Ch. 16
The story continues!
It had alternated between snow and sun for days. Icicles hung, glimmering in the light, from the roof, the occasional rustle of melting snow falling to the ground marked the gradual warming as the sunny days came and went.
Most of the time we’d spent indoors, just enjoying the simplicity of day to day living, and the warmth, love and intimacy we had all begun to share. It was a delight to see them getting along so well. It was also a delight to see them enjoying themselves. For different reasons, of course.
My father and I had talked twice more in the interim, he’d sent a package and wanted me to be aware it was coming. He’d hate to think it arrived to find I’d departed. A concern I laughed off the first time, showing him the boot that kept me anchored more or less to the room. Still, I understood. It was an investment he’d hate to see go to waste. I couldn’t say I was surprised when it arrived, but it was with no small amusement that I held the package in front of me. Delivered express from a warehouse a thousand miles away. I thanked the courier, and his delibird partner, and set the box, too large to be convenient, on the kitchen table.
Like clockwork, I had a call. My father, of course. Asking if I’d received the package. He was excited when he received the delivery confirmation. Couldn’t wait, even if it was midnight where he was. I answered simply by showing him the box that looked like it belonged on a shipping pallet, rather than the small dining table.
He was a sucker for things like this, so I unboxed it while we talked. He wasn’t sure what to get me, so, in his own words, he “might have overdone it”. Without a doubt, it was the understatement of the week. I’d say on a scale of one to ten, it made up for the birthday present he promised, then forgot about some years back.
He’d told me I wouldn’t have to worry about a new tent. Boy, he wasn’t kidding. It looked like he’d just picked out the most expensive item out of a sporting goods catalogue. It was easily twice the size of my old tent. I was glad he couldn’t see my face in that moment. My first thought was to wonder just how the hell I was going to pack it up and carry it around.
I was grateful then, that the second item was a new backpack. I hadn’t considered it particularly important, since we’d kept a fairly lean set of supplies, but it looked like we were preparing for a new expedition. Rugged, reinforced, it was even waterproofed. If I took care of it, the bag might well outlive me. He laughed as I dove into the various pockets, and made show of packing Mira in the main compartment, her twin ribbons snaking up out of the top in an amused dance.
I was surprised. He’d gone all out. He’d taken the time to make sure it already had most of the essentials. As I popped open the front pocket, revealing a first aid kit and a flashlight, I realized, with more than a little chagrin, that a whole lot of my problems could have been avoided if I had those things earlier. The truth was, I couldn’t think of much that I could need to add to it. But he still had a surprise up his sleeve.
“You’ve lost some weight,” He said, with a chuckle. “I want to make sure you’re eating healthy, but that’s not so easy with a life on the road, so I got you a little something.” He explained as I pulled out a luxurious looking pokeball, packed up in one of the side compartments of the bag. I admired the object for a moment, sleek black and gold with red metallic finish. “I hope I’m not stepping on your toes, of course.”
Hitting the gold colored button, I watched as a miltank began to look around, getting her bearings and with a sense of excitement, took in the sight of the four of us gathered around the table. I was surprised at the volume of her exclamation, as she greeted us, and approached, looking up at me with bright blue eyes.
“Dad? You’re kidding right?” I asked, with a grin. “I’m looking forward to not-powdered milk.” I replied, as the miltank walked up to me. “But I have to ask, where in the world did she come from?”
He laughed, and shook his head, salt and pepper hair swaying over his shoulders. “Not from anywhere near you, that’s for sure! I know someone who knows someone who has some pull at a farm overseas. They do a lot of exports, but not usually their miltanks. Take good care of her. They say Cocoa was one of their favorites.”
“Cocoa, huh? Alright. Nice to meet you, Cocoa.” I said, running my hand over her head before turning back to the task at hand. “Hey dad? Seriously. Thank you. I’m looking forward to getting back on the road.”
“You’ll be on your feet before you know it, you always were a tough kid. We’ll talk later. Be sure to tell me how Cocoa settles in!” He said, before disconnecting the call on his end. He was always fairly abrupt like that, but in a way I think we were both grateful that we could be that way without offense.
It took me a little time, and a few different approaches to get the bag packed in a way I thought was suitable. It was quite a bit heavier than my old bag, but if there were five of us now, that was just going to be the way of things. I’d need to pack more food, especially if I were planning on caring for a hungry miltank. Despite their ability to graze on whatever offerings nature provided, I realized that we’d be traveling enough that there might not always be grazing fodder on offer.
