Gridgor's Passing

Chapter 6--Scare


That night, Theron had the strangest dream that felt more like a vision than anything. He was sitting in a boat with a full net of fish, fighting the waves of the sea. A wave tossed him overboard, someone yelling behind him. The waves tossed him around, pulling him under as he could see the boat get further and further away. In the boat, he saw a familiar man sitting there trying to push against the waves with his oar and get closer.

Sitting up in a cold sweat, he hit the pillow again with a heavy thud. Calth'air was lying on top of him again, clinging and drooling on his stomach. His motions stirred him only a little, sighing and letting himself drift off to sleep again.

He must have been thrashing again if Cal was sleeping in the same bed. He could feel the fabric against his legs so he didn't do anything suspicious while he was unconscious.

In the morning, Theron slept in a little but Cal woke him up just in time to get plate of breakfast. Sitting on a mat out by the low fire in the morning, he ate a little slower than usual.

~"Is something wrong?"~ Cal asked, poking him.

~"No…Yes…I had a dream last night…It felt so real that it scared me awake."~He said as he bit into his fish.

~"Oh?"~Calth'air said with intrigue.

~"Strangest thing though. You were in it. I have this ability to peer into the dreams of others when I'm asleep. I can't help but do it and I have tried putting up mental walls but it doesn't help. Your mind was very open last night."~Theron said as he set his dirty plate down.

The village leader's son went very quiet, having set his plate on his lap. He had a very bothered frown on his face, bringing his hand to his eyes to pinch the bridge of his nose. Sighing, he looked to the mage. ~"I lost someone very dear to me at sea."~He admitted.

~"I see…They never found anything of him…did they?"~Theron noted.

Calth'air shook his head. ~"He was my closest friend. A Nadle like my parents and neighbors but I loved him a lot. We went into deeper waters and ended up getting swallowed."~He said, not going in for seconds. It wasn't like him but then again, it was a touchy subject for the man.

~"We're in the same boat then."~The Mage sighed. Cal just nodded.

Nua saw the two of them sitting on the sand with breakfast, joining them with a graceful plop next to the Lord Mage. ~"Enjoying breakfast, boys?"~He said with a charming smile. ~"Lord Mage, I have a favor to ask. Can you drop by tonight?"~He asked, tracing his finger along Theron's shoulder.

~"Nua…"~Cal warned.

~"I'm not going to do anything. I've been having some…Problems as of late. I could use a bit of healing."~Nua said with a bit of red to his cheeks. ~"And it's a little private."~

Theron blinked but smiled, always willing to help. Nodding, Nua gave him a tight hug. Calth'air huffed, Nua letting go and trotting off.

~"Probably caught something I always warned him he would catch with his ways…"~Calth'air said with a growl. As much as Nua was still part of the village, he didn't approve of whoring around. ~"Can you really heal such a thing?~"

~"I can do many things within my power. A disease should be easy to cure with the right medicine. Do you know if your father has any herbs?"~Theron asked.

~"Of course he does. Sheshik does all the medicinal work though. You might want to ask him for all of the stuff your looking for."~Calth'air said as he sat up, gathering both their plates and giving Theron a nudge towards their tent. Xiar and Sheshik were cuddled up on the large pillows they usually nestled against, playing a game of pick-up-sticks. Sheshik smiled, waving them over.

~"You're just in time, we could use another player or two."~He said with a laugh. Xiar rolled his deep violet eyes, using his stick to nudge one stick off and add it to his pile.

~"Actually, I need a favor Sheshik. Can you show me the herbs that you have so that I may make something? I've been asked to…help someone with a sensitive problem. I just need to smell them to make sure I have the right ones."~Theron told the healer. Sheshik stared but nodded.

~"Cal, you know the right room. Help him with what he needs."~The healer smiled.

The two couldn't help but smile in return, heading down the long tented hall to one room. When Cal opened the flap, the strong smell of herbs hit Theron's nose like a bad woman's perfume. Bringing his hand up, he held it over his nose to cover up some of the smell. ~"WOW, Sheshik has a lot of herbs in here. It's overpowering!"~He said, moving his hand down.

