Lisa POV
"The kin are resistant Lisa, give her time." Rosie said, touching her head to my shoulder. She'd gotten a lot more into touching since being with the wolves, but I didn't want to comfort now. I was a ball of tension, I felt like there was something I should have been doing but there was nothing to do.
The fight had been won. Rosie had done her best to stitch up Jennie, though we all knew she was no doctor. I'd been too much a shaking a mess to do it myself, and the memory of my inability to help Jennie pained me deeply. "She lost a lot of blood but I don't think her lung was pierced, my understanding is that she'd be breathing differently." I ran my hand over Jennie's stomach below her bandages.
At least Rosie had gotten the bit about 'breathing differently' right. I hadn't spared the pups she might be carrying a thought yet, though of course touching her belly made me think of them. The trauma might cause her to miscarry them if she lived, and they'd die with her if she passed. I supposed it was best to focus on Jennie herself for now, not that there was anything I could do for her either. "I wish you'd say something." Jisoo said softly as she rubbed my back.
I felt like I'd run out of words. "Thank you for ... the stitching." I said finally, with difficulty. It was something of a dismissal, too. Rosie sighed quietly and squeezed my shoulder. "Of course Lisa. The pack will help you. Don't forget about the children." She reminded me as she got set to go. We were all at home now, Jennie, myself, and the children.
The kids were unusually quiet. No doubt they felt the absence of their mother, and I was sure too that they were worried about what I'd be like. I can't have been putting on inspiring faces since everything had happened. Rosie was right, I should see to them, reassure them I would still be a good father to them. Less of one if Jennie died, because I would be less of the person I was, but I could still manage to give them the childhood their mother had wanted them to have. I hoped.
I stayed with Jennie a little while longer. I could feel the pull to just sit and wait, to keep thinking she would wake up any moment and then life could begin again. I got up slowly. I couldn't sit and wait, or I might sit and wait forever even if she went beyond our reach. I went in search of the children, finding them under Holly's care in the stables. She was reading to most of the children the simplest of books.
We were working on her reading skills, but they were behind what they might have been if she'd been able to receive the attention she'd deserved. The children didn't mind, they were looking for comfort in grouping and snuggling together as they looked at pictures and listened to their eldest sister. I smiled a bit brokenly at them all, then scooped up a couple of the little ones and scooted in next to Holly to watch and listen too.
The moment of nervousness my appearance had caused passed, and then they all seemed to feel even better than they had before. Holly leaned against me, and I rubbed tiny backs soothingly. When the story was done I smiled at Holly. "Thank you for keeping an eye on your siblings Holly. I'm afraid we'll have to depend on you for a while here to be their voice of reason pretty often." "Where's Moma?" Tivald asked. "Your Moma is hurt, she got hurt when the army came through." I said, knowing they'd heard the barest details of what had happened.
"Is she going to be alright?" Tivald asked. "We don't know yet." I answered honestly, not wanting to risk answering either way. "Are you going to turn into a useless blubber-face then? When she dies?" Viyya asked, tone tart. She was such a sas sometimes. "Viyya!" Holly scolded, though Viyya just shot her a glare. I gave her a small half smile. "For a little while, probably." I said. "When you love someone, it's hard to see them suffer, and hard to see them die. But I'll still be your father, and I'll provide for you and play with you all still." I said
And pulling Viyya into my lap and petting her. I had pretty much responded to her rather abrasive personality by insisting on being more affectionate with her rather than getting angry. I figured she'd seen enough anger and aggression in her life, and it was probably what had made her so standoffish. By now, and especially since she had to actually be quite upset and worried about Jennie herself, she let me coddle her. After a while I told Holly I had business in the town, and to please watch the little ones.
I didn't have to ask, but I knew that she appreciated being asked and thanked. I moved slowly as I went, dreading talking to Bambam. I had shot him with a hunting arrow meant for large, powerful beasts when I'd seen him going after Jennie as she'd tried to leave the fight. To be honest, I hadn't even known it was him I shot when I'd let the arrow fly, but I would have shot him all the same to keep him from Jennie. I was thankful I hadn't been able to go for a neck shot and had taken him in the shoulder between plates of armor instead.
