Eventually, we approach a flat area of sand tucked into the crook of a lush river, where I make the final descent. Dust rises around us, and I hold the sling shut to protect Celeste until I’ve tucked my wings away.
Once the dust has settled, I open the sling enough for her to peek out again and hold a firm hand over her chest, keeping her in place. She responds well to the pressure, relaxing.
From this angle, the round, horizontal openings to my burrow are clear. The home sprawls low to the ground, partially buried, with plenty of openings to provide a view of the river’s burst of green or the distant mountain peaks.
Before going anywhere else, I tap my feet on the ground in a certain pattern.
There’s a burst of sand to my side as a caimite sneezes and pokes his head above the sand, revealing his bulging eyes and long, toothy snout.
Vibrations return to my feet as he flicks his tail under the sand, greeting me.
I turn Celeste in his direction.
“This is King. He’s the largest breeding male. He usually hangs around here while I’m away and throws quite a fit if I’ve been gone too long.”
“He misses you?”
“He misses his females getting extra food. They tend to steal his when they don’t get their fill.”
She giggles against my chest, a cute little trilling sound. “So he doesn’t see it as a threat when you feed them?”
“As far as he’s concerned, I’m his personal servant. Now, Celeste…” I reach down and put a finger under her chin, tipping her gaze toward me. “It’s very important that you don’tgo anywhere by yourself, even in the house. You’re the same approximate size and shape as caimite food. They bite first and ask questions later, so it will take time for me to teach them you aren’t dinner.”
She leans closer to me. “Got it.”
“I have one more job for you, Celeste.”
Her grey eyes shine with determination as she nods. “I can handle it.”
“Good girl. Your job is to relax.”
I reach past her adorable, confused expression to turn off her translator, then carry her into the shade of my home. Her pale skin will do poorly in the sun.
The mud-brick walls are covered in packed sand, taking on the same color and texture as the surrounding desert. I carved the home into a wide, flat network of chambers and short tunnels. There are a few deeper chambers below us for cool storage and weathering sandstorms, but I mostly live open to the air.
I move through my home, collecting a wide, round basket made of dried cactus flesh and a few woven blankets.
This forms a suitable bed for Celeste and will also protect her; the caimites know better than to disturb these baskets, which I use when gathering their eggs. The blankets usually cushion the fragile shells, which means they’ll be suitably comfortable for Celeste.
Since she’s been so trusting, I scoop her up from the sling and set her in the basket, crouching over her.
She looks up at me with curiosity, and I tousle her hair before gently palpating her hips and breasts. Most of the morning’s meal has gone to filling out her body. She’ll require an abundance of nutrition before she lactates at the rate typical for a hucow.
Though the glands in her breasts are still on the small side, they’re quite firm, meaning she may need milking earlier than I expect.
Celeste stiffens slightly as I rub her breasts, so I gentle my touch once I’ve assessed her progress. She doesn’t entirely relax.
I could turn her translator on and ask her, but I don’t think she’d actually tell me the truth.
So, I massage her head behind her ears. She’s as responsive to this touch as most mammals tend to be, sighing as she relaxes.
Once her eyes have slid shut, I move a hand to her breast, and she moans openly. The sound seems to startle her, and she blushes and stiffens again.
So it’s shyness, not pain, that causes her to tense under my touch. That will be easily remedied over time.
I ruffle her hair again, and she grooms herself cutely as I turn to the rest of the kitchen. The cabinets are made of red clay with doors of woven cactus twine and colorful tile counters.
A carved soapstone sink is fed by the river and drains into a septic treatment system that sterilizes the water with sunlight before returning it to the river’s flow.
