Trigger warning: Abusive language, swearing and violence
Star
I woke up to the sound of distant singing. The sun had gone down, and fire torches lighted up the path to the village. The Starkinga clan was lined up on each path as they sang and danced us into the village. Behind me, Dijinga was happily singing along in a deep baritone that had me thinking about naughty things unrelated to singing. Our procession stopped at what seemed to be their version of a courtyard. It had more than a dozen firepits with a large bonfire in the middle with small groups around each.
Dijinga effortlessly jumped off Pishi; reaching up, he lifted me off the saddle, gently lowering me to the ground. With a hand on the small of my back, he led me to one of the fires where his father and village elders were gathered. The newly joined pairs were also sitting in the circle, including Natasha, who I waved at, and she shyly waved back from where she was sitting next to her hybrid-mate.
Hybrids had different characteristics to identify them. Usually, you could tell because they did not have a tail or had two arms instead of four. Some Hybrids would have human eyes instead of cat-like eyes. Other Hybrids had the human skin tone instead of the blue skin the Starkinga people had. Natasha's mate had a grayish brown skin tone, like a mix between brown and blue.
Dijinga took a seat next to his father, and I moved to take the one next to him. He maneuvered me to sit in his lap instead, and his tail formed a tight coil around my waist. I blushed, thinking about where that tail had been earlier, and Dijinga laughed at my reaction.
"It can go back if you miss that much," he whispered in my ear and then nipped my earlobe. I turned to look at him, shocked that he would attempt such a thing with his father right next to him, but he just laughed even louder, causing everyone to look at us. My cheeks heated up, and I buried my face in his chest to hide my embarrassment.
"My mate has a fantastic sense of humour," Dijinga said out loud as an explanation of his laughter. A few people laughed as if acknowledging the fact, and people went back to their small conversations within the circle.
"I am glad no Franga crossed our path on the journey back. Otherwise, our procession would have fallen to harm with the protection from our Chief Dijinga." One of the males in the circle said, and everyone laughed.
It took me a minute to realize what he meant by his statement. I prayed for the ground to swallow me from embarrassment. I forgot that the Starkinga had very sensitive noses and could hear for miles. They would have scented what we were doing and had heard me screaming Dijinga's name when i was lost in the throes of pleasure. Dijinga rubbed soothing circles on my back as his chest rumbled in pleasure.
"I would not have known of a Franga's presence until after its pincer had cut off my leg," Dijinga joined in, and the whole group burst out laughing again.
"As it should be, my son should always be entranced by his Trishinga's scent," said a middle-aged Starkinga woman as she moved to stand in front of us.
"Fijinga," Dijinga said as he moved both of us to stand.
"This is Star, my Trishinga; Star, this your Fijingawa Risinga." Risinga looked down at me, smiling with a motherly, loving look on her face. Like all the other Starkinga, she was impossibly tall, but she had a softness that just reminded me of my mother.
"I am sure all would have forgiven Dijinga for letting a Franga cross their path; he has waited for many moons to be with you."
Her lower left arm came to lay on my shoulder. I had seen several Starkinga doing this to each other, so I assumed it had to be their form of a hug. I lifted my left hand to her right shoulder, standing on the tips of my toes, and her chest rumbled in pleasure. Behind me, Dijinga's chest joined in, and I felt happy to have honoured his mother in greeting. Chef Hinga moved up behind Risinga, and his tail coiled around her waist.
"It is a pleasure to see our family grow so large. We hope we will have younglings running around from you two soon." Chief Hinga said as he nipped Risinga's ear. Risinga's right elbow moved back and jabbed him hard in his stomach. He let out a loud oomph sound and bent over as he wheezed, trying to get air back into his lungs. She turned back to us as Cheif Hinga gasped to get his breath back as we all laughed at his reaction.
"Dont mind this old man, you don't have to feel pressured. Go at your own pace. We are just happy you are finally here. The past seven moons, Dijinga has driven us crazy talking about you." She added, laughing, and I joined in, and I couldn't help the flare of happiness that went through me.
