Message-ID: <61058asstr$1299928202@assm.asstr-mirror.org> X-Original-To: ckought69@hotmail.com Delivered-To: ckought69@hotmail.com X-Original-Message-ID: <202729.3428.qm@web38905.mail.mud.yahoo.com> From: Nick Walker <chaos_kissed_reborn@yahoo.com> X-ASSTR-Original-Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:44:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: {ASSM} {ASS} Narsinia 01 {Quezvax} (MF best oral 1st) Lines: 721 Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 06:10:02 -0500 Path: assm.asstr-mirror.org!not-for-mail Approved: <assm@asstr-mirror.org> Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d X-Archived-At: <URL:http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2011/61058> X-Moderator-Contact: ASSTR ASSM moderation <story-ckought69@hotmail.com> X-Story-Submission: <ckought69@hotmail.com> X-Moderator-ID: dennyw, RuiJorge Okay, I think I've got it figured out now. <1st attachment, "Chapter01.txt" begin> --->ADULTS ONLY<--- This document contains explicit content, and is not suitable for minors, individuals easily offended by adult content of an abstract nature, or anyone forbidden by law to view such content. This story, the characters, and the world the story is set in are (C) Quexvax the Hard to Pronounce 2010-Present. This is a work in progress. You are more than welcome to keep a copy for personal use, but any use that generates profit or omits this opening message is forbidden. As for you perverted adults who are bound and determined to keep reading, you can expect depictions of oral sex and bestiality between a female human and a male animal in this chapter. If you feel that this document is worth saving as part of your personal collection, I only ask for a little feedback, through asstr-mirror.org. I am a lazy writer, and need encouragement in order to keep writing. A special thanks to all my friends who helped me edit and improve upon my work! Story codes: (best/F/oral/first) Synopsis: A different breed of lycanthrope seeks to manipulate a noble woman to change the country. Chapter 1 Vevnan was an oddball for a Narsinian. She was just past twenty winters, and showed no interest in any men. Although, being of the de'Niryl line, that wasn't too terribly surprising. Her family was second only to the King's, having more land, power, and gold than half the kingdom combined. Even stranger, she had volunteered for the military. She was the first person in her family in the last century to serve. This was quite a feat, considering the war with Dason had been going on at least that long. There weren't daily battles, or even weekly, but there hadn't been peace between the two countries in any mortal's memory. "It's their fault..." she muttered under her breath from her perch, a couple dozen feet above the ground. She remembered tracking down a Dason unit who had pillaged a few outlying farms, taking several months' worth of food and causing more than enough havoc, though she'd made escaping with their overstuffed caravan hell, though. Her fingers drifted up and down her bowstring at the memory of that long encounter. In the end, they'd gotten away with the caravan, but lost a score of men in the process. In the back of her mind, she knew they had their own justifications for the conflict. 'Karial forgive me,' she thought in response to her own thoughts. The God of Valor had always been her patron deity. The other gods of the Church of the True Gods only occasionally graced her mind. She attended church sermons whenever she was available to do so; that wasn't often, given how much time she spent scouting and remaining out of sight of Dasoners. She was far from out of mind of her own military, though, and reported to them most weeks. She inhaled deeply, taking in the general smell of the trees around her, and the forest floor far beneath her. Summer was giving way slowly to winter, and the autumn months were often her favorite. Of course, that meant a change in tactics once the majority of leaves had fallen and her little perches she was so apt at finding no longer hid her from the eyes of the enemies. Enemies... they could be anywhere, and likely had their own scouts out and about. She'd seen them, dealt with them, and even killed a few. Most of the time, though, she was content to keep out of sight, reporting movements, changes in activity, shipments, and even patrol routes of the Dasoners. A few warm rays of sunlight managed to filter down to her through the canopy above. She basked in them, sighing quietly and contently. Her life was an ever-changing routine. Every few months, she'd go back to Ghalen, the capitol, to pretend like she was a normal part of her noble family. Neither she nor her family particularly enjoyed the time, but thankfully, she only had to spend a week there. The de'Niryl family made most of its fortune through smuggling operations, which she was aware of, but on the surface her noble family made its living by managing the country's currency and credit. The wind rustled through the dry leaves, most of which were counting down their final days before they would drop to the forest floor. It sounded like there was a waterfall nearby, no matter where one traveled in the Eastern Woods; at least, until winter hit and there were no leaves to rustle in the wind. Winter made the familiar territory seem like an entirely foreign place. It had been a decade since this place had seen the march of a formation of soldiers. It was important, she knew, because it was the most direct route to the northernmost gold in Dason. Gold, as always, was in short supply in Narsinia. It had been explained to her that at one point the mine and surrounding lands had belonged to Narsinia. This was the reason given when she questioned why she had to keep such a close eye on this region. Not that she minded the forest itself. It was cut off from the sprawling evergreen ranges on the rest of the continent by a small mountain range, though the peaks were tame and well-known