Because doing real writer work, like querying agents and publishers, is for suckers (and those of strong morale), Parker delivers letter to Neara and the Shay Gang set out into the night for the promise land. DELIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVER USSSSSSSSSSS!!!

When the sun neared the horizon, it became too cold for the lightly dressed Shay and her temperature-sensitive snakes, so they cautiously returned inside. By then, Parker had returned after searching the entire Tiger Castle for her and then getting kicked out by an irate Winston. Shay apologized profusely to him, though after hearing what had occurred he too seemed more concerned with her than the fact he'd played a few hours of rugby and then got dragged out by the nape by an irritated tiger. Harvey returned as well and, though pained to say it, verified that what Curtis had said about his knowledge of baby snake health was true.

"Ryan is more likely to know something than I," said Harvey, his hands jerking up as though to reach for her, then jerking back down into his lap as he thought better of it.

Ryan just shook his head. "My mother didn't train me. I only know what I picked up from collecting medicine ingredients for her."

Harvey walked her to the door and stopped, obviously wanting to follow her inside. Parker got as far as the threshold before Ryan turned to bare his teeth.

"Let him in," said Shay.

Perhaps it was her wan expression and pallor, but Ryan didn't argue, gently pushing baby snakes aside to set her down on the nest.

"I'll cook you food," he said.

"Let me," said Parker. "I've picked up some herbivore recipes from Orson. She's been saying she's been craving more plants." He glanced over his shoulder at the lone figure of Harvey in the dying evening light. "Did you gather anything she'd want to eat?"

"Of course!" Harvey jumped into action, returning with a respectfully bowed head and a satchel full of roots and leaves. Only after getting permission from Ryan did he approach Shay and offer her a handful of green leaves.

Shay, who had thought nothing could convince her to eat, felt her mouth water. "Spinach?"

"I don't know what it's called. I only know the females of the ape tribe love it."

She accepted the spinach as happily as she could, given the circumstances, and devoured it. The leaves, which once tasted slightly bitter to her, now hit all the right spots.

The baby snakes watched on curiously.

"You wouldn't like this," she told them.

They seemed to believe her, as they went back to curling around her.

Parker managed to whip up a wonderful stir fry which she ate second then third helpings of, earning him a smile of approval from Ryan. Because Harvey and Parker had managed to get so much food into Shay, even with her constantly sniffing and looking to the bedroom doorway, he allowed them to curl up in the corner of the main room for the night, though he still made sure to lay on the side of her which faced them, blocking her from their view.

She didn't sleep for a long time, despite her exhaustion and the comforting feel of Ryan's furry heat on her back and baby snakes to her front.

But the next thing she knew, she was being woken by a loud cry. A child's cry, perhaps even a baby.

Every mama nerve in her body went haywire. The cells leftover dredged up horror clips echoing with a disembodied baby crying. When her mind caught up to her she was already standing, heart pumping, focused in on the bedroom door. She didn't hear the various curses and exclamations of the other men in the room.

She just reached for the flap on the door when it pulled aside, revealing a ghastly, gobsmacked Curtis. In his arms came the source of the wailing.

A slender, tiny child, two at most, with a shock of brilliant, candy-red hair. Little fangs flashed from the open, wailing mouth.

"Where did you..." Ryan started.

The child coughed on its sob. Sucking in air, the eyes opened, swollen with tears, but revealing a trace of blue. They found Shay and their bottom lip curled out.

"Ma-ma-MA MAAAAA!!"

Little white hands reached for her, a fresh wave of tears dripping down a tiny chin.

Shay's knees pinched together. "Sky?"

Curtis nodded. "This...this is Sky."

Shay couldn't pick up the child fast enough. She touched the satin smooth, yet thick hair, just like Curtis's, held the crying head to her shoulder, hushed and stumbled into a lullaby despite her heart trying to clog up her throat.

Her baby was alive, her baby was okay--and human! And beautiful! And-and-and--

At the sound of her singing, Sky quieted into gasping hiccups, face pressed hard against Shay's neck.

"I-I've never seen..." started Harvey. "To change this early."

"So a male child could look like a female," said Ryan in breathless amazement.

"Sky isn't male," said Curtis.