Cal had sunk down to the ground, holding his nose and trying to not look queasy. ~"I…I hate coming into this room."~He whined.

~"It's not that bad once you get used to it though."~Theron teased, poking him before starting to look around. Removing the covers from pots, he would stick his nose in, picking out the right ones and handing the jars to Calth'air who balanced them out. There was another room Sheshik used to mix everything together, Cal leading him there and letting him use the tools with a watchful eye.

Theron's hands were graceful as they grinded everything into a pulp, mixing until it had come into a paste which he put into a container. ~"Cal…You can uncover your nose now."~He chuckled, putting a cover on the container and sitting back on his legs.

~"Thank Reyah…I don't know how mother-father can do this every time and for so long. He must have an iron nose."~Calth'air said with a huff.

~"Age can be a factor as well…"~Theron smirked, picking up the pot he used and rising to his feet.

~"I heard that Lord Mage. I'll have you know, I am the ripe old age of sixty and four years…but still young."~Sheshik said, frowning at him but brightening to a smile. Theron reddened, looking down. ~"Oh, don't be like that. I came to see if you needed some assistance but it already looks like you're done. Ah well, lunch is ready."~

~"It's really been that long?"~ Calth'air asked, peeking under the tent to see that the light of the sun had gotten brighter.

~"You've been working for about four hours."~Sheshik answered, sitting down with a little grunt between the two of them. He couldn't really stay on his feet for too long so his knees had become brittle from sitting down quite a bit. Theron felt a little sorry for the man but age was age.

~"It takes a while for everything to settle down enough to make into a poultice…"~Theron said, scooting over. Sheshik blinked when the mage put his hands on his knees. His hands glowed softly, the warmth spreading to the man's knees and hips. Sheshik blushed for the first time, watching.

~"I see. This is what a healing magic feels like…"~Sheshik said with a pleasant sigh.

~"How do you feel now?"~Theron asked, Sheshik moving to rise to his feet. There was no popping or aches. Smiling, he gave a twirl, his clothing whirling out like a skirt.

~"Twenty years younger!"~He said with a joyous laugh. Calth'air stared at him, then looked over to Theron with a smile. Sheshik smiled, leaving the room. There was a yell from the gathering room and laughter. The two younger Amestrians got up and went to go see what happened.

Sheshik had gave Xiar a little tackle, startling him and sending them both sprawling onto the big pillows. The effeminate man sat on Xiar's hips, kissing him lovingly. When they broke, Xiar looked extremely please. ~"My, Seshie, you haven't been this active in so long. What's got you in such a good mood?"~He teased, bringing his weathered hands to Sheshik's backside, the other man giving a bit of a squeak.

~"Our Lord Mage gave me some divine assistance. I have never felt better."~He said with a chuckle, looking over his shoulder at the two.

Calth'air was a little disturbed to see his parents being more lovey-dovey than usual, and even more active. Theron was chuckling softly, cradling the poultice jar in his hands as he watched the old couple smile and laugh joyously.

~"They're going to go out it like it was their first time in heat."~Calth'air said, bringing a hand down his face.

Theron smiled. ~"What's the matter with that? I find it very cute that they're still affectionate like this after many years."~He said with a grin. Cal's disturbing pain would be his pleasure for the time being. Calth'air shook his head, turning and heading back down the hall, the mage in suit. They would take the back way out and give the old couple some time alone with Sheshik's new hips.

The same people had gathered around the low fire for Lunch, chatting and munching on the pork that had been prepared. However, a loud, keening moan broke the low hum of talking, several of the men around the village reddening and recognizing the voice. Calth'air and Theron could not have been redder.

"W-was that…"Theron said in the common tongue.

"He was never quiet."Calth'air answered back, shrinking down.

After lunch, Calth'air took Theron around another part of the village, getting a couple of giggles from the women or Nadle men since they were both pretty red. They looked like a blushing couple but they were far from it. At the end of the beach towards the rocks, Theron climbed up on a ragged pile of them, standing on top and looking out towards the sea.

