The next few days flew by blissfully for the most part. I was still trying to figure out how to work this new dynamic with Xavier now courting me.
Thankfully, things stayed the same between the three of us. Well, Xavier was more open about his affections, but that was to be expected.
However, things turned for the worse one morning as I was rolling up my sleeping bag. It started as a small jolt of pain, making me think I had indigestion.
But soon, the pain in my abdomen grew, almost like someone was wringing out my organs. I let out a groan of pain at the third cramp, my sleeping bag falling out of my hands.
"Please don't tell me…" I murmured softly to myself. Please don't let it be that.
Of all things to forget about, my period was one of the worst possible things to forget. They were dangerous in a world where pregnancy was low and almost everyone wanted kids.
Not to mention the fact that beastmen could smell a female in heat and would swarm like flies. And in the middle of nowhere, that meant rootless beastmen and ferals were mostly around.
I was putting all of us in danger by getting my period here. Xavier and Ahi could only fight so many before they got gravely injured. And if someone managed to kidnap me…
Nope. I didn't want to go down that route.
"Hey Elisa!" Xavier suddenly called out, making me turn to where he was.
He was carrying some waterskins, having gone to fill Ahi's and his at a nearby river. He walked over to me with a big smile, only to frown when he noticed my face.
"Are you ok- What is that smell?!" Xavier's gaze sharpened on me, making me cringe. "Are you in-"
"What are you two doing?" Ahi interrupted, but too stopped in his tracks upon noticing me. His forked tongue slid out his mouth for a second. "Elisa, you're in…"
"Yes!" I growled, getting hit with another wave of cramps. "Could someone please get my bag?"
I was ready to collapse on the floor and curl up into a ball. Why did this have to happen now?! Thankfully, my words seemed to get the two males out of their shock.
Xavier ran off to get my bag while Ahi pulled me into his arms. He coiled around me, almost like he was trying to block me from the outside world.
"We need to cover your scent." Ahi hissed, his eyes glowing slightly.
I groaned in agreement, closing my eyes. That would help, but how do we mask a heat scent? Beastmen had great noses and a heat scent was a powerful scent. It wouldn't be easy to cover.
Before I could think much about it, Xavier came back with my bag. I quickly dug through it, grabbing a pad, my painkillers and my water bottle.
"Let me put this on quickly." I said before taking the pill.
It would take a few minutes for the painkiller to work, so I had to deal with the cramps as I ran over to a nearby bush. It wasn't much privacy, but I couldn't be picky right now.
Pulling down my underwear, I was thankful that I hadn't started bleeding just yet. But it would come soon. Once the pad was on, I headed back out to see Ahi and Xavier murmuring something to one another.
Seeing me approach, Xavier took a few steps back. "T-there's a village half a day away… Damn it… A little out of our route, but it'll be safer for you there than out in the open…"
He struggled a little with his words, his hand clenching and unclenching not going unnoticed. I knew it was because of my scent and it made me feel horrible, knowing it was affecting them both.
"We need to mask your scent first though…" Ahi murmured, looking a little like he was in pain. "Do you have that nasty spray of yours?"
It took me a moment to figure out what he was talking about. "Oh, the bug spray! You think it'll work?"
"It's worth a shot." Ahi mused. "It did mask your scent a little when you used it at night."
Well, it was better than nothing. Going back into my bag, I dumped the pad packaging into it before pulling out my bug spray. I had about half a can left, making me hope that this would work.
I didn't want to waste it, especially in a place filled with so many bugs. Mentally shaking away the thoughts, I began covering my body with the spray, coughing a little at the horrid smell.
"Does it work?" I asked nervously as I put the bug spray away.
Ahi let out his forked tongue as Xavier sniffed the air. Xavier immediately scrunched up his nose in disgust.
"That's a nasty smell!" Xavier cursed out. "What is it even for?"
"To keep bugs away." I muttered.
"Well, it'll keep beastmen away." Xavier stated. "I can barely smell your heat now."
"Yes, it seems to work quite well." Ahi nodded in agreement. "Xavier and I will finish packing up. You rest here for now. We'll head out soon."
I nodded my head in understanding, not bothering to argue. While the painkiller was working its magic, my body was still sore. So, I sat down instead and waited for Xavier and Ahi to finish packing up camp.
Alone with my thoughts, I couldn't help, but cringe at the thought of me forgetting my period. It was such a stupid thing to forget, but I guess stress does that to a person.
Still, it was better than being pregnant. Ahi and I had had sex a few times and while I enjoyed it, there was no birth control in this world. Pregnancy was a worry for me.
I wasn't yet mentally ready for kids, despite being okay with the idea. Ahi didn't really seem to want kids either and there was a lack of a permanent home right now.
Snake cubs would throw a huge wench into everything. I didn't even want to think of all the things we'd need, especially with the cold season coming in.
In a way this was a blessing in disguise, but I needed to be more careful. At least until I had more security about everything.
Eventually, Ahi and Xavier finished packing and I was pulled out of my thoughts. We quickly set off to the village, both males wanting to get there as quickly as possible.