enough to allow an organized army to march through. At this point, she knew, her home country was waiting for Dason to be lax enough in this area to allow a swift capture of the mine and nearby land. A slight, cool breeze contrasted nicely with the warm rays of sun that struck her from above. Vevnan stood a few inches above five foot, her frame slender but well-toned from a life in the wild. Her skin was tan, as much from the dirt of the road as the sun. Her eyes were a deep blue, standing out against autumn-red hair that she kept tied behind her. She was clad in a suit of light leather armor. It protected her from nicks and scratches more than anything else, as she rarely engaged in combat and even rarer still in melee. Still, it might take the worst out of a hit from a lucky blow. Her boots were well-worn and well-oiled. They fit her feet perfectly, rising up to her knees, where a pair of long socks made their way up beneath the skirt of her leather armor. Her breasts were of moderate size, marking her as a woman on the occasion that someone caught a glimpse of her, but not getting in the way of any of her work. Vevnan found that, during the daylight hours, the best way to monitor enemy movements without being seen was to find a convenient perch that afforded a good view without being obvious. She pushed her collapsible spyglass into its more compact form, and then gazed at it with a small measure of reverence. It was slightly enchanted, so it afforded a marvelously clear view of whatever she used it on. She stowed it carefully before glancing about with her unaided eyes, realizing that the sun would soon set. "Only so long until my pursuer starts the search back up," she mused. She knew she was being followed, but she wasn't certain exactly what was stalking her. She figured only that it wasn't human, so it was probably some sort of predator. She had no fear of animals, so she approached the situation with calm calculation. All she had to do was keep alert, and sleep lightly. She was even somewhat anxious to learn about her pursuer. Instinct told her that the inevitable encounter would be a welcome break from the usual drudgery of scouting. 'No,' she thought, 'my job isn't all that bad. I just look forward to something different.' Only the gods that answered the prayers of non-humans knew just how interesting it would prove to be. ***************************************************************************** 'How long have we been stalking her?' asked the human. 'Is it relevant?' the animal replied offhandedly. The human had no response. Quezvax breathed a sigh of contentment as night settled on the land. To him, the night was a blanket of safety and security, knowledge that he had a distinct advantage over most of the denizens of the world. To those lacking the sight of evening, the land darkened. To him, it was illuminated with a clarity that brought focus. He stood up, stretched, and hopped down from the tree he'd been sleeping aloft in. The ground was not his preferred realm, but he would make an exception for this quarry. Uncertainty of her balance in the branches while unconscious, he wagered, was the reason she'd dropped to the ground while the sun had been making its descent into the West Cardinal Gate. Even though not in his most comfortable domain, he made good time in catching up with her. He moved at an easy pace, quiet as a breeze until he came over a slight slope and brought her into sight. From there, he moved with enough stealth to make a shadow envious. 'She's attractive, for a human. She even has a few feline attributes,' observed the animal. She had her back to a tree, propped upright, with a couple boulders to keep her hidden from casual sight. Casual sight was beneath the hunter, though. Her bow rested within easy reach. 'I'd rather not make us obvious, so I'll just let you take over here,' quipped the human. 'While your plan is far from inconspicuous, I think it is a wise course.' ***************************************************************************** Vevnan had invariably been a light sleeper, but tonight she may as well have been wide awake with her eyes almost closed. She did not hear the predator approaching her, but a glint of moonlight on fur had her on her feet, her bow in hand, and an arrow knocked. She almost laughed, but instead smiled, weary of having likely already startled the graceful creature before her. The cat had stopped its stride as soon as she had arisen, though it was obviously not afraid. He lifted his head and sniffed the air before taking a measured step into a pool of moonlight, the pale light shining off his spotted coat, revealing him for the leopard that he was. He glanced around, but kept his ears trained on her, his tail swishing slightly back and forth. He did not fear her arrows, though in the back of his mind he was cognizant that an attack would reveal him as more than her eyes told her. Having spent a great deal of time alone in the wilds, Vevnan was no stranger to animals. She had even developed a measure of empathy for them, and sometimes found them somewhat more agreeable than humans. "You're the one," she said slowly, her voice soft as silk, "who's been stalking me. I shall not make an easy meal, if that's what you're about." She carefully reached into a pouch on her leather vest, though, and removed a slab of jerky, before lightly tossing it to the side of the cat. He did not flinch, though he swayed somewhat in the opposite direction of the offered snack, initially. Keeping his ears trained on her, the cat craned his neck down toward the morsel, sniffed it, and then took it, chewing and swallowing it quickly, his razor sharp teeth glistening with saliva in the moonlight. He looked up at her with green orbs, licking his lips languidly. "I somehow doubt you're here to eat me, if you came at me head on," Vevnan mused softly, her voice slow. She gradually set her bow to rest, though one hand remained near a short sword she kept belted to her hip. She did not unbuckle the blade, though, confident in her abilities to deal with the animal in a non-violent manner. The leopard took a few more tentative steps toward her. He paused a few paces away, inhaling the air though he knew he wouldn't find anything new. At least, he didn't expect to. 