Greg thought it had been six days.
Could have been more. Sleeping blended with waking, both done in a dreamy haze. So too the blowjobs and inspections of his penis, but those seem to have stopped. Either she had gotten the message, or was tiring him out so he slept right through them. The last he found hard to believe, given his sensitivity and her skill.
He kind of missed it.
Greg's speed through the woods wasn't improving. While yes, his legs were getting the workout of their life, his strength had never been the issue. It was his brain, his mind, which was the problem. Trying to focus on keeping his legs moving in a coordinated manner tired him way before his legs started to feel the pain. Pushing on in a mental haze would cause stumbles, even falls. His curses didn't help. Neither did the path. If, indeed, path there was. Tiana had led them away from the water for the last day or so, but no longer was there even the vestige of a road that he could see. The ground was uneven, roots and rocks common. What attention he was not devoting to just moving was spent looking at the ground just before him, picking a path which would not trip him up. Looking at the scenery was just not in the cards.
Which is why he didn't notice the mountain.
"It gets a little steep here."
Tiana's words brought Greg to a stop. He looked up, a flash of dizziness hitting him as his head moved a little too fast. His eyes took in the view.
"Fuck."
The ground rose before him. He couldn't guess the angle, which varied in any case, but it was just steep enough to cause him despair. Greg knew it was gentle enough that it COULD be done. He couldn't refuse to try without feeling guilty.
Stupid morals.
"I'm sorry," Tiana said, coming over. She put a hand on his shoulder. "We could go around, as there's a pass, but it would take days, and someone might be watching..."
Who those people might be, and why, were still a mystery to him.
She had tried to explain this world, somewhat. His mind only picked up bits and pieces of it, his mental recovery far behind the physical. Something had happened. Something that impacted the rest of the world much more than this location, yet had disrupted the order which had settled over the civilizations here. Crops had failed, populations migrated. Why everyone wasn't here he didn't know, as things seemed fine.
Apart from the people wanting to kill them.
Greg considered taking a rest. He could use a rest. However, would that make this hill any easier to climb?
No.
With a sigh, he grabbed a low tree limb with his left hand and secured his grip on the cane. Time to do this.
****
Rain.
He knew it was coming. There was always a change in the air, even if you couldn't feel the wind, that told you the possibility of water falling on you was rising. Sometimes nothing happened. The rain would just pass you by, deciding you were not worth its time. More often, it would fall on you when least needed. Like now.
Greg felt the mud under his right foot give way, sliding downward. He swiftly moved his cane up, wedging it behind a tree root. His right foot lifted out of the grass and dirt soup, popping free with a suddenness that had him falling forward. His left arm shot out, looking for support.
Not finding it, he went down.
"Greg!"
Tiana was there a moment later, her tail wrapping around a thin tree as she tried to raise him to his knees. He waved her away.
"Give me a moment." He rested for a moment, adjusted himself, turning around so he faced where they had come from. His butt found purchase on a root, body moving into a somewhat comfortable sitting position. He ran his hands over his body, using the rain to help clear the mud off his skin and shirt. "Have I mentioned I hate falling?"
"A few times." She sat down beside him, movement much more graceful than his. For the hundredth time, he noticed the muscles under her wet, matted fur. He honestly couldn't say if she'd be his type if she were human, but he would definitely be in awe of her body. She had the trim physique of an athlete. "You OK?"
"Yeah." Greg watched as she took off her pack, leaning back against it. Her swords were once again packed away in her bedroll, handles just visible. "Just cold and tired."
She nodded. They silently looked out over the land. If it wasn't for the trees before them, they'd probably still be able to see the city they had passed under. He thought he had glimpsed a bit of it earlier, when they passed over an old rock slide which had cleared out much of the vegetation. They hadn't traveled far. He tried not to think about that.
"What's at the top of this mountain, anyways?"
"It's just a hill."
"Tall hill." Greg turned his head, looking up. "Is there some sort of ledge up there?" From where they were it looked like a break in the slope. Tiana glanced up
"Hmm. Looks like it. We may have to break there, if the rain keeps up. Don't want to kill you."
"No. We don't want that." He sighed. "Well, it doesn't look too far. Only a few hours at this rate. Let's get started."
****
A tent.
Greg wiped his eyes with his hand. Still a tent. He kept expecting a change when he did that, but so far this world had stubbornly insisted it was real. Actually, there was a small change. He squinted. It wasn't so much a temporary shelter as a building made of some kind of fabric. Large, over six feet high and thirty wide, it dominated the flat plateau cut into the hill. It looked not unlike some of the more extravagant tents he'd seen at home for those who liked to pretend they were roughing it, but actually preferred the comforts of home.
So, not something put up because of the rain.
"Should we try it?" He looked at Tiana. She was frowning. Greg wondered if she was just jealous over the improvement over her small shelter. The sudden worsening of the rain falling on his head made the question moot. He adjusted his stance in the mud. "Well, I'm trying it. Come on."
