“Can I get up now?” Charlie questioned as he stared down at the small group of wolf women that lay around him.

“It’s your punishment for lying,” Nolkonoe explained as she watched the growing group of tribe’s women from all different clans begin to pile onto or around him. Many had taken furs and blankets and now used them to help form the growing nest.

“Many are angry that you ticked them, so you shall show submission to them through the way our species knows best,” Nolkonoe explained as the two women on his chest pushed their tails into his face.

“They heard from some of my Vultures about how good you were at entertaining the Chiefess, and they wanted you to now do the same to them. Now show your friendly intentions,”

“Let me get his right, they will forgive me if I fluff and play with their tails for a little bit?” Charlie said as he stared at the two women. Both had their ears dropped to the side out of annoyance at him.

“I’m sorry,” Charlie said to the first woman as he began to play with her tail. Smiling, the woman placed her head agains his leg.

“Really, I am. I just wanted to scare you all into action, I really didn’t mean to anger anyone too much,” he said as he began to play and fluff her tail.

“We understand that, but you have to consider this is a female dominated tribe, and having a man, let alone a human, like you step out of line is infuriating to some women. After all, we may treat you with a little more respected, as requested, than before, but you are still pet. And since you said you would help the tribe rather than just one clan, many see it as you being the pet of the tribe rather than just the Chiefess,” Nolkonoe explained as he allowed the woman to tease his face with the tail.

Jumping slightly, he felt something poke against his butt. Turning, he saw the gentle eyes of the wolf women staring back at him. She had a far more curvy, large breasted appearance than the other women. Her face was far more mature, as was the gaze given off by her deep eyes. Putting her arms out, she smiled to him.

“It’s alright, the Chiefess is distracted with making sure all documents are gathered so that my Vultures can practice reading through them. And while you do this, I’ll try and put together a plan to make your lessons on documents easier to understand for beginners,” Nolkonoe said, blowing him a kiss before walking off. Tails rose into the air, blocking her from sight and forcing him to turn his full attention to the crowd.

Looking back to the woman with her arms out, she made a grabbing motion towards him. Sighing, he knew he would have to give into his ‘cute and defenceless’ side if he was to calm the anger of these women. Such a strange people, easily angered, easily tricked, and easily pleased. Leaning back against the woman, he allowed her to pet his head and nuzzle her face into his hair.

“Cute,” the woman muttered in her thick native accent as she placed soft kisses onto the top of his head.

“What is he like?” One woman asked.

“How does he smell?” Questioned another.

“Is he worth mating?” Several inquired. Pulling her face from his hair, the woman smiled.

“His scent is strong, but as if that of the lead Vulture and Chiefess on him. Both have defiantly marked him for breeding,” the woman said, getting gasps and giggles of excitement from the crowd.

“I think you will find my mother, and myself, wish to breed him,” Phukomeia said proudly as she pushed her tail between the woman and Charlie.

“Aren’t you angry as well?” One asked, looking to the loving look on the eyes of Phukomeia.

“Indeed, but I know he had good intentions,”

“We all do, but he has upset many of us. After all, how dare he embarrass us in such a way!” The woman who had been holding him said.

“Yes, but have we not learned anything! He did it so we could understand that we are not so smart that we can’t be tricked! He helped us, he angered us, but him helping outshines that anger,” Phukomeia said.

“I agree,” the heir to the Warriors said, moving through the crowd and to his side.

“As he said himself, we treat him like a pet,”

“But that is how we treat men! Pets for breeding and nothing more!” A woman yelled.

“But he is no regular man! He as proven that twice now!” The heir warrior barked back. Storming to his side, she used her tail to casually usher away any women besides Phukomeia near him.

“Does anyone have anything else to say against the beloved pet of the Chiefess, and fellow concubine of the heir to the Warriors and Heir to the Vulture clans?” The heir to the warriors yelled. All fell silent. None wanted to admit to it, but they knew she was right. Quietly the warriors relaxed as the heir to the warriors placed her tail onto the lap of Charlie.

“I am not fully willing to become a concubine of the Chiefess, but if it means I can protect this tribe as well as this male, I am willing to lower my head to her,” the woman said, a bold statement for someone of such a high position.

“Now the lead Forger should be returning at some point today or tomorrow, shouldn’t you all be going and preparing for her?” The warrior barked to the crowd, dispersing them almost immediately. Switching to English, the heir to the warriors locked eyes with Charlie.

“You look tiered. You have done well today, and I apologise for you having to take such drastic actions to get our tribe to understand you. I know first-hand that words don’t work well with warriors,” she said with a smile.

“Thanks, I still think though I went a little too far,” Charlie said, a little embarrassed at not presenting his grand plan in a better way.

