"You're spoiling me." I complained, laying in his arms after we'd finished.
"I don't know what your talking about." He said.
"You're really too good." I replied.
"Hm. Please. Stroke my ego. In what ways am I so good?" He replied.
I giggled. "There's simply nothing to complain about. You're entirely pleasing every time."
"Hm. Not a lot of notes to work with there, but I'll take it." He said.
"Mm. Why are you always so gentle at the start?" I asked.
"I was told a few times that if I start as hard as I end that it's painful." He said.
"Ah. Yes, I could see how that could be the case. I'm used to lovers not taking much care. Tigrine are pretty rough." I said. "I feel like the way you do it is incredibly erotic."
"Glad to be the source of such pleasure. It's a nice change of pace." He replied.
I nuzzled into his chest and said, "You've been nothing but gentle and kind to me. I hope I have properly reciprocated. I've really enjoyed you." I started to doze off, which he seemed to have noticed and just let me.
Just before dawn, I noticed we'd been moved. We were still up the tree, and naked, but he'd moved us to the thicker part of the tree where the pillow and blanket had been. He'd covered us and left me on his chest, taking over the pillow for himself. Testing a theory, I stayed still, waiting to see when he'd wake up. Turned out to be precisely dawn that he woke up.
He stretched, shifted slightly towards the open space. Grasped a branch above and below, "I may have forgot where we were."
"Good morning." I said calmly, stretching and giving him a kiss. "You're safe. I wouldn't let us fall."
"More of a knee jerk reaction." He said.
"How are you feeling? Uncomfy anywhere?" I asked.
"No, actually. I was quite comfortable." Dirthin replied.
I smiled at him. "Ready to get dressed and head down?"
"Oh, I suppose. Let's go see what's going on down below." He said.
I gave him another kiss before getting off of him. I noticed the adventurers come outside and begin training or sparring. I also noticed someone walking around outside of the walls. I pulled on my clothes on and stretched again, and equipping my sword.
Once he'd dressed, he looked around, "Who the Hell is walking around outside?"
"They don't look familiar to me." I said.
"Well, I guess I'll go say hi." He said.
"Eh. Follow me." I said. Climbing down to a branch that connected to another tree, and around that tree, and down, to a branch that would bring us closer to the person. Then I dropped down to the wall. The adventurers had easily noticed.Dirthin in the tree, but had spotted me quickly after. He'd kept up well.
After looking at the person for a moment, he called out to him, "Oi. Who are you?"
The person started a bit, then looked up at us. "Oh, I'm Valen. I'm with the artisans from Hearthstone. We were hired a couple days ago to come out. I was just checking over the material of the wall."
He looked at me. "Ah. Look at them productive already."
"I suppose so." I said.
"The others will get here in about an hour." Valen called.
"Alright. Thanks." I replied to him, turning towards Dirthin. I poked him, twice and fled.
For a second I didn't think he'd follow, then he did. I heard his feet thumping behind me. His echo manifested in front of me, and he teleported to it, so I jumped down and managed to be caught by the same move I'd just escaped.
He chuckled. "Did you honestly think you could get away?"
I laughed, too. "Yes."
"Did you want to try again?" He asked.
"Yes." I replied, leaning back and adjusting my breasts. They were a little sore. I kissed his cheek, while he set me down.
He gave me a very serious look. "Run."
I booped his nose, then took off again. He started using his echos to pop before me, doing different poses. The last time he did it, I pounced him. He scooped me up, "Should we go get some breakfast?"
"Yep. Know what you want? I can probably make it." I said.
"Eh, I was thinking something with eggs." He said.
"Want rolled omelet?" I asked.
"I'm gonna say yes, but I have no clue what that is." He said.
"It's yummy, you'll like it." I said, he apparently decided it was his duty to carry me to the kitchen, which is where he set me down. I immediately got to work cooking, humming along.
"You've yet to make anything that has disappointed, so I'm sure I will." He said.
I made some fish and vegetables to go with the omelet. It was ready pretty quickly. "Breakfast is always so easy. Enres, I swear to all things living if you choose to creep into this kitchen again, I will cut you."
