Curtis hissed and snapped at the males outside the garden walls as he returned home. He'd spent the day collecting food and had two whole baskets filled for Chiaki to look through. He was sure he'd not gathered anything poisonous, but Chiaki's skill would allow her to know with just a look.
He saw Chiaki resting under the garden tree, with the lion keeping her safe. He flicked a random young male away with his tail as he passed through the gate, sending the suitor tumbling to the far side of the street. The rest of the young males moved quickly to keep out of his reach. He grinned as they scattered.
He quickly stored the baskets in the main room of the house, then returned outside. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he neared Chiaki.
"Much better with the fresh air and sunshine."
He smiled softly at her and nodded. "Here." He held out a bowl.
"Wha- berries!" Chaiki took the offered bowl filled with mixed berries. With Autumn setting in the berry bushes were becoming heavy with fruit. They didn't have the items to make jams, jellies or preserves this year, so she would only be able to enjoy them while they were fresh.
Curtis rested next to her, watching as his mate ate the gift. She was so beautiful. Her dark eyes and dark hair were healthy. She was putting on weight as he and the other two males offered her foods more often during the day, not just at family meal times. He would make sure his mate survived another cold-season.
Once Bai Di returned, a handful of rabbits for the evening meal, Curtis chased the courting males off the property. He didn't care if the panther or wolf left things scattered around the yard as he pushed them out of the gate.
"I'll carry you back inside." Qianhuang said as he scooped Chiaki up into his arms.
The next day, Chiaki was able to get her mates to place the meat drying racks on the slanted roof so they had more time to dry in the sun. This meat would be dried and stored as is. The short-winged birds had now gotten attention, with their numbers being noticeable. Chiaki had Qianhuang add a door to the coop, they would make sure the birds stayed inside during the night from now on. Thankfully none of the birds had been killed, but the footprints around the coop were concerning. It was only a wooden door, held closed with a board, but the birds would not be able to push it open themselves.
-ROAR!-
-ROAR!-
Qinahuang and Bai Di's ears perked up at the roars ringing through the city streets. "What's that?" Chiaki questioned. The roars had just been sounds of joy, not spoken words.
"Sounds like a caravan is returning with female who want to join the city." Bai Di said.
"Do you want to go to see?" Qianhuang asked.
After a moment of thought, she agreed. Bai Di scooped her up and let her rest in the crook of his arm. "You shouldn't walk so far yet. I'll carry you." Qianhuang and Curtis followed after them, jealous looks on their faces at the tiger who had gotten to carry their mate.
"The whole street is packed with beast men!" She said, looking at the crowd as they made their way through the city.
"Females joining a city is a big deal. It means lots of males will get mates."
The stood around, watching the returning males parade through the streets with females sitting on their backs. Most females waved at the crowd, though a few looked afraid. The males were huge! Beast forms of giant bears, wolves, tigers...
Chiaki felt an odd pressure pushing against her. It felt like the power that Curtis controlled. She scanned the males and females. The feeling was radiating from a white tiger male the size of Qianhuang when transformed. "That power-"
"Are you alright?" Bai Di asked.
"Y-yeah. I just can feel the raw power from that white tiger male leading the group."
"Oh, him?" Came a random voice near them. "That's Winston, the strongest white-tiger in the city." Chiaki didn't know who had spoken, or if they had been directly answering her. Several of the other females in the crowd seemed to be effected by the power the male was giving off.
"Winston." She murmured.
"Oh look! They have gotten to the plaza!" Called another male.
They watched as the females were gently left on a stage and most of the males moved back away. Four males stood, hands raised to quiet the crowd. One was a blond leopard that Chiaki thought looked a little like Parker. The second was a black haired tiger male. The third was a pink haired male she couldn't place his animal. The fourth male, the one that stepped forward and took center stage... looked human? He had no marks, no animal ears or tail, he was balding and obviously quite older than the rest.
"Who's that?" Chiaki asked.
"That's the leader of the Ape Tribe." Qianhuang said. "The Ape Tribe is considered one of the strongest, so everyone knows of them."
The Ape King began to speak. "Winston has brought five new females to out city!" Cheers rang out loudly. "Tonight we will hold a feast of welcome for them!" More cheering. "First however, we ask the females to watch as the male of our city fight to show how strong they are! Let the females pick their first mates in the city TODAY!" He yelled over the cheering. The yelling and cheering drowned out the rest of his speech.
She watched as the Ape King motioned to a female and Winston, but she couldn't hear over the crowd. The female looked terrified, and when Winston transformed and offered her his hand she shied away, shaking her head. Chiaki was surprised by the sudden change in the crowd as they began to laugh and jeer at the white tiger male.
"What was said?" She asked loudly.
"Winston saved that female so he has a claim to court her, but he's just too ugly!" One of the crowd answered. "It happens every time!" There was laughing. "He's all scared up and no female will ever want him! He can't even get one to like him by saving her life!" More laughter filled the area around her.
Chiaki looked around at the jeering males. If any of them ever tried to court her, she tell Curtis to eat them! She watched as the male on the stage shrank back from the group of females, head down in shame. This wasn't right!
She wiggled free from Bai Di's shoulder, landing in the crowd and unable to be seen by many due to her small stature. Her voice though rang out loudly over the cheering and laughing males.
"YOU!" Her voice was steady. "The white tiger called Winston!"
The crowd parted, letting her be seen from the stage where the Kings of the City, Winston, and the new females stood. All eyes were on her! She pointed directly at Winston.
"I WANT YOU AS MY MATE!"
