Feline Hunted

[RainingHeat]

"Gleam....touch yourself....run a hand between your sexy thighs.....to all the places you can imagine me licking you.....let me feel you moan around my cock......"

She had one hand wrapped about his cock, but the other, which had been resting on his leg, slowly did as he wished, she letting it slide down between her parted thighs. She was wet, slick, heated. The lips of her pussy felt like the softest of silk beneath her fingertips, it was a feeling she liked, alot. She even dared to trail the tip of a sharp nail long the sensitive, tender skin, this bringing a gasp from her lips, a gasp that flowed over his cock with a ripple of her lips.

It broke her concentration on his cock, but only for a moment, she pulling it free from her mouth as she swallowed, taking a deep breath. But she let it slip back into the embrace of her lips only a moment later, as her own body began to rock slightly, fingers beginning to play within the folds of her sex. Every couple of minutes, a low moan, or a deep gasp, would erupt around his cock, her body quivering before returning to that slow, sensual rocking ...

She did have to control how deep his cock went, the rocking of his hips almost threatening to push the length further than she, at this moment, could handle. But he did not force her to take it any deeper, he allowing her the control the depth she took it to, she suckling, letting the pressure around him build. He tasted good to her, warm, the texture of his shaft was interesting, and she liked playing her tongue over the surface, feeling the veins and ridges, at one point she trailed her tongue under the ridge of the head, all the way round.

Yet, she never stopped with her own fingers. That, was something she was used to, when she would enter her heat, feel her need, while alone. Two fingers began to gently enter and exit her pussy, in and out, she liking the feel of the silken inner walls of her sex, liking the wetness, the undulation of the walls around her slender lengths...

"Gleam....good kitten....."

Her eyes lifted to him then, golden, heated, meeting his gaze as he looked down upon her.

A low, long purr came sensually resonating over his shaft, as she held him as deep as she could within her mouth, the pulsing starting at the base and gliding over the surface to quiver over the head, the sound then escaping her lips... "MMMmmmmmmmmmm"

"I'm going to cum, kitten....."

"Take your master's milk!"

Gleam grasped his cock with both hands then, when she felt him begin to shudder, his cock trembling. She did manage to keep at least half of his cock in her mouth as he came, she swallowing as best she could, feeling his searing spend shoot to the back of her throat, thick, heated, before she had to sputter and pull back, letting his still cumming cock slip free, his cum coating her fingers in the process.. His climax had.. surprised her, she had not been entirely prepared for it and truth be told, was not sure what to expect. When she pulled back, releasing his cock from her mouth and hands, the remainder of this climax, his spend, fell to the ground.

A low whimper slipped from her lips as she looked down and away... "I.... I'm sorry" ... she was panting slightly, licking at her lips. She had never tasted ... that.. before and she was trying to get... used to it. With a slow wash of her tongue, she licked the drops from her fingers, sampling his taste a bit more.. "I'm sorry... I should have......"... Should have what? Swallowed it all? Could she? She had tried, but she just could not control how much or how fast....

"I'm sorry Master".....

 

[dryfter]

His heart thundered in his ears. His legs wavered slightly, not for the first time, yet for the last as his knees buckled as he promptly sat down rather ungracefully.

"I'm sorry... I should have......"

He risked a glance at her, trying to slowly collect his thoughts. She had literally made him see white there, he had cum so hard. Did Gleam have any idea at all just how arousing of a sight it was to see the slight flecks of his cum upon her face where she had recoiled, the tiny rivulet that had trickled down the corner of her full lips to spatter gently over her perfect tits? If she couldn't figure it out on her own, the slight rising and complete refusal of his cock to deflate would be her next clue. For now, all he could do was struggle for breath and gaze at her in unabashed wonder.

"I'm sorry Master".....

"Clean yourself, like a good kitten."

She had already licked her fingers clean. Just the sight of the long and slender tongue delicately cleaning her moistened digits was enough to illicit another groan from her.....and no doubt attract her attention once more. He could see her confusion.....she hadn't even done anything to him, and yet what she was doing now was extremely arousing to him.....

"You've nothing to apologize for, Gleam. That was.....amazing.....I'm well pleased with you, and I'm sure as hell not going to scold you."

It was good to see what the compliment, the acknowledgement did for her, the shine it put in her eyes as the worry of displeasing him vanished as fast as it had come.

"Was that your first time doing something like that? I'd like for you to tell me where you learned that, as I know its not something I'd demanded of you before."

He watched, listening patiently as she heeded his command and slowly licked herself to cleanliness again.

"You missed a spot, Gleam."

It was just that easy to make her go tense again, so easy it was almost criminal. And he was loving it, especially when he drew slowly closer to her. Never fast enough to imply that an attack or even punishment was coming, but more like, a gentle guiding hand....or hands.....hands that reached for her.....

And pressed her down into the soft grass.

"Here.....right here....."

He didn't give her time to think about what his motivations were, his head already moving between unsuspecting thighs as he blew softly across her heated nether lips.

"Mmmm....just look at how dirty you are down here. I bet you have trouble licking this clean.....here let me help you....."

And before she could respond, beg, plead, or even squirm....his lips were there, kissing her, suckling gently on the sensitive little clit peeking from her hood.....

"Mmmmm.....you taste as good as I remember."

Indeed, her smoky, slightly acrid taste filled his mouth.....like forest herbs being dried over a fire, yet a cloying honeyed sweetness overriding everything else. Lucian's mouth opened wide, just as hers had, and it was her turn to feel herself engulfed.....to feel his tongue running laps across her dewy slit for long, heat filled minutes before he curled inward slightly and pushed.....

"Have you missed this, Gleam? I promise this time I'm not doing it to distract you from anything unpleasant."

Indeed. The last time he had done this to her, he had driven her half mad with sensations she'd never felt before.....and in the height of it all......he had branded her. This time, there was no basement, no restraints, no fear of being caged. She was in her beloved outdoors.....nature as their only witness.....

He hummed softly, letting her feel the vibrations he caused, the soft hum growing almost of its own accord into a lusty moan. He spread her wide, until Gleam could deny him nothing.....his lurid contact with her slipping only momentarily as he teased her thighs right down to the outer folds of her dripping pussy.

"You just keep getting wetter and wetter......messier and messier.....dirty kitten....what will I do with you?"

He returned to her, drinking deeply, his tongue spearing into her to wriggle and torment. He even brought his teeth to bear against her gently.....the danger of being bitten perhaps more thrilling than the actual sensation he created.

"I think I like this idea of quality time......"

He smiled. It might not be here....might not be now.....but he was pretty sure it was a matter of time before even the people back at his cabin were bound to hear them.

Not that either of them cared.

 

[RainingHeat]

"Clean yourself, like a good kitten."

She was not entirely sure she liked the taste as she let her tongue finish licking along her last finger, sweeping over the palm one last time. But what she did like was that it was him, this taste was him. And, even tho perhaps it was not the most pleasant now, she wanted more. She wanted to learn to enjoy the taste, because she most certainly enjoyed his reaction, and the act of what she had just done to him.

"You've nothing to apologize for, Gleam. That was.....amazing.....I'm well pleased with you, and I'm sure as hell not going to scold you."

She had just let her tongue extend out to roam over her chin, to capture any droplets of him there, and she knew there was, she could feel the wetness, when he said that. She paused, her head lifting, her eyes seeking his. She had been unsure if he was upset that she had recoiled as she did, that his seed had not entirely filled her mouth, not had all of it splashed upon her face, or body. Some had ended up on the ground. When she had witnessed this very act between others, she had seen one or the other, swallow or it had been shot all over the female. And many times, usually when it was a hunter and captured feral, if the female did spill any for any reason, she was punished, especially if she did not swallow it all.

Yet another sign that he was so very different than the other hunters. So very different.

And that feeling of relief, and that she had come to that realization, that he had proved himself better than the others, shone in her gaze, that and her relaxation at knowing she had not really displeased him, and in fact, just the opposite, which he was about to prove to her.

Gleam slowly found and licked off each splash, each thick drop, each rivulet of his seed that she could, including the couple that had coated her breasts, her tongue gliding slowly, languidly, around and over each nipple, along the curve, moistening the fur.

"Was that your first time doing something like that? I'd like for you to tell me where you learned that, as I know its not something I'd demanded of you before."

She actually settled a bit more in the grass as she took a breath. "I.. saw many a hunter force a captured feral to do exactly that. In fact, the captive feral was often forced to do this to all the hunters in the group. It did not take me long to figure out that it brought pleasure to the hunters. But to be honest, I do not believe many of the ferals enjoyed it. I also saw humans do the same, but, it was also very different. I only saw humans a couple of times, but the human female, the woman, certainly DID enjoy what she was doing to her mate, and she was never forced to do it to others, not that I saw. But.. what I also saw was, again with the hunters and ferals, if the female did not swallow, or spilled any, or choked, or recoiled, the hunter was more than angry. And she was punished."....

Gleam paused...

"I simply mimicked what I had seen, Master Lucian"....

"And yes, before you, you know I had never been with any male, so yes, that was my first time. Everything with you is my first..."

"You missed a spot, Gleam."

Had she? For a moment, her entire form tightened, tensed, quivered like a bow string. Where? Would he be... upset? But she did not detect, sense, any anger or malice in his voice, more like amusement. Amusement at just what a turn of a phrase, at just what the tone of his voice, could do to her. And Gleam may not have been "amused" by it, but she was becoming atuned to it, to his voice and what it did to her body, and slowly to her mind. How he weaved himself around her like a serpent, never smothering, never choking, never hurting, but possessing, owning, captivating.....

