by Willow Wilde
My eyes snapped back open, and I twisted my head in every direction. Is that running water, something whispered in my head. Eagerly, I gazed around. No, I guess I’m just hearing things now…maybe I should just rest here and–
THERE! I could see the faintest light, glimmering against the trees, a minute’s stumbling away. Summoning every last ounce of strength, I staggered towards the glimmer, pushing off of every tree between it and me…
As I reached the source of the light, I dropped to my knees in despair. There was no water — nothing to satiate my burning lungs. The small stream of light penetrating the canopy above was dancing off of a small bank of reflective stones, barely puncturing the soil. My thirst gaze flitted up the trail that pulled through — it was clear that this was, at one point, a small stream. But perhaps the earth had settled further up, sending the water pouring down another path. Maybe the source had even dried up somehow.
Either way, it meant that there was nothing for me here. I didn’t have the energy to pull myself up and wander up the trail of caked sediment, eager to find that shiny source of water.
As the trees above swam in a circle, I felt the full weight of my fruitless journey fall crushingly onto my shoulders. The last thing I remember is the painful group, rushing up to meet my shoulder as I slumped onto my side.
* * * *
For the second time that day, I awoke in a completely unfamiliar environment. When my eyes opened, I felt a soothing breeze, and where there was previously blinding sunlight, there was now comforting darkness.
The ground, however, was a little less forgiving. Murmuring in half-sleep, I pulled myself up from the mass of furs that formed my cozy sleeping arrangements. The flicking of the nearby flames showed me that I was near the mouth of a small cave, and also revealed something much more important to me.
Namely, a small, leather-bound canister. It looked like one of those old water flasks restraint that accompanies dying thirst, I lunged straight for it, hearing it slosh as I fumbled with the canister in my grasp. Ripping open the flask, I hesitantly poured a small stream of the contents to the ground.
Water.
Stripped of reason and logic, I instinctively threw it back, gulping down mouthfuls of the mysteriously placed water. It was the most refreshing thing I have ever tasted, and there was just enough of it to satisfy the burning, pressing need inside me. Sparing not a drop, I gulped down the contents and wiped my brow with the scruff of my wrist, silently grateful for whatever transpired to get me here, safe, and placed squarely next to the precise thing I needed.
Now that the immediate concern was dealt with, it was time for some answers. The cave itself was rather small, almost even quaint. If not for the crackling fire, I wouldn’t have considered this shelter inhabited, as it had no other signs of life. Running my fingers along the floor, I drew several lines in the ancient dust, and my eyes drifted to the back of the cave. It abrupt ended at a natural wall, and I trailed the ceiling with my gaze as it reached back to the cave’s mouth.
Carefully, I crept towards the front and gazed into the moonlight. Even in the semi-darkness, I could tell that I was somewhat higher than the trees — and this gave me a strong vantage point to properly gather my bearings.
Up until now, I had hoped in my heart that I was on the mainland somewhere, with civilization just a few miles out of sight. This was clearly not the case now, as I was on an island, with nothing else visible as far as my eye could see. There also didn’t appear to be the slightest hint of civilization on this island, as I saw no fires, buildings, anything to suggest the presence of man.
So that’s great.
My mind fell back to the fire, and I turned to stare upon it again. But someone had to scoop me up and bring me here…set the flames…bring me water…
Staring into the fire soothed me, and I felt myself wandering back towards my furs. A certain sleepiness had overcome me, and I didn’t dare fight it as I crawled back into the cozy warmth, resting against the ground.
Seeing my full predicament for the first time had sapped me, and I was still exhausted from my exploits during the day. As my body commanded sleep, I felt myself dozing back off…
* * * *
“Looks like someone is awake,” I heard a rugged, male voice observe. Rustling in the furs, I slumped onto my side and drew them close to my chin.
“Oh, don’t disturb her,” another mentioned. “She seems asleep to me.”
Hearing the second voice caused me to panic internally, but I feigned sleep. Truth of the matter was, I had never heard the voices before, and I was wide awake now.
“Maybe so…she has already slept so long, perhaps we should stir her soon.”
“Nonsense. She was at death’s door when we swooped in, there’s no reason to interfere as her strength ebbs back.”
I could smell the faint waft of cooked meat, and felt my stomach protest in fury. When is the last time I’ve actually eaten anything?
“You may have a point…still. She is the first human on this island in many years. How should we handle this?”
“Gently,” the second voice answered. “There is no reason to alarm her. You remember what happened the first time. They can’t handle seeing it, their kind.”
A third voice chimed in. How many are there? “Boys, you are aware, of course, that she is awake.”
