From Disaster Comes Good by D.A.Sanford - HTML preview

My family takes this new world seriously

It has been a very relaxing week since we came to this world. By saying relaxing, I mean it. Even I have joined the felids to nap on the grass. I do envy them. All have gone back to their cat forms and just lie belly up and soak up the sun. The children have also joined me but their attention span is the shortest of all of us.

Sharon, Zora and Della are on the porch and just talk. The three are conspiring about something. I cannot hear but maybe I do not want to hear. Trouble is, I can see that they are sending Sally to me.

“Grandpa Ralph, our grandmas would like you to come to the porch. They want to talk with you.”

The look that I am getting is too cute. She is holding out her hand. How can I turn her down. I get up take her hand and she leads me to the ladies. They thank her and say that the four will get an after supper treat.

Sally runs off to tell her sisters and brother.

I sit with them, expecting that I am going to be told what is going to happen. Not asked what my opinion is.

“My husband, you already know that the ship will be returning sometime within the next week. It is time for you to go on a two day walk with Zora and then Della. They will abide by my edict of no sex during the walk. This is for you to get to know each and they to know you. Walk a day out then set up a camp. Talk about each other than in the next morning come back. This way, when you declare to the representatives your intentions, events will happen with great speed.”

I look at them and only asked when. I had our gear given to me, Zora comes down and asks, ”Which way?” I take her hand and we just walk with the sun on my right shoulder. The one thing we do not have is a compass. I will need to ask Sarezz for some of them.

It was enjoyable but also serious. We talked during the walk but also we just walked enjoying the world. We both talked about our lives. I was horrified to learn that she was a slave and was going to be sent to a recreational house to be a sex slave but she was rescued by the use of a new invention.

The fleet stationed themselves in orbit as to encircle the world. They used an electronic door which each ship had and rescued the entire planet of slaves in one attack without any landing.

I told her about my life, my preparations for surviving the war and about the betrayal of that family. She was horrified to hear that a female would betray her husband. “The entire village would turn their backs on her.”

I ask what that means. She tells me that female would never be fed again. She would have to forage and hunt for herself. Get hurt, no healer would help. She would be alone to the point that most would just wander off.

That set me thinking how I needed to talk to her. At the overnight camp, I knew exactly what to say.

“We are going to have differing opinions at times. The deceit of that woman is what hurt me to my core. She hid those greedy feelings since before we married. If I start going in a direction that I should not go, I want you to do what is needed to stop me. I give you permission to do what is needed. I’m sure that both Sharon and Della will endorse it. I will thank you if you need to take a board and hit me with it to stop me. I will only be offended by betrayal. You will be my wife. Your primary obligation is the same as mine, protect the family first. Stopping me from doing something stupid is nothing that I would take as betrayal.”

She is astonished but knows what I mean when I finish with. “What you described as repercussions, most females would not do that even if the husband was jeopardizing the family. Isn’t that the ultimate slavery?”

We slept next to each other but honoring the first wife’s instructions, we just slept. I will say that she does have a very nice pleasant smell and a beautiful sleeping face.

The next morning we walked back to the home. No one asked me how it went but the three went into a closed room meeting. I slept alone as usual then Della and I walked away. Her revelation to me was that she was third generation freed. She did tell the tales of her kind’s terror on their original world. Hunted, tortured and then eaten, sometimes alive by the felids of that world.

This universe is cruel. She does say that the felids on our world are the best. “I am treated as a person and respected by them.” They told her that she was family.

I could see that she had been told something that she thought would never happen. Living with the history of the origin world, the first time she meets felids, they call her family. Her world has been tipped upside down and shaken until all her prejudices fell to oblivion. I could see that she was at peace with herself and her surroundings. Isn’t this what this new world represents.

Leave all your prejudices behind and enjoy a new life.

