Sorry it took so long to finish this chapter! Between 60 hour weeks at work and the holidays, it's been hard to find any time to work on it. As always, comments and ideas are appreciated!
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The next couple days were a blur of activity as the clan prepared to move to a new camp. "We can't stay in the same spot too long," Shan explained. "Too easy to be found."
It seemed to Snow that she had passed some kind of test by sharing Ally's furs. As she helped clean, repair, and pack what the clan would be taking with them, there were more smiles, more winks, and more friendliness in general from the other Panthers. There was, however, also a warning.
Shan pulled her aside the next afternoon. "Don't start thinking you're going to be part of some couple," she said gently. "We can't allow that. It always leads to jealousy and problems. If you want to play with Ally, or any of the other girls, that's fine. Just remember--Panthers don't get to fall in love."
It made sense to Snow, and it wasn't a hardship. She liked Ally, the first member of the group to show her any kindness, but it wasn't like she daydreamed of a lifetime together.
Her daydreams were confined to Earth luxuries like indoor plumbing and DVD players. Anyhow, Ally seemed to be uninterested in a repeat. She was friendly and affectionate, but didn't offer to bring Snow to her furs again, and the Earth girl wasn't brave or brazen enough to initiate anything. It felt like Ally was just giving her time and not pressuring her, and that was more than fine with Snow.
It would be a three day journey to the new camp. They would travel in three groups. Shan, her hulking, scowling bodyguard (Snow had yet to see the muscular Panther say a word to anyone or change expression, and had no idea what her name was), and Denera would go first to scout the trail.
A second group of five would follow with a cart that carried most of their equipment and possessions--two girls to pull the cart and three to keep watch.
Snow would follow a couple hours later with Darkness and Ally. They were going to take a detour to one of the villages at the edge of the forest. The Panthers had had some dealings with the village in the past, and there was a blacksmith there they hoped would be able and willing to cut off her hated steel collar.
The rear guard would be a single girl-- Markeela, a quiet, intense girl with a permanent frown who was so uncomfortable in groups she spent most of her time hunting and patrolling alone anyway.
The night before they planned to leave, Snow was just dozing off when someone joined her. It was Rendill, one of the Panthers that had brought her to the camp originally. In the
time since Snow had become a member of the clan, they had become friendly. Rendill was smart and funny and went out of her way to include Snow in conversations, and explain some of the things the Earth girl didn't understand.
Snow expressed her surprise to see the girl in her furs, but Rendill's giggles were contagious. "Do you have any idea how much of a hassle you've been?" she said laughing softly.
"It used to be we just hooked the cart to Blainey's big ass and let her pull it. Now that she's gone, it's gonna take two of us and I'M one of the ones stuck with the job!"
Snow's eyes went wide, and she started to apologize, but Rendill just smiled and kissed her sweetly. "I know you didn't make more work for me on purpose...but I still think you owe me," she said with a grin, and gently pushed Snow's head under the furs.
It was Snow's first time attempting to give another girl oral pleasure, and she felt both awkward and nervous, but judging from the Panther's moans, and the amount of juice on her face when she was finished, she acquitted herself well.
The two girls cuddled together afterwards, kissing and nuzzling until they fell asleep. The last thing Snow heard was the other girl whispering "Okay, now we're even.
The small vanguard had left by the time Snow and the other Panthers awoke at dawn and began piling the last few things into the small cart. The camp seemed eerily silent when that group left, leaving only Ally, Darkness and Snow still to go. They spent their waiting time going over plans and routes, making sure the Earth girl knew what was expected of her--basically it amounted to 'do what we tell you and stay out of the way if there's trouble.'
They kept her in the middle as they walked, pointing out anything of interest or importance. A few times, there were subtle signs along the trail--branches or stones arranged in a certain way to indicate 'all clear.' Ally especially took the time to tell Snow the names and uses of various trees and plants they saw.
Mostly it was just a long day of walking, but they made good progress. "We're right where we're supposed to be," Darkness announced as they slipped away from the small trail to make camp for the night. "We'll be to the village before lunch time, and maybe catch up with the wagon before the reach the next camp. We'll see how long we spend at the blacksmith's."
Too tired to do anything else, they gnawed on dry biscuits and jerky before the Panthers wrapped up in furs and slept. Snow was given the first watch, and she sat under the stars and Gor's three moons, fighting to stay awake and alert until she heard Darkness groan and struggle to her feet.
Yawning, the tall Panther gave Snow a friendly smack on the shoulder. "Get some sleep," she said simply, and Snow didn't have to be asked twice. She curled up in her fur blanket and slept like a rock.
The trio was up and moving at first light, still travelling east-southeast, and reached the edge of the forest mid-morning. They skirted the edge for only ten minutes or so before Darkness, in the lead, spotted the buildings of the village they were seeking.
"Excellent navigation. Well done," Ally praised her, and the tall Panther gave her a rare smile.
They carefully hid most of their belongings. Ally and Darkness kept their bows and quivers, and Snow used her sling to secure a large fighting dagger to her right thigh. As soon
as they emerged from the tree line, they could hear high-pitched squeals of excitement and alarm. The quarter mile or so of space between the village and the forest was uncultivated grass, about knee-high on the Gorean women. A few young girls had been playing in the open field, and now they went racing and hollering towards the village.
Snow looked to her companions, but Ally just shrugged and patted her on the shoulder. "We're not trying for stealth anyway," she said. "The village is less likely to be alarmed if we walk in the open."
The blacksmith's was on the east edge of the village, a low, wide building closed on three sides. It reminded Snow of a garage. As they walked, a few village women, mostly old ladies or nursing mothers, came out to watch. To Snow they seemed wary but not hostile. The Panthers always raised an arm in greeting as they passed.
They had a few children following them, kids aged 5 or 6, when they got to the blacksmiths. Ally and Snow entered, and Darkness stayed outside, smiling at the youngsters who chattered excitedly.
"Tal Grigor," Ally called, and the blacksmith raised his head up from his workbench. He had long, light brown hair and a full shaggy beard.
"The Panthers!" he cried as he rose. "Tal Ally! We have not been graced by your presence for many months!"
Snow's eyes widened as the blacksmith approached. He was, even by Gorean standards, a massive man, nearly seven feet tall and thickly muscled. He wore breeches and a leather apron over a bare chest, and his arms seemed as thick as her torso. His grin widened as he looked down at the Earth girl.
"I see you've brought a Panther cub with you," he said, and laughed at his own joke. Snow tensed for a moment and clenched her fists, but Ally just smiled.
"This is our newest sister, Snow. Snow, meet Grigor the blacksmith."
"Tal Huntress," the Gorean said.
"Tal, my Lord Blacksmith," Snow replied, and now it was Grigor's eyes that widened.
"A barbarian girl?" he asked, and both Ally and Snow nodded.
Grigor shook his head. "What is this world coming to?" he muttered, but his eyes glittered with amusement.
"Don't be fooled Grigor," Ally said. "This little barbarian took Hailey's place."
