“I swear by the Lokoti Wolf, this has to be the most difficult pregnancy yet, I’ve had to oversee.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 4)

The Medicine Man looked on in alarm, as he kept a protective hand on my shoulder.  Poor Ki, he was probably wishing we were home right now, so he had the back up of the other Lokoti Werewolves.  In fact, so was I.

Declan stood up angrily as he growled out, “But as usual, I hold myself back.  For you B, I continue to hunt animal and not human.  For you B, I’m letting you keep this child.  For you B, I’ll allow this child to live.  So don’t go all ‘dingo ate my baby’ on me!”

With that, he spun on his heel and stalked off down the corridor.  We watched him depart, before Ki collapsed exhausted, beside on the floor.  He too leaned against the wall as he let out a weary sigh.

He admitted, “I swear by the Lokoti Wolf, this has to be the most difficult pregnancy yet, I’ve had to oversee.” 

My heart pounded and I said vacantly, “You’re telling me...?”

“The most difficult pregnancy for the tribe’s most argumentative couple,” he shook his head.

“Thanks a lot!” 

“Aunt B, have you or Uncle Dec, ever considered relationship counselling?” He passed a tired look.  

“Oh sure!”  I scoffed.  “I can imagine our sessions now with the non-Lokoti counsellor.  Yes, Werewolves exist and yes, we’ve been married for nearly three centuries.  However, getting knocked up has affected our relationship.”

“It doesn’t have to be with a non-Lokoti counsellor off tribal lands.”  Ki shrugged.  “You could go to one of those marriage groups the Tribal Elders hold now and again in the Meeting Hall.”

“Oh yeah, I can see Declan now; sitting there, growling under his breath and scaring away the other couples.”  I snickered.

“Sometimes I don’t know what the hell he’s thinking.  His mood swings thanks to his bloodlust-fuelled temper, are volatile enough.  Then you walk into the room and it’s like throwing petrol onto a fire.  Tell me Aunt B, with all of your fighting, how do you usually work things out?”  He wondered.

“Well…” I wondered how to put it politely, “…make-up sex.”

“I see,” his eyebrows rose. “I suppose that would be typical in a marriage with two Werewolves, let alone one with a European Werewolf.”

“He’s usually not this bad,” I tried to apologise. “But this pregnancy has really thrown him.  We were supposed to evolve to the space time continuum, but that’s been put on hold.  Declan’s not only the father of my child, he’s the man I pictured spending eternity with.  So if he’s not up to fatherhood, I’m screwed.”

“Now you do sound like a Lokoti Werewolf,” he smirked, “the biological bonding between Werewolf and mate.”

“Man it sucks!”  I huffed, as I crossed my arms.

“I wouldn’t say that,” he passed a cheeky grin. “Jenny and I are still enjoying the physical side effects.”

“Shut up!”  I gave him a shove.

“Hey, that hurt!  Watch it with your new strength.”  He chuckled, as he rubbed his arm.  “I think I preferred it when you were hyperventilating.”

Then we both took a deep breath, held it and let it out as a loud sigh, as we stared back into the Viewing Room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“From 1000 BC to 2363 AD, there’s less than a hundred cases, of both European Werewolf mother and European Werewolf child surviving?”

(Small Fry Chapter 4)

“I just can’t believe it...” Ki looked like he was still in shock, “…I’ve never come across a species that would seem so – so – so programmed, to destroy itself by means of sexual reproduction.  I mean, the mortality rate for both mother and young, it’s astronomical!  I thought the European Werewolf lust was so strong, because it was to ensure its species survival?  But it appears to be another method to kill.”

“OK, give me some statistics here.”  I prepared myself for what was ahead.  “What happened in the cases of Roberta and Marcus, as well as Michelle and Leo?  Were they ever pregnant?  Did they go through labour?  Did children occur?”

“Roberta and Michelle were impregnated dozens of times.  But Marcus and Leo, used the method I wanted to use on you to end the pregnancy each time.”  Declan spoke in a low voice, with his back turned.

