Allô! This is essentially a double chapter in terms of length... There wasn't any ideal spot to separate it so I left it being twice as long as what my chapters usually are.

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Hungry and fed up with waiting, Iris passed each male two cans. She gave them what was left of the clam chowder, saving the beef stew for herself. As much as she used to love clam chowder, the canned stuff was seriously in need of spicing. It was way too bland.

Being the caring host, she gave the males some well used spoons that she had been too lazy to clean yet. Not that they seemed to be familiar with their usage anyway.

After a quick demonstration of how to use a spoon, everyone was settled. It was time for questions. AKA their agreed time for discussion.

"So how about we exchange question for question? I ask you one and then you ask me one?" Iris started while she quizzically watched the male's fiddle with the spoons. They looked like toddlers trying to feed themselves for the first time.

Tawn, too busy with his food, seemed to have missed the question. It was the first time a female had served him, and it was definitely something he could get used to. Females in the beast continent did not take care of feeding her males, let alone males she wasn't mated to. Not to mention that the stuff from out of that 'can' tasted amazing. He'd quickly given up on the traditional usage of the spoon and had instead opted to use it as a shovel while he tilted the can's contents into his mouth. It was much faster.

Having finally regained his wits, Ink noticed Tawn's lack of response and grunted in agreement.

Finally registering the conversation happening around him, Tawn interjected, "I'll ask the first question." He took Iris's and Ink's silence as approval to begin. "Where did you get this food from?" He asked while motioning to the now empty can in his hands, clearly food orientated.

"Uh they were part of a delivery I was doing..." Iris was unsure how to reply. "Usually, you can buy them in stores."

"Never seen anything like this up for trade." Ink interjected. "Now that Tawn's wasted the first question, next one is yours, female." He thought it odd that a female would do a delivery, but a lot was off about this female in particular.

Iris sat back, savoring a spoonful of her beef stew while she thought about what she wanted to ask them. She would like to know where she was and how to get to the closest city. Though, looking at the duo before her, she doubted the credibility of their answer in regard to such a question.

Irritated, Ink exclaimed, "Female, will you ask your question or not?"

"My name is Iris, and yes, I do plan to ask my questions. Especially seeing that I now have two to ask." She smirked devilishly at the now scowling Ink.

Settling on a good opening question, "Why did you come to my camp site?" Iris asked.

"We smelt a female's scent on a tanning hide, without any accompanying males. So, we came to investigate." Tawn answered simply. By then he'd already finished both his cans of soup and was eyeing Ink's with keen interest.

Nodding in acknowledgment, she thought it was about time to ask them something that had bothered her. "What did you mean when you said that I was yours? It's an awfully strange thing to say to someone who you've only just met. Not to mention just fought with." She wanted to avoid the usage of the word 'rude' as both seemed to bristle when it was used.

Without thinking Tawn asked, "Why would you ask that? Isn't it obvious?"

"Quit asking useless questions." Ink hissed out in clear annoyance. Turning back to Iris, "Don't answer those, they don't count." He sounded much like a petulant child.

Iris suppressed a giggle at the comical men. After so long being alone having a bit of company was doing her good. Even if one was a mystical asshole and the other a man-puppy. "Sounds good. Though, I would still appreciate an answer to my question."

Deciding it was his turn to answer, Ink replied point blank, "We said that because you are ours, or at least will be soon."

Iris cringed at his reply. It would be a subject to broach later as both males seemed to have some sort of warped misconception.

"How did you get your beast mark?" Asked Ink. He and Tawn had silently agreed that he would be asking the next few questions. At least until Tawn could be trusted to not waste any.

"First, I don't know what a beast mark is. Second, because I don't know what that is, I don't know how I got this mark that you speak of. Third, I don't even know what mark you're talking about." Iris slowly answered to the point.

Both males looked at each other skeptically. How could someone not know any of this? It was basic knowledge.

This time Tawn answered, "You have a swirling mark that peeks out from behind your left ear down to right behind your jaw but still on your upper neck." He traced along his neck as he explained to add a visual to his description. "Usually only beastmen get them when they become stronger. I have never heard of a female receiving one." Then, he indicated to the three wavy claw like marks that seemed to be printed onto his skin, "See these?"

Iris nodded while looking at the tattoos on his arm.

"This is the proof that I am a level three beastman. Each time I noticeably increase in strength, I get one extra mark." He then indicated towards Ink, "His marks are in the form of scales. He has three on his hip, so he's also a level three beastman. Most beastmen plateau at two marks. While some can't even make it past one." Proudly, he continued, "So Ink and I are really strong and will make good mates. We can protect you."

By the end of his mini lecture, Tawn's chest was puffed out in confidence. Ink looked on blankly, unreadable, although he did sit a little straighter.

Iris was completely blank. She'd basically missed the last portion of what Tawn had said. Thank goodness for her mental health.

