Sorry the story is later than advertised. My laptop died, so had to rewrite what I had. Also, it is a short installment. The next will be longer, and will be up on Friday at the latest. Again, appologies!
Alana threaded through the tents. In truth, she was incredibly grumpy. The sex had more than satisfied her, in the end, but she didn't understand why Kalen was letting her go to the river alone. He had been over protective since she arrived; a few glasses of wine should not undo his urge to protect her. Did he want her to ask, or was he trying to give her some freedom? Alana was tempted to just wash quickly at the nearest point of the river, after all how dangerous could splashing some water on herself be? It wasn't like she was going to get in, but she decided to head to the other side of the bridge. When Alana left the tents, she was further up the river than she thought. The music, fire and general bustle of the celebration seemed far away.
Alana quickly removed her dress, sat on the bank and dipped her feet in the water. As she cupped handfuls of water to splash over her body, she started to think back to the sex. She had bitten Kalen, but he hadn't bitten her. It was strange. Was he doing it to be considerate? She wasn't sure. It seemed to mean a lot to him. Maybe he knew what she had done, or maybe he was getting tired of her. A tear escaped Alana's eyes, and she wiped at it furiously. She felt so confused, no doubt down to the wine. Splashing a little more water over herself, Alana decided the only solution was to go back to celebration and find Kalen. She could ask him; he had never denied her anything, and she doubted he would start now.
Alana stood, then turned to pick up her dress. She froze the moment that she saw the three men. She recognised on of them from the circle earlier; he had a thick scar that ran diagonally from under his right ear, and disappeared under the left side of his robe. The two other men could have been anyone. Not wanting to think the worst, Alana tried to get her breathing under control. Her heart beat seemed to be racing her lungs, both of them working furiously, fuelled by wine and fear. Slowly, Alana picked up her dress, greeting them as she did so, never letting her eyes leave them.
"Quite a show you put on for us." The man with the scar nodded in her direction as he spoke. Alana was thankful that it was dark as she could feel herself blushing. As if on cue, the three men stepped towards Alana in unison.
"I'm afraid I must go. My master is waiting." Alana voice quivered. She had no idea how she was going to get out of this.
"Your master is probably still sleeping where you left him." Alana felt the colour drain from her face. That show. She had assumed that they meant the dancing. "Quite the spirited little lady," the man continued. So far the others hadn't spoken. Alana decided that she would have to try a different path.
"General T'arik will be displeased if you harm me." It was a risk, mentioning T'arik's name, but perhaps it would be worth it. The man paused for a moment, glanced at him companions, then laughed. Again, the three stepped closer.
"General T'arik isn't our General, little lady," Scar said with a smirk. He stepped closer, almost within touching distance. Alana had no idea what he meant by that comment, but at the moment she didn't care. She had to escape, and only knew one way to do that. She took a deep breath, but couldn't quite bring herself to do it.
"What are your intentions?" Before she risked it, she had to know.
"We want what you gave him." They wanted sex. That was so not happening. Taking a second deep breath, perhaps her last ever one, Alana jumped backwards. In the moment before she landed, time seemed to still. She saw, behind a boulder, a crouched shape with glowing red eyes. She had just enough time to think 'Bastard' before cool water swallowed her, and she was swept violently along.
Alana collided with rocks, swallowed water, and was twisted and turned in the current so often that she no longer knew which was up. There was no way she would be able to grab the bridge. Starting to panic, she opened her mouth letting in another wave of water. Needing to cough it up, Alana scrabbled around her searching for the bottom. Her toes scrapped along a surface that felt like shingles, so she kicked. For one amazing, lifesaving moment Alana's head broke the surface. She spluttered, water pouring from her mouth as she tried to drag in some air.
Had she gone past the bridge yet? Alana's head banged into something hard as she was swept sideways by the fierce current. She went under again. Once more, it was a struggle for the surface. This time as her head came up into glorious air, Alana's heart leapt. The bridge was in front of her. Seconds were all she had to prepare. Kicking hard to keep herself up right, Alana reached up as far as she could. The supporting beams under the bridge were low enough that she might be able to wrap her hands around one. If she missed on the side closest to her, she would have a second chance, but it would be milliseconds after the first. Then, the bridge was upon her. Her hands scrabbled for purchase, not finding any at first, but at the last moment Alana managed to clutch at a beam with one hand. Bringing her other hand up to secure herself, her feet tried to find something to stand on. There was nothing. She was hanging and knew that, with the current, she would be unable to support her own weight for long.
