Winters had enjoyed a silent and dreamless sleep, one that he was most grateful for. As he slowly came to he found that his morning was starting off in a manner quite distinct from any of those prior. Wonderful, wound up sensations radiated from his lower body as he blinked his eyes open and looked upon what had to be one of the most beautiful things in the world. Veera was resting atop him, her womanhood firmly encircling his member. Her face was screwed up in concentration and mild pleasure as she moved her hips in the rough patterns of a novice but eager lovemaker. The light of the mid-morning sun shone in through the doorway, partially framing her body with filtered rays of illumination. He didn’t believe in angels, but he believed in this one.

“You know this is every human male’s dream, right?” He asked, feeling his voice already dropping low as his body became rapidly acquainted with the idea that its mate was demanding satisfaction from it. Veera’s eyes slowly opened, and she looked down at him with a grin that he was sure would banish the demons of the previous night forever, if they hadn’t been already.

“I don’t know about every Cauthan female’s dream,” she admitted, jerking her hips and causing his body to thrust up and into her. Her involuntary gasp made his blood thrum. “But I think that if they knew what a human male felt like…this would be theirs.” Her voice was silky and laden with pleasure as Winters brought his hands to rest on her hips. Between the prior night and her movements that morning he thought he was understanding just a bit about how Veera was different from a human female.

“Could I ask you something about your body, Veera?” She cocked her head at him before leaning down to rest against his chest. Even without her hips in motion he could still feel her insides gently moving around him. He brought his nose to hers and wrapped her in his arms, loving the low, rumbling purr that he elicited from her. As his eyes closed a brief moment of uncertainty passed through him, threatening to ice over his heart. The souls of the dead were not so easily silenced, but the warm Cauthan in his arms held them at bay.

“I don’t see why not. Are you curious about me, Russell?” He met her eyes and felt his own soften.

“I am,” he admitted. “I wanted to know a bit more about how sex feels for you. Most human mating involves what we did last night, you know? Lots of movement involved. Now that you’re in control-” he grunted, feeling a particularly strong contraction move along his shaft as Veera trilled with delight.

“I love doing that to you. I don’t know how I’m doing it, but I do love it,” she told him saucily, her tail wagging back and forth above them. “You were saying, my love?”

“You’re a devious woman,” he told her, nipping softly at her lips. “I just wanted to know if you enjoy it more when I’m fully inside of you.” She nodded immediately.

“It’s actually a bit painful when I first take you into me. I don’t know why but that’s just how it’s been. It was the same this morning too but,” she kissed him immediately when he began to look worried for her. “It didn’t last long at all. As soon as I lowered myself onto you it was just like the best moments of last night. The more you fill me…” she paused as her feathers began to wave and shake. Her boldness and command of the situation had momentarily deceived her lover. He quickly remembered that not a day ago she’d been a virgin, to say nothing of the trials they’d both endured the night before. He began rubbing her ears and back to soothe and comfort her.

“It’s a little embarrassing, huh?” He guessed. She smiled in agreement.

“Yes. I just…don’t know if it’s alright to like it this much,” Veera admitted, glancing off to the side. He gently pushed her chin back into alignment with his. She was put at peace by his eyes. They’d become very soft. The man she loved was still alive and well, even if ghosts of regret flitted behind his irises.

“Of course it’s alright Veera. There’s nothing shameful about pleasure shared between partners. What we do is between the two of us-” his sentence was punctuated by an exaggerated, digital cough. Veera giggled, sliding back onto him just a bit and lifting her tail.

“What’s wrong Io, feeling left out?” She cooed, suddenly feeling quite sure that the view of the two of them united would be driving the VI mad. A series of panting breaths gave them her answer as Veera returned her attention to her mate, their digital companion momentarily silenced. “I’m still a bit unsure about everything though love, can you help me?” He looked warmly at her and nodded, his body thrumming with fulfillment as they spoke together while joined in the most intimate of acts. It was strangely thrilling, a most interesting change from their desperate first time.

“I’m sure I can, Veera. As I was saying, this isn’t something that others need to know about. The way you choose to enjoy me and the way I enjoy you are up to us, no one else. We’re already treading new ground by mating between our species. There’s no need to feel beholden to either convention.”

