Beats

[Disclaimer:This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.]

. . .

Sweat began to drip into Lan’s eyes as he continued to pick out the budding weeds that threatened here and there. Beside his precious growing plants he began to scatter more of the ground fish bones hoping to urge the leaves to unfold more quickly. A short moon or two between him and the rain season continued to threaten the health of his crops. He could manage to perhaps to last the rain season even as it grew colder but most likely his crops would be under water by the second week. Looking across the lake his eyes sought to find the hunters. They should be returning to the village soon with the thatching for repairing huts. The village worked over time to dry the extra meet from the hunt for the long rain season.

Thanks to the healing he continued to give Ero he traded for skinned boots so at least he wouldn’t need to worry about how to keep his feet warm. It was almost a fair trade considering how little skin that Lan needed versus the shear amount of care he insisted to pay for the them. Every afternoon and every night Lan insisted on cleaning the wound and redressing it. There would barely be a scar if Ero’s progress continued at its current rate. A few times he’d come close to actually healing Ero in the center village rather than face the privacy of the hut with Ero alone.

Lan frowned as the silhouettes of two of the hunting party approached from the treeline to the side of the lake. One of the hunting party leaned up against the younger boy helping him move. Before Lan thought twice he was in a run toward the two men.

The two looked up in shock at the running healer.

“What happened.” Out of breath, Lan panted the sentence as he offered his shoulder to help support the injured man.

“He fell from one of the trees.” The young boy babbled out an answer before Lan even finished the sentence.

“My leg hurts when I walk and my back is too sore to straighten.” The man winced as he spoke.

“Let’s get you back to the village.” Lan consoled the man and they began the rather painstaking journey back to the village.

Women and children starred at the trio as they entered town. The whispers felt like needles on Lan’s skin. His eyes met Kinma’s for a moment but the chief just nodded and let them continue to the hunter’s hut. Once they headed inside, Lan made quick work of helping the man down to his furs.”Please go to Ero’s hut and grab my staff, it has pouches attached to it. Don’t remove them.” The boy nodded wide eyed and ran from the hut. Turning to the man on the furs he spoke in a more gentle tone. “I’m Lan, the healer from Amba.”

“I’m Rosh.” The man who could be no more than twenty one summers spoke. “I don’t have much to trade for your healing.”

“We’ll speak of that later. For now, I’m going to remove your boot and leg wrap. I need to check to made sure that you didn’t break anything.” Lan made quick work of the worn hide that made up the boys boot and leg wrap, noting when extending the boy’s leg made him wince.

With nimble fingers Lan first checked the bones finding that nothing seemed to be broken. He moved to muscles on the underside of the man’s leg and feeling the heavy swelling around the underside both under and above the back of the knee. When he moved the boy’s foot and applied pressure to the underside the boy didn’t seem in a lot of pain. He’d bent his knee the wrong way. “Sit up.”


Once again Rosh winced as he moved.

“I’m going to remove your chest wrap.” Lan spoke quietly and say the slight nod of Rosh’s head as permission. The small ties on the side of the wrap and over one shoulder came apart quickly. “Wearing this may have helped lessen the fall.”

Rosh nodded. “Didn’t feel like it.” His laughter cut short with a small pained noise.

Lan’s fingers traced up the boy’s spine and he felt the man shudder under his touch. “Did that hurt.”

“No.” The laugh that followed felt forced.

“You’re back is tense but everything is fine. You’re trouble breathing is probably due to broken ribs but I can feel them all so most likely they are just bruised.”The flap against the hut entrance swung out of the way but Lan didn’t bother to look up. “What took you so long.”

“I brought your staff and grinding stone.” Ero’s voice seemed loud in the small hut.

Immediately Lan’s head snapped up. “What are you doing here?”

“I brought your staff and grinding stone.” Ero repeated and shoved them toward the now standing Lan.

Turning back to Rosh, Lan mumbled a thank you.

