Chapter Forty
They hooked up with Barak and Dumbugg outside town. Barak held his entire family in a bear hug, ecstatic at their return.
The party traveled a distance away from the village of the evil weres before stopping for the evening. As they set up camp, Jea got the fire and food going. Aruka was hiding at the edge of the site, still incredibly nervous. Phalyssa walked over to him. "Hey, Aruka, what's the matter?"
He whimpered, a pathetic sound indeed. "I's scawed."
"Why?" she asked softly.
His fuzzy ears drooped. "Thewe's so many peoples. They'we kinda scawy."
Phalyssa took him by the arm. "C'mon. It's warm over by the fire. I'll introduce you to my mom. She wants to check you over anyways. She won't hurt you-I promise."
He allowed her to lead him over to Jea. The ranger woman looked up with a friendly smile. "Hello, Aruka, Phalyssa. Have a seat."
Phalyssa held onto Aruka's hand as Jea checked him over. Her new friend gripped her hand tightly as Jea performed the quick physical. "He's in perfect health-except for the fact that he's half starved." She turned her head. "Laguna! Will ya please ge' this lad a pair o' yer pants?"
The paladin nodded and went to his pack for the clothing. While he searched, Jea offered both of the teens some food. Both accepted, and devoured it like ravenous animals (No pun intended, of course.)
Laguna eyeballed the youngster hanging on his daughter's arm like a puppy and he frowned. He handed the clothing to his wife. "There you go dear. Is supper almost ready?"
"Just about, Lover. Give me a minute or two to find something." The ranger/druid was rummaging through her Bag. Absentmindedly, she passed the pants to Aruka-which he hurried behind a tree to put on. He returned, holding them up with one hand, as Jea exclaimed, "Aha! Found ya, ye lil' rascal!" her voice triumphant.
Pulling a teeny bottle out, she handed it to Aruka. "Drink up, boyo. This'll make you feel better."
Tentatively, the strange boy said, "Thank you." before taking it with quaking fingers.
Phalyssa laid her hand lightly on Aruka's filthy arm. He smiled slightly before quaffing the flask. To everyone's amazement, his flesh began to fill itself out. Emaciated limbs of skin and bone were thickened and filled out by strong muscles and a layer of healthy fat.
When all minute traces of malnourishment vanished, Aruka looked like everyone else-healthy, hale, and well fed.albeit in need of a good scrubbing. He was also.well endowed, if you catch my drift.
The lion youth stood in wonder to inspect himself, and Phalyssa also looked over him-originally in regard to his health. However, she-and her parents- were soon made aware of the fact that his pants were WAY too tight. Phalyssa's breath caught in her throat and her heart beat sped up. Even worse, she realized that her nipples had hardened as a result of her arousal.
Aruka's feline nose picked up the scent of changing hormones and he glanced at Phalyssa in intrigue. His eyes widened slightly.
Jea and Laguna locked eyes worriedly. They'd seen the exchange between their daughter and the young man. Jea rose smoothly to her feet. "Phalyssa? Can I speak with you for a moment?" she said, gesturing to a spot a little distance away.
The silver haired girl jerked her gaze away from Aruka. "Sure, Mom." She got up and followed after her mother. Meanwhile, Laguna gestured curtly for the youth to follow him.
* * * * * *
"Yeah, Mom, what's the matter?" Phalyssa already had an indication.
Jea looked sternly at her 16-year-old daughter. "Phalyssa, I know you are a teen, with hormones, but I'm gonna tell you this now. You'd better behave. If you don't-and I'm a healer, so I'll know-I'll make you wish you'd never even heard of Aruka. Are we clear, Phalyssa Kimsteed?"
Phalyssa, neither embarrassed nor alarmed at her mother's blunt mannerisms, simply nodded in response. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good. I expect you to remember that." The ranger woman gestured towards the fire. "Let's go back and get ready for bed."
Phalyssa smiled and followed her mother back to the campsite.
* * * * * *
Meanwhile, Laguna led Aruka a short distance into the woods. "Aruka, I need to speak with you on a matter that concerns me greatly." The paladin drew a deep breath, somewhat embarrassed.
"I've seen the way you've been looking at Phalyssa. I would request that you please conduct yourself properly with my daughter. If you make any inappropriate advances." Laguna put his hand on Quar's hilt.
Aruka looked at him, hurt confusion prominent in his eyes. "Huh? Whaddya mean? Phalyssa's my fwiend.why would I huwt hew. What awe you talking about?"
Laguna was temporarily at a loss. After recovering his voice, the noble warrior struggled to explain to the youth about "the birds and the bees."
Roughly halfway into his third attempt, Aruka's manner suddenly changed. The innocent glint in his eyes seemed to be wrenched away, and replaced by something that held the wisdom of many decades. His voice lost the child's quality, becoming deep and rumbling. (Think Mufasa.) "I understand, sir. I swear upon my Ancestors that I will not behave in any way that is inappropriate and unwanted. Phalyssa is my savior-she rescued me from the pits of that awful Hell back there. I would never do anything to bring her harm-I would rather die-and I will defend my friend with my very life to repay her kindness..." His eyes burned with a simple, fierce, animal like loyalty for his newfound friend (Phalyssa, not Laguna..The wording is weird.)
Laguna, now royally confused, ran a hand through his hair, nodded in acceptance of the promise, and followed the strange young man back to camp.
