By Bernie

Mere hours had passed since Teneila had fooled Rath into thinking he had taken Karyn as a pleasure slave, and the party was leaving town at the break of dawn.  Karyn led as usual, on her strong mustel.  Jatz and Lynthia followed on their respective beasts, a run lizard and a mustel.  Slithe walked behind them, continuing to bow down low with his baggy hood, hiding his reptilian features from sight.  Teneila meanwhile hovered above the ground in the rear, trying to hide her concerns from the rest of the party.  She and Lynthia shared awkward glances from time to time but still neither had the courage to speak to each other.  The experience of being seduced on an astral level haunted Teneila in her sleep, but it was something she did not want to share with anyone.

Noticeably absent however, was Flinton.

"Karyn?" Jatz asked once the large city was far behind them.  "I asked you this before but you refused to answer.  But I must know, what happened to Flinton?"

The auburn-haired warrior turned with a smoldering look in her eyes.  "The thief had revealed his true colors and motivations." she replied.

Jatz merely nodded in acknowledgment, only wishing for Karyn to stop glaring at him like she was about to murder him.  When she finally turned away, the thief breathed a sigh of relief.

The party rode for almost a day, watching the dusty path become gravel and the vegetation becoming sparse.  A mountain in the distance began to creep closer, an increasing number of foothills gave the path a series of twists and turns.

"The next altar appears to be far ahead." Karyn suddenly said to the party as they weaved through a path's snake-like shape.  "Possibly high on that mountain." she pointed to the summit on the horizon.

A small town greeted the party as they journeyed through the hills.  Karyn halted everyone and told them, "It would be best if we rested for the night, and acquire some supplies."

The party rented several small rooms from the town's single inn.  Teneila and Jatz were sleeping in their respective beds while Karyn was awakened by a sound coming from outside.  She slowly peered out her window to see Lynthia and Slithe in the field behind the inn.  Karyn raised her eyes with curiosity and opened the window a crack, just so she could hear what they were saying.

Slithe fished a dagger he kept in his pouch and showed it to Lynthia.  Lynthia unsheathed her dagger and held it in a similar fashion, trying her best to copy Slithe's position.  The lizaroid stabbed forward with his arm, and awaited Lynthia to mimic his movement.  Lynthia did so with a gracefulness that Slithe lacked, impressing the lizaroid highly.

"Your progress is astounding.  You are a natural." Slithe commended.  "No doubt you will make a strong warrior."

"Thank you Slithe." Lynthia blushed as she continued to practice jabbing.

Slithe trained with Lynthia for almost three hours.  By the end of their session Lynthia was already twirling and tossing the knife like an expert, and her accuracy with her attacks was deadly.  Although she still made mistakes, Slithe; and Karyn from her room, were both highly impressed.

The lizaroid congratulated Lynthia in words Karyn could not make out exactly.  Afterward, Lynthia thank him with a slight bow and the lizaroid disappeared into the woods, presumably to sleep.  Lynthia walked back into the inn, her body panting and covered with sweat.

"Lynthia," Karyn greeted, the warrior was waiting for Lynthia in the lobby, "I had no idea you wished to learn to fight."

Lynthia was somewhat startled by Karyn's salutation, but quickly regained her composure.  "Yes, well, this quest has taught me I am not exactly invulnerable." Lynthia replied, not looking at Karyn.

"If you wished, I could have taught you." Karyn said.

"Is there a problem with Slithe?" Lynthia hastily spat.

"None at all, it is just that..." defended the auburn haired warrior.

"Karyn...just leave me be." Lynthia sighed.

Karyn slowly turned and walked away.  As she watched her former lover leave, Lynthia gripped the handle of her knife and angrily stabbed it into a small table.

***

The bright light of the sun overtook the darkness of night, and the crickets gave way to the birds to fill the air with noise.  Jatz, Teneila, Karyn, and Lynthia emerged from the inn; while Slithe emerged from the woods with a rustling of leaves.

"So, where do we go next?" Jatz asked.

Karyn took out her amulet and pointed it in several directions, until it guided her to the mountains looming ahead.  "It would appear we have to climb that mountain." she said, drawing sighs from the thief.

"We had best bring some parkas." Jatz remarked.

"I am cold-blooded." Slithe admitted.  "I cannot trek into the mountains with you.  I am sorry."

"Then, you shall stay here.  We will return." Karyn said.

***

The wind tore at the party like a vicious animal as they climbed up the gradually steepening path.  White surrounded them in all directions, even the sky was masked by the thick shower of snowflakes the wind tossed.  The four adventurers dragged heavy packs, filled with the minimum supplies they needed to survive in the frozen wastelands.

"Perhaps it was best that Flinton did not join us for this." Jatz whined as he stomped his way through the deep snow.  Teneila hovered slightly above the high snow, but the harsh winds and blowing snow were a nuisance she could not avoid.  Even with the party's thick overcoats and hoods, each of them visibly shivered from the conditions around them.  Except however, for Karyn.  Karyn felt the cold, but her mind was too determined, too preoccupied, to notice.  All her senses were focused on the movements of the amulet on her bosom.

