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The Seventh Realm: Volume V

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 57: A River Runs Through It

Walking slowly but steadily, they hike for several hours until they reach the new river. They follow the river in the direction of travel, heading east. After trudging along for over a mile, the group finally stops for the day. Though it is barely mid-afternoon, with extra food, plenty of water and a decent location, Sidana suggests that they rest and take the extra time to prepare. Now moving slower and with the familiar teal coloration, Koleta collects water for the others. Carefully choosing a spot that looks secure, she refills their canteens. Manny prepares the basics of their campsite, while the mobile Darius and Sidana gather resources from nearby.

Sitting by the fire some time later, Sidana weaves harvested vines together. Having cut them with her knife while gathering resources, like firewood; she returned with a large mass slung over her shoulder. Manny, Darius and Koleta watch curiously.

“What are you doing?" Manny finally asks.

“I'm attempting to craft a safety bed. I've only ever seen this done, but many of the tribals who joined the Sa'kesh have spoken of these." She replies.

“It looks sort of like a hammock." Manny comments.

“You hang them high in the trees from a sturdy branch, as far from the trunk as you safely can. When night falls, you slip inside and it cradles your back, allowing you to sleep without fear of beasts devouring you during the night." She continues.

“Lovely!" Manny chirps.

“The shape and supporting lashings also prevent you from falling to your death." She says with a pleasant smile.

“I think I remember my grandfather telling me about those. They used them in their huts before my dad came and taught them. If they ever had to leave, they could use vines or ropes to hang them from the trees." Darius remarks.

“... We should find more vines. It looks like we'll need quite a few." Koleta says.

“Actually, this should be enough for two." Sidana explains, glancing at Manny.

Scooting closer, Manny assists Sidana. Darius and Koleta stay close to the camp, gathering only the thickest vines and sharing their haul. With Sidana guiding them, they also begin to weave the safety beds. By dusk, all four net beds have been crafted and hung into a single, massive tree nearby, decorating several branches at evenly spaced intervals. Even with his injured ankle, Manny is able to climb into the tree almost as easily as the perfectly healthy Darius, using only one leg and both arms. Koleta, having the most difficulty, is helped into the tree by Darius and Manny, while Sidana stands guard. She makes her way up, just as the dusk turns into pure darkness.

“Did you want me to tuck you in?" Manny asks, sitting with Sidana on a branch.

“If only I had covers." She softly replies.

Holding her hand, he assists her as she carefully slips inside her safety bed. On the other side of the tree, Darius does the same for Koleta. Once the women are safely stowed in their beds, both men carefully crawl into theirs. Lying there in the net bed, hanging high in the trees and dangling like ornaments, Manny wonders what they might encounter as they continue their journey. Darius fantasizes about what he'd be doing if he hadn't made such a horrible decision to leave. Thinking back on all of that he's been through with Koleta, he wonders if he would've ever had the courage to express his feelings had they never made this journey. Perhaps leaving was for the best?

Glancing down, he catches Koleta watching him, her bed a few feet away and behind his. Smiling up at him, Koleta waves with her fingers. Waving back, Darius relaxes, attempting to fall asleep. Koleta sits there, watching him and wondering what the future will hold for them. She doesn't worry about if they will escape the jungle and return home; she thinks only of their personal relationship. Now that they know their feelings, will they become a couple? Will she one day pledge to him? Shifting in his hammock and trying to become comfortable, Manny looks down toward Sidana. To his surprise, her golden eyes glow faintly in the night as she watches him.

“Hey." He whispers.

“Yeah?"

“This is uncomfortable." He says.

“I know." She replies.

“Oh... Hey." He whispers.

“What?" She replies.

“Do they make these big enough for two?" He asks.

“No." She quietly chuckles. “If they did, they'd be more uncomfortable."

“Not the way I imagine them." Manny winks.

“Go to sleep." She sighs as if growing frustrated.

“Okay." He whispers.

Allowing his muscles to relax while hanging precariously in the net bed, he attempts to falls asleep. Meanwhile, Sidana continues to watch him, staring at his buttocks and groin, daydreaming. After a considerable struggle, Manny and the others eventually manage to fall asleep, despite the thick vines pulling uncomfortably against their backs and sides. Awakening very early the next morning, Manny is surprised to see that everyone else is still asleep. Sitting up and holding onto the sides of the safety bed, he watches Sidana sleeping several feet away. She looks so peaceful; he finds it hard to turn away and climb out.

