Hungry Heart - Book #3 - Ch. 13

Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three / Chapter Four / Chapter Five / Chapter Six / Chapter Seven / Chapter Eight / Chapter Nine / Chapter Ten / Chapter Eleven / Chapter Twelve 

Chapter Thirteen – Choices

Maybe he should have known better than to provoke his fierce kitty, Varg thought, as his breath caught in his chest. It was true that on very rare occasions he found himself in this sort of position, but it didn’t mean that he believed it to be less pleasurable. Only lately, with Claw, he had rediscovered that part of himself, and Toru wanting him like this brought a surprising warmth to the center of his chest, and also tiny shivers of desire climbing up his spine and making him tremble all over.

Claw was an attentive lover, while also strong and demanding. However, his touch was tender, gentle, and slow, and he offered the finesse that came with a life of having participated in such encounters on many occasions. In complete contrast to all that stood Toru, who was volcanic, torrid, and sweet, all at the same time. While the hot appendage in his behind moved with relentless desire, Varg was happy to feel Toru glued to him and hear him whisper tender words of love.

“I thought you would only allow Claw to do this to you,” Toru said while his breathing became deeper and labored. “I  thought I was someone too young for you.”

“Too young? I’d say, if the thing you’re spearing me through with is any indication, that you’re as far as you can be from that. You’re a man, kitty, no matter how much I tease you,” Varg replied.

Toru wrapped his arms around Varg’s chest, holding on tightly. “Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of having you like this?”

“Then maybe you should have approached me sooner.” Varg was deeply moved by how easy it was for Toru to admit such things. They were so close to one another all of the time, it was unfair to allow unnecessary obstacles between them.

“I love Duril, and I love you,” Toru admitted. “And I know that Claw loves you, too, and because of that, I love him, too. Is it really all right? For me, to want all of you?”

Varg laughed as much as he was able to while Toru was increasing the rhythm of his hips, moving in and out of him with the grace that defined him as a young tigershifter. “You’re one of a kind, Toru. You are destined for great things. Having more than just one lover feels like a small reward for everything you’re giving to your destiny.”

Toru let out a small gasp. So far, he had seemed determined to keep his breathing steady and his passion bridled, but Varg’s words appeared to reach him and give him just the inspiration needed to make him move faster and faster. Varg realized at that very moment he had come to love that sweet surrender, and it was even more precious because it came from Toru. He had always admired Toru’s manhood, thick and long and apt for lovemaking, but now that he was experiencing it firsthand, he understood that he would demand this pleasure from his lover again and again.

He shouted as he spilled himself into the river waters. Not far from them, Beast was growling his own release, mumbling words of praise to his lover. Willow’s back was covered by a sheen of sweat that made his skin glisten in the sun. Varg shuddered as the last ebbs of pleasure coursed through him. Too bad he couldn’t become hard again so fast because watching Willow pinning Beast down so firmly was making all his senses tingle.

Toru slowed down. “You got your pleasure, mutt?” he teased Varg.

“Don’t you dare laugh at me, kitty,” Varg growled. “I’d say you were too good, but maybe I’ll keep my mouth shut seeing how full of yourself you already are.”

Toru snickered. He caressed Varg’s belly and brushed his hand over his spent manhood. “You are full of me, though.”

“I cannot believe what a brat you can be,” Varg declared but he didn’t mind it when Toru began to move inside him once more. “And I bet you would have had no trouble spilling your seed already if it were Duril instead of me.”

“That’s not true,” Toru denied right away. “I like you just as much. But I just want to tease you more, because you always do that to me.”

There was no point in denying it; Varg had to agree. Nonetheless, now he wished that Toru would just start moving faster and give him pleasure again. His own manhood was jutting up proudly, a sign that he didn’t need as much time as he thought to be up for the challenge.

Toru seemed bent on showing him that he meant every word he said. His movements became ampler, and each time Varg sensed him plunging deep inside, he shivered and moaned in ecstasy.

