The Meal of Course.

After a little while Molly leads the four of you back to the place she had before after you had washed off, And this time there just seems to be food all over the tables, they did not even bother to have people get plates to serve themselves. Human's and Animorphs are bring out all kinds of food, it seems like there taking orders and just piling community food on the table you sit down and just eat. You also start to wonder if it's an unwritten rule here to wash off then go eat, because of the human's and Animorphs around you seem to be a little wet. Which you notice you had not notice before, you also wonder since most animals that are kept for pets don't have to be washed more then two or three times a months tops. How is it these Animorphs or human's as Animorphs are able to keep clean or healthy in this form washing off so often. Then you think about it a moment and decided it must be the minerals in the hot spring, they keep the fur and skin clean and safe. So the Animorphs do not dry out or get other skin conditions, and you start to wonder how many other things like these small touches Max went to to ensure things run well.

You turn to your party and notice Petra is wolfing down the same stuff her mother is, almost bite for bite. It looks to be the steak bites you where eating earlier, Freya on the other hand seems to have taken a plate of honey and some berries to eat. At least it seems to be what she took for starters, you look in front of you and notice there seems to be a good mix of things but wonder what it is you want to eat. Then you see it oven Roasted Ham, you figured what the hell the big bad wolf finally gets one of the three little pigs. So you take the whole ham, and start to rip into it. You realize your not really so hungry after earlier today, but at the same time you also notice this form requires a lot more energy then you had expected as earlier. So this 20 pound ham does not seem so bad, you naw here and there and really get into eating this ham.

You turn your muzzle to look at Petra who is right next to you, to see her lower her muzzle to the other side of the ham your eating. You shake your head to wonder what she is doing, you remember that wolves have an eating order and your wondering if she is trying to show how or maybe reflect this in what she is doing. You let out a low growl saying, your only allowed to eat on this because your mother is not between you and me kinda. At the same time you pick up your paw and scratch her between her ears, her mother takes little interest in the exchange, putting her own muzzle between the two of you and takes a bite out of the middle. Petra seems to try and take a nip at her mothers neck, which results in her being slapped on the muzzle almost as fast. So the three of you attack this large ham between the three of you. It vanishes fast, when its down to the bone Freya reaches over and takes it. She crunches it between her teeth and swallows it.

You kinda smirk at that, and grab some of the raw steak bites. You look up to notice Petra and Molly had taken interest in something someone was bring over to them. You notice it looks like an animal leg, it seems to be cooked rare with herbs and oil over it. You sniff at the leg in front of you as you finish a few of the steak bites and then growl at them, whatever you smell in the leg you realize you want some of it. So you take big meaty end of the leg, and take a few large bites out of it and then push it down so Petra and Molly can enjoy it. It's not long like much of the food the people or animorphs eat here before the leg is gone, but this time, Molly and Freya seem to split the bones. Molly taking the larger pieces this time.

Molly then says " The bones are important for the growth of little Animorphs, if you look over you will see Kamrin eating bones others have left behind. A lot of the female Animorphs will just ask for bones with a bit of meat. It's one of the reason's they put out the steak bites, they need a lot of bones. That or they order ribs and eat it all. Ribs that's what I need!" With that she looks at the table and finds a nice looking set of roasted ribs and starts to dig into them. You are taken a back by the food in take of some of these Animorphs but you realize also most of them do seem to be female, and this is the breeding center.

Petra then says " Most Animorphs do not eat as much, I tend to eat when I feel like it. I burn a lot of energy naturally, but my wild cousins require between 6.5 and 7.7 pounds of meat a day. Most Animorphs can go as long as most humans without food, in the case of us wolves we can go 2 weeks and lose no mass. But when the females of many species of Animorph are having litters or breeding. They tend to go on the heavy end of food intake. 10 to 15 pounds of intake a day if not more, wild cousins of us wolves are known to when hungry enough to take in up to 28 to 33 pounds of food. But because the energy requirements and personal taste of each Animorph some eat a bit more. It's hard Alex to nail down intake for us, but a wild wolf can eat up to a 1.5 tons of meat a year."

You look at Petra, half amused and say " They sure make sure to teach you all kinds of things don't they?"

