20-Jan-2005
Title: Of Cats and Wolves II - Summer's End
Author: Sol 1056
Rated: PG
Warnings: Minor OOC due to AU situations; shonen-ai; fantastical animal/people mixes; gratuitous use of improper Gaelic; crazy adaptations of Siberian and Native American traditions.
Archiving: please ask first, since this is a somewhat combined effort
Disclaimer: We don't own, and we'll give 'em back happy.
These revisions and reposting are written with thanks to Gail and Infini T, for their donation of $165 to MSF and UNICEF for the tsunami/earthquake relief funds. Can't say it enough: ya'll - and anyone else donating or assisting in some way - really, really rock.
Meiran woke up to find the room draped in the earliest glimmers of dawn. She smiled to herself and rolled over, a little excited at the notion she'd woken up before Wufei. But the other half of the bed was empty, and the sheets were cool. She sniffed the pillow - scent still strong - so he couldn't have been gone too long.
She laid back and stared at the ceiling, wondering what kind of flowers he'd bring her with breakfast. For the past five mornings he'd brought her plenty of breakfast rice; sometimes even meat, and usually more than she could finish on her own, so she'd insisted they share. They didn't talk a great deal, and to her great shame it seemed to stick in her throat to thank him. He just seemed so nervous about the kits that he'd jump on every little thing, and she didn't want her gratitude to get stomped on, too.
Meiran sighed and rolled over on her side. The sun was almost up. He should be at the door any heartbeat now. But ten... then fifty... and soon the sun was peeking over the trees and still no sign of Wufei.
She threw off the covers with a sigh, and changed from her sleeping clothes into something suitable for guests. Her belly wasn't really that curved, but she was starting to wear her belt just a little lower on her hips. She groomed her tail neatly, tied her hair up in pigtails, and went down to see whether Grandmother Bao had shown up to cook breakfast, or was refusing to step foot in the house.
Part of Meiran almost wished it were the second. She felt sticky from the late summer heat, a little dizzy, thirsty... and mostly embarrassed. Wufei had brought her breakfast and she'd not even thanked him. And if that woman opened her mouth one more time...
...That was it, Meiran decided. She opened her mouth, but Grandmother Bao just carried right on without a break.
"And all these friends he's tracked in, when you should be resting up. You barely sleep enough as it is! But he gets you up every morning the crack of dawn, and expects you to work all day." Bao tsked and checked the breakfast rice, stirring it a few times, then tapping against the pot with the wooden spoon with every syllable she uttered. "He has absolutely no respect for the mother of his children! The way he treats--"
No, that was it.
Meiran picked up the nearest piece of pottery - a flat plate - and threw it against the kitchen wall. It shattered, startling Bao into silence. Meiran didn't even notice. She was too busy screaming.
"IF I HEAR ONE MORE WORD ABOUT MY HUSBAND, I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS!" Meiran balled her fists and threw her head back, shrieking.
It felt good. It felt damn good. She picked up another plate and threw it, satisfied when it burst into shards against the wall. And what had her most angry was that Bao's final words had been ones that Meiran knew probably fit her better than Wufei, any day. That made her anger twice as hot, and the good feeling not quite as strong - but it still felt good to holler.
"MY HUSBAND IS THE HANDSOMEST SMARTEST WARRIOR IN THE VILLAGE AND IF YOU SAY ONE MORE THING ABOUT I'M, I'LL... " She paused, took a deep breath, and kept going. "I'LL KICK YOU SO HARD YOUR ANCESTORS WILL CRY!"
The back door flew open, and Trowa and Quatre tumbled in, Leo right behind them. They looked worried, then Wufei shoved them aside. Meiran absently noted that he looked mostly stunned, and managed to close her mouth. She swayed, putting a hand on the table, completely drained after the burst of emotion.
"Meiran," Wufei said, reaching her in time. He caught her, held her up, and gave her a puzzled look. "Are you... "
"NO!" Meiran promptly burst into tears.
Grandmother Bao just looked smug, but began cleaning without another word.
"It's because she's going to have kits," Sano explained. He had the pleasure of being the eldest present, while they waited for news on Meiran. It was almost sun-height, and they'd planned a day trip to the Mountain Wolf village to see Heero's home. He nodded sagely, stretched, and took another long drink of the fine Jaguar ale. "It does it to Jaguar females, I hear."
"That's really strange," Quatre said. "I wonder why they do that."
