The Beast Lands

Amon and Kevin

Amon finally found a traveler that could identify the markings that killed the snake beastman. Thanks to Amon's artistic skills and his memory he was able to tell the traveling primate beast the details of the corpse. According to the primate, the markings were similar to the scorpion tribe, a breed of beastment that practiced exclusivity and did not mate outside of their kind.

Amon began a new type of search, he needed to find the scorpion and tribe in hopes that Madison was there. The primate indicated that there once was a tribe of scorpions about four days traveling east from the village. Amon went home to tell Kaden and Taylor, and love on the precious girls before going.

Though the girls were growing fast, they still looked tiny in his large hands. Lucky that Taylor and Kaden had speed, or the girls would have already explored the entire village and caused chaos to the poor boys. They couldn't stop chewing on the fur of the young cubs, much to the embarrassment of the dads.

The girls front teeth were in, but their back teeth were not yet, and the gums were inflamed. The girls found that the chewy fur of the young cubs soothed the inflammation, so they chewed anytime they could get their grubby little hands on a cub. Amber's cubs were the main victims, after their play dates the fur would be wet and sloppy.

Amon gave the girls a hug and kissed their  tiny forehead, then left in his beast form. The demonic aura radiated from his body and kept predators away as he sought the scorpion tribe.

He did not find the tribe, they found him once they felt him in their territory.  A contingency of ten scorpion beasts surrounded Amon, their tails poised and leaking their venom.

The tense atmosphere was increased when Amon lacked any fear, the scorpion beastmen were accustomed to outsiders cowering. Instead of bowing down or showing deference to the surrounding group, Amon changed into his human form, and put on his leather skirt made by Madison, all with a relaxed flair that made the scorpions feel a smidgen of respect towards the demon.

When Amon finished dressing he looked at the surrounding beasts, "I would like to talk to you, my mate is missing, and the beast who took her was killed by a scorpion beast man."

A scorpion to his right transformed into his human form in order to talk with Amon. "We don't have any outside females here. But...I'll take you to the chief, he may be able to help you." So saying he led Amon deeper in the jungle, the other scorpions left to monitor the territory.

The walk was quiet, the two men did not say anything more to each other. The nude man walking next to him was a symbol of his single status. Amon observed him, wondering if all the scorpion tribe had such dark sepia toned skin.

Entering the tribe, Amon's musings were answered. The tribe were all various shades of sepia, the females had black as midnight hair that flowed down to their shoulders. The men had various shades of black and grays. The scorpion led Amon over to an older beastman with piercing brown eyes. Bowing towards the man, "Chief, this beast's mate is missing and would like to ask some questions" so saying, he walked away leaving the demon with the chief and several elders when the older chief indicated his approval.

Amon smiled, "I pay my respects to the chief" and waited until he was invited to sit. The chief motioned to a boulder for Amon to sit on.

"I don't think I can help you, we don't have outsiders living here" he chuckled without meaning "you are the first outsider that has been granted permission to enter our tribe in a very long time."

Amon adjusted his seating until he felt comfortable then recanted what happened to Madison, his hunt, the dead snake beastment, the primate beastman that was finally able to give him a hint, his trek to their tribe, all of it. The hope in his eyes never diminished as he told the chief about the girls and how much they missed their mom. The chief listened, as well as the elders. Their faces grew darker as he spoke. It was an act of cowardice to take a female from her babies.

"My son, Kevin, was temporarily banished a year ago. He is the next chief, but refused his...responsibilities. During his banishment, he is not allowed to leave our territory unless it is to hunt. The area you indicated that the snake beastman was killed is outside of our territory, but not by much. It is possible that he could have rescued your mate..."the chief sat for a while thinking whether he should help this beastman or go find his son himself. It would spell disaster if he mates with this outsider. As he sat thinking, the female that caused so many problems for his family could be heard as she yelled at her other mates.

She was the daughter of his second in command, a strong lineage that would make their tribe stronger with their offspring.

Her attitude was from all of them, they allowed her to act this way. Kevin as an alpha...was not in a disposition to be talked down upon. When he refused her, the shame she felt made her treat her other mates even more harsh. She didn't learn.

Hearing her sharp tones helped the chief decide. He nodded his head, "I will draw you a map of the surrounding caves, if he has her, you should be able to find them." So  saying he quickly drew a map in the dirt. He would not provide a physical map, as it would compromise the territory, so Amon would need to memorize what he saw and what was said.

Amon listened with purposeful intent, his red eyes glowing with fiery orbs as he watched the stick move. When the chief was done he bowed and thanked them, then left to find the first cave.

It took Amon three days and six caves before he found his sleeping mate in the arms of the scorpion beastman. Her leg was wrapped with a splint and he could smell the new mating mark in the air.

Her sleeping face brought peace, finally, to his ravaged heart. He exited the cave to wait for them to wake up, he did not want to startle the scorpion and possibly cause Madison harm.  Amon decided to go hunt while the new couple slept, his heart a bit heavy as he wanted to grab her and hold her tightly.

Madison smelled cooking meat and heard the sizzling as the fat dropped into the flames. She was wrapped tightly in Kevin's arms, he was awake, and knew that the beast outside was her mate, he could smell her on his skin. He felt regret that their time alone had ended, he was planning on taking her back to her village in two or three days, but now that 'he' was here, they could leave today.

