Skill:

  Animal handling: Apprentice, level 14.

  Wagoneer: Apprentice, level 16.

  Inspect: Apprentice, level 19.

  Spells:

  Metabolic fuel: Apprentice, level 18.

  Metabolic enhancement: Apprentice, level 18.

  Nutritional supplementation: Apprentice, level 17.

  I had thought about using detoxification on the two oxen but decided I should not experiment too much on them. We were making steady progress, though.

  More regular wagons passed us heading to Iron port or away from it. The drivers all gave me odd looks when they saw the twenty-first-century earth trailer. I just waved to them, and I watched as they moved past us. It was around 4:30pm when we reached a side pull out on the road that we would use for the night. We had traveled just about seventeen miles when I guided the oxen off the road and into the side pull-out camping spot. Hard-packed dirt and a fire ring were all that denoted the spot for camping.

  The black and white oxen stopped at my command, “Woe. Good boys. Woe.” I patted and scratched their noses, then I undid the Crosby shackle that held the chain closed. Free from the wagon tongue, I lifted the yoke from their shoulders, walking it forward over their horns, and then leaned it up against the bench.

  Stacy and Trisha came out, “are we stopping here for the night?” Trisha asked.

  “Yeap, we’re close to Timber Cove, and I want to get around the city in the morning while we have a full day’s worth of light,” I said, leading the oxen to the side facing the fire. I dropped a full bail of green hay on the ground and got a large plastic tote from my inventory. Stacy grabbed the Water making crystal from the shower, and I filled the makeshift trough. With a large bristle brush, I rubbed down each ox as the kids came outside.

  Sanako brought out firewood and started the fire. The other women got the camping chairs out and the folding table. While I was brushing the oxen down, I got a new skill.

  Skill:

  Animal husbandry: Novice, level 1. Farm animals in your care are 1 percent healthier.

  I decided not to raise that skill to apprentice and save the credits. “Can we pet the cows now?” Alice asked her mother and me. The other kids waited with big eyes full of anticipation.

  “Alright, but only one at a time and be very nice to them. they’ve had a long workday.” Stacy said. She led the kids over, and they spent a few minutes getting comfortable with each other. Once Alice had patted and scratched their noses a few times, she threw her arms around the bottom of their necks, giving them a hug. Soon after, all the kids had done the same.

  It was odd how the skills worked. I could feel the oxen, not as well as when they had been hitched but still quite noticeably. I got the sense that they saw the kids as little two-legged calves’ and part of the herd. They had an almost overwhelming sense to protect the two-legged calves. I let Stacy watch the kids with the oxen and went to sit down in my camping chair.

  A few minutes later, as I leaned my head back, relaxing looking at the fading light, the children came up. “Mister Tristan, we got the names for the cows,” Liza said.

  “Oh really, are they good ones?” I asked, looking at the circle of kids. The soft cat ears, bright red fox ears, and the mess of tangled hair of the kids from a long day were spread out before me, a sea of smiling faces.

  “The best!” Ayaka said, her tail swaying back and forth excitedly. I knew what they were going to be, so I braced for shadow and snowball to join the group.

  “Blackberry and Marshmallow!” Alice said, having been given the duty of spokesperson for the group.

  Not as bad as I thought, “those are great names. Blackberry and Marshmallow it is.”

  “Yeaaa! Thank you, mister Tristan.” They all said one after the other. Then they ran back to the oxen and started playing tag around the camp.

  “That was sweet and kind of you,” Trisha said as she walked past me.

  I turned to the women setting things up and said, “Hey, I have to do some dishes, prep some food, and do some laundry; when will the kitchen be free?”

  Miyuki and Sakura looked like I just made their day by what I had said, and Eiko and Tora perked up as well. Sakura nearly bounded over to me, happiness filling her gate, “don’t you worry about that, just give me your dishes and clothes, and I’ll get them washed right away.”