“Since 1000 BC, there have been billions of instances of female European Werewolves being impregnated.  But actually going through with the pregnancy, drops to a third.  Or, surviving the pregnancy, it drops to a third again.  Then the infant Werewolf reaching maturity, drops to another third.  So we went to something like less than a hundred times, of both the mother and child surviving procreation.”  Ki prattled off with wide eyes.

“Less than a hundred...?”  I gaped.  “From 1000 BC to 2363 AD, there’s less than a hundred cases, of both European Werewolf mother and European Werewolf child surviving?”

“Correct,” our Medicine Man rubbed his face again, from stress.  “I won’t even tell you what happened to the human mothers, which were impregnated by a male European Werewolf.”

“Dead every time?”  I guessed.

“Correct,” he repeated, whist staring at the floor.

“I thought human women wouldn’t survive the experience of being with a male European Werewolf, anyway.”  I looked on, blankly.

“From what we saw, eighty percent of the time they didn’t.”  His face paled, before he shook his head.  “Amazing…it’s like even European Werewolf sexual organs have the bloodlust.  Instead of reproducing, they kill.”

“So as I always thought, most European Werewolves are created by bite or blood transference, rather than sex.”  I summed up.

“Yes.”  He said stiffly.

“Well, it kinda makes sense.” I tried to put it objectively.  “The different breeds were primarily created from the prey that survived an attack by the First Werewolf.”

“All except Lokoti Werewolves,” he added on.  "We’re the only breed NOT descended from the First Werewolf.  We were created from the biological and spiritual convergence of Lokoti Wolf and human.”

“You never know,” I tried to joke, “the changed prey ended up reproducing with members of the canidae family, which includes wolves.”

Our Medicine Man’s face fell, “That’s not even funny, Aunt B.  Allow me to remind you that a Lokoti Werewolf has NEVER lost a mate in childbirth.”

Declan snarled in displeasure at our conversation, as he turned around and stormed off down the corridor.  I remained in my seat and watched him go, as I sensed he had to walk this off.  Right now, he was feeling angry and embarrassed of his breed’s family history.

I turned back to Ki, “What about the male European Werewolves who impregnated the female; did any remain through the pregnancy?  You said Declan was stronger because of it, what about them?”

“Um, we didn’t really see what happened to the males.”  He mused.  “The presentation was centred on females through the pregnancy or the birth.  Often, they were alone without the father with them.”

“C’mon,” I stood up, “let’s do some more research.”

“Just give me a minute,” he faltered.  “I’m still getting over the last history lesson on the fate of the females.”

“I’ll start on the search parameters and I’ll meet you in the Viewing Room.”  I organized, before I headed that way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Small Fry Part Two

Cover Design by Isabel de Sequera

Cover Photo by Nina Ackerman

Lucia becomes an older sister as B and Declan delight in their domestic bliss.  However, raising half-breeds and training them not to hunt human is nothing compared to being hunted themselves.  Whereas the parents and the pack prove willing and able to fight, B's visions as a 'Light Person' are darkened by what looms ahead. 

The Lokoti National Park turns into a battle ground, as the warfare of fang vs. claw takes place.  Friends and family members are lost and the tribe is changed forever.  After the grief, further tragedy strikes with the arrival of B and Declan's third daughter.  Although it seems Declan's nightmares have come true, B's real strength shines through. 

Will be available from 24 December 2014 at 

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iTunes, Smashwords, Oyster & Scribd 

I glared back, “Because this baby is half Lokoti Werewolf, so she’s got my genes too.”

(Small Fry Chapter 4)

“OK, lets talk about this.”  I sighed, as I put down my empty mug.  “Let’s get everything out into the open and deal with it now, so we can just move on.”

“Maybe we should,” Ki said flatly, “preparations are certainly going to need to be made.”

“Instead of panicking and crying out, ‘oh my god we’re all going to die’, let’s review the first fact that I obviously live through this pregnancy.  The second fact is, I will be having girls.”  I looked up at Declan, thinking this would make him feel better.  “The third fact, what you just saw in there happened to OTHER females.  It’s not going to happen to me.”

“How can you be so sure, B?!”  My mate whirled around in anger. “I just saw female European Werewolves die in childbirth, women with twice your strength!”

“Was the male European Werewolf who knocked them up, with them?”  I asked knowingly.

“No -” he began, but I cut him off.

