returned to me with Hlina in tow, their faces were pensive.
They walked up very close and Glenna whispered, "We are both out of power now. We need life-force if we are going to be able to proceed."
I nodded and took both of their hands as I asked, "Do you want to do this together, or separately."
"Time is of the essence," Hlina replied.
I nodded again, "Together then."
They nodded.
Turning to Bartlett and Maha, I said, "Please, make sure we are not disturbed."
Bartlett understood and nodded, then we moved off into the trees away from the svartalf camp.
We walked for maybe a hundred yards and found an ancient tree that reached high into the heavens. It had large roots that spiral out like blades cutting the earth, each one a wall as tall as a full-grown man. We found two roots that would serve us well and put the tree between us and the camp. The forest floor was thickly covered with leaves and pine needles that would serve well as bedding.
"Save some for me—later," Quebracho purred from behind my shoulder.
I just smiled—inwardly—and outwards. Turning to Hlina and Glenna I asked, "So, how would you like to proceed?"
Glenna stepped out in front of both Hlina and me and explained, "Viridian, take Hlina's hand, then both of you take one of mine."
Once we were all holding hands Glenna proceeded, "Viridian, as the Oracle of Seline I bear witness, Seline bears witness, and Gaia bears witness, that you henceforth take Hlina Alvasdottr as your wife. Now, repeat after me…"
Turning to look at Hlina, I repeated, "I, Viridian Vale, do hereby take Hlina Alvasdottr as my wife. To have and to hold. To cherish and to succor for the rest of my life."
Turning to Hlina, Glenna had her repeat the same vows and then the ceremony was complete.
"Now, Viridian," Glenna instructed, retaining control of our consummation. Her secondary hands proffered her breasts and squeezed until milk began to course down the undercurves to her hands, "Drink so that you will have the stamina to satisfy us both."
I followed her instructions exactly, stepping up to her and taking her breasts into my hands. They were so large and seemed so much more compared to Hlina's, and they were so soft and squeezable and yet so firm and shapely. They truly were supernatural. I spent much time suckling Glenna's breasts. I drank my fill and felt Seline's Manna restore my energies and fill me to overflowing. By the time I reluctantly withdrew my root had grown into an ancient tree.
"Lay down," Glenna instructed.
Not seeing a reason why I shouldn't, I did so. I made myself comfortable as Glenna whispered into Hlina's ear. Hlina nodded, and then she moved forward and, very stalwartly, knelt in the straw and leaves and straddled my thighs. Quebracho withdrew the Barkskin clothing covering my body. Hlina stared into my eyes as she took possession of my organ and laid it on my belly before moving up and sitting down, sandwiching my phallus between me and the lips of her sex as she started rubbing her lubricants on me in a slow rock of her hips.
"I…" Hlina whispered, her eyes telegraphing her fear as she fought deeply rooted prejudices and guilt warring in her mind over making love to a man she knew was her own son reborn in a different, unrelated body, "I'm sorry son. I—I'm a horrible mother!"
"Why?" I asked in a softly neutral whisper.
"This is wrong!" She whispered fiercely as tears lined her long black lashes and cascaded over onto her cheeks, "Now that I'm here and we are doing it, I feel this stabbing guilt!"
"Why?" I asked again. Again softly, then added, "We aren't related now. Look at my skin and then look at yours. You are my mother from a previous life. Not here. If the love you have for me is the same as mine for you, then there is no reason for us to not be together!"
"I—I know," Hlina said as she leaned forward and caressed my cheek. She kissed me deeply as her tears fell on my skin, then she pulled back and slid her hips forward until she slid off of my dick. She leaned toward me and my root bobbed up and caught on her perineum. Immediately she rocked backward and I slid inside her. As she sat up fully and slid completely down my shaft, she grinned sadly and confessed, "I feel guilty because—I know that part of me wanted this before we died—when you really were my beloved son."
I stared up at her for several seconds as the world seemed to fall away and it was only her and me. Not as we are now. A dark brown-skinned dokkalfar and a chestnut-skinned villralfar. No, I was Daniel again and Hlina was my mom. My real mom. Helena Reas. Tall and voluptuous. Broad hipped. Thick thighed. Enormously fat breasts. Fair-skinned with red hair.
