The Hyperboreans (working title) Chapter 1 rough draft

Many ages ago, in the rocky foothills of ancient Aeolia, where on the plains below the titans fought the gods for dominion of the universe, a flat-roofed temple sat perched on top of a cliff. The air was hot and still, and as Chione the temple maiden climbed the ladder to the roof, her peplos dress clung to her body with sweat.

It was ironic that the day at the temple should be so stifling, as it was dedicated to Boreas, the winter god of the cold north wind. But he was also a god of horses, so even in this weather, horsemen, caretakers, and cavaliers were taking in their mares to be blessed during their mating season. Boreas must have been pleased with them (and the tales said that he was known to sire many himself), because Aeolia was renowned for having the finest horses and calvary in the Aegean.

But Choine had enough of the rites and heat and stink of horse-apples, and needed some air, so she excused herself to take care of the gardens and horse statue on the roof. But even here, the heat was miserable, and so was Choine.

It was not just the weather. And it wasn’t that she didn’t like to serve Boreas at the temple, far from it. She loved what she did. The trouble was, she didn’t love it in the same way as the priest and the other caretakers. They were pious as they ought to be, honoring and serving their god the best they could. So was Chione. But the others only worshiped Boreas; Chione, as she raised her hands and sang before the statue of Boreas, a winged man with icicles in his hair, LOVED Boreas.

That striking, wrathful look in his eye! His striding, powerful figure! The glorious eagle’s wings, which carried him across the clouds like Zeus himself! Even those stories about him and the horses, with him descending on herds of mares as a heavenly stallion, and seeding in them legendary steeds fit for kings and heroes, filled her own belly with a fluttering feeling and made the space between her legs hot with wanting. She could tell no one about this, and no man could ever compete with her god, and these things made her awfully lonely.

Men certainly tried, however; Choine was known as one of the most beautiful girls in the kingdom. Her hair was dark, wavy, and lustrous as the night sea. Her eyes were green as the fields. Her skin was a soft and golden bronze. Many men desired her and tried to court her, to tempt her away from her temple; aristocrats with their wealth, warriors with their strength, stable-hands with their plain vulgar lust. None were good enough. None could compare to her Boreas.

She sweltered on that roof, watering the flowers and burying the longing in work. Anything was better than staying down there with those leering peasants eyeing her up and down, while glorious face of Boreas reminded her of what she could never have.

Finally, she felt a slight breeze. She stood up from her watering, and when she checked to see if no one was looking, she turned to the north, undid the pins at both her shoulders, and let the top of her peplos drop down to her belt. She outstretched her arms and let the pitiful wind try to wick the sweat off her topless body. Beads of it dripped down her breasts, her arms, her shoulders, her back, her stomach. It was not enough. Her heart burned with frustration. Was nothing to satisfy her? Oh, to be cursed to be born mortal, on this pale and wretched earth, away from her beloved! Please, she thought, at least let me get a proper gust. Please...let HIM perhaps, see me, from the heavens. Let him take this heat and this pain away!

“Oh Lord Boreas,” she said to herself softly, “behold me, your faithful servant. See me, from the heavens, and be pleased. Come to me, and cool my body with your wind. Send your power, O Boreas, and wash over me in a mighty gale! Come to me! I long for you Boreas, lord of the north wind! Be near me, O Boreas! Come to me!”

A moment passed. And then, as if in answer to her prayer, Choine felt the breeze shift and blow southward. And then it began to pick up. Goosebumps tingled their way across her body, and she sighed with satisfaction. Finally, a cool breeze!

Then the wind picked up further. And then further. Her dress began to flap behind her in the wind, and the flowers rustled in their beds. The wind blew harder and harder. Choine’s hair flew wildly in the wind, and the water jar tipped over and spilled all over the roof. She felt some surprise, but also excitement. Her lord sent her a breeze this strong on her account? What could this mean?

Down below in the temple, the mares that were lined up before the statue began to stamp and snort. Some even reared up and whinnied, alarming everyone inside. Their handlers struggled to keep them under control. What had come over them?

A mighty gust sent Choine stumbling, shielding her eyes, and falling against the guard wall. Amidst the howling gale that threatened to blow her right off the roof, she thought she heard the beating of a great pair of wings.

As suddenly as it came, the wind died down. Choine lowered her arms and looked around. She saw no great bird or harpy. But she did see a man sitting on the edge of the roof wall, who was definitely not there before.

His beard and hair were black as night, and his eyes steady and gray as flint. He wore a huge fur cloak over his broad shoulders. He stared intently at Choine, who covered her breasts with her arm. For a moment, both were silent.

Choine broke the silence: “Who...who are you? How did you get up here?”

The man stood. He was tall, powerfully built, and moved with perfect poise. Not a bead of sweat ran down his brow, for all his wintry garb. In a voice as deep and cool as a glacier, he replied:

“I, girl? I am the wind that you seek.”

Choine fell on her face and groveled in awe and terror. She trembled on the ground, not daring to raise her eyes. She could not behold a god and live!

