by Susan Klaus
Although it had been three days and nights since he slept, he was determined to stay alert, listening and smelling the wind for danger. In the afternoon, billowing clouds rolled in, covering the mountain in a dense fog and relieved Shail’s anxiety. Turner would be foolish to fly in such weather.
Shail rose briefly and filled his mouth with water from the tiny trickle, but did not swallow. He leaned down, kissing Kari. “Drink,” he relayed, releasing the water between her lips. She swallowed, but remained semiconscious.
He stood to gather more, when she called out, “Shail! Don’t leave me.”
He dropped beside her and caressed her forehead, his eyes welling up with tears. “No, my love, I would never leave you,” he relayed. She was delirious with raging fever, her breathing rasping and uneven. She was growing worse. He gave her more water, forced the purple fruit between her lips, and then coiled around her. Never had he felt so helpless, so worried. With the silence of one heartbeat, his whole world could slip away.
The second night in the cave, Shail became frantic, fearing her death. He raced through the trees and gathered sticks and moss. He piled them in front of the cave. With the spark of two stones, he lit the dried moss, and created a small bonfire. He stared out across the dark landscape, hoping Turner would see his fire, but the black and vacant mountains held no hover lights. He lowered his head and went back to Kari. For the first time, he wanted a man to find him and was willing to sacrifice his life to save hers. Wrapping his frame around her, he closed his eyes and waited for the hunter.
In the middle of the night Shail woke. The limits of a living, breathing creature had forced sleep. He nuzzled Kari’s neck and felt her warm sweat and cool skin. Her fever had broken, and she slept quietly without a shiver. He glanced out the cave and saw the smoldering ashes. Turner had not come. He shut his eyes again and drifted into deep sleep, allowing his drained body to recover.
In the morning Shail saw that the mountain hid under a dense mist. He stretched and Kari stirred. “I go for more food,” he told her.
“But it’s daylight, and there are no trees. My father may see you.”
“I believe he has gone, and with the mist, I go unseen.” He rose and stepped out of the cave. He sniffed the air and quickly kicked the charred wood off the cliff, hiding the evidence of his fire signal. Kari would be furious, knowing what he had done. He listened below to the birds’ melody, absent of alarm squawks. With that reassurance, he leaped down the boulders until he reached the cover of trees.
He walked through the forest and came to a fruit-bearing tree with a stout vine. He climbed up and dropped the fruit to the ground. Using his sash as a makeshift bag, he gathered the fruit and headed back up the mountain. He noticed a ground vine with tiny pink flowers and dug to the roots, tossing the sticky food also in the sash.
Shail reached the end of the tree line and skittishly looked, listened and sniffed like wary deer before scampering across the barren ground. He entered the cave and saw Kari drinking water from the small flow between the rocks.
She smiled at his nude body. “I love your seductive dress for grocery shopping.”
Shail spilled the food on the cave floor and retied his sash around his hips. “You feel better. The color returns along with your humor.” They sat on the moss and ate heartily.
“So, we leave tonight?” Kari asked. “I feel great.”
“No, we wait. You were very ill. The cave is safe.”
“Since we have the time, maybe we can finish the bonding,” she said, leaning over and kissing him, while her hand stroked his penis under the sash. “Expect sex when you enter a cave nude.”
Shail immediately was breathless. “Kari,” he tried to object, but she shoved him back, massaging him. He gave in and reclined. Taking the male’s role, she straddled him and nipped his neck. Once penetrated, she rocked him back and forth until he shivered with excitement. This was an uncommon breeding position for harpies, but Shail didn’t complain. His gutsy little mate was also uncommon for a female harpy. She finished with him and slid off, returning to eating the fruit.
“Two nights of sleep and rest…” He panted and shook his head. “You recover fast.”
Kari took a bite of fruit and raised one eyebrow. He rolled over and slept.
