The rain had slowed to a faint drizzle.
Kik sat himself on the "fairy perch", as the humans called it. They probably saw some humor in the name, something not quite demeaning, yet mocking, a bit, of he and his wife. He didn't mind. After all, they did the same with the humans, laughed at their actions and follies. There was respect, though. On both sides.
Lil fluttered down next to him.
"Nothing moving out there, at least that the silly giants have to worry about."
Well, HE had respect for the humans.
Lil snuggled up to him, arm going around his waist as her head found a use for his shoulder as a pillow. Her left hand found itself in his lap, gently fondling his half hard cock. The fire, although low, still gave off enough heat to warm the fairies. Her heat, though, outshone it by infinity. Lil obviously felt the same, as she snuggled closer, rubbing herself against his side.
"Mmm, comfy."
Kik chuckled, putting his own arm around her slim waist. Why she had picked him, among all the males of their hive, he didn't know. There were many stronger than him, better fighters, better mates for one of the daughters of the Queen. He could hold his own, yes. Had, many times. But, still, given her own... aggressiveness, that she submitted to him was a mystery he did not want solved.
Another mystery was the boy now asleep below them. Ben lay in the grass between the fire and the tent, blanket clutched around his small form. He looked harmless, or as harmless as a human could look. Which was not saying much, truth be told. Kik gave Lil a squeeze.
"Bells. He said he heard bells."
"It has nothing to do with us," Lil said, quietly. She moved, turning her upper body to face his side. "'Bells' can mean lots of things."
"From the ruins of the acorn of knowledge, the path to the bells of destiny shall grow. We found the skin of a creature that eats acorns, and now a boy who hears bells. Don't tell me it's not the prophesy."
"I can tell you anything I want," she replied, voice turning stern. Her eyes flashed as Kik just grinned. Almost growling, she squeezed his now hard cock. "Remember who's the one destined to birth a new clan. Who is to be Queen here."
She was so cute when she got Royal. With one swift motion, Kik pulled her into his lap. Her hand let go of his maleness without a fight, legs parting to it could spring up between them as her cute butt passed over it. Lips joined effortlessly with his, not so much a kiss as a merging of souls. Kik kept one hand around her waist, pulling her tight, even as his other slid over smooth black thighs to her entrance. His gentle rubbing was rewarded with gasps.
"I'm only here because of you, my Lil," he muttered. "Only because of you." Finger now wet, he brought it up. Her scent. Her wonderful...
Kik's eyes widened. He drew his head back, eyes on the wetness before him. Lil looked at him, confused, as he brought the finger right under his nose, sniffing deeply.
"Kik... what is..."
He closed his eyes, shuddering. Time. It was time. He breathed deeply again. Her scent. Her incredible scent. His cock grew harder, longer. Larger than it had ever been. Lil felt it, her head jerking down in surprise as it pushed her thighs apart. Both watched as his cock's mushroom shaped head flared. Lil leaned down, unsure, only to jerk her head back, nostrils twitching. Her eyes closed, she breathed in deeply.
Grabbing her tightly, Kik let himself fall off the stand. Before he had dropped the length of his body, flapping wings halted their decent. With a growl, Kik flew off into the night.
****
Lil couldn't think. Didn't want to think. Her body was limp, senses overwhelmed. The maleness of his scent pulsed through her. Rain fell against her body, but all she felt was him. His strong arms, his heart beating beneath a powerful chest. They were high. Above the trees. She knew that. In the heavens, where a god like him belonged...
His hands shifted, moving her body. Lil's arms went around his neck, clutching madly. Long, bare legs wrapped around his waist, ankles crossing behind his back. There was a pause, and Lil felt an emptiness she had never had before. She needed, needed...
Lil was suddenly filled with Kik's manhood. She screamed. It felt twice as thick, twice as long. He rammed it in once. Twice. She could feel it. Feel it swell, feel...
Hot, boiling wetness exploded into her. His seed.
She was fertile.
"YES!!!!"
She could feel her body. Feel it accepting her man's tribute. Feel passages, closed until now, open, sending his essence to her waiting eggs. Eggs. Her eggs. Their children...
