Chapter 3
Waking just before sunrise, Brooke knew there would be much done with little time in which to do it. Between her breasts she clutched her daughter’s adorable head and missed the closeness she had with the beloved child she gave birth to at so tender an age herself. The near two months apart had been hard, but getting back had been so worth it. Little Rena began to wake at the subtle movement of her mother and turned to smile sweetly. “Good morning, Rena.”
“It is, Mother.” She buried her small face between the soft breasts.
Their words woke the others and Rena noticed how Daku had become small and slept on her dad’s wide, but flat chest. Meeka had to lean back as Sean stretched and came dangerously close to touching her lips.
With everyone in the tent waking to a dark room, Rena asked “What are we going to do today?”
Darkness backed away as orange fire shot from Cage’s fingers towards the small pit where he added twigs and a log. He said “I’ll take Meeka over to see her parents…”
“I would like to see them for myself, they who raised the woman I love.” Brooke stated after a deep, lung filling yawn.
Rena excitedly asked “May I also come and see who my grandparents are?”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing what they look like.” Sean asked hesitantly.
“But we have so much…” Cage was about to say.
Daku grew to a size of a large dog and placed a rough hand on his human’s leg. “I believe this to be acceptable. Meeka will be safe with her family and I see no reason why those she loves cannot be introduced anyway. Cage, you and I can visit for a short time and leave them there. We will make the floating logs to get these humans across. You will be more busy and later, when they are ready I’ll go collect them.”
“Thank you, Daku!” Rena said.
Brooke didn’t like the idea of bringing a child away from the tribe’s collective safety, but they had been apart long enough. She placed a hand on her daughter’s arm to say “If we are to go you must wear clothes. Your other mother says walking naked isn’t allowed in her tribe, but as long as we keep our nipples and flowers covered there will be less confrontation…” Brooke looked away to her woman. “I wish I had better leather to wear to meet your parents…”
“But I made you winter clothes, Mother.” Rena pulled away and crawled over to a pile of furs and supplies. The little girl moved bundles aside till she grabbed what she looked for and brought over two thickly wrapped bundles. “When I was alone at night with the other girls or elders, I was given a deer fur. It took me a month, Mother, but I made these as a return home gift.”
“Such a thoughtful cub.” Daku said as Brooke was beyond words.
Slowly the mother smiled, took the hard worked leather and set it down to hug Rena tightly. “Thank you. Working leather is difficult. Did you make sure to sharpen your knife? Where did you get salt? Did you trade along the way?”
Rena beamed. “Yes. The hair was harder to shave off than buffalo, but scraping tallow was about the same. Elder Shania helped me stretch the skin to dry and showed me where to cut since deer was unfamiliar… For salt, one of the children used a pot to boil water till nothing was left except hot salt. The elders asked and he said that if the water tasted so salty that if it had any it would show up like dirt when he left the water to boil too long one time. The ocean has provided us much salt and with plenty of trees we won’t fear fire shortage…”
“Have you made some for yourself?” Her mother inquired.
“My winter cloth isn’t ready. A hunter gave me her boar pelt the day before the strong storm and I haven’t been able to stretch it out yet. I’m trying to make a stretching rack myself while the salt cures, but everyone is working so hard already…” She replied bashfully.
“I will help you make the prettiest wither clothes of the whole tribe when we get settled on the island. Hurry and gather your strap and bottoms. Show me where this stream is where all of us may bathe and not smell so disgusting when we meet your other mother’s parents. All of you are in great need.” Rena went right to it and easily dug out her tribal strap and bottoms. Brooke gathered the fruits of her child’s hard work to say “We all need to get ready.”
Cage secretly clutched the special crystal and kept it from sight for now. He stood and gathered his pack to remove the dark robe and tucked it under a shoulder while Sean found his only shirt and Meeka gathered her white dress.
Outside the tent waited several standing villagers. He asked “What is this?”
