Feline Hunted

[dryfter]

"I can not run from you...... Master."

It maybe have been just a whisper......but to him, it was heard quite clearly, though he chose not to respond. A smile stirred across his concerned face, especially as in addition to her confession, she sank willingly down into the soft grass with him.

"Collar me tonight. Now, and..... and.... take me again, under the stars"

Lucian nipped softly at her shoulder. How he loved this.....the feel of her firmly curled up against him. The soft throbbing of his bad arm kept him awake for now, but it would have been all too easy for him to fall asleep right there, his good arm around her possessively as they slumbered.

"Now you're the one who orders me?"

It was a gentle rebuke. One that was delivered with a smile and a soft chuckle. In truth, he was pleased that she wanted him sexually. He had been worried that his forced mating of her the night before would cause Gleam to become even more skittish and defensive. As much as he hated to move from her, as tightly pressed against him as she was, the hunter slowly stirred once more.

"Now you stay here."

It had only taken a moment's thought to realize that it might actually be better this way. She had done nothing wrong other than to commit a few "accidents", and since the first, she had not failed to call him by title. And she had pleased him greatly tonight.......so he saw nothing that couldn't be forgiven. If tomorrow were to come.....Glenda and Thurgaard would no doubt stay for her collaring. Proud pet that she was, the tigress would no doubt be shamed greatly in the process. A suitable punishment, yes.......but Gleam didn't deserve to be punished.

He stole into the cabin as stealthily as if they were Duke Ellington's slave dungeons. Not that this was nearly as hard with the two earthen snoring loud enough to ensure he'd not be able to hunt for a few days. Good thing there was plenty of leftovers........

The parcel in hand, and the night sky beckoned once more.......a pale yellowish glow reflecting in his hand as the leather covering was left discarded on his doorstep. His only thought now.....was to return to her.

"Gleam....."

It caught the moonlight as it slithered, fine and almost delicate looking from where he held it by its end. It was only about an inch in thickness, a fraction of that in width......but it was strong. Dwarven strong. This was not something she was going to just rip off.......

Comprised of delicate links, it was hard to imagine thick, stubby dwarven fingers capable of crafting such a thing. And yet, he let it dangle before her in the moonlight. It was hers now.....he didn't ask for her acceptance, he didn't know if she'd make him force it on her again or not.

"Bare your throat to me. I know that it means submission to your race. That is your master's order, submit to me and take my collar.....knowing that it will never come off you as long as you and I live."

He reached for her then.....the surprisingly supple, sturdy mesh of links slipping smoothly over her soft fur to cinch tightly against her delicate throat, enough to allow breath......but also enough to be a constant reminder that it was there and who she now belonged to.

Deft fingers slipped behind her to the crafty locking mechanism that held the thing in place. It was the only part of the sexy looking contraption that wasn't dwarven made. The lock itself in all of its complexity had to be purchased from gnomish tinkers......who were more than happy to accept his gold in exchange for their services.

"You are mine. You will always be mine. Tomorrow, we will discuss your duties as my pet and my mate. We will also discuss rules to be followed, as well as my role as your Master."

He drew in close. Close enough that he could stare into those beautiful eyes of hers and see the uncertainty, hopefully dispelling them with his own warm confidence.

"But your training starts tonight. It's progressing well, Gleam."

He reached out and gently stroked a lock of her amazing red hair from her eyes.

"You surprised me. I hadn't expected you to ask to be collared. I'm surprised, and I am pleased. I think you deserve a reward."

He drew closer, dangerously close, until he could feel her body heat against him. She was still naked after all, she had kept his command to this very day....her fur providing adequate defense against the summer air, even here in the foothills of the mountain.

"It occurs to me.....that in the midst of our frenzied mating last night....."

He watched her.....practically felt her reactions to his words and his proximity.....

"That I never once kissed you."

He leaned forward then, pressing his lips, still a little salty from the evening's roast boar, and markedly sweet from the wine they had shared, to her lips. Lucian held himself there, until she moved....whether intentional, or to attempt to say something.....and the kiss deepened instantly becoming more than friendly......but a heated, tongue entwining kiss lovers would share in just such a private moment......

 

[RainingHeat]

What had she just asked for?

What had she about as much as begged for?

Last night she begged him...

She was begging again....

"Gleam....."

His voice had a husky quality to it, a depth she had not heard before.

Knowing that it was she that had asked for this, knowing that it was He that had captured her, she heard him possess her with just the sound of his voice. Slowly, she turned to face him, her eyes meeting his.

The moon's light glinted, sparkled off the surface of the collar. The mithril glimmered, as if it were speaking to her. "Beg for me Gleam, beg for my touch, my caress, my possession of your throat, forever" the words sang to her, haunting, almost hypnotizing. Luna, so high above, seemed to agree, bathing both the collar and Lucian in her cool glow.

She did not even realize that she was trembling as he approached her.

"Bare your throat to me. I know that it means submission to your race. That is your master's order, submit to me and take my collar.....knowing that it will never come off you as long as you and I live."

Those words slowly, so very slowly, coiled over her, slipping inside her, to twist, entwine, weave around her soul. The shiver that tore thru her came from the very depths of that soul, even as she moved to her knees in the grass, the submissive position of kneeling before her Master, leaning upwards, her fingers gliding into her long red mane, shifting the waves aside to fully bare the slender column of her throat. The one thing she did do, was close her eyes. She would feel the collar slipping into place to claim her throat, to possess her life, she did not want to see it doing so.

It encircled her, tight enough that she would always know it were there, the mithril shining a bright silver, even in the shadows of the night, the moon accenting the gorgeous color, which was a striking contrast to the tawny and black of her fur. Never mind her crimson mane.

<Click> The sound, in reality, was quite soft. But to Gleam, it was thunderous.

What had she done???

"You are mine. You will always be mine. Tomorrow, we will discuss your duties as my pet and my mate. We will also discuss rules to be followed, as well as my role as your Master."

Her eyes slowly opened. She had submitted, and never said a word doing it. Just the offering of her throat was all that was needed. Her long dark red mane fell back down to spill over her shoulders and back. She turned and met his gaze, he was right there, so close, that their breaths mingled.

"But your training starts tonight. It's progressing well, Gleam."

He reached out and gently stroked a lock of her amazing red hair from her eyes.

"You surprised me. I hadn't expected you to ask to be collared. I'm surprised, and I am pleased. I think you deserve a reward."

He drew closer, dangerously close, until he could feel her body heat against him. She was still naked after all, she had kept his command to this very day....her fur providing adequate defense against the summer air, even here in the foothills of the mountain.

"It occurs to me.....that in the midst of our frenzied mating last night....."

He watched her.....practically felt her reactions to his words and his proximity.....

She was shaking, her hips rocking slightly in need. If she could have formed a coherent sentence at that point, she may have even begged for him.

"That I never once kissed you."

"Masterrrrrr" the word faded into a low purring sound

He leaned forward then, pressing his lips, still a little salty from the evening's roast boar, and markedly sweet from the wine they had shared, to her lips. Lucian held himself there, but it was only the fraction of a heartbeat before she so softly moaned into the kiss, her lips, also sweet from the wine she had sipped, parted, allowing him access, her tongue and his meeting for the first time in the wet, warm confines of her mouth. Entwining, tasting each other, his tongue exploring first her mouth, before drawing her tongue within his. Gleam, lost in the moment, raked her nails up his back and into the waves that was his blonde hair, fingers curling within. Her naked form pressing into his stronger body, undulating slightly before a tremor shook thru her. She broke the kiss to take a deep, needed breath, her face flush red, heated, as was her entire form. When she moved against him again, another long, passionate kiss beginning, she felt her nipples ache, peaked, brushing along the rougher material of the shirt he was wearing. The sensation bringing forth another low groan that vibrated thru her lips and tongue to his hungry mouth. Between her legs, her sex had awakened, droplets forming, lubricating the tight slit that was the entrance to her body. She felt the muscles pulsating to every beat of her heart, hungered to be filled once again, by him.

She began to pull back. Not to pull away from him, but instead to lay in the grass, pulling him with her, until he were atop her, she on her back, the grass cool, damp, against her heated body.

Again she broke the kiss, to take another deep breath, one hand untangling from his hair to trail light fingertip down his cheek, along his jawline. She was staring into his eyes, her golden gaze not wavering. Saying nothing, just staring, as if searching for something.

 

[dryfter]

It was erotic.....submissive.....and for perhaps the first time since he'd first glimpsed her in her southern forest.......seductive.

Lucian truly couldn't have asked for a better response. She trembled before him, her body shaking slightly, though her eyes bespoke the calm of a decision already made. The hunter watched in awe as his pet sank slowly to her knees, watching carefully for his approval as she reached up with both hands, and swept her raging fiery locks back behind her, completely oblivious to how the pose displayed her large and firm breasts to him.....would she have cared even if she had noticed? The woman who was so naive and quick to shame just yesterday......was inadvertently posing like a veteran courtesan right now.

Only Gleam looked better than any courtesan that had ever dared to come on to Lucian.

A soft click and it was done. She looked so calm and serene there with her eyes closed.....waiting patiently.

"Mine."

She was inexperienced at kissing, as he knew she most likely would be. But she learned quickly.....and oh, how he delighted in feeling her soft moans ripple across the joining of their tongues! Reaching for her, his touch stirred the fur of her chest just briefly before she began to pull away from him.

Somehow, he knew this wasn't disobedience. If it were that, she'd have never let him collar her to begin with. So when she reached for him.....he moved with her.....letting him be pulled down to the ground.

"Gleam....my arm," he warned softly before nuzzling her neck softly. The last thing he needed now was to have her thinking he was scolding her. He only needed one hand to free his belt buckle anyway....and he had a feeling that was exactly what his tigress wanted.

With a bit of shuffling, they managed to free him from the confining leather.....the tent in his leather shorts every bit as strong and virile as she may remember it from the night before. The chill night air did nothing to diminish its glory.

The damned sling, however, was awkward.....certainly not meant for situations like this. Lucian stopped just short of growling his annoyance, knowing just how much it would hurt if he took things too far.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Gleam?"

His words were delivered low, and throaty, as he looked up at her.....releasing a stiffened nipple in order to speak. Already, his head dipped to gently pepper her full mounds with steamy kisses and soft, playful bites.

