[Of Dog, Volpir, and Man (Out of Cruel Space)] - Bk 9 Ch 22

Cayenne

Cayenne rushes through her spacious apartment, trying to find some of the new things she and Scotty had just bought to prepare for Dari'Kemsa's arrival, and to settle into their new quarters. This had included some large scale cookware, acknowledging that both Koirans and Apuk tend towards large litters and clutches respectively. 

But, of course, they aren't planning to have more children immediately, nor would they need to cook meals for the whole family every night - not least because they’re launching a new program at Cayenne's day job, aimed at giving parents a break in the evenings for meals in or dates out with each other.

So Cayenne has all this clutter to sort through for no good reason. If she weren’t beside herself with excitement, it might really get her down.

She turns her thoughts back to the new policy, all the same. It’s very considerate, really, and Cayenne had been surprised to see Admiral Bridger's signature on it. Not just approving it; his signature is so front and center that it seems absolutely clear that the idea had originated with him. It makes Cayenne think the Admiral is exactly what her impression of him had been from the very start:  a very kind and loving man who stood firmly on the principle of valuing his marriages above his children, scandalous as that was to some people. 

It matches how Cayenne had been raised, though, even in a businesslike clan. If your relationship and bonds with your co-parents, be they sister wives or your husband, failed... there'd be no support to catch those wee little darlings when everything all came apart. 

Besides, everyone needs time away from the children besides sleep. Even the most devoted mothers require 'me time', and family time that might feature more adult entertainments than another children's cartoon. Sometimes you just needed four hours to veg out on the couch snuggled up to your mate, chomping on pizza, drinking beer and watching something thrilling and exciting… like the Human epic fantasy movies that Scotty had been introducing her to recently. Fine for older children, but hardly for pups! 

Good for Mama and Papa, though? Oh, yes. Very much so. Some parts are a bit scary for Cayenne still, but she has Scotty to snuggle up to, and that makes even the scariest attack by the fantasy monsters du jour just something to enjoy on the projector. 

Amazing what having a good person like Scotty in a girl's life could do for her. He helps build her up. Take risks. Just his support makes her feel braver and more confident, in a way she'd never experienced before. There had never been anyone in her life quite like Scotty, and it really is a galaxy of difference from Eugene. 

It almost makes her glad the bastard had snapped and hit her, as shocking a thing to think as that might be. 

If he'd just strung her along, she could have been that sad, miserable creature for years, decades even... and you don't get those years back! Her first marriage had lasted something like six months. Six months she would never get back in any way. Even in an ageless galaxy, if she was caught up in an accident, or the ship was attacked and she died tomorrow, no one would return her to life and give her a second chance because she'd had to suffer with Eugene for a time. 

That's what really haunts her about the whole thing now. It could have been years of that. Years of waiting on her turn to become a mother. Years of trying to stoke Eugene's ego enough to make the rat bastard happy. Years of chasing whatever fresh bait he put out to continue to manipulate her and her sisters in matrimony. 

It strikes her as an incredible cruelty now, but thanks to the Hag War, thanks to the Admiral being captured, she'd inadvertently been saved. Something she'd forever be thankful to the Admiral for... but not something she'd ever bring up to him either. There really isn't a gift card for that particular mess of a situation. The Admiral's capture had dramatically escalated things, pushing everyone, Eugene included, to their limits... and Eugene? Eugene was weak. When pushed, he'd broken. It had taken more than normal combat stress, of course; Eugene was Undaunted, after all, and for all his bluster, a professional soldier, but with a laser burn on his stomach leaving him in constant pain… with a sense that he had been so far down the triage list as to barely be a factor to the organization he served… well,  all that... indignity... had finally made him snap. And so much for Eugene.