I thrust up inside my mother while also pulling her down so that her breasts were crushed against my chest as I kissed her so—so deeply. She fell into my body and our passion became a fire raging in our bellies. Then, suddenly it was Hlina and I just as we really were, and Hlina was withdrawing, sitting up on my hips, ensconcing my sword deep inside her sheath, and she looked up at Glenna who was smiling at the both of us as she watched. Hlina beckoned Glenna to join us and so she did.
Glenna knelt on the ground and straddled my chest. She faced away from me, toward Hlina. She let me move my arms so that they were free, though I was caught between her calves and her thighs. Still, I was able to bring my hands into play as she moved her buttocks back and sat fully on my face. I used one hand to support her one butt cheek and I stroked her tail with my other. Strangely the action of stroking her tail sent shivers through her body and caused her to moan very loudly.
Her plump butt cheeks sat firmly against my closed eyelids, her perineum rode on the bridge of my nose while the rest of it was pushed quite deeply into her vagina, and the rest of her soft smooth sex was very much in my mouth.
——(!)——
Glenna started rocking her pelvis, grinding her sex into Virdy's mouth as he sucked and licked and nibbled. The warmth building in her belly from his ministrations made her usually constant state of arousal build into a roaring bonfire. She knew she was lubricating heavily, and she also knew that her nectar would also feed Virdy's need to procreate. She was counting on that. What she hadn't anticipated was her tail being an erogenous zone. The whole thing! From base to tip! And every time Virdy stroked it pure erotic lightning streaked straight up her spine!
To top it all off she could feel him praying to Seline!
It was pure ecstasy fanning the flames of her orgasm building in her womb from a bonfire to a raging inferno!
Her first climax felt like it would lift her head right off of her body. She collapsed forward, her lips pressing soundly against Hlina's. Hlina moaned a little in protest, and then she melted into Glenna. Hlina's hands shot up to grab her breasts and squeeze them and cup them. This allowed Glenna to place one of her secondary hands-on Virdy's abdomen for support while her other secondary hand was high on Hlina's thigh where it met her hip. Then, she used her primary hands to cup and massage Hlina's much smaller, barely handful, breasts.
They were a grinding, undulating, mass that occasionally moaned and howled and wailed in climax.
——(!)——
My arousal built quickly. Glenna's milk and vaginal nectar made sure of that. Her whole body was an aphrodisiac, but then, so was I. Seline made sure of that. Particularly to priestesses. And, usually, my magic was dormant, only activating when breeding my animal concubines. However, I could feel it prowling around inside me like an agitated lion. It roared inside me from time to time and it reverberated through me like I was a struck bell tolling the hour. Something was wrong with it. I wasn't sure what until I got the sense that it had changed. My magic was swimming around in my belly like a fish and it was looking at Glenna and Hlina and seeing two new ponds it wanted to jump to.
It chose and moved up my throat and filled my head and numbed my lips as it jumped from me into Glenna, and my consciousness followed right behind. Glenna's body reversed in coloring. Her body was the vast nothingness of space. I could see stars, constellations, galaxies, and nebulae in every direction forever. It hung out there in front of me like a vast tapestry of galactic clusters, the intersections of threads and a vast nothingness in between. It was breathtaking…
I could perceive Glenna's form and figure. A celestial giantess that had broken off from kissing Hlina to look down at me in wonder. Her once midnight black hair that revealed the heavens was now as white as snow. Her eyes were two shining stars opened wide in surprise as she spoke in slow motion.
"Whaaaattttt haaaavvveeee yoooouuuu dooonnnneeee?" Then she threw her head back and wailed as her climax rampaged through her body!
Chasing after my magic, a green and blue and yellow fish of pure energy–pure power, the moon dominated my field of view. It loomed in front of me and I knew somehow that it was Glenna's Soul Well. The fish–my magic–hit the moon and exploded three lines of power shot out, one blue, one green, and one yellow. They grew and curved until they came back upon themselves creating three rings, and then they began to spin around the moon. Each one was on a different axis, and each one sent lightning bolts of energy hurling toward the moon's surface. Glenna screamed in ecstasy!
