33

The darkness of impending night creeped upon them like a stalking predator. It had been a few hours and a few stops since the baby gray back so the party stopped again and started to discuss their plans for the evening.

"Ookt wi nahk Nahknani and drahkness kahn kil kuhn ahk deeku," Trihknah said, chuckling. The rest of the Brindled People were amused save Nahknani herself. In context, it was a jest about sex, but he could only understand his name and hers.

Her sister responded, saying something in their tongue as she hugged herself dramatically with both arms, pretended to swoon, and swayed down to the floor, twisting subtly from side to side as she joked. Nahknani responded with a joke of her own, and the rest of the party all laughed as she turned to look at him with that sinister grin.

Shevrohn added his own jest, then Chekka, then it seemed they were all talking about him in the foreign tongue. He tried to laugh as well, but he felt as foreign as he'd ever felt, a bastard once again. He didn't let his face show it, but he took slight offense to the mocking. Not that he didn't enjoy a good jest himself, but that they chose to hide it from him in their tongue. He thought to call them out, Chekka seemed easiest, or Nahknani, but he decided not to, exhausted enough from the travel that day.

He turned his back to the Brindled banter and reached into his sack for nourishment. He would have to start a fire for more water, having drank what he had already, and the juice from the fruit could quench his thirst enough for the moment. He bit into it, and heard footsteps approaching from behind him. A hand reached out for his shoulder it was Nahknani.

"I'm sorry, did we offend you with our jests?" She sat next to him, but he didn't turn to look.

"I couldn't understand what you were saying, save for Nahknani and Drahkness Kahn."

"Then why are you over here by yourself?"

"I'm not. You walked over here." It seemed she was giving him a chance to complain, but he didn't want to give in to it. Walking all this way since the gray backs, and the intense moments just before, he had a lot of time to think about what had happened.

Thoughts kept circling in his head going from What am I doing being with this creature? to What am I doing pretending I don't want her? and everything in between. For an hour, he told himself that tonight he'd make love to her. The latter half of the next hour, he decided he'd never touch her again. That was about two hours ago, and since then, he'd switched back and forth so many times he couldn't remember which way he was leaning now. He used the jests as an excuse to allow some distance. The last thing he wanted to show is that he cared, because he wasn't sure if he was willing to admit if he did or not yet.

"Did you guys decide on a plan for tonight?" he asked.

"Shevrohn says if we can travel for a bit longer, we'll reach a clearing with a cliff as cover behind us. It should be safe enough."

"Let's go. The sun is fading fast." He said, standing and grabbing his pack.

"We haven't talked about . . . before." She said. He wasn't looking but knew the face she was making. She softened her voice and probably widened her beautiful eyes. He refused to look, for the moment.

In his mind, he was still struggling with a feeling he couldn't define. It wasn't as harsh as shame, though he felt it had the remnants of some. In his dealings with the Brindled People, they had become just that to him, people. In his mind, they were no longer "beasts", just hairy humans to his pink.

He felt embarrassment, as still sexually inexperienced for a man his age, he wasn't sure if what he was doing was the way that she wanted it. Even kissing, he'd found that some girls wanted it soft and thoughtful. Other's wanted it to hurt, biting and scratching at his back. He would have assumed the wild beauty before him preferred the latter, but with the way he felt, he wanted the kiss to reflect that. She wasn't some wet cave to park his ship in. The building feelings inside him felt like something more. Something stronger.

He tried to give it meaning. In the moment, he reacted to the pain in her face and wanted to show her how he truly felt for her. The problem was, his feelings were a constantly evolving puzzle, and as they spoke now, he was still unsure.

After stalling long enough, he replied, "What should we say?"

"Since it happened, I can't stop thinking about it." It sounds like she liked it, at least. "But I also can't stop thinking about why. Why did you do it? Why did you kiss me, Aegon?" She looked into him, not as she sometimes did to influence him, but to open up fully to him. The tone of her voice, the slight quiver in the words as she finished them, the glossy wide eyes she struggled to keep focused on one thing; she was wholly vulnerable in this moment. If he wanted, he could mutter a few words and diminish her heart to ruins. If he so chose, he could sing a mummer's song and win it forever. She was bare, as bare as her bouncing chest was as she arched back on top of him, shining in the rising sunlight. And her whole world was resting on his next words.

He reached into his mind for the truth, as she deserved nothing less. It took a moment, his thoughts so clouded and contradictory, like sailing through a thick mist, and he did not want to run aground. He opened his mouth about to speak but caught the words he meant but didn't want to hear before they left his lips. After thinking a moment more, he gained the courage to say them anyway. "When I look into your eyes, I see myself. Not my reflection, but the space in your soul I occupy. The opening in your heart that I fit into." Her eyebrow rolled as her left eye began to well with a drip. "I see the feeling you have for me, and that feeling urges me toward my own." He cleared his throat, as he felt himself begin to stammer out of an anxious uneasiness inside him building. It wasn't a negative, just overwhelming, and he tried to compose himself for her sake. "I still don't know what to do, or how deeply I feel. But I too feel this between us. I smile when you do. I laugh when you laugh. When you are hurting, or in pain, I am hurting. Though I'm still coming to terms with it, what I'm beginning to feel, is. . ," his mouth couldn't finish. Its like his chest collapsed onto his words and trapped them. He looked down and away from her mesmerizing gaze, her eyes now smiling, though her mouth was still left loose with doubt.