I wasn't sure how long I'd be thankful for that. It was early afternoon, the battle having ended the day before well into the evening. The bodies had been cleaned up. It seemed as though the kin kept losing people, there was always someone else to bury lately. What a bloody beginning for Jisoo's reign. At least Rosie had cut back on the death by getting most everyone out, and Jisoo had managed to bring home the hunting party quickly.
What would we do in the future though? The kin still needed to go hunting, but at least at the moment, the human threat seemed painfully real. Probably so many were dead that there wouldn't be another army marching for years and years, generations maybe, but it didn't seem that way with so much lost so unexpectedly. The jail was a small place, but it existed.
Vise was being held there, one of only a few that had been taken prisoner at all. At the end of the fight what was left of the battered army had been chased off into the mountains, most of them ill prepared for the wilderness and injured. It would be surprising if they made it back to human lands. Then those captured in the middle of the battle, and the human injured, had also been chased off.
Except for Bam. It was clear by looking at him he was related to Rosie and I, and we'd both pleaded that he stay a prisoner for now. He'd been left untreated long enough that he'd also fainted from blood loss, and Rosie had stitched him up while he was still unconscious. We hadn't yet seen him since. I had brought back from my trip to the human lands various medicines besides the one for Tivald. If Bam was going to live, he would need some things to hopefully fight off infection.
The medicines seemed largely unnecessary for the kin, their bodies quick to heal and fight off infection. I'd brought them back for Rosie and I mostly, in case we needed them. "Ah Lisa, your relation's been throwing a tantrum since he woke up." Gd said, giving me a small, wolfish smile. "He's got a mouth on him. Jennie up yet?" "No." I said. I could hear Bam as I walked up, indeed throwin a fit. He was cursing with the best of them.
He sounded angry, but also in pain. "I'll talk to him." I said to Gd in such a way that said he could take a few steps away. "I've been watching your sister waddle this way for an hour now. She's moving slow and checking on people as she comes, but I think she's mostly making the trip down here to see the prisoner."
Thar said, and I could tell it was in case I wanted to wait. I didn't want to wait. I wanted to try and get Bam calmed down before he messed with Rosie's head with anything harsh he might let pour out of his mouth. I walked into the jail and found Bam in his cell. He hadn't been taking to captivity well. He'd thrown everything he could beyond the bars into the walkway. It really wasn't a lot of trouble or a big mess since prisoners were given little, which I was sure was only more frustrating for him.
I felt a stab of burning anger as I remembered him going after Jennie, and the injury she had in her chest. I also felt a sharp pang of sadness for Bam, trapped as he was, caged. "Lisa!" He said, stopping his pacing when he saw me. He glared at me though, not coming closer or moving away, suspicious. He was dressed in the armor and decoration of a low level knight.
His birth and abilities had demanded he be given decent rank. It was strange to see the brother I'd traveled and played with in normal clothing so done up, separated from me by these unfamiliar battle trappings. Blood still stained the cloth of the pants he was wearing, possibly some of that was Jennie's blood, some of it his own. I wondered how many of the kin he'd killed before I'd stopped him.
"Bambam." I said, giving him the smallest of smiles. "I've brought you medicine, to keep you from getting an infection that will kill you." Bam grunted. "So you are with these monsters? Where are the people you told me about? Or do you think these animals are people? Different, but people all the same?" He spat the words. "They are people. They think, and talk, and love just like we do." I said with a sigh. Bam might change his mind, but I knew him well enough to know it wouldn't be today.
He was too angry. "Oh that's disgusting. Oh gods, that wife you told me about ... Are you fucking one of these monsters?!" That was probably the wrong line for Rosie to arrive during, but she was bound to show up eventually. She waddled into view and Bam stumbled back, taking in her obviously pregnant belly. "Oh gods I think I'm going to be sick." He said. Rosie frowned in confusion, and looked to me with a hurt, questioning face that made me more annoyed with Bam.
