"I don't think plants are suppose to grow this big in a week." Chiaki deadpanned when Huanhuan showed her the farm.
Huanhuan laughed. "I was given a Life Tree Seed for collecting seeds over the Winter. I ate it and this is what happens to plants I take care of." She shook her head. "I think these are ready to be harvested?"
"I have never- this Bok Choy is taller than me!"
"It's good to see you out of your home."
Chiaki grew quiet. "I- was really rattled, but I didn't personally loose anyone. It's just been a frightening thing. The guys helped me through it."
"Sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"It's okay." Chiaki shook her head. "So a Life Tree Seed?"
"Yeah, I didn't get much information on that. Just told I wasn't ready for the information. And then I got these rings-" Huanhuan looked uneasy. "I put them in a box under my pillow, because they're for my mates..." She suddenly turned to Chiaki. "Can I show them to you?"
The rings were plane, one a simple silver band and the others holding a single gem each. The thought of wearing them had made Huanhuan nervous, because of the magic she'd been told they contained. "Who should I give the master ring too? The other rings? I'mnot sure I should use them at all!"
"Well, let's be serious here, you don't want to give the main ring to any of your mates... future mates. As the head of the family, that one is obviously suppose to be yours."
"But I don't want to boss them around and them have no free will!"
"My mates really don't have a problem doing anything I ask them already, I doubt unless you start telling them to do things like killing and plundering that they will voice any concerns already... even then..." Chiaki made a face, some males would probably do absolutely anything their female told them to do, no matter how bad. "I wouldn't worry about that. However, if you gave one of your mates the master ring? Think of how different the power balance would be on you."
Huanhuan covered her mouth in shock. Someone like Frost Cloud always begging for more attention and she wouldn't be able to say no... or... if he wanted to... all the time?! She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of the images. "No!" Her face was red from the embarrassment. "Maybe I really shouldn't use the rings?"
Chiaki held up her hands in a sign that showed she wasn't involved. "Not my decision, you wanted a second opinion and I gave it. It's up to you hun."
"I-" Huanhuan took the master ring and slipped it on her finger. "I don't have to give the other rings to anyone right? I can still wear this ring." She hadn't made up her mind yet, but she could at least see things clearer now. "Thank you Chiaki, for helping me."
Chiaki smiled. "No problem!"
"Let's get some help harvesting the garden I planted!"
Frost Cloud hadn't wanted anyone else helping his mate, but had relented when the help came from the already mated males. Chiaki's males actually and with that including Jiu Ruan. He and Frost Cloud were friends, and the two wolves had done many things for the village together. "Are you sure your female isn't wanting any of the harvest in payment?"
"She just asked your mate for seeds from all the different plants."
"The other males of the village have planted seeds too." Frost Cloud nodded towards the other fields, where the plants were hardly sprouted from the ground. "Those were planted only a day after the ones Huanhuan planted."
"You have found yourself a very talented female, but I believe mine has just as many talents, if not the same ones." Jiu Ruan said. "She's brought the keeping of birds for eggs, the making of items for happiness instead of just necessity, and she's taught all of us how to count to large numbers and reading of written words!" He must brag, he could not let the other male think that his female was the best.
"Huanhuan is learning the healing ways!" Frost Cloud added. "And she also knows counting and the reading of words!" The two of them continued to brag about their females in a friendly way as they worked. Each sure that their female was the most talented, but long standing friendship keeping them from becoming upset at the other.
Meanwhile Chiaki and Huanhuan were visiting the home of healer Langzhu so he could check on the progress of Chiaki's pregnancy. It was too crowded in his home to do the check up,so they were outside in the small yard connected to his home. They were not quite alone, as the young wolf male that had broken his arm was also there. He'd been living with the healer, well the two healers as Harvey had also opted to stay in Langzhu's home for the time being, so he could help.
The older wolf healer checked Chiaki with a practiced ease. "Several pups." He confirmed. "Very healthy, active."
"Pups?" Huanhuan questioned, remembering the large litter of wolf pups she'd help be born during the attack from the Black River tribe.
"Well, I say pups because I'm a wolf myself and most of the young born in the village are too. But well, it really is determined by the father." He looked back to Chiaki. "You do have several more types of males than is common in this village."
"Uh, we really are just going to have to wait and see." She replied with a shake of her head. "But, several?"
"Yes, I was able to count three separate heartbeats besides your own." He put a hand on her belly. "You can even feel them a little now. How far along did the leopard healer say you were?"
"Uh, well if I adjust for how long it's been... I would be nine to eleven weeks along now."
"Hmmm." Langzhu stayed in thought for a moment. "That's a bit long for wolf pups, and you haven't really grown that large yet. I would say that these do not belong to Jiu Ruan." He was a bit sad personally that the offspring were not of the young wolf male from his village, but the amazing fertility of this female gave him hope that maybe her next litter would be. Huanhuan had told him, along with Frost Cloud, the truth of her origins quite some time ago. Seeing Chiaki pregnant again less than a full year after what he assumed was a loss had made him wonder, and the pair of females had confirmed his guess.
"You both should take care of yourselves and stay inside the village for now." His eyes twinkled at Huanhuan. "Tell me Huanhuan, how have you been feeling?"
"Hm?" She tilted her head in confusion. "Just fine?"
Langzhu sighed. Maybe it was a bit too soon to hope that Frost Cloud and his mate would be bringing a litter of pups into the village. "Good, good." He covered. "I was hoping there was no remaining illness from the past cold season."
Huanhuan nodded. By now the young male had been paying attention to the small group of three. He somewhat recognized the pregnant female from Highcliff City, her shiny long hair was a rare feature for females. Though this new little female also had long hair that looked well taken care of. Females typically kept their hair short, easier to clean and out of the way of their young. Well the little female didn't seem to be very old yet, she had probably just became an adult not long ago. He didn't see any marks around her belly to show she'd had a litter before. The female from the city though, now that he thought about it, been one he'd brought wild grain to, for having had offspring the year before. She was already pregnant again? He had to admit, she was very attractive.
But he had a broken arm and his skills revolved around hunting and being smart enough to be a guard for the City Kings. He'd lost that position though, the Kings were no more. Even being able to say he was the son of the Wolf King meant little now that his father was dead. It made him realized he'd been simply going through his life on easy. What did he have of his own to show his last eight years as an adult? Nothing.