“I like the sound of that,” Veera purred, finally summoning the courage to complete her initial thought. “When you’re inside me, fully inside of me, it’s like that painful feeling gets spread out. It turns into something nice. It makes me want to hold you there and never let you go.” Another wave of pleasure accentuated her point, causing Winters to flex his pelvis in response. Veera let out an adorable cry of enjoyment. “See? Just like that!” She panted. “It’s way better than when you were moving in and out of me.” Winters didn’t bother hiding his surprise, feeling a small stab of guilt as well.

“That…is an interesting development,” he murmured, pushing against Veera’s chest slightly and encouraging her back into a standard cowgirl position. Before she could move her lower body again he pressed his fingers into the flesh of her hips and ass, earning him another moan as she stilled for him.

“That’s…good too,” Veera told him, eyes closing and mouth hanging open as he began to massage her hindquarters and lower legs. As he did so he began to slowly guide her, rocking her hips back and forth as their pelvises ground together, her fur making the friction delightfully pleasant. Focusing on her, on the one person in front of him, was exactly what Winters needed. “Darling?” Veera panted, the subtle movements and shifting of pressure inside her building and swelling into something greater. Winters continued to guide her.

“There’s no need to be as forceful as I was last night, nor do you have to lift yourself off of me if you’d rather I stay inside you,” he said, finding even instructional pillow talk to be arousing as she continued to glide back and forth atop him, the variable sensations a thrilling change of pace for him. Veera nodded her head eagerly.

“I’d like that. I want you to stay!” He sat up, holding Veera close to him with his right arm while keeping the left firmly on her ass, guiding her motions and helping her body learn the movements that he hoped would bring her more pleasure and less pain than the night before when he’d taken her as he would a human female. His body language made it very clear that he would stay right where he was, filling her to the hilt. Veera melted into him, throwing her arms around her lover’s broad shoulders and making a firm effort to keep her claws sheathed, pressing into his strong muscles with her pads instead. “It feels different,” she whispered in his ear. “I feel like I’m…oh…oh gods…Russell! Nyaaah!” Her final exclamation turned into a long, moaning cry as the liquid lightning of the prior night returned. That morning it was subtle and new, flowing smoothly through her in waves as opposed to exploding and overtaking her body completely. Winters’ eyes widened with shock and pleasure as the radiating waves of Veera’s orgasm began to translate directly to the flesh around him, the cycles and pressure of her womanhood increasing and demanding that he release inside of her. With Veera securing herself to his body as she rode out her climax, Winters moved his right hand down to join his left, pushing and guiding her hips as she rolled and slid over him faster and smoother by the second. As they both closed their eyes in pleasure Io watched open mouthed at the display. Judging by the movement of Veera’s tail and feathers the VI reckoned that she’d been in the throes of a single, subtle, continuous orgasm for close to a minute, a development completely at odds with what she’d seen the night before.

“Gods…Veera!” Winters ground out, feeling his own release swelling and building higher as his mate panted and cried softly into his ear, repeating a word she’d heard him and Io used the night before.

“I love you Russell. Please cum for me like I’m cumming for you!” The words she uttered through her orgasmic haze set off a firecracker in his mind that served more than adequately to tip him over into oblivion. Veera’s ears perked up as she took the sounds of his growling climax into her. The deep rumbling in his chest, the growl that escaped from between his teeth, the way he seemed perpetually caught between pleasure and pain, the way his eyes shut and his hold on her tightened. They drove her wild. “Thank you…” she purred delightedly as his fingers dug into her fur, making sure her hips never stopped moving until he’d reached completion. Even after he relented she continued the movements his body had taught her slower and slower, nipping his shoulder as he panted and heaved in the aftermath. The lightning slowly crackled and diffused. It was perfect.

“Veera…nnngh…” Winters moaned her name repeatedly as her alien body satisfied itself upon him, the aftershocks leaving her practically glowing.

“That was beyond anything I could have imagined, even after last night. Thank you darling!” She bucked her hips one final time, causing him to wince. “Russell?” He smiled and patted her on the back.

“Human males get…really sensitive after we climax. Something called a refractory period.” Veera cocked her head and made a curious noise at him, allowing their bodies to finally separate as she lifted herself off of his manhood. Again, her womanhood let not a drop of his seed escape.

