Author's Note: I am not yet dead. Just super busy.

Chapter 11.
To The Problem.

Rhuba swore she saw a flash of light when Cressin's fist collided. They'd only just got home when it happened.

"Before you even start, what hell are you wearing?" Cressin looked over her own flesh and blood draped in a thin blue fabric.
For four days she'd waited home alone waiting for them to return. And when they do, they come as good as naked, exhausted, and without any of the food they promised. But seeing the fear in her daughter's face, she tried to show a more tender approach.
"Come here… tell me what happened."

"We got ambushed," Rhuba tried to explain. Cressin was rarely gentle. Even now it was hurting as Rhuba leant into her mother's deadly embrace. "You didn't have to hit Garagus…"
Staring over her mother's shoulder, Rhuba saw him face down on the floor with a massive bump that got hammered into his head the moment he crawled into the den.

"He calls himself an Alpha, he should be able to take a thump!" Cressin declared as she let her daughter go.

Rhuba dragged her eyes to meet Cressin's. The day she was taken, she was so certain she'd never come home again. She fought tears the whole way to the Tuffle City.
"I was…" She lowered her head. "I thought we were going to d-"

"Don't say another word." Cressin held either side of her daughter's head. "And don't cry. I didn't." Seeing how Rhuba's puffy eyes seemed to inflate at those words, Cressin shook her head. "Garagus may be a big lummox to me and a disgrace to his kin…" She sighed. "But, I knew that even if you never came back home… so long as you had him, you'd be okay."

Rhuba lowered her head and leaned back in, holding Cressin even tighter. Through her tight eyes, she desperately tried to lock her tears away. Saiyans don't cry in defeat. So she can't cry having just made it home safely.

When Cressin's hand patted her back, she knew it was time to let go.
"Stay here and rest. I'll need to find something that'll fit Garagus."

"Be careful," Rhuba told her as she rubbed away what little tears had already escaped. However, Cressin had already left through the tunnel before the words made it past Rhuba's lips.
"I'm sorry you heard that…" Rhuba slumped on the floor by the firepit next to Garagus' body, who after being acknowledged, simply rolled over onto his back to stare up at the dirt ceiling, giving his head a slight rub as he did.

"It's the nicest thing she's ever said about me."

"That you're a disgrace?" Rhuba questioned as she lifted his head onto her lap.

Chuckling to himself, Garagus repeated his take from overhearing the conversation.
"so long as you have me, you'll be fine~" He reached to touch her cheek, but his hand was swatted away.

"She hit you pretty hard, yeah?" Rhuba scorned, looking away as her face turned a few shades of red. "I think you might be dying."

"No, I'm perfectly fi-" Rhuba covered his mouth.

"Shhhhh, you're talking crazy… Shhhh." Her other hand slowly went to pinch his nose closed. Garagus shut his eyes, grinning to himself as his face was shaken back and forth. When she finally let go, he felt her fingers comb through his thick hair.
"know what I don't understand…?"

"hmm."

"The Tuffles. You were knocked out, I was…" Rhuba didn't want to admit how helpless she was. "The point is, if they wanted to kill us. Why didn't they?"

Garagus shrugged as his tired eyes rested.
"They were probably going to-" He let out a yawn. "Chief Vegeta said they planned to starve us out…"

Rhuba felt her tummy rumble. That was how they got caught.

Cressin will be okay out on her own so long as she stays local, Rhuba and Garagus elected to go further out and find some good hunting. That was when a Tuffle scout team and warbird intercepted them.

"maybe we should have joined the war… If it's the only way we can be safe-?"

In one quick motion, Garagus' right arm swooped up by her left shoulder and pulled her over his lap as he sat up.
Wide-eyed and looking up at him, she tried to shake her fear and enter a battle mindset.
Garagus simply held under her back and lifted her higher so she could sit across his lap instead. His hold was too gentle to be meant for rough play.

"Did you think you were going to die?" Garagus asked calmly.