When Della and I return, the ship had arrived. She is over joyed to see her parents here. They have been brought up to speed on what is happening and really are overjoyed at the prospect of their daughter being a mate to a human. That has only happened once before in their history. Serena and the human, the great Rubin King.

This mating will raise their position in history as her parents. They ask if it would be acceptable for them to live here. I gladly accept them.

Sharon and Zora must have informed Sarezz that there would be a marriage. The ship’s passengers have taken over a portion of our area and are building what looks like a very large roofed pavilion.

A delegation of the goblin women come over and basically hijack me. This was to explain the mating ritual. The only part they giggle at is when I questioned the claiming bite.

“My teeth are not as sharp as yours.”

They explain that it is no problem because during mating, the skin on the right shoulder thins so even dull teeth like mine will puncture but they offered to sharpen mine. I politely declined.

The ceremony started formal with the introductions.

The father and mother of Zora come forward. The father calls me forward.

“Ralph Welder, what is your intention barging into our festivities?”

“I have come to take your daughter Zora for my mate. She is to become my second wife in my fledgling harem. I stand before you to ask for your permission to ask her to be my mate.”

He calls Zora to come out of the tent and face him.

She does.

“This male is here to ask you a question. You will listen to him and then ask your mother if you may answer him.”

Zora faces me and tells me to ask my question.

“Zora, in this short time I have come to know you and desire for you to become my mate.”

I was told by the women that I was not to mention love, even though I may love her. This is a formal request, a contract. Any love statements are for after all leave. Zora is not going to say anything about love either.

“Mother, I have been asked a question of being a mate. May I have your consent to answer him?”

Her mother smiles as she tells her to answer him. Then wipes some tears away.

Zora looks at me and tells me that it would be her greatest honor to be my mate.

Father now speaks, Take my daughter into the tent and claim her in our fashion.

It must be said here that after I was instructed by their women about this ritual, it was both Zora and Della that told me that I needed to claim Sharon before the ceremony otherwise it would be disrespectful to mate without the first wife claimed.

Sharon and I grudgingly acquiesced to their demand. Who am I kidding? We both felt that it was long overdue but we both were waiting for the other to make the first move.

Zora and I went into the tent. With goblins, if I do not make her scream in delight, the bite mark is looked to be fraud. I was assured by Zora that all female goblins are screamers.

She was understating a fact. She damn near blew out my eardrums and then at the climax I bit and much to my relief, there was a clear breaking of skin in my bite pattern.

Per the ritual, I get up and dress. I was told that I must retain some of the smell on me so I was not to wash myself. Just get dressed and leave the tent proudly. Then the father will give a command to the mother.

I emerge and the father speaks with a mad face at me. Again I was told about that.

“Mother enter the tent a see if this male has breached our daughter.”

At that point, I hear the snickering of the guests. All part of the ritual. They are acknowledging that she has been taken. That is to support the father’s feigned anger.

Mother and daughter come out. Mother says very loudly that Zora has been breached but she has been claimed properly.”

Now the father’s anger is sated. He orders us to go to the chair in front of him. “Daughter, bare your claim mark. Son stand beside your mate and waits for the judgement of the goblins present. First wife of Ralph Welder is first to inspect.”

They all line up and Sharon is first. She looks very closely for a minute. Smiles at both of us and says to Zora, “I welcome you sister.” Per ritual there is no cheering. Each present come to look at the bite mark then give me a nod. The whole line is finished and they all gave a nod to me.

Father has a smile on his face. “Mother, stand by me.” She does and he addresses the crowd.

“This male and my daughter are now and forever mates. Ralph Welder, what will be her new name?”

As Zora , Sharon and Della asked me to give her a name of someone special to me. They did not ask what. They wanted to be as surprised as the guests. I thought about it and made my choice.

“I now give her a name of a person that shaped me into who I am. She was a great teacher. If it was not for this woman, I would be nothing but ash on a dead world. In honor of my teacher I call my mate Ilene.”

Now the cheering goes up. Her parents are being congratulated along with the both of us.