‘I could elaborate on that Veera, if you’d like,’ Io proposed, eager to join in. She was smirking at Winters’ relieved expression as his organ finally got a break. Veera didn’t move her eyes from Winters’ own, but she nodded.

“Sure thing Io. What is it?” Veera asked as Winters slowly laid them back onto the bed, dragging the blanket up with them

‘If I recall correctly the two of you discussed the differences in the ability of the human male and human female to achieve sexual climax, yes?’ Veera attempted to rack her brain as her senses returned to normal, but she was interrupted by the noise of heavy footfalls in the snow outside their door.

“Veera, Winters, I’m sorry to disturb you but-” His mind completely preoccupied with the events of the prior night and the immense amount of work to be done in the village going forward, Antoth had forgotten to knock and had simply walked into Veera’s home, finding her and her mate naked from the waist up. While their chesko blanket ensured he’d not lay eyes on anything untoward, there was no doubt in his mind as to what he’d just walked in on. “By Uthos and all the gods! You two…” Feeling well fucked and still riding a high from having brought the two of them to completion as the dominant partner, Veera was in absolutely no mood to allow Antoth to escape without a bit of punishment for his transgression.

“Oh don’t worry Antoth, you’re not disturbing anything. We just finished actually…you may have heard us on your way in?” Winters brought his hands behind his head, content to lay back and enjoy the show as Antoth’s eyes threatened to leap from his skull. Veera made a not so subtle display of rubbing herself against her partner before continuing. “That must have been it. You heard us having such a good time and you thought you might join in?”

“Kel protect me Veera, of course not! What are you-”

“Oh that’s good then. I don’t think Russell is in any mood to share,” she remarked without concern, scratching her chin with a claw. “Though I do believe Io was feeling a little left out?” The VI seized the opportunity, appearing on hands and knees wearing nothing but her lingerie. She began to crawl towards Antoth in as seductive a pose as she could manage, having seen Veera work her magic plenty of times.

‘Mmm don’t mind if I do Veera. C’mon Antoth, don’t be shy. Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to do it with a spirit? I may not have a physical body but…I’m sure we can work something out,’ she purred at him, her emerald eyes blazing with heat. Spluttering a combination of unintelligible words and apologies, Antoth practically ran from the room before pausing just outside the door.

“Whenever the two…three of you are decent please find me immediately in the center of town or at the barracks. There is much we need to discuss.” As he turned and strode away they could hear him muttering. “This must be the gods’ punishment for what I did last night…” Io and Veera whipped their heads around and locked gazes.

‘Can the both of us agree that while our little performance was beyond mortifying it was totally worth it and we absolutely need to figure out what Antoth did last night?!’ Veera nodded vigorously.

“Agreed. Sorry Russell, give me a minute?” She requested, feeling her feathers and entire body shake as she realized what she’d actually just done. He just laughed and held her tightly, giving her all the body heat he could as she closed her eyes and squealed with embarrassment.

“You’re a fireball Veera, and I love you. You’re damn right by the way, I’m never sharing.”

-----

Veera and Winters decided to forego any sort of cooked breakfast, understanding the stress and pressure that Antoth must have been under once they’d gotten past the humor of the situation. As wonderful as it had been, their short time with one another in their sanctum had ended. It was time to face the dawn of a new world. With Winters clad in his armor the two of them donned their cloaks and weapons and stepped out into the morning sun. They each gave thanks as they looked around and found that their immediate neighborhood had been unharmed in terms of structural damage. Veera took Winters by the hand as the two of them crossed the street into the nearest alley, thinking to take the shortest possible route to the city center. When they arrived they fell silent and still. Veera covered her mouth to contain a sob while Winters took in a deep, steadying breath. Before them a task most grim was being conducted, the building and burning of funeral pyres.

The temple of Seil’s charred skeleton formed a grisly backdrop as one fire already blazed in the mid-morning sun. They easily spotted Ratha standing in front of it, joined by her brothers and sisters of the temple of Valta. Antoth noticed the two of them almost immediately and walked toward them, leaving his men who were in the process of constructing a much larger pyre in the center of the square.

