PART I - CHASING JESCA

“Okay, that’s it,” Callie breathlessly called out. “We need to stop … and take a break … for like fifteen minutes.” Ahead, a group of five stopped and looked back at the winded, panting image of Callie, Lhawni, Ambria and Pixyl.

“How can you be tired?” Thucax asked.

“Because, while all of you have been going on a nice casual stroll through the woods, we’ve been back here running our asses off to keep up! Short legs! We asked you three times to slow down, so now we’re taking a damn break!” Callie growled. Then she added a quick, “Sergeant’s orders!” for good measure.

The tall people looked sheepishly at each other. “Sorry,” Celeste finally said.

Callie fell to the ground, crawling over to a tall tree and leaning back against it to rest. Ambria and Lhawni fell into a spot against another tree, while Pixyl fluttered to the ground next to Callie. They were absolutely exhausted, especially Pixyl. Her legs were even shorter, and while she could fly, the constant flight telekinetics eventually got to be just as tiring.

Jesca and Celeste walked back and slid to the ground against trees of their own, while Shul’an and the other guys sat down in their own circle. Tazrok was the only one currently missing. On the walk in, the Ogre found the slow pace of even the normal sizes infuriating, so he handed off the pickaxes and switched to his Curvax form to scout ahead. He led everyone to easier ways through the forest, occasionally checking back in with Reynard, who was currently navigating with the tracking stone.

Thankfully, there was actually minimal underbrush to contend with. The forest around them was mostly made up of tall, old-growth trees with high branches that produced enough shade to keep anything substantial from growing on the forest floor. Instead, it was littered with old leaves and moss-covered rotting branches that had fallen who knows how long ago. It was pretty in a way. But with the irregular ground and occasional obstacles to climb over, moving fast for Callie and the others was absolutely exhausting. Lhawni was able to make it a little easier for herself using her animal form, but was still having difficulty keeping up.

“Sorry again,” Celeste said, wincing. “We’re not used to traveling with smaller races.”

Pixyl scowled on general principle, and Callie added a hard glare. “Yeah, it shows. Just give us a bit and then go slower next time.”

Everyone sat for a few minutes, heart rates and breathing returning to normal. They’d made it about halfway to the nest site, at least by rough estimate, and so far spirits had continued to run high, or at least hadn’t diminished from when they set out. Still, there was a worry about what they’d find once they got to the swamp, especially with Rowani’s warning that there were more wild animals than she had expected.

With a mischievous wink to Callie, Pixyl and Lhawni, Ambria stood and shuffled over to Jesca, a bit of a sultry waggle in her tail. She sat down next to the Catkin, wrapping an arm around Jesca’s, before taking her paw and snuggling up close, making happy little sounds.

“Um … hello?” Jesca asked, confused.

“I just wanted to sit with my new sweetie while we had a moment,” Ambria cooed back.

“Huh?”

“I mean, you have to catch whatever moments you can,” the Faun said, nodding her head. “Who knows what might happen in the future.” She made an almost purring sound and snuggled in again.

“I’m confused,” Jesca said carefully.

“I mean, now that we’re betrothed,” Ambria added, as if that was a simple explanation.

“What?” Jesca gulped.

“Now I’m the one confused,” Celeste added.

“Why yes. I mean, you touched my antlers and made … that happen. Faun law says we must be married now.”

“I don’t understand…” Jesca yipped, detangling herself from Ambria’s clutches.

“Oh I cannot wait for you to meet my family. It will be strange to return home with a Catkin, and a female one, but I think my mother will like you well enough. My father should, too. My grandmother … she’s a little bit of a traditionalist, but she means well. Try to make friends with her if you can.”

Jesca was starting to get a slightly panicked look and leapt to her feet.

“Do you want a small wedding, or a big one? How many of your family will attend?” Ambria asked, fluttering her eyes.

“Wedding?’

“And obviously we’ll have to adopt to have a family, but we can have as big a family as you’d like. The Beastkins like big families, right?”

“Adopt?” Jesca gulped.

“Uh-huh!” Ambria said, rising from the ground and almost stalking towards Jesca. ”We could live in the Fae lands if you want. There’s a spot on our big farm where we could build the cutest little home. It’s next to a creek and surrounded by trees. If that’s not for you, though, we could find a compromise. I’m not much of a city girl, though. Last time I went there I got Conscripted.”

“This is because …” Jesca gulped, pointing with a wobbling hand towards the top of Ambria’s head.

“Of course, silly,” Ambria cooed once more, before adding a sultry, “and I can’t wait for you to do it again.” She then rolled her tongue in a slow purr.

Now truly in panic, Jesca spun, looking for anyone else that could save her. Callie had a look that beamed excited happiness for the new couple. Lhawni also echoed Callie’s look.