Glenna was kissing Hlina again. Her movements. Her need was so great she became frenzied.
Magic and power fluctuated between the rings and Glenna's Soul Well. It grew. The moon–Glenna's Soul Well grew five times larger. I completely overshadowed her Wells of Power and Spirit. She was a creature now of pure sexual pleasure. Her mind was failing her. Her self-control was burning away. Soon she would be nothing–NOTHING–but a creature of sex!
Then, from the three rings came the fish–my own magic–and it flew off into the void. I followed it, not knowing what it–or I–had done to my own mother, as it streaked through the universe that was my mother's body. It came to her mouth and it again lept into another pond…
Hlina's body was like walking through a fast forest, flying through the clouds, and exploring the dark earthy depths of the world. She smelled like water and dirt–good clean earth–and of grass and flowers. There was the aroma of smoke from a fire and the heat and rumble of molten lava. She was the power and majesty of the oceans and the resilient foundations of continents and mountains. And that is where the fish swam. Straight into the lava-surrounded iron core of my other mother's Soul Well.
It was Hlina's turn to wail in ecstasy before she fell into Glenna's arms. They hugged, made passionate love…
The fish—the magic—once again, exploded!
This time, the magic became a huge enveloping shield surrounding Hlina's Soul Well, and then, it just sank deeper and disappeared. Hlina's whole body quaked as her Soul Well cracked as it expanded. It grew so large that I couldn't even start to guess its size. But, at some point, I felt six worlds. Six earths. Six Gaias. She–they–coalesced in front of me. One red. One orange. One yellow. One green. One blue. One indigo. They coalesced, and then they merged into one Gaia, an exact replica of Hlina with the exception that Gaia had enormously large breasts that sat on a belly that was always full term in her pregnancy.
"Thank you," She purred as she walked toward me.
She reached out and I was suddenly a greenish-blue image of myself. She laid me down in soft green grass that was suddenly beneath our feet and she knelt down and straddled my hips. Without a word, she took my dick into her hands and guided it to her sex. She sighed as she sank down my length, and then she turned her dark eyes upon me and smiled.
"Thank you for reuniting me with my Oracle," She said, her voice a warm husky purr, "The void severed my connection to her when it infested her soul, and so, I inhabited you until you could make Hlina yours. Of course, I didn't anticipate Orsa. I wasn't exactly cognizant of my actions. The form I took inside you was very–instinctual."
"Will there be any lasting harm because of your occupancy of Orsa," I asked as she slowly rocked her hips on me.
"Harm–no," Gaia chuckled as she smiled and crinkled her nose, her whole expression naughty, "But, her libido will be ravenous now. Her fertility has been heightened, and her power was boosted. Plus, she has my eternal blessing."
"Good," I replied as I wrapped my hand around Gaia's gravid belly and grabbed her hips, "Now, are you going to sit there and play, or are you going to make love to me like you haven't gotten any in a few billion years?"
Gaia's expression turned even more naughty than before as she increased her pace.
With my mind wrapped up in Hlina's soul, intertwined in my lovemaking with Gaia, Hlina, and Glenna, my climax surged until I was a howling beast breeding all three. As I was about to pass out Gaia kissed me and then whispered, "I have blessed you, my champion, with my Well Spring. From now on your life-force will never deplete."
And then, Gaia faded away and I was sent back to my body.
Hlina's body seemed to drink up my seed like dry soil soaks up water, and her sexual hunger was ravenous. Even after I came she never stopped. Not for an hour, and then, finally, she swapped places with Glenna.
Glenna's hunger was no less ravenous than Hlina's. Her body was a writhing, contorting, serpent. She moaned and howled. She kissed and bit and licked. She scratched at me and Hlina. On and on and on for another hour.
Later, with both Hlina and Glenna laying beside me heaving to catch their breath, Glenna asked, "What—did you do to me?"
"I don't know," I answered honestly.
"I linked you," Hlina said as she sat up and smiled at the both of us.
Her voice was the same and yet it wasn't. There was a deeper voice mixed in.