“Thank you,” he said shortly.

“What do you need from us Antoth?” Veera asked, noticing that most of the other civilians in the square were watching or paying their respects but not actively participating in the cremation ceremonies. The captain shook his head.

“I guess this is likely pretty new for you as well Veera, but as the two of you fought last night it is proper that you be here. In brief, our temples will honor our dead first. They died fighting on what I suppose you could consider the front lines,” he began, outwardly at peace with that state of affairs. His countenance quickly dimmed. “After that we will begin the cremation of the civilians who lost their lives last night. To be honest I don’t like the way its done. There are…” he paused for a moment to collect himself. “There are too many parents who died protecting their families last night, and too many dead who should still be alive today. They deserve nothing less. I will do what I can to honor them the all the same.” Veera placed a hand on his shoulder, a gesture that Winters soon mimicked.

“How many?” He asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer. Antoth shook his head.

“As of right now the count stands at twenty six dead and seven missing…including Vash.” Veera gasped in horror as Io shot Winters a concerned look full of broader implications.

‘We’re not celebrating, right?' Io asked sarcastically, her opinion on the matter of one sun priest quite clear. Winters didn’t scold her though, as he noticed she’d changed into the same HEL dress uniform that she’d used to mourn the crew of the Lancer. Content that she meant no dishonor to the other dead he replied simply.

“No Io, not today.”

‘Yes sir. It may sound grim but given the circumstances I believe it could have been far worse.’ Winters found he agreed with her, pleased that she was maintaining a level head.

“How many did you lose Antoth? How many did Ratha lose?” Winters demanded, knowing that in terms of safety and long term survival that those two numbers were far more important. Antoth’s eyes became muddled with tears as he tried to hold himself together. His encounters with Ratha over the past cycle had completely destroyed his emotional walls. Losing his men, some that he’d trained from their first day as a servant of Uthos, was too much to keep inside.

“She lost four. I…”

“It’s alright Antoth. We will honor them,” Veera assured him.

“I know Veera. I will see to it personally,” Antoth promised before taking a deep breath to compose himself. There had been scant time to mourn. “My force consisted of thirty four men including myself before last night. Eleven are dead, six are wounded, and another three will never fight again, including young Xan.” Antoth paused for a moment and looked between Veera and Winters. Io’s face had become most grim at the idea of a greater than fifty percent casualty rate among the guards. “I suppose even in all this death there are still miracles though. I visited him this morning for a brief moment. He is weak but stable. I have no doubt that without the two of you he would be dead. You did a remarkable thing, saving a life in the midst of all that death.” Winters felt the lingering burdens lift just slightly.

“How many did we…how many did I kill?” Winters asked suddenly, causing Veera to rush to his side and rip his helmet off. He gave her a sad smile when their eyes met. “I’m still here feather kitten. This is a burden I have to bear, but I will always be here for you.” Veera looked ready to protest but she eventually relented. She wanted him to live for himself too, but knew that time would have to heal those wounds.

“I trust you, my human.” With that she returned his helmet and allowed Antoth to continue speaking with him. It was obvious that none of the civilians in the area wanted to get close to Winters and he wanted to know why.

“We haven’t had a chance to tend to the bodies of the enemy. The cold and snows have kept them from becoming an issue for now but we will deal with that once our own dead are laid to rest.”

“So you’re saying that everyone saw everything?” Winters demanded nervously. Antoth nodded, his scars twisting with his frown.

“More or less. I don’t mind telling you Winters it looks like something out of a nightmare. I had to count heads instead of corpses to get an accurate figure. You butchered them.”

“Enough Antoth!” Veera yelled. “You think he doesn’t know that?!”

“Easy Veera, please,” Antoth tried for calm.

“Absolutely not Antoth! You have no idea what the two of us had to go through last night. You will never, ever know! No one ever will! Now you fix this. You fix this right now, Antoth!” Veera’s tirade was stopped as Winters hugged her tightly.

“Did I save you?” He asked simply. Not even his helmet could distort the sheer, raw emotion in his voice.

“Yes. A thousand times yes,” she assured him with everything she had, clutching his armor to her.

“Then I’ll be able to face what I did. It might not be easy, but I will.” Antoth chose that moment to cut in again, feeling very out of place between the two lovers.

