Food For Thought: This fanfiction is rated M for adult implications, lewd humor, occasionally crass language, and otherwise suggestive dialogue. It is an AU fiction, steeped largely in character study, and the conquest of having many lovers. There is a deeper plot as well. Some of the ships are a much slower burn than others, and some have been pre-established. The main pairing list includes the following:

Blake/Yang, Blake/Ruby, Blake/Weiss, Blake/Neon, Blake/Ren.

Yang/Blake, Yang/Neon, Yang/Nora, Yang/Yatsuhashi, Yang/Ren.

Ruby/Blake, Ruby/Sun.

Weiss/Blake, Weiss/Yang, Weiss/Ren.

Although I would certainly call this a harem type of fiction by basic definition, it's not drenched in lemon content. That's not to say there isn't some citrus here and there. Merely that it's not the entire focus, as I aim to dig a little deeper into the thoughts and actions of these characters.

Furthermore, I aim to take a more primal attitude in this fiction when it comes to Faunus than I normally would in other fictions, and this will be showcased throughout the story. I hope you all enjoy my take on the harem genera, even if it isn't as raunchy and lurid as one might generally expect.

Chapters will range in length, from 1,000 words - 3,000 words per chapter. This story takes place over several years.

Next Update: Monday, April 2nd.

The Chieftain's Daughter
Chapter 1

(Time: Day one, of the cracked lunar year.
Location: On the Island of Menagerie.)

Today was an important day for most Faunus in Menagerie. The weather was beginning to warm, and the tropical storms were beginning to fade away. It was the time of year that brought plentiful food, and the smells of nature. Faunus, sometimes governed by that nature, were driven by these climate changes found. This incredibly warm weather was only found in the tropics.

More temperate regions suffered the chill of winter, and would continue to suffer them for a few more months.

The Faunus of Menagerie were well aware what these warm temperatures meant, and several species felt the opportunity rise to begin the mating process. During these safer months in the year, when the Grimm and wildlife would also be breeding, it was less likely that the village would fall under an attack. Instead, the creatures, large and small, became very defensive over their own territories, but would leave others alone.

Hunting would be more dangerous, of course. Both for food, and to cull the number of Grimm.

Yet, it would be an evil not able to go on ignored. Without animals and foraging to eat, food supplies from the mainland would run dry more quickly. If the Grimm propagated too closely to the village walls, or they became too great in number, the already dangerous forests would become deadly in a matter of weeks. Eventually, the young Grimm would grow into a sizeable force.

A big red blotch on the calendar marked the first day of this mating season. If the women of the village who could go into heat hadn't already, they would be going into it shortly.

Blake was already acutely aware of her body's urges, something that woke her up several times in the past few days with the desire to rut. Scratching the itch that she found so prominently annoying. It was beginning to recede again, thankfully. However even that joyous new came at a cost. As a cat Faunus, she would go in and out of heat several times in these following months, when it was the opportune time to carry children.

Her body was primed and ready to accept the first feasible male that she came across. Needless to say, the entire process annoyed her, and she once again prepared her excuses for the men that would approach her.

A loud splashing sound slammed into the relaxing ambiance that had once cloaked the world around her. Black cat ears flicked at the sound demanding her attention, and her skyward gaze fell. Majestic as it was, the broken moon overhead was not the primary attraction that demanded her attention. No, on this unbelievably early morning. Golden eyes found themselves lingering elsewhere. A feminine figure capturing her keen gaze.

The woman who had created the ruckus was outrageously beautiful, at least, in Blake Belladonna's humble opinion.

Although it was dark, golden Faunus eyes saw the world around her clearly. The way that the blonde woman's body demanded that the water part for her. The droplets that fell from her hair. All of it was captivating to Blake's catlike senses. The ripples from the woman's splash were flowing outward insistently, the blonde's shapely body acting as the very epicenter of each tiny movement.

Every breath sent out more gentle waves. Each one lapped at the surface of the otherwise still water. The small fish in the pond, shimmering in the dim light, scattered in all directions. They too, parting for the beautiful goddess visiting their domain.

