"Karina?" A moment later Minja half-shouted again. "KARINA?"

Karina turned around to find out why Minja shouted only to facepalm herself that she still wasn't used to her new name. Despite how much she liked this one, the name Armas was still more in her blood that she wanted to admit.

"Sorry. Still not used to listening to my new name. What's up?" Karina said a little sheepishly.

"Mari is doing a lot better," Minja admonished her. "Speaking of. Now that all pots are stowed away on the ship, we still have time. It won't leave the harbor till tomorrow. So Mari suggested heading to the tavern. Last chance to eat northerner cuisine for a while. Are you game?"

"Didn't I saw you earlier sneak some nibbling on some jelly? Aren't you full?" Karina asked.

"For us, there is no such thing as overeating," Minja countered.

Karina thought she had a point and she still had some coins herself that she might or might not be able to use in the next kingdom. "Lead the way," she said with a grin.

At the end of the dock, they found Mari who was surrounded by sailors who tried to sneak a peek at her without being too obvious. Something struck Karina as odd and soon it came to her. She was posing. A little shy and clumsy, but Mari definitely was showing off her body.

"You little tease," Karina greeted Mari. "Not even woman for a day and you are already flirting."

"I didn't," Mari protested, but then her shoulders sagged down. "I did. Gods help me, but I kinda like it. I always had been this giant brute to anyone who didn't bother to get to know me. It's nice to be- Wanted."

"Aww, they grow up so fast," Minja added with her own grin. She grabbed Mari by the waist and pulled her close. "You still want to hit the tavern or do you rather 'eat' one of those lads?"

"Tavern here we come!" Mari exclaimed. Shaking her head in amusement Karina needed a moment to catch up and link herself on Mari's other side.

They found a small tavern just a few streets down from the docks. What drew them in was the smell of good food. As they managed to get through the door without breaking their trio Minja whispered in their ears. "This tavern is good. Look at the owner. He is fat."

"Minja!" Mari gasped and Karina chuckled. "She is right though," Karina whispered back. "If they can't stop sampling their own food it must be good."

They found a table near the kitchen and sometimes when the door opened, they saw a few chunks of meat on a pole over a blazing fire.

"I have one of those," Karina said and the other two nodded eagerly.

As the wench came over it was Karina who spoke up first. "Those meats over the fire. I'll have one."

"A whole?" the wench asked.

Karina nodded, while Mari and Minja add each "Me too."

Karina thought she saw a small disbelieving shake of the wench's head, but she walked towards the kitchen nonetheless. She returned with a single meat chunk on a plate. Karina looked at her both companions and all three broke out in laughter.

Seeing the angry scowl on the wench's face Karina quickly explained. "There is a misunderstanding. One chunk for each of us."

The wench's eyes grew wide. "But... You will never finish it."

"I bet I can," Karina challenged her while Minja added: "Never judge a girl by her waist. No matter how waspish it is."

Muttering in a language unknown to Karina the girl walked back to the kitchen. Returning with two more plates. "Enjoy," the girl pressed through her teeth with a voice that said another message: "You soon will be sorry."

Grinning the three started on their meats and sighed after the first bite. Flavors previously unknown assaulted their tongues with pleasure. It took a half-hour of concentrated eating but each girl finished her chunk. As Karina looked up she noticed how quiet it was and every patron looking at them in wonder. It must be quite a sight to see three beauties eat something close to their heads size.

"Damn, this was good," Mari said unaware of the silence around her. "I hope they have something equally good on the ship."

"On the ship, we will eat jelly," Minja reminded her.

This brought a grin on Karina's face. "Don't worry. I'll make sure there is jelly that is as good as this meat." Grinning she turned towards the maid who pretended to clean some tables close by. "Miss wench? I'll have another one please."

The wench actually froze in shock. The washrag slipping her hand. A few heartbeats there was silence so thick one could cut it. "Seriously?" the wench finally managed to say.

"Quite so," Karina said and gave her a daring grin.

Looking at the Minja and Mari the wench actually managed to ask: "You too?"

Both shook their head and Minja simply stated: "Too much chewing is tedious."

"Don't worry. I'll do the chewing for you," Karina offered graciously.

"Our hero," Mari said with a giggle.

A moment later the wench returned with another plate. Karina eagerly pulled it close and started on the meat. Turned out Minja was right. Chewing got tedious. However, Karina didn't give up. She carved out bigger and bigger pieces and started to swallow them whole.

Soon her second meat chunk was gone. The wench was nearby. Dreading what Karina might say next. "You can't possibly want another," the wench said with eyes big as saucers.

"You are right," Karina said with a sad grin. She pulled out her coins. "Can't afford another one."