"You're still in heat, aren't you?"

He moved upward slowly, tracing her collarbone with his tongue, wetting her fur.....nibbling and nipping the base of her neck.....kissing lightly across the smooth new surface of her collar.....before biting just a little more sharply just above it.

"If you invite me into your hot little pussy, pet.....I'm not going to leave until I've filled you to the core."

He reached down between them....deft fingers nudging softly until her legs parted for him just enough to slip between moistened thighs. Smiling, the hunter softly reached further......to run the thick head of his cock over her dewy opening again and again.

"You're going to bear my children, Gleam. You'll submit even your womb to your Master."

 

[RainingHeat]

"Mine."

The word echoed in the recesses of her mind.

"Mine."

"Gleam....my arm,"

She had completely forgotten that his arm was in a sling. Completely forgotten that she had damaged it badly the night prior.

But he, he had dipped his head a moment later to capture a hardened, warm, nipple into his mouth. The sensation causing Gleam to hiss in pleasure. She felt the shock of lightning like tingles radiating out from that nipple, that he suckled, to every nerve ending in her body. "Ahhhhhh Ohhhhhh" her cries lifted to the moon that watched from above. She digging her nails into the grass beneath her, back arching. "MMMmmmm"

"Are you sure you want to do this, Gleam?"

His words were delivered low, and throaty, as he looked up at her.....releasing a stiffened nipple in order to speak. Already, his head dipped to gently pepper her full mounds with steamy kisses and soft, playful bites.

"You're still in heat, aren't you?"

"yesssssss..." the answer was to both questions.... "Masterrrrr"

Her body, her entire form, ached for him. She was panting from the kiss, from his near suckling from her nipples as if he thirsted in the desert heat.

He moved upward slowly, tracing her collarbone with his tongue, wetting her fur.....nibbling and nipping the base of her neck.....kissing lightly across the smooth new surface of her collar.....before biting just a little more sharply just above it.

"If you invite me into your hot little pussy, pet.....I'm not going to leave until I've filled you to the core."

He reached down between them....deft fingers nudging softly until her legs parted for him just enough to slip between moistened thighs. Smiling, the hunter softly reached further......to run the thick head of his cock over her dewy opening again and again.

Her breath caught in a keening moan. She was shaking beneath him, hungry to feel him inside her. She felt as if her very core were on fire. Yet, she was now very cognizant of his arm.....

"You're going to bear my children, Gleam. You'll submit even your womb to your Master."

That almost made her pause. If she had not been in heat, she very well may have stopped there. But she could not stop. Her body, her soul, her need, would not let her stop.

Instead, she reached up, wrapping herself around him, embracing him, including the arm in the sling, albeit gently, and rolled, effectively putting him to the ground, and she on top. "relax" she purred, lifting her hips and lowering her entire body downwards, the tight opening of her pussy grasping and ever so slowly, gliding downwards, to envelope him in the heat of her sex. Her pussy surrounding his shaft like a soaking wet, searing hot, velvet glove. She stiffened in pain, she was still vice like tight, her back arching as she held her breath, forcing herself to keep lowering, the hard pole that was his cock penetrating deeply, until the head rested at the entrance of her womb, she fully impaled on him now.

She paused there, to gain her breath, shuddering just a little, before she drew upwards, leaving his cock soaking wet with her dripping, slick juices, then lowering again, rolling her hips forward just a little. This was not a natural position for a feral, tho many mated in very human positions. But Gleam was lost in her heat, and the events of the last night and day, and she lifted again, and slid downwards again, this time lowering her head to find his lips in another deep, lust laden kiss. She had taken to kissing quite quickly.

 

[dryfter]

It was his turn to groan his pleasure for her.

He certainly didn't have to worry about hurting his arm in this position. And as Gleam slowly lowered herself down on him, he entered her fiery blast furnace of a pussy with delicious slowness. He didn't miss her hiss of pain as she committed herself to him.....yet the tigress never once slowed.....biting her lower lip gently as she sank all the way to the base of him.....his head pressed firmly against the end of her delightful tunnel.....

He had struck her womb. More than just the little bumps he had delivered the night previous. Lucian could actually feel her pressed up against him, and she could no doubt feel it as well.....her eyes closed as Gleam struggled to keep her breath and herself under control. Just as quickly as when they flew open, she was leaning forward......aggressively seeking his own lips to claim and claim deeply. Yet when she found them, it was again quite clear just who the dominant one was as he returned her kiss hard.....his hips surging upward to push against her even though he was buried thoroughly inside her gripping feral cunt.

She forced another moan from him as she tightened involuntarily, the sound echoing through the cavern of their dancing tongues. This was what he wanted.....her submission.....Gleam wasn't just taking what she wanted. She was making sure she pleased him, her mate and Master, as well.

She didn't have to try too hard at that. Just the sight of his collar on her formerly pristine throat.....the memory of her sinking to her knees before him and baring her throat.....

It made him pulse and throb with excitement.....and right now, she was in the perfect position to feel each pulsing and throb.

The way she moved, the way she stroked his cock with her body.....made him crazy. He was pushing her away.....his one hand firmly on a supple breast as he broke their kiss. Yet if there were any confusion in her face when he did so, it evaporated just as quickly as he met every grind of her hips as she fell upon him, surging upward not only with his loins, but with his face as well.

Lucian actually growled as he brought her milk bags to his face. She had reacted so delightfully before when he had teased them. Now he nipped at the hardness of her crests....tugging and pulling at each stiff nub as he needed the firm globes roughly with the one hand able to. For long seconds, he drew her into his mouth, circling her proof of arousal with his tongue and suckling HARD.

He shivered beneath her, breaking away to gasp wide eyed for breath.....shaking from the sheer feeling of her making love to him.

"Yes.....that's it, Gleam.....I'm close, pet......"

 

[RainingHeat]

She felt him bucking beneath her, and even tho she rode him, she was on "top", it was not lost on her that He was rearing up to claim her pussy, even as she was coming down to impale herself on him. Between that and he commanding the kiss as soon as her lips met his. His motions brought forth another hissing moan of pain as his cock, filling her completely, pushed into the very wall of her womb, her cervix, the muscle protesting with a spasm. Gleam cried out into the kiss, her body shaking as the mingling of pain and pleasure, of possession and desire, flooded her entire system.

When the kiss broke, or more accurately, when he released her lips, she gasped, closing her golden eyes, taking a deep, deep breath, as he arched up and deeper into her, she matching his motions with her own, riding him, as he bucked and rocked under her. She reached up and curled her fingers into and thru her own mane, letting it spill back down her spine as she rocked upon his long shaft. He moved with her, and in fact, he controlled the motions, the rhythm, everything, and Gleam knew that, even from her top position.

Gleam's eyes snapped open when his hand, and then his mouth, suddenly gripped upon her breast, her nipple. She hissed in a gasp of pain and pleasure, her nipples were very very sensative and his mouth set hers on fire. The feel of his teeth, the nipping, and then the hard, feeding suckling, as if he were nursing her, brought forth a series of deep keening moans. Gleams hands found his head, fingers now entangling in his hair, her body still riding his, the whole of her fur covered form gliding against his, undulating, bouncing, the desire that was pulsing thru her spilling out over his cock in the form of her slick lubrication, coating his balls, drenching the grass beneath them.

"Yes.....that's it, Gleam.....I'm close, pet......"

She let her head loll back as she screamed out in her own lust, before turning her eyes down to him. The collar that lay against her throat glinting in the moon's cool light, altho she was anything but cool. She was nearly on fire and so close herself to climaxing she thought she was going to explode..

"cum.... for .... me.... Master Lucian" she moaned, purring and low. Sure, she was pushing just a little, but she could not help it, given she was still on top....

 

[dryfter]

"Cum.... for .... me.... Master Lucian."

Oh she pushed alright. And every time she did, he sank just a little deeper inside her, watched her squirm just a little more to adjust to his male girth. Lucian groaned as he struck her deeply, hearing her gasp yet again, shivering as he bottomed out inside her.

When he spoke, it was a low, strained whisper.

"You are mine now, Gleam."

He could feel his cock twitching, tightly grasped as it was.....it ached feverishly....straining as it prepared for his impending release. Just watching her, bouncing up and down on him.....watching his own fuckpole disappear inside her svelte body, reappearing again glistening with her juices for the briefest of seconds......

"Mine. Pleasure me. Serve me. Obey me."

He shivered slightly.....a low and throaty moan increasing the volume of his words just a little.

"Give yourself to me, just as you're doing now. My sexy little tigress.....my pet.....my mate."

His one good arm reached for her then....settling on a tawny hip.....a sign that the end was rapidly approaching as he shook softly beneath her.

"Gleam.....oh god....."

He wanted to roll her over, to dominate her. To pound his seed into her deepest of orifices. Yet he couldn't as he was. She had the leverage, and lost as she was in her own sensation, Gleam wasn't about to give it up.

"I'm coming, pet....!"

Lucian's whole body snapped taut, his firm buttocks arching up and off the firm earth as the night air resounded with his suddenly triumphant cry. He pulled on her as hard as he could given his circumstances....pulling her down even as he surged upward......he could feel her react instantly as he burst, spilling his seed into her hungry pussy, his cockhead forced right up against the gates of her womb as he sowed himself into her private garden, growling and grunting his pleasure as he did so. He made sure she could feel every last thick jet as it crashed against her.....filled her......

When it was over, he was content to hold her......pull her close and just let her feel his heartbeat, her lovely red mane spilled all over his chest. Twitching and softening, he still remained inside her, silently not wanting a drop to escape her.

"Thank you, Gleam. You definitely pleased me well this evening."

He wasn't sure if she had done this for him.....if she had gotten caught up with some strange level of excitement from being collared.....or if she had come to him because her heat had not yet died down. It mattered not. The way she had been acting since last night....since he had dominated her, took her, and made her his own. Even going so far as to accept his collar the way she had.....

Perhaps she wouldn't need as much training as he thought.

"I mentioned that your training starts tonight."

It was hard to form the words between his shortness of breath, and her weight on him. A weight that shifted, as she rose to look at him inquisitively.

"I have a simple task I want you to perform, Gleam."

