Elf Maidens Of Thurn Pt 07

Part 7: Exploration

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Chapter 27: Departure

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We have a long way to travel by river to reach the location of hibernation chamber shown on the map in Atene. The two boats that Mikaere acquired for our expedition are narrow and well made. Each boat can seat up to six adults sat behind each other in a line, with a space for supplies at either end of the boat. The elven builders call them wakawakas, but I've never heard of the term before. The village elves also build us a cleverly designed backpack made of reeds that can hold Rawiri while we travel. It can be carried on one of our backs with Rawiri inside, with the added benefit that it floats in case we all end up in the water.

We divide our party between the two wakawakas. Cassandra, Ihapera, Defina35, Rawiri and I are in one wakawaka while Mikaere, Hone, Ikaroa and Makareta take the other. Our initial attempts at paddling and steering the wakawakas in the direction we wish to go are pathetic. Seeing our plight, the local village elders offer us two adolescent elves to join us as far as another elven settlement further down the river. Whina and Emere are both female adolescents who must be close to reaching adulthood. With many more females than males among their adolescents, the village elders have instructed Whina and Emere to travel to another village to find mates. Neither Whina and Emere seem particularly keen on the idea, but they're effectively being banished from their home village.

Fortunately both Whina and Emere are skilled in manoeuvring the wakawakas, and they soon teach the rest of us the basics we need to know. We set off on our journey the next day. Whina travels in our wakawaka, while Emere joins Mikaere's wakawaka.

The first two days of travel are easy. The river is wide and the current sluggish, presenting us with few challenges to navigation. We pass several elven traders on the river and see numerous signs of elven occupation along the banks. Towards the end of the second day we reach an elven village slightly larger than the one we left. This is supposed to be Whina's and Emere's destination. However they are reluctant to leave us. I can't blame them after witnessing the frosty reception they receive from the village elders when they explain the reason for their arrival.

"Take us with you," pleads Whina. "You need experienced crew to venture into unknown waters. What if you need to repair a wakawaka in the wild? We know how. You can drop us off here on the return journey if you like."

"Won't the village elders object?" I ask.

"Unlikely," says Ihapera. "Every village has more female adolescents than they want. By the time we return it's possible that Whina and Emere will have matured into adults. They may receive a warmer reception if they are adults who have proved themselves by exploring unknown territory."

After consulting with the others, our party increases to ten... eleven, if we count Rawiri. Mikaere was the only one reluctant to accept Whina and Emere into our group. I'm unsure why he objects to their inclusion, unless he is reverting to his misogynist view that exploring unknown territory is a task for males alone. Mikaere is still an enigma to me.

We top up our supplies to allow for the enlarged group, and set off downstream early the next morning. So far the weather has remained fine, and the gentle river keeps to a westerly direction. The map I copied from the one in Atene shows the river turning on a more southerly course as is passes between some low hills. A few days later we can see those hills ahead of us.

"We must have passed out of elven territory," says Defina35. "I haven't seen any traces of elven habitation since the day before yesterday."

The fields and small settlements that dotted the river banks upstream are noticeably absent where we are. The forest becomes denser and the trees overhang the river as we get nearer to the hills.

"The river is narrowing and the current is getting stronger," says Whina a short while later. "If the current gets much stronger, we may have difficulty moving against the current on the return journey."

"Are you suggesting that we abandon our venture?" I ask, realising Whina has raised a genuine concern.

"No," she replies. "But we should allow for a slower return journey."

By early afternoon we are travelling with the hills dominating the terrain either side of us. The river starts to twist and turn, but fortunately remains reasonably wide and the current manageable. Whina takes the forward position in our wakawaka so that she can navigate us around shoals and other obstacles. The river has cut deep into the banks on either side, making it difficult to find places to stop and rest. The numerous large animal tracks in the mud whenever we find a place where we could put ashore makes us think twice about doing so. In the end we settle for taking turns to rest in our seat while the other four continue to paddle.

Mikaere takes it upon himself to find a safe place for us to stop for the night. He has far more experience at assessing the risks posed by the wild animals of the forests around us. The elves natural body odour acts as a deterrent against animal attack. However, the elves' odour is a volatile defensive barrier, and hungry predators have been known to overcome their revulsion of it. Of course, Cassandra, Rawiri and I, being Thurnian, don't possess any such natural defence.