~"Grayharte is not as warm as here."~Theron said, reaching back and untying his hair from the little braids and ponytail that Calth'air had done his first day in the village. Calth'air frowned at how loose his hair was but he couldn't help but admit that it did look nicer down.

~"We are further south…It's better this way."~Calth'air said as he sat down on one of the rocks. ~"You miss him don't you? The King?"~

Theron went a little silent, his face falling a bit. His head went through a couple of scenes. The look of Hezekiah's face from before he left to the time he slapped him still haunted him. In his previous state of mind, he had caused the man a great grief yet he wanted to still be by his side.

~"Very much…He will always be my first and last."~He said, looking down to Calth'air. ~"I wonder if he thinks about me sometimes in the same way that I think about him? I caused him so much grief…During the time that we had separated our hearts during the castle's reclaiming, it pained him so much…I felt so guilty in the way that I had thought about him, so dirty…he is a King but he is a man."~He said, his head inclining slightly.

~"His father also killed yours didn't he?"~Calth'air added.

Theron nodded. ~"Yet I didn't really think about it then. I loved him so much that I was willing to look past revenge, my blood family, my people…And just think about the future."~He said, climbing down. ~"And it worked. We saved our people, created a family that is diverse in nature and have a good home. It's not perfect, but it's paradise to me."~

~"That is something…"~Calth'air nodded, running his fingers through his braids but stopping at the red band that held his hair back. Grabbing it, he pulled his hair loose, the braids falling around him in rivers. Looking down at the woven band, he smiled softly. ~"I wish I could have had that with him. It's hard to let go."~He sighed.

~"What was his name?"~Theron asked, sitting behind him.

~"Temya."~Cal said, fingering the band in his hand. Bringing it back to his hair, he tied his braids back and settled his elbows on his thighs, leaning forward.

~"Temya…Like the person he loved. 'A good heart.'"~Theron smiled softly. Calth'air nodded, looking down the beach. No one was looking for them and they had plenty of time before dinner, along with Nua's appointment with the Lord Mage. He didn't know what the whore was really asking for but he was suspicious.

~"We should go."~Theron added, grabbing Calth'air's arm and pulling him up. Instead of pulling him down the beach, he pulled him toward the water.

~"Wait, why are we going in the water then?"~Calth'air said, digging his heels into the sand but the well-built mage managed to drag him into the shallows. Turning his back to him, Theron patted it.

~"We're going the fun way. Get on."~He said, patting more.

~"I'm too heavy for you.~"Cal said with a huff but got on. Theron managed to hold his own, especially when he started to slowly rise into the air, flying over the waves to get to the flatter, calmer water. Setting it feet just down on the surface, he started to push his feet along, skating along the surface and slowly picking up speed. The water split in front of them and sprayed behind the faster that Theron went, both of their hair flying back. The villagers had gathered along the shore seeing such an odd sight but cheered and waved when they saw who it was.

~"Wave, I won't drop you."~Theron said as he continued to fly along. Calth'air raised one hand up, waving to everyone along the shore. The Lord Mage skidded to a halt, the water splashing and then calming. Theron started to lower Calth'air down but the man wouldn't let go.

~"You said you wouldn't drop me!"~Cal said, holding onto him tighter.

~"I'm not, we're going to walk back on top of the water. Like how I'm standing now."~Theron said as he tried to pry Calth'air off. Cal held on but slowly lowered his feet down. Down below, the water felt like it was a solid as the ground. Cal put both feet down, but still held onto Theron. The mage smiled, just taking one of his hands and pulling him along, Cal stumbling a little. They walked along the water, making little ripples until they got to the waves, jumping over them and wading in the shallow water.

Children gathered along the shore to meet them, laughing and asking for rides. ~"Perhaps if you ask your parents."~Theron said to all of them, the smaller Amestrian bodies running back home to do just so.

Calth'air laughed, crossing his arms. ~"That really was something. Is that really the power of the Nine?"~He asked.

Theron shook his head. ~"That is the power of me…A water mage."~He said with a chuckle. He started to walk up shore to the tents, wobbling a little. Calth'air caught him, helping him to settle down.

~"What's the matter? Did you hurt yourself? What happened?"~He asked worriedly.