Yes perform. Even after what they had just done. Yet he suspected, even if she found the thought offensive, even if she might consider resisting......once she found out what it was......

"As I said before. Tonight I sleep in your bed. I will sleep out here with you. Your master is badly injured. You must make sure no harm comes to me tonight. Its your duty."

A soft smile as he pulled her back down to him. He could get used to this, being used as a rather sweaty pillow for her beautiful head.

"I'm trusting you."

 

[RainingHeat]

Her breath taken deeply, gasping, holding, as her body shook upon his. The moon's glow bathing them both, if one looked, they perhaps would look like haunted lovers, sharing their passion.

"You are mine now, Gleam."

She turned her gaze down to him, her golden eyes meeting his. She said nothing, but she reached up to trace the mithril collar about her throat, and nod to his words. She knew she was his. He was claiming her yet again. She had no choice, and she knew that.

"Mine. Pleasure me. Serve me. Obey me."

He shivered slightly.....a low and throaty moan increasing the volume of his words just a little.

"Give yourself to me, just as you're doing now. My sexy little tigress.....my pet.....my mate."

She began to move again, a slow, deliberate undulation of her entire body. Her sex grasping, massaging, wanting to drink from his cock, his balls, once more, to be filled with his seed, his essence. It felt so good inside her, she felt warm, the tingling that was cascading over her felt like thousands of fingers tickling and caressing. She felt bathed in his lust, and her own.

"Gleam.....oh god....."

He wanted to roll her over, to dominate her. To pound his seed into her deepest of orifices. Yet he couldn't as he was. She had the leverage, and lost as she was in her own sensation, Gleam wasn't about to give it up.

"I'm coming, pet....!"

"GOOD" she commented, allowing him the sexiest of smiles, she even showing her fangs. Rolling her hips, forward then up, back down, forward, up and down, she rode him thru his orgasm, His hand gripping her hip, guiding her, pulling her down as he was thrusting up. When the first searing hot jet of his seed poured from him, she feeling every spasm, every shudder of his cock as it pumped her full of his cum, she too called out, to the moon, and anyone who could hear, her voice lifting... "MASTERRRRR" the word rode out thru his climax and yet another one of her own, her sweet honey mingling with his virulent seed, flooding her, coating her, soaking her until it was leaking out around his still moving cock.

Panting, as the dual orgasms finally waned, she lay down atop him, her damp fur pressed to his equally dampened skin. Her head coming to rest upon his shoulder, she could hear and feel his own heartbeat just as he could feel hers. And.... she was purring, a low, soft sound that she rarely made.

"Thank you, Gleam. You definitely pleased me well this evening."

She let her eyes close to his words, not answering. Had she meant to please him? Or was it just her heat, seeking her mate for another round of pleasure? She really was not sure. But, she knew she felt good, soooo very good. She felt safe, laying with him, she felt ... content.

"I mentioned that your training starts tonight."

It was hard to form the words between his shortness of breath, and her weight on him. A weight that shifted, as she rose to look at him inquisitively. He had to know she did not like the word... training...

"I have a simple task I want you to perform, Gleam."

"yes.... Master Lucian?" her own voice barely above a whisper.

"As I said before. Tonight I sleep in your bed. I will sleep out here with you. Your master is badly injured. You must make sure no harm comes to me tonight. Its your duty."

A soft smile as he pulled her back down to him. He could get used to this, being used as a rather sweaty pillow for her beautiful head.

"I'm trusting you."

"You will be safe.... Master Lucian" she whispered, reaching up to touch his face for just a moment.

He was right. He was injured. Because of her. And he was sleeping outside, because of her. Out in the open. She would not let anyone near him. He had kept her protected, several times already. She would do the same for him. Her eyes searched for and found, the moon, then Leo, her favorite star field. She did not move from where she rested on his chest until his breathing steadied, and deepened, when she knew he had fallen asleep.

With the lightest touch, she gently lifted herself to a sitting position. "Better look around" she said to herself. She just wanted to get the lay of the land so to speak. She took a quick look inside and found that the Dwarves had heard nothing, they still deeply asleep. "With all that foul ale, I am guessing they would sleep thru a war" she murmured to herself. She was a light sleeper, always had been. You had to be, when feral and sleeping in the wild.

For the next hour, Gleam got a feel for the surroundings. She scented the air, but nothing alarming revealed itself. She could still smell the faintest remnants of both Harlan and Jakob, but both were long since gone. She canted her head to listen, heard some night birds in the distance, and perhaps the sound of a waterfall, no doubt at the base of the mountain. But other than that, all was silent.

Finally, she sat back down. Her own eyes wanted to close for sleep. She was exhausted, and again, sore physically. The muscles of her sex were not used to such a pummeling and were protesting. Gods, the idea of soaking in a nice cool pool at the base of a waterfall sounded heavenly. She would have to find that waterfall once daylight came, and that was that.

It was that thought, that was languidly, tiredly, moving thru her mind when she thought she heard something. A splash. As if someone, or something, had crossed a nearby stream. What would be moving about at this hour? It was not a feral, Gleam already knew that. Ferals would be silent and never make the mistake of splashing in a stream. Animal? or.....Not an Elf, again, silent. Not a Dwarf, they would make much more noise. Human?????????????

 

[dryfter]

A doe.

A soft eyed doe that slowly edged towards them, its hocks still moist from the shallow water it had just crossed. Yet unlike other does of the wild, this one didn't seem afraid of the tigress in the slightest, instead choosing to advance slowly....carefully. It was a decision thought twice as Gleam immediately stepped before her sleeping human master.

The doe stopped dead, understanding the intent of the defender as well as her predatory nature. It wouldn't go over well should she actually be attacked.....

Joints popped....bones expanded and shrunk with a bare minimum of pain and a whole lot of discomfort. She couldn't imagine how Gleam might feel seeing this, especially seeing as how she was pretty much open for attack while in the middle of her shifting......

Minutes later, an ecstatic and gloriously naked Suru stood before them.....a wide smile plastered all over her normally docile face. Yet even as she moved as a friend towards Gleam, she stopped again....her happiness fading as the tigress tensed.

"Gleam....its....me? You can....scent me if you want to. It's really me."

The druidess gazed down at the ground, nodding softly and in all seriousness as she took in the sight of Lucian's prone and sleeping form.

"So you've become his mate. Good for you."

A deep breath and that soft smile of hers, with eyes that shone with the true happiness she felt.

"Did you know that druids can shapeshift to different animals of the wood and even some in the air!"

She caught herself suddenly, not wanting to be too loud. When she continued, she dared to step forward once more and close distance between the two of them.

"Master taught me the spell. He told me that with me being half animal already, perhaps I should try shifting into a deer as my first attempt. How did I do? Was it convincing?"

And again, as happy as she was a second ago.....her good mood faded just as quickly.

"I have my spells again, Gleam. You should let me cast them on his arm when we get the chance. I'm not very strong yet, not nearly as strong as Master is......but I can still help Lucian a little at a time."

The doe glanced up, looking for permission.....and that's when she saw it......

"By all that's fae......"

Her eyes had fell upon her hybrid sister's collar.....and widened in surprise, awe, and perhaps a touch of jealousy?

"He collared you again. So...so pretty. But you won't be able to get this one off, Gleam."

The druidess looked from Lucian to Gleam.....from wounded arm to glittering collar.....

"Can I touch it.....just once? Is it heavy? Is it cool to the touch? You must be really special to him, Gleam....."

 

[RainingHeat]

Gleam was tired, actually, she was exhausted. So for a minute, as she stared at the Doe before her, shifting, changing, talking, she thought she was dreaming some strange, fantastic dream. But dream or no dream, she was not about to let whoever it was anywhere near her or Lucian for that matter.

"Gleam....its....me? You can....scent me if you want to. It's really me."

She did not move, nor did she answer. What kind of magic was this, and was this some kind of trick???

"So you've become his mate. Good for you."

A deep breath and that soft smile of hers, with eyes that shone with the true happiness she felt.

"Did you know that druids can shapeshift to different animals of the wood and even some in the air!"

Gleam blinked at that. She had not known that, and still had not let down her defensive stance. But as Suru approached, her familiar smell also gently wafted past and it was.. her. Altho Gleam did not like this shape shifting at all. How does one guard against that???

"Master taught me the spell. He told me that with me being half animal already, perhaps I should try shifting into a deer as my first attempt. How did I do? Was it convincing?"

"A little too much, but to be honest, I did not scent you, only heard you, Suru" she admitted. "You will do well to NOT sneak up on me or Master Lucian like that again." the words were punctuated with a little growl. Just a friendly warning. She trusted Suru because Lucian did. But Gleam did not want to attack in error if she tried that little stunt again.

"I have my spells again, Gleam. You should let me cast them on his arm when we get the chance. I'm not very strong yet, not nearly as strong as Master is......but I can still help Lucian a little at a time."

The doe glanced up, looking for permission.....and that's when she saw it....

By all that's fae......"

For a minute, Gleam took a step back, having no clue what had caught the Doe's attention, until she realized, it was her collar.

"He collared you again. So...so pretty. But you won't be able to get this one off, Gleam."

The druidess looked from Lucian to Gleam.....from wounded arm to glittering collar.....

"Can I touch it.....just once? Is it heavy? Is it cool to the touch? You must be really special to him, Gleam....."

She took another step back. Touching was out of the question, at least tonight.

"I am well aware that I can not take this collar off Suru." she looked at the sleeping Lucian. "It does not mean I do not desire freedom. It means I will not run like coward, or like a wild animal that has escaped. If I am to be truely free again, he will have to free me. " It was a matter of fact statement.

"It is mithril, light and cool to the touch, but please, do not approach. I do not .... want... to be... touched again... tonight" It was quite clear that Gleam had simply had enough, with the fierce mating, the healers, the dwarves, and then another coupling with Lucian had tried her patience, and she was tired. Him, she could handle, but everyone else was just too many too soon.

Gleam was about to send Suru on her way, when a thought suddenly alit in her mind.