"I love you!" She cried. Cried with joy. Cried with life.
They were mated.
****
Heather pulled herself out of the tent, dagger in hand. It was late. Her internal clock knew that. She hadn't been woken for the start of her watch, and that worried her. Not enough to wake Sam, as this could just be one of those things, yet...
The boy was still asleep, chest moving up and down. That relaxed her. The fire was down to red coals. Cautiously, stepping into the boots she had left outside the tent, Heather stood and looked around. The rain had stopped, but there was still a wind blowing behind and around the shelter. Quietly, she moved out into the open.
Lil and Kik were asleep, limbs entangled as they lay in the curve of a white birch tree branch. Their black skin almost glowed. Shaking her head, Heather went back to stir up the fire.
Fairies.
****
"Who's a good little boy? Is it you? Are you a good little boy, Jay?"
Sam brought the giggling infant up, her nose rubbing against his. Small hands reached out, grabbing whatever short hair was in reach. Fingers touched her ear, and, laughing, she shook her head to frustrate his attempted attack. Jay was lively today, definitely attentive and aware of all that was around him. Even as she watched, his eyes darted over her shoulder, blinking fast. Something very interesting was probably happening behind her horse. Should she look? Yes, she should.
Heather rode a horse length behind her, Ben perched in front of the blonde. The boy, dressed in the same outfit from the day before, looked as uncomfortable at the closeness as Heather did. He clutched the pommel of the saddle with both hands, the heels of his bare feet trying to find purchase on the smooth hide of the animal. Cathy had held that position before, when the trio had been reduced to one or two beasts of burden. Now the princess rode next to them, failing to hide her total infatuation with the boy.
A small hand grabbed the edge of Sam's ear. Laughing, she turned, pushing her nose again into her son's face. He had tricked her! Such a smart boy! She kissed his little nose. Sam hoped the boy behind her wasn't tricking them as well. He had not wanted to come with them. That was his claim, seemingly eager to leave after an early breakfast, smiling away Cathy's earnest plea to join their company. The girl had sulked, but Sam and Heather had barely put their heads together to discuss how to handle a crush suddenly broken when Ben had cried out in pain. The "bells", he had said. They were silent when he was with them, but unbearable if he walked in any direction. Sam wasn't sure she believed it, really. And, if she did accept it, that didn't make letting him come along the right thing. Meeting strange magic on the road could never be trusted.
But, it was done.
"Where did you live?"
Cathy's question seemed almost unnatural. They were a quiet group, normally, when on the road (or, well, faint wagon trail). After all this time, talk was left for camp, for around the fire. In spite of herself, Sam found her attention fully focused on the answer, even as her eyes stayed on the path ahead.
****
Cathy watched Ben nervously, biting her bottom lip. She was bad at this. The question had come out wrong. She should have said something different. Made a joke. Done anything but...
"A farm."
A farm. He was from a farm. She had seen many farms in the past year, after a lifetime of stone walls. Seen the children laughing, playing, working. Rhea, between her legs, gave a small neigh, peeved at her rider's nervousness. Cathy jerked the reins a bit, keeping them beside Heather's Xena. Quickly, while she had the nerve, she asked another question.
"What was it like?"
"Dark."
Cathy's heart stopped. No. She'd said the wrong thing. Said something that made him hate her! God, what could she...!
"Sorry," Ben said, quickly, "sorry. Habit. I make fun of myself, so they couldn't do it." He turned towards her, smile on his face. Hers turned hot.
"It's OK!"
Silence.
"So... what was the farm like?"
Still facing her, Ben gave a shrug.
"It was... home. I don't know what else to say. Before two days ago, it was all I knew. I knew where every stone was, every piece of uneven ground." White, unseeing eyes seemed to sadden. "I knew every voice. Even those I didn't like, who didn't like me, I knew them."
He fell silent. Cathy just stared. To be blind. Her life, her curse, was as nothing compared to what this strange boy had endured. Her eyes rose, finding Heather gazing at her. Her servant, friend, family. The blonde nodded. So encouraged, she went on.
