Chapter 138. Ice breaker

We all worked together to set up a few picnic blankets from the packs the Centaurs had brought with them and get comfortable with each other. They had brought a lot of finger food with them, like meat and spreads for sandwiches, as well as what looked like salads with some strange colours.

There was still a bit of underlying fear of Madu and Tarakona, but that settled down a lot when everyone watched Zeldi just being herself around them. It also helped that she would pull everyone into a hug to prove they weren't dangerous.

We all conveniently looked away when she started to leak, as in our hurried state this morning I hadn't properly milked her. It was also something I wasn't going to do around her father at the moment.

The most surprising thing, however, had to be Anna. I hadn't spent much time with her last time I'd visited, as she wasn't really the focus, but this time she made an effort to sit beside me and even offered a sandwich she had personally constructed.

"Thank you." She said after I had accepted her gift. Her posture was still reserved, and she kept an eye on Tarakona, but my Dragon was making an extra effort not to chill the environment or scare the skittish mares.

"What for? I mean apart from bringing Zeldi back temporarily." I asked, taking a bite. I missed mustard, but it was still nice. I wonder if I could start some sort of spice trade? There would have to be the same or similar spices in this world, though.

"For trying to fix this broken family." She replied as she put together her own. "We were far too separated emotionally before you arrived with the loss of Zeldi and Daxel's self-punishment of no more children. You were an outsider who had no reason to do what you did. For that, I thank you."

"I don't think I did too much," I said, watching with interest as she took a bite of her own newly constructed meal.Anna waited until she had swallowed before continuing.

"To you it may not have seemed like much, and I guess from your point of view you were really just coming to us for supplies, but to us? Seeing Zeldi again has reinvigorated Daxel in so many ways that it's almost like he's a different person. Happier, more talkative and well. Some other ways I won't say."

I think everyone listening in knew exactly what she was referring to as Daxel himself looked away with a faint blush that was mirrored by Anna."So I wanted to thank you properly this time. Even if you don't think you did much, I still want to thank you for what you did." Anna finished, giving me a shy smile before excusing herself to go sit beside Daxel.

The stallion had Gally on his other side, making him his own meal and feeding him so that he could keep his hands wrapped around her waist. Anna saddled up to his other side and silently demanded he do the same to her with his other arm.

"Oooow, I think Anna likes you. In a purely mate-of-her-daughter way, Master, don't get any ideas." Zeldi joked, sitting beside me and leaning against my side.

I copied Daxel and slunk a hand around to hold her, thankful that my transportation to this world had given me the extra muscle mass to hold her weight. "I would never." I mocked kissing her on the cheek.

Zeldi let out a giggle that turned into a smirk. "Good, because I still need a Centaur milkmaid, remember? And it would be so much easier if you lusted after them instead of one of my mother's. That way we can worry about her babies as well and I don't have to figure out what having my mother and sister as mates actually means."

"And I thought Madu was the horniest of you girls," I whispered into her ear, enjoying the way they twitched.

Zeldi hummed in enjoyment. "I don't think so. That goes to Tarakona; Madu is just the worst at hiding it."I must have given a really confused reaction because Zeldi clarified by whispering into my own ear. "She has slept with you once when you were a Dragon Master and hasn't shut up about it yet. It's not like she can just request another night with you without changing into her Draconian form, and she's waiting for her egg. Be prepared for when she's laid it."

"And here I thought that whole night of statue making had at least helped," I mumbled as out of the corner of my eye I saw Madu and Voras talking with Helayt. She seemed a lot less scared of them than the rest of the Centaurs, but she was still a little bit flighty with how she looked around.

"Helped is maybe a strong word. Stoked her fire might be a better way of putting it." Zeldi playfully replied as we both tried to subtly look towards Tarakona.The Dragon in question was staring at the two of us in amusement.

[I will take the compliment that I have better control of my urges, thank you, sister Zeldi, but I would like to remind you that I wanted to keep that other part just between the two of us. Do not make me have to come up with a punishment for you.]

"Depends entirely on what type of punishment you are referring to." Zeldi countered with her tongue out, only to let out a yelp as I slapped her on her hindquarters.The conversations around us grew quiet as the sound echoed.

I let out a cough. "Sorry about that. Was just reminding Zeldi that some subjects are better held back until we're back on the farm, and not around family."

Daxel barked out a laugh at that as Zeldi blushed bright red. "You say that like we weren't just as bad the last time you were here." The stallion laughed, pulling Anna closer against his side to hide her as she started to compete with Zeldi for the brightest face. "We did abandon you two just because Anna couldn't wait a few hours to start foal making."

"Daxel!" Helayt scolded, offering an apologetic look my way. Madu joined Daxel in laughing while Voras was trying to hide, even though she was the second biggest person here.

[It is fine, Helayt. I'd say Zeldi was being rude, but I feel she has learned a few interesting character traits from her father if this was anything to go by.]

"Oh, let the Gods forgive us if that is true," Yenem said with a sigh, coming over and trapping Zeldi between herself and me. "If she is even half as difficult as Daxel is, then you are going to need all the help you can get."Yenem shifted her weight so that her hindquarters bumped into Zeldi, throwing her into my side even more.

"Mother! I'm head mare of this family. Please at least pretend I can do it." Zeldi complained, trying and failing to push the other mare away from her. Unfortunately, the size difference and the fact Zeldi wasn't that used to hard work meant she had very little chance of moving her mother.

"And you have done a wonderful job." Helayt praised, giving a nod to each of the other girls. "I don't think anyone in the village could brag that their families consist of a Dragon, Gorgon or Arachnid. From a safety point of view, you are an incredibly powerful mare to be the head mare of them all."

Zeldi preened at the praise."Well, it helps when Clovek has an amazing di...." Madu tried to say as Voras wrapped some silk around her mouth.

"Direction in life." My Arachnid finished. "He has an amazing direction he is going with all of us, and we wish for him to succeed with all of our support."

"Madu, behave." I lightly growled. "You wouldn't want any of Zeldi's family to think we were nothing but degenerates, now would you?"

Madu slipped the silk off her mouth. "Fine. But I want to be pampered like Zeldi is right now."

Zeldi, of course, patted her lap. "Come here then. I can feed you and Master at the same time."

Yenem shook her head, but the smile betrayed her amusement.Madu, however, took the opportunity presented and coiled herself up in front of Zeldi before laying her head down in my Centaurs' lap. She couldn't have seen Zeldi's face at all due to the mountains in the way, but she settled in nicely with her four snakes all finding their own places to rest.

"Can I touch them?" The question was almost whispered by Yenem as she kept sneaking glances at Madu. "If it's already of course."

"Of course you can. Just be gentle; they are my hair after all. You wouldn't want your own hair pulled." Madu answered, offering one of her snakes towards Zeldi's mother.

Daxel coughed at the statement but didn't elaborate, even as Yenem's cheeks gained a tinge of red.

"Unbelievable," Helayt growled, shooting daggers at her husband. "We are in company. Could you not control yourself for one day?"

[It must be a trait all men share, Helayt. Clovek is just as bad when a situation presents itself.]

"Or when one of you girls does," I said quickly before catching myself. "I mean, I like to think I'm respectful."

No one believed me, but the girls all laughed at Daxel and my expense. Zeldi's hand made its way onto my thigh for a squeeze. Her thanks for breaking the ice between the two groups.That made the slight embarrassment easier to deal with, though both of us men shared a wince.