Now the feast and the party began. It must be told that goblins are voracious eaters. As expected there is a lot of various meats. It must be said that the four growing grandchildren are giving the goblins a run for their money. Each are being praised and being asked if they have engagement contracts yet.

The feast wound down and the guests were, let’s just say, wandering off to see the sights and maybe enjoy the nighttime display of stars.

Della’s parents come over to me and her mother tells me that their kind just mate and then it is official. Her mother asks me if I would do Della the honor of mating with her tonight. I also knew that this was their way but.

“This is our new world, so I will honor her with your request but I want you to please come inside our home. I am going to start a new tradition that comes from my old world.”

I call my family together, all my family. It makes her parents very uncomfortable to be around so many felids but Della assures them that these are her family. Night Walker comes to them and again swears an oath to them.

“This is our sister. Each and every one of us will protect her from harm even if it costs us our lives.”

They are especially comforted when Della takes his hand and tells him that he is not to die. “I will be very sad.”

She reaches up, pulls his head down and gives him a kiss. They realize that she can have no greater protection but are shocked when he turns back to then and tells them that the felids of the Welder pack will protect all people on this world.

“Since your daughter is going to be mate to our brother, may we have the privilege to call you mother and father?”

They are overwhelmed and say yes.

Now for my turn. We planned this in advance. Sharon, as first wife calls both me and Della to stand before her. We do.

“I now call the second wife to stand beside me. Ilene come forward.”

She does. Della’s parents come forward and stand by your daughter. Father do you give your daughter to wed Ralph Welder?”

His wife is getting what Is happening. She nudges him and tells him to answer.

“I do.” He meekly says. This is all new to them.

“Ilene, speaking for the wives of Ralph Welder, do you accept Della as our sister.”

“Yes we do.”

“Our husband, do you accept Della as your third wife for as long as you live?”

“It is a humble man that stands before this assembly and declare that I accept her as my lifelong mate.”

“Della do you accept our sisterhood?”

She is already tearing up as she replies yes.

“Della, do you accept our husband as your husband for as long as you live?

Totally crying now she answers yes.

Now Sharon states “This is now a binding contract between the four of us that we declare to the gods that we will uphold this contract with love for the rest of our lives. Husband kiss your third wife.”

We do and she tells me to take Della to my room and consummate the bonding.

“Our mother and father will wait until you, Ralph, emerge from the room. Noise not required but I do not foresee that not happening. We sisters will confirm with our sister that you have mated.”

Della had already assured me that the difference in our sizes is not a matter but I insisted that she would be on top since I am better than twice her height. She also told me that she most likely will get pregnant with the mating.

“We will have mouse humanoids pinkies.”

After an enjoyable session, I come out and her sisters come out carrying Della out. She is dressed but is not steady on her feet. Her mother comes over to her and Della just smiles at her.

Sharon now calls the parents to come forward. “My parents, for becoming parents to your daughter’s mate, you have become parents to all of us. You now have a very large family.”

Her mother breaks down and tells us that she had a big family but she wanted a large family. Della had told us something that would put her mother in heaven.

“Mother how about I show you to your room. You two will be living here.”

Sharon deliberately shows her the kitchen first. Throughout the kitchen are now elevated walk ways that allow a short woman to use the kitchen properly. The goblins made a counter top oven, gas stove and other things that she could use.

Not even asking, she runs inside and plays with the appliances. Now she gets serious. After looking at the supplies, she starts cooking. She is singing and Della was correct. She told us that we may never get to use the kitchen again. Mother has insisted that she is pulling rank. The kitchen is now hers.

She would sleep in there if we let her.

The next day, it was mother that made breakfast for all, including all the goblin wedding guests.

My babies and the rule of women

Della was right. It only took that first time to get her pregnant. Ilene did also. Sharon is not because of a necessary hysterectomy after her daughter was born.