"I think I'm glad I'm a fox." Duo looked mystified, perched on the window seat. He scratched his nose and sighed. "Our babies come from trees."
They what? Sano blinked.
Quatre studied Duo with a slightly puzzled expression. "Babies don't come from trees," he retorted. "They come--"
"Down the chimney," Heero finished. He scowled at his lunch. He'd been in a worried mood - which for Heero translated mostly into ferociously short-tempered - ever since Wufei had hustled a sobbing Meiran back to their bedchamber. "Everyone knows babies come down the chimney."
Sano tugged on his ear, checking to make sure he'd heard that right. He'd figured Duo, at the least, would know. Granted, Duo had spent winters with the Desert Lynxes, and now that Sano thought of it, the Lynx babies were usually born in autumn so they could nurse in winter and be ready to move camp in spring. He realized Duo had probably never seen a pregnant Desert Lynx, but he'd always figured Solo had taken care of that part of Duo's education. The subject just had never had reason to come up, between them.
"They do not come down the chimney," Duo was protesting. "You can't take a chimney with you when you travel. What happens then? What if you go on a trip and come back to find the baby's been in your fireplace while you were gone for a moon?"
Heero looked stumped, then shrugged. "I think the birds that bring babies would know if you're home."
"What if it were winter? And you were making dinner? You'd cook the baby!" Duo's tail lashed furiously. He rolled his eyes and went back to studying his claws. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
"No stupider than babies being born in trees!" Heero glared. "If there's a strong wind, they could fall right out."
"And land on their head," Sano muttered to himself. "Which would explain a great deal about both of you."
"Babies," Quatre announced with a great deal of finality, "do not come from trees. Or chimneys."
Finally, a voice of reason. Sano sighed in relief; this meant he didn't have to be the one giving The Talk.
"They come," Quatre continued, "from under rocks."
Sano choked on his drink.
"Rocks!" Heero snorted. "That's ridiculous. They'd get squashed."
"And what if someone else found your baby?" Duo's tail thrashed madly. "You could end up with someone else's baby and your own baby is squished under some huge desert rock--"
"That wouldn't happen! These are special baby rocks," Quatre replied, indignant.
"Uh... " Sano cleared his throat.
"Baby rocks! That's the silliest thing--"
"How is that any better than baby trees?" Heero arched an eyebrow at Duo, who tossed his head, sniffing. "At least with Wolf babies--"
"Babies do not come from trees," Sano broke in.
Heero looked smug.
"And they don't come from chimneys, either."
Duo stuck out his tongue at Heero.
"Nor do they come from under rocks," Sano concluded.
Quatre's eyes went quite wide, and his mouth dropped open. "So where do they come from? Is it true what the Bobcats say? You fish them out of the river--"
"No!" Sano pounded his drink on the table. "They come from... mommies." He dropped his head, staring into his drink again. He tugged on his ear, rubbed his forehead with a paw, and sighed deeply. "I'm not going to explain it right now. Just take my word for it. Mommies have babies."
"Oh." Duo exhaled suddenly in a fierce rush of air. "So we can't have babies, then? Me 'n Heero?"
"Uh." Sano's mouth fell open. "What has Solo been teaching you?"
Duo grinned widely. "The usual. Wombs, gestation periods, and safety issues for pregnant Creatures. Come on, Heero, I wanna see the Jaguar market." He hopped off his seat and dashed out, catching Heero by the wrist before Sano could say anything. "Coming, Quatre?"
"Be there in a bit." Quatre finished clearing his plate. "I'm going to find Trowa." He dashed off, into the back of the house.
Sano stared at his drink and decided having Duo for a little brother was bad enough. But he was never, ever going to have kids. With his luck, they'd all end up like their uncle.
Duo laughed most of the way to the market, one paw wrapped around Heero's wrist. Realizing he'd managed finally to give the slip to all three Coyotes, he decided it was a good time to not let go. Besides, Heero didn't seem to be complaining, either, but walking rather close.
"He looked like he'd eaten a frog," Heero said. His smile was small, and still a bit tense, but he seemed a bit more relaxed.
"Yeah!" Duo tugged Heero closer and slung an arm over Heero's shoulders.
The silver half-Wolf had been acting strange ever since he'd arrived in the Coyote's camp, but at least his behavior that morning could be blamed on anxiety over Wufei and Meiran. Duo took the chance to hug Heero, trying to reassure him, pleased when Heero slipped an arm around his waist in return. He seemed nervous, though, but Duo couldn't blame him. Anyone would be after a concerted effort by Solo, Sano, and Leo.
