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The Seduction of Seleste

From the world of the mating season

_ _

Mom and Pop

Chapter 57

". . . Keme," Zane said slowly. "Are you . . . boinking the princess?"

Keme nodded dully.

"Awesome!" Aviine squeaked.

Zane made a scolding face when Keme's expression darkened. "Shuddap, Avi," he said irritably to Aviine. He looked at Keme and his eyes softened with sympathy. "Is it serious? I mean, how willing are you to . . .?"

"I love her," Keme said at once. "And I had hoped to marry her."

Zane glanced around. "We shouldn't be discussing this on the street, so keep your voices down. And keep moving."

They went up the street again, but Keme hardly expected anyone to be eavesdropping. The summer wolves were too busy following Seleste's litter, pushing against her guards as they reached for her, tossing flower petals, laughing, hugging each other, and rejoicing that the princess lived. Everyone was so engrossed in Seleste that no one even noticed them. Keme could see the great hut in the distance, the hut in which Seleste would now live with her husband. Her husband, his brother. Ugh.

"You know the only way to stop what's happening is to fight LiAnh, right?" Zane said in a low voice.

Keme nodded dully again. He didn't think he could speak. He was too pissed.

Aviine looked up at Keme with large, worried eyes. "You wouldn't hurt LiAnh, would you?"

Keme smiled for Aviine's benefit. "No, Aviine, I wouldn't."

Relief washed over Aviine's face and he smiled. "I didn't think so. I don't think LiAnh would hurt you either. He wouldn't kill you for this."

"Heh. But he'll keep the princess and rub it in your face," Zane added pointedly.

Keme shook his head. "Maybe I could reason with . . .?" the words died on his lips at the looks on his brothers' faces. "What?"

"LiAnh is _not_going to give up the throne," Zane said. "Being chief is all he has left. If he gives that up, he'll be back to living at home with his parents, no wife, no children. A single male living at home is treated like a pup or a tail chaser. It's disgraceful --"

"And why should he go back to that for someone he hates?" Keme finished for him.

"Exactly," said Zane apologetically. "There's no talking him out of it. He won't care that you have feelings for her."

"Oh joy. Why didn't anyone tell me our brother was such a prick?" Keme glowered.

Zane shrugged. "Surprises are more fun?"

Keme laughed sadly. As they continued on, he realized that Kel had known. Kel knew LiAnh was now chief and his last words had been a warning, something to soften the blow when Keme arrived at the summer village only to discover Seleste was betrothed. Keme had to wonder if the rest of the family had known. Word had arrived from the summer wolves, no doubt, and the letter had probably not failed to mention LiAnh as the new chief. The pity in Kel's eyes the day they parted now made perfect sense.

"If LiAnh marries the princess," Aviine said anxiously, "you aren't going to leave . . . are you, Keme?" He watched Keme hopefully, and Keme smiled: that Aviine liked him so much already was touching.

"Would you want to stay?" Zane said with a snort. "Stop bugging Keme."

Aviine frowned. "He's my brother too!"

"If he starts annoying you," Zane said aside to Keme, "you can come stay at my place. I realize it's crowded, but you can meet my wives - and my grandkids!"

"Thanks, I'll keep that mind," Keme said, but inside he was thinking: Oh, god, never. He couldn't fathom being packed in with that many wolves - and with Mio and Zee, who hated him as well?

"And we can get drunk," Zane said happily, "and my wives can introduce you to some of their friends. Who knows? Maybe you can claim one as wife --"

"Why?" Keme said dully.

Zane laughed incredulously. "Keme, don't you get it yet? You're an old maid. You should have been married years ago. If you don't get married soon, wolves will think you're a tail chaser, and the council will forbid you a mating season. You won't be able to claim a wife. Ever."

". . . that's insane!" Keme said in amazement.

"But that's the way it is," Zane told him. "So you better choose a wifey while you got the chance to choose. I heard Avi and my mom talking other day. I think Avi has a female all lined up for you. Ever since Zaldon's letter came --"

Keme's eyes almost popped. "What! Didn't Zaldon tell them that me and Seleste --?"

"That would have been foolish," Zane said at once. "And Uncle Zaldon is no fool. You're lucky no one knows about you and the princess. The council might decide that you're a threat and that you must fight LiAnh to settle matters. As it is, though, no one knows about you and her. So you're a free bird."

Keme stared grimly as they walked. No matter how he sliced it, he was going to have to marry. Period. Why hadn't Kel warned him of this? Perhaps he could return to the sun village rather than marry. He could live free there. No one would prohibit him from marrying if they thought he liked other males. And he'd be with Honiahaka and Talisa . . . . Keme sighed. The more he tried to convince himself to leave the summer village, the unhappier he felt.

