Ella's Wild Beasts

CHAPTER 23

It was close to dark when they arrived. The cold season came with shorter days. The ragged group of followers paused when they made it to the burrows blocked entrance. Ella slid off Caius and allowed them to transform. Once they had she gave them their crude shirts and pants to change into. Now fully dressed they were getting weird looks from the other group. Caius sighed and Ravi helped him open their heavy door. Ella motioned them to follow and they all went inside.

   Caius was already getting the embers back to life and the burrow was still warm from the large fire she had going before they left. Hearing movement she turned and saw the males had all transformed into their man form. The women behind the two men that interacted with her earlier and then in the rear was a man she hadn't seen. She assumed it was the third stag that stayed in beast form. When they saw the fire they began to panic but Ella calmed them down. "It's ok. It keeps the burrow warm and help with food and other things. As long as you know what you're doing it won't hurt you." Still on edge they entered the burrow again.

   Ella had them sit in the main room until they were more comfortable. The child exhausted and finally warming up quickly fell asleep in the mothers arms. Ella decided she should help get dinner started for everyone. She grabbed some berries and a couple fruit she had and brought them to the woman that called Arya. "Hello. Um its not much but it should help. We're getting to make dinner... I know stags only eat plants but in this form can you eat meat?" She asked a little embarrassed. Arya chuckled. "Thank you little one. Yes we can eat meat. You and your fathers are very kind to share with us especially in the cold season. Where is your mother, the head of the burrow?" She heard a snort from the fire room and glared back to see Ravi and Caius fighting laughter and they worked on "soup" she had taught them to make the rations stretch further.

   With a final glare at the two she returned her attention to the woman. Clearing her throat awkwardly she answered. "Um they are not my fathers, they are my prospective mates." Pleased growls in the other room she ignored. "As far as females and head of burrows and such goes that would be me." "But you're so small! You must be much to young to be in search of mates. You still belong in your mothers burrow!" Outrage showing on her face. Before Ella could respond she asked in a lower voice that made the three stags tense and look ready for another fight "Are they feral? Did they take you?"

   Ella couldn't help it she started laughing, and when she saw their shocked faces she laughed harder. After a few minutes she calmed down enough to answer, a grin still on her face, a few chuckles still slipping through. "I guess I am rather small compared to all you, but where I'm from it's average height. I'm actually long since an adult. I am, hmm how to put this?" She thought a few moments. She was born in October so that would be in the rainy season here. "Twenty-four rainy seasons old." Cue a shocked look on everyone's face. "Oh you're much older than you look." The male that had been doing all the talking earlier said. She smiled and just gave a nod. She looked at Arya again. "So you're Arya and that's Asha? What of them she nods towards the three males. "Oh that's Atlas and Bruno." Motioning first to the male that had been the one to speak then the other that had been hugging her earlier on the beach. "They are my mates and fathers to Asha." Ella thought for a moment. Yeah not like there's paternity test and with a poly family that would probably make all the males fathers to the young.

   "Hello nice to meet you." She smiled at them all, then her gaze landed on the third male. Looking back to Arya she cocked a brow in question. "Oh sorry he's not of my family so I dont really know him. He was one of the unclaimed of the herd who split off with us when we ran to help protect us." Nodding she walked towards him and asked "Hello, what is your name?" He kept his head lowered but answered "Tarak" simple but straight forward. Sensing he wasn't really in the mood for conversation, not she could blame him, she simply asked "Can you help me set up places for you all to sleep? My men are already cooking and I don't think the other two are very willing to part from Arya right now." She said with a smile. He thought for a moment then nodded.