"Yes, Bam. You ran my wife through with a sword yesterday." I snapped at him. "And she and I do make love, and she is a wonderful, amazing person you might yet have killed." "Rosie, how can you be fucking a dog like this?!" Bam asked her, ignoring me. Rosie cringed, shying from him and putting a hand protectively on her belly between herself and bam. "I ..." She stumbled.
"Jisoo is a good woman, bambam." She said quietly. "He's a good dog, you mean. A good dog you've trained to hump you. I can't believe this! What the Hell are you going to give birth to exactly?! Monsters, horrible, dog-monsters!" "They'll be my babies!" Rosie snapped at him, her voice high and harsh. "My children, Khunpimook, and I'm going to love them as they are! They'll have fur, I'm sure, but they'll think and know how to accept people who are different from them!" I put my arm around Rosie's shoulder
And rubbed her arm, hearing the tears coming in her voice and wishing she'd calm down. "Just because they'll look different doesn't mean they'll be any less people than I am, though I hope they're better people than you are." Rosie stomped from the room, though I was sure I'd find her just the next room over from the cells crying when I left. She was emotional these days, and this subject had once been horribly troubling for her.
I sighed and shoved Bam's blankets and the few other things he'd been given back in through the bars. Then I showed him the medicine I was giving him and put that in too. "I'll see you tomorrow Bam. Take care of yourself in the meantime. I have to see to my wife." I told him, voice rather hollow. It pained me to hear Bam being so hateful toward the kin I'd grown to appreciate, the woman I loved, our own sister. He was my closest brother, besides Rosie, and his disapproval weighed on me.
I walked Rosie home. She linked arms with me and was quiet, sad. "Don't listen to Bambam Rosie, he doesn't know what he's talking about." I told her before I left, kissing her head and giving her a squeeze as tight as the belly between us would allow. I walked more quickly home, worried that Jennie would have woken up helpless and alone without me. Would she be helpless?
Well probably not, but if she were awake I could help her with things and I wanted to be helpful for her if I could be. I knew I should swing by and check on the children, who'd still be hanging out in the stables, but I wanted to check on Jennie first so I went straight for the house. When I got there I immediately heard the sound of children coming from our room, and I rushed to see what was going on, but when I opened the door Jennie was up, sitting up in bed propped up on a pillow.
There was a thick band of bandages wrapped around her wound, and I could see blood had seeped through, but she was up and talking to the children. Holly was sitting next to the bed and attempting to keep the children from jumping on their mother too much, but she was fighting a losing battle. "It's alright, little ones, I'm going to be fine." She was assuring them, though the insides of her ears were pale white, and so were the gums around her teeth.
She'd lost a lot of blood, and I could see her hands shaking a little. "Holly said we had to be strong because you might die." Tivald said with a bit of a whine. "She said daddy would need us to be tough." "I'm not dying just yet." She assured them. "I'll be back on me feet soon enough." She looked up and saw me and smiled. "Lisa, love, it's good to see you. I was worried you might have been hurt in the fight, so I called the children."
"Settle little ones." I said soothingly and smiled at her, the expression feeling relieved and genuine. I scooped up Flint, the most excited of them, and held him as I sat next to her on the edge of the bed. "I mostly used my bow, so I wasn't within reach of many swords." I told her. I felt like there was a lot to say, to discuss, to worry about, but I didn't want to do any of it in front of the kids. And I had to remind myself that Jennie was still quite ill and probably not up for much.
"I saw you arrive and I tried to get away, but it was too late. One of them had run me through from behind. I didn't have enough strength to flee. I was so afraid for you and kids." She said, shivering a little. "I'm just happy everyone is alright." "What are you making for dinner? I'm hungry." Viyya grumbled, but I noted that she was sitting close to her mother, one hand on Jennie's knee, protective. "She isn't making anything." I told Viyya.
"There are some things downstairs that Liet brought over, she's been in charge of getting food together for those families that have lost someone or who have injured to care for. We'll get some of that warmed up when it's dinner time." "I can start that." Holly offered, and I realized it was getting a bit later than I'd first guessed. "I can help! I can help!" Tivald and Syndril insisted, getting up after Holly.
