FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

UNEXPECTED - CHAPTER 4

"PROBLEMS"

Endeval awoke quietly in the semi-darkness of the tent. The glowstone had long since gone out as the residual heat in the air had dissipated through the night. Sometime in the dark, Angela had slid to one side of his torso. Now she lay, breathing softly, with her head on his shoulder and one arm stretched casually across his chest. As a small sliver of light leaked through a seam in the tent to illuminate her sleeping face, the human recalled the events of last night and a warm tingle raced through his smiling body. He curled the arm on which she was resting and stroked her back softly as he watched her breathe. The beautiful native shifted softly, sighing at the attention and smacking her lips. Endeval stared at her, marveling at his good fortune. He tilted his head and kissed her on the lighter patch of fur that began on her forehead and cascaded down over one eye. Angela stirred softly, blinking in the dim lighting. She tilted her head to look up at the human and her face lit up in a beaming smile. Her hand slid up his chest to brush his lips with her fingers. Her voice was soft and sleepy.

"T'ndaaer, N'dvaal..."

Endeval beamed back at her.

"T'ndaaer, Ang..."

The human was cut off as the native female stretched out and pressed her lips to his. Endeval returned the kiss enthusiastically as Angela shifted her weight and rubbed her naked body against him. For several long moments, their tongues intertwined as the human stroked her flanks with his hands. After a pleasant eternity, the gorgeous native lifted her head and grinned at him.

"Is happy, N'dvaal?"

Endeval circled her breasts with his fingers and then dragged them down over her hips to drift to a stop on the soft upper curves of her buttocks. All the while he smiled up at her.

"I am very, very happy."

Angela giggled softly and nuzzled up against him again. The next several minutes were a cacophony of movement as the two lovers tried to find their clothing in the dim light and still maintain contact with each other. Endeval dug blindly in his personal satchel until he found a re-sealable bag of wet cloth wipes that he brought along to clean up on the trail. He opened the bag and used a wipe to start to clean himself off. The female native immediately volunteered her services to help. Endeval found himself in a curious position, kissing Angela whilst she deftly cleaned his privates with a cold, wet cloth. The entire thing was so insanely surreal, he started laughing out loud. The furry female looked at him a little strangely until he returned the favor, wiping her off while nibbling on her ear. Angela gasped at the attention, and then giggled some more until he was finished. The two lovers got dressed eventually and started to move bags and blankets out of the tent. The brisk morning air threatened to take their breath away, but soon they had a small fire going. With Angela's help, the tent was repacked into its bag, loaded on the wagon, and the couple settled down to eat some breakfast. Right away Endeval noticed a change in the way the native woman interacted with him. Flirty touches became deliberate gropes, kisses were frequent, and she spent most of the morning wrapped around him. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience, his heart singing with happiness. Before long, the wagon was ready to go and the two started out on the trail again.

The trip down the trail changed as well. Endeval and Angela started the word game again as he sought to teach her as best as he could. After a few hours, the furry woman turned and sprawled across the bench seat with her head in his lap. As he began to teach her words like "big" and "small", Angela would laugh merrily when she correctly responded and then lever herself up for a kiss. Endeval smiled down at her often, rubbing behind her ear and basking in the happy glow that seemed to suffuse through his entire body. As the day wore on, he ran into a moment where the concept he was trying to teach was a little more difficult to explain. The couple was eating lunch, so Endeval had a lump of soft bread in his hand. He squeezed the bread between his fingers as he looked down at Angela.

"Soft."

The human then turned and tapped on the wood of the wagon with a knuckle.

"Hard."

The lovely female cocked an ear in confusion, so Endeval tried again. He squeezed the bread.

"Soft."

Then he rubbed her fur.

"Soft."

Angela flicked her ears, and then smiled in understanding.

"Ah! Soft!"

She reached up with a furry hand and stroked his bearded face.

"N'dvaal face soft."

The human chuckled down at her.

"Yes. But Angela's face is softer..."

The native woman raised an eyebrow.

"Soft-er?"

Endeval thought for a moment, and then tried to explain. He tapped the wood of the wagon.

"Wood is hard."

He then tapped one of the steel joins on the side of the vehicle.

"Metal is hard-er."

He squeezed his bread again.

"Bread is soft."

He stroked his fingers over the plush inner lining of her jacket.

"This is soft-er."

Angela thought for a moment, and then grinned at him.

"N'dvaal big..."

She then pointed towards the teams.

"Anklo...big-er!"

Endeval grinned down at her with admiration.

"Yes! Now you're getting it!"

The beautiful female giggled and clapped her hands. Endeval leaned over and gave her a reward kiss, which Angela extended happily. The two continued along the trail as the human sought to teach her what he could. Hours passed happily by, and in truth Endeval wished that time would stop. He was happier than he could remember in many years. The furry female seemed to fit into his life perfectly. Her quick smile, contagious giggle, and twinkling green eyes brought a hot flush to his skin that had him feeling like he was a youth again. He marveled at her and couldn't stop staring at her every chance he could. Her alien appearance only served to add to her exotic beauty. He was accustomed to Alemucian features, thanks to Jeremy and Antony, but Angela's ears, muzzle, and fur were even more special since he found his hands brushing over them constantly. Angela seemed to relish the touch, closing her eyes and rubbing against him frequently. Throughout the intimate caresses, he continued to teach her the Common language. The sun began to sink to the horizon as the day wore on and Endeval began to look for a clearing to camp the night. An opening presented itself just as the day began to wane. The couple went to work immediately and soon had a fire going next to the pitched tent. As they sat next to the crackling flames and fed each other playfully, Endeval found himself wishing for longer days and nights. His trip up to Branton had been a little hurried, even after gaining Angela as a traveling companion. Now, there was no sense of urgency in his travel. Deep down, he knew that he had work to do in order to help N'gree and the others, but he still couldn't help but want to spend as much time as possible with the native woman.

After eating, Angela was quick to drag him into the tent. Clothing vanished in a flurry of activity, and soon the couple was kneeling, face to face, in the center of the shelter. Endeval massaged her wonderfully rounded buttocks as he gently pulled her hips close. The female native happily obliged, rubbing her naked front against him as she kissed him hungrily. After a few moments, Angela disengaged and dropped to her hands and knees on the bedding, smiling coyly at the human over her shoulder. With a sultry grin, she deliberately dropped her chest down to the blankets and wiggled her bottom at him. Endeval needed no further encouragement, shuffling around behind her and lining his iron-hard erection up with her exposed slit. He pushed in slowly, allowing the gasping female time to adjust to his size, and was soon hilted all the way. Within moments, he was moving in a steady rhythm, hands cupped around her curvy hips. Yet another unique aspect of Angela's alien anatomy presented itself shortly as her thick purr rose to a crescendo. The native woman clenched up tightly, arching her back, and shuddered through the first of what was sure to be many orgasms. Endeval received his own surprise as her dexterous tail slapped against his chest and proceeded to push backwards, nearly dislodging him from his stance. When the curvy native finally finished quivering under him, she pushed to her hands and turned her upper body sideways with amazing flexibility, dragging his head down for a passionate kiss. Panting, the furry female pulled herself free and flopped to the blankets on her back. Endeval followed along, lowering himself to a position on top of her as she deftly guided him back inside her body. For the next several minutes, the couple intertwined their tongues as the human moved in and out of her in long, slow strokes. Angela broke the kiss, still purring as she gazed lovingly up at him. Her eyes twinkled and she gave a sly grin as he smiled down at her. Suddenly, he felt something slap him twice on the ass. Startled, Endeval widened his eyes as he looked down at Angela. The lovely native grinned wider and purred up at him.

"R'cmaara, N'dvaal. Push...errrr..."

The human glanced at her in shock as he suddenly realized that the object hitting him from behind was her tail! It took a second, but then he also realized what she was trying to say. He gave her a devilish grin of his own.

"Ah, so that's what that means! Well if you want it harder..."

Endeval pulled back to where he was nearly falling out of her body, and then rammed himself home firmly. Angela cried out in ecstasy, throwing her head back and continuing her throaty rumble. The human sustained his brisk pace, tucking his hands behind her waist to help pull her into him with every stroke. The furry native rocked with every hard plunge, her breasts bouncing as her blunt nails dug into his upper arms. She glanced up at him, her mouth hanging open cutely and her face a mask of surprise and pleasure. The frantic pace continued for some time as Endeval felt a familiar pressure building in his loins. Angela writhed beneath him, alternately gasping up at him and throwing her head back in pleasure. Suddenly, her body quivered yet again, clenching down on his length as she rocked through the throes of another climax. The increased pressure more than doubled the sensation of friction for Endeval, and suddenly he was bucking wildly atop her. With one last push, he drove himself deep and felt his own climax pulsing through his length into her depths. Angela pulled him close, crushing his body to hers as she gently dug her teeth into his shoulder. The human groaned in tandem with her as his quaking orgasm set her off again. The couple spasmed together for a long moment until the effects of their combined climaxes faded to a pleasant afterglow. Panting, Endeval smiled down at her in wonder.

"You are the most amazing woman ever. I am so lucky to have found you..."

Angela's response was to pull him down for more kisses. The human complied, basking in the feeling of her lips on his and her body warm and supple beneath him. It was a long time till he finally pulled free and moved to one side. The female native was quick to snuggle in close, her soft breath warm on his cheek as her chest still rumbled in pleasure. Endeval cuddled her close, rubbing his nose and cheeks against hers as he stroked her body with his hands. Angela gave him a small lick and murmured happily.

