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Hejira: Sanguine Wave

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 34: And So It Begins, Again

Departing from Wildwood with their caravan, a human man in a flowing blue cloak and with salt-and-pepper hair waves his people over. He scratches his chin, covered in a neatly trimmed goatee that matches his hair. Walking through the gates, which are guarded by both humans and Sahvorai wielding spears, bow and arrows, they journey through the field and toward the old southern road. A younger human girl glances back at the town as they head on to the next, having reached the northernmost village.

“Have you ever seen such a prosperous village so far north?" She asks the older man.

“I've been alive for nearly two-hundred-years. I've seen a lot of towns and have been all over this land." Blue cloak replies.

“I see... You also didn't answer my question."

“Well, I'll say this much... In the last fifty or sixty years, it's the most diverse, well organized and enjoyable place to be, this far into the north anyway." Blue cloak answers.

“That's quite an endorsement!" A man chuckles.

“I would have loved to meet their leader though..." Blue cloak sighs. “I had plans to set up a trade agreement with their merchants and perhaps more. This 'Sarvah' must be exceptionally busy."

“Maybe the next time?" The girl suggests.

Walking along the old road and heading south, the man in the blue cloak slows his pace. The entire caravan stops in their tracks at the sight of many men emerging from the woods alongside the road ahead of them, blocking off their route.

“I don't like the looks of that." A caravanner remarks.

“Who are they?" A girl asks.

“What should we do?" Another girl turns to blue cloak.

“You should stand there and listen." A man's voice bellows.

Turning, they can see a grizzled looking warrior as he emerges from the forest. Dressed in expensive looking leather armor, cut and shaped into plates and with brass studs covering it, he wears a longsword of iron with a simple design. Looking at the men that follow them, they wear similar, albeit cheaper armor and weapons. Many men emerge, closing in and surrounding the caravan. Though armed, the soldiers leave them sheathed and otherwise stowed, approaching without fear.

“Who are you?" Blue cloak asks.

“Perhaps I'm your new best friend. Or perhaps I'm your worst enemy? Whatever I am..." The grizzled warrior steps closer. “That's entirely up to you." He warns with a smirk.

Lying in bed beside her lover, Sarvah snuggles with Gareth. Having spent another night with him, it's becoming a routine for her. At least twice in a week she makes the journey to his treehouse in the forest across the lake. There, they speak for hours, walk together, and often find themselves entertaining each other throughout the night, though that isn't why she sees him. Her visits may be brief, but it's the only time that she can feel truly happy, sitting beside him or lying in bed and held tightly in his arms.

“Perhaps I shouldn't go back." She suddenly says.

“What?" He chuckles.

“I could just leave Rinahra in charge and stay here forever." She remarks.

Gareth looks to her. Though he grins and gives her a kiss, the dichotomy within him is overwhelming. He'd love nothing more than to have her with him, but the guilt he would feel as the Feather Fingers deteriorate without her guidance would be unbearable.

“I'm glad you and Rinahra have become so much closer." He says, trying to avoid the previous topic.

“Many things have changed. I'm a much nicer person than I used to be; I'm certainly nothing like the wolf I was when we first met." She admits.

“You've always been a good person, Sarvah. You just needed to learn how to properly express your goodness."

“I never could've done that if I hadn't met you." She coos.

“Am I really so special?"

“You are to me. You took all of my rough edges and sanded them down. You took my cold, ruthless heart into your hands and melted it. I'm not as I was before, and I'm glad. You've brought out the best in me, Gare, and I love you."

“I love you too, Sarvah." He says before giving her a long and loving kiss upon her lips. “You've done just as much for me. If you hadn't found me, I'd be dead in those woods. Your love for me is the only thing that brought me back... It's all that keeps me goings."

She grins from cheek to cheek. Though she already knows this fact, she still enjoys hearing him say it. Rising from their grass bed, Sarvah stretches her muscles and groans. They've slept in yet again. The nude wolfess leans over and collects a small pouch attached to her clothing, which lies in a pile beside the mattress of bundled sheaves. Gareth gently scratches her back with his claws, watching her with his amethyst eyes as she takes the powder that will absorb and erase his scent.

