Disclaimer: I don't own the World of Two Moons. I do, however own a few of the characters in this story.

Chapter Six: Hesitation is a Good Thing

A leaf woke Dewshine, falling on her face from the branches over her head. She opened her eyes, disturbed by the feelings in her body, and looked down to her bare flesh. Instinctively, she pulled her legs up to her chin and wound her arms about her chest. As she did so, the violent, frightening night came back to her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, though a few tears till escaped. She hurt in a place she never had wanted hurt.

The elf shook with quiet sobs, but eventually she relaxed enough to open her eyes again. Bretch, his clothes only half-put on was standing over her. Her body went taut, the she subsided again and blotted out the mans' face. "Do what you want. I can't stop you." she said bitterly. Her voice cracked as she said this, and put her hand over her eyes to cover a fresh wash of tears. At the same time she lowered the other to press above the sore part of her.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked anxiously, laying the back of his hand on her cheek.

"Yes." She chocked out, for the pain was still there, and she clenched her teeth. "Yes…"

Bretch reached under her head, cupping her right check up and turning her so that she had to look at him. Remembering the suddenness with which his passion had come on the day before she cringed, expecting a bruising kiss and he hands in places they shouldn't be.

He must have seen the fear and anger in her eyes, mixed with the dullness of resignation to a terrible fate, for he leaned over and lightly kissed her. She let him as tears streamed down her face, knowing what must come next,… waiting for it…

But it never came, and he released her gently. As he drew back, she could see the apology in his eyes, and she relented, at least enough to relax into the bed.

Then Dewshine looked around for her now-relatively-tattered clothes. It was hard to feel comfortable when she was undressed, and mere feet away from a, though apologetic, man who had raped her the previous night.

After the elf had dressed, she washed her face in the stream, then sat down to breakfast warily. There was no telling what he would do.

000

She had thought that he was her friend, had thought of herself as his friend. His violation of her had taught her different: Bretch was a man who she could not fully trust with her safety. Dewshine thought on how fragile her body had felt as he controlled her, how she had felt more like a captive than ever before, and she shivered, rubbing her arms as she perched in the tree that barred her window.

The breeze blew over her skin, ruffling her hair and clothes. Below her, Bretch came in with the evening meal and she jumped down to join him. They were quiet through the uncomfortable meal. When they were done, the human came around the table and reached his hand out to Dewshine's face. He carefully brought her face to his and brushed their lips together. The elf pulled away and backed up, her arms wrapped around her chest and shoulders.

Bretch followed her, and she continued to keep a distance between them. "Stay away! Please, Bretch." Her voice trailed off as he caught hold of her arm, holding it fast. "No. No!" she cried, struggling in his grasp as he pulled her to hum and kissed her again on the mouth. He dragged her small form to him, and wrapped his arms around her protesting body as she braced her hand on his chest.

"No," she repeated, crying once again. "Stop, please, Bretch! Stop!"

Dewshine collapsed weeping, as she man held her. She could do nothing, overpowered as she was. The Wolfrider was at the man's mercy, fully unable to do anything. Bretch's hands strayed to the laces of her clothes, and his own. He dragged her over to the bed, and bent over her, though she still wiggled, trying to get away.

Finally her old spirit rebelled and she slapped him so hard he was momentarily stunned, and she had time to get out of his tight grasp. Dewshine escaped to the large window-tree and, still sobbing, started to climb it. But her ankle was caught, in a grasp of steel and she was dragged ruthlessly to the ground.

Bretch straddled her stomach, then paused as she turned her face away, tears running down her face as she went limp with hopelessness. No, there was nothing she could do to escape. Slowly, he loosened his grip on her wrists, and then stood up, pulling her gently up to a standing position. She looked at him, blue eyes wide and mouth open. Then Bretch released her arms and turned away, eyes closed, head hanging close top his chest.

"What am I doing?" he asked himself out loud as he re-laced his shirt. Dewshine scramble up the tree, heart hammering incase he tried to come after her.

But all was quiet until she heard him leave the room with the food tray. All the same, she did not come down until well after the moons rose high.