"Suru... You said you could help Lucian a little at a time, that you were getting strong, but not nearly as strong as your Master" she paused, stepping closer to the Doe.. "How about you bring your elusive Master... here... Why should Lucian be made to suffer or wait. Bring him to us, Suru, I would like to speak to him, to ask him to heal Lucian's arm"

It was not a question. It was just short of a demand. Gleam still had freedom running thru her veins, and determination. "Morning, I am sure he can be here in the morning, Suru. Please don't make me come looking for him"

 

[dryfter]

"I am well aware that I can not take this collar off, Suru. It does not mean I do not desire freedom. It means I will not run like coward, or like a wild animal that has escaped. If I am to be truly free again, he will have to free me. "

The druidess paused, not missing a single thing she did, from her glance back to her sleeping Master....to the fact that she had retreated a step in response to her sudden advance. The silent request to not be touched was received without saying a word. Suru had been training on how to interact with all the forest creatures, and learning mannerisms of things that cannot speak surely helped here as well. The doe ceased her advance.

"My apologies for having startled you, Gleam. I will....I will take your words to heart."

She was still timid, despite the excitement that ran through her right now. She just wanted to leap forward and embrace the tigress, tell her that she was free, and how happy she was that she had finally found a mate most would consider worthy of her as well as the other way around.

"It is mithril, light and cool to the touch, but please, do not approach. I do not .... want... to be... touched again... tonight"

Ahhh...verbal confirmation. Her guess had been right. Her Master would be pleased! A soft blush of happiness colored the flesh beneath her lightly tanned fur.

"Mithril. What....what is mithril? Is it like iron? I will ask my Master. I've not heard of this metal before. It's so shiny.....I love the way the moonlight plays across its surface. Light and cool to the touch....how...wonderful."

"Suru... You said you could help Lucian a little at a time, that you were getting strong, but not nearly as strong as your Master. How about you bring your elusive Master... here... Why should Lucian be made to suffer or wait? Bring him to us, Suru. I would like to speak to him, to ask him to heal Lucian's arm."

This time it was the druidess who retreated, her eyes widening suddenly as her mind raced along the words of Gleam's request. Her nervous nature took over, losing ground almost as fast as the tigress chose to gain it, barely able to look the stronger female in the eye as she did so.

"Morning, I am sure he can be here in the morning, Suru. Please don't make me come looking for him."

"N-no!"

Her head shot up to make full eye contact with her then, widening in horror. For a second, she was distracted only by the soft stirring of the human laying in the tall grass. A constant reminder that she had to remain quiet.....

"Gleam, please no! You'll be killed! I'll ask him! I promise I'll ask him! But you can't come looking for us! The elves are very territorial! If they thought you were threatening them....."

The doe shuddered as an image came to her mind......Gleam convulsing on the ground, spitting up blood, her body pierced by a dozen arrows.....the fight in her eyes slowly fading along with her life.

"Please....please, I'll do what I can. Please be patient."

Tears welled up in the doe's eyes. She was shaking, and was no longer thinking of retreat, the druidess frozen in place.....her words the barest of whispers....uttered from lips that had seen horror and cruelty beyond belief.

"I don't want to lose anyone else......"

 

[RainingHeat]

"Suru... You said you could help Lucian a little at a time, that you were getting strong, but not nearly as strong as your Master. How about you bring your elusive Master... here... Why should Lucian be made to suffer or wait? Bring him to us, Suru. I would like to speak to him, to ask him to heal Lucian's arm."

"Morning, I am sure he can be here in the morning, Suru. Please don't make me come looking for him."

It was not lost on Gleam that Suru had suddenly become timid, even submissive before her. The Tigress stepped forward. How had it not dawned on her before. She understood that Suru was learning the healing arts. But she had done serious damage to Lucian's arm, granted for the life of her she still had no memory of it, but now she was annoyed that this great "Master Healer" whoever he was, did not deign to even show up? But then again, perhaps he did not know Lucian, perhaps did not like Lucian??? Had Suru come on her own volition the night of the ... fight ...???

Did any of that matter to Gleam? No, not really. Now she was annoyed at Suru for not bringing him. By her own admission, this was a difficult healing for her. By her own admission she was learning and could only work alittle at a time.

N-no!"

Suru's head shot up to make full eye contact with her then, widening in horror. For a second, she was distracted only by the soft stirring of the human laying in the tall grass. A constant reminder that she had to remain quiet.....

"Gleam, please no! You'll be killed! I'll ask him! I promise I'll ask him! But you can't come looking for us! The elves are very territorial! If they thought you were threatening them....

Elves. Gleam knew little of Elves to be honest. Her mother had not schooled her in other life forms, other than Ferals and Humans that is. She had heard of Elves, even seen what she thought were several, from a distance. But she had never interacted with one. Given that Elves did not hunt ferals, at least not in the Southern Wood, what was so .... bad... about them? To Gleam, Humans, well, most humans, were the enemy, the horror of the forest. Humans hunted Ferals, Humans enslaved Ferals, Humans used Ferals, and Humans killed Ferals. Not Elves. Again, at least not in the Southern Wood.

But the look that colored Suru's eyes told Gleam volumes on what Elves were in this part of the world. Obviously to be feared.

"I said nothing of a threat, Suru" she quietly corrected the Doe.

She was trembling, and Gleam took a step back. The Doe had a look upon her face, a shadow that darkened her gaze. Gleam was not a magical being of any kind, she knew not what was happening, but her instincts told her that Suru was either seeing something, or remembering something that was nothing short of a nightmare.

"Please....please, I'll do what I can. Please be patient."

Tears welled up in the doe's eyes. She was shaking, and was no longer thinking of retreat, the druidess frozen in place.....her words the barest of whispers....uttered from lips that had seen horror and cruelty beyond belief.

"I don't want to lose anyone else......"

Gleam blinked at that. Anyone else. What ... what did that mean.

"Suru" she whispered, advancing, albeit slowly, toward the Doe once more. "I issued no threat. I am not an enemy of the Elves. I have never even interacted with Elves." Gleam went over the Doe's words in her mind again....

"But you can't come looking for us! The elves are very territorial! If they thought you were threatening them...."

Gleam understood well about territory. And defending territory. That made perfect sense to the Feral. But she was a lone feral. How could she be seen as such a threat as to send the Doe into near hysteria???

"Suru.... I only want what is best for Lucian. I am thinking that, if you are allowed, even in collar, to come here either with permission or of your own free will, than these... Elves.... are well aware of who Lucian is. I am only asking that your Master, whoever he is, obviously a Healer, come here to tend to his arm. That's all I am asking. If I have to present myself before him to ask, I will, that simple"

Made perfect sense to Gleam. Tho now she had another thought, was Lucian going to be ..... upset.... that Gleam had thought of, and pushed, this particular topic?????

And what had Suru meant.... "Don't want to lose anyone else?"

 

[dryfter]

"I issued no threat. I am not an enemy of the Elves. I have never even interacted with Elves."

The tigress advanced, but at least the aggression she had seen before was gone. Was she thinking past her mate's well being now?

"Suru.... I only want what is best for Lucian. I am thinking that, if you are allowed, even in collar, to come here either with permission or of your own free will, than these... Elves.... are well aware of who Lucian is. I am only asking that your Master, whoever he is, obviously a Healer, come here to tend to his arm. That's all I am asking. If I have to present myself before him to ask, I will, that simple"

Her head bobbed up and down slightly, proof that she heard what Gleam was saying.

"I will ask him. I will let Master know you seek an audience. That is a much better way."

She was still nervous, flighty....but she started forward again, no longer mindful of Gleam's desire to not be touched. Thankfully, it wasn't the tigress female she was focusing on. Still, she tread carefully......knowing well the posture she'd seen in Gleam before. She was protecting him.....and could very well even attack a friend if perceived as a threat. Could she smell her fear? Did she know that she had no intention of harming Lucian? She'd stated that she was here to cast her magics.......

"A sleep spell. So he doesn't wake up."

She knelt softly beside him, feeling the eyes of her sister hybrid boring into her, watching everything she did. It was intimidating, and Suru trembled softly, swallowing hard before beginning to murmur a soft incantation. Gently, she placed a soft hand upon the hunter's brow......he shifted ever so slightly at the touch, relaxing just as quickly as the magic took hold.

"Gleam.....would you please?"

She nodded towards the man's sling, and the bandages beneath. They would both have to be removed.....the druidess needed direct contact with the ruined flesh to coax it to mend.

Long minutes later, she finally began to relax a little. The spell must have been cast correctly, as Lucian had yet to stir even a little......the softness of his deep breaths could be heard by both as the ranger's forearm finally came into view.

Suru wasn't sure if they had both hissed at once, but she certainly didn't miss the look on Gleam's face as the ugly wound faced the open air. The flesh was ragged, angry red and badly swollen, purple in places where the bruising was horrible. Despite her better judgement, Suru leaned out to gently make contact....her eyes closing briefly as her soft muttering began once more.

Eyes opened, and with them, a smile for Gleam and a soft, pleased nod.

"The bone has healed at least. It had been fractured but hadn't actually split. That was why I made him wear a sling. I couldn't risk him endangering it anymore until it had time to heal properly."

The doe's soft eyed look turned more stern and serious as she glanced back down at the injury.

"I can reduce the swelling for sure.....and repair some more of the tissue damage....."

Eyes slowly closed beneath light colored lids as the acolyte druidess began a soft chant, one that Gleam had heard once before this. A green phosphoric glow enveloped her left hand, which she extended to hover just above Lucian's injury.

As the tigress looked on, much of the bruising faded completely from view. The change in swelling was harder to detect, as Suru's magic swept through the injured muscles and tendons, relieving their inflammation. And while not much appeared to change in the initial wound itself.....several spots that looked like infection might be setting in, suddenly might just have been one's imagination.

The doe's hand shook slightly......her own breath coming in ragged pants, retreating unsteadily as the exertion took its toll on her.

"That is all....I can do for him....tonight. I....will let....Master know....about his progress."

 

[RainingHeat]

"Suru.... I only want what is best for Lucian. I am thinking that, if you are allowed, even in collar, to come here either with permission or of your own free will, than these... Elves.... are well aware of who Lucian is. I am only asking that your Master, whoever he is, obviously a Healer, come here to tend to his arm. That's all I am asking. If I have to present myself before him to ask, I will, that simple"

"I will ask him. I will let Master know you seek an audience. That is a much better way."

An audience. Well, if that is what she wanted to call it, that was fine.

