The swarm fell together in the small pseudo clearing Ana led us to. We had been allowing ourselves some rest every day, so we weren’t going to collapse, but we had been working hard and traveling hard, while still fending for ourselves and feeding ourselves. Suffice to say, there wasn’t a single soul who complained about the extended break we seemed to be getting for now. The little wolfstags had grown nearly to an adult size at this point, and they had begun circling around Sybil whenever they weren’t sent to scout, and they always left at least one of their number behind with her.

Their original eight were down to six, but they had thrived crossing the Samutelia, or so I’d been told. Frankly speaking, I hadn’t thought of them at all since I’d convinced Sybil to adopt them, even though they’d constantly been in my peripherals and around the swarm. Maybe it was that our severely reduced numbers had led the creatures to believe that their mistress (Sybil) was now in some sort of heightened danger. Strictly speaking, she was, but having the whining little things underfoot all the time was grating on me.

To my surprise, Sybil seemed to enjoy their company though. She had gotten to the point where she could communicate and give surprisingly complex commands to the creatures: “Seek deer”, “Scout in that (points) direction”, “Defend me”. That last command led to all six circling around her, Sybil in the center and protected on all angles. It was pretty impressive, all things considered.

“How have you done it?”

“They’re simple creatures–tell them what to do, and they’ll do it. Much better to work with than you hardheaded reptiles.” Sybil smirked at me. “I didn’t even have to offer to mate with them.”

I sighed. “I’ve apologized for my own ignorance a dozen times. I can’t see what an additional apology would do.”

“Nothing. I don’t want you to apologize, only remember your shame.” Sybil leaned forward and playfully nipped at my shoulder, near where it joined with my neck. It sent the primal, involuntary remembrance of exactly how long it had been down my spine, and I half considered taking her right then. I suspected she wouldn’t mind, either, given how she was acting. Sure, it was probably some sort of subtle declaration of her position in the swarm to any that might have been wondering about how likely it may have been for them to sneak into my bed, but I didn’t really care. I just wanted her… but I wasn’t so foolish as to give in. Just as I was able to gather my thoughts and attempt a comeback, Sybil slunk away, the wolfstags falling in step as she went.

“Your loss. Maybe next time.” With a twist of her tail, Sybil was off to confer with somebody about some devious plan, no doubt. I sighed, chuckled… and saw my three children watching. Ishtar and Iituli noticed me noticing their snooping and looked appropriately chagrined, but Isnanna cocked her head before approaching much more closely than I was comfortable with while still reeling from her mother’s assault on my psyche.

“Did you choose not to mate with her because any eggs laid from that union would almost certainly need to be abandoned?”

How does one explain the rationale of why they didn’t choose to mate with their spouse to their children? “Not necessarily, but you are correct in saying that.”

A sage nod. “Then do you find Mother to be sexually attractive to you?”

Nievtala save me.

…

My child’s incessant questions were just that: incessant. Finally, I had explained sufficiently for her to understand that 1. I do continue to find Sybil attractive, 2. Sexual reproduction was enjoyable, and 3. It simply isn’t right to mate in front of one’s progeny… among other things… in painful detail.

Finally, I took the opportunity to catch up with my children. At this point, I was sure that all three were technically adults, but I was far from comfortable asking them about what their thoughts were on their personal futures with regards to sexual desires. Instead, I asked about what each hoped to experience as we continued this journey to our eventual homes, how their packs were getting on, and what, if any, concerns they had about the swarm’s path forward.

“Father, I think that journeying is fine, but I can’t help but look back on our time in the den where we were born fondly. It was simpler, less immediately dangerous… altogether better, frankly.” Iituli quickly backpedaled, “I do understand, however, why we needed to leave!”

“I’ve enjoyed the journey, the challenges. I do miss Wisterl, she was a great teacher. Showed me where my place is in the swarm, and I welcome it now, because of her.” Ishtar’s response was simple

“I have questions about logistics, but I imagine that Mother would be better equipped to answer them than you. You are the heart of the swarm, and she the mind. I do not love journeying for journey’s sake, but I understand its necessity. Thus, I have no complaints.” Isnanna was as coldly calculating as always, and I hadn’t expected anything less of her.

“Ishtar, what do you mean, ‘your place in the swarm’?”

“I am powerful in my own right, and can show others how to fight, I enjoy fighting too. But, I don’t enjoy or have the gift of leadership. I don’t have your fire or Mother’s deep thoughts. I am a fighter, and I can lead warriors into a fight, but nothing more. I’m happier that way.”

“A thorough self-reflection.” I nodded approvingly. “How about you two?”

“I think I am the most like you, Father. I enjoy leading, I have a gift for magic, and I am built like you. You call yourself a Hak’tal, a warrior caste, but you are different from the rest, almost a blend of Hak’tal and Sou’tal, the noble caste, like mother. I… think of it as the ‘royal’ caste, the Zak’tal. Those worthy to become Zaaktif. I think I’m like you, a little different from everyone else. Just look at Ishtar and Isnanna–Ishtar is solidly a Hak’tal, and Isnanna’s a Sou’tal. I’m like a blend of both… like you.” Keelish can’t blush, but the stronger, flaring scales around Iituli’s hands quavered restlessly as he finished his little speech, obviously caught up in his words, unable to back down, but embarrassed by his speaking up.

I let him stew in it, turning to Isnanna. She shrugged. “I am not someone capable of leading. I have nothing capable of drawing in followers. If Ishtar does not want to stand before the pack, then it naturally will fall to he who I believe to be the most qualified to lead among us. That is Iituli, and I support him in leading our pack. I work best as an advisor, and, once he gets over his self-aggrandizing tendencies, Iituli is a good leader.” The, after a grudging beat, “And… I agree with his analysis of a different ‘royal’ caste.”

Without conscious thought, I gathered the three into my arms and chuckled. “I worried about you, but it seems I shouldn’t have. You’ve learned who you are all by yourselves. I’m proud–it takes maturity to accept your place, especially if it is not the one you desired initially.”

I was happy to feel all three of my children accept my hug, and I gently bunted my head into each one respectively.

“Father… I was wondering… How–” Ishtar was cut off by the appearance of Bloodpriestess Ana, dressed in what seemed to be a ceremonial robe of some sort.

“I am sorry, Fahvalo Ashlani, but the Allmother is ready to see you. Please, let us not keep her waiting.”