War of the Races Ch. 27

"Well you do sort of look like you could be a fox. Maybe you are the father," The woman grumbled as she gave me a concise ring glance, taking my hybrid-fox face and head, "This vixen is in premature labor. They usually give birth fifty days after impregnation. She's only around forty days, and she has only given birth to two cubs... so far. If we don't heal her, and them, she may lose them all!"

"What can I do to help?" I asked.

"Do you have any healing ability?" The old bear woman asked.

"Yes. Some. Not much, but I will do what I can," I answered in more of a panic than I sounded.

Two more bear women came and took the cubs on Huxian's breasts just as the old woman between her legs caught another babe in her hands. It was more like she held and pulled with such a grip that I nearly yelled at her to stop lest she squeeze the infant to mush!

Despite my fear of the woman's grip on my child's head. It's head didn't pop like a squashed grape. Soon shoulders, then arms, body, legs, and tail were out and the woman was gently placing the babe on Huxian's belly. A twitch of a sharp knife and the umbilical was severed, and then the old woman settled back and prepared for another babe to be born.

The old woman looked up at me, her face grim. My mouth hanging open dumbly, I stared at Huxian. Her face was contorted in concentration and pain. Her breasts heaved with her ragged breathing. Her belly moved as it tightened down in contractions. Her thighs were open exposing her swollen sex where our next child would come from. The third babe on Huxian's belly stretched as if thankful to no longer be in such a tight and restrictive space. Another young bear girl, working as a helper to the older woman, gathered up the babes nursing and passed them to two other women before moving the third to Huxian's breast to bond and suckle.

"Well?" The old bear woman asked, her voice thick with irritation, "You said you had some healing ability. Are you going to stand there gaping like a fool or are you going to save your mate and children?"

"I...," I started to say, but then swallowed and started transforming into my arboreal-form.

It was the old bear woman's turn to look stunned before whispering, "You're not an Animal?"

"I'm a Druid," I answered as my chestnut colored skin took on a wooden quality, my long wheat golden hair flipped up taking on a resemblance of wheat, and my emerald eyes began to glow. It looked more like green smoke that slowly ebbed out of the cracks in my walnut seed-like eyes with irises that resembled camera lenses.

Pollen shot up from my hair and mushroomed out for some thirty yards. All around the grass became greener. Wildflowers shot up out of the grass, grew to full maturity, and bloomed. The old bear woman sighed as lines of exhaustion I had failed to see lining her face seemed to melt away. Huxian shifted, and she settled back down with a sigh. Even the other women that were attending sighed.

The babies in their arms quieted, and one of the helpers whispered, "I... feel... like I've had a relaxing bath and slept for a week!"

"Yeah," The other woman agreed.

"Yes, very good," The older woman between Huxian's legs said, "An area of affect healing and restoration ability. Interesting."

Looking at me sharply with a secretive smirk she added after giving an appraising stare, "Well, you just keep that up. I feel my own energy's being restored, and if my are, so are your mates, and the babies. With your help they just might all survive."

"Thank you," I said with a slight bow.

She nodded, and then looked back at Huxian and prepared to receive another baby.

----(!)----

The bear den grew quiet except for the occasional weak cry. Huxian was sitting up now, and looking radiant. She had a babe on each of her swollen breasts, and I swear I thought I could see the tiny things gaining weight by the seconds. Two nursemaid's came and joined us at some point. I wasn't sure when. I was too consumed with worry over Huxian, and staring in amazement as she gave birth to notice. Both nursemaids also had a babe pressed to each of their breasts.

The old midwife that helped groaned as she stood up and approached me. She had nothing but smiles for Huxian and her litter but when she turned to look at me her gaze firmed. She was old, but she was still a bear of a woman. Looming over me, she was head, shoulders, and chest taller. Standing flat footed, she could bury me in her cleavage with each bosom propped on my shoulders. She was twice as wide, and built thick. She pointed a long black claw at my wooden chest and poked me as she said in an undertone meant for only me to hear, "What are you exactly, Druid?"

"I am the son of a villalfar Druid and nottalflar Moon Priestess," I replied simply.

"You're a Prime?" The woman asked disbelievingly.

I nodded.

"What has happened today should not be possible," She said as she looked back at Huxian and the babies, "I would not have believed it possible if I hadn't witnessed it."

"It still isn't possible," I said, "I am an abnormality brought about by the blessing of the moon goddess Seline."

The old bear woman nodded as she cupped her shin with her hand and continued, voicing her thoughts as they occurred to her, "There will be those that will fall down and worship you as a god for what you have done. They might even worship her..." She nodded towards Huxian and then looked at the children, "...and some will worship them. But for every one that will want to worship there will be one that will want to kill you, her, and them for what you have done, and what they are."

"You are not the first to have said as much," I said as I watched Huxian as she caressed one and then the other babe on her breasts.