Gleam watched as the Doe approached Lucian. She was wary, but trusted Suru, just as Lucian had. She had no reason or provocation to think otherwise.

"A sleep spell. So he doesn't wake up."

Gleam nodded. That made sense. Healing could actually hurt and altho it was apparent Lucian had a very strong threshold for pain, this may have been too much if the spell had not been case. Gleam watched as the Doe quietly whispered an incantation, her golden eyes never leaving the Feral Healer. Again, she had no reason for distrust, but Gleam was tired, touchy, and annoyed, it did not bode well for her mood or state of mind.

"Gleam.....would you please?"

She nodded towards the man's sling, and the bandages beneath. They would both have to be removed.....the druidess needed direct contact with the ruined flesh to coax it to mend.

Gleam hissed in her breath at her first real site of the severe wound she had inflicted on Lucian during their battle. She felt a cold tremor of guilt shake thru her. It was clear that she had been fighting hard for her freedom, and even more clear that he had held back to avoid really hurting her, held back to the point of he nearly becoming maimed, or worse.

She had all but forgotten Suru was there for a minute, until she heard the Doe's soft voice, again uttering her magic, the words indistinguishable.

Touching the collar at her throat, she wondered how he could still want her as he did, after she had done ... this... to him. How was he not angry? How was he not resentful? What if the arm was never useful again, what if she had inflicted permanent damage??

"The bone has healed at least. It had been fractured but hadn't actually split. That was why I made him wear a sling. I couldn't risk him endangering it anymore until it had time to heal properly."

Gods, she had even broken it in her fierceness. Gleam's head dropped, she looking away. She would go to the Elf. She would beg him if needed. She owed Lucian that.

"I can reduce the swelling for sure.....and repair some more of the tissue damage....."

Again, her voice deepened, quieted, as she murmured her magical words, bringing froth the soft emerald light of healing, hands laying over the savage wound.

Much of the bruising faded completely from view. The change in swelling was harder to detect, as Suru's magic swept through the injured muscles and tendons, relieving their inflammation. ...

The doe's hand shook slightly......her own breath coming in ragged pants, retreating unsteadily as the exertion took its toll on her.

"That is all....I can do for him....tonight. I....will let....Master know....about his progress."

"Suru" ... Gleam looked up to the Doe.

"I'm sorry for.... I trust you, please know that" Gleam touched the Doe's arm herself. "Please tell your Master that I...... beg..... just a little of his time to speak for Lucian. His injury is my fault, my guilt to bear. I seek only his complete healing, with no suffering. I know you are trying, but Suru, it is not enough. I... need... this" her eyes flickered with her inner fire. It was clear that Gleam would more than likely seek the Elven Healer herself if an audience was not granted. A glance to Lucian... He may not he happy, but for Gleam, this was a must, not a choice, even if she suffered her own punishment because of it..

"tell him, Suru, tonight!!"

 

[dryfter]

"Ye care for him that much then?"

If Gleam's reaction hadn't been good enough, Suru reacted like she'd just been struck by a cattle prod, half jumping and spinning towards the voice at the same time. In the end, it only threw her equilibrium off balance and sent her crashing down in a crumpled heap.

"What have we here? A druidess in the shape of a doe?"

The words were kept low, Glenda knew well the hearing capabilities of these hybrids. Even now, the snores of her husband echoed into the night, less so as the door behind her closed. Yet she knew neither of them would relax any until....

The silvery blue shortshord she held in her right hand slid easily back into her sheath. The dwarf maiden's gruff frown righting itself just a little beneath her beard.

"All the noise in the world would nae woken me. But magic? Here? Lucian's nae knowin how ta cast. So I came prepared fer trouble. Was nae expectin ta find a druid here. My apologies. Glenda o' Darkhaven"

Introductions were made in the hopes of calming the poor doe just as the sheathing of her weapon was made to ensure Gleam that she posed no threat. Truth be told, she was still a little wobbly on her feet. She'd drank herself to sleep next to her husband after all.....

A low whistle as her eyes fell upon Lucian's arm.

"Well now, if that ain't something. Don't tell me a scrawny lil girl like yerself came here ta heal that? Ye dunnae have a chance, not with ye shakin like that after just two spells."

Suru was back in her feet, and for the first time, a small flare of pride and.....anger?.....flared in her usually soft eyes.

"Master commanded me to see to him!"

Eyes moved from druidess to ranger in silence.....then back to the druidess again. The presence of the leather that bound her throat was not lost on the bard. Sighing and running a hand through her dusty blonde locks, the stumpy little woman advanced slowly so as not to upset, and moved to one knee before the stricken hunter.

"Well least ye got the sleep spell right. He's really out cold. Won't wake up till mid mornin, my guess. Ye should both be keepin yer voices down now. Don't think any o' us want Thurgaard ta come barrelin outta that door with his axe thinkin somethin's wrong. 'Specially with ol' Lucian 'ere layin about with three standin round him. Might nae know this, but his sight's gettin ta be none too good."

A soft chuckle....

"Back when he was younger, he cleared a whole barroom I was playin at just cause some bloke dinnae like the tune I was playin and threw a bottle at me. Never did find out if he blew up all ragin like cause a certain lovely bard had been attacked, or if he was pissed the bottle was full. Either way....tis best nae ta rile him. I could nae stop him from cleavin skulls then, and I prolly cannae now."

A soft pause, and those startlingly shrewd blue eyes turned up towards Gleam.

"That desperate are ye? Ye'd ask a druid more powerful than this one 'ere ta come? Doubtful they'd leave their forest, protectors as they are. But they might. Might indeed after all Lucian's done for 'em. Kept the loggers at bay, the trappers and hunters at bay."

There was something more than just that bothering the beautiful female before her now, and she knew it.

"Go on, ye can run back ta yer master and tell 'im ye've done what ye've been sent ta do. I'm sure this is all part o' yer training anyway, aye?"

Suru nodded softly, swallowing hard. Her eyes completely fixated on the smallish woman.....

"Wha....what....are you.....Glenda of Darkhaven?"

That brought about a snort and a soft chuckle.

"Eh, that figures. Elves dunnae think enough o' us dwarves ta give us the time o' day, much less teach their own 'bout us. Think we're all a bunch o' defilers o' their land seein as how we mine it fer its minerals and metals."

"A....dwarf....."

Eyes widened slightly.....the word bringing some recognition.

"Aye, now I told ye ta run off. I'll be handlin this from now on. Don't ye be making me brandish mah weapon at ye again, ye look like the kind that'll scare off easy like. Now go."

A shaky Suru rose to her feet, blushing just a little. Glancing at Gleam first, then back to the little female....for a second, her eyes narrowed slightly. Which only brought a little chuckle to Glenda's lips.

"So ye do have some spine about ye then? Glad ta see it. No doubt's the reason why yer being taught the path yer on. Not ta worry, hun.....he's safe in my care. Though I only met ye both just today, Lucian's been a mate o' mine fer a long time."

She winced at her poor choice of wording as soon as it left her mouth.

"Mate as in friend, love."

She offered an apolgetic, craggy smile to the tigress before returning her attention to Suru.

"Let yer master know I'll be takin o'er from here, and we thank him fer sendin ye. Also let him know that unless he'd like a tiger searchin the forest fer him, he'd best be lettin such injuries go ta ones that can heal them properly next time. Would nae sit well indeed should somethin happen ta Gleam whilst she be off lookin fer him. And if yer wonderin what I mean, lass.....I mean that my kin owe him a favor or two as well. Hearin that'll be enough ta give yer master pause I'd wager. Now off with ye."

It took a soft scowl from the dwarf to finally send her on her way when she hesitated again. Yet even the diminutive bard's eyes widened slowly, Suru shifted before them both......easily taking the full form of a doe before bolting away.....the sound of her crashing through the river could be heard again minutes later, obviously retracing her steps back home.

"Now then, let's see here."

Glenda moved in close, stubby fingers showing surprising gentleness as she lifted the wounded arm up and off the ground.....

"And he said you did this? Fight with the old lady indeed. Should box his ears fer that remark when he wakes. Least the bone's nae broken. Horrible gash though, muscle tears, right down to the bone. Gonna take days for that girl ta heal this. Nae sure what her "master's" thinkin, but usin Lucian as training for her dunnae sit well with me. And you?"

She waited patiently for a response, politely, even though she knew what it would be. Truth was....she wasn't here to talk about that.

"The collar looks good on ye, lass. Crafted by my brother in law, finest smith in Darkhaven. Dare say he'd be proud ta see it on such a pretty lil throat."

Yet there was something there, some worry, doubt, in those clear eyes of hers. She was stalling, hesitating as if making some inner decision of her own. One that finally was made long seconds later. She had never back down from a fight.....and she wouldn't now. Even if it was Lucian that might give her one.

"Ye know....."

There was a slight wavering in her normally melodic, rumbling voice.

"The muscle's ne'er gonna be complete again. Even with a complete healing. Oh, he'll have use o' the arm, fer sure."

She had to throw that out there, just for the look on Gleam's face, her reaction to her words.

"But it'll lose some o' its strength. Ne'er be as strong as his right arm. Now not all o' that is you, love. Ye'll remember he had a tussle with a bear, few years back too. This damage goes back far longer than just one night."

She was trying her best to be diplomatic, to make the tigress feel better. From the look in her eyes, any court jester could have seen that she blamed herself.

"So I'm gonna tell ye something I'm nae supposed to, and ye be keepin this ta yerself lest ol' Glenda be gettin in trouble with yon Master there."

A soft smile, and a twinkle in her eyes, the seriousness still there, but the mischief and yes.....admiration for the two of them winning out.

"That master o' yers.....he's bout likely to let that keep him down as he is ta blame ye fer all this. Seems ta me the fool shouldnae be jammin his arm in the mouth o' every woman he finds ta begin with."

A soft smile, that twinkle brightening just a little.

"Think if ye asked him though, he'd say it was worth it."

Thick fingers dipped into her vest, clawing about for a bit as she wrestled with something unseen before slowly drawing out a small decanter, stout in nature and made of clear quartz crystal cut to perfection.

"Fingers have a problem with vials, so we carry these instead. Less slippery."

She offered it to Gleam.....noting how the softly shimmering amber colored liquid within gently sloshed about in its confines.

