Acceptance

The small fire danced telling stories in the shadows among the cave walls. A strong woman's blue eyes shimmered as she stared in deep thought. Her dark frizzy hair was kept together in a tight braid, but it, like rest of her, would never be completely contained. The night had been calm, but the nip of the air drew her to the flame. Licking at her bare body she paid no mind. Listening, hearing nothing but the crackling, and the hooting of a distant owl. She could feel something was coming, just on the horizon…change.

As the sun rose the next morning, she sat up out of the pelts that engulfed her and her partner. Without a glance in his direction, she scurried over to the dying embers. All the clothing of the clan hung from a makeshift rack of branches. There was just under thirty of them there within the walls. Hidden in the crevices of the large cavern they'd made their home here for the last few days. She dressed quickly, only noticing the presence in her shadow as she smoothed her top out.

"Mornin', Leida." He stood several steps away, but she could feel the heat radiating from him. Sparing a glance over at his tall, muscled features, her lips perked up into a lazy smile. Within the last few days, the animals had moved into a colder climate. This meant dressing happened faster in the morning.

"Gerard, today I need your strength at the wagon. That wheel keeps getting stuck as we get deeper in the mountains."

He held back getting dressed, as though letting her admire him. Closing the gap, he pulled a frayed hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. "Is something up? Do you sense anything?" He asked as he brushed past her, grabbing his garbs.

There was a reason he was her first choice for many things, he just understood her, "Maybe, I'm not sure." After a moment, she said, "I'm hoping by tonight we will be in another town and we can see if there are any replacements."

A small girl ran from further back in the cave, calling out her name, "Leida! Leida!"

The woman's gaze turned soft as she saw the younger one. Crouching down she snatched her up as she ran to her, nuzzling her, "Good Morning, Starla! How are you this morning?" Starla was someone Leida cared deeply for. Her parents had died during an Ogre raid a little over a year ago.

"Ivie said we will go soon!" She cuddled with an old stuffed tiger that had been acquired from a town. Another desolate town ravaged by some unknown force. Left to decay there for who knows how many years.

She made eye contact with Nelson and Ivie, the two who took her for the night. They joined us and the few others trickling in. Dante, a large man with a dark complexion, began bringing out large amounts of pelts. Everyone began collecting supplies. A small group of children began picking up sticks throughout the shallow woods. Thiri, Leida's second in command, stood bow in hand, closely watching them. Leida made sure everything was finished. She strapped a machete to her waist, a bow around her shoulders, and strung a bag to her belt that held a few small emergency items.

In the distance, her attention was brought sudden movement in the sky. Jerking her head over, she let herself focus on a lone barn owl gliding over onto another tree branch. Narrowing her eyes, forcing her mind away from the lone nocturnal animal. It perched, eyes fixing to hers. Paranoia seemed to be settling in, she looked back to her people.

The jobs were evened out amongst the crew. Women held a protector status, watching over everyone. No one protected family like the women, and they could only be classified as family. The men did the heavy lifting, and hunting. Childcare was for anyone who could be spared, a shared responsibility.

As the jobs finished, everyone began trickling over to the caravan, ready to go. There was a lot of travel to be done, but not a lot of daylight. As they drew more north the daytime grew shorter. "Everyone stay close. This is new territory, and we don't know what kind of ogres might be out there." Ogre, a term used in place of monster, but it had the same meaning. There were too many different kinds. The other animals grew new power for protection long ago. A lot of creatures were changed during the Immemorial Time. Not all of them, but the one's that had been were horribly maimed and almost too much to look at, let alone fight. As she readied her clan, she let her eyes flip up to the tree line. Nothing was there, she continued. "Just make sure your eyes are open and watching. Let's go," nodding, she turned, and they made their way out of the clearing.

The chill of the day kissed her uncovered face. With every step, the large group moved forward, cautiously, slowly. The mountains to the north felt like an unpassable barrier. Going through meant defending against any rock ogres that might be hiding there, going around could take days, and going over meant not only the threat of monsters, but also freezing and trudging through snow. There were already a few inches of it on the ground, surprising her as there wasn't more than a dusting at the campsite.

Without wind, the tracks of deer were, for the most part, undisturbed. There had been a good-sized group of them that they had been hunting and tracking for a little more than a month. With little hope of finding other animals, they trudged on. The plus of going North was the aspiration of larger game. By mid-afternoon, all hope seemed to disappear. The tracks went missing.

