Next Update: Friday, June 8th.

Chapter 18

"Blake, have you seen your father anywhere by chance?" Kali asked, a basket in hand loaded with fresh produce from a nearby shop.

"No, but I was actually looking for him."

"Really?" Kali hardly expected to see her daughter out wandering around so early after choosing a mate. Blake's newest additions to her tattoo sat on perfect display, her arm showcasing the emblem of Yang's choosing, and the murmuring if the village made no mistake about it. Although Kali had smiled and earnestly to those who had asked her about it, the truth was that the elder cat Faunus was unsure of Blake's choice. It wasn't because she disliked Yang, or saw little use in mating a human.

Rather, she worried precisely because of the complexities of village life. There were some senses that humans just lacked, and Kali worried Yang would find her new-found position difficult because of that.

"We've got some things to go over regarding the matters in Atlas, and I'm sure he wants an explanation about this, too." Blake replied, gesturing to her tattoo. "He's not in an of the administrative buildings." She said, inclining her head to a large stone building, the lights turned off as if no one had decided to work there today. Blake wasn't even surprised.

"Down by the water, perhaps?" Kali offered.

"No, I checked." Blake said. "He wasn't at the docks, or the assembly hall. Only other place he could be is his office."

"Either that, or a hunt."

"This time in the morning? Doubtful." Blake scoffed. "If I find him though, I'll tell him you're looking."

"If you do that, he's liable to sneak away again." Kali frowned. "He's always so easily distracted in his work. A pity really, some respite would do him some good."

Blake nodded, though she suspected respite was the exact reason why her father threw himself into the daily complications of village matters. Her mother's scent was just as strong as Blake's own, and the implications of that needed no words among them. "So, are you heading back to the house then?"

"Just after I pick up some fresh meat for dinner." Kali replied, pointing off to the butcher shop.

"I'm going on ahead then, I'd like to get this over with." Blake parted ways with her mother, continuing on towards her father's large household. The elaborate building sat directly in the middle of the village for all to see.

On the day after the mating festivities concluded, it was a somber time. Those who had succeeded in wooing a mate hid away to partake of their newly found lover. The matchmaker would be busy today. Until the newly mated couples received their new markings, they wouldn't be allowed to wander the village freely. With any luck, these new couples would raise offspring in the coming seasons.

For the rest of the island, and its many peoples, it was time to go back to the old way of doing things. The visiting villagers went back to their own homes, and some families prepared to cross the sea back to the mainland. It was business as usual, life forcing itself to return to normal, even though a few people still had itches that needed to be scratched.

After all, just because the festival ended, didn't mean that the women in heat suddenly stopped.

Oh no, many Faunus women were still seeking bedfellows, even if they were more subdued about it. Though the festival had concluded, a woman in heat could remain that way for quite some time, and Blake was not exempt. Beating down her more carnal desire to locate Yang and rut her right at that moment, she focused on her tasks at hand. If she knew her father at all, which she did, he was likely scanning over village documents that couldn't be ignored.

That, Blake decided, was the right idea.

Meanwhile, Ghira hummed to himself, reaching for his tea.

The action strained he shoulder and he winced, one particularly sore bite mark reminding him just what awaited him once he finished with all of his paperwork. He'd need to buy more condoms before the day was done, of that, he was sure. He ignored the pain of his bites and sipped his tea, sighing. He only just began to get comfortable and look over the again papers when a knock came from his office door.

Muttering curses, he stood from his chair and crossed the room to greet whoever was on the other side. Carefully, he made sure the worst of Kali's marks on him were concealed from view. He couldn't have been more thankful for that one act. "Good morning, Blake."

"You look like fresh hell." Blake bit out, not even bothered by the obvious scratches and bite marks covering her father's neck, chest, and likely other areas.

"Speak for yourself." He retorted dryly, finger outstretched to the several hickeys all over Blake's neck. He couldn't see anything beyond that, but he had his suspicions. She had recently showered, there wasn't a single scent on her, at least none besides her own. Some part of his addled mind was thankful for that. "Come, sit down." He said eagerly remembering his daughter's promise. "So go on, tell me who you've chosen to mate with."

"It really shouldn't be a surprise, but, I've chosen to mate with Yang." Blake said as she entered into her father's study. She took a seat in one of the armchairs gingerly. "She's been living in my household for a while now, it makes sense that I would choose her."

"Blake, you have got to be kidding." Ghira said as he gawked at his only daughter. Inwardly he chastised himself for choosing not to sire more offspring. "Of all the people you could have chosen, you picked her?"

"Yes."

"Why..?"

She smirked at her father's completely perplexed expression. Confusion clear as day. "We should take tea, and I'll explain." Springing to her feet, she neared his desk and gathered the tea set. Bringing it back to the coffee table, she set it down, refreshing his cup and handing it to him. Then she poured one for herself and sat back down. "It's really not all that complicated. You wanted me to choose a mate, and therefore I have."

"So you did…" He managed to say.

"Your lack of enthusiasm has been duly noted." She said dryly, sipping from a cup of the finest tea Menagerie had to offer. "Do my choices bother you? Could it be because she's a human?"

"Well, no…" He replied, as he looked at her. "Not inherently at least, but, well, Blake dear…unless I'm sorely mistaken, Yang is a woman."

"Obviously." Blake she laughed. "Is that a problem?"

