Awww, yes. Today is the day. I can feel it. I muse to myself. It's been a long time coming, but when I awoke I knew for certain.

Two of the pretties, the little dark one with bright purple hair and the big gray green one with tusks, are coming to pick me up and play with me. They both have tasty food and give me deep rubs and tickles. Especially big pretty’s sharp hands. Those feel nice.

I've been trying, for many sleep wakies, to get two foods at the same time (it would taste so good) but I have yet to figure out how to ask. Making the right noises is already hard. Making them in the right order, impossible. Then again, even if I did, I'm not even sure what to say. “Violet” (Vawweb) or “Greyward” (Gwab) are too hard to say and I don't know anything besides pretties names yet. Oh! Me is “little one” but that's hard too.

But today! Today is different!

As Greyward lifts me out of my nap box and hands me to Violet I spot it, the floor spanning blanket with toys they're going to set me on - as normal - complete with nothing to keep me there.

Violet, who is just so pretty, sets me on my back and puts her face on my belly, “Thwbbbt” It tickles causing me to squeal and giggle.

Luckily she doesn't do this for too long, unlike some of the other pretties who Thwbbbt me until I vomit, pee, or poop.

They play with me and toys for a bit, but I'm not interested. Why would I be when I know that today's the day? Waiting until they get bored and distracted is taking so long! I am patient for I have already waited lifetimes, but I'd still like them to hurry up.

Finally they start to get distracted and let me just lay here. I start to rock back and forth until, with a little squeak of air I make it onto my stomach.

Step one complete.

Wiggling my fingers and toes I get my legs up under me a little and my hands up and start moving.

Yes! It's working!

My mastery of fingers and toes has nothing on this. Fear me for I am now mobile!

I start to move, grasping and slapping with a hand, then a leg, then the reverse. Wait, I try moving opposite arm and leg. I go faster! I newm across the vast expanse of blanket, eager to explore this great and colorful world filled with pretties and food.

Wow this is far harder and more tiring than I could've imagined. If I keep moving they might not notice.

I make it to the end of the blanket when a different set of hands, that I don't recognize, reach down and grab me. Awww shoot.

“How long has he been able to crawl like this?” Confused, I look up into a hard worn face with a sharp beard.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Violet gasps and starts talking quickly while Greyward starts snickering. “Cleric.I-didn't-realize-you've-returned.He’s-been-such-a-good-little-one.He-doesn’t-cry-or-fuss-and-he-makes-such-cute-faces-and-please-I’m-sorry–”

Greyward loses it and her snickering devolves into a high pitch snorting choking guffaw giggle that triggers me and now I'm laugh squeaking right along. It also seems to have stopped Violet in mid sound vomit.

Face Man looks at me when that thought hits me - Right! Face man! I remember you, I think - and I hear myself fart as I laugh and I'm gone again.

Cleric Face Man sighs and chuckles, “Violet, it's alright. I'm not upset, just intrigued. I left him here with you six months ago and I didn't expect to see him crawling about the place at all, especially with such gusto. He's human, and that development is a little fast.”

Greyward leans over my face and kisses me on the nose. I grab her tusks. “He just did this today. We haven't seen any signs of him being different other than the calm and smiles and noises instead of screaming all the time. He's a tough one, that's fer sure.” I'm not letting go of these things for anything short of food.

Cleric Face Man reaches over and just slips my hands off her. Hubadawha? I look at my powerful massive fists in betrayal for a moment, laughter forgotten. Give them a few squeezes, yep still powerful, then look up at Cleric Face Man in wonder. Teach me your ways oh not ~Pretty~ one so that I may better acquire the food of my wanting.

The man, obviously reading my mind, lifts me up eye to eye with him, nods at me, and turns to make new noises at the pretties, “Today I'm taking him to meet the other Children of Heroes. We'll be back after supper. Which wet nurse has he bonded with the best?”

His sound is deep and solid. It makes me think of ‘strong’ and an alive smell. I smile and nod at him.

“He doesn't seem to have a favorite Cleric. As long as he can make eye contact and gets breastfed regularly he seems to enjoy all of us.” Violet has such a beautiful sound. It's much higher and brighter than most the other pretties, but soft and smooth to my ears.

Cleric Face Man (must remember) looks away from me and around the very very big, bright, pretty, room, makes a pre-vomit noise that gets my attention, “Who would like to accompany this little one today and officially become his mother?”

The room goes still and gets a very weird feeling about it. I roll my eyes around the room looking for what made everyone go silent.

“Do none of you care for this boy so? I would think at least one of yourselves would greatly desire this opportunity.” Uh oh. He sounds very unhappy.

Merrygold (Meywibode), stands up - although that does make her shorter then when she was sitting on the stool, “Cleric Strongjaw, we have discussed this at length. This little one has brought so much joy to us all that we cannot agree on who should be the babe’s mother. The hardest part is that he has actively pushed himself into each of our days. I have been here the longest, as you know, and I say this with all sincerity; Please allow him to come back here each night until he chooses his own mother. Never before have we seen a babe that cares so little about species differences and shows us all love. Perhaps, and I say this cautiously, his purpose is not for himself but for others. Look around our barracks, really look at us please Cleric. Notice that we are all, each of us, in better health of mind and body than we were six months ago. We know it won't last and that he will have to become a weapon guided by The Fist. But for now I think it would do more harm to him and us to have him not here with us. I know each of us would be willing to take the treck each morning to bring him to the school and back at night.”

Merrygold lowers her head and looks at the floor with her fists pressed together over her head. I'm happy she talked. She doesn't do that a lot, which is sad because her sound is so smooth and full it tickles.

Cleric Face Man, Stwabdwa I now know, furrows his brow and passes his gaze around the room, “Are every single one of you accepting of this? Collectively sharing the rewards of his merits, while performing your duties should another arrive during this time, while also not being allowed to truly leave and grow again?”

Greyward shrugs at the Cleric, “It's more just that he doesn't have a favorite and gets really upset if he can't make us smile. It's not about us, it's about him.” She sticks her finger in my face and I grab it. She has huge… everything really. She's the biggest of the pretties. “And there's not really anything else ta do yanno?” She finishes weakly.

I make grasping motions for Gwab’s other finger. She obliges, lifting me out of Stwabdwa’s arms and swinging me back and forth a little. “Eeeeee he he bweeeblb.” My war cry.

“Very well.” Stwabdwa sighs. “This isn't the first time a little one has had two mothers, even if it is a first that it's so many and of different species. We shall try it and see. Greyward, you'll be his mother today. Merrygold, make a rotation. Violet, I'm designating you his primary for the next year barring any changes. Go to the clerks offices and get the paperwork. It's time to take him to school to meet the other kids to test his temperament.”