Hunger (pt 2)
She woke to the sound of quiet voices, wondering for a moment where she was. The sound of gentle surf, the warm early sunslight, a cool breeze, the smell of the ocean - and the uncomfortably hard sand beneath her blanket…
She smiled and peered towards the voices: Raditts'-san was on his feet, stretching, Hijau behind him reaching up to knead his neck and shoulders. She watched, fascinated, wishing herself in Hijau's place as their trainer turned and laid a hand on his subordinate's face, smirking as he ran his thumb over the cheekbone.
"Catch breakfast while I'm gone, will you?"
She couldn't quite hear what Hijau said in response, he'd turned towards the strong hand and - she frowned slightly, sure that that movement of his head indicated that he'd kissed Radittsu's palm.
Radittsu and Hijau?
Nah - they were friends, that had been obvious from the start, but there'd been no hint of anything more than that. Had there?
And anyway, Hijau'd said Radittsu wasn't attached. He'd hardly say that if they were lovers, would he?
Mentally, she shook her head. She'd imagined it. She sat up as the trainer moved away from their makeshift camp, breaking into a fast, long-legged run as Hijau watched. Kyuri pulled herself hastily upright and moved to stand beside the younger male.
"Where's he off to?"
Hijau spared her a quick glance.
"Morning run."
Kyuri frowned.
"I never knew he did that."
"Only here."
"Think he'd mind if I joined him?"
Hijau grinned.
"You could always ask him. If you can catch him, that is…"
And indeed, Radittsu was already a small figure a long way off and receding quickly, mane whipping backwards. Kyuri grinned and took off, ignoring Hijau's chuckled, "that's cheating…"
But even flying it took her a while to reach him - he was fast. For a while she flew behind him, admiring the movement of his powerful body, the smooth play of muscle beneath the pale skin, the way the odd stray breeze flicked his mane sideways, allowing her a view of that delicious backside - and of the long, deeply-furred tail stretched behind him, moving gracefully in counterpoint as he ran.
He glanced back over his shoulder.
"Something wrong?"
"Oh, no sir…" Anything but! "Do you mind my joining you?"
He shrugged.
"As long as you don't expect me to slow down for you."
"Of course not, sir." She flew alongside him for a while, sneaking little glances at him as she gazed around. At this point the beach had widened into a broad plain of white sand, the lush vegetation fringing it on the land side a faint green blur in the distance. To their left, slow wavelets ran lazily over the shoreline: all was silent except for the breeze and the faint thud thud of Radittsu's bare feet against the firm sand.
And still he ran, his breath deep and even, his face - relaxed, eyes half-closed. Kyuri stayed silent, although she was beginning to wonder how far he intended to go…
A little later he veered inland, heading for the silver gleam of a river's mouth that cut a broad, shallow channel through the beach. As he approached it he gradually slowed to a walk, and Kyuri landed and fell into step beside him. Well, two of her steps to every one of his, anyway. Finally the exertion seemed to have caught up with him: his chest heaved as he panted quietly, and a fine sheen of sweat slicked his skin.
At the edge of the freshwater stream he paused and looked down at his companion.
"I want your word you'll never tell anyone else about this."
She blinked, her heart jumping.
"Uh, about what, sir?"
"The place I'm going to show you."
Kyuri frowned.
"You have my word, sir."
He smirked and beckoned her to follow him.
They followed the stream inland, pushing through rich vegetation that stretched far over Radittsu's head, struggling around - and sometimes through - masses of thornbush, squirming between the close-growing trunks of meevwood… Kyuri halted in a small clearing and frowned at Radittsu.
"Sir, why are we doing this the hard way? Why don't we just blast our way through - or fly, which would be even easier?"
He smirked.
"Look on this as an endurance test, cadet."
She sighed - but actually only had to endure for a few minutes longer, just until they came out of the undergrowth…
Her jaw dropped as she gazed around, and for a moment something primal filled her, something beyond and below the Saiyan love of fighting - something that went back to quieter, more ancient times, when there was space to simply stand and let oneself be overwhelmed by beauty.
It could have been a sacred place - probably had been once. The stream tumbled down a cascade of crystal-veined rocks into a deep green pool, bordered by flat white boulders glinting in the dappled sunslight. Palms heavy with ripe fruit arched overhead: lower down the graceful branches of yarg bushes nodded temptingly, the deep purple berries just begging to be picked. And the air was sweet with the scents of fresh cold water, fruit, the richly exotic fragrance of wild orchids and the sound of unseen birdsong…
At that moment all Kyuri wanted to do was drag her companion down onto the thick, deep, cool moss underfoot and discover what he tasted like - but Radittsu was moving towards the stream, and she followed him automatically into waist deep water, watching as he ducked under then resurfaced. Pulling off the only piece of clothing he wore as he did so.
Breathless, Kyuri gazed, wide-eyed, as he dropped the skimpy garment onto a rock in the sunslight and waded unhurriedly into the deeper pool, swimming leisurely across to the cascade - then rising to stand on a boulder under the waterfall, leaning back against the rocks, legs apart as he stretched his arms to the side, tail switching languidly from side to side, eyes closed as the water tumbled around and over him.
And Kyuri stared, lust flaring through her body. He was… simply beautiful. Under the cascade his mane, heavy with water, reached his calves, thick twin strands curling over his broad shoulders to just brush large nipples erect from the chill of the water - or maybe from the sheer sensuous feel of it tingling over his skin. And lower down…
Imagine that hard, filling you, ramming into you… She shivered, feeling herself flush hotly, almost dizzy as she pressed her thighs together. Not that it did any good.
