“Dace be ‘kay,” Kehl rumbled out comfortingly.
“Dace smart,” Birch rumbled out. “Dace help Maroumak.”
That would be the first time anyone but me has shared that sentiment. Very few could look past the too literal moments, the ditzy faux pas to see the person behind it all. It didn’t help that she used the ditzy village idiot stereotype from time to time to her advantage.
“Oh, she was a ditzy little thing but sweet as sugar,” Sunny was saying, blunt as always.
“Be nice ‘bout Pru friend, Mama,” Elm rumbled out quietly.
Sunny looked surprised he’d step up like that. Dipping her head, she corrected, “My apologies. I meant nothing by it. She did us the greatest favor and I’m thankful to her for it. She was like our own personal Polly Pocket guide back here.” Looking to Birch, she fussed, “She’s too skinny, though. We’ll throw a lot of barbecues, plump her right up, won’t we, Birchy.”
“Mama,” Birch rumbled, his voice not quite a whine but enough so to amuse me.
“Yeah, Birchy,” I teased, “let’s barbecue you and fatten her up.”
Birch laughed at that. “Mama mean like that,” he tossed back.
“Da overcook. Be burnt Birch,” Cy snickered.
“Too much fat on burnt Birchy, smell awful,” Elm piled on.
“Birchy- Birch fat now?” Grabbing at a patch of grass, Birch yanked it up and tossed it Elm and Cy’s way.
Kehl scooped me up and leapt out of the way, leaving Cy and Elm to stare after us as Birch’s dirt and grass globs aimed at them hit their marks.
Birch laughed as Elm and Cy glared at him.
“No fighting now!” Sunny barked. “It’s been a long journey and we’re all tuckered out!” Lower, she grumbled, “At least give us a chance to scoot from these demons we call ours first.”
“Enough,” Forest rumbled out in Lo denaii.
“You heard them, children,” I growled out in growl-speak, making Kehl laugh. Meeting his gaze, I grinned. “I’m getting better at it.”
Kehl rumbled his approval.
When silence greeted us, I turned to find Sunny, Forest, Elm, Cy, and even Birch, all watching me, speechless.
“So, funny thing. I’m remembering how to speak and understand the grumpy-growls,” I mumbled nervously. “Yay me.”
Walking up to Kehl, Elm held his hands out. “Please.”
Kehl nodded, kissed me, then handed me over.
Elm’s lips immediately found mine. He kissed me roughly, deeply, without a smidge of hesitation.
“Not bad for a beginner, eh?” I was talking about my pronunciation but the way Elm rumbled spoke of sexy things to come.
“Elm likes hear Pru growl,” he rumbled out softly.
Nuzzling the side of his face, I whispered, “I like the way you growl too, big guy.”
The noise Elm made said he planned to show me more fun growls at our earliest convenience.
“There are some things a mother just doesn’t need to hear,” Sunny stage whispered to Forest.
“No listen then,” Cy shot back. He missed Sunny grabbing for him, ducking behind Kehl for protection.
When Kehl blocked Sunny, Kehl had no idea he’d just met his new best friend as Cy smirk-smiled his way, dipped his head, and then he was off, running from Sunny as she threatened tobeat his buns if he didn’t knock it off, she didn’t care how old they all were.