“That’s music to our ears,” Claw called from the side. “I don’t remember if I ever made you moan like that. Toru is making me feel jealous.”

The bearshifter held Duril in his arms from behind, and they appeared to be still in a sort of a courtship phase, because the healer was averting his eyes and blushing while Claw was whispering something to him now.

“I’d let Toru take you, too, just so that you can see that no one can resist him, but I plan on making sure that he cannot move a limb after we’re done here,” Varg replied in the same teasing tone.

To his surprise, Toru let out a small gasp. “Do you think I could take the big strong bear?”

It was so delightful to hear innocent wonder in the young shifter’s voice even after so much lovemaking. Varg had never doubted that Toru must have had plenty of lovers before them, and the innocence and joy of his companion, friend and lover touched him in ways that other things could not.

“I think you could take over the world if you put your mind to it, let alone that flea bag,” Varg said.

“I cannot believe he is still yapping his mouth when he should get busy moaning his pleasure while getting impaled by that glorious thing,” Claw commented. “Duril, what do you say we make sure Varg doesn’t have the gall to talk back?”

“How should we do that?” Duril asked.

Varg was quite sure that he didn’t particularly like the way Claw smirked while taking Duril by the shoulder and guiding him toward them.

***

Duril didn’t think he would ever feel embarrassed again in his life, not after traveling with Varg and Toru, and he believed that their lovemaking was already adventurous and exciting as it was. However, the hushed words whispered in his ear by Claw did nothing for his nerves. His own manhood was stiff, a clear sign that even if he believed the naughty bearshifter’s suggestions to be a touch too daring, even for them, he was still very aroused although it seemed nothing to the naughty bearshifter.

He wondered if Varg would be all right with it. After all, they were going to demand a lot from him, strong, valiant shifter though he was. Duril couldn’t quite wrap his head around asking such a man to assume a submissive position, even if it was for pleasure. Nonetheless, Claw seemed to have no such qualms, so Duril went along.

His eyes grew wide when Claw grabbed his member and looked him in the eyes. “Has Varg ever offered to pleasure you like this, Duril?”

The hand on his manhood was rough and firm but pleasant. Duril lost his ability to speak for a couple of moments. The only thing that registered was how excruciatingly slow the movement up and down his shaft was. He would soon lose his mind over the not-so-veiled question on Claw’s tongue.

He didn’t have time to answer because Varg took his member from Claw’s hand and guided it to his lips.

“Varg is very good at that,” Toru said, his breathing deep and uneven. Duril had always admired the young tigershifter’s staying power, and he could tell that Varg was already enjoying it to the extreme.

All the ability to think was taken away from him by Varg’s hot tongue moving from the base of his shaft to the tip. Claw held him close, grounding him with his strong hands on his shoulders, so Duril tilted his head back and let out a soft moan of pure pleasure. “What about you?” he whispered.

“You three have been together for so long. It’s a sight for sore eyes to see you all together, enjoying yourselves like this,” Claw replied.

Duril didn’t know if the fresh air of The Quiet Woods was to blame, but he immediately felt a naughty part of him coming out to play. He too grabbed Claw’s manhood, darker and thicker than any he had seen in his life. “Maybe Varg would like to taste you, too,” he said softly.

Varg laughed and grabbed Claw’s member, as well. “Now, all I ask of you is to stay still because between you two and Toru, any wrong move and I’m going to lose my footing.”

Duril bit his lower lip and tried to keep his gasps of pleasure in, afraid that he might make those present change their opinion of him. But he couldn’t help watching Varg move between him and Claw, pleasuring them with his tongue and mouth.

It was more than he could hope for, yet he knew that Varg wanted the same thing, to keep Claw with them, and demonstrate that the bearshifter, too, could be part of the group.

“Have you ever witnessed a naughtier group of people?” Willow’s playful voice teased them from afar. “We’ll leave you to your pleasures,” he added, and Duril could tell, without looking, that the two bearshifters were getting out of the water and going about their business.