"I am amazed you are able to divert your focus from the cold." Teneila complimented the warrior, who paid her no attention.  "Perhaps this is another sign of the god's relationship with you?" the magician tried, once again receiving no response.

"Karyn!  Karyn!!" Teneila yelled, waving her hands in front of the warrior's face.

"I apologize I have not responded to you." Karyn finally acknowledged with an exasperated tone.  "But now is not the time for idle banter."

"Perhaps you are not bothered by the cold because your soul can be so cold." Lynthia remarked.

"Do not start this now Lynthia." Karyn hushed before a soft rumbling in the distance silenced everyone.

"What is that sound?" Lynthia asked as she looked around warily.

The rumbling grew louder and soon the area around the party began to exhibit signs of seismic activity.  Everyone stood perfectly still, fear and cold paralyzing their bodies.  "AVALANCHE!!" Karyn finally screamed with realization, moments before a tidal wave of snow gushed over a hillside, right into the party.

Teneila clasped her hands together and began chanting, preparing for a spell, but the young magician was too panicked and the snow was coming too quickly.  Karyn, Lynthia and Jatz were swept away by the tidal wave of snow while Lynthia was able to fight it for just a brief moment with a flame spell, but soon her strength gave in and the magician disappeared beneath the white tide.

***

The sounds of falling snow finally subsided, and the whistling of winds once again took over to fill the air.  Lying perfectly still waas the newly settled avalanche, covering the mountainside in white like a painter's brush.  Everything had reverted to the way it had been before Karyn and her entourage had even ventured into the mountains; cold and lifeless.

An unknown amount of time had passed before the smooth surface of the snow; as well as the lack of activity, was broken by Jatz's hand.  The thief gasped as he desperately clawed his way out.  His entire body felt numb even beneath his heavy layers of clothing.  He was finally able to climb out and lie down on the snow's smooth surface, only to sink back down again due to the weight of his backpack.

An intense burst of flame erupted on the far side of the enormous snow deposit.  From the steaming hole that resulted came Teneila, who collapsed gently onto the partially iced surface her spell had created.  She panted and wheezed, wiping wet snow from her face and eyes.  The magician looked around, fear building within her when she found no one else in her sight.  A hole in the snow grabbed her attention, and she flew towards it.  Inside she saw Jatz lying on his back, his arms and legs moving helplessly like a turtle that had been knocked over.  Teneila reached in and pulled Jatz out, placing him gently on his feet atop the surface of the snow.

"Where is Karyn and Lynthia?" Jatz asked the magician.

"I do not know." Teneila replied as she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples gently.  "I am trying to use my power to focus on Karyn's amulet, it always gave off a powerful magic signal."

"And what of Lynthia?  What if Karyn is not with her?"

Teneila did not response to Jatz's inquiry.  Instead she excitedly exclaimed, "I have found her!" and immediately flew off to the side.  Jatz stumbled to catch up to her, his legs falling into the snow at about mid-thigh with every step.  Teneila used a strong flare spell to melt the snow where she sensed the magic signal, planning to clear a path when she abruptly stopped.

"Oh gods." Teneila gasped as she produced something from the partially cleared snow.

"What is it?" Jatz asked, the thief finally had reached Teneila's side.  The magician turned and showed him that she had found Karyn's amulet.

"Oh gods..." the thief muttered, "should we continue the search for them?"

"No, we must continue the quest." Teneila insisted.  "Even if they have departed this plane."

"You brush it off so lightly!" Jatz said harshly.

"Do you not think that it hurts me inside?!" Teneila screamed at Jatz, her eyes beginning to slowly ooze tears.  "But we must continue, for Karyn's sake.  For Lynthia's sake."

***

The sky was already darkening by the time Karyn burst free of the confining snow, diligently pulling herself out.  She looked around and saw no one, and nothing except an infinite valley of pure white.  It was then the warrior gasped harshly, she could not feel her amulet's vibrations.  She looked around her neck and her fears were confirmed, the amulet had fallen off.

A tiny speck caught the warrior's attention, lost in the sea of snow.  She dashed to it, the deep snow and harsh winds slowed her down but did not stop her.  When she got close she saw what they were, they were a pair of fingers reaching from beneath the surface.  Karyn spared no time in digging them out, retrieving the arm and using it to pull the body free.  The auburn-haired woman brushed away the snow that covered the body's face, which revealed it was Lynthia.

"Lynthia!  Lynthia!" Karyn gasped as she shook the young woman's still form.  Lynthia slowly moaned and fluttered her eyes open, much to Karyn's relief.

"Karyn..." Lynthia gasped softly.

"Nightfall is approaching.  Help me build a shelter!" Karyn yelled over the wail of the winds.

"My pack!  My pack is gone!" Lynthia yelled with panic.

"Just help me cut blocks out of this hardened snow!" Karyn snapped as brought out her sword.  She quickly dug the blade into the ground and made several rectangle shapes.  She then skewered them with her sword and brought them out, stacking them side by side.  Lynthia joined in, reaching into her jacket to bring out the knife Slithe had given her and using it to cut blocks in a similar fashion.