"Here.....right here....."

He had approached her, slowly, almost as silent as the hunter he was. And he was a predator, human, but still a predator.

He lay her back to the grass, just forceful enough to let her know that was exactly where he wanted her. Was he going to mount her? The thought flashed quickly across her mind... but no, he was not going to mount her.. yet... she hissing in a gasping breath, the feel of his mouth between her spread thighs catching her a bit by surprise. She was already sensitized, already aroused, wet, heated, tender. The glide of his tongue sent her spiraling upwards as the wave of pleasure suddenly crashed over her. She snapped tight on the grass beneath him, spine arching up as a low mewling sound came rippling past her lips.

"Mmmmm.....you taste as good as I remember."

His voice, the words, tickled over her clit and pussy lips... her hips rolled upwards to his mouth, undulating, swaying, rocking, she moving so that her soaking wet slit now rode along his mouth, as she writhed and thrashed under his ministrations. The feelings that were racing over and thru her, heat, quivering, intense, every nerve in her body felt as if it were on fire, about to explode, and her heart was thundering.

"Have you missed this, Gleam? I promise this time I'm not doing it to distract you from anything unpleasant."

"More... pleaseeeee... more" she begged, wantonly, eyes rolling back as her head fell once more the the grass... The grass... the sky above, the sound of the water so close by. For her, this was 100 times more intense, more pleasing, more passion, because she was outside, and not within the confines of a room, a basement, not restrained in anyway, except by her growing feelings for him.

Her pussy was sopping wet, lubricating juices flowing almost freely now, thick, slippery, heated, coating her lips, the vulva, labia, clit, and when his tongue penetrated her, gliding within the tightness of her body, the silken walls desperate to capture and hold his tongue, another flood of her moisture flowing to quench is thirst. Large thick droplets escaped as well, to loll down the curve of her ass, drenching the fur there, and a couple even made it to splash on the grass under her.

"You just keep getting wetter and wetter......messier and messier.....dirty kitten....what will I do with you?"

Her hands found the back of his head as he went back to her sex. Gleam rocked, feeling his tongue once more impale her, seeking to fuck her pussy, tormenting her, taking her higher and higher as the cascades of lust washed over her. Her fur now damp across her entire body, as she twisted and undulated in the grass.

But it was the feel of his teeth that made her tense, her fingertips raking along his scalp as she felt the sensation over her pulsing, swollen clit.

"Ohhhh GODDDDSSSSS " her cry came ripping from her throat, she pushing her hips upwards to his mouth, fingers tangling in his own longer, wild hair, the orgasm caught her by surprise, exploding over her in a crashing crescendo of heat, pleasure, that shook every fiber, every muscle, every nerve, within her. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHH yessssssssssssssssssssssss MMMMAsterrrrrrrr" the words came flowing out one deep, shattering breath, as she came for him, the muscles within her sex spasming, convulsing, freeing another spilling of her own wetness to coat his tongue, sweet, searing hot, from the depths of her...

"ppppleaseeee" she lay panting on the grass, her climax still grasping her and shaking her, still quivering over and thru her... "pppleasee....Master.. mount me.. mate me... I need you... Master, I need you inside me... please... I am so empty without you, fill me... your pet, your feral, your Gleam... ppppleaseeee" Her want for him was so great, so heightened, her body ached inside for him.. "please Master... please"

 

[dryfter]

"It must have been difficult for you."

He was almost immediately sorry that he had asked, as Gleam recounted multiple tales of having watched female ferals at the hands of hunters. And unbeknownst to her....from her sometimes graphic descriptions....some of those hunters had belonged to his crew.

Forced. She had watched them forced to take cock after often dirty cock, until the hunter's seed flowed freely down their throats, coated their various colored fur. It was a common practice sadly, a way for the hunters to find relief in the midst of a beautiful female they dare not ravage for fear of decreasing her value at market.

"And yes, before you, you know I had never been with any male, so yes, that was my first time. Everything with you is my first..."

"Forgive me....I had forgotten."

Indeed, he had, though he hoped she would not take insult to his soft spoken admission. The eagerness and zeal with which she had attacked his cock just now.....it was as if he had a hard time believing she had been a virgin just a little over a week ago. Yet he should have been reminded by her soft gagging.....hadn't he held back for her for that very reason?

Long minutes later.....long because he was taking his time with her, delighting in her own special flavor.....she was writhing, shuddering, panting beneath him. And though her eyes were clenched shut too tightly to see, he was enjoying every damnable second of it as he drank deeply of her. Lucian could feel her nails race across his scalp, gentle yet urgent, as she bucked against him. And yet he would not free himself from her.....not with the memory of his basement so fresh in his mind. There would be no painful ending, no branding this time.....

This time, he wanted to do it right. Wanted to feel what he had intended for her to feel all along.......even as his head turned to the side for a moment....giving Gleam a much needed chance to gulp air as quickly as she could. He was not idle in that time, instead....she could feel his soft tongue part her moist fur to run across her scalded flesh.....smoothly along the brand he himself had marked her with, as if reminding her even during this, who she belonged to.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH yessssssssssssssssssssssss MMMMAsterrrrrrrr"

He had returned to drawing her essence from her with a devilish zeal, plundering her with his tongue until she quaked and shuddered violently beneath his attentions, the fingers in his hair tightening almost painfully and yet he didn't mind in the least.......

Her orgasm left her much slower than it had come, of that he was proud. He could feel her fingers loosen their grip on him, until the arm that connected them to him fell limply to the crushed reeds beneath her.

"Ppppleassseeee."

"Gleam, you're such a greedy little kitten....."

His voice was soft, teasing, and there was no admonishment there for her. She had to have known as much, laying there still quivering. Lucian marveled at the sight of her.....the sweat of her feral body enough to dampen even the fur that covered her. Her eyes were wild, longing, and......desperate......as they fought to focus on him once more. It was breathtaking to watch, more so as he watched that same gaze suddenly snap back to clarity as she found him.

"pppleasee....Master.. mount me.. mate me... I need you... Master, I need you inside me... please... I am so empty without you, fill me... your pet, your feral, your Gleam... ppppleaseeee."

This was unprecedented. Gleam should be out of her heat by now, he knew as much. Lucian watched, let her eyes hold him imploringly, noting only as an afterthought how her knees spread wide for him.....baring everything shamelessly as a woman should to her lover.......

But it was the submission, both in her actions, her gaze, her voice, that stilled his heart the most. She hadn't even used his name.....instead.....the title she had resisted for so long had rolled easily off her tongue, coated with silken honey and sent off with a soft purr that made his heart and his loins tremble.....

This time, he didn't need to ask who she belonged to. What she was to him. Hell, he didn't even have to ask her how bad she wanted it.....that one outburst of hers had answered all.

"Gleam....."

He moved to her.....leaning heavily over her.....his cockhead jutting obscenely outward from his body in a new display of arousal as it traced across her belly.

"Are you suffering?"

He was genuinely worried, confused, this was such a stark contrast to everything he had been expecting from her. Hell, if this were real, it would eliminate three quarters of the training he had expected to have to put her through. And the remaining quarter.....she might just be a willing participant in. But that didn't change the fact that her behavior was strange.....strange enough to alarm him despite his lusts......

He waited for her answer.....and then kissed her deeply, doing his best to assuage her badly jangled body. Even now, he wondered if that was a soft aftershock she felt or if it was just his imagination. She had to be sensitive having cum so hard just now......was she truly ready to take him? And yet even he, with his dulled senses compared to hers, could smell her arousal.

She was ready. She'd be offended if he asked, no doubt. But suffering? He wanted to hear from her lips if she suffered and what the cause might be.....even if it was him.

She had done no less when he moved forward.....feeling himself guided unerringly to her until he pressed against her. Had she stopped breathing? All he could see from her full chest was a slight quivering, Gleam's coppery eyes moist and gleaming as brightly as the day she was no doubt named.

He took it slow. If she were still sensitive.....she would appreciate it.....would appreciate the sensation of being slowly stretched inside as she moved to accommodate him. He didn't speak again until he felt their bodies finally meet......his hips meeting hers, the head of his cock meeting her deep inside of her desperately clutching sex.....his eyes finding and meeting her own kaleidoscope gaze as he tried to interpret at least a few of the myriad of emotions that raced through the two portals to her soul......

"Is this what you wanted?"

 

[RainingHeat]

"Gleam....."

He moved to her.....leaning heavily over her.....his cockhead jutting obscenely outward from his body in a new display of arousal as it traced across her belly.

"Are you suffering?"

The question, unexpected, in the midst of this, confused her. Suffering? Had he mistaken her cries for pain? How would he have done that? He had heard her cries, her screams of pleasure, of ectascy before, and he had heard her agonized screams of pain as well, when he branded her. There as quite the difference in both.

She looked up at him, confused,

"Suffering?" she repeated the word, as if she did not understand where it was coming from. "No... Master Lucian.. why... why would you think that?" She tried to control her breathing, to cease her heavy panting. The look on his face carried the same confusion she was sure was on her own. What had she done to.......

What had she done.......

He was not expecting this. The thought hit Gleam. She still did not realize quite how submissive she was coming across, that had not occurred to her. But what did was the fact that she had caught him off guard. He had not expected her to, please him with her mouth, why would he? She had never done it before. He had not forced her. He had not tried to force her, he had never even mentioned it.