Ero left the hut with another loud flap of the dried leaves that made up the flap at the entrance.

“You’re leg isn’t too injured. You’ll just need to stay off it for a while. Most likely a moon or so” Grinding some of the herbs together from various bags, Lan worked as he spoke. “In the meantime I’ll come back daily and apply this salve.” Pulling a small clay jar from one of the pouches Lan placed the herbs inside the half full jars and began to mix them inside the heavy beeswax salve. “You need to roll over.”

Nodding Rosh rolled onto his stomach and winced.

“I won’t ask you to lay that way long. I just need to apply this. I recommend that you sleep sitting up to ease the pain in your chest.” Lan spoke quietly as he kneeled next to the injured leg and slowly traced his salve covered hands over the surrounding area. He began to trace over the tense muscles, working out the tension as best as he could, aware of how the boy winced in pain. “I know this hurts but I want to help relax your leg so you don’t injure yourself further.”

“Keep going.” Rosh ground out.

This time Lan stared higher up on the back of Rosh’s thigh and worked his way slowly down. This seemed to calm him enough that when Lan’s fingers passed over the swelling portions there wasn’t as much of a tense reaction. He worked his way down to Rosh’s calf before starting the journey again, this time his thumbs pressing harder into the flesh.

Rosh winced again.

“Don’t tense up.” Lan warned him.

Once again he managed to work slightly more of the tension from the area. This time when his hands moved back to Rosh’s upper they there was a shaky sigh. “Are you okay?”

“Yes” came the whisper.

Lan worked over the area a few more times. And found that more and more he got sighs than tension. At last satisfied, Lan wiped his hands on the sides of his customary long wrap. “Sit up now.”

Rosh groaned as he sat up and Lan’s hands moved to his shoulders and Rosh tensed.

“Stop tensing up.” Lan scolded. I’m going to do the same thing to your shoulders and lower back now. It should help with the pressure in your chest but I don’t want you lying down for long periods of time.”

Rosh nodded and Lan began his work again, the strong muscles in the man’s shoulders relaxed easily under his thumbs as he carefully massaged out knots and tension. Every now and then a sweep of his hands would earn a breathy sigh or a low note from Rosh but these were easily ignored.

When Lan’s hands swept down Rosh’s back he couldn’t help but blush at the open moan that crossed Rosh’s parted list.

Lan kept his fingers moving, Ignoring the awkward silence that crept into the hut. Deft fingers made quick work of what little tension remained in Rosh’s back. “I’m done for today.” Lan’s voice sounded softer than he liked.

“Has Ero claimed you?”

The softly spoken question completely caught Lan off guard for a moment. “No. Don’t be empty headed.”

“Did you have a mate in Amba?”

“No Rosh.” Lan sighed at the line of questioning. “I don’t have a mate.” A heavy silence fell around them again as Lan finished repacking his things.

“What can I trade you for your help?” Rosh’s voice returned to its normal tone.

“We’ll worry about that when you are healed and I have done my job.” Lan moved to the door.

“Lan.”

Lan turned back to meet Rosh’s eyes but only saw Rosh blush as he looked away.

“I’m happy that Ero has not claimed you.”

Shocked by the forward nature of the comment, Lan couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t think you’re the only one.” Lan tilted his head referring the women of the tribe.

Rosh blushed again and looked away not wanting to explain his meaning.

“I’ll be back tomorrow. Will you need me to bring you food and water as well?”

Rosh shook his head. “I have enough here to last a little while. Thank you.”

Lan nodded and left the hut, unsurprised to find a few sharp glances aimed in his direction. With a sigh he rolled his eyes and returned to Ero’s hut, eager to get to sleep but huffed out a sigh when he realized that Ero’s treatment was still needed that night. Ducking into the hut Lan ignored the glare from Ero as he entered.

“You left your tools out in your crop.” The statement bit into the warmth of the room.