"I want ye ta listen and listen good, Gleam. Tonight, it seems, Lucian gave me and my husband another commission fer my brother in law, Dagthar."

She had her attention. Good. Now to hope for a favorable reaction and not send her spiralling into guilt once more.

"Seeing as how he has a tendency ta use that arm as a sheild, and its gonna be losin some of its mobility anyway......why not make it one? The job he's asked done is a custom one, ta be sure. Nae sure if he's gonna hafta travel ta Darkhaven or nae.....or if Dagthar's willin ta actually leave the hearth and come see him hisself. Me? I'mma try and convince him ta do the latter.....and the man's always taken a shine ta me, proud and all that I wed his brother."

A wide grin, meant for just the two of them.

"So if'n ye see a stumpy lil man with a hammer head the size o Thurgaard's skull strapped ta his back, and a beard black as coal......that'd be him. I'll prolly nae be too far behind. Looks like I'll be payin Lucian a return visit before settin off again. Hope ye don't mind."

 

[RainingHeat]

"Ye care for him that much then?"

Who the...... Gleam turned so fast, it was hard to even see the movement. She had completely forgotten the Dwarves sleeping in the cabin, and it took her a minute to realize it was Glenda, standing in the doorway, sword drawn, that had spoken.

"What have we here? A druidess in the shape of a doe?"

"All the noise in the world would nae woken me. But magic? Here? Lucian's nae knowin how ta cast. So I came prepared fer trouble. Was nae expectin ta find a druid here. My apologies. Glenda o' Darkhaven"

Gods, Gleam was tired, and it took her another minute to make the proper introductions. All she wanted to do was curl up and sleep, but she had made him a promise, to watch over him, even when among friends.

"Glenda, this is Suru, Suru, this is Glenda. Keep in mind, I only just met both of you tonight"

She listened to the animated exchange between the 2 of them. In reality, she was getting more annoyed by the minute, and it was not sitting well with her.

"Let yer master know I'll be takin o'er from here, and we thank him fer sendin ye. Also let him know that unless he'd like a tiger searchin the forest fer him, he'd best be lettin such injuries go ta ones that can heal them properly next time. Would nae sit well indeed should somethin happen ta Gleam whilst she be off lookin fer him. And if yer wonderin what I mean, lass.....I mean that my kin owe him a favor or two as well. Hearin that'll be enough ta give yer master pause I'd wager. Now off with ye."

It took a soft scowl from the dwarf to finally send the Doe Healer on her way when she hesitated again. Yet even the diminutive bard's eyes widened slowly, Suru shifted before them both......easily taking the full form of a doe before bolting away.....the sound of her crashing through the river could be heard again minutes later, obviously retracing her steps back home.

"Now then, let's see here."

Glenda moved in close, stubby fingers showing surprising gentleness as she lifted the wounded arm up and off the ground.....

"And he said you did this? Fight with the old lady indeed. Should box his ears fer that remark when he wakes. Least the bone's nae broken. Horrible gash though, muscle tears, right down to the bone. Gonna take days for that girl ta heal this. Nae sure what her "master's" thinkin, but usin Lucian as training for her dunnae sit well with me. And you?"

"Not at all Glenda, not at all" it was clear by the look in Gleam's eyes just how unhappy she had become with this whole situation. Unhappy, forget that, downright pissed. "That's why I wanted to speak to him. Ask him why Lucian should suffer that way. I do not understand why Suru did not bring him. I don't care if he is an Elven Master" yeah, her back was up. This whole Master / slave thing was not sitting well with her at the moment, if this was what some Master's did, sit on their asses while their slaves did all the work. When it involved someone that she cared about....

Someone that she cared about...

The thought stopped in her mind, hanging there.

How could she care about him? He had hunted her, trapped her, captured her, bound her, left her naked at one point, yet..... He had also kept her safe, protected, and...... made her feel as if she were worth... something....Made her feel as if she mattered. And, she no longer had to fend for herself. She had an.... ally.....

Did she care about him? Should she?

"The collar looks good on ye, lass. Crafted by my brother in law, finest smith in Darkhaven. Dare say he'd be proud ta see it on such a pretty lil throat."

That brought Gleam out of her thoughts, thankfully.

Was she supposed to say Thank You? That seemed strange to Gleam, thank you for a collar that denoted that you were owned by another. But she would not leave it unacknowledged, so Gleam offered the slightest of nods in thanks, a long red tendril of her hair spilling forth over her shoulder.

"Ye know....."

There was a slight wavering in her normally melodic, rumbling voice.

"The muscle's ne'er gonna be complete again. Even with a complete healing. Oh, he'll have use o' the arm, fer sure."

Her breath caught, she once more looking away, shaking her head sadly. All her fault. It was all her fault.

"But it'll lose some o' its strength. Ne'er be as strong as his right arm. Now not all o' that is you, love. Ye'll remember he had a tussle with a bear, few years back too. This damage goes back far longer than just one night."

"Glenda, I don't even remember doing it" she quietly admitted, still not looking at the Dwarf or Lucian.

"I'm gonna tell ye something I'm nae supposed to, and ye be keepin this ta yerself lest ol' Glenda be gettin in trouble with yon Master there."


"That master o' yers.....he's bout likely to let that keep him down as he is ta blame ye fer all this. Seems ta me the fool shouldnae be jammin his arm in the mouth o' every woman he finds ta begin with."

"He was reining himself in for me Glenda. I've seen him fight, I should have known. He held back, so as to not hurt me, and I did that to him instead... Glenda.... I did that to him"

"Think if ye asked him though, he'd say it was worth it."

That silenced Gleam for the moment.

Thick fingers dipped into her vest, clawing about for a bit as she wrestled with something unseen before slowly drawing out a small decanter, stout in nature and made of clear quartz crystal cut to perfection.

"Fingers have a problem with vials, so we carry these instead. Less slippery."

She offered it to Gleam.....noting how the softly shimmering amber colored liquid within gently sloshed about in its confines.

She taking it, golden eyes closely looking it over.

"I want ye ta listen and listen good, Gleam. Tonight, it seems, Lucian gave me and my husband another commission fer my brother in law, Dagthar."

Looking up, she regarded Glenda, nodding.

"Seeing as how he has a tendency ta use that arm as a sheild, and its gonna be losin some of its mobility anyway......why not make it one? The job he's asked done is a custom one, ta be sure. Nae sure if he's gonna hafta travel ta Darkhaven or nae.....or if Dagthar's willin ta actually leave the hearth and come see him hisself. Me? I'mma try and convince him ta do the latter.....and the man's always taken a shine ta me, proud and all that I wed his brother."

A wide grin, meant for just the two of them.

"So if'n ye see a stumpy lil man with a hammer head the size o Thurgaard's skull strapped ta his back, and a beard black as coal......that'd be him. I'll prolly nae be too far behind. Looks like I'll be payin Lucian a return visit before settin off again. Hope ye don't mind."

Gleam blinked, unsure if she were hearing Glenda correctly?

An arm as a shield? Another commission? What was she talking about?? For a minute, Gleam wondered if the ale had jumbled Glenda's thoughts, it would not surprise her if it had.

And what was this stuff? Healing potion?

Gleam was so tired, she was more confused now than she had been. Glenda had been as displeased with the Elven Healer sending his student/slave instead of himself coming, just as Gleam had been frustrated with that very same situation. She all but said she could heal him, isn't that what Gleam heard??? But she hadn't... Or was that what this stuff was for???

All this was so confusing and upsetting to Gleam.

"Glenda" she quietly said, finally sitting down, to tired to stand anymore.

"please, just tell me if you can heal him and how. Please"

 

[dryfter]

The twinkling in the dwarf's eyes never ceased, a particularly impish thought crossing her mind suddenly. Sure, she could speculate.....but there was one other way to see just how far this new addition to Lucian's home was willing to go for him now that he was down for the count.

Glenda nodded curtly at the smallish bottle Gleam held.

"Simple. All ye gotta do is get yon potion, down 'is throat."

It was amusing to watch her go straight for the bottles delicate lid, hope and sudden determination definitely there in her golden orbs.

"But."

She watched as the tigress paused.

"He's sleepin, lass. You just pour it in, and he'll choke fer sure....it'll come pourin back out, and we'll gain nothin."

Full lips turned upward beneath the well kept braids of her beard as she struggled to rise and move to a more suitable position. The hunter never even snorted softly as his head was gently lifted, and placed with care on her plump lap.

"Now then, let's try this. Why don't ye try takin the potion into yer own mouth.....and then give it to him in a lil kiss. Slow and easy, ye've had practice aye? Even a human can detect the feel of a lover.....should keep him relaxed. The druid's magic'll make sure he stays asleep. Course....chokin'll wake him up sure 'nuff. Like I said....slow and easy."

She could see her apprehension as she glanced from the bottle to Lucian.

"Just a lil kiss, lass. I'm not askin ye ta go into heat in front o' me. 'Sides....ye'll find that there's strong enough ta mend the bone if it had been broken. It'll take care of this arm right nice, and ye'll stay on the good side o' the elf folk fer now too."

For now, she just kept his head tilted. It would make the liquid actually go down rather than stay in his throat.

"Then when we're done, ye can pay me back by helpin me get the measurements ta that arm. We'll know just what it'll look like fer sure once its healed up well and good. Can't craft custom armor without known the width of yer man's muscles and joints, though suppose ye'd nae know much bout armor craft."

 

[RainingHeat]

Now it all made sense.

Gods, if she just were not so exhausted...

"Simple. All ye gotta do is get yon potion, down 'is throat."

She started to open the bottle, but then stopped. Gleam was smart enough to know 2 things.

1... she had only just met the Dwarf this night. Sure, she saw the Lucian trusted her and Thurgaard. But she knew, and had seen, the absolute twisting of men, albeit humans, the absolute betrayal again of men, the corruption of men. Would those traits only be attributed to men? Lucian had land. Lucian had contacts. For all Gleam knew, he was much more important than he had lead her to believe. She trusted Glenda, yes, but not enough to simply pour an unknown concoction down his throat.

2.. He was out cold, just pouring it down his throat would choke him.

A point that Glenda pointed out a moment later. ..

"He's sleepin, lass. You just pour it in, and he'll choke fer sure....it'll come pourin back out, and we'll gain nothin."

