Chapter Three: Trials Toward the Desert

Ashwyn looked at him in a haze as he spoke to her. Unsure what he was planning, she was surprised when he took her dagger. When he pulled her leg she gasped, but was easily able to shift it over his body. The feel of him turning inside her made her moan before she could stop herself.

She grabbed hold of the dagger while he lifted her up and pushed her hard against the tree trunk, pushing even deeper inside her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and keeping one hand holding firm to the dagger, she used her other one to pull his face in for another earth shattering kiss. Her legs locked around his waist, gravity forcing him even deeper inside her making something between a growl and a groan emerge from deep in her throat.

Sigurd put all of his weight into her shifting his hips and groaning softly. He leaned back slightly to admire his lover, but there was something missing... Working quickly he unfastened her belt and pushed her tunic up over her breasts setting them free. A chill rolled down his spine taking in her beauty.

Grinding his hips thoughtfully he leans in and bites her neck, growling softly as he pulls himself back to his tip only to slowly push himself back in. Glancing down he enjoys watching himself penetrate his mate even if it's less vigorous than he'd like but this position affords him the ability to increase his speed without much fear of making more noise, keeping Ashwyn quiet would be the hardest feat.

Ash groaned feeling the cold air on her chest as he pushed her clothing up. Her head was tilted back and her eyes closed, just enjoying the pleasure. When she opened them she saw him gazing down at her and the look of admiration and lust made her groan again.

When he moved in and bit her neck gasped and moaned. It was becoming increasingly difficult to stay quiet as he brought her ever closer to yet another climax. She could feel the rough bark of the tree cutting into her now exposed skin on her back and the armor bunched around her shoulders was puishing awkwardly into her body but she dind't care. She was really craving the feel of Sigurd's skin on her own but with his armor on that wasn't going to happen. She pulled him into her and the cold touch of metal on her sensitive breasts made her gasp.

She had one arm around his shoulders and her fingers wove under his tunic and dug into his flesh as she was pushed closer and closer to her fall.

Huffing, his hips thudded bluntly against hers the waves of pleasure far outweighed the need for silence now. Sigurd kissed Ashwyn deeply feeling his climax edging dangerously closer with each thrust. Given their mission and the unknown length of time they would be journeying he couldn't risk what his instincts desired, so for now he'd have to hold it back.

"Ash.." there was a deep need in his voice.

Curled in her blanket, Lopiena dreams of being that strange animal she had transformed into earlier in the day. Racing nimbly across the treetops, she can see everything clearly under a waxing moon. Her sharp claws find purchase on even the smallest of branches, and she gracefully leaps from limb to limb. But something is chasing her...something large with heavy breath. She can't see what it is, only that it's getting nearer...she can feel its hot breath on her neck as it catches her...sharp teeth pierce her neck and...

Jerking awake, Lo trembles with the memory of her dream. Touching her neck, she’s relieved to find it whole, unblemished...but she can still hear the hot breaths of the beast that chased her...no, wait, there are two distinct voices, each breathing heavy but...

Listening to the heavy breathing just beyond where she's lying, Lo can start to hear other things. Faint moans, the distinct sound of flesh on flesh, and quite a lot of moisture between the two. Innocent she may be, she’s not completely clueless and in the past had stumbled upon some of the village folks enjoying themselves in the woods. Well there are only two people at the moment close enough to be making those sounds, and she's happy for them both...trying to quiet her own breathing, Lo lies as still as she can, not wanting to interrupt their pleasure. Still...hearing them makes her yearn for...whatever amazing feeling Ashwyn was describing earlier. Silently, slowly, she slips a hand beneath her smallclothes to get a handle on her own needs.

Ash returned his kiss with her own passion, holding him close. She was lost in her own pleasure, far too lost to notice any other sounds happening around her.

Hearing his needy voice saying her name made her groan. "Oh Sig..." She moaned, holding him close to her,. Her breath was coming in pants now and her moaning, while not screaming level, were certainly getting louder.  Her grip on his shoulders tightened as her body tensed. She gasped at the power behind her climax and couldn't stop the squeak that left her lips as she gripped his body  and her whole body twitched around him.

