14 Zero To Three (1/2)

Talia wakes up wedged between two gorgeous horny men. And in the fog of half sleep, she wonders how that came to be. For a couple of minutes, she thinks it's just an erotic dream as large strong hands glide over her skin while a mouth works that sensitive spot on her neck below her ear while the other mouth suckles strongly on a breast. A hand turns her head back for a kiss. Then another hand turns her head back forward for a kiss. A hand slides between her thighs finding her feminine lips damp with need.

Talia's mouth opens, ”Ah,” escapes out and the sound of her own voice makes her realize she's not dreaming as Richy starts working his triple X size cock into her extra small woman's channel. The stretching, the amount of stretching she has to do to accommodate Richy always has an edge of pain to it at first. But not enough pain to make her tell him to stop. There's just enough pain to make the experience sweet. Then he's finally all the way in her. The edge of pain doesn't go away completely, but added to it is the slight discomfort of being over full as his hips piston into her making her body accept every millimeter of his cock.

The sounds pour from her mouth. Her petite body wasn't really made to be with a man Richy's size penis wise. Yet that slight edge of pain with that slight edge of being over full doesn't stop that first orgasm form ripping through her. Then there's the sensation of Cougar at her back holding her left leg up out of the way for Richy, squeezing her thigh as his cock rhythmically slides between the cheeks of her heart shaped bottom. She loves the feel of the strong muscles of his chest pressed to her back. His cock sliding over and between the skin of her ass cheeks isn't Richy size, but it's by no means small either. She thinks for a moment she has to ask him what size he is.

Then Talia's purr kicks on. Cougar looks at Richy surprised. It's as if someone flipped a switch inside Talia and set her whole body on vibrate, and he's only feeling it from the outside. He'll have to wait for his divorce to be final and for Richy to give the ok before he gets to feel it from the inside. Then it occurs to Cougar that Talia may only purr and vibrate for Richy because he's her true mate. He understands he's her second mate and she may not purr and vibrate for him. It may be something she only does for Richy.

A series of small orgasms zings through Talia, building to an earth shattering orgasm that erupts like a volcano and rips through Talia's body taking Richy and Cougar over the edge with her. Richy deposits his seed at the opening of her cervix with the head of his cock pressed hard and firm against it. He always makes sure he deposits his seed at the deep end of her which is easy because she's not deep at all. Cougar spills his seed hot and wet at the base of her back at the top of her bottom. He slowly lowers her left leg and rest his hand on her hip as he plants soft gentle kisses on her shoulder and neck.

”Go ahead and get your shower,” Richy tells Cougar. ”Talia and I will go next.”

Cougar nods his agreement. He turns Talia's head and kisses her. His hypnotic electric blue eyes giving her his full attention. He wants to tell her he loves her, but is afraid to do so in front of Richy. Even though, all three of them know exactly how he feels about her.

As Cougar steps into the shower, Talia stares at the engagement ring on her finger. She looks up from the ring and over at Richy. ”Are you sure you want to marry me?”

”Of course I'm sure,” answers Richy.

”I'm offering you an out Richy,” Talia informs him. ”It's not necessary for you to marry me. I'm going to bear your children and apparently Cougar's too in the future. And good wives don't give birth to children by men that aren't their husband.”

”That's domesticated bullshit,” Richy tells Talia. ”We're getting married. Legally for domesticated society we'll be husband and wife. And among free people, you, me and Cougar and however many children we have together, no matter who fathered them, we'll be one big happy family. Ok?”

Talia thinks for a moment before she answers, ”OK… But we don't have to do a big fancy wedding do we? I don't like crowds. Can we keep it small and simple?”

”That's fine with me,” answers Richy smiling.

”Good,” responds Talia. ”My favorite color is purple and I like chocolate. Can you think of anything else you'll need to know to help you plan the wedding?”

”Why am I planning the wedding,” asks Richy.

”Because getting married is your idea,” Talia sitting up as Cougar exits the bathroom fresh from the shower. ”What? Did you think you would just ask me and if I said yes you leave me with all the work of making it happen? I don't think so. You want a wedding. You want to marry me. Then you plan it.” And she hops off the bed and walks past Cougar into the bathroom, and Richy stands to follow her.

”So,” Cougar hooks his thumbs into the front pocket of his jeans, ”planning a wedding are you?”

”Yes I am,” answers Richy. ”Help me?”