An hour or so later, our journey is brought to an abrupt halt. The river ahead flows through a narrow gorge strewn with boulders and rapids. Mikaere signals that we should pull over to the left shore and beach the boats on a shoal jutting out from the bank.

"You'll need to camp here tonight while Hone and I explore ahead," says Mikaere. "We may need to abandon the boats and continue overland."

"The wakawakas are light enough to be carried," says Emere, countering Mikaere's comment. "We might need to make several trips to transport everything, though."

I understand Mikaere's concern. The rocky terrain and dense undergrowth through the gorge will make overland travel difficult enough without porting wakawakas and supplies as well. However, we agreed back in Atene that travelling by river was the best choice. If we can carry the wakawakas to safer water ahead, then I think we should try. Fortunately, nobody suggests turning back, so we make camp while Mikaere and Hone look for a way through the gorge.

We secure the wakawakas and make a small camp-fire in a nearby clearing. We've about two hours of daylight left, although the gorge is already in shadow. Nevertheless, Mikaere and Hone insist on starting their exploration immediately. The rest of us prepare for an overnight stay. While Thurnian explorers normally prefer to pitch tents or make some form of shelter, elves are perfectly at home sleeping out in the open. If it rains, then you simply get wet, and you dry yourself later. This far south the temperature at night ranges from pleasantly warm to uncomfortably hot, so blankets and covers are unnecessary.

While Cassandra tends to Rawiri's needs, I check on the other elves in our party. Whina and Emere are both eager to prove themselves as worthy travelling companions, and so far have shown their proficiency in handling the wakawakas. They set about helping to prepare a meal for us all. We rely on foraging and fishing for our food, so the meal consists of roots and fruit the elves have gathered from nearby. While they forage for food, Ikaroa and her sister Ihapera are scout the nearby area for any signs of predators.

Although it is too early to be certain, both of Ihapera and Ikaroa are convinced that they are pregnant. In Ihapera's case, I'm sure that is likely given the number of times I fucked her when she was last in heat. As Mikaere's mate, Ikaroa's assertion that she's pregnant is less certain. The poor fertility of elven males is a crisis facing the whole elven population.

Makareta has grown up in the forests of Thurn, so she is more proficient than Defina35 at surviving in the wilderness. Nevertheless, she is cautious when venturing into the forest around us. Different animals live in the warmer climate, so she listens carefully to the advice the local elves provide. As for Defina35, her Thurn city upbringing leaves her only marginally better off than Cassandra and me when it comes to enduring wilderness life.

"I should warn you that I'm going to be in heat in a few days time," says Defina35 when we get a moment alone.

"You seem certain that you aren't pregnant," I reply, aware that when Defina35 is last in heat, she was as eager for sex as any other Elf Maiden.

"I suppose it is possible," she replies. "But not all elves can successfully breed with a Thurnian male. I seem to be one of those whose womb is incompatible with Thurnian seed."

Although rare, a few elves are biologically incompatible with Thurnian men, even though their ancestors and siblings have no difficulty in producing offspring from such unions. Thurnian men find Elf Maidens extremely attractive, and impossible to resist fucking when the elves are in heat. Whatever the cause, the phenomenon doesn't affect the Elf Maiden's sex drive.

When we were selecting those to join the expedition, Makareta was adamant that she wasn't pregnant. I know she didn't make use of the Pussy Den in Atene. As she is Akenehi's daughter, it was inappropriate to dispute her claim when we were selecting those to join our expedition. Akenehi wanted one of her group of elves to join us, and Makareta was the obvious choice.

The only other member of our party who may be pregnant is Cassandra. The recent Rutting Season finished only a few weeks ago and the abundance of sex she and I enjoyed may well result in our second child. At the moment it is too early to know.

We wait a full day for Mikaere and Hone, expecting them to return at any moment. They didn't say how long they intend to be gone, but a day should have been ample to establish whether we can continue on through the gorge. Ikaroa doesn't seem unduly worried by her mate's disappearance. Apparently he can go hunting or exploring for weeks at a time without telling Ikaroa of his plans. That may be acceptable for Ikaroa, but I'm not so tolerant. Of course, they could have fallen foul of wild animals, or suffered an accident, but those thoughts don't help our situation.

