Rainy Season Reminiscing, aka Tai Shares Her Tragic Backstory

by OttersInTrousers

written as a commission for user erta-wanderer on SoFurry – https://erta-wanderer.sofurry.com/ 

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Tai shares the story of her first love and the mother of her twins.

Featuring Tai (hermaphroditic redtail boa), Rhian (female snake), and their nineteen year old twin boa offspring, Elation (female) and Kalim (male).

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Mornings in the Wanderer family estate always carry a sort of quiet energy, starting early as preparations for the day get underway. High on a hill overlooking the bay, the manor is already abuzz with activity even before sunrise. Summer is here, bringing with it a heat that never quite recedes overnight before a new day. Even now, hardly late morning, it is unpleasant.

Purposeful strides carry a red-tailed boa woman along the walkway between buildings of the Wanderer family estate. She is Elation, first daughter of Tai, the family's matriarch. She takes after her sire—for that is what Tai is, given her hermaphroditic nature has led to her fathering many through her lovers—in much of her physical appearance. She is quite tall, standing around six feet, nine inches, with violet eyes and a noticeable hourglass figure thanks to the large breasts and wide hips she has inherited from Tai. Currently, Elation is wearing a thin white blouse and a long, reddish-brown skirt that matches well to the saddle stripes down her back and tail. 

She freezes mid-stride, skirt fluttering from the suddenness—she catches a whiff of something in the air. She sniffs, turning seaward into the wind.

Rain.

She swallows. Sighs.

She spots the familiar form of her twin brother coming the opposite direction—a redtail, same as her, but slightly taller than her, thin by her family's standards without the wide hips or large bosom of herself and their sire, Tai, giving him a slender almost waifish frame—and catches him by the arm as he passes. He nearly drops the comically-tall stack of books and paper he's carrying. In a hushed tone, she speaks to him.

“Do you smell that?”

Kalim blinks at her through his glasses. Then he sniffs the air, just as she did a moment ago. He gives her a confused look.

“Just smells like—” she watches the realization dawn over his features before he continues, suddenly somber, “—rain.”

She nods. They both know what the summer rains mean.

“I'll prepare to cancel any of her appearances for the next few weeks,” he offers, already preparing for their sire's oncoming melancholy. She will be needing time away from business.

“And take on whatever duties you can,” she adds.

At nineteen, the twins have already spent years in their sire's tutelage, learning from her all the many facets of running a trade empire. Her trade empire, the company Wandering Winds. And at this point, they have become adept at particular duties—Kalim bookkeeping and budgeting, Elation tending to their sire.

“You know,” he begins, conspiratorial. “Nycea is showing real promise.”

“She is still a child, Kalim. I would save her from any true responsibility as long as I can.”

“The two of us, then.” He smiles.

“As always.” She returns his smile with her own.

The two of them set off together, first to deposit his mountain of tomes in Tai's office, then to seek Tai out.

-----

The twins find their sire in her bedroom. Tai is seated at her bay window, pane opened to allow the breeze in. She's wearing nothing but her dressing gown, one leg pulled up to her chest, staring out the window at the bay and sea beyond. She looks at first like she didn't even notice their entrance, until she sighs and speaks to them without looking away from the clouds moving along the horizon.

“Hello, my darlings.”

As one, they reply, “Hello, father.”

Tai Wanderer is a red-tailed boa, just like them, but hypomelanistic—her scales a lighter, creamy base color with hints of pink. She has violet eyes—a trait that unites her and all of her brood. At nearly seven feet, she stands a couple inches taller than Kalim, with a remarkable hourglass figure due to her enormous breasts and wide hips. And also unlike either of them, she is a herm, made obvious when she stands and her gown falls away to either side, revealing her large hemipenes and hefty testes hanging between her legs. Of course, the twins aren't here for that—this time, at least. She smiles and spreads her arms in invitation for a hug. Neither twin misses the glistening in her eyes of unshed tears.