The old woman nodded as she gave me another weighty gaze before proffering her hand and introducing herself, "Tell me your name young man. Mine is Eferhilda. I'm the shaman of Earthmother's Den. You have already met my apprentice, Orsa."

My eyes widened in surprise as I took her hand before saying, "I have. She's a remarkable woman. My name is Viridian Vale of the Valelands.

Eferhilda smirked as she looked me up and down once more. Her dark brown eyes were mysterious, as she said, "I think you can transform now into your natural form. The vixen and her litter will be fine. If you please, come with me and let me introduce you to my husband, Fyrsil. He is the chieftain of our tribe and this Den. Let us talk of... suitable... compensation for your valor and aid to our people today."

I nodded and shifted back into my alfari-form. Quebracho whispered sweet nothings in my ear as she kept me clothed, and then I followed Eferhilda into the cave.

----(!)----

Coella marched up the rise towards the makeshift hospital. Shahad was with her, and for once not hovering a foot above the ground as her wings beat the air, keeping her aloft and producing a soft buzz sound. Instead she walked on her hybrid insect legs, and rolled her hips with every step that her slightly swollen abdomen, black with pulsing orange bands whipped back and forth exotically.

"Is it my imagination, or has your abdomen grown in the few hours since we left your hive," Coella asked nonchalantly as she kept walking.

"It has," Shahad answered simply, not contributing more.

The fighting on the south wall had stopped by the time they had arrived. The entire army of the dead lay upon the ground covering hundreds of acres, seemingly actually dead now. She could only think that with the separation of the creature from the realm of darkness from the woman that seemed to serve as its link to the Verdant Realm, and it's being driven back and the weird tear in reality closed, whatever was driving these infected was gone and with its absence those that were almost dead died. With the battle over, the living set about the forest cutting trees and erecting pyres.

Coella and Shahad had somehow gotten drafted into helping. They helped as they could until they were too tired to lift or drag bodies anymore. Released from service, they stumbled to the lake, washed off dirt and blood, and decided to go find Viridian and Huxian. There were many men and women lying about with injuries. Some were still while others groaned in pain. Silent or still, the shamans moved around healing as many as they could. Other shamans examined those that were thought to have been infected with the undeathly plague, but one by one those that were under guard were released.

Coella saw Orsa in that mix. She was one of the examiners. Approaching Coella asked, "What's going on?"

"A blessing from Gaia," Orsa sighed exuberantly, "The sickness that was infecting our warriors has disappeared! We delve everyone to make sure, but so far whatever that plague was, it is gone now."

"That is a blessing!" Coella agreed adamantly.

"The creature of shadow that was connected to the dokkalfar woman must not be of this world," Shahad sent via pheromone transmission.

Orsa nodded.

Looking toward the cave entrance Coella excused herself, "We are going to find Viridian and that... vixen, and see if she is well."

Orsa gave her a peculiar look but nodded as she pointed the way, "She is that way. She was giving birth last I saw, but I do not know if that is still the case now."

"Thank you," Coella said and turned to leave.

Shahad hesitated but then sent, "You're a mighty warrior yourself Orsa. It was my pleasure to have met you. When you are done, please seek us out. We would enjoy more of your company."

Orsa nodded and smiled, and Shahad ran to catch up to Coella before settling into her highly seductive, hip swaying walk again.

----(!)----

Glenna gasped when she felt the infection covering Tampa's body suddenly start receding and then disappear. Maha and Bartlett both gasped joyously. They all had been sitting by Tampa's bed eagerly awaiting Virdy's return.

Of course Maha and Bartlett's joining her had been well after Glenna left them some hours before. Glenna feared that the house was going to be shaken to falling in on itself in their fierce mating. Bartlett and Maha had bellowed so loudly at their peaks that Glenna had screamed and threw herself over Tampa! Once things calmed down and they finally stuck their heads into Tampa's room, both of them were blushing so fiercely that Glenna nearly laughed even though she was blushing nearly as hard as they were.

"What's happened?" Maha asked.

"I'm not sure," Glenna answered with a shake of her head.

"Maybe Tampa's body is beating the infection," Bartlett suggested, "Maybe they both would have gotten well on their own."

Glenna shook her head at the suggestion, "I... do not think so. When I healed Maha it took everything I had to cleanse and heal her. Whatever it was, it was killing your wife and daughter as surely as a knife in the heart. It was winning. It would not just simply stop, recede, and disappear on its own."

"Then, what do you think has happened," Maha asked.

Glenna shook her head as her four hands probed Tampa with Delve, "I am not sure, but I would hazard to guess that lord Viridian has something to do with it."

Tampa's complexion was pale, but her eyes fluttered open. In a dehydrated croak she asked, "Mama, what happened?"

Maha cried as she hugged her daughter fiercely, but it was Bartlett who was the loudest in his weeping. Both Maha and Tampa were soon making squealing sounds as they tried to breathe beneath his hug. Glenna felt tears sliding down her cheeks, but she paid them no mind.

