Warning: This chapter has a particularly violent death scene, and it's not really skippable; it's a major scene for this story, so brace yourselves.
A Hero's Welcome
Justin, Orion and Colmillo stood at the outskirts of the bird village, all three dirty and starving from the long trek they'd endured.
Justin, the proud warrior, allowed himself to shed tears that he would finally feel the embrace of his beloved Kali.
Orion had a worse time hiding his emotions, shaking his friend's shoulders while tears streamed down his small red beak.
Colmillo rolled his eyes at how emotional the birds were getting.
Justin patted Orion on the back, "Come on!"
The three of them began to walk together towards the village.
Bird folk outside their homes saw the trio approaching, at first they were alarmed, then they stood when they recognized their returning warriors.
"Justin is home!" "It's Orion!" "Who's that wolf with them?"
The people all gathered to watch.
It was then Justin began to notice several foxes walking with his fellow birds, trading wares and goods, sometimes just chatting like neighbors.
Orion looked around and took notice of the young hens and drakes standing outside their homes, talking to foxes that came up to them. He watched one tod follow a young starling into her hut.
Colmillo, meanwhile, found himself the target of many stares. He was a wolf, so he was much larger than all of these birds. He saw the foxes, couldn't help staring at the few attractive vixens he passed by.
Justin spoke up, "Apparently, we've missed something."
...
Kali and Maureen were washing themselves following their recent tryst with those two handsome tods. The foxes paid the both of them generously for the wonderful moment, before Caryn decided she'd take them for a ride.
So while Caryn was getting her rocks off with the young foxes, Kali and Maureen bathed themselves and their children with fresh-smelling soaps sold to them by the various merchants who have passed through.
The flap to their home flew open and a random bird poked their head in, "Girls! Come out!"
Kali looked up, "What is it? What's all the commotion outside?"
"It's your husbands, they've come home!"
Caryn, still riding one of the foxes, froze as soon as she heard that, "O-Orion!?"
Kali got up, "Justin's back?"
The bird nodded, "Yes, they are right outside!"
Caryn panicked and toppled off the fox she'd been riding while Kali got up to go outside, disregarding her current lack of clothing.
Justin and Orion stood outside the hut just as Kali came out, wet and naked to the world around her.
Kali saw him and for the first time in her life, she felt weak in her knees.
Justin stepped forward quickly and both jay birds fell into each other's extended arms.
Orion and Colmillo looked on while the reunited mates touched beaks before them. Orion looked behind them to see his own wife stumble out of the tent, "Caryn!" He chirped loudly.
Caryn heard her beloved, then saw him running for her. She broke down in his arms as soon as he had his wings around her.
So now Colmillo stood alone in this community of birds, watching his companions reunite with their wives. He smiled contentedly for them before he saw a pine marten woman exit the same hut.
Maureen glowed especially to see them back together.
...
Minutes later, all six had gone inside to sit around and share stories of what had been happening for both parties.
Justin and Orion were both ecstatic when they were finally able to hold their month-old chicks. Justin also held Maureen's son and commented on how he had his mother's eyes.
Both Caryn and Kali listened as their husbands spoke of their hard travels back from the mountains.
And the husbands didn't skimp on details, they told of the cabin with Carlyle and his two female friends, and the especially heated awakening they'd had.
The wives took it remarkably well.
Orion blushed especially when he explained how he and Justin had become lovers over the several nights they'd spent alone in each other's arms.
Kali and Caryn both giggled as they let that image run through their horny bird brains.
In turn, the wives told of how Nestor had changed so much around the village. They told their husbands about the new trade. They showed them the new cookware they've been using, showed them the gold and jewels they've accumulated from selling food and clothing to travelers.
The husbands were impressed, but not so much when they heard of how the bird folk were required to also sell their sex.
Justin and Orion both listened closely as their wives described the process.
Justin asked, "And have you lain with these travelers?"
Each of the three women nodded, Caryn being the most embarrassed, while Kali spoke, "We did, but only because we were told it was all for the good of the tribe to move ahead and develop. And... Because we had thought you were dead and.... We had to move on."