"If Mikaere and Hone haven't returned by mid-morning tomorrow, I suggest we do something other than sit and wait here," says Makareta when we gather round the camp fire for our evening meal.

"I agree. But do what?" replies Defina35.

"Our party is too small to send some of us off searching for them," I reply.

"If we can leave some of the supplies then we might be able to negotiate the river through the gorge," says Whina. "It's risky, but with only four in each wakawaka, and carrying fewer supplies, the wakawakas should be high enough in the water to manage the rapids."

"If we are planning on moving from here, then we should leave some supplies in case Mikaere and Hone return," says Cassandra.

"What do you say, Ikaroa?" I ask.

"We can't wait here forever," Ikaroa replies. "Besides, I can't be sure that Makaere and Hone haven't simply abandoned us. They've always disliked sharing the glory of new discoveries with females."

Unfortunately, Ikaroa's suspicion may be correct. I have always had a niggling doubt about Makaere's motives for participating in this quest. Ikaroa's and Ihapera's patrols haven't found any trace of dangerous predators in this area, and both male elves are far too experienced to suffer a careless accident that disables both of them.

The next morning we divide up the supplies and stack the discarded items near our camp site. After some hasty instruction from Whina and Emere on handling the wakawakas in rough water, we are ready to depart by mid-morning. Defina35 switches to the other wakawaka to replace the two absent elves.

"You realise that once we enter these rapids we cannot turn back," says Whina to me. "Our return journey will need to go around this gorge."

"Yes, when I first saw the rapids I anticipated that would be likely," I reply. "But the alternative is to turn back now, and none of us has proposed that option."

"Then let's be on our way," says Whina when Emere signals that those in her wakawaka are ready.

I make one last check to see if there is any sign of Makaere and Hone. When I see nothing, I board the wakawaka and we set off. Each wakawaka is under instructions to choose its own route through the rapids. If one wakawaka gets into trouble, the other wakawaka stands a better chance of avoiding the hazard. Helping each other while in churning water is wishful thinking given our lack of experience.

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Chapter 28: Beyond the rapids

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At first sight, our venture into the rapids might seem suicidal. We are relying on Whina's and Emere's skill to get us through the gorge. However, both elves are confident that we can navigate the rapids safely. We move away from the slack water and into the main current. Once we are back in the main river current I begin to feel more at ease. Whina keeps up a steady flow of instructions as we begin to pick up speed. Emere's wakawaka is following about thirty metres behind us, and is so far keeping to the same course as us.

"White water ahead!" calls Whina, as the river narrows further and boulders in mid-stream cause the water to churn.

The next fifteen minutes seem to last for hours as we frantically steer our wakawaka around boulders. Several near-misses cause my heart to pound. I keep an eye on Rawiri, who is strapped in his pack on Cassandra's back in front of me. He is staring wide eyed at the spray that soaks all of our clothes. Thankfully spray is all that enters our wakawaka. As Whina predicted, the sides of the wakawaka are high enough above the water to prevent the churning water from sloshing into the wakawaka. I don't have time to look back to see how the other wakawaka is faring.

Once we are beyond the worst of the rapids, we check that those in the other wakawaka are alright. They have some minor damage to their wakawaka that will need repairing when we are clear of the gorge. Gradually the hills recede and the river starts to widen again. By midday we find a place to stop and rest. Whina and Emere busy themselves making temporary repairs to the damaged wakawaka, while Ikaroa, Ihapera and Makareta forage for something to eat. Meanwhile Defina35 checks the supplies we have temporarily unloaded from the damaged wakawaka.

"I see you've noticed that Defina35 is in heat," says Cassandra while she feeds Rawiri.

The bulge from my erection is obvious through my clinging wet trousers. It's a natural male reaction to the smell of any female in heat. Now probably isn't the time for sex, but that doesn't stop my cock from standing to attention. Defina35 is equally helpless to the urges surging through her body. She is clearly distracted from her work by my close proximity.

