Arriving In... Wickbartonnestlewoldshire

Gentle, golden rays of light filter through the small window set into the carriage door, those soft sunbeams filling this livingroom-like cabin with brilliant orange and yellow hues. The chilly autumn breeze blowing around outside is all but forgotten within this shelter warmed by the sun’s embrace.

“Hmph...!” Thea huffs, the heel of her boot repeatedly tapping into the floor as she sits on the cushioned couch bench, arms crossed beneath her covered breasts.

Krvavy’s strong fingers idly knead and massage the tremendously thick thigh of her beautiful little bunny, unbothered by the creamy fabric standing in her way. “We didn’t call ahead to tell Adeline’s parents we were coming, or anything. So it isn’t a problem if we’re a little late.”

The silver-blonde brat arches a single brow, soft-blue eyes staring through the lenses of her gold-rimmed glasses. “A little late?” The noble girl scoffs. “We were supposed to arrive yesterday. But here we are, still making our way there even after the sun fell and rose again.”

“You had a rather optimistic itinerary to begin with.” Shadow states, just the faintest echo of the Countess audible within that annoyingly indecipherable voice. “Svaneti’s roads are rough and winding. So even had they been clear of other travellers, it was unlikely that we would have reached our destination after only six hours.”

The inclusion of that ‘our’ seems to rub Thea the wrong way, her heel tapping away at a noticeably faster pace.

“We’re pretty close, anyway.” Krvavy lazily replies, trying her hardest to ignore the cloaked copy of another Champion sitting all alone in the corner. The fact that Shadow decided to get dressed again is... disappointing? Disconcerting? The Drakling shakes her head and turns to peer through the window, upper left horn nearly bumping into that pane of glass. “See?”

Rolling hills reach into the horizon, grassy mounds interspersing fertile fields lined with rows of trees and plentiful pastures penned in by tall hedges, well-walked pathways meandering through it all.

There is lot of green to be seen out there, but not as much as there would be were it spring. Or even summer. Thanks to the coming winter, shades of brown have become quite plentiful, from the remnants of harvested crops to the soil they had grown from, and the many plants that still live going dull from the cold. But a plethora of colours still speckle the land, autumn’s glory on full display in the hues of oranges, reds, and yellows too, the leaves of many a tree ready to fall when the next storm comes.

Adeline wiggles and squirms atop the seat that is her Draconic lover’s lap, anxiously looking across that familiar view. Her big hazel-brown eyes linger on what little movement she can see. The few figures milling about and moving around further from this narrow dirt road are noticeably short and small, even when taking the distance into consideration.

“Yes, yes. Farmland as far as the eye can see.” Thea dismissively waves a hand, the layered sleeve of her sky blue dress swaying beneath that gesture. “The very same sight that we had before stopping for the night. This ‘shire’ simply sprawls on and on and on and on...” That brat’s shoulder bumps into the padded backrest, her exasperated gaze ascending to the ceiling. “Are we even any closer to the burrow that our little bunny once called home...?”

The bunny in question suddenly gasps. “Th-the Barlows...!” Her little finger pokes into the window. “Those a-are their fields...!”

Thea immediately perks up, scooting closer and looking towards the patch of farmland that her fellow fiancée has pointed out, those fields filled with freshly grown grassy sprouts. A little odd, considering the time of year... “So we are getti–?!”

“N-no...” Adeline flinches, that single softly stuttered word enough to cut the brat off. “M-my family wou-would sometimes buy b-ba-barley from them, when we couldn’t gr-g-gro-ow enough on our own... They...” The bottom-heavy blonde grows even quieter as she shrinks into herself, shoulders pulling together. “They are... over an hours w-w-walk away...”

“Yeah, but that’s an hour walking with short Halfling legs.” Krvavy calmly comments, speaking up before her brat can complain about that. “And we’re in a carriage. Pulled by horses.”

“A carriage restricted to the long, winding route of this road...” Thea groans, slumping back into her seat.

The Drakling’s palm presses into her adorable Adeline’s thick thigh, slowly tracing circles atop the cream coloured fabric of that Halfling’s regal dress. “Would you really rather wal-lhhhk~!” A shivering sensation shoots up her spine. Cheeks flushing a fair bit, Krvavy’s gaze snaps towards her precious puppy. “Hey...!”

A pair of bright, amber-gold eyes stare back at the barbarian, gleaming with amusement. Arms and legs squeeze tighter around the thick and meaty tail held within their embrace, big green-skinned tits hugging that thing as sharp teeth and pointy tusks nibble at its tip.