Full lips turned upward beneath the well kept braids of her beard as she struggled to rise and move to a more suitable position. The hunter never even snorted softly as his head was gently lifted, and placed with care on her plump lap.

"Now then, let's try this. Why don't ye try takin the potion into yer own mouth.....and then give it to him in a lil kiss. Slow and easy, ye've had practice aye? Even a human can detect the feel of a lover.....should keep him relaxed. The druid's magic'll make sure he stays asleep. Course....chokin'll wake him up sure 'nuff. Like I said....slow and easy."

Well, that took care of the first thought Gleam had had. She was silently glad that she did not have to... insult.. the Dwarf by tasting the potion first. She was really not sure how she would have taken it. But then again, Gleam didn't care, she just could not trust anybody quite that completely, except maybe Lucian.

Gleam took a slow drink of the potion, and paused, letting some glide down her own throat. She wondered if Glenda noticed or realized, but that was neither here nor there. It tasted sweet and felt very warm, as if drinking the fresh caught water from a hot summer rain shower. It was thin, and lingered a bit on her tongue and in her throat.

Gleam leaned down to brush her lips to his. She purred gently, the soft vibration enticing him to relax, let the muscles loosen, as she allowed the liquid to pass from the heat of her mouth, past his lips, and into his. Closing her eyes, Gleam let the potion flow, ever so slowly and easily as the kiss almost deepened, she feeling him reacting ever so little to the intimate touch.

Her tongue followed the last of the liquid, making sure that every drop available was given to him, gently invading and caressing over his lips, his tongue, tasting him slightly, a low contented sound slipping from her lips to his.

She sat up a moment later, her cheeks flush, taking a deep breath.

 

[dryfter]

"Nicely done, lass. Look."

The dwarven bard nodded softly towards the injury. As they both watched, the mangled flesh began to knit and mend, the discoloration fading back into healthy pink once more, a pink that stood out as a scar along normally tanned flesh. The edges of the ragged wound sucking in on themselves, moving of their own accord before settling with finality into place again. Silent, not a single sound had been heard by either during the entire process.....it would have been as if nothing at all had happened....if not for the scar.

And through it all, he slept, Lucian firmly in the hold of Suru's magic despite the fact that the doe had long since left.

"There now, why don't ye try getting some sleep? Ye'd think he'd be upset at you were he ta wake and see you all blurry eyed and miserable."

An objection, and the dwarf frowned slightly, taking it all in.

"Well o' course he trusts ye, but I'll wager he's not tryin ta deprive ye of sleep, ye damned fool. Tell me now, how long have ye lived on yer own since he came along? He the first man what hunted ye? Course not! I'd wager ye grew ta learn ta sleep light, so ye could run if ye had to."

She reached out to pat the tigress on the head, hearing the soft hiss of annoyance and ignoring it, smiling instead.

"He's askin that this time ye fight rather than run, if'n it come ta that. Sounds ta me like he ne'er once asked ye ta stay up all night like a dog and watch o'er him."

She slowly extricated herself from beneath the ranger's head....but didn't let it fall to the ground. Instead, she supported him with her hands and looked questioningly to Gleam.

"Well? Ye think I'm ta be his pillow all night? I'm not the one who kissed him and took care o' that arm o' his in his sleep. C'mon now....curl up. Maybe just bein here'll help ye get some sleep o' yer own."

 

[RainingHeat]

Glenda was right, of course.

Given what the Tigress had been thru the last couple of days, she certainly was not thinking straight. She hoped that things would slowly calm down, and hoped that all these "visitors" that Lucian seemed to have would wane. Gleam was so not comfortable around so many people, she was used to living alone.

"You are right, of curse Glenda" she whispered.

It was strange, but as she settled herself, curling up in the grass, allowing Lucian's head to rest upon the softness of her belly, slender fingers slowly beginning to stroke thru his hair, she herself, felt.... better. The soreness of her... matings... as well as the soreness from just such extensive travel, and lastly, the wound where the dart he had captured her with, were all gone. It took her only a minute to realize it must have been when she swallowed some of that healing potion that Glenda had given her for Lucian. It really did work, which of course was evidenced by his arm healing, as well, now, as her own.

She watched as Glenda, still a bit unsteady, made her way back into the cabin, and it had to be mere seconds later when another chorus of snoring joined Thurgaard's.

They were strange folk, those dwarves, Gleam thought to herself. But to be honest, out of everyone she had encountered so far, it was the Bear Woman, Anvil, and the Dwarves, that Gleam liked, and more importantly, trusted the most.

But, as she let her eyes close slowly, her breathing slowing, one thought kept picking at her brain. The Elves. It was quite obvious they were close enough to allow Suru access back and forth to Lucian. And how had Suru and the Stag known the challenge had commenced? How had she known that Lucian had been so injured?? Gleam's eyes snapped back open to peer into the darkness.

They were being watched, that was how they knew...

And that was the thought that occupied Gleam's mind as she let herself fall into a very light sleep, Lucian's heavier breathing soothing her, she still stroking her fingers thru his hair.

 

[dryfter]

A soft groan, a response to a squirmy pillow. Wait.....squirmy pillow? And good lord, what time was it? A glance at the sun told him it was midmorning already. He never slept this late.

Lucian slowly sat up, hearing rustling behind him and reacting almost immediately only to be confronted with his lovely, and obviously worried pet.

"So the squirmy pillow reveals itself....."

And so the morning began, with a good round of hearty laughter, the way every morning should. And it only seemed to get better as he moved to rise, pushing the ground with both hands, seconds later remembering that he shouldn't have been able to do that......

"What....the fuck?"

The hunter lifted his bad arm into view, noting right away the wicked looking scars that he had, as well as parts of the muscle that were twisted and misshapen in their healing. Still....there was no pain....and just a few hours ago that had been an open and ragged wound.....

"Gleam?"

A wry smile, his mind churning through the possibilities of just what could have happened. He did tell her not to let threats near him, to protect him, and here he was more safe and sound than what he had been when he first lay down.

"You haven't developed any magical snuggle powers you'd like to tell me about have you?"

Oh, he was in good humor this morning. And he was doing everything he could think of to make her see that too. The last thing he wanted was her to continue to be overprotective, worried.....and feeling guilty. She'd done her job well....it was time to put that behind them now.

"Did you sleep well, kitten? I didn't snore too loud, did I?"

"Nae like she could o' heard ye o'er Glenda. Damn lumberjack that woman is."

The dwarves came half rushing, half tumbling out of the house....the grease that stained their beards showing that they'd both made some semblance of breakfast from last night's leftovers.

"We'll be off ta Darkhaven now, now that ye seem all settled in again, Lucian. Glad ta see we're not leavin ye ta yerself this time. She should keep ye busy, aye?"

A naughty, meaningful wink followed by a sound thump right on the horned helmet and a wince.

"What he's tryin ta say is....thank ye fer havin us o'er again, and sorry fer the mess we left behind. We'll make it up ta ye in ale and whiskey when we next meet!"

Both dwarves grinned at that, Thurgaard shouldering an enormous pack, while Glenda strapped a rather delicate looking stringed instrument to hers. As one, they both grinned and gave mock salute.

"Aye!"

The female dwarf shared a knowing look at Gleam before glancing furtively at the hunter's healed arm. He'd be confused about that for a while, she'd wager....and that was exactly how she'd leave him.

"Till next we meet!"

 

[RainingHeat]

His soft groaning, coupled with his movements, woke her up immediately. She stiffened, having to re-orient herself a bit, golden eyes blinking to the sunlight. The sun was much much higher than she had thought it should be. She had slept much longer than normal.

He was already sitting up, she moving to her own sitting position, stretching slightly, her spine curving back, head laying back, arms outward, the whole of her lithe, sleek form unwinding like a tightly coiled spring.

"So the squirmy pillow reveals itself....."

"Squirmy? Whose squirmy??" That word, in and of itself, made Gleam smile. She remembered her mother, telling her a funny, cute, story about a squirmy worm..

He was laughing, more than likely at the face she made about being called squirmy. "At least it's better than slimey" she quipped back at his laughing, sticking out her tongue, her own smile widening. He was feeling good this morning, that was obvious.

It was when he went to lift himself from the ground that he realized just how good a morning it really was.

"What....the fuck?"

The hunter lifted his bad arm into view, noting right away the wicked looking scars that he had, as well as parts of the muscle that were twisted and misshapen in their healing. Still....there was no pain....and just a few hours ago that had been an open and ragged wound.....

"Gleam?"

A wry smile, his mind churning through the possibilities of just what could have happened. He did tell her not to let threats near him, to protect him, and here he was more safe and sound than what he had been when he first lay down.

"You haven't developed any magical snuggle powers you'd like to tell me about have you?"

She swallowed, trying to keep in a chuckle. "Nope, it was not me that snuggled with you, it was Glenda" Just the image of the female, bearded dwarf, and Lucian, almost made Gleam fall over in hysterics. It was quite the image, and only made more funny when both Thurgaard and Glenda came rumbling out of the cabin.

"Did you sleep well, kitten? I didn't snore too loud, did I?"

Kitten.... that pet name made her shiver just a little... she liked it.

"Nae like she could o' heard ye o'er Glenda. Damn lumberjack that woman is."

Gleam turned to look over her shoulder at the 2 Dwarves.

They were cute, she had to admit. But truth be told, she was not "sorry" to see them go. They were a bit loud and boisterous for her tastes.

As they said their goodbyes and all, the thought that Gleam had about being watched tickled at her brain again. She stepped away, only be a couple of feet, from Lucian and the departing Dwarves, scanning the trees all around the cabin. They could be anywhere. Watching. But why? Were they that nervous, that Lucian would do something? Or was it for his protection? She lifted her head just a little to scent the air, but got no hint of anything unusual.

"Till next we meet!"

She turned and gave them both a pretty bow and wave goodbye.

Then turned to Lucian....

"Why do the Elves watch you, Master Lucian???"

There was no way she was going to be able to keep that in, now that she had figured it out.

She had not even explained to him what Glenda had done, so bothered was she about the prospect of being watched.

 

[dryfter]

"Why do the Elves watch you, Master Lucian???"

