EPILOGUE
CELESTE
Two months later
I’m slowly learning Razul’s language. Not the grammar of it, just the words that matter. My name, of course.
Also treat, walk, and dinner.
My days are perfectly predictable, and the steady rhythm puts me deeply at ease. If change is necessary—such as when Razul expanded the bathing pool—he introduces it gradually and deliberately. He never pushes. I get as long as I need to adjust.
True to his word, he taught the caimites that I’m not food. I wear a soft leather collar and a cowbell around my neck—selected from Sylvus’s collection, apparently. Since the caimites first heard the sound of the cowbell along with Razul’s movements, they associate it with him.
Even when I’m by myself, they now treat me with the same respect and curiosity.
They’re incredibly intelligent creatures, and I think we have far more in common than I’d initially realized. If there’s any deviation in Razul’s routine, both the caimites and I quickly alert him with our complaints.
Most importantly, we’re all happy and pampered under Razul’s care. As he learned what to feed me, I steadily gained weight. I’ve settled out on the plump side, even for a hucow. It feels right.
I spend most of my days in my shady grove of little palm trees, and juvenile caimites often come to visit me, fishing in the river or crawling onto my belly to bask in the sun.
The caimite that visited me in the kitchen is a runt, so he far prefers spending time with me to roughhousing with his siblings. I offer him little pieces of fruit, which he pretends to eat to please me, then spits out behind plants upon realizing they aren’t bits of fish.
I named him Gez because I always want to say Gesundheit when he sneezes.
At first, Razul shooed him out of the house. But after seeing how well we get along, Razul let Gez stick around.
Gez especially earned his keep when he fought off a flock of greedy giant flies that were trying to steal my fruit while Razul was off doing chores. Gez snapped and lunged at them for almost an hour until Razul returned.
After that, anytime Razul needed to leave me by myself, he would summon Gez by tapping on the ground. The little caimite would appear, and Razul would always treat him to an extra juicy fish when he got back. So, Gez became my companion and my guard dog.
Today, he snorts and thumps his tail at me as I sort through my rock collection—which is now quite diverse—looking for the perfect gift for Andromeda.
I offer Gez a sparkly blue stone. He tilts his head to examine it with a bulging eye, then gently takes it into his mouth.
He works his jaw and tongue, and though it looks like he’s trying to eat it, I’ve learned that this is how caimites examine objects.
Their tongues are more dexterous and sensitive than their forelegs, which are adapted for digging.
“I’ll be back soon, Gez. Razul’s taking me into the city to visit Andromeda.”
Gez gently sets the rock, now covered in slime, down on the ground, tilting his head the other way. His tail vibrates, answering—or asking a question of his own.
I’m usually outside under my palms this time of day, basking with him or staring at the fish in the river. So, he knows something’s different.
I lay my palms flat against the ground and drum back and forth quickly. It’s a gesture of comfort. I’ve learned a lot from watching how Razul interacts with the caimites, especially the many ways he taps his feet to communicate with them.
Gez sneezes in amusement, as if I’ve said something silly, but seems to relax.
I lean over, and he lets me rub his snout.
Satisfied that nothing’s amiss, Gez picks up the rock I gave him. He sneezes goodbye, I return the gesture, then he dives back down into the sand.
Soon after, Razul fetches me, scooping me up into his sling and taking to the wing. We soar through the desert sky. and I lean my head out the whole way, not even the tiniest bit afraid. I trust Razul completely.
The humid air around Sherexis is heavy and oppressive. Now I better understand why Razul was so grumpy when I first met him. My discomfort will ease when the spray he uses on my nasal passages wears off, but his will continue for however long we’re in Sherexis.
Except we steer around the massive city. We head to an area of more temperate forests, and the myriad forest colors give way to moody crimson and grey. The humidity eases.
We approach a low, dense field of pastel wildflowers on top of a cliff, and as we get closer, I see Andromeda lazing there. Sylvus waves from his perch near the opening of a webbed tunnel that leads down into a cave.
The petals sway in the wind as Razul lands. Once his wings still, he lowers me gently to the flowers next to Andromeda.
I sink to my knees out of habit, then suddenly realize I should probably be mustering my more human capacities. I think I’ve forgotten how.
Andromeda doesn’t rise; she saunters over on all fours, rubbing her cheek against mine, and my nerves fade. I don’t need to remember anything at all.
She bumps her shoulder into mine affectionately, then leads me over to where she was lying before.
Andromeda plops down, and I follow suit, noticing a slice of fruit next to my nose. I pick it up from the flower petals with my mouth, smiling as the flavor pleases me.
Andromeda pushes her nose along the ground, turning up several more pieces.
I follow her example, finding more hidden treasures.
Most of the fruit and nuts are unfamiliar, but I like almost every piece.
The ones I don’t like aren’t bad enough to spit out, which is saying a lot, and when I see them again, I nudge them toward Andromeda.
Razul and Sylvus chat above us, and their voices melt into a deep, soothing rhythm.
The sun is gentler here, and Andromeda and I laze in its warm beams, cooled by a temperate breeze.
As I lie on my back, Andromeda lies alongside me, combing my hair with her fingers. I hum happily as she braids it, then I return the favor, picking leaves and twigs out of her curls and massaging her scalp.
Andromeda admires my new bell, tapping it and cooing at the sound. Her spherical bell is shiny silver, and her collar is undyed silk. It suits her.
We end up napping tangled in each other, quiet and content.
I thought we’d end up talking more. Or at all. And maybe we will, eventually. But my needs are simpler now—or maybe they were always simple, and we were all just too distracted by chatter to realize that.
Andromeda’s plush arms around me provide comfort from my own kind without the worry of blurting something awkward or misreading a cue.
We laze and graze in the gentle sun until our tits are heavy and full again.
Curious, I sink my hands into Andromeda’s breast, squeezing gently, mesmerized by the elastic texture under my palm.
Andromeda bites her lip and moans needily.
Sylvus comes over and clicks his tongue, removing my hand from Andromeda’s breast as he scoops her up, gentle but jealous.
I watch with interest—then lose my capacity for curiosity as Razul hugs me from behind, massaging my heavy breasts and making me moan.
Andromeda and I lie back on the soft wildflowers, milked and fucked to our hearts’ content in the fresh forest breeze.
Spent and empty, we nap again, but there’s something I have to say to her. I lift my head, trying to muster my words, but my tongue stays thick and heavy in my mouth.
Thank you, I want to say.
Andromeda stirs, noting my furrowed brow. She reaches over and rubs the tension away, smiling sweetly at me.
Our gazes meet, and the spark in her green eyes says, you’re welcome.
I squeeze her hand, then roll over and climb onto Razul. He scoops his hands under my ass, helping me up.
I snuggle against his chest, stroking my hands through his hair.
I still want to tell him that I love him. I do my best with every nuzzle, every kiss. And he tells me the same with every gentle touch, every consideration.
But then something occurs to me—the thing that I really want Razul to understand. And I know just what to do.
I sit up on Razul’s chest, then sneeze.
He raises a brow at me.
I knead my hands into his chest, then wiggle back and forth, as if burrowing into him. I snort again and settle my cheek down.
It’s how a caimite says, I’m home.
I glance up at him to see if he understands, and tears rim his eyes. His arms fold around me, squeezing tight.
I wiggle happily and hum, and his grip tightens.
Then he pulls me into a deep, hungry kiss.
I sigh with surprise and pleasure, meeting his tongue with mine, pressing harder into the kiss.
And all the while, I knead my hands into his chest, saying with every squeeze:
I’m home, I’m home, I’m home.