While the wench collected the payment from the trio a hardened sailor dared to step closer. "Are you serious? You would go on if you had more coins?"

"Sure. Why not," Karina said with a devilish smile.

"In that case. Wench! Another meat for the lady. My treat," the sailor proclaimed.

She actually saw the wench throw up her hands in resignation as she walked towards the kitchen.

"My name is Bertram," the sailor offered up. "May I have the pleasure of your name?"

"Armas," Karina replied by reflex and got an elbow in the rips by Minja. "Would be a silly name for me," Karina quickly added. "Because I am a woman. Karina is my name. And beside me are Minja and Mari."

"Mind if I take a seat?" Bertram asked.

Given that he just paid for her next meal Karina decided to allow it and motioned for him to sit.

Soon the next plate was in front of her and Karina attacked the meat with abandon. While swallowing she was a bit bemused how intensely Bertram watched her. Back as Armas he never had found women eating very sexy, but Bertram looked so enraptured that it struck her as strange.

"And done," Karina said after pushing the empty plate away. She gave Bertram a challenging look that dared him to treat her to another.

"Mind another?" he asked with a grin.

"Nice try mister." The voice belonged to Minja. "But she had enough."

"But I could eat more," Karina protested.

"You might want to look down," Mari suggested.

When her bosom had become this massive Karina couldn't tell, but as she watched her body still digested the food and made her breasts swell even further. Already a lot of her bosom peeked out under her poncho-top. Silk with only the width of two fingers draped over nipples and as her breasts grew more the width reduced to that of one finger. She was close to becoming indecent!

"Well played," Karina shot towards Bertram. "Maybe next time you pull it off," she said with a wink.

With the help of Mari and Minja, she stood up and was glad for the ability to root herself to the ground. Otherwise, she might have fallen over as her center of balance definitely was shifted towards her front. Still, without Minja or Mari, she might have to crawl back towards the ship.

By the time they made it to the docks, Karina was a quivering mess. She had to practically be dragged to the ship by her two companions. The fringe of her poncho had made it to her nipples and Karina had found out just how sensitive jelly inflated breasts could become. By the time they arrive at the ship Karina begged the others to fuck and milk her. In what order they did she didn't care. As long as they did it.

"We need pots!" Minja shouted ahead.

Others of their race gathered. Some with pots. Others with just a bemused look. "How did this happen?" one asked.

"One sailor noticed our breasts grow with consumed food," Minja explained while heaving Karina on a stool.

"A fact Karina apparently forgot," Mari added.

"And the sailor tried his best to take advantage," Minja finished.

"Less talking more milking," Karina whimpered.

While Mari and Minja got ready with pots to milk her, other girls held up woolen blankets as a privacy screen. As they closed around Karina she could swear a few girls snuck away. In the direction of the taverns. Then all thoughts eluded her as her two best friends worked to get her bosom small again.

Hours later the show was over. Karina woke up from a small nap that exhaustion had forced upon her. Around her a dozen pots and Mari who just closed another one, but not before showing Karina the thick deep red jelly inside.

"You were right," Mari remarked. "Tastes better than the original meat. Thanks for your 'sacrifice'."

"Your welcome," Karina replied before both broke out in laughter.

Soon they would leave the harbor and this kingdom. Still, Karina had the suspicion her new race left a small legend behind that won't be soon forgotten.

*****

Karina woke to the heavy swaying of the ship caught in the waves. Not that she minded. Their ability to root their feet gave them amazing sea legs. She minded, however, that she was alone her their hammock. Kiira had managed to find fifty oversized ones for all of them. No one complained that they had to share them with each other. In fact, it turned out six of them weren't needed at all.

Karina shared hers of course with Mari and Minja. Both of them she found a few steps away. Posing for each other in the light that shone through an open deck hatch. As they noticed that Karina was awake they waved her over. "Take a look at this," Minja urged her.

Now curious Karina slipped out of the hammock and walked over. Minja let her fingers glide over the backside of Mari. Just above her buttock. As she came closer Karina noticed what was amiss. She remembered the circular grove that they all had there above their but. Now the exoskeleton there pushed outwards as if someone had stuck a globe of clay there. When touching her backside she could feel the bump on her too.

"Maybe we should ask Kiira about it," Mari suggested.

Meanwhile, Karina noticed another change. "The blue stripes on our exoskeletons. I think they grew in intensity." The blue now appeared a few shades lighter than before.

They found Kiira lazing around in her hammock with another girl. "Oh, those? Completely normal. I'll tell the group at breakfast all about it."

Shrugging the trio walked away. Since there wasn't much to do on a ship they soon found themselves snuggling again in their hammock.