Still, as the four of them began to talk, I couldn’t help but appreciate the thought. It was obvious he went to some trouble and expense, and I could tell she’d do her best by us.
I settled at the edge of the bed, my new bag resting by the wall, waiting for us to get back on the road, and called the girls over. They all regarded me attentively, as I looked to each of them. My gaze settled finally on Cocoa, and I smiled down at her, reaching out to rest my hand on her shoulder.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like for you, to wake up so far away from where you were just the other day. I know you expected to wake up on a farm, sorry for the shock, Cocoa. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Claire can relay them to me, and we’ll all do our best to help you settle in.” I said, with a cheerful smile.
Claire murmured agreement, as Cocoa stared up at me, quietly. If she had any questions, they were not, as of yet, forthcoming. Still she was listening attentively, which was at the very least a promising sign.
“I’m a trainer, we fight, and we do a lot of traveling. But,” I paused, holding up a finger, which caught her attention, her gaze following it before coming back to me. “if you don’t want to fight, I won’t make you fight. It won’t disappoint me, or anything.”
She nodded at that, but still remained silent. It was with tremendous gratitude that I finished up what had become a familiar orientation speech to an attentive audience. I wondered how many times I’d said something similar to this. It had to be at least a handful. “The same thing goes for anything else we get up to. You don’t have to participate in our fun if you don’t want to. You don’t have to let me touch you, and you certainly don’t owe me milk, regardless of what my father, or, respectfully, your farm thinks on the matter. You just settle in at your own pace, and we’ll be here when you’re ready.”
It was with that that she finally said something, to my immense relief. Her voice was cheerful, girly. A little high for her appearance, but as bubbly as I expected as her cloven hands took mine. “I was heartbroken when they told me I was being sent away from home.” She said, looking me in the eye. “And worried. About where I’d end up, y’know? I’ll still miss home, but I'm not worried now. You’ll take care of me just like they did. I reckon it means a lot to you.”
Mira laughed at that, one ribbon slipping around Cocoa’s hands and mine. “You have no idea how much of an understatement that is. We’ll all be counting on you to look after him, too.”
Tempest and Claire murmured their agreement. Tempest pointedly gestured to the cast on my arm. “That isn’t the first crazy thing he’s done, merely the most recent.” Tempest said with a teasing grin and a wink at me. I wasn’t about to rehash the stories, of course. And she knew it. Naughty girl.
“Well.” Cocoa said, giving the hard cast a couple raps with her cloven hand. “We’ll just have to make sure you recover quickly, so you can get out of that thing, won’t we?”
I grinned at that, and ran my unburdened hand over her head. “That’s the hope. So, Cocoa. Care to tell us a bit about yourself?” I asked, as I scratched under her chin, pulling away after a moment of distracting her.
“Me? Nothin’ really special about me. Born on the farm, had lots of sisters and aunts. We used to go wander about the valley every summer. I loved swimmin’ in the lake, if you could believe it. Otherwise I can’t rightly say it was anythin’ special. Pretty much how you imagine being a farm girl would be. Lots of being milked, not a lot of close company.” She shook her head at that, and smiled up at me. “We were pretty much expected to behave, give milk, and someday have children. So I reckon this is the most exciting thing that’s happened to any of us, as far as I know.”
“Well,” I paused, sliding forward on the bed a bit. “You’ll have to teach me how, of course. But I hope you don’t mind giving milk, still.” I said, my hand taking hers. “I won’t be very good at it, so be patient with me.”
“You mean… to do it by hand? We had pumps on the farm.” She replied, a little hesitantly. “Honestly, I’m afraid I might not be very good at it, myself.” She admitted, as she put my hand against her udder. Warm, soft, heavy. “So we’ll learn together! No need to be shy with me, darlin’!”
Claire grinned from behind Cocoa. I could feel her amusement, prickling the edges of my consciousness with vivid hues of bright blues. The analogy in her head was obvious, but it was a little different to me, I didn’t have the same associations for an udder I would have for a woman’s breasts, or the similar soft, small swells Claire had beneath her fur. Claire’s teasing remark to me made me blush despite that, however.
“So you're saying it's an acquired taste? I bet you will acquire a taste.” Her words in my mind lingered with memories of times I thoroughly enjoyed her perky little nipples. Tinged with colorful, subtle pleading for me to do so again. I knew Claire could feel what I felt, but I didn't make a show of it, instead giving the full, soft flesh a gentle squeeze before running my hand over Cocoa’s head again. “So long as you don't mind my trying this and that. I'm sure we'll figure it out.” I replied, trying to ignore the unsubtle begging Claire was giving me, mentally.