That left them alone, there in the moving waters of the river, and Duril felt a deeper sense of bonding with his lovers than ever before. Claw held him by the waist now and time and again, he nuzzled his neck and stole a lingering kiss.

“Isn’t Duril the sweetest?” Toru asked proudly.

Duril raised his eyes to meet Toru’s. He had half worried that the young tiger might get jealous of seeing him in another man’s arms, but Toru had grown a lot more trusting. Duril was thankful, but he needed to express his gratitude for it just as much. He reached for Toru and pulled him into a kiss. Varg wrapped his mouth around his manhood at that very moment, and he could no longer keep his ecstasy from bursting down the wolfshifter’s throat.

He continued to kiss Toru as the rush of his passion faded, feeling the other tense and shiver.

“I will give Varg my seed, too,” Toru whispered as he let go of Duril’s mouth.

“All of you should give me your seed,” Varg challenged them in a ragged voice.

Duril looked down, amazed by seeing Claw’s dark organ disappearing between Varg’s lips over and over. He caught hold of Claw’s chest and squeezed a nipple hard, eliciting a soft hiss from the bearshifter’s lips. Soon, they were all filling the sweet air with a mix of soft moans, groans, and loud shouts.

***

Toru lay on the grass, wonderfully spent and happy. He had yet to bother to put any clothes on, and, truth be told, he didn’t even think that he wanted to wear any ever again. This forest had to be magical indeed if someone as strong as Varg could take three men and turn them into quivering messes so easily.

“What are you grinning about, kitty?” Varg teased his nose with the long stem of a flower.

Toru brushed it away and sneezed. “You took all three of us,” he said. “But you’re so strong.”

Varg rolled on top of him. “And? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re heavy,” Toru complained, but in all truth, he didn’t mind it at all. Varg’s skin was hot from the sun and pleasant on his. “I didn’t know you could be like that, too.”

“Why act so surprised? After all, you told me how much you wanted me. And it’s not like before you and Claw, I’d never been with others like that.”

Toru looked into Varg’s dark eyes. “You had? But how could they leave you once they knew?”

It was Varg’s turn to be surprised. “Once they knew what?”

“That you can give them everything,” Toru said. How could Varg not see it, the value of his gift?

Varg sighed and let his head rest in the crook of Toru’s shoulder. “I suppose that it wasn’t their destiny to see it. I must have been waiting for you all along.”

“So, you do believe in destiny?” Toru asked. He had so many questions, still.

“I do because mine is for me to be with you and Duril.”

“And Claw? Don’t you believe that he is meant to be with us, too?”

Claw and Duril were also sunbathing, not far from them. After their lovemaking in the river, they had all been so satisfied that they chose to nap right there, by the riverside. However, they seemed to be asleep, so chances were that they couldn’t overhear their conversation.

“I do, but it is his choice, after all,” Varg said. “I’ve hinted about his coming with us, but I don’t want to pressure him.”

“Will we leave soon?” Toru asked. At times, he preferred to believe less in destiny if it meant only fighting evil in one place or another. Right now, as he lay there with Varg’s delicious weight on top of him, the sun in the sky casting its warm rays over them, the forest around them a heaven for creatures of all sizes, he wanted to believe that the world was a safe place and not in need of saving, as every dark, ancient prophecy pointed out to him.

“Would you like to spend more time here, getting fat and making love from dawn till dusk?” Varg teased him.

Toru knew the answer to that one, the correct one, but he still bristled. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting that.”

Varg straightened up enough so they could look each other in the eyes. “No, there’s not,” he said quietly. “But do you really think, Toru, that if we close our eyes and pretend not to see, the evil we’re fighting would just go away? Maybe we don’t need to leave this place. But what if, one day, the evil reaches here? The Vranne saplings came here brought by the wind. They weren’t even evil, and yet, because of them, the wind spirit Shearah almost killed the forest.”

“Don’t talk like Elidias and Agatha, or even that old oak Amarant,” Toru protested. “If you want to teach me something important, how about you just say it?”

