I was sprawled across Aunt Eira's lap like a lazy cat, my small back nestled comfortably between the soft, warm swell of her breasts—pillowy, sun-warmed, and rising gently with every breath she took. The faint scent of crushed herbs and sweet sweat clung to her skin, mixing with the milky sweetness of the purple fruit I was messily munching. Juice dribbled down my chin; I didn't care. Life was good.
She sat cross-legged in the shade of the big oak, surrounded by us kids, her gentle fingers sorting through a colorful pile of freshly picked herbs spread on a woven mat. I pointed lazily at the bundles. "Yo, Aunt Eira, what kinda herbs are these?"
Her voice was soft and melodic, like a lullaby with a hint of laughter always hiding in it. She picked them up one by one, letting us smell and touch.
- "This is Silverleaf—chews into a paste for cuts and scrapes. Stops bleeding fast."
- "Moonroot—boil it for belly aches or brew it weak for sleepless nights."
- "Firepetal—dried and ground, makes a spicy seasoning for meat. Too much and you'll breathe flames tomorrow."
- "Dewcap mushrooms—fresh in salads, dried for stamina soup."
- "Whispervine—steep the leaves for a tea that calms crying babies… or rowdy husbands."
She went on, patient and thorough, until her fingers accidentally closed around a small bundle of vivid crimson leaves tied with red twine.
"And this one," she said absently, "is Crimson Endurance—used in… potions." She hesitated, cheeks suddenly blooming pink. "For, um… positions. The kind that help couples improve duration during… intimate activities."
Dead. Silence.
Every cousin froze mid-chew or mid-fidget. A few mouths hung open. One boy's eyes went comically wide. The new girl from the neighboring tribe—who'd apparently joined the lesson late—turned beet red.
Me? I just kept munching on my fruit, juice dripping, face blank as fresh clay. Internally, though: Ohhh. That explains why half the huts sound like wrestling matches every damn night. All-night stamina marathons. Got it.
I stretched like a bored kitten, yawned dramatically, and patted her thigh. "Continue, Aunt. Why'd you stop?"
Eira blinked down at me, flustered. "A-ah, yes, sorry about that."
"About what?" I asked with big, innocent eyes, batting my lashes like a pro.
"Nothing, nothing, little genius," she muttered, hurrying on to the next herb while the other kids tried not to giggle.
A few minutes later she wrapped up the lesson. "That's enough for today. Now—who can repeat what I taught?"
Most kids scratched their heads or mumbled half-answers. But one sharp cousin girl—proud little know-it-all—recited about seventy-five percent perfectly. Everyone clapped politely.
Then Eira's gaze landed on me, still lounging against her chest like a tiny king on silk cushions. A playful challenge sparkled in her eyes. "And what about you, Kai? Care to show everyone why they call you special?"
The whispers started immediately.
"Who's she talking about?"
"That's Kai Thunderfang."
"New girl doesn't know yet…"
I didn't even lift my head from its very comfortable spot. Just held out one hand lazily. "Uncle Kjell, fruit me."
Uncle Kjell—big, grinning, dizzy-spin specialist—tossed a fresh yellow berry my way. I caught it one-handed without looking, bit down, and then…
Rattled off every single herb, its appearance, scent, uses—medical, culinary, alchemical, even the embarrassing one—in perfect order, lightning fast, without pausing for breath.
"Silverleaf for wounds, Moonroot for digestion and sleep, Firepetal seasoning, Dewcap stamina, Whispervine calming tea, Crimson Endurance for extended bedroom performance—"
The kids' eyes glazed over. A couple literally wobbled like they'd been spun too many times. The new girl's jaw dropped; tiny stars might as well have been circling her head.
Eira squealed—an actual delighted squeal—and crushed me against her in a fierce teddy-bear hug. Her soft, warm breasts pressed fully against my small frame, rising and falling fast with her excited breathing. Then came the kisses: one on each cheek, then again, and again, warm lips peppering my face in rapid, affectionate bursts. I lost count somewhere around twelve. Her scent enveloped me completely—herbs, sun, woman, family.
I just closed my eyes and let it happen, basking in the innocent warmth. Swear to every god listening, it was pure familial love… even if my previous-life adult brain noted, in a very detached way, that Aunt Eira's hugs were dangerously comfortable.
Somewhere in the background, Uncle Kjell whistled. "Kid's gonna break hearts before he's ten."
Eira finally released me, breathless and beaming. "My perfect little genius."
I wiped fruit juice off my mouth with the back of my hand and grinned.
Aunt Eira scooped me up from the grass with a soft laugh, pressing me against her warm, herb-scented body one last time before settling me on her hip. "Time to get you clean, little genius," she murmured, her breath tickling my ear.
She carried me effortlessly through the village paths, her hips swaying with each long stride—slow, rhythmic rolls that made the soft curve of her body shift against my side in a way that was far too pleasant for a five-year-old's innocent ride. The late afternoon sun filtered through the trees, painting golden stripes across her bare shoulders and the generous swell of her chest, still barely contained by the loose hide wrap. Every step sent a subtle bounce through her frame that I pretended not to notice… while very much noticing.
"So, where are we bathing today?" I asked, voice deliberately casual as I rested my chin on her collarbone.
"Riverside," she answered, voice warm and low. "The water's perfect this time of day—cool, clear, and just deep enough for splashing."
I nodded, already picturing it.
We emerged from the treeline and came to a gentle halt at the riverbank, where the rest of the women and young children had gathered. The air was thick with the clean, mineral scent of fresh water, mixed with woodsmoke drifting from the village and the faint sweetness of crushed wildflowers underfoot. Sunlight sparkled on the slow-moving current, turning the surface into a sheet of liquid gold.
Every female in sight was gloriously, unselfconsciously naked—skin gleaming with water droplets, laughter echoing as they scrubbed each other's backs or gossiped in low, teasing voices. My mother stood waist-deep in the shallows, water lapping at the full curve of her hips, hair wet and clinging to her shoulders as she chatted animatedly with a circle of other wives and aunts. Their bodies moved with easy grace—full breasts swaying as they reached for soaproot, rounded hips shifting as they turned, long legs glistening in the sun.
All the children splashing around were seven or younger, shrieking with delight as mothers poured river water over their heads. I had exactly two years left of this paradise before I'd be exiled to the men's side with Grandfather and the uncles. Tragic, really.
Grandmother Valka spotted us immediately. She waded over—water streaming down her powerful, curvaceous frame, sword-calloused hands gentle despite their strength—and plucked me from Eira's arms with an affectionate growl.
"There's my favorite little man," she rumbled, already tugging at my small hide tunic. In seconds I was as naked as everyone else, cool air kissing my skin before her big, warm hands guided me into the shallows.
The river was deliciously cool against the day's lingering heat, swirling around my legs as Grandmother Valka knelt behind me. She scooped handfuls of water over my head, strong fingers massaging soaproot lather into my hair with surprising tenderness. Eira joined us, kneeling in front, her full breasts floating just at water level as she helped rinse me down—soft, slick hands gliding over my shoulders, back, chest. Every accidental brush of wet skin against skin sent little sparks through me that I firmly filed under "totally normal family bathing."
Around us the riverbank was alive with feminine laughter, splashing, and playful scolding. Water droplets flew like diamonds in the sunlight. Bodies of every age and shape moved freely—curves catching golden light, wet skin shining, voices rising in cheerful song. The scent of clean river water and warm female skin wrapped around everything like a living thing.
I leaned back against Grandmother's sturdy frame, letting the current tug gently at my toes, and sighed in pure contentment.
Two more years of this?
I could definitely work with that.