The catch of the day

The next late morning Chantelle woke up tired but in a hot embrace. The cold breeze was coming into the room from a little bit open window, but she felt warm and comfortable. She was stuck to a burly strong Sharmut's body and it felt so safe. Chantelle breathed in deeply and moved her leg. The anklet slid down her ankle elegantly, shining brilliantly in the daylight. Chantelle stood up and went to check the door. They were locked, but the key was still in there from inside. She locked them at night...

She looked back at Sharmut, who sat up in the bed and smiled at her.

"Shall we have breakfast together?" his voice sounded so alluring to her. 

"So you are not locking me in? "she asked worriedly.

"No, you are free to join me as you wish." he smiled."I love you the most."

"I like that."Chantelle chuckled. She took a bowl of berries from the table and went to sit next to him in the bed. He petted her long ginger hair as she ate, they were tangled...he stood up and picked a golden hairbrush." Can I help you brush your hair as you eat?" he asked gently...

"Sure." she nodded a bit surprised.

Sharmut sat behind her and brushed her hair. It was somehow satisfying for him. He had to smile...when Sienna chatted with him and gave him all the silly tips on taming his fox he felt ridiculous, but it was working quite well. And it felt good to him too. He marvelled as the tangled locks became shiny and silky at his gentle touch. He felt he started to understand some basic human-like things suddenly...

Chantelle finished her food, checked her hair in the mirror, put on her dress, kissed Sharmut goodbye and went out. She kind of expected him to chase her, but nothing! It felt great but she felt disappointed somehow. It was not satisfying staying apart if she was free to do so and he agreed with it. It was no fun!

Meanwhile Sienna also awoke in her bed. She was sleeping on S's shoulder comfortably.

"Good morning." he smiled.

"What are you doing in my bed?"She asked a bit surprised.

"I was tired from guarding, will you hold it against me?" he asked pitifully.

"No," Sienna shook her head at his cheekiness."Where is Sharchan?"

"He went to get you some breakfast."S smiled gently, "We can have some time for us, hm?"

"Not yet! "Sharchan went inside with a tray of fruit and buns..."Good morning my love."Would you like to watch us train today? "he asked sweetly. He was anxious on the way from the village and was thinking of beating up his brother just a little. The training was the perfect opportunity...

S gave him a glance and nodded." It will be fun to spar with my strong brother and I can impress Sienna." he thought.

"Winner will mate you tonight, hm?"S smiled gently at her.

"Let's eat, yes? I will watch you train. There is no winner in training, so good joke," Sienna chuckled.

Sienna ate her food in the bed, then she got ready quickly and went out with them. It was definitely safer outside the room! Sharchan seemed a little confused and Sharchet was a sweet hunter. Both were too puzzling to her at this moment! Sienna walked clenched between both of them. She tried to keep composed because she felt quite wild lately and the idea of twins in the bed kept crossing her mind almost involuntarily way too often when she looked at them...

The three of them bumped into Sharmut on the way down the corridors. The White Snake looked in a very good mood.

"Sharmut! Good morning! I'm free now!"Sienna came closer to him, showing him her free ankle.

"How was your hunt father?" S smirked at him. He could smell his mother's scent all over Sharmut!

"Very satisfying."Sharmut smiled."Yes, I'm glad you are free..."Sharmut nodded at Sienna.

"Good morning, father," Sharchan said."Would you join us to train?" he asked a bit sternly. He felt kind of dazed. It seemed as if everything was slipping from his control suddenly...

"Sure!" Sharmut nodded."Your father feels very strong today." he smirked at him.

They all went to the Snake Castle training grounds. Sienna sat on the decorated bench and the men started to train...

Meanwhile, Chantelle was running through the forest wildly, her ginger hair flowing in the wind! She could not stop thinking about Sharmut's arm around her and his hard chest, so after a little run around the forest she went into her house and looked around a bit dazed, all her emotions were flowing around this place. The resentment, her bitter-sweet victories and relief mixed with sorrows.

She sighed, the life felt different today. She read her favourite book, drank herbal tea and felt so bored suddenly! She walked around her house frantically as if looking for something, she felt so defeated suddenly and stupid and angry and childish...her mind was racing and her heart bouncing wildly. She was looking for nothing. She fell out of place in there, in her own place...it did not feel like her victorious refuge anymore....it felt like a longing prison with walls made of her own fears and worries!