Cougar smiles as he nods and answers, ”Yep.”

”So am I blessed or am I damned,” Richy asks Cougar. ”My world suddenly revolves around making her happy, seeing her smile, smelling her, touching her…”

”Making her purr and vibrate,” adds Cougar smiling amused. ”I can't tell you whether it's actually damned or blessed. That's up to you. I just know I'm right there with ya, old friend, whichever it is. But it sure feels like blessed to me and there's no place I'ld rather be.”

Cougar strips the bed to remake it with fresh sheets. As he's getting fresh sheets from the linen closet, he hears Otter and Uncle Bob showering together in the bathroom shared by the guest rooms. Otter is giggling happily and it's a good sound to hear.

Talia slipped back into the purple tube top and matching tube skirt while Richy put on his uniform. Then she stretches out on the clean sheets.

”Are you going to come down for breakfast,” Rich asks Talia.

”I'm not hungry yet,” answers Talia. She sits up and gives him a kiss, ”I'll go down and eat later.”

Richy nods as he responds, ”Ok.” And as he stands Uncle Bob steps into the room dressed in a business suit.

”Good morning son,” Uncle Bob giving Richy a quick hug. ”I hope it's alright if I ride into town with you this morning?”

”No problem,” answers Richy.

Uncle Bob puts his arm around Talia as he sits by her, ”How's my favorite niece doing today?”

”Your only niece is doing fine thank you for asking,” and she rest her head on his shoulder. ”I love you, Uncle Bob. It's been nice having you around. I've missed you.”

I've missed you too,” Uncle Bob kisses her forehead. ”I'll see you and Richy in a couple of weeks for the charity ball. Try to arrive a few days early so we'll have time together.”

Talia nods her agreement, ”We will.”

”That's my girl,” Uncle Bob gives her a tight hug. As he's leaving the room, he looks back at her from the doorway. She gives him a little wave and smiles. Yet her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes, which tells him something's on her mind. But he knows if she needs to talk, she'll call him.

”Are you ok,” Richy ask her.

”Are you sure you love me and want to marry me,” Talia asks Richy as she walks him out into the hall to the steps that lead to the main level of the home.

”Yes,” answers Richy, ”no doubts.”

”Then I'm good,” answers Talia. ”Now step down one step.”

Richy does as requested and this time the smile reaches her eyes because even though he stepped down one steps as she requested, he's still several centimeters taller than her. Yet she's still delighted to be nearly eye-to-eye with him as she slides her arms around his neck and gives him a deep kiss.

Richy gives her bottom an affectionate pat. ”I'll see you later,” and he steps down to the main level of the house.

”Yes you will,” Talia tells him, ”and grab some breakfast before you go.”

Richy flashes his good old boy smile at her, ”Yes ma'am.” As he steps into the kitchen, he finds the children are nearly finished eating breakfast.

Otter hands Bob a hot cup of pero and asks him, ”How's that?”

Bob nods his head appreciatively, ”Perfect, thank you.” Then he pulls Otter against him and she wraps her arms around his fit and trim waist and rest her head on his chest.

”If you're finished,” Aunt Seal tells the children, ”go on down to the family room. Ya can turn on Education TV.”

”Come on,” Beaver calls the other children and they all get up except for Howl and Minnow.

”We're coming,” Howl tells Beaver. Then Howl patiently waits for Minnow to finish her juice. When she's done, he takes her hand and they walk together to the family room.

”It don't get much cuter than that,” comments Cougar smiling.

”Yeah,” Roar agrees. ”Howl's not happy we're heading back to our tribe today. The solar charged water resistant mobile phone Talia got me a few years ago is finally going to get some real use. We have the phone number and we'll be calling so he can talk to her. And he wants to start coming for a visit every full moon.

”That would be good,” Richy tells Roar. ”That would give you extra time with Talia, not just when she's on her way to or from the estate around new moon for work.”

Roar nods approvingly. He likes the idea of getting to spend more time with his sister. ”She's not going to like this, but I would feel better if I knew she wasn't traveling by herself anymore. And her accidentally getting shot by hunters isn't my only concern. Fjord is out there too.”

”When I'm not working, I can go with her,” Cougar volunteers.

”And when Richy or Cougar can't do it, I can accompany her,” volunteers Bass.