They were just getting old enough that they was sometimes more help than hindrance. "I probably could have cooked." Jennie said apologetically. "How long have I been out? I hope it wasn't long." "About a day." I told her, absently running tickling fingers down Flint's giggling back so he would stop struggling to get away from me and crawl all over her. "You look sickly still, you should recover some more before you start trying to do normal things.
At least give it tonight." I said, squeezing her hand with my free one and giving her a worried look. I didn't want to say how awful she looked and comment on her blood loss with four of the children still with us. "Don't worry about doing stuff, mom." Kathor said, standing with his chest puffed out. "I can take care of things." Etris was looking dubiously at his older brother. "I'm not sure that's a good idea." He said in a whisper that was meant to be private, but was really loud.
Kathor growled at his brother, but then turned and fled for the kitchen. Etris charged after him, as though intent upon saving his older sibling from trouble, but likely just to help with matters. Viyya slid out of bed as well, looking as grumpy as ever. "I should help those idiots or something will end up on fire." She grumbled as she left the room, which left just me, Flint and Jennie.
"They're really good kids." Jennie said, a tired smile on her lips. Flint howled in my arms. "Stop Daddy stop! I have to go potty!" I quickly released the child, knowing full well by now that four year olds did not have the best bladder control when tickled. "Well go on then!" I said, near panicked, and Flint ran from the room looking uncomfortable.
When he was gone I laughed quietly and leaned in to nuzzle the side of Jennie's head gently. "You've bled through love, we'll change that soon." I promised. "I was so worried, and you look awful so please don't overdo it trying to cook and all else. You need to rest." She looked downtrodden. "But who will take care of the kids?" She asked, and then she laughed a little weakly and shook her head.
"No, that's a dumb question now. You will, of course. I'm still not used to having help on these things. I'll get the hang of it eventually I'm sure, but for now it's still strange to have someone I can rely on." She reached out and grabbed my arm. "I love you, Lisa. I'm so glad you're alright." For some reason Bams' disgust jumped into my head, but I smiled back fondly at her anyway. "I love you too, and we'll get you back on your feet. I'll care for the babes, and you know tomorrow most of them will be off playing with the neighboring kids again anyway." I smiled widely.
"Holly is a big help too, together we'll handle everything." I said, very confidently. I knew there'd be some mistakes and things would be done a little differently than usual, but I also knew I was right. At the end of the day everyone would be happy and healthy anyway. I sighed looking her over, trying to figure out how much she could take at the moment. "Let me change your bandages while we talk, alright?" I asked, getting up to fetch the supplies from where I'd left them in a heap on the desk that morning.
She nodded. She unfastened the bandages around her chest and let it fall away revealing a nasty wound that I knew was matched by an even nastier one on her back, where the sword had originated. "The man who stabbed me - when it happened I think I was confused - I could have sworn he looked like you. I think it must have just been the heat of the moment or something, maybe confusion from the pain." "I'm afraid not." I said softly. "I was already pretty sure it was my brother who stabbed you, Bambam.
He continued after you when you tried to leave the battle, but I shot him with a arrow. He's in the jail at the moment, and not taking kindly to things." I thought about adding that if my first contact with the kin had been a battle and then jail, I wouldn't have been too receptive to the idea of them as people either maybe, but I decided I'd save that for when I was feeling more fond of my brother than I was now.
I wanted to talk to her about the babies, the ones we were so excited to have made together. I wanted to share my worry for them with someone, with her in particular, but if she hadn't thought of it I didn't want her to worry just yet. She didn't need to be worrying as she was, we could talk about them when she was stronger. It was also so early in the pregnancy that she wasn't feeling them move yet, we wouldn't know right away if they'd gone still, so there was no reason to think she'd know any better than myself how they were doing now.
She seemed sad. "With the way you and your sister accepted us so readily, I guess I'd assumed that your family would be more receptive to us." "Yeah, sorry." I said, feeling like somehow Rosie and I'd own reputation was tarnished by Bambam. Maybe it was. He was family, afterall. I shot her a half smile. "Well, at least my father or Nichkhun haven't shown up, that'd be a real disaster." I examined Rosie's stitching and started rewrapping Jennie's wounds.
