D.A.B, day 24
Change
Work work work. So much work still to do, but there is progress. Beside the good news that I didn't mess up the tanning process, other very good news is that the ointment really works, and there is a huge difference in the treated wounds healing tempo compared to Koru's arm wound, and what Koru expected from being wounded before and seeing similar wounds on other of her kind. Koru have made sure to thank the 'Might Spirits' for the gift, as her culture respect powerful people as practically living Gods, and the 'mighty spirits' are far far more powerful, and Koru don't seem to be bothered by the difference. Koru have also taken the ointment as a sign from the Spirits that oath bounding herself to me was the right thing, and the Spirits want her back in health to fulfil her oath and to get Kima. There is still the issue how that will happen, but it will probably be at least two days before Koru is well enough to being able to do that trip. Even if Koru isn't completely healed, she should be good enough to move without making it worse, and it is likely that Koru will be sent up Raider river alone with the canoe, while Xuela keeps track of progress and act as overwatch and communications relay. There is no real need to risk us on that journey if Koru is well enough to do it alone, and if against the odds Koru run into people from King's Camp, she can give them a bullshit story about dinosaurs and so on and having found the canoe washed up on shore. We do need to prioritize that catamaran and hidden harbour.
That shark did have plenty of nasty triangular teeth that are quite strong too, and Reiley is trying how well they will work as arrow heads. Just because she can and I'll let her, Koru is planning a club with shark teeth, basically a flat blade with a bunch of shark teeth set into groves as cutting edges. I don't know how good that club will be against an armoured target, but it sure will be dangerous to unarmoured targets and look mean as hell, and Koru is strong.
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"Arne, we need to talk."
Reiley is joined by Bokyli, who is fidgeting as usual and avoid looking at me while she start to talk: "So, I might have an idea why I'm changing like this and this fast. I remembered this children tale, and I always thought Tenuro's tribe was just a tale, but there might be some truth to that tale."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've known that I would change, but I have been surprise how fast it is happening, and I couldn't figure out why I got changes like these." Bokyli bounce on her feet so her breast jiggle as she point to them. Yeah, I've notice them growing and I wish she would start to wear her dress, or get working on making that new and more discretely coloured dress. At least I now have Reiley back in my bed. "My peoples women nurse their young, but not like your, Reiley or Koru's people, and there would be no need for these, especially as I'm not pregnant. I also couldn't understand why my face was changing like it have, and looking at reflections is starting to feels strange. As I said, I usually just change a bit between seasons and that is gradual, and nothing like these or my face, but I think my people can change more than we usually do. Everything here is so abruptly new from what I've ever experienced before, and my body is changing without having references. As you know, my kind live in groups, but there are no other of my people here, and I spend most of my days with you two, so I think my body have decided that I should look closer to you two, and Koru's arrival probably haven't helped."
"Huh. Okay. That might make some strange sense. Your body tries to adapt faster by taking cues from other people, and doesn't understand we're different species even though you do. But I have no idea how to stop that."
"Bokyli, just tell him."
Reiley isn't happy about something, but comfort obviously uncomfortable fidgeting Bokyli. I can't really imagine what Bokyli is going through. How would I feel if my reflection looked more alien each day?
"Well ... that and the sanctuary flowers doesn't explain everything, and I remembered the tale of Tenuro's tribe. So ... beside being our leader, you are the only man here. So my body might also be trying to make me more sexually attractive to you, since there is plenty of food and I've started to become ... sexually motivated..."
What? The implications of what Bokyli is saying hits me: "Oh, crap." Well, I didn't expect that, but it too make some strange sense, and Bokyli quickly nods.
"Each day it is getting harder to ignore. I've never had it this bad, and hands just isn't enough. If I had been home I would have slept with a man by now. A lot. It's getting harder as just your smell makes me horny, and I kind of want to jump you right now. That is part of the reason I was happy to move to the community hut, but that is a very limited help at best. I've seen you naked and we should be compatible enough physically, and I hope that you eventually might find me attractive enough to have sex with, even though I'm not a human woman or Reiley. Reiley have told me about your thoughts and worries about sex between species, so if you explore my body while talking, I hope my body will try to change to your need, wishes and desire."
Oh, boy. Bokyli is worried that I don't find her attractive and won't be able to perform. Considering that Bokyli in several ways is starting to look more human than Reiley, that is probably not a big issue, and her posture and quick worried glances from those lovely eyes just makes me want to hug Bokyli and say everything will be alright. Which is both a good thing and bad thing right now. Shit! This will really complicate things around here. I look at Reiley as she clears her throat:
"I don't like to share you with another woman, but I have been able to smell, hear and see Bokyli's growing desperation and need without understanding it before yesterday, and this needs to be dealt with. If Bokyli won't share our bed at night and live in the community hut, I accept discrete occasional sex between you two even if it becomes regular."
There is a lot of meaning in Reiley's look and posture, and it's not like I feel love or lust for Bokyli, but Bokyli's almost pleading look that she is a burden makes her harder to resist. I hug and kiss Reiley as Bokyli stands uncomfortably to the side controlling her breath, and Bokyli's look of hurt rejection is just painful to see. I can only imagine how difficult and weird this must be for her.
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"Reiley, you are a good woman that I feel honoured to be loved by. Will you continue working here as we go to the hut to try and solve Bokyli's issue?"