Though she wishes that she didn't have to do it, the last thing she wants is to return from an all-night walk in the woods smelling as though she'd been mating with someone. The rumors could easily lead to Gareth being discovered, and as she knows he wouldn't want to kill anyone from Wildwood, even in self-defense, he would either be murdered by the mob, or forced to flee even further from her. Neither of these choices she considers acceptable.

“So... How's everyone else doing? We never talked about them last night." He says as he watches her coat her fur with the special powder.

“Everyone you know is well. Steve is doing wonderfully and runs the logging crew as the overseer. He's very thorough."

“And he's still using the name I gave him?" Gareth asks.

“Oh yes! He prefers it; I wouldn't be surprised if he forgot his old one. Kelly is fine, though he's been rather annoying lately." She continues.

“Kelly's always annoying." Gareth quips.

“Yes, but now more than ever. All he talks about are his family. Ever since Zeike spoke his first words and started walking about, you couldn't wipe the grin off his face with a mop. And then there's Vahna. To hear him speak, you'd think she was the only woman in the world."

“Well, I'm glad he found happiness. I wish I could have seen their wedding though. I'll never get to be a best man." Gareth sighs.

“It was certainly amusing to watch. That dainty little bunny girl and her tall, portly human husband." She giggles.

“He's not portly. That's just a protective layer over his rippling muscles." Gareth jests.

They share a laugh and Sarvah looks back at him. Lying on his side and grinning at her, she sits on the far end of the mattress and takes in the form of the gray, panther-like Sahvorai before her.

“I wish we could start a family." Sarvah sorrowfully comments.

“Someday." Gareth murmurs.

“Someday is too far." She whimpers.

“I know... I admit, I'm a little jealous of Kelly. What I wouldn't give to have a home with you in town, to call you my wife and to raise our children."

“Children?" She raises a brow.

“One might be enough for Kelly, but I've got too much love in me for that." He winks.

“Oh, I know." She coos. “I feel it every visit... Multiple times." She crawls closer.

“I wasn't about that." He remarks.

“Neither was I." She says, kissing him softly.

“Careful now. Don't start what you don't have time to finish."

“Oh, fine." Sarvah sighs, standing up.

“What about Naomi? How's she doing? Does she still have that boyfriend?" He asks.

“Travahn? ... Don't even get me started on those two." Sarvah says as she brushes off the scent-removing powder.

“What's up with them? Is it bad? You can be vague if you want."

“It's not bad." She replies, now scent-free. “They're just sweeter than cake and glued to each other, in more ways than one." She continues, pulling on her clothes.

“Oh..." Gareth flushes beneath his fur.

“You asked." Sarvah giggles.

Grunting loudly, Travahn's body is burning from exertion, his fur matting from his sweat. The musk of his body fills Travahn's bedroom as Naomi lay beneath him and atop his bed. Gasping and groaning with pleasure, she gazes up at her canine Sahvorai lover, her hands stroking the black dog who mounts her. Now seventeen, the girl has been enjoying her boyfriend in this fashion for nearly a year. The very night after Zeike was born, ten months earlier, they slipped into the woods beyond Wildwood's fence.

In a nearby clearing, she gave Travahn her virginity. To her delight, not only was he both endowed and gifted, but after finishing with her he grew only more loyal. Part of her initial fear was that once he had claimed the prize of her body, he might not be the sweet boy she grew to love. Contrary, he dotes on her and has neglected the budding friendships that he was forming, in order to spend time with her instead. Day after day they grew closer, until they eventually became inseparable.

Pushing in harder, Travahn's member swells, locking him into his lover. Gripping his buttocks tightly in her hands, her legs wrapped behind his, he couldn't pull away even if she wasn't fastened to him by his knot. Naomi moans from her own pleasure, as much as from feeling his as it washes through her. Lying over her, Travahn's tail wags happily as he rests on his knees and forearms, careful not to put weight on his girlfriend. He is always worried about her comfort and safety; it's his top priority.