'She's in heat,' thought the animal, and a light purr began to rumble deep in his chest and up his throat. It sounded more akin to a growl than a purr one would hear from a smaller variety of cat. The woman before him knew the difference, and quirked a brow. "What's got you so excited?" she murmured, her hand reaching out slowly as though she might be fortunate enough to touch fur that looked to be comparable to silk. 'She's human,' the human reminded his animal half. 'That means being in heat won't have her spreading her legs for the first appealing male she sees.' Of course, Quezvax could hope. Certainly copulation would be preferable to injuring her. 'With the right course of action, intercourse would be far from difficult.' The animal mind had a way of thinking very practically, even if somewhat morally ambiguous. 'We will *not* rape her,' the human mind stated. While he had allowed the animal half to take control, he could revoke it on a whim. Vevnan heard nothing of this silent conversation, though she did note the animal's hesitation in moving closer. The woman was far from typical, in a long line of different respects. She inched forward while the leopard seemed distracted by something within; her left hand outstretched lightly, her right ready to snatch her blade off her belt if she had miscalculated. Realizing that their pondering had rendered them momentarily distracted, Quezvax's eyes snapped back to her, and his head dipped out of easy reach. When he inhaled lightly, he was once again reminded of her pheromones. His eyes wandered appreciatively up and down her figure, taking in her visage and committing it to memory. He would be seeing her a lot in the coming months, and probably years. As his eyes moved back down, he thought he caught sight of something enticing. Vevnan watched as the cat crept closer, until she knew he could see beneath her leather skirt. This time it was her turn to lick her lips, stifling a giggle. "So," she remarked softly, "you've discovered my dirty little secret. Consider yourself lucky," she sighed. Beneath her leather skirt, her sex was bare and exposed to the open air. She refrained from wearing panties of any sort when she could get away with it. No humans knew that of her, to the best of her knowledge. While she enjoyed the feeling of a cool breeze against her slit, Vevnan had still found no appeal in men; no man that she had met, at any rate. Then again, she had never had an animal interested in her. Quezvax sniffed the air again, and then ran his long, sensuous tongue over his lips, retreating only partially into his mouth, all the while letting out a rumbling purring sound. He eased his head up just slightly, not quite high enough to allow her fingers to grace his fur. His eyes lingered a long moment on her appealing nether region, long enough to grant her a glimpse of his insight, of his waiting desires. Her face drew his eyes back up, a look of shameless want evident upon them. Vevnan was mesmerized by that visage, caught completely off guard by the way that a pair of silted green feline orbs could so easily convey a message of lust. The strange thing was, for some inexplicable reason, in her mind it was flattering. She was shocked when his muzzle moved up further, aided by a step forward by the leopard, and his long wet tongue ran over the inside of her thigh, starting on her long sock but ending on bare skin. The feeling was electric as much as it was rough, like soaked velvet sandpaper. She fell backwards, but did not fall far, as her upper back was immediately pressed to the tree she'd leaned against earlier. While Quezvax half expected the woman's legs to snap shut and squeeze his skull out from between them, he didn't complain when they remained spread. His purring redoubled, and he dared to lick up higher, his tongue slowly gliding up the inside of her thigh. She must have been responding well to the vibrations of his thick muscle resonating what started in his throat and chest, because her scent grew thick and heavy, spurring him on. His gaze could no longer reach her face, hidden as it was from his perspective by her skirt, but he could clearly see in the dimmest light of night her nectar flowing forth. "Oh, Gods!" she gasped. "This can't be happening..." Vevnan's face flushed with humiliation. She closed her eyes, blocking out what little she could see. She knew that only this predator saw her shame, obviously not caring, but she felt as though the eyes of the Gods were upon her. When the thick, rough tongue started lapping at her most private of places, the sensation was fantastic, unlike any pleasure she'd ever given herself. "Karial forgive me," she whimpered, quivering as her legs spread involuntarily. The predator wanted to knock her off her feet into an opportune position and mate with her like an animal would, but the man had taken over. He wanted her willing, and that didn't seem so farfetched, now. He ravaged her with abandon, his thick tongue spreading her outer lips and slipping in just slightly with each lap. 'Oh, no,' he thought, she's a virgin. He could feel her hymen with each pass. She had finally found the courage to touch him back, though in her current stance she was limited to running her fingers down and through the fur of his nape. Silk wasn't as smooth as this creature's fur felt, a surprise she found delightful. "What am I doing?" she murmured, to herself as much as him, while her fingers moved around to let loose the straps and snaps that held the leather skirt of her armor in place. "This is... ung..." Her words were cut off by a shriek as she hit the first orgasm someone else had ever given her. Not realizing what she was doing, she grabbed the scruff of his neck with one hand and dug her fingers into his fur, mashing his muzzle into her crotch as she came. In her head were only stars for several long moments. When she came back to the world, she realized that she was on her hands and knees, her skirt almost fully undone. "I'm not doing this," she said with a laugh that half sounded like she was crying, a few tears of confusion escaping down her cheeks. In spite of herself, she finished removing the lower portion of her armor and raised her hips, not knowing what she expected of an animal. 