The Land Below our Feet COMPLETE

DEPARTURE

It was still dark when Souna felt Ussi start stirring around behind her. She rolled on her back to find him seated at the edge of the bed. His large frame surrounded by shadows, but still perceptible in the darkness.

-Stay – She begged, reaching for his back, and running her fingers down his skin, feeling it contract at her touch and an involuntary quiver run down his spine.

-It's almost dawn – The Yahurian sighed. Turning towards her and searching for her face. Soon finding her lips, pecking them briefly – We are leaving.

-I know – She exhaled sharply, pulling him towards her and holding him tightly with a sudden melancholic yearn – I just want you to hold me for a little longer.

He wrapped his strong arms around her and kissed her again, deeper this time, his tongue consuming her with a feral hunger. His hands traveling down her back and clasping her rounded buttocks, lifting her up easily and carrying her all the way across the room, pinning her body against the cold surface of a wall.

As he held her in place, licking her neck lasciviously. She reached for his erected protrusion and directed its tip towards her entrance. A low growl vibrating inside his chest as he pushed himself profoundly into her, making her scream in an achy, yet pleasuring sensation.

Souna´s arms encircled his neck while she hooked her legs around his swaying hips, narrowing her eyes as the dim early clarity seeped faintly through the closed curtain, back-lighting his outstanding shape. Her sight fighting to focus past the outline of his shadowed features.

Her fingers tracing thirstily every inch of his face, her brain and hand intending to fill in the gaps, to recreate the missing pieces… And store every single detail as best as she could, deep inside her heart.

The evidently high cheekbones… The vague trace of a square jaw line and a strong chin. The ever-glowing pupils piercing through her and making her forget about everything and everyone else as he pounded her mercilessly against the harsh stone surface.

When she felt her orgasm nearing, she struggled to keep her eyes open, drinking from the obnubilated curve of his still indiscernible profile.

His member swelling inside her, the sound of his distracted moans giving her the final push to burst all around him, her eyes inevitably closing at her impending ecstasy and her legs wrapping tighter around him along with her pulsating s*x. A broad smile extended to her lips when she felt him stiffen and breathe out a curse, his body trembling against hers as he grunted loudly along with the last of his forceful thrusts.

She kept him close, holding his head against her neck, enjoying the warmth of his labored respiration while she panted and caught her own breath, feeling his final quivers subside. Her ears perking proudly at the sound of his residual involuntary moans.

By the time he carefully pulled himself out of her and placed her down, a faint bluish light had begun oozing into the room, but still not quite enough to catch a glimpse of anything more than his overshadowed contour.

Ussi gave her one last lengthy kiss, before turning around and reaching for his mask, swiftly putting it back on.

No longer after, Souna sat on the bed, nursing an obnoxious gloomy mood while the rising sun permeated brighter through the window, finally illuminating the warrior's full body as he finished getting dressed.

-I will see you in the field – He said, running a finger delicately down her cheek, spinning on his heels and heading for the door – Don't take too long. It's time to go.

-Yeah – Souna breathed out sadly, sitting in the silence of the room - I know.

The Yahurian was already barking orders when Souna came rushing out the gate, clumsily adjusting her clothing, securing her knives to her belt, and perching the large gun over her shoulder… Her hair messily flying out from a poorly tucked braid.

She hurried to stand in line beside Sehira´s crew. Ussiariah giving her such a reprimanding glance that made a million chills run down her spine at once.

-Glad you decided to join us at last…– He commented coldly, redirecting his attention to the rest of the army, resuming his litany – Attention! The time has come. We march today! Does everybody know what to do, and which group you have been assigned to?

-Yes Commander! – A multitude of voices replied in an impressive loud roar.

-Fine! What are you waiting for then? Move! – He ordered loudly – Let us free this land for good!

As on cue, a fairly big commotion ensued when the squads started slowly gathering and standing in formation.

Souna using this decisive moment to turn around and hug Sehira tightly, a few treacherous tears escaping from her eyes.

-You are different now, little one – Souna whimpered, pecking her forehead – You have grown up so much that I can barely believe it!

-I had to – Sehira whispered sorrowfully, still holding her – And you have also changed… Don't tell me you can't see that.

-Oh, I do... I can tell – Souna sniffled, taking a step apart – I just don't know if it is a good or a bad change yet.

-Well, we'll see what time has to say about it – Her sister replied, patting her shoulder – I have to go now.

-Me too – She whispered, stealing a peek towards the Yahurian, who was finishing placing the child into his makeshift carrier – Please be safe.

-I will – Sehira nodded, eyeing the warrior briefly before smirking and returning her attention towards her – And I know that you are traveling with the sack of muscles over there, but you still need to take care of yourself… So, keep that gun at hand and see you on the other side.

Souna watched her walk away, gesturing briefly towards Iktan, Yoe and Dabe, who were standing expectantly a few feet away. The three of them immediately following her and heading for the Mavaerian formation.

Her eyes lingered on the vast group, slowly trailing around, and landing on their young leader, who stood impassive, with a serious look in his eyes and wearing light armor over his usual green attire.

On their way to Mavaer´s ranks, her sister, the former priest and the two tradesmen had paused their march and said their goodbyes to the “shorties”, as Souna had fondly named Jogru, Jhoki and Jhagn during the time she'd spent around them learning how to fire a weapon.

The small but bulky triplets were almost identical. Their movements were so similar, that they seemed like hilarious choreography, their sense of humor so sharp, that it was impossible not to like them.

Ussi had assigned them to Phomtek´s squad, as it turned out that the three of them were pretty impressive marksmen and also quite fast learners. So, they were part of the select cavalry that had mastered riding the foreign beasts they called horses in record time.

According to the Yahurian´s strategy, their war resources had been divided into three groups. Each one with a specific task and a specific route.

Finally, the women, children and civilians unfit to fight from both, Lowland's gate and Mavaer, were to remain in the city, in the custody of a generous group of warriors handpicked and appointed by Ussiariah himself. His last words before their departure were directed to the man that he was leaving in charge.

-Finjël! – He called out, mounted on his gigantic jaguar and ready to ride - This city and these people have already suffered enough, it is your task to guard them with your life and protect them from any harm.

The athletic Cahenean nodded with a severe look in his eyes, before gesturing to his troops and emitting a deafening battle cry, the others promptly joining him, raising their sabers proudly in salute and stomping their feet on the ground.

As they started their journey, mounted on Kohu´s back, Souna sneaked a final look towards her birth city, invaded by a bittersweet mix of relief and anger. Lowland's gate was free, and the main reason for her quest had been fulfilled. But she knew perfectly well that the nightmare was far from over yet.

-What are you thinking about? – Ussi´s voice brought her back from her trance as his beast paced behind the lengthy line of marching men.

-I was wondering… How is it that you can be so warm, then so utterly cold in such a short lapse of time? - She whispered sadly.

A long silence persisted as Souna´s eyes witnessed the warrior's muscles visibly tense before her, making her wince instinctively at the anticipation of his reaction.

-Don't you ever expect any special treatment from me on the field – He finally spoke calmly after a while - That would only get you killed, and I value you too much to take that risk.