"I had never left home, before this, either. Never even left the palace. Or my room, most of the time?"
"Why?" His expression was confused, which hers then mirrored. How could he not see... oh. Cathy blushed at the obviousness of it.
"I can't walk. My legs don't work."
"Oh!" Ben's white eyes blinked. "I didn't know! Wow... so, what happened?"
"I was born like this," she shrugged. "The damned things just don't work."
"Same here. I've never been able to see. I'm not even sure what the idea of seeing means, really." Enthralled, Cathy unconsciously edged her mount closer.
"How do you know what things are like, then? Do you know about colors?"
"Colors, no," he said, smiling. "Having a color explained to me doesn't really tell me much. That the sun is yellow is meaningless. But, I know it makes things warm, that when a cloud passes over it I feel cooler, that it goes away at night, making things cold. I learn everything by feel. I touch it, and remember that touch. I can tell you what my mom's face is like, the shape of her nose, her smile." He seemed to sadden a bit, even as Cathy blushed at the thought of him running his hands over her face. Heather took a hand off the reins, placing it firmly on his head.
"There will be no touching of Cathy, or any of us. Understood?"
"Understood," he nodded.
Cathy stayed silent. Nothing had been said about her touching him...
****
"I'm sure," Ben explained, between sips of not broth, "that my parents were only doing the right thing by planning to sell me. I mean, I can't really do farm work, and Mother was pregnant again. I was a mouth to feed." He paused, a hunk of something bumping up against his lips. Opening wider, he let it enter, tentatively tasting. It was meat, which was good. Possibly deer, but he wasn't sure. He chewed, happily. He was happy by nature. You had to be, really. The world could be cold and cruel, so best to make your own fun.
Heather's voice came from a bit to his left.
"Mom sold me, to the Duke. It was to keep me from being a whore somewhere, so I know she was trying to do the right thing." There was a touch of bitterness in that voice, which Ben filed away. Being happy did not mean he was trusting. No. Cautiousness was a key to happiness. He nodded, though, in understanding, swallowing to empty his mouth.
"I heard Father talk about taking me into the city, to try and sell me there. At the worst, begging would be easier there. You can't beg in a town, or on a farm, really. I didn't WANT to beg, or be sold, you understand. So, that's why I decided to run away."
"How did you EXPECT to get anywhere, blind with no food?" Sam asked from his right. The faint sound of a baby feeding from her breast was also heard, something he had heard often around home. He shrugged.
"Hey, I'm a stupid kid. The bells in my head came just as I was thinking of actually leaving, and, no, don't sake me why. I honestly don't know, which isn't an answer, but it's all I have. The food part, I honestly didn't think about until I was far away, and I was kicking myself about it when you came up on me. And, after you left, I was kicking myself for not asking for something to eat. Drinking, I was able to do that once the rain started."
Something warm, soft, touched his left hand. Fingers, belonging to Cathy, he assumed. She reminded him of his older sisters, now married. They were always touching him, comforting him. Her voice was as soft as her touch.
"We would have given you food, if you asked."
"Maybe," Sam said, firmly. "No, I'm not being cruel, Cathy, just realistic. Food is going to be an issue now. I'll have to go hunting in two days, if we stay in the wilderness, and an extra mouth eats into our supplies."
All good points. He also might not have trusted food freely given by strangers. No reason to say that, though. No reason to volunteer too much. Just smile, be friendly. He turned his head towards Sam's voice.
"I may not be with you long. I have no idea where I'm going, and at any time the pain could come back, telling me to head off in another direction."
"And you still have no idea WHY you're hearing this?" Cathy's disbelief was clear. Again, he shrugged.
"Nope."
He didn't think they believed him.
****
Sam reined her mount as Kik came flying back towards them. His movement was swirly, sign that something up ahead needed to be dealt with. Lil, resting on her shoulder, stood. She had been tormenting the baby on Sam's back, touching the back of its head, then moving away from the small hands that came for her. That the infant had been giggling, and thus probably wasn't exactly being tormented, apparently wasn't something she was paying attention to.