Leida stopped the caravan with a simple raise of a hand. The tracks just vanished. Something was very wrong. Kneeling over, she took in the last few hoof marks in the snow. Though it wasn't obvious, but there was some receding in the snow, as though it opened up and fell back. Stretching out her neck she began to take in the area, towards the trees, the river on the south sound. No one made a sound, waiting, listening.

The snow crunching from behind caused her ear to perk up. With quick recognition, Thiri crouched down beside her. Dark hair twisted down in a tight braided side pony. Her sharp almost black eyes met Leida's light eyes, speaking without words. Down at the ground, over the grounds again, before their gaze came together again. Something had happened. Something was happening. They nodded at each other, standing almost in unison. Bow in hand, Thiri gave a whistle, cueing to the group to backup.

As they settled into a tight circle, Leida searched at her feet. When she found a rock large enough, she made a chirping sound, calling Gerard to her. His steps were louder than Thiri's, but not many could ever be Thiri-quiet. Swiftly, she glided her hand over his back, feeling the tightness of his muscles before leaning him down, pointing at the rock. Closely, she watched him bend over to pick it up. walking over with him to the edge of the wide barrier. With a quick visual, she motioned what she needed from him, before taking a step back and pulling her weapon from her band.

Firmly, Gerard planted his feet flat with his legs spread in a wide squat. Leida spotted the mistake an instant too late as he tossed the small boulder onto the ground.

It made a soft thump sound as it made contact with the ground, and suddenly the whole ground opened up. A massive hairy spider, larger than the clearing, larger than the ancient elephant that roamed Africa many years ago, popped out of its underground den. The chain of events that happened after was too quick for the average human to follow.

There was an attempt to take a step back, but this land ogre took Gerard by the leg and began pulling him down. A fury like no other took over Leida's body as she jumped without thinking. The machete slammed through a joint of the closest leg she could reach, making it cry out and drop her mate. Without prompt, he shuffled as far from the scene that he could. An arrow shot through the air zipping right over her shoulder and into the center of the creatures many eyes.

At the same time, Leida shoved her hand into the emergency bag, pulling out miniature explosives. With a toss they rolled under the ogre. They made a quick explosion directly after the arrow made contact. The spider hissed and began pounding the ground as it reached out of its safety trying to charge at the closest one.

Leida jumped further back, "Get back!" Sparing only a glance at her party, she held up her large weapon, bracing for what was to come.

Its large monstrous leg came down, making her leap back before springing forward onto it, but was thrown off just as quickly. There was a lot of chaos surrounding her, but everything seemed to cut off as she saw the owl once again. Not sitting on a branch anymore, it nosedived right into the action. Dropping hard on the ground. Snow powered up, but even in the dusting she could see its form growing. When it stopped it was the equal in size to the ogre, arms grown thin and long, wings becoming long elongated blades that folded at its folded forearm. It was large in the chest, becoming tiny in the back, but still sitting on its talons.

In one swift motion, it reached into the crevasse, taking the beast from its hole. Leida watched wide-eyed, not sure what she was seeing. As the spider was pulled, a long slithering body was pulled out. The action was starting to see too close, as she backed up meeting everyone back at the wagon. Throwing it down before screeching down at the monster. In minutes this thing was buckled beneath the owl-like creature and in a single bite of its head, it lay motionless.

When the forest grew quiet it felt so unsettling.

Leida got up, feeling a pain in her side, but after a small wince, ignored it. Not letting her back turn away from the creature now in front of them, she ran over to Gerard. Pushing his hair from his face, she was grateful to him. He had to be in great pain, looking down at his leg, but he didn't even wince. She gave him a tight hug, "Dante! Get your kit!" Though she stood from him, to keep watch, she didn't go far.

While this was all happening, the new ogre stood over its kill. When it was certain of its death, it visually began to melt. Gradually, no monster was there anymore, as though it wanted to be nonthreatening, contorted into a man. A tall intimidating man stood there. His hair was long, blonde, falling over his large muscular shoulders. When he turned around his dark blue eyes seemed like two deep lakes that she could dive into. At the moment the handsome man glanced over. Everyone else seemed relieved, however, hers only darkened.

As the group settled, little by little everyone began spotting him and they all quieted. Surprise seemed to take them over. There were a few whispers, "Did that thing just…" and "Is it a man?" type of thing.

Finally, Thiri grabbed some garments, walking up to the stranger. Leida watched meticulously but did not move to get any closer. From the moment he transformed, their eyes had been locked. Every part of him that seemed mesmerizing, also seemed dangerous. She felt such a pull, as though a male siren called to her.