When Maha and Tampa finally convinced Bartlett to release them, they sighed thunderously and Glenna used her two secondary hands to hold up her breast as she offered, "I offer the manna of rejuvenation so that you may regain your strength."

Tampa gave her mother an askance glance. Maha nodded and soon Tampa was suckling like she hadn't eaten in weeks, and indeed she hadn't. An hour later Glenna stood up and straightened her garments.

"Please stay with us until your Lord's return," Maha asked as she gestured for her to make herself at home.

"Yes, I owe you and your lord so much!" Bartlett implored with huge expressive gestures, "Until my debt is settled please think of my home as your own. If there is anything you desire, you have only but to ask!"

"Regretfully I must decline," Glenna said with a shake of her head, "I want to join my lord. I fear he may need my assistance. If you would help, I need a guide?"

Bartlett looked at Maha and Tampa. They all seemed to share a silent dialogue with only looks, and then he turned back and answered, "We will all go with you. I know that he was sent to investigate the bee queen's hive. From there..."

He shrugged his shoulders, uncertain where to go from there.

"If he is not there," Maha continued, "The next nearest village is Earthmother's Den. We can go there."

Tampa nodded, her face set and firm. Bartlett and Maha had told her of his contract with Viridian and Glenna. She was startled at first but then nodded and accepted the terms of the agreement, and that was how Glenna found herself setting out less than an hour later. Bartlett with a massive double-edged axe. Maha with a walking staff, and Tampa with a traveling bag full of clothes and necessities.

Bartlett wore a heavy belt that was nearly a girdle that protected most of his abdomen with thick red, blue, and yellow plaid kilt on a field of deep forest green. The heavy belt left his chest and arms bare. On his forearms were leather bracers with heavy iron plates.

Maha was much different. She wore what could almost be considered a heavy, creamy yellow, country dress. The top clung to her broad shoulders and dropped low in a large open square that bared a fair amount of copious bosom. Beneath the bodice she wore a red leather corset that snugged up under her breasts to bind her ribs and waist all the way to her hips. The hem of her dress fell down to her ankles leaving only cloven hooves visible and the long haired tip of her tail that gently wagged back and forth as she walked.

Tampa was dressed similarly to her mother. Her dress had a low square neckline exposing very generous cleavage. It was a bright clean white sewn with wildflowers and lover's knots on the bodice, the leather corset she wore was cut in the same style as her mothers but was a buff color, and the hem of her dress fell only to her mid-calf. Her tail wagged as much as her mother's did, but in her excitement it would also lift up bringing her skirt up with it high enough to show the backs of her thighs and the bottoms of her buttocks. That is, until she felt the draft of air and then hissed and smoothed her skirts back down. Other than her clothes and traveling bag, a thick belt cinched tight around Tampa's waist had many hoops and hooks for carrying cooking utensils, a skillet, a pot, and other items she thought she would need for cooking. The weight of her burdens was significant, but she paid it no mind at all. Everything she wore clanged with every step like she was a pack animal.

Glenna and her party were not more than halfway out of the village when Tsukino and Usagi ran to intercept them and prostrated themselves. When no one said anything, Usagi looked up just enough to see if Glenna was looking at her. It was Tsukino that talked first, "My lady Glenna, Oracle of the Moon, I beseech you..."

Usagi glanced at her companion and gave her a fierce glare. Tsukino coughed, and then continued as if nothing had happened, "We... beseech you, please take us as Initiates. Our village hasn't had a shaman for many generations. We ask that you train us so that we may then one day return and care for our people."

Glenna hesitated, but then she felt a warm tingle in her head only a breath later to sweep through her body and give her shivers in euphoric orgasm. It felt very similar to the prayers when she had first arrived. The sensations coursing delightfully through her body. Arousing her to an insatiable sexual need. Leaving her body by her head. Making her almost painfully aware of every floating black hair on her head before the prayers were absorbed by the replica moon hovering over her head. From there, she was sure those prayers found their way to Seline. However, this time, all of the sensations were in reverse! An intense joy. A mind numbing delight! It was coming from her goddess, from Seline, and in that instant she knew what was expected of her.

"Arise Tsukino. Stand up Usagi," She answered, "Seline has accepted your offer. I will teach you the ways of being a moon priestess, and when you return you will establish a shrine to the moon goddess Seline."

"Yes my lady," They answered in unison.

Glenna started walking again, following Bartlett and Maha. Tampa walked with her and gently probed for information about the man she was betrothed to. Glenna answered her questions in an easy, sultry purr as she gave the young girl, easily standing head and shoulders taller, weighing glances. Tampa would make a good mate for Viridian.

Tsukino and Usagi fell in behind and quietly observed and listened. It was well into the afternoon now. It would be well after dark when they arrived at the bee queen's hive and later still if they had to travel all the way to Earthmother's Den, and the forest would grow more dangerous than it already was once the sun set.