"Fucking tree hugger! Get out of the way!"
I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the gruff voices of the loggers, wondering whether maybe I was in too deep this time. Here I was in the middle of a national forest, bound with rope to an ancient redwood, faced with a horde of pissed-off, chainsaw-wielding lumberjacks, and abandoned by my fellow chickenshit environmentalists. It could be said that I love trees to death. That's why I'm here, I kept reminding myself. To protect these trees from death.
"Get out of the way, bitch!" A tall, blond Viking of a lumberjack loomed over me, sneering. I wanted to spit in his face and was close enough to do so. I had to restrain myself with all my might. Be the peace you desire, I silently told myself.
The blond lumberjack revved up his chainsaw. "You need me to cut those ropes off your arms, bitch?" He sneered in my face again, and our eyes met. Suddenly, his face softened, and he turned off the chainsaw.
"You'd get out of here now if you knew what was good for you." He spoke quietly, staring at my face as he spoke.
I met his gaze calmly. "I won't leave until you promise not to cut down another tree in this forest."
He looked uncertain as to how to respond. The other loggers jeered. Someone yelled, "You want to fuck the tree hugger, Jeff?" and the others roared with laughter.
Jeff looked uncertainly at me, and then back at the other men. "It's getting dark. Let's call it a day," he said finally.
This was met with some grumbling from the men. "Goddamn hippie," one muttered. They put away their tools and walked away. Jeff was the last to follow, looking back over his shoulder at me as the men slipped between the trees and out of sight.
*****
Night came, and with it, a cold wind. I shivered in the moonlight, my bare, tethered arms covered in goosebumps. I hadn't anticipated being out here all night, and had worn just a T-shirt and shorts. My legs were tired from standing, and my arms hurt from being tied all day. I was cold, and hungry, and exhausted. I fought back the urge to cry. I leaned my back against the tree, imagining its life force giving me warmth and energy, protecting me from the cold. I closed my eyes, basking in the warmth of the tree, thanking it for sheltering me.
"I'm doing this for you," I whispered to the tree. "I swore I'd protect you, and I will."
"Thank you," the tree whispered back.
I opened my eyes in surprise. I must be hallucinating, I thought. That tree did not just talk to me. I'm cold, and hungry, and tired. I'm just imagining things.
"I do appreciate all you've done for me," the tree whispered again. Its voice was silvery and delicate, like windchimes in the breeze, and decidedly feminine. "How can I ever thank you?" I felt redwood needles brush softly against my cheek, and then trace the outline of my jaw ever so gently, traveling lightly down my neck.
"You don't have to do anything" I breathed, embarrassed to feel a sudden wetness between my legs.
"But I want to," the voice whispered in my ear. I could now feel the tree breathing, her lips close to my ear. Redwood needles caressed my bound arms, making my skin tingle. I gasped with delight.
"You like that, don't you?" she whispered. The needles suddenly became fleshy and warm, morphing into hands. She reached up under my shirt, stroking my breasts through my sports bra. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before. I moaned softly as she pinched my nipples, rolling them between her agile fingers. She laughed softly and kissed my ear from behind, pulling it into her soft mouth and sucking gently, penetrating my ear with her supple tongue. I squirmed against the ropes, wanting to be able to turn around and see her, touch her. She laughed again. "You're not going anywhere. Not until we know this forest is safe." Her hands pushed my bra up out of the way, exposing my erect nipples to her. She pulled at them gently, then harder as I cried out in pleasure, needing to be touched.
