Ella's Wild Beasts

CHAPTER 19

By the end of her speech they were shocked into silence. Everytime they tried to talk during or ask questions she told them to wait till after so she could say everything, but now they were just baffled. "You mean you can store meat for more than a day or two without it going bad?" Asked Ravi. "Yes, I know how but I've never done it myself so it may take me a few tries to get it right, but from what I remember it wasn't too difficult." Cue more shocked staring. "You also have more ways, other than fire, to help keep the burrow from being freezing?" Caius questioned. "Yes, but we'll have to make some changes to the burrow and most likely we'll need another chamber or two so we can start to store things." The two beast looked. At each other then back to her. "You're in charge tell us how we may serve you. We will do everything in our power for your happiness and comfort." Ravi said with a serious face, Caius nodding with the same expression.

   Chuckling Ella explained the process of curing meat with salt. They didn't really seem to know what that was so she told them it was how the sea tasted. "We'll need lots of it and it's also good to add flavor to food anyway. I'm lucky I haven't gotten sick yet because my people need to consume it regularly to help stay healthy." At the mention of her being sick they looked displeased. "How do we get this salt?" They asked. "I'll need water from the sea. And lots of it. I need to heat it up til the water's gone, then the salt should remain." They looked confused but nodded. "We really need more chambers too, also more leaves and moss for bedding. So we can't all do the same thing. We'll have to work separately." They didn't seem too keen on that.

   "How about Ravi takes the jugs down stream, you don't have to go all the hay to the sea, just until there is a strong taste of it in the water. Then you can bring the water back and while you do that Caius can dig the other chambers since he is really good at it." Caius puffed his chest at the compliment and Ravi looked at him annoyed. Clearing her throat awkwardly she continued. "After that you can help me with making more pots. I think you'll be good at it, and with your large hands they'll be done in no time." Now was his turn to look pleased. With that they went about their task. She only had at best a week at worst two more days of clear weather till another storm hit. She needed to take advantage of this and get to work. She made another fire outside in her old fire pit with a lit branch and had it ready for Ravi's return. She didn't want to spend all her time inside while the weather counted as nice. As she waited for Ravi, and Caius was working on the storage chambers she got to work on making more clay jugs and pots. She was also eying the water reeds on the other side of the pool. Those could make good baskets. They were much taller than water reeds from her world so she'd get more bang for her buck, but this first.

   They all worked tirelessly all day. Instead of helping her directly after returning with the jugs of water, and Ella confirming the water was salty enough, he said he needed to hunt first. By the time he returned it was already close to dark and he brought back six five large rabbits. Their fur was thick, probably in preparation for the coming cold season.

   They continued doing various preparations for the coming storms and cold season. She was right in her assumption that Ravi would be good at pottery. With him at work they soon had more items than they needed and could focus on other things. The good thing was with more jugs and pots to boil water in she could make salt faster, it was still a slow process though. When she had enough for testing the curing technique she started to sprinkle it on the roasting meat for flavor. It's amazing how she took such a common flavoring for granted in the past. The meat now had flavor besides fire grilled. Of course the men loved it.

   It took a few tries and she lamented at wasting salt and meat cuts, but she knew it was worth it when she finally succeeded. Her beast praised her like a goddess that whole day and she preened under their flattery. On the third day after they started preparations Caius finished two small chambers and she showed them how to build simple shelves by lashing branches together with sturdy vines. She kept all her salt in a large pot with a lid in there. After all the pottery and home construction was done all their time was spent on gathering supplies. At some point Ravi took over skinning and cleaning the meat while Caius prepared the food. Everything was peaceful. Except the mornings. They became a little more manageable with the end of her period but she only had her shirt and pants, no underwear or bra, so she felt every touch and growl with little buffer.

   On the six day mark they were awaken to a loud crash of thunder. Startled she let out a yelp, this seemed to encourage them. While in their normal position of her facing Caius and having Ravi at her back she telt them tighten around her. Before she could say anything she realized their hands were under her clothes. Feeling their rough, calloused fingers glide across her skin she gasped. "Do you like this little mouse?" He gently nipped at the back of her neck and Caius ran his finger tips up her ribcage. "Your skin's so soft flower." His voice husky with sleep and lust Caius said "I want to know how sweet you taste." And licked her collarbone up to her jaw, giving small nibbles along the way. She almost lost herself in the moment when she remembered that would make them married, and she wasn't quite ready for something like that. So sighing she untagled herself from their grasp and went to the other room to deal with the uncomfortable dampness between her thighs.