Mama Fox

<Zuri>

“I still don’t understand why you have to go.” (Z)

Watching Cleodora pull the front door open, Zuri frowned.

It was much too soon for this.

“A bear was spotted in the area. I need to make sure it’s safe.” (C)

Cleodora scratched the back of her head while adopting a sheepish smile.

Seeing that expression, Zuri felt a sudden pang of anger flare.

“The villagers can handle it themselves! You said it was nothing but a small juvenile.” (Z)

“People could still get hurt. I need to be there.” (C)

With that rebuttal, the frown Zuri wore deepened.

A mere week has passed, and this bastard was already so quick to abandon her kids to go goof off in the forest…!

“Plus, we are running low on supplies. I thought this would be a good time to stock up.” (C)

Cleodora leaned forward, reaching for the hunting equipment Zuri had in hand. He pulled away.

How should he be expected to accept this!?

“I’ll only be gone for an hour, promise.” (C)

Cleodora smiled warmly at Zuri with an outstretched hand.

After a moment of standing in silence, he eventually relented.

“It better be only an hour.” (Z)

Murmuring under his breath, Zuri handed the supplies to Cleodora.

“It will be!” (C)

“Don’t expect to enter this house past that.” (Z)

“Understood!” (C)

Pausing briefly, Zuri eyed Cleodora again.

He didn’t like how fast she was answering. Would she really keep that promise?

…Maybe some motivation was in order.

“A-And, if you come early, something really good might be waiting for you.” (Z)

“Y-Yes!” (C)

Seeing Cleodora grow red in the face before abruptly fleeing, Zuri could successfully claim she was properly motivated. Ignoring the burning sensation on his own face, he turned around and headed back into the house…. It has been quite some time since he assisted that idiot in such a manner. The stares he has been getting as a result were starting to get out of hand. Zuri already planned to take care of this problem today, so proclaiming it as a reward was nothing more than theatrics. It was going to happen regardless. He just used it as a means to cleverly and expertly manipulate that fool; getting her to come back sooner into his awaiting grasp. Yes, by getting her to spill her seed and scum to pleasure, Zuri was—

Repeatedly banging his head against the closed front door, Zuri quickly cleared his mind.

T-The lingering effects of the pregnancy were still affecting him!

He didn’t want Cleodora in his grasp! He just needed someone to help him with the babies!!

Walking through the house, Zuri searched for a distraction to his poisoned thoughts.

Oddly enough, he found himself back in the bedroom.

Standing over the cribs of the sleeping babies, Zuri quietly observed them. This past week looking after them had been nothing short of hell. Frankly speaking, Zuri greatly underestimated how much effort went into nurturing them. These babies were so damn demanding! From constantly requiring milk about every three hours to the absurd amounts of waste they produced, taking care of the babies was starting to feel like a full-time job. A list of never-ending tasks to be completed. If not for Cleodora being around, it would’ve been impossible for Zuri to cope with their demands. It was also why he seriously disliked her leaving all of a sudden.

What was he supposed to do if an emergency came out of the blue!?

Watching Ruka stir in her sleep, Zuri held his breath.

The individual needs and troubles of each baby were too much. Ruka was a lively baby who, although fed rather well, refused to sleep unless thoroughly entertained. The amount of time, energy and magic Zuri spent every day on that alone was draining. Conversely, Mei, while an excellent sleeper, was a terrible feeder. Zuri constantly had to coddle her in order to get her to eat. She is also an easy crier compared to the other two and is, despite the fact her cries were the weakest. And lastly, Akili… well, he was actually a pretty well-behaved baby, at least when juxtaposed to his siblings. He fed well, slept peacefully and didn’t cry much. The only problem Zuri had with him is the fact he didn’t have any. The baby was just too well-behaved. To the point, Zuri thought something was wrong. The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. When Zuri brought up these concerns to Cleodora, she actually laughed at him and asked if he was joking. It was only then later after he didn’t take kindly to her response did she call Luwn to check on Akili.

Light movement caught Zuri’s eye.

‘Damn it!’

Before he could move out of range, the awakening Ruka was quick to spot him.

Cheerful baby babble sounded almost immediately, waking the nearby cribs as well.

…Perhaps they should separate these cribs a little more?

Sigh.

“Yes, yes, good morning, babies.” (Z)

Greeting the babies, Zuri took a moment to study their adorable appearances.