The sight was a simple thing, a tiny little pleasure. The feline Faunus felt compelled to feel pride. The notion that the woman down in the water would soon bare the Belladonna family crest pleased Blake greatly. A warm, fuzzy feeling warred with the exhaustion that she felt. A wayward purr slipping from her lips, though she tried desperately to stop it.

Blake yawned tiredly as she allowed her gaze to wander into the distance. The roar of Grimm sounding closer than it should. The low rumbling demanded her attention as it thrummed in her ears. she scowled at the thought. In spite of this, it was the flapping of wings that posed the more imminent threat. A promise of danger to follow.

At this hour, while most Faunus slept, she stood watch. Guarding the territory from atop her parent's roof. A soft breath of concentration focused her efforts. With a slow and measured grace, she grabbed the expertly crafted long-bow at her side. Partaking an arrow and shooting it far, she murdered a small straying nevermore before it could return to its nest. The threat was neutralized in that instant, her ears released themselves from their predatory state.

Then she looked down at the bow. It was so unlike her usual weapon.

Certainly, it was not her weapon of choice. Gunfire would only startle the resting Faunus families still asleep in their beds. Bow and arrow would have to do. Preparing another arrow, she shot it off into the distance, taking down another bird Grimm, the likes of which only proved that the creatures were gathering to lay more eggs.

Keeping that in the back of her mind for later, Blake resumed her gaze on the woman down in the water. The blonde grinning and waving upward in greeting. Blake purred to herself again, delighted at the simple action. She returned the gesture, though she was sure that the blonde couldn't easily see it. Blake was likely no more than a shadow to Yang's poor eyesight in the dark. Seeing the Faunus only because the moon's glow was unobstructed, the Faunus knowingly relaxing under the gentle light, weak as it was for human eyes.

"You're up early." The phrase in and of itself caused Blake to jolt as she turned around to peer into the darkness where her mother stood cased in shadow.

"I hate it when you do that." She snarled dryly under her breath.

"So you always tell me."

"If you know it agitates me, then why do you continue to do it?" Turning her back to the older cat Faunus, she glanced down to Yang once more.

"I can't help it, not if you're this distracted." Kali merely chuckled softly as she padded over to where her daughter sat. Taking in the expanse of scenery as she sat down beside her. "I didn't mean to startle you. If I thought you were preoccupied, I wouldn't have addressed you at all."

The elder cat Faunus was dressed in battle garb. It smelled fresh and clean, indicating that the woman had not gone out yet to scout for Grimm. The combat leathers were meant as an added layer of protection, but Blake found them confining. She avoided wearing the robust leathers that most in the village guard wore. She eyed the outfit wearily, before lifting her gaze into amber orbs so very much like her own.

"You didn't startle me." Blake said slowly. "I was just busy surveying the area. Nevermore must have laid eggs early this year. Young ones are taking flight."

"Hmm, so I see."

"What is it now?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering if your attitude wouldn't happen to have anything to with other matters. As I see it, one of those little humans of yours misplaced her swimwear again. That would be very distracting, now wouldn't it?" Kali grinned, only to earn an annoyed grunt for her efforts. "Oh, come now. No need to be so ill-tempered. It's the mating season, dear."

"I know." Blake grunted.

"I'd be worried if such things didn't catch your attention."

"Though I hate to say it, you're right. It is the mating season." Blake agreed, her temper was a bit hostile, she had to admit. That was always the case when oncoming heat began to fizzle within her, a sign of season to come. "More importantly, the spring claiming festival begins today. As always, we're the village hosting this season's celebrations."

"Well, it's only fair." Kali sad with a small smile. "Our sister villages off the coast of the mainland host the summer claiming festival, and the smaller villages to the north always host the winter festivities. Even though they don't nearly have the resources that we do, they all do their best to accommodate the gathering Faunus. We must do the same."

"Several families are coming in from the mainland." Blake agreed.