“Were any werewolves male or female, around to share their blood with the injured mother?”  I asked again.

“No, usually the mothers were alone and gave birth in hiding.”  He answered.

“So there you go.” I said simply.  “I’m not going to have this baby alone, so if I need blood, I’m sure my mate or pack will back me up.”

Ki spoke distantly, “The female European Werewolves weren’t just impregnated by the males of their species, but also by humans.  However, their babies still developed as full-blooded European Werewolves.  We saw a couple of images of the baby, morphing into its larger European Werewolf shape whilst inside the mother.  It ruptured the amniotic sack, as well as split the mother’s stomach wide open, which in most instances killed both.” 

“But that’s not going to happen to me,” I said firmly.

Suddenly, Declan roared in anger, with his face bright red and tears streaming from his eyes.  “HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE, BIANCA?!”

The volume not only made me jump, but it also made Ki snap to.

“Uncle, please.” He said quietly.  “Yelling at Aunt B isn’t going to solve the problem.  We have to remain calm.”

I glared back, “Because this baby is half Lokoti Werewolf, so she’s got my genes too.”

Our Medicine Man rubbed his face, “I asked the computer to show us your future, so we could confirm your pregnancy will have no complications?  However, it said it has difficulty calculating your future at times.  It said a white light from an unknown energy source, blocks your timeline, so it can’t predict your path.  All it could say is that you have three children, which are all girls.  It said it saw you in the distant future, when the girls were grown, but it couldn’t project what the deliveries will be like.”

“What good is this frickin’ smart computer, if it can’t tell us THAT?!”  Declan growled out.

Then he kicked an unused couch so hard, it squealed across the floor several meters away!

“Vincent used to say the same about trying to predict my future.”  I sighed. 

“When you’re six months along, I’ll put the pack on alert.”  Ki took a deep breath.  “As soon as we sense your labour, you’ll have fourteen male Lokoti Werewolves on standby as blood donors… as well as Declan, of course.”

The father of my child turned back around to glare tearfully out at the storm.  It had begun to rage outside, drenching the land in a thick downpour as its strong downdrafts blew fiercely.  We saw the vegetation bend and flex in the gale, as its’ roots struggled to hold on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Declan looked distraught at his species history with sexual reproduction whilst Ki looked disgusted.

  (Small Fry Chapter 4)

When my fifteen minutes of peace were up, I was joined by two shell-shocked males. 

Declan looked distraught at his species history with sexual reproduction whilst Ki looked disgusted.  Since Lokoti Werewolves are exceptionally protective over their mates and young, anything untoward in this area was frowned upon.  From the look on our Medicine Man’s face, his frown was so ingrained, I thought it would give him new wrinkles.

“Hot chocolate?” I offered to cheer them up.

The two looked like I had just offered to put a simple band-aid on a broken artery, gushing out.

“B, did you know this already?”  Declan asked accusatorily.  “Is that why you didn’t stick around?”

“No,” I spoke calmly, “I just had a bad feeling that’s all.”

“A bad feeling…?  A BAD FEELING?!”  His voice rose.  “When you swore to me that first morning that you’d live through this pregnancy, you LIED!!”

“No I didn’t!”  I said indignantly, as I sat up straighter.  “I did NOT lie about MY pregnancy!  I didn’t want to come here to do the search, nor watch the results with you, because I knew they wouldn’t be pretty.  I SENSED it would have been dire at best for other females, but I KNOW it’s not dangerous in my case.”

“How can you know?”  His face screwed up in pain.  “How can you know this isn’t going to happen to you?”

“Because our daughter will be the eldest, remember?”  I pointed out.  “If I don’t live through this, I can hardly give her sisters now, can I?”

Ki slowly sunk onto the couch next to mine, as he stared vacantly at the lush vegetation outside the glass wall.  He truly appeared to be suffering post traumatic stress, whereas Declan was furious.  The Medicine Man who would occasionally counsel his patients, looked like he needed to recover. 

Altogether, we watched the bright sunlight disappear, as the light green sky was darkened with oncoming storm clouds.  I thought the flashes of lightning were poetically timed with the men’s moods at the moment.  The thunder was so loud, the rumble could be heard as well as felt, through the protective dome.