Elation and Kalim share a look—they've both noticed how hollow her smile looks, how it can't quite meet her eyes. Still, they approach and wrap her in a hug from either side. She takes a moment to squeeze them, breathe them in, before letting them go. As they step back, Elation speaks.

“I see you've noticed the oncoming rains, too, father?” She nods towards the window and takes Tai's hand. 

“And I've already made plans to lighten your load for the next few weeks,” Kalim assures.

“We are here for you. Whatever you need, father.”

Tai tries her best to blink back tears, but her smile wobbles and tears begin to stream down her cheeks. She pulls them both back in.

“Thank you, both,” she whispers between sobs. “I love you, quite dearly.” She sniffles. “And I am sorry, that every year I put so much on both of you.”

“You need not apologize, father.” Elation looks to her brother, who nods into their sire's shoulder, then she continues. “We want to help. We are here for you, whatever you may need.” She places a gentle kiss to the corner of Tai's snout.

-----

The rainy season settles in over the city. Elation and Kalim do their best to tend to their sire, care for her through her melancholy. Even now, at nineteen, they do not fully understand why Tai suffers every summer, as she has remained silent all these years. Kalim's time ends up split between attending Tai and maintaining order both around the manor and abroad, while Elation dedicates herself fully to Tai's care. On the third day, Tai's silence ends.

Standing by the bath tub, Elation is in the process of drying Tai where she sits on its edge after a relaxing soak, and lifts the towel from her sire's head. Smiling, she dips down to place a quick kiss to Tai's lips. “There you are, father, looking much better.”

Tai returns the kiss and the smile, then seems to look right through Elation. Her eyes fill with tears. Before Elation can ask, Tai speaks, voice wavering.

“You look just like her when you smile.”

“Like who, father?”

“Your mother.”

Elation blinks.

The exact cause of Tai's yearly sorrow has never been made clear to Elation and Kalim, but they have had their suspicions. Tai has had many lovers through her years, and has never been shy about them, except the twins' mother. They never missed the way that their mother has always been carefully avoided in conversations, the silver betrothal ring Tai keeps such careful guard over.

So to hear Tai mention her now, so suddenly, Elation is taken aback.

“I—I do?” She can feel the way her breath has caught, her vision swimming with tears of her own.

Tai reaches forward to cup her daughter's head  with both hands, sweeping away her tears with the gentlest of touches.

“You do. She is in your laugh and your smile and your joy.” Tai takes a long, steadying breath. “Today, somehow, that does not hurt to say.” She smiles. “Perhaps it is time.”

“Time for what?” Elation screws up her face in confusion, only for Tai to smooth it away.

“Come, my darling.” Tai stands, forgotten towel falling to the floor. Her hands slide down Elation's neck, shoulders, arms, to grasp her hands, lift them up and place feather-light kisses to the scales along her knuckles. “When I am dressed, please find your brother, and return to me. I think it is finally time I tell you of Rhian. Of your mother.”

Fifteen minutes later, Tai, Elation, and Kalim are curled up together at the head of Tai's massive, plush bed, twins to either side of their sire. It actually took some convincing to keep Kalim from bringing a journal and pencil with him, to take notes on her stories. Instead, each twin has one of Tai's hands clasped, sides pressed together.

She begins with a smile.

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Believe it or not, I was not always the successful business woman, lord of my own trade empire, sire to many and lover to many more, that you know me as today. Back then, I was—well I was much the same as I am today, but less refined. A little more brash, I suppose. Less disciplined. It was the summer, I was not even as old as you two, yet. At the time, I was working as a deckhand and apprentice quartermaster aboard a merchant vessel. It was difficult work—a ship always has something in need of cleaning or maintenance, in addition to my training and mercantile duties—but rewarding. Supply and provisions are where I belong on a ship, and I felt it even then.