Theron had beads of sweat running down his face, his body trembling some. ~"I'm f-fine…It takes a lot of energy to do that for two people…Let alone a dozen children. I'm just drained, I need rest for now…"~He chattered, curling up. ~"They aren't as strong as before…"~

Calth'air looked around, picking Theron up and running back toward the tent. He carried him into their room, lying him down and covering him up with Hezekiah's blanket. Theron lay underneath the blanket, chattering and shivering like he had been just dunked in ice water. Sheshik and Xiar came to check on him, making a hot herbal tea for him to drink to help him regain some strength. Xiar knew a little magic but couldn't do much for the mage other than exchange a little energy.

~"We may need to contact one of the other Lords if your powers don't return soon, Rhodhir…they may be able to help you better than we can."~Xiar said, replacing the cold cloth on his forehead.

~"I have already contact Yuri…Like us…His home was taken away from him. I trust him."~Theron said tiredly. Outside there was a bit of a loud commotion and running. Someone came down the hall, Yuri pulling away the curtain.

"I received your message and came right away."Yuri said, coming to his side immediately. Sheshik and Xiar rose, bowing respectfully and going to retrieve a kneeling cushion for the the Lord mage. Calth'air joined them to give the two some privacy concerning other worldly affairs.

Yuri performed an examination on Theron, his hands working gently and eventually he came to a conclusion. Xiar and everyone rejoined them.

"It's his emotions. Our magic comes from our emotions and with this heavy grief, it may be restricting his aural flow. Once it passes, he should be back to normal but in his current state, he'll have to take it easy. No big spells or large healing."Yuri said, Theron translating for him.

"We understand."Xiar said, Yuri smiling and rising.

"Please, make sure he rests and eats. It'll help his recovery."He said, bowing to the two elderly men and Calth'air, leaving quietly. The three were in awe of the other Lord Mage, never having seen someone so fair or pale. It was like seeing snow for the first time. Theron napped a little before dinner and when he felt better, he was able to get up around to do what he needed to.

Including his trip to Nua's tent…

During dinner, Theron finished early and followed Nua to his tent.

~"I really hope that you don't mind. It's just been so troublesome as of lately."~Nua said, pouting.

~"It's not a problem at all."~Theron said softly, carrying the jar of poultice. Nua's tent was tucked behind several other but it wasn't as nearly as large as Calth'airs. It was just three rooms with a large gathering room. Nua made them both some tea.

~"Can you tell me about it if you don't mind? This poultice I made may not cure it but it'll help relieve some pain that you might be in."The Lord mage said, picking up his tea cup and sipping it a little. ~"This is quite good."~

~"Thank you, it's an old family recipe."~Nua said coyly. ~"But yes…I've been having a little problem 'down there', if you know what I mean. It just aches a little but at night sometimes it gets so hard to sleep. Is there anything that you can do?"~

~"Well…Is it on the outside or the inside?"~Theron inquired, sipping more of the tea. It really was good. It was a honey tea but it had a little bit of a sweet fruity flavor to it. Licking his lips, he set the cup down as to not be rude.

~"Oh, the outside. Massaging it helps."~Nua said with a blush. ~"How is the tea? It's not too hot is it?"~

~"No, it's just rig…"~Theron said, stopping. As he looked down to the tea cup, he started to see double, leaning over some. ~"I…feel so numb…I just…"~

~"Narca root will do that…It's tasteless and odorless to the senses, even with an Amestrian nose. With a little bit of Mettleweed and Penilia Flower, it makes for a wonderful paralyzing aphrodisiac. It's a very old family recipe."~ Nua said as he watched the Mage lay on the floor, staring across the room as he started to perspire. ~"What's the matter? Can you not talk?~"

Theron's eyes looked over at him but his mouth couldn't move. Nua rose to his feet, walking over and rolling the mage over so he was lying on his back. Nua started to do the sash around Theron's waist, using it like a blindfold. He could hear anything that he would do to him but that would be it.