He'd grabbed a kettle to make tea, and froze, "Hostile this morning My Lady?"
Dirthin laughed, "Did he spook you?"
I said, "...No.."
"So that would be a yes." Dirthin said.
I huffed and leaned against him. Enres commented, "Good to see you being such a kitten for someone. Too bad it was never Raiden."
"Anyways, I would suggest you fetch the adventurers for breakfast." I said, looking at Enres.
"If you keep feeding them, they'll come to expect it." Dirthin said.
Enres put his kettle on, and went to get the guards. Dirthin helped me set the table. "If my household grows any more, I'll hire a cook. Shoot. When are those cooks supposed to show up?" I grumped.
"Cooks?" Dirthin asked. "Is that more people you hired from Hearthstone?"
"No, Jaden asked if I could teach my recipes to his cooks." I sighed, looking and feeling wronged over his peasant comment, "He was the first one to suggest I hire guards for myself, but I could killed him so many times because he's oblivious."
"Eh, can't say I ever bothered to meet the guy so.. so, this guy is just sending you cooks?" He asked.
Everyone arrived and I started serving them, which Enres felt awkward over. "He liked the dango and Panna Cotta with a milk tea, so asked if I could teach his cooks." I explained.
"Ah. That makes sense." Dirthin replied.
I used chopsticks to offer him his first bite of omelet. "Try?"
Dirthin chuckled, "Alright." He took the bite. "Mm. This is a fluffy omelet."
"Next time I'll make omelets for you that are as light and fluffy as soufflé." I said, happy with his praise.
"That sounds interesting." He said.
"Yup. I like them both. The omurice is also nice. But this one is best with sides." I told him, tail waving as I enjoyed my food.
Once we'd finished our food, Orryn and Zash took up the plates for washing. Surprised, I thanked them. Then I took Dirthin down the trap door and to my makeshift treasury. I'd kinda heaped most of the coins and bars in piles. Enres had sorted it all and moved the jewels and jewelry to the next room.
"Mm, quite the treasury you've got going." Dirthin said.
My crown was with my parents crowns in a seperate room, and in another room, was the ledger. "My crown is platinum and silver with blue diamonds. Mother's is gold and white gold, with rubies, and Father's is Platinum with sapphires." I explained, showing it to him.
"They all are fine craftsmanship." Dirthin said.
"My uncle said my father commisioned my crown the day I was born to match me, my eyes and fur. Mother said it would make me look cold, since my coat is considered silver." I told him amusedly.
"Do you miss them?" He asked.
"I miss the idea of them. I was just two when they passed, so I don't remember them besides portraits. Majority of which were destroyed by my Aunt as punishment for acting out." I explained. "My uncle, my father's brother, used to tell me stories about them."
"It is an unfortunate loss." He said. "Although I will never understand the deal they made."
"A ruler must choose their people. I've never heard the specifics, but it has been thought that they were tricked." I shrugged.
"It is unfortunately possible that they were. Asmodeus isn't exactly forthright with what he wants." Dirthin noted.
"The day I'm going to die, I'm going to call him Snailmodeus." I declared.
"Ah. You've heard that story, hm?" He said.
"Oh yes." I nodded. "Anyways. Books?"
"What about books?" He asked.
"History, great battles, wars, and other books. My uncle gave me his private collection. He said he'll die soon anyways." I said.
"Oh? What's he dying from?" Dirthin asked.
"He used to be a adventurer. He got cursed and his body became feeble." I replied.
"Wait, he's dying from a curse? That is easily fixed... if you want it to be." He said.
"Really? Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes. Curses are taken care of quite regularly. I have been cursed... four times now?" He said.
I gave him a hug. "It would be nice if my uncle could live."
"Alright. We'll have to go gather up some people." Dirthin said.
I nodded a little, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's not like we have much else going on today. Might as well save a life." He said.
I grabbed my Uncle's bag, "Alright, I'm ready." I said, pulling a book of the Isla and Empire's history from the bag and offering it to him.