Petra smiles and says " They say its important for us to know about are wild cousins, it makes us capable to be teaching aids if we are ever required to help heighten awareness of the species we are based on. Thou honestly most of us know that few people know of are existence and few towns openly allow us in public. Some figure that the DNA experiments used to create us are bad, many figure they where outlawed. The fact they made it capable for a human to look and be like us if they wish, is also often looked down on. Most fear the creation of another set of smart humanoid species, thou they do not realize that we are human. We are just different then humans, we share a lot of the same DNA. But because of the laws and the way some things work, we don't share the DNA of the human's who give birth to us. But we do share the memory and or some of the information are parents held. That often has more to do with are wild cousin's but because of the human DNA it works a bit differently."

You nod at Petra and scratch her head again " So why are you not eating any more Freya and Molly seem to be eating still."

Petra suggest and says " I am not hungry, I noticed you stopped as well. And when mother gets like this as do most Animorphs they tend not to talk much. Til there done, in less something catches there attention. Feeding instinctively, it's one of the few things you that the humans who are affected by the DNA in some ways experience. You and Mother are some of the only ones I have notice catch onto it, I have watched a lot of humans, in are form eat in this room as I wait for mother. And I notice many do not embrace the way the wild cousin's did things. We are told to always see both things, but learning human manners and behaviors are important. They tell us to be both but be new, for are idea's. It all gets confusing til I see mother and you doing things I feel and do."

You smirk and ask " So you liked the fact, your mother had eaten part of the ham with us? And that she made sure to let you know you are out of place eating on what I eat. As my growl had told you, Thou not to suggest it upset me, I had made plans to eat only that ham you and your mother helped me finish. That is also why I took a few huge bites out of that elk leg your mother and you had them bring, it tasted great. I also notice either of you ate any of it til I was done with it." You finish still smirking at Petra, who is in a huge blush.

Molly finally slowed down her eating frenzy long enough to say, " She knows better, then to share food with people who have not told her to. That's the reason I got between you two after you growled at her Alex, I know you did not care so much as just responding naturally as you ate. But it's not the first time she has done it, meal time here at dinner gets busy so they stack the food like this in hopes they can sit more hunger Animorphs and humans. But if you look around, the human's are sitting at different tables. That is to try and cut down on the food dominance and eating issues, they are allowed to sit at the ends of the tables if you notice they are clear so they can sit next to friends. Or mates or whatever they are here for, but they often sit on there own as suggested." About this time Freya is licking off her lips happy with her meal and rubbing her face up against your neck and shoulder. Molly smiles and adds " I am almost done as well, I feel like I need a few more bites. Had I gotten more of that elk leg,

I would not need more food now." She is now smirking at you over this.

Freya then adds " I like meals here, they always serve things cooked or uncooked in many ways. I might try to help in the kitchen now master once I wake from hibernation, since you work here now. I think it would be good to learn more and help prepare to feed everyone."

You look at Freya and ask " hibernation?"

Freya then says " After you breed me, I will hibernate for a month and half to two months. At around a month and half I will give birth to the cubs, hibernate for another 2 weeks as they feed and I sleep. It's much shorter then normal hibernation and have not done it ever. Honestly it's not every healthy for me to have missed it the last three times. If you had not adopted me, I would have had to do it without you Alex." She has a small smile on her face, and she adds " But you can visit me well I hibernate, thou they ask you don't do anything that might wake me. All that means is, you can lay down and sleep next to me if you think it will make you feel better or me even thou I slumber. And after I wake they might want me to stay with the cubs for between one and two weeks. Thou I don't have to, I would prefer if you let me." She says this with a small smile in hopes you might.

You look at Freya then at Molly and say " So your telling me, the birth of the cubs and all things else considered for you Freya could take 2 and half months? I guess Molly was not kidding when she said chances are I would still be here as a guest. Thou at the time she had not entertained the possibility that I would end up working here, and I still have not had a damn job title given to me. All the same, I guess it's fine. I figure Molly would prefer it that way Freya, thou I might have Petra here keep you company during some of it if its ok with Molly. So we know Petra is in a safe place and your safe as well Freya if that is ok with you." Petra seems a little upset, but does not make a fuss over it. Your guessing she understands there is a lesson to be learned.

Freya then says " I like the little one, I am happy Molly picked her. She seems to learn faster then she lets on, and her bold behavior is well worth embracing for all of us."

Molly of course finishes her last bite and says " All done, as for Petra keeping Freya company at times. I see no problem, maybe even her friends might be interested. I mean when Freya gives birth someone has to clean up the cubs, and if we sort it out it could help to get the little ones do it since there learning. After all, that and the fact they mostly have to clean up there own pups when they do it."