~"Mettleweed increases your sensitivity to touch…I just removed your sash and you are already hard…"~Nua purred, rolling him over so Theron was now on his stomach. Adjusting him so he was propped up slightly on his knees, Nua pulled down his pants, exposing his bare backside. ~"The must be the ass that the Pale king enjoys so much…If foreign royalty enjoys it, I wonder just how I will."~

Theron couldn't move his arms and legs but his skin felt like it was one fire. Every little touch Nua made to him, it sent him reeling. Listening, he could hear Nua drop something and then move him so he was on his back again. There was a strong, masculine smell just over his nose, something pushing against his mouth before forcing it's way in. Nua pressed his member inside of Theron's mouth, pumping his hips while he worked on licking the head of the mage's member.

~"Mm, I can feel your mouth take me in so well. And with your body paralyzed, no gag reflex so I can go all the way in like this."~ Nua continued. Theron could feel his mouth and throat expand as the whoring man pumped his hips in and out of his mouth. Nua's mouth worked along his member, Theron throbbing to the point his throat attempted to close and allow him to whine. When the mouth and the member moved away, Theron coughed.

Nua didn't think about it as he moved onto his next task. While Theron was still on his back, the man who had dirtied him so started to push the head of his member into his entrance. Theron groaned, not able to scream yet. It hurt so much! There was no preparation whatsoever.

As a mage, Theron trained his body to resist spells, potions and drugs that may have caused harm to Hezekiah's father then Hezekiah himself. He would get his feeling back slowly and somehow he wished that he hadn't. Nua pushed himself so deep that it felt like he was going to rip apart. ~"I am going to have to make this quick, love. Someone will eventually come looking and I want my fill of you."~He said, leaning down to whisper it into the mage's ear.

~"Nnn..aa…Sto…"~Theron begged, beginning to cry.

~"You can talk? Seems my dose wasn't strong enough then…No matter."~Nua said coyly, pulling back his hips and slamming into Theron's backside. The mage cried out, bouncing along the rough floor of the tent as Nua pumped in and out of him. He sobbed, trying to scream but not reaching that point where he could quite yet.

Something moved in the tent and Nua stopped. There was complete quiet, Nua sliding out of him roughly, not even waiting until he had softened. As Theron regained feeling, Nua had slipped his clothes back on and then put the unmoving mage's back on, finishing by throwing a blanket over him just as Calth'air came in.

~"Nua, where is he?"~Calth'air said, grabbing Nua by the braids.

~"Lying down, he's still recovering remember?"~Nua said, pointing to the blanket. Calth'air didn't let go. ~"That hurts, let go of my hair!"~

~"You stink of sex. Everyone was at dinner but you and Rhodhir. What did you do to him?"~Calth'air growled.

~"Nothing."~Nua said, wincing and trying to pull his hair away. Calth'air was taller than him and much stronger. ~"He's asleep but you can ask him when he wakes up."~

Cal let go and went to check on Theron's condition. The man was wide awake but to the point of tears. For some reason though, he wasn't making any sounds. Leaning down, he sniffed and caught the musk of a man all over his mouth then towards his back end. The dark hair on the village leader's son bristled, turning around to stare down Nua.

~"You fucked him…And you must of drugged his tea, he stinks of honey tea."~He said as he rose.

Nua was now afraid for his own life as Calth'air got closer. The Nadle male fell to the floor on his hands and knees, begging for his life. ~"I did not hurt him, honestly! He should pull out of it in a few hours! Oh Goddess, please don't kill me!"~ Nua begged.

Calth'air was glad he left his gutting knife back at his own tent for he would have murdered the male right then and there. There was high crime for someone who did anything to someone else who's rank overpowered their own. ~"I will let Xiar decide your punishment but you will follow me back to the tent. If you do so run, it will only take a few short minutes for some of the other men to mow you down. And then you will die."~He said lowly, scooping Theron up in his ragdoll like form.

It was a long, quiet walk back to Calth'air's tent. Theron stirred, sobbing but unable to seek the comfort of burying his face into something warm. He wanted the blanket Hezekiah had given him. Once they we in the tent, Xiar and Sheshik stared. They had never seen Calth'air so angry but the man had a strong sense of justice. Something set him off.