"This will be an interesting read." He said, taking it, "But just so you know, we may be going there to save a life, but we may end up ending several others."
"I'm prepared for that." I said.
"Alright. If you're ready, let's get to it. No time like the present." Dirthin said. "Shall we take the door?"
"The door?" I asked.
"Hmm.. it will be easier to show you. I need an empty room." He said.
"Room next to my bedroom is empty." I said.
"Alright, you got everything your going to need or do you need a moment?" He asked.
"No, I'm good. Got the sword you gave me right here." I said.
"Alright, let's move out, then." He went upstairs and to the door, took out a lion head handle, and jamed it in, then opened it. "In we go."
"Ok," I said going inside. I recognized his training room immediately, and he came in with me, shutting and opening the door to the Hearthry Estate.
"Here we are, now let's go find our reinforcements." He said. "Let's split up. I will go and talk to my brother, if you go to the library, I'm sure you'll find the others. Go find Isarial."
"Oh, something about glyphs, right?" I asked.
"Yes. He will be our way to get there." He nodded.
I nodded and did as he asked, heading down the stairs and through the hall to the library. Snow Den, her cub, Trevor, Isarial and Zeraldinria were there. Isarial was going over a book with her. Though he looked up when I came into the room.
"I wasn't aware we had a guest." He commented.
"Ah, um, your uncle asked me to talk to you about providing us a way to my homeland so we can help my uncle." I said.
"..Uncle did?" Isarial asked, appearing slightly uncomfortable. "Alright. If you can describe to me the place you want to go I can learn the glyph needed to send you..."
"You didn't seem keen on returning." Snow Den said.
"Oh, I'm not staying. I'm coming back with Dirthin and whoever he's bringing with us." I said.
"What does your uncle need help with?" Snow asked.
"He's dying from a curse. He's been wasting away for years." I answered.
"There's no one to help over there?" Snow asked.
"No. And I didn't know curses could be easily removed." I said.
"Do you know what kind of curse?" Isarial asked.
"No, I don't know." I said. "No one ever told me and I avoided being around people or growing close to them.."
"Why?" Isarial asked.
"Because if I'm not close to anyone it won't affect me when they aren't there anymore." I replied.
"Plight told me you requested he and Nia move to the place you got Rusty from." Isarial said.
"Yes. She had expressed interest in it because of it's smaller population, I assume." I said.
He agreed and I went on to explain the location of my home. He asked a few questions about it, then informed me he knew the glyph. A bit more conversation later, and Dirthin came with another person. We were all ready to go.
"So what's the plan exactly? I make the glyph and send you all through, then erase it?" Isarial asked.
"Well I was hoping to make it in a secure location so we can get back. But I suppose we can get scrolls." Dirthin said.
"Is there a secure location?" Isarial asked me. I described to him a location in relation to the palace. He continued with, "Ok, that's doable. Should I put it down in the warehouse?"
"The warehouse does have some guards, so that'll work." Dirthin replied.
We headed to the warehouse with Isarial and Trevor. Once in an office type room, he drew the glyph we'd be using. Fixing it a few times until he was satisfied. "There we go. Do.be careful. If you get stranded, contact me or Dad and say so."
"Sure. But if the glyph disappears, it's probably a good sign we are stranded." Dirthin said.
"I'll set a guard to monitor it then." Isarial said. "Just keep in mind, if you can't get to this one, I'll need to know where you are for a different one."
"If that should occur. We'll definitely let you know. I don't feel like walking." Dirthin said.
Isarial opened the portal and said, "Take care."
We went through to a place I used to stay. It was a little dusty from my absence, but looked fine. I brought them out, and headed towards the palace. It took a short time to reach the populated area before the palace. The people greeted me warmly as hime or ohimesama. Seeing confusion in the priests eyes that we'd brought with us, I explained.
"Hime is a casual way to say princess. Ohime, or ohimesama is the respectful way to say princess." I shrugged.
After my explanation, we stayed quiet. Once we reached the palace walls, the guards nearly barred us entry. However, I reached for my pendant, a casual threat, and they let us in. This is when the shift occurred. The respect I received outside the palace became hostility. I brought them to a servants entry so we didn't need to deal with being barred.