Madison had yet to connect the cooking with one of her mates and smiled up into Kevin's face, kissing his lips with tenderness. "Good morning" she felt shy, it was her state of mind that removed her inhibitions and allowed her to follow what her heart wanted. The more Kevin had taken care of her, the more she fell in love with him, but she had promised Kaden that she would decide with them if she ever got another mate. She felt conflicted, regret at breaking her promise, but hope for her expanding family...she also decided not to use the m*******a plant anymore unless her mates were around, her body became too needy in such a state. Especially now that she knew how much pleasure could be found in the act.

Amon heard Madison's voice and rushed into the cave, he saw her beautiful blue eyes and tender smile looking at the scorpion, then her look of extreme happiness as she looked at him. Tears began to fall from her baby blues, making tracks down her dusty cheeks. "Amon!" she yelled as her hands raised for him to grab her.

Madison was so happy to see Amon and be back in his arms again that she forgot about the pain from her broken leg. While the couple talked and held each other, Kevin got up to finish the cooking and relieve himself. He could wait to be introduced officially, but Kevin already knew this beast from Madison.

He wanted to feel happy for her, but it was never easy for mates to acclimate, and this beast looked strong. He did not want to fight with any of her mates, but he would not be pushed out of the family either.

While Kevin pondered on all the negative aspects that could happen and the fighting that occured with the females mates, the couple inside talked about everything that happened while she was gone.

Madison felt joy in learning that Ginger was walking, and fear hearing that Misty was climbing, what if she hurt herself! Overall Madison felt the need to see her family and to bring Kevin into their lives. After hearing about his tribe, she wanted him to experience all the good things that a mate should do and be.

Keven brought them some of the cooked meat and started to leave when Madison grabbed his hand, "Can you stay and eat with us? This is my mate Amon...Amon, this is my mate Kevin."

Kevin was still waiting for something, but not sure what. His entire worldview was knocked on its ass when Amon stood up and hugged him. "Thank you for taking care of my soulmate. Please eat with us brother."

Madison's face lit up, and her smile grew as her mates sat next to each other, and began talking. In her old life, she often joked that her "picker" was broken and that was why she could never find a boyfriend. Sitting in the cave with dustmotes in the sunlight she realized her picker had never been broken, she was just in the wrong place!

The three talked and ate, discussing plans on going back to the village. "I will need to make a stop before I can leave...I need to go back to my tribe and introduce Madison to my family. We can then go to your village." The joy in his eyes diminished with his words. The temporary banishment would turn into a permanent one, and his mother would be upset, his father would be angry. He looked over at Madison's beautiful and exotic blue eyes and her delicious curves. She was mellow tempered and funny to boot. He was not upset over losing his tribe, he was upset that his family would never know how amazing his mate was.

What took Amon days hunting for the right cave took Kevin only hours. His shortcuts through the jungle and their speed, even carrying some of his furs and other essential items did not slow down the men. Amon carried Madison in his large arms while Kevin carried his belongings. The men listened to her as she sang or told jokes. Knowing that she would soon see her girls and other mates had her happy and talkative.

Amon loved it most when she sang, it reminded him of when the girls were just born and how she would sing them to sleep as they suckled. She had a beautiful singing voice that made one want to stop and listen.

When they walked into the center of the tribe, the unmated males stayed in their scorpion forms and turned around. The mated men stayed by their mates, looking over at the three. Kevin's mom watched as he neared, tears of sadness falling, her son had mated an outsider. The chief looked at Kevin with anger. Kevin kept walking until he was two feet from his parents, a huge smile gracing his face.

"Mom, dad, this is Madison, my mate" the pride in his voice was heard throughout as he raised his voice for all to hear.

Tanya heard his claim, her face paled. He would rather claim an outsider than her? She felt so much anger that her body moved before she knew what was going on. She ran to Kevin and began hitting him with her full force, cutting his face with her nails as she screamed her spittle flying from her mouth.

Madison was in so much shock, she was suspended in Amon's arms with her mouth open. The last time she saw such a site was on the subway train in New York as a mentally unstable homeless lady attacked the police! Her eyes found Amon, who was looking at the scene with a low flame of anger. He would not lay his hands on a female, but his female was injured, and it was her right to stop this abuse.

Amon looked down at his mate and saw her look of disbelief and shock, her body still recovering. He could not allow her body to be injured further, but he had to put a stop to the abuse that Kevin was suffering. She was not his mate and did not have any rights to touch a mated male. Her actions were unspeakable. The scorpion tribe was in as much shock as Madison, unable to comprehend what she was doing."Enough of this theatrics!" Amon's dominating voice reverberated, halting the abuse from Tanya. With his words the tribe sighed. Madison could demand compensation under their laws-and ask for the death of one of her mates, the chief waited to hear her demands, but none were forthcoming.

With blood dripping from his face, Kevin turned around to Madison and kissed her cheek, grabbed his things and walked off. Amon followed as Tanya covered her face in shame. His lack of reaction and turning his back on her was the most severe form of disrespect, and he did it in front of the entire tribe. First he refused to become her mate, then he chose an outsider, finally he dismissed her in front of everyone. Her mates were looking down at the ground, her shame was their shame; and they were relieved that Kevin's mate did not ask for reparations.

With envy in their eyes, they watched as Kevin's female moved into his arms and wiped off the blood, kissing his face and cooing loving words to him.  The three left the tribe with the full attention on them. Several unmated beasts were tempted to follow the female, her tenderness an aphrodisiac, but seeing the demon beast next to her and their ex-future alpha walking with her, they stayed put. Everybody felt that his mate was an exceptional female, the chief was secretly happy for his son. Kevin's mom was already making plans to visit, she wanted to get to know this female more. The few minutes in the tribe was just enough to wet her curiosity. Kevin's mom faced it up with excitement as she turned to her mates.

"I have an idea" her animated voice was tinged with mischief.