Sigurd pressed his whole body against her as he ground his hips against her. feeling her vice like grip on his shaft almost sent him over the edge, his toes curled in the dirt as he fought to keep his balance biting back his groans. He enjoyed the feeling of her strong legs wrapped around him. Thoughts of their future together began to flood his mind, once their mission was over he would make sure their life would have more of this... every day... his body shuddered and he took a deep breath to steady himself only... something was different.. His nose twitched, he recognized his scent, Ashwyn's... but who was the third...

Sigurd closed his eyes and relied on his ears to pinpoint the scent, there was a soft rubbing of fabric... and flesh.. and moisture.. oh gods. He stopped mid thrust and leaned into Ashwyn so his lips were right by her ear "we've been discovered..." he said breathlessly

Ashwyn was still twitching from her climax and at first she couldn't understand what Sigurd had said. She blinked a couple of times, replaying his words in her mind as her body relaxed more. She didn't have his nose, but now that they had stilled she could hear... something. She blushed a dark red and then smiled embarrassingly.

As she and Lo had discussed earlier, Zane slept like a rock. And based on where the sounds were coming from, she was almost positive she knew who it was. She leaned in to Sigurd and kissed him sweetly. "It's okay." She squeezed her inner muscles around him and pulled him closer. "Please don't stop." She begged. She was still breathless and even though she'd reached her peak several times she still craved his body and his touch. Besides, she knew he hadn't reached his end yet and she'd be damned if he didn't. She leaned in closer so her lips tickled his ear. "She won't mind." She said, barely loud enough for him to hear her.

Lost in her own world of fantasies, Lo shivers at her pretense, dreaming of someday discovering what this really feels like. Someone warm to hold. Something bigger, fuller between her legs. Trembling slightly, she increases her own speed, marveling at how fast the wetness comes. Hearing Ashwyn's climax, she delves deeper, yearning to feel some small shadow of that incredible experience...like lightning through the body, someone had described it once. Only she just can't go that far; her own body seems to resist. Trembling again, she pulls back and just holds onto herself and listens to her heart pound, not knowing how to get to where she wants to go. Listening outward, she can hear very faint whispering and their rhythm changes...not wanting to be discovered, she pulls back quietly, wiping herself on the underside of her smallclothes with embarrassment. Can't even give herself the pleasure, much less...well at least there's a chance to find something real someday. Closing her eyes again, she tries to dream of whatever that might be like, but sleep doesn't come.

It was a strange sensation... Sigurd was always told as a child that times had changed from when ThunderKnoll was young, what the historians would call group breeding sessions, where groups of SpellWolves would get together and well, be together. Years passed and their society switched more to a monogamous one. Though there have been known to be exceptions to every rule. The scent of his mates arousal was enough to drive him.. but now the scent of two women... was pushing him further.

Ashwyn's words were like a switch in his mind, any shyness he had before was gone and his hips resumed their movements, he pulled her back off the tree and made sure all of her weight was held by his arms as he bounced her, his shaft buried to the hilt, he felt resistance as he was certain he was filling her completely.

Ashwyn gasped aa she was pulled off the tree. She held him tight, her arms around his waist, as he bounced her. All pretense of being quiet forgotten as the sound of flesh slapping together would be much easily heard now.

Ashwyn moaned out loud as he filled her, bringing her back to the brink once more. "Don't stop." she begged, repeating the words softly over and over again. Her legs squeezed tightly around him, holding on to him and also pushing him even deeper inside. She felt him push against her inner depths and the pain and pleasure brought another moan from her lips. "Sigurd..." she moaned his name.

Shivering at the sound of their pleasure, Lo curls her legs tighter under her blanket. Hearing them moan...she can only imagine what positions they must be in to make such intense sounds...it's too much to take. Sliding her hand into herself again, trembling at every movement, she tries to follow their rhythm on her own. Tightening her muscles with each movement, her breathing increases and a slight moan grows in her throat. Fantasies play out in her mind, dreaming of such intensity...