Soon, Karyn and Lynthia were sealing themselves in a makeshift dome they had constructed.  As Lynthia placed the final block, Karyn was digging into her backpack and brought out a misshapen sphere.

"Magic flame." Karyn explained as she cracked the sphere like an egg.  A clear ooze poured out and landed on the snow, igniting instantly upon contact.  "It will burn for about two hours.  At least we will be warm for a little while.  And it is too dark to travel so I suggest we sleep."

"I have no sleeping bag." Teneila said as she snuggled closer to the fire; and unintentionally, closer to Karyn.

"Well," Karyn said uneasily, "I know from my master's teachings that the best way to keep warm in a harsh environment like this, is to sleep naked with someone in a single sleeping bag."

"What?!" Lynthia barked.

"It is true." Karyn calmly insisted.  "We can share our body heat, and clothing would only cause us to perspire.  That trapped moisture would make us colder."

"Outrageous Karyn!  I refuse to sleep naked with you!"

"There was a time, not long ago, when you insisted on such a thing." Karyn remarked as she unrolled the sleeping bag.

Lynthia reacted suddenly by slapping Karyn across the face.  Karyn threw her fist back as a reflex but quickly eased it.  "There is no need for violence Lynthia.  Please.  That was dangerous.  I am trained to kill without hesitation."

Karyn's last remark sent a shiver of fear up Lynthia's spine, causing the blonde woman sat still, hugging her knees against her torso as Karyn began to quickly undress.  She tossed off her parka and mittens, throwing them in a corner of the shelter.  She quickly climbed into the thick sleeping bag where she visibly shuffled beneath its cover to shrug out of her pants, boots, and tunic.  The warrior quickly tossed the items out before closing the sleeping bag tightly around her.  Karyn looked at Lynthia with concern, tempted to urge the former queen into the sleeping bag with her but afraid to do so, knowing it would be awkward for both of them.

"This is only for survival." Lynthia suddenly announced as she stood up and took off her thick overcoat.  "Just let my back face you Karyn."

The blonde girl quickly discarded her garment and climbed into the awaiting sleeping bag.  Inside, she reluctantly took off her boots, pants and shirt.  Karyn quickly opened the bag to allow Lynthia to toss away her clothes before resealing it over them.

"How does that feel Lynthia?" asked Karyn, lying sideways behind Lynthia.

"I admit, I feel a little bit warm.  However, do not touch me more than necessary Karyn." Lynthia ordered.  Lynthia wrapped her arms around her breasts and closed her thighs firmly together.

The quiet atmosphere inside the shelter was horrible, only the crackling of the fire and the whistling of the winds outside prevented total silence.  But they only provided a reminder of how dreadfully cold it was outside.  Those were thoughts that Lynthia and Karyn wanted to avoid.  Talking to one another, was something neither woman found desirable either.  Their emotions for each other were strong but conflicting, preventing words of any sort from escaping their mouths.  Finally, Lynthia snapped as the goosebumps on her flesh began to tingle with cold and the sensation of Karyn's touch.

"Karyn, why...how could you do it?" she asked her former lover.

"You mean allow Slithe to ravage my body?" Karyn asked nonchalantly.

"Yes." replied Lynthia calmly, the memory of the lizaroid's rape still fresh in her mind.  Despite having learned to trust the lizaroid since then, Lynthia was still haunted by that memory.

"I am sorry that he raped you.  It is why I told you to not follow me."

"I...I do not understand Karyn, how can you just, so wantonly give out your body like that?"

Karyn sighed heavily and rolled her eyes.  "Lynthia, I was raised to keep in mind of every advantage at my disposal.  One of them is my body.  That is all there is to it."

"But, you do not feel, dirty?"

"No.  Sex can be merely pleasure, or pain.  It is something I can use as a bargaining chip or an expression of love.  It does not always have the profound emotional connections many people claim it has.  It is just an act of the body sometimes."

"You can actually act that way without having a dirty soul?"

"If I keep my dignity and heart intact, my soul is as clean as it needs to be."

"Then, what about that man who...raped me?" asked Lynthia, her voice noticeably wavering.  "Were his actions not horrible?"

"That man deserved his fate.  Raping is different.  If I can acquire something or there is a need to do so, then I will allow my body to be sexually ravaged.  But only if I consent, and if they consent.  Mutual agreement is a huge part of why I do what I do and maintain a clean soul.  I consented to Slithe's ravages.  Now, as I look back, I do not know why I agreed so readily, but the point is I did agree."

"Agreement." Lynthia echoed.  "Then, does that mean you loved Flinton?"

"I did once.  But now I see the truth.  He only cared about my body.  As I said, sex does not necessarily mean love.  To be honest, I felt there was more love when I had sex with..."

"Who?" inquired Lynthia.

After an awkward pause, Karyn lowered her head and admitted reluctantly, "I hate to say this now Lynthia, for it is truly inappropriate.  But I felt more love when I had sex with you."

Lynthia's eyes widened with surprise and delight.  She shuffled herself in the sleeping bag and turned around to face Karyn.  Their breasts mashed together and their crotches touched within their confining bag.  "Me?  Karyn, why do you sound shameful?"