Stuck in the cave, Kari was bored, and she felt good. She let Shail sleep for a few hours, but it was hard to keep her hands off him. He’s just so darn pretty, she thought, staring at his long lashes, long muscled frame, and long hair. He had explained to her that male harpies would discharge their seed only when breeding with a female, and she decided to put the claim to a test. She fondled him awake and worked him into a frenzied state, but teased him by pushing him away when he attempted to mount her. He puffed, sweated, squirmed, and fought his urge to eject his sperm. He stared at her, clearly confused.
Agitated, he finally hissed, pushed her on the moss, and had his way with her. He hastily pumped and climaxed. He collapsed on the moss and breathed hard. “Did you enjoy tormenting me?”
“I did.” She grinned. “I want to learn everything about you, especially your sex capability.”
He nodded and heaved a sigh. “My life, I fear, shall never grow dull with you.”
Since Kari had apparently recovered from her bout with illness, she encouraged Shail to bond. Only a male harpy gasping his last breath would refuse a willing partner, and Shail mated with her through the day and night.
The following morning Shail slept with his limbs stretched out across the nest, too wiped out to curl up. Kari tenderly nipped his neck and caressed his exposed body, persuading him to rise. He lifted his head, his gaze dispirited. “Female, you have taken all my strength and made me weak.”
“Maybe for a change I like you weak.”
He sat up. “I believe you like the effort that causes my weakness.”
She smiled. “That sarcasm sounds a little bit like humor.”
“I learn many things from you, not all good,” he relayed, standing. He walked to the cave opening and stared. “My flock worries for me. It is time we move on.”
“Where are we going, anyway?” Kari rose and came alongside him.
He pointed to a huge black mountain in the distance. “There. It is the sacred mountain of our people. When we are safely within, we shall bond until you want me no more.”
She flipped her hair back and walked to the stream. “More ironic humor?”
He gave her a puzzled look. “I fail to see.”
“The day will never come when I don’t want you.” She leaned over and sipped the water.
“I do see the humor, since you lack to tire of me. I shall be the weakest of all males and happy to be so.”
Shail cautiously stepped from the cave, sniffing the wind and listening, but all appeared calm and secure. He glanced back inside. “Though light has come and the way lacks cover, the shelter of trees is near. Do you feel well for travel?”
“I feel good. Your bonding cured me.”
“The purple fruit made you well, not my seed.”
“I know. I was just teasing you.”
“Untrue words, more humor,” he drearily said. “I fear I must grow used to the human fun.”
“It won’t hurt you.” Kari walked over and passionately kissed him while rubbing him hard.
Shail became breathless, sliding his hands over her delicate, curvy body and small full breasts, while her titillating hands coaxed his sex organ to perform and give up the remaining seed. “Kari, we must go.” He gently pushed her away and gained composure. “If not needed, I would mount you until this cave overflowed with our fledglings.”
“All right,” she sighed. She slipped into her clothes and tossed his sash to him, it landing on his head. She grabbed the cloth bag and headed for the cave door. “Let’s go. I’ll be glad to get to your sacred mountain.”
Shail tied the sash and grumbled. “I am glad I have only one mate. A second would kill me.”
“Good one, Shail, go
od one,” she said, and they left the cave.
* * *
Shail took her hand and they swiftly descended the windswept rock. Arriving under the trees, they slowed their pace. Shail’s playful and teasing banter vanished, and he became serious and alert, assuming the role of a hunted animal. Several yards ahead of Kari, he quietly tiptoed through the brush, smelled the air, and constantly shifted his eyes in search of movement and danger. He had never been confined to foot travel, making him more cautious, and since pairing with Kari, he had changed. He was no longer a roaming single male who could afford recklessness, but had become a husband and possible father. Her life depended on his instincts and wit.
His broken wing also lay heavy on his mind. If danger came, he lost the option of grabbing his mate and flying away. Now his only choice was to outrun, hide, or fight the threat.
Breaking the harpy caution of traveling at night, Shail and Kari journeyed throughout the day to make up for lost time. They descended into a valley abundant with food. Shail stopped at a stream and knelt to drink. Kari came lumbering out of the trees and plopped down beside him. He leaned over, putting his nose against her cheek. He immediately sensed her raised temperature and weariness. He jerked back. “Your illness returns. This is my fault. I should have fought my urge to bond. I should have made you rest.”