". . . maybe you'll like it here," Aviine tried hopefully. "Maybe you'll like the female Mom has for you."

Keme looked at the boy curiously. "What do you know about this, Aviine? Have you seen this female? What do you think of her?"

Aviine shook his head, but it was clear he was pleased that Keme seemed to value his opinion. "I just heard Mom talking about her. Dad said he didn't want you pushed into anything, but Mom said it had to be done. To secure your place among us."

Keme looked away thoughtfully. He smiled. She hadn't even met him yet, and already his mother was putting all the pieces into place in order to make a home for him.

"And here we are - dun dun da da!" said Zane.

Keme looked where Zane had gestured. They had come to a hut with a thatched roof, of a modest size and made of wood like all the others. It was slightly burnt and Keme could see where someone had taken steps to repair it. He could also see the garden out back: what vegetables used to grow there were now burned away, but fresh laundry hung on the line: sheets from beds and shawls, washcloths, and mats.

Standing in front of the hut were two wolves, a male and a female. The male looked exactly like Keme: tall and black and with the same green eyes. His mane fell loose around his shoulders, and one braid in the front was woven with a brown feather. His arm was around the female at his side. She was very short and gray with erect black ears. Her dark eyes were crinkled happily and her paws were clasped under her chin. Her long mane fell smooth to her tail and was plaited with beads and bones. She wore a deep green shawl and a matching long skirt that was slit up the thighs. Keme could see the bulge of her cock behind the skirt: she was shemale. They were his parents. And they were beaming.

"Is that . . .?" Keme swallowed hard.

"Yup," said Zane happily. "That's Mom and Pop." He took Keme's spear from him and gave him a playful shove in the shoulder.

Unable to take his eyes from his parents, Keme took a few uncertain steps forward. The little shemale gave a sob, then hurried forward and locked him tight in her embrace. He winced: she was definitely shemale. She apologized and loosened her grip, and looking down into her pretty face, Keme felt his heart soaring. He leaned down and embraced her tight, and after a moment, he felt his father hugging them both. They all pulled back to smile at each other.

"Welcome home, son," Kilyan said. He jerked his head at the hut behind him. "Let's go inside." His happy eyes went to Zane and Aviine. "Come on, boys."

The inside of Kilyan's home was as neat and modest as the outside. Pots and baskets of cooking utensils hung from the rafters, and a basin containing dirty dishes rested beside the fire. Around the fire pit were many deerskins for sitting, and Keme sat with his brothers and parents as Avi served them dinner.

As they all tucked in, Keme listened happily to the content chatter of his family. Zane asked after his mother, and Kilyan announced that his other wives were taking supper at his sister's house - to give him and Avi time alone with Keme. Lea and Ohana would then attend the ceremony taking place at the gazebo. Lea was, in fact, a guest of honor. Lea - as in LiAnh's mother. Listening to this, Keme's stomach turned sour: he hoped to god Kilyan wasn't talking about a wedding.

Avi couldn't stop staring at Keme, and Keme couldn't stop staring at her. She was nothing like the shemales he'd met back at Phanyah. They had been stained with tattoos, covered in piercings, carrying crude weapons, angry, bitter, and wild. Avi was devoid of tattoos and piercings, calm and serene, dignified . . . almost regal. She fussed and scolded over Aviine and Zane. Zane took it good-naturedly and even teased Avi a bit, but Aviine scowled, rolled his eyes, and complained.

"Mooooom!" Aviine cried when Avi licked her thumb and started cleaning his face. "Cut it out - please! You're embarrassin' me in front of Keme!"

Keme tried not to laugh for Aviine's sake. The boy would never know how lucky he was to have Avi fussing and kissing and scolding. He'd gone twenty years without her love.

"Keme is a hero of the sun, Dad," Zane announced happily. He jerked his head at Keme's necklace.

Kilyan sat near Keme, his legs folded, his back straight as he ate from his bowl. He nodded proudly. "I am blessed," he said, gazing over at Keme, "to have such wonderful sons! So they don't know you're shemale over in the sun village. Father was cautious and wise."

"Yeah," Keme agreed, thinking of Kel. "He made sure no one found out and that I was careful about my . . . strength."

"Can you pick up furniture like Mom?" Aviine wondered eagerly. "One time Zane was drunk, and Mom threw him over her shoulder --"

"Ahem," Zane said pointedly. "There are some stories Keme doesn't need to hear."