It wasn't until her second reached the stranger, he turned away. For the first moment, after being released from the spell, she noticed his undressed state. Her hand held tight at her chest, but she really couldn't remember putting it there. Without shame she looked over his body. Bulging muscles, from his shoulders down his pecks, abs, and delicious legs. Something felt wrong. This man just looked too perfect.

Thiri dropped a pair of boots on the ground, and with a slight bow and thank you he placed them on his feet. After he bundled up enough, she waved him forward to the group, to Leida. "This man has been traveling for a long time, looking for people."

"Why," The leader, though his pull softened, they were back to inspecting each other's faces, looking for any proof of falsehood.

"He said-" Thiri started but was quieted by a hand on her shoulder. She turned to him sharing a look that made Leida want to give off a possessive growl. Holding herself back, she saw a hint of a smile on his face.

"I've been to a city where humans can live at peace. Live without fear of these Ogres," he said with a wave of the hand.

"So, you left there to…what? Find humans to save them?" She wanted to send a knockout by asking him what he got out of this whole endeavor, but she didn't want her clan to realize anything was off.

His smile seemed so genuine as his eyes creased making the smile grow, "Yes." A simple answer, one that made her feel like pushing would perhaps be a little idiotic.

She changed tactics, "Thiri, did our new friend give you a name?"

With this question, he seemed to sparkle, "Friend? Thank you." The happiness seemed to radiate off him as though this was all he ever wanted. It seemed so innocent; it was hard to stay uneasy. "You can call me Xander, Leida, right?"

Stepping behind Leida, Thiri continued watching the scene, waiting to see if she will be needed. Welcoming a newcomer never happened. She felt a little put off that he knew her name already but didn't slow her interrogation. Being a strong second made Leida very appreciative as Thiri questioned him so freely, "Where? How far?"

There was a moment that he seemed a little put off, the connection between the two of them needing to be broken. He looked into the sky, thinking, "I would say its maybe two days walk from here. I can’t say for certain…I flew."

Ah, he said it. Thiri was reminded at that point as well, "Are you human?"

"Yes, I was. About a century ago, the world ended. That day, I was changed."

A hundred years ago? "You were there?" Leida asked incredulously.

"Yes, I was." He leaned forward, face closing into hers, inhaling her scent. "I could teach you and your people about it, if you'd like."

She held her ground, but breathing seemed more difficult, "We would all be curious. For now, we've been moving for a few hours and the cold is beginning to affect us. Is there a place close by we can stay for the night?"

There was a second where he seemed to borough deep into her pupils then he stood at his full height, "It's been a few days since I passed through here, but I believe there is an old town just past this forest. That should be sufficient."

Dante was beside her in the next moment, "He has lost a lot of blood."

"Is he ok to move?" Leida looked over her shoulder at him.

"Maybe, though not far."

Xander walked past them, looking down at Gerard. Holding his hand over Gerard's leg, steam began to radiate off of him. In an instant she jumped on him, telling him to stop, but just as quick, pulled his arm away. Below his leg looked closed up.

"What did you…" She looked down, and only when he turned to meet her eyes did, she realize she still lay over his shoulder. Amazed, but horrified, she jumped off him. Starring at the mystery man. Danger radiated from him, why was he there helping? Nothing was making any sense. He stepped away to allow others audience to the man on the ground, but she watched him. His hand looked burned, but it was only for an instant. Quickly, the human hand came back.

As they pulled from the clearing, she couldn’t block out the amount of blood. The ground as painted in dark crimson.

After a little over an hour, Leida stepped through the final line of trees, overlooking a strip of broken down metal and stone buildings. The ground had a thick layer of snow, but overgrowth was obvious through the different dead plants sticking out. Some of the buildings were mostly there, but others had every piece of glass broken out and decaying. It wasn’t rare to come across these cities, but it was pointless to scavenge around for anything. On a rare occasion one might see a family of dear hiding inside for shelter, that was about it.

Xander looked around swiftly and spotted a tall building up ahead with windows in it every few feet. “There, an apartment complex.”

The term was new, but the place would give a high view of the area. That was all she needed to bring the group through the unmarked snow. At the entrance she held her hand up, waving her hand to bring Thiri to her. “I’ll run up ahead. Trace back behind to verify we’re safe.”

She nodded, but a hand on her shoulder stopped any movement. “No, It’ll be much quicker if I go.” With a quick shift, there was a four-legged creature, brown with long ears and nose.

