Morning after

Snoring coming from the other side of the hung canvas is the first thing I hear in the morning. I open my eyes slightly, but quickly shut them tight. The room is much too bright. My mouth feels like cotton and my head feel like it is being crushed under rocks. I slowly sit up, and the deer from last night threatens to return. I take a deep breath to. Center myself.

"Here, drink this," I hear Tara say. I open my eyes slightly and see a green drink in front. I hold it up to my mouth and gag. It smells like dirty socks. Tara laughs quietly. I hold my nose and chug the drink as quick as possible. "Ugh" I say as Tara laughs some more and takes the cup to the little table and fills it with water.

The snoring stops and I hear Arakan moving in the other room. My cheeks become warm as I remember last night. I cannot believe how forward I was.

"Good morning!" Arakan says too loudly and cheerfully.

"Good morning," Tara and I reply in unison.

"Can I come over?" Arakan asks.

I quickly run my fingers though my hair and try to straighten out my skirt. Tara watches me with a smile.

"Sure" I respond.

He lifts the canvas and I blush deeply, not able to make eye contact. He blushes as well and looks away quickly.

"I have some things to take care, Tara will show you around the village." Arakan says while looking at the ground.

"Ok" I respond, feeling kinda disappointed.

He opens the outer canvas and leaves.

"Shall we go get breakfast?" Tara asks.

"I guess," I respond lacklusterly.

Tara shakes her head and goes to the outer canvas. " I am glad you are getting along so well with Arakan. He deserves a mate who loves him." I blush and follow Tara outside.

"I'm not sure how I feel," I say honestly.

"It looked like you did last night," Tara teases as I feel myself blushing again.

We reach the two yurts of the young females, and on the large table between the yurts is several large bowls of fruit. Tara reaches and grabs two apple like fruits and hands one to me. I take a bite of the sweet and crunchy fruit.

"That is what we use to make the drink," Tara explains as she takes another bite. I stop eating and look at it.

"But don't worry, you won't get any effects from the fruit in that from," she laughs and I take another bite.

One of the other young females comes up to the table and grabs the apple like fruit.

"You are so lucky! What was it like to kiss Arakan?" She asks, looking at me expectantly.

My cheeks fill with heat and almost choke on my bite of apple.

"Hana! You can't ask that!" Tara exclaims.

"Why not? They were basically mating in front of everyone".

I'm dying of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Willow, Hana doesn't know how to stop her thought from coming from out of mouth." Tara states.

"Hmm. I'm just curious and so is everyone else." Several of the other young women come up to the table.

"It was....very nice" I stutter, my face as red as a tomato.

Laughs and playful cheers come from the women.

"I can't wait to kiss my future husband like that." One of the females say dreamily.

"Ooooo" Hana says.

"Hana only teases because she is jealous," Tara explains.

"Your right I am!" Hana laughs.

"But you are going to have your ceremony in three months!" One of the females say to Hana.

"I know, I'm not sure who I am going to pick since Arakan is no longer a choice ," she fake complains.

"We all know you are going to choose Natsume," the females tease. Hana's cheeks turn red like mine.

The laughter and teasing reminds me of my friends back home. I find myself thinking of Sakura and I feel a little sad. I wonder how she is doing. I wonder how my grandmother is. I was the last family she had.

Tara notices the change in my face and gestures to the others. Suddenly I am surrounded by the females and am in a group hug.

"We are just teasing" Hana says with a smile. "We tease our family, sorry if we made you sad."

"No, it's not you, I was just reminded of my friends and family" I explain.

"We can be your family now," Hana states.

"Yeah," several of the other females say.

I can't help but feel happy.

"Alright," Tara says, "it's time to get to work. Willow, you can help us!"

"I can't wait," I say.

Hana laughs and says "you say that now."