Zanza stepped closer with another woman holding a wooden container. The huntress/warrior Zanza casually stated “I did not mean to intrude, but I was coming back from the stream and overheard you are all going to visit Meeka Sister’s parents. You have all just returned… but we know the reason you must go. We warriors discussed that you will not leave the tribe without warriors going as well. We who stand here were not intimidated by heights when we traveled the mountains. Chief, please allow us warriors to accompany your mates and children…” Her expression in the darkness was stoic and firm, but her eyes begged that they wouldn’t interfere much. “I heard you and Daku will return and we cannot allow our people or children unprotected in our sister’s home tribe, even if they were kind…”
Daku strode forward and looked up at the fierce men and women. “I will allow no more than five to protect my partner’s family. Choose among yourselves and prepare for a full day.”
Zanza and four large men spoke and greatly appreciated the griffin’s consideration. The warrior woman gestured to the woman beside her with the container to say “Meeka Sister, you need new beads since the last were taken.”
Meeka came forth and smiled when the woman displayed three colored beads exactly like those she lost. She smiled and turned her head to receive them. Gentle tugs in her hair were due to the application of beads near her left temple and the end was tightened in such a way that the only solution to removal is by cutting them off again. Meeka grinned “Thank you for this, I missed them greatly.”
Brooke said “We must go bathe before sunrise. Come children.”
Cage waited behind until Meeka disappeared with the others as Rena led the way. Out of hearing range he said “Zanza, I need you do something for me real quick. Go find a strap of extra flat leather about eight inches long and three wide, any pieces of metal to spare, I don’t need much and will bring some back with me, if I’m allowed. I’ll need it before we start flying. Then you and the men need to slip something on to be seen by others and do another check over on your weapons.”
“I will hurry… But how long is eight inches?” The woman said.
He explained with his hands and knew he had to bring the tribe’s literacy up.
At the water’s edge they all submerged in the icy water and used white sand to scrub off all the sweat, dirt, grime and smell. The sand even cleaned the scalp and washed away clean, without protest.
Then, when the bath cleaned every inch of skin, Brooke untied the string and unraveled a pair of golden brown pants and could clearly see her daughter’s needlework with thin, sharp bones and was impressed. Rena’s sewing skills improved as the seams were sturdy if not unpleasant. Much work and experience would be needed, but she was well on her way. Patterns colored into the leather were clearly Utala and accentuated the material nicely and where the back would hug her posterior was a dark marking nearly identical to what was blessed upon her. Her long, sculpted legs slid into the cavities and realized her legs from mid-thigh down were overly loose while her round hips were a little too tight.
The second piece was a top which had leather strings running up and down the front so that it could be adjusted for easy access to be on or off. Brooke sighed that Rena seemed to be more careful on this and it looked much more appealing. She loosened the crisscrossing string and slid it on. The shoulders were much too loose, but her arms were comfortable. Then she tried tightening the front closed and found out her large breasts didn’t take kindly to t
he top and tried closing it, but her impressive cleavage wasn’t wanting to be hidden.
“How are they, Mother?” Rena asked in fragile hope for approval.
“The work needs help, but I’m amazed at how good a task you did… How does it look on me?”
Meeka stepped in behind Brooke after sliding the short slave dress over her head and grabbing her woman’s luscious hips. “Brooke, you look so beautiful I could cry. But your breasts look amazing this way.” She kissed the soft curve of Brooke’s neck before looking at the little girl. “Rena, you did an amazing job.” The girl beamed brightly. “Later, I want you to make me one just like Brooke’s so we can share looks. Many women will be jealous of how good we look thanks to our daughter’s hard work. Soon every woman who is proud of their breasts like us will want to wear what you made.”
“Do you think I can get good trades for it?” Rena asked.
Meeka nodded with honest enthusiasm.
“Rena,” Sean approached in his wet, washed clothes. “if you can teach me how to work leather, I would like to learn and help.”