“What did I say about biting...?!” Krvavy exasperatedly groans, pulling her tail back just enough to free it from that misbehaving Were-Beast’s mouth.

“Sorry, Mate~.”

Khalia is most definitely not sorry.

“Hahhh...” A long and heavy sigh passes through the Drakling’s pale lips. With hardly a thought, she leans down and plants a soft kiss atop Adeline’s head, that girl making a happy squeak of a sound. “We’ll be there soon enough, so just have a bit more patience.”

Thea turns to look through the window once more. There isn’t much to see out there. A few oxen pulling plows through fallow fields, some carts being pushed, baskets being carried... Her gaze lingers on the various ‘homes’ scattered about, small windows and short doors set into grassy hills topped with trees and chimneys. An idyllic sight, if not the most exciting.

“You could always pass the time with another game.” Shadow suggests, their steady voice causing the other occupants of this carriage to jump. Those four lovers almost forgot that the cloaked figure was still here...

The silver-blonde brat glances towards the unfolded table topped with cards and a chess-like board. “I suppose that is better than nothing...”

Krvavy reaches an arm out, pale lips curling into a warm smile as a dainty hand grabs onto her own.

The light click clack click of Thea’s heels sedately striking the steps can just about be heard above the chattering buzz of countless hushed voices all around them, that noble girl descending to the ground with dignity and grace. Bereft of glasses and chin held high, her soft-blue eyes sweep across this rather misshapen town square.

A small number of buildings – actual ones, with Human sized doors at that – have been scattered around the perimeter of this open space, interspersed with quaint little market stalls and raised platforms for merchants to hawk their goods from. An inn, some stables, a tavern of sorts, what appears to be a post office...

And, as fitting for such a rural setting, there are still quite a lot of plants around here as well. Beyond the yellowing grasses, a few trees bearing nuts and bushes dotted with berries can be seen scattered about in slightly disorganized plots, along with a variety of vegetables that have yet to be harvested.

Between all that stand the people who call this place home. They are quite similar to those who live in Svaneti proper. Their clothes are just as colourful, shades ranging from red to yellow, from blue to green. Their skin is just as fair, tanned into the same light olive hues. Hair the colour of straw is just as common a sight, as are eyes of muddy brown or mossy green.

But most of these people are, of course, on the shorter side. The few Humans here stand at least two heads taller. Then there are, of course, the tails. Thin things, nearly all of which are tipped with fur the same hues as their hair. And how could anyone forget the ears? Some stand tall and high, narrow ovals extending towards the sky. Some are floppy and droop down, as if reaching for the ground. Some are big and round, near circular in shape. But all furred. All look so soft and velvety...

Trembling little fingers hook onto Krvavy’s hand next, Adeline’s cute bunny paw feet peeking beneath the embroidered hem of her cream coloured dress as she climbs down from the carriage, relying so strongly on her Draconic lover’s grip to stay steady. But still she sways slightly, stepping onto the tightly packed ground and turning her anxious gaze down.

Though no matter how much she tries to ignore it, this adorable Halfling can’t escape the fact that so many curious eyes are currently on her. That the floral patterns decorating her dress are glimmering and gleaming in the light of the morning sun, those lines of yellow and orange shining like glittering gold, does not help one bit. She is too eye-catching. Too noticeable. Too beautiful. Even the way her dark-blonde hair is held up, that neat bun pinned in place by a three-pronged fork of polished wood, makes her seem as regal and noble as the Baron’s daughter standing by her side.

A few soft gasps can be heard from the growing crowd of onlookers as Adeline’s thin, fur-tipped tail twists around the Drakling’s much meatier one, that intimate gesture accompanied by Thea’s hand taking hold of her own. The practical bracelet resting around Adeline’s wrist, an onyx-like gem encircling that band of silvery metal, slides a little closer to the Halfling’s elbow as her nervously trembling fingers interlock with those of the brat.

Luckily, that bunny-mouse is spared from being the center of attention for even a second longer.

An uncomfortable silence suddenly sweeps through the air, not even a hushed word spoken as bestial claws reach out from the darkness within that carriage, curling around its wooden doorframe. The steps creak beneath Khalia’s weight, a deep and unhappy scowl filling her faintly flushed face.

The clothes that she has been made to wear may be rather loose... Her top may cover less than Krvavy’s own... even disregarding that Drakling’s jacket. But that hardly matters to her. Having to wear anything beyond her collar is simply too much.

