Chapter 154. The visitor

We made our way over to Zeldi and Abelha as they both sat down on the ground by the pool with our egg.

"Sooooo. What do you mean by part of the herd?" Abelha asked, leaning forward towards Zeldi, who was lying down a bit to the side.

"As part of the herd, we all look out for each other," Zeldi answered without specifics.

Abelha didn't get it. "But my hive will do that. I can even get them to help you guys out if needed. Why must I become part of this herd thing? It all seems redundant."

She had a point. It wasn't as if we could simply say it was Zeldi's quest and Abelha would have the support of her hive when the time came. She just needed Zeldi's permission first, and that requires being part of the herd. Bit of a catch twenty two there.

"Same reason you want Clovek to be able to fight. Call it a condition of being able to start your hive." Zeldi responded.

At this point we were almost there, and I could make out Abelha's face as she finally understood. Well partly so.

"Okay then. And to be part of this herd, I must get your permission and promise to help out anyone else who is a part of it?" The Queen Bee hummed with a nod.

The nod caused her entire body to jiggle. Zeldi wasn't shy about looking, and even I couldn't pull my gaze away as her overalls struggled to contain the twin mountains as they moved. Even the peaks were causing their own visible bumps.

Tarakona, however, surprised us all by looking as well.

[Zeldi, I understand, as she is a milkmaid. I do not, however, understand why you can compete with her in this department. I admit it's a little vexing, as my love has an obvious liking for larger ones.]

"Added layer for my first births. I'll go through the extra fat while I wait for my first workers to grow up, as typically I will be alone without food for a duration of the egg laying and raising." Abelha shrugged and got up.

Both Tarakona and I were given an eyeful in her ascent. Neither of us looked away for different reasons.

"So does that mean you'll keep it if we feed you while you are hive-bound?" Zeldi thankfully distracted Abelha from our gazes.

Abelha shrugged. "Possibly, not like any other Queen has done it with support, so I can't ask them."

Tarakona let out a chuckle before she threw off her clothes and jumped into the air. I was quick to put it into my inventory while noticing she had been going commando before a white light surrounded her and she landed in her Dragon form.

[Before we get too distracted, I would like to get started, my love. Progress waits for no one.]

"Oooow, get started with what?" Zeldi asked as she tried to get up by herself.

She wasn't yet big enough to struggle or need help, but that didn't mean I was not going to offer my assistance. My little mare gave a smile as I helped haul her to her hooves. It wasn't as elegant as just offering my hand to her, as I had to almost lift parts of her equine half up, but it worked.

"The lake Tarakona wants to build for our soon-to-be hatchling." I tried to say without breathing too heavily. Didn't want her to think she was too heavy for me. "Tarakona's a little impatient to get started, and she has good reason to."

"Well, I'm going to be of no help with this, so if you'll excuse me." Abelha bowed before jumping into the air and making her way over to Dríade.

Zeldi gave a smile that was a little strained. "I don't think I'll be of much help either. Unless you can think of something I could do?"

[No need, sister. The majority of it will be done by me, so....]

Tarakona stopped, and her head slowly turned around until it was facing the treeline. Zeldi and I both followed her gaze to see what had stopped her but couldn't make anything out.

[My love, please excuse me. I have something that just reminded me of a task that needed doing.]

A task more important than preparing for our child? I was very interested in what that was.

"We'll go have some lunch then. You will have to tell us what's so important." I said back, hoping she would tell us right then.Unfortunately, she did not, so I took Zeldi's hand and led her towards the house. We looked back a few times, but Tarakona didn't budge.

"We're totally going to spy on her, right?" Zeldi whispered when she thought we were far enough away that Tarakona wouldn't hear.

There was no way she wouldn't, as being a Dragon had a lot of benefits.

"Noooooo. That would be rude, and we don't want to be rude. But then again, yes, I think we will be." I replied with a smirk.