"N'dvaal...good..."

The human grinned at her in delight.

"Angela...good...errr..."

The native woman's ears flicked up at that phrase, and then she giggled softly and snuggled into the hollow of his throat. Her soft purrs began to ebb even as Endeval felt the edges of sleep begin to creep up on him. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the warm, soft form at his side.

The next morning was similar to the previous. The couple cleaned and dressed themselves playfully before moving outside. Working together, they soon had the camp struck and were back on the trail. Angela took up her new favorite position on the bench seat as Endeval resumed teaching her his language. Hours passed as the trail wound south through the countryside. Around mid-afternoon, the trail intersected with another to the west. With a start, the human recognized it as J'nngoo Way, where he and Jeremy had split up at the start of this journey. Just seeing the trail brought back memories of those first couple days when his mind was still reeling from the revelations of his sponsorship. Endeval glanced up the trail as they passed and was surprised to see a lone figure approaching on the back of an anklo. The human's heart raced for a moment as he wondered if he could possibly be lucky enough to run into Jeremy on his return trip. But as the figure drew closer, it became obvious that a human rode on the animal, not a native. Stifling his disappointment, Endeval nodded in greeting as the lone wanderer drew alongside the wagon. The other human greeted him back.

"Ho! How ya doin?"

Endeval took in the curious traveler. He appeared to be an older man with a weathered face and smiling eyes. A thick, bushy white beard on his chin matched the color of the long braids of hair that hung down his back. His thin body was covering in a bizarre amalgam of clothing that appeared to be assembled from the hides of animals, even as far as a fur-skinned cap with two bushy tails draped down to the side. He held the reins in gnarled hands and sat on a saddle that practically dripped bags and satchels. Everywhere one looked, there were trinkets, beads, and other assorted paraphernalia scattered among the belongings. Endeval took in his odd appearance even as he returned the greeting.

"Hello! Not too bad. How are you?"

The odd-looking man grinned, showing clean, white teeth. His eyes flickered briefly to Angela, who had sat up straight, clutching Endeval's arm and peeking around him at the stranger. The eccentric traveler gave her a quick wink before speaking.

"Good! Name's Mick!"

The furry female blinked in surprise as her traveling companion chuckled.

"I'm Endeval, and this is Angela."

The bearded man continued to smile as he nodded.

"Nice ta meetcha! I see ya found yerself a pretty face there."

Endeval smiled and patted the native woman's hand where it clutched his arm.

"Yeah. She's beautiful all right. I got lucky when I met her."

Mick raised an eyebrow as he swayed in the saddle.

"Judgin how she's a-clingin ta yer arm, I would guess it ain't tha normal relationship, eh?"

The larger human's smile faltered briefly at the thought of the "normal" relationship for the locals, but then it returned easily enough.

"No. It's definitely not. We are good friends."

The older man nodded sagely and glanced down the trail.

"Aye. Nice ta see that fer a change. Humans gotta bad nuff image wit tha people. Not often we kin get along wit another."

Endeval nodded at the man's words, and then raised an eyebrow.

"You seem to be pretty familiar with the natives. What's your story?"

Mick chuckled heartily.

"Me? I'm justa trader."

The wagon-riding human gaped a little in surprise.

"A human trader? I didn't know they existed!"

The older man chuckled again and waved a hand at the surroundings.

"Eh, s'a good life. Get ta traipse tha countryside, meet interestin folks, and make'a few credits. Ya know?"

Mick glanced down the trail again and frowned.

"Course...some folks's nary as interestin...."

Endeval turned and looked down the trail. Ahead, two individuals on anklos sat in the middle of the road. Both of them wore black uniform shirts under their open jackets. As they drew closer, the human was surprised to recognize at least one of the militia. A familiar, scarred cheek and bald head accompanied the intense gaze of the uniformed man. Kellerman watched the group approach with a scowl. His companion appeared to be a very young woman, still round-cheeked with youth. The uniformed female fidgeted with her reins as the group drifted to a stop, unconsciously checking to make sure her long blonde hair was still tucked under her cap. Beside her, the bald militiaman called out.

"Michleson! Where do you think you're going?"

The bearded man smiled in false relaxation and shrugged his shoulders.

"Headin home ta LandDown. Gonna take'a breather from alla tha fun'n excitement round here..."

Kellerman managed to frown even harder.

"You know the Regs. Nobody leaves the Northern territories without getting searched!"

The scarred human's gaze abruptly swung to the wagon.

"Councilman Barbados. That goes for you as well."

The bald man's glittering stare took in Angela next to him.

"I see you still have your Mook. I'm shocked. Had the feeling you would've let her go first chance you had...Private!"

At the rough bark of her rank, the woman next to Kellerman snapped up straight and looked over at him.

"Yes, Sergeant?"

The scarred human nodded at the wagon.

"Get over there and conduct the search. And make sure you check that Mook's mark. Even a councilman has to follow regulations..."

Endeval gritted his teeth to remain silent. Kellerman had a way of getting on his nerves rather quickly. Beside him, Angela could feel the tension in his arm even as her nervous gaze remained fixed on the bald militiaman. The young female private slid from her saddle and hung the reins over her anklo's eyes to keep it in one place. As she started to approach the wagon, Kellerman barked again. This time, his attention was on the human trader.

"Michelson! I'll do your search myself. Come over here and dismount."

The bearded man sighed and rolled his eyes even as he started his anklo forward.

"Really, Adam? We gotta do this all'a tha time?"

"How many times I have to tell you, it's SGT Kellerman. And yes, we have to do this every time! I know what you like to trade up here!"

Mick's voice faded as he proceeded closer to the bald human.

"Cripes Adam, it were only tha once. How wuz I supposeta know it were level five? And then..."

Endeval took his attention away from the trader and fixed his gaze on the young private now standing next to the wagon. The human woman was willowy thin, but busty enough that it was obvious to anyone even despite the bulky uniform top. Her face was indeed youthfully rounded, with big blue eyes and full lips. Her features were feminine, but strangely unremarkable and ordinary. Then she smiled. Like a light from within, the woman's grin lit up her face and put a twinkle in her eyes. Next to Endeval, Angela's ears actually perked forward even as the beaming female human gestured up at the couple.

"Mind if I come up? I'll make this quick as I can."

Endeval blinked in surprise at her startling transformation, and then nodded reflexively. He scooted backwards a little as the young woman easily scaled up the side of the wagon and stepped into the back. The couple twisted around to look as she knelt by the first duffel. The young woman paused and smiled at Angela.

"You're a pretty thing, aren't you? K'tree."

The native woman opened her mouth, startled. Endeval glanced at her before asking the obvious question.

"What did you say?"

The human female grinned as she pawed through the bag.

"I told her she was pretty. When I was growing up, my family had our native babysit me all the time. He used to call me k'tree d'grea y'noa, his 'pretty little thing'. I miss him sometimes when I have to work with the locals..."

Angela looked at Endeval questioningly.

"K'tree?"

He smiled back at her.

"Pretty."

The furred woman tried it out.

"Prretty?"

Endeval nodded and grinned.

"Yes! Pretty!"

The human female moved to the next bag, pausing as she glanced at the couple.

"She really likes you, I can tell."

The human male raised an eyebrow at her even as she started searching the next bag.

"Oh really? How is that?"

The private barely glanced up from her work.

"When we were in training, they taught us to watch body language, especially with the natives. I happen to notice how nervous she was when you spotted us. Funny thing is, she leaned into you for comfort. That tells me she at least trusts you. I don't see that very much between humans and locals, so it really was obvious for me."

Endeval found himself surprised yet again at the observational powers of the militia. He glanced over at Angela, who was watching the human female closely. Turning back, the male made an observation of his own.

"I noticed you don't have the same opinion of the natives as most of the other humans around here."

The young woman glanced up at him for a brief moment while searching through the bag. She stole a glance over at the other militiaman, who was currently arguing with the human trader, before dropping her voice to a conspiratorial level.

"A lot of these people have a problem with the indigenous population. Why? I have no idea. I think they are wonderful."

Endeval gave her a confused glance.

"Then why join the security force? It seems like it was put together mostly to control the natives, not help them."

The blonde woman shrugged her shoulders.

"It's not a big job market, and the corporation pays pretty well. I have to contend with both humans and natives all the time. Working with the security force gives me an opportunity to help locals out wherever I can."

The male blinked at her in mild surprise.

"That sounds like someone I would like. You may not know who I am but..."

The female militia held up a finger to stall him out.

"I know exactly who you are, Councilman Endeval Barbados. I knew who you were even before the Sergeant told me what happened last week."

Endeval found himself surprised on several levels.

"You know me?"

The blonde woman nodded as she worked her way through the last bag.

"Sure. War hero. Came to WindFall about two years ago. Your work on Alemucian rights in the council is talked about all the way up to the mine."

The eyebrows went even higher.

"Seriously? How often?"

The young human closed up the bag and looked up at him with pursed lips.

"Not that often among most people. It's the folks who care for the locals what seem to follow your transcripts in the council room."

Endeval was stunned. His attempts at making changes to help the natives were tentative in the beginning, but he worked steadily over the last couple of years to use his fledgling position in the Council to do the most that he can. To discover that his work reached as far as it did caused him to be very happy. The blonde woman pointed a thumb over her shoulder.

"What's in the box?"

Endeval gestured at the locked travel box.

"Native trinkets, beads, and jewelry. Some local artwork...and some Song Rock, all procured through honest trade."

The woman stood and turned around before glancing over her shoulder.