Winding our way through the back, while spooking servants and spies, we reached a point where we needed to head out of the servants hall and into the main ones. I warned them about it, and we went out. We were faced with a few armed guards.
"Her Majesty the Regent demands your immediate audience." Zaan said.
Rather than dignify it, Dirthin drew his weapon. I placed my hand on his, "Full disclosure, this man can easily beat my ass without breaking a sweat. I can't outlast him with endurance or beat him with strength. Now, do any of you think you can take him? Even together, knowing I'll help him?"
A few stepped back. Zaan insisted. The results weren't good for him and a few others. They retreated to get back up. While they did so, I brought them to my uncle Barak's quarters. He'd been sleeping when we entered. An unusual sight for him. The priest began to use his spells to fix him when he woke.
"Severing, I hadn't thought to see you again. What's going on?" Uncle Barak asked.
"My lover provided a way to help you." I said.
The first spell failed, so the priest tried another. Uncle said, "It hadn't been needed. I had been willing to see my brother again. But you all have my thanks. How do you plan to escape?"
"Around the back, with you." I said.
"Or through the front door. Through a lot of people. Depending on necessity." Dirthin said.
"Mm. If you want to." I shrugged. "We can go through the front boldly."
"Eh, if it's necessary. I don't need to go through killing everyone in here." Dirthin said.
I smiled, chuckling. Uncle Barak didn't protest this time. I helped shove a good portion of his clothes and such in the bag he'd given me. Then, while assisting Barak, I began leading Dirthin and the priest out of the palace. The way it was set up, we went through one of the areas I had set on fire.
Half way through this area, Barak began to tire. He'd been cured of the affliction, but short of a wish he wouldn't recover quickly. Noting that Dirthin is stronger, I elected to carry my uncle. It allowed us to move more quickly.
Not that it mattered. Once I opened the door to exit, I was shot with a war arrow. It pierced through my shoulder and out my shoulder blade. Irritated, I checked my uncle while Dirthin got ahead of me, telling the priest to fix me. What faced us was my aunt and a multitude of guards.
The priest broke off one end and pulled the rest through the hole. Then worked on healing me. "Normally I give people the option to flee or fight. You've already made your choice." He used his echos and decapitated my aunt, before starting in on the others.
I let my uncle lean against a wall and provided support for Dirthin. Helping to fight and end the men. From the open doorway, I saw Shere coming with more people. I cast Command, making Shere kneel. The priest shut the door, while Dirthin and I handle the final bit of resistance to our leaving.
Having blocked the door, we headed on out the palace walls and back through the town to the outskirts where I had lived. I half carried my uncle the rest of the way. Pretty easily we made it there and through the portal. The guard Isarial had promised ensured we were all through and erased the glyph.
"I'm not sure if that will help with the assassination attempts.. or make it worse." Dirthin commented.
"The what now?" Uncle asked alarmed.
"Nakti had sent an assassin here after me." I said. "It's ok if the attempts increase. It will give my guards something to do."
Barak looked appalled. Then a little angry, before he sighed deeply. Dirthin said, "Pretty sure they'd be happy with less to do, but hey, they are your guards do whatever you want."
"Looks like you got some fur on your fur." I noted.
"Fur on my fur?" He asked, swiping at himself.
I reached up and took some black fur off his mane, under his jaw. "There we go."
He grunted in disgust.
I started to tell him he's adorable, but I caught myself. Instead, I just chuckled. We headed out of the portal warehouse, the priest headed towards the Estate while Dirthin led my uncle and I to a different warehouse. In this one we used his office to take us back to the villa.
I got my uncle situated in his own room, and thanked Dirthin for his help. "Do you want a bath?" I asked.
"Yes, I would much like to wash off the others." Dirthin said.
"I'll draw you a bath, then." I said, going to do so. I was quickly becoming tired again. Once I had his bath ready, I smiled at him, "All ready."
"You joining me, or are you passing out?" Dirthin asked.
"I'll join you." I said.
