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“I agree with him,” Faunus said, rising to his pawed feet and walking over to Mayumi. He buried his feline skull into the side of her neck. “Only once. If we must suffer our females leaving, it should be with the knowledge we will not have to do so again.”

Emerie glanced down at Ingram to find the strawberry had fallen from his claw and splattered against the ground. He stared at Faunus, before turning his raven skull to her.

After the conversation they’d shared last night, where it seemed he wanted to keep Emerie safe and leave her behind, she wondered if he agreed with both Orpheus and Faunus. Was he willing to be patient... for her?

Emerie hoped she meant that much to him.

I guess we better figure out a foolproof plan then, otherwise no one is going.

With the sound of wooden swords clacking before him, Ingram was seated with his legs bent – not quite crossed, but also not straight. Since Faunus was seated with his legs crossed, the back of Ingram’s tail was pressed between the gap of Faunus’ knees and the ground.

Together, they watched Emerie and Mayumi ‘training.’

Ingram wasn’t sure if the feline-skulled Mavka was aware he’d slyly sought the comfort of physical touch, since Emerie was currently unavailable to do so.

The sky was cloudy, giving them no warmth but plenty of light. There was a small breeze, and every day he noticed the temperature dropping just a little. Perhaps that was a good thing today, since sweat had already beaded on Emerie’s forehead from battling Mayumi.

Both females had started this hours ago, under Mayumi’s request. Apparently, she wanted to see how good Emerie was. Once she stated his pretty butterfly obviously had ‘skills,’ as she put it, she then wanted to train with her to keep her own body sharp.

Faunus had brought up some concerns, since Mayumi was carrying a youngling, but she’d brushed him off.

Ingram couldn’t help bringing his sight to her stomach. He was curious about the whole thing, especially about how Faunus had managed to put a youngling inside her. He planned to ask Emerie for further information about it later, realising now her previous explanation was... vague and only partially informative.

All he knew was that Mayumi smelt heavily of Faunus’ marking scent – as though it was fresh. It made him want to be anywhere but near her, as though it would be an offense to the feline-skulled Mavka.

He’d felt the same way about the other females as well.

He brought his sight to Emerie, just as she ducked underneath Mayumi’s wooden sword and tried to counterattack – only to fail, as she did every time. Mayumi was too quick for Emerie, and it was obvious who the more advanced opponent was.

His vision threatened to turn blue.

She no longer smells of me.Well, that wasn’t true. She had his body scent from sleeping in his arms, but she no longer had his sexual marking on her.

The bulk of it had disappeared after she’d fallen in the swamp water, and the final remnants were washed away during her bath.

It bothered him that it was gone, and that she was surrounded by other males of his kind without it. Now that he’d covered her in it, he had this deep, nagging desire to make sure it stained her. He didn’t know why, and he also didn’tfuckingcare to learn its meaning – he just wanted to fix it so that it didn’t pester him and leave him tight in the chest.

His sight morphed to a bright green as he mulled it over, unsure of how to instigate this with her.

Ever since they’d arrived, Ingram had barely left her side. He was uncomfortable being within the homes of marked females, like he was imposing on their territory and the safety of their nests. It worsened with the tiny one before him, who had an additional scent on her that shouted at his mind that she was utterly fragile and required protection.

The problem was...Why do I feel like Emerie is avoiding me?

They’d been here a day, and already her attention was anywhere else but on him. She also often drew away from his touch during certain conversations, like yanking her ankle from the comforting hold he had on her. Now that his essence was bereft of her touch, he was pathetically seeking it from the male next to him.

She’d slept in his arms last night, but there had been this blanket barrier between them. The only reason he hadn’t ripped it from her was because she’d looked at peace within its wrappings.

All he’d felt was a warm, living lump.

His tail tip curled in apprehension, just as movement to his right stole his attention from the two females training.

When he looked down at Faunus’ knee, Bitey, one of his younglings, was standing upon it with their sightless face pointed up at him. Ingram tilted his head, and his hand twitched.

A baby Mavka... is this what I looked like when I was small?

His sight drifted to the second one, who wasn’t as quick and was even smaller as though they were younger. They were currently walking over Faunus’ skull, only to slide down his horn and hold onto the curve of it. His large, clawed hand was underneath them, ready to catch in case they fell.

“If you don’t mind being bitten, go for it,” Faunus calmly stated while keeping his sight riveted on his bride. It was as if he worried the moment he looked away, she’d come to harm. “I can tell you want to.”