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Tales Of Morveria: Frigid Pink, Episode 2

From the Lonely Abyss of the Arctic, Two Beast Folk Rediscover Themselves

By Mantrid Brizon

(Written during the full moon of October, 2022)

Sakina tilts her head back and sniffs the air. She feels the gentle breeze on her fur and realizes that they're downwind. Whatever is approaching them can and probably has already smelled them. Kyron is one step ahead of her and raises his spear. He steps toward the denser forest, which they'd been avoiding, and narrows his golden-yellow eyes. A split-second of rustling and a creature bursts forth! Kyron is startled by the swiftness of the beast and loses his balance! He falls onto his butt and nearly breaks his spear in two!

Sakina dashes toward her half-brother, drawing a stone blade from a hide sheath she'd fashioned out of hare's hide. The large and powerful deer stops in its tracks at the sight of her. His twelve-pointed antlers are sharp and ready. The quadrupedal beast stomps a hoof, the lesser creature tapping into its basic instincts; fight or flight. Kyron scrambles to his feet and readies his spear while Sakina prepares to leap upon the game animal that will provide them many days of sustenance.

BOOM!!! Sakina and Kyron jump whilst she shrieks, their ears ringing. They drop their weapons from the shock, and Kyron is so affected that he winces and turns away. The deer flops over to one side, falling down dead. What just happened?! How could the large buck be slain without ever being struck a fatal blow?! Was it hit by lightning?! Sakina looks to the sky, but it's clear as can be; there isn't a single cloud rolling overhead. She turns to Kyron, who looks around the ground for his weapon, only to squat down and pause when he hears another sound.

From out of the rustling bushes, a person emerges! Being downwind, the two Vostii were not capable of smelling them until just now. Kyron furls his brow at the sight of the being, whilst Sakina finds herself hypnotized.

“There you are! Now, why couldn't you let me kill you five miles back?" The man chuckles, not seeing the pair standing a distance to his left.

The being is unlike anything the wolves have ever seen before! His face is short and stubby, without a snout of any kind. A pointy and triangular nose pokes out, above his relatively flat lips. Ears are low and rounded, and do not sit above his head, nor does he have fur covering his body! The visible flesh of his face, forearms and hands is pale, with only a modest tan. The wind blows through his golden hair, which is shaved on the sides but long at the top and back, and pulled into a strange series of braids, which themselves intertwine. Hair also covers his lower jaw and chin.

The creature wears clothes made of animal hide, like theirs, but only on his feet, which are flat and do not have the ankles that the wolves possess. The remainder of his clothes are made out of fine leather and a myriad of other materials that they've never seen before, some of which glisten in the sunlight. A circular piece of gleaming stone keeps a leather belt in place and holds up his trousers, which are finely stitched and appear to be crafted by the heavenly beings. As the male approaches the deer's carcass, the wind shifts and Sakina gets a face full of his scent. Her eyelids flutter.

“Ooohhh..."

As if he'd heard her, the man suddenly stops and turns his head. Icy blue eyes, as bright as the sky itself, land on Sakina; they briefly shift between the female and her companion, only to focus on Sakina and scan her form from head-to-toe. His gaze makes her melt, and the wolfess can feel a warmth in her very bones. His unfamiliar and alluring scent only makes this sensation worse. The unknown male turns his body to face the pair, a strange stick in his hands. A cylinder of what appears to be stone sits atop it; he rests the artifact over his arms, a hand holding the end furthest from the mouth of the tube.

“Zdas'vu'tii. Yii na pra'chenai tii vra'niit. Yii du'zhe'lu." The being speaks in a foreign tongue.

Sakina is taken aback. What did he just say?!Wasn't he just speaking her language or did she imagine that? She looks to Kyron, who turns to her and shares in her confusion.

“... Tii ga'vrii?" The man asks, his brow furling.

Kyron shrugs his shoulders, then returns his attention toward the stranger. The stranger's icy eyes scan the male for the longest, unsettling Kyron. Is this creature sizing him up? Is he preparing to attack?!

“Ubezh'aht." The being says.

Kyron and Sakina stand there. Suddenly, the being smirks and holds in a chuckle.

“Yii ho'zhei'lahn so'vo zes tii zhe'vuzh'na." He cannot help but laugh. “Or do you not speak Hitrosii?"

The duo is flabbergasted. The stranger can speak more than one language?! How is that possible?!?! Their expressions betray them, and the stranger suddenly appears more relaxed.

“You do speak, yes?"

“Yes." Sakina nods.

“Interesting... You are not from here." The man continues.

“That [is] true." Sakina nods again, to Kyron's shock.

“I know. If you were, you would have known what I was saying."

The Vostii of the wolf-kin turn to each other, silently sharing in their confusion.

“I shot the deer, so I claim it, but I am not above sharing. If you are lost then you may travel with me. I know these lands."

“Thank you, but we need nothing. We [are] trav-"

“Okay!" Sakina chirps, interrupting her half-brother.

“Alright. I have a camp a few miles from here. We can make it long before dark, if you help me carry the deer. My name is 'Garsyn.'" The stranger says, placing a hand on his chest.

“Sakina." She replies with a little smile, imitating his movements. “He [is] Kyron, my half-brother." She adds, pointing to him.

Kyron's eyes widen. Why is his sister divulging such precious information to a total stranger?!

“Interesting. I did not expect you to be siblings..." The man replies, taking ropes from a satchel and tying the deer's legs. “Would you like to help me?"

Kyron squats down to pick up his spear and turns his head to speak quietly to Sakina, only to stop on the first syllable and nearly choke on his breath when he sees his sister dashing toward this “Garsyn" fellow like a loyal pet! She doesn't even draw her blade from the sheath as she stands within arm's reach of the strange, furless, bipedal creature! By the time Kyron can rise to his feet, Sakina is already taking hold of a wooden rod that Garsyn had slipped between the foreign knots of the ropes which tie the deer's ankles together.

Kyron dashes to catch up as his half-sister blindly follows the stranger into the woods, carrying the deer's back legs with the wooden rod while Garsyn carries the front.

“Should we not clean [the] deer now?" Kyron asks, suspicious of the stranger.

“There is a stream not far from here. I would rather not walk through the forest covered in fresh blood." Garsyn casually replies.

“Hehe! Very wise!"

