The construction of the Hay-yen settlement went smoothly. With Runhar's assistance the construction of a decently thick dirt perimeter wall, reinforced with some logs here and there, was what burned most of their available time. Still, a good defensive system was just as important as having a shelter. The large dirt hut made for the Hay-yen to use as a resting place was sized to house all of them and then some. The simple construction proved a bit difficult, not due to complexity, but due to the sheer size of it. Using some wooden structural support into the building also helped uphold its mass. The large cloths the Hay-yen previously used for tents also served well enough for some temporary roofing, a later improvement being discussed to be done when they got established well enough.
The last affair that needed to be set was the construction of the farming ponds. Michael went into the details he knew about them, mainly what they will need for their construction. He was no engineer, but the young man was always zealous about learning new things he deemed interesting, even if... they were basically useless in his old life's day to day activities. His family always being fond of fresh fish would visit many restaurants that had their own ponds to grow various fresh water fish within. He might not know entirely how the process of raising them works, but what was paramount was keeping water from seeping out, not let the water be stagnant and keep the fish fed on a routine schedule.
Akin to a teacher in front of the class he manages, just replacing the children with large hyena like people, he stood before them while making in the mud a small replica of what he imagines is the proper way to make these ponds.
"Alright, listen up. These fish farms are called paddy style farms. We're going to start small and once ya get the gist of it and we see in time how they do, or if they even work around here, you'll be able to expand on your own. The whole thing is simple and to make sure nobody gets confused I'll use simple words. The farm is formed of two things, the pond and the trench made to keep water going in and out of it." Michael said while trying to finish his small example of what these things will look like. His focus on his handy work would be broken though, by a nudge to his shoulder.
"Psst, Michael... the daeman thing... they're lookin' at ya kinda scared an' I don't think the whole ordeal with the Rock Backs got them any less rattled." Runhar said while looking down at his pale friend.
"Ah, fuck, right..." Michael whispered back before getting to his feet, mud covering his hands up to the forearms.
He looked up the dozen or so Hay-yen and he met the gazes of a few of them, noticing how they'd advert their eyes.
"Sigh... Listen up!" The young man said loudly as he clapped his hands. The noise and much louder tone of voice making the spotted hounds to yelp or flinch. "You better pay attention! Because I am such a benevolent daeman until now I have spared you, not once, but twice. The other tuskies won't be bothering you. You owe to me a debt unlike any other. Comparative to other hellish beings, I like to think of myself as being fair."
"How is this fair?!" a Hay-yen voice spoke loudly, one of the few men in group, who growled a cackled snarl of annoyance.
Michael paused as his eyes met the hyena man's gaze, his expression looking unimpressed. "Tell me how it isn't and do mention your name, it'd be the polite thing to do."
"Sok's my name. You are holding us hostage and you are going to work us to the bone to gather fish for you and the Tuskir, imprisoned by the fear of opposing you." The young Hay-yen man said, clearly letting his youthful hormonal body to dictate his emotions and thoughts without much reasoning.
Michael held onto the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. "Alright. Fine. Leave." He said shooing Sok with a flick of his hand.
"... what?" Was the only word that came out of Sok's maw as it hung open.
"Well... I have really been trying to help you lesser creatures so you may be actually worth something, but... I guess I am expecting too much from you. I forget not everyone is as capable as my kin are." Michael said with an overly arrogant and prideful tone. "Except for my two pups, the rest of you are just a gamble... I guess expecting a small herd of good for nothing mindless killers to learn an honest trade is just impossible." The young man continued as he turned his back on them. "Take your belongings and leave then, but don't expect my mercy next time you attempt to attack us..." slowly he'd then look over his shoulder at the dozen of so Hay-yen that seemed to talk in shushed tones to one another. "Nor any mercy from the Rock Backs next time they come to hunt you with more numbers in their ranks."
The Hay-yen sat about unsure until Sok very nervously got up, most of the others following his lead.