"Gaia?" I asked.
"Yes," She confirmed, "I am now linked to Hlina much the same way Seline is linked to Glenna. Hlina is my Oracle. Avatar. Vessel."
"What did you do to me, Gaia," Glenna asked.
"As I said," Gaia replied, "I linked you to your champion just as I am linked to him. He is blessed with my Well Spring and from now on you may draw on his life-force and fill your womb without bedding him…"
Gaia looked particularly devious, "Now, our bedding our husband will always be recreational and procreational!"
"But," She continued after a pause for effect, "I request that Seline bless Hlina in return."
Suddenly Glenna's hair twisted into two horns that curved around a head-sized replica of the moon, made by Seline herself, and set hovering above Glenna's head with her magic.
"What kind of blessing," Seline asked in a voice that was Glenna's, and yet, was added to. Another richer velvety voice just a little out of harmony with Glenna's.
"I want you to give Hlina a true Well of Lust," Gaia purred, "As compensation."
Seline appeared to be contemplating the offer so Gaia continued, "You know as well as I do it is wrong to amp up our Oracles and Champion's fertility the way we have and not give them a way to moderate their chances of impregnation. Since being divided by the Bilfrost Gates, I have become very adept at interdimensional and interspatial magic. You're welcome, now, help me in a capacity that I am less than capable at."
"A goddess admitting fallibility," Seline hissed teasingly.
"I never claimed that title," Gaia replied.
"But you accepted the mortals' worship all the same," Seline retorted.
"Are you going to aid me or not," Gaia asked.
Seline's reply was to lean across me and kiss Gaia fully on the lips and then snake her hand across and push her way in between Gaia's thighs. Two fingers slipped into Gaia's—Hlina's—sex and Gaia moaned into Seline's mouth.
I could feel magic crawling across Glenna and Hlina's bodies as their kissing went on for almost a half hour. When Seline finally pulled back she withdrew her hand as well.
"Well, sister," Seline purred, "It has been a long time since we were together like this."
She licked Hlina's nectar from her fingers and moaned sensually before continuing, "I hope we do this more often…" and then she was gone.
Glenna blinked and then she looked at Gaia then me and asked, "What happened?"
——(!)——
Glenna could feel a constant flux of power circulating in her Well of Lust. It was the life-force from Virdy, and it was a new feeling as well. The blessing Gaia had bestowed upon her. A spatial magic witching the walls of her second uterus that linked her Well of Lust to Viridian's genitals allowing her to summon as much of his sperm—his life-force—as she needed.
She could feel Seline within her stronger than ever now as if the goddess were just behind her shoulder and all she had to do was look back and there she would be. Seline didn't speak to her though. Not like Virdy described his communication with Quebracho. No, Glenna could feel Seline's desires, but so far, that was all.
Usagi and Tsukino were the first that she found. She gathered them up and then went in search of Huxian. She was nursing Rena and Lisa, each one on a breast.
"Am I needed," Huxian asked, though she didn't move?
"No," Glenna said accompanied by a shake of her head. Now that she had them all together she started with Huxian, "Seline wishes for me to make each of you a Shrine Maiden."
To lend weight to her words, Glenna reached up above her head. Her hair, somehow, parted for her exposing the head-sized replica of the moon. She grabbed it and felt Seline access her magic. Glenna had no idea what Seline was doing, but the magic flowed from her hands in complicated patterns she had no idea how to form on her own.
The sphere changed from one large sphere into eight interlocking spherical plates. Then, before the four of them, the plates separated. There were no seams. No interlocking notches. They were completely whole, and each plate was a phase of the moon. With a wave of her hand, Glenna returned the disc of the full moon to hovering above her head. That left seven discs.
Then Glenna's expression relaxed and her hair parted and curled into horns that circled the full moon disc. With a voice that was not hers and Seline's she spoke, "The Moon, for her part, weeps and sheds three tears that fall upon the forest below the Guardian. Stunned by the Moon's gift, the Guardian charges forth to find the tears and quickly acquires two of them, but the third is covered over and hidden away by the forest until the appointed time of the Champion's arrival."