  Eiko added as she walked over, “and what food do you want, I cooked some while at the tavern, and I would be more than happy to make your food for you.”

  “Um, wow, really. Cool.” I said, standing up and getting my laundry baskets out. I had three, one for slightly dirty, the second for really dirty, and the third for unwearabley dirty. I stacked all my dishes in two medium-size totes, pots, pans, bowls, thermoses, Tupper wear, and all the rest.

  “Sweet Christ on a bike. You had all that in there and haven’t done any of your own washing.” Trisha exclaimed.

  “Hey, I’ve been busy. Not like I’ve had a lot of time or space to do it.” I said a little too sternly.

  She looked a little stung but simply said, “Ah shite, I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to kick the kettle.”

  “Um, what? Okay, no problem,” I said, thinking I got her meaning.

  “So, food?” Eiko asked, a little confused.

  “Um, just some rice and vegetables. Stuff to keep in my inventory to eat. Oh, and coffee if you could. Just fill the thermoses when they’re clean.”

  “I’ll bring it out when it’s done,” Eiko answered.

  Allynna came and sat in the chair next to me, “I’m glad you got more help. I think they’ll all work out wonderfully. I’m sad our evenings have been interrupted, though.”

  “No helping that. But yeah, me too. Can’t wait to get a house built. Did you look the kids over?” I said, sighing.

  “Yes. They’re mostly fine, nothing a few good meals won’t fix.”

  “Can I get those books from you on enchanting and alchemy? I want to read them tomorrow while I’m upfront.”

  Allynna pulled five books out and handed them to me, and said, “sure.”

  “So, about the sisters, I want to bring back?” I asked.

  “It’ll be very mana intensive.”

  “How do we go about it?”

  “Well, you know those stone beds at the healing house?”

  “Yeah.”

  “They’re enchanted with a selection of healing spells. Mana crystals or beast cores can be used to power them. You can use your own mana as well, but for something like resurrection, you need at least a B rank mana core and a lot of personal mana. Along with high levels of healing spells.”

  “I have the body of the B ranked penumbra hunter in my inventory.”

  “The beast core from that will work for one sister; you said their names were Lily and Holly.”

  “Yeah. Cant, we just use the core over again once it recharges?”

  “Beast cores don’t recharge; only mana crystals do. You use beast cores till they’re empty, and then they dissolve into dust.”

  “Can we get some mana crystals then?”

  “I doubt it. They are really rare and expensive. Probably be better to get another beast core from a tower by selecting loot instead of credits. Mind you, you can’t take the bodies from towers, only the loot drops. A dungeon would work if you can get on a list to go in one.”

  “So, we’ll have to make one of those healing beds?”

  “Yeap or buy one. That’s another problem. Enchantments are more efficient than spells and let you power multiple effects instead of just double-casting spells. Getting to apprentice is easy, and journeyman is due able, which is the rank you can make usable healing beds, but you really want a more advanced one for resurrection.”

  “Well, thanks, it’s something to think about anyway,” I said. Miyuki brought out some food for me to place in storage.

  Allynna leaned her head over on me as we watched the fire crackle. The light slowly faded.

  After all my dishes had been done, clothes put up to dry, food made, and coffee stored in my inventory, I went and took a shower. I changed into clean sweats and a hoody and got ready for bed. “The watch all set?”

  “Yeah, got the rotation all figured out,” Stacy said.

  “Do you need a gun?” I asked.

  “Nope, got mine right here,” Stacy said while she patted her coat pocket.

  I looked at Diana, “Got a shotgun and pistol on me. Had them in my truck.”

  “You got ammo?”

  “Yeah, unlocked it from the shop, but only have buckshot for the shotgun,” Diana said, while Stacy just nodded her head.

  “What gage?”

  “12.”

  I pulled two dozen slug shells out, the dragon’s breath and the slug and buck combo, handing them over. “Thanks, these will work a lot better,” Diana said, storing the shells and unlocking them all from the shop.

