Chapter Text
Within the Henituse family there was a hidden secret that very few knew of.
The old Countess — Jour Thames — carried the blood of the Bunny tribe, a very allusive race that most didn't even know of it's existence.
With being able to stay hidden for so long their skills lied in passing by unnoticed, with quick feet and even quicker thinking keeping them away from the eyes of other tribes and the general populace. Solitary wasn't the only reason why they kept to themselves however.
The Bunny tribe were rather weak in constitution, and given that they were one of the rare few beast people that were prey animals they were often killed or targeted.
This was why Jour only ever told so few people about her bloodline and by the time of her death only her husband and her son knew about it.
Deruth thought Cale never presented signs of carrying on her genes of the Bunny tribe.
Unlike other tribes their beast-men features didn't come in during birth, especially if they where of mixed blood.
It was only Ron that knew about the Young Masters secret, and it was only because he stumbled upon a small red rabbit curled up in his Young Masters sheets during a thunderstorm.
He knew that Cale suffered from nightmares during storms, always had since he was a babe and it only got worse when his mother passed.
So when he heard a stifled scream coming from his room he decided to check on his Young puppy master himself, but when he opened the door Ron was meet with an empty bed.
The bedding was in a dissaray and pillows were strewn across the floor.
Ron frowned, quickly scanning the room to find out were the child ran off too but paused when he heard a small snuffled coming from the bed.
Quietly walking up he noticed a tiny, wriggling lump sitting in the center of the bed.
Peeling back the sheet revealed a small ball of fur, probably around the size off Ron's hand, making a wounded whimpering noise.
"Young Master?" he asked curiously and a bit surprised.
At his voice the ball stopped moving, before a round and fluffy face turned towards him, his droopy ears only adding to his sad look.
Big wet eyes looked up at him, big familiar eyes. A small sniffle was heard from his tiny snout.
In a gentle tone he thought he all but lost, Ron couldn't help but ask, "are you alright Young Master?"
The little bunny only stared up at him, but eventually shook his head in a dejected manner.
Ron moved his hand out towards Cale, but was meet with a flinch and a shaking body as his hand hovered over his small form.
Thinking for a second Ron paused before kneeling down, his face at eye height for the little boy.
'Young Master is a prey beast-men, so he would be afraid of anything bigger then him' he thought, gazing at Cale who's shaking has decreased.
He lifted his hand again, only this time settling it near his tiny body and waiting.
He watched as Cale slowly shuffled his way towards his hand, giving it a small sniff before burying his little head in the cup on Ron's palm.
'However,' the butler thought as he watched his Young Master seek refuge from the thunder outside in his hand, getting so close like he was trying to meld with him, 'everything is larger then him.'
Years passed since that night, and even when Cale grew more aggravating in his behavior, he never went out of his way to inconvenience Ron, and Ron never pushed his Young Master away when he came hopping into his room when thunder struck once more.
It was now, as they all rested within the underground villa, peacefully at last did Ron wonder if his Young Bunny Master ever mention to anyone about his… condition.
He knew for sure that the children would have realized, smelling something on Cale that was distinctly non-human.
Of course he wouldn't take it pass the Golden Dragon to already know about it as well, but to his knowledge it's been years since Cale's last shift into his beastmen form.
The last time it happened was just before his Young Master had taken the kittens, right as he began to renounce his life as a Lout and started to live for himself.
'Well' he mussed as he began to steep some lemon tea for his Young Masters morning, 'it will come out eventually, it's been to peaceful as of late and knowing our Young Master something will happen soon.'
With a chuckle and a crinkling of his eyes, Ron set off towards his Young Masters room, ready to battle getting the sleepy redhead out of bed.
Winter has come to an end in the Western Continent.
The snow has finally started to thaw and green has returned to the gardens and forests outside their Villa.
Cale was happy for the change of seasons. Despite using this time as an excuse to stay inside to stay warm, he was also slightly annoyed at the change of behavior he would always experience when the snow started to fall.
During the winter season Cale would find himself having the urge to burrow himself constantly, finding that being exposed caused his heart to race and anxiety to spike.
His bed was, once again, transformed into a canopy of sheets and blankets with pillows pilled high acting as walls.
The kids gleefully created their new winter cave, determined to make it even more extravagant then the one they made the year before. (*)
Once they deemed their creation a success, the kids would gently climb out of the burrow and wait for Cale's inspection. They knew not to take any of his corrections or displacements to heart, it was just him making changes to satisfy what ever instincts were rearing its head.