There was a long pause as Usagi, Tsukino, and Huxian just stared at Glenna. Then, Seline continued, "Janaspi, as my Shaman, was the first tear to be procured by the Guardian. Therefore, she is the Maiden of Waxing Crescent Moon."
Seline, using Glenna's body, blew a kiss and touched the corresponding waxing crescent moon disc and it disintegrated into silver sparkles and was carried off with the wind.
Approaching Tsukino, Seline continued, "Tsukino, you are to be the Maiden of the First Quarter Moon."
Then, Seline motioned to the disc of the first quarter moon and it floated over and hovered above Tsukino's head.
Seline repeated the process with Usagi, saying, "Usagi, you will be the Maiden of the Third Quarter Moon."
And again Seline motioned and the disc of the third quarter moon disc floated over and settled above Usagi's head.
Lastly, Seline moved in front of Huxian.
"Huxian," Seline said in an almost motherly purr, "My Messenger. The last to be found, but the first to be acquired by my Champion. You are both an ending and a beginning of something new. For this reason, you are the Maiden of the New Moon."
Seline waved her hand and the black disc of the new moon floated over and hovered above Huxian's head.
"Now," Seline continued the small private ritual, "All of you must drink from my breasts to acquire my blessing. Drink—deeply…"
Seline used Glenna's secondary hands to hold up and proffer her breasts, and it was Tsukino and Usagi who approached first. Each fell upon a breast like they hadn't eaten in days. They began to moan and squirm sensually as Seline's Manna started changing them.
It started at their mouths and spread out through their bodies. Tsukino's dark brown skin paled and then turned a much lighter and softer mocha color. It spread to her eyelids and they began to flutter. Her golden eyes crossed and rolled up into her head. Once the mini-orgasm passed, she opened her eyes and they were a pale glacial green. Her fawn-colored hair and fur turned pure white and both seemed to sparkle silver flecks.
The blessing moved through her body making her hair and fur more luxuriant and full, and when it reached her small, sleek, handful-sized breasts began to firm, and then grow. Seline's blessing helped as her skin grew tight and her breasts hard with new glands and fat and milk, and then her skin stretched and loosened. Tsukino's breasts grew so large that she had to hold them in her forearms, and still, the change continued down her body adding a layer of dense softening fat to her belly, hips, buttocks, and thighs. She was the most transformed by Seline so that she met the goddess's standard of how her ideal woman should appear.
The process was the same for Usagi. Starting at her mouth, her dark grayish-blue lips paled to an almost luminescent glacial blue. She orgasmed just as Tsukino had, her bright red eyes crossing and then rolling up into her head. When her climax passed and she opened her eyes they were a purple that seemed to gather the light and glow. Her hair and fur were already white, so it only became more lustrous and began to shimmer as if silver dust had been sprinkled all over her body.
As for Usagi's excessively fat breasts and exotically small waist, broad hips, and thick round behind; all of these pleased Seline greatly so she blessed her with increased fertility and firmness of form.
When, at last, Usagi and Tsukino had drunk all of Seline's Manna they could consume, they stepped back and looked around as if in a daze. They touched their skin and fur and cupped newly expanded or firmed breasts. They ran hands over hips and bellies and squeezed their own behinds in amazement. Then they saw each other.
"Tsukino!" Usagi exclaimed, "Your eyes! They're green!"
"By the goddess!" Tsukino gasped, "Yours are purple!"
And so it went with them making much over every change they found on each other.
"My goddess, my breasts are so huge now, and bouncy!" Tsukino complained, "Usagi, how do you run when yours are so big?"
"They are the only reason why I am slower than you Tsukino," Usagi teased, "Don't worry when Seline is finished with us we will find some leather straps and make a bra for you."
As they continued to talk and banter Huxian approached Seline and asked, "My goddess, your magic changed me once before, what is to happen to me now?"
Seline smiled softly and caressed Huxian's cheek as she purred, "Oh my beautiful vixen. Yes, I am going to change you once again. This time, where Glenna is the Maiden of the Full Moon, and represents the peak of my luminance, you will become her antithesis, the Maiden of the New Moon, the end and beginning of my cycle. In like manner, you will fully represent my dark presence."