Rhuba looked down. That kind of worry feels shameful in hindsight, and it almost slipped out when she spoke to her mother.
"I couldn't move, and you were unconscious… I didn't know if you'd wake up." She felt his arms tighten around her. "Sorry."

"I'll never let that happen again." He declared staring into her eyes and securing his hold on her waist. "You're my woman, Rhuba. I'm going to defend, my woman."

Rhuba pulled a face.
"I'm not your woman…" She muttered as she stepped off.

Garagus raised his eyebrow, watching her. The den wasn't so big that she could stand up on her feet. At most she could stand tall on her knees. Despite the focus in her eyes. Her face was bright red as she reached for the neck of the Tuffle garment she was forced into.

"if you want me…" With one tug, the thin fabric tore clean from her body. "Make me yours…~" She challenge as she retook her position, only this time straddling Garagus' lap before pinning him to the floor.

"What are you going to wear until Cressin gets back?"

"I don't know…" Looking over the soft pelts used as quilts, Rhuba considered mocking up something quick. "Pass me the knife."

As Garagus reached for the small sack of tools Cressin uses to make everything they need around the den, Garagus also came across Rhuba's fedorite pelt.
"Maybe you could wear this?"

"Hands off!" Rhuba smacked his hand and took her beloved back. The warm fur brushed her face softly. "No one hurts my baby." To Garagus' amusement, she cradled the rolled-up pelt like it really was her baby.

"But if you made it into clothes, you could feel it all the-"

"No." Rhuba shook her head, turning on the ground to have her back to him as she hunched over it protectively. Even her tail curled around to add just that little more protection.

Rolling his eyes, Garagus grabbed the sack and sat it next to Rhuba.
"Pass me the quilt, I'll put it safely away for you."

Her arms tightened for a moment, but she carefully handed the quilt over.
Garagus admitted fully that the fur is both soft and pretty. The perfect white fur was like fresh snow on the ground, but so warm to lay under. Not that Garagus has ever had the opportunity.
Rhuba sleeps in this quilt, no one else.

"How about this one then?" Garagus found a shaggy brown quilt that wasn't as soft but would certainly do the job.

"Whose side was that from?"

"Ours, mine. Why?"

"I don't want to smell like your farts!" Rhuba objected.

Sighing to himself, Garagus tried looking for another. Another lighter brown one had a much finer coat, meaning it'll be easier to work with.
"This one is from your side, so no complaining!" He tossed the quilt over, losing Rhuba underneath it.

"Thank you." Rhuba pulled it from off her head and set about measuring and cutting. "You really should pick one out for yourself too, I don't think mum's going to find anything."

"I'm okay wearing this for now-…" Before he could finish the words, Rhuba had reached over and tore his fabric gown off and threw it on the firepit next to hers. "on second thought, it is rather cold in here."
Less picky about the furs, he grabbed the shaggy one.

Rhuba wasn't quite as crafty as Cressin. She simply cut a small strip along the width at the end for a belt, then cut a hole in the middle for the head. The two flaps on either side are bonded together with the belt and her best and laziest attempt at making two sets of clothes is finished.
"This feels much better… We were practically naked in those blue things." At least, it felt as such.

"Yeah, I hated that. Especially when yours got wet. Just the worst thing." Garagus shook his head disapprovingly, but the odd glance towards Rhuba told him that she didn't believe him for a second.

"pervert." She smirked, lying back against the walls of the den. "So, what now?"

"Now?" Flicking her ear, Garagus started to climb out of the den. "I got what I wanted, so I'm going to find another girl to seduce."

Rhuba pouted angrily as she picked up a shell husk and threw it at him. His laughter didn't help her mood, so she chased after him.
"Garagus!" Reaching the surface, she leapt up and grabbed around his shoulders. "You said I was your woman!"

"I lied."

"You're such a prick!" She thumped his head over and over as he walked to the woods with her in tow.
After a while, she gave up but didn't climb down. "Where are you going?"