Why had she done it???

Could she, herself even answer that question? Because honestly, she really had no idea why she did what she did. It just, happened. She had not even thought about it until it was happening. She had wanted to please him. Needed to please him.

And... the biggest factor, the thoughts came together in her head. She was outside again, alone with him. This was HER comfort zone. And that made a HUGE difference in how she reacted, and how she felt.

"no... I am not suffering. Master Lucian... I am at home again, outside, alone... with you.... and.... " she paused, trembling then, beneath him. The words wanted to come, but suddenly she again was afraid, afraid to admit those words, to give him so much control. But didn't he have it already? She wore his collar. Her flesh bore his brand. He had captured her, taken her virginity. But to admit that she........ "I... need you.... Master" the words slipped past... "I submit to you..."

He quieted her with his kiss.. deep, hungry, insistent, she returning that kiss with her own, her tongue seeking his, touching, tasting, delving into his mouth, inviting his into her own. A low purring sound rumbling past her lips as if she were feeding it to him.. she rolled her hips up to his, wrapping her arms around him, curling her fingertips slowly down his back. She squirmed, bucked beneath him, begging him with nothing more than that the sway, the motion of her feline body. Her fur was so soft, and now, at this moment, slightly damp, and quite warm...

She felt him shift forward, his cockhead slipping easily now along her heated, most slit.. Her breath caught, her body tensing, taut. She had begged him to take her. She had admitted her need of him, she had submitted to him. Gleam knew when he claimed her this time, he possession of her would be complete.

She let that breath go, finally as he slowly pushed within her. She was glad he was taking it slow, and not brutally thrusting forward to claim his prize. One hand raked his back with her nails, the other went to the grass beneath to nearly rip out the dirt as she lifted to him, opening, wrapping around, her legs about his waist, the velvet sheathe of her pussy engulfing, immersing the length of his cock in the silken touch, the searing juices, that was her body... until he was balls deep within her embrace, she fully impaled... fully penetrated... he feeling every breath, every rush of blood, every quiver, every tremble, no matter how small or sight, from the inside of her, from the depths of her...

His eyes caught hers, holding her gaze. Could he see how much she needed him now, could he see how she felt?

"Is this what you wanted?"

Again, more proof that he was different from any other that owned a feral. Gleam had seen and heard enough to know the majority did not concern themselves with how a feral ... felt... let alone what they wanted. Most saw them as nothing but animals. She wondered if even Fynn asked Jacinta what she really wanted. Perhaps, perhaps not. But those very words had just slipped from his lips.

If he had asked her that the first time he took her, when she was fighting him for her freedom, the answer then would have been very different than the answer now, even tho that was only a fortnight back....

Gleam had wanted to be loved. She had wanted that since the day she had run to freedom when they came for her, when they took her mother from her. That was how she felt at this moment....

"yess.... Master..... I wanted.... I want... you...."

 

[dryfter]

"yess.... Master..... I wanted.... I want... you...."

"Mmmmm.....so warm....."

He came to her then, stroking himself deep, but gently into her as his head dipped low to nibble softly at her neck. A second later, and he thrust in earnest, knowing she felt him, every last tremble....

"I am the Master, you are the pet, and one day you will even come to enjoy it."

He had said those words once before, could feel her stiffen beneath him as she tried to recall from where.

"I said that to you that very first day I met you.....back at my campsite, where I had you bound and tied to my horse...."

His words were soft, barely breathed into her damp fur, and followed by a gentle rain of kisses as he tended to her....his tongue sliding languidly across her delicate throat.....

"Did I lie?"

He pushed ahead again, delighting in her response, knowing he'd given her much to think about. And yet her submission was incredible to him....empowering....not nearly as sensual as the curvy tigress beneath him now, but it enhanced the feeling he had of having something truly special.

He dipped deeply into her honeyed pot, stirring her from the inside with a sudden and needy series of thrusts. His own need for her was mounting, she had done much to arouse him with her earlier blowjob, but mostly just by letting go of the inhibitions, the worries that had been keeping her from giving herself to him completely.

He reached down between them....running a thumb across her clit, moving just in time to get out of the way of his own hips before they crashed into her....constantly stimulating....

The rest of him stayed close to her, his lips never leaving her, tormenting and teasing with soft fluttering kisses that trailed along her neck to her jawline, upward towards her cheekbone.....and when she finally turned her head to meet him in her own hunger, he was there to claim her with his.....a searing hot kiss that had both of them moaning softly as their tongues met.

It never seemed to end....their tongues dancing and whirling against each other. Even when both struggled for breath.....even when he moaned directly into her....his body stiffening as her legs held him tight.....not when she felt him release, his thick fluids lancing into her, coating her with his fiery heat.....

How long they lay there like that, he didn't know for sure. Only knew that he was reluctant to ever leave Gleam's embrace, the cute shivering of her body. He didn't want to hear a cry of disappointment as he left her.....his girth gone for now from her silken embrace.....

"We're both going to need baths now....."

He smiled....his soft laughter the only sound carried by the morning breeze.....

 

[RainingHeat]

Her body arched upwards as he swept forward, her tight sheathe embracing the length of him as he claimed her, pushing in deeply. A wash of her slippery fluids offered him a slick path the the very depths, the walls of her sex closing around him, enveloping him.

Her cry echoed into the quiet of the sky above, a mingling of desire, of pleasure, and tinged with lust.

"I am the Master, you are the pet, and one day you will even come to enjoy it."

He had said those words once before, could feel her stiffen beneath him as she tried to recall from where.

"I said that to you that very first day I met you.....back at my campsite, where I had you bound and tied to my horse...."

He had.. she remembered, she had trembled, bound, captured, scared. She remembered, it was only just over a fortnight, no, wait, it was longer than that now. But truth be told, it seemed like the time she had been free, was so very long ago now.. so very long.

"You are mine now, my little tigress. And you're going to serve me well. You might not want to at first.....but I think you'll come around just fine, won't you? Female ferals have a tendency to do that once properly mated and trained."

"But I'm not like other Masters, kitten. I'm not about to share you with anyone. At least not if you serve me properly, that is. Bad pets must be punished after all, you know....."

"I'm the master. You're the pet. You will learn how to serve, and one day soon, you'll even enjoy it. I can promise you a much better life than what you've been living out here."

She had spit, growled, argued, in her fear, her terror at being captured.

Yet now, she lay beneath him, begging him to take her, wearing his mithril collar, his brand seared into her thigh. She lay with him buried balls deep inside her, her body quivering in her need, her wanton lust, her hunger for him, her lips calling him what he had so prophetically said she would, Master, her cries for him echoing around the both of them.

"Did I lie?"

As he spoke she gasped, he accenting his words with another stroke into her firey depths, she closing around him, muscles rippling over the surface of his cock as he drove into her.

"no.... no... You did not lie... Master.... " she moaned the words, the sound fading into a purring sound.

She moved with him, her own motions mimicking his, as he lifted and drew back, she rolled her hips upwards, so his next thrust went deeper, easily sliding back into the welcome embrace of her sex, the wetness soaking him, coating the shaft and flowing over his balls, the sound of bodies gyrating together, the wet slapping sound of his cock once again delving within, she groaning, arching, her heart pounding, the vibration felt from the inside of her, pulsing over his cock...

His thumb finding her swollen clit, she digging her nails into his back, raking down his spine as she cried out, eyes staring upwards and rolling back at the pure ecstasy that shot thru her, rolled over her in waves, trickling out to every nerve ending, he feeling her muscles clench within her in response.. another flood if moisture spilling around him.. her growling screams of passion growing louder, higher, with every touch, every stroke of his cock, every glide of his lips...

... along her throat, jawline, her own tongue darting out to taste along his earlobe, trailing down to his shoulder, she nipping as she again arcs against him, her fangs gently playing along the skin... One hand gliding into his hair as she met his gaze, met his lips, it was she that nipped at his lower lip to begin the deep, passion laced kiss, tongues entwining, mating within her mouth and then his, tasting his heat, she feeding him her own with every soft whimper that escaped into that kiss. She fed off his moans, her own rippling along her tongue to his. She rocking, bucking, writhing beneath him, the motion of their bodies never ceasing, the head of his cock, smooth, hard, now brushing her cervix at the very back of her sex, she spasming slightly at the sensation..

She cried into his mouth, her moans of heated seduction ripping past her lips, over her tongue, and across his as she felt his body stiffen, tense, his cock deep within her body, she felt the jet of hot cum, his seed, pulse out into the depths of her, splashing, coating the walls, every surface, each shudder bringing another wave of his spend inside her pussy, her sex, and her response, as she crashed over the cliff of her own orgasm, the sensation rolling thru her covering her with a sudden shaking of pleasure, she writhing beneath him, hips lifting and holding, legs anchored like a vice around him, she let the climax claim her, let it grip her and savage her... yet the kiss never broke, never did their tongues break contact, thru it all.

She was soaking, fur damp, dripping at some spots, as she lay panting beneath his body. It had gotten so much warmer as they had mated in the grass. Mated, made love... to Gleam.. they did both... he claimed her as a mate, yet treated her as something so much more than that..

She was languidly gliding her fingertips up and down his spine, slowly, as she let herself relax from that intense encounter.

"We're both going to need baths now....."