Dragging off her own brief bodysuit she stumbled hastily into the pool, splashing across to the figure outlined in sparkling water above her then pulling herself out to kneel at his feet. Apparently oblivious to her presence he raised his face to the sky, lips parting slightly - then jerked and stared down abruptly as she wrapped her arms around his hips and pulled herself to him, kissing his abdomen, his genitals cradled between her breasts.
"Cadet…"
Ignoring his growl she rubbed against him, the hair at his groin thick and surprisingly soft against the swell of her breasts, his balls and inkei pressing heavily into her, trapped as she held him tightly, quivering with lust. Her tail wrapped closely around one muscular calf as she leaned back a little, small strong hands over his hips as she tucked her tongue under his flaccid shaft and lifted it into her mouth…
He gasped and instinctively thrust forwards, almost immediately erect - then gripped her mane with both hands.
And dragged her upright, pressed to his warm wet body on the narrow platform of rock. Startled, her arms wrapped around his waist, reaching for his tail, his erection hard against her belly…
"Cadet!"
He was snarling. She paused, suddenly nervous, and looked up into his glowering face.
"Sir…?"
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Uh, well…. I… Sir?"
He stared down at her.
"How old are you, cadet?"
She licked her lips nervously - he knew perfectly well how old she was.
"Um, fourteen, sir."
"Want to live to see fifteen?"
Frightened, she nodded speechlessly. He scowled into her face.
"I do not fraternise with cadets."
There was a fraught pause as Kyuri wondered what sort of punishment he'd mete out, then…
He smirked.
"Come back when you've made officer."
As her eyes widened with startled relief he pushed her backwards into the pool. Spluttering, she resurfaced seconds later to see him resume his previous position, spreadeagled against the rock under the flowing water. Subdued, thankful to have escaped so easily, and very, very frustrated, she swam to the bank and lay on a sunssplashed boulder to dry.
A few minutes later Radittsu joined her, lying on his stomach, his mane over one shoulder, thighs spread as he stretched to soak up as much sunslight as he could. Kyuri knelt up and bowed her head.
"Sir… I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For - making assumptions. Acting without fully exploring the situation. Not taking into account others' reactions."
His head on his arms, he glanced up at her.
"And what have you learned?"
"To think before I act."
He smirked.
"Good."
His eyes closed. She watched him for a moment, pouting, then burst out,
"But honestly, sir, do you have any idea how difficult you make it? You're so… so…"
"So I have been told. That's no excuse. You should be able to control your hormones by now: you're not in heat."
She slumped, muttering,
"Sorry sir. Won't happen again."
"No, it won't." It was almost a threat. He paused for a moment, then added,
"Do you want to make amends for your insubordination?"
She regarded him hesitantly, biting her lip.
"Uh, yes sir - I guess…"
He shifted slightly, relaxing further.
"Rub my back."
"…what…?"
"Sit on me and rub my back. Sawagi is hard on the back and shoulders: I'm aching."
Blinking, she tentatively slid onto the powerful body, straddling his lower back above his tail, and began to knead…
Half an hour later, her arms aching ferociously, he sighed deeply and murmured,
"That's enough. Good job, cadet."
Thankfully, shaking her numb hands to try and restore some feeling, she moved to sit beside him, resting her chin on her upraised knees. For a few minutes there was silence, then she turned to him, frowning slightly.
"Sir, were you serious? About coming back when I've made officer?"
He chuckled almost soundlessly.
"Single-minded, aren't you?"
"About some things, sir…"
He smirked up at her.
"You'll just have to wait and see, won't you."
And with that she had to be content.
A little later Radittsu stretched and rolled over: she allowed herself one last, sweeping, closed-mouth gape before averting her eyes. He pulled himself up to sit on the warm white rock, slid into the skimpy briefs and frowned at the sky.
"Time to get back."
Her heart sank at he thought of struggling through all that undergrowth again - but he grinned.
"We fly back."
"We do?"
He inclined his head.
"Well, I normally fly as far as the beach and then run. But," his stomach growled: a second later so did Kyuri's, "it's later than usual, and Hijau should have food ready by now. We'll fly."
She was silently grateful, feeling herself forgiven. He'd kept his speed down to one that she could - just - maintain.
Hijau grinned as they landed. There were still two spitfuls of fish smoking gently over the fire.
"Had fun?"
Radittsu smirked, his eyes twinkling.
"It was interesting."
"And very instructive, sir." Kyuri nodded gravely.
Hijau chuckled.
"Had trouble keeping up, did you? Don't worry - most do. Help yourself to fish."
Kyuri gratefully pulled one from the spit, bolting it down almost too quickly to taste. Hijau threw one to Radittsu and grabbed a smaller one for himself, then both males sat at ease as they ate…
Kyuri watched them, frowning very slightly. They did sit close together, and Hijau was very attentive to his superior. And the younger male was an officer….
She shrugged. So she had some competition. So what else was new?
They trained, almost playfully, for the rest of the day, sparring in pairs on the warm white sand, wading into the sea when they needed to cool down, picking at the remains of the fish when they felt hungry. Towards evening Radittsu headed inland, arriving back an hour later with one of the region's massively horned and tusked wild pigs over his shoulder. They filled their bellies with the raw meat, spitting the rest over the embers to cook slowly ready for the following morning, a last feast before they returned to the city tomorrow afternoon for the rest of their down-time.
Not that any of the cadets wanted to leave - but the two officers had decided and no-one was prepared to argue.
Something had been puzzling Kyuri all day, and she managed to catch Radittsu alone for just a minute before he took first watch and the rest all settled down for the night. She saluted smartly, then frowned.
"Sir, I still don't quite understand… The pool, all that undergrowth… Why did we do it the hard way?"
He smiled.
"Because, cadet, sometimes the best way to appreciate something is to have to fight to get it."
And later, as she drifted into sleep, she wondered if that had been a hint…
© 2002 January 31st Joules Taylor
