Chapter 165: Mama says we were cuter when we could not talk
Three months had changed the cubs.
Swanly hated it.
Not because they had grown.
That part was adorable.
Kairo’s little shoulders were broader.
Nilo had become even more attached to her stomach.
Miko had somehow become rounder despite running from trouble to trouble every waking moment.
No.
The tragedy was worse.
They could talk properly now.
Swanly sat beneath the shade beside the planting rows, one hand supporting her heavy stomach while Nilo sat pressed against her side.
His small palm moved slowly over the curve.
"Did they move again?"
"No."
Nilo frowned at her stomach.
"They always stop when I touch."
"They are probably sleeping."
"Both of them?"
"Probably."
He leaned closer.
"Sisters?"
Nothing.
His ears drooped.
Swanly smiled and stroked his hair.
Three months ago he would have said something painfully cute like:
Baby sleep?
Now?
Complete sentences.
Her babies were growing up.
Terrible.
Miko ran past carrying a stick.
"Kairo! Give me my good stone!"
Kairo shouted from behind him:
"You gave it to Lumi yesterday!"
"I changed my mind!"
"You cannot change your mind after giving something away!"
Swanly stared after them.
Then sighed mournfully.
Kael was nearby fixing one of the smaller drying racks.
His black ears twitched.
"What?"
Swanly leaned back.
"They talk too well."
Kael stopped working.
"What?"
"My babies."
She pointed dramatically toward Miko, who was currently arguing with a rabbit girl over ownership of a stone.
"They used to say little words."
Kael stared at her.
"Now they use whole sentences."
"Yes."
"That is good."
"No."
Kael’s golden eyes narrowed.
Swanly looked genuinely upset.
"They were cuter when they couldn’t pronounce anything."
Nilo looked up.
"Mama."
"Yes?"
"I can hear you."
"Exactly."
His face became offended.
Kael’s mouth twitched.
"You taught them."
"I made a terrible mistake."
Miko suddenly appeared.
"What mistake?"
"You learned how to speak."
His mouth fell open.
"Mama!"
Kairo arrived behind him.
"Mama says we were cuter when we could not talk."
Miko gasped like she had betrayed him.
"I am still cute."
"You are loud."
"I can be both."
Unfortunately true.
A pale-gold glow appeared beside Swanly.
The system floated lazily in the air.
Eating.
Swanly did not notice at first.
The tiny fairy shoved two nuts into its mouth, chewed, then stuck one little finger between its lips to dig out a piece.
Swanly glanced over.
The system licked the finger.
Disgusting.
Tiny.
Unfortunately adorable.
The system looked at the cubs.
{Wait until they begin losing their first teeth.}
Swanly blinked.
The fairy popped another nut into its mouth.
{Then you will rediscover cute.}
Swanly stared at Miko.
Miko stared back.
She imagined him missing one of those tiny baby teeth while trying to argue with everyone.
Her lips twitched.
Then she imagined Kairo giving serious guard orders with a gap in front.
Then Nilo trying to pronounce difficult words without his little teeth.
Swanly burst out laughing.
Miko frowned.
"Why are you looking at my mouth?"
"Oh, nothing."
"That was not an innocent look."
Swanly laughed harder.
Kairo became suspicious.
Nilo covered his teeth.
"What?"
Swanly shook her head.
"Nothing. Enjoy your teeth."
Three cubs immediately looked alarmed.
Miko grabbed his mouth.
"Why?"
Kael looked toward Swanly.
"What did you tell them?"
"Nothing."
"Mama!"
Swanly laughed.
Then, midway through the laugh, she froze.
Her head slowly turned.
The system had another nut halfway to its mouth.
Swanly’s eyes narrowed.
Why the hell are you eating my snacks?
The system froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
{You said I could take them.}
I said you could take some.
{These are some.}
Swanly stared at the noticeably smaller pouch floating beside it.
How long have you been eating those?
The fairy looked away.
System.
{Fine! Fine! I replaced them!}
Swanly’s eyes narrowed further.
{They are just nuts! You barely eat those!}
YES, I DO.
The system flinched.
I save them for emergencies.
{What emergency requires nuts?}
MY EMERGENCY.
The fairy crossed its tiny arms.
{I replaced them.}
You better have.
{I did.}
With the same kind?
The system suddenly became fascinated by the sky.
Swanly’s eye twitched.
SYSTEM.
A horn screamed.
BWOOOOOO!
Everything changed.
Kael was standing before the second blast.
His tools hit the ground.
Raku’s roar carried from the wall.
"GATE!"
Warriors moved.
Women grabbed cubs.
Swanly’s white ears shot upright.
Miko spun excitedly.
"What happened?"
"Inside."
"But..."
"NOW."
All three cubs hesitated.
Swanly pointed.
That was enough.
Kairo grabbed Miko.
Nilo followed.
"I can walk!"
"You will run toward danger!"
"I only want to see!"
"That is the problem!"
Tilla intercepted them near the cub shelter.
"Give them to me!"
Miko shouted:
"I do not need to be given!"
Tilla caught his tunic.
"You absolutely do!"
Swanly was already moving.
Thankfully, she had been near the inner wall.
Nobody had time to trap her inside her room and tell her pregnant females belonged under blankets whenever anything interesting happened.
She climbed the steps to the viewing platform.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Pregnancy had humbled her.
Kael remained directly behind her.
"Careful."
"I am careful."
"You nearly missed the step."
"I am carrying two people inside me."
"That was my point."
Swanly ignored him.
The wall guards were positioned above the gate.
Nobody stood directly outside anymore.
That had been one of Swanly’s rules.
Why stand at ground level waiting for an infected creature to reach your throat when you could watch from above?
From here, arrows could rain down before anything reached the gate.
Raku stood beside Soren.
His huge crocodile tail was perfectly still.
Bad sign.
Then Swanly saw them.
A man stood outside Ironwood.
Beastman.
Or at least he looked like one.
Tall.
Thin from hunger.
Dark hair hung around a bloodied face.
One arm rested against his ribs.
His clothing was ripped.
There was blood along his shoulder.
Behind him, farther between the trees, other faces watched.
Male faces.
One.
Three.
Six.
More.
They did not approach.
They remained among the trees.
Watching.
Swanly’s stomach tightened.
Three months.
For three months Ironwood had searched for whoever left those tracks.
...
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