"Could you open it please? I have to check everything."

The male rose and stepped over the back of the bench seat, reaching for the keys around his neck. Beside him, Angela rose as well and followed him into the bed of the wagon. When he turned the key in the lock, both females peered closely in curiosity. Endeval flipped up the lid and stepped back. Inside, the iron-bound container was neatly packed full of a stunning array of native Bric-a-brac. All of it was loaded on stacked trays that fit side by side in the box. The human female whistled softly as she stared into the interior.

"Whoa. That's a lot of stuff."

Endeval nodded with a smile even as Angela leaned over for a better look.

"My friend is a pretty good trader in his own right. Most of the profit from this will go to help the Clans. Maybe you even know him, Private...err...what is your name?"

The blonde smiled over at him.

"Private Eloise Richards, but you can go ahead and call me Eloise. Unfortunately, I don't know your friend. Is that him over there?"

"No, he's a native. He lives and works with me in LandDown."

Richards smiled and nodded, and then pointed down into the box.

"I got to see what's under the top trays, please."

Endeval reached down and started to remove the trays, carefully stacking them on the corner edge of the container. Eloise and Angela watched as each new layer was revealed to show more and more beautiful work. The human stacked the trays wherever he could, on the edge of the container and on the floor of the wagon bed. The last two layers of trays held Song Rock in various forms, both loose stones and jewelry. Endeval pulled up the trays a layer from the bottom and looked around for a clear spot. Finding none, he handed them to Angela, who blinked in surprise. The native woman picked up a particularly attractive necklace and held it up before glancing over at Endeval.

"Pretty!"

The human male grinned back at her.

"Pretty as Angela?"

The native female giggled as she blushed and put the piece back on the tray. Richards finished ogling the contents of the box and nodded at Endeval, who promptly started to replace the trays in the chest. The blonde woman glanced at Angela, gazing adoringly at the male human, and spoke quietly.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are your plans when you get home?"

Endeval paused in his labors and flashed a playful smile.

"First of all, I'm getting a hot shower, and then we'll see where it goes from there."

Eloise nodded and glanced briefly over at Kellerman before continuing softly.

"Well, not too many people know, but there's a campsite hidden off the trail a few hours ride from here. The natives carved a rock tub from a hot spring at the base of a granite spur. You can get a nice warm soak tonight if you want."

The male smiled even wider.

"That would be wonderful! Is it far off the trail?"

The blonde woman shook her head.

"Not really. If you go past the clearing on the left about two hours down the path, you will see two P'nuc trees twisted together like a puzzle. Turn left off the trail and go about half a click. Push through the tree line and you will be in a clearing shaped like a figure eight. At the east end of the clearing is the hot spring. Like I said, not too many people know, so it should be empty."

Endeval grinned in appreciation and nodded at the young private.

"Thank you very much. That is very kind of you."

As he closed the lid and locked it, Richards sighed.

"You're welcome. Now I have to ask, did you get your friend marked?"

The male paused as he tucked his key away under his shirt. His face went somber as he glanced between the two women.

"Yes. I wasn't left with much choice."

The blonde woman nodded thoughtfully.

"I think I understand, but I really need to see it now...please."

Richards stepped around the box and approached Angela. She smiled empathetically and softly tapped the flap on the furred woman's jacket.

"Pretty girl, may I see your shoulder, please?"

Angela blinked a couple times and then reached across to undo the buttons. As her nimble fingers worked, her ears flickered.

"Pretty girl?"

Eloise smiled warmly and suddenly reached up to gently drag one finger from native woman's forehead down across her eye, following the light patch of fur on her face.

"You are a pretty girl. I've never seen a mark like this before."

Angela stood still as the woman's finger traced the line on her face. She studied the blonde woman's eyes for a moment, brilliant green matching vivid blue, and then suddenly she reached up and touched the female human's cheek with a furry finger.

"Pretty...E...Elloeess."

Richards smiled back, her face lighting up once again.

"Thank you! That's sweet of you. What is your name?"

The native woman glanced briefly at Endeval, and then straightened and drew a breath.

"Name is Aangeela. Angela."

The human male gaped in surprise. He had not expected her to use that name. It had only been a convenience that "Angela" was close to her proper name, and easier to pronounce. The native turned and smiled at him softly as he grinned back. Deep down, his heart fluttered as he realized what she had done. By volunteering her given name in place of her native one, the furry female had subtly accepted their new relationship and was now willing to show others that she had. Richards, oblivious to the implications, smiled and leaned to one side to look at her exposed brand, talking as she did so.

"That's a pretty name. Sounds almost angelic or something like that."

Endeval was still smiling at the native woman, his heart tripping in his chest.

"Well...she is quite an angel."

The blonde woman glanced between the two, and then grinned before looking around at the wagon.

"Well, everything seems in order here. You going to wait for your friend?"

Endeval looked over to where Kellerman and Mick were arguing over something in one of the packs on the anklo. The big human shook his head and smiled.

"No. We just met here on the trail a few minutes ago and it looks like he's going to be a while. I think Angela and I are just going to get moving so we can make that campground before dark."

Richards nodded and turned to leap over the side of the wagon. Landing lightly, she dusted off her pants and smiled up at the couple.

"Ok then! It was nice meeting you two. Have a safe trip!"

Endeval raised a hand and waved. Next to him, Angela waved as well, and then reached across to fasten the buttons on her shoulder. The couple climbed back into the front bench seat as the blonde woman approached the two men arguing a short ways off. Kellerman paused, said something to the Private, and then nodded his head at her reply. The bald man absently waved his hand at Endeval to indicate he could go, and then resumed his fervent discussion with the human trader. Angela tucked herself back under her lover's arm and turned her head to watch the squabble as the wagon resumed its forward motion. After the small group disappeared out of sight, she turned and kissed Endeval on the cheek. The male smiled back at her.

"You did great back there...and now it's 'Angela' huh?"

The native female grinned and nuzzled his neck.

"Angela...and...E...Endeevaaal?"

He smiled in delight.

"Yes. Angela and Endeval..."

The furry woman kissed him again, and then proceeded to flop back down on his lap. Endeval grinned down at her as they started the word game again. A few hours later, the human spotted the clearing where he and Jeremy had spent the second night together at the beginning of their journey. A very short time later, he noticed two trees, their smooth-barked trunks twisted around each other in a helical shape. Next to the trees was an opening in the brush along the road. Endeval turned the wagon in and followed the faint hint of a trail back through the vegetation. Soon he was confronted with a thick stand of smaller trees stretching into the distance in both directions. He urged the anklos to move through, and then suddenly the couple was in a curiously shaped clearing that looked like two circles squashed together. Endeval glanced to the east and spotted a large spur of rock rising from the ground and meandering off into the distance. As the wagon approached the base of the rock, he was able to see steam rising from a small, hidden section.

Pulling the wagon to a halt, the human pulled the brake and took an excited breath. Angela had risen from her spot on Endeval's lap, her ears perked towards the rising steam. When the wagon stopped, she slid down from the bench and dashed towards the base of the rock spur. She stopped, glanced at something, and then turned back to wave for the human to come over. Endeval dropped to the ground and hurried to her side. He scrambled up a small rise to get to where she was standing, and then suddenly there it was, a rough-hewn bowl carved directly from the stone. It was about two feet deep, with a crudely formed bench around half of the circle. The area around the depression was chiseled flat for about a three foot span on the perimeter. A deep, v-shaped channel had been notched into the flat section and continued back into the depths of a cavernous crack in the rock face. Hot water gushed down through the passage and cascaded into the bottom of the empty basin. Curious, Endeval looked closer and discovered a hole at the bottom that allowed the surprisingly fast-flowing water to escape into unknown depths. Sitting on the edge of the basin was a large rock carved in the shape of a plug. The entire setup still had crude tool marks apparent from its creation, but they were weathered from years of exposure to the elements. Angela grinned at Endeval and pointed into the rock bowl.

"Water...warm!"

The human grinned back at her.

"Let's get the team unhitched and the tent set up, then we can get wet!"

Endeval turned and hurried towards the front of the wagon. Following his lead, Angela dragged the heavy tent bag from the bed and started pulling it to the edge of the clearing nearest to the hot spring. The air had grown steadily warmer over the last two days of travel, but still had a bit of a nip. There was no snow in this region but the cold breezes still blew, ruffling hair and fur alike. Endeval finished tying off the anklos and turned to find Angela had already unfolded the tent and started to piece together the poles. He hurried over to help, and soon the shelter was erected. As the human arranged some large stones for a fire, he chuckled when the furry woman leaned over the edge of the rock basin and dropped the plug-shaped stone into place. The steady spattering noise of the hot water turned into a gurgle as the rapid flow started to fill the depression. In the time it took to gather some firewood and start a blaze, the water had filled the bowl and started to overflow down a second channel cut just for that purpose. Endeval marveled at the whole thing as it was pretty ingenious in its creation.

The last feeble rays of the sun disappeared behind the hills as Angela rummaged through her satchel and then made her way to the spring. The human stepped up behind her as she began to peel off her clothing. Endeval paused a moment and found himself enjoying the view as she bent over and shucked her pants into a pile. Straightening, the native woman glanced over her shoulder, one ear flicking a question as she eyed his clothing. The male took the hint and immediately began to disrobe. To his surprise, the rock surrounding the pool was warm, obviously heated from the quantity of hot water filling the depression. He stepped forward and, together, the couple took the first step into the spring. Endeval gasped in delight as the warm swirling water touched his skin. Next to him, Angela groaned softly and quickly descended into the waters. She turned to face him and dropped backwards, submerging her entire body under the surface. When she came back up, her fur and ruff were slicked back, revealing the soft curves and muscles of her body. Endeval sat down on the bottom of the pool and looked her over hungrily.