The stranger’s big voice continued:

“I have seen you, Choine, and have heard your prayers. Many feel my wind, and beg my mercy for when winter comes. Others feel my wind, and beg my blessing for their horses. But few, so very few, ask for my wind for themselves.”

Choine felt a strong but gentle hand on her arm. “Rise, faithful one, and be not afraid. Behold me, as I have beheld you.”

Choine carefully raised her head, and saw him. He was so...strong. And beautiful. His features were chiseled perfection, sharp and without blemish. She could see his great muscles straining against his winter clothes. Her heart began to beat faster, and a curious feeling began to run through her belly.

His cold eyes softened as he gazed down at her. “I...too, have sought the warmth of another. As you have sought my cold. I have chosen you, Choine. If you will have me.”

Choine stood slowly, with the help of his mighty hand, looking up into those longing gray eyes. She put a trembling hand on his chest.

“My...my lord…”

The stranger put his hand on her bare back and let a small smile crack his features.

“To you, dear one, I am simply Boreas.”

His hand slid slowly up her waist, and Choine felt an indescribable electric chill run through his fingertips onto her skin. Her breath hitched, goosebumps flared up all over her body, and her nipples stood on end, hard as glass. That same hand slid up to her breast. He cupped it for a moment, seeming to appreciate its fullness, softness, and warmth. His thumb played gently over her hard nipple back and forth as Choine sighed, feeling his rock-hard tricep.

Boreas pulled her in close, her naked belly touching his tunic. Choine wrapped her arms around his middle and got up on her tip toes. Their faces hovered close for a moment, a pair of half-lidded eyes meeting. Then their lips locked in a kiss. Another gust of wind blew over them as they embraced, with Choine’s body sheltered in Boreas’ billowing cloak. His hands ran all up and down her body, and her leg rose up alongside his. His touch brought her body to life, his cool and refreshing hands clashing with her her raging hot insides. Likewise, as her breasts pressed up against him and she ran her tongue inside his mouth, she felt a bulge rising up under his tunic near her groin. His hand grabbed one of her bottom cheeks and pulled her lower half against his. The bulge pressed between her legs, the erection growing harder, her pussy growing hot and tingling. Choine’s mind was beginning to go blank with sensation, kissing him wildly, savoring every bit of him and wanting more, more! She did not even notice that they were levitating 4 feet off the roof, buffeted by tearing winds.

She felt him undo the belt around her waist, and the rest of her dress fell away. She felt herself being laid gently down on her lord’s fur cloak. So soft, she fuzzily thought. She opened her eyes and saw Boreas, kneeling over her, naked, muscular, and glorious. A brief thought murmured through her head, how had he undressed so fast? It was a thought so insignificant it quickly fizzled, and she looked down, and saw that his penis was like a stallion’s.

She had never seen one before, except from statues. So much bigger than she imagined! She reached down and felt it, hot and firm. It swelled up under her touch, and she began to stroke it. His hand went down between her legs, and also felt something hot and firm. It was tiny, but every bit as vigorous. Choine keened as his hot and cold hand ran over the folds over her clitoris, up and down, round and round. Waves of wonderful feeling washed through her lower body, her heart pounded, her head filled with music and exploding stars, as the sensations built, and built, and BUILT, UNTIL--

Boreas stopped. Choine stopped too, bewildered, her hand full of a penis as hard and hot as bronze.

“Why...why did you stop…?”

“You must know before we go on, Choine,” his own breath a bit ragged, “it is no small thing for a god to love a mortal.”

“It’s fine, my lord!” Choine gasped. “Go on, please go on!”

“Do you desire me, dear one?”

“Yes! Oh, yes!”

“Do you accept a god’s love, and all that it may bring?”

“Yes, my love! I accept it! Please, don’t leave me like this! Give it all to me! Come on!”

She reached down and spread her pussy folds open. Her hole was red, hot, and dripping with wetness.

Boreas took hold of her knees, and gently spread her legs apart. Choine grasped the fur on the rug tightly in anticipation, breathing heavily. She felt the warm fleshy head of his penis brush her folds, then snake through them to the entrance of her womb. She felt two godly hands grasp her around the waist...then felt the hot, huge, hard, divine member…push...all...the way...in.

Choine’s mouth went agape, eyes wide, and she shuddered. Her god, her love, he was inside her! All the way to the hilt! It’s heat and hardness went far up into her belly. Its fit was perfect.

He began to slide it in and out, back and forth, like a battering ram on a city wall. Choine rhythmically gasped and moaned, one hand running through her lustrous hair, the other squeezing her own breast in time to the beat. She clamped her hot tunnel down on his thrusting spear, wanting to feel every inch of him. Faster and faster, harder and harder, the wind began to blow in another gale. Their breaths rose together, and their hair blew wildly around them. Boreas hoisted her hips up in the air, his mouth open and his face turning to heaven. Choine’s breasts shook, her mouth drooled, her toes curled, and once again, it felt like her whole body was about to sneeze.