"Because I let you go.  I feel ashamed.  I thought Flinton loved me, but he does not.  I got swept up in the passion and chose him over you.  I have no excuse for it Lynthia.  I made the wrong choice.  Lynthia.  This is difficult for me to do.  But, I am sorry for everything I have done.  I was completely, utterly wrong.  Despite all my training, I was as naive as a child in matters of the heart.  I fell so easily for Flinton's charms I could not see their insincerity."

"Karyn.  I would be lying if I said I was not angry at you at one point, I needed someone to blame, I was angry and frankly you did not give any reason for me not to choose you as a target.  You are probably not aware that Flinton and I coupled."

"I am aware."

"How did you know?!" Lynthia gasped with shock.  "I assume that you know because of the strange way I have been acting towards him."

"When I activated the altar at the Baron's house, I saw something.  Just for a brief moment.  It was Flinton taking you to his bed while you were drunk.  I was not sure what it meant, only recently have I learned.  And then afterwards, when I saw him, I just somehow knew that the love he had for me was not genuine.  It almost seems I can detect love now, I cannot begin to explain it.  I cannot see love, nor hear nor smell it, I am just somehow aware of its presence.  And Lynthia, despite your harsh words to me a while back, I detect a great amount coming from you."

Lynthia smiled slightly and allowed Karyn to cup her chin and kiss her gently on the lips.  "Oh gods Lynthia how beautiful you are." Karyn whispered.  "I know Lynthia I rejected you for Flinton.  I realized after we parted company that I had made a mistake.  I was in a sense as virginal as you.  And so I left you in the most inappropriate manner, and shattered your life.  I can only beg for your forgiveness.  You see, even though I am not worthy of your feelings, I love you Lynthia."

A brief pause followed.  Lynthia's lovely face became marred with shock and disbelief, her heart pounding so rapidly Karyn could feel it against her own bosom.

"I love you Karyn." Lynthia finally replied as she kissed Karyn back.  The slow kiss steadily grew in intensity and soon they were embracing passionately with their lips engaged in an intimate dance.  They broke off the kiss and stared at each other for a few moments, each of them acknowledging the lust burning inside of each of them.  They embraced each other with their arms and eased on the pressure with which they kept their thighs together, allowing their labia to entwine lewdly.

"No.  Stop." Karyn insisted with a harsh whisper, letting go of Lynthia.

Lynthia gazed at her, confused and longing.  "Why?" she asked.  "I want to make love to you Karyn.  I have never wanted anything more than that."

"You will fill our sleeping bag with moisture.  That will make it colder.  Please Lynthia, refrain from indulging yourself in my flesh."

"But Karyn...I need you now.  My womanhood sings for you, it needs your kiss."

"As does mine.  Please,  it is as hard for me as it is for you but we must resist our temptation."

"Oh cruel gods." Lynthia sobbed.  "This is the harshest blow to me yet.  I cannot make love to you when I desire it so much."

"No." Karyn corrected.  "The gods had nothing to do with this.  This was a result of us, realizing the truth about ourselves."

"Kiss me Karyn." Lynthia begged.  "Just kiss me, express your love as best you can."

Karyn and Lynthia kissed, gently at first but it soon grew into an urgent coupling of their tongues.  The beautiful lovers frenched, each of them moaning as their tongues stroked and caressed each other.  So lost in the passion of the kiss, Lynthia moved her right hand down to Karyn's warm crotch.  Karyn immediately broke off the kiss when her womanhood began to melt from Lynthia's caresses.

"I told you Lynthia, no." Karyn said sternly.  "I think we should go to sleep.  Let us embrace as we slumber."

Lynthia reluctantly nodded, wrapping her arms possessively around Karyn and entangling her legs with the warrior's.

"If we should not make it Karyn," Lynthia said, "I would like to say I am sorry for the things I said, about you being a whore and of me wishing I never met you."

"Do not speak of such things Lynthia.  We will make it." Karyn whispered soothingly as she held Lynthia tightly.  "I can only hope our friends make it too."

***

"HELP ME!!" Jatz screamed as he held onto the large, furry creature by the throat from behind.  He hung on tightly as the creature swung back and forth, trying to shake the thief off its back.  Teneila flew around the creature, tossing fireballs in his general direction to get his attention.  The magician was too afraid to toss anything large directly at the creature for fear of harming Jatz by accident.  As the creature began charging towards the hovering woman, Jatz was able to grab his dagger from the sheath on his leg and bring it to the creature's throat.  He performed a quick slash, cutting a vital artery and sending blood gushing from the sound.  The creature squealed in agony and brought its arms to the wound, staggering as its life seeped out of its body.  Jatz jumped off and kicked the creature swiftly in the back, knocking it down to the hard snow.

"Jatz, was that necessary?" Teneila asked.

Jatz panted, his body bent over with his hands on his knees.  "It's just a glear." he said.  "Glears are very common.  One death will not drive the species to extinction.  Besides, now this cave is ours."  It was then the other glear emerged from the shadows, directly behind the thief.

"LOOK OUT!!" Teneila screamed, her hand blazing with another fireball.  Jatz turned quickly and saw the glear raising its right clawed hand at him.