They hooked up with Barak and Dumbugg outside town. Barak held his entire family in a bear hug, ecstatic at their return.
The party traveled a distance away from the village of the evil weres before stopping for the evening. As they set up camp, Jea got the fire and food going. Aruka was hiding at the edge of the site, still incredibly nervous. Phalyssa walked over to him. "Hey, Aruka, what's the matter?"
He whimpered, a pathetic sound indeed. "I's scawed."
"Why?" she asked softly.
His fuzzy ears drooped. "Thewe's so many peoples. They'we kinda scawy."
Phalyssa took him by the arm. "C'mon. It's warm over by the fire. I'll introduce you to my mom. She wants to check you over anyways. She won't hurt you-I promise."
He allowed her to lead him over to Jea. The ranger woman looked up with a friendly smile. "Hello, Aruka, Phalyssa. Have a seat."
Phalyssa held onto Aruka's hand as Jea checked him over. Her new friend gripped her hand tightly as Jea performed the quick physical. "He's in perfect health-except for the fact that he's half starved." She turned her head. "Laguna! Will ya please ge' this lad a pair o' yer pants?"
The paladin nodded and went to his pack for the clothing. While he searched, Jea offered both of the teens some food. Both accepted, and devoured it like ravenous animals (No pun intended, of course.)
Laguna eyeballed the youngster hanging on his daughter's arm like a puppy and he frowned. He handed the clothing to his wife. "There you go dear. Is supper almost ready?"
"Just about, Lover. Give me a minute or two to find something." The ranger/druid was rummaging through her Bag. Absentmindedly, she passed the pants to Aruka-which he hurried behind a tree to put on. He returned, holding them up with one hand, as Jea exclaimed, "Aha! Found ya, ye lil' rascal!" her voice triumphant.
Pulling a teeny bottle out, she handed it to Aruka. "Drink up, boyo. This'll make you feel better."
Tentatively, the strange boy said, "Thank you." before taking it with quaking fingers.
Phalyssa laid her hand lightly on Aruka's filthy arm. He smiled slightly before quaffing the flask. To everyone's amazement, his flesh began to fill itself out. Emaciated limbs of skin and bone were thickened and filled out by strong muscles and a layer of healthy fat.
When all minute traces of malnourishment vanished, Aruka looked like everyone else-healthy, hale, and well fed.albeit in need of a good scrubbing. He was also.well endowed, if you catch my drift.
The lion youth stood in wonder to inspect himself, and Phalyssa also looked over him-originally in regard to his health. However, she-and her parents- were soon made aware of the fact that his pants were WAY too tight. Phalyssa's breath caught in her throat and her heart beat sped up. Even worse, she realized that her nipples had hardened as a result of her arousal.
Aruka's feline nose picked up the scent of changing hormones and he glanced at Phalyssa in intrigue. His eyes widened slightly.
Jea and Laguna locked eyes worriedly. They'd seen the exchange between their daughter and the young man. Jea rose smoothly to her feet. "Phalyssa? Can I speak with you for a moment?" she said, gesturing to a spot a little distance away.
The silver haired girl jerked her gaze away from Aruka. "Sure, Mom." She got up and followed after her mother. Meanwhile, Laguna gestured curtly for the youth to follow him.
* * * * * *
"Yeah, Mom, what's the matter?" Phalyssa already had an indication.
Jea looked sternly at her 16-year-old daughter. "Phalyssa, I know you are a teen, with hormones, but I'm gonna tell you this now. You'd better behave. If you don't-and I'm a healer, so I'll know-I'll make you wish you'd never even heard of Aruka. Are we clear, Phalyssa Kimsteed?"
Phalyssa, neither embarrassed nor alarmed at her mother's blunt mannerisms, simply nodded in response. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good. I expect you to remember that." The ranger woman gestured towards the fire. "Let's go back and get ready for bed."
Phalyssa smiled and followed her mother back to the campsite.
* * * * * *
Meanwhile, Laguna led Aruka a short distance into the woods. "Aruka, I need to speak with you on a matter that concerns me greatly." The paladin drew a deep breath, somewhat embarrassed.
"I've seen the way you've been looking at Phalyssa. I would request that you please conduct yourself properly with my daughter. If you make any inappropriate advances." Laguna put his hand on Quar's hilt.
Aruka looked at him, hurt confusion prominent in his eyes. "Huh? Whaddya mean? Phalyssa's my fwiend.why would I huwt hew. What awe you talking about?"
Laguna was temporarily at a loss. After recovering his voice, the noble warrior struggled to explain to the youth about "the birds and the bees."
Roughly halfway into his third attempt, Aruka's manner suddenly changed. The innocent glint in his eyes seemed to be wrenched away, and replaced by something that held the wisdom of many decades. His voice lost the child's quality, becoming deep and rumbling. (Think Mufasa.) "I understand, sir. I swear upon my Ancestors that I will not behave in any way that is inappropriate and unwanted. Phalyssa is my savior-she rescued me from the pits of that awful Hell back there. I would never do anything to bring her harm-I would rather die-and I will defend my friend with my very life to repay her kindness..." His eyes burned with a simple, fierce, animal like loyalty for his newfound friend (Phalyssa, not Laguna..The wording is weird.)
Laguna, now royally confused, ran a hand through his hair, nodded in acceptance of the promise, and followed the strange young man back to camp.