Declan stood with his back turned, as he watched the lightning rip across the blackening sky.  His human blue eyes switched to his glowing green colour in anger, which made him look like he could be a native of Taurus Six.  His dissatisfied growl rumbled out just like the thunder outside. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All his long life, Declan was careful not to turn any human by bite or contaminate with his blood.

  (Small Fry Chapter 4)

Over the next fifteen minutes, I sat curled up in a corner of a couch, in one of the three Observation Lounges.  I even sipped on a hot chocolate I had one of the food synthesizers create, in the Mess Hall.  The lounges were positioned by the outer dome wall, which gave an excellent view of the alien surroundings. 

Taurus Six had perpetual storms and the dense clouds created the constant lightning, which shot across the sky.  Occasionally, the hot sunlight from the binary star system did get through, but on any given day there could be up to five hurricane-force downpours.  The nitrogen generated from the lightning, as well as the regular rainfall, coupled with the hot light from the binary stars; gave the planet thick, tropical vegetation as well as a rich, oxygen atmosphere.  However, it was impossible for humans to colonize the planet, because of the ionized atmosphere the storms created, which wouldn’t allow spacecraft to safely traverse.  Then there was also the problem of the ships flying through the unstable nebula, the planet was inside.

As I sipped on my beverage, I enjoyed the stillness of the base.  I didn’t mind the solitude, as I liked the hum of the environmental systems which maintained the comfortable temperature and light.  Right now, I preferred it to what Declan and Ki were seeing in the Viewing Room.  My ominous feelings as a Circulator were still singing songs like, ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’.

I knew it wouldn’t be a pretty picture, European Werewolves and sexual reproduction.  It would attribute to how Declan was created, as most European Werewolves were; by bite or the transference of blood.  When he was three years old, he was mauled by the European Werewolf which killed his father and attacked his pregnant mother.  Declan almost died, but my Lokoti Werewolf grandfather, saved his life by sharing his blood.  Then he was trained by the pack not to turn into the man-eater which nearly destroyed his family.

All his long life, Declan was careful not to turn any human by bite or contaminate with his blood.  He was adamant he should be the last of his kind.  The humans he had bitten, he tore apart, so there wasn’t anything left to change.  In these instances, the Police allocated the murders to an ‘animal attack’.

So instead of seeing the depressing statistics, I amused myself by staring out at the tropical landscape.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Computer, we need to research pregnancy in relation to European Werewolves.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 4)

“Circulate systems and Hodge Endeavor are operating within normal parameters.”  She promised, before she picked up what I was typing in.  “You are requesting to do a search using the Viewing Room?”

“That’s correct,” I replied, “the boys need to find out something.”

“Will Declan be running the search?”  The computer guessed.

“Yes.”

“Declan, as a new member of the Circulate, I am aware you are unfamiliar with Circulate systems.  Should you require any information or have any requests, I also respond to voice commands.”  She offered.

He looked on in surprise, “Er, thanks.”

“You are welcome.”  The computer acknowledged.  “Would you like B to program the search parameters for you, or would you like to give the verbal commands?”

I gave him an encouraging smile to go ahead.

“Yeah alright,” he straightened with the responsibility.  “Um, I need to find European Werewolves in relation to pregnancy.”

“Please specify the time period you would like me to search,” the computer requested.

“Um, do I have to?”  He looked confused.

I took over again, “Computer, we need to research pregnancy in relation to European Werewolves.  We need to find out what happened to the mothers as well as the offspring.  The search parameters are wide with no set time frame.  From prior records when the different breeds of Werewolves were established, begin there and track through to the 24^th Century.  Show us any and all European Werewolves in the area of procreation.”

“Working,” the computer began to process.  “Would you like to begin your research from the time European Werewolves were able to morph to and from human form?”

“Huh?”  My mate gawked.

I explained, “Up until 1000 BC, European Werewolves always remained in their supernatural form.  It wasn’t until then they were able to change between human and other.” 

Declan and Ki exchanged puzzled looks, not only by this piece of trivia, but at how I knew this?

Then I spoke to the computer, “Yes please.”

“The search is complete.”  The computer advised.  “Would you like to view as well as record, the following results?”

