Chapter 18: Of Babies & Horses

It was late fall and I awoke early. I slipped out of bed then stood up carefully making sure I didn't disturb any of my still sleeping mates. I yawned and stretched then noticed that Roya was already up clutching a fur that she had wrapped tightly around her waist leaving both of her full, firm breasts bare.

I walked over to her and kissed her good morning. She returned my kiss then motioned me to walk with her outside onto the cliff. As we walked arm and arm in silence from the cave to the expanse of the cliff, our bare footsteps made no sound. The pups followed us out, and then lay down patiently at our side.

"One of the many drawbacks of the early way of surviving before my awakening is that I missed all the views such as this," I remarked, breaking the silence as we both studied the vista before us. In the bright morning sun, its rays sliced through the sparkling surface of the small river and dew glistened on the grass tops like tiny fires over the valley. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

After a long pause, I heard Roya sigh. "I've probably looked out over this valley a thousand times and never noticed just how beautiful this view really is," Roya said. "How can you look at something for so long and not see anything?"

I was puzzled. I turned to her. "What's wrong, Roya?" I asked.

"Oh Dac," she said kissing me on the cheek, "I love you so very much. Do you have any idea what you have created here?"

"A winter home?" I replied unable to determine where she was going.

"Oh no my man, it is so very much more than that. So very, very much more."

I smiled stupidly.

"You have created a whole new lifestyle," she continued, "a wonderful lifestyle, an amazing lifestyle. You have no idea just how happy you have made us. You created love my man. Love." Then she started crying.

I took her into my arms and held her close, "Oh my love, if you're happy, then why are you crying?"

She looked up at me with her bright tear filled eyes and asked, "Do you think Martreen has had enough time to train your making love to the other women yet?"

"I... I don't know. Perhaps. Do you miss Martreen? Is that why you're sad?" I asked as I lifted her chin with two fingers and kissed her lips tenderly.

"Well, yes, but it's more than that my man. You know that Martreen has seen many more summers than Treeya, Sheel and I, right?" She asked innocently.

I nodded.

"Well... I've been thinking... I think you need to make her a baby before it is past her fertile time."

Her words took me aback. I hadn't thought about offspring before, ever! Then all sorts of questions popped into my mind. Why hadn't any of my mates gotten pregnant? Did they want babies? Did I want babies? Did I even have the ability to make babies?

"I'm not sure I can." I spoke softly, "None of you have become pregnant in all the time we've been together. Maybe I'm incapable of making babies."

Roya smiled sweetly, "Oh no my man, you can make babies. You'll make the best babies ever. We just didn't think you wanted any."

"So how do you not make babies?" I questioned.

"Oh, Sylphion," She answered matter-of-factly.

"Sylphion?"

"Yes. It's that fennel-like plant that kind of looks like a carrot. You know, the one we never let you eat. Women have always used Sylphion as an herbal antifertility medicine when winters or hunting have been exceptionally bad."

"So this Sylphion is a contraceptive that prevents what is natural from taking place?" I questioned with perhaps a little too much trepidation in my voice because in an instant, her body slackened. She seemed to almost turn to liquid and I felt her go limp then slip from my arms as she dropped to her knees.

She hid her face in her hands and sobbed uncontrollably, "Oh, I'm so sorry... we thought you knew... I did not... I... If I had only known you wanted a baby, I would have given you one gladly. I would give you anything you ask for gladly... my life itself is not too much for you to ask for..."

I leaned down and kissed my mate on her head and then gently lifted her up and kissed her again on the lips, "Roya, my dear sweet Roya. I'm to blame, not you. I'm the stupid one, not you. I should have noticed and asked. Besides, you've done the right thing. A baby would have been out of place before now. Thank you for being so considerate. That's one of the reasons I love you so much. You do things that are best for me whether I know them or not. Never change my love, never change who you are."

"You're not angry with me then?" She asked innocently.

"Angry? What do I have to be angry about? No, I'm not angry at you. I only love you." I told her softly as I drew her tight to my body.

She molded into me until we felt like one. I pulled the fur from around her waist and let it fall to the ground then ran my hands over her bare bottom feeling the heat of her firm flesh against my palms.

"Hmph..."

Turning to my right I saw Sheel and Treeya standing behind us. If I had paid attention I would have known Treeya was awake because both pups, Dugut and Nugut had quickly scurried away to greet her.