Kyron's eyes bulge until the air dries them, then he blinks and shakes his head. Sakina agreed with him! She even giggled! What's happening to his half-sister?! She has never shown such interest in anyone, let alone a male who he can only assume by appearance is close to their age.

“Who [are] you?" Kyron finally asks.

“I told you. I'm 'Garsyn.'"

“Not your name. Your tribe. Who [is] your tribe?"

“You mean my village?" Garsyn glances back, an eyebrow raised in confusion.

“Your tribe. We [are] wolves."

“That's cute." Garsyn chuckles. “Your tribes are racially segregated?"

“What?" Kyron furls his brow.

Looking back at the Vostii of the wolf-kin, it's clear to him that the beast man is from a much more primitive culture, and likely an isolated one. They may speak his language, as the northern beast folk often do, being untainted by Hitrosii influence, but even those raised with their tongue, in human cities, often struggle to fully grasp it. This Vostii male, “Kyron," simply doesn't understand all of his words.

“Your tribe is all wolf?"

“Yes." Sakina nods, eager to communicate with him.

“My tribe is not all human. That is what I am. “Human." You might also know my race as 'Yasheriit.'" He begins.

The siblings are flabbergasted; Kyron in shock and Sakina in awe. They'd heard of the distant tribe who would occasionally consort with the bear-kin, the towering, white-furred beasts who control the northern portion of Ledan, and also the mountain rams to the east. This is how they'd come to learn of the Yasheriit, though the wolves never sought them out; the polar bears seemed to acknowledge the Yasheriit with a level of adversarial respect, while the mountain rams spoke of the Yasheriit with a peculiar fondness, like young pups speaking of their parents. They had no idea the “humans" had reached so far south.

“As for my tribe, there are human, Vostii, Korutan and a few Sabaarii living there."

“Of what breed[s]?!" A dumbfounded Kyron asks.

“Many."

Sakina and Kyron look to each other. The Yasheriit have contact with even more races and breeds of beast folk?! How many more tribes do they know?! Are the fabled bird folk among their following?!?! Kyron's mind reels while Sakina is even more enthralled than before. Garsyn speaks as if everything he says should be common knowledge, but to the two Vostii of the wolf-kin, they are revelations of the most shocking kind. If the Yasheriit have such connections, such knowledge, such reach, why did their Chieftains keep them isolated? Why not ally with the Yasheriit against the polar bears, whom they routinely battle?!

They remain quiet for the next few moments, following the human as he leads them to the stream. He and Sakina set the deer's carcass atop a boulder, and with her willing and even gleeful assistance, Garsyn and Sakina skin the buck and butcher the carcass, using its own hide as a makeshift satchel. He chuckles as he packs the deer's meet and organs into its own skin, then gifts her the massive antlers, stunning Kyron and flattering Sakina. They save more than one-hundred pounds of meat and organs, which Garsyn happily distributes amongst his small group.

It shocks Kyron that the human would place fresh meat into his satchel; he's left speechless when he does the same to Sakina, filling her satchel until the flap can barely close. Garsyn slings the makeshift pack over a shoulder and carries the rest of the meat himself. He's stronger than he looks. He motions with a hand and his head and Sakina steps closer to him, a smile on her face. She almost appears to be entranced, as though she were under some sort of spell that the human had cast upon her. Did he place a sinister curse on the antlers before presenting them to her?!

Kyron leans in and whispers to his sister so that the human won't hear; he urges her to leave with him as they keep their pace a short distance behind the stranger. After all, they now have many more days' worth of food, a gift from the obviously gullible and overly trusting Garsyn. They even have more weapons and tools with the antlers that Sakina now possesses. To his horror, she furls her brow in what looks like disgust or perhaps even anger as she flatly refuses.

“He speak[s] our tongue. He know[s] this land. He [is] kind and helpful. He has [a] tribe. I want to follow him. You already ruin[ed] my life. Now you follow me or you go." She retorts.

Kyron was left frozen in shock. Sakina didn't stop, looking over her shoulder with a stern glare as she continued to follow Garsyn deeper and deeper into the forest. Kyron closed his eyes and shook his head, realizing that his half-sister was truly willing to abandon him in the depths of the uncharted forest! With fear in his heart, Kyron dashed to catch up and remained silent as the human led them into the unknown. To his surprise, Garsyn was not a liar; after a few hours of walking and with plenty of daylight to spare, he presented them with a small encampment.

There were no huts built of sticks and leaves, or even animal hide cones. There was only a place for a bough bed and a pit for a fire. Garsyn dropped the heavy sack of meat and opened it.

“You are from the north, and I'm told you must dry meat in the open air for preservation." He begins.

“Yes." Sakina nods.

“Here, we smoke meat."

“Smoke?" She cocks her head and furls her brow.

“Yes. I will teach you. We must do it quickly. We should have done it where we cleaned the deer, but I wanted to be near my camp." Garsyn remarks, a worried tone in his voice as his eyes slowly scan the horizon.

Kyron's eyes follow Garsyn's gaze, wondering if he and his sister have been pulled into a trap. Garsyn sparks a fire with a strange piece of stone and an unusual black rock, leaving the Vostii in awe. What magical tools he possesses! No rubbing of sticks and no painstaking procedure; just a soft click and a wash of sparks on the dry tinder. The human motions to Sakina before heading into the forest. She takes a step to follow him but Kyron quickly grabs her tricep to stop her. She twists her upper body and looks down at his clawed hand, only to glare at him and yank her arm away.

“What?" She snarls.

“Where [are] you go[ing]?"

“I [will] help Garsyn."

“Why?" He narrows his eyes.

“Because he [will] teach us new skill[s]."

“We [do] not need him."

“Yes, we [do] need him!" She growls, glaring and baring her teeth.

Kyron's brow raises in shock. Sakina is so hostile! Is she truly so upset by their predicament?! After all, he was leading her and they were doing fine on their own.

“What [is] wrong, Sakina? Why [are] you behave[ing] strangely?"

“Garsyn [is] good. Garsyn [is] strong. Garsyn know[s] how to survive here, and Garsyn possess[es] powerful tools! We [would] be stupid not to follow [him]! He also has [a] tribe!"

“You never care[d] about tribe before."

“Things [are] different now..." She retorts, her voice softening.

Kyron's eyes scan her face, scrutinizing everything from the look in her eyes, behind her scowl, to the softened tone in her voice.

“Sakina? Kyron?" Garsyn calls out from the distance.