We had just returned for a night of shore leave, and I intended to spend my free time relaxing with drink, so I made my way to The Salty Shrew—a local tavern, it burned down some years ago now. I—I was saddened to learn. It held special memories for me.

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Tai gets a far-off look in her eyes, seeming to revisit the place. Kalim and Elation wait, quietly, for her to continue.

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As I stepped through the doorway, movement to one side of the room caught my eye—another snake, atop a table singing and dancing for the gathered crowd. My eyes landed on her, and everything else faded away—the oppressive heat of too many bodies crowded into the bar, the stink of spilled beer and vomit, the din of too many loud conversations—the rest of the world disappeared, and all I knew was her. 

She was enchanting. 

Her scales were so blue, like ultramarine on canvas, with brilliant gold markings that caught the candlelight and shone like the sun. Her dress was light, airy, trailing behind her movements, fluttering out as she twirled. She moved like a summer breeze, with such grace and poise, never once losing footing despite how poor a stage the rickety, ale-soaked table made.

And her voice.

Her voice was the sweetest sound, cutting through the noise as she lilted through an old shanty. She drew me inexorably in, like a siren's song. Kalim, you inherited her voice, and sometimes when you sing I am taken back to that moment, spotting her for the first time.

As a ship needs the sea, and sails need wind, I needed to know her.

-----

“Aww.” Elation coos.

“You make it sound like love at first sight.” Kalim quirks an eyebrow.

“It—may have been.”

-----

Time caught up to me when another patron, too hurried by drink that wouldn't stay down much longer, crashed into me on his way out, sending me stumbling. It was embarrassing, to have been so captured by her, when I didn't even know her name.

I bided my time, content to drink and watch and listen, waiting for her to find a moment of peace to approach.

I found her laughing by the fire later. At the time, I thought to myself that, had I not just spent hours listening to her sing, her laughter would have been the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. She must have heard me, or seen me reflected in some trinket on the mantle, as without turning, she called out to me, “There's my admirer.” Then she turned to me with that smile and she said, “Come to stare some more?”

“You noticed? I apologize.” I swept into a low bow.

She giggled, then beckoned me to straighten. “You stood, slack-jawed, in the doorway until someone shoved you out of the way. Yes, of course I noticed. But you need not apologize—I had many eyes on me this evening, and none of them were so reverent.”

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“I can't believe she teased you first thing,” Elation titters.

“You really were in trouble,” Kalim adds.

“And that was only the start, my dears.”

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I introduced myself as Tai, apprentice quartermaster. She told me her name was Rhian, and added with a giggle that she had no title or job to claim. Thinking myself smooth, I assured her that she was the most beautiful, talented singer and dancer I had ever seen or heard in all my travels. She was not even moved! She just smirked, looked me up and down, and asked, “Well, how many places could you have possibly been in a month”!

-----

Elation cackles, but Kalim manages to prevent an outburst of his own. Once Elation catches her breath, she comments.

“Father, she sounds like she was perfect for you.”

Tai sighs, kisses the tip of Elation's snout.

“She may have been.”

-----

She took me by the hand with a wink, and pulled me away from the fireplace to dance again. I felt myself drawn into her orbit, and I knew I could not leave it. We sang and danced and drank the night away. And you two know I have never been the most graceful dancer—I was even worse then, drunk and foolish and smitten. 

As the night went on, our excitement came in waves, receding to rest and drink and talk—idly, about anything—then rising again for more revelry. It was during one of our reprieves, right before the sky began to brighten with pre-dawn light, that Rhian perked up and leapt to her feet and took me by the hand. She did not even say a word, just looked at me with pleading in her eyes. I was already lost to her—I trusted her enough already that she didn't need to say anything—I would follow her anywhere. 

Out of the tavern she pulled me, through alleyways and up the hill we went, stumbling half from the dark and half from our drunkenness. She ducked us around a corner and up some stairs to a rooftop patio, and there we watched the sun rise over the bay together. 