Eventually, he rises from the netting, climbing onto the branch above him. Opening her eyes, Sidana yawns. She begins to stretch, only to quickly realize that she is not lying on her bed at the barracks. The swaying of the safety bed unsettles her. Quickly climbing up and out of the netting, she glances over to see that Manny is missing. She turns sharply several times, silently panicking.

“Down here." Manny calls out.

Looking below her, there sits Manny on the purple tinted grass, with a small fire dancing before him. The wood crackles and pops as he waves, a little smile on his face.

“How did you get past me without waking me up?" She asks.

“I'm just that amazing." He smirks.

Chuckling, she shakes her head and carefully moves across the branch, climbing down. As she nears a low branch, she suddenly slips. Already standing up and watching her, his eyes gazing at her form as she climbs down, Manny rushes in. He catches her in his arms as she falls back nearly two meters. They both fall backward, landing with a thud on the ground.

“Are you alright? You almost hurt yourself."

“I'm fine." She nods.

“It's a good thing I broke your fall." He smiles.

“Better you than me." She teases him.

“Yeah. I certainly don't mind you on top of me." He chuckles.

Manny brushes strands of her platinum blonde hair from her face, their eyes locked in an in intense gaze. Leaning forward, she presses her lips against his, stealing a little kiss. Stroking her snout softly with his fingertips, he leans in to steal it back.

“Ahem... Are we interrupting?" Darius asks.

Glancing over, they see Darius and Koleta carefully climbing down from the tree.

“It's what you're good at." Manny quips.

He rises to his feet, pulling Sidana up with him. She looks down as he stands comfortably.

“All better." He assures her.

Sitting beside the fire, they cook some of the meat that they had taken from the Kaladez. The rest of it the had been air dried as they hiked in order to preserve it as long as possible. Serving Sidana first, Manny distributes the rations amongst them, serving himself last. Their meal is shared in relative quiet; glancing between each other, both Manny and Sidana, and Darius and Koleta are simply pleased to be alive and with each other. After eating, Manny climbs back into the tree to collect the safety beds, Sidana gathers their supplies, Darius cleans the camp and Koleta tops off their canteens.

With no other plans and a strong desire to simply return home, the group begins their march. They walk for miles upon miles, clearing at least ten as they stay beside the flowing river. The terrain has been obliterated by the previous storm and gushing river; now settled into the ravine, the surrounding land is clear for walking. Taking a break, they keep their bodies hydrated and their canteens full, ever mindful of their limited supplies. By late-afternoon, Darius and Koleta, with their superior hearing, detect sounds; voices in the distance and the bustle of a little village as it hums with life.

Cautiously leading the way, Sidana and Manny drop down to their bellies. Glancing over, Sidana notices Manny's eyes, peering down to her chest. She turns her head down to see the land pushing against her breasts, dramatically enhancing her already substantial cleavage. Looking back at him, she grins, pleased that he is so attracted to her. However, with a task at hand, she clears her throat. Snapping out of his male gaze, he turns his eyes up to her and flushes.

“Sorry, captain." He whispers.

“It's okay. I'll discipline you later." She winks.

Crawling on their bellies and moving as quietly as possible, as they don't know what race is around the corner, they follow the river as it bends. The land dips downward slightly, and in the valley below are the remnants of a village. All but Manny can clearly see the creatures below, though Manny can make out their overall shapes. The village are primitive Ketlan, and only Ketlan. Though Darius and Koleta can hear them speaking in English, a language that has become increasingly more common even in the distant tribes, Sidana and Manny cannot; they share their talents for the group's benefit.

Creeping closer, they stop and watch. Sidana leans in, whispering very quietly to Manny so that even Darius and Koleta struggle to hear them.

“We should bypass them. They may be hostile." She says.

“I agree. How far around do you want to go?" He asks.