That made her laugh, her entire body moving under him as she did so.

"You think so?" she winked at him "Good thing the water is here, I would not want to spend the time licking us both clean..." she found his gaze, and smiled.. "altho it may be fun, actually..."

She could still feel his seed inside her, still feel the heat, even as it slowly waned.

 

[dryfter]

Lucian groaned as he relaxed atop her. Her nails ran with tender gentleness along his back, yet the tingling sensation left behind from them was divine. It seemed like every part of him was sensitized now that his job was done, his climax achieved in roaring fashion. And that sensitized flesh responded to her touch....not lustfully....but Lucian arched slightly into her, Gleam finding yet another thing she did that he enjoyed immensely.....

"Mmmm....I can't move.....while you're doing that."

It wasn't that he couldn't, he simply would not, didn't want to. He hadn't thought of his back as an erogenous zone before now, perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn't. Again he reflected.....it wasn't as if he was getting hard again from her doing this, it just felt incredible.....

He was content to lay there for a few minutes anyway. Both of them had yet to catch their breath, were in no danger of being seen, not out here anyway. Lucian relaxed completely into his pet doting arms, sagging softly with a contented sigh.

"Heh.....licking me clean.....would indeed be pleasurable, if not tormenting. Licking yourself clean.....is impossible. I already tried."

He smiled, the soft quivering of his chest, the rustle of breath against her neck. He was laughing in near silence.....before gently kissing her neck once more. The feel of her was still on his tongue....the heated frenzy in which hers had danced with his. Lucian smiled at how simply right it felt.....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The day passed with no altercations or incident....unless you count the continuous jibing of the dwarf and elf, forced to share such confined space together.....

Only Yuri stood awake, as she stood watch over the sleeping pile of bodies in the room. Dagthar was slouched up against the wall.....close enough to Lucian's stove that his beard had begun to smolder slightly. Lucian and the tigress girl had of course claimed the cabin's only bed, and now lay inextricably entwined together. The elf sighed softly, unheard, just gazing upon them.

"Lucian...."

Footfalls. Four of them. Four when there was only supposed to be one man arriving here today. A slender hand reached for the long blade upon her curved hip.

The sound of the steel clearing stirred Dagthar. Thank the Creator the dwarf hadn't been drinking last night and still had his senses. Thank him even more that he had a firm enough grip on them to not attack her as a suddenly perceived threat.

"Eh? What is it then, lass?"

"We have company."

"Fynn's supposed ta be arrivin this morn, surely yer goin a wee bit o'erboard."

"There's more than one of them."

Their voices were the barest whisper. They could handle two, though Lucian and his pet were about to get a rude awakening should this turn ugly. Especially as their guest had the audacity to turn the cabin's handle in near silence.

"In you go."

Soft footsteps, both dwarf and elf's eyes were keen enough to pierce the shroud of gloom that dawn had yet to cut. Neither were prepared for a tiny slip of a girl.......

"Hey now, you two.....don't go scaring the lady."

Unlike Yuri and Dagthar....Fynn made no attempt to lower his voice, regretting it instantly as he looked past them to see the stirring form of Gleam, even Lucian as they both responded to the sudden noise. But if they weren't awake yet.....

"TIGER LADY!"

The child slipped past them, Lucian could feel the soft jolt in Gleam's body as she reacted without truly seeing yet, moving to try and get them all into view.....

Her arm was captured in a child's embrace before she could retract it to get into a better position.

"Mmmm.....soft."

"Chrissy....behave."

Still, the little one couldn't help but stroke her cheek against Gleam just once before releasing her.....waiting to be recognized.....a third and unfamiliar man stepping into the room behind Lucian's old ranger friend.

"Yes, Daddy."

The man blushed simply looking at the two of them, yet Fynn laughed heartily, not missing the undershorts his friend still wore.

"What's this then? You didn't have nearly as good of an evening as I initially thought."

Lucian mumbled something with an ill concealed grin....something along the lines of...."too exhausted to." Which only seemed to make his old friend laugh harder.

The child however, clung to Gleam as soon as she could, looking up at the tigress with eyes that shone her happiness at finding her well. She didn't seem to mind at all that the feral she clung to was completely nude, though it brought about a blush from her father. Fynn gave the old fellow a knowing elbow as he continued to laugh heartily.

"Mmmm.....he kept his promise, tiger lady.....I got to see you again."

 

[RainingHeat]

She had been so exhausted, given her time with Lucian at the water's edge, that Gleam actually slept pretty well, on the bed, in the cabin. Her body needed time to rest, as did, to be honest, her mind. She was thankful the Elven Female Ranger had offered to stand guard. Gleam promised that she would take her own turn, of course, but for the moment, she desperately needed to sleep. It was clear, just by the look in both their eyes, that they had worn themselves out on that little bathing trip.

Gleam was actually in a very sound sleep, which was proof right there that she felt safe with him, and safe enough with the others to fall into that kind of sleep...

She did not hear the stirrings of the Elven Female or even the Dwarf when he awoke. Lucian had tired her out "that" much.

But, she did wake up in a shock when a little whisp of a girl suddenly launched herself up and onto the bed, and into Gleam with a delighted yell of..

"TIGER LADY!"

Gleam was up like a shot, or tried to be, only to find herself captured again, only this time by a delighted and very excited little girl. Gleam recognized her immediately, the little girl from her home village, well, she considered that village her home village because that was where her mother had come from.

"Mmmm.....soft."

"Chrissy....behave."

"Yes, Daddy."

Still, the little one couldn't help but stroke her cheek against Gleam just once before releasing her... the sensation tickling along the feline's arm, and bringing forth the sweetest laugh, one perhaps even Lucian had not heard yet.

"Chrissy" she purred, letting her voice roll over the child as she ever so gently raked her fingers into and thru the girl's magnificent mane of blonde. With her other hand, tho, she quickly gathered the blanket up and around her, quite aware that she was naked, even tho with the striped fur that covered her, it was not nearly as obvious as a human being naked.

The pure joy at seeing the child... so sweet, so innocent, and such a reminder of home for Gleam... shone in the sparkling light in her golden eyes...

She motioned for the child to climb up onto the bed with her and gathered the girl into her lap, being oh so careful of her branding.. and she wrapped the girl up on the blanket with her, tickling her playfully as she did so.

"Mmmm.....he kept his promise, tiger lady.....I got to see you again."

"yes... apparently... he did" she turned and looked at Lucian. She did not have to say thank you, it was written all over her face. No, the little girl was not her daughter, but just the site of the child, and the fact that Lucian had remembered and kept his promise, made Gleam feel so much better, even in the cabin, with so many people.

"Oooooo pretty" the girl had twisted to look up at Gleam, and saw the glittering silver collar that she now wore. Her little hand reached up to touch it, completely fascinated. "Soooo shiney.... " she smiled, looking from Gleam to her daddy and back to Gleam again. It was so obvious that the little girl had no mother, only her father. Gleam so wanted to ask what happened, but dared not. "can I have one???? " the little one earnestly looked at her daddy, her fingers still playing over the collar.

That, caught Gleam, Lucian, hell, all of them off guard.

But is was Gleam who broke that stunned silence. Out of the mouths of babes, she thought...

"Oh Chrissy.... this is a special gift that was given to me. You, will get a special gift someday from someone who loves you. But you know what, even tho my gift is special, and I wear it around my neck... You, I know you will get an even better one. One that I did not get. The one you wear around your finger. Just as pretty, just as shiney... You are a wonderful, beautiful girl, that is what you deserve... that shiney ring around your finger, not your throat.. remember that.. ok"

Gleam realized that the whole room was silent listening to her explain her collar of ownership to an innocent little girl...

 

[dryfter]

If he hadn't been awake yet, he was now. There was just something about having his tiny little cabin filled with the sound of a child's giggles.....as Gleam tickled Chrissy until she squirmed and cried out. Lucian was thankful the father seemed astounded enough to not even worry about whether his child was in "danger" or not. Any fool could see through the scene that played out before them all that Chrissy was perfectly safe.

"Oooooo pretty."

Even Yuri seemed amused as they all watched in silence, Fynn's laughter having died down to his usual roguish grin.

"Jacinta and Anvil are here too somewhere.....they said they wanted to get acquainted with the other ferals here. Jacinta thought she caught wind of one on the way here."

Lucian nodded. "Jakob."

"Ahhh....he has a name then. And if I'm recalling correctly, that's one of two you said were coming with us."

"Soooo shiny.... "

Dagthar's chest puffed out in pride, not that anyone else was watching him of course. For his craftsmanship to be recognized by even a wee one such as this......the old dwarf struggled to keep a single tear from coming to his eye.

"Can I have one????

It was at that moment, when the blonde tresses whipped about her shoulders fast enough to catch Gleam with their fuzz.....the child's gaze fixed hopefully on her father....that the room went eerily silent.

Dagthar coughed softly, drawing the child's gaze to him. The innocent little blue eyes widened in wonder as she perhaps saw the dwarf......a dwarf.....for the first time.

"Now see here, child...."

"You look funny."

"Chrissy!"

She looked back at her suddenly alarmed father and wondered if she had said something bad. This little man was so much shorter than daddy was.....and why was his face getting red?