”And from Animalistic Tribe territory,” adds Wildcat, ”I or Angel or just about any other tribe guardian can escort her. That would just leave from the estate to our tribe in our territory, and we're never far from the estate.”

”You're right,” Richy tells Roar, ”she won't like it. But I don't think she'll squirm too badly about it.”

”You hope,” says Amazonia, ”If she feels like you're taking her independence from her or like she's being treated like a child, she may do more than just squirm. You'll need to present it to her in such a way that it doesn't feel like she's losing control of her life.”

Richy rolls some scrambled eggs and deer sausage in his aunt's freshly fried flat bread, ”Cougar will tell her. She won't take it that way from Cougar.”

Amazonia looks at her younger brother who smiles at her cheekily and agrees, ”No, she won't take it that way from him.”

”You're learning quickly Mist,” Zenith tells Richy, ”pick your battles wisely and avoid them entirely if you can.”

”Is Talia gonna come have some breakfast,” asks Seal.

Richy shares, ”She says she's not hungry yet.”

”Is she feeling alright,” asks Otter concerned.

”She basically seems fine,” answers Richy, ”but she's sad about something.”

”She's making Richy plan the wedding,” shares Cougar with a grin, ”and I get to help.”

”What do you know about planning a wedding,” Amazonia asks Cougar.

Cougar shrugs as he answers, ”I got married. I was drunk for it but I was there.”

”You ready Uncle Bob,” asks Richy.

Uncle Bob nods and swallows the last of his pero. Then he does something that surprises everyone in the kitchen except Otter. He tips her chin up and kisses her, a slow deep smooth savoring of her mouth.

”Before you go,” Wildcat turns to Richy, ”try to explain to me why you feel the need to do the domestic wedding ceremony.”

Richy gives a slight shrug, ”She's going to be having children. Just seems the right thing to do. Plus it validates our relationship for domesticated society. And while having children without a permanent mate is normal and fine in free society, it's frowned upon in domesticated society. One child out of wedlock if she's not too young like Irene when she had Cougar is forgivable. Domestic folks just assume she decided to have a baby before she got too old. A young woman having a baby out of wedlock like Fjord's mother is seen as ruined or foolish and stupid. She may be labeled a whore even though that's usually not true… Talia doesn't fall into either category. She's not a young college girl like Fjord's mother was and she's not in her fourties yet like Irene. But for most Domesticated people, Talia's a wild female before she's anything else. Those people are just waiting for her to do something, anything so they can say 'See, told you she's just another wild whore.' And even if she just had one child without being married first, that's what they'll say.”

”But those who truly love and respect her,” Wildcat counters, ”they will always love and respect her. Having a child without the domestic marriage ceremony won't change how they feel about her.”

”No,” Richy continues, ”but they'll be in the minority. That's a lot of social pressure to bear and most won't be strong enough to bear it. So they'll withdraw from her, abandon her. She's already spent way too much time isolated by herself. I'm her mate, but I can't protect her from everything and everyone that may harm her. But the domestic marriage ceremony is just a little thing I can do in order to protect her reputation in domestic society.”

As Richy opens the front door to leave, Uncle Bob grabs his bags. Bob pauses, looks back at Otter and tells her, ”I'll be seeing you.”

Otter blushes prettily as she responds, ”I know.”

As Richy pulls his Bayberry Falls' sheriff police vehicle out of the driveway, he looks over at Uncle Bob and asks, ”You know kissing isn't casual for us? We only kiss people we care about, people we love.”

Uncle Bob nods his understanding, ”I understand. There was nothing casual about it. I asked her how she would feel if she got pregnant by me. She gave me the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. She said she would be 'honored' to have my baby. I don't know if it makes sense, but I needed to kiss her. I can't wait to kiss her again, among other things.”

Richy's smile is genuine, ”I understand what you're feeling for Otter. I never needed to kiss a woman until I met Talia.”

”She agreed to have a baby with me,” shares Uncle Bob. He shares concerned, ”I just hope I don't screw this kid up like I did my two sons.”

”Hey, I've seen you with Talia. I know you weren't a bad father. And any mistakes you made with your two boys, you won't remake. Besides,” he tells Bob, ”you didn't screw them up by yourself. They had a mother too. And Otter's an excellent mother.”

”I'm going to rearrange my work schedule,” shares Bob. ”No more than thirty-two hours max a week anymore. And no more than four days a week anymore. That will make it easier for me to come visit. It's alright for me to come visit, isn't it?”

