The Journey

Chapter 8

Will A. Sanborn

10/25 - 10/30/94

The next few days of our trek were rather nice and comfortable. Once we'd finally gotten over the last of the hurdles associated with the unexpected occurrences at the inn, we'd been able to settle into things and further develop our relationship. Getting to know one another even more had been, and continues to be, an exciting and wonderful process, as we'd playfully explored one another, both mentally and physically.

Sitting on our bedroll, I smile at this, letting my mind wander through the gentle memories of the past few of days. Ever since our little faux pas, we'd talked through things a lot more, getting things out in the open before they could become problems. Through this, I'd been able to get over my doubtful feelings, and things had turned out rather well.

Most of my misunderstandings had been caused by still being a little surprised from our relationship taking such a sudden change, and knowing too much about the intimacies of felenzi relationships. We'd talked a lot about this, and I'd gotten a much better look at that aspect of their society, and although some of it was foreign to me, I was happy to learn about it. Even if they don't believe in strict monogamy, they still care deeply for their mates, as she cares deeply for me, and our relationship has gotten rather comfortable.

We'd not only talked about Marissa's world though, she was also very interested in how things worked on Earth. A lot of the same questions I'd asked her, were then reflected back on me, as she prodded me for understanding of the way our relationships worked. She'd been very curious to know how humans mated and responded to each other, and I was all too happy to enlighten her. She became very interested in some of the aspects of human-style love, and we'd been experimenting with that; our relationship was becoming an interesting melange of the two cultures.

We'd talked through a lot of things, clearing up stuff for both of us. It had been a little sticky in parts, but we had finally worked through everything, taking the time to fully get to know one another. Through it all, I'd found out just how much I really did care for her. At times it seemed like we're almost perfect soul mates, things working so well for us, after finally getting over some rocky spots.

I'm definitely glad that things worked out the way they did, and have made a conscious effort to take things easier, and just enjoy our comfortable feelings with one another. We'd discussed the possibility of my leaving at the end of this journey, and had finally decided to let things ride for awhile, and to see what happened. Then at the end of the trip, we'll re-examine where we stand and talk things through from there.

That has definitely helped us out a lot, we've both relaxed some and just let things happen, content with just enjoying the relationship and the warmth of each other's presence. It had taken a few days to get where we were, but things were working out really nicely, and at this particular moment I was extremely happy and satisfied. It had been a little hard to let things totally go like that, but we'd both worked at it together, and she was definitely worth it.

I'd seen another, somewhat different, or maybe just deeper, side of Marissa too. Before reaching the inn, she'd been friendly and was a nice traveling companion, but had also been a little stern with me and my affections toward her. She'd tried to be gentle with me, but had always been strong about it too. Also, seeing her fight in the bar had been incredible, as she put on a fantastic display of prowess and determination.

I'd never really seen her vulnerable until after we'd wound up in bed together; then her feelings towards me had changed. Once she'd realized that she was indeed interested in me, her feelings had deepened and she cared more about me and how I felt about her. That's why her reactions to our mistakes had been so strong, and seeing them had been a little distressing for me, having never seen her so affected before.

Once becoming interested in me, she'd opened herself up some, and had become a little vulnerable, which had caused some strong feelings on her part. However, like everything else, we'd worked this out, and had grown closer together from it. It was extremely nice to have such a beautiful felenzi so infatuated with me, as much as I was with her, and our relationship grew a little stronger each day.

It wasn't as if she was really cold before all of this, no she'd been very friendly, but was always sure to remind me of the line I wasn't to cross, in a quiet, yet firm way. Now things had just progressed further, and that line in the sand had been brushed away. Now our friendship had evolved into something deeper, and was a very comfortable relationship indeed.

Smiling again, and finishing putting on my shoes, I get up to go about the task of collecting wood for the fire. Marissa, as usual, had woken me up this morning with a gentle nuzzle at my neck, and after a brief cuddle had gotten up, dressed and gone out to hunt for breakfast. By now I've grown fully accustomed to fresh pantouka meat in the morning, and eagerly await her return.

Returning to our campsite, which is nestled in between a small space between the trees, stopping briefly to yet again admire the beauty of the scenery around me, I then work at building our morning fire. Just as I'm finishing arranging the wood, Marissa pads out of the woods, as if on cue.

Turning to look at her, my smile broad and warm, I take in her beauty, both soft and wild, as she's carrying another pantouka carcass for our meal. As she kneels and places the body on the ground beside me, I bring my head towards hers, and our lips meet in a gentle kiss. Her arms go around my back, as her hands stain my shirt lightly with blood from her kill. This thought occupies only a couple of neurons in the back of my mind though, as I'd worn last night's shirt, and blood washes out quite easily as long as it isn't allowed to set in; no problem at all really.