"Retzen, let's go before it changes its mind." said one of the random Hay-yen from the group.
Retzen, kept herself seated as she kept on staring at Michael, her eyes looking conflicted at him, then off to the side where Nushii was talking with Vodra, she didn't look too happy with her ears lowered and flopping. She stared back at the group getting up, a growl in a low tone leaving her as she gritted her teeth and then sighed. "Y-you dare..." she mumbled agressively as she slowly got up.
The clear aggravated tone of Retzen got Michael's and the rest's attention, enough to make even Nushii and Vodra pay attention, hands inching to their weapons.
"YOU DARE INSULT US LIKE THAT?!" Retzen yelled out with her voice's intensity making it seem like she burned with a passionate fury, overly passionate. "GOOD FOR NOTHINGS HUH?" She then turned to look at the remaining eleven of her tribe and she'd let out a growl. "You spineless lot are going to let a filthy hell dweller call us that to our snouts?! Where is your pride?"
Michael raised his eyebrows as he took a moment to realize, but he could clearly tell... the emphasis, the explosive emotions and over exagerated motions. 'What is... she doing?' Puzzled were his thoughts about this, wondering if Retzen's outburst was genuine or a farce.
"We's Hay-yen and we learned to adapt to any challenge our enemies might have put before us! This is no different!" She then would turn and snarl and cackle at Michael. "I refuse to let a deviant such as yourself to even dare to think lesser of us!"
Michael feeling as if he was back in highschool theater back home, smirked wide and looked at Retzen with the most demeaning expression he could must, head slightly tilted back with his nose up at an angle. "Oh?! You are a gutsy mutt, too bad the rest of your lot are just some cowardly muppets." He'd get up close in her face, just a finger tip away from the tip of her snout.
While Michael said those words he looked behind Retzen, over her shoulder and what he saw made him glad. The other Hay-yen, with similar snarling expressions as Retzen, would move close behind and around her, forming a semi circle around Michael.
"WE'LL SHOW YA WHAT WE'RE MADE OF!"
"YOU DON'T JUST GET TO CALL US GUTLESS WITHOUT MAKIN' IT A CHALLENGE!"
"YEAH! YOU'LL SEE WHAT HAY-YEN CAN DO, DAEMAN!"
The cheering and angry yelling of the Hay-yen went on and on devolving into an echoing howling orchestra of cackles and snarls, as the dozen or so motivated mutts were all burning up with a reignited determination.
"Hah! Alright... if you do good enough of a job I might even release your cousin, Retz. But... I doubt you and your troop of yelpin' pooches will get anything major done too soon." Michael said with a smile and shrug of his shoulder.
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Retzen would growl as she reared back her head, the motion making the rest of Michael's group now properly unsheath their weapons. Still, the motion was too sudden for any of them to get close enough.
Retzen's head came forward with her long neck in tow, but not for a bite, instead for a headbutt. Michael didn't flinch nor avoid the hit, instead opting to lean forward into it, crashing skulls with Retzen.
"I will get my cousin back from your clutches, daeman!" Retzen spoke with a genuine passion and anger in her voice as the last comment Michael made actually irked her.
"Heh... Can't wait to see you try." The young human said still keeping up with his bardic theatrics. His body tense as he clenched his fists, trying his damnedest not to show how much that hurt.
"Shut it with the boastin' and get to explainin' ya pastey pink shite." She growled back with a venomous intonation.
From that point Michael's lesson on pond making was about as intense as a fight. The twelve Hay-yen would listen to his explanations of how to make dikes to form the pond's walls, how clayous dirt is used in them to prevent spillage, the correct way to gather dirt for the dikes from around it without compromising its integrity and how trenches will be dug to carry water in from the river and out.
The Hay-yen would use any pause in Michael's speaking to bombard him with strike like questions, which would get parried by answers, most of the time, to the best of Michael's ability.