"Will it hurt or affect my children or future children?" Huxian asked.
"No, my child," Seline purred, "It will not adversely affect your children. Though, your daughters will be anointed as priestesses by your breast milk—my manna—as they already have been by Glenna's. Your daughters, like you, will then be Maidens of the New Moon and your sons will be their guardians."
Huxian nodded her head in acceptance of her goddess's will and closed the little distance between them. She was post-baby thick through the belly still, but as she suckled those muscles and loose skin tightened up once more. She was already changed physically by Seline into the ideal buxom female, and so, what happened next was completely new. As Huxian drank from Seline's, from Glenna's breasts her skin, fur, and hair changed drastically.
Soft pink lips and pale white skin turned as black as onyx. The darkness moved outward from her mouth across her cheeks and face, spreading further and further. Her glacial blue eyes crossed and rolled up into her head, her eyelids fluttering before closing as the change progressed. Once she opened them again they were still the same brilliant color.
The change continued across her skin, her fur, and her body as her sandy blonde fur diffused before the darkness like clouds being pulled back to reveal the hidden beauty of the universe itself. Indeed, Huxian's fur, like every nottalfar born, was receiving the Blessing of the Queen of Heaven. Turning her fur as black as midnight and revealing the celestial bodies and the fathomless depths of the heavens.
Within that eternal night, painted across Huxian's body as if she were a link—a portal—to the furthest reaches of the universe, was a cluster of green and blue galaxies. The green shining brightly from Huxian's left shoulder to her right breast. The blue was much smaller and placed on her right hip and wrapped around her buttock to her inner thigh. Low on her belly was a yellow and orange nebula, and across her back were pink and purple constellations. All along her legs and arms were solitary stars or the light of galaxies much further away. And lastly, there was a large red supernova that wrapped around Huxian's left hip, buttock, and most of her upper thigh.
Huxian drank every drop of Seline's Manna from one breast, then drank from the other. She drank every drop until there was no more manna, and then, finally, Huxian pulled away. She staggered as if drunk, and then she looked down at her changed body. She gave a strangled gasp and then collapsed. As she shifted and fell, the whole picture moved across her fur, galaxies, constellations, and nebulae, disappearing to be replaced by new astronomical wonders.
Laying there on the ground, Huxian's fur wafted to and fro as if constantly caught in a soft breeze. Below and arrayed over her head like a great flaming halo her mane of long, wildly curly hair had already paled to a luminescent moonlight white.
Seline, within Glenna's body, smiled down at her darling Messenger then knelt and gathered her up into her arms and gave her a light brush of a kiss on her lips. Magic passed between them and Huxian's bright glacial blue eyes fluttered open.
"Welcome back," Seline purred.
——(!)——
By midday Matron Forelain's army was gone. Returned home along with the spoils of their rebellion against Aalyn Abendroth's army. Those stolen wives and husbands would have a long captivity within the confines of House Faline. No one would ever see them again.
What remained were twenty sven'dahl slaves. Five males and fifteen females. They were the svartalf pack animals and would carry food, tents, water, and other necessary gear deemed necessary for the comfortable transit of the House Matron and her retinue.
Matron Forelain's escort consisted only of her guard. A strange assortment of half-svartalf females and female animals. I found them all very interesting. Matron Forelain Faline and her daughters Fjallindae and Ra'Shaal Faline. Then there was that mysterious red-headed half-svartalf female, Sulabha. She was definitely a mix of svartalf and something else. She looked remarkably similar to the two jarndverger, Baer and Katr. Maybe they had the same father?
There was something about her and that fella Sinaan. I got this strange sense of familiarity when I looked at them. And every time our eyes met that stinking alf always wore a stupid smirk. It was so irritating! It was as if he knew—something—I didn't, and he was just waiting for me to catch up. As for Sulabha, she seemed—hungry. That was the best I could describe it, and morally short a few cards of a full deck.
Of the servants and animals, I have to admit, I was very drawn to the lupus-alfari, Istas Yglr, and the very attractive sven'dahl females, Svartsilki and Gloa Skjald-borg. They were all three exotically beautiful in their own ways.