Pulling away just as gently, she greets me with a "good morning Ben."

"Good morning to you too," I return, then asking "how was the hunting this morning?"

"Very good... exhilarating as usual," she answers with just the slightest trace of a purr.

"That's nice..." then taking a knife, I grab the pantouka and effortlessly slice it open. Reaching in and feeling the wet warmth surround my hand, I smile to myself as I begin to gut the beast. Marissa smiles at this too, "it's nice you've gotten over your fear of cleaning my kills Ben..."

Looking into her eyes, "well, I've had a wonderful teacher... and once you got me used to it... it's really no big deal..."

"So you're no longer upset by my hunting... not even a little?"

"No, I've gotten quite used to that too Marissa... In fact it's kind of exotic to know you're hunting with your bare hands like that... I think I'd like to come and watch you some time... I think I'd enjoy that..."

Her smile widens at this, showing her teeth just slightly, as a little purr of satisfaction escapes her muzzle. "Hmmm... I think you would too... Although, I might have trouble with you keeping your mind on the hunt..." as a wicked little gleam darts across her feline eyes.

Laughing at this, I reach out to place a single finger on her nose, without thinking what I'm doing. As I make contact, with the soft and slightly moist flesh there, I realize my hand is sticky with blood from cleaning breakfast. I recoil slightly at this, but she only smiles gently and darts her tongue out across her nose, cleaning it in one swift stroke. Then leaning forward, she gives me a reassuring look and she gently licks one of my fingers.

At first I can't believe what she's doing, but then fight the impulse to pull away again and let curiosity replace repulsion. She's helped me to open up to different situations such as this, and after a moments hesitation, I bring my hand up to my mouth. Sniffing it, the smell doesn't seem that odd, mostly just raw meat; 'she did seem to enjoy it... so what the hell.'

Tentatively licking one of my finger tips, the taste is rather salty, but not repugnant; if nothing else it's just a little strange, but also intriguing. Licking more of my finger, I smile at her. "Not really that Bad Marissa..." then thinking of predatory earth cats, "do you ever eat raw meat?"

"Sometimes we do... but not too often... As with you, we've gotten used to having it cooked... It tastes better that way... Although, we will eat some small amount of it raw at special occasions... and if prepared right, it can be somewhat of a delicacy too..."

"Well, I agree with you that it's better cooked too... Thank you for helping me become so comfortable with preparing the kill though... and with everything else..."

"You're welcome Ben... but you've done a lot for me too... these last few days have been rather nice haven't they?"

"Yes they have," I reply as I return to my work with preparing breakfast. Within a few minutes the job is done and the non-edible remains have been disposed off. Then threading a stick through the cleaned body, I place it over the fire, and with a simple wave of my hand, the dry wood underneath it effortlessly jumps into flames.

Beaming at me with satisfaction, an appreciative smile playing across her muzzle, "you're really good at your magic Ben... you'll be up to full proficiency in no time."

Feeling my ego soar, "I know... but then again I've had an excellent teacher... "

Moving together for another comfortable embrace, our lips meet once again; as our tongues brush gently against one another, her soft roughness sends tiny shivers through me once again.

Lost in our kiss for several minutes, she finally pulls slowly away, and with a slight gleam in her eye states, "come on Ben... we need to get washed up..."

* * *

The next couple of days are more of the same, as we travel along at our easy pace, our bodies now fully adjusted to the miles we put them through each day. We're both in excellent shape by now, as we effortlessly trek through the wilderness; even the weight of our packs is fairly inconsequential now. This little vacation has been rather exhilarating and relaxing after all, and I couldn't have asked for a better companion to spend it with.

Walking along, mile after mile, we spend the days lost in wonderfully close conversation, drawing closer with each passing day. It's really amazing, but we really do have so much in common, with her being such a scholar and all. Sometimes I think I could spend forever with her, out in the beauty of the wilderness.

Then on our fifth day out from the town, we gradually notice the scenery changing around us. At first I thought I was just imagining it, but then it became clear that the trees were thinning out. As we walked on, over the next few hours, the woods gently fell away, changing slowly until we're walking across the gentle grass of the plains before us.

Stopping, and looking around, the plains seem to stretch as far as we can see ahead of us. The transition came as a bit of a surprise, occurring smoothly over several miles and kind of sneaking up on us. The change of scenery is nice though, as we both look into the distance, across the grassy land, dotted here and there by trees and brushes.

Ahead, rising in the distance, still quite a ways off, loom some mountains and their foothills. Looking straight at them, Marissa remarks "that's where we're headed... Straight for the mountains... That's where we'll find what we're looking for..."

She says it so matter-of-factly that it sort of surprises me. For the most part, we hadn't discussed the reason for the journey in the past few days, and I had almost forgotten why we were out here in the first place. "How do you know Marissa?"

