The Tribe - 2
#2 of The Tribe
Mako talks with his father about some of the things bothering him, but it doesn't help alleviate his concerns.
Here's part 2 of my new little series! I'm enjoying writing this. I'd love to know what you guys think, so please tell me! You can even tell me what direction I should take the story, or what you'd like to see! Hope you all enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Ormus tribe was settled near the White River, so named for the chunks of marble that littered the bottom of the river in places. The Ormus tribe itself was named after one of their elders from generations ago. Their written records only went as far back as a couple hundred years, if that, and Ormus was the oldest name mentioned in their history. Mako didn't know all the details, but knew that somewhere, years ago, a few families had broken off from another, much larger tribe, and had gone off on their own. Being as small as they were, they'd faced some challenges.
The tribe survived harsh winters, hot summers, droughts, disease, and war. For years the numbers never seemed to be able to grow, but at least they didn't diminish, either. Their huts and tents were gathered in a circle amongst a small crop of sturdy trees. Some canopies had been secured above vital areas, like sleeping quarters, to keep it shielded from too much sun, or rain. Crops were planted nearby in a clearing by the river for easy care, and when the hunts were successful, which they often were, there were always hides drying on racks out in the sun.
The Ormus tribe as it was now only consisted of about five larger families and some smaller ones. Occasionally a member of the tribe would wander off to join a larger tribe, or would bring another back. Currently there were ninety-two members, with the youngest being a year old, and the oldest being almost seventy. Garis, Mako's father, was in his late fifties, and was the current leader of the tribe. It was ultimately his decision when they hunted, moved, or who could take whom as a mate. For his part, he generally let the others make their own decisions and stepped in to offer advice and council when he thought it necessary.
The large, black wolf was seated cross-legged on a large bear hide, eyes closed in meditation. His long, black hair was braided into multiple strips that hung around his face. There were a few pieces of bone pierced through both of his ears, some with feathers attached. His face had a few paint marks of dark orange and around his neck were several talismans made of bone, and a large choker that went halfway down his chest like a bone breastplate. His loincloth was a deep black leather that had been painstakingly died and shaped before adorned with bits of turquoise, ivory, and jade. Garis, as he always did, looked quite impressive.
As Mako returned to the camp, following behind his two older brothers, he could smell fresh bread, his stomach turning over rather aggressively. "Perhaps skipping food before leaving to go fishing hadn't been the wisest choice," he thought to himself as they walked past the edge of the tents and into the camp.
The three brothers spotted their father in the center of camp, in front of the unlit campfire, and walked past quietly, nodding their heads in acknowledgment, but knowing better than to interrupt his meditation. Garis' eyes might be closed, but there was no doubt in their mind that he knew their gesture all the same. Zeke and Kosh were heading towards the tent the three brothers shared, Mako in tow, when Garis suddenly spoke up. "Mako. Come here, if you would."
Zeke and Kosh gave their younger brother a backwards glance, but kept moving, ducking through the flap in their tent and disappearing from view. Mako, for his part, had frozen in place. His father had always been a rather intimidating person, from the otter's perspective, though he was a very caring person. There was just something about the way he seemed to know things, and how in tune with nature, and other people's thoughts and emotions that unnerved the otter. Garis was also the strongest member of their tribe and could carry a large piece of game home from their hunts by himself.
Mako stepped over towards his father and sat down on the grass, just off the hide, out of respect. "Yes, da- father?"he asked quietly, his heart starting to race nervously. His mind was full of all the possible things he could have done to draw wrath or disapproval. "Did I forget one of my chores? Did I accidentally break anything? Did I say something I shouldn't have?" he thought, the anticipation killing him in only a few seconds.
Garis turned his head towards the otter before opening his eyes. His eyes were a bright blue that could almost be considered white. "You can call me dad, if you prefer, you know," he said quietly, keeping his gaze on Mako.
The otter couldn't meet those icy eyes, though, and kept his gaze down at Garis' chest instead. "I just wanted to show respect," he said softly, trying to keep an impassive face.
The older wolf studied his son for a moment before sighing. "You are my son, and I love you. You know this, right?" he asked, frowning thoughtfully. "Why is it you have been avoiding me as of late? You have been increasingly distant from both your mother and I, especially me, and seem to shrink away when I speak to you. Have I done something to make you fear me?" he asked, though it was hardly a question.
Mako's face grew hot and he sucked in a quick breath, looking up at his father for a few seconds. "What? No! I didn't- don't mean to be distant I'm... I just have had a lot on my mind," he said, feeling a pang of guilt for not being more specific or honest.
Garis considered those words for a moment, thinking about what to say in response. "I know you and your brothers spend a lot of time in each other's company. Do you find yourself questioning whether or not you'll consider taking a female as your mate?" he asked.
