Azzalea was so happy to be home. It was weird, but the minute they entered a certain area, it's like she knew they were getting close. She appreciated everything the Tribe and Briar did for her, but she was ready to be away from any sort of society again. She wanted to be back in her own little world of her, River and their baby. Other's made things complicated.
She could spot the stone that covered their cave and urged River to be sat down. Azzalea knew he worried about her greatly. Azzalea had noticed herself, her belly was starting to swell very quickly. She knew she wasn't exactly the tiniest girl out there, but she felt like the baby was making her huge.
Azzalea ran her hand over the moss covered rock. "Finally home." She whispered to herself.
River watched his mate touch the stone and whisper to it as if it was a live being. He smiled. She really does love it here. His grandfather had tried once again to get them to stay. Briar had carried their things across the rushing river while he made sure his precious mate stayed dry.
"River," the older male grumbled, "I know how you feel about the Tribe, but if you stayed..." Briar trailed off. He sensed the rejection he was about to get.
River shook his head and placed his hand on his grandfather's shoulder. "I thank you for everything Grandfather. I truly do, but you know where our home is. You should come."
Briar thought for a moment. He had nothing really holding him to the Tribe. The hut he lived in had been where he had taken his life mate, raised his child, gained a grandchild, lost his life mate, lost his daughter and now gained a great grandchild. The walls echoed hurt and he lived in it as punishment. He felt like he deserved it. "What would your mate say to such a thing?" He tentatively peeked around River to the female standing behind him.
She was smiling at him. "Whatever you want to do. I think it would be nice to have family around."
Family.
That word had always hit him differently. Briar didn't have lots of family like everyone else. His people had always just mated and had one child. Mated and had one child. Mated and had one child. For generations.
Family had so many different meanings, but it carried a heavy one for him.
"I will think about it." He kept his voice in check. It meant a lot to him that River asked. Briar looked back to cold water behind them. "I will start back now, but I have brought you gifts."
River waved his hand at him. "No need for that Grandfather. Your assistance was all that I needed."
Briar's laugh came from deep in his chest. It rumbled out of him. "I am a Grandfather, there is no use in telling me no." The older male set his bag on the ground and started pulling things out.
He pulled out a bag full of eggs. Briar had wrapped each one with the softest fur he could find so they wouldn't break. He brought out pounds of bacon that Azzalea seemed to love so much, potatoes, corn, beans, and some sort of sweet cake.
"This is something for the baby." Briar couldn't help but smile at the female. Her belly had started to show itself greatly in the past few days. It wouldn't be long before the youngling would show itself to the world.
Azzalea watched as he pulled this wooden contraption out from the bag. She looked with amazement as he started to unfold the whole thing. It was a wooden bassinet.
"Keep the baby in this. Don't let it sleep on the floor. It will catch it's death. Line the inside with the softest fur you have and keep it close to your nest, that way you can hear its cry." Briar pointed to the little slats. They stood about an inch away from each other, allowing it to be folded back up. "Once this is locked," he showed River how to do it, "it will not fall." He could sense the female becoming a little worried. "If it can hold a Giant for a year, ancestors know it will hold a halfling for probably two." He chuckled.
River packed everything into their own bags and looked to Azzalea. "I'm going to walk Grandfather back over and I'll be back." He kissed his female's lips. "I love you."
"I love you River."
Once they were in the middle of the river, Briar chuckled. "You know I needed no assistance from the other side, my Grandson."
"I am so worried, Grandfather. I do not know what to do for a youngling. I have never witnessed a birth. How do I help Azzalea?" River asked, making sure he kept his movements to a minimum. The last thing he wanted to do was worry Azzalea.
Briar listened to River speak his worry. "You really love her?" It was amazing how two completely different creatures, who couldn't even understand each other in the beginning, have become so attached to one another.
River nodded. "Yes. I really do. She is my everything."