“I was in a hurry to treat Rosh.” Lan’s voice was steady against the harsh tone from the older man. “I’ll grab them now before the sun gets too low

A scoff sounded in the small space between them.

Lan hurried from the hut and from the prying eyes of the village. Long ago he’d grown used to the way that other men stared at him. He’d excepted that the women of tribes did not believe him when he said that he didn’t want their husbands, or their hunters, or their chief. The reason the old healer had taught him in the village was because the village healer knew that without a means to support himself and keep himself tied to the village there was a high change Lan would be kicked out. Even worse were the rumors about Lan sleeping with his sister’s suitors. Completely untrue every passing season yeiled less and less attention for her. Looking up at the sky, Lan sent a prayer to the sun god that he would see to her happiness. Perhaps tonight he’d pray to the moon goddess as well. Picking up his things at the small crop, Lan traveled into the hidden areas of the woods climbing through thick bushes to reach his hidden spot.

Among the trees between several large rocks, he could duck down and walk through a short tunnel to a small oasis. The herb bushes were rich and fragrant here and the water pooled down to one side forming a medium sized pool. The trees above were so thick that only glimpses of the sun trickled down here and there in bright shafts of light. Stripping away his wrap Lan swam out into the water, grateful for the cool relief from the hot day. Pulling one of the smaller herb plants up by the root he snapped the stalk and used the white liquid inside to clean his body. It was a pleasant scent after the sweat of working the crop and the smell of beeswax salves. He’d need to trade again the next spring for more supplies if villagers kept getting hurt this frequently. Blushing he remembered just how Ero received his wound.

In the cold of the water, Lan let his thought drift. He thought about smooth muscle under his palms, only this time it was Rosh it was Ero. The women of the tribe might actually attempt to kill him if they knew about these secret fantasies. Here in his mind he was safe so he left his mind drift. Firelight and hot flesh filled his mind as his hand slipped beneath the water and he slowly massaged himself to life. Rosh’s moaning combined somewhere in his mind with Ero’s shocked face and he imagined the hand in his flesh was Ero’s. Lips would capture his, maybe force him to the ground as solidly as he’d been forced into the tree. Those calloused fingers would touch him pry him apart before that bulge beneath the leather wrap was undone. A sigh past Lan’s lips as he thought about the gorgeous length there in. His fantasy sped up. Hot thrusting, panting, Ero’s face contorted in pleasure above him. So good. White drops spilled over Lan’s hand as he arch up into his grasp and came.

Ducking beneath the water one last time, Lan swam back to the shore, dressing quickly and gathering his things as the sun began to set. Once again he entered village, his drying body earned him further glares as he returned to a full and bustling village.

“Lan.” Kinma stopped him as he passed by the fires at the center of the nightly circle. “Join us tonight.”

Shaking his head, Lan smiled. “Not tonight Chief Kinma. I have had a long day of work and want only to sleep.”

“You say that every night, Lan.” Kinma laughed.

“Doesn’t make it a lie.” Lan replied, eager to be rid of the eyes that pointed toward him. First the hunter in the middle of the day, than Ero’s appearance at Rosh’s hut and now this; it was little wonder why the village did not look at him too kindly.

“Celebrate tonight!” Kinma clapped a hand on Lan’s shoulder. “You’ve managed to heal not one but two of our people now. It’s a sign that you are well placed here.”

“I will celebrate when they are well again then, not before.” Lan shook his head. “I really must go. I have yet to change Ero’s bandages tonight.

Kinma nodded. “Go then.”

Lan hurried on his way unsurprised when one of the young girls let a basket slip and he nearly tripped over it. He avoided it in time and moved on his way before he could incur other wraths.

The glare on Ero’s face greeted Lan again as he entered.

“Stop glaring at me and put down that work. I’ll be ready to clean your wound in a minute.” Lan quickly shoved a bowl of water toward the fire to heat and withdrew the cloth filled with the herbs of Ero’s wound from the corner of his bed.

