“I just can’t believe they’re raiding like that,” Juniper said with a shake of her head where she sat in the cool water of the shallow pool. “I mean, there are obviously better ways to get Pals to work with you, right?” Fucking and healing seemed to do the trick just fine! Make love, not war people!

  In the end, she only shook her head and then let herself slip further into the water until it nearly covered her nose. Both the conversation with Pesta about her experiences as well as Lily’s report at dinner meant that Juniper had nearly worked herself into a frenzy on the topic. Though she didn’t much like violence, punching the leader of this group in the face sure seemed like an enticing prospect at this point.

  “Not everyone shares our…creative problem solving,” Lily agreed from where she sat just to the side. Following the observation, she reached over and guided Juniper closer so she eventually sat in between the woman’s legs. Still very grumpy but somewhat mollified by the skin-to-skin contact.

  “I just don’t understand,” Juniper said before letting out a sigh. Her head turned to the left and a hand came out of the water, palm up, to indicate their younger companion where she sat off to the side. “I mean look at Aoi, have you ever seen someone in such bliss?”

  Lily turned her head and Juniper heard a snort of amusement push from her nose. “Actually,” she started. “She looks like she’s about to melt from embarrassment.”

  “Hmm, true…”

  For whatever reason, Mist had wasted no time seeking out the raven-haired woman after he stripped and entered the pool for their nightly wash. And once the other Pals saw the effect her doting was having, they all joined in to turn Aoi into the red-faced mess she currently was. The Katress washed her hair, the two Glumos each had an arm, and any suds they started with were long gone. Even Sephie got in on the action by lifting one foot at a time to clean and massage them.

  “But it’s the happiest embarrassment I’ve ever seen.”

  “Perhaps,” Lily cooed before Juniper felt a few of her fingers graze pyfully under her bust. “I wouldn’t mind watching them all doing something else to her either.”

  That thought had Juniper opening her mouth and then closing it a moment ter as her mind imagined exactly what Lily intended her to. “Fuck, that’s hot,” she said a moment ter before looking back up at her friend. “You see that’s exactly what I’m saying. That could just be happening all the time if everyone got along. Everyone could have what we have here! All they–”

  Whatever else Juniper was about to say was abruptly cut off with a soft kiss from Lily. She captured her lips a little longer before finally pulling back and fixing Juniper with a stare.

  “Yeah, okay. Message received.”

  “Look,” Lily started before wrapping her arms around Juniper and pulling her in closer. “I understand what you’re saying and feel the same way. Even if that feeling has been numbed through the passage of time and disappointment after disappointment. But it’s not all bad news.”

  “It isn’t?”

  “No, it’s not. There are others that strive to live the kind of life you are describing, one in harmony with Pals and not above them.”

  "Really?" Juniper's disbelief was pin on her face but she tried her best to listen with an open mind. “If that's the case, we should just go there.”

  “They’re farther to the north on a different isnd,” Lily said before shaking her head in answer to Juniper’s assertion. “And it’s much too dangerous to travel there right now. The nd routes all go by this hostile group. I can’t guarantee everyone’s safety if we go.”

  “Damnit,” Juniper spat and then turned around and fell back into the woman. “Too good to be true, of course. We’re just going to be stuck here until they come to us, aren’t we?”

  “About that. I was thinking…”

  “Were you know?”

  “Yes! I was *thinking* of taking you to speak with the vilge elder. The one that I’ve been working with for the past week or so. She’s a reasonable woman and would no doubt help you out. Might even be able to relocate you if that’s what you thought was best.”

  Now that was a tempting offer. Of course, Juniper didn’t want to leave their little piece of paradise behind, she just wanted everyone else to fuck off and leave them to it. The prospect of having a trading partner was a strong motivator though and maybe they could all work together to get this group to stop harrassing everyone?

  “There’s only one problem with that pn,” Juniper said a moment ter following a sigh.

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m assuming we all can’t go which means some would get left behind. That makes me…anxious.” She felt Lily nod behind her and those hands come up to lightly massage her arms in comfort. Leaving everyone behind wasn’t a big deal a few days ago but now? After a group had very clearly come looking for them? And for multiple days? Yeah, that had a sinking feeling settling in the pit of Juniper’s stomach.

  “Yeah, I thought it might,” Lily admitted. “And honestly, I can’t bme you for feeling that way. I hesitate to even bring it up but if we wait, we may not have a choice in the matter. At least for right now, people still don’t know you’re here.” They might know a group is off in this direction sure, but where they were? Not a chance.

  When Juniper appeared unmoved by her suggestion, Lily turned back to find that Aurora had now joined the other Pals in doting on Aoi, taking the remaining leg for herself. Mist had Aoi’s chin in her hand and was even stroking her cheek with her thumb. The Katress’ tail flicked behind her in excitement but Lily beat them to it.

  “Aoi,” she said in an authoritative tone that caused everyone, Pal and human alike, to look at her. Including Juniper who had also noticed the atmosphere had changed around the younger woman. An atmosphere she honestly hated to interrupt despite the discussion that needed to happen.

  "Y-yes," she stammered out after swallowing hard.

  "Come here, please."

  Wow, Juniper couldn't remember a time when all the Pals appeared disappointed at once and Mist was practically staring daggers at her human.

  "Looks like you interrupted the fun," Juniper said while she tried her best to hide her amusement.

  "Yeah, yeah. They can have her back in a moment..."

  Once Aoi managed to untangle herself from hands that appeared reluctant to let go, she walked over to the two women. Juniper rose in anticipation of her arrival and then both she and Lily reached out and an arm before bringing Aoir between them and scooting in close. Yup, daggers. Those were definitely daggers being thrown their way. Maybe even whole-ass swords at this point. All the Pals simply grouped up and watched, many of them with arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

  "Aoi," Lily said in the same tone.