Krvavy reaches over and straightens the name tag resting so comfortably on her precious puppy’s freckled, green-skinned chest.

That shaggy tail twitches, not quite in the mood to wag.

“W-welcome to...” An older Human steps forward, spear in hand and torso clad in a simple blue gambeson, its fabric as weathered as his face. “To Wik-bar-tun-ness-ell-wuld-shur...” He slowly speaks the name of this... town is really not the proper word... Province, perhaps? Regardless, the garrisoned soldier bearing the colours of Svaneti takes care to correctly pronounce the name of this sprawling Halfling settlement, still struggling with it even after who knows how many years of living here himself. “Lady Theadosia.”

The haughty noble girl preens just a bit, glowing with arrogance as she is the one to be directly addressed. “Thank you.” She returns that lowly guard’s clumsy bow with half a curtsy. “It is a pleasure to visit this quaint corner of my family’s land.” Her gaze shifts to the side, looking to the other armed men gathered not far from the one she is speaking to, their armour and equipment better maintained. “I do hope that our... new allies... have not caused any trouble.”

“No o-of course not...!” The old soldier almost seems afraid of upsetting the half dozen soldiers sent here on Rina’s orders... a detail that Countess – or at least her Shadow – only felt the need to divulge a few minutes prior.

Krvavy can’t help but glance back towards the carriage, where the copy of that Champion is all but hiding.

“Hmph. At ease, then.” The fact that Thea doesn’t exactly know what she is doing isn’t entirely apparent, her inexperience hidden beneath the brat’s rather bored tone. “Return to your station. Or whatever it was you were doing before.”

The quiet buzz of countless hushed conversations gradually returns, the Were-Beast’s presence alone not enough to silence these curious country folk.

“If... if you say so, my Lady...” The old guardsman wastes no time at all, turning around and hurrying back along the path leading up to the watchtower standing atop a nearby hill, the first two stories of that thing made of cobbled stone while all above is mere wood.

The other soldiers, the ones wearing Raseyne’s colours, simply glance between each other. After a second, one steps forward and –

“Little Adeline...?!” A shocked voice is raised above the others, a rather homely Halfling woman pushing past a pair of more mouse like men in overalls. Her tall rabbit ears twitch, green-brown eyes going wide...r than they already were. “Is that really you...?!”

“The Stoutbottom girl? The unwed one?” Like a dam bursting beneath the weight of a flood, more voices call out from the crowd of curious onlookers now that the hushed quiet has been broken. “O’ course! Didn’ ya hear?” Each word that is spoken is harder to understand than the last, muddled and muffled by the growing cacophony of chittering chatter. “What?!” “Do you mean...?!” “Rumours...?!” True...?!”

Adeline’s thin tail tightens its twisting grip around the tip of Krvavy’s own. “Eeeeiiie...” She softly squeaks, clinging close to her fellow fiancée and burying her face into that brat’s soft belly, shrinking into herself more and more with each passing second.

“My, it is you...! You...” That homely Halfling woman staggers to a stop just a few paces away. Her hands, tufts of brownish hair on the backs of them, anxiously brush down the slightly dirtied apron resting atop her simple green dress. “P-pardon me, my... my Lady...” She nervously bobs her head in a bow, her wary gaze flicking towards the imposing Drakling and terrifying Were-Beast.

Thea simply raises a single delicate brow. Which seems to be enough to make the peasant standing before her take a step back.

“Missus Hops...hil-hill...?” The adorable bunny-mouse softly squeaks out, blinking her big hazel-brown eyes as she just barely peers towards that other Halfling.

Who immediately smiles, the rather round tuft of fur at the tip of her twitching tail proudly puffing up. “Yes...!” This homely Halfling quickly nods, her tall rabbit ears bouncing above her long and loose locks of sunbleached hair, those brunette strands speckled with streaks of silver and grey. “Little Adeline...! You remember me...! It has been so long...! And you’ve grown so much...! It almost feels like just yesterday you were hardly more than a wee kit clinging to Loreen’s skirts...! But now...! Look at you...! You are dressed so fancy...!”

“Missus Hopshill...!” The increasingly embarrassed bunny-mouse pleads with this older woman, but there is nothing she can do to stop her round and rosy cheeks from being squished and kneaded.

“Little Adeline...! You look so bright and beautiful...! So vibrant...! So full of life...!” Those green-brown eyes suddenly drop down towards the embarrassed blonde’s belly, tinged with the faintest bit of worry and concern. “Are...?”

