looked at Starfire, who shifted to human form. “I think you can make your way safely from here.”
Brand was startled when Starfire rushed him and gave him a hug. It was the first time he’d felt affectionate touch in centuries. He was also delighted when Ken glowered and growled at him. He taunted the wolf by grinning and hugging Star tighter.
“Thank you, Brand. For everything,” Star said, oblivious to the challenge taking place between the two males. “We’ll be back soon. Count on it.”
“I am counting on it. If you don’t return, expect raids on your sheep folds. Or maybe I’ll come to the flatland to collect you. I still think we’d make a good pair.”
“No need for threats. We keep our word.” She looked and felt offended at his suggestion that she might go away and forget the whole thing. “What makes you think we have sheep?”
Brandish looked down his nose at her. “I know all about life to the west of the mountains.”
“I see. Well, I guess we’re going.”
Brand dissolved into his beautiful lion form and twitched his tail back and forth, watching as Cinaed and Starfire trotted away.
When darkness fell, they found a natural rock alcove out of the wind and curled up against each other to sleep with Ken on the outside. He lifted his muzzle, rested his head on her neck and sighed. They were tired and cold, but a sense of peace had settled around his heart and it made him feel complete. The word Starfire used to describe the phenomenon of mating had been ‘content’. That was how he felt snuggled next to her warm body, nose full of her intoxicating scent.
The next day was cloudless, sunny and warmer. They made good time and reached a flat expanse at the summit of the second range just as the sun was setting. That was when they saw a pack of wolves. At first they thought they were seeing wild naturals approach, but when the wolves broke into a sprint, barking happily, they were able to see that it was Grey, Win, Cloud and a few others.
After a flurry of happy nuzzles, licks and joyful whines, they shifted into human form. Cloud was crying happy tears, but no one was happier to see them than Loper.
“I was so afraid I’d never see you alive again,” Cloud said.
“You wouldn’t if it wasn’t for Cinaed.” Her aunt didn’t miss the fact that she looked at Ken adoringly. “We have so much to tell you.”
They gathered wood for a fire. There was nothing to eat, but they were glad to be reunited and knew they could feast when they returned home.
Star and Ken told the others the news about the lion shifter. Then, to Ken’s amazement, Star topped that by relating everything she’d learned from Brandish about humans and shifters living together on the eastern side of the multiple ranges.
Grey seemed troubled by the news. “We thought there were no humans in this world.”
Ken nodded. “’Tis no’ a worry for now. The mountains that separate us are formidable.”
That didn’t seem to ease the king’s concern, but he said no more about it.
When the party returned to New Elk Mountain, they were greeted with cheers and an atmosphere of celebration. Ken and Star took baths and put on clean clothes while Luna oversaw preparation of dinner.
They laughed and drank and ate to their hearts’ content. Afterward, Ken said to Grey, “Uncle. Starfire and I are sleepin’ in the guesthouse tonight.”
“Oh?” Grey said, raising an eyebrow.
“Aye. We’re ‘datin’ and do no’ want to be disturbed.” Ken smiled at Star as he pulled her toward the front door. “We have some things to work out.”
She laughed. “Uncle Win, I’m taking the day off tomorrow.”
The guesthouse was on the outskirts of the settlement at the opposite end of the king’s house. That was why Ken had picked it, for reasons of privacy. He held her hand all the way there, but neither of them said a word on the way, which only made her anxiety grow. She wasn’t shy about sex at all, but was
Brand was startled when Starfire rushed him and gave him a hug. It was the first time he’d felt affectionate touch in centuries. He was also delighted when Ken glowered and growled at him. He taunted the wolf by grinning and hugging Star tighter.
“Thank you, Brand. For everything,” Star said, oblivious to the challenge taking place between the two males. “We’ll be back soon. Count on it.”
“I am counting on it. If you don’t return, expect raids on your sheep folds. Or maybe I’ll come to the flatland to collect you. I still think we’d make a good pair.”
“No need for threats. We keep our word.” She looked and felt offended at his suggestion that she might go away and forget the whole thing. “What makes you think we have sheep?”
Brandish looked down his nose at her. “I know all about life to the west of the mountains.”
“I see. Well, I guess we’re going.”
Brand dissolved into his beautiful lion form and twitched his tail back and forth, watching as Cinaed and Starfire trotted away.
When darkness fell, they found a natural rock alcove out of the wind and curled up against each other to sleep with Ken on the outside. He lifted his muzzle, rested his head on her neck and sighed. They were tired and cold, but a sense of peace had settled around his heart and it made him feel complete. The word Starfire used to describe the phenomenon of mating had been ‘content’. That was how he felt snuggled next to her warm body, nose full of her intoxicating scent.
The next day was cloudless, sunny and warmer. They made good time and reached a flat expanse at the summit of the second range just as the sun was setting. That was when they saw a pack of wolves. At first they thought they were seeing wild naturals approach, but when the wolves broke into a sprint, barking happily, they were able to see that it was Grey, Win, Cloud and a few others.
After a flurry of happy nuzzles, licks and joyful whines, they shifted into human form. Cloud was crying happy tears, but no one was happier to see them than Loper.
“I was so afraid I’d never see you alive again,” Cloud said.
“You wouldn’t if it wasn’t for Cinaed.” Her aunt didn’t miss the fact that she looked at Ken adoringly. “We have so much to tell you.”
They gathered wood for a fire. There was nothing to eat, but they were glad to be reunited and knew they could feast when they returned home.
Star and Ken told the others the news about the lion shifter. Then, to Ken’s amazement, Star topped that by relating everything she’d learned from Brandish about humans and shifters living together on the eastern side of the multiple ranges.
Grey seemed troubled by the news. “We thought there were no humans in this world.”
Ken nodded. “’Tis no’ a worry for now. The mountains that separate us are formidable.”
That didn’t seem to ease the king’s concern, but he said no more about it.
When the party returned to New Elk Mountain, they were greeted with cheers and an atmosphere of celebration. Ken and Star took baths and put on clean clothes while Luna oversaw preparation of dinner.
They laughed and drank and ate to their hearts’ content. Afterward, Ken said to Grey, “Uncle. Starfire and I are sleepin’ in the guesthouse tonight.”
“Oh?” Grey said, raising an eyebrow.
“Aye. We’re ‘datin’ and do no’ want to be disturbed.” Ken smiled at Star as he pulled her toward the front door. “We have some things to work out.”
She laughed. “Uncle Win, I’m taking the day off tomorrow.”
The guesthouse was on the outskirts of the settlement at the opposite end of the king’s house. That was why Ken had picked it, for reasons of privacy. He held her hand all the way there, but neither of them said a word on the way, which only made her anxiety grow. She wasn’t shy about sex at all, but was
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