Istas was a wolf much like the women we had already taken under our wing as refugees, but Istas was able to transform into a real wolf form much like Huxian was able to transform into a fox. That made her more exotic than I believed anyone knew. She was also shapely and attractive in a thickly muscled way that I found appealing.
Svartsilki and Gloa were different. They were long and lithe with exotically broad hips and buttocks that led to an abdomen that was connected to their rears as if it were a tail. That wasn't new to me since Shahad's abdomen connected in much the same manner. What was interesting was that they were the largest insecta-alfari I had yet seen.
Their bodies were almost completely alfari in appearance, and yet, their legs were disproportionately long by comparison. Another thing of interest about their legs was how they were, in fact, six legs not two. They, somehow, fitted their legs together in such a way that they appeared to walk on two humanoid legs—when they wished to. Though, when they did, they walked with such an exaggerated, seductive, sway to their hips that it proved to be more than a bit mesmerizing.
Bartlett broke through my train of thought when he walked up. The bos-taurine was a mountain of an animal, standing nearly twice my height. He was a hard person to miss or ignore.
"My lord, Viridian," He said in a quiet rumble. Quiet for him at least. No matter how he tried mute his volume, his deep rumbling voice only managed to sound like a huge bos-taurine-sized bee buzzing through the woods, "With the Oracles' aid, the refugees are finally in good enough health to travel. We are ready to depart on your command."
I shared a look with Sinaan, and he gave a confirming nod. They were ready as well.
"Give the order then," I replied to Bartlett.
He nodded and walked away.
We weren't marching more than an hour before Istas, Svartsilki, and Gloa returned from scouting to report that there was a group of orcs ahead. We continued with caution. We met in a small glade.
"We will allow you to mediate," Sinaan said in response to Matron Forelain's finger-wagging sign language.
Glenna nodded and looked at me.
"Bartlett," I said, "You and Maha approach and introduce our group as refugees fleeing the area due to the army of the dead."
"Yes, my lord," He answered before taking his leave and returning to Maha.
The war orcish party appeared to be the same as us, not a war party at all but a group of refugees. I guesstimated their number at two hundred souls. Most of them are old or very young with a sprinkling of young mothers and slightly older widows, and all of them with child or children.
They were all frightened.
Bartlett did as commanded and introduced our group and stated our purpose. He was loud enough that we all heard that much. Then, Bartlett turned and led the two speakers for the orcish band back toward us.
The oldest of the orcish band approached. A male and a female. They were both hunched and frail with age but they still held themselves with dignity as they approached.
"I am Elder Poeal," The old male said, then gestured to his female companion, "And this is Elder Yawel."
They both gave respectful bows and then stood and waited. Stepping forward, I looked at both Elders, turned, and looked at Matron Forelain Faline, then Sinaan Abendroth. I turned and looked at Glenna, Hlina, and Huxian, who was now a walking window into the star-filled void of space. Then I turned back to Elder Poeal and Yawel and returned their bows of respect.
"Greetings, Elder Poeal, Elder Yawel," I said, "My name is Viridian Vale a Druid of Annwyn, and heir of the lordship of Valeheim of the Valelands a member of the Aligned Lordships of Annwyn."
"Greetings, Druidlord," Poeal replied with a knowing grin.
I straightened up and searched Elder Poeal's expression then looked from him to Elder Yawel.
"Now, what can we do for you," I asked.
"Your—animal, Bartlett, explained your purpose here," Elder Yawel answered.
Elder Poeal cleared his throat and shot Elder Yawel chastising glare, then continued where Elder Yawel left off, "Yes—Druidlord, if there truly is a place of sanctuary that you are offering to us wild animals where we will no longer be hunted and enslaved, well then, we want to join your party!"
I gave a curt nod, but what I said was, "Very well then, fall in behind the she-wolves."
Elder Poeal and Yawel sighed in relief and shuffled back to their people to relay the news.
Bartlett led our procession wide of Moonlight Burrow, not that it mattered, almost every warrior and villager stood in a large square formation led by the mayor Gregr Honeywell, councilwoman Frnae Damboulder, and Mildred Goldtail. Beside them, tapping her foot impatiently, stood Coella. She smiled in relief upon our arrival while Gregr took a step forward and said, "We have come to join the cause!"