So she’s thankful. All the more so as she finds the smaller pot she'd been looking for so she could get to preparing the rich butter sauce for tonight's dinner. Thankful Eugene had been weak. That he'd snapped. That he'd hit her hard enough to knock a few teeth out of her muzzle and send her into a minor healing coma to fix them. Because if Eugene had been a bit stronger, she might have been trapped in her personal hell for goddess knows how long before finally cutting her free to find another plaything. Another toy. Another pet. 

Scotty doesn't feel like that about her. Scotty loves her with such an open hearted joy that it could literally make her weep. She’s his WIFE… but, perhaps even more important than that, she’s his friend, and rapidly becoming a very close friend at that. His best friend? Hopefully. One day. That's certainly where it seems things are going to Cayenne... but that leaves the one thorny rose in her garden, the single storm cloud in her sky now that she'd found her freedom. 

Dari'Kemsa. 

Cayenne sets the pot down on the stove harder than she’d meant to, and flinches in annoyance at herself.

The woman seems nice enough, but she'd been so busy since coming aboard ship that neither she nor Scotty had really had more than a few minutes with her. Tonight's meal is going to essentially be her welcome home dinner/wedding celebration. One that had been delayed for weeks because of just how insanely busy Dari had been with her two professional roles. Her day job, working for Sylindra Bridger and the Bridger clan conglomerate, is busy enough as it is, but her second job, working for Diana Bridger and Undaunted Intelligence, seems to be even more intense!

It’s more than enough to make Cayenne anxious. There’s this person. She lives in their home. Is theoretically married to her husband, would be a mother to her children, and somehow it feels like Cayenne barely knows the first thing about her and what she’s like! Who is Dari'Kemsa? Scotty likes her, which is certainly a firm vouch in her favor, but Cayenne doesn't know for sure... and, after Eugene, not being sure about a partner... that bothers her. More than she wants to admit. 

Still.

Tonight should help. Would help. Food is perfect for bringing people closer together, and with a little effort, and after a complicated start grilling a cousin that Dari'Kemsa actually has aboard ship, Cayenne had at last been able to throw together a welcoming feast that’s worthy of Le Fae family tradition. 

Well. The tradition she’s busy writing, anyway. 

Speaking to Princess Xal'Kemsa had been an adventure in its own right. Cayenne's tail tucks as she busily gets the rich Apuk butter melting on the stove and checks the status of some of the side dishes using various remote thermometers and other tools. 

The princess had been a wonderful, charming and insanely intimidating woman. Even if Cayenne counts a battle princess as a friend… well, Dar'Bridger is one thing, and Princess Xal'Kemsa is... a different thing, somehow. 

Unfortunately, she hadn't been nearly as much help as Cayenne had hoped. While Xal and Dari were cousins, they were distant cousins; Dari was from the more 'working class' branch of the family, while Xal was from the ennobled branch. Still parts of the same tree, of course, and the ennobled Kemsas apparently keep their kin very close - to keep grounded, in theory - but it was still quite the distance to bridge. It's not like the two women had played together as girls, as Cayenne had hoped. 

On the plus side, however, once Cayenne had explained her purpose, Xal'Kemsa had been a font of useful information. She had identified the specific kind of Apuk bird that would be appropriate for celebrations, and that Dari almost certainly enjoyed, and she had explained what a Nanak berry sauce was, and had listed the basic spices and principles of Apuk cuisine… all of which sounded pretty great to Cayenne! A bit on the spicy end for her, perhaps, but she’s very much onboard with her fellow carnivore's preferred menus. 

Even if she is a facultative carnivore as opposed to a true carnivore like the Apuk.

 But a little difference is okay too! Understanding it makes her better able to take care of everyone, like their true omnivore husband!

And, goodness, is Scotty a TRUE omnivore. Just looking at some of the crazy things Humans ingested as a matter of course had made Cayenne's head spin!

She’s determined to take care of her Man, his other woman, and her entire family to the best degree possible, though… and before long Dari's surprise feast is fully coming together. The house smells absolutely delectable as she begins to baste the large roasting bird with burning hot butter, making the skin as golden and as crisp as possible as it continues to roast in the oven; every time she opens the oven door just makes the whole house smell even more delicious. 