"It's just a feeling Ben... Something to do with the magic... and the fact that whatever this is, magic's involved somehow... Can you sense anything?"

My skills are still not as trained as they could be, and I've got awhile longer before I'm up to her level, but closing my eyes and concentrating, I can feel a slight sensation coming from that direction; at least I think I can feel it, it's so hard to know if it's real or just my imagination playing off of her suggestion. Whatever it is though, it does seem rather strange.

Normally the forces of magic are flowing all around us, undirected, random and essentially uniform. Now however, for the just the briefest moment, there seems to be the slightest disturbance in this balance, as the tiniest, almost undetectable spark of energy seems to emanate from ahead of us, far of in the distance.

It only lasts for a fraction of a second, then is gone, leaving me to wonder if it had ever been there in the first place. Opening my eyes, trembling ever so lightly, I glance over at Marissa. She sees the look and my eyes and asks, "you felt it too?" her voice registering just the slightest hint of concern.

"Yeah, I did... but what is it?"

"I don't know... but I'm glad you sensed it too... It's nice to know I'm not just imagining this... I wish those fools at the guild could have been here for it..."

"Marissa," my voice a little disturbed, "have you felt that before?"

"Yes... A couple of times... The first one was two days ago and was so slight I thought I'd imagined it... Then yesterday morning I felt it again, a little stronger and was pretty sure it was for real."

"So what does it mean... what's going on?"

"I still don't know... All I know is that the visions I was having were caused by something external... and I had this vague feeling... just something I knew... that whatever it was lies out here..."

Feeling small shivers crawling along my back, I'm again reminded that this could at any time turn from a vacation into something rather unpleasant. Looking at Marissa, she too seems a little unsteady, as she must be contemplating the same ideas. A few moments later, without speaking, we both wordlessly agree to forge ahead once again; walking towards our destiny, mulling confused thoughts through our minds in a mutual silence.

Some fifteen minutes later, breaking the silence, I ask "what do you think we're going to find when we get to the mountains Marissa?"

"I don't know Ben... It could be anything... Maybe it won't be anything at all... That's why we're going there isn't it? To find out?"

I can tell she's only trying to make both of us feel more at ease with this, which isn't working too well. "Marissa, I'm more than a little nervous about this... I don't know if we really wanna find out what it is..."

Turning her head to look at me, she confides in a quiet voice, "I know... I'm a little scared too... It sure seems as if something really strange is happening out here... but, we've still got four or five days to reach the hills... We should be able to work up to it by then..."

This helps a little, but both us still feel a little uneasy, especially with the mountains looming so ominously in the distance like that. We launch into a conversation, which seems a little forced, anything to occupy our minds. We spend the rest of the afternoon like this, walking along the grassy plains, keeping the conversation flowing.

By the time we're ready to stop for the night the night, the situation feels a little better. The scenery is rather beautiful out here, and the memory of the strange disturbance is fleeting, having occurred hours before. Our conversation had its desired effect on us, and things seem comfortable again, as we're talking and joking as if nothing had really happened. Much like how even the scariest thoughts, on the darkest nights, evaporate like the morning dew with the appearance of the bright and friendly sun.

Making camp and starting a nice fire, we settle down to more of my nightly lessons. One of the spells we're working on at the moment is the projection of force, and I seem to be getting fairly well at it.

"Okay Ben, let's see what you can do to that tree over there," Marissa instructs, pointing to the medium-sized tree about fifteen feet off to our left, one of the few trees dotting the plains we're on.

Letting a determined smile cross my face, concentrating in my mind, visualizing just how I want give it a sharp, directed blow to the center of the trunk, I call forth the powers flowing through me. Gathering them up, with a sweep of my hand, I send an invisible bolt of energy toward my target.

As the spell goes off, the tree is hit and acts as if a strong gust of wind is buffeting it, shaking the smaller branches wildly. Instead of slamming the tree with a fearsome bolt of force, shaking it to its very core, a bunch of leaves are torn free and blown back to scatter in the phantom wind.

Looking at my surprised and disappointed face, Marissa erupts in laughter. Turning to her, I'm caught up in her contagious outburst, and begin giggling myself. Carrying on like this for a couple of minutes, we finally collapse into each other's arms, panting wildly.

Letting out another chuckle, "I think you still need to work on concentrating your power Ben... it was too spread out..."

"I know," letting out a giggle of my own, "I guess I'm not quite as proficient as I thought I was..."

"Yeah, that tree sure put you in your place didn't it?"

At this, another spasm of laugher envelopes us, lost in the waves of humor, clutching one another madly as this silly joke plays itself out. Coming down again from the mad fit we'd let ourselves get caught up in, we rest in our shared warmth, looking up at the tree and chuckling intermittently.