It felt like an eternity before she heard the voice that she had been waiting for.
"You bastard," she hissed, "I could have died."
"Alana, I didn't think you would be so impulsive. I wanted you to enjoy some freedom, not drown yourself." She couldn't argue, not really. She had been desperate to be able to roam the camp alone. She guessed he had proved his point about it being dangerous for her.
"Were you going to let them..."
"No," he growled though the darkness, interrupting her. "I couldn't stand it, sitting there, seeing you afraid. I couldn't kill them until they had touched you, though. I had to be sure. Their General would have me killed, and you."
"Are you going to pull me out?" Alana's arms were burning with the strain, and her whole body was frozen. She had swallowed more flies than she cared to think about, and could swear that something was crawling up her thigh. When Kalen chuckled in response, she could have sworn, but controlled herself. There was a splash before her, and warm hands settled on her waist. Letting go felt so amazing that Alana burst into tears.
"You're safe now." Alana nodded, pushing herself against Kalen. He sat her on the bank before climbing out himself.
"I'm sorry I ruined your party," whispered Alana. In her mind, she also apologised for kissing T'arik. He hadn't been around to save her from her own foolishness.
"I'm glad you are disobedient," he whispered in response. "If not, you wouldn't have found such a dramatic escape so easy. You should have seen the look on their faces. If you had gone to the pool, I would have much less to amuse me." Alana landed a playful punch on Kalen's arm. He took her hand, pulling Alana to her feet, then led her back to the tent.
Once back, Kalen removed the remnants of the tattered, soaked dress from Alana's battered body. Fresh bruises were blossoming all over her tanned skin, and there were bloody scrapes in too many places to count. Jumping into the river had certainly not been an easy option. Alana sank to her knees on the fur rug beneath her.
"Join me." Her voice was quiet, and betrayed her uncertainty. She wanted Kalen to love her, but wasn't sure how to ask. The first time that she had seen this rug she had had some very definite ideas about what she wanted to do on it, and now was the time. When Kalen knelt opposite Alana, she voiced what she was thinking. "Make love to me." Kalen frowned. It was not an expression that they used in this language. Alana sighed.
"Before, you called me your lover." Alana hoped that the conversation would progress in a way that she wanted it to, but her hopes were short lived.
"You are my lover because you love me," Kalen stated confidently. Alana winced at the statement, but didn't contradict him.
"Are you my lover? Do you love me?" Alana had bunched her hands into the fur beneath her, unconsciously looking for a source of comfort.
"Yes." It was a clear statement. Kalen loved Alana.
"Then show me, with your body." Alana hoped that he would be gentle with her, she didn't need rough, and wasn't sure that she could take it. Kalen slunk towards her on all fours, animal like and graceful. He swept her wet hair back from her face, settling his hand possessively on the back of her neck. When his kiss came, it possessed her mouth. It was thorough and took charge, but it wasn't rough. Kalen's lips slid over Alana's as if they were made to kiss her. His hands soon followed.
Kalen tweaked one of Alana's nipples as he kissed his way down her neck, and across her collar bone. His soft, tender lips worked their way down Alana's body until he took her nipple into his mouth, sucking it gently. Alana arched into his attentions, a moan escaping her. Kalen's hands gently caressed her stomach as his mouth sought her other puckered nipple. Alana laced her fingers through Kalen's hair, wanting to push him south, but allowing him to do as she had asked. It felt as though he was worshiping her body.
Kalen's tongue followed his hands down Alana's body. He licked the soft, vulnerable flesh on her stomach, before working his way over her hip, and down the crease at the top of her thigh. Alana's stomach and groin were jolted with electricity as he used his fingers to spread her open. She felt electric, alive and hungry. Kalen playfully tugged on a lock of curly, black hair that had grown since leaving for war. Quickly, unexpectedly, he was gone from between Alana's legs. She didn't have time for confusion; he was back before she could find the will to sit up, although she could see no reason for his previous departure.