*****

Karina had to grin as she saw all of them rooted on the deck. It was a nice day, but the waves proofed to be higher than usual. Around them, sailors swayed around as they hurried over the ship to keep it steady on course. Yet Karina's race had no trouble to stay in place. They found a position that allowed them to sit and use their feets ability to magically root themselves. Thanks to the ship being one of the largest Karina had ever seen.

Each one of their sisters had a pot in their hand with their name written on it. Their supposed breakfast. Murmuring was going around and Karina overheard others talking about how their jelly tasted. Her own was based to the biggest part on the grass and a few wildflowers. While delicious she wondered what the jelly of her new big extended family would taste like.

An idea blossomed in her mind and with a grin she stood up. Soon everyone noticed her and she got questioning looks. "I know it is not my place to order you around, but I don't care," she started and a wicked smile as she saw the shocked faces around her. "Everyone. Hand your pot to your neighbor on your left." Leading by example she handed hers to Mari.

Confused some complied while others hesitated. "Why?" shouted one.

"To sample it of course!" Karina beamed. "Then you hand the pot further to the left."

More murmuring broke out, but her idea caught on. Karina sat down and accepted Minja's pot. Soon she handed it further and received the pot of a girl she hadn't learned the name yet. After a few moments, her idea worked like a charm. Sample and handoff. Over and over. Broken by a few shout outs when someone found a jelly especially to her taste.

Most she could taste the base of grass. But some mixtures particularly stood out. One was quite minty and a few shouts told her that the girl who made the jelly had found a patch of wild herbs.

Another girl had managed to find a bunch of carrots on their day on the field. That might explain why the jelly was very orange.

One of the pots held jelly the color of deep brown. Tasting it Karina guessed it was mostly pinecones and something else. A quick yell and she now knew it was literally bark stripped from a tree. Crazy, but surprisingly tasty.

When she finally got her own pot back she was convinced that being a gatherer was the role she wanted to be. Hunting down new flavors and combinations sounded very intriguing to her. And secretly she admitted to herself that she liked the milking too. She vowed to herself to try new stuff whenever she had the opportunity. Judging by a few faces around her she wasn't the only one who thought so.

Finally, Kiira stood up and walked into the middle of the circle. "First she finds the ideal outfits for us and now she had the perfect idea to enrich our meals. How about some applause for Karina?"

Cheers erupted around her and Karina blushed heavily as she suddenly found herself the center of attention.

After the clapping tethered off Kiira once more spoke up. "As our breakfast has proven there are many flavors out there and a lot to discover. That is the role of a gatherer and some of you might choose this role for years or even decades."

"To support each role your body adapts to it," Kiira continued. "That means more than just changing the color of your exoskeleton. Some of may have noticed a little bump growing just above your butt. You see many insects have their abdomen as a separate part of their body. Inspired by those we all can grow pods that complement each of our chosen roles."

She let her gaze roam around her big family and then continued. "For the gatherer, this means a secondary stomach. Magically enhanced like the first one. But also additional storage for jelly. I mean some of us found already out that we can become pretty big up top if we eat too much. Who was the first one to find out?" Kiira turned around and looked at Karina. "Oh, right. Karina yet again with a first."

Chuckles made the round and Karina blushed more. She actually tried to scoot behind Minja who was having none of it. It appeared Karina had to learn to live with her newfound fame.

"Anyway. That is all for now. Your pods will take a few days to grow to maturity. If it becomes too bothersome shifting into the neutral role will get rid of it. I will teach you about the other roles and their pods when we reach our new home. That's all. Enjoy the journey."

*****

A few days later Karina found herself yet again hunting through the ship. With each step, she wiggled her butt. Part of it was due to the fully grown pod. It reminded her of the abdomen of a bee or wasp and it was quite big. Easily the size of two lettuce heads side by side with an elongated turn downwards. The whole pod rested on her butt and Karina had to admit she liked how it shifted over it while she walked.

Minja had grown her pod too, but Mari had chosen to shift into the neutral role again. Claiming she liked the sleek uniform black color more than the royal blue that the gatherers now sported. She wasn't the only one. About half of them now were in their neutral role again.

Their pods made sleeping as a trio in a hammock a little more difficult but so far none of them had complained. Karina was also a little miffed that they didn't share her obsession with finding new food to try. This was what made her hunt through the ship alone. She was looking for sailors who had put some private food aside. Granted most had already traded their treasures away to Karina or other food hunters. It was a large ship, but sailors and goods were limited.

"Karina, right?"

The deep voice made Karina snap her head around. In one of the doorways stood the cook. Behind him the galley of the ship. So far Karina had avoided him and not just because the captain had declared the food storage off-limits to them. She always felt undressed by his gaze.

"I am right though," the man ventured forth. "Rumor is you are looking for new foods to try."