  After I ate dinner that was brought out to me, I went straight to bed. Both Stacy and Trisha checked Blackberry and Marshmallow, keeping the cattle oxen happy. Allynna soon came in after me and pressed herself firmly into me under the blankets.

  Hell, she had hiked up her sleeping dress, so her bare ass pressed right into me. My boxers provided no protection for her virginity. Only the pressing exhaustion of sleep did that, which took me far too quickly when I had the raven-haired elf snuggled into my arms and held tight against me.

  Chapter 12

  I woke to find my sweatpants, socks, and hoody all folded neatly on the dresser. I got into my clothes and went to the bathroom, brushing my teeth and getting ready. When I came out, Trisha was placing Lola back down in her crib. “Good morning, Tristan.” She whispered.

  “Good morning, any idea what they did with my clothes?”

  “Yeah, they folded and hung them up in the dressers. I’m going back to sleep.”

  “Thanks.”

  I went and got ready. Changing into my work clothes and securing my tactical vest. I had my forty-five out but kept my other weapons in my inventory. Lacing up my boots, I went outside. Tora was seated around the campfire, and I took a seat next to her.

  “I sent the others to bed a bit ago, figured you’d be up soon.” She said from her cocoon of blankets. Her short light red, blond hair flecked out from under a knitted cap, which had holes cut out in it for her blond ears to poke out of. Her white canines glowed in the firelight as she smiled at me.

  “so…” I began but was cut off by Tora.

  “So, we’re alone, and the others won’t be up for a long while. A servant should take care of her master’s needs.” She said, slipping from her blanket and bending down, placing her mouth next to my ear.

  “What about…pregnant?” My brain was going a little fuzzy with how aroused I was.

  “Neko can only catch a child during our heat. That only happens for two weeks during spring. You can fill me with as much seed as you want without worry; my pussy will soak up all the hot cum you can dump into it.” She purred softly in my ear.

  I just nodded my head as she slipped my belt free and pulled my pants down. Tora sank to her knees, the cold of the air a sharp contrast to the hot wetness of her mouth around my cock. She sucked for a second, but I was already rock hard. She coated me liberally in her saliva before standing and rolling up the front of her skirts.

  She wasn’t wearing any panties, and the glistening of her sex sparkled in the firelight. Tora slid her legs to either side of me through the camp chair, tucking her skirts into her belt, as she took my wet cock in her hand, rubbing the tip around the nub of her pearl and through the dripping folds of her pussy.

  She sank onto me, dropping her hips. Her pussy was hot and oppressively tight around my shaft. “Mmm, so big.” She moaned quietly in my ear as she slid fully onto me. Tora’s lips met mine, soft tongues flicking out to taste each other. Her hips moved up and down, the slick walls of her tight channel pulsing around my cock.

  I moved my thumb over her nub and rubbed slowly and forcefully, as her head arched back, eyes closed, and biting her bottom lip to seal her wanton moans of pleasure. Her hips circled my throbbing cock as she whispered, “fill me.”

  I hit the back of her pussy with the heavy downward thrusts of Tora’s hips, “I want to feel your hot cum pour into my womb.” She panted quietly, her knuckle clenched between her teeth. “Oh, Oh, Oh right fucking there, right in my tight little pussy.” She breathlessly said with her head against my chest.

  Hot wet nectar splashed over my cock as her pussy quivered. I thrust hard up into her and came. She bit down on the clothes around my neck to keep from moaning too loudly. The walls of her pussy clenched and pulsed so tight it was almost painful. The rolling pull of her hips arching forward and back pumped and pulled more and more of my seed from me. “Oh yes. Oh, gods, it’s so hot.” She said, nuzzled into my neck as she mechanically and violently clenched her pussy and rocked her hips.

  “Your seed feels so good.” Tora moaned.

