Laughter ran out around her. "Even the females are making fun of him now!" One male cackled.

Chiaki turned to face him and growled at him. "A male like any of you would never get my attention! You have poor attitudes!" She yelled back.

Winston stood on the stage. He was at a loss. Was this female really saying she accepted him as her mate?! Was she making fun of him like the other males were saying? But she was yelling at them for laughing. He rubbed his arms, looking around at the entire crowd. They seemed to be divided. Half were still laughing at his misfortune, but some of them were staring to encourage him to answer the female.

With his head down he tried to walk past her as she was distracted. But she turned on him, stopping his retreat. "I'm not trying to be mean." She said softly.

Winston's eyes flicked up to look at her. His mouth dropped open at the sight of the angry and panting female. She had long brown hair that became wavy at the ends and her body was more curvy than any other in the crowd. Her eyes pierced into him and he found himself unable to walk away. He swallowed roughly. The fox female he'd saved had just refused him. Now here was a female he'd never seen in the city before, telling him she wanted him as a mate. "Truly?"

"I don't lie." She said as her stance became less hostile. He could tell she was tired, she must be too little. She was only tall enough to reach the mid part of his chest. She crossed her arms and stared at him. She was waiting for a response.

"I- yes?" It came out more as a question than as an answer.

The sudden shift in the crowd was surprising. Suddenly the males who had been laughing and jeering at him, gave a cheer. "Here-here, let's hear it for the City of Beasts youngest four-stripe male!" Cheers rang out all around him.

Chiaki's eyes shifted to the side. She was almost sure she recognized the voice who started the cheer for Winston. It didn't matter though. She saw the stress in the white-tiger males shoulders melt away. She lifted her nose at the crowd and took Winston's hands in her own. "Please meet me at the feast tonight."

As the female walked back into the crowd he realized he hadn't even gotten her name! But she'd blended back into the throngs of people as quickly as she appeared. He needed to go get ready! He transformed and bounded away from the city square.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

Curtis was gaping at his mate as she rejoined them in the crowd. She'd just propositioned another male! In front of half the city! Everyone would know his mate! Bai Di was running his hands over her shoulders and Qianhuang was licking her face, even though he was in his fully human form. He moved to join them in worrying over her. Was she okay, had she been frightened by the males? No one had seen a female address a whole crowd like that unless they were the Matriarch!

"Guys, guys!" Chiaki laughed as Qianhuang licked her face.

Sounds from the stage drew their attention back to it. "AMAZING!" The Ape King called out over the crowd. "See how the females can make their desires known! Come, males! Up onto the stage to show these beauties what kind of mates this grand City of Beasts has to offer!"

The crowd roared and males surged up onto the stage. The females found themselves being presented with gifts and males showing off their power in mock fights (though a few of them were not pulling any punches, considering the bloody faces) while others called out to the females in the crowd in an attempt to get them to joining those on stage at picking mates.

"This place is a madhouse." Chiaki said as Bai Di lifted her back up onto his shoulder.

"Says the female who just put all the males in the city in a frenzy to prove themselves." Curtis said with a shake of his head.

"Me?" Chiaki said a little too innocently as she looked at him with her eyes widened. Then she laughed. "Let those females have them!"

Qianhuang placed a hand over hers. "If you want to go to the feast tonight, you should go home and rest." Ever the voice of reason. Maybe he shouldn't let the snake watch her alone, that was so cunning! The males were focused away from Winston, saving him more jeering from the crowd. Of course, now she'd invited him to court her. No, not even that! She'd outright declared that she would accept him as her mate!

Still, looking at how energetic she'd been a few moments ago gave him peace of mind that she had not been hurt while delivering Curtis' offspring.

"Okay. Let's head home. Kimba is probably tormenting the birds again by now."

"He hasn't leaned yet." Qianhuang shook his head.

"Oh, indeed. They are worthy adversaries for such a mighty hunter!' She laughed. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jiu Ruan, she gave him a quick thumbs up to let him know that she had recognized his voice as the male who began the praise of Winston. She'd have to give more thought on the wolf, that had been a purely kind act.