"Do you see that?" Mason pointed. "He just killed a man! Shouldn't we intervene?"
"No. You touch them, and they come back with an army," Amie replied. "You don't want the entire village to be annihilated after you've gone, do you?"
"No, not when we kill all of them without letting anyone escape to rat us out," Mason replied.
"That's not all of them," Mia said, nodding toward the village. "Some of them are hiding somewhere, watching. Any form of retaliation would lead to our downfall."
'That's right,' Mason thought. 'Intervening would only reveal my identity. If these animals recognize my scent, then I must remain hidden.'
"But you can't let this continue to go on," he said, devastated that he couldn't offer help. Not that he would fight them, but at least scare them away with his 'Devarna' stuff.
"They're probably still here because what we offered didn't satisfy them," Mia said. "Those greedy bastards!"
"And that's because you guys gave everything to me," Mason said. "One of you should go down there and settle them. Give them the provisions you arranged for me. You guys can harvest more as long as you're still alive."
"Are you sure about this?" Amie queried.
"What do you mean by 'am I sure'?" Mason frowned. "Your people are going to die if this drags on. Get down there and give them what they want."
Mason saw Amie blush. She stood up and smiled sheepishly.
"I'll go tell my father to give half of your provisions to the Hissers," she said and descended into the village.
"You guys look too calm for people who have dangerous guests," Mason said as he watched Amie walk past the snake-men and approach a dwindled figure in the distance, possibly her father.
"Calm?" Mia scoffed. "As we said earlier, this is a common occurrence. It doesn't surprise or scare us anymore."
"You guys are not afraid of death?"
Mia chuckled. Her brows raised and she edged. "There is he, the old man."
Mason followed her gaze, and his eyes caught Daniel staring in their direction. He must not have seen them, because he tilted his head to look closely.
Finally, Amie pulled him toward their house, thankfully stopping the old man from giving them away.
"Protect my sister. I know you would, but I still feel like asking," Mia said. She turned to meet Mason's confused gaze, and quickly, she looked away.
"I'm not sure I understand," Mason said. "Care for a little elaboration?"
"You're going to choose my sister as your woman," Mia stated. "And my father thinks you're from Detrie. He believed she'd be safe as long as you're going back to the city."
Mason tilted his head, clearly still confused. He tried to look her in the eyes but she wasn't looking at him.
"I'm not going to ask you about your identity," she continued. "I know you're a good man, and you'd protect my sister no matter the cost."
"And what makes you so sure I would choose your sister over you?" Mason asked, finally getting where Mia was heading.
"Because I'm asking. My sister likes you, and she wishes to fulfill her dreams… with you."
"Her dreams?"
"She wishes to marry an adventurer."
"Haha, adventurer indeed. I'm embarking on a dangerous quest, I might even lose my life."
"Exactly how my sister wants it," Mia chuckled. "Our uncle, when he was still alive, told us his encounters during his adventures around Africlaux. Ever since then, my sister has taken a liking to the job."
"She wanted to explore the world, see and learn new things, and grow stronger—with her partner of course."
"Huh, aren't you guys scared for your life?" Mason wondered. "She would risk her life just for fun? Does she have a spare life?"
"Most people who try to protect their lives more than anything end up losing them, and those who make risky decisions tend to live longer," Mia said. "It's a life wasted if she doesn't fulfill her dreams."
"And do you know what I call that?"
"Yes. Suicidal," Mia snickered. Mason laughed, causing her to migrate from her snicker to laughter.
Their eyes met, and their laughter slowly subsided. Their faces are getting closer, bodies tensed.
They were less than an inch apart when Mason broke off his gaze. "We shouldn't do this when I'm choosing your sister," he said, almost in a whisper.
"She will have you from tomorrow on," said Mia. "I'll regret it if I don't do this after giving you up for her." She pulled Mason closer and her lips collided with his.
… But I must implore, young man. If it ends up coming to 'that', please don't lay both of my daughters…
Daniel's words came to Mason. However, he shoved it aside. It's not like he was going to have anything to do with that baby-face girl.
The kiss deepened, and Mason found Mia running her fingers down his navel.
Looking for my dragon, eh? He thought. Mia broke free from the kiss, took his hand, and pulled him along with her as she ran deep into the bush.
After running for some seconds they finally stopped at an area filled with tall grasses about waist level. Mia wrapped her hand around Mason's neck and continued the kiss, this time more intense and vigorous.
She's gonna eat my lips, Mason thought.
He pulled back, then engaged again, reaching for her neck. She moaned softly as she began to take off her clothes. Mason helped her, and the clothes were soon on the ground.
"Whoa!" Mason whispered as he beheld the spectacular body. Mia smiled. She then lunged forward and kissed him again, unbuttoning his shirt.
Mason pulled back his body to take off his jacket while maintaining the lips-works. Mia finished unbuttoning his clothes and Mason took off his pants.
"Gods!" Mia gasped as she saw Mason's manhood. Her gasp was cut in her throat as Mason attacked with his lips, crashing against hers.
The grasses groaned under their weights as they both lied on the ground, facing each other. Losing her patience, and not wanting to waste any more time, Mia pulled Mason atop her.
She grabbed his tarse and positioned it for a mighty thrust, while Mason ran his hand about her chest, down to her breasts. She let out a deep moan and pushed up her chest in ecstasy.
The first thrust was a failure, and Mason admitted it must have been her first time experiencing something like that. However, she was too good to be considered inexperienced either.
After many failed attempts, and Mason about to lose interest, it finally slid in. Only about half, though. "Thank goodness," he whispered.
Mia let out a low squeal and rolled her eyes. Slowly, and carefully not to overwhelm her, Mason began to go in and out.
Her scratchings and her akin-to-groan sound, which Mason was unsure if it was of pain or pleasure, grew louder, synchronizing with Mason's rhythmic movements.
Mason thrust deep, with his full length, all the way up. Her gasps were caught in her throat as Mason clashed his lips with hers. Mia broke free and let out a deep groaning sound before slapping Mason's bottom cheeks, spurring him in.
"Gods, yes!"
"You're going to kill me, Mason," she breathed. "You're going to kill me with your huge–huh! Yes! Right there!"
"Yes, I'm gonna kill you," Mason said affirmatively. "All the gods are enjoying watching me kill you with this."
"Kill me then, kill me… huh! Huh! Yes!"
Finally, Mason reached his climax, and by then, Mia's body began to quiver. She let out a deep gasp as her legs trembled in the air.
"Mason! Mia!"
Both Mason and Mia paused when they heard their names. They raised their heads in the direction of the voice. It was definitely Amie. Has it really been that long since they started making love?
Mason glanced over and saw Amie staring in their direction. His heart began to race as he quickly grabbed his clothes. Mia seemed scared too, keeping her body low to the ground.
Instead of approaching them directly, Amie turned and called out their names while moving in another direction. Mason peeked around and saw her disappear from view.
"She's gone. Let's hurry," he told Mia, and they both hurried to put their clothes back on.
"I think she saw us," Mia said nervously.
"I don't think so," Mason replied confidently. "I'm sure of it."
"She could have walked straight toward us, but instead, she went the other way."
"There must have been a reason for that."
"If you say so," Mia said, waving her hand dismissively.
Mason sighed, stood up, and scanned the area once more. When he was sure no one was in sight, he signaled to Mia, and they both returned to a raised spot overlooking the village.
They waited for a while before Amie reappeared. "I was looking for you two," she said. "The Hissers are gone. We can go back now."
After delivering her message, she walked past them and headed down into the village. Mason and Mia exchanged a glance before following her, leading their mounts alongside them.