"Oh Chrissy.... this is a special gift that was given to me. You, will get a special gift someday from someone who loves you. But you know what, even tho my gift is special, and I wear it around my neck... You, I know you will get an even better one. One that I did not get. The one you wear around your finger. Just as pretty, just as shiny... You are a wonderful, beautiful girl, that is what you deserve... that shiny ring around your finger, not your throat.. remember that.. ok"

Chrissy paused, thinking over the feral's words....nodding softly, thoughtfully. Before suddenly coming to a conclusion and once again flashing a brilliantly naive smile.

"Mommy and daddy say they love me very much. Maybe they'll get me a ring some day!"

Soft footfalls....and a long, thin arm draped softly over the child's shoulder as Yuri knelt down to her height.

"Perhaps they just might. But a ring isn't something you get until you're older, so don't go making things hard on your mother and father, ok? One day you'll understand, Chrissy."

The little one simply nodded....but it was something on her face.....

"Is there something wrong?"

"Your ears...."

Yuri flinched slightly, but held still.....noting just how slowly Gleam's child friend reached for them.

"Careful, they are very sensitive."

Yuri could feel the touch....soft and gentle....and, slightly arousing.....as the little girl traced the edges of one ear all the way up to their point.

"Pointy....."

"Yes, child. I imagine you've never seen an elf before."

"An elf?"

Yuri nodded, glancing at the girl's father for help. The room filled with a soft coughing, clearing of the throat.

"They're a forest people, Chrissy.....like the tiger lady. Only they don't like to leave the forest, and they're very good at hide and go seek. So we almost never see them."

Again, the child paused, seeming to take this all in and make her own simple conclusions. Finally, she turned back to Dagthar.....

"But you're not an elf."

Slowly, she extricated herself from the elf that had held her attention for a long minute, and approached the stockier dwarf. Despite the scowl from being told he "looked funny", the ancient man of earth remained stoic and unmoving. That was until she reached out and softly grabbed his beard.

"Oi now, what ye doin there, lass? Are ye lookin fer another good ticklin?"

He lunged for her, several of them wincing at Chrissy's sudden shriek....a noise that collapse into insane giggling and pleading for release as the dwarf found all her tickle spots.

"Fuzzy.....," the child gasped, struggling for breath when it was all over, "and you smell nice....."

The steely eyes of the old dwarf widened suddenly, surprised enough he almost dropped her off his lap.

It was Fynn who broke the silence, "Well then....shall we leave Gleam to catch up with her friend whilst we discuss our plans? Of course, David, you'll want to supervise. I'm sure that's just fine."

The father nodded softly, just as Lucian did. It was best this way. While he wouldn't have minded Gleam coming along, he would let her know later what they came up with. Chrissy and her father on the other hand.....didn't need to know what they were planning.....let them both bask in the moment, so to speak.

 

[RainingHeat]

Observant.. this little girl was very observant, and very curious.

Gleam watched with amusement as the little one interacted with first the Elven Female, and then, even the Dwarf. Hell, that little girl was proving to be completely fearless. She had not been afraid of Gleam herself that day in the village, and now, she was not afraid of the very intimidating looking Dwarf.

The Feline hoped that little Chrissy kept that curiosity, and fearlessness, and tolerance, because it was more than obvious the girl had no real issues with any of them, accepting them on her own terms.

Gleam already had an idea to treat the girl, that is if Suru was around. She was sure the little one would be more than thrilled to see, and ride, on the back of the pretty doe.... and maybe even her stag mate. But again, if they agree'd. Plus they could gather some apples in the process. As the weather cooled, the sweet, crisp scent of ripening apples seemed to be everywhere.

Once the others were gone, Gleam asked the little girl and her father to wait outside. She quickly dressed in a tunic, that hung well past her most intimate of areas, a deep copper red in color, and soft leather boots. She belted the tunic and pulled her hair back into a long, flame red ponytail, tying it with a softened piece of leather.

When she stepped outside, the little girl was already reaching for her hand. The Feline Feral smiled and gently took the little one's grasp.

"Allow me to show you the beauty of this place." she nodded to the father. "It really is more beautiful here than even back at home. With the mountains so close, and the cool air."

They easily found the apple trees and spent the better part of the afternoon picking, and sampling apples. Gleam showed them the waterfall, and the small pond where she and Luican had mated, she showed them the view from atop the peak where the waterfall descended.

It looked as if she would not find Suru or her mate, until they returned to the cabin. The others were still gone, but Suru had indeed arrived, and for a reason. It was time to check the brand yet again, and Gleam, in all that was going on, had forgotten about it.

She certainly did not want to scare the girl, or alarm her father, by revealing that mark, that was for sure.

Tossing a crsip, fresh apple to the puzzled Doe feral, Gleam pulled her aside.

"They are from home, friends, a promise the Lucian kept from when I was captured" she explained the little girl and what had happened that day. "I do not want to scare her by revealing that brand, so please, we can check it later"

Suru nodded "of course"

"But, I have a question... actually more of a request"

"you.. do?"

"yes, the little girl, Chrissy, is fascinated by ferals, and animals in general. I am not asking you to shift to your doe form in front of her, but if you would do it here, while they are looking elsewhere, and allow the little one a ride on your back?"

Suru hesitated. She had never allowed a human to ride her like that, had never even entertained the thought. But she looked beyond Gleam to the little girl who even now, was admiring a butterfly that had landed on her hand, not trying to capture it, or hurt it, simply admiring the beauty and showing her father, calling for Gleam to come and see... She nodded her agreement.

When Gleam came around the corner of the cabin to the call of the little girl, she could only smile wide at the look of wonder on the girl's face when the Doe appeared, and a moment later, the Stag, who had heard the entire conversation and surprised even Gleam by showing himself.

"Chrissy... these are my friends...."

It was wonderous... as Gleam stood back with the girl's father, watching. He was smiling wide as well, his little girl laughing, giggling, clapping as she rode first the Doe and then the magnificent Stag. It was clear little Chrissy was completely enthralled....

By the time the others returned, the child was asleep in her father's lap, as he sat on the front steps, Gleam stretched out in the grass nearby. Over an open fire roasted 2 freshly caught turkeys of all things, plucked and cooking, that had been provided by Suru and her mate, fresh vegetables were cleaned and seasoned for a side, and, of course, apples for desert.

 

[dryfter]

The morning went quickly. Lucian could hear the sounds of squealing and giggling, and he smiled knowing that Chrissy and her father were most likely having fun in the presence of Gleam. He hadn't missed the look on his kitten's face when the little girl had shown up.....nor the look of gratitude she had thrown his way as the child had embraced her for the second time.

She was learning that he kept his promises.

"So Harlan is going to free the slaves while Jakob directs them?"

Lucian nodded softly. Still the elf remained skeptical.

"How do you know we can trust him? Or Jakob either for that matter."

A soft smile, and a rugged smile she'd only seen on his face a few times.

"Because Gleam's not the only one I've made a promise to. Tell me, do you think I asked them to only free the male slaves?"

Dagthar stroked his beard in silent thought for a moment as they both contemplated his words.

"I see....they're both in this in the hopes they get a mate outta the deal. Is that it?"

Fynn nodded, as did Jacinta. Both of them standing in the shadow of Anvil who remained silent as usual.

"It didn't take long for that one to find us. Though he took one look at Anvil and had second thoughts. I think he's more lonely than randy though....."

Jacinta's voice was soft, almost as if she had been afraid to say even that much.

"I hope he finds someone. Even if they're broken like me.....I feel.....like he'll take care of them."

The jaguar flinched as Lucian's fingers closed about her shoulder. Only her Master was allowed to actually touch her, and yet Fynn didn't seem to mind in the slightest.

"He will."

They conversed for a while longer, each making sure the other knew what was expected of them. Heads nodded in understanding as they plotted what would become the Duke's everlasting shame.

"The elves stand ready."

"Darkhaven is bristlin and rarin ta go."

All eyes were on Lucian then, as the hunter nodded thoughtfully.

"That's all well and good, but they only play their part if we succeed in making it back from this. Yuri will be in charge of keeping an eye out for the assassins Ellington will no doubt send for me. He's a fat lazy bastard who thinks he's cunning. My guess is that they'll come for me while Gleam and I sleep. Yuri rarely sleeps, so that shouldn't be an issue.

"I slept before coming here. Staying awake shouldn't be an issue. Gleam offered to take watch last night."

An affectionate smile painted her thin lips, "That one is used to being cautious. I can't say I blame her. I didn't bother to tell her that I wasn't standing guard, I simply didn't feel the need for repose."

Thurgaard chuckled softly, "Aye, and I'm ta slow down the foot soldiers then, am I? Barring a lucky shot, that should nae be a problem. That's assumin, Fynn can give the Duke's cavalry something ta chase."

The rogue bandit chuckled softly, "My men are already in place. Even some of the druids helped. It seems the have no love of Ellington either. It should make for a rousing spectacle. Just be sure that when the fireworks go off, the three of you are turning hoof outta town."

Another round of nods as each accepted the man's words. None knew exactly what manner of diversion the rogue ranger had planned, but Lucian was absolutely convinced that if anyone could pull it off, it was Fynn.

"Jacinta and Anvil will assist Harlan and Jakob, focusing on clearing out the females from the slave pens. That'll sting the fat fuck. Anvil's strength and broad back should come of use to the ones who have been hamstrung by that monster."

The bear and the jaguar exchanged looks for a brief moment, both nodding resolutely, the larger of the two not missing the other's nervous placing of her hand upon her belly.