Sigurd's legs were starting to grow weak, not from the stress of holding his lover's weight but from the climax he'd been fighting back for what seemed like an eternity at this point. He loved the feel of her as he bottomed out on every thrust, her scent, her arousal, Lopiena's as well. It was too much to handle.

"Ashwyn... I-I can't.. Anymore... I'm gonna..." his voice was desperate.

Ash heard his words and felt herself already beginning to twitch once again.

"I want nothing more than to feel you fill me." She moaned into his ear. "But not tonight." She smiled.

Using her strong legs, she lifted herself up and off of his aroused member and then slid down his body just as her own body spasmed again, her thighs flooded with moisture. Though it was difficult to control her twitching, she reached up and took hold of her mates manhood. She ran her tongue from length to the tip, tasting herself on it before looking up at his face. "Let me taste you again, my love." She said, her voice dripping with desire, before she wrapped her lips around him and began bobbing up and down until the sensation had overwhelmed him and his seed filled her mouth.

Though it was abundant, she was prepared for it this time and managed to swallow it all without it spilling over onto her body. As they both came down from their sexual high, they collapsed together, breathing deeply. Ashwyn lay her head on the cold metal of his chest, clothes still askew, and fell into a deep sleep, the scent of their coupling strong even for her nose.

Sigurd, using what strength he had left, picked up a larger pebble and tossed it over to Zane. It hit him in the head making him bolt upright from sleep. "Hmm? What? what?!?"

"You're watch." Sigurd said before wrapping his arms around Ashwyn and covering them both with her discarded cloak.

"Hmm? Oh... Oh yes of course." Zane said and straightened his robes before sitting with his back to the party and beginning his own watch, completely oblivious to the actions that had just taken place.

[Posting for Sigurd at the request of his player since he can not at the moment ^^]

Trembling with her own arousal, Lo shivers as she removes herself and tries to discreetly wipe off the wetness. Not wanting to be discovered...especially by Zane...she keeps herself still until the even breathing of sleep can be heard from Ashwyn and Sigurd. Once all is still, she clutches her blanket tighter and sighs softly as if just stirring in a dream. Turning over to sleep, she keeps her eyes closed and breaths even...but though it sounds like she's sleeping, her mind is whirling with the pleasure she'd overheard and the intensity of her desires. It takes a long time before her pretense at sleep deepens from fantasies into the dreams of true sleep.

The morning came with bright sunlight shining down through the thick canopy. Dotted lights of sunbeams filtered down through the leaves and made the path around the spotted. Early morning sounds of wildlife beginning the day could be heard around them.

[Time is 7am - Weather is Sunny]

Zane, who was alreay up from his watch. Stood and stretched his body, sore from sitting in such an awkward position. He decided to take a few paces away from the others to scout the area just a bit.

As the sun hit her face, Ashwyn shifted a bit and her eyes fluttered opened. She blinked in the sudden light and rolled over into the warmth of her mate, suddenly realizing that parts of her were chilled more than they should be. She opened her eyes fully and realized that she was still mostly naked. She gasped and covered herself with her cloak. Or at least she attempted to, but Sigurd had rolled onto it at some point in the night. She glanced around herself trying to find her clothing. Her pants had completely fallen off and were laying on the other side of Sigurd near the tree she'd been pressed up against. A glance upwards revealed her dagger still firmly embedded in the trunk.

She turned towards the others and saw Zane was missing. Hoping she could clothe herself before he returned, she carefully rolled over Sigurd so she could reach her pants. She wrapped her hands around them just as Zane was coming back into view. She quickly pulled them on, then gasped when she realised her breasts were also exposed. She tried to pull her top down but the armor had bunched in such a way that it didn't want to move. Giving up on the armor for the moment she reached over to her cloak and pulled it out from under Sigurd, covering herself from prying eyes just as Zane had glanced over at her.

"Hmm? Oh, good morning, Ashwyn." He smiled at her.

She smiled, a bit embarassedly, and nodded. "good morning Zane... uneventful night?"

He nodded. "Oh yes. The forest was quite still." He nodded then moved over to his pack and started digging around in it.