He started forward. It wasn't until the tenth step or so that he realized this was the first time he had taken the lead, told her to do something. Tried to take the "traditional" male role.
He hoped it didn't piss her off.
The tent looked to be some shade of yellow, water darkening the cloth. It was square-ish, with a peaked roof. A door flap stood before them. Reaching it, he considered. There was no way to knock. A closer look, after again wiping his eyes, showed a bell with a string hanging from it. He pulled.
The creature who pulled the flap open was blond. Her fur almost glowed from the lamp light shining behind her in the doorway. Unlike Tiana, whose black furred face he had come to assume was normal for her race, the stranger had fur of the purest white to contrast with the blond of her body, her nose and ears a dark pink, almost red. Only her eyes mirrored Tiana's, orange, intelligent.
Also, very confused.
He looked down at her, giving what he hoped was interpreted as a smile. She was easily only four and a half feet tall, if that. He would have called her a child, but a sample size of two was not enough to make generalizations about her kind. She wore a simple robe, pink, obviously not expecting visitors. He gave a small bow of his head.
"Sorry to bother you, but could we take shelter from the rain for a bit? It's not as fun anymore."
Her gaze went around him, eyes narrowing. Greg guessed she saw Tiana. He tried to remember how to be social. It had been awhile.
"I'm Greg, and this is Tiana. May we come in?"
The look she gave him was long, contemplating. Slowly, she backed up, still holding the flap open. Giving another bow of his head, Greg hobbled in. Her expression showed this was the first time she noticed the cane. Greg came to a stop on a patch of dry grass.
There were books everywhere.
Bookcases filled the space, made of wooden doweling and seemingly designed to be portable. They were set up away from the canvas walls, back to back for easy access to the valuable contents. The books themselves looked like any hardcovers from home, without the dust jackets. Having gone without reading for almost a week, it felt like heaven.
"Wow."
"What?" Tiana came up beside him, hands brushing water off her fur. He saw her eyes slide over the books as if they weren't there. Obviously, she didn't share his interest. He shrugged.
"Nothing." Greg turned to their host. "Again, I'm sorry to intrude."
She nodded.
"You may dry yourselves with the blanket over there." Her voice was soft, somewhat high pitched. He followed her gesture, and saw Tiana already toweling off. Greg couldn't help a sigh escaping, more of his weight falling on the cane. He saw the danger, straightening and adjusting his stance. Their host cocked her head at him. "Are you hurt?"
"Yes." He wiggled the cane. "Can't walk without assistance, among other things. Very annoying."
She nodded again, then seemed to realize something. Her head dipped in a slight bow.
"I'm Aada. Welcome to my home."
Greg smiled. Another name his imagination wouldn't have thought of. Or was he selling his brain short? His right leg started to buckle, reminding him of where his focus had to remain. Aada ran over to a nearby wooden chair.
"I'm sorry! Sit!" She pulled it away from a small table with an open book. He slowly walked over.
"Thank you." She suddenly dashed away, only to be back a moment later with a small pink towel. Aada gently placed it on the seat, motioning him onto it. "Thank you again." She smiled.
As he sat, Greg wondered what had come over him. Yes, he was normally a somewhat good natured person. Polite. But... he looked over at Tiana, who had settled onto a wooden chest, some sort of small decorative rug mostly protecting the furniture from her wet skirt. He hadn't been acting like this with her. Was it just some difference between them? His mind making snap judgements in its impaired state? If so, he had to watch himself. This was a stranger, and he at least knew where he stood with Tiana.
Somewhat.
"What are you doing out here, Aada?" Tiana's question came out a bit hostile. Greg flashed her a glance, but her eyes were on the blond. Trust obviously was not there. The look Aada returned was calm.
"Not getting wet, obviously. What's a village girl doing in the rain with a fur-less creature that talks?"
Now Tiana looked at him. Why? To gauge if he was insulted by the characterization? It certainly fit. He shrugged.
"We were trying to get to the top of the hill when the rain hit. Tiana is trying to get me someplace, and apparently it's that way." Tiana's eyes narrowed. Why? Because he was friendly? He wasn't giving away too much information.
"I see." Aada smiled at him. Greg couldn't help but smile back. He LIKED this girl. He even felt his cock start to harden.
"Enough!" Tiana was on her feet, metal dagger in her hand. "Let him go, Aada. NOW!"
Let him go? But she was way over there. Nobody had him in their grasp...
Greg felt a flittering in his mind.
No... no, that couldn't be. There was no such thing. He wasn't under some kind of, well, spell. Magic didn't exist. Mind control didn't exist. Aada couldn't...
"NOW!" Tiana moved in front of him, dagger pointed at the blond woman. "Or I swear, I'll..."
"OK, OK." Aada made a motion with her hand. Greg felt a fog lift from his mind. The whole tent came into a sharper focus. As did Aada. She became less beautiful, yet more real. The smile she gave him seemed only half apologetic. "Sorry. The ward is set on the door itself, and only affects those mentally..."
