Chapter 21: Getting to know each other

Minor

After we had finished eating, I looked around to get my bearings. "Come on, there's some water nearby." I stood up and offered my hand to my partner.

He looked up at me, still playing with a couple of the small animals. I was glad they made him feel welcomed, and that he seemed to enjoy their company. But I suppose that wasn't surprising; despite everything, he still had a soft heart.

"What's that sweet look for?" He asked, trying to hide a small embarrassed smile as he shooed the animals in his lap away and stood.

"Nothing, just... it's kinda crazy how much I love you."

His face turned slightly red and I chuckled as I gathered up the blanket and grabbed his hand before turning and leading him towards the stream.

"I mean, I know that's how it works, but it still feels weird. Even though we've only known each other for a few days, I feel like... like I've known you forever. You make me feel... well, whole." I looked back and smiled at him. His face seemed troubled. I gripped his hand tighter and stood on my toes to kiss his cheek.

"Don't worry. I know this must be a lot to take in. You can process your feelings in your own time." I started walking again, keeping hold of him with one hand and holding the bundled blanket under my other arm. "I'm still getting used to all this myself."

"It's not that I don't know how I feel. I do." He stopped walking and pulled me around to look at him, his face serious. "I've just never felt anything even close to this before. I don't really know what to do. Honestly, I'm still reeling from the fact that you want anything to do with me."

"Still?" I smiled softly, wanting nothing more than for him to understand how I felt, and why he was wonderful. "Because to me, it feels impossible not to love you. You'll get used to it." I chuckled, giving him another peck on the cheek and turning to walk again. It honestly didn't bother me that he still wasn't comfortable enough to say that he loved me as well. That would surely come with time.

***

Qualin

As Minor turned away from me again, his hand still in mine and the feel of his last kiss lingering on my cheek, I didn't know what to do with the feelings stirring in my chest.

All I could do was grab him, wrapping my arms around him from behind and kissing the top of his head.

He giggled and pressed back against me. I was suddenly very aware of the fact that we were still naked.

"Whoa! Hold on." He giggled even louder as he pulled away, spinning around and gripping both my hands in his. "Let's at least go get a drink first." He started pulling me along again.

"Alright, guess I don't want you to get dehydrated. Though right now, I've got a different kind of thirst." I gave a playful smile.

"Haha, alright, come on." he started pulling again, bending down to grab the blanket he'd dropped.

"Where did that come from, anyways?" I asked as we began to walk.

"The blanket? I made it. Same as when I make clothes for myself." I saw his gaze turn to me and his eyes looked up and down my bare body. I smiled a little, rather confident and pleased by the slight blush in his cheeks. However, he seemed determined not to be too distracted and quickly turned away before adding, "I'll make you new clothes before we leave."

"That's a pretty handy ability. So, can you make whatever you want, or...?"

"Only natural materials. Like hide, fur, leather... hide can be treated so it's soft with natural body oils and fats, so I create those too, already in the hide, so ta-da!" He giggled and shrugged and we reached a little stream then he changed direction to follow it.

"And you can just create the material out of nothing?"

"No... it's made from my energy... same as generating new skin or a limb. I just control the shape, and exact tissues, including extra oils in the hide to make it soft and sturdy."

"So... it's basically made of your skin?"

He giggled. "Well, technically... the fur is the same color and pattern when I'm that particular species... and it smells like me... but it's not like it was ever attached to my body. The energy used also becomes unstable if it's far away from me, and will breakdown pretty quickly, which is why it's best to take it with us so I don't have to make another one."

"Huh." That was a bit complicated. I clearly still had a lot to learn about my new partner.

"Here we go!" Minor dropped my hand and knelt next to a small pool of water the stream was emptying into.

It was only a body length or so wide and the water then continued to spill over the rocks to another pool. Glancing around, I could see several other small streams gathering into similar pools, creating a network of at least a dozen pools, all connected. Small, bioluminescent plants lit up around the edges. It was a rather beautiful scene.

"You chose quite the spot." I knelt next to Minor with a wry smile. "You trying to romance me?"

The look of genuine surprise and embarrassment on his face was almost too much.

"Oh... um... well... what's wrong with that?" His face was red.

"Nothing." I chuckled. "You're so damn cute, and innocent. I'm just messing with you." I traced my fingers down his neck and tickled a sensitive spot just above his collar bone.

He giggled, then suddenly threw his arms around my neck. "I'm gonna take you to all kinds of amazing and 'romantic' places. Anywhere you want to go." He gently kissed my lips and I wrapped arms around his waist.

"I feel spoiled already."

He began to purr and nuzzled under my chin. A cool breeze sent a sudden shiver down my spine.

"I can take us somewhere warmer right now, if you'd like?" He pulled back, looking a little too concerned.

I couldn't help a chuckle. "Nah, I'm fine. it's not that cold." I gave him a gentle push and he fell back into the pool with a splash. I laughed out loud as he sputtered and splashed back to the surface

"Oh, you wanna play?" He laughed, looking rather mischievous. Then he suddenly leapt up, grabbing my arm and pulling with a surprising amount of strength. I barely had time to realize I had forgotten how strong he was before I plunged into the cool water. His lithe form was so deceptive.

The water was only about waist deep, so I twisted around and braced my feet as well as I could on the smooth stone bottom and pulled Minor under.

The grey haze of dawn couldn't penetrate very deep into the water, so the pool looked black, except for the swirl of energy surrounding us. With little other life or light around us, I noticed that the energy emanating from Minor shimmered more brightly than I had ever seen, like the purest gold and silver. It was mesmerizing.