“Don’t you worry,” Ambria said, looking up into Jesca’s terrified eyes, “I’ll take care of all the wedding planning. It’s been my dream since I can remember to plan just the most-perfectest wedding.” Then putting on a perplexed look, she added, “I mean, I always thought it would probably be another Faun, and a male, that I would marry, but no matter. It will be so glorious to wake up in each other’s arms every single morning for the rest of our lives!”

“What the hell did you do, Jesca?” Major Celeste gasped, rising to her feet like the others.

“I … I don’t know!” Jesca said, spinning her head and looking for an escape.

“I’ve been watching you while we walked and I guess …” Ambria added sheepishly, her sentence trailing off, moving even closer. She purred again and asked in a low, quiet voice, “May … may I touch your butt?”

Jesca took two rapid steps backwards, trying to get space between herself and the amorous Faun. In ever growing panic, she looked around, almost begging for help. The Major was just as confused as she was, but both Lhawni and Callie seemed really happy for them. Them? Jesca suddenly realized, somehow she had just become a them!

“Aww, look at that,” Callie said, grinning. “Jesca’s so happy she can’t even speak. When Ambria told us all about Faun law, I was a little unsure. Apparently if you can … well you know … only by touching her antlers, then you’re fated soulmates. But the look on your face is so happy that I now understand. The Fates got it right for sure!”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“We’re so happy for you both!” Lhawni echoed, reaching to give Jesca a hug. Jesca immediately stepped backwards again.

“But I don’t want …” Jesca tried to sputter.

“Don’t want a big wedding. That’s ok,” Callie said. “We can do something smaller, just immediate friends and family. Oh wait! I have the best idea!”

“What’s that?” Ambria asked.

“Why don’t we do a wedding during the Midsummer holiday thing! I’m sure Master Trainer Thorn would share the happy day with both of you! Ooo! Maybe he could even perform the wedding for you both. Or the Commandant could. Wouldn’t that be great, Jesca?”

“What?” Jesca croaked. Her legs finally gave out as she fell backwards onto her rear, a look of abject terror in her eyes.

“Darling?” Ambria asked, “What’s your favorite color, so I can think about decorations?”

“My …?”

“That’s right, your favorite color,” Ambria beamed.

“R-R-Red I guess?” Jesca babbled unconsciously.

“Awww, just like my hair,” Ambria grinned, tugging at her long braid. “We are fated to be together for sure!”

Suddenly, from behind the tree where Callie had been originally sitting, there came the sounds of roaring laughter. Pixyl fell into view, tears in her eyes as she cackled uncontrollably, her fist pounding the ground as she tried to breathe.

Callie, Lhawni and Ambria looked uncomfortably at each other, the huge grins they’d been wearing for the happy occasion seeming to falter just a tiny bit. It was suddenly quiet, the only sounds being Pixyl’s unceasing gasps of laughter.

“Dammit,” Callie finally groaned, her voice growing disappointed. “Pixyl, you spoiled everything!”

“I’m sor … I’m sor …” the Pixie spluttered, trying to form any kind of words between her gasping breaths, more tears leaking down her cheeks.

Celeste was the first to realize what had happened, and she started a giggle on her own. Everything proved too much and Lhawni collapsed, soon followed by Callie, who fell to the ground holding her side.

“Wait …” Jesca finally said as the others around her cackled in glee. It took several more seconds before suddenly her brain snapped back together enough to process something wasn’t right. “We’re … we’re not getting married?” Jesca asked, confusion all over her face. “What about Faun law?”

“There’s no Faun law, you goofball!” Callie snapped, her laughter ceasing suddenly. She continued, a somewhat-false anger in her voice, “This is what you get for making us run non-stop for the last forty-five minutes!”

“But,” Ambria said seductively, sashaying up to the confused Cheetahkin, “If you are interested, we could talk about it. You do have a spectacular ass.” Then she bent down slightly before kissing the confused Ranger on the top of her leather helmet.

The giggling returned to everyone as Callie and Lhawni high-fived Ambria from the ground. Pixyl finally managed to pull herself upright again, falling back against the trunk of the tree and wiping the tears from her eyes as her gasps of laughter slowly petered out.

Eventually, Jesca came to her senses, connecting all the dots together into something that her brain was able to make comprehensible. Her own weak laughter gradually joined the others, not quite as raucous but at least still there. “You really got me good,” she finally said, hesitation in her voice.

“And let that serve as a warning to you, Major, and tell the guys too! Slow down or you’ll be next. And we'll be quite creative with our revenge!” Callie snapped in warning, before immediately snorting out a new giggle.

“Wow,” the Major replied simply. “We’ll slow down, for sure.”

Jesca continued lightly laughing, finally absorbing all of the joke. “I was so confused! I thought you and Kaisess were together now.”

“Um,” Ambria suddenly mumbled, the laughter on her face immediately fading.

“Kaisess?” Callie asked. “Wait! You and Kaisess? When?”

“You promised not to say anything, Jesca.” the Faun hissed.

Jesca returned a confused look, then started to grin evilly, recognizing she now had an unexpected payback opportunity. “Yeah, I ran into her coming out of his recovery tent the morning after he got hurt. Her clothes were on inside out!”