Chantelle looked into the mirror at herself...She looked bewildered and hot, and her yellow eyes shone brightly." I'm so beautiful as ever, "she nodded satisfied..."I can do whatever I want! So what do I want to do?" her fox asked."I want to play!"Chantelle's eyes twinkled. "And the best playground is at the Snake Castle!" she giggled wildly..."All three of them!!!"

So, Chantelle came back to the Snake Castle after two hours. She heard the noises at the training grounds, so she went to check it out. Sharmut was still practising swords with S and Sharchan. Sienna watched and clapped her hands excitedly. The three snakes were very formidable.....

Chantelle came closer and sat next to Sienna to watch! Sharmut was fighting well with his sons and the three of them had a lot of fun. Sharmut saw Chantelle come back earlier than he expected and he grinned in his mind as he was fighting off S, she was back on her own accord and his heart fell powerful and happy...

Chantelle saw that her mate felt stronger somehow. She licked her lips as she watched him. Sharmut did look good while fighting...

Sienna glanced at Chantelle and smiled. She could see Sharchan's mother was looking kind of happy.

Chantelle hugged Sienna around her shoulders and kissed her cheek."Thank you. We will have lots of fun before we die..." she smirked at Sienna.

Sienna bit her lips and her cheeks reddened. She could not believe that Sharmut told her that!!!!

Sharmut finished his training earlier and sat next to Chantelle, watching his sons spare a bit proudly next to her, holding her waist.

"Shall we have a family meal together?" he asked thinking.

"I like to," Chantelle nodded, "Sienna?"

"Sure, it will be so nice," said Sienna gently. She felt a bit proud of her father-in-law. He was not so stubborn after all! His transformation was giving her hope, that she could teach Sharchan slowly as well as how to be more gentle...she did not know that Sharmut's White Snake was simply calculative enough to tame Chantelle by whatever means possible. He was possessive and this was the best way forward for him. He did not mind staying respectful and gentle for the rest of his life to her, if it made her come back to him. It was his little victory over his son as well!

Sharchan and Sharchet finished their training, they went wild on each other and were finally a tiny bit tired. It felt good for them to spar together.

"I hope you will have also strong sons."Chantelle smiled at Sienna.

"Yes, in a few years hopefully."Sienna smiled.

"Sure, no rush."Chantelle nodded."You need to take your time. Having children is not that easy." she nodded."It is a big responsibility to care for them and raise them well. I will be happy to advise you if you will need my help."Chantelle offered.

"You are very kind. Thank you, Chantelle."Sienna nodded. 

"Don't scare her much."Sharmut whispered to Chantelle from the other side."If you want a baby in your arms, I can help you out." he chuckled cheekily...

"Hm, maybe. I will see."Chantelle nodded thinking. "I will see you in the dining hall soon," she turned to Sienna and went with Sharmut to refresh.

Sienna watched as S and Sharchan came to her. They were a bit messy from fighting, so Sienna sent them to their own rooms to refresh. Sienna went to her room as well. She washed her face in the cold water and looked into the mirror."Strong sons...hm...maybe later on, I'm not ready yet. It is not easy to have a baby. For now, I'm lucky to survive on my own...But still, it is quite unusual, I'm not pregnant after all. I must ask Sarcos about it." she thought a bit longingly.

Sienna dressed up a bit nicer and put some eyeliner on. She wanted to look presentable for her first family meal with Sharchan's parents. She put on a blue velvet gown which matched her eyes. She looked beautiful, regal and happy. 

Sharchan and S came to pick her up. They walked together into a big decorated dining hall. The hall had white ceilings and white walls with golden decorations of twirling snakes. Sienna was a bit surprised that such a light place was at the Snake Castle. It had a huge round table made of light wood and lots of different massive light wooden chairs. The chairs were also decorated with twirling snakes and smelled of fresh pine wood strongly. They looked completely new! Each chair was a bit different in height. "What is this for? Sienna asked a bit surprised. "Well, in our family, we are all equal now, so taller members will sit on smaller chairs and we," she looked at Sienna," on higher chairs, so we are the same height as we dine."She giggled.

"It is a great idea, I can look into your beautiful eyes much better," Sharmut noted satisfied.

S glanced at his father and chuckled for himself..."It looked like Sienna mushed father's brain completely. Indeed a dangerous queen..." he thought entertained.