Shay stopped singing. Feeling numb, she pulled back and grabbed for Sky's leg. The hiccups threatened to break into full on cries once more.

Sure enough, between Sky's legs, was a distinct lack of plumbing.

"Oh my--" Shay managed before her little girl's screams drowned her out and threatened to take everyone's hearing along with it.

Everyone winced. The cats' ears went back flat.

"Shh, shh, Sky, it's okay! Really, honey, Mama's got you, it's alright--Ryan! Grab me a fur!"

Surprisingly, he heard her, and plucked out an appropriately sized one for her. With that, Shay pulled the bow of her halter top and allowed it to peel down enough to bring Sky's head in contact with skin. At the sound of her mother's heartbeat and the feel of her heat, the little girl quieted once more to hiccups. Only then did Shay accept the fur Ryan offered and laid it over her tiny daughter and chest.

"That's right, just breathe. You're okay."

"How did this happen?" asked Parker. "Have you ever heard of this?"

"Never," said Harvey.

Curtis just shook his head, still pale and wide-eyed.

"Didn't you tell me a story of when females used to be able to transform?" Shay looked at Ryan.

"Yes, a story," said Ryan. "And from a dying turtle beastman. And that had been a story from his grandfather who could have gotten it from who knows where."

"But that's still something," said Harvey.

"Wait, if Sky's female," Shay looked at her baby snakes, who had recoiled in the nest in fright at the hellish noise. "How do you tell male from female snakes?"

Instantly, Harvey was in motion towards the snakes, speaking.

"The shape of their tails. Males tails store their testes so they're thicker."

It hit her. "When their tails got tangled during the blizzard--"

"One was thinner." He looked at Ryan, who nodded for him to continue. Then he knelt down, reaching for the snakes, which hissed in warning.

"And it wasn't Sky."

Ryan dropped beside Harvey. "Let me. They know me." He reached into the pile of snakes to tug one out. "Loosen up, kids. We got to check your tails."

When the heads wagged, tongues high with protest, Curtis let out a loud, short hiss. Instantly, the babies went lax and puttering.

Shay drew near, her heart straining to its maxed. "Don't cry, babies, it's okay."

"They're fine, Shay," Curtis stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Don't coddle them."

Together, Harvey and Ryan looked over the tails of the snakes. It was difficult for them to tell, but when they also compared the lightening eyes and skin to the red twins Shay had been worrying about just hours before, they did find a distinct difference in the tapering of the tails.

Curtis took up the two snakes for a closer look and verified that they too were preparing to shed their skin.

"And they look healthy," said Harvey.

"They're beyond healthy," said Curtis with a scowl. "They're practically fat. No wonder your mother is so skinny, you've been eating all her food, haven't you?"

The snakes, including the ones in his hands, lowered their heads in shame. Even Sky, who had her ear pressed to Shay's chest, gave a guilty whimper.

"Ssssooweey," she said. "Olll. Hunwey."

"Did she just say 'Sorry. Cold. Hungry?'" asked Parker, who, now that the shock was aging, was giving away to utter awe. "Shay, can I look closer? Oh my, she's--I've never seen such a beautiful life. Little one, it's Uncle Parker, you remember me?"

The swollen blue eyes peered at him over the edge of her fur cocoon and a little, forked tongue flickered out at him.

Though only apathy showed on the little girl's face, Parker utterly melted.

"So cute! She looks just like you, Shay! Just with red hair, oh my!"

"Stop gawking at my daughter," Curtis's tail came thwacking down between them, nearly taking Parker's nearing hand with it. "Why are you in here anyways? Both of you?"

Parker sniffed. "Comforting Shay. Her baby was dying."

"Well it's not anymore so go away."

"Are you guys forgetting something?" said Harvey low from where he stood by the fire, baby snakes recoiling away from him. "Shay just gave birth to three females in a litter. What happens when this gets out?"

Silence.

Curtis's expression tightened. "The rabbit's bad enough without this incentive."

"One litter from Shay could save their entire tribe," said Parker quietly. "The whole lot of them would be on us."

Shay's arms on her daughter tightened. "We're already leaving. Let's not get too worked up."