"You had best go and fuck her while everyone else is busy," says Cassandra. "Otherwise the pair of you will be insufferable all afternoon."

Although Cassandra and I are married... a rarity in Thurnian culture, and non-existent in elven society... we adopt a Thurnian's traditional attitude towards sex, namely fuck anyone who is willing. Elven pairing is closer to a master and slave relationship, so it cannot be described as a marriage. Mated female elves, like Ikaroa, are only allowed sex with her mate's consent, although that doesn't stop her urges.

Normally I would invite Cassandra to join us, but she is busy feeding Rawiri. Cutting short his feed would add a whole new meaning to being 'insufferable all afternoon'. Unsurprisingly, Defina35 is eager for sex, and the pair of us move to a small clearing nearby where we won't be disturbed. Defina35 goes down on her hands and knees and adopts her favoured position for sex. When Cassandra makes up a threesome, she normally lies on her back, while Defina35 places herself on her hands and knees straddling her. That way I have easy access to both of their cunts and can switch from one to the other with ease. Even though Cassandra isn't with us, Defina35 still prefers the position.

The biggest challenge when having sex with an Elf Maiden is not to come too soon. The strong pheromones emitted by Defina35 soon have my cock as hard as a pole. I have had considerable practise at fucking Elf Maidens, and these days I can control the timing of my orgasm... to a degree. However, today my poor control isn't helped by the fact that Defina35 hasn't had sex for nearly a month. She's desperate for an orgasm, and she soon has me equally eager to empty my balls. It's a battle of wills over who will orgasm first, and I must soon concede defeat. My seed floods into her sopping went innards which fortunately triggers her own orgasm.

However, Defina35 isn't done with me yet. She continues to rock back and forth on my cock, and even though I've spent my entire load, I do my best to help her reach a second orgasm.

"Thank you, Alex," says Defina35 once her second orgasm subsides. "I needed that."

"Next time we must include Cassandra," I reply. "I made her a promise to include her whenever possible."

"Sure. That's what we all agree back in Thurn," replies Defina35.

The contract Cassandra and I signed with Defina35, and her clone sister, Defina36, back in Thurn has no practical application in our current circumstances, and yet both Definas still feel morally bound by its terms. Defina35 and I return to where Cassandra is still feeding Rawiri.

"There's something or someone watching us from the trees over there," says Cassandra quietly, indicating a copse of trees at the far end of a clearing.

"Why didn't you call me as soon as you saw something?" I reply, casually looking in the direction of the copse.

"I've only just noticed it. At first I thought it was one of the Elf Maidens, but our observer has darker skin than any of the elves."

"Do you think it's an animal or one of the Hrill?" asks Defina35, referring to the mysterious third race that occupied the hibernation chambers below the Atene tower.

"It's standing on two legs, so it could be a Hrill," I say. "The drawings of them in Atene are very imprecise. Will you go and alert Whina and Emere. Hopefully Ikaroa, Ihapera and Makareta will be returning soon."

We wait for several tense minutes. The being continues to watch us from the copse, and we do nothing to alarm it while our foraging party is still absent. Whina, Emere and Defina35 quickly complete the repairs to the wakawaka and reload the supplies. If necessary, we can depart quickly, although that would be as a last resort. We can't paddle back upstream through the rapids, and downstream may bring us closer to danger.

"We've got company," says Ikaroa when she and her party return about ten minutes later.

At first I think Ikaroa is referring to the observer in the copse, but she points to a larger group standing on the edge of the forest behind her.

"We should try and talk to them," says Makareta, echoing my own thoughts.

"Yes, I agree," I reply. "But to be on the safe side, everyone but Makareta and me should get into the wakawakas. Any sign of trouble, then cast off and go across the river to the other bank."

"You too, Alex," says Makareta. "It only needs one of us to take the risk. I'm the daughter of an elven leader, so I claim the privilege of first contact."

I could raise several counter-arguments. Ikaroa and Ihapera can also claim kinship to an elven leader, Cassandra is the daughter of Thurn's emperor, and I'm Thurn's trade envoy to the elven communities. However, now is neither the time nor the place for such arguments. We all do as Makareta suggests.