"Wow. You look just as good wet as you do dry..."

The furry female grinned and shimmied over to him through the water to straddle his lap. The couple exchanged long kisses as Endeval ran his hands down over her sides and back. A couple of days ago, he recalled having fantasies of her in the shower, water cascading from her body, and now he could see and feel what was pretty close. The human relished the feeling of her soft fur slickened under his fingertips. He leaned back against the edge of the basin as Angela cupped his face and kissed him over and over. The native woman broke the kiss and leaned back with a mischievous grin. She reached over her lover's shoulder and grabbed something out of his sight. Pulling her arm back revealed one of the bottles of soap purchased from the general store in Branton. Angela raised an eyebrow, gave him a sly grin, and wiggled the bottle. Endeval smiled at her playfulness and gently took the bottle in hand.

"Time for a scrub, then..."

The furred female giggled softly as the human removed the cork and upended the bottle into his palm. Angela raised her arms and crossed them behind her head, thrusting her chest out as she turned her head slightly and grinned again. Endeval took in her sexy pose, done for him, and licked his lips. Once again, this wonderful woman seemed to have a knack for exciting him so easily. The human rubbed his palms together to start the suds, and reached forward. The next several minutes were a blur of sensuous groping as Endeval worked the soap all over Angela's body. The native woman moaned and giggled as his hands roamed freely, up her back, down behind her ears, and even under the damned collar. The human soon was ecstatic, taking the opportunity to explore every inch of her. At one point, he was cleaning between her toes, chuckling as the furry female tried desperately not to burst out laughing. Just the simple fact of discovering she was ticklish made the evening even more special for Endeval. He was still grinning when Angela picked up the bottle and poured some into her palm.

"Now...Endeval."

The beautiful alien ran her hands all over his chest and stomach, working the soap into a lather. She moved closer, grinning slyly as her hands drifted downward. Endeval grinned back and held still. After all, he had done the same thing to her not even moments ago and Angela still had suds in her fur from his explorations earlier. Several amazingly teasing minutes later, the couple dunked themselves in the flowing water to rinse. Thanks to the fairly high volume of hot spring water moving through the bowl, the two were soon completely free of lather. Endeval stood and helped Angela to her feet in the shallow water, pulling her close as his hands wandered down over her sides. Her fur was still slick and soft from the water and the conditioning effects of the soap. As he buried his face in the side of her neck, an idea glimmered in his mind. Gently, he guided her backwards to the side of the rock tub and laid her back on the warm, flat stone. Angela cocked an ear in interest as he leaned over her and smiled down in her eyes.

Abruptly, Endeval began to trail kisses down her chest, following the line of her collarbone and working his way out over one of her impressive breasts. He found her nipple standing out from her wet fur and suckled on it softly, flicking his tongue against the tip. His other hand caressed the other breast, slowly rolling the nipple between his fingertips. Angela arched her back and groaned at the attention, panting lightly in the air. Endeval paused, glancing playfully up at the wide-eyed native woman, before he started to pepper her body with big, lippy kisses in a straight line down the front of her body. Every tender peck brought a gasp of surprise and pleasure as he made his way down over her softly rounded belly. He dropped further, slowly kneeling back into the water as his lips reached her waistline. Angela raised her head to look at him, her face a blend of curious anticipation and hungry desire. With a wiggle of his eyebrows, Endeval descended the final inches and took a long, slow swipe at her sex with his tongue.

The furry woman spasmed and moaned, throwing back her head as her legs twitched at the sudden sensation. Inspired, the human delved into her sodden treasure, plying at her tight folds with every long lick. His questing organ soon discovered the fleshy ridge at the top of her opening and he took a moment to worry it a little with the tip of his tongue. The effect was immediate. Angela bucked her hips into the air as her legs jumped at the sudden wave of pleasure. Her thick groan instantly transitioned into a reverberating purr as both of her hands reached down to grip at the back of his head. Endeval wrapped his arms around her legs and waist, laying his hands flat on her lower belly, and then continued to alternately delve into her tunnel and pluck softly at her sensitive spot. The furry female twitched and writhed at his attentions, gripping his head tightly and pulling him firmly into her plump mound. Her bucking hips began to match rhythm with tongue, pushing her body up to meet each quick flick. Endeval heard her throaty purrs rise in volume, and braced himself for what he knew was coming. Angela had a sublime, light flavor right from the very start, and when she arched her hips into the air, clutching him powerfully, the sudden burst of her juices hit him in an exquisite flood. He stayed where he was, lapping up every drop he could get as she twitched and shuddered through a powerful orgasm. After a long moment, he felt her gentle push against his forehead and retreated, looking up at her over her panting chest.

Angela gently stroked the sides of his face as she lay there for a moment, breathing hard and staring up into the sky. Then she gave a subtle tug on his head, prompting him to rise from his kneeling position and lean out over her body. The curvy female cupped one hand behind his head and pulled him into a hungry kiss, the other hand dropping down to guide him directly into her sex. Endeval groaned through his nose as he sank into her tight, hot folds, his torso sprawled out over the edge of the rock basin. In mere moments he was in a steady rhythm, driving himself into her depths as she bucked and purred underneath. Throughout it all, Angela kissed him deeply, clawing at his shoulders as her tongue swirled and tangled with his. After several moments, Endeval's pace became more frantic as he felt his own impending climax. He thrust forward powerfully, taken in a moment of animalistic need, and shuddered as he spurted into her clutching passage. The furred woman followed a split second later, wrapping her legs and arms around him as she buried her nose into his shoulder. Her embrace was tight, seemingly trying to meld their bodies together as she trembled through her own orgasm. Endeval panted heavily into her ruff, riding the high of his climax until both lovers began to settle down into the blissful aftermath. After long moments, the native female tilted her head back and looked up at him with a wide, satisfied smile.

"Ah...Endeval..."

He kissed her softly as one furry hand stroked his cheek.

"I love you, Angela."

The couple stayed that way for long minutes, gazing tenderly into each other's eyes. Suddenly, a rather strong breeze blew, wafting away the ambient warmth of the spring. Endeval shivered at the sudden drop in temperature and chuckled down at the female.

"Brrr! Maybe we should warm up now?"

Angela chuckled back and the two disengaged and slid back into the warm water. After a few long moments of touching and kissing, they gathered themselves up and climbed up out of the bowl. Endeval retrieved the plug, and sadly watched the water level drop rapidly. The hot spring had been wonderful and he hoped that they would be able to come back someday. The cold winds hurried the couple into the interior of the tent, where they quickly retrieved some towels from the bag and dried each other off. Sliding under the covers, Angela cuddled up directly, one arm across his chest. In the darkness of the tent, Endeval once again blessed his good fortune as the two fell into a blissful sleep.

The next morning started out in what was becoming the usual way, with playfulness and lots of kisses. The couple dressed, finally, and exited the tent to build another fire to make breakfast. A flurry of work broke the camp, and soon they were back on the trail. Angela took up her favorite spot with her head in Endeval's lap as he continued to use the time to teach her Common. The hours passed by swiftly as the wagon trundled south. In what seemed the blink of an eye, the day had passed and the sun began to drop in the sky. As it neared the skyline, Endeval squinted ahead in the fading light. On the horizon, he could just make out the jagged mountain range that signaled the boundary between the northern reaches and the coastline. Glancing at the sun, he calculated the time it would take to reach the pass and realized it would be well into the night before they got there. Instead, he began to search the edges of the trail for a suitable campground. A prospective clearing presented itself shortly and he pulled the team in.

Working quickly, the couple set up the camp, there movements becoming synchronized with the last few days of practice. Angela barely waited for Endeval to finish eating before hurrying him into the tent with a playful growl. Inside, she climbed atop his naked body and repeated what she had done to him the first night they had ever made love. The human rode through the high of his climax and settled blissfully underneath her purring body as she sprawled, exhausted, on his chest. Stroking her back softly, he took a deep breath with his nose in her fur, enjoying her soft scent and the warmth of her form. His mind drifted lazily off to sleep as he felt at this point that his life couldn't get any better. The next morning, the couple broke camp and regained the trail. Endeval felt a growing sense of anticipation as the mountain range drew closer on the horizon. Strangely, part of him was eager to return to his home, but another part already began to miss the time he was spending on the trail with Angela. Still, he was eager to show her where he lived. A casual glance down at her face in his lap suddenly brought on a darker thought. He had made an oath to return her to the Clans. Would she want to stay? Could he break his oath?

Like a sudden splash of cold water, the full implications struck Endeval in the gut, making him tense involuntarily. Angela stopped reciting her words as she noticed his sudden change in mood. One ear flicked forward at him questioningly. The human schooled his features and smiled down in reassurance. He suddenly felt the need to keep his worries to himself. The furry female studied his face for a moment, and then smiled back tentatively. He rubbed behind her ear, smiling, and continued as she sighed at his touch and started over with her newest words. As the pass drew nearer, the dark thoughts and doubts began to pile up in his head. If she didn't stay, would they still be together? What if he returned her to the Clans and then never saw her again? Would she still want to be with him? Would she find someone new? Over and over the images of a life devoid of her started to worm their way into his good mood. Endeval shook his head roughly, trying to dispel the train of thought. Angela paused again and glanced up at him. The human quickly recovered and pointed forward to conceal his swirling emotions.