The dwarves had barely topped the horizon, Lucian having watched them until he could see them no longer, smiling his quirky smile the whole time. There was no telling when he'd see them again.....but it always promised to be a good time. Silently.....he wished them both the best of health.

The hunter took a deep breath as he turned towards the cabin, not entirely ignoring her, just trying to think of how best to answer the question.

"The elves watch everybody, Gleam. They fancy themselves the protectors of the forest. And by that, I mean the forest itself and all that's in it, not just their settlement there."

The door swung open at his touch, and he grimaced slightly at the mess left behind. He glanced at his arm again in silence, still unsure how it had come to pass that it had healed completely overnight, yet hardly caring for the moment as long as it didn't erupt suddenly into a bloody mess again.

The first thing he used it for, was to begin putting a rather large stack of dishes away. Of all the things they'd left undone.....at least Glenda seemed to have got that much clean.

"Gah....its going to take me a week to get the smell of dirt and oil out of here. Leave the door open if you don't mind, Gleam.....I'd rather let this place air out a bit."

He noted she looked nervous, glancing about at his plain, unadorned walls, the hearth where dinner had been cooked, the leftovers still cluttering the table. And who could blame her? He wasn't usually this unkempt, and it was only her first few days here.

"Are you looking for something in particular? If you're looking for bondage and training gear, its in the cellar if I really have to use it. If you're looking for a cage, I don't own one. I always felt that if I found my perfect mate, I wouldn't need one."

As an afterthought, he remembered her earlier question again......his lips pursing softly.

"The druids are caretakers of the forest's population. Animals, elves, and yes.....they even think they're responsible for the two of us. Whether we feel the same or not. The elves also have rangers, much better ones than I am, I might add...."

He paused as he carried a pile of discarded bones to the door.

"Really need to get a dog."

As things stood, he walked to the rear of the cabin.....depositing the whole mess in a disgustingly smelly crate.....

"Compost box. Yuck. Still....I use it when I try and grow plants here, makes for a good fertilizer, just smells awful. Spread the shit with a shovel and try not to get it on your hands and clothes."

He chuckled softly as he noticed she kept her distance. He couldn't blame her, not when it easily smelled worse than the dwarves.

"Though they say I'm more fierce....or stupid....depending on which elf you talk to. I have a tendency to wade into a conflict rather than wait about to see how it turns out like they do. Hard to make spot decisions when you have a life span totally centuries."

A wry smile. He'd avoided the stench this time.

"We look out for each other. They've saved my ass a few times, I've saved a few of their scouts and even a couple rangers from a bind once. Never hardly see the druids though. They keep to themselves. Suru's the only one I know, and that's probably because she's only an acolyte. Not sure."

Hopefully that would answer her question adequately.

"So....rough first few days, huh? Met a few people, got to at least admire the scenery some though. Now its just you and me........feel better?"

 

[RainingHeat]

She stayed quiet during his ramblings. The man did like to talk. Gleam found his voice and chatter strangely comforting, as opposed to others. Being around him seemed almost... natural... everyone else.... not so much.

"Gah....its going to take me a week to get the smell of dirt and oil out of here. Leave the door open if you don't mind, Gleam.....I'd rather let this place air out a bit."

That, was perfectly OK with her. She had been nervously pacing since she had walked in there. The enclosing 4 walls, all the stuff scattered about. She was used to her den, minimal belongings, if any, and the nice, wide open, entry. She took stock of everything she saw, almost as if looking for something.

"Are you looking for something in particular? If you're looking for bondage and training gear, its in the cellar if I really have to use it. If you're looking for a cage, I don't own one. I always felt that if I found my perfect mate, I wouldn't need one."

"I.... don't ... like.... cages" the words came out slowly, one at a time, as if they were hard to say. She could already feel the anxiety rising at just the thought of a cage, or even being bound in there. She had hated being tied and following behind his horse, but at least that was outside. This was entirely different.

She listened about the Druids.. Elves... something about a dog?? and the compost bin. One whiff of that and she knew she would not be going near it again. Talk about foul and disgusting...

Druids, caretakers of the forest? That made no sense to her, didn't the forest take care of itself? but she stayed silent.

"So....rough first few days, huh? Met a few people, got to at least admire the scenery some though. Now its just you and me........feel better?"

She was near the door when he said that, and she turned to look at him.

"I don't like being around alot of... people, so yes. But, it is really just you and me if the Elves, or the Druids, watch continuously?"


**********************************************************************************

The Duke paced his luxurious bed chambers. The large, very large, four poster bed in the corner, was far from empty even now, when he was not in it.

Chained, an arm and a leg to each post, lay a feline Feral, this looking to be a mingling of cheetah and human, with a speckling of spots along her trembling form. She was lithe and slender, like a cheetah would be, with the downy soft fur like Gleams, except of course, no stripes. She was desperately trying to pant around the harsh ball gag that had been shoved into her mouth, obviously to prevent any biting. Naked, her small, petite breasts were reddened and splotchy with marks from the Dukes mouth and teeth, her nipples an almost angry bruising color. Her pussy was leaking now, his spent seed pooling onto the sheets beneath her, her own climax not mixing because the Duke never cared if the female came, only himself. If one could see her back and ass, one would see the markings of a whip, the lashes having dug into the flesh. Her tail, curled beneath her, twitching just a little in her misery. At her hip, a fresh brand, the Duke's mark. Oh he liked this one. She was as close to the Tigress he so desired to see as he had gotten.

"How dare Lucian NOT bring his prize to me for appraisal, how DARE he" he was getting more agitated by the minute. It was not just that he wanted to see this fabled Tigress that Lucian had managed to capture, it was his blatant disregard for his laws... HIS LAWS... all ferals must be presented to him. It was HIS land, they were HIS FERALS after all. How dare HE...

The Duke was like a spoiled child who wanted the best of everything, and didn't want anyone else to have anything better than him!!! The Tigress to him was merely a prize... one that HE wanted. And Lucian was not sharing.

Lucian, as it appears you have decided to disregard my laws, in my lands, I am asking, no, requesting, no, demanding, that your most recent capture, the Tigress Feral, be brought forth for viewing and appraisal as it the law, within a fortnight. This is not a request, but a demand. Otherwise, I will be forced to confiscate your property, as is my right, as Duke of this land.

It was simple and to the point. He placed his mark and handed it to the messenger.

 

[dryfter]

It had come as a blow. And it had royally pissed him off.....to the point that it was impossible to hide it from Gleam.

The last few days had passed uneventfully as far as serious events were concerned. But they had been far from boring. On the contrary, Lucian had busied himself with showing Gleam everything he could about his house, his immediate land......and on the fifth day, had even taken her deep into the forest to show her various plants and herbs the he sought out and kept either fresh or dried. As he pointed out each one, he rattled off potential uses as well.....noting with pleasure the keen look in her eyes.

They were still alone. No visitors had come to bother them. Life had returned to normal. It had been bad luck that the dwarves had been there when they had arrived, but at least Gleam had taken a shine to them. Now she was beginning to learn that visitors were not an every day occurance for him.

Her heat had waned as he knew it would. Still, his heart pounded at times wondering if anything was to come of it yet. He'd seeded her twice, both times at her own urging. And so he kept a close eye on her and her behaviors, even though he knew it would be a bit before any clues would be forthcoming.

The river nearby provided ample opportunity for bathing, something that they did regularly, and he insisted that they do it together. It always got a chuckle out him. No matter how chill the water, just looking at her as she dripped wet, her fur matted to her body and leaving no secrets at all.......he got as hard as he did that first day when he had pulled her out of the lake in the southern wood.

On the seventh day, he was showing her the plants in his garden.....a sprawling patch of churned earth liberally sprinkled with the fertilizer he'd crafted from compost. The foul stuff had long since lost its bad smell to the fresh air surrounding it.....and instead coaxed fresh green shoots from the soft earth.

Hoofbeats. And of course, she heard them before he did. Lucian actually turned in reaction to her.....twisting to see what had gotten her attention. An armored emissary on horseback.....

"Go in the house.....and get my blade, Gleam."

She knew where it was, propped between the headboard of his bed and the log cabin wall. He had made her sleep there with him often enough, and every night he did his best to comfort her to the point of sleeping with him. He didn't bring a sword with him on his hunts......because it wasn't his purpose to kill the hybrids he'd hunted. But here.....this was different.

"A missive from Duke Ellington."

Lucian reached for it with his bad hand, grasping the parchment and breaking the seal.

"You are to bring the tigress to Duke Ellington as per his law within the allotted time, Lucian. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of your land and all that resides on it."

Lucian snorted as he carefully read the script.

"You're aware your lord already tried to have me assassinated once?"

"I know nothing of the sort, and such words without proof are tantamount to treason. I'd be careful who you mentioned that to. For now, I'll be gracious and pretend I didn't hear that."

"Ahhhh, I see. Are you forgetting that attacking me just might be tantamount to treason?"

That gave the emissary pause.

"What do you mean?"

A quirky smile as Lucian crumpled up the missive and threw it back at the emissary's helmeted head. The man scowled furiously beneath his plate.

"How dare you!"

"What I mean is, I didn't buy this land from the Duke. It was purchased from the coffers of King Roland. Please remind your lord that the King takes assassination attempts of his men very seriously, even the ones that are no longer in his employ. I shouldn't have to remind you that I'm not just a dirty hunter anymore."

The mounted man spat his disgust on the ground, his glare continuing.

"Yes, I know, you're a petty lord. Don't let that go to your head, lest you lose it to the guillotine, you boor."

Lucian laughed outright at that, softly reaching for the blade that Gleam had fetched.....not missing how the man's attention had instantly moved to her, but his actions brought it back to where it should be quickly enough. A gauntleted hand dropped low and moved for his own longsword, though Lucian had yet to unsheathe his own.

"You would pick quarrel with me, sir?!"

A wry grin.

"Not at all, good sir. Don't you know that its bad form to kill the messenger? Especially when you want him in good health so as to return to his lord and tell him to trying growing a cock larger than fairy sprig so as to FUCK HIMSELF."

The emissary's face contorted in fury as the words registered, and for a second, Lucian was certain the man would draw his weapon and attack. But good sense won out, the man choosing to yank on the reins of his stallion instead and bring it about before riding off.

"I meant what I said, Gleam. He can't have you. He won't have you."