They sat outside the…nest? cave? and watched as their guardian re-enforced the walls some more, created a new entrance at the opposite side of the bed and fluffed up the blankets that were used as flooring.
Once he was done, and his movements stopped did the children approach.
They waited right by the entrance as Cale picked them up one by one, placing them on the fluffy blankets and tucking them in.
Once everyone was inside and they were all comfortable, he curled over them, placing his body on the outer edge and his back towards the front entrance.
Raon took the incentive to cast a temperature regulation spell, such a small and cozy space with all the bodies would make everyone way to hot too fast. The last time that happened and one of them tried to leave the nest to cool down it obviously made Cale frustrated, even though he tried not to show it and just layed back down.
Strong arms wrapped over them and pulled them tighter to their guardians body.
Content in the comfort in his embrace, they all slowly drift off into slumber.
However Raon wiggles his way out of the hold, ignoring Cales curious eye he tries to fit himself beneath his chin. He feels rather then hears the chuckle that comes out their guardian before he shifts his body more upwards and tips his head back.
Happy for the move he burrows his way in the new space, curling up the best he can Raon carefully puts his head under Cales and drapes his tail over his neck. A small growl of comfort rumbles from the small body before Raon join his sibling in their dreams.
Feeling the press of their small forms settles something deep inside him as he allows the tug of sleep to carry him off.
Ron puttered about the room, picking up fallen toys and misplaced books.
The gentle noise of purrs and growls served as white noise while he preformed his duties. While the kids are usually very good at keeping their space tidy and neat, sometimes they would be pulled away by other tasks.
Seeing the burrow on the other side of the room, Ron suspects he knows just the task that caught their attention.
The old butler enjoyed watching the children follow Cale around like lost ducks, which they once were he suppose. It reminded him of when Cale was their age.
He would always follow his mother around the estate. Small fists constantly grabbed at fabric and his eyes would well when he lost sight of her.
Count Deruth would smile in that exasperated yet fond way when it happened. He would always preform the same routine, scooping up the young noble and balancing him on his hip as he took his son on a walk to find the lost Countess.
Sometimes she would be at the library or in the gardens, other times in the kitchen fixing some food for herself while the chefs would splutter and try to do it for her.
When she was eventually found the Young Master would always let out a happy call, pulling at his fathers shirt like reigns to a stead urging him to go faster.
The Count would sit beside his Lady while Cale would latch back onto his mother, but keeping one hand free to keep his father in place.
Ron couldn't tell if his need to stay by his mothers side was due to his beast instincts or it was just the Young Masters love for Mistress Jour that made him stick to her like glue.
As he placed a jar of small gemstones back on the shelf he couldn't help the small smile that twitched onto his face.
The kids coming into their lives was probably the best thing that could've happen for their Young Master.
Ron knew them being around Cale settled something in his heart, something that was wounded and festered for far too long.
During nights when everything calms and the villa is silent he can't help but wonder if he could've done something to help with that wound. Could've acted as the balm that was needed, could've stitched up that hole before it grew so large it kept everyone out.
Ron gently ran his fingers over a childish pencil drawing in thought before a noise brought him back. Someone was stirring from beneath the covers of the burrow.
It took a few minutes, obviously struggling with the sheer amount of blankets and sheets that blocked their path.
He watched a fluffy body tumbled out of the burrow and onto the floor.
Ohn stretched her stiff limbs, yawning wide with flattened ears.
"Morning grandpa Ron" she slurred with sleep.
"Good morning Miss Ohn" he gave her a small scratch on the head as she went by his legs before wandering off.
There was a warm silence between them as they attended separate duties.
Clinking of dishes being sat on the table accompanied the sounds of rummaging in draws.
Ohn, now in human form, sat on the couch with a brush beside her, watching Ron as he dished her some food.
"It seems you children and the Young Master were rather busy last night?" he asked with a knowing smile, handing her a teacup of warm berry tea.
Ohn laughed and sipped her drink, "it's the time of year again, I'm surprised Cale even let me out of the nest nya."
"Young Master must be very tired then," Ron picked up the brush and stood behind Ohn, gently brushing out any tangles that developed while asleep.
This was usually something Cale would do himself but Ohn didn't want to disturb his sleep just yet. The beginning of spring always made their Young Lord more high strung, his nerves and emotions were cranked up to an 11 when most days it would barely surpass a 4.
The rustle of blankets sounded again, only this time popping out two bodies instead of one.
"Fooood~" drawles Hong as he stumbled his way towards the couch, making himself limp when Ohn picked him up under his belly.