"What I want are some of the pastries," Duo announced. They passed one stall with a collection of am'bhidh that made his mouth water. "Hungry?"
"You just ate."
"But how can you resist these?" Duo dug around for his pouch, pulling it to the front, and flipping the top open without taking his eyes off the pastries. "Want to split one?"
"I'll get that," Heero said, laying a paw over Duo's. "My treat."
"It's okay, Heero, I have weasel columns." Duo made a face. "Solo gave me spending money."
"Ah... " Heero looked a bit red in the face, and he didn't take his paw away. "My treat, and I'll get you a pastry all for yourself."
Duo frowned, suspicious. That was generous, but Heero wouldn't look him in the eyes, and it was making his hackles go up. "What's wrong?" He asked in a careful, low tone of voice.
"Nothing."
"Then why won't you let me treat?" Duo was starting to get annoyed. He shoved Heero's paw out of the way and dug his hand into the pouch. "I'm not always--" Then his paw hit something soft, and maybe... silky?
Heero, to Duo's astonishment, turned bright red and stepped back. He scuffed his feet against the ground, his paws clenching into fists at his side.
Duo couldn't help it. He pulled out the item, revealing a deep purple-blue silk loincloth. The Jaguar behind the pastry counter whistled in appreciation, and Duo let it unfurl, carefully draping it over his arm so it wouldn't drag on the ground. His first thought was panic, and one look at Heero's embarrassed expression made his mischievous side take over.
"Oh," Duo moaned, a bit too dramatically, but Heero didn't seem to notice. "I am in so much trouuuuuuuble... "
"Hunh?" Heero looked up at that, his brows furrowing slightly. "What?"
"Trouble! With a capital... whatever comes at the beginning of Trouble!"
"T," the pastry seller said, helpfully.
"That," Duo agreed. "Look!" He shook the loincloth in Heero's face, and dropped his voice to a panicked whisper. "I stole something... and I can't even remember where from."
Heero's jaw dropped open, mouth a round 'o'.
"Solo is gonna have my tail for dinner," Duo groaned, and tried to shove the cloth back into his bag, but succeeded mostly in flailing about while continuing the terrified whimpers. "I am in so much... trouble! Just... oh, and--"
"Duo, Duo, stop!" Heero caught the cloth, and gently took it away. He folded it neatly, then shoved it into the bag. "You... " He dropped his eyes again, stepping away with his arms folded. "Didn't steal that."
"I didn't?" Duo opened his eyes as wide as he could manage. "Then how'd it get in my bag?" When Heero didn't say anything and didn't even look up, Duo frowned and tried again. "I must've done something wrong! When Solo finds out--"
"It's a GIFT!" Heero clamped his mouth shut on the yell, glaring fiercely.
"Aw, Heero," Duo replied, tag wagging furiously back and forth. "You could've just said so." He launched himself forward, throwing his arms around Heero's neck, and rubbed noses once, then twice. Two paws found their way to his hips, and he made a point of rubbing noses with Heero one more time. Heero hadn't pulled away, so Duo did it again--
Someone cleared a throat behind them. Duo wagged his tail, and made a go-away motion over his shoulder; Heero had finally started reciprocating on the nose-rubs and Duo wasn't about to let him be distracted now.
"Okay, then," Trowa's voice floated over the market sounds. "Come on, Quatre. We'll go find the Coyotes. Or visit Sally. Or something."
"But," Quatre protested, saying something else but his voice was getting farther away.
"I have a new silk loincloth," Duo announced, breaking away from the nose-rubs long enough to gloat.
"You do."
"Took me long enough to get it," Duo added, playfully whacking his tail against Heero's flank.
"I'm... " Heero pulled back with a frown, looking down at Duo. His silver ears flicked forward, then back, suspicious. "What do you mean... did you--"
"No," Duo said, quickly, and patted Heero on the chest, reassuring. He took a heartbeat to flip the nipple rings up, then down, and smiled to himself at the way Heero's eyes closed momentarily. "Just that I didn't really believe you came all that way to find someone who should've been at the Mountain Jaguar village."
"You didn't?" Heero's eyes opened, surprised.
Duo snorted.
"Oh. Right. That's good." Heero smiled, and it was a bit too much of a smug expression.
Grabbing his pouch and cradling it closely, Duo arched an eyebrow. Clearly Heero could play that game when he wanted to, but Duo would show him how it was really done - after he got another nose-rub. Or two... and maybe a pastry. Or three.
