A rough jolt woke Chiaki. She didn't remember falling asleep. ~Mama!~ That was Kimba's voice. The cub headbutted her again. ~Feed me!~

Chiaki blinked awake. The room was dimmer as the sun dipped low in the sky, ready to drop over the horizon. "Kimba?"

~Mama! You're awake!~ He chirped happily.

"Yes. Yes, I am." She said slowly. She remembered Curtis seeming to become frantic after they had made love in the bathroom. He'd cooked food. And he'd clung to her and said he loved her. She blushed. He'd acted so differently for a time and she'd felt a much stronger connection to her snake mate during that time. What had happened? Chiaki shook her head to clear the thoughts away.

~Milk?~ Kimba questioned.

Chiaki raised a hand to her breast. "I'm sorry, but it is all dried up. I'll fix you other food."

Curtis was nowhere to be seen. The bowls and plates had been washed and put back. "Where is everyone?"

~Go for salt.~ Kimba supplied. He tore into the bowl of food as soon as it was placed down for him. ~Papa. Father. B'dee.~

"So Qianhuang, Curtis, and Bai Di all went to get the supplies Parker left."

~Ya! I told them where.~ Kimba lifted his muzzle out of the now empty bowl.

Chiaki cleaned the bowl, then headed outside with the bag of grains in hand. She was surprised to see the short-winged birds come gather around her. She fed them and gathered the few eggs that had been lain in the last day, this time without being accosted by any of the birds.

The sound of Qianhuang's wing beats brought her attention to the sky, seeing him packed with two of the largest clay pots like a set of saddle bags. He landed heavily and transformed, leaving the pots sitting with ease.

"Kimba remembered exactly where Parker left all the things. It was easy to find." He said as he walked up to her. "I'm glad you are awake!" He said as he took her by the waist and lifted her up to spin her around. Then he brought her down into a soft kiss. "You were asleep when we left, so I was worried about leaving only our cub to watch over you."

Chiaki laughed. "He woke me up to feed him."

"I see." Qianhuang chuckled. Holding her in his arms he touched their foreheads together. "Our cub is growing so big. You are a wonderful mother."

Chiaki blushed. What was with all her guys tossing so many complements her way today? "I guess." She glanced over his shoulder. "Uh, where are the others?"

"Hm? Oh, they are taking Parkers belongings to the castle of the Leopard Queen, in the middle of the city."

"Why?"

"Didn't you know? Parker is one of the children of the leaders of the Leopard Clan. The queen and her four-stripe mate."

"No, I didn't know that! Oh, did Qingqing? She'll be over the moon to find out she married into royalty!" Chiaki began to laugh. "I didn't even know there was royalty!"

Qianhuang laughed with her. "Yes, each clan has leaders who are considered the strongest of their kind."

"Ah, then LORD Qianhuang, does that make you a royal, too?"

He shook his head. "The Winged Lion Tribe is too small, most of the winged beast clans don't hold enough power to be counted."

"Aw, and here I was going to be a queen." Chiaki joked.

"If that is what you wish, then I promise to raise the Winged Lion Tribe to the size and power that would count them among the leading tribes!"

She put a hand on his chest. "That's sweet, but no, I don't want to be a queen."

Qianhuang eyes sparkled. "I would do anything you ask of me."

"I know you would. That makes me love you even more." She said as she cupped his face in her hands. "But really, I don't have any desire to be a ruler."

Qianhuang turned his face to kiss one of her palms. He would instead strive to make her the happiest female. She snuggled against him as he held her in his arms. This was perfection. He had a wonderful female, a healthy cub, food and shelter... even the other males offered extra help in taking care of the family.

It would be dark by the time Curtis and Bai Di returned home. Qianhuang cooked the last fresh animal, a rabbit, whole. Along with the multi-colored carrots in honey and multi-colored potatoes in spices. He gave Kimba an extra helping of the leftover stew Curtis had made for lunch.

"How are the food stores looking?" Chiaki asked the three males.

Qianhuang frowned. "Thin. There are several grain and seed pots that I would only give the short-winged birds. We have no stored meat."

"We need to start hunting for the cold season." Curtis added.

Bai Di, having just joined the family stayed quiet, not sure if his input was wanted. He'd lost a fight to Curtis when they had met. Then he'd faced off with Qianhuang only a few days later, that match had been much closer. At the end of it, there had been no clear victor, while the winged-lion male had a size advantage Bai Di had found them more evenly matched in strength. They ended the fight in a draw, both a little bruised but otherwise unhurt.

Kimba had been another surprise. To learn the large cub was less than a year of age and already starting hunting lessons with his sire! The cub had been curious about him. And taken the idea of having another father with no fuss. Indeed his first desire was attempting to get Bai Di to play.

"Then it's time to start Winter preparations." Chiaki said, gaining nods from two of the males. "I only wish I knew more ways to preserve foods-" Chiaki stuttered to a stop as a blue glow enveloped her.

(Request being possessed. Request within guideline parameters. Request granted.)

Chiaki recognized that voice. Or was it Voice, with a capital? It was her child sized connection to the Beast God. Her eyes fluttered unseeing as information flooded her mind. Pemmican, drying, smoking, fermentation, what plants kept well over several seasons and how to prepare them for beings stored-

Chiaki came back to herself, finding Curtis supporting her from the front and Qinanhuang supporting her from behind. Two sets of arms wrapped around her, giving her an anchor back to their world.

"What is happening?!" Bai Di asked in alarm.

Feeling like her head was a busy train station, Chiaki wobbly sat down. This was on Qinahunag's lap as he kept hold of her. "I think, I think there's more I need to tell you 'Dee', she mumbled. "More than just what I told you about my being from another whole world."