"That must be the creature's mate!" Jatz yelled as he dodged a heavy slash from the creature.

The thief rolled out of the way as Teneila tossed a fireball at the glear.  It crashed into the glear's chest, sending it backward a step and igniting its chest.  The glear howled for a moment before diving into the snow, extinguishing the flames with a loud hissing sound.  Teneila prepared to launch another fireball but the creature suddenly lunged at the magician, taking her down to the ground.  The flame in her hand dissipated into sparks as she hit the snow, the creature on top of her.  Teneila screamed as she saw the heavy claws rushing down at her head.

"RARRRRGGGHHHH!!" a scream echoed through the small cave.  All eyes turned toward the entrance where a dark figure dove at the glear, knocking it off Teneila and into a stone wall.  The glear growled in pain repeatedly as the figure grabbed the creature by the neck and smacked its head against the stone, over and over with increasing tempo until the glear only moaned, the stone wall now stained with its blood.  The glear finally grew silent, and the dark figure let the massive corpse drop.

Teneila and Jatz walked up to the stranger, who turned and revealed its heavily covered face to them.  The unique shape of his face and the unmistakable eyes were enough to identify him.

"Slithe!  What are you doing here?!" Teneila said enthusiastically.

The lizaroid quietly replied, "I could not wait...any...longer..." before he collapsed into the snow.

"Gods!  Jatz!  Help me drag Slithe near one of the glear corpses!" Teneila barked.

The thief and the magician each held Slithe by an arm and leaned him near the glear he had just killed.  Teneila ignited the furry corpse with a magic flame, igniting it instantly into a blaze.  As Jatz adjusted Slithe near the pyre, Teneila felt Karyn's amulet tingle against her skin.  "The altar...it is nearby!" she exclaimed before flying deeper into the dark cave.

"Teneila!" Jatz yelled as the magician faded into darkness.  "Stay here.  We shall return." he said reassuringly to the lizaroid before dashing after her.

"I could not sense it before, the battle must have distracted us!" Teneila said excitedly.  "At least we shall not let Karyn's death be in vain."  As the shadows grew thicker, Teneila formed a magic flare in her hand to guide her and the thief through the darkness.

"There!" Jatz exclaimed, pointing to the end of the cave as it came into view.

Teneila saw what the thief was referring to and flew to it, the round stone platform.  She fished out the amulet that hung between her breasts, her nipples hard as the cold metal touched her skin.  The magician placed the amulet into the small indentation before her, twisting it around until it fit in perfectly with a snapping sound.

***

Karyn bolted to alertness, and began panting desperately.  Lynthia was awakened by the warrior's noises and the intensity with which Karyn began to embrace her, Karyn's nails beginning to dig into Lynthia's flesh.

"What is going on Karyn?!" Lynthia asked worriedly as her lover writhed helplessly against her.  Karyn's grunts and groans increased in their urgency and frequency, her body tensing as she felt her muscles tighten in preparation.  Lynthia tried her best to hold Karyn against her in an attempt to stop her movements, but the warrior was too strong, her shaking too erratic.

"Stop it!  Stop it Karyn!" Lynthia screamed as she felt the cold moisture of Karyn's sweat touch her skin.  Karyn moaned loudly as she orgasmed, her body writhing sensually against Lynthia as her pussy burst with hot cream.  Lynthia could only moan and close her eyes as she felt the warmth of her lover's oozing sensuality on her cunt, for a moment her worries were gone in a sea of pure bliss.

Lynthia re-opened her eyes to see a clear, blue sky greeting her.  To her right, she could hear the roaring of waves crashing nearby.  She turned out of confusion and saw foamy water rush at her face, caressing her softly with its warmth.  Lynthia felt sand beneath her body.  She grabbed a handful of it and ground it with her fingers to confirm her suspicions.  She examined it and saw it was truly wet sand, warm and squishy in her palm.  "How...how can this be?" she asked.  "Could it be I have died?"

The lovely girl leaned herself up and saw she was completely naked.  But something about this environment made her comfortable, and glad she was able to feel the warm sun and fresh ocean air against her skin.  She stood up, let her toes scrunch up warm sand and stretched her sore muscles.  Tension oozed out of her bones and limbs; a warm, gentle wind caressed her supple breasts and thighs, and billowed her flowing blonde locks.

"You have the beauty of a goddess." a voice purred from behind Lynthia.  Lynthia turned and saw Karyn lying on the sand directly behind her.

"Karyn?  I did not notice you.  What happened?  Am I dead?  Are we dead?"

"I do not know." Karyn replied, her eyes staring at Lynthia with a lustful hunger.  "Perhaps we are, perhaps we should make the best of it."

Lynthia noticed Karyn's desire and smiled, placing her hands in her hair and stroking it slowly.  "Do you like what you see Karyn?" Lynthia whispered suggestively.

Karyn continued to stare at Lynthia, and at the way her lithe body bent and undulated with her wanton movements.  Lynthia groped at her own flesh, running her hands over her stomach and breasts.  Then she placed her arms over her head, brazenly thrusting her succulent tits forward.  Sensual purrs and moans constantly escaped her pouty lips, her nipples and pussy tingling with desire.