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Tai closes her eyes and takes a long, slow breath here. She allows herself a moment to relive that sunrise.

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I thought, as I watched the sun crest over the sea, that there could not possibly be a more beautiful sight in the world—until I turned to her to say as such, and my breath caught in my throat. All the exhaustion melted away from her as she watched, eyes and scales alight and bright as the sun, joy writ on her face.

I knew in that moment that I would never love anything as much as I loved her. I wanted to kiss her. I did.

We fell asleep up there. I remember waking up, mid-morning, with the crushing weight of a hangover and the realization that I had missed my ship—I was meant to be back on it in time for the tide. However, I found that those weights mattered little with Rhian's head pillowed on my shoulder, beautiful face turned towards me as she dozed against my side.

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Over the course of several days—over breakfasts in her room, on the veranda over the sound of the rain, in bed at night—Tai tells stories from her time with Rhian.

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The first week was hectic. I had lost my income and my place to live, in missing my departure, but I did not wish to return to my family and leave Rhian. So I settled there. I found what odd jobs I could, mostly dock-work, loading and unloading ships as they came and went. I rented out an attic room—terrible conditions, stifling in the summer heat. I rarely spent any time there. 

My family disapproved, and told me as such in a sternly-worded letter. They felt I was throwing my life away—in their words 'for some harlot'—giving up my prospects at sea to settle into a miserable life. But I was happy with Rhian, we were happy together, so I did not heed them.

After that first week, things improved.

I would work from dawn until dusk, then collapse into Rhian's arms for a night of singing, drinking, dancing, lovemaking. She tried to teach me. To sing and to dance. Tried being the operative word. I was never particularly good at either, and I am long out of practice. Perhaps one day I could try to teach you what I remember.

On days off, we would visit the shore together and nap through the afternoon, so we could enjoy our nights all the more thoroughly. For two months, that is how I lived—swept up in a whirlwind of bliss. Rhian was my world. I loved her more than anything. And I wanted to show her that.

I pooled all my money—even sold off some of my belongings—in order to buy her a ring.

-----

“You proposed?” Elation's voice comes in a disbelieving whisper.

“I did.”

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I bought a ring of soft silver for her. And I waited. And one night, when we were back at the Salted Shrew, I approached her and kissed her, and when we pulled away, I took her by the hands. I did not even say a word, just looked at her with pleading in my eyes. Out of the tavern I pulled her, through alleyways and up the hill we went, stumbling half from the dark and half from our drunkenness. Then I ducked us around a corner and up some stairs to a certain rooftop patio. There, under a sea of stars, I took a knee and professed my love for her.

I told her of our first trip to that rooftop, of my realization. I told her that I meant it, that I could never love anything as much as I loved her. I offered her this ring, my promise to her.

We cried, we kissed, we made love on that patio all night under the stars. And when dawn came, we  watched the sun rise over the bay together.

-----

In the evening, as they prepare for bed, Kalim turns the conversation to his mother again.

“You said she claimed no title or job, but what of a last name? A family? Company besides yourself and tavern patrons?”

Tai shakes her head.

“She never spoke of her past. Any time questions came, she dismissed them. 'The wind does not care where it has been, so why should I?' I thought nothing of it at the time, too absorbed by my love for her, but, now, I think there was something to it—some darkness, in her past, that weighed on her. She was joyous, spontaneous, always in motion—not frenetic, but as though she was always swaying to a song only she could hear. She laughed easily and smiled often.”

Tai's eyes go distant again.

-----

It was just as the rains came. I left the docks bone-tired and longing for my love. She was not at the tavern—in fact, neither the barkeep nor any patrons had seen her all day. I next tried my room, where I had left her in the morning, and found nothing. All of her belongings were gone. The room looked so empty with only my things. I panicked.

All night, and the next day, I searched for her, anywhere, everywhere. No one who knew her had seen her, and those who had seen a snake matching her description could offer nothing of substance on her intentions, direction, anything. I was frantic.