I watched Minor's fingers begin to trace the threads of my copper-colored energy. The touch sent a shiver through my body; he was learning how to manipulate the energy. This was somewhat dangerous for a novice, especially one so powerful, but I knew he was a rather talented individual. A feeling of complete trust washed over me and I let my body float freely in the water as he gently tugged and pulled at the threads.

Honestly, it had been many years since I'd spent time around someone like me. I rarely saw other beastlings, and then it was usually in passing, and since we had different owners, there was always a sense of mistrust and drive for self-preservation. So, despite knowing we weren't actually the same species, having someone able to see and interact with the energy threads the way I could, felt surprisingly comforting and intimate.

It didn't take long before my lungs began to burn for air, but I wanted this moment to last a little longer. His fingers moved so delicately, sending pleasant sensations throughout my body. I had forgotten this sort of manipulation was possible. For so long I had only used this gift for combat and survival. Did he even realize what he was doing?

Before giving in to the need for air, I reached out and wove my fingers through several of his golden threads, strumming them and pulling a few taught. They shimmered and his back arched at the sensation I'd sent down his spine. A few bubbles escaped his mouth as I sent another wave down his front side. Admittedly, I was a bit more aggressive than he had been, but he didn't seem to mind.

Minor's arms went around my neck and he pressed his mouth against mine as he wrapped his legs around my waist. I kissed him deeply, massaging his tongue with mine, working my way as far as I could reach. My hands ran up his well muscles thighs to his ass before I finally stood to my feet, bringing our heads above the water for air. We both took a few breaths before he began licking and kissing me, tracing my neck and jawline with his tongue before finding my mouth again.

His touch was the best feeling in the world.

***

Minor

I wrapped my legs tightly around Qualin, feeling comfortable and weightless in the water and his arms. His kisses felt so good! His taste, his scent, the feel of his skin. I wanted more.

I felt the firmness between my legs return. He was the same. My body reacted on its own, moving to allow him inside me again. A shudder shook my whole body and a quivering moan that surprised me a little, escaped. It was getting easier, but also more sensitive. Like my body was learning what to expect and anticipating the pleasure.

The energy manipulation he had done under water also seemed to be effecting my body, like most of the soreness was gone and my blood and energy were flowing more freely. I reached into his mind and felt his excitement, as well as his delight that my manipulations had apparently had a similar affect. I pressed my feelings of pleasure into his mind, almost desperate for him to know how good I felt and how badly I wanted him.

"Whoa." He pulled back slightly, but only for a moment, closing his eyes and leaning into the mental connection. He laughed lightly, "Damn, I do love your enthusiasm."

He gripped my hips tighter as he began to thrust. The motion caused him to lose balance on the slick rocks and we stumbled slightly to the edge of the pool. I giggled and continued to kiss and pull him into me. It was strangely exciting being pinned between him and the rocks, and he was happy to take advantage of the leverage.

"You alright?" He asked, his voice straining as he bit back a moan, his breath becoming heavy as he repeatedly thrust into me with more force than he'd used previously. "I don't want to hurt you..."

"You won't!" I shook my head and clung to his neck, overwhelmed with my need for him. Nothing he could do would hurt. "Don't...don't hold back. Mmmm! Just...a little...Harder!" My words came between heavy breaths, mixed with moans and calls of pleasure.

He responded, grabbing hold of the edge of the pool with one hand and digging his fingers into my thigh with the other as he slammed into me harder and faster.

I didn't care if the whole forest heard me. Ecstacy spread through my body and delight filled my mind as he kept going. My only thought was to encourage my lover. My lover, my partner, my other half as we joined as one. I nuzzled his temple and crooned as I pulled him tighter against me. I could feel the mix of his delight at the closeness, and his frustration that his movements were somewhat restrained.

After a few moments, his urge to use his full strength won out and he grabbed my hands and shoved me back. He lifted me out of the pool to sit on the edge, then pinned me back against the ground while he stood in the water, leaning over me as he began thrusting even harder.

I lifted my legs to my chest and relaxed as I submitted, thrilled to let him do as he pleased for as long as he wanted.

***

Qualin

I felt good. Strong and energized. And fuck, did he turn me on! At first, I was still worried about hurting him. This was still only our first night together. His first night of sex. Though, it was morning now. How long had we been here? And how many times did this make?

And his enthusiasm had only increased. I finally realized that I didn't need to treat him like he'd break. And he was obviously thrilled. I also realized that this guy was going to wear me the fuck out. I suddenly felt determined to wear him out first.

I resisted finishing as I felt him reach his climax, his body quivering and writhing as I continued thrusting. He moaned and wrapped his legs around my waist.

He came over and over, several times in just his ass. Twice from his cock. Then I turned him around so he was on his belly, his legs dangling in the water. I wanted every side of him. I ran my hands up and down his back and worked my way back inside him. His voice called out, sounding weaker, but still pleased. The strange sensation of his mind and thoughts in my head had also devolved to a low hum of pleasure.

The new position seemed to entice him, however, and he arched and squirmed under me. I held him down, gripping his shoulder with one hand while using the other to steady his hips. I got the impression he liked being dominated.

His voice trilled as he writhed, his body lifting up as he came again, his ass pulsing and his tail twitching. I couldn't resist any longer and finally let myself cum, reaching around and stroking his cock a few times to make him spill out again as I filled him.

When I finally pulled out, Minor actually had to help me out of the water; my legs felt so weak. At least he also seemed exhausted and satisfied. we both fell against the soft moss and I pressed against his back, wrapping my arms around his waist and not caring if we passed out right there. Somehow, he managed to reach back and pull the blanket over us, then seemed just as content to snuggle up and fall asleep again.