“Yes please,” I ordered.  "Download a copy of the report onto my laptop.”

“Your laptop?”  Ki looked around.  “But you didn’t bring your computer with you.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I told him.  “The Circulate Mainframe can send information to it via text message or email.”

“You can download through time and space?”  He looked impressed.

“Yup,” I stood up from the console and started to leave.

“Hey, where are you going?”  Declan wondered.

“I don’t think I want to see this.”  I said, to their further astonishment.  “I’ll be in the Observation Lounge waiting for you when this is finished.”

They watched me go as the computer chimed, “Declan, would you like me to begin the presentation now?”

“Um, yeah OK.”  He said uneasily once I had left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once upon a time, the Circulate was made up of 696 humans, those who could either calculate time or move through it, in the form of its’ Circulators.

  (Small Fry Chapter 4)

In a bright flash of light, we disappeared from our living room to reappear in another, in a corridor of the futuristic stronghold of the once powerful Circulate.

The headquarters was inside a massive glass dome, which housed late 25^th Century technology.  It had black floors, open ceilings to allow natural light in, frosted-over, sliding glass doors, and computer interfaces adorning many surfaces.  The computers were touch screen, with see-through casings filled with crystallized circuitry.  Indeed, the computer core of the Circulate Mainframe which was a ‘smart computer’; looked like a giant, rotating crystal pyramid, with a myriad of lasers hitting it to access the ingrained information.

Once upon a time, the Circulate was made up of 696 humans, those who could either calculate time or move through it, in the form of its’ Circulators.  The Calculators chose to place the second headquarters on the terran-class planet inside of a green nebula, on the other side of the galaxy.  It was to protect the secret of the society’s existence, since the nebula was too unstable to navigate space ships through.  The only way the headquarters was accessible, was for Circulators to phase via the Gate or instantaneously phase, directly to the planet’s surface.

The secret society left their mortal existences behind in the Final Phase, to evolve as energy to the space time continuum.  After their departure, it left behind only my Circulator mother, who met a long-lost cousin who was a Calculator.  It was Mum, Vincent and my Gran - who was the only Circulator let alone human, to have been to eternity and back - who trained my abilities as a Circulator.  With my family’s departure, now it was just Declan and I, as the last of the Circulate to use the empty headquarters.

“This way,” I headed for the nearest entryway.

As Declan and Ki followed me through the automatic, sliding glass doors, they noted on the lit up panel beside which read; VIEWING ROOM.

Immediately, the female voice of the Circulate Mainframe, greeted us.  “Welcome to the Viewing Room, Circulators Bianca and Declan Sabre.”

“Huh?”  My mate looked taken aback.  “How does it know that you changed me?”

“The Circulate Mainframe knew of your oncoming transformation, for years.”  I smirked.  “It is monitoring our timelines, don’t forget.”

Our Medicine Man looked suitably impressed, as well as by the futuristic technology.

The room had a glass top, circular desk which went around in a ring.  On top sat three crystallized computer consoles, which were spread around.  In the centre of the room, was a large, upside down, crystal pyramid, hanging from the open ceiling.  Three Calculators used to sit here, monitoring Earth and the entire Universe, when the Circulate still had all of its members.  In the three sides of the pyramid, different scenes from humankind’s history were on display.  One depicted the Roman Forum during Imperial times, the other was of the Forbidden City in the 16^th Century and last of all, were the Lokoti Tribal Lands of the era we had just departed.

“Hey that’s my house,” Ki pointed at the picture.

“The Circulate Mainframe always has its eye on tribal lands, as it keeps tabs on my whereabouts.”  I said breezily.

“B, would you like me to report on Circulate systems and Hodge Endeavor?”  The computer offered.

            “No thanks, not today.  I’ll get a full report the next time I come, unless there’s anything urgent?”  I said as I sat at the closest computer console.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Aside from your baby, there has never been an observed European Werewolf pregnancy.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

We exchanged a look of wonder at this news and I even touched his arms to feel them for myself.

Ki went on, “I do have a theory though.”

“Yeah and?”  He prompted.

“In the animal kingdom, there are males who become stronger when the female is expecting.  The male is preparing to become the provider as well as the protector.  Maybe that’s what’s happening now?”  Our Medicine Man speculated.