"It'll be alright, love....your master's going to give them something to chase. We'll have plenty of head start before they notice us missing."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

When they finally finished, none of them seemed particularly interested in returning to the cabin. As one, the six of them turned towards the pleasant sound of laughter in the distance.

As the last hillock between them was cleared.....more than one set of lips turned upward in a smile as they watched. Even the human father laughed and seemed at ease, Lucian slowly shaking his head in wonder and amazement.

Dakar had the girl up on his great shoulders, tiny fingers wrapped tightly around the tines of his great rack as he bounced and growled softly, stamped his foot against the soft ground and gave his great head a firm shake. It was enough to earn him another squeal of enjoyment from the little blond girl riding him.

Slowly as they all watched, he reached for her....and just as easy as that, she released her hold of him, cooing softly as he placed her upon the back of a svelte looking doe. It took all but Yuri a few moments to realize that had to be Suru...

No sooner did the girl have a good hold, than the druidess was off at a soft run, pausing only to slowly, cautiously....brush her muzzle against the face of the girl's father as he reached out to laugh as he patted her back and asked if she was having fun. The only answer was another squeal as the doe darted away as fast as it had came.....

"She's going to grow up loving animals. Might have another druid in the making there."

"Or perhaps a ranger," the elf to his left nodded.

Finally Anvil spoke for the first time, "Either way, and perhaps most important of all, let's hope she grows up a human who has respect for us and doesn't simply treat us as objects."

Fynn huffed softly, though Jacinta tried hard to cover a smile at his response of, "Buzzkill."

"David!"

Lucian's voice rang clear over the meadow, and brought immediate response, sadly startling Suru to a complete halt as her wide eyes swung around to see them approaching. The hunter slowly approached the villager...

"You're welcome to make use of my cabin for the next few days. It might be a bit before we're able to escort you and Chrissy home. Until then, please consider yourself our guests. As for us, we'll be conducting some business matters for the next couple of days.....please forgive me for the delay in your return, but I assure you, we'll make sure you arrive safely as soon as we get back."

The rest of them watched in silence.

----------------------------------------------------------------

"I won't go back."

They were finally alone again, though only just on his doorstep, or so he thought. His arm had been around Gleam.....sharing his warmth with her as he pulled her close to him....when the druidess came up to them both, Dakar in tow as usual....

"I never asked you to."

"You brought me here," came the softly spoken accusation.

"I did not. Gleam did.," came the equally simple response. "And I must say you looked like you were enjoying yourself."

The doe feral blushed slightly. That was an accusation she couldn't deny, though she had been reluctant at first.

"You ordered her to...."

And yet there was no conviction behind the words.....as if she were hoping she were wrong, and in doing so lost all basis behind her inquisition.

"I did not."

Those soft brown eyes of hers struggled to take them both in. None were aggressive in the least, so Dakar was content to simply stand in silence and listen to the exhange.

"Gleam made a friend long before I found her. I promised that friend that she would see her again once she was settled in at my cabin. Is it so wrong that she wanted to share that friend with you?"

The druidess flinched softly as if he had struck her, guilt and shame seen plainly in her gaze as it roamed over the two of them.

"I'm....sorry.....I misunderstood your.....intentions."

 

[RainingHeat]

Gleam stayed quiet as Lucian and Suru spoke. Yes, she could have interrupted, she had not summoned, lured, or otherwise enticed the Doe Feral to the cabin. In fact, she had been a surprised happy when she saw Suru, knowing the little girl would enthralled at the chance to ride upon the Doe. And, it was certainly a good thing in many ways to show 2 more humans, the girl and her father, that ferals are not just animals, that ferals were intelligent, feeling, entities.

The Dwarf and Jacinta, quite the combination, were finishing the preparations of the roasted turkeys and the vegetables. Gleam was more than happy to let them take over. She preferred her food raw, needless to say, cooking was not something she was.. comfortable with. She could do it, but preferred not. Currently the 2 of them were in a friendly disagreement about spices, and taste.

The little girl, Chrissy, had finally woken up. She stretched on her father's lap, then hopped off and ran to find Gleam. It was a bit uncanny how the little girl seemed so drawn to the Trigress. The little one smiled to Suru as she clung to the Tigress.

Gathering the girl in her arms, Gleam smiled.

"Why don't I take Chrissy and get some fresh water at the waterfall." It was still light out, the sun was just beginning to set. Gleam had no issues with the darkness, her eyes were as keen as a cat's, and she had her crossbow. She turned to Chrissy's father.. noting his slightly worried look.."She will be safe, I promise." With his nod, and an acknowledging nod from Lucian, Gleam let the girl down, grabbed the 2 large buckets, and headed toward the waterfall.

"so, where are you going?' Chrissy asked as they made their way thru the woods.

Gleam sighed. This little trip was not something she wanted to think about.

"We just have to visit a.... friend... that's all"

The girl nodded, she had lots of friends too.

At the water's edge, the little one stood, staring at the rush of water tumbling down over the small rocky embankment.

Gleam sat down, stretching her legs out, arching her back in a slow, relaxing curve, letting the muscles loosen... She just wished the trip to and from the Duke were over and done with. She was not looking forward to it.

Chrissy plopped down next to her, then proceeded to climb into her lap. In doing so, the tunic that Gleam wore was shifted, baring the brand that marked her. The little girl's eyes widened.

"What is that?" she reached down to touch, drawing a light hiss from Gleam, but the pain was waning fast, thank goodness. It still stung, but the healing was progressing nicely.

"it's just a mark, sweet one"....

The girl studied it.

"Did it hurt?"

"yes, very much..." Gleam was not about to lie to the child.

"Who did that to you?"

Gleam was not about to explain that either.

"you know what Chrissy... sweetheart... it matters not who did it to me. What matters, and what I want you to remember, and I know you can remember this because you are a big girl now.. aren't you... is to never, ever do this to any feral like me, or like Suru, or any. OK. Can you remember that?"

The little one smiled and nodded. "Always" she said, loving the fact that her Tiger Lady thought she was "grown up"...

It was then the Gleam heard it. It was nearly silent, but as sure as she knew, she heard the step, and the breath. She was up like a shot, to her feet, crossbow in hand, the girl positioned behind her. "what....??"

"Shhhhh"

She heard it again, and then the shot, and a bow powered net came sailing from the brush. Gleam grabbed Chrissy, the crossbow dropped, the girl wrapped against her own body, she went to the ground and rolled, the net just missing her before settling, but it effectively netted her crossbow tho.

Gleam was back on her feet in an instant, again Chrissy safely behind her. She did not have the crossbow, but in her hands, both now, were 2 bolts, and when she saw the shadow, she launched them both, forcefully. She heard a yelp of pain, but a moment later, a bolt was shot at her, Gleam could have ducked, could have moved, but that would have exposed the child, so instead, she turned into it, taking the bolt hard in her left hip.

"Shit" she growled, fighting back the pain.

She had to get out of there, had to get the girl out of there. Lucian had spoken of Assassins, more than likely this was one of them...

Mindless of the pain, she wretched the bolt out of her flesh with a hiss, and threw it to the ground. Grabbing the girl, "hang on" Gleam ran.....

It was a damned good thing she knew where she was and where she needed to be as well as she did.... she burst into the clearing at the cabin with a loud near roar. Her hip was bleeding badly, the pain was shooting down her leg. But the little girl was safe. Crying, but safe.

"Someone shot Tiger Lady" she wailed, jumping into her father's arms... Gleam went down on one knee then, panting.

 

[dryfter]

He had meant to pursue. Every muscle in his body tensed as he got ready to rush after her. How dare Lucian kill his own comrades! He was just lucky he had decided on one more night of drinking and debauchery.....not that the lucky little catgirl he had found to spend the evening with had any trouble keeping him.....

He had heard about Carl and the others days later, slaughtered on the roadside. He wasn't stupid, he knew exactly what had gone down, what they had been after. Sure, the rumors flew that Lucian killed them all, and if he had.....perhaps he could have just let it go.

But he had an eyewitness account that told him otherwise. That fucking FERAL had dared to lift a weapon to humans! Lucian's or not, and dammit, he liked the guy!.....she had to die. Nobody was going to tolerate a vicious bitch like that. Too damned dangerous. A little slip of a garrotte insured that his informant didn't pass this information along to anyone else. He knew how much the Duke wanted to get in this one's hole. If he wanted it bad enough, he could fuck her corpse!

The edge of his quarrel poked through the reeds. He had to be careful not to hit the innocent girl. Enough humans had already been involved in this. Granted, she was indeed a looker, a true prize that Carl and the others had even been willing to die for......but to him, she was pure evil.

The tigress shifted slightly at the exact moment the bolt flew through the air, perhaps hearing the click of the trigger? The soft snap of the wound spring as it launched its lethal missile towards her?

Perfect. A perfect shot regardless. Sure she had moved enough to keep it from being fatal.....but he was betting on beating a gimpy feral back to the cabin he knew she'd bolt for.

And then he heard the growl......low and menacing......

"So this is what you came here for."

The hunter spun on his heel, no longer caring if the fleeing Gleam and her child noticed him. Spun.....and noticed nothing but waving grass, turning softly golden in the sunlight.....

"Lucian's gonna have my ass. So I might as well have yours."

The voice seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere at the same time. Frantically, he looked to his left, his right.....spun to take in the areas he had favored with his back.....

Pain.....searing and deep......he could feel the thick cord of his hamstring snap and retract back into his thigh.....the other half hanging limply.......