Varg caressed his cheek until the tigershifter seemd appeased. “I will. The evil that lurks under the surface, no one can tell when it will choose to come to light. And even those with no dark intentions in their souls can fall prey to it. It is our duty to follow you on the road to defeating it and purging the world of it. I know that the burden may feel like too much at times. That is why you have us. We will always be with you, Toru, and we will walk with you to the end of the world and beyond if that’s needed. Never doubt us. But never doubt yourself either.”

Toru blinked a couple of times to stop the itching sensation at the inner corners of his eyes. “I am strong,” he said slowly.

Varg continued to caress him. “I know. Why did you think I bent for you so easily? I don’t do it for just anyone.”

Toru felt his chest swelling with pride. “Then that means that you believe in me?”

“Should I offer my ass again just so that you believe me when I say it?” Varg asked. “You know me better than that, kitty.”

Toru wrapped his arms around Varg and sighed in contentment. “I know you. And Duril, too. For you I’d go anywhere and fight any evil.”

“That’s good to know, kitty, that’s good to know.” Varg’s words floated to him as if from a far distance as sleep took him in its gentle arms.

***

They were sharing a meal, and Claw had chosen to sit by his side. Varg nodded at him and scooted over to make enough room. Meals were a very social thing here, at The Quiet Woods, and they reminded Varg of his pack. It wasn’t an easy feeling, to remember them, the way they had been, his brothers and sisters. He had a new tribe now, the traveling kind, but he still thought of them.

“I heard what you told Toru,” Claw said in a serious voice. “You are a wise one, Varg.”

“Thank you. But why so serious? You’re among your people,” Varg said and gestured around. “I feel like I’m monopolizing you when everyone else would like to spend more time with you.” He had noticed a few envious looks thrown their way especially from the young shifters of the forest. Claw had a commanding presence and good looks. Varg would bet the fur on his back that a lot of those present hoped to have a chance with the handsome bear. Clearly, he, along with Duril and Toru, were the only ones stopping them from making a move.

“I am, but when I say that I heard what you told Toru, I’m not talking only about how you encouraged him to embrace his destiny.”

“Ah,” Varg murmured noncommittally. He waited for Claw to continue. He had said the truth about not wanting to pressure the bearshifter into tagging along. They only had a world of pain and suffering to offer. Or maybe they had to offer a lot more than just that, but the most important question was whether what hung in the balance was enough to justify the bad.

“You want me with you.”

“Yes,” Varg replied. “But you belong here.” He gestured around, at the many happy faces that surrounded them. “I understand if you choose to stay. You’ve been without them for so long, and they are so thrilled that you are here. Willow and Beast, and not only them, they missed you.”

“Yes, I know that. I talked to them at length last night. And even though Willow threatened to make me swallow a panhandle, and Beast growled something I didn’t quite understand, in the end, they understood.”

Varg held his breath for a moment. “They understood what?”

Claw let out a fake groan. “Puppy, I swear. I wish you had made a little more of a show about how much you want me to come with you. So far, you’ve only made a case for the friends I have here, as if I didn’t have friends in you, Toru, and Duril, too.”

Varg grinned and put down his plate. He used both arms to pull Claw into a rough hug. “Are you saying that you’re coming with us?”

“It’s not every day I’m offered the chance to play a part in saving the world. Even if it’s going to be a small contribution, I don’t mind having the bragging rights,” Claw said and hugged him back. “And the people here, they won’t go anywhere, I know them.”

“Who knows?” Varg said and laughed. “One day, you chose to leave it all behind in favor of a life of adventure.”

“Yes, but there’s no one else like me,” Claw pointed out. “Especially here, at The Quiet Woods. I can be quite boisterous and loud. Not quiet at all.” He wiggled his eyebrows comically.

Varg shook his head and chuckled. “I’m sure that’s enough to make you unfit for your place of birth. And I still don’t understand this thing about them being quiet. Everyone here is pretty loud. And boisterous, just like you,” he teased the bearshifter.