“I [am] here!" Sakina chirps, turning toward the sound of his voice.

She looks back at her brother, over her shoulder, then scowls and shakes her head.

“You do what you wish, but I [will] no longer follow you. I have [a] new leader..." She grumbles, leaving to join the human.

Kyron is left dumbfounded. He watches as she walks away, judging her body language and listening to her as she calls out to the human. Sakina had always been strange; she was never like the other females, and for the longest time he'd told himself it was because she was born that way. Her assertions that the men of her tribe didn't interest her always fell on deaf ears. How could a male with a functioning penis and a place in their tribe not interest her?! However, as he watches Sakina leaving him behind, he recognizes all the signs, all the subtle feminine clues. He's seen them many times before.

Sakina is exactly like every other female; the first man who has truly piqued her interest happens to be a human. His skills and his technology make him very strong, even stronger than his admittedly healthy physique advertises. Garsyn, therefore, has very high status; he could be a candidate for chieftain in their tribe. Kyron is certain what she will do next. She will obey Garsyn, she will follow him and learn from him, and at the opportune moment, she will offer herself to him. She will drop down to the ground and allow the stranger to mount her, and she will do it with a smile on her face.

Sakina will pleasure Garsyn first, if he makes such a demand, and despite her having never had a mate that he is aware of, she may be aggressive in her offerings and her attempts to please the human. Sakina will allow Garsyn to partake in not only her virginal flesh but her fertile womb; she will gladly breed with the human, and she might do this very soon. She will do it to belong, to claim a new tribe, but there's more. Sakina's posture changed when Garsyn spoke, and it wasn't merely the interest of a lesser female giving her attention to a male of status. She's drawn to him, for reasons other than security and belonging.

Perhaps it's his uniqueness or his unfamiliar scent? Perhaps it was his gift of fresh meat and the deer's prized antlers? Perhaps it was the trust he showed, turning his back on the Vostii? Whatever it was that lured her in, Sakina appears to want more than to simply claim a mate for the sake of survival. It leaves Kyron conflicted. He understands why she acts the way that she does, as he struggles with his own impulses. As a male, his impulses are not sexual in nature, but in comparison to Garsyn, who he has yet to see disarm, he is now the weaker of the two.

Kyron fears the human's weapon and fears the unknown of a new and diverse tribe. He's suspicious of the stranger, who may still turn on them and take what little they have, and yet he yearns for a place to call home, a group where he may also belong. Just like Sakina, he has always craved the warm embrace of tribe and family. Instinct tells him to submit, to follow Garsyn and prove his worth, as he was already doing in his old tribe. Perhaps the human would be kinder? Perhaps he could earn his place faster? Perhaps they could be friends?

He shakes his head at these thoughts. Why would he submit to a stranger, a creature of unknown strength and ability? How distasteful that would be, bowing to a lesser race! Kyron looks to the forest, where more Vostii like himself may be waiting to embrace him with open arms. Perhaps there's a tribe of wolves eager to welcome him?! As he contemplates his options, Kyron's thoughts return to Garsyn. He's seen what the human can do, what he can provide. He knows his overall capabilities, despite not knowing his physical prowess. He wants to follow the stranger, and he hates himself for it...

Torn between compliance and rebellion, Kyron jabs the blunt end of his spear into the soft soil near the base of a pine tree and leans it against the trunk, then begins gathering firewood. He will not leave Sakina but he is not yet ready to bow to Garsyn and call him chieftain, either.

“Sakina? Where are you?"

“I [am] here!" The Vostii of the wolf-kin pops out from behind a tree.

“Whoa! You startled me!" Garsyn jumps back.

“I [am] sorry!" She steps closer.

“It's alright. I'm not upset... Where's Kyron?" He asks, leaning over to look past her.

“I think he [is] guard[ing] camp." She replies, a finger on her chin as she glances back.

“Oh... Well, then I will teach you. Come." He motions for her to come closer.

Sakina obeys and follows the human as he begins to gather all manner of raw materials. Rocks, sticks, sod and more dry tinder begin to pile up. As he crafts a strange, short hut, Sakina brushes against the human and allows her tail to gently pat his back. It wafts his scent around them, which she quickly and hungrily inhales. Something about his smell affects her. It's different from the males of her kin; it's far more alluring. It's as if he was a flame, and she but a moth flying into it. It leaves her questioning herself.

Why exactly does she feel the need to be so close to him? Why does she like his scent so much? What does it mean for him to smell like the rugged fragrance of pine tree oil? Why does it make her womanhood moisten?! She's never been so interested in a male before, and the last thing she'd ever do is debase herself for shelter and food, like other females... And yet that is exactly what her mind tells her to do!

“Remove your tunic and undergarment and allow Garsyn to see what you have to offer! Give him your body! Surrender your womb!!! You may earn a mate and a tribe!!!"

It causes her to flush beneath her fur, her lips twisting with embarrassment. This has never happened before in her nineteen years of life! For the other females, those urges began much sooner, and this always made her feel like an outcast; why did she never desire the males of her own tribe the way she desires Garsyn? Why did their scent repel her? She gulps as she struggles to cope with her own carnal desires, which build in her mind like the winter mists. Garsyn appears blissfully ignorant to these thoughts of hers, kneeling beside the strange hut as he prepares to build a fire inside of it.

“Now we bring the meat, place it inside and let the smoke dry it. Will you help me carry it?"

“Yes!" She chirps. “Erm... Alright." She flushes even more.

It wasn't a command, but Sakina obeys him as if it were. She leaps to her feet and pulls the human up with startling strength. He was prepared; he knows that the beast folk are often stronger than humans, even the females of the gentler breeds. Thankfully, they're typically submissive to males, as it is their nature. They make their way back to camp, where Kyron is waiting with his arms full of firewood. He'd been gathering it the entire time, and has collected more than they would need in several nights. He says nothing when Garsyn thanks him, eliciting a glare from his half-sister who silently chastises his rudeness.

With Sakina by his side, Garsyn returns to the smoker with the makeshift sack of meat and checks it for freshness. The cool air has helped preserve it, but they need to begin right away, before the flies come. The wolfess watches as the human starts a fire in the core of the dwarf hut. She holds a hand close to her face as if gasping, but only to inhale his scent radiating from her fur. He cuts and places the meat inside and covers the opening, leaving little more than a mossy mound oozing the most delicious smoke she's ever smelled. It's almost better than his scent... Almost.