"The pass is coming up, see?"

The native woman levered herself up from his lap and looked to where he was pointing. The trail ran directly into the tall stone and vanished around the bend. She gasped in surprise and turned to look at him.

"Pass?"

Endeval nodded and smiled.

"Yes. Pass. On the other side is where I live."

Angela sat next to him, propped lightly against his body, as the wagon began to enter the stone corridor. Her head swiveled back and forth in wonder, taking in the tall rock walls as they passed by. Endeval smiled at her interest as her hands clung to his side. Watching her experience the pass for the first time brought back a sense of calm. He settled his thoughts and just enjoyed the look of astonishment on her face. Minutes later, the trail exited the stone passage and the curvy alien got her first glimpse of the beach. It was still pretty early in the day, so the rising sun hung low in the sky. When the wagon exited the trees and started across the beach path itself, the gaping female suddenly shook his shoulder.

"Stop wagon!"

Startled, Endeval brought the team to a halt and watched in surprise as Angela slid from the bench seat on to the sand. She took a few hesitant steps, and then folded reverently to kneel on the ground. Concerned, the human pulled the brake and dropped down to hurry to her side. As he came closer, Angela shrugged off her jacket and tilted her face to the sun, eyes closed. Endeval slowed as he approached, shedding his own coat. When he was close enough, he heard her murmuring a familiar phrase in Alemucian. Smiling, he quietly knelt down next to her and faced the sun himself. With the years he spent with Jeremy and Antony, he knew that the Alemucian beliefs were based on the sun and the ground below. Many times over the last two years, Jeremy had led them in a morning prayer in the courtyard, in which Endeval had participated out of respect for his friends. Now, with the breathtaking view, Angela had felt compelled to offer the same. He waited patiently as she finished the rites, and then leaned forward at the same time to grip a handful of sand. Together, they tossed it forward towards the sun. Blinking in surprise, Angela turned toward him with widened eyes.

"Endeval...cg'raoo d'creea?"

The human smiled back at her.

"What can I say? I respect what you believe."

The Alemucian female leaned forward and pulled him into a hug. Endeval chuckled and hugged her back, happy to have left a good impression. His hands traveled up her arms and one passed over the gauze on her shoulder. He leaned back and frowned slightly at the cloth marring her silky fur. Angela noticed the object of his stare and raised her arm to look. The human smacked his lips and reached for his knife.

"You know what? Let's cut that bandage off now, ok?"

Unlike the first time he ever drew his long knife near her, the furry woman didn't even flinch as he deftly slithered the blade up under the gauze. Turning it to the edge easily parted the fabric and it fall away to the sand. Endeval leaned closer to see how well it had mended. The nanites had healed the burn completely, actually smoothing down the dark scar against the lighter tone of her skin around the brand. The darker skin had crisp edges, showing the picture perfectly. The human was still looking when Angela gently ran a finger over the mark, which had none of the folds and creases normally associated with a deep burn scar. She studied the blemish for a moment, and then reached out to touch the gauze on Endeval's arm. The human watched her trace her fingers on his own bandage, and then deftly flipped the knife to offer it to her, hilt first. Angela glanced at the long weapon, and then looked up at him in surprise. Endeval spoke softly.

"Go ahead. I would trust you with my life, let alone a simple knife..."

The native woman paused, and then reached forward to take the short sword. Endeval knew she hesitated because of the edict in the northern regions that forbid natives to be armed, but he didn't care. He held still and relaxed as she carefully worked the point of the blade up under his dressing. A quick twist parted the strands and the cloth drifted down to the earth. The human lifted his arm to better see the results of his own wound. The restorative cream had done its job well on him too. The scarring was minimal, but still had the distinct shape of the brand crisply outlined on his shoulder. The couple studied it for a few more moments, and then Angela rose to her feet. Endeval quickly followed, and then smiled as the furry woman dexterously flipped his knife around and tucked it back into the sheath on his belt. He caught her hand at his waist and pulled her into a quick kiss before they retrieved their jackets and climbed back on to the wagon. As a flip of the reins got them moving again, Angela leaned her head on his wounded shoulder and held him in a loose hug.

The trail wound along the sandy shore for a time, prompting the native female to gawk about her in awe. She was particularly interested in the crash of the waves and the legions of wave spiders racing about on the water's surface well off shore. The well packed path rounded a bend in the rock and came into view of LandDown. Angela turned her head and her jaw fell open in amazement. Endeval chuckled at her expression and gave her a one-armed hug.

"Yeah, it's one heck of a sight. Wait till you see it from the inside."

The wagon trundled in off of the dirt path and the wheels began to rattle against the stone-paved streets. The native woman twisted around in every direction, trying to take everything in at once. The human smiled at her wonderment as row after row of the low buildings passed by steadily. After several long minutes, the wagon turned up a familiar street. The anklos, sensing they were close to home, picked up the pace, their blunt talons clicking against the stone. The street ran right up to the house, where Endeval turned left and guided the teams around to the side of the enclosure. He pulled up to a large set of double wooden doors closed with a latch and reined the wagon to a stop. He turned, pointed at the doors, and spoke.

"Here we are, home sweet home!"

The furry woman grinned, glancing between the doors and Endeval. Before he could speak, she turned and clambered down from the wagon, calling out over her shoulder.

"I get!"

The human chuckled at her enthusiasm as a huge wave of relief fell over him. It felt good to be home, and having Angela with him made it seem even better. The doubts and worries he had experienced earlier were distant points in his mind. The only thing that mattered now was that they were here, together. Ahead, Angela toyed with the latch, and then suddenly she was backing away, pulling one door while shoving the other wide. Endeval clicked his tongue and started the team forward, grinning at the smiling alien woman as she stood to one side as he passed. Inside the stable, he immediately noticed a lone figure raking at the straw at the far end of the building. When his eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting, he realized with a burst of happiness that it was Jeremy, working diligently in a pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt. The slim Alemucian paused in his labors and looked up, smiling widely as he waved.

"Hey Boss! You home!"

Endeval grinned and waved back before jumping down from the wagon and approaching his friend. He gathered the smaller alien into a brief hug.

"Jeremy! I am so glad to see you again! Wait till you hear what happened up there!"

The shorter alien chuckled and smiled up at him as he released the hug.

"Are smiling? Go well up North?"

Just then the doors to the stable shut with a loud thud. The distinct sound of the metal latch kicking over was plain in the air. Jeremy flicked his ears as he glanced between Endeval and the doors in obvious confusion.

"Are not alone?"

The human smiled slyly as Angela walked in next to the wagon towards them.

"Yes. You can say that. I want you to meet..."

Endeval cut himself short. The native woman had turned the corner around the teams and stopped dead in her tracks. Ears forward, eyes wide, and jaw hanging open comically, the furry female gaped in open shock when she spotted the Alemucian at the human's side. With a sputter, her voice climbed nearly an octave in surprise.

"G'rmee?"

The older native stammered back, the whites of his eyes visible.

*N'jllaa? L'nkaa r'ae'niu d'toii j'lraao?*

Jeremy spun his head around to face the human.

"Why she here!?"

Endeval was taken aback with the sudden turn of events. He held up his hands.

"Whoa. I didn't know you two knew each other! Just give me a minute to explain what..."

Once again the human was interrupted, this time by when Angela took a step forward and appeared to plead with Jeremy.

*G'rmee! Q'ntsiaa n'dtoaa l'tleia m'hai l'nsaa m'a r'au!*

The slim native looked back at her, his face a mess of confusion.

* Sb'aa sh'lea?*

The female alien took a deep breath and folded her hands calmly at her waist. She straightened and gazed at the older native almost regally.

*Ncl'fn'rhiaa'rt r'ae'miu. Q'ntsiaa, d'toaa v're m'a j'tleia.*

Jeremy seemed to deflate slightly, his ears splaying to the sides. Endeval looked from him to Angela. The female spotted him observing and gave a small, nervous smile. The human turned back to the male native and spoke in curiosity.

"Ok. What was that all about? How do you two know each other?"

Jeremy composed himself and looked up at Endeval. His eyes looked strangely haunted.

"N'jllaa have biggest Clan in North. Do much trade. Clan all know me."

The human frowned a little.

"Seems like there is more to that."

The older native flicked a glance at Angela before giving a resigned sigh.

"Boss...remember why I started as trader?"

"Err...yes?"

"Was N'jllaa mother."

Endeval leaned back in surprise as he blew out a breath.

"Oh man. I'm sorry Jeremy!"

The native man shook his head softly.

"Is ok. Her not know. Was long time ago. She only know me as trader to Clans."

Before either male could speak again, Angela stepped closer and spread her hands, speaking softly.

"How you?"

Jeremy blinked at her in surprise.

"You speaking Common?"

Endeval interrupted with a smile.

"I have been teaching her for the last four days. She is a quick study."

The furry male glanced back and forth, his ears flicking in curiosity. He bowed slightly to the female.

"Am good, thank you."

Angela beamed as Jeremy turned and regarded the human.

"Boss. How you come with N'jllaa? What happen?"

Endeval took a breath.

"Right after you and I split up, I came across a squad of human security personnel. They had a group of the People arrested for carrying arms below the Treaty line. I tried to convince them to let me buy all the Alemucians so that I could set them free later. Their leader would only agree to let me buy one. I found one of the People who spoke the trader tongue and managed to convince him of what I wanted to do. He refused my help personally, but had me take his sister instead. That is how Angela and I met."

