Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Rise of the Tomb Raider." Nada thing.

Author's notes: Instead of just getting a wire spool from Sofia, Lara gets a lot more. Hope you enjoy.

"Ritual Rest"

Part 5 of Alpha Raiding

Sofia raised on her knees, holding her restrained hands up to Lara. Dimly, Lara saw it as a gesture of obeisance, but the moment flashed with the fire behind Sofia's eyes. "Untie me. I'll kill every last one of them," she vowed.

"Easy, Sofia," Lara urged, sliding her knife out to cut the ropes. Sofia rubbed her raw wrists and cast a concerned look to the downed and injured men around her.

"So much bloodshed!" she lamented. "We're losing too many people!"

Lara stared at the omega, at her shining blue eyes. Something moved within Lara, a feeling of warmth she could feel in her chest that clearly went due south between her legs. "Maybe your people have sacrificed enough," she suggested gently.

"It's all we've known," Sofia murmured softly. Something moved on her face and Lara's heart jolted at her next words. "I misjudged you, Lara."

Lara gave a small toss of her head. "Tell me how I can help you." It was strange to bend her alpha ways so gently, but Sofia reacted to the subtle pulse of pheromones.

"I've gotta get the rest to safety; but the entrance to the catacombs is blocked." Here Sofia gestured to the boarded-up stone entrance beside them.

"I'll find a way to clear it," Lara offered. She pulled her pickaxe from its place on her belt and roamed the stone cavern. Dodging the injured Remnant men and women carefully, she found a bricked-up wall that tapped hollow when she tested her pickaxe against it. Giving a few careful swings, she was able to pry enough bricks away for her to slide through.

Down a short hallway and a short jump down to water later, Lara found crates of ammo and other supplies marked with Trinity's insignia.

'Some sort of armory,' Lara thought to herself as she rifled through. A type of grenade caught her eye and she smiled as she adjusted her new arrow to her bow. Aiming through a broken window frame, she caught sight of the boarded-up door separating Sofia and her party from the way out.

"Get clear of the door!" she yelled as loud as she could. Waiting a few breaths, Lara let loose, and the door exploded on impact. After a few moments, the remaining Remnant limped out, Sofia leading the pack.

Lara jumped down to meet her and the two moved closer as if drawn by gravitational pulls, eyes locked. Lara felt her heart jump.

"Thank you, Lara. They'll be safe in the catacombs for now," Sofia gave a relieved smile. "I know you seek the Divine Source. But my people will die to protect it."

"Your people are already dying!" Lara protested. "You can't protect it forever."

"We've lasted this long!" Sofia retorted. Then a rueful look spread over her beautiful features. "But for now, I'm glad to have you as an ally."

One of the men sidled up. "They're converging on the tower! We've still got people there!"

Lara turned to Sofia. "Get the others to safety. They'll need you."

As they separated, Lara threw herself into her battle mind, knowing she couldn't focus on anything else. No matter how brilliantly Sofia's eyes shone in her mind's eye.

7

7
7

7

7

7

7

The Atlas's location had been discovered. Lara moved quickly; she had to get moving, she had to get there before Trinity….

"Wait!" Sofia grabbed Lara's wrist, stopping her on the stairs.

Lara didn't jerk her arm free from her touch. "Sofia, let me go. I have to do what I can."

"You spilled blood for us. I want to help."

Lara paused, realizing, at last, Sofia's earlier reluctance. "You know where the Atlas is."

"In the Cathedral, in the Archives below. But we won't follow you there," Sofia admitted.

"Why? What will I find?" Lara wanted to know.

"There are others," Sofia admitted. "The Deathless Ones." The way she said it clearly emphasized importance. "They will kill any who trespass. My father believes they will stop Trinity."

"I can't take that chance," Lara vowed.

"I know." Sofia paused, one boot scuffling on the stone steps as if in thought. Her blue eyes shone as she gave Lara a small smirk suddenly. "You won't get anywhere in this storm. And neither will Trinity. Wait a few hours. You can rest at our bathing caves."

Lara protested a few moments, but a loud crack of thunder overhead made her flinch. Sofia guided her out of the pelting rain, and they traveled underground a few passes down stone steps.

"Alright, you've convinced me," Lara murmured. Her fur-lined tunic and coat were damp already, clinging to her and threatened to dampen her body as well as her spirits.

Sofia caught her thought and plucked at her wet sleeve as she led the way. "You'll want to let these dry awhile. In here."

Lara was led into a series of caves, intricate carvings in the walls indicating her people had used it for many generations. A few fires were scattered throughout, and in the first areas, uninjured Remnant idled in steaming hot pools, separated by sex and status. Lara nodded to a few and was surprised when Sofia led her to an empty back cavern, a single steaming pool waiting. A few lanterns were lit, and it seemed downright private and cozy.

"Get undressed and start washing. A healer will be in to see you," Sofia suggested. When Lara pulled her wet coat off, hanging it near a small fire by the pool, her eyes alit on Lara's form through her undershirt once her tunic was off. Lara caught her staring and raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you, Sofia," she murmured. Sofia flashed her a wide smile and left her to her own devices. A wooden cup had been left out by a tray of cleaning brushes and soaps and other bathing instruments. Lara raised it to her cracked lips and took a sip. Hot spiced cider went down her throat, warming her chest as it went and she sighed, taking another longer sip.