Once the lesson was done, The Hay-yen decided as a group that they wanted to build it themselves and they'd start planning it. The discussions born of the subject matter turned to theorizing how to best use the river and the terrain around it to make the farm as easy as possible to build and expand.
After it was clear that things have been put in motion properly, Michael and his group took off to go back to their village, late into the afternoon.
The Hay-yen would prepare their new home, trying to get themselves as comfortable as possible while discussing their plans for the farms.
The Rock Back troop... they had set camp where they said they would, with the intention to upheld their deal with Michael.
While on their way back towards the village Runhar walked besides Michael, giving the young man a slight elbow bump to get his attention. "So, ya gon' tell us why we didn't ask 'em nothin'?"
"Did I stop you from asking?" Michael responded back with a chuckle, which got an amused snort out of the guard captain as well.
"Nay, I jus' can't tell if yer schemin' anything and I don' wanna be the one to ruin whatever you ar' tryin' to come up with." Runhar answered truthfully with a shrug.
"The whole ordeal with the Rock Backs has put more tension in the air. Me asking them about their shaman on top, might have not yielded the results we were looking for. It is best done by you all while I'm gone." Michael said in a manner just as casual.
"So ya want us to get all friendly like wif 'em?" Azhul asked while she looked at Michael, her gaze seeming as a partial glare, due to the struggle that is separating the words of his fake persona from himself. It seems Michael's prior words to her might have struck a chord of some kind, still, Azhul knew that some awkward antics were bound to happen, yet she can't help to think.
'Mighta been nice tha get a direct apology... although... I did speak up without nary a second thought and nearly ruined the whole thing.' Azhul kept contemplating these conflicting emotions as well as her slight reluctance at taking fault for her outburst.
"Well, for a start I feel like Vodra and Nushii would be easier to warm up them. They'll still need some supplies and discussing with them about how their fish farm works could build some trust. I'll leave behind my Hay-yen amulet so someone else can understand them." Michael said as his eyes snuck a glance at the two he mentioned.
Vodra seemed fine, but Nushii was looking quite down in the dumps. The first's eyes wandered to meet Michael and at this point she had learned how to read his expression. "Nushii is fine, don't fret. She just had a spat with Retzen. Her cousin was not the kindest to her..." At that point Vodra'a ears would twitch akin to a signal that she remembered something. "Oh... right. In the heat of their quarrel... she might have... slipped up and let Retzen know of your true nature."
"Well that ain't good..." Runhar interjected as a deflated croak of a squeal left his throat.
"Uhm.... no, that is pretty great, actually. This happened before our final talk with the Hay'yen, right?" Michael said as he looked at Nushii with a kind smile and light expression, showing he isn't bothered by the slip up. Upon Nushii nodding he continued. "Then, it's clear she's willing to co-operate despite me not being an all powerful daeman."
"Aye, she must think now that yer just a perverted pink skinned person." Runhar interjected with a snickering oink.
"AGH! You know d-damn well that was all for the act of it!" Michael quickly retorted as his face turned even more deeply pinkish-red.
"I don't know what to say myself. You were quite eager at mentioning the idea of mating with me." Vodra said with a rather neutral tone, yet light in intonation, a faint cackling snicker leaving her, hidden by Nushii's much louder laughter. It seems that this exchange has managed to lighten her mood.
"Seem' like he's eager ta make his own legion o' daemanic half-breeds." Azhul added to make sure that knife got twisted in the embarrassment wound.
"I do actually wonder if there is any kin in this world able to sire his offspring. As someone of a different world, wouldn't it be most likely he won't be able? Hm... it is something to question." Oinna added getting lost in the more scientific idea of the thought.
"IT WAS ALL FOR THE RUSE OF IT, ALRIGHT?! You are killing me here! Trust me, I do not intend to do nothin' with nobody! Alright?!" Michael said as he erupted with embarrassment.
