by Ann Patty
“I do not know. Can you suggest ideas, hikes, or other natural spots such as this one?” Terra asked hopefully.
“Yes, there are a number of incredible water holes, slips inside of caves, plus a few spots that are energetically potent. I am here for a week. I do this every year to remind me of the power in nature. If you have the time, I would be honored to show you my spots.” Atsa was hopeful his invite was enticing enough.
Terra paused before answering, then said, “Are you sure you want a tag along?” She could not believe her good fortune. Running into a pure Dine, a gorgeous one at that, one near her age with good sense and manners, and most importantly, one with extreme potential for a fun week made inside heaven's hand equaled a double WOW!
Atsa nodded once with approval. Normally, he was a man of few words. But when the occasion presented itself he spoke. Volumes at a time. It had been a while since he had the companionship of a woman, a pretty one at that, so he was quite talkative. “It's lady's choice. We could hike over to Butte's Bluff for starters. That is a four hour journey there and four back. We could climb the Table Rocks for one heck of a valley view. Or we can just sit here and not worry about any of it today.”
“No contest. I vote for staying put at least for a day.” Terra was road weary and just really didn't want the pressure of one more destination. At least not today. “Is that okay with you?”
Atsa smirked. “You read my mind. I hiked most all of yesterday and through the night. So staying put is all good.” He, too, was relieved at having no particular place to go. “So Miss Terra, tell me about you.”
For the rest of the afternoon they talked. Nothing was off limits, after all they were both still in the buff. Past relationships, jobs, family, concerns, dreams, desires, and more. What was intriguing was that Atsa and Terra had led parallel lives. Both had lived with their high school sweethearts, but never married. Both loved to go off road to find the hidden trails. Both owned the same Toyota truck, same color and older aged year. Both had just left their long term flames. Terra, being a copy writer complimented Atsa the architect. Both worked with structure. One with words. One with wood. All those years and miles apart merged into this incredible synchronicity. Atsa was eight years older, but age to Terra was meaningless.
As the two talked, time became inconsequential. Minutes melted into hours, and hours into the afternoon and evening. They were still buck naked and never left the pool. At one point, Atsa grabbed his backpack that was at the side of the pool and withdrew a bag of nut mix. Terra approached him, and cupped her hands to bucket up a snack. She could see under the water mirror that Atsa was bearing a fairly solid hard on. The beauty of this rugged place was that it was within perfect harmony to be in the natural way. They never missed a beat and kept talking through crunching down their nuts.
Terra learned more about the pool. Many years back, possibly five decades ago, the Dine came across this slight indentation in the earth. It had water in it then as well. Over the years, the men came back with tools to carve the pool deeper. They offset the cavity in the earth so those enjoying the mineral waters could get a hauntingly beautiful view of the full moon. The men dug a bit more every year until they were told by the spirits that the depth was optimum. The reason the pool looked natural was that the entire under layer was shelves of shale. Each time they chipped away another membrane they contributed to exposing another set of pool steps. The top rim around the pool was relatively smooth. This remained as it was the natural contour of the floor.
Through the years, the Navaho considered this pool to be a sacred spot. Just as Terra had been, many others had also been called to this same spot. Sometimes people had revelations or introspective journeys. Many couples got married at this place using the water to submerge as one. Men brought their sons to teach them of their tribe's ways. Women brought their daughters to explain life. Young babies were anointed with a baptismal ceremony. Yes, the pool of life held many significant crossings for all who had the privilege of its presence.
Full Moon
After so many hours, Atsa and Terra became talked out. And full of nuts. They stood closely, face to face. Looking pensive at one another and yet letting their eyes wander beyond and into the distance. Dusk was setting and so was the desert sky that tossed sheets of color across the heavens. The land took on an eerie glow as the moon breached its cap over the horizon. Atsa took Terra's wrist and guided her to the rim of the pool where she could see this wonder of nature in full court view between the columns of stone. The moon breached the horizon. Full, large as a harvest moon, and yellow so brilliant, it lit a path in the desert.
Together, touching shoulder to shoulder they faced the moon. They leaned on their forearms that were on the pool deck. The buoyancy of the water drifted their butts out behind them. Their torsos floated as they were suspended lightly. The moon continued to grow larger. A truly remarkable feat of nature was how huge the moon could appear early in the evening and within an hour be so high in the sky it shrunk to pocket-size.
Atsa reached out with his little finger and found Terra's pinky. He locked his pinky around her bent finger. She stared at the moon with a smile in the corner of her lips turned up. Atsa pushed his fallen hair to behind his back with a wave of his hand. He aimed to see Terra's receptivity to his moves. He smirked. Atsa's nose always flared when he smiled. His left fingers began to strum on the back of her right hand. His fingers were strong like the rest of him. He pushed lightly and kneaded her hand in a soothing massage fashion. Terra's hand went limp with desire. He slid his fingers underneath and rolled her hand over. Palm to palm, he opened his hand and grinded against her, kneading, prodding, and exploring. It was a sensual dance with no limits. His fingers flirted up the inside of her arm and back down. Atsa checked in with her in a barely audible whisper, asking, “Okay?”