Ashwyn sighed in relief that he didn't notice her armor in such a state and quickly went to work in fixing it. She'd likly have to get Sigurd to help with her dagger. She wasn't sure she could pull it out with how deep he'd stuck it. That thought sent a shiver through her body, remembering just how deep he'd been the night before. She smiled fondly at the memory as she began to carefully fix her armor, turning her back to Zane in case he glanced up at her and saw her so exposed. Though she hadn't noticed it yet, her back had several log scratches and cuts that were red with a small amount of dried blood from being rubbed against the tree and certain places around her chest had deep indention marks from the studds of her armor.

Groaning softly from lack of sleep, Lo rolls into a sitting position and puts her head in her hands. Her blanket is completely entangled around her, and once she's done rubbing the sleep from her eyes can only crawl out of the cocoon in order to shake it out into some semblance of order. Wordlessly folding the blanket and shoving it into her pack, she pulls out one of the flasks of water purchased yesterday and washes her hands before washing her face. Rubbing wet hands into her short hair, she can almost get it to calm down but it's splayed in every direction, as if indicating the quality of sleep she'd managed to get. Pausing for a long drink of water, she starts stretching in the hopes that the movement will force some life into her cold, stiff muscles. Finally more or less awake, she turns to Ashwyn and notices the difficulty she's having with her armor.

Walking over to her and keeping her voice low so Zane won't notice, she quietly murmers for Ashwyn's sensitive hearing. "Want some help?"

Ash jumped at the sound if a voice so near. She'd been so distracted with fighting with her armor that she hadn't heard Lopiena approach. She turned to her and blushed a bit as she smiled.

"I think so yes." She turned her and pointed at her back. "There's a clasp in the back to release the armor. I think if you do that It will loosen enough to fix." She indicated,pointing towards the middle of her upper back.

With a groan announcing that he was coming to, Sigurd mashed the sleep from his eyes as blades of light poked at him through the trees, there was a light breeze he found as he sat up and an uncomfortable pinch. Looking down he saw that he wasn't covered and his manhood was very clearly visible. He quickly stowed his equipment, still heavy with his lovers scent and got slowly to his feet.

Heat quickly rushed to his cheeks as he watched Lopiena help Ashwyn with her clothing. He notices the marks on her back and feels guilty but the still fresh memory of their love last night made him feel, not so bad.

Going behind Ashwyn to find the clasp for her armor, Lopiena lets out a slow breath at the condition of her back. Keeping her voice low, she gently whispers in her ear. "Hold on...let me get something." Returning to her own pack, Lo retrieves a few herb bags and a small pouch of something liquidy. Still speaking softly, she hands Ashwyn a piece of whitish tree bark. "Willow bark. Chew, don't swallow. It tastes bitter, but will help with some of the pain." Removing some of the liquid from the pouch, she gently touches the firm flesh around Ashwyn's rubbed raw back to put the liquid on, then gently massages it into the wounds. It stings, but being slowly introduced like that reduces the sudden feeling of it. As the liquid seeps into her wounds, the stinging is replaced by a feeling of warmth and slow numbness...Ashwyn can feel her back and muscles just fine, but the pain is diminished greatly. Finishing the job with a powder that keeps the liquid in place and aids in the closing of the wounds (and also helps keep clothing from sticking), Lo finally reaches for the clasp that releases the armor. Holding it up briefly so she can see where it lies, she gently places it over Ashwyn's skin with care to make sure it doesn't slide down or rub anything while it settles into place. "There. That should help. Or I can heal you properly, if you prefer." Still keeping her voice low, she continues helping Ashwyn with her armor from back to front. Finally positioned to look into her eyes, she murmurs "I'd recommend walking around a few steps before declining a real healing...the willow bark will help with the area between your legs, but it can only do so much." In spite of the dark circles under her eyes, Lo can still spare Ashwyn a quick wink and a smile.

Ashwyn winced slightly when Lo put the liquid on her back, mostly from shock. Once her armor was back in place she handed the bark back to Lo and smirked.