With a smile on his face, Garsyn rests a hand on Sakina's hip, causing her to tense up. He turns to her and steps forward, now nose-to-nose with the Vostii of the wolf-kin.

“Thank you, Sakina. I couldn't have done it without you."

Sakina wishes to speak but she cannot. Her voice has been stolen. She bows her head before the male, who stands only a few inches taller than her, her ears folding back as she turns her eyes upward. She looks at him very sheepishly, and with a shy smile gracing her canine snout, she takes one step closer, leaving the other leg in place. Her step places her leg just over Garsyn's, her crotch near his hip. She places one hand on her chest, above and between her breasts, while the other rests on Garsyn's ribcage, just beneath his armpit. Her tail lifts and curls to one side, moving away from her buttocks.

It's a display that many beast men instinctively recognize. The human sees her posture and looks at her tail but pulls his hand away, his expression changing. He takes a step back and clears his throat as he looks away from her and toward their campsite. It perplexes Sakina, who worries that she'd done something wrong. Her behavior wasn't planned; she acts on pure instinct. Are his instincts different? Is he worried about Kyron? Kyron is her half-brother, not a mate and certainly not a sexual partner; if they were unrelated and Kyron was her mate, she'd have never moved her tail in silent presentation... Maybe.

Without speaking a word to each other, Garsyn makes his way back to camp, leaving Sakina standing there, dumbfounded. He stops and turns to her, looking over his shoulder before motioning with a hand.

“Come on. We should get back to Kyron."

With a softened brow, Sakina lets out a little sigh and begins to follow. The entire time they walk, she scans the human and tries to judge his body language. It's very difficult. His shoulders don't slouch, he doesn't bow his head and there doesn't appear to be any submissiveness when he sees Kyron. In fact, when Kyron turns to them, it is Kyron who rests his hands over his groin and stands at attention, like a beta would. Is it that Garsyn has no interest in her? Does he dislike the beast folk?! Her heart sinks at the thought, but perhaps she can try again? Maybe Garsyn will make an exception for her?!

They sit beside the campfire later that night, eating venison and sitting atop bough beds which Garsyn had made for them. The Vostii set their bedrolls atop the boughs. Sakina has placed herself near Garsyn, but not as close as she'd like. His initial rejection has left her doubting her value and left her feeling uneasy. Kyron sits directly across from Garsyn, watching him through the flames. The human has disarmed, leaving his “rifle" out of arm's reach and leaning it against a tree. He appears to be deep in thought, chewing slowly before chasing down his food with sips of glacial spring water stored in a strange circular container of what appears to be polished stone.

“What [is] your job?" Kyron suddenly asks.

“What?" Garsyn lifts his eyes and looks to the Vostii.

“How [do] you serve your tribe?" He clarifies.

“Oh! Well, I'm a hunter and a scout." The human begins, speaking softly.

Kyron raises his brow and looks to Sakina. Garsyn is merely a scout? Scouts have low status amongst their people, often those who don't work well with others and therefore make poor warriors. Sakina appears no less interested in Garsyn than she was before, but her brow softens at the realization that he may be of lesser status among the humans. The Vostii both know that until she has been claimed by a male as a life-mate, her body taken and her womb growing her life-mate's offspring, she may continue to seek a male of the highest status, the male most worthy of her.

“I also look for sources of saltpeter. There isn't much, especially not this far north, but I flag potassium nitrate deposits for mining."

Kyron and Sakina furl their brows. Kyron cocks his head while Sakina scratches hers. It's obvious to Garsyn that they have no idea what he's talking about, and probably didn't even recognize half of his words. He chuckles and points toward his rifle.

“Saltpeter is an ingredient in gunpowder, which is how I use that. Gunpowder makes it go 'boom!'" He explains with a little laugh. “I also craft gunpowder for my tribe. I am one of only two men in the village who knows how to make it."

Sakina's eyes widen with her smile. Garsyn is one of two men who enchants their magical weapons?! He must be very valuable to his people! She leans over, toward him. Garsyn looks at her and sees her tail wagging. From the position of her legs, which are bent at the knees and pulled up, one over the other, he can see the shape of her buttocks. His smile fades but doesn't disappear, and Sakina can see him staring at it for a moment. His eyes race up her elegant figure only to land on her eyes.

As they stare at each other quite intently, Kyron suddenly feels as though he's intruding and rolls his eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh. The sound appears to break Garsyn out of his trance, causing him to close his eyes, bow his head and then look away. Sakina glares at her half-brother, who raises his hands and shrugs his shoulders, negating responsibility.

“We should get some sleep." Garsyn remarks.

“One must remain awake and keep watch." Kyron remarks.

“I will!" Sakina chirps.

“You [will] take first watch?" Kyron raises a brow.

“Uh-huh!" She nods, then turns her attention to Garsyn. “I [can] help!"

“Alright. If you hear or see anything, wake me and I'll shoot it." Garsyn says as he collects his rifle and lays down, atop the bough bed. “Don't be afraid." He says, slithering beneath his blanket.

Afraid of what? Waking him? Kyron lies down on his own bed but then lifts his head and stares at Sakina. He can see the way she watches the human, her tail involuntarily swaying. She leans a little closer, placing herself on her hands and knees. Is Garsyn already asleep? Does he not feel her gaze, as they would?! Before she crawls any closer, Sakina freezes and turns her head; she looks directly at her half-brother before moving back and sitting on her legs. Kyron shakes his head 'no' and then lies down. Sakina can only roll her eyes. He has no business telling her what to do, especially not after what he's done!

Sakina does as she's supposed to and keeps watch until she feels too tired. The twin moons are high in the sky, and one is over the center of the horizon, so her shift must've been four or five hours long. She moves toward her half-brother, who sleeps on his side. His outermost ear twitches as she approaches; he awakens and lifts his head before she can get close. He doesn't ask why as she crawls back to her own bed. She lay on her side and curls into the fetal position, using her arm for a pillow as she closes her eyes.

Kyron sits up, feeding the fire for both warmth and to keep away any predators. He sniffs the air often and his ears constantly shift; he never detects anything. Once the first moon dips beyond the horizon, he decides that it's Garsyn's turn, however, upon approaching the human he feels his body freeze. He looks toward the sleeping male and bows his head, his eyes scanning him. He reaches out a hand to shake him but he finds himself unable to touch the man, fearing he will anger him. Garsyn never told them that he would take a shift.