Terra could only manage a slight murmur of, “Uh, huh.” She took initiative and a turn on Atsa. She took each of his fingers and rubbed them full length, then down into the pocket of his palm. Their eyes did not wander off the moon. Their finger play seemed reminiscent to time's past for both. It was fun, natural, childlike, and oh so sensual. Each took a turn exploring a new position, while the other softly contained their laughs. Terra nor Atsa had ever engaged in this type of finger foreplay before. It had Atsa at full attention. Terra was silently aroused. Terra and Atsa slumped together shoulder to shoulder. Both bodies were merging. Hands and forearms intertwined. Their long hair draped together and became shared between them.
Atsa took the initiative. He broke loose and slid around behind Terra. As he was repositioning, he brushed by her ear, and he whispered, “Trust me.” He stood facing Terra's back with his hands around her waist. Atsa pulled Terra back into him and walked backwards guiding her closely. Finding the seat ledge behind him, Atsa fell back onto it taking Terra with him. His arms wrapped around her torso pulling her tight to his chest. His nose buried into her hair at the nap of her neck and he blew hot air from his lips. Terra was both stimulated and relaxed. Her hands slid along his arms and she slipped her fingers inside his.
All of their arms were double wrapping her from breasts to abdomen. They were locked and fit as Siamese twins. Atsa blew into her neck spot and Terra arched her neck and head backwards. Her eyes caught the full moon perfectly positioned between the pillars in this cathedral of rocks. This is it. Her vision. Her remote viewing. The universal offering of a place outside this time came into and joined this spot. For a full moment, Terra knew she had been here before, or since, or had traveled to this dimension by happenstance.
“This is my vision, Atsa,” Terra said quietly. “It's perfect.”
“Yes. Perfect. And so are you.” Atsa said from a voice still buried in her hair at her neckline. “Terra. You were in my vision too. I was urged from the earth to come here today, and be under the full moon with you.”
“Wow. Is it possible that two separate souls are actually one and have synchronistic visions?” Terra mused as she
bent forward and fingered the moon's reflection in the water. Atsa held her breasts, but then let Terra have full range to play in the water. He ran his hands through her long hair and played with the strands as one would horse reins.
Atsa answered, “Some believe that we—our souls have former lives and that we come back to earth to have experiences with kindred souls. We come to complete a journey or finish up unfinished business. All I can tell you is what I feel. That I am bonded to you beyond time and space, and our journey started a long time ago. It is as if we have a thread connecting us that is not breakable. We are always connected, forever.” Atsa said this with such conviction that Terra turned halfway around to meet his eyes.
“Yes.” Terra nodded as she faced him, and pushed his long locks from his face. Terra leaned into Atsa and found his lips. She did not kiss him, but rather lightly bit his full bottom lip then slid her tongue between his lips to find his tongue. Then their lips locked and their tongues played. And during all this time, Terra repositioned herself to straddle his lap, and wrapped her arms around his neck and head. Atsa, overcome by desire, held fast to Terra's buttock and guided her straight down upon him uniting flesh inside flesh. His hands guided her hips into a rhythmic dance of lust. Terra cupped his face in her hands now as she walked her kissing lips from his forehead to his chin and back up, then down, and around. No inch of skin was left unattended. As Terra reached his forehead, he licked her neck and chin, and from ear lobe to ear lobe.
Passion under the full moon consumed their twin souls. Atsa pulled-, then pushed into Terra. The pool waters were rippling waves. The moon's reflection across the ripples distorted. The only audible sounds was Atsa breathing with an occasional grunt and Terra moaning low simple words like “Yes!” “There.” “More.”
Their pace quickened. Foreplay was now of the past. Atsa, held fast onto Terra probing deeper. Terra grabbed his shoulders, and sometimes his long hair, and pulled herself into him. No kissing, it had stopped. In place of it, Atsa and Terra locked eyes and loins. Rhythmically, steadily they rocked in unison. Their breath strokes took on restrained primitive wales.
Terra threw her head back. The familiar burning inside her was imminent. Atsa felt her tighten, then pressed her closer. Terra's chest burst with expansion from being one with Atsa, with nature, the moon, and the universe.
Terra bared down hard on Atsa. Moans of determination escaped her throat. Atsa stayed still, yielding to Terra. She dug her fingertips into Atsa's shoulders. With an arched back, she collapsed forward burying her face in his chest. She was breathless and the outline of her back against the moonlit sky sculpted the curves of a sensual silhouette. She was so absorbed in her own desires, and then she looked up and into Atsa's soft eyes. She had selfishly taken from him and now it was his turn.
She began again. Riding Atsa, servicing his needs was now her gift back. But Atsa stopped Terra, and shook his head no. Terra cocked her head in question then realized he had been satisfied. Submerged in the water it had been hard to discern. But, Atsa was also spent.