~"Nua drugged and violated the Lord Mage in his own tent. I'm leaving the punishment to you, father…I can't stand the sight of him."~Cal said as he carried Theron into the back rooms.

Nua now whimpered in cowardice, bowing on his hands and knees again. ~"Please, Leader, I'm begging you to spare my life! I will do anything to make amends for what I have done."~He pleaded.

Sheshik had never seen Xiar so grave. The man had seen Nua grow from a pup! He couldn't do anything harsh, could he? Xiar was silent, pointing to the male. ~"You have greatly dishonored your family for your crimes. I will let them decide what to do with you…Get out of my tent or so Reyah help me, get out of this village."~He ordered. Nua bowed repetitively, scrambling up and running out of the tent. Xiar would send notice to Nua's family soon.

Sheshik petted his arm comfortingly. ~"You made a wise choice…And I'm glad you didn't kill him."~He said softly.

Xiar brought his hand to Sheshik's. ~"I never want to see someone I know hurt like that…It reminded me too much of then. If I had been a different man that I am today, I would have seriously hurt him."~He said lowly.

In the back room, Calth'air made Theron as comfortable as he possibly could. The mage had stopped crying and now rested a little but he felt like his lower region was going to explode. Nua had left him drugged and unreleased. Calth'air was afraid to do anything.

~"Is there anything I can do?"~He asked, Theron shaking his head a little.

~"It…hurts…"~The mage managed to slip out.

~"I can't do anything…Your lover…your King isn't here."~Calth'air said, his long ears drooping heavily. Sheshik came in, sitting on the foot of the bed.

~"How is he doing?"~The elderly man asked.

~"Whatever Nua put in his tea, it's causing him some discomfort. He can move a little…but…he…it hasn't gone down."~Cal said with some embarrassment, pointing to the solid lump in the middle of the bed. Sheshik stared but he looked to Cal.

~"We can't get a message to the King sooner…We may have to…intervene."~Sheshik said, moving off the bed and to Calth'air's side. ~"You have gotten to know him better than anyone, my son."~

~"No…Temya…"~Theron said, his eyebrows furrowing.

Calth'air's shoulders sank. What could he do? There was the reality that Temya wasn't coming back and then the dream that he was going to show up one day. ~"I…"~He started.

~"He will be in much pain if you do not help."~Sheshik said, tilting his head. He petted his son's hair, looking to Theron. ~"You have to."~

Theron stared at him, what blood that hadn't gone to his member going to his cheeks. Caving, he just couldn't take it anymore. Nodding, Sheshik patted Calth'air's head. ~"It is up to you, my son…"~He said softly. The Nadle left, leaving the two alone.

It was quiet except for Theron's quickening breaths. He was nervous. They both were. In Theron's mind, he was betraying every promise made to Hezekiah and the same for Temya. Calth'air sat on his knees, pressing his forehead on the bed and swallowing everything down that he could. It started with his shoes, the wraps around his ankles and then his pants. Theron watched as the man bore himself to him, sliding into bed. Calth'air undress him, his face blooming when he saw Theron's member, hard and waiting.

Theron's eyes closed, his face reddening as he felt a hot mouth over him, opening one to see Calth'air licking and swirling his tongue around it. His hand stroked himself while his mouth worked. It was embarrassing for the both of them.

It felt amazing.

If his hips weren't still frozen, Theron would have started pumping upwards. Moaning, he rolled his head around, panting and keening. When it moved away, he let a whine slip away. Calth'air had moved to meet him up front, staring down at him. ~"Are you sure you want to…"~he whispered softly. The sincerity of his voice made him tremble and shiver a little.

~"Y-yes…help me…"~He breathed.

Cal nodded, bringing his hand over to the side of the bed. Sheshik had left a slimy, bitter smelling poultice. It would help to heal whatever damage Nua had done with his backend and give them some lubrication. Fingering some of the jelly-like substance on his fingers, he moved his hand down as well as his body.

Adjusting Theron's legs so they were spread apart, Calth'air smeared the poultice around the opening, sliding one finger in slowly. Theron's breath quickened and Cal added another finger slowly. He wanted make sure that he wouldn't hurt him. His fingers slid slowly in and out, curling and flexing inside of him.