The slim native blinked in surprise as he processed the information. Then his eyes widened.

"Sister? You speak with N'gree? How you make him believe you!"

The human held out his hand with the faint scar on the palm.

"I swore on the Blood Oath."

Jeremy's ears stiffened in shock.

"You use H'toa Ct'j'ruii? Is very serious!"

"I know that. I promised to keep her safe until I can return her to the Clans. I also promised to do what I could to free the others."

The male native nodded his head as he thought through what he was hearing. His attentive gaze came across the mark on Endeval's arm and he reached forward with a gasp.

"Boss! What happen to arm?"

The human turned to look at his shoulder even as the slim alien touched the scar.

"Oh that. Well, when I took Angela to Branton, I had no choice but to get her marked. I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't find a way to stop it without getting her in even more trouble. So when we were sitting at the smithy, I decided to take a mark first to show her that I was willing to suffer along with her."

Jeremy gasped again at Endeval, and then quickly turned and examined Angela's shoulder. His ears splayed to the sides as he turned back to the human.

"Boss, you not know what you have done. Is very serious!"

The human frowned and sighed.

"I know, I know. But Jeremy, if I didn't do it, they were going to drag her to the mines! I couldn't let that happen! You of all people know that I am the last person who would want to do this to anyone. With security checking every time you turned a corner, I had to allow it. When I couldn't explain to her how much I protested it, I decided to take the mark myself to show her how I felt. It was...it was the only thing I could think of doing at the time."

The native man studied his face for a long moment, and then sighed heavily.

"I understand. Is all in past now anyway. I know you not want to do it."

Angela stepped forward and put her hand on the furry male's shoulder. When Jeremy turned his head to look at her, she glanced at Endeval before speaking.

"Mark...ok. Endeval is...sorry."

He looked at her sadly for a moment, and then nodded while patting her hand. With a deep breath, the native male blinked and looked between the two of them.

"What I thinking? Is warm and you have heavy clothes! Come! We get drinks before work!"

With the abrupt change of topic, Jeremy put a hand on each shoulder and guided the others towards the back of the stables. Endeval walked along, glancing over at Angela as she trailed along on the other side. Jeremy seemed pretty worried about her getting the brand in Branton and the human wondered how the older native would react when he told him of the much closer relationship that had developed while they were on the trail home. He decided it might be better to wait till later to reveal the news. As the trio exited the stables and started across the courtyard, Angela craned her neck around in awe, taking in the view. Jeremy chuckled lightly at her as they walked and then smiled at Endeval.

"Have something new! T'nnit Berry tea and ice! Think you will like!"

The human smiled back at him.

"Oh I think I will like it very much!"

Endeval chuckled at the native's puzzled grin as they entered the door to the open kitchen. Angela spouted a question to Jeremy in the native tongue as they all paused near the refrigeration unit. Opening the door to the unit, the older native began to respond when a loud shout erupted.

"N'JLLAA!!?"

As one, the three turned and looked up at the balcony. Antony stood, leaning over the rail excitedly. His face was a picture of joy as his tail thrashed in the air behind him. The furry woman gasped, her own features beaming.

"N'tonee?"

The young male ran for the stairs, alternately looking down as he dashed down the steps and tried to keep his eyes on her.

"N'jllaa! N'jllaa!"

The furry female sprinted across the room to meet him, leaping from the ground and throwing herself into his open arms. Antony caught her deftly and spun her in a squealing circle, his face pure happiness. Endeval watched the display with astonishment. Was there anyone in this house she didn't know? Across the room, the young male finally set the female on the ground and then suddenly peppered her face with little kisses. The human suddenly felt a strange chill go up his spine, but he shrugged it off and smiled as the two turned and came closer. Antony grinned at him, one arm draped over Angela's shoulder, as they stopped a few feet away.

"Boss! Bring N'jllaa here? Is wonderful! Not see for long time!"

The furry female was smiling broadly up at the male, one hand on his fuzzy chest. Endeval started to ask how they knew each other, and then realized that the two Alemucians had names that both started with an "N" designation, meaning they were from the same Clan. With that revelation, the human smiled and nodded.

"Yes. We met up North. I didn't realize till now that you were from the same Clan. I take it you two are friends?"

Antony nodded enthusiastically before glancing down at her.

"I her H'mra Ct'unoi!"

Standing beside Endeval, Jeremy suddenly stiffened in surprise. The human noticed and opened his mouth, but the younger male interrupted.

"Boss! Take N'jllaa? Show house? Please? Be short time!"

Endeval stammered at the request for a moment, and then sighed and nodded.

"Go ahead Antony. Take your time...and if you can find her some cooler clothes that would be great."

The young male squealed again, rushing forward to hug the human. Endeval patted his back before Antony leaned back and continued breathlessly.

"I look Boss! Am very happy now!"

The native turned and gathered Angela up as he started towards the door to the courtyard.

** *M'cloee N'jllaa! M'a g'gtea'niu nr'h'kloa!***

The human watched as the two walked away into the courtyard. There was something he couldn't quite place about the whole situation, a nagging intuition that tickled at the corner of his mind. Antony threw his arm out over the female's shoulder again, pulling her along as he began to ramble in rapid-fire Alemucian. Angela clung tight to his hip, her one arm around his waist as she grinned up at him. Endeval felt a slick, greasy feeling crawl into his stomach as the two alien's tails suddenly intertwined behind them as they walked. Just then he realized what had been bugging him. Not once since Antony had appeared did Angela even look his way. Not once. His mouth suddenly dry, the human accepted the offered glass of tea from Jeremy. He took a long swallow, and then forced a smile when he noticed Jeremy watching for his reaction.

"This is pretty good! Maybe we should take these with us to the stables?"

The native nodded and the two turned to go across the courtyard. Endeval's mind was in a spin. Did he just imagine what had happened in the kitchen? Obviously the two natives were very close. Maybe it was customary behavior among them or maybe it was just happiness at the long separation? His quiet thoughts continued until he suddenly found himself standing in the stables with Jeremy looking at him expectantly. Endeval gave him another wan smile and reached to pull the wagon team forward. From the ceiling hung a simple chain hoist that the human had installed soon after purchasing the home. He lined the hoist up with the box, and soon the two had the wooden case sitting on a wheeled platform. Endeval unhitched the first anklo and was rubbing it down in one of the pens when he finally asked Jeremy.

"Jeremy? What is a H'mra Ct'unoi?"

The native paused as he was leading the second anklo to another pen. His look was thoughtful.

"Is...Life Mate? Best way explain..."

The greasy feeling was suddenly back in the human's gut.

"Life...mate?"

Jeremy nodded as he reached for a rubbing towel.

"In the People, family take in baby from other clan. Raise with son or daughter as...companion to baby. H'mra ct'unoi is always know to be companion. Share everything. When baby grow up, almost always Choose H'mra ct'unoi for be mated and have more baby."

Endeval's insides twisted in a knot even as the native sighed and continued sadly.

"During great meeting of Clans long time ago, I Choose female from other Clan. Not know female is h'mra ct'unoi to other. Other have first choice. Choose female from me. Female was N'jllaa mother..."

The human blinked at his last statement. Jeremy lost Angela's mother to someone else? This business of h'mra ct'unoi suddenly worried him even more. He saw the sad look in his friend's eyes and guilt piled up on the rest of his roiling emotions.

"I'm sorry Jeremy. I didn't mean to cause you painful memories..."

The plucky alien smiled at him sadly.

"Is ok. Was long time ago. Make new life as trader. Get to meet you, do good work for Clans."

The two finished rubbing the anklos down and made sure they had feed. Then, with a grunt, they started pushing the lock box out the back of the stables and across the courtyard. Endeval looked to the left as they passed the fountain and was surprised to see two figures standing close together. Somewhere, Antony had found a pair of shorts and a tank top that fit Angela. They were currently standing, arms and tails twined together, as the male pointed at something on the roof of the second floor. With their backs to the human, he could see when Antony turned and whispered something into Angela's ear. The male native punctuated the whisper by stuffing the end of his muzzle into her ear and wiggling it around. The female's piercing giggle could be heard plainly across the open courtyard as Endeval's heart gave a slow lurch in his chest. He glanced away, unwilling to bring himself to watch any further. With a shake of his head, he refocused his efforts on pushing the box. Together, he and Jeremy wheeled it through the house and out into the back of the shop. Endeval flopped down on top of the box and reached for his cup that had rode in on the case.

"This thing is heavier than it looks! Thank you for the help, Jeremy."

The alien nodded in reply and took a swig from his own cup.

"Is ok Boss. I like to help."

Endeval frowned for a moment and then turned towards his friend.

"Do me a favor. Let's not use the word 'Boss' anymore? That is all I heard from every one of the People I talked to up north. They use it because they are not free...and I don't want you to feel you are not free here. Do you understand?"

Jeremy gave him a surprised look, and then slowly nodded.

"Ok B...N'dvaal."

The human smiled warmly at him, and then patted his shoulder.

"Thank you my friend. I'm going to go get a shower and change. Then I will come back down and help finish the chores, ok?"

The native smiled and nodded.

"Yes N'dvaal."

The human nodded back and turned to head into the kitchen. As he crossed to the bottom of the steps, another lilting giggle sounded from the courtyard. His steps faltered for a moment, but then he forced himself to shake his head and keep going. Just because she is happy didn't mean anything. The two haven't seen each other in what...a year? They grew up together, it was only natural that they were close, right? After all, she had spent the better part of the last four days alone with him. And the last four nights? Well, she was loving him...a big, bold human...who just happened to own her...and wasn't her species...and had her branded...