For weeks—months!—I searched for her. I traveled to every port I could get to, I followed every possible lead I could find—and some impossible ones. I was mad with grief. Sometimes, I still am. I was only dragged away from my dogged search by a missive from my parents, requesting that I return home immediately. I—did not want to. I considered ignoring it. But, when I got home, I found that someone—she—had left something on my parents' doorstep.

-----

Tai turns to make meaningful eye contact with each of them, Kalim and Elation, then she continues, “two infant hatchlings, along with a note, and a silver ring.” She pulls the chain around her neck to lift it from under her shirt. “My promise ring.”

“What did the note say?”

“That she was sorry. In her perfect scrawl, it said that she loved me, and that she was sorry. I still have it, buried at the back of a drawer. I cannot bear to look at it, but nor can I bear to destroy it.”

-----

They're back at the breakfast table when Elation continues.

“Why did she leave? You? Us?”

“I have tried to answer that question for nineteen years. I—still do not know. I think, perhaps, she believed what my parents had said, that I would have been 'settling' if I stayed bound to her. That I would be giving up my happiness, or success, in choosing her.” There is a pause, as Tai finds her words. Elation rubs her thumb along the back of Tai's hand. “But that was not her decision to make. Not alone. We were together—we were in love!” Tai rises to her feet, begins pacing. “I had proposed!” Brandishing the chain and ring again, she screams out, “Given her a ring!” She furiously scrubs angry tears from her eyes.

“It is like a cruel joke, for the world to give me such a love, only to drive her away so soon. But the time I had with her was the happiest two months of my life. I was so in love. And I was happy. And I would have been happy—no, overjoyed—to spend the rest of my life with her, scraping by, raising the two of you together. Instead,” she begins, unable to keep bitterness from her voice. “Instead, I was heartbroken, and I raised you two alone, and still I found all this success.” She sweeps her arm out. Then she drops it. She drops back into her seat with a sigh.

“Nineteen years. For nineteen years I have searched for Rhian. And I think I shall never stop. It has all been for her. Wandering Winds came about more as a fluke—an unfortunate necessity to fund my never-ending search—than anything else. I found wonders and dined with kings in my search for her. Still, it has been nineteen years and I haven't found her. Perhaps I never will. After all, who can catch the wind?”

There is a clatter as Kalim stands so suddenly his chair topples behind him, hands slapping the table with enough force to rattle dishes.

“You didn't!” His voice echoes around the room as he shouts his disbelief even as he smiles. “You named your company for her!” Elation's eyes grow wide, then wet as realization strikes her, too. “Wandering Winds! It's you and her!”

“I did.” Tai is smiling now, too, pride and sorrow a strange mix on her features. “I told you, 'more than anything'.”

Both twins rush around the table to her, capture her in a fierce hug, as all three descend into tears. Minutes pass as they share their feelings. Only once they have all three settled down, now only the occasional sniffle, do they pull away, and Tai continues.

“Not a day goes by that I do not miss her. I love her, still, with all my heart. Wherever she is, I hope that she is well. Even if I never see her again, never hear her voice or feel her body again, I hope she is well.” Tai takes a deep breath, then cups her twins' snouts. “And I have you.” To Elation, “I see her in your smile,” and to Kalim, “in the creases around your eyes when you squint at me in disagreement,” and to both, “in the way the sun glows on your scales. I hear her in your laughter, in Kalim's beautiful singing voice, in Elation's cries of ecstasy. I feel her in the shape of you, in your smooth scales. I love you both, so much, with all my heart. Even as I long for my lost love.”

-----

The summer rains pass, as they always do. Years, too, will come and go. And with each passing rainy season, Tai will return again to the summer she spent with Rhian. Only now, she will do so with her twins fully knowing why, with Elation and Kalim's hands in hers a soft comfort against her melancholy.