When we've finally regained composure, it's beginning to get dark, so we call of the rest of my lessons for the night. "That was pretty silly wasn't it?"

"I don't know what came over me... It was just seeing you prepared to try and knock the tree over, and then all you did was shake it a bit and blow some leaves off..."

"I know, it did seem pretty funny... It was nice to have a good laughing fit like that..." Squeezing her gently, "I haven't had one of those in quite awhile..."

Sitting on our bedroll, we eat supper and watch as the sun sets behind us. Not having seen an unobstructed sunset for several days, this one seems even more radiant, as the whole southern sky is lit up with glorious shades of red. 'How could anything be wrong on such a beautiful night like this?'

Holding each other close, we tumble back into our bedroll and cuddle together as the last remnants of color slowly fade from the darkening sky. Soon as we're lost in each other's warmth, the stars slowly begin to come out, as the twin moons rise from their perspective corners of the horizon.

* * *

Coming awake somewhat quickly as usual, I feel the familiar coolness of Marissa's nose as she gently nuzzles against my neck. Opening my eyes and smiling, I'm greeted once again with the wonderful spotted fur of her face, her beautiful green eyes looking up at me lovingly in the pale light of dawn.

"Good morning dear," as my hand reaches up to stroke along her back.

"Mmmm... Morning Ben... I'm off to look for breakfast..."

"Do you think they'll be any pantoukas out here on the plains?"

"I think so... I don't see why not... It's not all that different from the woods..."

Pausing a moment, a brilliant idea comes to me. "Marissa, could I go with you this morning? I'd like to see you hunt..."

"Oh Ben, that would be nice..."

"I won't be in the way?"

"Of course not... come on lets get dressed..."

Dressing quickly, we're soon on our way, as I follow her padding quietly across the grassy plain. Walking like this for ten or fifteen minutes, her ears suddenly perk up. She stops and crouches down toward the ground, sniffing intently at the air, a slight gleam dancing across her eyes, her tail twitching behind her in anticipation. Watching her like this, with her leg muscles flexed and every feline trait proudly displayed, I can't help but be filled with the deepest of admiration for this beautiful woman whom I'm lucky enough to have as my lover.

Turning to me, a satisfied grin painted across her muzzle, she speaks with a soft hiss accenting her voice. "I've found one... It won't be long now... Keep a few steps behind me... and be quiet..."

Sniffing the air once again, she quickly zeros in on her target; letting out a small excited purr, she rises up, but still keeps slightly crouched as she begins to walk, her muzzle sniffing out what will soon become our breakfast. Keeping about ten paces behind her, a couple of shivers run through me as she shifts into hunting mood, flexing and retracting her claws as she walks.

Within a few minutes, we've come in sight of the beast, an averaged-size pantouka, quietly munching on some tender grass, looking much like an overgrown rabbit. It's facing away from us, which helps a lot since there's only the occasional bush to hide behind. Marissa stops and motions for me to do the same. Crouching down on one knee, I watch with rapt fascination at the scene about to unfold before me.

Moving ever so slowly, her steps calculated with predatory determination, she moves slowly and soundlessly toward the hapless animal, still unaware of her presence. This changes rather quickly though; as she's a little less than fifteen feet from procuring breakfast, the pantouka suddenly stiffens up, its ears coming to full attention. Within a split second, it becomes painfully aware of the situation, and is off with a flash.

Marissa's reaction is just as quick though, as she'd been anticipating it, and she charges after the beast, gaining quickly. It tries in vain to outrun her, dodging and changing direction a couple of times, but her reflexes are frighteningly fast, as she fluidly moves to overtake it. The whole episode lasts probably fifteen seconds at the most, but every second of that is burned in my memory as I watch her gain on the beast with speed and fury, looking every bit as feral as her earthly counterparts.

Finally overtaking the frightened pantouka, she lets out a deafening howl and leaps upon it, pinning it beneath her weight, holding it in her powerful arms, her claws digging into its flesh as it screeches in pain and terror, struggling against her iron grasp. Reacting instinctively, her strong jaws go around the beast's neck and with a quick and somewhat humane strike, efficiently opens its jugular.

Watching this, as she pulls her muzzle away, letting most of the blood spill out onto the ground before her, tremors of revulsion and awe shake through me. As she holds the beast, even in its death throws, and its body slowly relaxes against her grip, I can't believe at the sheer power I've just witnessed. 'It's amazing how anyone could be so much like a cat and yet so human too...'

Caught up in the sight before me, I soon realize that the revulsion was fleeting and has been replaced by a deep admiration for Marissa's strength and hunting prowess. Then with a slight shock, I'm also aware of just how exotic this all seems to me, the power, the struggles of the beast, watching her so feral like that, all combine to wash over me, as I let out a gasp through my open mouth.