"Well, I don't know if problem is the right word." Ghira said, finger toying around the rim of his cup. "A situation surely, but, I'd hesitate to say it's a problem." Delicacy in family matters were always a fine line, especially when it came to Blake. He'd always chosen to tiptoe around her, offering as much support as he could, even when he didn't always understand the nature of her whims.

"If it's not a problem, what is it then?"

"A fact of biological nature. You cannot breed with a woman." He said, pointedly drawing out the problem as clearly as possible. "With your mother unable to carry more children, you are the only one able to carry the family line. I was hoping that you might feel inclined."

"You could just mate another female and carry the line that way. Pyrrha told me that you turned her away, your loss. She would have made an excellent mate." Blake said with a smirk. "Anyway, don't pin our lack of bloodline on me. You just want grandchildren." Blake accused, but there was no heat in the statement as she sipped at her drink.

"Is that really so much to ask?" He inquired, more than a little exasperated.

"Well, no…" She said before her thoughts gained conviction. "No, of course not." This time Blake sighed. "It's just that none of the males interested me this year. You can agree, the pickings were lacking for someone of my status."

"I see…" Ghira said slowly. "No one even remotely interested you at all?"

"Dad, it's more complicated than that. If I'd had an option that I thought might be worthwhile…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "I planned to mate Yang anyway. Next year, should a male be worthy, I'll mate him as well. Let's be honest, I doubt he'll have much to complain about. He'll have two women to bed and breed instead of one."

"You say that as if one woman is not a handful in and of herself." He told Blake with a small scowl. It fell away quickly as he pondered his thoughts aloud. "You know, I'm not to rightly mind if you find a young man of lesser means and bloodline." He intoned hopefully. "Our name alone helps to keep us in power, and you are strong enough to lead Menagerie in my steed when the time comes."

"I didn't choose a male because I was faced with two options this season. The males far older, seeking a younger mate, which I assure you doesn't interest me at all. Then there were the younger ones that don't quite meet the maturity level I'd expect of them." Then she smiled. "Some were cute, but idiotic."

"Wukong in a nutshell…" Ghira grumbled.

"Careful, I'd sooner mate Sun than over half of your guard." Blake shot back. "Be careful what you wish for, or there might be monkey Faunus grandchildren in your future."

"That's not even remotely funny."

"You're the one insisting I breed, who says I'm joking?"

"Touché…"

"You don't have to worry about that. I'm not in any hurry, and I don't ever plan to mate Sun…" Blake said then. "Given that my chosen mates should have some sort of respectable reputation behind them, it occurred to me that I might want to wait a year or so."

At this, her father brightened. "Oh?"

"Well, by that time, some of the promising nobles around my age will have finished their training as warriors. They won't be on the cusp either, and might be more willing to settle into an established and high ranking household." Blake told him. "By then, at the very least, I'll have a better understanding of what type of person they are."

"So, you do have your eyes on someone." Ghira murmured.

"Several." She said slowly. "I'm just not sure anything will pan out yet."

"Care to elaborate?"

"I'm choosing to observe from a distance. They have no idea they've fallen under my scrutiny, and that's the way I intend to keep it for now." Blake knew it would be a great honor to whoever she chose to sire her offspring, and she knew she needed to be careful to pick a proper father. "The man I'm looking for should be a docile one. Quiet and clear headed. I really don't care for all of the ego and posturing put on by the exuberant alphas running around. After all, there's really no higher place to be, than to be a mate of mine anyway."

Ghira nodded. That at the very least was true. "Then, I suppose I should set my hopeful sights on next year."

"Sooner, should the right male come along. Just because the festival is the most popular time to seek a mate, doesn't mean it has to be then." Blake replied. "I might begin courtship earlier than that, so long as Yang and I can agree on a worthy male. I have more than one human under my watch, I may very well breed with one of them, if the urge strikes me."

"And what about Weiss Schnee, who you have me confining in a guest room?" Ghira asked then. "What am I to do with her? It isn't as if she can wander around on her own, she would be safest with you."

"Her place will be prepared among my household, same as the rest of my new arrivals." Blake said. "To live in my household, is to train in my household. Besides, I think I've found a way to deal with our problems concerning what to do with her family, and the reparations needed up in the north. To prove herself as a huntress of Menagerie, would prove her worthy of your audience. If she survives my strict program, she would earn an audience with you…you would have to listen to her demands, but it's a risk I want to take…"

"And why would you do that?"

"Because humans are social creatures."

"So are Faunus, what on Remnant does that have to do with anything?"

"One thing I've learned about humans is that they tend to show favoritism to the people that they've developed some measure of a relationship with. They lack the Faunus perception of scent, meaning that emotion largely dictates how they think and feel. Perhaps, if she were to learn more about the White Fang members involved in the incident, she would be less motivated to see harm come to them…she might even befriend them."

"Well, I'd like as peaceful a resolution to that entire mess as we can make it. If you feel that your method is the best way to go about that, I won't argue."

"I don't know if it will be or not. If she'll be staying with me, it's worth an honest chance."

Of course…" He sighed lightly, his smile small as he shook his head fondly. "I'll leave it to you."

"That will be all then. Send Weiss to me, the same time you send the others for training." Blake said, but before she completely dismissed herself, she paused. "Mom's looking for you, by the way. If you don't want to be found, I think you'd better locate some other place to do you work."

"Indeed." He grumbled again. "And just where exactly will you be going?"

"Where do you think I'm going to go?" Blake asked with an upraised eyebrow before answering his question directly. "To find Yang."