Ero set aside his meal and leaned back on his hands, offering no help with removing the bandage.

“Are you going to play games now? Do you or do you not want me to change your bandage?” Lan shot a matching glare toward Ero.

“Of course, healer. Do as you will.” Ero smiled innocently.

When Lan turned back to Ero from testing the water and from Ero had not moved, he rolled his eyes. “Fine.” Without a further word he straddled the other man and sat down, smirking at the shocked look on the other man’s face. He quickly untied the cloth at the wound and began to unwind it, pulling it forward from Ero’s skin rather than reaching around to unravel it bit by bit, much to Ero’s displeasure.

Setting the folded cloth aside, Lan immediately began to wipe down the area with clean cloth dipped in the now hot water.

“AH!” Ero pulled back and tried to avoid the touch. “That’s hot.”

“It’s supposed to be. Now shut up and be still. I’ve had enough of you today.” Lan didn’t bother to look up but continued to wipe away the old herbs with no sympathy for Ero’s complaints.

“You’re usually much more gentle than this.” Ero hissed when the now rewetted cloth touch his wound again.

“You’re usually not as much of an ass as this.” Lan replied and finished cleaning the wound. He pressed the wetted herbs to Ero’s wound, which was healing nicely and scabbing over beautifully. He didn’t know how he’s manage to make the cut wider than deep, but it had been lucky because Ero hadn’t needed sewing, which would have been much more pain and an ugly scar across his stomach.

“Perhaps it’s that you are too busy wasting your gentle touches on other men.” Ero whispered bitterly.

“I have done no such thing.”

“Rosh was moaning.”

The accusation made Lan sit upright and cease his gathering of the wrap to hold the folded cloth in place. “What.”

“I stood outside Rosh’s hut for a while after I brought your staff. Rosh was moaning. With you and he in his hut. Alone.” The scowl on Ero’s lips stayed there as he watched stun turn to rage on Lan’s face.


“How dare you!” Lan immediately got up and stormed away, knocking over the bowl of water as he did so. Lan turned around shoving the cloth of herbs into one of his pouches. “You stand around listening to me treat patients. You, who the entire village thinks I’m rutting with, one of the biggest reasons that no one in the village will come within ten feet of me, are accusing me of going to someone’s bed.” Gathering his belonging together in a pile Lan continued his tirad.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving Ero. I’m not your mate. I don’t want to be. It’s clear that I can’t stay here any longer since you think you have any right to accuse me of anything.” Finished with what little packing he needed to do, Lan walked from the hut.

Ero followed at Lan’s heels. The two were drawing stares now. “Wait.”

“No waiting. I will ask someone else to take me in. I don’t care how small or miserable the space.” Lan stormed away toward the fires hoping to find Kinma.

Growing self-conscious at the growing crowd of people following them, Ero struggled to find words. “What… What about my wound.”

Lan continued on, “Find someone else to treat it.”

“It’s your job as healer.” Ero accused.

Lan spun around. “I’m not a war-slave. I work for trade. Come near me again and I will give you a wound that will make that one look like a scratch.” Finally he spotted Kinma in a circle of warriors. “Kinma!”

The chief turned at the mention of his name and immediately stared wide eyed at the people staring at him. “Lan. What is the trouble here.” His voice took on the stern tone of a leader.

“I want to beg anyone for shelter. I can no longer stay with Ero.” Lan’s eues were feiry points.

“I’m afraid that there is no one else that has the room to offer you shelter.” Kinma squared his shoulders.

“Anyone will do. Just not Ero. I don’t care how small the space. I will not be there during the days. I just need shelter at night and a small place for my things. I don’t have much. I came with very little.”

“I will shelter him.” Rosh stepped out amongst the crowd leaning heavily on a stick.

Lan gaped openly. “You are not supposed to leave your bed until you have healed enough. Why are you here?”

Blushing Rosh looked to one side. “I heard that there was a fight.”