“Take it easy, Shail,” she relayed. “I’m just a little tired and hot. I’m not sick.”
He bounded to his feet and scanned the tree canopy for the lavender fruit that fought illness. “Remain here and sleep. I shall seek the purple food. When I return, I shall decide if we stay or go.” He dashed into the trees and was gone.
Kari did feel warm, and was eager to bathe. She took off her heavy clothes and stepped into the stream, splashing water on her face and body. The cool water revived her, and she was determined to move on regardless of Shail’s decision.
Behind her, she heard the snap of twigs and froze, knowing it wasn’t Shail. As a wild harpy, he never made careless sounds when moving through the jungle. She glanced around, expecting to stare down a large reptile, but the threat was worse. A brawny middle-aged man stood in the ferns, and grinned, holding his laser rifle. Terrified, she watched him and slowly backed out of the stream, hoping he wouldn’t pursue her. He took a step toward her, and she hissed.
“Easy, little doll,” he said, slowly raising the weapon to take aim. “Don’t make me stun you.”
Kari leaped into the brush and ran from the harpy hunter.
“She’s comin’ your way,” she heard him yell. She hasily looked around as two strong arms grabbed her from behind and lifted her off the ground.
“Got her, Nick,” the man called as she struggled to be free. “Man, she’s a lil’ beauty and full of fight.”
Nick appeared after running through the stream, and a younger third man emerged from the trees. The third man stared at Kari as she fought the hold of his hunting buddy. “I’ll be goddamned, Nick,” he said. “She’s a blonde.”
“Yeah, a scrappy, little golden,” Nick said, “and she’s typical of the aggressive breed. Look at her hissing and putting up a fight. Hold her still, Harry, so I can test her.”
“She’s harpy, Nick. Light as a feather,” Harry said, lifting her from the ground.
“Let’s be sure,” Nick said, pulling a small monitor out of his pocket. “She might be that lost Turner girl. Sure as hell don’t want that son-of-a-bitch on my ass for fucking his little girl.” He put a strand of the female’s blond hair in the monitor and grinned. “Harpy DNA. Knew Turner’s estate was full of ’em.” He put his monitor away and reached between Kari’s legs, driving two fingers into her. He pulled them out and examined them.
“Well?” asked the third man.
“Little bitch’s got a buck, Josh,” said Nick, the older and more experienced of the three. “She’s recently been fucked and is loaded with sperm.”
“Shit. Think it might be that golden buck with the broke wing?” Harry said as Kari frantically tossed in his arms.
Kari was so scared her harpy instincts took over. She couldn’t scream or explain that she was Turner’s daughter. The only thing she could do was fight the grip of the crude man and think about Shail, who would soon return.
“Good chance her buck is blond,” Nick said. “According to old records, goldens usually pair with other goldens. Be a hell of a hunting day if we bagged two.” He glanced around at the trees. “Let’s hang her and bait him over there.” He motioned to a tree limb. “I’ll give her a light stun so she can’t warn him. A buck doesn’t stray far when he’s getting laid.” He produced rope from his gear. Josh forced her wrists together, while Harry held her, and Nick tied her wrists tightly together. She squirmed to bite their hands.
“This wiggling bitch has made me horny,” Harry said. “Let’s throw her down and use her, Nick. It might be hours before the buck shows up.”
“I’m for that,” said Josh, massaging her breasts.
“Forget it. I ain’t losin’ a golden male so you young assholes can get off,” Nick said. “That male can smell human sperm a mile away off. He might not come, knowing his female’s done for.” At the tree, they tossed the end of the rope over a limb and hoisted Kari a few feet off the ground.
Using her silent telepathy, Kari called to her mate. “Stay away, Shail! It’s a trap! Do not come for me. Please hear me and don’t come.” Instead of thrashing wildly on the rope, she hung quietly and lowered her head.
“Shit, she’s already played out and going into shock,” Nick said, walking to Kari and petting her head. “Come on, little doll. Don’t give up so soon.”