All of the doubts and fears from earlier came flooding back as Endeval finally made it to the shower. He strived mightily to shake off the dark thoughts as he washed himself clean. After dressing, he went out and started down the stairs. The only sound he heard was Jeremy busily washing dishes. Endeval glanced around and outside the door before asking.

"Where are Angela and Antony?"

The older native turned his head and indicated the side door with his chin.

"Young one take N'jllaa out to buy new clothes. Will be back later."

The human experienced a sudden pang of concern.

"He took her into the town? Is that a good idea?"

Jeremy glanced at him and then nodded.

"Most all town know N'tonee, and N'jllaa have tag on collar."

Endeval winced at the mention of the collar. He should have removed that thing right away! He sighed heavily and rubbed his hands together.

"Ok buddy, how about I rinse and dry?"

The native smiled and moved over. Soon the dishes were finished and the pair started on other chores. There was the stables to finish cleaning, bags to put away, wagon to look over, and any number of dozens of small jobs that came with running a business out of your house. Endeval worked them all, trying not to wonder why the pair of natives had not yet returned from their shopping trip. The day passed slowly, the sun creeping across the sky. The human found himself in the front shop with Jeremy conducting an inventory of all the new pieces from the trip. The two had been in there for hours as evidenced by the stack of sheets under Endeval's pen. The human looked again as the native held up another dazzling piece of jewelry, and then started writing.

"Bracelet. Song Rock...blue stones...with a fine, gold chain..."

Jeremy nodded his head.

"Was made by Clan for gathering of trades. Master rock cutter."

Endeval nodded as he wrote. Adding the unique back story of a piece gave it an air of authenticity when it came time to sell. It was something the corporation couldn't provide. Jeremy placed the bracelet on the tray and peered into the box.

"Is last one, N'dvaal. Box now empty."

The human stood and stretched the kinks out of his back. He scooped up the large stack of papers and smiled at the native.

"I'm going to take these up and file them. Then I might call it a day. This box can wait till tomorrow."

Jeremy grinned as he picked up their cups and started towards the kitchen. Behind him, the sunlight was fading fast in the big windows of the store. The two went back into the kitchen, where Endeval noticed a couple of bags sitting next to the bottom steps. His heart picked up the pace when he realized that the other two natives were back from shopping. A quick glance around told the human that the main section of the house was empty, so he crossed the room and started up the steps. He peered into the bags as he climbed, noting the stacks of clothes in each. Antony must have used a portion of his savings, stashed in his very own personal credit comp, to buy the garments. Endeval shook his head and continued up the stairs. Seeing the clothing reminded him again about the fears and doubts that had been plaguing him since the morning. Angela was obviously happy to see Antony again, and really should get to spend some time, right? The human frowned at his own silliness. Just because they were close didn't change what had happened on the trail. Tonight, after he got the native woman settled in his room, he would take some time and talk to her. He just needed to stop overreacting.

Reaching the top of the steps, Endeval stepped up to his bedroom door. As his hand neared the handle, he picked up the sound of two voices coming from the courtyard. Curious, the human turned and walked down the balcony hallway. The upper walkway actually continued on past Antony's door, curving around till it ended in a sort of open platform near the inner wall. A window near the terrace section gave a perfect view of the courtyard below. Endeval stepped up to the window quietly and looked down, the greasy churning back in his gut. In the open space below, the two natives were sitting side-by-side on one of the low stone benches near the fountain. Angela was grinning broadly while Antony gestured as he spoke to her in the Alemucian dialect. He was punctuating his remarks by wiggling his fingers in the air in front of him. He stopped, smiled, and then apparently asked her a question of some sort. The female thought for a moment, and then leaned her shoulders back, stretched her arms above her head, and thrust her chest out suggestively. On her face was the same sexy, seductive look she had given Endeval when she used the pose on him not two nights ago!

Endeval gasped silently at the sight, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest. All the doubts from earlier exploded into his mind again. He wanted to stop watching. He really did, but he couldn't seem to tear his gaze away. Below, he looked on as the male native grinned and turned to straddle the bench. He said something to Angela, holding his hands out to the sides. The female dropped her arms, stood, and then proceeded to languidly crawl into his lap, each of her legs dangling to either side of the male's waist. She casually reached her arms past his head where her elbows rested on his shoulders and her hands dangled out behind. Antony's hands slid around her waist, his muzzle only inches from hers. He grinned up at her and said something, ears flicking back and forth. Angela's answer was to giggle and gently bounce up and down in his lap, grinding her hips so that her buttocks slid across the tops of his thighs. On the balcony above, Endeval choked in shock, every muscle suddenly rigid with astonishment. He struggled to breathe, lips flopping wordlessly as he watched the female gyrate playfully in Antony's lap. With enormous effort of will, the human took a step backward from the window so that the scene before him disappeared below the sill. For a complete second, his mind struggled to grasp what had just happened as his guts churned even harder. Then, the oily feeling in his stomach abruptly exploded into intense, all-consuming fury. He quivered with rage, wishing he were down there in the courtyard to stop this insanity. Thought became action as Endeval spun on his heel with a snarl and stalked murderously across the open balcony. His mind and body burned with anger, his thoughts tumbling over each other. After all I did for them! I gave him a home! I saved her from the mine! She was with me! That's MY woman! She belongs to...to...me?

Endeval screeched to a halt, his head suddenly spinning. Unbidden, he lifted his left hand and touched the mark on his right shoulder as his mind instantly recalled the similar mark left on hers. Inside his chest, the fiery inferno of wrath sputtered as new and ugly thoughts sprung into his consciousness. My woman? Did I just call her MY woman? His fingers absently traced the scar on his skin as he reeled like a punch drunk boxer in a losing fight. Guilt and shame washed over him, stemming the tide of vexation as he slumped against the wall. Horrified, he realized that his first reaction had been ownership! His mind spun, his heart hurt, his vision grew fuzzy, and an overwhelming feeling descended on him, settling over him like a blanket of despair. Who was he to control her? She was never really his. Stupidly, he had let himself fall in love, even when he suspected from the beginning that she would never really stay with him. Turning his head and leaning against the wall, Endeval recognized the hollow, burned out section inside and the feeling that had enveloped him so completely. It was...loss. Total and all-encompassing loss.

Shakily, his hand descended on the door of his bedroom and opened it. He half-fell through the threshold and staggered to the small desk in the corner. Like a marionette with its strings cut, he fell limply into the chair and turned to face the small filing cabinet. Endeval watched as another person in his head filled out a date, filed the papers, and shut the drawer to the cabinet. He turned and propped his elbows on the desk, face in his hands, as his thoughts continued to churn. One fleeting, random thought spun lazily through the turmoil. If I would have never made that Oath, this would not have happened. Endeval's head snapped upright. The Oath! The quicker he could find a way to fulfill his obligation, the faster he could return Angela up to the Clans, and then subsequently, go on with his life. With her gone, maybe the fresh gaping hole in his heart would close over time. Endeval pounced on the idea, his battered psyche struggling with any reason to continue. He needed to do something...anything...to take away this pain.

The human reached down and opened a small, special drawer from underneath the desk. Reaching inside, he extracted one of the few level 6 items he kept in the house. The device was thin, flat, and had a little more surface area than a sheet of legal paper. All in all, it was only a tiny bit thicker than three hefty sheets of paper stacked together, but was still rigid in his hands. Endeval held the device before him and pressed the two opposite corners simultaneously. The thorium-alloy battery, designed to provide power for several years, was still plenty enough to bring the viz screen to life. Colors, lines, and shapes danced across the display as the device cycled through a quick start up and logon. Finally, it settled down to show the standard home screen. Endeval touched the front, calling up the network join function and requesting copies of the Alemucian Treaty and WindFall bylaws. Across the top of the display, a ticker-tape marker announced increased orbital security due to pirating threats on the planet. The human ignored the threat. WindFall garnered several pirate raids a year thanks to Song Rock, and the orbital defenses always repelled such attacks. As he watched the transfer status of his requested documents, a distant noise of a door closing on the other side of the wall captured his attention. He leaned closer, cocking an ear to the stucco, and was able to hear voices from the other side of the wall. Endeval sat up in surprise. The whole time he had been here, he had never heard any noises coming from the next room. Antony had always been relatively quiet. He listened intently as the device in his hand continued to load the huge amount of documentation he had requested.

There was murmuring for several moments, an occasional scrape, and even a dulled cough. Endeval was just about to lean back and ignore the rest when a delighted giggle pierced through the wall and caught his attention. He knew that giggle all too well, having heard it often enough on the trail home. There were a few more muted sounds that the human couldn't make out, so he leaned closer to the stucco. Suddenly, there was a grunt and something thudded solidly against the wall. Endeval reared back in surprise. Whatever had impacted the wall, it had been right there in front of him! He was still sitting there, stunned, when a long, low groan echoed through the wall, followed by another thump. The human gaped in dismay as dawning realization began to creep up on him. They wouldn't! Already? Another thump, another long groan, and suddenly he heard the worst sound in the world, a heavy, thrumming purr on the other side of the wall. Endeval reared back in his chair, his face and thoughts a mask of outrage. From the wall, the thumps began to come in regular intervals, punctuated by the undulating thrums of sound. The human closed his eyes in disbelief, gritting his teeth in abject agony. He couldn't believe what he was hearing! After a second, a loud crack and sizzling pop brought his attention back to his own room.