It's a little scary to see her like this, and to be so excited by it, but I'm beyond that now, I know the extent of her instincts, and seeing her wild side so out in the open like this has a powerful effect on me. Letting out another deep breath, I rise to a standing position and slowly walk towards her; acting a little cautiously, not sure how deep in the hunting trance she's gone.

Approaching her, she lies on the ground, still holding the beast, but not quite as firmly, her body moved away from the small pool of blood beside it. Her eyes are partially closed as she lies there panting, the remains of a feral snarl becoming a sated smile.

Looking at her, she's smattered here and there with blood, with her muzzle and hands covered in it, more so than any other morning. Crouching down beside her, she opens her eyes, the last sparks of the hunting fever dissipating from them, and smiles in recognition. Releasing her grasp on the carcass, she comes up to sitting position, looking at me, waiting for my response.

"Damn Marissa," letting out another bated breath, "that was incredible..."

Purring slightly, she replies. "It was a good hunt... I'm glad you could come along."

"It was amazing... I'd never believed how exciting it could be... Watching you hunt like that... acting so wild... and fierce..."

Finishing this, I place my hand on her upper leg, squeezing lightly. She flashes me a toothy grin and as if putting on a show for me, darts her tongue out and across her muzzle. In a few strokes, the majority of the blood is gone, with just pink remnants staying behind to lightly color her fur. As my jaw seems to drop wide open, she then tackles her hands, getting the blood out before it can dry.

At first, another flash of uneasiness sweeps through me, as I wash her cleaning her fur. Then letting it pass, my feelings come back under control, realizing I'd experimented with this yesterday. It hadn't been all that different, and watching her clean the blood from her fur does add to the atmosphere of the scene.

When she finishes one hand, and begins to work on the other, I reach out for it, taking it in mine, feeling the soft, moist fur against my skin. Then after she's done with the second one, acting on impulse, I move forward, once again bringing our lips together.

Making contact in a gentle kiss, a new sensation jumps out at me, as the slight, salty taste of pantouka blood dances on my tongue. Back in a corner of my mind, a small part of my consciousness dully screams out in revulsion at this realization, but the rest of me is lost in the moment, taking everything in. 'Well, this isn't so strange... actually it's rather nice,' smiling to myself.

Carrying out the kiss to its full completion, we finally pull away, looking warmly at one another. Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, my voice full of affection, I finally say "thanks for letting me come along... I really enjoyed it..."

Placing her other hand on top of mine, she smiles gently and simply answers "I knew you would..."

* * *

Later, after a full mornings walk, with yet another beautiful day all around us, we stop for lunch. Lying down, leaning against my pack, using it for a pillow, I close my eyes and simply soak up the warmth of the sun, relaxing on the warm grass. Marissa chuckles at this, and a moment later, I feel her soft touch as she places her hand on my chest and begins to pet. As she's stroking me lightly, a small moan escapes my mouth, as I feel my body growing more relaxed; my muscles loosening up, my consciousness sinking into the soft ground below.

Then in the back of my mind, something external pushes its way in, invading my consciousness. In that brief instant, I'm aware of another flash of energy, just like the one I'd experienced before. A small surge of power, pushing above the background level normally present all around us. As before, it's fleeting and fades as quickly as it came, lasting only for a split second. This is long enough though, as my consciousness screams out against this flash of power, seemingly broadcast toward us.

My body stiffing up, every muscle coming to attention, I jerk myself up to a sitting position, eyes wide, letting out a startled gasp. Marissa pulls back slightly, her pupils dilating in surprise, looking at me with concern washed over her face. "Ben, what's wrong?" her voice urgent and troubled.

Jerking my head off to my right, in the direction the brief spark had seemed to emanate from, my suspicions are confirmed, as I stare towards the mountains, still far in the distance. "Marissa," letting it out with another gasp, "did you feel that?"

"Feel what?" pausing, then understanding jumping into her eyes, "oh... did you feel another... sensation like yesterday?"

"Yes... it was just like yesterday... Just as weird, and just as unnerving... maybe even a little stronger... You didn't feel it this time?"

Shaking her head, she looks a little puzzled. "But why... how come you didn't feel it this time Marissa? You're still more adept at magic than I am... You should have felt it if I did..."

"I don't know... You're getting much better at it though Ben... and you're natural talent runs very strong in you..." Then pausing again, she offers this, "yesterday, we were both sort of looking for something... maybe it's all in having your mind in the right state for it..."

"But, I wasn't concentrating like yesterday... I wasn't thinking about anything... just letting myself relax..."

"Maybe that's more how it works... on less of a conscious level... Perhaps clearing your mind works even better than actively concentrating on it..."

Feeling both apprehension and academic curiosity well up within me, a frightening thought pushes forward. "Then... that could mean that these are happening more than we though... More often than about once a day... perhaps much more..."