After a moment, when his organ begins to deflate, Travahn pulls himself from her loins and lays beside her. Though both want to cuddle, Naomi first takes a clay goblet from a simple wooden table beside his bed, where his oil lamp sits. She drinks the tea commonly used by women to prevent unwanted births, before lying back and cuddling with her beloved.

“We should probably do actual work today." Travahn remarks with a little grin.

“And miss out on all of this?" She coos.

“You already spent the night." He chuckles.

“Kelly is too distracted with his wife and son to notice what I'm doing these days, but if we 'slept' there, we'd have to worry about a toddler stumbling in on us." She says.

“The benefits of my parents both working and me being an only child." Travahn quips.

“I'm glad your parents like me." She comments.

“They love you!" Travahn retorts. “I hear every day about how lucky I am to have found a woman like you at such a young age. My parents both met when they were in their hundred-and-twenties."

“Travahn?"

“Yeah?"

“I keep thinking about what we talked about earlier."

Travahn's expression changes. His tail stops wagging. He becomes visibly upset, though he always maintains his composure.

“I really like the idea." She adds.

“I'm not so sure about it." He sighs.

“Why not? I think it'll make our bond even stronger!"

“This is a serious change, Naomi. It's a permanent one too. You know that." He sits up, resting his chin in his palm.

“Why does it bother you so much? Other's have done it before us."

“I know... That doesn't mean I have to like it." He grumbles.

Naomi scoots closer, sitting beside her boyfriend and slipping an arm around him. She holds him tightly by his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder. The scent of his musk floods her nose, which she somehow finds both appealing and comforting. Her cool sweat rubs of onto his already damp fur as she playfully tugs at his midsection. He turns his amber eyes toward her, his lips curling into a grin and his tail swaying slowly.

“I know what it is." She grins.

“Don't start."

“Are you worried I won't be cute anymore if I do it? Will it feel too much like cheating?" She teases.

“Naomi... I love you the way you are." He snaps in frustration.

“But if I become Sahvorai, I'll live even longer. Do you want to bury your future wife and live another three-hundred-years without me?" She logically asks.

“... No. I'm just scared. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

“I'll be fine." She says, giving him a kiss upon his snout. “We'll be fine."

“Okay..." He sighs.

“Okay, what?"

“If that's really what you want to do... I'll support you."

Squealing with excitement, she hugs him tightly. The force of the hug and their position throws him off balance and they tumble out of the bed. After thanking him and telling him she loves him countless time, they rise from the wooden floor and dress themselves. Leaving Travahn's house, they walk toward Naomi's home across town. They walk hand-in-hand, as they always do.

“If you want, I can be there when you tell Kelly and Sarvah." He says to her.

“I'd like that." She smiles.

“Did you want to do that now?"

“No. I'll talk to them later, when I'm less overcome with emotion." She quips.

“So... Stay with you all day?" He winks.

“That sounds like a plan to me!"

Walking through the streets of Wildwood, just past noon, Sarvah turns her head as a small group of young children play. The young boys and girls are both human and Sahvorai, and are no older than ten. Holding hands in a circle, they twirl around in a nonsensical game. They begin to chant a nursery rhyme, new but well-rehearsed by the younglings.

“Prowling in a moonlit night. A beast who causes quite a fright. Always he is hunting prey. Suffering is here today. Chilling wind is blowing through. Bodies turn a pale blue. Human blood drains in the sand. Sahvorai fleeing from their land. Fallen curled in a ball. Even the madrogos fall. Nothing known can stop the beast. In purple fire your flesh he'll feast. Children hide under their beds. Blankets pulled over their heads. You will know when you are dead. When you see the claw of Red."

Sarvah lowers her head, the rhyme cutting into her heart like a razor. After a brief moment to shake it off, she glances up and spots Naomi and Travahn entering the street as they head toward her home.

“Hello, you two." Sarvah says with a wave.

“Hi!" They both greet her.

“Heading home?"

“Yeah." Naomi nods.