Kyron wrestles with his thoughts, at once eager for more sleep but also fearing the potential wrath of a superior. Why does he see Garsyn as a superior?! He doesn't! ... Does he? Kyron sits on the cold ground and stares at the human, cocking his head and debating with himself what his place in their group is. He was raised with structure, a simple and efficient hierarchy. Who is the chieftain, here? Who is the alpha? Garsyn hasn't shown dominance in the usual manner, but with his rifle does he really need to? Should he steal the human's rifle?!

Kyron stops himself, realizing that he wouldn't even know how to begin using it. He may not even possess the necessary magic to make it throw fire. It leaves him confused, questioning his very nature. In the end, he is unable to make a decision and sits in silence, watching over the human and his half-sister like a loyal dog.

“Wha-? Morning?" Garsyn remarks, rising from his bed of pine boughs.

He turns his head and finds Kyron sitting near the fire, his back facing him.

“Why didn't you wake me?" He asks, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“I [was] not tired." Kyron swiftly lies, glancing over his shoulder at the human.

“I told you not to be afraid."

“I [was] not afraid! I [did] not need [any] more sleep!" Kyron roars.

“Alright..."

Garsyn pushes himself to his feet, the soft sound of crunching branches causing Sakina's ear to twitch. She opens her eyes, her head resting atop her hands, and looks around at the morning sky. She bolts upright and looks to Garsyn, who picks up his rifle as he makes his way to the edge of camp. She rolls onto her hands and knees and begins to rise.

“I'm just going over here to pee." Garsyn chuckles, holding out a hand and motioning for her to stay where she is.

“Oh..." She coos, smiling at him as she sits on her legs.

No sooner does the human leave, Sakina turns to her half-brother. She sits beside him and stares, cocking her head as she sees him struggling to sit upright, his eyelids drooping.

“[Did] you not wake him?"

“No..."

“Why?"

“Leave me alone!" He snaps at her.

Taken aback, Sakina's eyes widen and her brow rises. She leans back and then shakes her head, gesturing with a hand as if she was swatting Kyron away, then rolls over and pushes herself up. The female Vostii makes her way toward a satchel and gathers meat from the bag, a little smile on her face as she places large, flat rocks near the fire. Kyron raises a brow as he watches her cooking the meat atop the rocks, humming an ancient song to herself, her bushy tail wagging. It's the song of a warrior who steals the heart of a maiden. Feeling his gaze, she lifts her head and looks to him.

“I [want to] do something nice for him. [To] prove my worth. Is that [a] problem?" She growls.

Kyron raises his hands as if to surrender and shakes his head, scoffing at her.

“Good." She grins.

“Human lover..." Kyron grumbles.

“No talk[ing]!"

“Are you two okay?" Garsyn asks as he steps out from behind a tree.

“Yes." Sakina replies with a huff.

Garsyn looks between the siblings, who both cross their arms and look away from each other.

“Oookay... Well, are you ready to make the journey to my village? It will take us several days."

“Yes!" Sakina chirps, leaning forward and planting herself on her hands and knees. “Oh..." She suddenly sits atop her legs and looks at the sizzling food. “But I [am] cook[ing] food for us!"

“Oh! Well, that's very thoughtful of you." Garsyn smiles. “I suppose we can eat first. I haven't had a hot meal in a while."

His smile makes Sakina's tail wag, a shy grin spreading across her snout. Kyron sees this as he peers over his shoulder at them and rolls his eyes. Garsyn calls to Kyron, who begrudgingly joins the pair as they sit and eat cooked meat from the hot rocks. Sakina uses her stone blade to carefully cut strips, but before she can spear them with a stick, Garsyn produces a strange item. The pronged instrument looks like stone and is cold like stone, but it feels different; it's smooth and has a shine to it. It makes a dinging sound when she taps it against a hot rock.

With three of these “forks," they're able to eat much easier. Garsyn even gifts them to the pair along with small knives made of the same “metal" material. Sakina sits close to the human and looks to him many times as they eat in relative silence. Garsyn cannot help but notice, and though the first time he appeared flattered, even bashful, every subsequent time that their eyes met he would frown and look away. Sakina saw the change in him and feared he was losing interest in her. Perhaps he was conflicted about her initial offer? She's still prepared to give herself to him.

After a progressively awkward breakfast, they clean the campsite and Garsyn leads the Vostii to the smoke hut. He uncovers the meat, which has a dark, brownish-red color and a strange smell. It isn't a bad smell, just unfamiliar. Taking a piece of meat, which he now refers to as “jerky," he offers a bite to each sibling. Kyron refuses, claiming to be full; Sakina doesn't hesitate. With a gleam in her eye, she leans forward to bite the jerky Garsyn holds. She innocently bares her teeth before slowly opening her jaw, sticking out her tongue and licking the stalk in a particular manner.

With his cheeks turning red, Garsyn lets go of the meat, forcing Sakina to bite down on it. She notices the flavor almost immediately and her eyes widen.

“Good?" Garsyn asks.

“MMMM!!! Kyron! Taste!" She speaks with one cheek puffed.

“Later." Her brother grumbles.

“Food already taste[s] good, but I [could] eat this for fun!" She exclaims.

Garsyn chuckles and begins packing the meat. It's shriveled and lost considerable water weight, making it much easier to carry. With their campsite dismantled and the food preserves ready for travel, they begin their journey. Sakina tries to talk to Garsyn many times, each time receiving brief and simple answers. Kyron watches from a short distance behind them, at once shocked and amused by her behavior. A part of him is even glad; she is normal after all, and should Garsyn or another human in his village accept her, she will have a mate and children, as all females should.

Occasionally, Garsyn calls out to Kyron, checking on him and trying to get him to join in the brief conversations. It rarely works, though guilt keeps him from remaining entirely silent; Garsyn has been too kind and too generous for him to not feel badly for snubbing him. Though Garsyn proves to be physically slower and weaker than the Vostii, his endurance is superb and it is the Vostii who eventually ask to rest, to the human's mild annoyance. He leads them to a creek and there they drink, wash the sweat from their faces and necks and take a moment to rest.

Kyron disappears to relieve himself while Sakina sits beside Garsyn, atop a log. She watches him intently as he wicks the sweat away with icy cold, glacial spring water. Even the scent of his sweat appeals to her. Sakina's ears twitch as she listens for Kyron, staring intently at his trail.