'What does her virginity matter?' the animal wondered. The cat wandered a slow circle around her, sniffing at her exposed and ready sex from this new angle. 'Her first time is supposed to be something special,' the human mind grumbled in reply. He stood behind her and stared into heaven, his member having long ago protruded from its sheath. "Hurry," she whined, not hearing the inner dialog of the creature that was about to mount her. Her hips swayed back and forth just slightly, her own nectar glistening on her hot haven. "Before I realize what I'm doing..." she murmured, not realizing the beast had ears keen enough to hear anything short of her thoughts. 'This would qualify as something special' the animal assured him. Quezvax moved up to take advantage of her willing posture in a fluid, graceful motion. His furred underbelly passed over her rump, contrasting with the sudden impalement of his shaft into her depths. He broke her barrier of purity in his first thrust, wasting no time in bringing about a sharp spike of pain to the woman. She gritted her teeth and bore it well, letting out scarcely more than a whimper. The leopard held himself inside her, kind enough to give her a long moment to adjust to the permanent change to her body. Vevnan didn't recall exhaling, but suddenly she took in a huge gulp of a breath, starving for oxygen. The sudden movement set the leopard into motion, the adjustment over. His jaws were around the back of her neck, holding her down and in place. She cried out but did not struggle, knowing she was well past the point of no return in her ultimate sin. His hips started hammering into her with abandon. The finely tuned form of an efficient killer was on top of her, all of his raw power focused into intense carnal motion and want. She inhaled in ragged gasps, her body being sent beyond sensations she ever thought she would know. Vevnan felt pain from the barbs of his member, but it was overwhelmed by desire and pleasure, her depths plumbed like she would never have imagined. She felt the animal breathing up her scalp and down her neck in a similar fashion, small lacerations his teeth inadvertently left stinging slightly. She vaguely wished she'd taken off all of her attire, one hand grasping at her own breast through the stiff leather and squeezing as hard as she could, while the other held her up against the assault of the animal. The entire time that Quezvax copulated with the woman, she wished it would never end while pining for the climax she knew was fast approaching. The animal could feel her inside, slick with wanton lust and gripping at his manhood in anticipation. He responded with another growl and thrust harder, faster, deeper until he could feel the peak of pleasure just beyond his realm of sense. He let everything go but her, his tongue slavering over the back of her neck as he finally released within her, exploding into the all-consuming nothingness where everything is perfect. Vevnan felt the animal's seed shooting into her once sacred, now sullied depths, and it threw her beyond reality. She screamed, but heard nothing more than the panting and growling of her mate. Her inner walls gripped and milked his girth, delaying his return to the present while she joined him. The Gods only knew how long they remained still, but neither of the mortals cared. It was an eternity neither would forget. When time interrupted them, he leapt backwards off her, raking her now-sore inner folds with his barbs. She groaned and slumped to the ground, her face blank, her mind not ready to process what she had just done. Quezvax walked slowly around to look her in the eyes. The expression he wore was one she would ponder many times. The cat somehow looked pleased, apologetic, worried, excited and confused all at once. His eyes were the most haunting part, however. His eyes, when he looked at her like that, while his pupils were still slits, looked human. Vevnan's hips slumped to the ground, fresh seed streaming from her as she let exhaustion overtake consciousness. She would not recall her dreams that night. ***************************************************************************** Vevnan awoke to the sound of birds chirping above her, unconcerned with the human so far below them. Her head was pounding, but as she pushed her upper body off the ground with her hands, the throbbing in her head subsided. She took a deep breath, reminding her of the forest she was in. The sun cast a few warm rays through the trees down to her, but the cool air still made her shiver. She recalled leaning back against a tree for a light sleep before... Her eyes flew open wide as she remembered what had happened the night before. With a groan, she rolled over and glanced down at her bare hips and thighs. There was a dried mess between her legs, and she knew beyond doubt that the incident had not been a dream. She stared down at herself, somewhat shocked with the realization of exactly what had transpired. She reached down gingerly, and found that her sex throbbed lightly. With two fingers she spread her outer lips, and the great cat's seed oozed out. She was certainly sore down below, but there was also a sense of satisfaction, even though she knew she was no longer a virgin. She shook her head with a measure of disgust, sighing heavily. She finally pushed herself up onto shaking legs, but quickly regained full control of herself before surveying