This silences both of us, small tremors running through us as we contemplate just what this could mean. Holding one another, our eyes are drawn toward the mountains, toward our unknown destiny.

* * *

The rest of the day pretty much passes without incidence. We try our best to keep our minds occupied, carrying on the conversation. As with yesterday, things return pretty much to normal, there is still some uneasiness hanging in the backs of our minds, but we resolve to deal with whatever may confront us and in the meantime try and keep ourselves from getting too freaked out.

By nightfall, we're once again feeling pretty much at ease, since we've still got a few days more on our trek. My lessons progress normally, that is except for a brief incident. Marissa ends up making a joke that although my skills are rapidly improving, she still thinks she could to take me in a fight. My response of course is a grinning and sarcastic "oh yeah," as I lunge toward her, tackling her and tickling her mercilessly.

Laughing until she's short of breath, her panting pleas for release are finally granted. Then, after a moments rest, her feline eyes gleaming, she turns the situation against me, taking advantage of my lowered guard and attacks. Lavishing the same attentions on me, plucking my sensitive areas that she knows so well, she soon has me squirming against her, laughing like and idiot, struggling to get free.

The whole wrestling match between us lasts only ten minutes or so, before we collapse against each other, tired and content, enjoying the closeness of our warmth yet again. Then later, after watching the sunset, while we're snuggling under the warmth of our bedding, she becomes startled briefly as another magic surge flashes across her consciousness. This disturbs both of us, and it's some time, spent quietly talking and pulling each other close, reassuring one another, before we can finally fall into the bliss of sleep.

* * *

The morning dawns again with a warm sun set in another deep blue sky, with just a hint of purple to it, as white fluffy clouds lounge lazily overhead. After hunting, bathing and breakfast, we're off once again, cheered by the beautiful weather. Throughout the course of the day, we both sense another couple of those strange disturbances in the magic flow, all emanating from the mountains drawing almost imperceptibly closer to us.

By now these surges, although still unexplained and strange, have become somewhat accepted by us, as our minds adapt to the strange situation they've been thrust into. As we travel onward, we're still a bit uneasy, but have become accustomed to this level of uneasiness and are managing to take it in stride. We mention this a couple of times, discussing just what it could turn out to be, then moving on after failing to come up with any good ideas, and just spooking ourselves a little more. Most of the time, or conversation falls on other topics, as we watch the mountains in the distance, trying to give each other comfort as an undercurrent of slight apprehension flows through our minds.

As the day progresses, the weather starts to take on a gloomy appearance, with dark, gray clouds moving in, covering up the sky and diffusing the sunlight. By the time we stop for the night, the situation has gotten even worse, as the sky becomes more swollen and angry. Turning to look at Marissa as we're eating supper on our bedroll, a small scowl across her muzzle, I state the obvious in a dull tone of voice. "It looks like we're gonna get some rain tonight..."

"Yes, it does look that way," she replies, letting out a tired sigh, "I guess it was only a matter of time..."

Nodding at this, I think to myself, 'still, I wish we'd though to bring a tent,' before realizing that with their technology, something waterproof would have been rather large and heavy. The gloom has settled down on both of us, so I suggest we try and get some sleep; Marissa agreeing with me, we both tumble under the blanket.

The change of the weather, combined with everything else, has taken all of the energy out of, as we're too tired to even cuddle tonight. Instead, we hold onto one another, almost desperately, seeking solace and sleep, but only finding restlessness instead. Before long the storm is upon us, and though it starts off with a gentle rain, it soon escalates into a torrential downpour.

The tree we're sleeping under isn't much help, quickly becoming saturated, and overflowing onto us. We try in vain to duck under the covers to escape the rain, but while it no longer splashes on us, it easily soaks through the blankets. Within minutes our bedroll is completely soaked, and us along with it, as the cold rain continues to assault us.

The storm howls on for what seems like an eternity, with us cowering under our sopping bedding, drenched and chilled to the bone. Finally the winds die down, and the rain again becomes a gentle shower, before fading into a gentle drizzle then vanishing completely. However, the worst is far from over for us.

The rest of the night is spent huddled together, whimpering softly, clutching each other while shivering and damp. Marissa looks absolutely pathetic like this, waterlogged like a drowned cat, sniffling from the cold; I'm sure I look just as hopeless from her stand point. Finally, sometime in the night, we pass into a light sleep, still holding tightly to one another.

In the morning, we come awake, still cold and damp, and not all that well rested, but at least the weather has changed for the better, and the warm sun greets us once again in a clear sky. Even surrounded by the wet fabric of our bedding, this warms my heart, as I pull Marissa closer, kissing her deeply in my happiness.

