The two groups reconvened in the evening. Hugo and Dax had gone hunting to provide dinner for the carnivores, while Len and Morgan brought out a stash of collected flowers and leaves for the herbivores. My favourite food—fish, obviously—wasn't among them, but I made do with some of the pheasant instead. But I wasn't thinking about the food. I was too happy to be part of this big, extended family, especially with Nishiki by my side.
"You know," Nishiki said as he picked up a dandelion and twirled it in his fingers, "I would've wanted our mother to be here."
Nero frowned slightly and put down his roasted pheasant leg. "Yeah. We've taken Zak to meet her, but she would love to meet the twins when they're born, too."
Morgan leaned over and plucked the dandelion from Nishiki's hand, throwing it into his mouth. When he was finished eating, he said, "Well, is there any reason you can't take them to see her?"
"No," Nishiki said. "But she wasn't there when Zak was born and I know she wanted to be. I mean, he's her grandson."
Morgan mulled this over. "Can she not come here?"
"It's a difficult journey for her," Nishiki said. "She's older, and it's a long, hard walk, even for a woman as fit as she is for her age. Besides, she's a human, not a shifter."
"Then she simply needs a ride?" Morgan asked.
Nero snorted. "Yeah, except there's no cabs here."
Morgan smiled. "No, not a cab. But there is a different kind of ride." He put a hand on his chest. "Just tell me when the eggs are due to hatch. I'll go and be Dr. Pine's steed."
I was surprised and humbled by his generosity. I'd never heard of a wild shifter going so out of his way to help a human. But I supposed Dr. Pine wasn't an ordinary human. She was the water spirit Nautilus's mate, and mother to two shifters.
Nishiki gasped softly. "Morgan, would you really do that for us?"
"Of course. Anything to help out the family."
Ash grinned widely and hugged Morgan's arm. "My dad is awesome!"
Beside them, Dax looked proudly at his omega mate.
"Thank you, Morgan," I said. "The eggs should be due in about a month, and then hatch a month after."
"Two months," Morgan said, nodding. "Got it."
Orpheus leaned in. "A month, huh? That's not a lot of time to make a nest, especially one as big as an osprey’s."
"I know," I said, holding Nishiki's hand. "But we'll get it done together. All we need is a big tree and a water source."
Orpheus gasped as if struck by a fantastic idea. "I know just the place! Back before we knew whether Red was going to lay an egg or give birth, I passed it all the time, always thinking it would be a great spot to build a nest in, but I forgot all about it until now. I'll show it to you tomorrow."
I smiled. "That would be great, Orpheus, thank you."
"Anytime, my bird brother."