"What I'm trying to say is I kissed you because I've always wanted to."

"Then kiss me again." Now her lips stretched in that sinister smile, and it was the sexiest he'd ever seen a woman look, Brindled or bare.

A voice from over her shoulder beckoned her in their tongue. She ignored it, closed her eyes, and pursed her lips. He leaned over and kissed her, gently meeting his lips to hers. He stopped after a moment and said, "C'mon. We'll continue talking later."

Her eyes were still closed, her lips still slightly parted. She whispered, "I hope that's not all we continue."

They stood and rejoined the group to finish the rest of their journey. They had brought two tents (Chekka's idea) one large, one small, and would set them up when they reached the clearing. Shevrohn said they had little over half an hour to go if they moved swiftly, so they set off at a faster pace. The light lit less and less of the forest each moment that passed, it seemed, so the quicker they reached their destination the better.

Aegon was unsettled about passing by the abandoned slavers' camp on their way. Even if they still had only a minimal force stationed there, that force would still be large enough to strategically outmaneuver any formation the six of them could muster. Though his group was certainly strong enough to potentially win, he feared that a battle like that would inevitably lead to losses, which he knew would all but eviscerate the trust and goodwill he'd built in the mission. These people all loved each other. Brothers. Sisters. Nani. If they were to lose any of them, grief would end their mission, and maybe his life, as the one to blame in rage.

They couldn't be caught. They couldn't be seen. But as far as they could tell, all the slavers left their camp and sneaking past would be a non-issue. He hoped it wouldn't come to that. He thought to pray, but then thought to who?

He kept pace with the longer legged Brindled Men and reached the clearing Shevrohn spoke of just as the last light from the sun sank below the horizon. From the edge of the cliff, the sun set in a spectacular mix of colors, as a storm brewed miles off shore and the pink, orange, and purple swirls in the sky made it look like the gods had dropped ink into the fluffy clouds. The three girls lagged behind a bit, still clearly in view, but haggard from the arduous trek. They had gone as far as the boat had or damn near, though their path was more linear and the boat had been docked for hours waiting for the dark. Still, they had traveled far and all needed rest.

While waiting for the girls, Shevrohn began setting up the tents as Chekka sat down next to Aegon who was panting from exhaustion. "Do you know what was said in our tongue earlier? I could tell you if you cared to know." He wasn't sure if Chekka was offering his kind assistance or setting up another jest.

"If it pleases you to tell me, I won't." Deep down, Aegon really did want to know exactly what was said, though he was confident he already generally knew the gist of it.

"We were talking and someone asked, 'What are we going to do tonight.' Then, Trihknah said, 'We all know what Nahknani and you are doing tonight.' Then Nahknani responded with, 'If you think its sex, I'm not sure he can.' We all laughed at that. The twins told me about when they tried to seduce you, too. You could have fucked them both, but left them naked and wet on their backs. So they think you a eunich."

"Are you going to gossip all night, brother, or are you going to help with the camp. He killed an entire boat of slavers, the guards in our old village, and his puny pink legs somehow kept up with us. He can rest. You, on the other hand, have done nothing but eat, piss, and shit this entire time. You didn't even kill one of them on the beach."

Chekka interrupted him, "They had steel to our sticks. It was no fair fight."

"Since your translating, did you tell him what I said, or are you just trying to cause tension between him and the females on this journey?"

"What did you say, Shevrohn, if it please you?" Aegon asked, curious as to why he would tell his brother to explain it.

"I said, that you were a truer man not to fuck the twins than if you did. And that I would wait forever if it meant the chance to one day have you." He smiled and Aegon felt extreme uneasiness. "I see the look on your face, yes, I enjoy men. And no, I won't rape you. There would be no pleasure in that."

Aegon didn't know what to say. In winesinks and outside of brothels, there sometimes were the ladymen that would entice sailors of a certain taste to bed. They would look at him with the same eyes, though Aegon never feared an assault. This man was different. Huge. It was intimidating to hear he wanted him. Aegon was glad to hear he wouldn't try, but felt just as shocked and uneasy regardless.

Shevrohn removed his smile, and continued, "It sounds like you don't just bed any girl that fancies it, and that is as rare as a Brindled Man that prefers men. Being rare is special. Don't take offense to the whims of these common minded brutes. All they know is fucking feels good. They release and go back to the rest of life. You still honor what it means to connect like that, and for that Nahknani should be thankful."

Aegon didn't know what to say. "Thank you," came out, almost as a question. Then the women arrived, breathing heavily and dropping their packs as soon as they reached the beginning of the clearing. They all fell to the floor, moaning from the agony of the run.