"Why not though?" Nushii asked with her usual inquisitive tilt of the head, after she had calmed down from laughing. "Nobody expects you to sire pups, presumin' ya can, but like anyone livin' ya must go in heat, right?"
Michael's walking staggered as he looked back at Nushii with a stare as if she just kicked him in groin. "I- ... YOU... Sigh... YOU ARE NOT WRONG, BUT THAT IS BESIDES THE POINT. God fucking damn it... I just can't do it!"
"Yer impotent?" Runhar asked with a confused oink.
"NO!" Michael yelled frustrated.
"Are you an eunuch?" Oinna inquired in a light tone.
"WHAT?! NO!" The human said as he turned to face her.
"Hm... maybe it is because we look nothing alike to your kin? Are we ugly by your standards?" Vodra asked in a much more mannered way.
"No! Sigh... I don't think any of you are ugly... it's just... where the fuck are these questions even comin' from?!" Michael said back in exasperation.
"Well there's always some shite happenin' so we don't got time to sit an' talk about this stuff. Ye, we're curious o' stuff like this, yer a bloody person like nobody else. It does warrant curiosity from us." Azhul says throwing her arms up in the air. "Ay, if you don't wanna say that's fine. Ain't nobody gonna break yer legs for the answer, but you can see why we're curious about all sorts'a stuff ye?"
Michael took a moment to take in a deep breath as everyone paused their trek. "Y-yeah I get it. It's nothing like that, but if I told you... I don't know how to say it..." The human said as he held onto the bridge of his nose.
"Ay, don't reckon anyone'll get upset if its logical, no?" Runhar asked looking at the others, which got in return nods from everyone involved.
Michael looked at them and he sighed in defeat. "Alright... I'll explain this best I can and when we get to the village I'll show you what I mean with pictures from my phone, the magic stone thing. Well... here goes..." the human said as he had a knot in his throat. "Back in my world, there's no other kin that can talk besides the human kin... there are other creatures that live, but they... you know... don't talk in any way, nor to they think like I can or you guys can... animals, you know? Like the fish or whatever else roams about the woods here, right?"
"Mhm... I think everyone follows so far." Vodra said with a nod as she glanced at the others.
"The coincidence makes it that... the way you all are formed, you look like a mix of humans and... these animals that we have on our world. If you didn't have thumbs, talk, reason and walked on four limbs and only made noises, you'd be exactly like them... trust me, I've thought about it, I have seen attractive features on you, attractive by human standards and there are plenty it's just... it is perplexingly weird how close the resemblance is, yet isn't at the same time and I am not used to that." The human said stuttering through it all as he agonized about how to word himself.
There was a sort of silence in the air until Nushii broke it again. "But you found attractive the human like features, right?" She asked her head still tilted.
"Uhm... yeah. Yes, I guess?" Michael said a bit confused as he scratched the back of his head.
"Then... doesn't it mean you see us as you see your kin, despite our appearance being akin to your world's beasts?" Nushii continued, making a terrifyingly good argument.
"Well, yeah, I do. When I look at you all I don't see hyenas which resemble the Hay-yen nor do I see the boars which resemble the Tuskir. I see you like people, because well... you are." Michael said with a long eased sigh leaving him.
"Well... if someone who looked like they head was that of a trox was about... I'd have conflicting feelings about it, too." Azhul said with an understanding nod and a shrug.
"Personally I am intrigued by this. Maybe there is a link between your world's animals and the various kins of our world? I'd like to see those images you mentioned when we get back." Oinna added as she was more curious about that possible missing link of information.
"Alright... now that you know. Can we carry on. I can't believe that negociating myself off to the Rock Backs was the least stressful fucking thing I had to deal with today..." Michael said with a groan as he turned on his hills and resumed walking.
The others resumed their march as well, some chuckling a bit at the flustered tone of their companion, others seeming a bit deeper in thought. About what? That is the harder part to say.