"Bam might come around. So far his only experience with the kin has been violence and imprisonment. Otherwise I don't know what we'll do with him." I frowned. "I'd like to return him to human lands even if he can't accept us, but it might be dangerous for the kin I suppose. And it would probably mean my resources in the human world would be cut off, no more trips to get medicine or anything else if it becomes necessary."
"I'm not sure what my brother will do." She said forlornly. "I don't really know him well, but I imagine with Rosie and you asking for forgiveness, he'll probably agree to send him home. Were there other prisoners, or just him? I know the battle was quite violent. We'd lost a good dozen kin at least before you arrived, and the number was probably higher."
"The other prisoners were driven back into the mountains after what was left of the army had been chased that way. I'm not sure any of them will make it back, they were pretty beaten up. Bambam wasn't driven off because Rosie and I asked that he stay a prisoner for now. He wouldn't have made it back, not with the wound I put in his shoulder." I said. "All told the kin did lose quite a few, though nothing compared to the losses the army took." I shrugged one shoulder.
"It's hard to be happy about that when we would have been better off not being attacked to begin with." "War is never a happy event." She agreed with a nod. "I'm sorry if this puts you at ends with your brother. I will talk to him if you'd like. I don't want there to be bad blood in your family." I shook my head, finishing with her bandages. "Rosie and I will work on him. Maybe having contact with one of the kin would help, but he did stab you with a sword so you certainly don't have to be the one to do that.
There are plenty of kin that can try to talk to him and make him realize he's wrong about you all." I kissed Jennie's muzzle and scratched behind one of her ears briefly before sitting down beside her again. "How are you love? Anything I can say or do for you?"
I asked, taking her hand in mine and giving it a squeeze. She smiled at me and nipped at my cheek. "I'm fine. I guess you could bring up some food after you've eaten, but I think I should talk to your brother. He needs to know that we can forgive, and that we can be civil when not backed into a corner. I will go with you to see him some time." Rosie and I visited Bam daily.
He settled into a disgusted simmer by the second day. I was happy to see he was taking the medicine. I knew that Bam would quickly become bored and then depressed in captivity. Over the next few days he told me with hostile eyes that I should just release him so he could return to the human lands. At first I refused to talk to Jisoo about that possibility because I knew Bam would die before he made it.
After a few days, as he began to heal, I didn't bring it up because I wanted him to accept the kin before he left. Jisoo might be willing to move the Earth for Rosie and release Bam, but even though I loved my brother, I knew it would be dangerous to do so until he'd gained some measure of respect for the kin.
Letting Bam return to the human lands meant releasing a man with considerable influence back into the world with a hatred for us. People would believe him when he talked of there being monsters just over the mountains. There would be more lone hunters, and there was a possibility another army would be raised against us if the right people decided it was a good idea.
They would think it was a good idea. Wolf pelts were worth a lot, the bigger the better, and werewolf pelts and heads would be highly prized indeed. I could see them trying to turn the pups into pets, enslaving them. They would say it was a campaign to cleanse the world of monsters, but it would really, as always, be about the money to be made. I tried to explain to Anthovis that the fact he was in a jail at all was evidence of the kin's humanity.
They had to build it, construct it, conceive of the need for some punishment besides outright killing anyone that did wrong. For the most part he ignored me, throwing out the occasional insult about my relations with the kin. I also tried to explain that the fact we could produce offspring with the kin meant they were closer to us than he was giving them credit for. He didn't seem impressed.
Finally Jennie insisted that she come with me to the jail after I'd made her take several days to relax and recover. I tried to tell her it was alright, that she didn't need to. I didn't want her to get upset. I was still worried about the pups, more so as she recovered and I didn't have to worry about her own health quite as much.
As we made our way in the guard was away from the jail, which meant that someone was in to talk to Bam that could be trusted. I figured it was Rosie, and that was soon confirmed since we could hear her yelling.