"Alright. Let's get cleaned up." He replied.
I helped him clean up, and he helped me in return. Still, I was noticeably tired. "You're very warm."
"It'd be terrifying if I was cold covered in all this fur." He noted.
I laughed and said, "Guess so."
"Let's get some sleep, it's been a heck of a day." He said.
"It's not even been supper time yet." I pointed out.
He raised an eyebrow, "And? Long days don't mean long hours."
"Mm. Alright." I said. We got out of the tub and dried off, before going to bed. As soon as we laid down, I fell asleep. I woke just after dark to see that Dirthin wasn't with me. With a shrug I started to go back to sleep, but my door opened. I glanced over my shoulder to see Dirthin coming back in.
He'd gotten up for some food and brought it up to my room. Noting I'd woke, he commented I should eat, too. So we shared the meal together. After we were done eating, I stretched, wanting to be active. I didn't understand why I was so damned tired. It was exceptionally uncharacteristic of me.
"Do want to try my athletic course? Maybe getting your blood moving will help some." Dirthin offered.
"Alright, sure. I've been tired since I was poisoned, but Bibs treated the poison so it shouldn't be affecting me." I said, complaining a little.
"Well, how about we get you checked real quick then? Snow can see if you have anything affecting you." He replied.
"Are you sure that wouldn't be a bother? It is dark out." I said, looking at the window.
"Hmm.. true. We can have you looked at tomorrow, then." He said.
I gave him a brief cuddle, "Well, I'm sure I'm fine. Maybe it's just a matter of getting used to a new place."
"That could be it. You've had a lot going on." He agreed.
I got ready, then we went to his office, to the estate, down the stairs and past the library, and entered a door on the left where a fine course was set up. It was similar to the military ones the guards used back home. It made it pretty easy to get into because of it's straightforward layout. Dirthin ran the course, too.
We were pretty evenly matched on the course, though his familiarity with the course showed. We went through several times before we worked up a comfortable sweat. This was when we stopped for the night. We drank some water before heading to bed. We slept in his room this night. It was super comfy, especially curled up next to him.
In the morning, after we got ready for the day, he asked me, "Are you feeling up to breakfast with the rest of the Hearthry family?"
"Mm. Sure." I said.
"Alright. Let's go get some food." He said.
We headed to the dining room where his family were getting settled in for breakfast. They didn't seem bothered by my presence.
"Well, then. Since you both are back with all your limbs intact.. and my previous report.. it would seem everything went well." James said, looking over at us.
"Yeah, it went quite well. But, she is feeling a little under the weather.. I was hoping Snow could check her for poison. It can wait till after breakfast." Dirthin replied.
"Sure. I can do that." Snow Den said. "Are you in pain?"
"No, I'm not. Just unusually tired." I said.
"That's ok. There are poisons that can do that initially, so it is worth checking." Snow Den said.
We at our breakfast, then, without much morning chatter. Once everyone was finished, James excused himself, being affectionate towards his wife and sons, before going to his office for work, and Snow had us go to a different room to cast her spell. Isarial took Zeraldinria to the library.
Sitting in the 'family room', Snow laid Jasper nearby, then cast her spell, humming softly. After it's duration, Snow Den took a deep breath. "So... I suppose poisoned is a fair accessment."
"Ah, knew it. Some kind of lingering condition. So how do we fix it?" Dirthin asked.
"Well, you don't. But don't worry, it'll sort itself out in a few months." Snow said.
"A few months? Surely there's something we can do to speed up the process." Dirthin protested.
"I'm sorry.. I don't know of any poison that works that way." I said, frowning.
"No?" Snow asked looking at us. "From your expressions I can tell that this process shouldn't be sped up. Just because I suspect you'll get short with me, Little Brother, I'll explain.. Vexie is pregnant."
His jaw dropped. "A-a-ah. Ok.."
I was equally surprised. "Is that another joke?"
"No, I'm very serious. You're roughly two weeks pregnant." Snow said. "You've both been having sex, no? Why are you surprised?"
"I guess I.. shouldn't be surprised.. it's just, huh." Dirthin said.