The third girl to become Krvavy’s fiancée quickly pulls back and away from that overbearing woman. “N-no...!” Adeline shakes her head hard enough for those floppy bunny ears of hers to slap into both barbarian and brat.

“But you were gone for so long...” The older Halfling woman pauses, apparently reminding herself of that fact as well. “Oh! Loreen has been so worried...! Even with those letters you sent...! You should hurry back home, as quick as you can...!”

“Yes, that is what we are here for.”

Adeline and this older woman... as well as a fair few of the other Halfling’s in the ever encroaching crowd of curious onlookers... jump as the bratty noble girl speaks, her tone so very bored.

“Oh...! Th-then... Come...!” The older Halfling woman grabs onto one of Adeline’s little hands. “Come, let us head there n-now...!”

The barbarian blinks, watching as her little bunny is guided forwards, silver-blonde brat by her side.

“Ser Krvavy!” The carriage driver calls out. “The horses will be stabled, and we will remain here until you are ready to leave!”

“Thanks,” Krvavy waves to that man, her arm slinging around Khalia’s shoulders in that same motion. It feels a little odd to be addressed as ‘Sir’ by... anyone, really. But especially from someone associated with Raseyne. She isn’t one of Rina’s knights.

A light grumble rumbles through the Were-Beast’s body, her shaggy tail slowly wagging away behind her butt despite the scowl still plastered across her face. She just can’t help but enjoy being held so close to her Mate, even if the clothes just barely keeping them apart slightly spoils that source of joy.

“Oh, Loreen will be overjoyed to see you again, little Adeline...!” The homely Halfling blabbers away, her tall bunny ears bobbing with each bouncing step she takes. “The letters you’ve sent have been all she could talk about these past few weeks...!”

Dozens upon dozens of eyes watch as Krvavy and her girls are led away from this irregularly shaped market square. One by one, the people gathered here peel away from the crowd of curious onlookers. Most of them, be they Halfling or Human, simply move on with their day. But some of the of the more... inquisitive... members follow after those interesting foreigners, creating a procession of sorts... which is very far from subtle, even without the constant hushed gossiping...

Thea’s heeled boots serve her well on this packed dirt pathway, letting her easily keep pace with the two Halfling’s trying to hurry ahead. But, of course, both Were-Beast and barbarian have an even easier time than that brat, strolling along rather leisurely.

Between fields and hills, gardens pass on by, modest in size and practical in purpose. Vegetables and herbs are grown in abundance, flourishing fairly well considering the time of year. Even the decorative plants clearly have a use to them, hedges sectioning off separate plots and taller trees providing shade for more delicate plants.

The freestanding shops fall into the distance behind them, hidden behind trees and crops and the hilly mounds containing these Halfling homes.

Those burrowed buildings are... interesting.

Not much can be seen of them, not even the ones which stand quite close to this meandering path. They are barely more than short doors set into grassy slopes. Doors so often flanked by flowering bushes and arrangements of colourful gourds.

“Mrs... ‘Hops Hill’, was it?” Bored of this simple walk, Thea lazily addresses that homely Halfling... her words alone enough to make the older rabbit woman jump. “How exactly do you know my handmaiden?” The use of that title sends a gasp echoing through the small cluster of followers they’ve accrued. “A family friend, I presume? Or perhaps one of her many relatives?”

“I-I’m just a close, longtime f-friend of little Adeline’s mum, Loreen...!” The brunette Halfling hastily responds, pressing a hand against her apron-covered chest. She... is actually pretty well endowed, for a Halfling. Her bust looks to be about the same size as the noble girl’s own, which is almost massive on a bottom-heavy body two heads shorter than that brat... “And c-call me Magnolia... I-if-if th-that isn’t t-too intimate, m-my Lady...!”

A quiet huff passes through Thea’s kissable lips, her soft-blue eyes no doubt rolling around. “Magnolia, then... I take it that you grow the hops that the... Stoutbottom... family uses to brew their beer?”

“W-what...?!” That homely Halfling quickly shakes her head, deciding not to ask how that bratty blonde so easily guessed what her family specializes in. Nobles know lots of things, after all. “Um, no, my Lady...! The Stoutbottom’s grow their own h-hops...! Though, well, if their har-harvest isn’t good, then they do buy some extras from my husband and I, but...”

Krvavy finds herself lightly chewing on the inside of her cheek. If only it wasn’t quite as chilly out... She would have had both of her blonde’s wear their sundresses, instead of these more regal outfits that Thea insisted on. That subtle show of wealth makes it difficult for these rural Halfling’s to ignore the fact that this brat is a noble. Which may make dealing with Adeline’s family a little... difficult.