If Mako thought his cheeks were hot before, they felt like they were on fire now. His father had always been very aware of everything that went on, and had no issues saying what he needed to say. It wasn't uncommon for males, or siblings to share sexual company just to have an outlet for their needs and urges, but, naturally, it wasn't something that he'd ever discussed with either of his parents. "I... I um, I don't-"
"I can smell both of them on you, even now. The river does a good job of covering it up and I'm sure not even they could tell, but I can. Is that something that bothers, you, though? I've never seen you engaging with any of the young women of the tribe in anything other than polite conversation," he pressed, resting both paws on his legs.
Mako looked down at his paws, picking at the edge of his loincloth idly. "I don't know. I don't know what to think about that kind of stuff. I know I will, eventually. I want to make you proud," he said, looking downcast as he spoke.
Garis' face softened a bit and he leaned forward to place a paw on Mako's shoulder, squeezing it and forcing it back to raise his son's gaze. "You know that I'm proud of you, right? Even if you choose another male as your mate, or never choose one at all, I won't be disappointed in you. I just want for you to be happy,"
The otter tensed at his father's touch, but relaxed quickly, meeting his gaze for a few seconds. "But... I thought it was important for us to... well, to have children of our own, increase the Tribe."
The large wolf hummed in contemplation, nodding solemnly. "You're right. That's very important. But don't think that it negates your own wellbeing. Do you think it's possible for you to have children of your own, and still be with a mate of your choosing?" he asked.
Mako's brow furrowed in thought, mulling that question over before shaking his head. "No? I mean... I can't get pregnant, nor could my mate," he replied. "Assuming that I choose a male," he hurried to add.
Garis chuckled and shook his head. "And you think it would be impossible for you to find a woman who would carry your offspring, be your mother, and not let you love someone else? Pamona has three children of her own and has been mated with Lara for years. Do you think it would be any different for you?" he asked.
Mako honestly hadn't considered the possibility of having children with a woman only to keep someone else as his life partner. "I don't know, I hadn't thought of that," he admitted, starting to tease the idea in his head.
The wolf pulled his paw away and smiled warmly. "You have plenty of years ahead of you to make a decision one way or another. Your mother and I didn't have kids until we were nearly twice your age. So take your time. Do what's going to be right for you; what will make you happy."
The otter didn't say anything right away, just looked down at his paws, frowning, and nodding slowly. "Alright..." he said, though he wasn't entirely certain he could follow that advice without feeling guilty. "Is there anything else?"
Garis studied the otter for a few more moments before shaking his head. "No. Go help your mother," he said, closing his eyes and returning to his meditation. He knew his son was worried about the Ascension and did not want to go on the hunt. It was fine with him, though he could tell that it was eating Mako alive inside. He could have spoken of it and told Mako that he need not worry about agreeing to the hunt, but this was something Mako would have to discover on his own. Garis couldn't always take the initiative; Mako would have to find his own strength and learn to speak up for himself.
Mako nodded and quickly stood up, brushing himself off and walking off towards where his parent's tent was to help with food preparation. Despite everything his father had said, he still felt guilty about a great number of things. He loved his family, but his brothers had accomplished so much by comparison, in his mind. Neither had yet to take a mate of their own, but they'd talked about it; both were skilled hunters as well. "I just need to sleep on it and clear my head," he thought.
Mako lay on his back on his bedroll, staring up at the ceiling of the tent, paws locked together atop his chest. "Sleeping on it would be easier if I could at least fall asleep," he thought, teeth grinding together. Zeke and Kosh had been asleep for nearly an hour, both quietly sprawled on their own bedrolls.
Everything would be changing soon, and he didn't like the idea of it at all. Zeke would be getting his own tent after the next hunt, and depending on how soon Kosh decided to take a mate, he could also end up with his own. That would leave Mako on his own. At one point he'd loved the idea of having his privacy and own tent, but now he just wanted to stay close to his brothers as they were the only that he felt any connection towards.
There seemed to be nothing he could do to calm his mind, though. He was restless and anxious and kept shifting back and forth. There was one thing he could do to potentially tire himself out enough to sleep, though. Like most of the tribe he was naked when he slept, and he slid one of his paws down under the thin blanket until he found his soft, uncut shaft. He gave it a few, soft squeezes, tugging the foreskin back and then rolling it up over one of his fingers, slowly teasing himself.
It never took long to get him worked up, at least physically, and in no time at all his cock was hard in his paw, a bead of pre meeting his probing fingers as he slid them along the inside of his hooded shaft. The otter had no reason to prolong his pleasure or even to enjoy it, he just needed to get off so he could sleep. Fingers squeezed down on either side of his covered head and began drawing his foreskin up and down over the glans, jerking himself off with the loose skin in short, quick strokes. Pre dribbled along his fingers and he used his free paw to push the blanket away from the impending mess.