"Everything that is happening, is natural. The Ancestors will guide your hand when it comes to the birth. Your soul will be making more decisions than your brain. Azzalea is a strong human female, she will come out alright." Briar stepped out from the water and shook himself off. He reached for his fur suit. "Your worry is normal." He chuckled. "Just don't take it to heart if she begins cursing you while in labor. She doesn't mean what she says, it will be the pain talking."
River took a shaky breath.
"Listen River," Briar eyed the young male. "I will be back." He assured him. "I will bring more food that the female likes and maybe consider staying a while. At least until the baby is a few months old."
"When will you be back?" River asked hopeful.
Briar looked across the water to the female who stood watching them. She was wringing her hands, already growing worried about something again. "A month's time. Since I will be traveling alone, I can be at your cave in less than three days. I just will not stop moving." He figured he would miss the birth. That was something he didn't want to be a part of. Birthing younglings was exhausting.
River nodded and embraced the older Giant.
It took Briar by surprise. Contact wasn't something he was used to. The last time he was touched, it was by his daughter. Calla had come for her mother's passing and had embraced him as River did now. Briar could see his daughter in his grandson. Carefully he placed his arms around River. This is not good for a cold heart.
~~~~~
River rolled the stone from its place and allowed the sunlight to fill their home once again. He was happy to be back. He could already sense Azzalea had relaxed and was starting to settle in again.
"This place sure got dusty quick." Azzalea giggled and put her hands on her hips. "I'm going to have to clean."
River thought it looked like it had when they left, but he nodded in agreement. His grandfather had called this nesting. Azzalea had done it back at the hut as well. It's like she couldn't stop herself from wiping things down and moving things about. His grandfather had just watched her fiddle about in amusement.
"Do not overwork yourself, My Fawn." River got on his knees and motioned for her to come to him.
Azzalea wrapped her arms around his head as he pressed himself to her stomach. She smiled as he held her close to him.
River no longer had to press in to hear his youngling. He could just get near his sweet Fawn and the sound of his child would come to his ears. "I love you halfling." He spoke to her belly. The baby moved as if responding. "I love you and I love your mother with everything I have."
He looked up to his mate, who beamed down to him with love.
"River, you are amazing."
He stood up and then bent down to kiss her long and deep. "I'm going to go hunt and hopefully find us a deer. Then when I get back," he reached down and grabbed her bottom, pulling her closer to him, "I'm going to eat your slit until you scream."
River kissed his mate again. He enjoyed her little gasp and her scent changed almost instantly. He was home now and they were going to have a good time.
~~~~~~
"You've lost your fucking mind, Randy."
Randy counted his ammo once again. He had over prepared, he knew this, but if a Bigfoot had his Azzalea, he was bringing everything he had.
His brother, John, looked to the living room filled with rifles. "How much money have you spent?"
"None of your fucking business." Randy mumbled and looked down to his clipboard. "The snow is melting quick."
This year was going to be a hot one. Randy could already tell. They hadn't gotten nearly as much snow as they had been getting. Of course the higher elevations had gotten a foot or two, but where they lived it was already starting to melt and stay gone. Randy just had to worry about the freezing temperatures at night and the frost first thing.
"I think Wade is a nut. There is no Bigfoot. Azzalea ran off, that's it. If she's in that forest, she is dead. I think she ran off to another man, if you want my opinion." John said and kicked the wooden peg on the couch.
Randy slammed his clipboard down. "Could you just shut up?"
"Randy! You are going out to the forbidden forest! With a damn Ranger that patrols the fucking thing. He's going to turn around and take us all to jail the minute we set foot in there."
"John, I'm telling you this one last time. Wade is the bait, ok? We are going to let the thing kill him while we grab Azzalea and run."
Randy smiled at the thought. And when I get her back here.....
Next update will be May 14, 2021!
Be sure to check out my other books!
Reptilians
https://www.wattpad.com/story/252171266-reptilians
~Autumn