“Will humans mate with Vostii?" She abruptly asks, turning to Garsyn.

“... What?" His eyes grow wide.

Sakina turns to him, her legs spreading as one remains planted firmly in the creek.

“How [do] humans mate? Will your kind mate with Vostii? What [are] your custom[s]?"

Garsyn blinks for a moment, his eyes glancing down. For a couple seconds, Sakina can see the desire as he glimpses at the flower of her womanhood, which peeks from behind her very loosely fitting flax undergarments and the animal hide tunic that is already open in his direction. She smiles wider and clandestinely pulls up her tunic a little more. After a long gaze, his eyes race upward to meet hers, slowing as they scan the elegant bulges of her chest; he is obviously interested in the plump mounds of her milky breasts.

“Yes..."

“Yes?" She raises a brow and cocks her head. “'Yes,' what?"

“Erm..." He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Yes, humans will mate with Vostii. Truth be told, it happens quite often." He begins.

“Oh!" She perks up.

“As for mating customs... That's very complicated. It would be better for the females of my tribe to explain that. We have some Vostii and Korutan who speak our language; they would be much better teachers."

“They [will] teach me?" She asks, scooting a little closer.

“Of course. If you will live with us, you must learn our ways."

“Why not you teach me?" Sakina coos as she begins to lean into him.

She reaches out a hand and places it on Garsyn's chest. His head turns as he looks toward it, only to be caught by surprise when she makes her move. Her hot breath warms his neck as she growls in her bestial yet feminine way. Sakina cannot help herself. Her primal woman is like a spirit, grabbing her arms and legs and head with many hands, moving her as if she were a puppet. The wolfess rests a hand on his crotch, groping him through his trousers while also giving his neck a sensual lick, the tip of her tongue flicking just as her snout nuzzles his face.

“Ahh!" Garsyn falls backward and onto the ground.

“Oh! [Are] you alright?!" Sakina leans over the log, peering down at him.

“Y-yes... Ahem..." Garsyn jumps up, hastily brushing himself off. “We should, uhm... Find Kyron..."

“If you wish." Sakina smiles, bowing her head to the human and standing on her paw-like feet.

Garsyn takes a step only to hear her footfall. He pauses and looks back. She stands there, her clawed hands resting one over the other and hanging before her groin, an innocent little smile on her face. He takes two steps, which she matches. He cannot help but crack a smile; it feels nice to have her show such interest. He places one hand over his groin and adjusts his swelling manhood, then gently rubs where she'd licked him. It's not in disgust but to remember the feeling.

With a silent chuckle, his smile widens and he calls to her by name. Her tail wags and she flashes a toothy grin, dashing up to his side as if she were already his to command. They walk into the forest and quickly find Kyron, sitting on the dirt with his back against a tree. He looks perturbed but refuses to speak on the matter. Despite his attitude, he obeys Garsyn without question, rising to his feet when told and following the human as he leads the pair for miles and miles.

“[Are] we nearly there?" Sakina whines.

“Nope. There's still a few more days of travel." Garsyn chirps.

“Ugh!" Kyron grumbles. “How [do] you humans walk this long?!"

“Stamina." Garsyn flashes a sly grin, glancing at Sakina.

“Ooh." She coos, her cheeks flushing beneath her fur.

They find a little clearing and make camp for the night. As before, they take turns sleeping. Garsyn is first to keep watch, so that Kyron can rest; he volunteers his time, to the Vostii's silent gratitude. Sakina insists upon staying up with Garsyn, eager to get to know him. They speak about many inconsequential things, but of his personal life he is very reserved. She can sense that he is uncomfortable discussing it. Perhaps his family history is as sordid as her own? Soon, she cannot help but yawn, her eyelids becoming heavy.

“Rest, Sakina. I'll watch over you for a few more hours."

“Mmm! I [would] like that!" She coos.

To his surprise, she turns away and lies down on her side, placing her back against his leg.

“Sakina?"

“Please... I [will] feel more comfortable knowing you [are] there." She speaks in a soft and innocent voice.

Garsyn has no words. How could he refuse her? She uses her hands for a pillow and makes herself comfortable, shifting and wriggling for a few moments. He can see that she isn't very comfortable and offers his leg. She looks up at him with big, innocent eyes. He nods his head and so she rolls over, curling up beside him and using his lap as a pillow. Once she's settled, he watches her, staring. Garsyn rests a hand on her arm, warming her to her very core.

“Sleep, sweet Sakina..." He whispers.

His words stoke the growing fire in her heart. Though he spoke under his breath, perhaps he didn't realize that she could hear him? The following day, the human and the female Vostii awaken to Kyron shaking them. It isn't because there's a threat but because of the storm clouds overhead. The Vostii both sniff the air; they know instinctively that it will be a torrential downpour. They don't have long before the icy cascade chills them to their very bones, risking hypothermia.

“We [could] construct [a] shelter. [A] strong hut will keep us dry and warm." Kyron suggests.

“But [the] wind! Will [a] hut made swiftly be safe?" She questions him.

“Yes."

“Hey..." Garsyn tries to interrupt.

“[The] hut must shelter three adults! Wind will blow [a] large hut over!" She retorts.

“We build it strong!" He barks back.

“In [a] few hours?!"

“Hey!"

“I know what I [am] doing!"

“Oh? Like you always know?!" She snickers.

“Yes!"

“QUIET!!!" Garsyn roars.

The Vostii fall silent. Sakina turns to Garsyn with a gleam in her eye, eager for his leadership. Meanwhile, Kyron's ears fold back and his snout angles toward the ground like a submissive dog. His brow is softened but there is a fire in his eyes; he obeys in spite of his own desires to lead.

“There's a cave. It's a few miles away, but it's a place we can use. Hunters use it. They keep it secure from animals and leave firewood and water inside."

“We [can] make [the] journey before [the] storm arrive[s]?" Kyron asks.

“If we hurry. I'm not as fast as you, but I'll do my best to keep up."

“I [will] carry your bag of 'jerky.'" Sakina offers, stepping closer with outstretched hands.

“I will carry [it]." Kyron steps in front of her and takes the sack. “I [am] stronger."

“Thank you, Kyron."