Harry moved behind her. “She’s done. She’ll be dead in a few hours. That buck ain’t risking his life for a corpse.” He undid his pants. “I caught her. I’m sticking her while she’s warm.”
Nick jerked her head up by the hair and looked into her dazed eyes. “Can’t believe she went down so fast. All right, but I’m first. You boys, can wait. After we’re done, we’ll toss her body by the stream. The buck might come back to sniff her, and we’ll nail him.” He put his gun down and stripped off his gear. He jammed a finger into the limp female harpy, who shuddered and breathed hard. “You like that, doll? Wait till you feel what’s comin’.”
Josh and Harry also dropped their gear and weapons. They unfastened their pants in anticipation, fondling the female while waiting their turn.
As Nick prepared to invade and thrust against the hanging harpy, her knee rammed his testicles with deadly aim, dropping him to the ground. “Fucking bitch,” he cursed, holding himself. Harry and Josh chuckled as Kari came alive and kicked at any male in reach.
“After I beat the crap out of her, you guys are next,” he grumbled. He looked at Kari and the men, and his eyes widened with shock. “Fuck!”
From behind, Kari heard a heavy thud, and Josh fell unconscious at her feet. “Get back!” she heard Harry scream and a second thud. He, too, lay nearby with blood flowing down his face. She saw the terror on Nick’s face as he scrambled backward toward his gear. She then saw Shail. He held a stout wood branch, one end dripping with blood while he walked, almost casually, toward the remaining large hunter, who was three times his girth. With every step, Shail seethed and shook with rage.
Nick crawled across the ground, stalked by Kari’s golden mate. The hunter lunged, wildly grasping for his weapon, and Shail attacked, unmercifully beating the man with the limb until Nick’s face was a bloody pulp. Her slender mate stood over the huge, immobile body and hissed, a spray of the man’s blood on his chest. He glanced up at her, slightly out of breath, and it took a second to snap out of his assault mode. He dropped the tree limb and rushed to her.
“Are you hurt?” Shail asked, releasing the rope and untying her wrists. He looked up and down for marks on her body. She didn’t answer, but stood and shuddered with fright. He wrapped his arms around her. “I am here now. I am here. You are safe.” She broke down and cried. Shail swept her up in his ar
ms. He glanced at the three fallen hunters, who still breathed. He shook his head, and walked to the stream, carrying his female. Leaning over, he grabbed the cloth bag and her clothing and walked up the valley, cradling Kari.
* * *
Hours slipped by and neither spoke as Shail carried her. Kari shut her eyes and clung to his neck, trying to forget the experience. She had learned what it was like to be a wild harpy. Recalling the man’s groping fingers, she shivered, and Shail nuzzled her cheek. He left the valley and started the climb up the next ridge. She knew he had to be weary. “Put me down, Shail. I can walk,” she said, but he ignored her, as though punishing himself.
The terrain became very steep, and Kari wiggled in his arms, asking him to release her. “Put me down,” she ordered. Only when she slapped his face did he come out of his trance and listen to her. He set her down on a slope and she now saw his large, teary eyes. The hunter encounter had affected him worse than it had her. He dropped to his knees, hugging and resting his head against her legs.
“Forgive me,” he relayed. “Forgive me. I failed to protect you.” His once soft voice was shaky.
“You didn’t fail me. You protected me,” she said, kneeling to be eye level with him.
A single tear ran down his cheek. “I curse this harpy life,” he relayed and sniffled. “It holds no peace and nearly destroyed what I love.”
“Oh, Shail,” she said, hugging him. “I wouldn’t trade this life with you for anything. I’m all right. I’m a tough golden like you.” She held and comforted him as he tried to get it together. After some time, she rose. “Come now, Shail. Let’s find this mountain and your flock.” He nodded and stood. They continued the journey.
They walked for hours uphill. Shail remained quiet as he forged ahead. Halfway up the mountain, he stopped. “What happened to you, Kari, I promise it shall never happen again. Soon I shall rid our land of these men.”