"I'll start a fire. Does anyone have any water left?" Aegon asked.

"No, but there is a small pool near here. If I leave now, I should be able to find my way back if you get the fire started." Shevrohn said as if he hadn't just said all that he had. "I'll take everyone's skins and fill them."

Aegon gathered some logs and sticks from the nearby woods and built a fire. He got it burning quickly enough, and sat down in front of it on a log he hadn't yet committed to the flames. A half an hour after Shevrohn left for the pool, it was completely dark save the light from the flames. The girls managed to bring themselves close to it for a moment or two, still too tired to talk, but the twins shortly afterward left for the larger tent to sleep. Nahknani stayed at the fire with Aegon and nestled next to him on the log, wordless, still slightly panting. Chekka snuck into the larger tent after the twins for a shot at glory.

Nahknani leaned into Aegon as he removed his cloak and wrapped it and his arm around her. She tucked her head beneath his chin as they sat silently for a while and watched the flames. The last time he spent this much time looking into flames was when he was with another red headed woman. This felt different. Better.

He spoke softly, "You said we'd finish that talk."

"We will."

"Just not now?"

"No. I know what I need to know."

In a world of constant threats of death, he felt at peace. Realizing the feeling, he immediately began to fear again. Every time he felt even a splinter of peace, something else happened. He was right.

He heard branches swaying in the forest beyond the light of the flames, above them and growing louder, closer. For an instant he thought it could be Shevrohn returning with the water, but he couldn't hold the skins and swing too. Or could he? Whatever or whoever was approaching, they did so with intent, as the sounds of the branches swaying, the leaves swishing, was constant and deliberate. Whatever it was felt it didn't need to hide.

He nudged Nahknani, who popped her head off him as he leapt to his feet and unsheathed the dirk. The bright light of the flames' contrast made the forest around him even darker, and he could only see the first four or five feet in front of him until his surroundings became a black abyss. The noises continued to grow closer.

The sound swung from its last branch with the crack of wood and a swoosh of leaves, and plummeted down to the forest floor with a thud. Footsteps approached and they sounded like they were only steps away from the light. Aegon stood in his stance readied.

"Ooh ahk iss nahggaa?" A voice called out.

Nahknani responded, "Ihk ahss koo nah," she said, then spoke to Aegon in Valyrian, "It's Nee Nee."

The long thin limbs swayed into the light with an orange glow as the Brindled Woman stepped towards them. Her expression was similar to the time she returned from scouting before the beach, but she wasn't supposed to be here. She was supposed to be scouting for JaHarle's retaliation force.

She spoke to Nahknani with deliberate haste, pointing back into the dark behind her a time or two. Nahknani responded as they continued their conversation. Back and forth they went in their tongue, until Nahknani turned to Aegon to transfer the message. NeeNee watched from behind with that same intense stare, her bow and a quiver of arrows strapped around her back and shoulder.

"She's been following a group that has picked up our clan's trail from home. JaHahn's group. They were camped and settled for the night not too far from here when they saw the smoke from the fire. They rose and began to pack up the camp, thinking they've found our group, so NeeNee raced to the fire to warn whoever was here. She didn't expect to find us, but JaHahn's men are coming, ten of them, and though she got a good head start, they are not far away, and will be here within the hour."

"But they aren't expecting us." He said, with a smirk.

"What are we going to do?"

Shevrohn ran into the light, out of breath. "I saw movement in the trees." He sighed, "It's just you Ihkneenee." He had the water skins around his neck. Good. Aegon thought. We all need a drink before what we're about to do.

"It's not just her. She's been following JaHahn's men, they're coming here. Now." Nahknani said in Valyrian.

"But like I said," Aegon butted in. "They aren't expecting us. They're expecting Ootrihk and the women. Ask NeeNee if they're armed with sticks or steel."

They spoke in their tongue, than Nahknani replied to him, "Sticks."

"Good. Now, get your brother and the twins. This is what we're going to do."

A/N My apologies to anyone who may be offended by the comments on the homosexual aspects of this chapter. Nothing was written with the intent of offense. This was an effort to show inclusion, which may have been executed incorrectly, but don't mistake my execution for my intent. Shevrohn is an important and interesting character, and the fact that he is homosexual, neither defines his toughness or standing within his community. He also wears it, like Tyrion said, as armor. He knows who he is and is comfortable in his own skin.

Aegon, however, is obviously a little uncomfortable, which fits in with some of the themes here. Just like the semi-offensive view of the Brindled Race as Beasts, because they are different, he reacts similarly here, not sure how to feel with limited experience interacting with someone like this. And as a heterosexual man, there is a much different connotation between a homosexual man hitting on you and a huge homosexual man hitting on you. It is a form a demasculinity, which is an interesting position to put our hero in, for now.

Again, I wanted to promote inclusion, and if I offended anyone, please PM me to explain what I did wrong, and how I can make sure to avoid it in the future. I love and appreciate everyone reading, no matter what you look like or who you love. Even if you love Thanos and the Lannisters. Even then, lol.