Ah, I finally get to stretch and run; I don’t have to be cooped up in that tree any longer. It was so stifling. Hunting for food, and making sure the cart is safe — those are my only concerns now. Life is good. I am so excited to finally have a place to call
The time to leave comes quickly after that. Dubhe prods me along each step of the way. As soon as I’m ready, she hands me Nanook to carry, as well as one of her bearfolk children. Lillia and the hume woman were just steps behind us with the rest of the children. Nanook and the
I wake up sweaty and far too warm. Nanook is sprawled, belly up, on my chest. I’m afraid if I move he’ll wake up too. “Hmmm, Mika.” I can feel the words coming from Otsu, more than hear them. His body vibrates with his speech. I can feel that through my back and head as
“Otsu…?” Vancantly, Dubhe whispers his name. Otsu grumbles while shoving his nose off to the side, then plants himself in front of the door, blocking it. Dubhe looks agitated. “What do you mean ‘surprised to see you here’?” Otsu grumbles again. Why isn’t he talking? I can’t understand him. “No, don’t you lie to us,
She just doesn’t understand. I. Don’t. Want. To. Live. Near. Him. It doesn’t matter how capable he is, or how… restrictive Melsy is. I just don’t want to be nearby. He’s a jerk. He can’t keep his eyes and hands and words to himself. I don’t need it and I don’t want it. “We
After giving several commands to the hume girl, then getting children lined up for feeding, Dubhe seemed ready. Lillia was relaxing the whole time, silently watching… or dozing off? Maybe both. Melsy busied herself with picking something off of her wings while performing some sort of grooming that included oddly abrasive sounds from rubbing her
I still don’t understand. Dubhe sighs. A hume woman steps out from behind her. Who is she? She’s carrying two hume babies. They are super cute. Not as cute a Nanook, but still cute. “A-ah, uhm. I think, because your son is a bearfolk, you won’t be able to live with other humes.” … Well,
This Gaia Tree is almost the opposite of those in the enclave. The rooms are accessed from the inside instead of the outside. It is both interesting and odd. Odd because I haven’t seen something like this before. Interesting because it is different. New. “Child, look over the edge.” Melsy uses her hand to direct
“Oh. Tristain.” I certainly did not expect to see him here. Or really, not for a good long while. “Uh, hi… Mika. Um, is the arbirator around?” He seems to be waiting patiently in the middle of the field of death flowers surrounding the Gaia tree. There’s a dragonfolk standing next to him. Naked. These…
“Mika!” “Huh?” Who’s calling out my name? “Oo’ve been in thought so long, caravan’s a’most outta sight. Come’n, I’ll give ya ah back ride!” It’s Glen, the Arbitrator’s husband. He must have stayed back to wait for me. “Hah, no, it’s okay, I’m not that weak, and I need some exercise. Too much sitting on