Snow patted his hand. Then looked at me, "First pregnancy?"
"Yes.. I didn't realize that Tigrine and Leonin are compatible like that." I said.
"Well, of course. There's stories about our animal cousins having cubs, so why wouldn't we?" Snow asked.
"I'm pregnant?" I repeated.
Snow cast another spell, a ribbon appeared and she grasped it, causing it to display the scene from her casting the spell and seeing the results. The screen that'd popped up at the completion of her Identify spell showed 'Conditions: Pregnant.' The memory ended and she wrapped up the ribbon.
"Now then, there is a way to speed the process.. there's stories of an item called 'the belt of speedy gestation.' But as I said, I don't think it would benefit either of you." Snow said.
Dirthin looked at me, "I guess the next room is going to be a nursery."
Snow said, "I'm gonna go check on the kids. Let me know if you need anything." She picked Jasper up from the couch and left the room.
He looked at me again after acknowledging her, "You alright? It's rather surprising."
"I hadn't planned on this." I said.
"Yeah, me neither. Not until I was a little older. What do you want to do?" He asked.
"I.. there isn't much to do. I'll raise the cub." I said simply.
"You'll raise the cub? What, you planning on killing me?" Dirthin asked.
"Ha ha." I said. "As if I could. But in all seriousness, your part is up to you. Sorry if I upset you."
"It's alright. I have every intention on being a part of my kid's life." He said.
"Ok. This is doable, right?" I asked him.
"Easily. We are two very capable adults." He said gently with a small smile on his face.
"Guess it's a good thing that I have guards now." I commented.
"Yeah, guess you're not gonna be wanting to do a whole lot of fighting yourself.. and really glad that archer shot way above." Dirthin said.
I covered my mouth with my hands. "That was why the poison made me cramp..!"
"Ah. Well, luckily Bibs was close by to neutralize the poison so quickly." Dirthin noted.
I went quiet, thinking of the future. And the change in my life plans. I just wanted to have a solitary life and seek out people when I chose to. I hadn't wanted offspring. Now I was going to have one. A hybrid cub with a leonin. Then again, he was the sfromgest man I'd ever slept with.
"Would you like to go back and talk to Snow? See what we should prepare for?" He asked.
"What should we ask?" I replied.
"What to expect, things to prepare for, things we should have on hand." He said.
"Mm.. Just like your sister in law, I don't plan on having a Nanny." I informed him.
"Ok." He shrugged.
"I am not the type that will ever bar you from the cub, regardless on whatever is going on between us, even if I get angry with you. You'll have full access to the cub." I told him.
"Well, I'm glad I won't have to deal with that." He said.
"I wasn't sure if you had any concerns as far as that goes." I said.
"It wasn't on the forefront of my mind, but it is good to know." He said.
"I also won't allow anyone to speak disparaging of you in the cubs proximity." I said. "Cubs don't need to hear such things."
"Well, I appreciate that. I will do the same, but I doubt anyone will dare to before me." He said.
I smiled and said, "I don't currently feel capable of this."
"Well, that's why we're gonna ask about some things." He replied.
"Alright." I nodded. "Um.. outside of your family, I don't think I want anyone to know."
"That's fine. I won't spread anything." He said.
"I don't think either of us need anyone getting ahold of that information right now." I shrugged.
He stood up, as did I, then we went tonthe library where Snow had gone with her cub. She smiled, "You two ok now?"
"I believe we've gathered our wits about us. We did have some questions though." Dirthin said.
"Go for it." Snow said.
"Well, I was wondering what we should be expecting and what we should get prepared for." Dirthin said.
"That's so super vague. Are you talking about the phase you're in, or this phase?" She nodded to Jasper.
"Kind of all of it?" Dirthin responded.
"Would you like a book?" Snow teased.
"Actually, yes. A book would probably be very helpful." He agreed.
Snow stood up and said, "Well, it's funny how you two are identical at times." She went to a shelf and pulled a couple of books down, and brought it to him. "Here we are, try not to overload yourself, ok? I didn't tell James."