This chapter pushes Amara's lines of perception, her time with the Raepuwa, notably Graw is quickly changing her thoughts and actions. And the heat is building, but will it ever be satiated?
While the Raepuwa cleaned themselves and each other with
licks and paws, Amara did not warm up to the idea, even as Graw offered.
“A bath, Graw, like with warm water and a tub.” She
winced gently pushing his head away from her face, even as he tried to lick the
blood of the animal from her brow.
He pulled back, a determined look on his face as he stood
upright, looking left then right. “One. Wait here.” His gestures demanded as he
set off toward the cart that held his tent and wares. He picked up the large
barrel that held the tent and rods when in transit, dumping the contents on the
ground before bounding back to Amara, putting it down in front of her.
“And what is that?”
“A Tub?”
Her face was a half turned smile. “Uh huh, and where-“
Graw grabbed her by the arm dragging her and the barrel
down to where the bonfire was being started. She watched as he took the piles
of cleared snow and scooped it up filling the barrel. It made sense to her; the barrels were once used for
wine. So melted snow would be of no problem. Once the barrel was full, Graw
left it where it stood. Taking Amara back to aid him in building their tent, of
which she mostly watched, although healed, the exertion of skinning the
Woolenbeasts left her tender. Just as he was finishing up, and getting ready to
move his things inside Khane appeared with Enwa, turning Amara’s attention.
****
“Come with us?” Khane asked as Enwa kept his gaze to the
ground.
Amara got up from the blanket, following the pair back to
Khane’s tent. Of the Pride group, Khane and Graw were the ones who regularly
engaged her. The Shaman Bas a’ Rhinn, having made it clear he wanted no part of
her. Inside Khane’s tent, Amara was nervously surprised to find him, smoking a
pipe, awaiting her arrival. Khane and Enwa dropped their hands to the ground,
their heads low and hindquarters high, Enwa’s tail curling downward and to the
right. This was the Raepuwa way of bowing. Amara bowed her head, bending as
much from the middle as she was able.
A low double snort came from Bas a’ Rhinn, she had often
heard this from Graw, and knew it to be their equivalent to a laugh. She looked
up, as he took in the smoke, his nostrils flaring.
“Have you learned enough, they tell me you have proved
useful to us?” Bas a’ Rhinn asked, ending his gestures bidding the other two
rise.
“As useful as I can be.” Amara answered calmly, glancing
to Khane and Enwa, who appeared to smile.
“You could be of greater use; we did after all save you,
as Enwa here has reminded us.”
Khane pushed Enwa into a subservient sit. “Do you think
this youth speaks out of place?” Khane asked. “He nearly cost us our
celebrations tonight, what Amara, do you think
should be done to such an insolent whelp?”
Unease crept over Amara, as she looked at them puzzled.
“Why ask me? He is not speaking an untruth, only pointing out the obvious debt
that I owe.”
“Are you not a leader where you come from?” Bas a’ Rhinn
questioned. “Is that on your thighs flesh not the mark of a High Priestess?”
Her chest tightened, her breath halted, as she searched
for an answer. It was true that she bore the glyph of the High Priestess, but
she was not yet possessor of the title.
“We have not told the others of the Pride, do not worry
for your safety, but we must know if it is true that a summoner has come from
the Lost Isle.” Bas a’ Rhinn leaned toward her, using the end of his pipe to
lift her skirt enough to see the tattoo.
Amara jerked backward. “I am from De’ Corlen, but am far
from its leader or summoner. I do not know what you want from me, in regards to
each, but I assure you there is little I can do in either respect.”
“But they aim to keep you wounded.” Khane stopped her, we
tried to take the object from your arm, but it would not come, it has a mind of
its own, as though the insect still lives.” From inside her cloak she pulled
the jar that held the Queen Hymenopteria, still encased in the Trialade. “This
is how we knew from where you came. These only live on the lost Isle.”
Amara hesitated briefly, seeing the Queen again, causing
her to think of horrors she wanted to forget. “I am thankful for your aid and
allowing me to remain with you, but as you know I am quite alone. Now, if there
is something I can do to return your kindness as I am, I will try, but I do not
speak for the isle, and am only a Priestess by tutor.”
“Do you not have an opinion on how Enwa should be dealt
with? Have you no knowledge on the subject?”
“If it were left to me, I would consider that no one was
hurt by his words or his actions. From what I witnessed, it was his precocious
action, which helped to divide the herd, and he, like Graw, made a killing blow.
Perhaps, what he did could prove to be a useful tactic in future hunts.”
Enwa lifted his gaze, his pale green eyes picking up the
low fading rays of the sun that entered the tent beside him. Amara smiled small
then looked back to Bas a’ Rhinn, who scratched his graying chin before
responding.
“Perhaps, you are correct. You did after all have an
excellent vantage point, you’re honest, and merciful opinion satisfies my
curiosity. You may have your weapons back.”