All eyes swung to the Faun, the color of her face quickly matching the color of her hair.

“Ooo! Did the two of you hook up? Taking the morning-after Walk of Shame!” Callie said lightly, raising a fist in cheer. “Way to go, girl!”

“Wasn’t he your patient? And injured for that matter?” Celeste asked, raising one of her eyebrows.

“Actually … Tasi took over as his Healer, so …” Ambria mumbled, shrugging as her voice trailed off, as if realizing it wasn’t a very good defense.

“So you two are a thing? Is it serious?” Callie asked, fishing for the juicy details.

“Nah,” Ambria replied with a shrug. “Just those couple nights before he left. He’s gone back to Imor and I’m off to war, so nothing serious.”

“Ambria!” Celeste chastised. “Was that really a good idea? For either of you?”

Ambria shrugged again. “I was having difficulty dealing with messing up, and good sex helps me clear my head. It’s therapeutic for me.”

“And going back again?”

Ambria shot the Major a slightly sly grin. “It was really good therapy.”

Major Celeste sighed, slapping her hand to her face. “Officially, we’re supposed to discourage the recruits from getting together. This, of course, means that it happens all the time anyway. It’s just going to get worse during Midsummer, too. Honestly, I don’t care. Have fun and be safe and don’t cause trouble, and absolutely don’t let it affect your training. Make sure your Yogosi is up to date, too. You’re all adults.”

“You know what he told me?” Ambria said, mostly ignoring the Major’s chastising, her voice seeming to ring nostalgic. “He said he’d find me someday. He told me he’d understand if I didn’t wait, but wants to actually get to know me if I’m not with someone. It was kind of sweet.”

“Aww, that is sweet,” Lhawni said. “Are you going to wait?”

Ambria looked at the Goblin with an ‘are-you-crazy’ expression. “Fuck no! I like therapy too much. But, who knows, I might still be single. I’m in no rush to get married, unless it’s to my lovely Sweetie right here.” Ambria reached to take Jesca’s paw in her own hands, fluttering her eyes up at the Catkin.

Jesca yipped and pulled her hand from the Faun’s grasp, eyes the size of dinner plates.

As a group, they all laughed at poor Jesca, even the Major raucously joining in. That only led to circling back to relive the practical joke they had played on her, reviewing all the expressions that appeared on her face. Up ahead, Tazrok had returned from his wandering, having joined with the other guys. Reynard was wearing a stern expression, obviously wanting to get moving again.

Callie tilted her chin at her trainer. “I think he wants to get going, and I suppose we should.”

“Go slower this time,” Pixyl snarled to Celeste and Jesca.

“I think I have a better idea,” Callie said. “Everyone get your stuff.”

As a group, they joined Reynard and the rest.

“We could hear your giggling all the way over here,” Reynard snapped. Then he looked at Jesca. “Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.” He tried to hold a stiff face, but snorted out a quick laugh. Callie realized that his hearing must be better than many, maybe as good as hers. He hadn’t let that slip before, and she tucked that information away for another time.

Jesca groaned. “I hate all of you right now!”

Callie smirked, before gesturing to Reynard. “Okay, I know you don’t want to go slow, so I have an idea.” She pointed at Shul’an. “You can carry Pixyl on your shoulders. She’s tiny and you’re the biggest besides Tazrok.”

“Sure, I guess I can do that,” the Beastkin replied hesitantly, although Pixyl didn’t seem thrilled with the idea.

“Tazrok,” Callie continued. “Hellhound form. You should be able to carry the rest of us. I don’t think your Curvax could hold three, even though we’re small.”

The Ogre grunted. “Doggie form can carry three small ones.”

“There ya go. Don’t bounce us around too much, we don’t have much to hang on to.” Callie looked at Reynard. “That should allow us to go a little faster.”

“Um, I’ll just shapeshift instead,” Lhawni said, sighing. “I can move through this easily enough.”

“Can use Curvax with two Little Ones,” Tazrok said, shrugging.

“Good, let’s get going,” Callie said, nodding as she tried to project some authority.

Lhawni transformed into her Yalokin form, which was a vaguely fox-shaped creature, the size of a medium dog, with small curved horns on either side of her head and a huge, bushy tail. In this form, her fur was a dark green, almost brown, with an off-white chest and underside. The darker colors helped her to blend into the forest terrain, and she was far more nimble, able to leap the logs and other detritus with ease.

Pixyl grudgingly settled onto Shul’an’s shoulders, although secretly happy for the relief from having to walk or fly, while Tazrok assumed his Travel form. Ambria and Callie scrambled into place on the Ogre-Curvax, taking a moment to get settled so they wouldn’t fall off or get bounced around too much.

Callie took the tracker to direct Tazrok, and he moved ahead of everyone else, looking for the easiest path for the others to follow. Just a few more kilometers and they’d see what they were really facing.