The Amazon's Valley

[Kaena]

I could feel my anger rising as we walked back to my cabin at the sound of the painful cries of the man that we had left at Ariana's mercy. I was angry with Ariana for what she was doing to the poor man, but mostly I was angry with myself for not putting an end to it. I could the tension in Theron's body and I was sure he was feeling the same way, however, he was in some way helpless in doing anything about the situation. I only the other hand had been in a position to say something and yet once again I had conceded to Ariana. My body visibly shook with barely contained anger as another scream filled the cool nights air. It was more my shame of what was happening over my need to get away from the sounds that made me move faster, pulling Theron along with me. The cries soon faded in the distance, but the weight on my conscience would not go away.

I was so deep in my own thoughts that I barely realized we had arrived at my cabin until Theron stopped in front of it. Letting go of his arm, I swallowed slowly, trying to hide the emotion that seemed to burn beneath my skin. I watched in shocked silence as he spoke and then slowly lowered himself before me. I searched his eyes for any sign of deception, that his actions were just some kind of ploy to make me lower my defences, but all I could see in them was honest sincerety.

Reaching out, I placed my hand on his cheek, the feel of his warm skin against my palm calming my anger. I didn't know why, but in the extremely short time he had been with me, everything I seen about him and the way he was now submitting to me, seemed to touch something deep inside me and a feeling I had never felt before washed over me. Pulling my hand back as if I had been burned, I opened the cabin door and motioned him to follow me inside, away from the prying ears of Ariana's spies, who I am sure were lurking within hearing distance.

Once we were inside the cabin, I pulled the door shut and made my way across the room to where Gorol was still unconscious. I used the excuse of checking on Gorol to give me a moment to think of how to answer his question. What was it that I wanted of him? I had already told him that he was now my slave and he had finally submitted to me, but now I wasn't entirely sure where to go from here.

"The main thing I desire of you is complete obedience," I finally said, taking a deep breath and placing a cool cloth on Gorol's forehead as I spoke. "Besides the fact that you are now my slave, obedience will keep you from coming under Ariana's scrutiny. I am not entirely sure I could keep her from taking you away from me if she felt that I was not keeping you under control. As much as I am respected in this village, Ariana is still the leader and until that is changed, we both need to be careful not to draw her attention."

As scratch at the door followed by a low growl made me realize I had accidentally locked Kaiya out when I closed the door. Moving to open the door, I was met by the large cat's insulted look as she stalked into the room and flopped down on the floor beside Gorol's bed. Despite my amusement at the cat's antics, I was relieved by the interruption, knowing the words that would come out of my mouth next would be as hard for him to swallow as they would for me to say them.

"I can understand what you did in the square, however, it has put me in a rather precarious position," I finally said, leaning down to run my hands through Kaiya's hair to calm me. "I had to make Ariana believe that you would be punished for your actions, even if I agreed with them and if she doesn't believe I have followed through on my word, I shudder at the thought of what she may do to you. Some of the women in this village, Ariana being one of them, do not take it lightly for another woman or her slave to interfere with any punishment that they bestow on their slaves. Anyone who steps out of line with their selfious and ignorant rules are punished quickly and ruthlessly and any sign of weakness is a opening for them to take matters in their own hands."

With a shuddering sigh, I raised my eyes to meet Theron's, hoping he could see that I did not want to do what I was about to do. "I took you through the village to try to show you how different I am from the other women," I said, motioning for him to come forward. "But, in order to protect us both, I need to punish you for what you have done."

 

[Veroe]

IC: Theron

We eventually arrived back at her cabin. “Alright, I understand that trying to escape and getting caught is a very bad idea, Lyta.” I told her. “I will submit to you, but only to you.” I lowered slowly keeping my eyes on hers so she could see the sincerity to my words. “What do you desire of me, Mistress?”

She reached out then and placed her hand on my cheek, it was the first most affectionate gesture I had recieved in a long, long time. It touched me in a way that I had never experienced before. Not since I had left my home and my mother had any woman touched me so tenderly.

She pulled back as if touching me stung her. Confused I watched as she slipped inside. at her beckoning I rose back up and followed her inside.

"Lyta," I asked softly wanting to ask her why she had recoiled from me.

She didn't answer. She crossed the room and took a moment in silence to doublecheck Gorol who still slept soundly on his cot. I allowed her the time she needed standing where I stood waiting for her to finish the task she was busy with.

"The main thing I desire of you is complete obedience," She told me at last.

"Compete Obedience," I repeated testing the words on my tongue. I didn't much like the taste they left there.

"Besides the fact that you are now my slave, obedience will keep you from coming under Ariana's scrutiny. I am not entirely sure I could keep her from taking you away from me if she felt that I was not keeping you under control. As much as I am respected in this village, Ariana is still the leader and until that is changed, we both need to be careful not to draw her attention."

"And I just drew her scrutiny right on top of us," I put in forlornly.

She let in the panther and I watched as it padded over beside Gorol's cot and lazily lied down for a nap.

"I can understand what you did in the square, however, it has put me in a rather precarious position," She said, "I had to make Ariana believe that you would be punished for your actions, even if I agreed with them and if she doesn't believe I have followed through on my word, I shudder at the thought of what she may do to you. Some of the women in this village, Ariana being one of them, do not take it lightly for another woman or her slave to interfere with any punishment that they bestow on their slaves. Anyone who steps out of line with their selfious and ignorant rules are punished quickly and ruthlessly and any sign of weakness is a opening for them to take matters in their own hands."

"So how do we fix it," He asked.

"I took you through the village to try to show you how different I am from the other women," She said peering into my eyes. Within them I saw a depth of regret and resolve that was stirring. She motioned me to stand before her continuing, "But, in order to protect us both, I need to punish you for what you have done."

I looked into her eyes as she said it. I could tell she didn't want to do it, but we both knew it was necessary. I nodded slowly, "Then do it and be done with it." I told her. "Do not worry, Lyta, I have been punished many times before. None of the scars on my back are from battle."