“That might be something you’ll have to ask them about. Only I won’t let you because I don’t want you to seduce any other shifters around. One representative for one place on the map, I’d say. I’m the one from The Quiet Woods.”

“And Shroudharbor,” Varg reminded him. “Let’s not forget that’s where we picked you up, flea bag.”

“And oh, how happy I am that you did. But I’m serious about you not spending too much time around here, as some might just be bent on stealing you.”

Varg quirked an eyebrow and then looked around. “I think you’ve got it all wrong, flea bag. These people all want you as their partner. They must believe that you are on the path to become their king.”

Claw snorted. “You can be so blind at times. I heard them whispering about you. Some rather unsettling things, even.”

“Unsettling? Such as?”

Claw leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Such as some young fillies talking about how they wouldn’t mind your strong seed in their wombs.”

Varg gulped and looked around. A group of young female shifters were whispering among themselves and, when his eyes came to rest on them, they stopped their chatter and burst into laughter.

“Oh, I see,” he said slowly. “I’m afraid I would be a terrible disappointment, then.”

Claw chuckled. “You don’t know how determined the shifter tribes can be around here.”

“But they’re not wolves,” Varg tried to argue.

“No, but trust me, that hasn’t stopped them before.”

“Really? But I thought no one visited here.”

Claw squeezed the back of his neck and laughed. “You are so easy to tease. But don’t worry. If anyone makes an attempt on your innocence, I’ll be sure to keep them away. After all, you belong to me.”

Varg grunted and took a long sip from his wine cup. “Thank goodness for that.”

***

Duril allowed Toru to examine the silver flower on the side of his chest. The tigershifter traced the shape with his fingers, without saying anything. “Are you going to be able to talk to other things? Maybe like the water? Or the mountains?” Toru asked in an excited voice.

“I don’t know. At this point, I don’t dare even think I can foresee what’s going to happen in the near future. Do you realize, Toru, that after we left Whitekeep, we all turned into our better selves? Never before would I have thought I’d become a speaker to the trees, let alone the wind.”

“That will come in handy, I bet. I mean, the wind can carry whispers to us from all over the world.”

Duril nodded. “I didn’t even think of that, but you’re right. That means that we might not have to feel left in the dark when things happen beyond our reach.”

“It’s like having messengers everywhere that can let us know when the evil we’re chasing appears.”

“Are you eager for another battle?”

Toru fell pensive for a while. “It’s manifesting all over the place, right? And we beat it every time, at Fairside, and Shroudharbor, and The Great Barren. But it’s not like it has disappeared. We just chased it away. What do you think that means, Duril? What if I never get to grab it by its tail, or whatever it has that it can be grabbed by?”

“I don’t think that’s it,” Duril offered his honest opinion. “If this is your destiny, and I believe it is, then that means that you will have to confront it face to face at some point. It is possible that each time you defeated it in all of those places, even at Whitekeep, when you went against those rocs, you cornered it, made it flee to other places. The world is not endless. Sooner or later, this evil you’re going up against will end up with no place left to run to.”

“You might be right,” Toru admitted. “Only that it is not only I who defeated it, but you, too. And Varg. And now, Claw, as well.”

“Yes, we have quite the tribe,” Duril said. “And Varg is so happy that Claw has decided to come with us.”

“Yes, so happy that it makes me think that he might like Claw more than us,” Toru confessed in a quiet voice while his eyes darted around to see if there were any eavesdroppers about.

“What makes you think that?” Duril knew better than to contradict Toru directly.

“You know, they are always teasing each other. Whoever Varg teases the most must be his favorite.”

“Just don’t let Varg hear you talk like that. You might end up having to fight him with a stick. As for teasing, he might then tease you so much that you’d regret that you opened your mouth.”

Toru seemed to consider his words. “I guess you’re right. I won’t say a thing. And I’ll have fun when Varg teases Claw and gets teased back.”

“That’s a very good plan,” Duril agreed. “Now let’s go and meet Shearah. She told me there was something she wanted to share with all of us.”

“Is it about where we’re going to head next?” Toru asked. “Does she know where we have to go?”