“I should clarify, Winters. I didn’t mean to get cut off there. The others may not understand it yet but I will make them understand. Without you we would all be dead. Our village would have fallen to their sheer numbers. Those who fought would have been killed. Women would have been taken as meat to sate the sexual appetites of their men. Children would have been made into slaves. Any left here would have burned or starved in the aftermath. Without you we would cease to exist, our lives sacrificed to sustain theirs. That is the path that they chose on Mara, one that our village does not follow. You showed a group of monsters what their own actions looked like when turned against them. If they live to see another spring your actions will never leave their minds. You will forever have my gratitude Winters. Your tale will be passed down by every high priest of Uthos,” he concluded solemnly. Io regarded the captain approvingly.

‘I think I’d actually like to take him now, may I?’ She requested, allowing her partner a much needed dose of levity before replying to the captain.

“That means a lot Antoth, thank you. I still need to know though, how many?”

“Last night a total of eighty seven raiders died here. Fifty two met their end at your hand, assuming the kills back on your street are to also be credited to you.” Winters looked at Veera and spoke with pride.

“Only one of those is mine. Veera killed three last night, including one that tried to enter the temple of Kel.” He nodded at her to display his approval. Antoth’s eyes widened.

“That was you? The one with the hole blown through his chest?” Veera puffed out her chest, proud of her accomplishments and hoping to show her mate that on Mara there was no shame in killing in order to live. Kel was beautiful, but not merciful.

“It was me. I also slit one’s throat and speared another in the side like a chesko!” Antoth shook his head, a smile forming on his face. He would be very proud of you indeed, young one.

“You see Winters, even in times like this we can find things to be proud of. For now though I believe I have talked with you two long enough. I must prepare my men for their final journey to the Sentinel. The rest of the matters I wish to discuss with you can wait.”

“Do you want our help with the pyres?” Winters offered, wanting some work to help keep them grounded. It was Veera who shook her head, placing a comforting hand on his arm.

“My love, I’m sure they would all appreciate the help but this is something that we have to do, just like you did with your comrades.” Winters understood her meaning, knowing that she was speaking from personal experience.

“In that case I would offer to cut down some trees to replace the wood that’s been used today,” he proposed, thinking that a fair compromise since in the end he wouldn’t be directly involved in any funeral.

“I believe that would be acceptable Winters. You should speak with the servants of Tyrdus if you wish to do so. I must go now. Selah.” As Antoth departed to rejoin his men Veera suddenly grabbed Winters’ hand in a state of panic, having been reminded of something in Antoth’s parting words.

“Oh my gods, Zolta and Asha! How could we-”

‘Veera please, be at ease. Your estimations about their safety were correct. See for yourself.’ Io highlighted a particular Cauthan female in the crowd who had just approached the hunters’ funeral pyre and bowed in thanks. Her slightly pregnant belly and bushy tail were all the confirmation they needed. Winters quickly pointed for Veera.

“She’s far too calm for a woman who lost her husband. Besides, I saw Zolta last night. He killed a raider too.”

“He did what?!” Veera demanded.

“Another time Veera. I…I want to pay my respects as well. They fought alongside me last night on that street.” At his request a tender look developed on Veera’s face. She took his hand and began walking toward the pyre, the eyes of many a villager on them. “Veera, you don’t have to.”

“I will not hide from her, Russell! I am truly mated to the savior of this village and I will hold my head high as I pay my respects to those who fought with me and with you!” Winters grinned wide as Io pumped the air with a fist. She didn’t know if Veera had any idea just how much the two of them needed her that morning, but she would be forever grateful.

‘That’s our girl!’ As they approached the pyre one of the hunters noticed their approach and bowed his head, recognizing Winters. The human nodded as well, remembering the hunter as one of the few who had been on the roof the prior night. The movement caught Ratha’s attention who turned and shot them both a venomous but despairing glare. Winters was in no mood to hear her bile or to have his woman disparaged. He drew his sword and cut her off with his tongue.