Gleam had barely reached the cabin before his scream.......

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Someone shot Tiger Lady!"

They all hesitated for a moment, perhaps a moment too long, as they took in the sight of the bleeding, staggering Gleam......Chrissy crying big innocent tears as she leaped into the arms of her father who clutched her protectively and ran for the house.

"Suru!"

Yuri's voice rang clear and commandingly as she jerked her chin towards Gleam. Thin fingers were already stringing her bow, the action taking mere seconds, enough to send the dwarf back into the cabin in search of his own weapon. By the time he emerged, Yuri had already left.

Lucian stayed with Gleam.....easing her gently off of her wounded side until she laid down on the ground.

"What happened? Tell me."

He crept close to her, kneeling, his own lap a pillow for her auburn tresses as Suru frantically went to work.

"Go after them."

Dakar frowned, not used to being away from his mate. Still, she was with Lucian....

The warm glow of healing magic surrounded the doe's fingers....seeping deep into the wound.

"I had come thinking to ease the pain of your brand, Gleam.....I wasn't expecting this."

Lucian didn't like what he saw in the druidess' eyes. Concern was never a good thing in his opinion when gazing at a wound.

"Suru.....you need to go fetch your master."

The doe flinched softly, looking up at Lucian with a soft frown.

"What makes you think he'll come?"

The cunning ranger was more than ready for the gentle inquisition, smiling genuinely in response despite the circumstances.

"Simple. Just remind him that Gleam is due at the Duke's keep in a matter of days. She's going to need to look presentable or she'll be taken and I get killed. Showing up with her limping and bleeding everywhere is hardly presentable now is it? Though I'm sure the Duke would love to make the case that I abuse her."

The doe recoiled, her mind quickly processing everything that he had told her.

"He wouldn't!"

"I think you underestimate just how badly Duke Ellington would like to be fucking Gleam right now."

He didn't say mating. Where the Duke was concerned, it was anything but. Fucking was a generously loose term in itself. More like breaking. Torture, humiliation, and constant degradation, until Gleam would lose all sense of self.....would come to see herself as an animal for breeding. And if she didn't think she'd ever fall that far......all she had to do was look at herself now.....and how she had been just three weeks ago. She had changed.

If given to the Duke, she would change again.

Evidently Suru had come to a similar conclusion....nodding softly and whispering gently to the stricken tigress.

"I'll be back soon.....friend.....Gleam......I promise."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jakob had a firm grasp of the man's leg, and fucked if he was letting go. HE had been appointed warden of this half of Lucian's land, HE had noticed the stranger enter....had scented him from the beginning, and had chosen to follow him. HE had failed to get close enough to notice that what he had thought was a rather childish attempt at spying on a beautiful feral, had rather more lethal intent.

This was good. He had hoped for screams. Lucian and his friends were close enough by to hear them, of that he was sure. All he had to do was not....let....go.

Which was kind of hard when fear and pain mixes into desperation. Harder still when you look up from your prey and see him pulling a sharpened dagger out of a sheath. He couldn't die here......didn't he have a pertinent role in Lucian's plans? That was just a day away that he was to accompany him on the trip that would hopefully change his life.

All this flashed through Jakob's mind, even as the wicked steel point flashed down........his jaws loosening.......as his hindquarters recoiled.....

THRUM! THRUM! THRUM!

He knew that sound all too well, and it was enough to get him to turn tail and take cover.....at least until he could factor friend from foe. The grass matched well with his fur....giving him a natural camoflage.....the stalker he had attacked crying out with a strangled gurgle.......

Arrows. He had heard every single one of them hit their target with a sickening crunch too.

"You can come out now......Jakob."

The cougar feral moved slowly, scenting the air. The voice was unfamiliar to him, but it held the musical qualities of the elves. He scented Dakar.....and that was what brought him out of hiding.

Three arrows. The man had died long before he hit the ground. One lodged in his throat.....Jakob remembered the strangled gurgling as his cry ended wetly. One in his chest, most likely prompting the cry to begin with.....the last through his left eye socket. Horribly messy, yet the feral didn't so much as blink when he looked upon the sordid scene.

"Well? Who was he?"

Jakob shook his head, bristling softly at this elf woman he did not know. Who was she and how did she know his name? Not that it was hard to figure out....hell half the landscape knew who he was by now. That aggravated him just a little every time it put him at a disadvantage like it did right now.

"No idea. Thought he was looking for a peep show at a sexy tigress. No cages, she he didn't strike me as a hunter.....until I heard the crossbow that is. But what hunter would use such a dangerous method of capture? Gleam could have been killed! At best she's hurt. That drops her value at market."

Thin lips pursed. This feral knew far more about the slave trade than she did. Especially since hunters were not allowed on Lucian's land. He was not going to be happy about this. Silently, she nodded......

"You don't know him then? Perhaps Lucian will. Come. I suspect he'll want to talk to you."

A soft growl of annoyance, and a thin eyebrow arched.

"I answer to Lucian, not you, whomever you are. So I'd take it kindly if you didn't act so familiar with me."

A thin smile.....and another silent, brief nod.

"Dakar....would you please?"

Yuri nodded at the corpse, still bristling with her arrows. Though obviously distasteful, the man's body was easily lifted in the stag's great rack.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Of course, Lucian knew who he had been. Had been quick to point it out too, to all the others who had gathered round to listen. Motivation wasn't a problem, not after he and Gleam had killed Carl and the others. Few could have guessed that it ran any deeper than that with the man dead now.

Still......

Guard was doubled that night as they waited for Suru's return....hopefully with her master and the healing spells he could offer. As things stood, they had Dagthar.....calmly and quietly applying and reapplying hot moist cloths to the wound.

Daybreak couldn't come soon enough.

 

[RainingHeat]

It hurt much too much. The bolt had done more damage than even Gleam had first thought. Had it ripped the muscles? Had it severed nerves? Bruised bone? All she knew what that it hurt much too much, and even to her, and she was not a healer, she knew something was not right, something was not good.

"What happened? Tell me."

"Ambushed" she whispered. "I let my guard down, I did not hear him until the last moment. Is the child ok??" she looked up at Lucian, seeing him nod. Thank the gods the girl had not been hit. "I am so sorry" she grated her teeth at the pain, wincing as Suru tended the wound.

It hurt much too much.

"The pain, it goes down my entire leg" she growled, shaking against Lucian.

She listened to the exchange between Suru and Lucian. His words scared her. She had never really heard him put it so... succinctly before..

"I think you underestimate just how badly Duke Ellington would like to be fucking Gleam right now."

In her pain, in how utterly helpless she felt right then and there, she shuddered.

"I would kill him first..." she snarled low, "or kill myself" There was no way she was going to let the Duke, or anyone else for that matter... fuck her. Gods she hated that words with a passion.. Fuck. To her, it was degrading. Ferals never used the word fuck except when talking of humans. It seemed humans, used it all the time.

Gleam looked at Suru a moment later as the Doe hesitated, the look on her face, in her eyes, telling Gleam that this was not good, not good at all. "hurts too much" she whispered to the Healer.

"I'll be back soon.....friend.....Gleam......I promise."

Chrissy, was pacing. She was scared, as was her father. This was not what he expected when he had come here for this visit. Not what he expected at all, and it showed on his face, in his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to get his daughter out of there, but he knew it was too dangerous now to travel. He and Chrissy were stuck there, until Lucian could at least get things calmed down.

Chrissy was just scared that Gleam was going to die. She slowly approached where Lucian held her. "Don't die... Tiger Lady" she whispered, leaning down to kiss her cheek so gently. Gleam stirred, letting her lidded eyes open fully. She was quivering slightly, and hot, so hot her fur was dampening. The color in her face was gone, she was so very pale. "I will be ok... Chrissy... I ... promise..." the Tigress managed to blow a little kiss to the girl, before letting her eyes close again. The pain was fierce, and she was using any strength she had to try and keep it from overwhelming her.

 

[dryfter]

"She's not going to die, Chrissy."

The amount the little girl cared for his tigress was enough to put a smile on his face despite how much Gleam was hurting right now. It did help that he wasn't the only one who smiled.....

"I've seen enough injuries to know that this one is deep....jagged too.....you tore the bolt out yourself didn't you, kitten?"

Lucian shook his head softly. That had made the damage worse. Still, he could see why she had done it.

"Suru might not look it, but she's going to be a really good healer some day. For now however, she's still very new at it. She could heal you easy enough if you scraped your knee, but for something this bad....she's going to need help....and she knows it."

A soft shadow fell over him then, the ranger looking up at the surly face of the old dwarf, who was clearly not please.

"Don't bother. I heard most everythin' already. Ye don't mind me standin here and makin sure there's nae anyone else lookin ta take yer hides, do ye?"

"Not at all," though Lucian was pretty sure the question wasn't just directed at him. It had taken a while, but the stout warrior had managed to redon all his armors until he looked as intimidating as ever once more with his giant maul head slung over his right shoulder......both stocky hands firmly on the handle.

They returned soon enough, though Lucian had been hoping it would be Suru who returned first, he knew that was wishful thinking. He just really didn't like seeing Gleam in this much pain. Slowly he stroked her cheek, wiped away the occasional tear with a tender thumb.....anything he could think of to calm her. Hell, he wanted to lean forward and kiss her but he knew he wasn't flexible enough to do so kneeling with her on his lap like this.