Sam held her hand out. Kik, graceful as ever, slowed, coming to a hover above it. With one final flap of his wings, he settled in the center of her palm.
"You're not going to like this," he told her. Sam let out a laugh.
"That tells me nothing. What's up ahead?"
"We're losing our path."
****
Sam looked at the rocky hillside before them.
"Lil, Kik, could you cover little Jay's ears? I'm about to say some words he probably shouldn't hear for another four or five years."
The wagon ruts they had been following continued for another twenty feet beyond her, then... vanished. Why wagons had come here, when nothing was around, she wasn't sure, nor was it a mystery she cared about. All that mattered was the ground quickly rose before them, rocks and bushes replacing the level ground they had so far enjoyed. She shook her head.
"Are you SURE that fucking arrow still points this way?"
"Yes," Heather sighed. Sam turned her head, saw the woman had the wooden box held before her, and sighed as well. Her eyes flicked up, judging the time.
"What do you think? Keep going, or..."
"Sam!" Cathy's cry brought all their attention to the girl. She was pointing to the left, south of the trail. "There's a wagon over there! And a tent!"
Sam leaned a bit, as if the extra few inches would improve her view. She saw it. A covered wagon, not much different than her father's, half hidden through the trees. Looking down, she saw very faint wheel tracks branching off from the trail. Well, that answered part of that question. Heather's horse pulled up next to her.
"What do you think, Sam? Stop, see what they know about what's ahead?"
She nodded.
"Might be a good idea. Maybe trade a bit, especially if there's nobody between us and those mountains." She undid the strap on her sword. "Plus, we don't want strangers behind us. We'll be exposed for a bit climbing the hill."
Lightly kicking her heals into Brownie, she moved her mount off the road towards the camp. Lil left her shoulder, striking out ahead. Kik took her place, resting. The fairies could, if needed, travel far in a day, but frequent rests increased their stamina by quite a bit. Sam saw Lil enter the clearing, pause, then bob up and down. She kicked into her mount.
"Come on!"
****
Her eyes didn't have to be told where to look. A person hung, head down, gutted, from a tree.
No... not a person. An animal. A human sized animal. Woman. With human breasts, her body cut open between them like some deer. It swung slightly, body turning.
It was a squirrel.
****
Kik pushed off from Sam, moving a few feet in front of her. His heart was cold. This was wrong. The same wrong they had felt back in the market, at the sight of the large squirrel skin. That was not an animal before them. No. Even from here, its dead eyes told him they once held life, thought, dreams. Only humans could do something so...
He saw the flash of metal. Saw the launch of the arrow. He didn't think. Either he died or he didn't. With instinct born from a thousand childhood games, he launched himself at a point five feet from Sam's head.
****
Lil saw her love, her mate, flash forward. His body struck the crossbow bolt in the shaft, near the tail. The bolt continued on, now tumbling, striking Sam in the temple with a thud. Her body jerked, stirrups keeping her on the horse as her eyes closed, body slumped.
Kik... fell, wings motionless.
"KIK!!!"
Her sword was in her hand in an instant. She knew where the evil had come from. Saw the form behind the bushes. Even as she heard Heather let out a cry of surprised distress, Lil flew as fast as love towards the enemy. Cathy was saying something, but it didn't matter. This, only this, mattered.
He was ugly. Even for a human. Hairy face, unkept clothing. A second arrow was already in his crossbow. With a cry, Lil flew towards his eyes. He saw her, raised the bow to ward off the attack. She went around it, striking his hand as she passed. He let out a curse, startled fingers triggering the weapon, sending the bolt up into the air. Suddenly, Heather was there, sword in hand. Even as Lil landed on his face, slashing at a hairy cheek, the human's blade came down into his chest, then neck. The male fell back, then down. Lil took one final stab at eyes already losing their life... then paused.
She looked up at Heather. The woman was breathing hard, sword held limply in her hands. Her face... the two women stared at each other in understanding. Someone had hurt their love. That someone had paid. Nothing more need be said.