“Boreas...I’m feeling something...ah...ah...AH...AH--!”

Her legs shot straight out, her body convulsed, and she cried out in ecstasy. Her insides slammed down on the divine manhood of Boreas, and he exploded inside her with a long groan. A final gust of wind knocked the horse statue on its side with a CLANG.

The wind finally died down as Boreas withdrew himself and gently lay her down on the furs. She lay there stunned, breasts rising and falling hard with her breath, eyes seeing nothing, full of a warm glowing feeling head to toe. His heavenly seed dripped out of her.

Suddenly, a shout from below. “CHOINE! Are you still up there, girl? What happened up there?”

Choine jolted back to life in a panic. She looked around. The man was gone. She was alone on the temple roof. Had it been a dream? She tried to gather her thoughts back together.

“It’s uh, fine Antigonos! The wind blew the statue over, I’ll put it back right now!”

“One of you go up and help her!” he shouted to someone.

“NO! It’s alright, I can get it myself, don’t come up!”

She saw her peplos was mercifully blown against the inside of the roof wall. She even found her belt and shoulder pins. She quickly got dressed again, looking around, confused. What happened here? HAD she drifted off and dreamt it all? No...the big fur cloak was still there, on the ground. She picked it up and hugged it close, full of wonder and apprehension. It was true...she had felt...the love of a god. Her god. Her Boreas.

She stashed the cloak behind some clay flower pots, and with a grunt, pushed the bronze horse statue back up into place. She looked up into its eyes, which too were the eyes of her god. She wondered what to do. Who could she tell about this? No one, obviously. Would he ever see him again? Who knows? He is the blowing winter wind, after all. The thought galled her. To finally know perfection, just as she wanted, and then never again? To be abandoned so soon by her love, with only an old bear pelt as a parting gift? Her eyes began to burn with tears.

“CHOINE!”

She wiped her eyes, then went back down the ladder.

A balding grey-haired man in a robe glared up at her as she descended.

“About time! What were doing up there so long? It was crazy down here, we could have used you!”

“Sorry, Antigonos.”

“The horses going mad, the wind blowing every thing over, and as all that was happening, the statue mechanism breaks down! Hylonome!” he shouted towards the statue. “How’s it coming?”

Choine could see what looked like a black horse kneeling on its front legs behind the statue, it’s head hidden from view. But she knew that equine body anywhere. A voice behind the statue called back, “That should do it!”. The horse got up on its front hoofs and stepped out, revealing it was not a horse at all: the upper half of a dark-skinned and muscular woman was attached to the horse’s body where the head should have been. Hylonome, the centaurine, wiped her brow with her arm. “Try it now.”

Antigonos shuffled over to the side of the statue, and stepped on a secret tile that depressed into the floor. Something under the floor clicked into place, and from the statues mouth a gust of wind blew out. Hylonome put her hands on her hips (or where her hips would have been), satisfied.

“See! It was the bellows seal, for sure. I added a bit of tar to the wax mix to see if that holds a little longer, but I’ve got to look into a more heat-resistant sealant while we’re in this ungodly heat!”

“Yes yes, you’ve done well for now. Give her the usual, Phoebe,” he groused to another maiden. She went to the pile of offerings in the corner and brought Hylonome a jug of farmer’s wine.

“Ah, that’s the stuff! To Boreas!” she raised the jug to the statue, then took a deep quaff straight from it. “Ahhhhh...” She looked down at Choine.

“Choine! How have you been? Say, you look a bit flushed there! Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Hylonome, it was just...very hot up there.”

“Oh, I bet! Hope ol’ Boreas sends some cooler winds our way soon. Is that harp playing guy still bothering you?”

“No Hylonome, not since you kicked him down that hill.”

“Girl I feel SO good about that, that guy was such a creep! Good! One of these days I know you’ll meet a man that isn’t just, completely disgusting, am I right? Say, if you got time, want to commiserate with this jug here? I wouldn’t share with anybody else!”

“Do you mind, Hylonome?” Antigonos cut in. “Choine is still on duty here! We still have to tally the offerings, apportion them, sweep the floors, we still have a lot to do! She has no time for your carousing!”

“Hey! Last time I checked she wasn’t your slave! Choine is free to speak for yourself, aren’t you, Choine?”

Choine hesitated for a second. Should she tell her? No, not yet.

“No no, it’s fine. I do have some things to finish up here. I can talk with you later?”

“Tch. Alright girl, but not too long, alright? Remember what I said about visiting me up in the hills sometime!” She clip-clopped around to go. “Sheesh, whatever the perks are about keeping up a place like this, I’ll never know!”

Antigone glowered after her as she trotted out the doors. “Uncouth savage…” he grumbled.

Choine, knowing full well what the perks were, quietly swept the floors and daydreamed about sensations both hot and cold, and high winds, and a tight embrace. When she took her share of the offerings when the day was done, she included a fur cloak with them. That night, she wrapped herself in it, hugged it tightly to her bare body, inhaled the scent of it deeply, and dreamed of the touch of a god.