Autumn in the mountains always came early, and Heero presumed it was just from growing up around it that he'd never thought twice about the scenery. But with Duo hunting at his side, he noticed little things that he'd never stopped to consider before. Bird song that had no comparison on the plains, or the late-summer wildflowers that sprang up seemingly overnight; the deer gathered by the creek where the frogs sang at dusk.
Grandmother Bao had surrendered the house to Wufei and Meiran, and the six houseguests cheerfully moved in and made it their own for the duration of Meiran's pregnancy. To her credit, Heero noted, she didn't seem bothered in the least, although Luyin and Xing were with her nearly all the time.
It seemed as though the mountain caught fire overnight, going from pale to deep greens - the aspen, the elm, the tall pines - into a wild display of orange, yellow, and red. Quatre collected leaves to compare the vivid colors, while Trowa told stories at night about the legends he'd heard when traveling. Why the leaves turn in the fall, which led to why the bear sleeps, which led to even more fantastical stories of the deserts and the plains.
Heero didn't care if they were stories of how all silver Wolves were descended from rabbits, as long no one got in the way of his nightly chance to pet Meiran's tummy and press his ear to her stomach in hopes of hearing something. Every now and then he thought he could hear mewing, but his tail would always give him away by wagging. Duo, trying to help, sat on his tail one night. That was almost as distracting as Solo pitching cherry pits at Heero and Duo while they were trying to sleep.
Not, Heero decided, that being distracted by Duo was a bad thing. It meant he spent the nightly story-time curled up around a half-Fox who stroked his silvery flanks and groomed his tail. Better than with a half-Fox trying to steal the cuffs from his ears; Heero made a sleepy note to himself that it was time he start finding new necklaces and rings and bracelets and armlets and anklets for Duo to replace the ones Duo had used for his combs.
Maybe, Heero told himself, he'd do that at the Summer's End festival. He tightened his hold around Duo's waist, drifting off as Solo chanted an old Coyote story about how the world was made. Salli sat behind Solo, running her claws through his hair while he gestured broadly in the traditional movements of the story. The fire burned brightly in the hearth, illuminating the brilliant leaves Quatre had strung up across the mantle. Trowa and Quatre were curled together by the fire, the Lynx bathing himself while Meiran slept against Wufei; the half-Jaguar often spent the evenings honing his blades and listening to the conversation.
This one night, though, Meiran didn't get up at some unknown time and insist her husband accompany her to bed. Nor did she get up and bid her goodnights, expecting him to follow eventually. Instead, she got up and made her way to the kitchen - and Heero's ears perked up when the kitchen door opened and closed.
Wufei looked up as well, and Solo's story came to an abrupt halt. Heero noted that Salli had smiled at Meiran as the younger Jaguar passed, but made no move to join her. Duo blinked, yawning. Quatre snoozed on, though Trowa sat up with a start; Leo and Sano seemed worried.
"Little brother," Heero whispered, anxious. He nudged Duo to get up, so he could move, but Wufei stopped him with a gesture.
"No," Wufei said, barely louder than a breath. "I think... "
Salli beamed at Wufei, and nodded, but said nothing.
"Oh." Solo looked knowing, and waved his hands for the younger Creatures to settle down. "Coyote females do the same."
"What's that?" Trowa seemed confused. "But she's out at night alone... "
"That's how it we do it," Salli murmured.
"Yeah," Leo agreed. He scratched his head, then turned so Sano could groom the other ear. "It's the way some Creatures are. All on their own. No one else around."
Which was so like Meiran, regardless of what kind of Creature she was, Heero thought. And much like Wufei, too, for that matter...
"But unguarded," Trowa replied.
Heero sighed; he'd half hoped Meiran would let Wufei guard her despite the traditions, though he'd doubted that would happen. Wufei didn't look like he was going to move; he stared into the fire with a preoccupied expression.
Solo never started the story up again, although everyone by that point was awake. Instead, they watched the fire, stoking it up when it started to die, and waited the long night through.
Trowa woke up when someone elbowed him in the stomach. He grunted, caught the offending arm, realized it was Quatre, and snuggled in closer. The bump came again, and he opened his eyes to see Mieran standing in the middle of the front room.
She had four kits in her arms; all were sleeping. Wufei stood before her, a look of utter astonishment on his face; when he raised a hand, Meiran tilted her arms so he could pet his children gently.