"I look forward to it." Kali grinned. "Perhaps a few strapping young huntsmen will show themselves."

Blake only narrowed her eyes at the suggestion. "I don't think I have to warn you that the Grimm will be aggressive once the hunts begin."

"Yes, well it's to be expected I suppose. I wouldn't be too happy either if villagers started firing arrows at me."

"Grimm are a nuance." Blake shot back.

"They probably feel the same way about us." Kali replied simply, her placid and gentle nature extending to even the monsters of the world. "Many moons ago, before the Faunus settled here, the Grimm were the only inhabitants of this island. I feel as though we're the outsiders. To the Grimm, we are the intruders."

"They're mindless, they don't think like that." Blake replied. "Whatever peace we've reached with them stems from aggression and power, nothing else."

"Hmm, perhaps, but that kind of mentality is very narrow-minded, wouldn't you agree?" Kali asked, but received no response on the matter, not that she expected one. "I have been hunting the Grimm and the wildlife here for a long time now. I've noticed some things. Grimm are aggressive and dangerous. I would never argue that. Yet, to say that they lack agency and presence of mind is a heartless thing to say."

"Your kindness towards them will get you killed one day." Blake scowled. "Skilled in the ways of hunting or not, the moment you let your guard down, you're asking to be hurt."

"As your father constantly reminds me every time I speak to him about the matter."

"And for good reason…"

"Yes, well there is that. I was just off to patrol and take a look at the situation for myself. I want to know that our hunting territories have been well maintained before we take the girls out there for the first time." Kali said, as though her armor hadn't already proven that. "Although, I don't suspect I'll find anything. I don't have the skill that you or your father do." Kali folded her arms over her chest as she regarded her daughter thoughtfully. "It might do you well to go out and prowl around as well."

"Let me worry about training the females. You chose to aid the village in other ways, so you're best suited to helping the girls learn the domestic duties required of the villagers." Blake murmured, knowing well that Kali's own hands were full with the needs of the people. "Besides, the claiming festivities will have you busy chaperoning the young girls again this year. There's a good number of them that haven't had basic weapons training yet, so they can't even go on the hunt."

"So I've noticed." Kali replied, though a hint of humor found her voice. "The scent in the markets yesterday were bordering on indecent."

"Why do you think I keep out of the thick of it?" Blake grumbled softly under her breath.

"Speaking of claiming festivals, it will be your sixth year, Blake." Kali began slowly. "Is there any chance that you'll decide to produce offspring this year?"

"There's always a chance, minuscule though it is." Blake murmured offhandedly, though her gaze drifted downward again, her eyes narrowing in contemplation. "That is the intention of why we go into heat in the first place, isn't it?"

Kali just smiled softly with a small shake of her head. "You can talk to me you know, I'm not blind." Kali gazed down at the human in the waters. "Your father seems rather hopeful for you to carry your first litter. I haven't had the heart to tell him to consider otherwise."

Blake nodded, it was to be expected. "I'll be leaving myself open for courtship activities from all suitors. I don't suspect anyone will cross my path worth mentioning, but, I'll keep the matter in mind."

"Blake, you don't have to rush, you know. It took me ten festivals before I settled on Ghira for courtship, and several more before your father and I actually decided to try and conceive. You're only twenty, you have plenty of opportunities ahead of you."

"Opportunities that I don't want to go wasted." As the only child of the Belladonna line, she felt the weight of bloodline looming heavily on her shoulders. "I've been thinking a lot about how I want to do things moving forward. I've already made a few decisions based on that." The Grimm roared loudly in the distance once more, and she turned to her mother. "Anyway, I'm going to hunt. I'd suggest you do the same." She said, jumping off the rooftop and into the bushes below.

Kali only shook her head and sighed, a tiny smile on her face as she watched her daughter stalk off into the distance. She glanced down at the unobstructed view of the human woman floating in the pond once more. It was obvious that Blake had feelings for her. "Like father, like daughter, I suppose..."