"I'm fine. Really." she chuckled. Then she lowered her voice a bit. "It was worth it." she winked back to her and finally stood up. "Thanks for the help." she added to the young druid.

Her legs were still shaky and she was definitely sore, she liked the feeling. It was a happy reminder of what happened the night before.

She turned around at last and found Sigurd standing. She smiled at him and approached, pulling her cloak from the ground as she went. She pushed herself up on tip toes and kissed his lips softly. "Good morning." she said with a soft smile.

Then she glanced over at her dagger in the tree. "Think you can give me a hand?" she asked, pointing to it.

Sigurd smiled and he pulled her close "good morning" holding her for a moment and enjoyed the closeness. When she motioned to the dagger he nodded "of course" walking from her he passed Lopiena, the scent of her excitement from last night's event was faint, but still there for his nose sending a chill down his spine.

Walking to the tree Sigurd pulled the dagger from its trunk with a bit of effort, surprised at how far he had forced it into the wood. No wonder Ash had no problem holding onto it. He walked back to his mate and handed it to her, careful to avoid touching it's now silvered blade.

Ashwyn smiled at him as he handed her the dagger. "Thanks." she flipped it around expertly and stuck it back in its sheath.

Zane happened to look up just as Sigurd was pulling it out of the tree. "Hm? What was that doing in there?" he turned to Ashwyn. "Did you have trouble last night?"

Ashwyn glanced at him and smirked. "No trouble." she turned back to Sigurd. "Just a little target practice." she winked at him playfully. As she walked to pass him she let her hand brush across him with a smile. The after glow from the night before was making her giddy. She tried to focus by staring at the two paths before them but her mind kept drifting back to the feeling of his body against hers. And she just couldn't banish the smile her lips insisted on curling into.

Zane approached near her. "So... Which way?"

She glanced at him and then turned back to the paths. "The only thing I know for sure is that one path leads further into the forest and the other leads towards the forest edge."

[The party has a choice: The path to the left or the path to the right]

Grinning somewhat at Ashwyn's 'it was worth it' comment, Lo replaces the willow bark back in her bag and watches Ashwyn with a slightly raised eyebrow. Maybe it didn't hurt that much? ...but no, Ashwyn is definitely limping, and more than just a little. Must be something about the experience that deadens the pain some other way, especially considering Ashwyn is grinning like she doesn’teven notice the limp. Juat another thing she'll have to find out on her own someday.

At the indication of the dagger...how did that get there?...Lo feels something undescribable as Sigurd walks past her.  Not at all sure what the feeling is and definitely no idea what to do with it, she simply turns back to her pack and starts putting herb bags away.  Pulling out a piece of dried meat, she sits back and watches her team.  There's a slight change in the air, and she can't quite place it...Ash and Sig are much closer, that's good; Zane is...Zane; and she...well, even though she feels like the outsider as always she can't help but feel more connected somehow.  Must have been that talk with Ashwyn; she'd never revealed that sort of stuff to anyone and still be accepted.  It's as though whatever had been driving her to seek more, be more, do more has finally acquiesed to let her just be.  Not that she's planning to stop learning anytime soon, though! Picking up her pack and preparing to leave, she starts going over a few of the things she'd learned from the scrolls and the journal. Might need to gather a few more herbs as they travel...

Walking over to Ashwyn, she also places a hand on the moist earth at the joining of two paths. Still a wall, still no clue which way to go...standing, she shakes her head. "No idea. It seems whatever is blocking us just wants us to pick one and deal with the consequences." Looking left and right, she takes a few experimental steps down each path. "No difference that I can tell. Sigurd, Zane? What do you think?"

Sigurd stood before the paths ahead of them and sighed. There was no logical way to tell which way was the right one so he'd let fate decide. Placing a stone in the middle of the path he set his greatsword on it until it balanced. He then jammed two sticks on either side of the pommel to restrict it's sway to point at only the two paths. "This was an old explorers trick when they couldn't decide on a direction."

Kneeling down beside his contraption he gave the pommel a gentle push and watched as his sword bounced back and fourth off the sticks. The tip of the blade wavering between the two paths until it finally slowed and stopped. "We go right"