Gradually Trowa became aware the rest of the Creatures were also awake; Salli and Solo were grinning widely as they watched the new parents. Heero just seemed stunned, while Duo was hugging Heero. Trowa could hear small yips coming from Duo, and the half-Fox's bushy red tail slapped against Leo and Sano several times.
"Three girls, and one boy," Meiran said. Her words broke whatever spell was over them all, and next thing Trowa knew, Quatre had scrambled to his feet to wish her the best in fine Desert Lynx tradition.
Heero came to his feet just as fast, only to end up with the smallest - an all-black male - in his arms. He froze, not even risking juggling the kit into something more comfortable against his chest. Duo stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Heero while petting the kit at the same time.
"His eyes are closed," Duo whispered.
"For another few days," Meiran replied. She smiled at Heero's awestruck expression - that so closely echoed Wufei's. "Then their eyes will--"
Her words were cut off, when Wufei rubbed noses with her, then pressed his cheek to hers, and licked her face. She giggled, and he did it again, appearing to forget the rest of them completely.
"Upstairs," Salli ordered, coming to her feet. She took the last kit from Heero, who sulked, but didn't stop her. Placing the kit in Wufei's arms, she turned the young couple around and guided them to the stairs. "We'll bring you breakfast."
"Don't let Duo cook it," Wufei had the presence of mind to say, but anything else was lost as they headed up the stairs with Salli right behind them.
"Well, that ended happily," Leo declared. "All four born healthy, and looks like any temporary insanity is finally gone."
"To be replaced by a new kind," Sano noted. "Parenthood."
The three Coyotes laughed, a joke Trowa wasn't sure he got completely, but he was too busy hugging Quatre. The Desert Lynx was utterly thrilled with the event, and Trowa was more than happy to celebrate in any way Quatre wanted, even if it meant copious nose rubs. Especially copious nose rubs.
"So... I guess in a few days we'll head back, eh, Solo?" Leo elbowed the Coyote, breaking Solo out of his staring contest with the door to the stairs. "Solo?"
"Uh... " Solo scratched his head. "Actually, I might stay here."
"Stay?" Sano's eyebrows went up. "Why?"
"Because... " Solo wrinkled up his face, then glanced across the room. His gaze landed on Duo, leaning against Heero with a pleased expression. "Ah, because Duo's probably staying, and someone should keep an eye on him."
"Right." Leo crossed his arms. "An eye on the Fox, not on the cute spotted Jaguar that just went up the stairs... right?"
Solo turned beet red.
"Breakfast," Quatre murmured in Trowa's ears. "Let's cook it. Make that recipe with the rabbit."
"I'll be staying with Heero," Duo was saying as Trowa and Quatre left for the kitchen. "And there's not enough room for more than four."
"Four?" Sano's tone was disbelieving. "Who's the other two?"
"Us," Quatre replied, leaning into the living room to smile widely. He stepped back into the kitchen, and gave the startled half-Jackal another hug. "Oh, by the way, we're wintering with the Mountain Wolves."
"Oh." Trowa considered it - for a heartbeat - and couldn't think of any reason to disagree. Besides, his tail was wagging hard enough to make the kitchen table shake with every whack, so there was no point in pretending. He smiled and was treated to another nose rub. "It'll be a good winter," he assured Quatre. "And... in a few months, you'll get to see snow."
"I've seen snow." Quatre got out the pots in preparation for breakfast.
"But you've never played in it," Trowa replied. "I suspect we'll be playing in it a great deal."
"We will?" Quatre seemed puzzled, but let Trowa lean past him to get the rabbits hanging on the hook. "Why?"
"Because uncles are supposed to teach kits all sorts of things, and I guess we're all sort of uncles, now." Trowa grinned. "And we'll need to be there to make sure Duo doesn't teach them anything that will make Heero mad."
Quatre snorted. "Like that'd happen. One or two nose rubs from Duo - or those strange human things he likes called kisses - and you know Heero won't put up much of a fight."
A lot like Meiran and Wufei, Trowa thought. Laughter floated in from the living room, and he smiled. It was going to be a good winter.
The End
I know that may seem abrupt, but I just couldn't bear to drag myself across this story for much longer. There's a reason I didn't want to do a sequel, after all. I know, fluff, fur, the usual, and there you go. A bit rushed, but done. I'll figure out the word count for the rest of the pledges tomorrow morning.
Word count for this chapter: 4200
(:./sol/catsII3)