“Don't suppose I'll be much good in a fight, though. Closest I ever even saw to one was Bella getting angry at one of the ranchers about somethin’.” She said, pausing a moment to shake her head. “Not that I won't try, mind. Just... I might disappoint you.”
“You might surprise yourself.” I replied, with a smile. “I could teach you a few tricks, when you feel up to it. The girls aren’t the only ones training, after all!”
“Only if it don't put you out none. I know that boot ain't for show. Ol’ Molly had one like it when the ponyta threw her. Couldn't walk for ages, poor thing.” Cocoa said, with a shake of her head. “Don’t reckon she ever quite lost the limp, but she weren’t a spring pidgey, neither.”
Tempest laughed. “Good luck stopping him. He's a force of nature when he wants to be.” She smirked at me before she hopped off the bed. She tidied up the packing materials, shuffling the box to sit beside the door.
“You'd know a thing or two about that, I imagine.” Claire said with a smirk. “What's in a name?”
The girls bantered among themselves for a while, as I laid back in bed. My morning had started earlier than I wanted, and it was with a yawn and a heavy head that I drifted off.
When I awoke, it was just Cocoa and I. She had snuggled up to me, her weight making the bed sag slightly towards her. My probing for Claire gave no answer, but I saw the pokeballs sitting on the nightstand. If I had to bet, I’d have pinned it on Mira. It would have been just like her. As I raised my head, Cocoa stirred, nuzzling against me for a moment, before peeking up from under the blanket. I smiled, taking her cloven hands in mine, as I sat up. She said something, but it was quiet, and I had no real grasp of her expressions or meaning. I assumed it was a greeting, and gave her a kiss atop her head before hobbling my way across the room.
She followed me to the kitchen, taking a seat at the table as I pulled the empty thermos from the backpack. A few twists of the lid, and I sat in front of her, holding the metal cup.
I caressed her udder, my fingertips sliding over her. She didn't protest, but watched with no small curiosity as my fingers found her swollen pink teat, giving it a slow, gentle tug. It took a few moments, but rich white cream began to form, first a few droplets glistening on her skin. Then a light spray, sounding off the bottom of the cup. I was glad that Claire wasn’t there to see it. I realized in that moment that despite the difference in shape, there was still something intimate, and in its own way, profoundly erotic about the act of milking a woman, even if she happened to be a miltank. The ribbing Claire would have given me… I could only imagine.
It didn't take long, before I filled it half full. The first sip was not quite what I expected. Sweet, warm, and thick. It was delicious, much better than anything bottled. It seemed like I’d finished it before I realized I had begun.
She sounded happy, as I brought the cup beneath another teat, trying to repeat the process. It was slower this time. It seemed I could only manage a few dribbles in the bottom of the cup.
Her hand fell on mine, guiding it to caress her again. I massaged her udder, and the teat until it began to swell and drip. She nodded at me, tugging the cup back up. It would have been nothing to fill it to overflowing. She was going to give much more milk than I could drink alone! Still, it was hardly anything to complain about, and we kept at it until I’d had my fill, filled the thermos, and made a bit of a mess on the floor. While she scampered off to find a towel, I put the open vessel in the small refrigerator in the kitchen.
We spent the day fairly lazily, curled up on the sofa, watching documentaries from around the world. I felt like I had energy to burn, it was honestly just motivation I was lacking. Still, it had been a nice way to get acquainted with her. Ultimately, I left the pokeballs on the nightstand, and invited Cocoa back into bed with me. She snuggled back against me as I wrapped the blankets around us, and I held her from behind. Something about the warmth, and the weight of her beside me was relaxing. I slept deeply, and dreamlessly.
It was well into the night when I woke up again, the four of them were sitting by the window, sharing quiet murmurs of conversation. Claire’s thoughts against mine were happy. I got the sense of calmness, joy.
Mira came to join me as I sat up, her ribbons wrapped around my arm as she listened in to Cocoa, who was talking about the ranch. Describing wide, open plains, and a pretty little lake at the base of mountains. Her sisters, and aunts, and all the fun they used to have when she was much younger. I got a sense of wonder, and delight from Mira as she listened attentively to Cocoa. I wondered if we'd see similar sights, but my own mind wandered a bit, it reminded me I needed to decide where we would be going next.