“Not at all, I know for one that my clan’s women can in incredibly stubborn. Just from listening to mutters and a few conversations, I think there is a good understanding of what and why you did what you did,” the heir of the warriors patted his head.

“But despite everything, you are still property of the Chiefess and tribe. So don’t do something like that again with at least telling someone so they can help you and back you,” the heir to the warriors reassured as she ruffled his hair.

“I just said we shouldn’t treat you as much like a puppy. But to be honest it is really nice to do so,” the heir to the warriors said, taking a seat by his side as she wrapped her tail around him legs. Phukomeia saw what she was doing and wrapped her tail around his chest.

“If you want, have a quick nap in our fur. I promise I won’t let Phukomeia do anything to do,”

“Hey! I have done nothing but being a gentle, loving support for him!” Phukomeia said, burying her face into the top of his head as she locked her arms around his chest.

“You’re a burden! The boy needs to relax, so you, go and get him something to eat and I’ll watch him,” Felkouyope said as she picked Charlie from her lap and placed him next to her. Sighing, but not wanting to start an argument, Phukomeia wondered off to get him something to eat.

“Again, I’m so sorry about today. If it wasn’t for Nolkonoe translating your words into something unthreatening to the tribe, I believe many here today wouldn’t have given you the time to explain yourself,” Felkouyope explained.

“I know, I owe her much,” Charlie said, smiling at how well Nolkonoe had helped him manage the situation.

“She does make a good mother for the tribe. You know there is a joke here that most women see her as more of a mother than their own mothers,” Felkouyope said wrapping her tail around his waist.

“They also say that because she has had more daughters in her five hundred years than there are even people in the tribe who are most likely some kind of relative,”

“I can imagine,” Charlie said, claiming as he felt the softness of the woman’s tail brushing against the side of his leg.

“There is much about her I doubt you know. She is a legend in our tribe,” she said, smiling as she saw the smile spread across Charlie’s face as her tail poked him in the side.

“You should rest against my fur; I think the lead Forger shall be returning today and I think she will probably wish to talk to you about the whole contract thing. After all news travel fast here, and I as I said before, people will be talking about what you did today for weeks! And especially once Nolkonoe takes your class and makes into something we can understand, I believe you shall start to gain a little fame,” she teased, knowing that the idea of being able to be more than a pup was something he greatly desired.

“Thanks… I know the position the Chiefess gave me was just her being nice, but can I ask why you are being…”

“So nice to you? As I said, I am a member of the Chiefess’s harem. Considering you are our most beloved male pet, I think it is best that I take responsibility for you,” she said, placing a gentle hand onto his head.

He thought her words to be kind, but he knew there was probably an alternative motive to her being this way. As she had said, he was now highly valued in the tribe, and there were many who would most likely jump at the opportunity to have him.

“What are you smiling for?” The warrior teased as she continued to ruffle and play with his soft hair.

“Nothing, just thinking how it’s funny that a nonwarrior like me has a such a place in a warrior-based tribe,”

“Simple, it’s because you are smart! And considering that your family thought so poorly of you, I guess they are either amazing people, or you just didn’t have the room to grow. So instead of dwelling on it, how about you just take that value given to you and wear it as a badge of pride,” she said, not really answering his question. Still though he found her words to be relaxing and maybe even a little comforting.

“Sorry, I just have low self-esteem,” he joked, but the woman didn’t laugh. Instead, she lifted him high into the air and placed him onto her lap.

“Don’t. You are incredibly vied for now, and many wish to see where you can go in the future. My little trickster,” she said, lifting his face so that their eyes met. Smiling, she placed a kiss onto his lips.

“You want to know a secret?” She said, pulling his face closer.

“The only reason I am now willing to be part of the Chiefess’s harem is because of you saying that you would be loyal to the tribe rather than a clan,” she said, placing a kiss onto his lips. Blushing, Charlie tried to move as she locked her legs around his waist.

“If you became a part of my clan, you would be loved and pampered for beyond anything you have ever felt before. I’ll give you what you desire, power, status, and a way to show your family your worth. Make me Chiefess, and I’ll make you my beloved Chief,” Charlie now saw it, he had been trapped.

“My apologies, but I don’t think I can do that,” Charlie said, thinking saying this was the best option to say rather than just right out refuse her.

“Oh, come one! You made that adorable little speech after scaring the shit out of us, that was so fucking funny to me. I think a cunning mind and potentially useful and adorable thing like you could be of great use to our clan,” she said, pressing her breasts against his chest. Struggling, Charlie tried to pull away as she held tightly onto him. Pulling away, he glanced over her shoulder to look for help.

But instead, he saw something else, large, dark blue and bright yellow balloons caressed the horizon. The signs of an imperial escort.