"Pft," Aviine said dismissively and turned back to Keme. "So anyway, Mom picked him up like a feather, and there was so much drool, she almost slipped --"

"I said shuddap!" Zane cried and was clearly irate now.

Aviine grinned in triumph but fell silent and returned to his bowl.

Kilyan's eyes twinkled as he watched his sons.

"So . . . Aviine," Keme said. "You don't have the strength? Like me and . . ." He wanted to say "Mom" but somehow . . . he didn't feel he had the right.

Aviine's ears flattened and his shook his head shyly.

"Aviine more summer wolf than shemale," Avi said fondly and looked with doting eyes across at Aviine.

"Avi thought he was gonna be a girl when she was pregnant," Zane added. "She wasn't far off."

"Hey!" Aviine cried indignantly.

Kilyan laughed. "Alright now, settle down. It's getting late. Zane, you and Aviine have patrol. Look after your brother, and send him home after the first two hours --"

"Dad!" Aviine protested and stared at Kilyan in amazement. "I'm old enough to patrol longer than - I've been patrolling six hours during the day!"

Kilyan set down his bowl and slowly folded his arms. "Need I remind you, Aviine, that it is your privilege_to study under your brother? Boys without older brothers do not patrol at night, nor should they. Protect our village and protect it well. And _then we'll see about lengthening your duties."

"Yes, Father . . ." Aviine said sulkily.

Zane rolled his eyes. "Ah, buck up, Aviine. You're lucky Dad didn't just shout for pushups. He never even deigned to argue with me and Roan. Let's go." He elbowed Aviine as he pulled his big body up.

Still looking a little glum, Aviine rose as well.

Keme watched in amusement as Zane pecked Avi on the cheek - then playfully pecked Kilyan's cheek as well. Kilyan laughed and batted him away. Zane paused at the curtain with Aviine, and after they had gathered their spears, both of them waved goodbye to Keme.

"Later when I come back," Aviine added in a whisper, "you can throw me in the air --"

Kilyan's ears pricked forward. "I heard that!"

Aviine's ears flattened. "Ah, Dad . . ."

"There will be no throwing," Kilyan said adamantly.

Zane laughed at the glum look on Aviine's face. He ruffled his little brother fondly on the mane, then they waved a last time before leaving through the curtain.

Sitting around the fire with Kilyan as Avi gathered the dishes, Keme suddenly felt . . . at home. The house had such a cozy feel, with its scents and warm firelight and hanging baskets. He could see out the window that dusk was indeed falling, sending its last fingers of orange light across the purple sky.

"How can it be?" Kilyan whispered.

Keme looked up to see his father watching him, a small smile on his lips.

Avi came to Keme, and kneeling at his side, she peered into his face. "How is it?" she implored. "And if Keme live . . . whose is this?"

Keme watched as she unwove a bone from her mane. She placed it carefully on his palm, and they both stared at it. It was a finger bone.

"Avi take this from Keme grave," Avi whispered sadly. "Fourteen years ago, Avi escape jungle with father." Her large eyes darted up to Keme's face again and searched it for answers.

Keme closed his fingers on the bone. "Do you remember Aiyana?"

Avi scowled. "She promised to help Avi escape. Instead, stole her child."

Keme's lashes fluttered. He hadn't expected anger on Avi's part. "No, no . . ." he said miserably. "She had no choice - she accidentally killed the one trying to kill me. After that, she had to run."

Avi's anger hadn't faded. "And then what?" she demanded. "Aiyana hide in jungle for _twenty years_with Avi child! Could have given him to Kilyan!" She stabbed a finger in Kilyan's direction, but her eyes were fixed on Keme and her lip poked out, almost trembling. "Could have taken child to safety. But she kept him for her own. Avi should have known better: never trust selfish pygmy."

Keme looked at Avi and didn't know what to say. What could he say? Avi had every right to be angry: Aiyana promised to help both Avi and Keme escape, but instead, she stole Keme and kept him for years, never bothering to even try and bring him to Kilyan. She kept Keme for herself. And what was more, she never seemed to regret what she'd done. Keme's feelings for Aiyana did not change with the knowledge of her betrayal, but he also felt sorry for Avi - Avi, who had spent the last twenty years believing Keme was dead.

Keme opened his fingers again and stared at the bone on his palm. "The night Aiyana took me," he explained patiently, "she unearthed one of her children. She buried that child at the shemale burial grounds . . . so that Finivive would not hunt her."

Avi cupped Keme's face, her lashes blinking out tears. "And now, Roxa here. Roxa safe."