“Are you for real?”  I gave a peculiar look.  “I mean, European Werewolves aside from Declan, aren’t exactly known for being the kind to commit.  In the past, if a male European Werewolf knocked up a female, he didn’t usually stick around to co-found the next ‘Brady Bunch’.”

“Thanks a lot!”  My mate retorted.

“I did say aside from you.”

“True,” he conceded.  “Remember Leo and Michelle?  I never did find out, how long they were together for.   We don’t know if they ever procreated, or what not.”

“If they had, you wouldn’t be the last European Werewolf.”  I tried to joke.

“What if Leo did get Michelle pregnant?”  He continued.  “He most certainly would have, but what happened to the baby?  Did they stop conception from continuing, with the method I used on you in the past?  Or, did they kill it after it was born?”

A cold shiver ran down my spine, making me shudder.  “I don’t think I wanna know.”

“What about Marcus and Roberta?  What happened to them in the area of procreation?”  He went on. 

“Again, I don’t think I wanna know.”  I felt sick at the thought of it.

“Hey, you can see the past and the future, in the Viewing Room at Circulate HQ, can’t you?”  Declan turned my way.

“Er, yeah?”

“Maybe we should look into the past and at other European Werewolves, in relation to pregnancy?”  He thought up.

“Do we have to?”  I whined, as a horrible feeling sank in.  “I don’t think I wanna know.”

“What do you think, Ki?”  My husband looked to our Medicine Man for his opinion.

“It would be wise to find out as much information as possible.”  He agreed.  “Aside from your baby, there has never been an observed European Werewolf pregnancy.”

Declan eagerly stood up, “C’mon then, let’s do it!”

“What, right now?”  I looked up in surprise.

“Why not?”  Ki said congenially, as he stood up too.  “I’ll come along and it’ll be included in my ‘house call’.” 

“Are you sure?”  I asked warily.  “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”

“C’mon B,” my mate pulled me up from the sofa.  “Now you’ve got me curious.”

“I have?”

“You did bring up other European Werewolf behaviour in regards to kids.”  He reminded.

However, my horrible feeling turned into dread and I recognized it as a warning of bad news to come. 

“Can’t we do this another day?”  I tried to back out.

“Why?”  He gave a peculiar look.

“It’s best that we find out the facts, Aunt B.”  Our Medicine Man, reasoned.  “It could even help with your treatment.”

I glanced away uncertain, as a tiny voice cried inside my mind, ‘no, don’t do it!’

Declan noticed my apprehension, “B, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I lied.

I didn’t know what to say, without worrying them.

“Are you feeling unwell, Aunt B?”  Our Medicine Man looked on closely.  "Perhaps it's morning sickness?"

“Oh no, I’m fine.  It’s just that…”

“Yeah?”  My husband prompted.

“It’s nothing.” I let out a weary sigh.  “Let’s just get it over with.”

The men exchanged funny looks as I reluctantly rose to my feet. 

            I placed my hands on their arms and within the blink of an eye, I instantaneously phased the three of us to Circulate Headquarters.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A silly smile appeared on the European Werewolf’s face.

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

 

“So, you’ve been enjoying the European Werewolf characteristics which have arisen in Aunt B?”  He remarked.

“Hell yeah!”  My mate proclaimed, as if it were a given.  “Not that B was ever a cold fish, it’s just nice that she needs me as much as I need her.”

“Declan!”  I cried out louder, as I gave him a shove. 

The Medicine Man regarded him closely then he even waved his medical scanner in his direction.  “Can you tell me more about this, Uncle Dec?”

“Like what?”

“How Aunt B’s behaviour is suiting you.” 

“I dunno.”  He shrugged back.  “She’s gaining on me with how much she eats now.  It’s nice to snack with her, when she used to give me and my perpetual hunger, a funny look.”

“I did not!”  I shoved him again.

A silly smile appeared on the European Werewolf’s face. “She bites more.  She drinks more.  She eats more.  She growls more and quite frankly, she’s turning me on.  It’s almost like we’re closer than ever.”

“Because she’s emulating your bloodlust, you don’t feel so different anymore?”  Ki caught on.

