Yash didn't know if he could keep his eyes off the sleek form encased in thick buffalo hide. The perky, small breasts were emphasized to perfection. It was an honor to have a dress in such coveted skin. For You, there was nothing that wasn't too much. She got whatever he wanted.
He admired her beautiful breasts, her small shapely arms, her flat stomach, gently rounded hips and well-rounded thighs and calves. The dress hugged her form so well it was like she was wearing nothing. Her milky white skin was unusual because everyone else was always out in the sun working but the future healer in training had no need to be in the sun. You's hair hung loose and straight down her back in a black river. She never bound it with rawhide ties. He'd admired her many times brushing her beautiful hair with a shell by the fire after a bath.
He tore his eyes away from You and they landed on Kag. She sat next to You, looking lovely in a rabbit skin dress. She never revealed herself as You did, but still looked just as good as her sister. Her breasts were large and her voluptuous figure was covered well, leaving everything thing to the imagination. He admired her wide, enticingly rounded hips, her strong calves that were still beautiful, chorded in muscle as they were. Her hair hung around her face and shoulders in tight, dark curls. She was a gorgeous sight to behold.
Both sisters were so similar to each other, but so different in every way. You was pale and wane, her face thin and gaunt. She had a haunting beauty, like a suffering angel. Her eyes were as dark as tree bark, her lips thin and when she smiled, it was the biggest smile he'd ever seen. Her eyes always held a vulnerability that made him ache, an uncertainty of herself that made him want to assure her of her beauty. She had a cold dignity that drew him.
Kag, in comparison, had a bright, refreshing beauty that filled the room, eyes that shone greenly above high cheek bones, lips plump and large, a round, heart-shaped face, and a ready, brilliant smile. She moved with confidence, a self-assurance in her ability to be herself. She was gentle, strong, and sweet. He'd known her most of his life, but he'd never noticed how she'd morphed into a beautiful, sexy young woman.
His eyes went back to You as she stared vacantly at the fire. She looked up and gave him a tentative smile that warmed his heart and made him feel as though she only smiled for him.
Kag's eyes never strayed from Yash's face until she saw his eyes shift to hers. She look at the packed dirt floor of the cavernous cave they all inhabited. They were gathered around the great fire, and it was almost time for the women to choose which they would let woo them. They would each choose three men.
Kag felt Yash's eyes switch to You's and stay there, entranced. Every time he looked at You that way, her heart broke. Her heart had been broken so many times that she was almost use to the pain.
She'd know Yash all her life. They'd played together since their Second cycle. You was a couple cycles older than them, and, on Yash's fourteenth cycle, he fell in love with You. And Kag fell in love with him.
How could she not? He was gentle and kind, caring for her when she needed someone most.
On her fourteenth cycle, she'd fallen into the Great River. He'd dove in and pulled her out, holding her until she warmed up and carried her all the way back to the cave. He'd collapsed at the opening, exhausted. It had been a long walk for him.
On her fifteenth cycle, she'd been cornered by the long-tooth, a large cat with claws and huge sharp teeth. Just as it closed in on her, Yash came to her rescue. He fought with his life and almost lost it for her. She dragged him the small way back and her mother had done everything she could for him, but thought he would never recover. Somehow, he lived. He was the strongest person she'd ever known.
It was now time for the women to choose. They started with the woman who had the highest position in the tribe. After much deliberation, Kagome was chosen to go first.
She stood and looked at the circle of men who were waiting to be picked. She rattled off two names. "Ugg… and Yash," Kag said, looking him in the eyes to see his reaction.
His eyes widened, then he looked down at his feet. She saw something like disappointment cross his face and Kagome couldn't breathe.
She hear d You suck in a face, startled breath and she couldn't take it anymore. Kag turned and walked toward the opening of the cave. When she got to the opening, she ran as fast as she could. Kag had always been a great runner, could outrun anyone in the tribe. She ran until she couldn't breathe, until her tears made it impossible to see, and her sobbing had become too much to continue. She made it all the way to the great forest. She walked to a nearby tree and knelt, letting all of her tears out.
She cried until she had no more tears, until her throat was raw and she was exhausted. Then, she slept.
Yash was definitely surprised by Kag's decision. He'd never thought she would ever lean toward picking him. He stood looking at his feet and not noticing that Kag had fled the cave. He waited as You stood and said her choices. "Raku, Ga, and Yash," she said in a strong, commanding voice. There were whispers when she said Yash's name, but no one disputed her choices.
He stood in shock and wonder.
It was time for the commitment dance. It was so strange for one man to dance a commitment dance to two women, and when the time came, he made his way to You, dancing with her before he was shuffled away by Raku.
He searched for Kag but she was nowhere to be found on the dance floor. Her other suitors looked just as lost as he did. As he looked around, he began to get worried. She was just… gone.
He started out, seeing her small foot prints leading out of the cave. They were shallow imprints until she'd gotten outside. When she was out of the cave, her foot prints got deeper and more defined. This indicated that she'd started running.
He tried to follow her prints, but she'd entered grass and it was hard to track in the grass, but he kept trying. It took him hours and he came to a clearing just before the great forest. He look around, coming the edge. He heard shallow breathing and looked on the ground. Not far away was Kag, lying in the grass, sleeping soundly.
Her face looked vulnerable, childlike. She looked sad and her eyes were swollen, her cheeks red from crying.
He sat down next to her and cupped her wet cheeks. Her ran his fingers through her hair and tried to thing. She began to move in her sleep, moving into his lap, her arms coming around his neck to bring him closer.
"Yash," she whispered, "don't love her." He knew she was still asleep, so her words were shocking.
She curled up into a little ball in his lap like a baby and was still.
Song couldn't find Kag anywhere and was so excited. She wanted to talk to her best friend about Mir. She was so in love that she was full to bursting.
As she finished the promise dance with Mir, she felt his hand wonder. Of course, he had always been this way, with every woman he could get his hands on so she wasn't surprised.
She pulled away and blushed, looking away to scan the cave. Finding no Kag, she made her way to her own fire and sat down to warm up.