"Yes, yes I do." Karyn replied, her heart and clit throbbing madly.  Lynthia and Karyn knelt before each other, panting and staring at each other with lust.  The belief they were dead convinced the women to abandon their inhibitions, and to forget about what had transpired between them shortly before.

Karyn leaned forward and kissed Lynthia needfully on the lips.  The two women embraced wildly as their kiss became more frantic and desperate.  Their tongues collided wetly, caressing and stroking each other as if running off lust of their own.  Still locked in embrace, Karyn and Lynthia fell to the sand.  Lynthia rolled off Karyn and sat on the sand, leaning back on her slender arms. She spread her thighs apart to accommodate Karyn as the warrior crawled between them to dive into Lynthia's gorgeous bosom.  Karyn fastened her lips around Lynthia's sweaty left tit, sucking loudly on the luscious mound.  Karyn enveloped Lynthia's erect nipple with her tongue, stroking the tender knob lasciviously.  Without removing her tongue from the surface of Lynthia's soft flesh, Karyn moved her head down to Lynthia's golden snatch.

The auburn warrior gently licked her lover's pussy, savoring the flavor of the juices that coated her tongue.  Lynthia moaned as she felt her pussy become hot from Karyn's attentions.  Her stamina drained by the pleasure overload, Lynthia fell to the beach, her hair spread beneath her.  Karyn slipped her tongue inside the former queen's cunt and fastened her lips around Lynthia's swollen labia.  Lynthia shivered as Karyn sucked harder on her pussy and drank the honey that began to seep from her aching sex.  Lynthia writhed against the warm sand, her fingers clutching handfuls of the beach as she spread her legs further apart.  The blonde girl shuddered as she climaxed, uttering an erotic scream followed by long sensual groans as she felt Karyn drink honey from her dripping vagina.

Karyn raised her head from the valley between Lynthia's thighs, placing tender, savory kisses over Lynthia's shuddering belly.  Karyn's dangling tits pressed against Lynthia's, the women's nipples were hard and began touching, brushing against each other.  They shared a brief but urgent kiss before Karyn rose to her feet, and crouched down to bring her bare crotch to Lynthia's face.

The blonde woman licked her lips with anticipation as the warrior's musky scent filled her nostrils.  She opened her lips as Karyn positioned herself, falling to her knees as she shoved her cunt into Lynthia's mouth.  Lynthia accepted her lover's sex like candy, slurping hungrily on it until her cheeks became taught.  Karyn fell on her hands for support as she rolled her hips, her tits swaying alluringly and her hair tossing with her intense humping motions.

"Harder Lynthia!" Karyn moaned.  "Show your love for me!"

Lynthia placed her hands on Karyn's bobbing ass, and the warrior placed her hands on top of Lynthia's.  Together they pushed Karyn's ass harder onto Lynthia's wet probe, pushing it deeper and deeper into Karyn's clenching uterus.  Her tits thrust forward as she bumped her hips, the luscious mounds bouncing repeatedly and flicking drops of sweat off her erect nipples.  Karyn's eyes closed to mere slits, her gasps becoming harsher and more erratic as she felt her internal muscles tighten like a vice.  The waves crashed over them repeatedly as Karyn orgasmed, the power of her climaxes dwarfing that of the sea. The auburn warrior screamed out her lust like a banshee, her back arching in tandem with every sensual cry.

Karyn shuddered repeatedly as Lynthia relished in the flow of her heady cunt juices.  The young woman's slurping sounds at her cunt filled Karyn's ears, causing Karyn to smile.  Overcome with sexual pleasure and exhaustion, Karyn rested herself on top of Lynthia so their faces met, and held her tightly.  The two women closed their eyes as they began drifting to sleep, their flesh hot and gleaming with perspiration from the intensity of their love.  Karyn fluttered her eyes for just a moment, and just for that moment; thought she saw something resembling a man standing over them.

Karyn and Lynthia re-awakened to find themselves in an embrace.  They both smiled and kissed each other, which was when they both noticed they were back in their makeshift shelter, but out of their sleeping bag.

"We unleashed our passions on the bare snow?!" Lynthia asked frantically.

"I...I do not know.  I would say yes but that makes no sense." Karyn replied, her beautiful face marred with confusion.

"I felt no sense of cold.  I...remember a beach."

"I am afraid I feel the cold coming now." Karyn interrupted as she began to dress.  "We must hurry, we must escape these mountains before night falls again."

***

Jatz, Teneila and Slithe all staggered out of the cave, each of them looking ragged and exhausted.  None of them had much sleep.  The cave floors proved to be cold and unforgiving, providing them with little comfort.  Slithe already felt his blood beginning to chill, and he worried if he could survive the trip back down.

Teneila stared down at the amulet in her hand, admiring the new jewel on the back; a sparkling black stone.  "There seems to be room for only one jewel left." she told Jatz and Slithe.  "Assuming the last one follows the same arrangement pattern."

"Well, I hope it does." Jatz whined as he walked through the deep snow, his calves already numb.  The thief took one more step when he heard something crack.  He stopped, wondering what it was, when the ground gave away beneath him; answering his question.