"I think…" Garagus reached around plucked her from his back before setting her down. "Cressin stashed shell fruit here." Rolling over a log with his foot, he watched Rhuba fall to her knees to start picking up a dozen of their ration foods.

"Here…" Rhuba tossed one for him to catch as she crushed one open for herself.

"You pair of shits!" Cressin yelled as she appeared from above. "Can't I leave you two alone for anything?"

"You've been holding out on us." Rhuba objected, offering a nut to Cressin as a peace offering.

Snatching it from her daughter's hand, Cressin hungrily ate into hers too. It had been so long since they'd had a proper meal that even the earthy nuts felt like a blessing.
"I think we need to move again."

"Where to?" Garagus asked, feeling like they'd only just arrived as their new spot.

"Upstream. There needs to be food somewhere." Cressin had conviction in her voice, but her face was looked starved and appeared that of desperation than anything else.

Sharing a look, Rhuba and Garagus felt one of them should bring up their discussion from inside the den to Cressin.
"Mum, we-"

"Chief Vegeta warned us that the Tuffles mean to starve us out and stop us from hunting…" Placing his husk of a shell on the forest floor, he brought his eyes to meet the matron of their troop. "What if we went to the front line? It'll be easier to hunt as a tribe."

Cressin listened carefully to his reasoning. He made good points, even if they came with the scent of disingenuousness. "Is that your goal, or are you looking for revenge?"

"No!" Rhuba and Garagus said together, but their stiff bodies relaxed. "But even if we were, they deserve it for taking us."

Cressin sighed. "I have no love for the Tuffles. I hate what they did to you, but you already escaped. I see no gain in chasing an enemy that already got the better of you."

"That's cowardly…" Garagus accused.

"Watch it!" Cressin stood up. "I risked everything to keep you safe, boy. Don't think you can start your Alpha shit with me now. Because if you want to go off and find your blood troop and get some revenge, you go do that. But Rhuba stays with me."

Seeing him getting worked up, Rhuba shot out her hand.
"None of that matters right now!" She declared. "Because it's not even revenge we want. Is it, Garagus?"

"Well I-…" Garagus saw the look on Rhuba's face. There was a greater point to their goal. "we're starving out here, and I know those on the front aren't fighting on empty stomachs."

Cressin really didn't want to be near the other Saiyans. Since moving from the herd, she's been able to settle in one sport much longer than before. Which was much preferable to the nomadic ways the Saiyans used to live.

Living independent from the others meant Cressin, Rhuba and Garagus can keep a territory for almost a year before needing to move.
But the time to migrate has been and gone already. They waited too long as it is. Further uncertainty will only make things worse.

"We'll gather everything we need, at sunrise we'll follow the stream and find a new place to settle." With a deep breath, Cressin turned to Garagus. "If we come across the others first, we'll band with them if they'll have us… so Are you feeling strong, Garagus?"

Tensing his arms and lowering his chin, Garagus prepared himself mentally for any fight that may come. It's been a while since he's been in proper combat with an equal, but he surely hadn't gotten so slack that he couldn't stand up for his troop.

An Alpha troop would likely flat out refuse to band with Dwellers such as Cressin and Rhuba, but a troop of their peers might well consider them. Having Garagus as a show of strength will help negotiations in that. Otherwise, Cressin would never even consider giving herself and her daughter to another troop.

That night, the three of them harvested as much shelled fruit as they'd need before rolling up any pelts they won't be sleeping in. After all, it could be weeks or months before they find another permanent place to settle, so they must start with an abundant stockpile.
Then in the morning, Cressin rolled a massive stone over the entrance to their old den and led her troop away for the last time.
For herself and Rhuba at least.

Garagus was well aware that he'd likely be returning many times before their next permanent spot is established.
After all, carrying a thousand skull sized nuts in one go is impractical. But having someone who can fly simply hop back and forth with a sack only made sense.
The stone not only subtly marked the sport for Garagus, but also to stop any would-be thieving animals from raiding the stockpile.
So off they went. With a haul of rolled up pelts and furs on their back, the three of them walked upstream in search of a new place to stay.