“A dog would help, but I can’t let you go alone. Two noses are better than one,” Leida said, trying to be funny while trying to hide her suspicion. With the look in the creature’s eyes, it was clear she was hiding nothing, but he ran in ahead of her anyway. With her recovered machete, she followed through the threshold listening and running as silently as possible. After, they paired off, and figured out their watch.

Gerard came to her, giving her a small twinge of guilt when she asked him to be with Thiri for the night. Always bedding together, it held heavy on her heart. The risk was too great to have anyone warming with the stranger. After a fire burned on the highest floor, away from all of her companion, was the moment she made her move.

As the fire crackled, Xander, leaned back on one of his palms, relaxing. “Night has to be the most beautiful time. The moon and stars…everything seems much larger and open under the night sky. Wouldn’t you say so? Leida?”

She turned from him without answering and began undressing, placing her clothing up to keep dry and warm next to the fire. He watches her closely. “When people get naked in front of you, do you normally just stare?” Leida asked, turning to look over her shoulder.

An eyebrow lifted, his look filling with need, “No, there’s usually a lot more than just watching happening.”

She gave him a smirk, “I suppose. We sleep in twos. Always naked, to keep warm. Body heat helps us stay that way.”

Before she even finishes her choppy explanation, he was slipping his borrowed clothes off. Stepping over he seemed to get closer to her than necessary as he flexed the clothing over the improvised rack. She felt her body gravitate in his direction. Two magnets, she forced herself to keep her distance, against her body’s wishes. As she struggled inside, he stripped himself of pants, smoothing them out to hang nicely.

Even being so close to the fire, his skin showed evidence of the cold. Refusing to look down, she quickly turned to face the fire. Though she had avoided looking at his full god-like body he tempted her by crouching beside her, lifting his hands to the flames. His knee next to hers give off more heat than the dancing blaze. Letting go of her politeness, she let herself turned to his naked form. It was as though she could not get enough of looking at him.

His hair trailed down to the top of his back, framing his face. The thought of sinking her face into it, feeling its softness was overwhelming. Down his thick neck and his broad shoulders, his pecks were hard as the rest of his body. Tight abs…as she got to his hips it was impossible to miss his size, larger than anyone else’s in the clan. Nudity was something no one could be embarrassed about in their culture, but even still there was nothing for him to be ashamed. Leida felt her cheeks flush, forcing her eyes away. There was no weapon hidden in him, at least not one normally used to kill. She knew the thoughts were only excuses.

“I think we need to move on,” He suggested, looking over to the bedding.

Stubbornly, she held her eyes down into the radiating dancing heat, as he crawled into the pelts first. When she was certain he was there, she turned. He lifted the whole bed open as she leaned over to it, showing her everything that was waiting for her. A feeling of exposure for herself was overwhelming as she crawled in, twisting to fit against his body.

“Do you sleep with a lot of strangers?” his hot breath warmed her ear as he whispered with a smirk.

She noticed almost immediately the way his body fit against hers. An arm over her waist kept her cuddled into him. Next thing, the heat began radiating all around them. She tried to hold as still as possible, but it only made it an inevitability. Her bottom rubbed against him and his thickness hardened.

“We don’t meet many strangers. You’re the first since I was a little girl.” As she felt him against her, reality seemed to be settling. Her breath began to thicken.

“I’m sorry. I don’t usually lay in a bed naked with unknown women. I can’t seem to control myself,” Xander sounded apologetic, but his form only got tighter against hers. Against her wishes, her body moved into his instinctually. Cheeks pressed against his manhood, making him moan.

An idea sparked within her. She twisted around to face him, already control felt like it was slipping as her nipples brushed his skin. Why her body kept reacting she couldn’t understand. There was no way she could let this suspicion slide.

Pressing harder against his chest, he gasped slightly, and both of them had to catch their breath. His eyes and hers connected, and the part of him in between his legs reacted. No part of him was ashamed, in fact a growl escaped him.

“Xander…” a husky voice left her. “Where are you from?”

His eyes almost rolled back, but he caught them, “If I don’t tell me, will I be punished?” Though he sounded serious, his eyes were hooded with desire. His voice ached for more of her touch.

Pushing him flat to the ground, she trailed her hands up his body, meeting his hands. She held them above his head. He nipped at her nipple setting off a chain reaction, bucking her hips that straddled his. His hard member rubbed against her center, making it grow wet, aching for more. It was her turn to release a cry.

Reeling back her control, she met his eyes. Through ragged breath asked, “Who are you?”

“Who do you want me to be?” he asked in a more purposely seductive voice. Below her wasn’t the golden god any more, but Gerard. She gasped, not sure if this gave her more or less excitement.