Though, then again, it isn’t like that adorable little Halfling’s family knows that Thea is the daughter – now sister – of the man they pay their taxes to. Maybe they’ll assume the girl is just some minor, unlanded noble? Or maybe the daughter of a well-off merchant? Or just a trophy wife to the wealthy adventurer that is Krvavy?

It all kind of depends on what exactly Adeline told them in her letters.

And how fast gossip spreads around here.

The bratty blonde’s true identity is far from a secret, at this point. But hopefully that cat will stay in the bag long enough for Krvavy and her girls to make a proper first impression, one not tainted by such an imbalance of power. There is no reason to intimidate Adeline’s family like that. They’ll already be unsettled enough by the presence of both Krvavy and Khalia...

“Y-yes, my Lady...!” Magnolia Hopshill hastily nods, her upright rabbit ears wildly wobbling above her head. “They’re for th-the equinox...! For Hallows Eve...! In a couple days the bigger ones will be c-carved into fierce and fearsome f-faces, to scare away evil spirits and b-bad luck...!” Her rather animated hand raises up, half covering her mouth as she lets her voice ‘drop’ to a stage whisper. “Or at least th-that is what we tell the kiddos. It is r-r-really just a bit of fun, for them.”

The barbarian blinks, a bit lost on whatever conversation is going on.

“Have y-you ever done it yourself, m-my Lady...? Oh!” The homely Halfling jumps in place, almost causing Adeline to stumble as she continues to drag that ever so slightly shorter girl along. “Is that e-even a thing you c-city folk do, or is it j-just us...?”

Thea’s delicate fingers drum against her elbows, arms loosely crossed beneath her breasts. “I... have never gutted and carved a gourd myself.” She almost seems embarrassed to admit that. “But I have seen them around Svaneti before. Just not... this many.”

Krvavy blinks again, her gaze sweeping over the burrowed houses they are passing by, focusing on the clustered gourds resting beside nearly every single doorstep. Right. Judging by the pumpkins all over the place, it is almost certainly safe to assume that this ‘Hallows Eve’ is a Halloween equivalent. If the name itself didn’t make that obvious.

“Well... we d-do grow a lot of them here...! M-more than in Svaneti proper, I’d wager...!” Those tall rabbit ears twitch, this older Halfling’s head held high. “They are g-good crops to grow, see...! Their tough rinds make them last a good long time before going off, especially during winter...!”

Again, the Drakling lets her mind drift away from that conversation. She doesn’t need to hear about the specifics of pumpkins, gourds, squash... Or turnips, beets... Potatoes...

“Rrrmmgh...” Khalia’s quiet rumbling can be felt more than heard, her head nuzzling into the crook of Krvavy’s arm. Those intense amber-gold eyes of hers are dulled with boredom, unfocused and half-lidded as she all but dozes off, trusting in her Mate to guide her forwards.

Unable to resist, Krvavy plants a gentle kiss atop her precious puppy’s head.

“Oh!” Magnolia jumps again. “There we are...!” Her arm sweeps forward, gesturing towards a decently sized arched arbour covered in leafy vines, which seems just about wide enough for a cart or a wagon to be pulled through. Were the short gate standing within it opened, of course. “That’s the Stoutbottom’s home, just ahead...!” She suddenly turns back to the anxious girl by her side, pulling that slightly shorter blonde into a tight hug. “Now go on, little Adeline, yer mum’s waiting for you...!”

The timid bunny-mouse twitches, snapping out of whatever shocked daze she may have been in. “Y-y-you’r-re n-not...?”

“I’d love to see Loreen’s face as she gets to hold you again, but...” The homely Halfling turns her head to the side, lightly glaring at the small crowd of her neighbours lingering just within ears reach. “Someone has to keep these snoops from intruding on your reunion...!”

Adeline nervously nods. Wasting not a second more, she reaches up and hooks her shaky little fingers onto Krvavy’s significantly larger hand. “Th-thank you, Missus Hop-Hopshill...”

The puffy tuft of fur at the tip of that older Halfling’s thin tail twists around, lightly booping into that anxious bunny-mouse’s soft belly. “Its no problem at all, dear. Now tell your mum I said hi...!”

A soft huff passes through Thea’s kissable lips once more. The bratty noble girl steps forwards and unlatches the gate, pushing it open. “Come on,” she impatiently waves those three non-Human lovers of hers over. “We have wasted enough time already.”