I heard a slight rustle, and as I was turned onto my back, I stifled a fake yawn and stretched my arms out from the furs. Sleepily rubbing my eyes with the crooks of my fists, I gazed upon the three incredibly handsome, rugged young men sitting around me, watching me carefully.
“Oh…shit!” I murmured, withdrawing and pulling back. As the furs kicked out from under me, I became startlingly aware that I was still in my bikini, and they were all…very handsome. And very naked.
“You are awake,” the second voice spoke. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”
“…Keira,” I quietly admitted, suspiciously watching them. Although, I quietly admitted to myself, if they were going to try anything…I guess I could definitely do a whole lot worse. “I think I survived a shipwreck. I woke up on a beach today, and came into the woods for water.”
“You mean yesterday,” the third voice spoke, before the rational second one glared at him.
“Well, Keira, welcome to our island,” the second voice responded with a panty-melting smile. “We observed the demise of a ship in the distance. This is from whence you came?”
Hesitating, I nodded. My eyes drifted to the fire. There was a makeshift spit set up over it, and a large chunk of partially-eaten meat was roasting in the flickering flames. It looked to be some sort of wild hog, and the men had obviously already eaten some of the spoils.
“A shame. There did not appear to be any others who approached the island,” he continued. “There might still be others out there. But that was quite a distance away, and I’m surprised you made it to our domain.”
“Your…domain?”
“Yes,” the third voice answered, smiling wickedly. “Our domain. We are the lords of this island, its masters and protectors. Your kind has only rarely appeared here, but we have always been…disappointed.”
“Our kind?” They were giving me a strange vibe, and they shared a quick glance at my clarification. As they turned back, I realized that I had overlooked their piercing green eyes.
“Human—“ The third began.
“Outsiders,” the second continued. He definitely sounded like the one calling the shots. “We are insular here, and are not keen on outsiders coming to our lands.”
“Who ARE you guys?”
“Introductions, of course…I am Craig,” the second voice answered. “I am the leader of our — our group,” he cut himself off. “This is Lars,” he indicated to the first voice, with whom he was debating as I woke up, “and Sven,” he nodded towards the third — the one who realized I was awake.
“I see…” I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the food now. Craig followed
my gaze, and cursed quietly under his breath.
“Of course. You’re starving. Let us remedy that.”
A few minutes later, I was chewing ravenously into a roasted thigh, all semblance of civility long thrown at the window. After a minute or two of chowing down on the tender, smoked flesh, I continued the conversation as they watched me eat with some amusement.
“Craig, Lars, and Sven,” I murmured, glancing at each stranger in kind as I recited the names. “And you pulled me up from the mud and brought me here? Brought me water?”
“Yes,” Craig answered, watching my reactions carefully. “We have had our eyes on you since you fell upon our island.”
“I thought you were going to die out on the beach,” Sven chimed in. At my hurt glance, he meekly added, “…But I’m glad you didn’t.”
“As I was saying,” Craig spoke, glaring upon Sven, “we have been watching you since you arrived. You are persistent. I have no earthly idea how you pulled yourself from the sand, wandering the trees for hours before collapsing.”
“I didn’t want to die,” I answered truthfully, pausing mid-meal.
His green eyes glimmered for a split second as he tilted his head, watching me coolly. “Quite right…it is the desire of all life to trump death when it comes, and you have been nothing short of highly successful,” he continued. “It makes me wonder if you were brought to us.”
“Brought to you?” I was starting to feel uneasy about all of this, and I was still conspicuously in my bikini while they…
Their broad shoulders and rippling muscles tugged at my inhibitions. It had been so long since I’d had a good lay, and I had been rescued — saved — from the brink of death by the manliest, sexiest pack of handsome, young strangers I had ever seen. And although I had tried my best to keep my eyes on their faces, I so desperately wished to let my gaze linger downward, down to their exposed cocks in the semi-darkness as they perched or sat on the other side of the fire…
“No matter,” Craig decided. “You must find a way off of the island. Away from us.”
“Away from you?” I was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, I could stand to be near them a little longer…a lot longer.
“Yes…you are in grave danger here. There is much you do not know…can’t know.”
“And why is that?” I asked, chewing another mouthful of cooked, tantalizing meat. “I mean, who am I going to tell? I’m trapped here for now.”
Craig turned to the others, and everyone stood up in front of me. Their thick, mighty cocks dangled between their legs, and I almost fainted from the sheer wave of arousal that burned in my loins at that very moment.
“We must leave,” Craig continued. “Find a way off of the island. For your own good.”
Within an instant, they bolted out the mouth of the cave. I lunged sloppily after them, glancing around outside. Despite some falling stones, I couldn’t see any sight of them, and sighed in heavy disappointment.