her surroundings. She was right where the incident had happened. When her fingers brushed the leather skirt before she picked it up, her fingers remembered the feeling of the silken fur of the animal she'd mated with. The leather gave no similarity in feeling, but she remembered none the less, and it made her shiver. She took a long minute to fasten and buckle the stray piece of armor back into place. Once it was in place, it did well to hide the evidence of the previous night's deed from a casual observer, but she could still feel the warm fluid making its way down her inner thigh. It was a disgusting sensation, but still somehow fed the inexplicable feeling of satisfaction. She hated herself for such feelings. After she was armored once again, it didn't take long for her to find her bow and the single arrow she'd had ready initially. Holding both like a familiar extension of herself, she headed to the west and slightly north toward the stream she knew snaked its way into the vicinity. She scaled a sturdy tree and surveyed the area, making sure there was no one nearby. She stayed up there for a while, half hoping she would catch sight of the creature that had taken advantage of her. Even if Vevnan saw him, she wasn't certain what her reaction would be. It was so strange, she mused, that a wild animal could woo her, while dozens of strong and handsome men had never made her heart beat any faster. Eventually she dropped back to the ground, her hands working to first remove her boots and socks, then the lower half of her armor. She also dropped her backpack onto the dry bank. Naked from the waist down, she stepped into the frigid water and quickly set about cleaning herself off. Given how cold it was, she didn't feel like wasting time; even so, she found herself absently spending more time than necessary cleaning between her legs, one finger stroking numerous times over her hard clitoris. Flushing with embarrassment, she finished up before pulling a traveler's blanket out of her backpack and swiftly drying off. As she toweled off the water, she couldn't help but think of the cat, and how much smoother his fur had been against her skin. "I must be crazy," she murmured. She had pleasured herself in the past, though refrained from doing so frequently based on principals set forth by the Church. She never thought of any particular man, though. The image of what pleased her was always indistinct, unknown; some faceless hero she had come to pine for. She redressed her lower half, her lack of undergarments her little bit of constant pleasure that seemed to help keep her normal sexual needs at bay. Her dirty little secret was that one thing so many lusted for was almost always exposed to open air. Still, perverted though it might make her, she had never fancied a man she had met. She checked her equipment as she typically would in the morning before heading back toward where the incident had happened. Vevnan glanced down at the ground, seeing the disturbances on the ground where she and the animal had been at the same time. She realized she was wet thinking about the encounter, her heart beating faster than it should have. She attempted to trace his steps away from the scene while calming her breathing. Men, she thought, should make her feel the way she did, not an animal out of its natural habitat. She tried to call to mind the most handsome men she'd seen, from the bachelor prince who was the heart throb of many noble women to the athletes who put on displays of physical ability with bodies they spent their lives perfecting. Human men could certainly have their appeal, but she knew that they would all have their own agendas, and they would all seek to subjugate her as if she was some prize to be won. Her mind drifted back to the leopard, though, and she could feel her own warm nectar, and perhaps even some leftover semen, dripping down her thighs. Thighs quivering, she sighed heavily and leaned against a nearby tree. She let her eyes drift back to the ground, where she saw the paw prints that had marked the animal's passage. She followed them with her eyes until they passed out of sight. She stared at the last print she could see, as if he might be standing there still, but invisible. Finally she pushed herself back to her feet and followed the tracks, only momentarily surprised when she found that they stopped dead, no cat to be found. She knelt down for a closer look at the last few prints where it was obvious the cat had jumped almost straight up. Casting her gaze skyward, Vevnan found there was a plethora of sturdy low branches about fifteen feet off the ground. Re-examining the last prints made it clear the leopard had made a standing leap. "He must have some powerful muscles in his hind legs," she murmured. Her voice seemed somehow out of place in the otherwise placid forest. Her thighs quivered once again as she recalled from experience just how powerful the animal's hind legs were. Again, she pushed thoughts from her mind and stood, wandering around the few trees. Finding a hold low enough to pull herself up, she managed to make her way through sturdy branches to where she supposed the cat had landed. She could see from scratches on the bark where he had made his way into the trees, but it was difficult to tell from there. Had he stayed on the ground, she could have tracked him half way across the Known World. However, up here, she wasn't so certain. "Damn it all to the Face of the Sun!" she spat. "What happened was wrong. I shan't let it happen again." Making up her mind as such, she dropped branch by branch back down to the ground. She headed back to the areas she was supposed to be keeping a careful eye on, and resumed her job. That was something she could focus on easily enough, but she often caught her thoughts drifting in the wrong direction. ***************************************************************************** Vevnan was surprised a week later when she caught sight of a man approaching