“I would like that, but as a boy you must first prove you can hunt before anyone can show you how to make proper leather.” Rena explained. “If you want to learn, you must bring food for the tribe first. When you provide, I would be glad to work with you, but I still have much to learn myself.”
Sean turned around as Cage tied a knot in the sash to hold the robe together. “Dad, can you teach me to hunt?”
“Sure, but that will have to wait. Right now I think it would be best you learn more about the tribe and what it takes to be a Utala child. Rena’s been good about guiding the other children every two days with what I taught her… Yes, Rena, I’ve been watching and I’m very proud of how responsible you are.” Rena’s coppery cheeks turned a shade redder as a smile seemed to dominate her features with her family back. “I must also resume training the kids as well as the adults. See where you can help tomorrow since the next three days will be busy.”
Hearing the clear tone, Sean understood. “Yes, Dad.”
Rena took her new brother’s cold, wet hand and led the way back to the village where nearly everyone had awoken. In the front stood the five prepared warriors wearing an eight inch dagger, a metal tipped lance as tall as the individual and a bow with several stone tipped arrows strapped over their torso. The four tattooed men wore only leather pants and kept their knife strapped to their forearm like Sean while Zanza held hers to her bare thigh like Rena. Brooke had to go to her tent for a moment to strap her tomahawks to her thighs, outside the new leather leggings. Cage noticed Zanza tightly clutching something rolled up in her fist.
Beside the warriors stood five of the seven elders. Elder Shania spoke since Metak lay asleep. “Chief, I have been informed of your plan to visit Meeka’s worried parents and hold no objections…”
“Why is it I feel a but coming?” he smirked.
The elder woman smiled. “But” She chuckled twice softly. “what is it you want us to do before your return?”
“Search the area for me.” The older matriarch blinked. “Find me the biggest and fattest trees in the area. Oak would be the best.” His sharp intuition saw she knew the tree’s generic name clearly.
Daku stepped forward to finish what Cage was about to say. “Cut down fifteen and remove the more nuisance branches. I will then drag them out to the coast so do not worry yourselves about dragging them. Gather the animals and keep them together for when I get large they will scatter otherwise. Also begin gathering your belongings and move to the beach.”
The elder couldn’t believe such a statement. “We will do so, but to drag a tree the like you say would be impossible…”
“You will understand soon enough.” And then Daku shrank down to fly and land on Cage’s shoulder. “We must go before the sun rises. Cage, use that clearing I landed in earlier to take off again. I cannot be large enough here to carry everyone without destroying these fragile nests.”
“You heard him!” Cage said and created orbs. As he passed Zanza she handed off the goods without raising suspicion. Since he led, he saw the simple prize and it looked just as he needed. Even enough metal was gathered, less than the size of a metal spoon’s worth was available. Plenty to use. Behind, he heard more than those Daku would allow and realized that the others wanted to witness.
While he had a quarter mile to travel through thick brush he wound the leather magically around his wrist, a thought of focus cut the excess and he manipulated the treated fibers to create a sleeve a half inch wide. The sleeve slipped through the side of the leather bracelet as he manipulated the metal into a square, saving an inch long piece before looping and welding one end to the center of the square. The buckle became locked in the edge of the opposite end of the bracelet. Adjustable holes were punched in the center every half inch, totaling six holes. He then canceled the spells and singlehandedly bound the leather bracelet securely, using the sleeve to hold the excess. It felt snug, but his wrist is larger than the intended recipient. Daku sat, watching the work closely and with amusement. Now that the bracelet works he removed the crystal and carefully used manipulation to reshape the object without causing cracks or losing integrity. It soon transformed from an irregular shape into a tenth of an inch thick triangle and was integrated into the center of the leather, estimating where it would fit on the owner. He then added a protection spell to prevent scratches, cracks or breaks. The remaining spells remained unaffected.
