Sahel stirred slightly, feeling a tugging at her mind, she was pulled closer and closer to true consciousness. Opening her eyes she stared directly into the gaze of the Setthi who had joined Tovan and herself, feeling flustered at the awkward sensation of being intimately acquainted with someone who's name she didn't know Sahel attempted to speak. With just a small squeak escaping her lips she cleared her throat and tried again. "Um…I uh…we just…um." She sputtered helplessly, unable force a coherent thought.
Geven wrapped his arms around Sahel he hugged her to him laughing in gentle amusement at the contrary expressions chasing across her face. "You are delightful!" He exclaimed feeling unaccustomed joy sweep through him brushing away the lingering traces of sleep from their energetic bonding. Seeing Tovan awake and observing the two of them he included him in the hug. "Tovan give me the name of our lensheth-atea that I may greet her properly."
Tovan, with his customary humor coming to the fore, said as formally as any merchant or priest, "Sahel, may I present, Geven a companion of almost as long standing as yourself."
Sahel relieved to be on familiar ground at last, reached out to smack Toval on the shoulder. Barely avoiding the swipe, Tovan just grinned and rolled out of reach coming to a sitting position a few feet away.
Watching this byplay, Geven grinned as well enjoying Tovan's antics, grateful to him for breaking the tension that had gripped Sahel. Seeing the mock frown on her face he chuckled bringing her eyes back to him and the blush returning to her cheeks as well. "There is no need for embarrassment beautiful one." He said tipping her chin up with one finger and gazing in to her eyes. "The Lensheth-atea is demanding of all, you were no more lost to thought and reason than any other." He reassured her letting the truth in his eyes and expression.
"Gev…Geven why do I still feel unsettled as if something is missing. She asked, and continued almost as if speaking to herself. "Like someone is calling my name from far away."
Tovan abruptly reached forward to touch Sahel, a slight frown on his face. "I felt nothing until Sahel brought it to our attention and even now…I hope I am wrong. Geven do you feel it?"
All humor disappearing concentrated on feeling and amplifying the faint call barely felt by Sahel. "May all the gods forgive us." He blurted out in horror. "We have a fourth and he is trapped unable to reach us. He felt our bonding and could not reach us to join. Leaping to his feet and racing toward the direction of the faint call. The feel of the call like the scent during the hunt, now that it was recognized, it was unmistakable.
Tovan reacted almost a quickly pulling Sahel to her feet. The urgency of his movements plain to see. Tugging her along with him in Geven's wake his urgency infecting her and compelling her feet to fly Tovan attempted explanation as they raced down almost invisible deer trails ignoring the bruises and cuts from sharp stones on the path. "Our fourth unable to reach us felt our bonding and unable to participate or call us is being driven mad by the sensation of the bond. Without being able to touch he may cause irreparable harm to himself or even death in trying to push beyond his limits to reach us. He may even in the fever of the bond believe it to be deliberate." This said he concentrated on guiding their way through the forested mountainside.
Her mind absorbing the information, thinking of the urgency she had experienced in the throes of the compulsion to mate. Her thoughts brought reserves of strength she didn't know she had and pushed on quicker running beside Tovan rather than being pulled. Catching sight of Geven prone next to a seemingly innocent pile of logs they put on a burst of greater speed, sprinting to his side.
Geven looked up at their arrival tears in his eyes he spoke. "It is almost too late. He is trapped under this deadfall, uninjured as far as I can tell, I can only reach his fingertips I am too large for the opening and he is nearly mad. Unheard until now a plaintive sound almost animal in its pain and suffering could be heard rising in intensity until it was almost unbearable.
Bending look down the short tunnel formed by the fallen logs Sahel felt a leap of hope. "I can fit through that! I can reach him." She exulted. "Geven you and Tovan move the logs carefully while I comfort him. We can save him.
Tovan cautioned, "He may no longer be rational, he may injure you in his frenzy and need."
Her eyes flashing in determination she stated flatly, "We cannot let him perish or be driven insane when help is so close." Without further warning she shoved her head and shoulders into the hole wriggling her bare body deeper she spoke soothingly. "Be strong we are coming you will be lensheth-atea before you know it. You must hold on I will help you." Feeling his outstretched fingers graze her face she redoubled her efforts to reach him.
Watching as her body disappeared under the logs, Tovan spoke his voice choked. "If we make one mistake moving the logs they will crushed and we will lose them both."
"So we will just have to do this perfectly." Geven responded fiercely determination written in every inch of his body.
Moving closer by tiny increments, Sahel forced her body into the increasingly narrow tunnel. Feeling the unknown one's hands frantically stroking every portion of her face, arms and neck that he could reach she made soothing noises, dragging herself forward by her finger tips and toes alone she felt the graze of hair on her face and his frantic breath across her cheek and chin. She could go no further she was securely wedged into place.
Resting her forehead on the ground momentarily she took as deep a breath as the tight quarters would allow. Raising her face blindly she laid her face along his brushing her lips against his ear the feel of her breath causing a tremor to shake his body further. Kissing all the skin within reach she searched for his lips, finding them opened her mouth to him tasting the blood on his lips from where he had bitten them in the turmoil and delirium of his need. Sahel shared her own calmer state calming him as she felt the terror and fear of his disordered emotions. She could hear distant thumps of Geven and Tovan using their great strength to release them for she was just as trapped now as the man who lips she caressed with her own.
Braeon felt a measure of hope as soft lips traced his; a shudder wracked his body in relief from the unbearable tactile deprivation. Tension draining away temporarily he felt compelled to speak. "I'm Braeon--, his voice broke harsh from misuse and screaming unheard for aid.
"Shhh, don't strain your voice anymore. I am Sahel and I blame myself for not hearing you. I am not Setthi or at least not only Setthi and I didn't understand when I still felt a calling." She confessed between kisses, silent tears running down her face. "Tovan and Geven are working to free us so we may bond in truth. I would never forsake the lensheth-atea. Forgive me." She begged.
A measure of control and strength returned at her confession. Braeon relaxed further assured that the torment he had endured was not deliberate. Bringing his hands to clasp her face he kissed her deeply sending the words he was unable to speak to her in the emotions he felt, he gave his forgiveness freely. Allowing her to feel the relief he felt at her presence the longing and beginnings of the bond that was growing with her presence and the emotions he could sense in her touch.
A slight shudder was felt, and a splinter of light shined on them, illuminating Braeon's face for the first time. Sahel caught her breath in wonder, she had never seen a more beautiful face, not in the least effeminate, but just beautiful in a purely masculine form. Light violet eyes stared into her green ones searching for reassurance and acceptance. He obviously found it and the expression of joy and relief on his face caused her heart to pause a moment, then resume at a quickened pace.
Desire growing apace with lessening of despair, Braeon let the state of his emotions spill over onto Sahel.
Geven and Tovan paused momentarily in their labors, feeling the rising desire from Sahel and distantly Braeon; they redoubled their efforts to free their trapped lensheth-atea.