Chapter Twenty-Four

Kagome had been about half way home when she heard someone call her name, pausing mid step she turned to face the caller and smiled as she caught sight of the purple-haired female from the day or so before. "Ah Rosa!" Rosa grinned as she approached her, Bart not too far behind her. He nodded his head in acknowledgment of her yet kept his distance to allow them space to chat.

Rosa couldn't help but to return the other female's smile, it was odd. Most females had nothing to do with each other, as there was an unspoken hierarchy in the city. The prettier the female the higher her ranking and demand and as the top female in the city she was used to other females sucking up to her, hoping to catch the males she discarded or deemed not worthy of her.

Yet this new female was a breath of fresh air, she was nice yet she wasn't fake nice... She wasn't hiding a venom tipped tongue behind sweet lips, nor was she the typical damsel in distress like that other female that had joined the city.

Frowning at the thought of the ape tribe female she could only huff, she was a timid thing. Kidnapped by a feral, marked by him and still pinning after Parker! Pft, she had been working on Parker ever since they were younger, as the son of the leopard king and herself the daughter of the Tiger king it was only natural that she take him on as a mate when she was ready.

So to hear that he was courting such a weak female made her fur bristle. Sensing her foul mood her current number one mate moved closer to her, his tail swishing out to brush against her arm in comfort, she grit her teeth and forced all thoughts of Bai Quing Quing from her mind and instead gave the silent female before a small smile.

She didn't want her thinking her ire was directed at her. "Ah, sorry I was just recalling an unfortunate meeting with another female not too long ago." Kagome arched a brow but didn't comment, not wanting to be pulled into anyone else's drama.

Again.

"Ah, how unfortunate." She paused to begin a slow walk back towards her home. "Is there anything you needed from me? I was on my way home to cure the furs my mate got from his most recent kill." She ignored the small look of shock in Rosa's gaze.

"Is he not willing to do so? My mate's would never make me do something so degrading." The cattiness in her voice was unintentional, no doubt a defense mechanism when dealing with other females so Kagome would let it slide for now.

"Mmm, I offered to do it. He caught and skinned the animal and I figured it would lessen his burden to cure the pelts. Besides I like being able to help him, we're mates. We're a team, his burdens are mine just as much as mine are his." She shrugged her shoulders, not at all caring if or how they would judge her.

Rosa blinked, it was a foreign concept, a female taking on some of the male's duties but it wasn't that far out there. Did she not make clothes for her mates and their brood? Not because she had to but because she wanted to...so maybe it wasn't that radical.

Then again it wasn't her home, nor her mate's, so it wasn't really any of her business. No, she hadn't sought out the other female to judge and ridicule her but to ask her more about 'herbs' and whatnot. So in order to brush off the semi tense atmosphere that had settled over them, she offered a small fanged smile.

"I was wondering, my heat is coming up soon...do you have any magical grass that would help with the conception?" A light flush dusted her cheeks, it wasn't that she wasn't fertile enough just that she wanted to ensure that Bart's brood would be sired quickly, thus ensuring they would be born before the rainy season and not during it.

Kagome blinked but nodded, a smile blossoming on her lips at the term 'magical grass', if only she knew what real magical grass could do. "Of course, come I'll show you what plant to use and explain how to use it. It shouldn't take long." Rosa nodded and turned to her mate, "Bart, go fetch a small crystal to repay her with." Bart nodded, pausing to nuzzle the top of her head before running to acquire the requested item, not wanting to leave his mate alone for too long.

Kagome blinked at the offer, not expecting it but not saying no, after all, crystals were the most valuable trading commodity in this world and she would not say no to another one, even if it was for something she herself deemed trivial.

Maybe there was a booming business in this 'magical grass'... She cracked a smile at her own humorous thoughts.

Kagome motioned for her to follow her to the treeline, where there was a cluster of plants. She had seen them earlier but didn't pick them since she didn't need them. They were a dark green with a blue tint to them. She made sure to carefully pick them, making sure she got the root as well as the whole plant.

"This is the plant you need" She held it up for Rosa to take as Kagome went about picking five more of them, and standing up.

"These plants you need whole, with the root of the plant to make it work to its full effects." Kagome smiled, handing the plants to her after she made sure all the dirt was off of them.

Rosa looked at the plant, she didn't know anything about it but she would trust this girl. There was something about her she could feel that she could trust...which isn't something she tended to say very often.

"The best way to use it is to make it into a drink. Let the plant dry out for a few days and make sure to crush the main part of the plant and the roots separately, and also drink separately." Kagome paused, making sure Rosa was following along. The woman was focused and was listening to her carefully as she held the plants in her hands.

"You should drink each with water, whether it is hot or cold doesn't matter. You drink the drink you make with the roots first. Then the second drink you will drink the following day. On the third day, you should be ready and it should be in your system..." She trailed off, knowing the girl would understand her wording as a small blush came to her cheeks.

"Thank you." Rosa said, happy to have the plants. She would use them and if they did work she would forever be grateful to this woman. She wanted to have pups as fast as she could.

Kagome laughed, "It isn't a problem. You are one of the very few who haven't judged me because of my 'magical grass' as you call it." Her eyes glanced over at Bart who had returned and handed her a jewel.

"This will be more than enough payment and then some...you know that right..." Kagome told the girl who had ordered her to be given the jewel.

Rosa grinned, "I don't think it is. Take it." She waved it off as she moved to stand by her mate, "Though if word gets out about this you should charge them too. Be it a trade of some kind or a jewel."

Kagome tilted her head at this, it was a good idea, "I will keep that in mind. But so far most have just mocked and teased me at the last village I was a part of." It was true. Bai had even been skeptical of them, she never said anything bad about it but she didn't believe in the herbs like Kagome did.

Rosa frowned at this, "Not your home village though..." She was very curious about the girl. She could have been traded and mated to someone from the last village...

"My home village is...a long ways away and I was hurt there so I don't want to go back. ." It was that simple. It was gone, forever out of her reach. Kagome knew it was for the best though. She had been hurt by Naraku...and the jewel. She was happy though. She had found her way here.

Kagome gave Rosa a smile when she saw her mate shake his head. He must have known Rosa wanted to know more. But Kagome didn't know what to share with the girl without a lie...something she didn't want to do.

"I am happy here with my mate though. He is very kind and is someone I am glad that came into my life." She told the girl, who gave a nod in understanding. Rosa could tell the girl didn't want to talk about her past, so she would leave it alone until the woman was ready to share.

"Anyway. If you need more herbs for anything feel free to ask..." Kagome paused before giving the girl a bright smile, "Or if you just want to talk, feel free to come find me. I am going to finish gathering what I need for tonight's dinner..." She wanted to find some bamboo and pick some berries and such before heading home.

Rosa gave the girl a nod, "I will. It was nice talking to you." Bart gave a nod to the female, a small smile in thanks before the two watched Kagome walk off into the woods by herself.

"I like her." Rosa told her mate, who gave a soft laugh as he gave her forehead a kiss.

"She seems like a good friend for you." Something he knew Rosa hadn't really been able to find before. Rosa gave a hum, her hand tightening on the plant in her hands before she gave him a smirk.

"If these plants do work, we will have to thank her again too." Rosa then gave one last look to the plants in her hand, then to the direction Kagome had disappeared into.

'A friend...hmm...'