This beast has changed all that. My tears become sobs. It feels so good to be held, to have his arms around me, holding me so close, to hear his heartbeat against his chest and to know that he will not let me go. The same thought that has caused me so much anxiety now brings a rush of joy. There is someone in this endless expanse of existence who wants me. Maybe he’s a dumb animal, barely above banging rocks together, but his desire changes me.
Slowly, I start to settle down. I did not notice it at the time, but he must have loosened the vines as I was crying heavily because they are still around me, but they are not holding me back from touch the way they were before. I can move my arms at least, I can wrap them around his big, muscular frame. I can cling to him as if he is my one and only chance at ever being truly human.
His big hand moves over my back and down over my bottom, he cups me close to him and he rubs and he soothes and he takes such tender care of me that it is hard to believe he ever whipped the same flesh he is now making feel so good.
My eyes are growing heavy. I am tired in a way I have not been tired in the longest time. The exertion of the day, the crash, the beating, the sex, the fear, the tears, the food, they have all caught up with me and left me utterly exhausted.
Cradled in his arms with the warmth of the fire glowing against my back, I fall into a tearstained slumber.
Chapter Five
Zion
The beast is speaking.
“Tselia! Tselia Icaria! Where are you? Answer me this instant!”
I am standing at the sight where the star girl crashed to the ground. I left the girl in the cave, well tied up and came down here at first light. I knew I needed to attend to this thing. It cannot be left out here. It will only draw rage from the tribe.
The metal beast she rode down is calling out for her. I step inside the outer shell of its skull and listen.
“Tselia! This is the Patron! You will answer me when I speak to you! You are in breach of your orders. Immediately return to your point of origin and submit to the guards for your hearing. You have gone too far this time, girl. You were warned what would happen if you breach protocol…”
So many words pouring out of the metal animal’s mouth. None of them make sense. It speaks to the star girl as if it owns her, as if it is angry at her. I do not like that. The voice crackles as it raves, becoming increasingly agitated.
It is crippled. I should put it out of its misery.
I take the heaviest rock I can find, and I begin to hit the buttons and lights with hard blows, crushing and smashing the remaining life out of the talking metal animal machine.
“Tselia!”
Bash!
“Tse…”
Crash!
“T…”
Crunch!
Finally it falls silent. It is slain.
I brought a tool with me, a sharp piece of metal attached to a sturdy stick. With this I will dig a hole, bury the star beast, and let it rest in the earth. It will be covered over with grasses and trees and soon there will be no trace of it left. I will keep my star girl here with me. She is mine now. My mate. She has taken my seed and she will swell with my child.
Before I can attend to the rest of my task, a shout emanates across the clearing. I straighten from the work of hole digging as a pack of nearly a dozen young huntresses comes charging across the plains. They have their spears at the ready, sharpened stone tips and long handles adorned with white plumage. Their faces are painted with bright red and pink stripes, which do nothing to make them blend into the background better. That doesn’t matter. They do not hunt by stealth, but by endurance. They run their prey down, whooping and shouting until it is exhausted. A hunting party in full voice is a fearsome beast to behold.
They come down on me as if I was an antelope, but I do not move. I stand my ground. More than one of them has lain with me. Their pussies have slicked my cock, and they have not forgotten that. They are the hunters, but I am their leader.
“Where is she?”
Tyna, the leader of the pack, addresses me a great deal too sharply for my liking. There must be something in the stars to make these females misbehave so badly. The arrival of my star girl has caused disruption throughout the tribe, and perhaps even further beyond.