The wood is still somewhat wet, but with our combined powers, we're able to generate enough heat to set it ablaze, after several seconds of steam rise above it. Seeing the fire come to life lifts my spirits even higher, that is until I go to my pack. Opening it up, everything inside is rather soggy and smells rather offensive.

As I let out a disgusted groan, Marissa laughs and places a damp paw on my shoulder. "It's not that bad Ben... besides we needed to wash these pretty soon anyway..."

Smiling at this, we go about the task of washing the clothes in the nearby stream. Then spreading them out on the drying grass, under the warm sun, all that's left to do is wait. Turning to look at Marissa, she's laid down on the grass, her fur mostly dry now, looking a little messy, in need of a good brushing, but definitely not unattractive.

Smiling up at me, she flashes me possibly the most alluring glance I've ever seen, batting her eyes slightly, speaking in a sensuous voice. "It'll take a few hours for things to dry Ben... I'm sure we can find a way to pass the time..."

* * *

Getting back on the road in the late morning, our spirits are lifted above the turmoil of the past day or so; somehow, just seeing the sun again on this beautiful day makes things so much better. Even the fact that the mountains are drawing closer doesn't seem to phase us too much either. That is, until the sun begins to set in the south behind us, then I can feel that familiar apprehension seeping back over me.

Turning to look once again at the mountains, now much larger than they'd appeared yesterday, or even this morning, I mention the inevitable to Marissa. "We're gonna get there pretty soon..."

"Yeah... probably in another day of good travel...."

"Then what happens? What are we gonna do?" nervousness stealing into my voice.

She looks at me, her eyes wide and brimming with emotion. Looking deeply into my troubled gaze, her own apprehensions showing on her face, she speaks plainly and honestly. "I don't know Ben... I'm just as lost as you are... but we've made it this far... We can't turn back now..."

Pausing briefly, she then continues, "we've done pretty well so far... Maybe we've seen the worst of it... and we're both good fighters and strong magicians... Whatever's out there, we should be able to stand up pretty good against it... I think we'll be okay..."

Nodding, feeling a little better, forcing the rest of my apprehensions to the background, I decide there's nothing we can do about it now, 'we'll face those bridges when we cross them...' Then smiling, bringing my hand to lightly caress her muzzle, "I guess you're right Marissa... I'm glad I've got you here with me."

"I feel the same about you Ben... and not just to back me up either... but you wouldn't be here if I hadn't dragged you along..."

"I'm happy you did... I think I'd follow you just about anywhere..."

"Oh, you're so good to me..." pulling me toward her in a warm and comfortable embrace.

* * *

Out of the darkness a flash of brilliance goes off, illuminating everything for a split second, before my vision is once again swallowed up into the night. Then again, an image appears, in bright, vivid hues, but disappears before my jumbled mind can make any sense of it. Waiting another moment, a new, different image, tinted in bright orange, flashes across my vision, still too fast to comprehend before it goes the way of the others.

Waiting in the darkness, confused and strangely worried, my heartbeat begins to quicken, as another few images flash by, each with widely different colors and patterns, but going too quick to glean any useful information from them. Then as I struggle to pick out familiar objects as the images flash in front of me, once every couple of seconds, a strange sound begins to fill my ears, welling up from the background, slowly increasing in power.

Increasing in volume, it's some sort of white noise, but harsher than the usual soft, surf-like sound you'd associate it with. Instead, it's a crackling, electric, static sound, quickly picking up in intensity, crashing over me, invading my thoughts.

As this dreadful noise begins to overwhelm me, the speed at which the images fly past increases also; flashing quicker and quicker, my mind struggling to keep up. Soon it's about an image a second, with the space between them rapidly decreasing. As I'm being bombarded with the visions flying past in front of me, the sound continues to increase, pressing closer against me, until I can almost feel my body tingling with electricity, every nerve ending reacting.

By now the rate of the images flying by has increased to several a second, but as I watch, my mind trying to make sense of this all, a frightening thing happens. As if being tugged at by an unseen hand, reaching into to touch my brain itself, my consciousness is urged onward; not really forward, but to increase the speed at which it functions at.

Letting out a stifled scream, trying to fight this unseen force, I'm quickly overpowered as my mind is stretched to its limits, forced to view the barrage of visual data now surrounding me. However, now I'm able to perceive each image separately, even though they fly by at an obscene pace. What's so strange and disturbing about this is that while my mind has obviously been sped up to accomplish this mentally-Herculean task, I still feel as if I'm struggling to keep up.

The speed of the images still overwhelms me, even though I'm forced to understand each one of them as a single, individual snapshot. I still feel as if I'm being dragged along at a break-neck pace; my consciousness reeling from the sheer volume of information being hurled at me. It's like watching MTV on fast forward, with even less correlation between images, as every neuron fires within my skull, desperately trying to process all the discordant information being burned into my consciousness.