"That rabbit can hear everything, though," said Ryan darkly. "We won't be able to hide Sky from him and there's no way we could have just picked up a female cub. They're too precious, too protected."

"And when the other two shed," added Harvey, expression tense.

"We'll just leave before they do," said Curtis.

"And when would that be?" asked Shay, stomach tight, her thoughts to Neara. What if Neara could birth transforming females too?

"Any time between tomorrow and three days from now," said Curtis. "The first shed is tough, it takes some time."

"Then won't it hurt them if we are traveling while they shed?"

"We can put them in bags," he said. "They just need a dark safe place to concentrate. Speaking of..." He turned and vanished into the bedroom.

"So we leave in the morning," said Shay. A small part of her had just started to examine this new experience of holding a human shaped baby and what little made it through the urgency started squealing wildly. So small! So soft! So cute! Mine!

Ryan nodded. "Early morning is best, in case anyone could be watching."

"What a boring life, watching us. Wouldn't they rather, I don't know, go fishing?" Shay asked.

"There are those in the eagle tribe who do the bidding of the kings in order to build their reputation of being honest and reliable," said Parker. "They think that's what will attract females, not knowing anything. Eagles grow up without any contact with females."

"That...kind of doesn't sound healthy," she said distracted by nuzzling the soft baby head. "So cute. And I have two more!"

"Can...can I hold her?" asked Parker, suddenly looking like he might pee from excitement.

"I thought I told you to stop gawking at my daughter," said Curtis sharply, re-entering the room with something long, thin, and pink in his hand. "Here, Shay. I thought you'd like to see."

It was like a satin ribbon, dotted with dusty blue.

"Sky's shed skin!" she squealed.

"Usually a snake saves his first shed for his wife to make her clothes, but since she's female and hers is so small..."

Shay tried to adjust the little toddler in her arms to show the snake skin and ask her opinion, only to find that Sky had fallen asleep, her breaths occasionally hiccuping.

Curtis smiled, a soft thing he usually reserved only for Shay.

"Shedding is an exhausting business." He reached past the furs to stroke a knuckle against Sky's white cheek. "Especially the first time."

"And not knowing what is happening at all," said Shay softly. "Poor baby. Hopefully the other girls won't be so scared."

"You go rest with the children," said Ryan, coming up from behind to touch her shoulder softly. "We'll start packing up."

"Is Harvey coming with? I still need to finish my lessons." She looked to Harvey. "But you don't have to, so please don't feel pressured."

But Harvey's expression was soft. "If you would allow me, it would be my pleasure to continue teaching you."

"But you're still leaving when you're done," Ryan snapped. "Remember that."

"And don't think we're going to slow down for either of you," said Curtis, eyes narrowed on both Parker and Harvey. "No one will shed a tear if you're lost."

Harvey seemed to just take it in stride. Parker, however, smirked.

"Right back at you, snake. I don't think you've noticed, but I've gained a mark since your scaley hide went asleep."

"Like I care, just get to work."

Arms full of sleeping bundle, Shay made her way back to the nest where the rest of the babies waited, heads high, eager to have a closer look. She obliged them and pulled back the furs enough so they could get a good look at their newly transformed sister. Once he had Sky nestled carefully against her chest, she pulled the blanket over herself and the other babies and tried to get some sleep.

The males worked as quietly as they could, occasionally breaking out into whispered conversations broken off by an angry hiss from Curtis for quiet. She didn't think she'd ever get to sleep with all the anticipation bubbling in her chest, but the next thing she knew she was being picked up from the nest, blanket and little girl in her arms and all. Her heavy sleeping habits were exasperated by having only gotten a few hours sleep and she only comprehended cool air on her face before dozing off again.

Only to be awakened by Joseph's loud voice.

"Let me fight for the right to come."

"Under what law?" rumbled the chest holding her. "We are homeless beasts. We care not for your rights or honors."

"But you care about might. So let me come."

"We've already been over this. You can't beat the both of us," said Ryan a bit aways.

Drowsy, Shay turned her face into Curtis's chest, inhaling his rosemary and moss scent and giving the little person in her arms a brief squeeze.

"Ask Shay, then."

"If she had wanted you, she would have accepted you by now," snapped Curtis. "She is not the type of female to play hard to get."