from the north. She could bring to mind no reason why anyone would be headed this way. Even her contact with the army didn't travel so far. She normally had to make her way toward the pass to meet with him at scheduled times. Nonetheless, a man was headed south, his course bringing him within a hundred yards, she gauged. She checked the sky before moving unheard from branch to branch until she set herself up with the sun behind her. She knocked an arrow and waited patiently for the stranger to fall into what would be an ambush. When he was close enough for her to distinguish his features, she was rather surprised by what she saw. He was around six foot even, with hair that could only be described as dull silver. He wore his hair long and loose, flowing out behind him. His skin was pale, almost white, making him look almost like a wayward ghost. Vevnan lacked previous encounters with such spirits, but she was certain he was not of their ilk. His eyes were green, being the prominent feature on a face with a soft, but somehow long look to it. He was clad only in a pair of hemp pants that fit him well, tied at the waste with a length of rope. The garment was clean, but excessively worn. His frame was thin, but not gaunt. His feet were bare. The scout observed all of this while he made his way past at an urgent pace. When his back was to her, she gasped at the sight of a pair of wide scars on either side of his spine that ran from just below his neck to his mid back. Her sharp intake of breath seemed to catch the stranger's attention, as he paused suddenly, glancing around nervously. When he didn't see her, he put his hands together in a strange fashion before chanting quiet words that made no sense, yet somehow screamed of power. At this point, Vevnan drew back her bow string with the arrow and aimed it for the man's head. "There's an arrow trained on you, and from this distance I shan't miss," she called out to him. Even as she finished the sentence, he finished his chant, signified by an aura of intangible energy extending from him and brushing past her. "Any more words beyond me, and you shall depart for the next isle," she growled loudly. She knew he had cast a spell, and as such he was dangerous. The woman was not about to let him cast another that could harm. The figure turned toward her and raised a hand to keep the sun out of his eyes. He was denied a clear image of her, but her eyes narrowed when he saw his hands. His fingers did not look injured, yet they sported no nails of any sort. He inhaled deeply, and then sighed with a mix of relief and resignation. "You're a predator of sorts, but not of the variety with a malevolent bent. I only wish to pass unhindered, and out of your lands." "You're not human," she remarked coolly, the arrow still held at the ready. "You don't belong here," she continued, "and I cannot allow you to pass, on risk that you carry knowledge to the enemies of the Kingdom of Narsinia." The inhuman man lowered his offsetting hand and allowed her a full look at his visage. He stared at her as much as he did into the sun. "The only knowledge I take from this land is thus: Narsinia is a xenophobic country that murders what it cannot subjugate and enslaves what it can. It is believed that I fall into the latter category, and as such my heels have been hounded for half more than a week." He heaved a heavy sigh and dropped his view to the ground, his head shaking slightly. "I am no threat to you, or your country. I only pine to live free, not as a beast of burden." The tone of his voice dropped to one of exhausted resignation. "If I must decide between enslavement and death, I shall take the latter." He kept his eyes upon the forest floor and raised his arms until his palms were just higher than his head. Vevnan absorbed what the creature had to say, her fingers gradually allowing the feathers of the arrow to move closer to the shaft of the bow, until, without realizing it, she no longer threatened him. It was the first time in her life she could say that she had been moved by someone not of her country. The leopard, whom she encountered a week ago, did not count in her mind. She knew enough of her home to know that only one syndicate would hunt down anyone for a reason other than justice. She had no taste for that family. Only the De'Farenths dealt in living commodities, as they preferred to refer to slaves. "Alter your course to the south east," she snapped, not entirely pleased with herself for letting what could easily be an enemy pass. "Stay off the road you find until it leads you into Dason. By Karial, don't allow me to regret this decision, or my life's purpose shall shift to hunting you." A gentle smile played upon lips that were too accustomed to frowning. His face was nearly radiant as he gave a light bow. "My deepest gratitude, M'Lady. My name is Deslen. May Gaia smile upon you for this." He turned and swiftly retreated to the south east. Vevnan watched Deslen until he went beyond sight before she slipped carefully down to firm ground. She knew the bounty hunters wouldn't be far behind their quarry. She checked what tracks the man left. Oddly enough, they were nearly non-existent. It would take a skilled tracker indeed to pursue him. "What were you, Deslen?" she murmured softly to herself. She smoothed over what few signs she did see of his passing, and glanced to the sun to gauge the time. "Two hours at most, if they're still trailing him," she said with a smirk. The woman decided not to linger in the same location. Her earlier estimation was almost dead on. A party of six men emerged into sight, their attire suggesting nobles adapted to being out and about. They were armed with both traditional weapons and non-lethal ones: man catchers, nets, and bolas. She had found a comfortable tree to lean against while they approached, three of them keeping a close eye out for signs of their prey. She did not bother waving to them when they hailed her, but let them approach unhindered. Had