Well, maybe she could put up with him if a good trade came out of it. Nodding she came closer. Trying to ignore that the cook had obviously already a hard-on in his trousers.

"I do have some reserves that are my own. Not part of the ships inventory. I am willing to part with some of it for the right trade."

"I have a few types of jelly," Karina offered.

"I am not interested in jelly," the cook countered and grabbed obscenely at his crotch.

Karina took a step back. Of course, this was his endgame. Sticking his filthy man-meat into her. She contemplated simply walking away or kicking him in the junk. He could keep his sticky goo to himself. But then a random thought popped into her head. One that she couldn't shake. His cum was organic. She could eat it. Take a taste. She wanted to find new flavors, right?

She still tried to shake the thought when she had noticed that she had taken an involuntary step forward. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. Would she really do it? She knew that some races could be impregnated by others. Her all-female race probably one of them. In no way, she was ready to be a mother.

But there were other ways. She pushed the cook into the galley and closed the door behind them. "This remains between us," she growled and the cook eagerly nodded. She sank to her knees and fumbled with his trousers. His man-meat sprang forth and she hesitated. Could she really do it? She noticed a smell. One alluring and it made her stomach growl with need.

There was pre-cum on the tip of his dick and it mesmerized her. Called out and Karina answered the call with her tongue. It tasted heavenly and a second later she plunged his dick deep into her mouth. She needed more. She sucked with need and soon salty goodness flooded her mouth. Karina worked his dick till it was totally spent.

Blushing and drunk on cum she pushed herself upward. The cook had a dirty lewd grin on his face, but Karina didn't care. She had just tasted the nectar of the gods.

"You certainly deliver," he said after Karina found her footing. "So what shall it be? For such a fine job I am willing to part with an equally fine part of my stock."

Karina gave him a lopsided grin. She seriously doubted anything would taste as good as the one good she already just had. "What compliments nicely with cum?" she asked with a giggle.

"A port wine?" the confused cook offered.

"Sure. Let's go with that," Karina purred. As he handed her the bottle she sauntered away. She stopped at the door and turned around. "Remember. Keep our secret and ... I might return for more 'bartering'."

With a wink, she left him standing there. Probably thinking he had made the deal of a lifetime. If he only knew. She walked away chuckling.

*****

Karina knew she had messed up. In her hands, the pot of clay she had filled just the day before. One tasting of wine and cheese. But more importantly cum. It tasted as heavenly as the material she had sucked from the source. Now it was breakfast and by her own created tradition she was supposed to hand over her priced jelly? Knowing it was her own fault she let her head hang and handed off her pot.

Mari was surprised by how good it tasted. As was every other girl tasting Karina's jelly. Many asked what ingredients she had used, but only got a deep blush of her in return. No way she could admit that she had given the cook a blowjob, just to get his cum. That she had to try keeping herself from going back and get more.

"Interesting." The voice that cut through Karina's internal panic was the one of Kiira. As Karina looked up she saw her sniff at Karina's jelly. "Someone found out how to make royal jelly. Hmm, Karina. Why am I not surprised it was you?" With a wink, she handed the pot on to the next girl who was eager to try it.

So it had a name. Jelly made with cum was royal jelly. Kiira must have known, but kept it to herself. Still, Karina declined every request to part with the secret. As did Kiira. It looked like Karina's indecent behavior was safe for now.

Still, the girls pleaded and in the end won one concession from Karina. Next day she would have more royal jelly for them. How she would manage to do this was beyond her.

*****

Just one more day the captain said. They would finally arrive at the harbor. Karina was spent and lazing in her hammock together with Minja. Who knew that producing royal jelly was such an act. Especially if she wanted to keep it a secret how she made it.

By now the cook was out of wares to barter. Not that Karina cared. She played it off as a favor. But demand needed more royal jelly than one man could provide for her. By now she had two dozen sailors wrapped around her finger. Complete with a time of the day when they could sneak off to do the dirty deed.

But the sneaking around was exhausting when you try to evade ninety-nine sisters and a huge part of the crew on one ship. She had managed so far. On land, it might be easier. Not for the first time, it struck her as funny. Not two weeks into being a woman and she was already addicted to blowing guys for their cum.

"Oh, Karina."

She looked up to see Mari who was practically skipping towards her with a huge smile on her face. She held out a small clay pot to Karina for inspection. Karina was close to declining as she wasn't hungry when the smell caught her. Testing the jelly confirmed it. Royal jelly.

Mari hopped onto the hammock to snuggle close to them. Leaning over she whispered into Karina's ear. "You lost the right to call me little tease, you mother of all teases."

Her blush spoke volumes, but to Karina's relief, Mari was a careful as Karina with guarding the secret of royal jelly.