In the corner of my eye I see how Bokyli perks up, and Reiley gives me a kiss and nod. We ignore Bokyli's fidgeting from hard to contain happiness beside us before Bokyli excuse herself and bounce and leap towards the balcony. No matter how this goes, this will complicate our social situation. As I walk down the stairs to the loft, I see Bokyli sitting naked on my bed, still fidgeting. This is hard. Should I actually say anything? What will her body actually do both if I say something, or if I don't? What can her body really do? I feel like a bastard for having a fleeting mental vision of Bokyli as some kind of living distorted sex doll. What will happen when Bokyli don't become pregnant? What if she actually becomes pregnant with a child? There are species on Earth that switch to asexual reproduction when they have no option, and it wouldn't surprise me if Bokyli's kind can. This is not the issues I thought living with Bokyli would mean when I meet her a week ago. Shit, it has literally only been a week, so how will Bokyli be another week from now? In two weeks? Will her mind change? Can I prevent Bokyli from turning into some sex crazed nymphomaniac desperately trying to get pregnant? Will she feel trapped in a foreign body, controlled by chemical instincts that feel foreign and forced? Will she loath herself and feel like a burden? I have to be clear that I want the happy, smart, carefree and self-reliant Bokyli, that doesn't need sex all the time, and that a child wouldn't be a good idea in this dangerous world.
But saying that might deeply hurt Bokyli if she actually change into something else.
Shit.
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That was ... nice. Too nice. And Bokyli seem to agree. Hell, she even started to sound a bit like Reiley, which is worrying. Bokyli's tail is a bit distracting as we're lying naked and hugging, but she seems so relaxed and pleased, and it's me that is sweating. Bokyli could probably have keep going and going considering her normal energetic way. It feels weird feeling fur along the back of the woman beside me and feeling and seeing that tail. Very... Alien. Reiley might not feel that alien when we cuddle, but with that strip of back fur, tail, horns and toe hoofs, Bokyli sure do.
"You smell sooo good."
Bokyli takes a long deep sniff of my chest and neck, and her whole body shudder with pleasure as she makes a content sigh, and she take another deep long sniff with similar results as she cuddles closer. That is not good. It's like she is getting keyed to my body's smells. And probably tastes. I pulled out the first time, which she knew I would, but I was not that surprised that Bokyli quickly used her fingers to gather and lick up my semen, making sure to get each drop, and then going down on me to lick up the rest. After, I learned that is not something they do in her culture, but I did while 'exploring' her and she knew Reiley and me have oral sex, and she have smelled the semen scent before on Reiley and in the hut. Bokyli commented on the foul weird taste, but that didn't stop her, and I suspect that she will either start to dislike the taste as my semen should end up in her, or she will start to crave it. I can't help that I start to cry since everything feels like a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't'. Bokyli's lovely eyes look at me, and I have to explain some of my thoughts and worries.
"Arne, I understand and appreciate your worry, and you instinct to protect who I was. But this is beyond our control and it will be as it will be. I will change and adapt, as is the way of my people, and I'm pleased it is to a kind, good, wise and smart man like you." Bokyli gently wipe away my tears with a finger, and taste my tears, before licking my face and chest. Now I really need to shower. "Everything about you just taste and smell so good. I could just lick your whole body."
"You said my semen was foul, weird and smelled."
"Yeah, but that was just my first impression, and impressions change. I have to taste it a couple of more times to be sure."
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Xuela returns with information about both Lake Camp and King's Camp, but the weather didn't really cooperate and she stayed high to limit her visibility, and she didn't loiter. From my suggestion to try with Koru, she have learned that someone might see her well through fog or haze, so she only got a rough estimate of people. But both camps are alive with many people moving about or working just outside, and she will do a sketch of each for our sake. She also managed to find three people elsewhere. Two working together up in the hills, but one of them looked big and dangerous so she didn't come to close and think she wasn't noticed. She couldn't find Kima or the cliff Kima wait at, since the low clouds meant that Xuela would be very visible and close to the ground, but there was a person swimming in Raider river towards the sea. Unfortunately Xuela think she was noticed as the person hid quickly and very well.
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The glass plates will have to wait until the morning so they don't crack, but that is just the way it is. We have finished the iron smelting and I will complete several compasses before it gets dark. Xuela and Koru might not know how I get that iron, and Xuela honestly doesn't seem to care as it is 'forest work', but they will be shown how to make a compass and I've started to teach Koru in how to use a compass. The map will also be updated with all the new information, but no matter how much I would have like to finished the generator before a new week, I've just haven't had time to finish it, as there are 'insulation issues', especially as it will rotate fast. I will have to try to experiment with tar, some kind of hard resin or so on. It's not easy when you're caveman-ing it on an alien planet.
Still, today is a very good day, as Reiley have been able to spell her own name in glyphs, and mine too followed by the others. Reiley's smile as she made that just melted my heart. I've been able to read since I was a child, and pretty much take it for granted, but teaching someone like Reiley that is just huge for her. It doesn't really matter to her how much use it will be, or that our glyph language is simple and rudimentary, as she is learning a language.
There is a knock from above followed by Xuela's voice: "Is it just me, or do the waves glow?"
What?
We hurry outside and sure enough there is a faint blue glow from the waves that isn't just reflected moonlight. Bioluminescence. Cool. Probably from algae having a bit of panic attack as the waves crash ashore. It doesn't take long until we all have gathered on the balcony and watch the show. Xuela reminds us of the 'glowing forest' she found, which prove there is some bioluminescence both at land and in the sea. I don't know why those algae or whatever it is that glow, and I can't really see the evolutionary benefit with plants that glow either. Unless there is a type that is poisonous and lets everyone know, and other plants mimic that. Or just some algae growth on certain plants that is washed out into the sea and still survive. Maybe there are insects that eats the plants, and if the plants glow the insects become easier to see for some predator? I really wish it wasn't so damn dangerous to being down there in the dark, and that I could explore this world. Honestly, except the predator dino's, this world is quite pretty and nice.
We just stand there and watch the faintly glowing crashing waves and the glittering planetary rings in the sky.