“Do you really want to do this Ratha?” He growled. “I fought with you and your men last night, as did Veera. We’re here to pay our respects and nothing else. We will have no quarrel with you today unless you wish it.” Before any further words could be flung Antoth had run over to them. He stood between Winters and Ratha as the Huntress tried to tamp down years of irrational hatred, genuine sadness, and untold loss. Veera’s eyes jumped between Antoth and Ratha as she noticed something about the two of them, something in the way they were looking at one another. She tugged Winters’ arm urgently but refused to look away. Antoth finally spoke, his cloak fluttering softly as Ratha’s feathers quivered and waved. The sheer amount of silent communication happening before her was sending Io into a tizzy.

“Ratha…it doesn’t have to be like this, not anymore.” The Huntress was shaking, her movements rattling the bones of her armor.

“I can’t. I can’t Antoth!” She insisted sadly.

‘Wait, did she just call him Antoth and not scarface?’ Io demanded, sitting up in what had originally been a comfortable leather chair from which she’d expected to watch her partner put the snarky bitch in her place…again.

“You don’t have to Ratha. After all of this death you don’t have to,” Antoth continued, his voice calm, deep, and soothing.

‘Wait, did he just talk to her like that?’ Io was standing now.

“It’s been too long, too many years…” Ratha lamented.

“That doesn’t mean you have to be a slave to your past! You showed me that!” Antoth insisted, taking a step closer to her while seemingly oblivious to everyone around them. Ratha’s remaining hunters stood by as if spellbound, the crackling pyre the only punctuation of the scene before them.

‘She showed him what?’ Io cried, hopping up and down before throwing her hands above her head. ‘What’s going on here? Sir? Russell! Explain!’

“I’m not as strong as you, Antoth! I can’t be like you. I’m not the Guardian!” Antoth smiled at Ratha, baring his fangs for her.

“No, but you are the Huntress. Your allies know that. Your enemies know that. The human knows that. You told me it was alright for me to be something more than just the Guardian. Now please, don’t lose yourself to Valta and leave me alone down here.” By this point Antoth was well within Ratha’s personal space, commanding her gaze with his own. Ratha held her trembling hands between them in a feeble attempt to keep him at bay, caught between two versions of herself. She was small next to him but everyone could tell they held one another as equals. “You don’t have to push everyone away anymore Ratha…though I wouldn’t mind if you held onto your bold streak.”

‘Wait, did he just make a seductive joke at her?!’ Io screeched, taking cover behind a wall and throwing her hands over her face, leaving just enough space between her fingers for one eye to peep out. Ratha had placed her hands on Antoth’s chest, causing pretty much everyone in attendance other than Winters to gasp. He felt his lips curling into a sadistic smile as his suspicions were all but confirmed. Antoth, buddy, all I can say is godspeed you crazy son of a bitch!

“You will regret this to your dying breath,” the Huntress warned the Guardian with a smile. Veera took that moment to collapse against Winters’ side in utter disbelief. Antoth was chuckling at Ratha’s proclamation, more than willing to throw caution to the wind. Having survived the prior night both of them felt as if they’d been given a new lease on life, one that would not be foolishly wasted.

“Something tells me you’ll make it worth my while, Ratha.” She tilted her head slyly.

“Is that a challenge, Antoth?”

“Come and find out.” With that Antoth grabbed her by her armor and kissed her into oblivion, their lips locking as Ratha threw her arms around his neck, making sure she could reach everywhere she wanted to nip. She was quickly finding that the use of teeth during a ‘kiss’ was most to her liking. Hunters fell utterly silent, mouths hanging open. Guards began whooping and calling out to their comrades who had passed on, sharing a final moment of camaraderie as their captain went certifiably insane. Multiple civilians leaned on their fellows for support as the shock of the prior night’s raid and fires was compounded by the flagrant alien mating display being put on by two of the village leaders. Veera felt herself suddenly overcome with emotion, looking up at Winters as tears fell from her eyes. In that moment she was more than able to be happy even for someone like Ratha, especially if it meant a second chance at happiness for Antoth. Io was stomping about Winters’ HUD in a rage.

‘Not an hour after I offer myself to him non-existent body and soul and he shacks up with Ratha? WITH RATHA?!’ Over it all Winters booming laugh echoed through the courtyard as the first of many funeral pyres gave birth to something new, hopeful, and unexpected.

“I think now we know what Antoth did last night.”