“As late as it is, we should backtrack and move south at da-"

Darius startles everyone by suddenly standing up and walking away, heading directly for the tribe. A horrified Koleta fails to grab him by the ankles, as does Manny. As Darius approaches, he remembers the stories of just how many tribes came out of the wilderness to join the Sa'kesh. In the seventeen years since he was born, no less than one hundred small tribes and several hundred small families came out of the jungles to join them; even now it still happens. Perhaps they are seeking the Sa'kesh? If so, they would be more than happy to have the son of the king with them.

Ketlan suddenly notice the black, gray and blue furred Sakona. They rush him, asking if he is alright and why he came from the west. It becomes apparent as they approach that they are mistaking him for someone else.

“You are not Balahm!" A woman exclaims.

“No. I'm Darius. Pleased to meet you!" He extends a hand.

“Wait... He is py'sel! Look at his feet!" A man tells the others.

As more gather around him, encircling the juvenile, he becomes nervous. Stepping back, he reaches for the pistol that is concealed by his right kidney.

“What is that?!" A man nearly screams.

“I don't know!" A woman cries out.

Racing up to them, Koleta growls at the Ketlan. Without using a word or touching any of them, they back away. They actively debate what race she is, having never seen an Ekzel before. Sidana and Manny soon approach, drawing even more attention. Sidana is visibly a Zelkona and human hybrid, judged by her feet and hair, also a creature they've never witnessed before. Since Darius thoughtlessly exposed himself and Koleta impulsively protected her prospective mate, the two adults felt it was in their best interest to simply show their force, hoping it would quell any potential threats brewing within the crowd of Ketlan before them.

“Are you seeking out the Sa'kesh?" Darius asks.

Sidana and Manny stare with wide eyes at his immature and reckless breech of operational security.

“No. We want nothing to do with them." A man replies.

“All that interspecies mating; it's disgusting." A woman with red and yellow spotted fur interjects, glaring at the three half-breeds.

“Oh..." Darius stares in surprise.

“They live a soft life, with too many luxuries." A second man remarks.

“Yes, all this squalor is much better." Manny facetiously replies.

“Humans and Ketlan... Touching each other. Eagerly exploring their mismatched bodies..." The red cat continues, now glaring at Manny.

They collectively raise their brows, perplexed by the strangely behaving Ketlan. Sidana suddenly turns her head, eyes wide in surprise, causing Manny to look back. The red and yellow spotted Ketlan stares at him, looking him over from head to toe and back again with her orange eyes as she now stands within arms-reach.

“Also, they have a king. I don't like kings." A silver and blue furred female remarks.

“Why?" Koleta asks.

The woman merely shrugs her shoulders.

“You human Sa'kesh... I bet you like feeling fur against your smooth, supple skin. Don't you?" Red continues.

“Well I-"

“Yes, you do! I can smell you, er, smell it on you. You disgusting, furless, Ketlan ravaging human."

“WHAT?!" Manny exclaims.

“Minkoto?" The silver Ketlan woman says.

“I bet you'd love to drag me off, wouldn't you? WOULDN'T YOU?!" The red Ketlan woman growls as she grabs Manny's forearm.

“Help!" Manny whimpers.

“Minkoto!"

“What?!" The red Ketlan spins around.

“Why must you talk about humans and Ketlan mating so often?" Silver asks.

“It's just... It's so disgusting." Minkoto replies.

“We know. You hate it. Leave it be." Silver grumbles.

She turns, glaring at Manny. Though she looks angry, something about her stare makes him nervous. Sidana takes hold of Minkoto's wrist, drawing her attention. Sidana's golden eyes narrow.

“Let. Go." She slowly orders.

“Vithlana?" Minkoto says as she loosens her fingers.

“Ja chashako davo." Sidana replies.

Minkoto looks quite offended as she back away, constantly glaring at Manny. Before he can thank her for her help, Sidana takes hold of his wrist as if he were her property.

“Well, this has been fun, but we must be going!" Sidana says as she walks through the crowd, dragging Manny along.

“Stop!" A deep male voice bellows.

Turning to the source, they see an older Ketlan man emerging from the crowd of villagers. Somewhat bulky and relatively tall for his race, he looks to be middle-aged and sports emerald green fur with snow-white tiger stripes.

“Are you in charge here?" Sidana asks.

“I am." He nods.