Enwa moved behind Bas a’ Rhinn, and as he did so the
Shaman ran a hand down his back gently, an act of acceptance and consolement.
When Enwa turned back to face them he held Amara’s sword and dagger as well as
a short bow and a bundle of arrows.
Amara let out a gasp, her hands to her mouth. “I thought
I’d lost them to the snow.”
The three Raepuwa laughed. “The young one found them, because they, like you pulsed.”
Khane assured her. “He is touched by the magic, like his father.”
A stature of pride filled Bas a’ Rhinn, and Amara
understood, this was his son, he was putting the fate of his own child in her
hands to satisfy as he put it a curiosity. She wondered what would have
happened had she made a cruel decision. Enwa handed the weapons to her,
along with a bundle of clothes tied up.
When Amara took the bundles, he leaned in
close to her, rubbing the side of his face against hers. His lip curled upward,
leaving a small amount of saliva on her cheek.
Her first instinct was to wipe it away, but Graw taught
her that this touch was one of appreciation and affection; if she wiped it off
in front of him, it would have been most offensive. She gathered the items into
her left unaffected arm, before lightly stroking Enwa’s arm in a platonic “Thank you.”
Enwa received the message; her return was to put the
space of friends between them. Bas a’ Rhinn nodded to Khane who took Enwa away
with a soft gliding of her tail, leaving Amara alone with the smoking Shaman.
Bas a’ Rhinn checked her wounds, her back was more than
well off now, but there was little he could do for her arm, except keep it
wrapped up, so it would not continue to infect and weaken her. He believed that
it was the reason she had such trouble with conjuring her magics, but also
believed she could overcome it and gain at least some control.
As to what transpired between her and Enwa, he assured
her that the whelp would not try for her affections again. That her return was
understood as a kind rejection. When they were back in their territory, in a
few days he would help her to master her magic as much as he could, but for
now, she should clean up before the festivities in whatever way she intended.
****
Returning to the bonfire, Amara found that a curtain had
been put up around it to afford her some privacy, and rocks arranged to let her
step up and into the makeshift tub. She did not take long, although she would
have liked to stay in the soothing water, the notion that there were so many
around her keeping her anxious. It took only a few moments outside the barrel
for the bonfire heat to air-dry her body as she took out the clothes. The key
to her chastity belt falling out of the bundle. The useful item sending her
back into the water.
****
The clothes were a little large, but everything had ties,
so she was able to keep it secure. Someone had fashioned a leather bodice and
britches, which with their wide legs covered the tops of her boots. As she made
her way back to Graw’s tent, it occurred to her that with a needle and thread
she could easily make better use of the fabrics, especially if she were given
the time. Her mind was so wrapped up in patterns and thoughts of colorful
cloths that she did not realize that she had walked in on Graw while he was
cleaning up from the days events.
His back was to her and although he had no doubt heard
her approach, he made no motion to acknowledge her as she rambled on about how
she could help with the ill fitting clothes many of them wore. Tired of talking
to his back, she stepped in front of him, and he rolled his eyes upward, as he
licked down the length of his powerfully built thigh.
“Oh! I'm s-s-orry!” Amara stammered, stepping away,
turning a full flush, of all of him she spied, she realized in his total
nakedness, that while much of him seemed feline, he was built like any human
male, which quickly helped her to make the connection as to why they did in
fact wear pants.
Graw touched her leg and she turned her head slightly,
the embarrassment radiated off of her and her temperature rose.
“What’s there to be sorry for? You had your bath, so I
was having mine.” He stood up, hunched slightly by the low point in the tent
ceiling; he moved so as to right himself.
“Yes, obviously, I'm sorry for not letting you have the
time to finish... Privacy to finish.” She looked away again, but Graw turned her
toward him, she kept her eyes high.
He let out a snort. “Are all your women so ashamed of the
uncovered form? We've adapted so you need not avert your eyes.” He grabbed her
face, making her look at him.
His black and white markings covered him entirely, but
the fur that was covered most often by clothing was finer than that which was
on his head, arms, and paws. The muscles of his chest and abdomen were the same
as a man, but far better defined, and he had three sets of nipples that
traveled down his length to... Nothing. Amara was at once confused, she knew
what she had seen, but as she looked at him now, all that sat between his legs
was barely haired skin. Her mouth hung open ever so slightly in question.
“We are built like you and not, for necessity, but unless
we are moved there is the protection of our
form. We dress as men if only to add another barrier, while we journey.” He
stepped toward her, as her eyes followed his speech. “We are more than capable
of coupling when it suits us; it is why so many of our children can speak. We
are feline, but also human.” He let out a low purr and Amara trembled.
Her body and mind were in conflict, her heart thumped
hard against her chest, she could hear the blood as it rushed through her ears. His breath was warm, and his grasp on her shoulders
firm, as he rubbed his face against her as Enwa had.
“Graw...Please, I can’t.” She pushed him away, her face
visibly troubled, as she headed for the exit. “Everything I touch burns.”