”Of course Uncle Bob. Family is always welcome. And it looks like you're going to be family in more ways than one.” But Richy has another concern, ”So what about Margie?”

”I'm still very interested in Margie,” admits Uncle Bob. ”Is that wrong of me? Is it possible to care very deeply for more than one person at a time? Or am I being selfish?”

”I don't think you're being selfish,” Richy tells him. ”I think it's very possible to care very deeply for more than one person at a time. It's a generous heart that can do so. Just like you love both of your sons. You have room in your heart for both of them and then some more. Margie will be good for domestic social functions like the ball that's coming up. I don't know how she'll feel about sharing you with Otter. But Otter's got a generous heart; she won't have any trouble sharing you.”

Uncle Bob has a thought, ”How is Otter going to be about sharing herself with other men?”

”She's agreed to have a baby with you. She's not going to be sharing herself with anyone else until she's carrying your child. And then she may still ask you who you're comfortable sharing her with. And she will definitely use her relationship with you to turn away men she's not interested in. Bass is very much the typical free male. He'll pester a female until she consents or makes it very clear that no means no. The only males Otter can't truly refuse are chiefs, but most of them honor a female's right to say no. Except Fjord, but he's not interested in making babies with Otter, just humiliating her. But she's under Talia's umbrella of protection now, so he'll leave her alone.”

Zenith turns away from the front window in the living room smiling brightly after watching Richy's vehicle leave the driveway. ”Otter, Bob kissed you.”

Otter smiles happily, ”Yes, he did, again.”

”Spill it girl,” orders Amazonia with a smile. ”We want details.”

”Well,” Otter blushes a little shy because she's not used to being the center of attention, ”when we were off to ourselves after supper yesterday, he asked to kiss me.”

”And you said yes,” Zenith happy for Otter.

”That I did,” Otter touching her full lips thoughtfully for a moment, ”and when he asked me to spend the night with him I said yes again. And after we were alone in his room, he asked me something else I said yes to.”

”What did he ask,” Seal pleased to see her daughter so happy.

Otter beams brightly as she answers, ”He asked me to have a baby with him.”

Otter finds herself accepting hugs and congratulations. After hugging and congratulating Otter himself, Cougar steps back into the kitchen.

Wildcat steps into the kitchen after Cougar, ”Are you making a plate for Talia?”

”Yeah,” answers Cougar. ”She probably still won't eat or just pick at her food, but I'm gonna try to feed her anyway.”

”Let me take it to,” request Wildcat, ”I want to try to fix what I said yesterday. I hadn't considered her reputation among domestic folks when I said it. It just seemed ridiculous to me for two free people, especially true-mates to have such a ceremony.”

”Richy's not one for taking ridiculous actions,” states Cougar as he arranges Talia's tray.

”No he's not and I should have remembered that,” agrees Wildcat. ”But how do you feel about it? I know you love her. This marriage thing may mean he'll never share her.”

Cougar hands the tray to his father, ”I'm fine with it. I just want Talia to be happy, healthy and safe.”

Wildcat accepts the tray and heads for the master bedroom. Talia is laying on the bed on her right side looking at the engagement ring on her petite finger.

”I brought you some breakfast,” Wildcat informs her as he sits the tray on the nightstand.

”Thank you,” responds Talia solemnly.

He climbs onto the bed with her. ”Boy, you sure do make that ring look pretty.”

Talia doesn't say anything as Wildcat slides up behind her.

Wildcat apologizes, ”Dearest, I'm sorry. I love you and I want every happiness for you. Mother Earth knows you deserve it.” He smoothes her hair back from her forehead. ”I had no business saying what I said.”

”You said what you believe,” responds Talia.

”But I was wrong… Look at me, Dearest… I was wrong. I usually put more thought into what I say before I say it. Can you forgive an old fool?”

Talia's brown eyes are soft as she looks back at him asks, ”What's to forgive?”

Wildcat smiles at Talia. And Talia doesn't think anything of it when he kisses her forehead. But when Wildcat presses his erection against her bottom as his hand slides over a breast and the scent of his arousal permeates her nose, Talia nearly has a panic attack. Wildcat starts to lean over her to taste her lips and gets a good whiff of her fear as she rolls away from him off the bed, hitting the floor with a loud thud.