The broken viz screen in his hands stared up at him even as the noises in the next room grew even louder. Endeval dropped the device to the desk and threw himself across the room to his bed, still made from when he had left over a week ago. He jammed his face into his pillow, trying to muffle the noise of the steady thumps against his wall. Unsuccessful, he raised his head and looked blearily around the room. Suddenly, the air was too thick, the walls too close. Every fiber of his being screamed to be somewhere else. He stood and dashed for his door, no real destination in mind as he rushed down the steps. Anywhere would be good enough, as long as he didn't hear the native couple anymore. Couple. Already he thought of them as being together. Anything he may have had with Angela was now a thing of the past, and his heart cried for it. He stumbled across the courtyard and into the stables. One of the paddocks had a fresh pile of hay in the corner from earlier chores and the dejected human literally fell into the mound. He lay there in agony, his mind conjuring images of what might have been happening in that room, interspersed with memories of what had already happened with him. Any last dregs of hope were gone, blown away with the awful realization back there in the house. With a charred, painful hole in his soul, the human buried his face in the sweet vegetation and started to suffer through the night...alone.

Endeval awoke to a saurian muzzle in his face. The curious anklo was probably wondering what the human was doing lying in its pile of hay. Endeval patted the broad nose automatically and then sat up with a groan. He blinked his eyes at the morning light as he brushed bits of vegetation from his shirt and looked around the paddock. His sleep-fogged mind slowly caught up with his surroundings as the events of last night all came back in a rush and his insides twisted in familiar pain. Endeval groaned again and leaned forward to rest his head in his hands. He just couldn't believe what he had heard! Over the years, the human had experienced pain in many forms in his career as a soldier, but nothing had ever compared to what he felt now. He had allowed himself to get so very close, and losing Angela so casually left an agonizing emptiness inside. He should have known from the beginning that he wasn't what she wanted.

Endeval sighed and levered himself up from the pile. He staggered out of the stables, squinting in the early morning light, and slowly made his way to the door of the kitchen. As he approached, the smells of cooking reached his nose on the gentle breeze. He dithered outside the doorway for a second and then, with a deep sigh, stepped into the kitchen and paused. Inside, the three aliens were in the act of dining. Jeremy was just approaching the table, pan in hand, and the other two were eating from piled plates. The oldest native spotted him and froze, his eyes wide in astonishment. At the table, the other two natives noticed Jeremy's stare and spun around to gape at him as well. Endeval let his own gaze traveled across the three while he struggled to keep his face neutral. Almost immediately he locked eyes with Angela and his guts churned in silent agony. The female stared back, fork paused above the table and her ears splayed slightly out to the side. With her surprised green orbs locked on his and the way her mouth hung open, Endeval could almost think she looked concerned, or maybe guilty? Blinking, the human turned his face away, plucked a piece of hay from his hair, and started across the kitchen to the stairs. Jeremy rounded the table and met him when he was nearly at the bottom of the treads. He held the pan out as his face filled with concern.

"N'dvaal want breakfast?"

The human paused and gave a quick glance back to the table. Antony was still staring, puzzlement on his features. Angela still had not moved, her confused and worried stare tracking him across the floor. Endeval suppressed a snort and shook his head.

"I'm sorry Jeremy. I need to go to the Council chambers for the day. I'll just wash up and grab something to eat in town."

Before the native could answer, the human turned and dashed up the steps, wanting to be away from the others as quickly as possible. He stripped down and nearly threw himself into the shower. Leaning against the wall and letting the hot spray run over him, the human closed his eyes for just a moment. Instantly, the image of two deep-green eyes full of...something...sprung into his mind. He couldn't tell for sure what emotion he saw downstairs, but at this point he couldn't afford to care. Steeling himself, Endeval finished his shower, got dressed, grabbed his broken viz screen, and exited the bedroom. When he reached the bottom of the steps, the kitchen was empty. Through the open courtyard door, he heard two raised voices speaking in Alemucian. Curious, he paused and squinted from deep inside the shadows of the kitchen. Out in the courtyard, Angela and Antony were facing each other and having some kind of intense discussion. The native woman waved her arms as she fired off at the male in rapid Alemucian. Antony responded, his body language suggesting confusion and concern. He gestured once towards the house and posed some kind of question. Angela shook her head violently and held up her hands, palms upwards as she pleaded something back. Inside, Endeval watched the display and abruptly had a petulant thought. Lovers quarrel? So soon? Immediately he was angry with himself at feeling so vindictive. The pain goaded him, coaxed him, and he squashed it forcefully. Soon, he was watching the couple with a cold and distant tone. Then a voice from his side made him twitch in surprise.

"N'dvaal?"

The human snapped his head around to find Jeremy standing just a few feet away. The native must have entered the kitchen from the front and approached him silently. Jeremy leaned back in surprise when he saw Endeval's face, his ears flipping back to lay on his skull. The human saw his reaction and realized that he was scowling. Clearing his throat, Endeval forced his features to go back to neutral before replying.

"Hello Jeremy. I was just getting ready to leave."

The older alien glanced out the door before speaking.

"N'dvaal...you ok?"

The human turned and looked through the door. Outside, Angela had half-crossed her arms, hugging her own bosom as she tipped her head forward to put the end of her muzzle in her hand. Antony was pleading with her quietly, his hands hovering over her shoulders. The female native took a deep breath, lifted her head, and fully crossed her arms as she replied in earnest. After a brief pause, the male stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug. At first the female just stood still, and then she threw her own arms around his neck and crushed him close. Endeval watched the exchange, a bitter taste in the back of his mouth. He turned back to find Jeremy had also been watching, and then the older native looked back at the human, his face full of confusion. Endeval shook his head and sighed.

"I'll be fine."

Without another word, the human abruptly started for the door, leaving a worried Jeremy to watch him go. Outside the house, he took a deep breath before making his way across the street and down into town. The walk to the Council building was agonizing. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep the feelings of loss and anger from surfacing every few moments. Endeval suffered through, pushing the emotions away, and soon he was entering the front of the structure. Inside, the building was very different from its rustic exterior, all chrome and plastic. Endeval's credentials allowed him to pass the lobby and go straight to the terminal room where rows of bright screens and seats lined the walls. Selecting a terminal, the human dropped his broken viz screen on the nearby desk and leaned in to go to work.

Hours passed by as Endeval called up document after document on the screen. He read each one thoroughly, surprised at what he was finding. Every bylaw, regulation, and treaty amendment for the colony had been cleverly worded to the detriment of the natives. There was nothing overt, but now that he knew what to look for, he could read between the lines with every page. Endeval combed through the documents tirelessly, stopping only once to grab a quick bite from a café across the street. Page after page went by, and soon the human lost track of time. He was rubbing at his eyes, just finishing yet another treaty amendment, when a voice called from over his shoulder.

"Councilman?"

Endeval turned to find a human standing across the room. The man had on a pair of work overalls and was pushing a mop bucket. He blinked and glanced around the area.

"What time is it?"

The sanitation worker thumbed over his shoulder.

"It's pretty late into the night, sir. Are you going to be done soon?"

Endeval sat up in surprise. Night? How long had he been here? He hurriedly logged off the terminal and stood up.

"I'm sorry. I lost track of time. I'll just get going."

The worker nodded as Endeval gathered his things and started towards the exit. Outside, the day had turned to darkness. The human shook his head ruefully as he turned to go down the street. As he walked, he chided himself for being gone so long, but his head still swam with all of the information he had gathered. It was hard to believe the staggering atrocities hidden in the company policies with legal half-speak and twisted wording. He was still mulling it over when he found himself standing outside the door of his home. He reached for the handle and paused, a sudden sensation of anxiety washing over him. Endeval paused to examine the emotion. In all the time he had lived here, he had never felt any trepidation about entering his own house! He shook his head and snorted in annoyance. This was yet another reason he had to fulfill his oath. The sooner Angela could return to the Clans, the faster he could put her behind him.

Slipping into the kitchen, Endeval glanced around at the darkened rooms. The house seemed pretty quiet as he made his way to the bottom of the stairs. Climbing the stone steps, he found himself happily anticipating a warm bed, especially after a night in the stables. Nearing the top of the staircase, his ears picked up the low murmur of voices. Immediately, his eyes flicked down the hall to where a low light spilled out from underneath Antony's door. Endeval froze in place, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. With only a little effort, he picked up the sound of two unique voices, and one of them had a familiar, sexy lilt. Grinding his teeth together, the human turned and started back down the stairs. He would be damned if he was going to sit through another minute of listening to a bed thump against the wall. Let them have their fun, but he wasn't going to be around for it.

Endeval shook his head, trudging across the kitchen to the back door of the shop. He wandered with no real direction as he tried not to imagine what was happening in the room upstairs. Of course, as soon as he tried, his mind conjured up multiple images of the two natives together. The human groaned and walked down behind the counter. The box from yesterday was gone, probably moved by Jeremy. Endeval groaned again as he sank into a folding chair. Not being here to help move the box was just another layer of guilt he added to the maelstrom of emotions in his head. He leaned forward and rested his arms on the glass countertop. Propping his chin on his arms, he struggled to fight off the dark wave of depression that rapidly consumed him. Despite how hard he had tried to let her go, despite knowing that she had moved on, Endeval found himself coming back to a simple thought...I wish she were still with me.

The human's head slid down to rest his forehead on the glass. He could see his reflection staring back up at him as a sudden surge welled up behind his eyes. I won't cry. I swear I won't... but the blurry reflection staring at him through the puddle on the glass disagreed.