Walking closer to the teens, she smells their scent and sighs, unsurprised and rolling her eyes. She already knows what they've been doing. Sarvah finds herself chuckling as she tries to remember what their individual smells were like before; they are always so close and so routinely intimate that they perpetually share the same scent.

“Sarvah?" Naomi begins.

“Yes?"

“Can I talk to you about something later on? In private?"

Looking to her, she can see the expression on the youth's faces. Now a little concerned, she wonders what Naomi wishes to discuss. It can't be about Travahn, as he's walking right beside her. Resting her hand on Naomi's shoulder, Sarvah smiles warmly and nods. She's come to think of Naomi as a surrogate daughter.

“You can talk to me about anything, whenever you want." Sarvah assures her.

“Thanks! You're the best!" Naomi grins.

“Oh, I know." Sarvah winks.

Approaching the homes, the trio see Kelly sitting on the porch with Steve by his side. Emerging from the home, Vahna holds their son in her arms.

“Dada!" Zeike exclaims, holding his furry arms out to Kelly.

“Hey, little man." Kelly replies.

He stands and takes hold of his son, leaning in and lovingly kissing his wife. Sarvah smiles at the adorable display, but feels a tinge of jealousy in her heart.

“Hi!" Zeike waves wildly at the three.

“Hello there." Sarvah replies.

She nods her greeting to the others, turning her blue eyes down to the child Kelly cradles. She gently strokes his cheek, the toddler giggling and reaching for her hand. Gripping her fingers with his tiny hands, she feels a sorrow within her. Quickly wishing them good day, she continues her walk to her own home, two houses down. As she passes Rinahra's home, which sits between them, her assistant emerges. It's as if she were watching and waiting for Sarvah to return so that she could ambush her.

“Sarvah! Hello!" Rinahra exclaims.

“Hello, Rin. How are you today?"

“Well, thank you. May we speak?" Rinahra asks, following Sarvah into her house.

“What's wrong today, Rin?"

“I've noticed you've been spending a lot of time with Gareth lately... Much more since Kelly and Vahna married."

“So?"

“Well, people are growing curious as to why you take all-night walks so often..." Rinahra explains.

“I'm not seeing a problem yet." Sarvah retorts.

“The rumor is that you have wanderlust. That you miss being on the road and you're restless." Rinahra continues.

“Well that's certainly better than the truth." Sarvah sighs, recalling the children's gruesome rhyme.

“Not by much. You've been ignoring a lot of duties lately, and I can't cover them all. Some people are worried that you'll one day abandon them. I can't lead the Feather Fingers by myself; I'm not strong enough."

“You don't give yourself enough credit, Rin."

“Thank you, Sarvah, but this is serious. A convoy of wealthy merchants and an emissary from another town left without ever meeting you; it was part of the reason they even made the journey. People like that don't appreciate being brushed off so casually." Rinahra says.

“What are you saying?" Sarvah asks with frustration.

“I'm saying..."

Rinahra pauses. She doesn't want to say the words aloud, though she knows she should. Sarvah is her friend and she doesn't want to upset her. Staring silently into each other's eyes, Rinahra's look communicates her thoughts. Sarvah needs to pick between Gareth and her people; she must focus on one more than the other.

“I... I can't choose something like that." A solemn Sarvah says, sitting down in a chair.

“But our people..."

“I'm quickly growing to hate our people. I just want to be happy and this damned village is ruining that." Sarvah begins to cry.

“You wanted this before." Rinahra states.

“That was before I found something much better." Sarvah sniffles. “Look... My personal life shouldn't be a problem. Wildwood is doing just fine as it is."

“For how long?" Rinahra softly asks.

Standing in the tree-line and watching Wildwood from across the field, the grizzled warrior looks through a monoscope. His lips curl into a sinister grin as he watches the village, the blue cloaked emissary and the merchant caravan held hostage behind him. Approaching his leader, a soldier bows his head.

“Sir, they do not appear prepared for battle. Should we mobilize now?" The minion asks.

“No. We wait for our orders... She'll be back soon enough." The warrior replies.