“We just wish to pass through. Nothing more and nothing less."

“I see... Our river ran dry, so we prayed for rain. When it finally came, the river was so violent and powerful, it swept away several huts and a few of our kin drowned."

“Okay..." Sidana blinks.

“That's kind of ironic." Darius murmurs.

The four wanderers wonder what this has to do with Sidana's request.

“We believe it to be a curse. Perhaps the other tribe further south did it... We may or may not have angered them by chasing a herd of genashin through their village as a joke." The chieftain clears his throat. “Anyway! We need to appease our gods, whichever one it is that can make this right."

“Your gods will bring back your dead and rebuild your homes?" Koleta asks.

“Well, no."

“Then how can they-"

“Enough!" The chieftain interrupts Koleta.

“So, how will you appease these gods?" Darius asks.

“Oh, just a sacrifice. The usual fare. We were going to draw reeds, but now that you're here we'll just take one of you!" The chieftain cheerfully exclaims.

“Run!" Sidana yells.

Immediately turning on them, the Ketlan rush to grab the travelers.

“That filthy human is mine!" Minkoto growls.

Drawing their weapons, Darius and Koleta fire a few shots. Running and without aiming properly, they miss their targets entirely, but succeed in scaring the Ketlan into slowing down. Without weapons in their hands, neither Sidana nor Manny attempt to fire on their pursuers, focusing instead on sprinting as fast as possible. Racing along the river and back west, a group of hunters and foragers emerge from the jungle. Seeing the pursuit, they immediately join in, forcing Sidana and Koleta to turn left and run south, deeper into the jungle. Manny and Darius veer right, running along the river's edge. They gain distance, but Darius can still hear them approaching. Their muscles weak and running out of breath, the weaker males know that they are reaching their limit. Realizing that they'll soon be caught, Manny stops running. He takes out his weapon and hands it to Darius before slipping off his pack and gear belt, doing the same.

“What are you doing?!" Darius whispers in shock.

“Take it and get in that tree. I'll lead them off. If they catch me, at least they won't have guns." Manny whispers back.

Grabbing Darius by the hips, he shoves the seventeen-year-old Sakona toward a large tree. Lifting him up, Darius climbs until he is out of sight.

“Now stay up there and be fucking quiet!" Manny whispers loudly.

Nodding, Darius silently agrees and watches as his human companion runs back and toward the crowd. He can hear them yelling as they spot the human, who runs south, the only direction left to him. The voices grow faint and soon vanish altogether. There he sits, waiting in silence, as he was told.

“Thought you could get away, did you? You were wrong, so I guess you're it!" The chieftain chuckles at Manny.

“Lucky me."

Pushing him into a circular, yurt-like tent near the river's edge, the only one with the flap facing the water, he is placed on the ground in a cold firepit. Using a frame built to support a heavy copper kettle or cauldron, they bind his wrists to the two opposing legs, his arms outstretched.

“So, when are we going to get to it?" Manny asks.

“When the two moons are at their peak." The chieftain replies.

“What... Tonight?!"

“No! We sacrifice in the daytime. We'll kill you sometime after the sun come ups." The chieftain says.

“Oh... Not to sabotage this, but... Why wait?" Manny can't help but ask.

“Are you joking? A sacrifice in the dark?! It's scary at night!" The chieftain answers.

“... Okay."

The chieftain and his guards leave the tent, setting down only two large candles to illuminate the interior. He sits and waits for some time, hoping that his friends made it out. His thoughts perpetually return to Sidana.

“Hello, filthy human." Minkoto says as she steps inside.

“Oh no. I mean, hi!"

“I wouldn't be pleased to see me either." She chuckles.

“Well, since we both don't like each other, maybe you could just go? I would, but I'm tied up and all." He remarks, shifting his bound arms.

“Shut up!" Minkoto growls.

She reaches her clawed hands for a knot of fabric in her handwoven top. Slowly loosening the knot, she separates the two sides that make up the single strap, which holds the top to her body. It falls gracefully onto the earthen floor. Manny's eyes grow wide as he sees her stepping out from the crumpled garment with her paw-like feet.

“Are you hot in here? Maybe if we open that flap, you know, for circulation." He suggests.