Talia's eyes are wide with shock as she peers over the edge of the bed at Wildcat. His hypnotic electric blue eyes are looking at her with a familiar intensity. Cougar has looked at her like that countless times. But never has Wildcat ever looked at her like that before. Never before has he ever showed any interest in her sexually.

”Dearest,” Wildcat's voice is naturally husky, but it's actually gotten huskier as he reaches out a hand to Talia, ”Come to me Dearest.”

Talia responds with a jerky shake of her head, ”Not without Richy's permission.”

”Dearest, you know I don't need his permission. Come to me Dearest. Please don't make me pull rank on you.”

The rules from tribe to tribe may vary a little on whether or not and when a male can pull rank in order to mate with the female of his choice. For Talia, there are only two males who can pull rank on her in her tribe: the chief and his number one elder advisor. And neither man to Talia's knowledge has ever used his power to get a female to submit to him. Yet that is just what Wildcat is doing, reminding her that he is the number one elder advisor and she technically can't refuse him, Richy's no chief, she can't use him as a shield.

Talia's eyes well up with tears as she asks, ”Wa, wa, wa why?”

”I know you don't remember. But when Fjord was here the other day, you put out the most delicious enticing fuck me scent I have ever smelled in my whole life. Every man in the room, except Roar, had a painful hard-on for you. And damn it if I wasn't standing right with you, Mist and Cougar when you did it. I've never been so hard for a woman before in my life. I'm so hard for you it hurts. Please Dearest, come make me feel better. Make it stop aching.”

”But why don't you just ask Angel, Squirrel or Seal,” ask Talia knowing he's been with each of them before.

”I need you Dearest. None of them will do. No other woman will do. Now please, come to me,” he commands reaching out to her.

Talia is shaking as she begins to reach out to take Wildcat's out stretched hand.

”Talia,” Cougar calls as he steps into the room. Talia runs to Cougar.

”Shit,” exclaims Wildcat frustrated. Then he orders Cougar, ”Boy don't interfere.”

Cougar ignores his father. He hugs Talia tightly, gently brushes tears from her face and strokes her head comfortingly. He kisses her forehead and tells her, ”I need to speak with my father alone. Ok?”

Talia nods her head yes and runs from the room. She runs out the sliding glass doors forgetting to shut them as she turns into a mountain lion. She climbs high into the branches over the tree house and perches there.

”How dare you interfere,” Wildcat getting to his feet.

”Dad, you can be pissed at me now if you want, but you're not thinking straight. You're thinking with your little head instead of your big head. If you stop and think with the big head on your shoulders, you'll come to your senses. This isn't how you want Talia. I know you love her. You don't want to lose her trust by taking her against her will.”

Wildcat pushes his hands back through his hair frustrated. He loves Talia dearly and has been fighting the urge to take her since the incident with Fjord the other day. He had always thought of her as a daughter until she stained him with that scent along with Richy and Cougar. The only ways not to be affected by it were: 1, be another female; 2, not be in the room at all; or 3, be a blood relative of the female releasing and marking her mates with that scent. Now he's painfully aware that Talia's a female ripe for mating.

Cougar doesn't understand exactly what's happened yet, but he tells his father, ”She needs time to absorb and accept that the way you think of her has changed. And she needs time to change how she sees you. I've always been randy for her, nothing new there. But you randy for her, huge change. And without Richy's permission…”

”I don't need Mist's fuckin' permission,” Wildcat shouts at Cougar flustered.

”No, you don't,” Cougar surprisingly calm and reasonable, ”but Talia does. Without his permission, Talia won't be comfortable letting you touch her. She wouldn't even let me dry-fuck her without Richy's permission.”

Wildcat leans against a wall, slides down into a crouch and buries his head under his arms. Cougar has never seen his father like this. The man is so frustrated he's rocking back and forth as he tries to regain control of himself.

”I gotta get out of here,” states Wildcat as he stands back up. ”Her scent is everywhere.” Then he pushes past Cougar. He follows Talia's scent outside where he spots her sitting high up in the branches over the tree house. Talia-mountain lion hisses a warning at him. He considers becoming a mountain lion himself. He would be the bigger stronger cat. He could over power her and mount her as a big cat. Except if she became her inner guardian then she would kick his ass. And when he realizes he just considered raping his Dearest Talia, his eyes well up with tears. He must be losing his mind to have considered such a thing. He hangs his head sadly for a moment then runs off into the forest.

