Ella's Wild Beasts

CHAPTER 18

Ella felt hot when she started to wake. It wasn't entirely uncomfortable just not something she was used to. She felt gentle but firm pressure all over her body, and when she finally coaxed her eyes open she saw why. She was squeezed into Caius's chest with his arms around her shoulders. Behind her she felt Ravi's chest against her back, his arms embracing her waist making her butt pressed against his lower stomach. Everyone's legs were a tangled mess. Her, now flushed, face was in Caius's neck and his chin rested against the top of her head. She felt the hot breath from Ravi spread across the back of her neck. Feeling flustered but still content she debated her next move, because she really had to pee.

   Opting for the straight forward method since that they seem to prefer she tried to wiggle out of their holds. Big mistake. Instantly their grips tightened and they began growling. Not thinking clearly Ella tried a little harder earning Caius grinding against her stomach while Ravi licked the back of her neck with his rough tongue. Pulling her against his bulge Ravi let out a low groan. Now starting to panic, once again ignoring the tension in her lower stomach, she stopped moving and finally spoke. "I was just trying to get up. Can you let me up? I really need to pee." With that they both stiffened and seemed to release a sigh simultaneously. Slowly they released her and at the first opertunity she was racing outside. She chose to just ignore this interaction since everyone was still half asleep.

...

After she came back only Ravi remained in his leopard form. He was rubbing the walls and floors. "What are you doing?" With that he looked at her and turned into his human form, bigger than Caius he was close to seven and a half feet. Their sizes eyeing, in every aspect, was quite intimidating. Seeing him naked again she quickly turned and waited for him to dress, trying really hard not to think about this morning. Hearing him slide the furs on she turned around and he responded. "I'm adding my scent to the den. The more males present in a territory the less likely other males are to try their luck. With you being in estrus though, we'll have to take extra precautions. Caius is marking the border while he patrols." "Oh."

   While tending to the fire and going about cleaning the den of any soiled bedding and other debris they continued to converse. She asked many questions. At first he seemed baffled she didn't know the answers to, but she reminded him she was from very far away and thing were different there. She learned alot through their few hours together. Over the next two months there would be lots of storms and right now they probably only had a few days before another one. Towards the end of the 'rainy season' the 'cold season' would start. He seemed upset at the thought and explained the den wasn't nearly ready and he was worried about food as there wasn't alot of prey ar plants available in that time. Apparently it wasn't uncommon for whole dens to die off in this time. After the cold season, if the survive, was the 'green season' with all the plants and animals reclaiming the land from the cold. Then came the 'hot season' days where long and hot and droughts ran rampant but was definitely preferable to the cold season.

   He also explained how most beastmen were solitary. With the exceptions of females dens and herd herbivores, and a few that preferred to hunt in groups like wolves and lions. That as far as power ranking went they were both rather average. It did happen sometimes that males wouldn't be able to break through to their second mark and be strong enough to force a shift. He also said it was uncommon for there to be beast with three marks but four was a difficult feat and all with them were were respected. He also explained the importance of females in greater detail. Apparently the birth ratio was more like to every ten to fifteen males born there was only one female, and while males could be born in litters females where born alone. That coupled with the fact that males where usually born in beast form. Most were quite small, but birth in any capacity is never easy and sometimes the females die.

   While she was digesting all the information she went back to the thought that they will be going from a time with little food to no food with no way to store or preserve anything. Ella thought back to all the content she absorbed through her years ofnlusting after a life out of the city where society couldn't control you. She didn't by any means have the things to can, vacuum seal, or refrigerate she could salt and smoke meats. They would only last a few weeks without a refrigerator but when the cold truly hit that should be good enough. They would need more pelts and wood stored away, also a way to insulate the burrow entrance.

   It was difficult getting Ravi to leave her side whenever she needed to use the bathroom or change out and clean her rag but he eventually relented. By the time Caius returned they had cleaned the burrow and had piles of damp wood and mosses drying by the fire. There was also several large leaves wrapping large amounts of clay. They were going to need more jugs and containers.
He was shocked by everything and she sat them down by the fire to discuss her plans.