Reaching the clearing while adding the final touches to the bracelet, Daku pounced off and began to grow larger than they expected the creature to be and the Utala’s reaction pleased him.
Startled gasps came from the Utala as they witnessed the size altering creature grow twice as tall as any man. Whispers broke out and the elders knew that their questions and disbelief were answered just by gazing upon Daku’s pure magnificence. Elder Shania bowed respectfully and apologized for doubting him and he smiled back, glad to see that these human’s had not only pride, but humility as well. He lowered his hulking form of large muscles beneath pristine fur.
Cage hid the bracelet for a second to help Sean and Rena climb. His son taught his sister how to move safely and the best places to hold on so she didn’t slip or fall. Meeka went next while Brooke ascended unaided. Seeing the lack of hesitation from their priestess the five warriors approached and required some aid in climbing the unfamiliar animal while balancing a spear in one hand. Cage took a running start after giving last minute instructions to the elders and stood between Daku’s wide back. Before he sat down Sean asked “Dad, can you stick us to Daku again? I think Rena and the warriors would find it less unsettling.”
“Why not?” The chief smiled and fixed everyone sitting with crossed legs in his field of vision and outstretched his hands. “Don’t move for a few minutes. Wait till you feel comfortable before saying ‘Release!’ and the magic will end.” He was about to implement the spells before he gestured for the warriors to hold their lance securely. The spell worked and everyone, excluding the caster, could no longer even lift a butt cheek.
Feeling everyone settled in, Daku stood, making the ground shake slightly to those nearby. His great wings spread from one side of the clearing to the next with little room to maneuver. The full stretch felt great before the feathered wings stretched up like sails. Daku pushed his arms to achieve an angled position on his two back legs which bunched greatly. With a lunge from the release of tension he jumped while throwing his wings down, creating a blast of wind beneath himself. The Utala below rushed to get away and one was knocked over from the current. Daku cleared the trees and beat his wings several times to reach a steady rhythm a hundred feet above the canopy.
On a clear route in the dim predawn light, Cage spun around and sat before his two remarkably attractive women while pulling out the bracelet. “Meeka, hold out your left hand.” She did with confusion written in her tan expression. He wrapped the leather bracelet and buckled it comfortab
ly to her slender wrist and had to magically sever another inch of excess the sleeve couldn’t hold without looking gaudy. As he suspected, the crystal was embedded almost perfectly center on the topside. It wasn’t very noticeable so he left well enough alone. The clarity of the gem was like glass as it showed her skin beneath.
“What’s this?” She asked while marveling at the belt-like leather around her wrist and the gemstone standing beautifully in the heart of it.
“Something to give your life more freedom, but I must make absolutely sure the wards I put on the crystal will even work.” He stood and began looking around to find a small bird flying as far away as it could from them. A magical hand enclosed around the sparrow and jerked it back. It fought futilely against Cage’s power until hands clamped down securely on the small wings and head to keep the beak from pecking. He knelt while holding out the struggling bird. “Meeka, I need you to kiss the bird.”
Her blue eyes widened. “But why? What would be the poin…” she then stopped talking to look down at the bracelet with the crystal before meeting his sure gaze. Hoping if her assumptions were real she leaned forward to place her lips on the feathered creature and prayed it would be well. She barely felt the feathery sensation and pulled away quickly. Her eyes opened to see Cage grinning before he threw his hands up to release a flapping miracle.
The sparrow flew away with all haste.
Meeka’s eyes began to water as her hands went to cover her quivering lips. “Cage, is this a dream? Did I just kiss something without my curse freezing it?”
“Did you feel the effects normally associated with the curse?” He smirked.
She felt numb while shaking her head. “No, but… but how can this be?”
“First, tell me how the kiss felt?”
“I’m not sure… I’ve felt feathers not attached to birds before, but it felt somehow… less than I remember…” She admitted.
Laugh of Destruction (Book 3 of the Death Incarnate Saga) Page 9