Garsyn rests a hand on the Vostii's shoulder and pats him. Kyron's heart warms at the human's confidence and he feels himself softening. He flashes the smallest of grins before nodding his head once. Garsyn begins the charge and the trio dash through the forest as quickly as they can. Garsyn's inferiority is evident but the Vostii refuse to abandon him. He is with them, and he won't be left behind. The wind picks up but their flexing muscles keep away the chill, even as icy droplets begin to fall on their heads. After more than an hour of non-stop running, covering several miles in record time, Garsyn points toward a rocky outcrop.

“There!"

They turn toward the cave, a bolt of lightning startling the Vostii and a thunderclap making their ears ring. The rain pelts them like a thousand frosty spearheads. They approach a wall with a large disc of stone embedded in a shallow trench.

“This [is] no cave!" Kyron growls, looking at the stone.

“It's a door. Help me move it."

Kyron's eyes widen. Even a Vostii of the polar bear-kin couldn't lift such a large and heavy stone! Garsyn collects a long stick hidden in a little hole carved into the rock. It's made of the same “metal" material as their forks and knives. He slips it through a ring in the center of the stone.

“Grab that end and turn!" He commands.

Kyron doesn't hesitate, to his own surprise. Why is he so willing to obey?! The two men turn the stone, rolling it in the trench and away from the mouth of the cave. A strange block of wood, shaped like a wedge cut from a disc of goat's cheese, keeps the stone from rolling back in front of the cave. The Vostii are amazed by the human's ingenuity. Who knew that a simple bar of metal could move such a massive stone, or that a block of wood could hold it in place?! By now, the rainfall is torrential and the thunder quakes the very ground. The trio are soaked; their hair, clothes and the Vostii's fur drips water like an open spout.

“Inside! Hurry!" Garsyn yells over the thunder.

The Vostii race into the cave, their eyes almost instantly adjusting to the darkness. Garsyn steps inside and trips, unable to see the step in the cave that brings them above ground-level. Sakina is quick to catch him, giving him a squeeze as she holds him in her arms. With her help, he makes his way toward a tiny beam of light near the center of the cave. The Vostii can see a fire pit, and with them as his eyes, Garsyn collects kindling and logs and uses his mystical tools to spark a fire. The simple hearth illuminates the interior, giving the stone a warm and comforting amber glow, whilst radiating the heat inside.

By now, the storm outside is raging. Wind blows past the opening but rarely enters; the “pressure differential," as Garsyn calls it, keeps the chill away as much as the fire. As he builds up the fire, the Vostii casually remove their garments, to dry them as well as their fur. He glances back and pauses, staring at a rather impressive, charcoal colored phallus swaying near his face. Kyron squats down and extends his hands toward the dancing flames. He glances toward the human and furls his brow, confused with how Garsyn has examined him.

“... What?"

“Nothing! I'm just away from the village so often, I sometimes forget what it's like to live with beast folk." Garsyn nervously chuckles. “Do you need to dry off, Saki-..."

“I [am] fine." She says with a smile, standing naked beside him.

His eyes widen as he looks up at her earthen colored nether lips, his cheeks flushing. He takes a breath and is struck by a decidedly feminine scent. Though his nose isn't remarkable by Vostii standards, no male could miss the sweet aroma of a young and healthy beast woman, or her pristine loins. He shakes it off and tilts his head back to look upon her face, only to see her snout and a pair of pale topaz eyes glowing in the dim light as they peer between her lovely bust. The dark brown flesh of her areolas and nipple buds gleam like polished metal in the light of the fire, just like her nether lips. He feels the warmth in his body as the blood rushes toward his manhood. He coughs, choking on his own oxygen as he attempts to speak.

“[Are] you alright?!" She takes a knee. “[Does the] cold water make you ill?!"

Garsyn feels the female pulling at his clothes, trying to hastily remove them so that he can get warm. She pushes off his animal hide coat and pulls the loops of his tunic away from the wooden shards that hold them tight, only to see a muscular chest underneath. It's devoid of fur but covered only in soft but sparse hairs that match those which cover his head and face. She coos as she touches him, running her claws through the hairs. A little fire within her falls from her core and sits just above her loins. She pulls his garment up and off his body, throwing it carelessly to the side. It's only then when he finally snaps out of his lust-induced trance.

“I-I'm fine! Really!" He insists, trying to cover the four buttons of his trousers right as she grabs them.

“[Are] you certain?" She bows her head but leans closer, her eyes radiating innocence.

“Yes. Thank you, Sakina. Your care... It means a lot." He cannot help but smile.

Sakina's smile widens, curling around the corners of her snout. Suddenly, she lunges at him and pulls the human into a tight embrace; she kneels before the seated Garsyn, shoving his face between her soft but full bosoms, her arms squeezing him tightly.

“Mmm! Garsyn!" She coos, nuzzling the top of his head.

“Mmff-mmhhmmff!"

“Your care [is] also very important to me."

“Mmff-nnff-hhmmff-mmff!"

“Hmm?" She looks down at Garsyn, perplexed by his noises.

“Air." Kyron sighs, covering his eyes with a palm.

“What?" She looks to her half-brother.

“He need[s] air!" Kyron growls, glaring at her.

“OH!!!" She loosens her grip, allowing Garsyn to pull his head from between her plump mounds. “I [am] sorry!"

“It's alright..." A wide-eyed Garsyn begins, staring at her breasts as if he were looking through them and toward a distant object. “I'm... Fine..."

“[Are] you certain?!"

“Oh yeah..."

With the fire keeping the cave warm, Garsyn and the Vostii sit and wait; Kyron and Sakina remain as naked as the day they were born while the human wears only his pants. The rain pours down, causing large pools to form on the ground outside. The human informs the Vostii that this is common to these lands; it will most likely rain until the following morning, and their journey will be slowed as a result of the flood waters. The only thing they can do is rest and wait.

Exhausted from the lack of sleep and the long sprint, Kyron makes himself comfortable atop a pre-made bough bed left by the hunters. Garsyn is thankful when he rolls over and slithers into his bedroll; he's spent the last hour or two trying not to look at his flaccid canine phallus. Modesty isn't a concept well-known to untamed beast folk, and one of those sits very close to him. Garsyn feels Sakina's gaze as she sits silently beside him, a perpetual stare broken only by the occasional blink. Eventually, he turns to her with the intent to divert her attention away from his body.

