Chapter 30
Vatten
Guardians of Glitter Bomb
It was strange to be in the truck for so long.
It was even stranger that Jade took his own minivan when we were all going to the same place.
I understood it in principle – everyone wanted to be able to leave on their own and maybe it was a backup if one broke down. Still, it would’ve saved some effort.
As the miles rolled by, I occasionally stuck my head out of the window, but not for long.
All the wind whipping around was once my friend but now it made me sick to my stomach.
So, instead, I held Eran’s hand and stared out the window thinking about Gooseberry.
I’d been called in because he seemed to be a bit of a menace when it came to Tarabell or not getting his way.
My original thoughts on the matter was that he was a puppy with a little extra bit of a sixth sense.
Now, it was clear, he was more familiar than pet even if he could have all the health problems a pet did.
My job would be to help him navigate situations he didn’t understand.
It took a whole twenty minutes for me to help him relate being sick to the chocolate he’d eaten because ‘good food’ doesn’t make you sick.
“Jade wants to build a house, huh?” I asked Eran when my thoughts wandered back that way.
“I don’t think he has any bad intentions behind it. We were over a long time ago,” he said.
“I know, but he did ask if you wanted to play house right before we met,” I pointed out.
“It was never going to work out and he didn’t want me.
Not really. I was convenient because he knew me and Jondi got along with me.
I was there and horny and we have a past. He wants a mate.
A partner. We were never going to work like that in the long run, which is why I wouldn’t have moved in with them.
I wouldn’t do that to Jondi. He knows me as Uncle Eran, and I want to keep it that way. ”
“Why do you think he wants to build us a house then?” I asked, needing to understand the drive behind his construction urges.
“Because it’s what we do when someone in the community has a need. Having five kids in the two-bedroom apartment means it will eventually become a need,” he said.
I nodded. That made sense. Eventually, we’d need a house. If I didn’t feel so sick and the well wasn’t haunted maybe I’d have gotten on the ball sooner. Maybe I’d have finished it by now.
“You don’t have to do everything alone,” Eran said and then teased, “aren’t dogs supposed to be pack animals?”
“I am a pack animal. I’m going to the lake, aren’t I?” I snapped and instantly hated myself. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just--- The wind hates me. I’m hungry and don’t know what I want. Jade looks at you like you’re the best thing since catnip and Gooseberry is nervous about the ritual.”
“Are you nervous about it?” Eran asked, pulling a therapist and choosing one thing to focus on. Though, to be fair, I didn’t think he could control the wind.
“I am reasonably nervous,” I said. “Things could go wrong but they could also go spectacularly right. I’m nervous that if things stay haunted they might affect us no matter where we live. I’m nervous that five babies will be too much for you even if you think you know what you signed up for.”
“Do I need to pull over and have this talk with you again?” Eran asked. “I’m sort of feeling a little insulted that you think I’d run off on my family.”
“Well, we don’t have enough arms and you might realize that and…”
“Vatten, I carry you around. I can carry three babies. Hell in a pinch, I’d figure out how to carry all five of them. Don’t make me use Jondi’s dolls to prove it.”
“There is a difference between than being able to and wanting to,” I said and Eran pulled the truck over.
“You’re going to freak out Jondi and Jade,” I said.
“Well, they’ll have to be okay with that,” he said and killed the engine. “Look at me, please.”
I did. His eyes were big and he smelled as if I stepped on his tail and stayed there.
“I love you. I love all five of our children already. If we need help, we’ll take help.
I’ll make everyone line up in the corridor for you to sniff them until we find someone you can deal with.
If you want another dog shifter around, I’ll ask Mac to come up.
He works with kids at the Temple of Juda.
Jacand can come over when he has free time.
You like him. I’ll fly in your parents.”
“No you won’t!” I shook my head. “They’re due for another litter soon!”
“We will figure this out,” he said and squeezed my hand.
“That’s a promise and if you don’t want to have any more for a while after I’ll talk to someone at the clinic and get a vasectomy.
As for the other things, I can’t stop the wind, but I do have extra gummies in the backseat.
Plenty of snacks everywhere and once we get to the lake, we’ll grill.
If you don’t want that stuff, I’ll drive up to the grocery store and find something.
And you don’t have to worry about Jade. He’s my friend.
Hell, maybe my best friend, but if this is making you uncomfortable, we’ll go home.
Seriously. Right now. I’ll turn this truck around and we’ll go home.
Sure, I would love for you two to get along, because Jade’s staying in my life, but it’s not something we have to work on right this minute. ”
My eyes teared up and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to scream or vibrate.
“Zoomies,” Eran sighed, getting out of the truck.
For a moment, I thought he meant zoomies like some people said fuck and that he was going to tell Jade we were going home.
I bit the inside of my cheek not to cry, because I wanted to go to the lake.
A second later, he opened my side of the truck and undid my seatbelt.
“Are you kicking me out of the truck because I’m crying?” I blinked.
“Nope. You have the zoomies or need the zoomies. I’m not sure which one of those is the right way to say it.
So, zoomies!” he pointed at the big field on the side of the highway.
I vibrated and my dog screamed inside his inner sanctum.
A second later the sound vibrated out of my throat and shook me from the inside out.
Shifting took a bit longer because whatever magical biology that allowed me to shift took into consideration all five of my babies.
Plus, I looked and felt a bit more pregnant in my smaller form.
I looked between my front legs at the pooch hanging down.
Now, my nipples could be called ‘swollen.’
Fifteen minutes later, anyone who drove by would’ve seen me, a white fluffy cat, a winged lion, and a little otter pup running around a field as if we’d lost our minds.
Maybe in a way we had lost our minds or at least that human part that says everything will go horribly wrong and everyone will abandon me.
Jondi climbed up on my back and held on for dear life while I ran in circles.
He let out happy, little, squeaky baby otter barks.
Jade and Eran stopped to watch. I knew that he didn’t take to many people but pregnant people are generally less scary to kids.
Like why be so pregnant if you don’t like kids, right?
We ran until I ran out of zoomies and then we had a little picnic of snacks on a blanket in the grass.
Maybe we’d all be okay. Maybe Eran would stick around for five kids and Jade would find his mate.
Maybe the next time we all sat here like this we’d be joined by his mate and he’d be the pregnant one.