Sharchan glanced at his mother, but when he saw how happy she was, he nodded.

"Yes, I like it," Sienna nodded," I can swing my legs in the air."She nodded as Sharchan lifted her up on the ridiculously tall chair..." Whatever keeps them two happy." she thought and was glad her in-laws made up.

The table was full of female dishes Sienna was not sure about, but she saw Sharchan mushroom rice, so she went straight for it! She relished the amazing taste. Chantelle ate as well and Sharmut just stared into her beautiful eyes. The men had some raw salmon pieces and steak just to nibble on. Sienna was quite pleased that they ate something as well, this time. Until it was not live snakes and dead hummingbirds she could go with it just fine...

Suddenly she heard a soft cracking noise...She lifted her eyes and saw S breaking some smallish eggs into a cup." For you, father..." he gave it to Sharmut. Sharmut nodded and relished the drink.S did the same for Sharchan and himself as well. Sienna watched with interest.."Well, they are snakes is kind of normal they like raw eggs..." she thought.

"Would you like some eggs too?"S asked Sienna and watched as his brother shook his head.

"Don't provoke my queen, she would have to cook it first," Sharchan noted.

Sienna looked at S cheekily."Only if you separate the egg whites in one bowl and yolks in another. The whites you mix with sugar and blueberries and whisk them into a sweet foam. The yolks you mix with sugar till they are pale yellow in colour and thicker. Then I will eat it as a desert."She giggled at him a bit wildly.

"That is a lot of work..."S nodded, "But I will try it for sure later on," he grinned..." To give you some extra energy you will surely need..." he whispered and Sienna felt the sweet tension in the air suddenly...

"You are so wild." she chuckled."Let's drink to the wild Snake family," she smiled.

"Water?"Chantelle giggled as she stared at Sienna's cup."You need to learn how to drink wine." she shook her head.

"Only if it is sweet with spices, fruits and warm."Sienna nodded."I like only mulled wine when is very cold. And just a little of it, I got drunk easily." she giggled.

"Really?"Sharchan looked at Sienna with interest. "What are you doing when you are drunk?" he asked her.

"I just feel dizzy and wobbly, I never really passed out. I have self-control."Sienna nodded.

"Aw, pity...we have the best wine in the land," said Sharmut.

"You have a very tasty water too."Sienna smiled sheepishly." It is kind of sweet."

"That is true."Sharchan nodded."My queen can appreciate the simple things the same way as the noble ones." he noted.

"That was an interesting statement."Sienna thought a bit surprised at Sharchan's words. It did not sound like him at all! He was kind of more kingish suddenly."Maybe I still do not really know him that much..." she wondered in her mind.

"What's that noise?"Chantelle suddenly asked startled. Sharmut and Sharchet listened too and Sharchan went to check to the window.

Sienna looked a bit surprised but then she heard screaming voices coming closer to them. They all stood up and went to look from the wide terrace of the dining room.

The mob of angry Snake Nation people was flooding the atrium of the Snake Castle fast. The men, women, and even bigger children were coming in. They were screaming in rage and upset. Their faces were painted with yellow and black stripes and the palms of their hands were red. "They must dip them in paint."Sienna thought."Or was it blood?" she gulped.

Sienna watched them a bit shocked and held onto Sharchan's arm.

S watched worriedly. He was trying to find out what had happened...

Sharchan furrowed his brows..." What is this?" his strong voice boomed in the atrium of the castle.

"Justice!"The mob of people screamed in one voice and moved into a big circle-like shape. The poor bloodied crying female was brought in there on stretchers."We want justice!" the people cried out.

"Oh no...!"Chantelle watched as in the bad dream...." It happened again!" she turned to Sharmut worriedly as she saw the reason for this uprising.

"I'm with you always."Sharmut held her around her shoulders."All of us are!" he glanced at Sharchan worriedly.

Sienna followed Sharchan's gaze and noticed a familiar couple in the middle of the wild crowds. "Thyasse and Marath! "Sienna whispered shocked to herself. They went travelling, but she did not expect to see them here. Definitely not like this! "Marath is powerful enough to kill all these people if he wanted. Why did he follow with them?" Sienna was wondering. She watched Marath's face. Marath looked calm, but Thyase was a bit scared. She held onto his arm and tried to breathe deeply.

"Savage, savage, death to the savage!" the voices of the angry mob around Thyasse and Marath were shouting wildly!