Both will deliver in the same period of time. Ilene told me that goblins usually deliver twins or triplets. Della puffs up and says, “Is that all? We mouse folk have a litter of at least four.”

It is friendly banter between the two . Their mothers are all over the two but against their objections, I have called Sarezz about getting midwives here. He tells me that we already have them but he will tell them to come here.

He contacts them and both have the same answer, bring my wives to them. They do not care who we are, they will come here and stay when it is two weeks from delivery. The visits before that will be in their clinics.

Della’s mother does the head jerk upward and with a huff, she says that she has born many a baby. She can do it herself. That is the opinion of Ilene’s mother also. Both mothers in law give me the cross arms stare.

It took all I could muster up to tell them that I am only watching out for my wives. “You both want good healthy grandbabies, don’t you?”

Again the look.

“These are my first children. give me a break.”

“Do you think that for one minute, if there was a hint of trouble, we would not go and drag them here? There will not be a problem. Almost all the female goblins and mouse folk have delivered perfectly well in the past without an outsider interfering.”

Now Ilene’s mother gets right into my face and gives me a look that would make the fiercest person go running leaving a pee trail behind him.

“Pregnancy and birthing are the women’s domain. You need to go outside and do something manly like scratching your nuts while drinking boasting about your maleness.”

“Yes mam.” Is all I need to say.

I come out to find that the males had heard. They invited me to a scratch your nuts and drink male meeting. It actually was fun.

It turned out that my worries were not needed. By the time the midwives came, I had two goblin babies and five pinkies. Both mother in laws grinned and yes they did, they said, “Told you so.” I was dismissed by both then told to go to the store house and get diapers and such. Naturally I was given a list. I’m a male.

I leave grumbling that I am the caretaker of this world. “I should get some respect.” All I was told is that in the birthing room, “You’re just another male.”

While I was gone, the four grandchildren were brought to the room to see the new babies. They were told that these new ones are now actually their aunts and uncles. The four are not pleased with that revelation.

Ann voices that they are their younger brothers and sisters. She is emphatic about that. “They are younger than us, aunts and uncles are older.”

It is Sharon that tells them that Ilene and Della are both their grandmothers. “For them to be your brothers and sisters, Ilene and Della would have to be your mothers, not grandmothers.”

Not missing a beat, the four children look at Ilene and Della. “Our old mother told us that we were just accidents. She did not want us so she said we would visit grandma for the day. She never returned. Can the both of you be our mothers?”

To say the new mothers were moved is an understatement. Each called the children over and hugged each long. They looked to Sharon for her input. Sharon only nodded then said.

“You now are children of mother Ilene and mother Della. When grandpa comes home, why don’t you tell him of this wonderful honor you have been given. Know this, now you will be direct relatives to both the goblin people and mouse folk.”

The parent mothers to Ilene and Della both greet their just now new grandchildren and give them each a hug. The children now are told that they will be included in the welcoming party for the newborns.

“Don’t be surprised to find you are being hugged by all.”

I walk to the store house.

Once inside, I asked for new born diapers for two goblin babies and five mouse folk pinkies. I again was summarily dismissed as an ignorant male and asked for my list. “Goblins we can give you but everyone knows pinkies just use a pad until they grow bigger. Its right here on the list, mouse folk pinkie pads.”

She goes to gather the items on the list.

I notice that the other people are doing a count of the inventory. I ask if they are running low on things and was told that there are items missing. The inventory of some items are coming up short. It appears that two cloaking devises, two laser pistols and some other higher end devices are missing from what should be there.

This is important. I have heard that others have lost or misplaced items.

“I want a copy of that inventory with the missing stock highlighted.”

I do not like what I am thinking. Are there snakes in our garden?

I get my bundle and on the way back, I am deep in thought.

When I open the door, my four grandchildren are there to greet me. They are absolutely bouncing as they tell of their two mothers. Also about being included in the newborn party. I had to ask my three wives what was happening.

Being told of the children’s concern, when the children wandered off, I had to say something.

