It didn't take long for the single males who were once sitting in their campfires to head over to attempt to court a female. On the other side, some of the females' males had their fur standing on edge, others took this process calmly, while a handful seemed to be hoping that their single blood related brethren would be able to integrate into a female's family, either as her male or her guard.

What was surprising to watch though was that even the single strip males took in a breath of bravery to partake in the same ritual. Might be foolish of them, but at the same time, there's still the hope that they might be shown mercy.

As I watch the males attempt to bow down to their chosen females with meat offerings, my ear twitches to the footsteps of an incoming beastmen.

Leaning back comfortably to Wyatt's chest I begin to observe the young male. From scent alone I can tell he's a wolf beastmen, and as he gets closer I can see on his nervous face two clear stripes. The light brown headed male nods his head at me then at Wyatt (humm, should I make Wyatt the temporary head male?). Waiting for our permission, I quickly glance at Sheila and see her eating the fruit like pop-corn (glad to entertain you Goldy).

Thinking that this will be a good lesson for her, I silently nod my head at the male who then lets out a half smile. Yet instead of kneeling on the ground in front of me, the male heads on over to the still snacking Sheila and begins to kneel in front of her with his offering held over to her.

The last fruit that popped into her mouth bounces off into the ground. Meanwhile one of the males sitting on her side has barely raised his fur at the newcomer. Interesting.

"Wait, me?" says the blonde girl as she points a fruit stained finger to herself.

The male with his face lowered to the ground nods his head.

The girl then begins to blush, stuttering, she replies to the waiting male, "gosh, I'm, I'm truly honor, but I ugh plan on taking only one." Sigh, she's still stubborn about having only one male to her family huh.

The kneeling male trembles, "if not your male, then please add me as a guard! I'm the best tracker of my age group and am quick to run!"

Taken back by his outburst, Sheila mutters, "I already have two though, two guards..."

As she bites down on her lips in worry. Radu, who was snickering at her, voices out loud, "Pug, think about it." He points to his head, smirks, and then shows her two fingers, "you only have two guards... for this winter and what's to come it'd be best to have more unless you'd want for your guards to die away since they didn't have enough numbers to defend you?" He ends with letting one finger down, then the last one, to show her how easily they could drop dead.

At his comment the guard whose hair was raised, growls at the comment that they were weak. Meanwhile what seems to be the most rational of the two guards, nods his head in agreement. Looking at his comrade and at a worried Sheila, he speaks to her, "I can't tell you to agree or not to agree, but the skunk beast is right. Us alone won't be enough to protect you, especially during the winter. We'd be enclosed and alone for no one would dare to step out into the freezing ongoing snow."

Taking note of his description, the young girl nods her head solemnly, "what is your name?"

The young male finally looks up and smiles brightly, "Sam! My name is Sam, I'm a wolf beastmen and would happily become your guard if you allowed it!"

Letting out a long sigh, Sheila takes the meat from his hand and before he could get up she quickly adds in a tone I've hardly ever heard from her, "you will become my guard, but if one day you were to be interested in another female, I would happily let you court her... that would be our agreement. Do you accept it?"

Sam's tail that was once happily wagging, slowly came to a halt. With lowered ears he nods his head and replies, "yes, I agree, but if only I were to find another female." Hmmmm, he's not letting this opportunity go, buahaha.

Either innocent to his wordings or simply not caring, she quickly takes a bite of the offered meat, while the other guard let's out a frustrated sigh.

After Sam sits on the side of the more calm of the two males, my males go back to flirting with me and teasing each other.

Leo's ears were the first to twitch to the sound of another footstep. Thinking it was for Sheila and awaiting to see how she'll reply this time, I let out a smile at the incoming male.

The male seeing my smile giddily comes closer but before he could take a step further to my campfire, a powerful scent over takes my nose.

Freezing, Leo, Radu, and I sit stiffly and watch as the once giddy male pales and fast walks back to his campfire.

Oh no, don't tell me, he's behind us right? Stupid, stupid! Why!!

Feeling my hair stand on end my head stiffly looks behind us at the dark sky. Except it wasn't so dark because two pairs of eyes seemed to be glowing menacingly at us. Crud, crud, crud, crud, time to go!!

Sensing our anxiety and my fear, Sheila's guards eyes began to glow and sniffed at the air for the threat. When they realized who it was, the fur on their tails began to brizzle. Quickly they got up and hovered around Sheila.

My males and I were two steps quicker than they, in fact some of my males were hurriedly grabbing the rest of the cooked meat to take back, another was storing the raw meat in his bag, while the rest were hovering around me.

"Suki," calmly breathed in a voice that I once wished would've called my name so many winters ago.

Wyatt, being the taller and broadest of my males, immediately placed himself in front of me while staring in Vick's black eyes.

Vick, whose lips lifted to my male in frustration, stopped and began to let out a long breath.

"I mean no harm," he then goes to kneel and places what seems to be an offering to me. Honey, he's offering me honey????

"Holy $%^!" gasps Sheila as she watches the big male kneel in front of me.. Well technically in front of Wyatt who's still standing guard in front of me with his eyes bulging out in surprise. Leo, who was watching on guard from the side, had accidentally let one of the cooked meat in his arms fall on the ground out of astonishment. As for Radu and Adan, their tails were fidgeting in unrest.

This lovely scene could've been considered BL if in fact it wasn't so serious and if I wasn't, you know, there.

"I am wrong for what I've done to you, have repented and have thought about it since that day. And came to believe that..."

Please don't end that sentence in what I think you're going to say.

"... believe that I desire to be in your family. Please Suki choose me and I swear to protect, cherish, and feed you with the utmost of my ability as a tetra mark male."

Protect me? Did he think that I would immediately forgive him for scaring me and harming my family?! Though Adan won't say it, I can tell that his self-esteem has been hit pretty hard since he lost his eye. Losing an eye in this world is equivalent to being at mercy to his surroundings! Not to mention that besides strength, many females search for perfection and beauty in their males.

Feeling my claws coming out, my hand trembles in wanting to slap this huge male away. However, before I could answer, Radu softly grabs onto my hand and with his other hand firmly attempts to push Wyatt to the side.

Wyatt, feeling a familiar paw on his side, glances back at Radu, sees the look of confidence in his purple eyes then glances at me for permission.

Not knowing what Radu was up to, I glance at him, which he then cuddles his cheek to mine and kisses the top of my head. "Trust me," he whispers.

Biting down on my lips, I search within his calm eyes and finally give Wyatt a nod.

Stepping away, Radu and I now have a clear view of the kneeling Vick whose fist is curled tightly on the ground while another hand is raised with the bowl of honey.

"Suki may not be ready or ever be ready to take you in as her male," says Radu confidently as he speaks strongly to Vick.

Vick lowers his ears but not in submission, instead it feels as if he's holding himself back.

Leo, Adan, and Wyatt, noticing the change in the atmosphere, began to further tense in their stance and warily watched how the big male would attack.

As if he didn't care for his own safety, Radu continues, "you may also not even live with us in our den...."

Pausing, he watches how the veins in Vick's arm began to show.

"However, if Suki agrees, you could become her guard and only time will tell what could happen next."

Radu, what did you say!!!