Pull the Ripcord

The clouded gray wolf watched the fireflies dance and twirl around in the air around her with a curious fascination. Fireflies were such peculiar glowing insects to begin with anyway, but these ones were even more magical somehow. Despite all the worry and anxiousness she felt in her heart with the goings-on of the pack and Chimera's rampant and destructive lust, watching the blue glows of the bugs seemed somehow soothing. She'd been so lost in watching the fireflies that Ali hadn't noticed Dalila had arrived until the mottled fae was almost upon her. Ali gave her a relieved smile, exhaling some of the tension in her chest. There was still time, thank the gods!

Dalila came to join her in the moonlit garden, and for a split second Aliana found herself just staring at the other woman in awe. Dalila was a lovely wolf to begin with, but in this almost mystical moonlight she seemed even more magnificent. Her sky blue eyes seemed to shimmer and stand out with the glow of the moon in them, and Ali felt that same loss of breath she'd felt when she saw Siren singing on the beach at dawn. But certainly that was just because she was in heat and her hormones were acting out of sorts, right? It had nothing to do with finding the other fae attractive or the night they'd shared together, or the kisses Dalila had guided her through, or the way her paws and mouth had felt all over her body...

No! Aliana blinked rapidly to snap herself out of her daze, ears folding sheepishly to her head and a light flush hidden beneath the fur on her cheeks while Dalila closed the space between them. Dalila thanked her and Aliana gave her fellow former slave a small, warm smile and dip of her head. "It's the least I could do. Chimera has no business being a father." And it really was. If it was up to her, she would have always had enough contraceptive herbs for the lot of them year round to protect them from Chimera. He was epidemic with his desire to breed the women on the island, conceiving litter after litter of pups he showed no care for. It disgusted Ali to see him behave so recklessly with his ability to create life. It reminded her of her own bastard father that had left her in a life of slavery by doing exactly what Chimera was.

"I'm afraid it won't taste very good since it isn't fresh, but it should still be effective," she said in soft apology as she handed the entirety of her remaining silphium supply to Dalila. "At least I'll know you were spared what we weren't." Aliana gave Dalila a sad, defeated smile that showed she knew what she was in store for. She'd seen the agony Viper and Siren had gone through and she knew she was next in line for it. It had been far too long since Chimera had planted his seed within her belly; no plant could spare her from pregnancy now. She only prayed that she had the strength to make it through alive. Siren had very nearly died, and the fear of what was coming made her feel sick. Thank the gods Dalila wouldn't have to endure that...

"Aliana"