"I will not deny that all I have dreamt of was the day I was to be with you like this,"
Dijinga whispered in my ear as his tail squeezed tighter around my waist. I looked up at him, overwhelmed by how much he already cared for me. Reaching my hand up to put it behind his neck, I dragged him down until he was hunched over and face level with mine. I planted a small kiss on his cheek. His body stiffened, then he relaxed and looked in my eyes and smiled. Then whispered in my ear,
"The males with human mates receive this kiss all the time from their mates. I was hoping you could teach me how to do it so we can kiss all the time. However, I hope the next time it will be on my lips." I blushed, thinking of how I would have to teach him how to kiss when I have never done it myself. He had gone all the way to third base without touching first base.
I was about to reply to him when I turned my head to see that my mother-in-law and Chief Hinga were looking at us with amused looks on their face. I buried my face in Dijinga's velvet-soft-covered chest as my face burned, and my Fijingawa laughed out loud at my timidness.
"Come take a walk with me, Star," she said as she reached out to take my hand. I looked up at Dijinga, who nodded his head and leaned in to nip my lip, then let me go, uncoiling his tail from my waist. I followed Risinga out of the circle towards a cluster of teepee-like huts. We entered one with a fire inside it, with a large roast over it.
"I was roasting some meat in your honour. I hope you will like it. I am told you prefer your meat mixed with water and vegetables?" She asked as she knelt to tend to the fire.
"I like roasted meat as well. It is just that at the colony, we make stews to stretch out the meat for longer." I replied as I settled down on a grass mat in front of the fire.
"Oh, I see, you will have to teach me how to make this stew," she replied, smiling back at me. "Would you like something to drink?"
She moved towards three large clay pots, with two cups she had taken from a shelf indent in the wall. She poured a milky liquid into both of them and handed me one of the cups as she sat down next to me. I took a small sip to taste, and a moan escaped my lips as the taste registered. The drink was like chocolate milk that we had once a year when we received a package from the spaceport though this one was cold instead.
My mother-in-law smiled at me and said, "This is called Shiya; we make it from ground bijinga root mixed with xoinga berries. Family recipe, which i am going to pass on to you, my daughter."
I smiled at her, pleased by how she was already considering me her family since we had just met less than an hour ago. "Thank you; I would love that."
"So this is the cooking Ganga for our family, my Trishinga and I have our own mating Ganga, and each of younglings has their own Ganga. Dijinga will show you where your mating Ganga cluster is. When mated, younglings build a new Ganga cluster so you can start your family, but you are always welcome back here." She looked at me affectionately, and i felt so welcomed and cared for by her.
"Thank you; I appreciate you welcoming me," I replied, smiling at her and making sure to maintain eye contact.
"I am sorry about the loss of your father, Star; he was a courageous man. I wished i could have come to support you. but Hinga and Dijinga were there at his funeral." Her lower left hand took hold of my right hand, and she covered it with her upper left hand, stroking it softly.
"It's okay, I do miss him, but i am proud of what he did. He saved the lives of the other males in his gathering party with his sacrifice. He died a hero's death" As I finished saying that, two teenage Starkinga entered the hut and stopped in their tracks when they saw me.
"She is smaller than I am. She looks like a youngling." the teenager to the left said as he looked at me with a teasing smile.
"Sijinga, I will clip your tail if you ever dishonour your brother's Trishinga like that again!" My Fijingawa said, and the young male coiled his tail tightly around his left leg as if to hide it.
A laugh escaped from my lips at his reaction, and he smiled back at me. I turned to look at the other teenager and realized they were identical twins. They both smiled at me when they saw my reaction and came over to sit across from us across the fire.
"Dont worry, Star, it will take a while to tell us apart, but until then, we intend to have fun at your expense." The other twin said, and they both burst out laughing.
"Sijinga has a black stripe on his cheek, and Zijinga has a white one," My fijingawa said, much to the dismay of both of them, which they indicate by groaning out loud. I laughed at their expense. I had never had siblings, so it felt great to have these boys that i could joke around with.
"How do you already know my name?" I asked as i realized that i hadn't been introduced yet.
"Dijinga has not stopped talking about you since he saw you over seven moons ago. I am glad you are finally here; maybe he will ease up a little," Zijinga replied, while Sijinga added on.
"He insisted on going on every meat drop off to the colony even though as a chief he does not have to do that, just so he could catch a glimpse of you,"
