The creature had awakened—the only question remaining was whether it had gained enough sentience to converse with us.
My child didn’t wish to make me guess any longer, evidenced by the fact that…
A loud, high-pitched, girly cry reverberated across my home with the might of a volcanic eruption.
“DADDY!!”
“…”
“What?” I gasped, utterly flabbergasted. I was uncertain how to react appropriately.
Its parent had a deep, masculine voice, making me refer to it as a male, even though Geims were technically genderless. This baby Geim had the exact opposite tone of voice.
After shouting, the Geim’s branches moved with newfound vitality, no longer swaying mindlessly in the wind but reaching forward with clear intent. One extended toward me, then another, then several more, moving in frantic motions.
Their tips curled around my face, tracing the contours of my cheeks, my jaw, my hair. It was exploring me.
She was taking in every detail with utmost care, memorizing me diligently and eagerly as if she had been waiting for this moment her entire life.
Yes, from here on out, I’ll just refer to this creature as if it were female. I can’t help it, she has such a girly voice.
Then, with the same enthusiasm, she reached for the seven women standing around her trunk. One by one, her branches gently brushed against them, sliding through Blossom’s silky blonde hair, tracing Ayame’s sword-calloused hands, and ruffling Aurora’s locks playfully. “Blossom Mommy… Ayame Mommy… Aurora… Sis?”
She muttered while exploring them, her uncertainty was evident. Just like a newborn child, she was trying to get used to her new family.
However, she didn’t hesitate when it came to Lucille. Sensing her overflowing warmth, she wrapped a vine around her waist in a squeeze, hugging her like a little daughter would.
Each mother was given attention, her motions growing more confident with every touch, like a kitten nuzzling its way into the scent of its family.
Once she had her fill, her movements changed, becoming more deliberate—more possessive. Her branches coiled around me, then around my girls, pulling us inward until we were pressed against her thick, sturdy trunk. It wasn’t a forceful embrace, but it told us very clearly she didn’t want any of us to detach ourselves.
“Welcome to our family!” Lucille squealed while returning the needy hug with every fiber of her being.
I had to give it to this woman. I’d given them a herculean task when I decided I’d basically adopt a damned tree-looking creature, but Lucille had no qualms to give whatsoever. She embraced the child as if it were her real baby, with all her heart. All my girls were doing excellently, considering the extremely strange situation, but she went above and beyond.
“Blossom thinks her daughter needs a very cute name.”
She put an extremely heavy emphasis on the word ‘very,’ letting me know I wasn’t permitted to give her a name I found humorous.
My dog girl knew me perfectly, for I was about to suggest calling her Geimette.
“Name?” she asked, confused.
“Just like I and your mothers have a personal name, so should you. We can’t call you ‘Geim,’ that would just be plain distasteful. Giving you a proper name will make everyone’s life easier and also give you a unique, personal flair.”
“Okay, Daddy!”
“What a well-mannered daughter you are…” I said, giving her trunk a few good strokes.
“Ehehehe!”
<… She’s already such a daddy’s little girl…> Ayame whispered dryly.
<Blossom had a feeling it would turn out like that. A daughter fits Master a lot more than a rowdy son, Blossom thinks.>
<Maybe Miss Plump Princess will have to vie for her Daddy’s attention now. I have a feeling she suddenly gained some tough competition…> Jasmine mused with a sly tone, earning herself a strong scoff from the girl in question. But then, Aurora immediately began observing the Geim with the scrutinizing gaze of a serious competitor.
“Mom, you’re about to faint! You’re bawling so damn much, hehe!” Sera giggled, happy Sylvaris was overcome with pure joy.
“I- *Sniff* can’t help it! *Sniff* This is the best day of my life!”
Hearing the commotion going on, the Geim suddenly turned her attention toward Sylvaris. With a slow, inquisitive motion, one of her branches extended toward the weeping elf. Childlike curiosity was shining through in the tiny tremors that ran along its length.
She hesitated for only a second before softly brushing against Sylvaris’s cheek, mimicking the tender strokes she had given me and my girls. Then, in the same innocent, high-pitched voice, she asked,
“Sera Mommy’s Mom? Grandma?”
Sylvaris froze. Her breath hitched, her glistening eyes widened, and then—
*Thud.*
The elf collapsed backward in an instant, her body went completely limp as if all the strength had been drained from her all at once.
“Mom?!” Sera cried with alarm, clearly not expecting the woman to actually faint despite her earlier words.
But before Sylvaris could hit the ground, Celeste, ever the vigilant maid, was already in action. With effortless motions, she caught the Mooncaller mid-fall.
The Geim flinched in alarm, and her branches retracted like a startled animal. “D-Did I do something bad?!” she whimpered, recoiling as if expecting punishment.
Sera turned to her and quickly shook her head. “It’s okay! Grandma Sylvaris is just… uhh… really, really happy. So happy her heart couldn’t handle it.”
The Geim remained unconvinced, her branches still curled inward with distress. “Really?” she asked meekly.
Sera grinned and patted the Geim’s trunk reassuringly. “Really! She’s fine. Trust me, she’ll be up in a few minutes, and I promise she’s gonna love being your grandma.”
The Geim hesitated for a second, but then, she elected to trust her elven mother. “… Okay. If Sera Mommy says so.”
“Rosie!” Lucille shouted all of a sudden.
“!!” The Geim got visibly jumpedscared by the caramel-haired beauty’s unexpected outburst. But then, she slowly managed to collect herself and sheepishly asked, “Luci Mommy?”
“Your name is Rosie!”
“Rosie?” she asked, audibly uncertain.
“It is a beautiful name for a little lady,” Yoruha spoke up unexpectedly, reminding us all that we had quite the uninvited observant to this big event of ours. She had quite the soft, motherly tone to her. Even this age-old monster found the scene rather touching.
“I think so too!” Jasmine decreed, no longer deathly afraid of the mythical fox’s presence.
“I like it,” Ayame said.
“Blossom thinks it’s a very good name!”
“Daddy?” the Geim asked with an unsure tone, strengthening her vines’ hugging force around my waist. I got the distinct impression that a little daughter of mine was staring up at me with big eyes, looking for guidance.
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