The following days were a blur for Belney. A blur of running, naked and cold. Through nighttime forests, learning to tune to the smallest variance in the goblins steps ahead of her in the dark. Predawn light would slowly filter in. That was her favorite time. Woods and meadows coming alive with sounds. Her Lu'Kaah masters caught birds and rabbits in the early mornings by throwing fast stones with amazing precision. Her soles had grown tougher and her legs stronger. her knees had been padded after a time with leather and the strips of what had been her nightgown. Her nipples, though, were always bare, and they stung perpetually from the many times they were pressed to the earth. They ran typically until mid morning and then they found a place to hide. If no cave could be found there might be a hollow downed tree, or a dark place along a creek bed.
Twice she'd heard dogs bark in the distance. Dogs were driven to furious barking when their noses caught goblin smell. The thought of nearby humans caused a twinge in her. A pull to run to them, shame at how wild she must look, and a wistfulness thinking of their soft lives indoors. She'd push down her melancholy.
When they'd stop for rest, she knew to lower herself down on her knees and wait, head down. First her back would be unpacked quietly. She'd build anticipation. The first Lu'Kaah would step forward and remove her mouth bit. It was usually the one she called chief, to herself, for his slightly wider belly. She'd stretch her sore jaw and lick her lips for a moment as she spread her knees and sank down a little, then she'd rub her face on the top of each of his feet, sprinkling them with light kisses. She would then raise her head up slowly as he stepped forward, his clawed toes would slide under her heavy breasts as she raised and he'd flex them, teasing her nipples and giving her a painful shiver. Her face would travel up his legs, not a great distance. As her head reached his loincloth, she'd bring it up with her head. She'd catch his hanging sack with her nose first, then make her tongue wide and drag it up. The Lu'Kaah have a penis sheath that the head sits mostly inside of, but as she progresses, it awakens, so that by the time she reaches it, its a growing plum which she pops in her mouth for a quick once-around from her tongue. Then he pulls away and she lowers her head back down, waiting. When her face climbs the second Le'Kaah legs, she catches his cock as it drapes down. And by the third, the loincloth is already raised like a tent and she can start on the hanging sack and let the hard cock drag across her face until her mouth finds it for its quick dip.
This improvised devotional act developed from Belney being punished for some small fumble or misstep. Going to kiss their feet was a way to try to lessen the stinging switch coming down on her backside. The goblins began to grunt in satisfaction at this, and so the ritual took shape from her anticipation of what would please them. All of this twisting of herself into this new form took a toll that grew as the days passed. There were mornings that she would have drifted straight toward exhausted sleep, rather than feel the greased goblin fingers touching her everywhere at once. She would follow their lead, and get pulled into their rhythm, and the tempo would build until she was moaning and screaming like a creature possessed. She'd always end up in that sweet place of floating relaxation. But she missed her free will. She missed her arms and her hands. She felt her surrender to them more each day as slowly stepping down dark stairs into blackness, and with each step, she'd glance briefly over her shoulder at the light receding behind her.
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Lenya and Tholeaus woke to their shoulders being gently shook. They both looked up at Fennis the ranger, and sat up together.
Let's get moving. But first, eat this.
Fennis had made a very small fire some time earlier at the first hint of light and upon the fire he had heated an iron pot containing breakfast porridge. They split the steaming food between the three of them and devoured it while the light came up.
We'll head up that scree field first, and see if we can find their trails on the topside. If they stopped running and hid, that's good for us. If they kept moving straight through- then their lead is increasing, even with a prisoner. That's not good.
Lenya had shaken the cobwebs of her dream and looked across at Tholeaus. He stared out at the fall leaves on the trees gloomily. How much longer would the ranger be willing to help them track their friend? How much longer could they track without more provisions? Did they bring enough coin for staying out on a long pursuit?
The three broke camp and headed up the steep field of jumbled rocks. After splitting up to divide their search range- a long half hour went by of them looking for signs along the rocks edge where it met forest. Finally Tholeaus shouted and they rejoined and started along a sideways path. There were boulders and signs that there could be a cave and then there it was. Pine branches tossed aside, it was barely a cave, really just a hidden place among boulders. a round sleeping place had been brushed out of the dry ground. Again, nothing had been left behind except the branches with their hatchet marks.
Lenya was again revolted at seeing where her friend had been just hours before. The ground had multiple smudged handprints and footprints in confusion. She didn't want to read the story it told, even if she could. Tholeaus also looked down and felt like vomiting. He wanted to get back on the trail.
The three of them easily found the outgoing tracks of the goblins and their captive. Aging tracks isn't very difficult once you've studied the art of tracking for a while, and so it was obvious to Lenya, Tholeaus and Fennis that the tracks were at least eight hours old. If they hadn't stopped at nightfall when the scree field made progress difficult- they might have caught up with the goblins. It was a frustrating thing to see.
Tracking along through boulder strewn woodlands for a ways, the trail opened out to an overlook that surveyed the descent to the Terrashaw river. It was down this slope they'd eventually meet the road that they would have rendezvoused with the constable and his militia yesterday. They paused and looked around at each other. Fennis spoke.
Well Lenya, Tholeaus... He gave them both looks of significance.
We should talk about our plan. We left in haste, to see if we could catch them before they got too far..
And now they've gotten too far? asked Lenya, her voice rising.
Fennis continued.
They're heading West, but they're staying in rough country where they can't be run down by horseback. If they cut North in the next day or so- they could be headed to goblin country in the mountains- If they keep moving West, they're likely marsh goblins and once they reach the Gulshawn marshlands they'll be pretty well beyond our reach.
What if they slow down or make a mistake or get held up? Tholeaus interjected.
If we stay on 'em.. Tholeaus trailed off. Realizing he and Lenya couldn't really stay on them without more provisions, more coin.
Listen you two, here's what I can do. I can give you twelve Queen's heads, and a letter with the Ranger's seal. When you reach Tembs town, you can provision. The nearer town to the marshes is Farnum, another three days by foot. In Farnum they'll know what might could be done. Show them the seal and they'll arm you and assist if there are soldiers stationed, but i just don't know how the situation is there. It's been a few years.
Tholeaus took a deep breath and blew the air out slow between his teeth. Lenya kicked at the dirt with her toe.
What the fuck, said Lenya, mostly to herself.
Fuck fuck fuck.
It was a very unlikely thing that happened to your friend. But if she ends up in the Gulshawns it's a slim chance she'll come back out. I'm gutted to say it.
Then help us chase her!
Lenya, I'm sorry. The constable can ride with his guys ahead and try to catch them going into the marshes- he can get there quicker by road on horseback. But there are a whole lot of ways they might get across to there. These are long shots- but we've gotta take them.
Ok, ok. Tholeaus nodded.
That sounds solid. We sure do thank you for all your help. We've gotta go after her. You understand.
Lenya was shifting her weight between legs. She was antsy to keep moving. Fennis, gave them the coins, the Ranger's seal, and what was left of the food.
Okay, my friends. Goddess guide you.
Goddess guide you, ranger Fennis. If you see our families, give them word.