Zeldi giggled and dashed into the house before taking up a seat by the window. I didn't even get time to join her before Voras made herself known.

"Clovek! We have a visitor on the farm... Oh. You already know." My Arachnid stuttered.

Madu wasn't far behind, though the usual fun-loving Gorgon had her hood up with all her snakes hissing. A quick look at the farm revealed the Dryads had all disappeared as well, and Abelha was no longer flying around.

"Okay... What kind of visitor garners this type of reaction?" I asked, looking between the group. Zeldi was just as confused as I was.

"One with tremendous magical potential," Voras answered. "Not as much as Tithalia had, but this one has been here before but couldn't get past your trespassing. However, this time she has."

I brought up my trespassing requirements to make sure, and it still read exactly as I remembered. Only myself, Livestock, traders, Dryads and Tithalia could enter. So if she'd been denied before, she could only be a trader now.

She is a Livestock. Though even we do not understand exactly what she is. The Arachne was right that she had been denied before due to failing all the requirements, but now? She is a Livestock and has been let through, but she does not taste the same as the rest of your girls. We wouldn't say it's a bad taste, but we don't understand it.

Oh goodie. Not even the Deeds know.

*Is it something to be worried about?*

Normally I would say so, though your Dragon disagrees. If she is related to the frost Dragon, then it isn't a leap to say she knows the fire one. We would advise you to tread carefully. We will bring you back, but if the new Livestock can interact with us like the fire Dragon can...

Yeah, that wouldn't be good.We all huddled around the window to watch as Tarakona transformed back into her Draconian form and landed beside a woman in silver.

"A Kitsune," I mumbled as even from this distance I could make out the fox-like ears and nine tails.Silver coated her fur where it was visible, with the tip of each of her tails sporting a different colour. I couldn't make out anything else from this distance.

"We thinking a friend?" Zeldi asked as the Kitsune jumped backwards with each of her tails puffing out in surprise at something Tarakona said.

"Hard to say," I said back. "Tarakona could be trying to deal with this herself and not trying to get us involved, as you did say she has a magical aptitude, or she knows her somehow."

Madu hissed, and her snakes all joined in. That was something I needed to unpack later, once I figured out this whole situation. Madu was usually so friendly with everyone so what could have happened to case her to be this defensive?We continued to watch as Tarakona grabbed the Kitsune's hand and pulled her towards the pool with our egg. We all let out a collective gasp as she showed it off to the new arrival with obvious pride.

"Definitely a friend," Zeldi answered her own question.

"Hard to say she isn't with that." I agreed.

"Where would Tarakona have known a Kitsune from?" Voras asked, not really expecting an answer.

Zeldi, however, gave one. "Is the magical aptitude she has strong enough to resist Tithalia, do you think?"

Tarakona held the Kitsune's hand as they stepped into the water. All of us held our collective breaths as they reached out to touch our egg. If I wasn't so terrified of anything happening, I would have thought her tails dancing around was adorable.

"Tithalia burnt through all of my protective silk. Even my fire-resistant threads didn't stand a chance. So if she were, we're looking at someone just as capable as she was." Voras answered.

She didn't mention it out loud, but I was reminded of my last visit from the red Dragon. You know. The one who had physically grabbed the Deed? The thing giving me my power.Having someone potentially as powerful as that just touching my unhatched child was a little terrifying.

"I'm going out there," I said at last when I felt unable to sit still.

"Wait, is that the best idea?" Madu asked, slightly hesitant on if she wanted to join me or not.

[Stay, my love. Please. I will explain when she leaves, but it is best she doesn't see you. Yet.]

Well, that answers whether Tarakona knew we were all spying on them.

"We should all go out together." Zeldi nodded before shyly adding. "Safety in numbers, right?"

I let out a sigh. "No. Tarakona wants us to stay here. As much as I don't like it, I want to trust her."

That stopped everyone, and we returned to watching through the window.Tarakona smiled back before returning to the Kitsune. I was definitely going to be getting that explanation.