Chiaki saw Winston before he saw here. He was walking carefully through the maze of small fires, scanning the crowd for her. He was dressed in a stripped hip-wrap and had a fur draped over his shoulders. "There's Winston." She told the males gathered around her fire.
Before she could wave him down she saw a female approach him. The female had short lavender colored hair and attempted to hug the tall white-tiger male. He carefully took her by the shoulders and shook his head.
"Looks like your confession has brought a rival out." Curtis said.
"He doesn't look very happy to see her. I'm going to see what's happening."
"Should you really get involved?"
Chiaki raised an eyebrow at her mate. He smiled back at her. "Kurt. Yes, I'm going to butt in where I don't belong." He waved her towards the talking pair.
As Chiaki neared Winston and the female she started to hear what was being said. "I don't care that we are related!' The female was saying. "You are the strongest unmated male in the city!"
"Rosa, we've talked about this many times. As my brothers female offspring I only want to keep you safe."
"You are four-stripped! Your father is four-striped too! We'd easily have the strongest cubs in the whole Tribe together!"
"Rosa-"
"Thousands of males to pick from and you try seducing your uncle?" Chiaki said as she walked up.
Winston's ears twitched at her voice. He turned to see the female from that afternoon walking up to him and Rosa. She was actually here?! She didn't invite him just to laugh at him later. Wait, Rosa would be so mad. "Ah, hello- uh."
"Yeah, sorry. It wasn't until later that i realized I didn't tell you my name. I'm Sato Chiaki... call me Chiaki." Winston blushed at the friendly response.
"Who is this female?!" Rosa growled. "Look at her! She let her hair grow long and she's covered in speckles." She said as she turned her nose up at Chiaki. "Go back to your fire, this is between me and my male."
Chiaki snorted. "Your male? From everything I'm hearing, Winston isn't yours and he doesn't seem to want to be either."
"What's it matter yo you?" Rosa replied. "Every female in the city would rather have a feral for a mate than him. I'm offering him a chance to have cubs!"
"Good thing I already have a feral for a mate." Both Winston and Rosa looked at her in shock. Chiaki moved to place a hand on Winston's arm. "I'm glad you came. I was starting to think you didn't."
Winston looked between Rosa and Chiaki. "Rosa, go back to your mates. Give up on me, please."
Rosa turned on Chiaki. "Stupid wild female! Why are you here butting in anyway?!"
"I guess you weren't in the crowd this afternoon. I've accepted Winston to court me and become my mate."
"Winston!" Rosa cried out pointing at Chiaki. "She can't be serious! Tell me she's lying!"
Winston looked uneasy, but shook his head at his niece. "It's true."
"Augh! I bet she only wants you to protect her from that feral male of hers!"
"Use your eyes, do I look like I only have one mate mark on me?" Chiaki pointed to the marks from Qinahuang and Bai Di. Finally Rosa had had enough, she stomped on the ground and turned, storming off in anger.
Winston's ears drooped. "I'm sorry for Rosa, she's the only female born to the family and everyone spoiled her... perhaps too much."
"Just come join me at the fire." Chiaki said as she let her hand trail down his arm to grasp his hand. She pulled him gently over to her bonfire spot. His face heated up at the soft touch.
"Sure."
Chiaki plopped Winston down between Bai Di and Qianhuang, giggling at the three white-haired males in a row. Winston was surprised to see how full the fire already was. The female had three mates and two other males at her fire. Were they her adult offspring, or were they trying to court the female?
"I want to apologize for just yelling at you this afternoon." Chiaki started. "I just was so mad at how the crowd was treating you."
Winston looked down. Here came the let down. He should have known. "I understand. Thank you for at least letting me sit at your fire for the night."
"I shouldn't have put you on the spot like that." Chiaki continued. "So I want to say it again." Winston jerked his head to look up at her. "I want you as a mate." She said as she took his hands in hers.
She really meant it! Winston was at a loss for words. He'd not had the attention of a female other than Rosa's doomed attempts. Here though, "Uh."
"So, relax. Enjoy the feast with us. Okay?"
Winston nodded. Her hands were so small and soft in his. What would it feel like to hold such a female in his arms? Suddenly a plate with a steak on it was in his hands. He blinked, confused by the sudden change.
Slowly the conversation around the fire picked back up. He could tell that the red-haired male was the most confident in his position, given the four stripes on the males neck. The males he was sitting between were a one-stripe, and another tiger male with no stripes. He gathered these were her mates as he matched up their types to the marks upon the female.
"I hope our cub isn't bothering others too much." Qianhuang said. So the- lion-male was it? had a cub with the female. Obviously by the way he spoke, it wasn't either of the other two males at the fire.
"I'm sure he'll come running if he gets into trouble." Curtis said. He drank more of the honey water that had been brought around by one of the males serving the feast.
Chiaki nodded. "So, Winston, that female was related to you?"
He nodded. "Rosa is the offspring of one of my brothers."
"She sure didn't look like she thought of you as family."
"No- hopefully she will give up on the idea."
They sat and ate in silence for a while. Watching as the new females continued to to be bombarded with gifts and proposals. Chiaki would comment once in a while. It had been dark for some time by now.
"Oh, here!" Winston said suddenly as he removed the fur that had been draped over his shoulders. "It's a silver fox pelt."
Chiaki took the offered gift, surprised by the softness of the fur. Normally when she and Qianhuang tanned hides they scraped both sides, removing the fur. This caused the hides to become leather. Rarely did they leave the fur on one side and tan hides into pelts. She only could think of the Wolverine fur hood they had made before the cold season the year before. This fur was expertly done, tanning one side while the fur was left on the other. It was soft and supple in her hands. "Thank you." She wrapped the pelt over her shoulders.
Winston sat up a little straighter. She'd accepted the gift! She'd even carefully examined it and thanked him! The sight of the silver pelt draped over her shoulders made his heart beat faster.
