I had bleary eyes when I woke up, my throat still tight from the weeping that had happened. Shame built in my chest that I had shown such weakness to my male. I looked around, thankfully we were far from the rest of the pride we were being guided by and I doubted any of them had seen my moment of breaking. Feeling the heavy weight upon my chest I looked down and over to who was resting on me.
The peaceful face of Bongani lay there. His soft features still bruised from the beating he had taken the day before. He was beautiful now that I looked at him closely, his spots symmetrical and well placed. The ears he sported were large and only marginally scarred from a lifetime of being put in his place. The warmth of his body spread through me like a soothing wave as I inspected him.
Name: Bongani Ade
Servant of Hathor
Statistics
Strength: 11
Agility: 12
Toughness: 10
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 13
Charisma: 12
Mana: 10/10
Skills:
Gathering lvl 4 (7/20xp)
Oral lvl 2 (9/10xp)
Lovemaking lvl 3 (12/15xp)
Butchering lvl 1 (3/5xp)
Stealth lvl 2 (8/10xp)
Spells
Inspect lvl 1 (1/5xp)
Mending lvl 3 (14/15xp)
Feats:
Gift of Tongues
Soothing Touch
Wrapping my arm around him I gently shook him until his eyes opened slowly. He squinted against the sun now that we had rested. His cheeks burned with redness as he noticed where he was and went to push himself away from me. Instead I held him there. Shame battled with the soothing feelings of holding him.
I pulled Bongani to be above me, our chests pressed together and cupped his face lightly. I brought him to my lips and kissed him. Far less gentle and more of a claim of his lips as I bit one and sucked on it. He groaned lightly, his nervous laughter following after. I pushed him off me once his lip was swollen and bruised from the suction I had placed on it. Standing up I looked at the pride as they finished resting as well.
Bongani stood with me and stepped behind me, putting himself as far from the pride yet in my presence as he could. Turning I seized his hand and pulled him along as I stepped towards the circle of women who stretched off the sleep and rubbed at eyes that wanted more rest. Gugulethu and Bandile lay together, they still smelled of my scent and were languidly embraced. Looking around I noticed a lot of the women were sleeping in pairs or triples.
Being noticed by the awakening women, many of them averted their eyes. Walking amongst them I looked at the herd as the beasts also awoke from their slumber and were starting to grow restless.
Gugulethu’s voice cut through it all as she stretched, the audible click from her joints and popping of her back ringing out. “We must move out ladies! The herd is restless and we need another water source soon.”
Moving as a cohesive unit the women headed north and west, back towards the great river I had used to flee the spotted clan. The storm brewed in my chest, it had been broken for a moment last night and I had fallen into the churning sadness that wanted to forever claim me. I had no time to wallow in self pity and loss though. Ade was a mountain I would eventually have to climb to retake what was mine. I only hoped that Melokuhle would keep me in her heart while I was away.
In it all though, I no longer desired vengeance upon the woman who had hurt Bongani. I just didn’t have that same anger that had been so hard in my heart after my breaking. My anger was reserved only for myself, for being so weak as to succumb to my feelings.
Confusion filled me, I felt lighter after it all. Even with the shame and anger at myself I felt like my heart wasn’t so heavy. Idly my thumb ran over Bongani’s knuckles stroking him as that feeling of calm radiated from his touch. Bandile and an unknown woman walked alongside us. Each of them looking around at everything, scanning for danger for me to confront or to curry favor with myself.
Bandile smelled of arousal and desire as she walked alongside me. The other had a look of curiosity and trepidation on her face. My hunger for pleasure was so far from my mind that neither the smell or the look appealed to me. Heart thudding we walked.
The day passed and hunger built in my belly. I had not taken more than a single bite of the boar and the meerkats were long since devoured. I could see no indication that the pride was suffering from hunger though. I had delivered the food and all of them had partaken of the bounty.
Night was falling when we came upon the river. The herd lined up eagerly drinking while the women gathered their own skins and filled their bellies and sated their thirst. I walked down with them all and knelt upon the shore. Scooping with my hands I brought cool, delightful water to my lips and drank deeply. The unknown dryness in my throat was washed away in the first few gulps as Bongani knelt with me.
“Drink m-, Bongani. Thirst will kill us if we aren’t careful.” Dutifully I watched as he leaned in and took in his mouthfuls of precious water. The thoughts of him flailing and struggling in the water resurfaced in my mind and I promised myself that by the time we returned he would be able to swim in the water himself.
Some of the women erupted in laughter as they waded into the shallows and splashed one another in play. The seriousness melted in that moment as several more jumped in and joined in the water fight. Water glistened in their furry chests and down their smooth skin. The sun kissed darkness of it all shining in moisture.
“We will follow the river for a time. Until we get into more dangerous claimed territory and head further east.” Gugulethu knelt next to me, her shoulder brushing my own. “Males will grow thicker the further north we get. We might even encounter another pride and have to negotiate a passage. If that happens, you may need to fall back.”
“They will not let me pass with you?” I ask.
“I do not know. You are far from your lands and growing farther. There won’t be much that I’ll be able to tell you how you’ll be treated. We won’t reach all the way to the Dungeon Town either. But we will make sure you are supplied and ready for the rest of the distance.” Gugulethu sighed deep in her chest, “Seven or so days will be the most we can keep you around. Or until we find a suitable male. I at least owe you that much truth.”
Seven days. Nodding, I placed my hand upon her thigh and squeezed. “I understand. You just let me know when I must leave before you find a male that is worth claiming you. I do not want to be around when they lay claim to all of you.”
“The young women will all go into heat quite quickly. By the end of next season we will have children once more to look after.” Gugulethu sounded haunted at that proclamation.
“May the male you find be worthy for generations. I hope they do not fall and have all the children slaughtered because of it.” Letting go of her, my eyes swept around as several women floated by on the current. Their eyes sparkled at me as their bare bodies displayed perky breasts and hard nipples. Their clothes were stripped off so they could feel the full river on their skin.
“To be young, you have brought a fever amongst us you know. Many of us indulged in the pleasures of each other’s flesh during the rest. Something about your display with Bandile and myself has lit a fire in everyone’s loins.” Gugulethu stood and walked away after that.
I had missed all that. Exhaustion too thick in my chest to smell it on the wind when I should have. “Come Bongani,” Standing I pulled him to his feet and pulled the last of the mash from my pack. We ate in companionable silence, most of it used to fill my aching belly. I bent and filled the gourd with water before putting the lid on it once more. There was no use leaving water behind.
“Aphelele,” His meek voice came, “A-a-are you w-w-well? Last n-n-night.”
I squeezed his hand, “Forget last night. If you think of it only remember fucking me silly. That is the last I’ll hear of it.”
“B-b-but.”
“No male, I said forget it.” My tone was harsh and final and I could feel him slump with thoughts on his mind. Something had been changing in him. No doubt it was him leveling up alongside me. There was more of a glimmer of intelligence and knowledge in his brown soft gaze. It was easy to tell he wanted to talk more about it, but knew not to try. With a simple nod we waited for the pride to get back to traveling.