“I like privacy..." She says, untying the knot that holds her skirt closed.

Dropping that to the ground as well, Minkoto stands covered in naught but her own fur.

“You know what would be nice right now? Some water and a few witnesses." Manny quips.

“Do you need to cool off?" The nude Minkoto kneels over his legs.

“No, I-"

“You are warmed by the thought of enjoying my body, aren't you? You'd breed me all night long if you could, you filthy human."

Gulping nervously, he stares straight into her orange eyes, watching her as she straddles his lap. She runs her fingers through his long, brown hair, her eyes narrowing as she seems to marvel at or even worship his form. She sniffs his hair and the side of his face, her body trembling.

“Your awful musk is so..."

“Awful?" He suggests.

“Are you trying to be cute with me?!" She asks.

“What? No!" He raises a brow.

“Seducing me already, you insatiable brute?!"

Leaning in, it's as if she wants to kiss him but can't bring herself to do it. Her lips hover over his, even gently brushing against them.

“All of the things you'd do to me." She coos.

“See, I have this girlfriend, and-"

“Bad human!" She smacks him across the face. “You think you can fantasize about breeding me and get away with it? Imagining your seed flowing from your penis and deep... Deep into my... Fertile body... Mmm... You make me sick."

“I think one of us is very confused..."

“Yes, you are." She growls.

Minkoto grabs his face, licking his cheek. Moving lower, she licks his neck. Struggling against the bindings, Manny hopes that even one knot will somehow untie itself. All he wants to do is leave and find Sidana and the others, but instead he is trapped with an insane Ketlan woman. With the red and yellow spotted female straddling him, she grinds her groin against his, moaning softly. Leaning back and clawing at his pants, she quickly opens them and yanks them down. Her grin and the gleam in her eyes is impossible to hide, though she certainly tries.

“Allow me to show you how filthy and unnatural you are."

“Please don't. I'm asking you nicely." He begs.

Looking to him, Minkoto's orange eyes scan him. For a moment she looks appalled, though he doesn't know from what. Perhaps she's experiencing a moment of lucidity and realizes that she's raping an unwilling victim? Perhaps she's realizing that it's her who has the sexual fetish? Or perhaps she can't fathom him honestly begging for her to stop?

“Please... I'm already going to die. Do your gods want me to be abused too?" He tries appealing to her empathy.

“You think you can trick me, you sly human? I know what you want. You want to feel my fur on your bare flesh, to smell our scent as we bond in carnal bliss. It isn't pleasant, and I will prove it to you!" She grins sinisterly.

Lying back in the tree, Darius waits for hours. Eventually, he begins to hear footsteps approaching. Sidana and Koleta walk by, quietly talking among themselves.

“Are you sure they came this way?" Sidana asks.

“I'm positive. I was watching." Koleta replies.

“They could have run south like we did." Sidana poses.

“I doubt that. I can hear, smell and even see better than you. I'd have noticed." Koleta retorts.

“Showoff..." Sidana grumbles.

“Hey." Darius whispers.

“I told you." Koleta boasts.

They soon follow his voice to the tree. As it happens, the girl's stamina is incredible, as they are both half Zelkona. They both outran and outlasted the Ketlan, who gave up after a ten-minute foot chase. They merely waited and then walked back, to make certain that there were no ambushes prepared for them. With their story summarized for him, Darius climbs down from his perch. Landing softly on the ground below, Sidana immediately notices Manny's pack and gear in his hands. Darius holds nothing back, revealing Manny's actions in order to keep him safe. As far as Darius can tell, Manny is either captured or lost in the depths of the jungle, though probably the former.

Sidana is overcome with anger and fear. She paces back and forth as Darius and Koleta watch with surprise. The teenage Akzazel, who was rewarded her ceremony of adulthood early, finally breaks down. She acts like both a petrified child and a jilted lover, ranting to herself in an angry whisper as she marches nervously in circles.

“Are you alright?" Darius finally asks in a whisper.

“No, I'm not alright! I want Manny back!" Sidana growls loudly. “If he's dead, so help me, I will tear you to pieces."

“He told me to climb into that tree." Darius retorts.

“You shouldn't have listened... Now we're going back there to find him, and if he's there, we're going to save him." Sidana orders.