Chiaki couldn't say the ride on Kimba's back was comfortable. While the same size as Skye, the cub lacked the layer of lean muscle and fat that the adult carried around his body. Kimba was soft, but this just let her own weight push her into his spine. She took the time to stretch, he was moving at a slow enough pace that she could let the basket of tiger cubs balance for the moment it took to crack her own back. Then she returned to her normal position of cradling them.

They had spent over a week on the open planes once they left the Beast God's Ribs. Now they were in sight of their destination. The wolf males were right, it had probably only been about an hour after they left camp that morning that the village had been spotted on the horizon. She had watched it grow bigger as they slowly inched their way across the yellow-green plains.

Kimba tried to stand up taller as they neared the entrance of the village. Carefully walking like he'd seen papa Winston do before. Bringing mama into the village got people's attention. No messing up!

"Oh! Look, a caravan has arrived!" A guard announced.

Several people made their way to the village entrance to see the group arriving.

"A female! They brought a female!" Someone cried out.

The news of their arrival and Chiaki's presence spread like wildfire on the plains.

"Ah, whew!" Chiaki sighed as she hid in the shady entrance to a home. "I thought we were going to get swamped!"

"You did start a stampede." Winston said softly. "I'm just glad it didn't end up causing any fights."

"Who would have guessed that the village leader had gone off to Sun City to find a mate? It can't be helped that they thought we were all returning with him." She sighed again. "Where are the wolves from the Rock Mountain?"

"They went looking for whoever was left in charge here."

The sound of horse nickering caught her attention. Chiaki looked around, finding several skinny legged colts watching them from a distance. The largest one tried to puff himself up, but his companions gave him a kick in the side with a hoof. He deflated quickly. She would guess these were teenagers.

Beside her Kimba perked up. "Can I go?" He asked as he stood, tail raised high.

"Sure."

Kimba bounded towards the young members of the horse village, then sprang into the air and spread his wings to soar over their heads. The herbivores scattered in fear. He landed behind where the group had been standing. Slowly they trotted closer to him, curious.

The largest colt charged him, leaping over Kimba and landing on the other side of the winged lion cub. Suddenly the group was fully welcoming of their new member and began to compete in their play.

Qianhuang grinned. "Our cub will make a fine mate when he's grown. Look at how easily he got accepted into their group."

Chiaki nodded, a big smile on her face as she watched Kimba, knowing that it also made good hunting practice to have four-legged herbivores as playmates. Maybe she should look around the village to see if any of the wild mustangs caught her eye. Having one in the family looked promising.

The village was bustling. Seeing a nearly eight foot tall red-headed male stunned her. He was huge! "That's one of the bear beast men that make their home in Darkmoon City and further west." Bai Di said, turning her away from the area and guiding Chiaki down a different street. She guessed he didn't like them.

Shuu bounded up to them in his wolf form, transforming back as he stopped. "I secured a small hut for us to rest in from the village healer."

"I'll go store all our things." Curtis said, changing into his half-transformed state.

"Actually, let's all go there quickly and I can put everything in-" Chiaki paused, realizing she hadn't had time in over a month to tell them about the new abilities she'd gained. "Let's just all go. It's still a little to hot out here to be comfortable. And I need to show you all somethings."

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

The sun had passed it's zenith when they arrived at the hut and had drifted lower in the sky as Chiaki quietly brought her males fully up to date with the goings on in the Beast God's Realm. While they lacked the ability to see the status screen she talked about, the evidence was clear as she made things appear and disappear at will from what she called an Item Box. Suddenly they would no-longer need to worry about thieves, or needing to carry their belongings instead of devoting themselves to her and the cubs safety while traveling. This also meant no more trading off less essential items to lighten those loads.

Chiaki really wanted to check out the new things the might have been added to the Item Shop, but the hottest part of the day had passed. Instead she made sure the tiger cubs were fed and their basket cleaned.

"Oh-ho-ho! So this is where half the caravan is hiding." Chiaki jumped, looking to the doorway where a unknown male stood. The male was about the height of the average for what she'd seen, medium sun-kissed skin, with a small amount of stubble on his chin and deep tear-tracks under his eyes. He didn't seem to have seen or heard anything of their secrets. "I'm glad you found the place to stay. I'm Meng Li, the Dark Ice Mustang Tribe's healer." He pushed his long light-black hair behind an ear. Said ear flicks as if ticklish. Blue eyes gaze over the group. "I had expected Frost Cloud to be with your group, coming all the way from the mountains during this part of the hot-dry season."

"No, the leader of the Rock Mountain is busy with a new mate and-"

Meng Li broke out laughing. "Tell me a better one! As if that lone wolf will ever overcome his hate of females!"

Bai Di simply waited until the healer stopped laughing. "Believe what you wish."

Meng Li waved his hand. "I've spoken to the traders already, they said your group would not be returning to the mountain with them?" His eyes flicked briefly to Chiaki.

"That is correct." Bai Di stepped between the horse beast male and his mate, breaking Meng Li's line of sight. "We plan to rest for a short while, do some trading."

Chiaki looked around Bai Di. So this was the local healer? She wondered if he had new plants she'd not seen in the forest or on the plains. Once the posturing between her mates and the mustang were finished, she'd have a chance to fine out.

"Well, you are in luck. With traders from the Little Leaf Rabbit Village and Darkmoon City of Beasts, we are out of space in the market area."

"Thank you." Bai Di said tensely. After glaring at each other, Meng Li's ears turn back aggressively for a moment. Then with a huff, he exits the small hut and leaves.