“Is this offer acceptable.” Kinma’s voice rang out.

Lan looked to the ground for a moment. “I-“

“No it is not acceptable.” Ero’s voice was not quiet. This was no plee, it was a demand.

Rosh stepped forward, “You have no claim over where he finds shelter.”

“Yes I do.” Ero’s shoulder were back and he narrowed his eyes and he moved toward Rosh. “You will stay out of this.”

“ENOUGH!” Kinma’s voice boomed above the growing whispers in the crowd and above the words that loudly passed between Rosh and Ero. “I am Chief of the Naltuk! I will be heard!”

Ero stepped back from Rosh, shooting him a sideways glance of warning.

“Why is it that you cannot stay where I have put you?”

Lan looked at Kinma helplessly and let his head fall. “I cannot stay beside Ero any longer.”

“You’ve said that before. I asked why.”

“I… I no longer trust my safety in his hut.”

A murmur broke out for a moment before Kinma silenced it with a glare. “You do not feel safe with the bravest warrior and hunter of our tribe.”

“I don’t believe he offers me safety.”

“Ero. Explain.”

“I have offered Lan safety and shelter. I protected him the day he came here from a pack of boar and he has lived in my hut now for half a moon. I have even traded with him, his healing for boots during the upcoming rain season.” Ero squared his shoulders. “He should stay where he is.”

“I can’t-“

“Lan.” Kinma looked at the boy from the corner of his eye. “You came to me for a decision. As leader of this tribe I will give one.”

“Rosh. Why are you offering shelter.”

For a moment Rosh just looked at Lan. “I have traded with the healer as well. As he said before, I’m not supposed to be up and moving. It would be best to have the healer close since I am injured. I do not have as much space as Ero does but Lan has said he only needs a little.”

“I will take all this into consideration.” Kinma shook his head. “All of you return to your huts. I will rule on this matter tomorrow. For now return to where you were.”

Ero smirked.

Shooting Kinma a pleading glance, he approached the man as the sea of observers parted around them. “Please.”

“Whatever you were running from tonight will not happen now that all this attention has been called.” Kinma sighed heavily. “I did not think there would be such problems when I placed you there.”

“I am sorry, Kinma. I never intended to cause anyone in the village trouble.”

“What’s done is done.” Kinma smiled. “Go back to Ero’s hut tonight. I will think and rule tomorrow. For now I will have a word with Rosh and Ero.”

Lan nodded and moved quickly toward the hut, avoiding glares as he went.

Kinma frowned as he watched the boy shrink into shadows. “Ero.”

Ero approached. His smirk passed into a blank look.

“What happened?” Kinma whispered.

“I accused him of something I should not have.” Ero looked away, avoiding the judgment of Kinma’s eyes.

“You want to claim him.” Kinma stated.

“Yes. I wasn’t certain before. I am now.” Ero nodded.

“Many will be upset.” Kinma stared at the group of women that gossiped in a circle near one of the nearer huts. “There are those that already punish him just for him staying with you.”

“All the more reason to claim him before this gets out of hand. Please Kinma, I made a mistake.”

“I will think on it.” Kinma refused to take ground on the subject. “For now go back and undo whatever you did. As for your claim, I refuse to acknowledge it or even consider acknowledging it until it is clear that you both want to mate.”

Ero nodded and moved away, heading back toward the hut to catch Lan.

“Ero.”

Ero returned to Kinma’s side the chief wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “Do not cause any more trouble for our healer. Do you understand?”

Ero frowned and nodded.

. . .

Lan lay back on the skins and covered his face with one arm. This day could not get any worse.

Ero entered the hut.

Yes it could. Lan refused to open his eyes as feet made gentle padding against the floor of the hut.

“I am sorry Lan.” Ero’s voice was gentle. “I did not think before I spoke.”

Ignoring the voice, Lan rolled onto his side.

“Please do not leave.”

Silence.