The mage's head whirled, moans slipping out of him as the fingers softened him up. When they moved away, he whimpered. ~"Calth'air….please…."~He begged. His member ached for his release, drooling precum down his shaft.

A nudge towards his entrance made him hitch in his breath. Slowly he started be spread apart until he felt Calth'airs hips touch his. Opening his eyes, he saw that Calth'air was over him and sweating a little. Bringing his arms up as much as he could. Theron held onto his shoulders. ~"It's ok…It doesn't hurt…"~He said softly.

~"A…Alright…"~Calth'air breathed, starting to move his hips. It was such a relief! The man was bigger in girth than the King but it hit the right spots. As Cal started to move faster, groaning above him, Theron was practically screaming. His body tingled and begged for the fire to be quenched down below. They switched positions, Theron laying on his side while Cal held his leg, pumping his hips into him.

"AH AH! Cal, I'm going to come!"Theron keened, holding onto him in their new position. Cal lifted and dropped the mage down onto him a little faster, his cries getting louder in octave.

With one hard thrust, he came to release between them, Cal spilling into him with a grunt. The two of them sat panting, flopping over heavily back onto the bed. The taller Amestrian petted him, kissing his forehead as Theron wound down, snuggled closely to him for warmth.

~"I…Came inside of you….Is that alright?"~Cal panted. Theron nodded, sighing in relief.

~"It's warm…I don't mind…"~Theron answered, looking up at him. ~"I may need a bath of flush it out though…"~

~"Later…you need rest."~ Cal said as he gave Theron's forehead another kiss. Sitting up, he rolled out of bed with a bit of a wobble, grabbing his clothes and getting dressed. He would probably join the mage on the 'bath' idea.

Outside in the gathering room, Sheshik was snuggling with Xiar, the masculine of the two resting his head on Sheshik's lap. ~"How is he?"~ Shesh asked.

~"Resting right now…I'm going for a walk."~Calth'air said as he brought a hand to his hair, pulling the band out. Leaving the tent, he headed down the beach toward the boats. Sitting on one of them, his fingers traced along the wood. The memory was fresh in his head.

Temya had tried to pull the net with all the fish in before the storm started to get worse. A big wave had come and knocked him out of the boat just as he had finished. He'd tried so hard to get him back in but the sea pulled him away faster than he could paddle. In just a few short minutes, he had lost the love of his life.

The sea had devoured him.

It still haunted him but in his memory, Calth'air always wore the hairband Temya had woven for him. Now seeing it in his hands, he was agonizing to think about what he was going to do but it needed to be done.


There was a time that Temya, after their seventh time making love, had brought up a touching subject.

~"You know…"~He had said, ~"I think that it would be nice to have more than one person in your life. I can't always be there and you can't always be there for me. I want you to remember me if anything ever happened but please don't forget to let other people in."~

~"Temya…I think the blood has rushed back to your other head."~Cal teased.

~"Maybe…"~Temya sighed.

Gripping the wood of the boat, Calth'air started to push it into the water, boarding it and paddling himself out past the waves into the calmer waters. The moon was high overhead and full that evening. The light shone along the top of it, rippling brilliantly. Holding the band in his hand and standing to his feet, he held it over the water.

~"Temya…I'm sorry…I want to hold onto your memory…but I have to move on. I have to let go."~He said, his voice waning. ~"Forgive me…and know that I'll always love you very much."~

With that, Calth'air let the band slip from his hand and drop into the water without a sound. It floated for a second then slowly started to sink down to the bottom. Cal stood there, frozen. Temya's face faded down the the band and as his hand dropped, it completely disappeared. Closing his eyes, he sank down on the bench of the boat.

He couldn't believe that he was doing this. What was he? Crazy? Grabbing his oar, he started to paddle back to shore, dragging to boat back on the sand and heading back to the tent. Sheshik and Xiar had headed to bed but he could hear someone moving around. His older siblings had moved out but some of his younger ones still stayed. All of whom he knew were in bed.

So who was up?