"Roxa?" Keme repeated.

Avi nodded and dropped her paws to her lap. "After Roxaras," she said and drew herself up proudly. "Avi parent. Roriana and Roxaras once shemale queens. They your grandparents. That your heritage. You remember this."

Keme nodded. "I will." He smiled at Avi and was happy to see her pretty eyes crinkle up when she smiled back.

"But she name you Keme," Avi said darkly. After a moment's thought she added, "It pygmy. It mean 'secret.' Avi suppose it fine name," she admitted grudgingly.

Kilyan snorted in amusement. "What? You going to change his name?"

Avi scowled. "Hush, Kilyan. Kilyan not shemale, Kilyan wouldn't understand. Names mean everything. Aviine named for Avi - that the way it should be. Each new generation named after ancestor. So ancestor live on."

"Keme could name his first child after an ancestor," Kilyan pointed out. "Then the tradition wouldn't be broken."

Avi smiled across the fire at her husband, silently thanking him for understanding. She turned back to Keme, bright and eager. "Keme could name first daughter for Avi greatest ancestor - Tala, great shemale queen. Tala was a bringer of peace. She end war with those of the sun and divide the land between them. Since her reign, shemales live in peace. When Avi was a girl, she always want to be like Tala: bring the tribes together, make peace across the land."

". . . no one ever told me you were a queen!" Keme said.

Kilyan grinned. "You come from good stock. The old chief here - Chief Misae - admired shemales so greatly that he made your mother a member of the council before he died. That's why she wears an elder's skirt."

"And they give Avi this as well," Avi said and pulled a necklace from the folds of her shawl. She showed it to Keme: it was a thin rope of gold, and hanging from it, a bright blue jewel.

"My wife is a council elder," Kilyan said proudly, "my son is a hero of the sun, and my other son is chief. Could it get any better?" He grinned. "Maybe with a couple drinks, rub my back?" he said to Avi, who scolded him with a playful wave.

Seeing the bitter look that flashed in Keme's eyes, Avi frowned anxiously. "What wrong, Keme? What is it?"

"Your mother's cooking?" Kilyan added. "I should have warned you."

Avi scowled and playfully threw a dishrag across the room at Kilyan's face. Kilyan grinned as he batted it away. When they both saw Keme wasn't smiling, they exchanged worried glances.

"Keme. . .?" Kilyan tried again. He moved closer, and he and Avi sat either side Keme around the fire.

Sitting between them as the misery washed over him, Keme had never felt so loved in his life as when Kilyan soothingly rubbed his back and Avi kissed his cheek. They watched him anxiously, as if his sudden misery were their own.

"I'm . . ." Keme swallowed and he forced himself to say it. "I'm in love with the princess."

The silence that followed was painful.

Kilyan pinched the flesh between his eyes. "They should be getting married right at this moment."

Keme lifted his head. "What?"

"The wedding was set for sundown," Kilyan explained. "I decided not to go, so I could see you."

Ah. So Kilyan _had_been talking about a wedding earlier.

Silence enfolded them again. Sitting between his parents, Keme wished he hadn't brought it up. He didn't need them to pity him. Or did he? Thinking of Seleste off somewhere kissing LiAnh, he suddenly needed a hug. Desperately.

"Avi meant for Keme to marry another anyway," Avi said quietly.

Keme frowned. "I know. Zane and Aviine told me."

"Keme angry?" Avi said. She watched him apologetically, but he knew she didn't regret the arrangement she'd made for a moment.

"Yes," Keme admitted. "But I also understand it's something I have to do. If I plan to live here."

Avi's ears pricked forward. "What Keme mean? Of course Keme live here!"

"I . . ." Keme faltered himself quiet.

Kilyan's face hardened. "Why wouldn't you live here, son? We're not saying you'd have to live here in the hut with us - that's unthinkable. But until you have your own place --"

"I don't think I can do it," Keme said. "I can't watch them together."

"It's a large village, my son," Kilyan said. "It's possible to go your entire life without laying an eye on the princess. At least give this other girl a chance. You never know: you might like Iniwa."

"Iniwa," Keme repeated dully. "Is that her name?"

Avi nodded. "She lovely girl. Good, clean, respectable. Nice breasts and round hips - good to make grandchildren."

Keme squeezed his eyes shut. "Mom!"

Kilyan and Avi laughed, and when Keme opened his eyes again, Avi was beaming at him. She suddenly hugged him tight, and when she pulled back, she whispered, "Avi wait twenty years . . . to hear Keme say that."