“Does that mean that the four need to still call me grandpa but the seven call me father?”

I felt two kicks to my calves as I hear both a goblin mother in law and a mouse folk mother in law say as they kick me repeatedly.

“Stupid male, what’s wrong with you? What you are called is what you are called. If asked directly by the seven, don’t lie but they will all call you grandpa. That is your name.”

Now I am getting that look again from the women. I do the manly thing and exit the building only to find a group of females on my doorstep telling me to get out of their way. I was flatly told that I was a bother and an impediment to their responsibility to the new mothers.

“See our males behind us. Go with them somewhere and get drunk. That is the way of both our people. Males only will see the new arrivals at the welcoming party.”

I do have enough wits about me as to not ask the stupid question that all their husbands have asked when given their drinking orders, “Where do I sleep?” I just go to the crowd of males.

They congratulate me on the births but also not asking what others regret asking.

“As far as where you sleep tonight, it is where ever you pass out at. You will not be allowed to return until after the name part of the party is done.”

“I’ll have a hangover. How do I figure out what names they get?”

All they say is that it is the women that name the babies, since they are the only ones that can tell them apart at this stage. An already drunk mouse folk tells me that he was not able to tell them apart until quite a few months.

The name part of it is them asking if you know your name. Some are still drunk enough to not remember. I’m very skeptical of that part.

There is a big area that has almost nothing but beer kegs and jugs of corked spirits.

We did drink. We did pass out and in true style we all were doused with water to wake our sorry ass’s up. We were given new clothes and told to go down to the pond and don’t come back until we could remember our names.

I realized that it was almost an impossible task in my present condition. I still was not totally sober.

That cold water did the trick. A bunch of pitiful but clean men came to the pavilion. In disbelief, we were each asked our names. Much to my amazement, some were turned away because they still could not remember.

I how ever did remember my name so I was able to enter.

There were wonderful decorations. A few tables full of food, much to the dismay of my mouse folk mother in law. I later found out that she was told that she needed the attention being a grandmother. After all, she had to announce five new babies names.

In looking in that box that only had a pad and five very small furless babies, it alarmed me when I saw numbers marked on them. I was told that was so we males could tell which was which. The mother can already tell the difference. Being a male, they did not want some of the five growing up in these first years being called a boy when they were really a girl.

Males have done that in the past, thus numbers.

Finally, the last stragglers remember their names. I did see why. Some of them had it written on the back of their hands. This is because all the others are getting impatient.

Ilene’s mother was the first. “I now announce my twin grandsons. The first out named Butez after his grandfather the second out is named Vadix after a historical hero who also was a second born. May each go on to great fame.”

There is quiet clapping because they did not want to startle the babies. Not because of most of the men clutching their heads. Hangovers.

Now it is Della’s mother’s turn. “We have five to name. 1 is female so I was told by her mother that she wanted the first named after me. I am Della the fourth so 1 is Della the sixth. 2 is also a female. Her mother asked that we honor Ilene’s mother since Ilene has twin boys. 2 is now names Kela. 3 is a boy and named after his grandfather Yarric. 4 is a boy and named after our hero. 4 is called Rubin. 5 is special. Last of the litter, he is not the runt but is the largest. We feel that he made sure that the others got out safe. That is his father in him. 5 is called Ralph.”

She comes over to me and gives me a hug and kiss then says, “What this man seems to not know, in mouse folk tradition, the last born male is always special. It must be our lot in life but the last baby is always male, always the one to make sure the others go before him always their guardian. Always named after the father.”

Strange thing. I remember my old life sons. I remember some of their growing up fondly but she always made me work so I missed a lot of their childhood. Not this time. I can tell you that I will be involved and teach them what love is. Unlike that woman, I will make sure that love is of the person not their wealth.

I will say that my two girls, the ones that come to steal their hearts are going to have a hard time. I’ll make sure that my sons are there as backup.