"Jatz!" Slithe exclaimed as he grabbed the thief by the arm.  Jatz's fall was stopped momentarily before Slithe lost his footing from Jatz's weight and fell too.  Teneila grabbed Slithe by the leg and gritted her teeth as she concentrated her flying spell.  Already her altitude off the ground dipped to almost an inch, and gradually sinking.

"Let go!" Slithe insisted when he saw the effort Teneila was exerting.

"Are you crazy don't let go!" Jatz yelled.

Teneila's arms trembled with effort, her mind racing as she concentrated to get more height.  But the act was not in the young magician; and joined Slithe and Jatz on a fall down the side of the mountain.

The three tumbled down the steep slope, their vision just a sea of white and their bodies pelted from all directions with ice and hard snow.  They stopped screaming to avoid their mouths from filling with snow, and soon all perception of the outside world ceased for all of them; except the constant feeling of falling.

Eventually, their fall ceased.  The slope gradually lost its steepness and the three adventurers rested at the base of the mountain.  They remained still for a few moments before they moaned and shifted into varying degrees of consciousness.  The sounds of an animal nearby alerted them instantly.

Jatz listened and laughed weakly.  "A glear." he smirked.  "Oh we are going to die."  The dark-haired thief slumped into the snow, his body having no energy or will to fight or escape.

Teneila and Slithe attempted to move, but neither of them were able to even sit up.

"I am sorry Karyn, Lynthia..." Teneila thought remorsefully as she prepared to be mauled by a glear.  Its shadow began to loom over her still form when she heard it growl loudly at her.  Her senses numbed with cold, it took a moment for the magician to realize it was not a ferocious growl, but a death shriek.

"Teneila." a female voice said.  The magician saw a lovely woman with auburn hair looking down at her.

"Karyn!" Teneila croaked.  "I thought you were lost."

"Thank you for your concern." Karyn smiled.  "And thank you for continuing my quest, despite your belief of my demise.

"Thank you for saving us." Teneila said.

"Thank Lynthia." Karyn corrected as she supported Teneila by the arm.  It allowed the magician to see Lynthia standing over the dead body of the threatening glear, with a bloody dagger in hand.

"Lynthia." Teneila smiled warmly at the blonde girl.  "Thank you."  Lynthia blushed as she accepted Teneila's praise.

***

The group eagerly returned to the small inn, each of them taking their turns at the bathhouse.  Once everyone was cleaned up and refreshed, each of them wished to sleep.  While Jatz, Teneila and Slithe retired without hesitation, Lynthia awkwardly waiting until Karyn was about to retire herself before gripping her by the arm.

"Karyn, I..." Lynthia felt hesitation in expressing her feelings to Karyn.  She wanted to tell the warrior how much pleasure she experienced from their session of lust in the mountains, but yet she still felt a longing in her womanhood for more.  The words refused to come out properly however, driving Lynthia to frustration.  "I...I..." she continually stuttered.

Karyn merely put a finger to Lynthia's lips.  Karyn waited a moment and she became silent.  Karyn leaned forward and kissed Lynthia on the lips, slipping her tongue between the girl's hungry lips.

After breaking off the kiss, they walked hand-in-hand upstairs and went into Karyn's room, locking the door behind them.

***

The tavern was dark and noisy, although sparsely occupied.  A few drunken patrons yelled at the top of their lungs while the rest sat silently.  Flinton was among the latter, sitting at the bar and downing a glass of elfen ale.  A pointy-eared woman refilled his glass, which he immediately began to empty again.

"Let me guess, wife passed away?" asked an attractive dark-haired woman who sat down next to Flinton.

"No.  Not married, never was." Flinton replied into his drink.

"Oh, a handsome man such as you?  The look of loss on your face, I decided the only way you could attain it was by death of a loved one.  After all, who would ever want to leave you?"

"Look." Flinton said with exasperation.  "Go away.  I am not in the mood to hire a whore this evening."

"Who says I am a whore?" the woman replied.  "Actually, if anyone is to be a whore, it will be you."

"What?" Flinton asked, turning towards the woman with confusion.

"My name is Karna, I have a proposition for you."

***

"Teneila..." the dark voice whispered with a beckoning resonance.  "Come to me."

Teneila awakened with a startle.  She tried to dismiss the voices she heard in her dream, but the desire to investigate, to follow their orders, was too strong.  She climbed out of bed and dressed very quickly in her purple wraps and cloak.  Teneila opened the window and climbed out, using her magic to glide gently down to the streets below.

Teneila wandered through the darkness.  The town looked so much larger at night, for Teneila could not see the town's edge clearly in the shadows.  The town could have ended a few feet in front of her, or a dozen miles away and the fiery haired girl could not have been able to guess.

"You are the young magician Teneila, are you not?" a voice said from behind.

Teneila turned and saw a large man dressed in black armor.  The dark shade of his attire contrasted with his alabaster skin, as did the mane of dark hair on his head.  "It was you I saw!" Teneila exclaimed.  "You raped me in my dreams!  Why did you go to such efforts?!"

"I enjoy the flesh of females." Xarthul admitted in a whisper as he walked towards Teneila.