So when her family starts to come home, just about everything is ready! 

Scotty all but stampedes into the kitchen, hoisting her into his arms and twirling her around in the sort of way that never ceased to take her breath away, even without the long, passionate smooch he gives her! It was a twirl just like that on coming home from a long day that had led to... Cayenne's ears burn even as her tail wags violently.

"S-Scotty!"

"Hello, gorgeous!" 

"Put me down, you b-big brute!"

"No can do. Not done dancing with you yet."

"Yes you are, mister! I'm not done with dinner!"

"Heh! Fine! Fine! You win."

Scotty delicately places Cayenne back on her feet, before giving her another smooch. 

"I was just happy to see you."

"I suppose I should be glad you're still excited to see me. I was worried you might be getting bored of me after..." 

Cayenne's ears flatten, trying to hide just how red she's getting as she remembers Scotty ravaging her like an insatiable beast on the regular. She's not comfortable around Dari just yet, but the idea of having at least one other woman she can tag in to help tame their husband's libido is something of a goddess send.

Scotty leans over and kisses the crown of her head between her ears, mussing her strawberry blonde locks a bit. 

"Bored of you? Not on your life, gorgeous!" Scotty walks over to the oven and peers inside. "You weren't kidding about cooking, though. You've got a feast on! What's the occasion?"

"Well, I wanted to finally welcome Dari properly, and she's supposed to actually be home tonight so I-"

Just then the front door slides open and in walks Dari'Kemsa herself. The exhausted-looking redhead dumps her bag on a small table by the door and slumps over slightly. 

"I'm home. I-" She suddenly stops and straightens up, delicately sniffing at the air. "Is... Is that..." 

She practically floats into the kitchen following her nose over to the oven where she peeks inside. 

"It is! Oh, goddess. What's all this for?"

Dari looks around, clearly confused, as Scotty reaches out and pulls her into an embrace. He gives her a kiss of her own, one which makes Dari's heel pop up like something straight out of a cheesy Human romance movie. 

"Oh! I ah. Goddess, I was half asleep, but I'm awake now! Hello, Scott."

"Hello, Dari. Cayenne has been trying to work out welcoming you to our family properly for a couple weeks now. And… apparently, she consulted an expert on Apuk culture and prepared a proper feast for you!"

Whatever reaction Cayenne had been expecting from Dari, it had not been the Apuk beauty practically leaping out of Scotty's arms to give Cayenne a damn near spine-cracking hug!

"Oh Cayenne, this is so wonderful! I've been utterly dreadful to the two of you the last few weeks and you're still kind enough to do something like this for me! I'll make it up to you, I promise!" 

"You've just been busy, Dari. It's fine! Really!" Cayenne squeaks out.

"No! It's absolutely not. I finally get a chance to join a marriage and I spend the majority of my time working and sleeping! It's a miracle you're both putting up with me!" 

Dari'Kemsa is a hugger, an academic part of Cayenne's mind notes as she's put down for the second time in as many minutes… only for Scotty to wrap his arms around both of them!

"Nonsense. We know you're busy, and Mrs. Sylindra and Commander Bridger wouldn't have you working as hard as you are if it wasn't important. So that's enough of that. Come on. Sit down. Get off your feet, and Cayenne will have dinner for us in no time!" 

"No! Please, let me help! Cayenne's pregnant. She shouldn't be on her feet too much either!"

Scotty pauses for a second. "Well, let's all work together and get things finished off, then. Splitting it three ways everything should be easy, right?"

"An excellent idea, husband!" Dari walks over to the peg and fetches an apron for herself. 

"Now, how can we help, Cayenne?"

Cayenne smiles to herself as she begins directing her family through the last stages of making dinner. Maybe she didn't need to worry after all. 

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