"At least let me talk to her, then. If you don't I'll tell my tribe about the female cubs."

Shay figured this would have come. Curtis must have as well, for he didn't react with surprise. He did, however, sigh.

"I was going to let you live if you let us pass in peace," Shay felt herself being shifted. "Parker, hold her. Ryan."

A crackling growl answered him, showing that Ryan had already transformed.

Shay groaned irritably. So damn tired. They were even waking up Sky now, who gave a little whimper.

"Oh my gosh, you guys and your freaking drama." She tried to sit up just as she was dropped into Parker's arms. "Parker, hold Sky."

"Don't bother," said Curtis. "We can take care of this."

But Shay had been rudely woken up and, therefore, had the mood of rolling thunder. She knew Joseph would put up a fight, but it irritated her to no end that she couldn't just leave with her family without some male trolling her for affections. Her heart could only take so much, especially since a part of her still whispered about how she could save an entire clan if she just had one litter of babies for them. But, bunny, sheep, tiger, or eagle, they were all just people. Just because they transformed into different things didn't make one more important than the other in her mind.

"Down, guys. Let me say something first."

Curtis huffed in exasperation but held back. Ryan as a panther just looked at her.

Under her gaze, Joseph, who already had a spear in one hand and a knife in the other, softened. As she approached he fell to his knees, setting the spear and knife before her like a knight's sword to a lady.

"Please, please let me come with you," he said. "I can be of use to you."

"And I'm sure you would," said Shay. "But I don't use people for nothing, and I don't want to give you anything and I don't want any more mates. And...and I don't want you to be hurt or to die. You were right with what you said to Ryan before, you did help us weather the storm with the roof and I am thankful to you for that. But...but I can't have you telling your tribe about my babies or...anything else you might have picked out about me. It could endanger my children and mates, which I can't have." She steeled herself and clenched her fists, wishing with all her might that she was still asleep, hugging her baby. "If you can't swear to keep your mouth shut, I'll let them kill you."

"What weight is a rabbit's word?" snarled Curtis. "Be reasonable, Shay. If the rabbits learn of us, even with our strength, we wouldn't be able to fight against all of them if they chose to."

"And risk getting most of themselves killed?"

"Only one would have to survive," said Joseph softly. "The snake is right. The...the Captain has put a great deal of pressure on me and Theo to mate with you and your friend, even to the point of leaving us out of the fertility rounds through the villages. If he hears of this..."

"It sounds like you want to die," said Parker with a snort.

"You could have kept that to yourself," agreed Shay, her irritability giving way to an empathetic ache. Like she hadn't been in that same spot before of saying what she shouldn't.

"No, I very much want to live," said Joseph, and his ears quivered, as though he fought to keep them from drawing back and revealing his fear. "But I also--I also want Shay's trust. I don't want to hurt her." He lifted his bowed head then to meet her gaze, his own earnest. "I won't force you, Shay. You're--you're the only female worth giving my life to, and I don't mean just because of your fertility or beauty--"

"I don't have the patience for your love spiel," Curtis slithered up to put an arm in front of Shay. "It doesn't matter whether she or you or whoever is worthy, she's taken and mine and the only thing that's kept me from killing you till now."

Harvey, being the weakest of the lot, had stayed quiet up till now, but came up to Shay then to put a hand on her shoulder.

"This is our way," he said softly. "And the best way to ensure his silence."

Curtis lunged, fingers arched with claws.

Joseph jerked up, "Wait! " He dodged. "I swear! I won't tell anyone!" Ryan lowered to the ground, readying to pounce. "You should be more worried about him."

That gave Curtis pause just long enough for Joseph to whip out his bow and arrow and shoot for the trees.

A short, piercing shriek, followed by snapping branches, and a large, black something thumped to the ground.

Shay put her hands to her mouth. "Muir?"

Sure enough, with a blur of black feathers, a haggard and thin Muir appeared, circles under his electric blue eyes and an arrow protruding from his shoulder.

"What a shot," murmured Harvey in awe.

"He should have been named Legolas," she said.

"Legolas?"

"He's built a nest up there," said Joseph, pointing towards the trees. "He's been there even before I came, watching you. He's the one who brought the fruit."

Shay perked.