"Step no closer dark man!" Teneila insisted, her fists beginning to glow with magic flame.

Xarthul merely stared back at her and stood his ground.  As Teneila looked over his body with her eyes, she found herself locked at his pupils.  A slight glow began to radiate from them, a dark scarlet light that grew deeper in intensity.  The young magician could feel his stare burning into her mind, and she slowly felt the flames on her fingers beginning to die.

"Stop...stop it..." Teneila demanded, her voice beginning to stutter as she doubled her concentration on her magic.  She felt her eyelids begin to lower and her hands dipping towards the ground.

Xarthul slipped closer to Teneila, surprising the young magician as he wrapped a powerful hand around her wrists and stroked Teneila's cheek with the other.

"Let..go..", Teneila gasped, Xarthul's touch igniting her skin.  Xarthul let go of Teneila's limp wrists and let her arms fall limply to her sides.  The dark man kissed her hungrily on the mouth while his hands roved slowly over Teneila's body, making her shudder uncontrollably.

"I am your Master.  Acknowledge me."

"No...oh...hhhh....ahh...." Teneila moaned, she felt her ability to resist melting away with each of Xarthul's sensual caresses.  His hands crawled over her bare, taut stomach, her round hips, her slender legs, and gently over her luscious, plump breasts.  Just enough pressure was placed on her nipples to arouse them before he cupped her sensual orbs and squeezed them.  Teneila tried to move her hands, but her body was unresponsive, as if she had completely melted into Xarthul's embrace.

"Master.  Say it." Xarthul continued to whisper, but Teneila had just enough of her quickly diminishing will to resist his command.

With a series of deft, silent moves, Xarthul slipped his hands into Teneila's clothing.  His hands enfolded her soft tits, her flesh filling his palms.  Teneila shuddered and fell back against the dark man as he fondled her nippples, her skin growing hot beneath his touch.  Teneila placed a hand on Xarthul's left shoulder to bring herself up, finding herself staring upwards at Xarthul.  She gasped as Xarthul slid his right palm down to her warm crotch.  The sensation of soft fabric falling off her skin tingled on her nerves as Xarthul removed the wrap around her waist and slid her breasts out of their confining garment.  Sweat beaded down Teneila's flushed face, her pussy began to grow moist and hot with her juices.  Teneila shuddered again as Xarthul stroked her cunt with his hand, her cunt lips swollen and wet with nectar.  Teneila leaned completely against Xarthul with her hands around his massive shoulders, her tits pumping within her tormentor's hands as she gasped desperately for air.

"No...stop...stop...please..." the magician was finally able to moan, but her meek protests were smothered as Xarthul kissed her urgently on the lips again, thrusting his tongue forward to stroke Teneila's.  Teneila moaned and held Xarthul's neck tightly with her hands as she embraced his tongue with hers, succumbing to her blossoming lust.  She hooked a creamy leg around Xarthul for support as the kiss intensified in passion, gasps of bliss escaping Teneila's mouth.

Xarthul pressed Teneila roughly against an alley wall.  He took off her cloak and removed the remaining scraps of cloth around her torso, leaving her completely naked before him.  Teneila stared down at Xarthul, her face gleaming with perspiration and her lips slightly open as she gasped with anticipation.  Her clit sang for him, begging, yearning to be touched.  Xarthul sat between Teneila's open legs and leaned forward to lick her moist cunt.  Teneila shivered, her vagina melting from Xarthul's sensual caresses.  She relentlessly fondled her own tits and sensuously writhed against the wall as Xarthul slid his tongue between her labia.  Xarthul savoringly devoured Teneila's pussy, fastening his lips on her engorged clitoris and sucking wetly until Teneila quivered in ecstasy.  Streams of honey escaped her vaginal slit and coarse moans escaped her lips as orgasm after orgasm exploded from her throbbing pussy.  Xarthul continued to slurp on her womanhood long after the climaxes subsided, filling his mouth with her juices and continuing to incite glorious pleasure spasms from within her.

"Did you enjoy it?" Xarthul whispered, his face rubbing against her soft, warm thighs.  Teneila's body was dripping with sweat, her curves gleaming in the moonlight and beads fell off her heaving tits and hard nipples.

"Yes!  M...more!  Please give me more!  Master!" Teneila begged desperately, her voice gasping with need as she submitted herself to Xarthul.

Upon hearing the magician's plea, Xarthul returned to his position between her legs.  Teneila leaned back and closed her eyes, her clit and nipples throbbing with anticipation as she expected the sensation of Xarthul's tongue back in her vagina.  She screamed slightly when instead, she felt a sharp pain on her left thigh.

"Wha...?!" Teneila exclaimed with a whisper as she re-opened her eyes and looked down at Xarthul.

"Yes." Xarthul hissed in victory as he looked up at her, blood running down his chin and a pair of sharp fangs now visible in his smile.  "Now you are mine."

Teneila did not have enough time to scream before Xarthul dove at her neck and bit down with his fangs.  By covering her lips with his powerful hand, her screams were muffled so that nobody heard them.  Finally, they abruptly stopped.

THE END