In the moon light glow, Terra curled against Atsa's chest as he wrapped his arms around her back. Still conjoined, they held each other in silence. They had now been in this magical pool well over twelve hours and yet their skin remained impeccably silky smooth. The earth's elements soothed them as if they were in a lifetime womb. Pure comfort and caressing waters held them like a soft blanket. The contours of the pool were body molding and thus the two lovers held each other tight as they fell asleep.
The first light of dawn brought more glorious colors that surrounded the rocks of the cathedral. Atsa had been awake for a bit and was just enjoying watching Terra sleep in his ample arms. He had hoped last night was not a fluke. The full moon could make people a bit crazy. So he just enjoyed the moment as if it was all he had.
Not long after Atsa woke, Terra stirred. She lifted her head from his shoulder. Her arms were limp and loose around Atsa. She had fallen deeply into the REM state of sleep. Terra took some deep breaths, shrugged her shoulders back, looked into Atsa's face, mused hair and all, then smiled. Atsa's smile was returned with a look of passion for Terra. His nostrils on his broad flat nose flared. His stone coal eyes went soft and his plump lips pursed. Coupled with his high cheek bones of Native American heritage, he was stunning.
Terra had desired for this native even before she knew him. She dreamed of such a lover and gentleman. Now here he was holding her in the pool of eternal life. She reached up her right hand and cupped the side of his face. Her thumb stroked over his lips. Her left hand reached under the water, groping and found Atsa rock hard as one of the desert pillars.
Terra now led their exercise. She turned around away from his chest. She looked around to see Atsa's curious face. Then Terra said, “Trust Me.” Straddling his thighs, she bent forward slightly. Her buttocks lowered. Atsa gripped her waist tight then he consumed her.
Atsa felt his voice slip. In the dawn of the morning, he sung a wail of wild animal songs until exhausted. Atsa slumped into the pool, all but to disappear while he was taken away with the sensations they created. The sound of a coyote call bellowed forth as he discharged. Atsa was almost in a trance and his head close to submersion when Terra dismounted and turned to him. Her arms surrounded his torso and pulled him back into the world. Terra had never been with a man that almost passed out from sex. But then, she had not been with anyone but Scott. So she did not have a measuring stick for this event.
Terra took Atsa's face and lightly kissed him. Searching his eyes, Terra needed confirmation that he was back in this world. It came, as Atsa slowly smiled at Terra and nodded a thank you with a sassy blink of one eye. He repositioned himself to sit upright then stood. Atsa took Terra's hand and in unison they climbed out of the pool. Atsa began to dress and Terra took the cue to do the same. It was still early morning, and rather cool, but would warm up later. Dressing in layers was practical as late spring temperature transitions between night and day often varied widely.
The family circle of thick finger-like rocks pointed to the sky, and continued to stand tall, caging the couple. The rocks held a magnetic energy that permeated all who stood among them. This magical place stood as a testament to the miracles of nature and man. Time eroded much of this region, but it gave back the convergence of two souls who were destined to meet.
It is truly a rare gift to be given time to love another who waited for you for so long. Inside just hours, Atsa had formed a forever bond with Terra. Some couples took years to acquire such intimacy. However, time that was compressed carried an urgent note on which to act. That was why one night stands were special. There was a mystique about the serendipity of two souls meeting. While one night did not seem sufficient in itself, the quality could be. In the quest to be one with another out of a million people, a person was lucky to find a soul mate. When those two met, for whatever the reason, they merged into one. Always connected thereafter, each lover left a mark on the other for their private and precious eternal journey together or separately. No one forgets the lovers that they have treasured in this manner.
Terra slowly put on her skort, one that offered unrestricted movement, along with her cotton crop top. No need for underwear today. Atsa had seen everything intimately. She mused about in her head what lie ahead for today. She did not care where they hiked as long as she was with him. Atsa read her mind it seemed, and he said, “There is a really great place you'll like about 8 miles in. If that is agreeable then we should compare what we have for rations. It will definitely be a one or two-nighter. Are you game?”
Terra had dressed, so she began pouring out the contents of her day pack. She always brought more food than was necessary. Atsa joined her in doing the same with his pack. Together they bunched up would be meals. Atsa had far more food, as he was prepared to hike the desert himself for the week. It was an easy two to four days' supply for the both of them. They chit-chatted about this good fortune. While Terra had more food and drink in her truck, ne
ither wanted to back track two miles, then retrace to start off again.
For sleeping, Atsa had a bedroll that he teased Terra about. One bedroll, please. Who would be on top? And who wanted the underside? Terra didn't have a change of clothes. However, Atsa assured her that she didn't need any. In a pinch she could wear his extra shirts. With adequate enough food and minimum supplies, Terra called this a “Liberating Event.” She had always over prepared when she traveled. Trekking out into the unknown desert to god knows what spot with limited rations was in her mind, fool-hardy. But, she had Atsa, and he knew this region as well as he knew the curves and crevasses of her body. It was safe, yet Terra wrestled with the idea of relying on another human being for her survival. However, this was another crossroads that Terra came to grips with. She moved through it and came to the conclusion that both the desert and Atsa had a plan for her. And who was she to dispute or dispose of it?