On the advice of both Cleodora and Luwn, he had recently started taking to talking to them.

Apparently, his voice was one many would love to sleep to.

Ruka laughed, Akili didn’t react, and Mei was already on the brink of crying.

Heavy on the apparently.

Picking up the babies one by one, Zuri set them on the bed. He then quickly went to the neighbouring room, picked out a small canvas before returning to the bedroom and lying on the bed. After confirming the babies were in a comfortable spot, he proceeded to set his tail upon them. Instantly, Zuri felt his tail be tugged and pulled by tiny hands. This wasn’t the best method to keep them entertained, but it was by far the easiest. Ruka stopped needlessly making noise, Akili discarded his bored expression, and even Mei’s display of quiet tears vanished. With Zuri’s tail being the only price, it was a worthwhile trade.

Focusing on the canvas, he hesitated before opening his paints.

“That’s enough painting for today. You shouldn’t be inhaling this cheap human stuff so much.” (N)

Zuri raised his gaze to the babies messing with his tail once more.

…It would be better to just do line art for now.

Getting lost in his work, Zuri picked up his tool and let habit take over. Naturally, he couldn’t help but have his thoughts drift towards his family. It’s been quite some time since he last saw them, not counting Nori. Though he was likely alone in that belief. To his family, a year would be comparable to a mere day passing. The ridiculous lifespan bore by the Kitsune made such things terribly insignificant. Honestly, it was still hard to comprehend anything living over a thousand years comfortably. Glancing briefly at the three tiny beings playing with his tail, Zuri exhaled slowly. So much has changed in that singular day.

‘Three brand new babies’

No doubt his family would be overjoyed at such news. The Royal blood lives on or whatever! Zuri felt his cheeks gradually begin to redden. The second that information breaks, his reputation with his family will once again lower. For being so adamantly against the marriage, he was sure quick to go on and have a tonne of children. To a race of people where conception is exceedingly rare, the birth of children is the ultimate symbol of love. To cherish a person so much that you are willing to try again and again for a child was devotedness that could only be explained by love.

Lifting his gaze, Zuri checked upon his subjects once again.

Anything to get away from those useless thoughts.

They were still fixed on his one, singular tail. The tail that represented his youngness in Kitsune culture. Zuri was too young to be married. Less than 500 years, he was still yet to develop his second tail. His family had married him anyway, and while they may not have been expecting grandkids so soon, it was a little too late for that. A direct consequence of this is them being in the same age cohort as him. By Kitsune standards, his kids were going to be in the same age group as him. A seriously weird notion to consider when taught about for even a second. It was like attending the same grade as your parent in school. Sitting in class side by side, learning.

Would the kids even respect him once they come to this realisation?

“Aha!?” (Z)

A particularly hard tug on Zuri’s tail caused him to sit up.

Looking up at the offenders, he abruptly froze.

W-Why on earth were they all suddenly crying!?

Everything was fine just a minute ago!

“I’m back!” (C)

“Cleo!” (Z)

The moment Zuri heard that familiar voice, relief flooded his system.

With two crying babies in arms and another with his tail, to say he was overwhelmed would be an understatement.

“On it!” (C)

Without instruction, Cleodora jumped right into the fray.

Taking on two babies by herself.

In no time, calm returned to the room.

“What took you so long…?" (Z)

Burying his face into Cleodora’s chest, Zuri abandoned all decorum. Three babies really were too much!

“I-I was only gone for twenty minutes.” (C)

“Don’t leave again, okay?” (Z)

Squeezing tighter against Cleodora, Zuri resisted the urge to sink his teeth in her neck.

Instead, choosing to settle for wrapping his tail around her.

“O-Okay!” (C)

Trapping her in a tight embrace on the bed, Zuri didn’t allow Cleodora to leave until he was satisfied.

…Predictably, he soon felt something poking at his lower body.

“Sorry….” (C)

Pretending he didn’t notice that stiff thing, he kept hugging her while it continuously grew.

It definitely felt bigger than before.

Looking at the cribs, Zuri issued a command.

“The next room.” (Z)

He had already planned to do this to get Cleodora off him.

Nothing about that was going to change.

Except, of course, making Cleodora believe it was her reward.

As Cleodora picked up Zuri and hastily exited the room, he pursed his lips.

Perhaps she did deserve a real reward for all she’s been doing as of late.