Warmth flooded through her chest and belly and the tips of her fingers and toes were starting to abandon the cold that had been in her ever since she'd arrived in Siberia. Lara set the cup down and unfastened her belt, pulling it through her trousers, setting it aside. She loosened the ties on her pants and the garment half fell down her thighs. Lara bent and tugged them the rest of the way off. Her shorts were tugged down and dropped on top of her pants, and she sat on a folded towel to tug wet socks off. Lara groaned as her bare toes flexed in the hot air steaming off the hot springs.

A middle-aged beta woman sidled in, and Lara jolted, tugging one of the towels over her waist. She was unshifted, but still, modern sensibilities kicked in. The woman smiled and set her own bowl and tools down. She took one of Lara's hands, turning it this way and that, tutting at the small cuts covering her fingers and wrists. Rough terrain and combat had done that, and Lara hadn't even noticed the worse or the lesser of her cuts until the woman rubbed a brown salve into them. The worst of the cuts stung, but then a subtle burning pulsed in an almost soothing manner. Lara hissed then sighed as the woman moved to her other hand and wrist and inspected her arms.

Her coat and fur tunic had kept the worst of blows from damaging her, but there was a long shallow cut along one of her calves. The woman had Lara keep her leg from the water a moment as she rubbed the salve in. After a few passes, she nodded.

"You may bathe now. Don't worry, the salve is water-resistant. Be well, young warrior," she said, smiling. Lara smiled gratefully up at her.

"Thank you," she said gratefully and eased carefully into the springs. Hot water seeped into her tired limbs, massaging exhausted muscles. Lara leaned her arms above the edge, leaning her head back. Her eyes slowly closed. She may have dozed off but a new person entering jarred her awake.

"Who…." Lara tensed then relaxed, recognizing Sofia. The red-haired omega was wearing only a towel, the ends clutched loosely over her breasts with one hand. Her legs were long and bare, and Lara couldn't stop her eyes from roaming up and down. "Whu…did you want to soak too?" she found herself asking. Well, it WAS her people's spring. She couldn't very well say no.

Sofia's smile was wide but kind. "In time. I must see to you first."

Her words were odd, but Lara sat up as Sofia dropped her towel. Well-formed breasts, flat tummy and a tangle of red hair between the juncture of soft pale thighs. Lara grunted and felt all warmth flood between her own legs. She shifted suddenly and sighed, hoping Sofia wouldn't notice it beneath the water. "Okay…."

Sofia slid into the water, and oddly, moved to sit behind Lara, her thighs on either side of her hips. Lara's shaft throbbed in the hot water. Sofia's arms were soft around her and her body sturdy.

"Lean back," Sofia urged her. Lara finally let herself relax backwards. Sofia's hands on her arms and sides were comforting. So was the embrace. Sofia's fingers scraped through her scalp, moving through wet hair and soothing jarred nerves. Lara found her eyes closing in relaxation. Eventually, Sofia urged her to stand opposite, and she moved around her, soaping Lara's body, massaging and washing every part of her. Every part but the cock throbbing between her legs.

Lara blushed and made to give an excuse, but Sofia gave a gentle nod of her head. "It's okay. Really. When alphas and omegas go into battle, we have a way to help them."

"Okay?" Lara found herself asking as both climbed out of the springs. Sofia toweled herself off quickly but when Lara went for the other towel, she stopped her. Lara found herself being toweled off efficiently by the beautiful redhead, gently and thoroughly. Only when she was reasonably dry did Sofia give attention to the protruding shaft of flesh between her legs. Sofia urged her to sit on a stone bench near the trays of tools, and when Lara did, a slim hand wrapped around her shaft. Lara yelped in surprise, but Sofia ran her fingers gently over her waist, trying to calm her.

"You don't have to….!"

"It's okay, Lara. Just relax. You need to go, empty of concerns."

Empty of lust too, it seemed. Sofia swiped her tongue around her tip, gathering up the trickles of seed from her cockhead before taking her in whole. Lara gasped, leaning back. It had been too long since her last time. That had been with Sam. Sam…. Lara grunted and opened her eyes. Sofia's soft blue eyes held her gaze and Lara let herself go. Her orgasm washed over her in steady pulsing waves, and she fell back against the stone bench. Sofia's warm mouth retreated from her shaft, and her shift retreated until her parts were soft and open to the redhead's gaze.

Sofia wiped her mouth with a corner of a towel and took a washcloth to wipe Lara's thighs. Lara sighed as she was cleaned up.

"Do you…" Lara began, her eyes taking in Sofia's pale naked form kneeling at her feet. Sofia's eyes twinkled.

"Right now, you needed to be seen to. And you have been. I don't need anything." A 'for now' hung in the air between them as Sofia's hands rubbed over her thighs affectionately. Sofia stood and gathered a fresh towel around her and exited the cave. Lara watched her go. A beta man entered, averting his gaze, and led her to her clothing, now dry and ready.

Lara sighed as she dressed mechanically, mind going over what had just happened. She DID feel relaxed, drained of tension and coiled lust ready to spring. Sofia had seen to that. Maybe when all this was over…..

A flash of Sam made Lara feel guilty. Sam…. She sighed as she attached her weapons belt over her coat and took up her weapons and tools. The Remnant at the entrance to the caves bid her goodbye and Lara raised a hand in what she hoped wasn't a permanent farewell.

End for now.

End notes: Well, another short Lara alphaverse to get things going. Hope you all enjoy. Drop a review if you like.

Yours, pen 3/26/2022