A loud thump, and there was little question as to what had happened to their attacker. He was surprised however.....to see Jakob with them. More so when the cougar feral approached them both....giving Gleam a sad and baleful look before slowly taking a knee before them.

"I await your punishment. I failed."

Yuri's breath caught, Dagthar's eyebrow lifted behind his great helm, and Dakar stood on in his usual stoic silence.....his head casting about every so often in search of his mate, who was no longer to be seen.

"Explain."

A soft sigh and a slight flinch, "I detected his presence when he entered your territory, Mas....Lucian. I followed, not recognizing the scent I had picked up. He dressed like a woodsman, but lacked any of the gear that would identify him as a hunter. I thought perhaps he might be here to poach game off your lands, but when we talked last......you allowed slight leeway for that as game here is plentiful currently."

Lucian listened carefully. Gleam hadn't known about the hunter's presence.....she couldn't have known about Jakob then......he had been very careful indeed.

"I failed to keep him from raising his weapon, though I think I startled him enough to spoil his shot."

"Then how do you think you failed me?"

The cougar frowned, agitated, "I let your mate be harmed. I'm sorry."

"That mate was protecting a child. Else she wouldn't have been struck, or at the very least, not as badly. These were all things out of your control."

"It could have been your child."

"One day it will be."

The two bantered back and forth, none of the others willing to interject anything.

"Very well. You seem to feel you are in need of punishment. I however, do not concur. You're very stubborn, Jakob.....and prideful as well."

A soft growl from the cougar....who obviously didn't like all this contradicting.

"Shall we let Gleam decide? If I give this to her, you must agree to abide by what she decides. She's the one who got hurt.....and she's just as capable as I am of deciding if you are to blame or not. I will abide by her decision if you will, and that means letting it go if she finds favor with you, just as I will decide your punishment if she thinks you are at fault here."

He hated thrusting this upon her, not hurt as she was. It was just that Jakob was so hard to get through to sometimes.....

"Very well. Tell him. Tell him that you wouldn't have gotten hurt if I'd have been just a little quicker......if I had stopped that man before he got anywhere close to you. Tell him that I'm at fault here, Gleam. I'm prepared for the consequences."

 

[RainingHeat]

"She's not going to die, Chrissy."

"Tell her I will be ok.. I promise" Gleam's voice stammered just a little. That damned thing hurt. And she was pissed that she had been hit. Not because she had the child with her, but because she had not heard, nor scented the intruder. Had she let her guard down that much? What had happened to him? She certainly doubted that he had managed to get away.

"I've seen enough injuries to know that this one is deep....jagged too.....you tore the bolt out yourself didn't you, kitten?"

"Couldn't run with it buried in my hip" she matter of factly stated to Lucian, glancing up at him with what could have been taken for a smirk. It was just Gleam, being Gleam and stating the obvious. She let her eyes close then, a soft tremble as she felt another jab of pain.

"Suru might not look it, but she's going to be a really good healer some day. For now however, she's still very new at it. She could heal you easy enough if you scraped your knee, but for something this bad....she's going to need help....and she knows it."

"Will I finally meet the elusive Healer that seemed to think you were not important enough to show up for?" yeah, she did not forget anything either, that was for sure.

She heard the Dwarf's grumble, and Lucian talking, but she let herself relax as best she could for the moment. But that was short lived. The ~thud~ of a body hitting the ground, and the harsh smell of the dead aroused her senses once more and she opened her golden eyes, wincing a bit as she moved, trying to see just what body had hit the ground.

When Jakob approached, she canted her head slightly. When had he joined the gang???

"I await your punishment. I failed."

"Explain."

Gleam heard every word. How, how could the Cougar Feral think he failed?

"Then how do you think you failed me?"

"I let your mate be harmed. I'm sorry."

She listened as Lucian and Jakob... seemed to disagree. A rather strange disagreement as far as the Tigress was concerned. She watched Jakob, could see that his pride was damaged. He was a fighter, a pit fighter, he prided himself on his strength, his aggression, and now he felt as if he failed and let a female, a female of nearly his own species, close enough, they both being feline, get injured. He was the male. He was a Feral Male. It was his job to protect the Female. His JOB.

"Very well. You seem to feel you are in need of punishment. I however, do not concur. You're very stubborn, Jakob.....and prideful as well."

A soft growl from the cougar....who obviously didn't like all this contradicting.

"Shall we let Gleam decide? If I give this to her, you must agree to abide by what she decides. She's the one who got hurt.....and she's just as capable as I am of deciding if you are to blame or not. I will abide by her decision if you will, and that means letting it go if she finds favor with you, just as I will decide your punishment if she thinks you are at fault here."

Gleam watched as the Cougar Feral turned his attention to her, the utter disappointment.. even disgust at what he had allowed to happen more than apparent.

"Very well. Tell him. Tell him that you wouldn't have gotten hurt if I'd have been just a little quicker......if I had stopped that man before he got anywhere close to you. Tell him that I'm at fault here, Gleam. I'm prepared for the consequences."

"We both failed, Jakob. I should have scented him, heard him, long before that first shot was even released. But, you stated yourself, you startled him and threw off his second attempt, if you had not done that, whether or not I moved fast enough, or did not have the child with me, more than likely would not have mattered. I know your pride is wounded, I know how Feline Ferals think, Jakob, and what is expected of Male Feline Ferals. If Master Lucian agrees, to restore your pride, and to know that I for one still trust you and your strength, I believe the best punishment would be to protect both Chrissy and her Father while we travel. They will be staying here, and will need to be watched over, just in case any that the Duke sent after us, stumble upon them here. That little girl is very important to me, please Jakob, will you accept that as your punishment and know that ... I trust you.... "

She lay back against Lucian, the strength needed to speak having drained her a bit. She was trembling again, as the pain seemed to wrap about her entire left leg.

 

[dryfter]

The cougar winced slightly at Gleam's words, her request especially, turning an appraising eye towards Lucian and his reaction. The tigress might have been surprised to see him frowning softly, but Jakob certainly wasn't.

"Jakob has a pivotal part to play in the raid. I'm afraid we can't have him staying here."

But Chrissy and her father had been accounted for, he certainly wouldn't have left a subtle chink in his battle plan.....

Soft footfalls garnered the attention of all who stood there.....the sound of the softest leather gently lighting upon the firm earth, each step deliberate and slow, as if making sure the act itself wouldn't bring about a sudden crushing death to one of nature's finer creations.

"I see.....so this is why I've been called out here."

The words were spoken softly, to the point where only those with finer hearing could even register them. Those like Lucian were left frowning softly, yet not threateningly at the elf male that now approached them where seconds ago there had been nobody there.

"Algeron....."

Yuri bowed softly out of respect, the druid raising a dismissive hand towards the ranger, much more interested in the bleeding wound before him than in formalities. Without touching, he drew near....raking Gleam's pierced hip with his pointed gaze as he crouched low.

"Yes...yes this would be beyond, Suru. If left to her, it would be many moons before you recovered from this. An arrow? No. The point of entry is too shallow, and shows no sign of a broadhead. A crossbow bolt."

The elf gave her a rather cold look then, his frown apparent despite his normally neutral nature.

"Of course, that was before you decided to rip it out, or did Lucian do that? He's always been rather heavy handed. See how the wound spasms every so often? Indicative of deep muscle damage. Let's see you move your leg on that side....try drawing your knee to your chest please."

If there was one thing that could be said about the elven druid, it was that he cared little for whether Gleam was hybrid, animal, human, or dwarf. A fact that became apparent as more of the examination passed. A simple stretching here, a flexing there, every action designed to determine just how much internal damage had actually been done....heedless of the pain his requests caused her. If she couldn't suffer this much, he wouldn't have been called out here. She was a patient.....all who stood there could see it written clearly in every move he made.....

And injury favored no specific race. In his eyes, they were all equal.

"Very well then. The good news is that there is no structural bone damage. Nor does it seem that the bolt actually penetrated the ligaments holding your hip joint together. I think you'll find that fortuitous when it comes time for you to bring new life into the world."

He watched, the first signs of amusement crossing his weathered face as she reacted to a statement one could consider incredibly brazen.

He was gentle with her, and still they could hear her his as he actually touched the ragged wound for the first time. He muttered softly, words only Yuri and Gleam had any hope of hearing, and absolutely no chance of understanding......as a wreath of green suddenly appeared cloaking his hand. The air around her hinted softly of pine, or the more heady scent of winter oak.....

The first thing to go was the pain.....replaced by a soft, calm warmth.....a glow that sank deep into the joint, down to her very bones. His chant was slightly singsong, a prayer in Elvish so old not even Yuri could catch all of the words. Muscle relaxed and began to mend, devoid of the burning and irritated sensation that normally comes with regenerating nerves and tissue. Algeron's eyes closed softly, as the elder druid silently devoted himself to the task at hand.....

Not a single word was spoken until he had finished, not a one of them wanting to interrupt in any way. Only Lucian took away from the healing act, not distracting him....but Gleam herself....as a heavy arm wrapped about her and held her tightly. It wasn't as if she needed support, he knew.....but it was a good chance to remind her that he was there for her regardless.

"Tiger lady?"

The elven druid turned slightly, having already begun to rise. For a moment, Chrissy went back to hiding behind her father's legs as the elf let his gaze run fully over the young child.

"The wound is closed, young one. The damage is repaired. Your friend is safe."

They all turned to watch Gleam as she tested the healing herself.....