she not a plan in mind, she would have worn open disgust and contempt for them. "Greetings, Scout," one of the men hailed once within earshot. He had his black hair cropped short, and wore a goatee well trimmed. "We're certain a very valuable creature has passed through here recently. Perchance you've caught sight of him?" the man asked as he approached. Vevnan cocked her head to the side, giving the man a sidelong glance. "Creature? I haven't seen such, though I did see a pale skinned man pass nearby," she remarked casually. The man's face predictably lit up. "Aah! That would be the one that we seek." He paused, then chuckled and shook his head. "Pardon my lack of manners. We've been after this thing for over a week. My name is Elron De'Farenth, and I must say it is a pleasure to meet one as beautiful as you. Surprised I am that Muriel has not taken you. Perhaps you could expedite our search with some information?" Vevnan forced a convincing smile at the bounty hunter. "I'm afraid Karial got to me first." She was not in any way attracted to the man; if anything, she was repulsed. It was his job as much as his demeanor that she found disgusting. "I did happen to see the man you're after, however he was out of range of bow when I caught sight of him, and moving at a quick pace." "Which direction did he go?" the man asked, his companions looking eager behind him. Vevnan smiled mischievously, her tongue darting our over her lips. "What sort of bounty is being offered for this one?" She had no intention of giving them accurate information, and taking advantage of them would be icing on the cake. Elron grinned. "A smart one, eh? I can't very well fault you for that. I tell you what, fifty coppers for all you can tell us." He snapped his fingers behind him, and one of his toadies pulled out a money pouch from his backpack and counted out fifty coppers before carefully handing the coins off to the leader. "I'm sure time is of the essence in this hunt." Vevnan eyed the coppers. Normally, she would have left them on the ground for a hapless peasant to find. Money was never something she found herself in need of, given her family. She kept that to herself, though. "Fair enough," she finally said in a pleasant tone. "He headed to the southwest," she explained, her arm extending to point in to the exact path she intended to lead them. "There's a path not far off that he probably took to. If you're swift, you'll likely catch him." She relieved the man of the coppers and slipped them into a side pouch on her backpack. "A dozen thanks," the hunter replied, and quickly departed, breaking into a hustle with the rest of his entourage. Vevnan watched them until they, too, were out of sight before giggling to herself. "Good hunting, boys," she said softly. She turned and headed to the north. The group would easily find the trail, as well as a fortified Dasoner encampment after a mild distance. On her way out of the territory she'd been scouting for months, she glanced over her left shoulder toward the setting sun. She had enough time to make it to her rendezvous point for her scheduled meeting with her commander. She set a brisk pace for herself, intent on making it before nightfall. The moon has recently made its ascent through the North Cardinal Gate, and was climbing into the sky. The pale, pleasant face was waning and giving way to the dark half of the heavenly body. It drew her gaze for a while as she traveled, giving her a sense of serenity. She shook her head as she realized the odd effect it was having on her. "Can't say it's been a boring week," she admitted aloud. "Too bad most of it shan't be reported," she muttered under her breath. A light breeze passed air beneath her skirt and over her slit, reminding her of how the week began. She quickly buried those thoughts. She reached her destination as the last rays of light from the sun vanished, and the sounds of night were starting to settle about the land. No one was there, which was not unusual. Nonetheless, she knew better than to be late, on the off-chance someone was waiting for her. The tree that marked the rendezvous point was ancient, and by all accounts should have been dead, but the high branches still sported leaves. The trunk was a good six feet across, though hollow at the ground. She pulled an arrow from her quiver and waved it about the hollow to clear any spider webs that might be inside, then reached up and felt around the upper reaches of the hollow until she found the scroll case she knew would be there. Vevnan extracted the scroll from its case and read it quickly in the dying light. *Leave your weekly report here and depart on the morrow for Ghalen. Your family has requested your presence for the fall festivals. A temporary replacement will arrive tomorrow mid-day to take over your duties for the duration of your absence. Gods' speed and best of luck to you.* Vevnan couldn't help but laugh aloud at the last part of the message. Her commander knew how she detested time among her family. The latter thought dragged a sigh from her before she rolled up the scroll and headed further north to a cave that marked the beginning of the mountains that served as the northern border of the Eastern Woods. She knew this cave well. She thought she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of something moving in the trees, but quickly dismissed it after gazing carefully at her surroundings for several minutes. She turned back to the cave, which had an earthen smell to it without being dank. She stripped off her pack and found a comfortable spot to lie down to sleep for the night. ***************************************************************************** Vevnan awoke with the dawn, her eyes gradually opening until she sprang to life, first pulling out a pen and ink to write out a hasty note for her commander. She sealed it in the case before packing up her things. She returned it to the great tree and hid the scroll case in the same place, confident