  "Yes!"

  "Juniper and I need to talk to you about something," she said before tilting her head.

  “Oh? W-what’s that?”

  “Stop messing with the poor girl,” Juniper said before rolling her eyes and looking back down to Aoi where she sat between them. “Aoi, Lily and I were talking about going on a trip to the vilge she has been helping.”

  “A trip? All of us?”

  “Well…no, there’s a lot of us now and I’m not sure it would be a good idea for such a big group to go through such a dangerous area.”

  “No thinking required,” Lily spoke up from the other side. “It is dangerous. However, Juniper and I can slip in without issue.”

  “Just the two of you? But what about Mist? Wouldn’t you need her to in case you guys go into trouble?”

  Well, wasn’t that cute, worry about Juniper and Lily before herself. It was as if the full ramification of what they were saying hadn’t fully sunken in yet.

  “I can fight too, you know,” Lily said with something that almost came close to a huff. “And Juniper can…well, she can run and is apparently unafraid of gunfire so I think we’ll be fine.”

  “I see…” Aoi grew silent and then finally seemed to get the implication of their departure. Something obvious by the way her head came up and her eyes shot open. “But if you two are gone that leaves me as the only human!”

  Yup, there it was. “That’s right,” Juniper confirmed before offering her arm a gentle squeeze. “But Mist would be here to keep you safe and all the other Pals will help keep everything running. However,” she paused then and looked up to Lily as if to warn against interfering in what would come next. “If this is something you aren’t comfortable with, then we won't go. Okay?”

  Lily was about to open her mouth but then Juniper narrowed her eyes and gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. In the end, she only rolled her eyes and let Aoi come to the decision on her own.

  “If you think it’s important, then you should go,” she said after a few moment's deliberation. “If it will help us be safe then it’s worth it. I think we can manage a few days on our own.”

  Juniper was both heartened and nervous with Aoi’s assertion but that was something she’d have to wrestle with on her own or with Lily ter. “Alright, we’ll leave the day after tomorrow so we have more time to come up with a pn.”

  “Juniper, we–”

  “We will leave the day after tomorrow,” Juniper interrupted with a tone that held no room for argument. This was hard enough and she needed more time to prepare both herself and those that would stay behind. “Now go on, Aoi. Get back over there before the Pals mutiny and take you by force."

  At that, Aoi turned to face the group who all suddenly shifted to smiles now that they saw her looking. “Oh dear,” was all she said before nodding and moving from between the two women.

  “How long do you think she’ll st?” Lily asked while watching her go and once she was out of earshot.

  “She’s tougher than she looks,” Juniper said as she did the same.

  “So, 10 minutes?”

  “Yup, sounds about right!”

  To neither of their surprise, once Aoi made it back across the pool, she was swarmed by the group of Pals and pulled into their center. Mist wasted no time pcing a hand under her chin and tilting her head up so the Katress could pnt a gentle kiss on her lips. While those were occupied, the others started peppering every other part of her body they could reach with kisses of their own. Yeah, 10 minutes might be generous.

  Of course, because the group was in the water, Vesta was left out of the festivities and sat on the edge of the water, her tail flicking back and forth in excitement. And that gave Juniper an idea...

  “Vesta,” Juniper said before bringing up a hand and waving her over. You know, once the Foxparks actually managed to tear her eyes away from what was happening in front of her. Something Lily hadn’t managed to do yet.

  “Yes, Miss Juniper?”

  “Come here please, I have a question for you. Well, two actually.”

  A few seconds ter, Vesta stood up and made her way around the pool to sit right by Juniper and Lily on the edge of the water. “Sure, what do you need?”

  “Lily and I will be heading out for a few days and I was wondering if you would accompany us for part of the trip.”

  “You are?” Vesta asked.

  “Accompany us?” Lily asked a second ter. Well, that seemed to get the other woman’s attention!

  “Yes,” Juniper said in reply to both. However, her attention remained with Vesta. “And it would be nice to leave Aoi with all the help she can get. Do you think you could take us to find your sisters on our way out? I’d like to…persuade them to join and then have you lead them home.” One st binding before an adventure? That couldn’t hurt, right? Especially when it was to acquire two more little fire-breathing troublemakers.

  “Uh…yeah, I can do that. Are you sure you want their help though?”

  Juniper just looked at Vesta for a moment before she rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly. “I see sisters are sisters no matter if they are human or Pal.” When the Foxparks looked like she might be confused, Juniper brought up a hand to wave it away. “Yes, we need them. Just as I need you, Vesta. So, don’t worry, okay?”

  “Okay…”

  “Hey,” Lily interrupted. “If you two are done, you can enjoy the show.”

  The show? Juniper turned back and Mist had apparently lifted Aoi into the air as she floated on her back between them all. Her head now rested on Sephie’s shoulder and was turned toward her to allow them to kiss. Mist was now buried between her legs as they draped over the Katress’ shoulder and the others were waiting patiently in line at either position.

  “Well, I think Aoi going to be just fine,” Juniper noted. And apparently Lily didn't have any problems with her request. Or was too distracted to care.

  “More than fine,” Lily agreed.

  “I want to have fun too,” Vesta whined.

  A smile kicked up on Juniper’s lips following the compint but she simply turned, brought a hand up behind Vesta’s head, and pulled her into a kiss. After a few moments, she broke it and let her fingers start to py through her fiery-red hair. “We can have our fun too, you know. While we watch.”

  “We can?”

  “We can,” Lily confirmed after she stepped up behind Vesta and pnted a kiss on her shoulder. Yes, everyone could have their fun tonight…