"His brain is sick! All his focus is on just walking!"
That was as good an excuse as any. Greg put his left hand to his forehead, right waving away both their comments.
"Doesn't matter. We agree my brain is mush." Magic. Real magic. Or its like. God, what was going on? He wished his skull wasn't in the way, so he could directly caress his mind. It needed the contact and comfort.
"We should leave," Tiana said, glancing over her shoulder at him. "I don't trust the witch."
"I'm a Druid." Aada adjusted her robes. Greg now saw symbols on them, light green on the pink fabric. "There's a slight difference."
"Pythoness."
Aada'a eyes narrowed.
"I cast not dark fortunes. Nor do I cavort with those who do." She walked towards the pair, seeming to grow in height. Well, naturally, his mind told him. She was closer. "Nor, really, is it smart to insult me in my own house. Is your mind as muddled as his? I can feel the illness in him, but you seem to have been born like this."
He heard Tiana growl. Greg rubbed his temple harder. Now his vision was getting wonky. Both women were glowing slightly. He saw a sword superimposed on Tiana, covering her back, a vague pentagram on Aada's chest. His eyes squeezed shut.
"Stop glowing, both of you! It's annoying!"
There was silence. His eyes stayed closed, enjoying the quiet. A hand touched his shoulder, ruining the moment.
"What did you say?"
"I said, stop glowing!" Greg opened his eyes. "It's not helping."
"We're not..." The two women looked at each other. Greg pushed Tiana's hand away.
"Yes you are." It was faint, but still there. Grabbing his cane, he pointed at his companion. "You have a glowing sword, and you," he pointed at Aada, "have a glowing pentagram. I get it. You both have different skills. You don't have to brag or whatever it is you're doing. Just stop."
Again the women looked at each other. Aada came forward, Tiana holding back any objection she had. The Druid knelt down before him, hands going to his temples. He tried to swat them away, but missed. He felt the smooth tips of her fingers.
"Has he seen before?"
"He had a vision of The Isle That Is."
"You're on quest?"
"I thought I was, but..." Tiana put away the dagger, coming to kneel beside Aada. "Maybe it's his. Maybe... maybe I'm his companion, not the other way around."
"Each on Quest has their own goal, their own destination. What is yours?"
"Mine? I sought to find the source of the world's hurt. His, though, would be to go home. She of the Isle told him to go there."
They were talking as if he wasn't there. Maybe he wasn't. Aada's touch was making it hard to think. If it had ever been easy. He felt the fingers move, make shapes. He gripped the cane handle harder. It felt warm in his hand.
"I can feel it. The power. So chaotic, unfocused. Yet, good."
"He is good. I've felt it."
Aada removed her fingers, rising.
"It's raining harder. I have a fresh hare we can roast."
"I'll help." Tiana rose. "We'll let him rest."
****
He woke to the smell of roasting meat.
Greg was on a soft carpet on the ground. Before him was the bottom of a bookshelf, titles almost readable through the blurriness of his vision. He didn't remember going to sleep. He did, however, recall being damned tired and a bit out of it, so his current position didn't surprise him. Rolling onto his back, he prepared to sit. The book rack looked way too flimsy to use for support. Arms pushing, he raised up. As usual, his head swam for a moment. Wasn't that bad. He saw Tiana walking over.
"You have to tell me when you wake." She placed the cane in his right hand. "Ready?"
"Oh, sure." He grabbed onto the offered arm with his left hand, legs gathering under him as she helped him up. They were getting better at this, each having figured out their role. He rose. "What have I missed?" The one table was set with dishes, two chairs and a stool set around it. Aada was dishing out some kind of root onto plates. Tiana let go of him once he was up and stable.
"Nothing much. We just talked."
Ah. Good. He just missed information that would have told him what the hell was going on. Surely nothing important. Gripping his cane, he walked to a chair. Aada pulled it out for him. Very formal. Must have been one hell of a conversation.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." She tried to push the chair in, failing. Greg moved it himself. The two women took the other places at the table. With no ceremony, they began to eat.
****
He dreamed that night. Dreamt of walking. Of glowing companions, of friendship. He dreamt of love. Of lovers.
Greg dreamt of loss.
****
He awoke, once again on the carpet. This time, at least, he remembered lying down as the lamps were extinguished. The tent was dark, apart from moon and star light shining through an open window flap. The rain seemed to have stopped. His eyes followed the path of the light, the beams sharp, clear. They fell on Aada. She was sitting on the grass, nude, legs folded. Her blond breasts were small, firm. As he watched, he saw her mouth move. Her hands, which had been cupped in her lap, rose up.
"Find," she seemed to whisper. Raising her hands, he saw a small bird in them. As if responding to her command, its wings flapped as it rose. A moment later, it was out the window and gone.
Greg felt sleep once again coming for him as he closed his eyes.
Stupid magic.