She seemed a little dispassionate as she talked about the realities of being a ranch girl. Having to be in the stall every morning, to wait for the machines to finish. The droning of the pumps, and the expectations of it. Of all the cold medical examinations, figuratively and literally speaking. It wasn’t that nobody cared, on the contrary, they cared a lot… it was just, there were too many things going on for there to be a personal touch. It was always methodical, routine, ordinary. Just like the droning of the pumps.
She blushed, making eye contact briefly before looking at Claire, describing being milked by hand as one of the loveliest, gentlest things she’d ever felt. “A girl could get spoiled.” She admitted, patting her udder. “Don’t rightly know what I expected, but it was awful funny to not feel rushed. To feel like I had his full attention. To feel like he was trying to listen, when I wanted somethin' done different.”
Tempest smirked, as she looked across the room at me. “He’s a lady-killer, right?” She teased, with a playful expression. “Trust us, we get exactly what you’re saying. He’s good about giving us what we need.”
Cocoa laughed, but nodded in agreement. “I reckon he’s awful sweet to y’all. Ya fawn over him somethin’ fierce.”
Claire smiled at that, giving Cocoa’s hand a tug, before crossing the room. The two of them joined Mira and I to sit on the bed, with Tempest close behind. “He’s a lot of things to us. Trainer? Master? Sure, but it’s so much more. He could smash the pokeball, I’d still follow him anywhere he went.”
Tempest laughed, giving my booted foot a pat. “He probably could, actually. Smash them, I mean. Wouldn’t surprise me. But she’s right. We’re his girls, in every sense of it. However he needs us.”
Cocoa looked to Tempest, then Claire, a quiet moment as dawning realization crossed her face. “You mean you…” She paused, then laughed. “Oh goodness, that makes sense! I mean, I didn’t see anythin’ like a big, strong tauros ‘round here. Let alone a little lady comin’ home to dote on him.” She shook her head, looking up at me. “Well, I’m a farm girl, sugar. We were expected to give milk, and someday babies besides. Gonna take more than that to shock me.” She said with a smile. “Reckon it makes what you said before make more sense though.” She added, with an approving look. “An’ so as you know, I meant it before. Y’all don’t be shy with me. I’ll letcha know if somethin’ ain’t right.”
I laughed, leaning back a bit. “I’m going to hold you to that.” I said, mentally thanking Claire for finding a way to fill her in that was gentle and open. Her response was a slow wag of her bushy tail, and her vivid violet eyes locked to mine, golden hues and warmth. She passed on my appreciation to Tempest, who gave Claire a hug before curling up alongside me.
“Just so long as you don’t mind holdin’ me at night now and again.” She replied, with a happy sigh. “Never got that on the farm. Keep me close, and I promise you’ll never have spoiled milk.” She added, with a playful heft of her udder.
Mira grinned, moving away from me towards Cocoa. “And if a girl wanted a drink from the tap?” She asked, nuzzling Cocoa’s udder with a playful wiggle of her ribbons.
“Well, I reckon if it’s alright with him, it’s alright with me.” She said, as she looked my way. I just shrugged and nodded. “And he seems fine with it. Do be gentle, th-” She paused as Mira dove in. “Less gentle, that tickles!” She said, squirming and trying not to laugh as Mira’s ribbons teased over the full, heavy udder.
“Be careful not to make yourself sick.” I warned, with a grin. “Her milk is good enough you’ll have a hard time stopping. Trust me, I know.” I said, patting my belly. “I’ll have to work hard to keep trim.”
It took a few minutes, but Mira finally pulled away with a deeply satisfied sigh, white cream across her pearly pink fur as she looked up at Cocoa. “Oh… you and I are gonna be the best of friends…” She said, as she fell back on the bed, wiping a bead of moisture from her jaw with a ribbon.
“I reckon so, goodness!” Cocoa replied, as she stood up from the bed. “Forget the pumps, the farm needs about a hundred of you!” She said with a happy, bubbly laugh.
As late as it was, it didn’t take long for us all to wind ourselves down again. Claire and Tempest snuggled behind me, Cocoa stared up at me for a while, her cloven hand in mine, her udder pressed close to me, with a knowing little smile. Mira had fallen asleep at the foot of the bed, utterly sated on warm milk. It was impossibly crowded, but it was also warm, and happy. The bed was more like a nest by the time we all got settled in.
Claire’s last thought to reach me was a repetition of earlier sentiments. “A girl could get spoiled.” Her hand brushed against my back, over Tempest’s shoulder. “Your girls are spoiled. But we’re your girls. Never forget it.”