Zeke shuffled around on his bedroll and nose wrinkled before his blue eyes opened in the dark tent. There was just enough light coming in through the top that he could see his younger brother working over his shaft in the dark. He smirked and pushed his blanket aside, keeping as quiet as possible; Mako wasn't very good at remaining aware to his surroundings, and his eyes were shut.
Mako's breathing was starting to quicken as he brought himself quicker to the edge and the sleep that would follow. A paw clamped over his muzzle and another pressed down on his thigh to keep him in place. The action would have made him jump out of his skin and scream if he hadn't been muffled and held down, and he could smell Zeke's scent from the paw covering his face and he relaxed quickly, letting go of his shaft in embarrassment at being caught.
The shorter, but older, black wolf leaned down and whispered in the otter's small ears. "Guess you couldn't sleep either?" The paw holding Mako's thigh slid over to squeeze the otter's pre-slicked shaft.
Mako's eyes rolled back for a second and the paw covering his muzzle was removed. "No... I thought I could do this and fall asleep after," he admitted, hips twitching as his brother's paw started stroking him.
"I think I can help with that, if you help me as well," Zeke said, suddenly swinging a leg over the otter's hips to straddle his brother. A few inches of pink, canine shaft were sticking up from his black sheath already and he angled Mako's shaft up towards his entrance, lowering his weight slowly.
The otter's body stiffened and he watched Zeke loom over him in the dark, barely able to see anything except those light blue eyes and pink member. He'd been in this position with both his brother's before, but it had been a while, and he usually found, and preferred, their roles reversed. He wasn't complaining, though, when he felt his brother's ring part over the head of his shaft and suddenly envelop half of his cock in one move. His hips twitched and he couldn't help but thrust upwards, nearly hilting himself in his older brother.
Both gasped out and Zeke reached down, putting a paw on Mako's chest, holding him in place. "Give me a moment... not exactly used to this," he whispered, settling his hips down against Mako's and taking a deep breath.
Mako nodded and shuddered at the warm, tight feeling, and ran both his paws along the inside of Zeke's thighs before finding the thick sheath and heavy sac to play with. Only the tip was poking out now so Mako used a paw to hold it in place before sliding a finger down inside, along his brother's hidden shaft.
The wolf groaned and let his head roll back, feeling his cock stir in response to the invader. He drew his hips up until he felt the otter's slim member threaten to pull free and then pushed down again, hips meeting hips once more. The otter's shaft was more manageable than either his or Kosh's would be, and the discomfort shifted to pleasure. He could feel his cock trying to force its way out of his sheath, but one of the otter's paws was keeping it closed, a second finger slipping inside to swirl and tease his swelling member.
Mako loved teasing his brother's sheathes, but he was already drawing close to his orgasm after his earlier ministrations, and he wanted to get his brother off with him. He withdrew his fingers and saw several inches surge forth into the open before his paw tugged the furry holder down over the slight bulge at the base.
Zeke kept his hips moving, grinding back and forth over his young brother's member while he watched Mako's actions. He didn't bottom often, but that spot deep inside always worked him up rather quickly, especially when skilled paws were teasing over every inch of his dripping member. The otter's paw angled in a way that made it feel as if he were thrusting forward into that soft paw before impaling himself on the length under his tail. Already his knot was starting to form, and one of Mako's paws gripped, squeezed, and tugged at it until it was fully engorged.
The otter's breath came through in halting gasps and he felt that tingling feeling beneath his balls start traveling up his shaft. His hips jerked and twitched and he ground his teeth as he tried to hold back for just a bit longer, eyes half-lidded. His paws were squeezing down on Zeke's thick knot, hoping to draw him over the edge first, but the otter lost the battle. With a stuttering groan he humped upwards a few times, cumming hard inside the older wolf's passage, flooding back out over his balls and making quite the mess.
Zeke hissed out in pleasure, lips spread in a wide smile as he felt his brother unload inside him. It was a few more seconds before his own cock pulsed and throbbed in his brother's paw before spraying out against the otter's chest and fast, leaving streaks of white gleaming in the faint light coming through the tent's ceiling.
Mako lay there for a few minutes, feeling the dull pulse of both their orgasms before he pulled his paws away and rest them on Zeke's thighs. "I'm... really sleepy now," he whispered.
The wolf chuckled and carefully drew himself up off the otter, dripping some seed down his inner thighs, a strand of cum hanging from the tip of his cock before dropping onto Mako's chest. "Well, let's sneak out to the river real fast, wash up, and then we can sleep, alright?"
The otter yawned and wanted to protest, but knew that having dried seed in his fur would be horribly uncomfortable to deal with in the morning. So, with a helping paw from Zeke, he got up and followed his brother down towards the river.