  “You’re so… Hot… And tight, that… That was good.” I said, my cock left half-erect inside her, soaking in the heat of her sex. We stayed like that for a time, warmed by each other’s embrace.

  Readjusting my clothes, Tora wrapped herself back in her blankets. “So, why aren’t you with the father of Sumina and Renna anymore? If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “Oh, that. No, not at all. It’s just how the Neko do things. We always have twins if we get pregnant. So, when twin boys are born, they stay with their fathers, and the mother is given a position in the household. Neko boy twins always live together in a complex or the same house. They have two harems, with potential Neko females living and helping there. Since we only can get pregnant two weeks out of the year during heat, during that time, the male’s house will be full to bursting with women. Neko males go into heat as well and basically make an endless amount of seed at that time. It turns into quite the party, with hundreds if not thousands of Neko females being inseminated. The ones who get pregnant stay till the children are born. If they’re girls, they are sent away, and if they are boys, they stay. Some girls get to stay on even then; if the twins like them or want to try breeding them again, most only have that one chance.”

  “Oh, can Neko get pregnant from humans and others?”

  “Yes, but it is rarer, and male crossbreeds are even rarer. Male Neko can only impregnate female Neko.” Tora said, the sun just starting to crest the horizon.

  Allynna quietly walked out and shut the trailer door, sitting down next to us. “Good morning, Tristan, Tora. How’s the watch going?”

  “Good was just telling, Tristan, why Eiko and I weren’t with the father of our girls,” Tora said, tossing another log on the fire.

  “Ah, that. Sad really, almost as bad as elves.” Allynna said, bundling into her coat and cloak.

  “Why is it like that? I mean, the female and male thing. It’s the male seed that determines the sex. Does the kingdom know about that stuff?” I asked, trying to figure out what they knew about their own bodily processes.

  “Many ancient and powerful healers uncovered that mystery long ago; of the male seed either being male or female. That’s not the issue. It’s the female egg. It won’t let the male seed plant itself, allowing only the female seed to quicken most often.”

  “Did they try just putting male seed in the womb?” I asked, thinking of in vitro fertilization.

  “The grand healer and scholar, viscount Robert Edwards, tried such methods, going so far as to force the egg open with enchanted needles and placing a male seed in the egg. In every attempt, the egg died soon after turning to dust from the mana. It is believed that mana makes it harder to conceive a child, the more magical the race, the harder it is.”

  “Are there any races who have equal amounts of men and women?” I asked, hearing the beginnings of the morning routine starting for the children.

  “The dwarves. They are the only ones we know about for certain. The dwarven clan females only marry dwarven males, though. And from the histories, we know that when their strongholds have managed to be sacked and their women taken, by both humans, elves, orcs, and others and then forced to breed with a male of other species, the same problem priests.”

  “No others?”

  “The only others that could be considered are the goblins. They’re too barbaric and savage to have any proper studies done, but since they can impregnate any female, their young acting like parasites, we cannot be certain. The healing scholar’s best guesses are that they go through waves, some years more males are born and others females, but that could just be from death and survival ratios as well.”

  “Well, as interesting as that is, we need to get moving. We have to make it past Timber Cove today.” I said, getting up. The door to the trailer opened, and Stacy, Sanako, and Miyuki walked out. They began packing the chairs and the camp while I went over to the oxen.

  “Good morning, Blackberry. Good morning, Marshmallow.” I said, taking their blankets off from their back and walking them around some to get them warmed up. I felt they were happy to see me and had eaten enough of the remaining hay to be full.

  I walked them over to the wagon tongue and once more attached the yoke. By 7:30am, we were moving once more. I cast my sets of spells as Allynna sat with me on the bench to keep me company. We huddled close under the blanket in the cold breeze of morning’s light. We chatted little, letting the creaking of the trailer and click-clack of the oxen’s hooves pass the time.

  “You know, I can smell Tora on you. I wish I had woken earlier and could have joined you two.” Allynna said while kissing my cheek.

 

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