“Yeah, basically.”  He shrugged. 

“Stop sounding so whiny like you’re the world’s loneliest male!”  I rolled my eyes. “Where have I been the past two centuries, living in the woods?”

“See what I mean?”  He chuckled, as he affectionately patted my leg.

“Hmm,” Ki was now frowning over the readouts of the new scan.

“What is it?”  I asked concerned.  “What’s wrong?”

“This is interesting,” he began.

“What’s interesting?”  Declan demanded.

“Your body Uncle, it looks like you’re going through a couple of changes yourself.”  He lowered his scanner, to look him in the eye. 

“Oh yeah?”   His eyebrows rose.

“I don’t know if this is a direct result of the pregnancy, but your muscle tone has also increased in density by ten percent.”  Ki announced.

“But how?”  I wondered.  “He’s already a hundred percent stronger than humans.  Now he’s a hundred and ten percent stronger?”

“It looks like it.”  Ki shrugged then he reached out to feel Declan’s arms himself.  “They do feel harder than usual.”

“Could it be because I’m young again?”  My mate tried to shrug it off.  “Maybe my body is adjusting to becoming a Circulator?”

“I don’t think that’s it.”  He shook his head.  “After Aunt B changed you, I ran a scan on you that morning, if you recall.  It picked up your muscle density had returned to the way it was, when you were in your twenties.  Now it’s increased again.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Right now, you’re as strong as a male Lokoti Werewolf.”

  (Small Fry Chapter 3)

 

“Hmm.”

Ki rubbed his jaw, as he looked on my results somewhat perplexed.  Declan and I looked on worriedly, as he read the results on the hand-held medical scanner. 

“What is it?” My husband asked in concern.  “What’s wrong?”

I was lying on the couch in the lounge room, as was the custom for my once a week check-ups.  Declan was sitting to the side holding my hand.  Our Medicine Man was running a deep, cellular scan, of both mother and baby.

“I can see what Uncle Declan means, by your bloodthirsty behaviour.” He reported.  “Aunt B, your muscle density has increased by ten percent.  Right now, you’re as strong as a male Lokoti Werewolf.”

“Really?”  I sat up right in surprise.  “Is that a good sign?”

“I think so,” he frowned, appearing the opposite.  “Your body is making adjustments for carrying a mini European Werewolf inside of you.  It’s compensating, by taking on some of Uncle Declan’s strength.  It’s why you’re craving his blood right now, for its regenerative properties as well as his physical prowess.”

“Yeah, but besides B taking on my faster healing and strength; she’s also taking on some of my character traits.”  He told Ki.

“Declan!” I whacked him on the arm, to shut up.

“Such as?”  Our Medicine Man looked on enquiringly.

“The hunger and some of the other urges attributed to my bloodlust,” he continued.

“Declan!”  I whacked him again, as I sat upright on the couch.

“Can you elaborate?”  Ki listened.

“Like some of my needs and wants in the bedroom.”  He put it politely.

“Declan, Ki doesn’t need to hear this!”  I objected, in embarrassment.

“Oh dear,” our physician frowned. “You’re not getting rough between the sheets, are you?  Because Aunt B is still in the first trimester, there’s the risk of miscarriage and -”

“B and the baby are safe, Ki.”  He interrupted, taking offence.  “I’m letting her get rough with me, but I keep my claws to myself.”

“Good.”  Our medical practitioner instantly looked relieved.  “That’s good to hear, Uncle Dec.”

“I mean, I like it so much that I’m using every bit of willpower I have, not to get rough with her…” he muttered, looking away.

“It’s good to hear that you’re exercising restraint.”  Ki cleared his throat.

“…and sometimes I have to do the times tables in my head, so I don’t flat-out maul her in the throws of passion...” he said under his breath.

We gave him a peculiar look, but he didn’t see.  He was too wrapped up in his own thoughts, as he stared at the floor.  Declan seemed to be talking to himself, let alone to the two other people in the room.

“…it’s just nice to see someone else go through what I have for years; the lust, the hunger, the downright desperation, to devour the person...” 

We exchanged glances when Declan finally snapped out of it.

“Huh, what?”  He sat up straighter.  “You were saying, Ki?”

 

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