Petra looks grossed out for a second and then says " But mom, I don't want to do that!"

Molly then adds " It's a natural part of the things that happen here, you will naturally respond to the birth of pups one day and you will be cleaning them. When a human does it, they tend to give them a mid wife or Animorph who helps with it. I figured you would handle it this time Petra, in less your busy with helping Freya who of course will be a sleep, so someone has to make sure her cubs are healthy and warm and so on. It's a big job Petra."

You then decided to ask " So who will be watching after Kamrin? during the birth of her pups?"

Molly smirks and says " Her whole class, or at least the ones who are property of the shop or are able to get permission for over night care. Besides the friends of are little Petra here, who will be helping Freya."

You then ask " What am I suppose to do during this time? I mean I will have three females I should be watching after in some way."

Molly smirks and says " Well, first off your going to be with me. Kamrin has who she is suppose to have watching after her. For the class project after all, as for Freya it should be a few days after I have mine if not more. So that also means there is a good chance Petra will be watching after the birth of her siblings as well. So the little pup is going to be busy!"

Freya in a low voice unsure of herself asks " Am I or are you going to keep one of the Cubs Alex?"

You are a bit confused for a second and ask " I am not sure, I know we mostly have some time to decided on that. And with me working here that mostly is more so the truth. Molly and I are going to figure it out later, I am sure. And for now Freya, chances are since I will be here and you will be here. I am going to see if maybe Max will allow for a new lesson plan. That is to say, I am going to see if Max might let you teach all of your cubs and at the end of a year you and I will figure out what one to keep if Molly and I decided to keep one. That is to say, by you teaching them it will still have the involvement of the staff and all but you get the idea."

Molly smirks and says " That's a great idea, so you can stay with them all for a while Freya or they can all stay with us, til the time comes and what is decided between us and I do mean us as in all of us. Alex is just being a jerk, decided what to do. And by us I mean the four here now, since chances are we will be having my pups to deal with or figure out as well. Who knows Freya you might end up teaching them as well. I know how you like to watch after and protected people and Animorphs. I know you must have been broken up about leaving some of your friends behind when you got picked."

Freya feels a couple of tears and then says " Thanks Molly, and Alex you big bully." She of course taunts you with a smirk across her lips.well this is going on Petra is a little confused so she asks " Why do I get to help decided? I mean it's not my place is it? I don't know a lot of things so why would I be allowed to help pick."

Molly makes a face and then says to her little pup " Petra dear, you will be a year older. You will have watched these pups, and cubs since they where born. You will know more about them then we will, if you can't help figure out what ones you like or would like to have around. Then how do you expect us too?"

Petra thinks about this a moment and you can see the gears turning in her eyes if she did have a machine in her head. Finally she seems to settle into something to say then shakes her head and thinks about it a moment longer, She then says " Your going to make me babysit?"

You shake your head as you watch Molly do the same and she then says to Petra" We are going to trust you to teach the little one's along with Freya. Maybe if you two are hands on from the start they will behave learn and interact differently maybe if there is a male, it could mean the difference of being able to control him and not. See in the current system they use here to teach there are many teachers for different age groups. Different people who are willing to show and express different parts of the lessons as they are required. But maybe if we have the two of you, to teach them and the fact your both Animorphs of the same type and or general breed. They might respond better to you since you are in this case going to be considered Elders. And in the case of Freya, there mother. Now that does not mean Myself or Alex will not be helping at times, or even other staff. It just means, as I think Alex expressed it would be a good idea to try something new maybe."

You nod and say " Plus I am sure this is something to talk to Max about, but anyway you don't need to worry about it Petra. I am Sure Freya will keep you safe from all the big mean Pups who might want to pull your hair."

Freya lets out a laught, as Petra makes a puffed out face and asks " Why would they want to pull my hair?"

You make face at Petra and say " Little kids, and little animals. And in this case I figure little Animorphs mostly do a lot of things like pulling hair. It's part of there learning. I am sure in the end they will grow out of it, also I have to say with the color of your hair I can hardly resist the urge to pull it and touch it myself."

Molly is think this is funny but at the same time she says " Don't upset the little one, she might expect something and then when something stranger or worse happens. She will not know how to respond, so stop picking on her Alex."

You shake your head, and give Petra a kiss on the forehead and scratch her between the ears as the four of you stand up from the table and ready to leave.

Molly says " Freya, if its ok with you I would like to take Alex to his quarters. He has not seen it yet, so please return to your room."