As my mind screams out in what feels like terror, the speed of transmission increases yet again, stepping up a notch or two, as I'm rudely dragged along with it, unable to give even a token measure of resistance. My eyes burning from the sheer intensity of the images, my ears aching from the howling sounds, my whole consciousness feels as if it's beginning to tremble; feeling the strain of processing too much information.

Reeling in absolute fear, I can actually feel my mind being pulled at from all directions, starting to unravel from the overload. Reaching out with ethereal hands, holding back against the enormous tension, struggling to maintain cohesion, I fail terribly as the fabric of my consciousness begins to tear down the middle. Coughing out another strangled scream, something within me breaks and everything goes black.

Coming awake with a start, the scream still stuck in my throat, my body bathed in a cold sweat, my muscles tensed, I struggle to gain control. Panting wildly, feeling my heart beating fast within me, my vision slowly adjusts to the night, as I begin to realize the form of Marissa sleeping beside me.

My mind still reeling from the dream, several tense moments pass, leaving me still shaking from the abject terror of it all. Finally gathering enough wits about me to think of Marissa, I turn to see her still asleep, lost in a dream of her own, whimpering madly, her body trembling.

Reaching out tentatively to touch her shoulder, I gently nudge her, to no effect as she continues, lost alone in her own frightening visions. Shaking her harder, I have to try a couple of times, and with a good bit of force before she's dragged back to this realm of consciousness. When she comes awake, she does so with a fierce yowl, her body spasming wildly; one of her claws connects with the flesh of my chest, leaving four small gashes below my shoulder.

Grabbing her tightly, fighting off her trembling, I force the calming energy of the tranquillity spell over her, slowly easing her down. Holding her tightly, as she continues to tremble ever so lightly, she looks at me, her eyes wide with fear.

"Ben... did you just have a dream like that?" her voice cracking and vulnerable.

"Yes... I think I did..." lightly stroking her upper back, "a barrage of images, so fast that it was going to rip you apart?"

Seeing her dull nod, I ask "was this what your other visions were like? No wonder you were concerned."

"Sort of... they weren't nearly this strong though... Ben, I'm scared..." her voice cracking even more, her body trembling against my firm grasp.

"Shhh... so am I," my own voice shaking lightly, feeling a few tremors within me. "It's over now... We got through it... We're okay..."

We hold each other for several minutes, hearing the pounding of our hearts slowly retreat from our ears, going down to a more rational level. Slowly our tension dies down, yet still leaving a good deal of apprehension; luckily by then we're in a better frame of mind to continue our discussion.

Feeling Marissa's warm body against mine helps to calm my frazzled nerves, and I softly stroke the fur of her back, hoping to the same for her. Letting both our senses return, I finally ask "what do you think that was?"

"I don't know... Again it's something external... As if something's controlling it..."

Feeling a flash of realization, "what if it's like those sparks or surges we've been feeling? I mean what if it's something that's being sent out that only our subconscious can pick up?"

"I guess that makes sense... but why would anybody want to do that? What could they be trying to do?"

"I don't know." 'That's if it's even a somebody we're dealing with here,' but I decide not to voice that opinion. "Hopefully it will be awhile before we get hit with that again...It was over a week between occurrences this time..."

"Yes... but we're getting closer Ben..."

"I know... but we'll be together to face it..." trying to cover up as much of my anxiety as possible.

We huddle together like that for a rather long time before passing into a troubled sleep, but at least no more dreams come to torment us. In the morning we come awake to find another beautiful day before us. The wonderful weather doesn't lift our spirits this time though, as we pass through the day numb with a dull apprehension.

Walking along in nervous silence, we trudge through the miles, watching the mountains draw even closer before us. As the hours tick away, we draw closer to our goal, now seemingly approaching much faster than before. Mile after mile, we walk with a swift pace, drawn onward, forcing ourselves to confront whatever lies ahead.

About an hour before nightfall, we finally near the foothills, perhaps only a mile or two away in the north, towering over us. By themselves, they appear quite ordinary, and non-threatening, but several times throughout the day, we'd both felt more of the mysterious sparkles of energy, and now standing so close, looking up at the mountains, I can almost feel my body tingling from the power they exude; rather this is real or imagined, I have no way of telling.

We eat our dinner in silence, seemingly almost unaware of each other's presence, lost in our own thoughts. Now that we've finally neared the goal of the journey, we're both unsure of what comes next, nervous at the prospect of whatever it could turn out to be.

Watching the sun finally set, shivering as darkness steals over the landscape, we finally stumble into bed, clutching one another in desperation. Even the close, soft feel of Marissa pressing against me fails to bring comfort, as we tremble against each other, before falling into another light and nervous sleep.


Copyright 1994, Will A. Sanborn - was1@shore.net