Jeez. I find a bunch of hot, naked guys on a deserted island, in my freaking bikini, and even THEY can’t stand to be around me for more than a few minutes.
But I had no idea how wrong I was, or what I was about to be in for…
* * * *
The next morning, I found my canteen refilled with delicious water. Gulping down a third of it, I felt the need to relieve myself, which meant leaving the cave. I found myself carefully traversing down the slope, feeling out every foothold before exerting any pressure as I crept down the side.
My cave, unsurprisingly, was in the gradual incline of a mountain. As the slope rolled and adjusted, I found it easier to travel down, and necessity forced me to pick up the pace until I finally touched base against the ground. Darting into the trees, I found the relative safety of a bush and did what I needed to.
I needed to find a new supply of water, as I wasn’t sure my mysterious, handsome benefactors were going to keep me sustained during their shaky deadline to vacate the premises. Less than eager to cross back into the woods, I remembered seeing what looked like a stream, cutting through the trees slightly to my left. With zero other leads, I decided to throw everything I had into finding it.
Without the crippling delirium of the other day, I was able to appreciate the wildlife and the flora more. However, I also noticed warning signs that had eluded me before — the colors of the frogs told me that they were, in all likelihood, poisonous; the vines shifted lightly, just enough to make me wonder if there was any sentience to them; the larger birds menacingly glared at me as I passed, clicking sharp beaks that looked like they could strip flesh in a pinch.
But as I heard the sound of running water – actual water this time – I didn’t realize how dangerous the island could truly be…
* * * *
It was as I was filling my canteen, that I noticed the threat.
The wildcat was as motionless as stone, watching me carefully with predatory eyes. Standing in the tree line, I hadn’t heard it approach as I had happily filled my canister…but now, it was here – and by the looks of it, it was hungry. All too aware of how unprotected I was in my bikini, and how quickly it could catch me, I froze in kind and regarded it carefully.
Come on, you big, stupid cat. Just move along. Ain’t nothin’ to see here, you dumb pussycat.
But this was not a wildcat that passed on an easy meal. His head lowering slightly to the ground, paws spreading a little wider, I knew that I was about to leave this island a slightly different way than I’d intended.
“Well…fuck ME,” I murmured to myself.
The wildcat lunged, claws stretched as it barreled towards me. Throwing myself to the ground, I hoped for a quick, merciful death, before the most extraordinary thing happened.
Not one, but two bears pummeled their way out of the trees, slapping the wildcat away. It skittered across the underbrush and landed on its feet, skidding a little further before growling menacingly at them. The bears didn’t give me the slightest bit of attention, instead chowing to glare down the predator.
Pulling myself up from the dirt, I could practically watch it calculating — sizing up the fight to see if picking my bones clean was worth it. After all, it was just one wildcat — and I spotted its ripped ear, as it regarded them wickedly. After a moment, it seemed to back down, slinking away and snarling over its shoulder at them.
Afraid for my life, I started to crawl backwards away from the bears. One lazily glanced around, while the other immediately zeroed in on me. I froze on the spot, struggling to remember which kind of bears you tried to intimidate, and which ones were supposed to be countered by crawling up into a ball.
But surprisingly…they didn’t attack. Instead, they loitered around for a moment before slipping back into the woods. Before long, I was scrambling up from the ground, terrified and confused. Filling my canteen quickly, I disappeared back into the woods, eager to get away from either predatory force on the island.
* * * *
It took me about an hour to find my way back to the path up the mountain. From there, I would be able to scrutinize the layout of the land from my vantage point, and plan a course of action.
But as I reached the clearing at the foot, I realized that there were other plans in mind for me.
Because the fucking wildcat was back, and this time, he brought some goddamn friends.
They appeared out of nowhere, all five of them. Snarling and growling, they descended upon me with a savage bloodlust, and I recognized the one from earlier — its ear still bleeding lightly from the bear swipe. Locking eyes with me, it seemed to snarl, Look here, you stupid bitch. You see what I had to go through? Ooh, I can’t WAIT to bite you good.
There was NO WAY I was going to successively pull my way clear of a pack of wildcats, not when they approached me in a circle, hungrily ready to pounce…
My luck had hit lightning once. Would it hold up again?
They lunged for me as I cried out my last gasp…
…And the two bears swatted them from
the air, roaring with primal rage. Darting into the clearing, they viciously attacked the wildcats, defending me with a ferocity I wouldn’t have dared imagine. Their shaggy muscles pounded in the sunlight as they knocked back the cats, standing up on their hindquarters to roar down at the pack.
She is protected, they seemed to shout. You will not have her this day.
I couldn’t imagine why I was personifying these predators, but before I could seriously think about it, one of my rugged, naked rescuers darted into sight. It was Craig, who immediately outstretched his hand.