Now however, she was stuck. How could tattoos tell how strong someone was? How did they know when they deserved to receive another one? Were there tournaments or something to decide? She'd figure that out later. "I'm gonna have to owe you guys another question because, I still don't quite understand." Iris began. Both males nodded for her to continue. So, they can be civil, she thought. "What do you mean by females don't receive them? And I don't have any tattoos. You guys are the first people I've seen since I've been here so there's no way that I could have received any 'mark'. Also, when you say 'beastmen' do you mean as in how Ink is a naga and I'm assuming that you're a werewolf when you say that you're a wolf beastman?" She indicated towards Tawn at the end. "How does this stuff apply towards humans?"

"You owe us three questions, female." Ink interjected.

Ignoring the moody snake, Tawn continued. "What's a where-wolf? Naga's not a name?" He asked as he cocked his head to the side. "We're beastmen..." After a slight pause, "What's a heuw-main?"

"Riiiiggghht... Ok..." Not quite grasping what Tawn meant by being beastmen, Iris chose to broach the subject again later after a bit of thought. Instead, she answered, "Human, as in the form you are in now. I'm a human."

"He's in his beastman form right now, whereas I am currently partially shifted." Ink clarified. "You must be from very far to be so confused. What clan do you descend from for them to have such lacking education for their females?"

Taken aback, Iris frowned and blinked a few times before replying, "I'm not quite clear on what you mean."

The males once again shared a look. This female was definitely out of the ordinary. That or quite loopy. They'd have to figure her out later.

Deciding that it was time to move on from their topic, Ink asked straight to the point, "Why have you not gone out over the last few days?"

Confused, Iris replied, "I was out just last night and how would you know if I hadn't been out?" These men were way too confusing. Things seemed somehow off.

"Simple!" Tawn exclaimed, eager to explain his findings. "I could smell that the trees you usually urinate on or excrete by have not been used for a couple days. The scents were old. Plus, your scent around your camp was almost completely faded."

Slightly disgusted that Tawn had smelt around the area she had decided to use as a toilet, Iris decided to pretend she didn't hear that part. "But I was out only just yesterday." She once again insisted.

Noticing the discrepancy in the conversation, "Did you wake up feeling stronger than before or with heightened senses recently? Or even feel like you had had a very deep sleep, deeper than you'd ever had before?" Ink asked straight to the point.

Pinching up her face in thought Iris looked at Ink, "How did you know? That's how I felt when I woke up this morning."

Ink's deep blue eyes locked with Tawn's black ones. The female had only just reached level one and was likely still slightly unstable with her new strength. Suddenly, they both understood why she seemed to have released beast pressure, she had done it unknowingly.

Being the smarter of the two, Ink began to connect some dots. Iris seemed very confused about all that way basic to them. She didn't seem to know what beastmen were, nor did she know about beast marks. He even had a sinking feeling that she wouldn't be familiar with mating marks.

"One more thing," Ink suddenly began, "Do males not have a second form where you are from?"

Iris slowly nodded, confused as to what he meant.

"Did you notice any oddities, similarities or differences compared to where you are from while you've been here? Other than Tawn and I." He continued.

Iris thought for a moment before replying. "um, I would have expected more pine trees for one. This was along a path that I've taken many times in the past and the trees are much different than the ones I've seen in passing. Also, some animals are similar in size to the ones I've seen in forests back home, but others are much larger. Like way larger. Also, some plants seem weird..." She trailed off. She didn't like thinking of all the oddities. They made her feel too far from home. She still hoped deep down to be able to return to her family and friends.

Finally understanding, Ink pushed "Did you happen to hunt any animals that you thought were abnormally large since you've been here?" She obviously had skills that could be applied towards hunting based on how she had ambushed them. He hatted to acknowledge it, but she very well could have killed them when she had targeted them earlier. He had never seen anything like her flying pointed sticks before and highly doubted other beastmen on the continent had either. They would be prone to her attacks.

"Yeah! Now that you mention it, I've caught a few really big rabbits!" Iris began excitedly, proud of new her skills with the bow. "Sometimes they'd just wonder into my camp and I'd wake up like 'breakfast is served.'" She explained proudly. "Though their meat was a bit tough... But I always felt so good after eating it."

Having his suspicions confirmed, Ink felt a sense of pride towards their female. She was strong. He couldn't wait to mate her.

Tawn felt a sense of dread creeping down his back in the form of a cold sweat. She'd hunted beastmen. Only ferals ever ate beastmen so casually.

The males again looked at each other, opposing emotions in each pair of eyes. Ink turned back to the female first.

"I have a proposition."

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Per usual, thank you all for reading! If you're enjoying my work, please tap that sexy star. 

Also, if anyone spots any grammar/ spelling issues plz let me know. Same goes if something doesn't make sense.

Take care <3

Oct. 20, 2021