Justin contemplated then spoke, "I guess I would be a hypocrite if I would let myself become upset at this... After all, we were unfaithful to you, you beautiful females while we were away..."
Caryn sobbed, "And we, to you... But I'm not ashamed. We all did what we felt we had to do to persevere and stay strong for our kids."
Justin nodded, "None of this can be faulted to anyone... Except Nestor." His expression changed while he held his sleeping son. "Because of him... We were kept away from you, from our children, to fuel his own goals. He tricked us."
Colmillo took his turn to speak, "We wolves have always been at peace with you birds, and our prince never hated you, he was as supportive of our truce as our alpha. Then, he was shot in the back with arrows, by avian arrows."
Justin took his turn, "Nestor set this all up so his father would be killed in the battle, so we would die so we could not protest against these changes. This is not a way of life, I forgive you, I forgive all you've done in our absence, but we shouldn't be living like this, we should move forward, but there's better ways than selling our bodies."
Maureen spoke, "What will you do then, Justin?"
He thought for a moment, "I'm going to meet with Nestor and the council and we are going to discuss these changes." He let his wife take little Justin Jr from his hands as he stood. "Orion, Colmillo, you two will join me!"
Orion was just playing with his daughter when he heard Justin call to him. He turned a darker shade of red as he let Caryn take Ruby from him. The cardinal gulped before he got up to join his friend.
Colmillo got up with no hesitation, he too wanted to end this unease placed between their tribes by Nestor's selfish goals.
The three men quickly departed, leaving the wives alone again.
Kali, Maureen and Caryn held each other, happy that their husbands did get to see their children and hold them at last.
...
Nestor was furious when he heard the news. Everyone in that war party was supposed to die, no one should have come back. He sent his village's best tribesmen to the mountains to fight the wolves in mid-winter, sent his father to his death for not sharing his vision, all of this should have been clean.
Feroz sat on the bed behind him, feeding Trantor his baby food as he watched his mate rant and curse.
Nestor racked his brain on what he could do to fix this problem. His plan was working, he was the wealthiest bird in the village and his people were flourishing, his village was evolving, changing for the better. Now these two, who as warriors held a strong standing among the common folk, the only ones who could protest against his methods, they could undo everything and then his gold; it would be gone. He held the gold coin that hung over his plumage as he thought hard.
It was then when Justin and Orion came to the chief's hut with Colmillo following right behind them.
Justin called out, "Nestor! We've come to have some words with you, traitor!"
Nestor heard them, he was no traitor. He did what he had to to help his people advance. He got up, "Feroz, leave our son and come with me."
It was times like this the vulture wished he could still voice his own opinions. He sighed and let his mate's son lie down in his crib. He took a last look at their bundle of joy before he followed his mate out into the village square.
Nestor stood tall and proud over the blue jay and cardinal as he came out to meet them. He feigned relief, "Oh, what a relief it is to see that someone has returned from that terrible war." Even Nestor had to gag at how forced that felt.
Justin held back some real choice words he had for the fake chieftain, "Nestor... You sent us and our fellow tribesmen to this terrible war because you knew we wouldn't agree to this... travesty you bring upon us. Telling our wives they have to sleep with travelers for coin? This is not progressing our people, Nestor. This is taking us back!"
Nestor stood resolute before them as townspeople started to gather around, "Justin, dear friend, you've only just got here. You just made it home and you find your wife has been bending over for other males while you fought so hard for her. I can understand you being upset, if my Vera had strayed... I would have stoned her." The eagle whose own unfaithfulness drove his Vera to leave the village, stared down the blue jay.
Justin was furious when Nestor went for such a low blow. Justin and Orion had been gone, their wives believed them dead, he couldn't blame them for laying with other males who wanted to comfort them, but not this... Not degrading themselves for some shiny metals. Before he could say more Nestor interrupted him, "But please, these are words that should be kept private, let us go inside and calmly talk over these disputes; as your chief, I will take your worries into consideration."
Justin fired back, "Your father was a greater chief than you could ever pretend to be, Nestor!"
That struck a chord with the eagle, but he remained calm, "I said we will take this conversation inside, Justin. Come in and bring your pet with you too." He spoke derisively as he looked at the wolf, the only one here who matched him for his height.
