Chapter 89 - 87: The Den of My Dreams
System, your upgrade did us proud!
My paws slide smoothly across cool sandstone, limestone, basalt, granite, and crystal, an amalgam of rock and minerals and crystals and gems forming the cave grotto. The spray of water dances in the air, rising from some water source in the den. A ribbonlike stretch of grass planted in the rock smells crisp and clean and perfect for rolling in or doing our business.
Shadows blanket the ceiling so that there is no way to determine how high it is. The entire den is swathed in light and shade as far as the eye can see. It’s an enormous space that could encompass the dining room and the training arena comfortably. Lots of room to run around and have cubs.
This is my space for the next three months. My space and Lightning’s. Not that I can’t leave it, or that we can’t. I don’t see forcefields. I don’t have a chain on me the way I did when the goblins kidnapped me. No, it’s not about confinement. It’s about having a space of our own to start our family. And, let’s face it, Kaline’s bedroom just won’t do.
Lightning wanders around in wonder, sniffing at everything in the den. There is a space for us both to lie down in, with cushions just to make it look like our little tiger sanctuary in Kaline’s bedroom. A reflecting pool, just like the one in the garden where we bonded and mated, sings its song of welcome. The occasional splash tells me that fish live in the pond. A small tinkling stream feeds into the pond from the wall, maybe rising from a wellspring or even the water table underneath the villa.
The family has thought of everything. All kinds of tiger toys and amusements litter the den, most likely for our benefit, and to share with our cubs later. It seems perfect for our needs.
I growl to show my approval. [I love it!]
Lightning rolls around on the grass, purring. [It’s better than out in the wild!]
"They are so happy," Hans declares in an echo of his earlier statement about us. He can see our contentment. Everyone can, I reckon.
I am indeed content. Nuzzling Lightning, I suddenly feel the urge to chase everyone else out of the den, including Peridot, who zooms through the air lording her powers of flight over everyone except Gussie. For her part, Gussie flits around, remarking on the or that feature of the den.
[It is beautiful. But is it warm enough? Where is the fire pit?]
Demos laughs and points to a ring of stones circling a depression in the ground covered with cold ashes from previous long-ago fires. [Here. You are too excited. Honestly, you would think that this was your den! But Blaze, I want to have my cubs here.]
I growl. [Get your own den.]
It’s petty, I know, but the second that my paws touched the stone floor, I became territorial. This den feels as if it was designed just for me. For Lightning. And the System gave us an expansion! I guess we could share it with Demos and Lobo. Gussie...don’t birds usually want some kind of an aviary? And what about Peridot?
I try to be sensible about this. For now, the space is the Tiger Den, but it’s ludicrous to believe that someone built it just for the tamed tigers in the family. Still, I feel possessive of our new home. [How many cubs are you planning to have?]
Demos has a ready answer. [A lot. As many as Ursula and I are blessed with. That is the Primal Beast’s decision. How many are YOU planning?]
[I want lots of pups, myself.] Lobo stands with head and tail erect, full of Alpha dominance even though he is the only wolf for miles around. [So, this den will be mine someday, too.]
Demos roars. [Find a she-wolf first.]
Lobo’s shape teeth bristle. [Ha! Ursula is not even speaking to you, and you act like a king.]
Naturally, Demos’ bullheadedness flares up, and he gets right in Lobo’s face. [You cannot even get a she-wolf. This den will be mine and Ursula’s before it will be yours.]
Lightning and I growl to defuse the situation. I stick out my furry chest. [ENOUGH, both of you. As the humans say, it is a moot point. Tamed beast matings do not just happen. They take time. And we have this den for now.]
My words of logic land where they should, and softly too. Retreating for the better part of valor, Demos and Lobo eye each other across the silvery-blue stream.
[Nice place.] Lobo rushes into the awkwardness.
Demos responds with a begrudging "uff." [I think it got some upgrades and expansions.]
System? What upgrades do you have for us today?
Game show announcer voice. [The Beast Den has some new features!
[One: Expanded pool with fresh fish to keep pregnant Lightning’s strength up when she is too big with cubs to move.
Two: Green spaces for playing, rolling. eliminating, and health.
Three: Protective crystals built in that create grids to ward off any evil energy, or any energy that does not serve the expectant mother and her mate.
Four: A continuous supply of diversions to keep both mates entertained and stimulated when they are in their den together. Those diversions are available to visiting beasts, too.
Five: A Bird Perch for Gussie.
Six: New trees just to simulate an environment in the wild.]
Indeed, exotic jungle trees dot the den here and there, and one of the trees extends a big branch that seems tailor made for Gussie to perch on naturally. The place really does have everything we could ever desire. My heart leaps up, seeing the embarrassment of riches. Yes, I know that the family did not create this entire den for us. That it has held countless beasts who needed it, especially pregnant beast moms. That makes it the most special place, because of the history. I feel a sense of tradition here.
Kaline shoos us onto the cushions. "Here. Lightning should rest as much as possible."
Predictably, Lightning has something to say about Kaline directing everything. [What is she on about? I’m not infirm. I’m not so big that I can barely move without waddling.]
I downplay Kaline’s fussing. [She’s human. Humor her. You heard everyone.]
[I know, I KNOW. I have better hearing than they do. I don’t need things to be repeated.]
Her disgruntled "mrrrp" makes me falls more in love with her. I am so whipped for her. Those goblins, how obtuse they were! Their chain around my neck didn’t compare to the tether that Lightning wrapped around me the minute we met.
Hans squats before lightning and does that thing where he freezes her with his words. Other than myself, he is the only being that knows just how to work with her when she’s being headstrong. He does it not by going against her mood, but by being in harmony with it. I can see this because of his stillness when he talks to her.
Sighing, she backs down. [If resting makes the human girl happy, which makes you happy, Blaze, then I suppose it won’t kill me.]
She pads over to the pile of pillows and takes her sweet time settling in a spot, her head up and her tail twitching expectantly, awaiting my arrival. Like a dutiful mate, I go to her side and turn around three times before lying down. With my paws, I massage the material around us to make a more suitable nest.
Minette applauds. "There. This is absolutely perfect for them."
Lamant agrees. "Why, it has never looked this good. Oh, there have been expansions, thanks to the magic in this house, but this takes the den to new heights. I even fancy spending time."
Vedette rolls her eyes. "Don’t test Lightning’s patience. She may not want you loitering around."
"Loiter! I don’t loiter! These are beasts in my house that I am duty bound to oversee." Lamant puffs himself up beneath his blue-and-gold robes. "We still have a tournament to prepare for, a house to run, new alliances to forge. Loiter! I have no time for---HNNNGH!"
Demos, Lobo, and Einswine ambush him, with Peridot flying at him and Gussie flapping around, joining the zaniness.
He barely misses fallen in the pond and stumbles over to the cushions, where he plunks down in a most unceremonious way. "Loitering it is."
Laughter breaks out in the family, with Maartenwitz trying to keep a leash on his own chuckles and Niall rolling on the cavern floor laughing. After the drama and tension and momentous reveals of the past two weeks, hilarity is one of the best gifts of all.
Lying next to Lightning, I feel a contentment that goes deep into my bones, and floods my heart. My family is all here. My cubs are growing inside their mother. Maybe another curse lurks around the corner, but it better stay away from my den!