that it would remain there until the one it was meant for happened by. Vevnan had no desire to meet her temporary replacement, so she made haste for the pass that would lead her toward Narsinia's undisputed territory. While walking the mountain paths, she was denied the warmth of the sun until it rose high enough to peek over the mountains. Once she felt it, she was grateful, and the spring in her step renewed, munching on some of her remaining rations as she went. She almost thought she would make it through the pass without running into the other scout. Disappointment creased her features when she saw a man stopped to rest, leaning against a boulder that marked the exit of the pass. She slowed her pace only slightly as she approached. The man before her was unfamiliar, and his attire immediately ruled out the possibility of him being her replacement. He was dressed for travel, but the quality of his clothes marked him as less than nobility. Still, he obviously had more wealth at his disposal than a typical peasant. The middle class in Narsinia was almost unknown. He appeared to be unarmored, though a rapier was sheathed at his hip, which was unusual for a woodsman. His hair was a brown tangle that stopped just above the collar of his long sleeved shirt, and his face looked to have been recently shaven. Green eyes observed her approach, and a friendly smile pulled at his lips. He waved to her casually while pushing himself from the boulder to his feet. He was a handsome man by most any measure, but Vevnan paid his looks little mind. "Good morning, M'Lady. You seem anxious to get somewhere you don't wish to be." Vevnan flushed, a scowl wrinkling her features. "Where I go is my own business, sir. If you're to speculate on the business of others, perhaps you should lay your own bare." She was annoyed at having met anyone more than him in particular. She was already beginning to stress over having to deal with her family, and there was a week yet before she would arrive. "My sincere apologies if I have offended," he said, a shamed look on his face as he gave a light bow. "My name is Quezvax, and at the moment I am serving as a cartographer of sorts." He approached her carefully, a hand extended with the palm up. "On occasion the pursuit of exotic animals strikes my fancy. I don't suppose you've seen any as of late?" A shiver traced her spine at the mention of exotic animals, and once again her thoughts drifted involuntarily back to the incident. "I find that such animals are better left alive. Too many think beauty best hangs upon their walls." It was her true sentiment toward the subject. She had never been a fan of sport hunting. She did not let her hand into his, offered though it was in a gentlemanly fashion. "My Dearest Lady," he said softly, "your words do me no justice. I would not intend to hunt rare beauty for my wall, or any other's." He smiled sincerely at her. "I find glimpses of that which does not wish to be seen grant the most worthwhile inspiration for my sketches. They seldom fetch more than a few meager coppers, but I make them for myself." He finally let his hand drop when she declined giving her own. "My work is finished, so I turn now for Ghalen. What of yourself? Does chance have us upon the same path?" His words somehow seemed soothing, and they certainly improved her initial perception of the man. "My name is Vevnan. I am indeed bound for Ghalen, and I'd not mind your company along the path, though I confess I travel on foot at a tempo most find uncomfortable." She offered him a smile that was, for once, not forced. She gave a polite half bow before setting off down the path she knew would take her to the main road bound for the capitol. She glanced over her shoulder and nearly stumbled when she found him right behind her, his footsteps virtually ethereal, quiet as they were. "My apologies, Lady Vevnan," he said with a red face. "I'm a bit too accustomed to going unnoticed. I've been alone with my thoughts too long, perhaps, and my thoughts need not hear me to know where I am." She couldn't help but find herself amused by his words and apparent antics. "If you suffer an affliction of the mind, I can recommend a priest who can cure such for the mere price of gratitude," she offered. Her stride was wide and quick, but graceful. She did not appear to be in a rush, in spite of her quick pace. Quezvax glanced to the trees on one side of the path, then the other, a chuckle upon his lips. "The only affliction I suffer is a general lack of taste for most people," he said somewhat glumly. "I don't mean to pry, but I still can't help but think that you go where you do not wish to be. If I may be bold once again, what distaste have you for Ghalen?" She only shrugged as they walked briskly down the path, her eyes glancing up at the moon that had dared show its face during the day. "My presence has been requested. It's purely ceremonial. Valuable though they are, I'd dispense with my family if it'd not bring shame upon them." Quez quirked a brow as he strode now beside her. "You're of a noble family, then?" he read into her words. "I should not be surprised that your noble bearing is not merely natural grace. Would it be accurate to guess you fall under the arm of the De'Tezjun family?" Vevnan sighed softly and shook her head. "Nay, I wish I was so fortunate. The De'Tezjuns are indeed honorable and very capable, but I fall under a different family. Let it rest when I say that my family was quite surprised when they discovered my martial interests." "Fair enough," her newfound companion yielded with a sigh. "Forgive me if I hold out hope yet that you'll trust me enough to grant such insight during our journey, though." He grinned mischievously. This was going better than he expected. "If you can keep up," she smirked. <1st attachment end> ----- ASSM Moderation System Notice------ Notice: This post has been modified from its original format. 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