Thursday, September 07, 2006
Chapter 18F-Romance in the Air
Wordlessly he sat up and took her pack setting it down to one side. He helped her out of her furs and she slid under the blankets with him feeling warm and smooth against his body. Their hands stroked and explored each other gently and then with more urgency. She moaned and gasped at his touch. His body thrilled at her touch. Soundlessly their lips merged and later their bodies joined in an explosion of uncontrolled passion.
Tobal woke up to the crackle of the flames in the fire. Becca's arm was across his chest and she was cuddled up against him. He moved a little and she smiled but didn't wake up. He spent the next hour laying there looking at her face lying next to him. He didn't want to wake her up. He just wanted to remember forever.
Morning came and the flames died down to the point it was getting cold in the teepee when Becca finally woke up. Seeing she was awake he took advantage and slipped out of the blankets to stir up the fire and put more wood on it. Any other sleepers had already left for breakfast and they had the teepee to themselves. He was aware of her green eyes watching his naked body as he moved about the cold room and dived back under the blankets. She moved away from him.
"You're cold", she whispered. Her eyes laughing.
"Then warm me up", he challenged and she did. They missed breakfast, but hunger pangs forced them out for lunch.
The third day of the Yule festival was Sunny and bitter cold. But Tobal hardly noticed as he and Becca grabbed some food and headed over to watch the talent show. Melanie gave an impressive knife throwing exhibition that drew applause from the crowd and also a growing respect as she hit several thrown targets while they were still in the air. As she left the stage she saw them at the back of the room and moved toward them smiling.
"It's about time the two of you storm clouds got together", she teased. "Now maybe the rest of us can have some fun without getting rained on."
"Storm clouds?", Tobal asked puzzled.
"Don't give me any of that crap", she put her hands on her hips. "I've not only had to listen to you, but I've had to listen to her", and she pointed at Becca who was smiling. "When ever the two of you are within six feet of each other there is so much static electricity in the air that it makes my hair stand up and anyone elses that's was around you. The whole camp has been making bets on when the two of you would finally get together."
"It wasn't that bad was it?", he whispered to Becca.
She just nodded at him and kissed him. There were some tears in her eyes. He hoped they were tears of happiness. "Everything is all right now though", she brushed at her eyes.
Melanie gave them both a big hug and kiss and they watched the rest of the show together.
Kevin and Zee had put together a crazy puppet show complete with a small stage. The story was about two Apprentices that partnered up for the winter and fell in love. They proclaimed undying love for each other and then later wore black tunics and fought each other all the time in a bizzare twist on the Journeyman degree until angels came in airsleds and carried them away. The crowd thought it was funny. Tobal wondered where they got the ideas though and asked them as they came off the stage.
Zee joked, "Why from you and Becca of course. Good to see you've finally come to your senses."
Both Kevin and Zee congratulated them and gave them hugs. It seemed that Zee and Kevin were really happy exploring their new relationship and staying warm as possible this winter.
It was Kevin that asked, "So are you two going to partner up for the rest of the winter?"
Becca glanced first at Tobal and then at Melanie. "We are both going to keep training newbies through the winter. Right?" She looked at Tobal expectantly and gave his arm a squeeze.
"Uh, that's right", he mumbled. "Got to keep training newbies. We can partner up as Journeymen." He knew he had given the right answer as Becca brightened and smiled widely.
They turned their attention back to the stage as Sarah sang some beautiful celtic music she had learned from her father. Her voice and the songs were haunting and left a hush over the crowd. Tobal looked and could see tears in the eyes of some of the listeners. There was definitely love and romance in the air.
Mike and Butch took the stage next and had everyone gasping and rolling on the floor at their stand up comic routine. They were natural clowns and comedians and loved to entertain people. They concluded their act to wild applause and a break for dinner. As people broke for dinner a line formed to congratulate Mike and Butch. It seemed they had really made a hit.
Sarah came over and they all gave her a big hug and told her how beautiful her songs were. The six of them left to get some food and drink. Later they met with others and headed back to watch more of the talent show. The remainder of the evening was a lot of fun even though Tobal didn't know many of the performers. It was almost as fun watching the antics of the audience and chatting with friends.
Mike and Butch showed up after dinner in high spirits and were looking to have some fun with the girls. Their comedy routine had made them very popular and like celebrities they were surrounded with groupies. They were party animals and liked to play with the girls at circle where it was fun and light. There were lots of girls that liked fun too and Tobal guessed neither Mike or Butch would be sleeping alone tonight.