"Hmph," Sheel repeated, "So a little early morning..." but then she stopped abruptly in mid-sentence. I could only guess that she had spotted the tearstains covering Roya's cheeks.

"Roya? What's wrong? Are you all right?" Sheel asked with concern in her voice, as both she and Treeya quickly closed the distance and comforted Roya.

"Thank you Sheel. Thank you Treeya. No, I'm fine now. I just told Dac about Sylphion and thought he was mad at me for taking it." Roya smiled embarrassingly thanking her mates for their concern.

Anxious looks crossed both Sheel's and Treeya's faces. I was just about to explain to them that I didn't have a problem with what they had done, but before I could Roya quickly added, "It's all right. Dac isn't mad at us. He even thanked us for being so considerate."

Their faces instantly soften with relief and I extended my arms inviting my other two mates into my arms. They slipped between my arms and we all hugged together.

As we dressed Roya told the other two women about our other conversation, the one where I should give Martreen a baby before she became unable to conceive.

"Would you like my opinion on this Dac?" Sheel asked me tentatively as she slipped her shirt over her head.

"Absolutely," I answered.

"That would be a really nice thing to do for Martreen. I know she's always wanted a baby but she told me the time was never right. If you ask me, I think it was the man that was never right. My opinion is, you should give Martreen a baby."

"And, what's your opinion Treeya?" I asked.

Treeya tossed her long, wavy red hair and smiled excitedly, "Yes. Oh yes! That would be wonderful. We could all help raise it. And it would make Martreen the happiest woman under the Earth Mother."

"And what if I wanted to make a baby inside each of you?" I joked looking from one to another.

All three women looked at me with confused expressions, as if my question didn't make any sense because the answer were blatantly obvious, then with honest sincerity Roya said, "We would have you make babies inside of us of course." The other two nodded their agreement.

I smiled, I didn't know why I had asked such a stupid question, I knew the answer before I asked it, "That was a silly question. Sorry. But someday I do want to make a baby inside each one of you, but for now keep using the Sylphion until after the four of us have made a baby inside Martreen, okay."

Three faces beamed at me with glee, "Does that mean you will make a baby inside Martreen?" Treeya asked with enthusiasm.

I nodded, "Next spring we'll go get her. Then we'll all make a baby inside her together. This will be as much your baby as it is Martreen's and mine. It will be our baby."

They squealed with delight and ran to me hugging and kissing everywhere.

Later that day I called for Treeya to join me out on the ledge. Her stride was fluid and graceful. Her face was animated and radiant, and her body was rich and full. 'She has developed into a beautiful woman', I thought to myself as she came up then leaned down and kissed me.

"What is it Dac?" Treeya asked, her soft voice coating the air like a soothing broth.

"I was just thinking about how beautiful you are," I replied.

"Oh Dac, no, really, what is it?" She blushed then she and the two pups sat down by my side.

"Well, see that herd of horses down there," I pointed out a herd of horses grazing on the grass below us, "If we were to capture a few of the younger ones do you think you could train them like you did Dugut and Nugut?"

"Train them to do what?" She asked looking confused.

"Well," I answered thoughtfully, "ever since I saw what you were able to accomplish with these two frisky little wolves here, I've been thinking a lot about other animals. If horses could be trained, it sure would make traveling and bringing game back a lot easier. They can carry a much heavier load than we can, and maybe with some training they could even learn to pull a travois. What do you think?"

"I'm not sure, but I'm more than willing to give it a try." She answered honestly.

"Just how is it that you can communicate so well with these two?" I asked out of curiosity, while reaching across Treeya's thighs and petting the two wolves.

"I don't know," Treeya responded, "I think it's something like how you communicate with me, Roya and Sheel. Oh, not just your words, but more like how you communicate with your eyes, your manner, your feelings, and the way you make us feel. Dac, I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am with you. I think animals sense a little of that inside me."

I reached out and ran my fingers through Treeya's long auburn-red hair. It was moist and soft and thick. I looked down to her white throat and watched her breasts noticeably rise and fall with each breath. I turned her face to mine and kissed her on the lips, "Do you know what you are my little flower?" I asked.

"No. What Dac?" She asked with apprehension.

"You are very special, no one else is quite like you. You are to be cherished, held dear, that I know. You have captured my soul, my very heart. I love you my little flower. I love you so very much."