Instead, he struggles to avoid staring at her exposed breasts and the budding flowing of her womanhood as she sits cross-legged and facing him. He cannot speak. The look in her eyes steals his voice. The dichotomy of his logical mind and his carnal desires is a powerful one. Though he wants to be unsettled by her hungry gaze, he's already becoming accustomed to it; he actually finds himself enjoying it. He's never taken to beast women like this before. Why now? Her pale topaz orbs scan his face and their eyes locks. She slowly cocks her head but their stare is unbroken. Suddenly, the air feels different; heaviness and a strange humidity surrounds them.

Her primal woman makes one final offer; if he doesn't accept, then he must not be interested. Beast folk, especially female, do not chase for long; they rarely have to. She twists her upper body, plants a clawed hand onto the stone floor near his leg and juts out her chest. Her eyes narrow as her face inches ever closer to his. Garsyn sees her approach, feels the tension between them and enjoys the rush. As she inches closer, he cannot help himself. She's made so many overtures, so many offers, and he's been away from home for many weeks. It's now or never...

He moves quickly and steals a kiss. As their lips part, their eyes scan the other's face, their breathing steadily growing heavier. It's only after recovering that they realize he'd placed his hand on one of her breasts, cupping the soft but full orb. They look to his hand and watch as he gently kneads her feminine flesh. They look to each other and Garsyn acts again, placing a hand on her cheek and kissing her deeply. His tongue explores her mouth! Sakina's eyes widen as she tastes and feels him. She can hardly believe it; he's accepted her! Garsyn pulls away for but a breath of air, but Sakina's instincts take over.

She lunges and pushes herself onto him, forcing her weight against the already unsteady human. He falls over with a soft thud, feeling the female's claws scratching at his remaining clothes. She frantically tries to remove his trousers, to feel every last inch of him against her. She quickly learns how to open them, slipping the discs through the slots behind them. She moves with a purpose but pauses when she opens his pants. Her nostrils are immediately filled with the scent of his human musk, causing her eyelids to flutter. His scent is nothing like the scent of her kin. What an exotic and delicious musk he has!

Her eyes turn down and gaze upon an equally exotic manhood. Her cheeks flush beneath her fur and her eyes widen as she gulps. Garsyn's manhood is not only unusually shaped when compared to the wolves of her former tribe, but he also rivals Kyron in size. Kyron was notable in their tribe for being very well-endowed, like their father. It's a trait partially responsible for wooing several females into his bed, including the Chieftain's daughter. As his half-sister, Sakina couldn't help but see it from time to time, throughout their upbringing and early adulthood.

The fact that Garsyn's endowment may best her half-brother's makes her nibble on her bottom lip with both delight and fear. He's longer and has more girth than she was expecting, and the cylindrical shape, like the shaft of a hefty spear, gives her pause. What will his exotic shape feel like? Will it hurt or will she enjoy her first experience?! In spite of her fear, she presses on. Her body has made demands and her instincts carry them out. It is time...

“You say, 'humans mate with Vostii.'"

“Yes..."

“Mate with me." She speaks through heavy panting and the occasional rough kiss, her hands taking hold of and massaging his manhood. “Please, Garsyn. Mate with me."

Garsyn can stand it no longer. He's tried his best to avoid this, but Sakina is a shapely and beautiful young female. Everything about her appeals to him, despite her being a beast woman; even her scent is alluring. He knows much about the beast folk and he knows that this means that they're compatible, in more ways than one. Only those with true compatibility enjoy the musk of their partner; as Sakina sniffs him, inhaling deeply and sighing with what can only be described as ecstasy, he knows that she feels the same.

His manhood has swollen in her hands to the point that it aches; he's never been more aroused and that unsettles him. She caresses his member with no skill whatsoever, merely rubbing all around and feeling the strange shape. It's clear to him that she has little experience with males, even of her own kin. Somehow, that makes his desire even stronger; he wants to conquer her. Right and wrong no longer have meaning here; there's only mating, and there's no holding back. His hands take hold of her furry buttocks and squeeze them tightly, pulling her up and over him and making her straddle his lap.

“Come here." He growls, before kissing her deeply and passionately.

“Ooh!"

She coos as her hands explore the human's body. It's so different from her own kin, and somehow that enhances her pleasure. As she lowers herself, she gasps and looks down at the phallus that presses against her nether lips. Now fully erect, it's even larger than Kyron's, whom she'd seen bedding several females before moving into her own house. She'd always wondered what it felt like, to be penetrated, but even when masturbating she refused to put her fingers inside; she was always too afraid and she knew her first mate would want to see proof of his conquest.

She's briefly intimidated as Garsyn's hand grabs the base of her tail. He behaves like the males of her tribe when they're in the heat of carnal passion, and yet his touch feels softer and more attentive than what she'd seen from her kin. She feels a knot forming in the pit of her stomach. Garsyn doesn't hesitate and rolls them over, making her gasp and causing the boughs to crunch and her breasts to roughly bounce as he suddenly mounts her, pinning her onto her back.

“Shh..." He leans in and kisses her lips, moving from her lips and around to her cheek. “Let's not wake Kyron." He whispers, kissing the soft and fluffy fur near the nape of her neck while the head of his penis teasingly rubs her nether lips.

“I-I [am a] virgin!" She whimpers, her back arching at his touch.

Garsyn pauses and pushes himself up, his hands still holding her wrists down. His wide-eyed stare reveals his surprise, and with a bashful smile and a sheepish nod, she insists on her purity. Garsyn can see the skittish woman beneath the carnal animal, shrouded by the passion that explodes from her lips and curious hands. His look of surprise fades, his hands releasing her wrists and planting themselves on the ground beside her ribcage. He leans in and kisses her very softly, very tenderly; it's not at all as brutal as before, but she likes it. In fact, she enjoys this more!

“I'm sorry, Sakina. Do you trust me?"

“Yes."

“Good. I will take care of you..." He continues, nuzzling and then kissing her cheek. “But there will be pain. Endure it. The pain will pass very quickly and pleasure will follow."

“I will endure [the] pain, for you." She pledges.

Garsyn looks her over, gauging her sincerity. With a fearful look in her eye, Sakina takes hold of Garsyn's shoulders. He is thoughtful enough to wait for her to prepare, his tip massaging her nether lips as he waits. She whimpers and takes a breath, feeling the tension melting away with every kiss. With teeth gritted and hands clutching her soon-to-be lover, she takes a breath and gives him a nod of approval. With one hard push, her innocence is gone.

“HHHF! Nnnhh... NNNnnnnnAAHHH!!!" She cries out, her arms and legs squeezing her very first lover.