Becca noticed his jet and amber necklace and asked about it. He suggested they go back to the teepee where they could talk. They helped each other undress and slid into the blankets to keep warm. It was about an hour later when Becca reminded him about the necklace.
Slowly he told her the story from the beginning and showed her the necklace, the hospital bands, the ceremonial dagger and the wand. She was quiet and didn't say very much after that. They made love once more and fell asleep.
In the morning they both agreed the sweat hut sounded like a good idea. They laughed as they sat in the steam and told stories as the sweat ran off them. They dared each other to run outside and roll in the snow and run back in. To the amazement of several onlookers they were both crazy enough to do it although their hair was frozen all most immediately once they made it out side. Once was enough and the next trip was to get their clothes. It was refreshing and did put them in a good mood.
Becca made up her mind to take the stage at the talent show. She was a surprising gymnast and did some cart wheels, head stands and hand springs that showed just how good of shape she was really in. She topped it off with a back flip that brought cheers.
Then it was Tobal's turn. In desperation Tobal painted his face and did a pantomime routine about claiming sanctuary, how bad the food and water was, how it took his things and did the med exam. He pantomimed all of it down to taking a shower without clothing much to the hoots and laughter of the crowd after they finally realized what he was doing. The newbies especially thought it was funny and everyone had a good laugh out of it. Later people came up and said how they had enjoyed it.
Next on the stage were Nick and Tara. Tara had gotten Nick as drummer and did a strip dance for the entire group to enthusiastic applause.
Tobal and Becca talked with them after the show. Nick and Tara looked happy together. They had settled for the winter at her base camp and Nick had done lots of heavy work getting things ready for the winter. Tara boasted they even had enough firewood already cut to last through the winter. Nick had made stone axes for both of them and they had worked at it till it was all done. Nick flushed at the praise but there was a quiet glow of acceptance in knowing he had earned it. Tobal realized Nick had matured a lot in just the few months since he had worked with him and known him. Sometimes relationships did that to a person. Nick had shown his stone axes at the talent show earlier.
The celebration was not all fun and games though. The Ox showed up for the Yule party, he had two chevrons and was boasting about beating Rafe which almost got him into a fight there. Rafe was well liked and no one likes a bully. Especially one that rubs things in. After a bit he stuck with some of the rowdier Journeymen and concentrated on getting drunk. Drunken Journeymen brought their own share of problems into the camp. That week the entire camp went through the emergency beer supply and ran out. Tobal thought that might be one of the reasons people decided to start the cold journeys back to their own base camps by the end of the fourth day.
Nikki was planning to try for another newbie. She was determined to at least try training in the winter time and see if it suited her or not. She really didn't look forward to spending the entire winter partnering with anyone and was trying to avoid it if she could. She liked both training and the solitude of being alone at times. She already had two chevrons and was tied with Becca and Melanie. Having a little fun at the parties once a month was just fine for her. She wanted to be a citizen and didn't want to waste precious months and years camping out in the woods like Wayne and Char. Tobal had noticed Nikki really seemed to not like Wayne and Char for some reason and couldn't figure out why.
Melanie and Becca were competative enough that they hated the thought of Nikki advancing ahead of them and someone needed to train this month's newbies. All three girls tried talking him into going to sanctuary with them but he really felt like he needed a break. There had been too much happening and he needed some time to sort things out. Especially about Becca and himself.
Who knows why one person gives up and dies while another struggles on through overwhelming odds and comes out on top? We all want to survive. But are we willing to do what needs to be done?
Anarchistic Knights-a serialadventure is a fiction story based upon survivalism values and principles. Survivalism is not fiction! It is real and the challenges we face in today's world require self empowerment training.
OAK:Foundations-a serialadventure gives the basics for modern survivalism and self empowerment techniques. Empower yourself today!
OAK:Tarot of Love and Romance is about the energy dynamics of love and human relationships. Why love sparks and why it sometimes dies. Can any of us really survive without love?
OAK:Magister Templi shows how modern science and chaos theory are compatable with advanced metaphysical concepts. Science is not in conflict with paranormal and supernatural activity.
OAK:Magick,Mystery and Madness is my own personal book of shadows. If you are interested in magick and energy work this is the place!
Alligator Alley:Modern Survivalism places the ancient knowledge of the Rosicrucians and Freemasons into modern context. Universal truths can be restated many ways but remain valid.
Today's suggested survivalism site is:
Functional Strength
- Endurance - Explosive Power - Trigger your warrior instinct with The Warrior Workout Video with Ori Hofmekler! click here
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