Chiaki and Huanhuan stepped out into the midday sun of the late Summer day. It was humid because of all the flood water evaporating from the heat. Around them the wolf males were busy with their daily tasks. It looked like a great deal of other beastkin were visiting.
"I wonder what's going on?" Huanhuan said.
"It's apparently a market day for this village." Came a voice from behind her. She quickly turned to face the male. It was Chiaki's mate, Curtis. There was a freshly killed deer slung over his shoulder. He walked over to Chiaki and kissed her forehead. "I got permission from the village leader to hunt here until we return home. How do you feel?"
"Much better than yesterday."
"That's good." He smiled at her. "Are you two going to the market?"
"Well, now that we know about it, yes probably." Huanhuan said.
With a nod Curtis turned and flipped the deer carcass over his shoulder, letting it fall to the ground. "Please wait for me to escort you, it will only take a moment to skin this."
With the skin separated from the body, Curtis hung the deer from a wooden beam jutting from the roof of the house and draped the skin above it. He used his half transformed form to achieve this easily, however it did garner him several wary looks from those passing by.
"Now we may go." He said as he slithered over to the pair of females, lifting Chiaki up onto his shoulder with ease. "I see the old male gave you my gift." He said as his hand drifted over the soft light tan leather of the dress she wore.
"Yes, it fits perfectly. You really are talented." Chiaki complemented. Curtis tilted his head up, a quick motion, at his mates pride in him. He was a good mate. And his female was the best female of them all, he was sure of it. Her kindness to him was proof of that in his mind.
After the wave of warmth from her words, Curtis turned his head and kissed her knee. "I believe you have called me talented in other things to, my love." He said huskely.
Chiaki laughed. "Horny snake. Market now, love making tonight."
Curtis felt a jolt go through his body. His female wanted him tonight! Her thoughts were on him! Not the lion or that upstart tiger! He felt his desire grow. The hand that had been gently holding her steady on his shoulder shifted to cup her round behind.
"Behave!" She squeaked out, trying not to break out into loud laughter. "Kurt!"
His smile widened. "I'll behave, for now." Then he gave her ass a squeeze.
Chiaki let out a loud squeak, then leaned down to kiss his cheek. "You're incorrigible!"
Huanhuan watched the exchange in fascination. They were acting like a couple of teenagers! They were so playful in-front of her and the village, as if no one could see them. Would she end up in a relationship like theirs? So open in their feelings? She blushed at the reminder that she actually was expected to find a lover... more than one. Hopefully not all so soon after arriving to this world, she hardly knew anything yet!
"Market!" Chiaki giggled, still trying to get Curtis to behave as he kept insisting that his hand now should rest inside the dress she wore 'to hold her better' as he walked.
Huanhuan followed them, seeing the open air market appear ahead in only a few moments of walking. Her eyes drifted from her companions to the people around her. Many males were partly transformed, keeping their ears and tails from their beast form. Actually, almost all of them had visible animal parts. Save Curtis who's ears looked like a humans. Maybe they weren't transformed at all? Healer Langzhu had wolf ears all the time and a tail. Then there were the males walking around looking like normal wolves, had they not been carrying their shopping in their mouths like well trained dogs. They varied in size and color drastically. Most were average sized, though some of them towered over the rest, she wondered why.
The males watched as the feral snake escorted not one, but two new females into the marketplace. How could he dare look so smug! Why were the females so calm with him so close? He was holding one on his shoulder as if he had any right to be so intimate with a female! Around them many hackles were raised, but no wolf dared to attack the snake while the two females were right beside him. No one wished to unintentionally hurt a female, they'd rather kill themselves.
"I hope there isn't any trouble." Chiaki said, looking at the hostile environment.
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" Huanhuan asked.
"Males wanting to fight with Curtis. Or males tripping over themselves to impress you or I into being their mate." Chiaki nodded to a female across the market where several males were gathered around her, causing a scene.
"Wow. She's surrounded, but she looks so calm!" Huanhuan noted.
"I'm sure she's use to the attention. Women are rare in this world and competition to find a mate is high in every village and city, no matter the size."
"Oh isn't that the guy who brought you to the healer?" Huanhuan asked as she pointed to a couple of males near a short stone wall.
Sure enough it was Bai Di speaking to a red haired wolf male. The wolf's hair was cut short and a softer red-orange color when compared to Curtis' bright red hair. He had a couple of fresh animal hides in his hands. The two were speaking and the wolf male was nodding along to whatever was being said.
"Yes it is, it looks like he's making a deal with that wolf male."