“No, not exactly, but she knows more about what lies north and south of here, and we will have to make a choice.”

“I see,” Toru agreed. “You don’t even have to talk to the wind so much, Duril, see? Shearah is already like a tiny messenger that can tell you about other places.”

“I guess she is, but let’s not call her tiny to her face. I have a feeling that she wasn’t particularly fond of being turned into a bug.”

Toru snickered. “But she was a bug. Even a cute bug, and if I tell her that, she might like it.”

“Try it at your own risk,” Duril advised him, but a small smile was tugging at his lips already.

***

Toru was glad to meet Varg and Claw on their way to see Shearah. Every witch on the face of Eawirith seemed to prefer seclusion, and the one from The Quiet Woods was no different. They had to walk through a good part of the forest to reach her house, made inside the trunk of an old tree. Toru wanted to draw the others’ attention to that particular detail and say something about how the wind spirit couldn’t be gone forever from those parts, but then he remembered that the young witch was somehow a part of that, too.

Shearah sat on an overgrown root and was stirring a pot, all witch-like. Unlike Agatha who made only foul concoctions that smelled like a wild beast’s behind, the witch of The Quiet Woods appeared to have better sense when it came to her creations. From her pot, a pleasant herbal smell wafted to them, and Toru scrunched up his nose. As much as that thing didn’t smell like the weird parts of just as strange animals, he still didn’t want to try it.

“Come closer, travelers,” Shearah said lively. “I was just making tea. Would you like a cup?”

“Only if it’s necessary for you to tell us where we should go from here,” Toru said promptly.

Everyone laughed. Shearah joined them and shook her head. “No, it’s not necessary, and I won’t bother you with boiled leaves, fearless tiger.”

Duril graciously accepted a cup, and Varg and Claw did the same. Toru sat on the ground, his feet crossed with his arms around his knees and looked at Shearah. It was so strange to see her, all flesh and bones, and it was still a tough thing for Toru to wrap his head around the fact that she was so young. Was she less wise than Agatha because of that?

“I wish I could tell you what your next destination should be,” Shearah began. “But all I can tell you is what I know about the places you will find when you travel from here.”

“So, the choice is, ultimately, ours,” Varg pointed out.

“Yes,” Shearah confirmed. “I don’t believe that there’s a wrong or correct choice. This world belongs to you to explore and make it yours, so I’m only here to offer you my knowledge.”

“Tell us about these places,” Toru encouraged her. “We will be the ones to choose.” With so many friends by his side, he felt stronger and more confident about whatever would follow.

Shearah then began. “To the north, if you keep to the long road until it’s not a road anymore, you will find The Scarlet Peaks.”

“That place with the hermit?” Varg asked. “Claw knows a few things about it.”

“Everyone here knows,” Shearah confirmed. “And that hermit might have some important answers, as long as you ask the right questions.”

“How do we know what the right questions are?” Toru asked.

“That I cannot tell you. It is very cold there. You, shifters, won’t have trouble climbing the steep roads that will take you to the top, where the hermit lives. But Duril, you might have to get warmer clothes,” Shearah said.

“I am also an orc,” Duril replied. “My kin thrives in the cold nights of The Great Barren. I don’t believe that is a concern.”

“Very well. If you feel you already have questions to ask, you might as well go there first. However, I must warn you that the road is treacherous, and you might encounter many strange beasts along the way.”

“We’re not afraid of fighting,” Toru said again. “What other places could we go to from here?”

“There’s only one other that is as important. Scercendusa, the heart of Eawirith.”

Toru nodded as he heard the name of the place. “Is there a king living there? With a crown and a throne?”

“Eawirith is not an empire or a kingdom, but you will find plenty of people that like to believe Scercendusa is a seat of power. And there’s a man there, indeed, who rules over the place, and to whom many choose to go and ask difficult questions.”

“So, there are two old men who can answer our questions,” Toru said promptly.

“Yes,” Shearah confirmed. “This is your choice.”

TBC

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