“I did not like the idea of you healing Rosh.”

“That is all I did. I healed him. Nothing more”

“I shouldn’t have accused you of anything else.”

Silence.

“I was jealous.” Ero stared at his pile of furs. “I do not like the idea of anyone else enjoying your touch so much.”

Silence.

“Forgive me. I want you so badly and yet you deny me. I didn’t like the way it sounded as if he could have you.”

“No one can have me.” Lan whispered.

“Let me have you.” Ero whispered back and gently touched Lan’s shoulder. “You can have a lover. I’ll show you.”

“Don’t touch me.”

“Of All the rumors that they talk about, I never mind when they are about you and I.” Ero spoke softly. “I want those lies to be truths.”

Silence.

“I love the way the way the other men look at me when you are mentioned, like they know that you’re mine.”

“I’m not yours.”

“I know but they act like you are. Today when I entered the village it was not rumors of you and I on people’s lips. It was you and Rosh. I couldn’t stand it.”

Silence.

“I want to be your mate.” Ero cooed.

“If you were my mate it would only be worse. The rumors won’t stop even if I’m yours.”

“But then I would have a reason to glare at them like I did today. I nearly punched one of my hunters when he said that you’d moved on to Rosh. I want everyone to know that you belong to me.”

“I can’t afford to exile myself from the tribe.”

“Let me claim you.”

“No.”

“I might die.”

“You are not going to die.”

“But you are wounding me every time you say no.”

Lan rolled onto his back and rolled his eyes at Ero’s broad smile.

Slowly the smile turned into a look of hunger as Ero glanced at Lan’s face. “Please. Just let me hold you.”

“There is no reason for you to hold me.”

“You can heal wounds with your touch. At least let me heal the ones I caused with mine.” Ero whispered.

“No. Go to bed.”

“Fine I will leave you alone tonight. Think on it. Some things can only be undone by the ones that did them in the first place.”


. . .


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. . .

Kylee: I specialize in temptation... mwahahahhhahaha! DOn't tell the boys its my fault though... Ero is good with a weapon.

Somnium: I'm looking forward to writing more about these boys. Hope you continue to enjoy!

Dekorx_Ao: I was unaware that you have to login to review.. I think that is standard for the website. If it's not I'm unsure of how to change that.

Avernion: Nice to hear from you here. I'm glad that you're curiousity is piqued.

Vex: Yes I definitely won't be abandoning these boys anytime soon. I love them and I'm happy to hear that you do too.

StemandLeaf: Happy to hear that you're enjoying the story. I try to be original like all writers. The character's tend to write themselves I'm just here to do the typing. I'm a dudette, and I'll definitely keep writing. Thanks Em!

Somnium: Glad you're back for a second round. I know that La's independence and backbone came as a suprise to most people. Ero especially.

Dekorx_Ao: Ero does have an obvious choice of protector for Lan, but could anyone resist such a sexy temptation. Silly alpha instincts are causing such issues.

Kylee: I do try to read up on my backgrounds as much as possible. Believability is what makes characters and stories great. Thanks so much!

Takumi Fujiwara: I'm touched that you seem to enjoy all of the stories in rotation. Thank you so much for your continued reading.

Jeazard: Yes the chemistry continues. What do you think of our recent developments?

Somnium: glad to hear that Lan and Ero can cheer you up. You know the saying you can't keep a good hunter down, and that applies double for Ero.

Diphtheria Tea: Another Chapter is here for you. A bit longer than usual too. What can I say, the boys are causing more trouble than usual this week.

Jeazard: Glad that you continue to enjoy. I'm excited to see you came back for a second helping of Beats.

Kylee: I'm glad that you checked out the site. I'm working on some character bios and pics to help spruce it up and maybe invite a guest writer or two to update semi regularly with me. I'm hoping that will attract more readers to the site, since those options aren't here but exist there.

Jeazard: More on the way. Glad that I've created an addict!!!