"Thank you, Mayor Honeywell. Councilwoman Damboulder, Goldentail. I am very grateful for your help," I said with a nod to each of them.
It truly appeared as if the entire village had turned out for this refugee migration. There must have been close to eight hundred souls including children. They were in formation, but their lines were by family with matriarchs and patriarchs in the lead followed by aunts, uncles, fathers, and mothers. Young couples were next, and the children brought up the rear with the nursing mothers as caretakers. Every adult wore, or wielded, a weapon of some kind, from forge hammers to scythes to pitchforks to woodsman's axe to sharpened shovels and hoes. The females carried iron skillets and butchering knives in their hands while the rest of their kitchen armory was sheathed at their waists in belts and aprons.
"Mayor Gregr," I said after my examination of his people, "I have some people for you and your village council to meet."
Gregr nodded and he and the Council followed me as I led them to meet Elder Poeal and Yawel, then we went to find the Foremothers of the she-wolves. As we gathered, Bartlett and Maha went to their home and butchery and retrieved every iron skillet, cudgel, axe, knife—everything!—and brought it back to camp. Bartlett also emptied his stores of every carcass while Maha emptied her pantry. Upon seeing the food and recognizing the need a group was sent back to load carts with all the foodstuffs in every home's private stores.
It was during this time that Tampa and Orsa caught up with us accompanied by five hundred bear warriors and shaman healers.
——(!)——
"Mayor Gregr, Elder Poeal, Foremother Tenaya," I began after introductions were made, "As leaders of your respective tribes I felt it important for you to meet each other. My hope is that you will work closely with each other in building a new home once you reach Sequoia's Grove. In the meantime, as your tribe's respective leaders, I need you to share resources. Food and weapons primarily for the time being. I want every person capable of using a weapon to be armed with something."
"There are not many of us left," Tanaya said, voicing her concern while a few of her accompanying party nodded, "Are you expecting us to fight your war for you?"
"No," I replied.
I had expected the question, but not from the she-wolves.
"No," I said again, then added, "However, I expect you to be able to defend yourselves should the need arise."
"Very well," Tanaya replied in audible relief.
"The reason I brought you together is because I will not be accompanying you to Sequoia's Grove," I said as I gave them all searching looks, when I was satisfied with what I saw I continued, "The Oracle of Seline and I will be going to stop this Svartalf army. Bartlett, with your aid, will lead you to Sequoia's Grove."
"But," Gregr stammered, "Bartlett had no idea where this place is, he has lived in Moonlight Burrow for decades!"
"Yes," I agreed, "and yet, you have maps. I will show him, and you, where Sequoia's Grove is located. Your job is to keep your people calm, organized, and moving, Bartlett's job will be to lead you there safely."
"I see," Elder Poeal mumbled as he nodded his head, "This thing you ask is not that hard then, as long as we are not expected to fight black alfari."
"No fighting," I agreed.
"Well then," Gregr said, "We had better be about our business then."
I nodded, and the impromptu meeting was adjourned. The maps I spoke of to Gregr were retrieved and we met again so that I could mark off the location of Sequoia's Grove. In addition, I marked the locations of Valeheim and the surrounding Kottrheims and planned a probable route.
——(!)——
The sun was setting behind the Dragon's Spine Mountains by the time we reached the road that led to Olympia in one direction or to Valeheim in the other. On the road waiting to meet us stood Leandra, Bastet, and Burza.
My surprise was absolute at seeing them. Bastet ran up to greet me though Leandra and Burza retained their dignity by walking. Kisses were exchanged, and then I had the weighty task of making introductions between my wives and concubines. Amidst it all, I noticed that around Burza's neck hung the medallion of leadership as Mother of her flock. Up above, in the sky, circled her daughters. What that meant I wasn't sure, but I imagined it was going to change things between us.
——(!)——
The campsite quietly lined the road, everyone knew what was headed our way. The refugees would leave early in the morning. As for the rest of us, we seemed like a very small rock indeed set in place to stop a flood.