A little while later, Talia-mountain lion climbs down to say good-bye to the rest of her visiting friends and family that are ready to leave. She hits the floor of the tree house on two feet as herself. Then hops down to the ground through the opening of the floor of the tree house.

Amazonia has already begun to move off into the forest and Talia asks Roar and Zenith, ”Is she angry with me?”

”No,” Roar assures, ”Cougar told us what happened. She just doesn't want to make you anymore uncomfortable.”

Zenith informs Talia, ”That scent you put out the other day when Fjord was here was very powerful. Richy, Cougar and Wildcat must have been standing very close to you when you did it because you scent marked the three of them as yours.”

”I did what,” asks Talia bewildered. ”I… I didn't know it was even possible for a female to scent mark males as hers and I certainly didn't mean to do it. I… I don't even remember doing it.”

Zenith hugs Talia comfortingly and explains, ”It's a very rare ability. Other free women will just be avoiding them for a while.”

Talia asks concerned, ”About how long of a while? It's not permanent, right?”

”The scent itself, no it's not,” Zenith answers, ”It'll dissipate on its own in a couple of months, but…”

”But what,” asks Talia extremely concerned.

Zenith continues to explain, ”Every female that has smelled your scent mark on them will continue to think of them as yours. Even after your scent mark has faded away, those females will still continue to treat them as if they're still marked.”

”Mother Earth, what have I done,” asks Talia afraid.

”You have chosen three excellent males to be your mates,” answers Zenith. ”They are all going to love honor and cherish you for all their days.”

”I… I didn't chose anything,” states Talia flabbergasted. ”I don't know how to deal with one mate and you're telling me I suddenly have three. How do I explain this to Richy...? Shit… How do I explain it to my Uncle Bob?”

”Don't worry about Uncle Bob right now,” Cougar tells her as he pulls her under his arm and kisses her forehead, ”No need to fry his brain with information overload. And I'll explain it to Richy tonight.”

Talia nods to Cougar and suppresses her anxiety so she can hug and kiss her family and friends good-bye. The cutest thing is watching Howl say good-bye to Minnow. He's going to be a giant of a man like his father. So even though he's only ten years old, he's nearly two head's taller than the nearly nine year old Minnow. She pushes up on her toes as he leans over so they can hug each other. He gently rubs his jaw along her cheek as if he's scent marking her. But he's too young to scent mark her. Even after he goes through puberty, his scent marking glands may not become active until he's twenty. Yet the gesture is obvious. He's trying to mark her as his. They exchange a sweet peck on the lips. And Howl trails behind everyone else as they enter the forest.

”That was so cute,” says Seal smiling. ”He was trying to scent mark Minnow. Wasn't that cute Bass?”

”I don't know,” answers Bass, ”I've kind of got mixed feelings on it. That's my daughter he's trying to scent mark. It's kind of like gettin' smacked in the face with the knowledge my little girl isn't going to be a little girl forever. She'll just turn nine late this spring and she already has a potential mate.”

Otter doesn't like the lost look on Talia's face. She takes her hand and asks worried, ”Talia, are you ok?”

Talia shrugs, ”I just keep thinking Richy's going to be seriously pissed. He's not going to like hearing he'll be sharing me with two other men.”

”He'll get over it,” Bass tells Talia, ”It's not like we all haven't already figured out he's going to be sharing you with Cougar and that's there's a little sharing going on already. That's no big surprise. But Wildcat is a surprise”

Talia grabs her head, ”How in the hell did I go from zero to three men in less than a month?” She sobs, ”Uncle Bob is going to think I've become some sort of wild whore.”

”Nonsense,” says Cougar taking Talia's face in his hands, ”Let's get some food in you. You haven't eaten yet. And you have a headache don't you?”

Talia nods yes sadly to Cougar.

He takes her hand, ”Come on. After you've eaten, you can find a nice quiet place to lay down until…”

Talia begins to cry, ”No, don't leave me alone, please… I don't want to be alone anymore. Please don't leave me. Don't leave me alone please.”

Cougar picks her up and carries her into the house. He shushes her the whole way into the living room, to the living room couch, where he holds her on his lap kissing her face and her lips as he assures her, ”You're not alone anymore. You're not alone anymore.”

”No, you're not alone anymore,” says Otter as she sits beside them and strokes Talia's hair.