He pushed his manhood against her, begging for her. The gasp she made sound like a strangled cray, gulping for air. She centered her gaze onto his, no matter how hot she felt, she needed him to know how serious she was, “Not quite right…” Pushing back down at the waist for emphasis.

He groaned, a pleading look took over Gerard’s darker features. “Enough games,” Leida said sternly. “I know you were following us, for days, if not weeks. Who are you?!”

Her normal bedmate’s eyes widened. In an instant Xander was back below her. He still didn’t fight her hands, “You knew?” A chuckle poured out of him, “Of course you did.” The longing he had on his face was unlike any she had seen in anyone’s before. “I am Xander, Shape Shifter, Bounty Hunter.”

Leida’s features tensed.

“No, I wasn’t looking for any of you. I’m looking for a rogue.” He sighed relaxing under her firm body. “A few weeks ago, I was following the man’s scent. I was cut short by an assortment of smells. One in particular made me stop short. I followed it, even if it meant losing my lead.

“For several days, I tracked your clan. When I saw them…when I saw you for the first time, everything else just fell away.”

Incredulously, she stared down at him. Did he really expect her to fall for that? “I’m my people’s leader. They didn’t choose me because of my looks. So, you can see how I can’t believe you. Did you lie about the safe harbor?”

The burning desire returned to his eyes, “You are the most beautiful person in the realm.”

“Beauty? That means nothing. Any day that could fade, then what? Vanity is nothing.” She leaned over so their faces almost met and spoke in a hushed voice, “Now tell me, what do you really look like, tantalizing god?”

Something within him changed, he became deflated. He turned to look away, “I- I haven’t been that person since the day it happened. I…I can’t.”

“…Because of the alteration?” few were aware of what happened to humans after the fall, and not much really did, but there were a select few that were altered. Spiders became giant snake monsters…humans got certain special abilities. It was all great, but to get these powers there was one major downside. “If you want me to trust you, I have to see it.”

Crawling back off of his body, she sat by the flames. For a long moment he lay there mulling over what to do. Eventually, he sat up giving an anguish look. Taking his hand she met his eyes, “As I said and stand by, beauty is not important.”

His hand tightened around hers gently, meeting her eyes before, pulling her against him. It was quick. There was a small moment she tried to catch herself but he held tight to her hand, deepening the kiss by bringing his spare hand to the back of her head. Succumbing to her needs, she let her eyes slip close. His tongue ran against her lips which she opened for him willingly. With her free hand, she reached up, but before she could it was over.

He backed away from her, bowing down, letting his head hit the floor. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t risk…I-I just needed to do that once before…” Jolting his body up and away from her, he began to shake.

Unlike his other transformations, this one was instantaneous. It most likely wasn’t more than a few seconds, but it felt like hours, waiting, watching every inch of him shift. As she watched, she couldn’t hold back any of the horror. Her eyes grew larger with each change of his body…

First his limbs extended and became disjointed. One hand reached as long as his legs, giving another limb to walk with. The skin seemed to fall away revealing raw red burned leather all over his unrecognizable form. Boils began oozing a thick substance all over. Any parts of him that suggested his sex, were gone, almost like they were cauterized off. Through all of this, the worst part was the dark eyes that swallowed her. Slits, no lashes or hair anywhere, just dark emptiness staring deep into her soul. A sound came from it as though it was trying to speak, but got caught in its throat.

Leida stared at it, fear was all she could feel, but she held her ground. After another moment, Xander stood in front of her again. Her mouth was left agape, staring where the monster once stood.

He didn’t cry, just stood there, lips tightly pressed together waiting for her to send him away. They didn’t speak to each other. At first it was fine, but the once again handsome man couldn’t take the anxiety. “Just scream, run away! Take your people and leave!”

So much pain screaming out, waiting for nothing but rejection. How long has it been since he’s truly felt anyone’s love? Taking two steps forward she fell into him, letting her arms hold him. There was so much fear of what he was, she wasn’t sure she could accept all of him. “Thank you,” she said carefully, trying to hold the tears in.

The weight of what had happened, sat heavily on him. Taking in her scent, he let himself be comforted. She was all he wanted, whether she could look at his true form or not. She was strong and would love him as much as he loved her.

Though Leida couldn’t describe why, she felt something between her and Xander. It was as though they were meant to be together. “Can you tell me about the world before?” her words were soft. They held each other tight as they lay back down together in their bedding.

“Of course,” was all he said, starting off as though telling a fairy tale. “Once upon a time there was a world where humans and technology ruled…”