Raon, meanwhile, was more awake then Hong and perched himself on the table were a plate awaited him, already piled high with food.
"Lemon-aid gramps! Good morning!" crowed the baby dragon with fluttering wings.
"Good morning to you too Raon, is the Young Master awake yet?"
With a face already stuffed full of food Raon shook his head.
"Human is still sleeping," he said, swallowing his food before speaking.
"Cale-nya is in his beast form!" Hong said while Ohn was wiping food away from his cheek.
'That means I will have to drag him out'
Ron knew that unless the world was burning down the Young Master would refuse to leave his burrow at the time being.
The first day was always the worst when it came to Cales need to stay in his bed, and if he's shifted? Well, Rons just surprised he's a bunny and not a leech with the way Cale would stick himself to the nest.
Like the Count years ago Ron just smiled and shook his head, before he dutifully attended to the other children.
It took until the kids were dressed in their day clothes when Cale finally showed signs of life.
Ron watched out of the corner of his eye as a small lump slowly made its way to the entrance of the burrow.
There was a pause at it reached the edge of the blanket mound, and Ron could hear the little gears turning in his Young Masters head, deciding wether or not to venture outside his burrow.
"Ho? Are you awake Young Master?" His eyes gleamed at small jump then stillness of the little figure.
He didn't need to move from his spot as Raon zoomed to the entrance, wings flapping in excitement.
"Human! You're finally awake!"
He batted his paw on the blanket, careful not to hit to close to Cale.
"You need to eat Human, you always get hungry on the first day!"
The lump rose and fell with a sigh before he stuck his head out from underneath the blanket.
Tired eyes looked up at the baby dragon, but he still refused to get out of his burrow completely.
Cale stretched out slightly to nudge his head against Roans chubby legs, now to small to reach up and pat his head.
Unless he got out of his burrow and stretched that is, but it's too early to be doing that kind of exercise.
Taking his chance Ron swiftly slid a gloved hand gently under Cales fluffy chest, while the other fitted beneath his bottom near his legs.
The floor grew distant as Cale was cradled against a warm chest and taken towards his other children.
Ron tightened his grip as Cale tried to kick out his back legs and startled to wiggling in his grip.
"None of that Young Master, it is far past the time you should've risen. This Ron has been rather generous letting you to sleep in."
A growl rumbles agasint his palm from Cales chest as his left leg struggled in his grip, trying to move to thump in anger.
The older man simply ignored his fussy tantrum, knowing it's just his instincts going haywire after being taken away from his nest.
Gently stroking his fur with his thumb he attempts to get Cale to calm down, but it was for naught as Cale continued to let out little rumbles of discontent and his floppy ears twitching in annoyance.
Only when he was placed on the table did Ron fully let him go, chuckling at the rapid thumps of Cales foot hitting the wood in anger.
Such an obvious display of his Young Masters emotions only ever happened during this time of year, so he always took the chance to drink it all in before Cale went back to hiding behind is stoic mask.
As Ron went to grab Cales plate of sliced vegetables and fruit, Ohn shifted into her cat form and leaped onto the table beside Cale, taking her chance to enjoy being tallen than her guardian by curling around him.
She feels a slight nibble and snuffling by her ear as Cale gently grooms her head. Purring rumbles through the table as she basks in the attention.
Ohn couldn't remember if she ever got this treatment back in her old tribe. If anyone took the time to lick their fur after it got dirty or wet, it was something she never realized she wanted until Cale.
The first time he gently groomed her fur made her so emotional she accidentally scared the man into thinking he hurt her. Only once did she croak out that she wasn't hurt did he go quiet and started once again, he never brought up the incident but he still gave her a small hug right after.
Clink
The two snap out of their moment to the sound of a plate being set down.
It was full of leafy greens, sliced vegetables and a small side of berries.
The one thing Cale found the most irritating about being a beast-man was the fact his body really disliked eating meat when he was shifted.
He didn't know the cause of it, maybe it was due to being a prey beast-men specifically but his stomach would roll with nausea whenever meat was presented to him while in this form.
'At least fruit tastes amazing like this' he thought as chewed on a apple slice.
While Cale was properly eating his breakfast Ron quickly cleaned up the rest of the empty plates before grabbing a small hair brush from the Young Masters desk.
It was one specifically made for his beast form, each of the kids had their own, even Roan had a gentle brush made for getting in between his scales and claws.
Contentment flowed through him as Ron gently brushed out Cales fur while the noise of Ohns purrs and Hong and Raon playing filled the room.
It was a slow morning, but maybe that's what they all needed.