The downside to an above-ground tent was most of the pelts that would make a warm floor needed to be used as shelter from the wind and rain.
But they didn't need much space. After all, they only stayed in one spot for a single night before leaving again at dawn.
Once the fire started dying out, Cressin was the first one to crawl into their tunnel-like home. There was only enough room for the three of them to slip inside and huddle together for warmth.
Rhuba of course had her white quilt which, she reluctantly shared with her mother while Garagus simply couldn't fit. But he was happy enough under his own.
Though next time, he did want to extend the tent so his feet weren't hanging out the end.
He actually felt something bite him during the night but was too tired to kick a fuss, though he did kick whatever it was away and he didn't feel anything else before falling back asleep.

Rhuba's eyes twitched open while it was still dark. Cressin had somehow managed to steal most of her quilt in their sleep.
"bitch…" Rhuba mumbled before rolling over to her completely out of it man. Despite the chill in the air, she could smell the sweat coming from him. Lifting his pelt, she snuggled in behind him.
"eh…?" As she held his body, she felt something really, Really odd.
Rhuba had seen him naked. Felt him naked. This. This was new. This was not what she remembered, At ALL.
"m, muuuum…?"

Garagus woke up in the evening, with a damp cloth over his head. It was hard to breathe, he felt groggy too.
"Rhu, Rhuba?" He gasped.

"I'm here." Rhuba squeezed his hand. "Are you okay?" Turning her head back over her shoulder, she loudly announced that he had woken up.

Opening his eyes, Garagus used all his strength just to turn his head and see her.
The tent was torn down already it seemed. He could see leaves swaying in the wind, but he didn't feel the breeze on his bare skin.
"what's going on?" Seeing the weak smile Rhuba was giving him, he sensed something was wrong.

"You have no idea, do you?" Rhuba left him where he was, returning his concerned calls with a promise to be right over. When back at his side, she held in her hands the torn open remains of a snake. Its skin was stretched like it had died trying to eat some-, thing…

Recollection sharply slapped Garagus across the face. He tried to pull up his knee to examine his foot, but his body was still completely paralysed and numb from the bite.

"It was up to here when I noticed…" Rhuba pressed her finger just at the midpoint of his ribcage, not that he could tell he was being touched at all.

"How's his head?" Cressin suddenly knelt at his side and felt his forehead. "If he's awake, we can move him." Taking an arm each, Garagus was lifted onto their shoulders.

Barely able to lift his head, Garagus could see a new tent with a more permanent structure was built. Making it clear the plan now was to stay until he was able to move.
However, it wasn't the tent he was being dragged to, but the river, where his body was carefully lowered in.

It was strange. To see himself being submerged but not being able to feel it. Before helpless fears could consume him, Rhuba stripped off and got in with him.
Her 'hiss'ing and 'oh'ing as she entered the cold water was a necessary price to do her job in making sure he doesn't drown.
It was too dangerous while he was unconscious, but the cold water would surely help with his dehydration and fever.

"Drink." Rhuba cupped her hands and lifted them to his mouth.

After a few minutes of soaking, Garagus let his head fall against the soft banks behind him.
"So… I'm alive because of you?" He asked.

"I guess… Mum was the one who saved you."

"What happened exactly? I just remember something biting me."

"I just woke up feeling cold, and when I rolled over to get a heat off you, I felt this massive snake."

Garagus lifted his head. Above all else, even if it costs him his very life, he wanted to see her face.
"Well I am flattered, but when did you notice I was being eaten?"

"Like I said…" Clenching her fist, Rhuba narrowed her brow at him. "you almost die, and That's what you come away with?" Her rage nearly boiled the river as Garagus coughed and wheezed his pathetic laughter. "well aren't you proud of yourself…" Reaching over, she tried to lower his shoulders and drown him herself. But to kill a helpless boy like him, it's not in her good conscience to do so. "I hate you…" She whispered as his laughter continued. "I hate you so, so much!"