PREDATORS’ HUMAN - 42 free porn video

Chapter 42: MY FUTURE IS DECIDED

The island is at peace, the mainland threat is gone. The island should be secure. Life should be peaceful. And b**st is gone. Happy, perhaps. But still gone. What does all this mean for me?

Within a week of our victory against the invaders, Alex and Addama decide to go ahead with their marriage. She feels it is good for a positive, celebratory change. So early evening, with the world quieting down again, Alex and Addama approach Tessra and me at the edge of the lagoon where we are sitting enjoying the quiet and the lowering sun. “Mom, Tessra?”

We turn and look back to her and see Addama next to her. Helman sees something occurring and comes closer out of curiosity and interest. We have all come to be so close in our time together at the lagoon. I was expecting Tessra and Helman to announce that a marriage was in their plans, but nothing has happened as yet.

“Helman, you should come and hear this, too.” When he joins Tessra and me, now all standing before the couple. Clearly, they had something of importance to tell us and I think we all knew what it was. “Addama and I feel like you all are already part of our families. And now we want to create our own family. And you three should be the first to know. Addama and I want to marry. We know it might seem fast given the time we have known each other but we feel fully committed and the events our relationship has already survived has just strengthened our desire to formalized it. We are hoping for your consent and support.”

I merely look at Tessra and smile and nod to her indicating my approval. It is certainly quick but the life on the island is different than the complex life issues I am used to on Earth. Life is simpler and more direct here. This feels right and good. Tessra returns the same to me. I cross over to Addama and hug him to me and Tessra to Alex. I look up into Addama’s face, then to Alex and reach a hand to touch her face as I touch Addama’s. “I am very happy. This feels so right. I couldn’t feel more delighted. Addama, you are a wonderful man and have already been so good and right for Alex. I am glad you came into her life.”

Because Alex is who she is and is my adopted daughter the news spreads over the island quickly. Not only is life simpler here, but news and planning is. The marriage will be in just a week or seven day cycles by the counting here. The news is spread that the marriage will be on the plains on a rise so all who wish may attend. There is little doubt that the marriage of Alexa’s daughter will bring many from the species and the villages. Hence the decision to hold it in the open to handle the expected crowd. The cooperative victory is still fresh in everyone’s minds and still elicits much emotion as events and details of the victory continued to be recalled. Tales are already forming in the telling of the two warrior women standing against the invaders and joined by ‘them’, the ones from beyond the sky. Yes, many will want to be a part of this celebration.

I have been at a loss since the battle and b**st leaving. It seems I don’t know what to do with myself. It seems nearly my entire existence on this island had been in preparation of some great climax. A great build up towards a deciding conclusion. And all of it was around the threat from outside the island. Now that it is gone, I feel lost. Without purpose or motivation. I still swim every morning with Alex and many mornings Tessra joins us. And we still have our ‘girl time’ on the breaker rocks. And we still train with the weapons but the intensity is gone. What are we training for any longer? So I find myself evolving my training to the battle lance and bow. The battle lance for strength and agility. The bow for strength and discipline of breathing and muscle control. But I find myself fretting over my purpose going forward. And if I need one beyond just being a contributing member of the island community. But I have never been satisfied with just being a quiet contributor to ongoing existence.

So it is with a certain relief that the marriage will be soon. It actually gives me something to focus my energies on. And as I work with the village in the preparation of the ceremony, I notice that Alex, Tessra and I are not the only ones who are remaining naked, weather permitting. Which it almost always does. The new young women and other women (especially younger ones) are choosing to remain naked except for some form of footwear. When I ask Tessra about it on one of our village visits, she simply replies, “Your fashion has caught on since the victory. Many of the women, the young ones first, felt that if it was good enough for Alexa and Alex then it was good enough for them. They look up to you two. The victory over the invaders only increased that. So, your fashion or lack of it …” and she giggled … “has caught on. I guess if you live in paradise as you called it, then enjoy it. And since the invaders are gone, this has returned to being a paradise with the species cooperating still.”

On the day of the ceremony we have all gathered on the plains and indeed there are many who have come to witness the event. Although to the a****l species taking a mate is not a ceremonial affair they have come to appreciate participating in the villagers’ rituals also as it involves Alex or me. As in my ceremony to b**st, I have created flower head wreaths for Alex and Addama that hang down their back. I have also created smaller versions for Tessra and me as the mothers. As we approach the rise, we must walk through a mass of villagers from both ends of the island and many wolves and gorilla also from both island groups. I also see the dragons and it must be the entire clan in attendance.

Religion isn’t really a part of these people but the villagers do have a tradition of marriage that is in the ‘eyes of the people’. And the ceremonies are presided over by the leader of the village. So, Alex and Addama have asked the leaders of the two villages to share the officiating which seems appropriate since Alex originally came from the West village and Addama from the East village. The ceremony was simple and straightforward and is quickly over. And the people and the other species cheer their approval. It is interesting to me as I watch Alex and Addama go around the mass of people thanking them all for coming. Speaking to each in their language. And I notice just how many of the village women have now taken to being naked. A trend has been set. And it is also become common enough apparently that older women are also comfortable. It is like the entire island has gone back to a simpler and more innocent time before so much conflict and pain had become a common part of life here.

It is good to witness the change in the people and the species. All coming together again in celebration. This time for such a simple and joyous event. Mingling among themselves comfortably. Although not able to converse, they touch each other in comfortable, knowing ways that express their pleasure at see each other, again.

We have agreed to let Alex and Addama have the lagoon to themselves for the next few days. A kind of honeymoon. Although we have been very free and open about sex in our group, this will allow them some privacy and time for each other without even well intentioned interruption and distraction. Tessra and Helman go back to the hut she had in the East village and I decide to visit Gongon and Landda during this time. I have not seen the young and especially the little one for some time. And, without b**st they are still my closest friends on the island besides Alex.

There is much excitement as I walk into the clan. Most were at the ceremony and rejoiced with us in the marriage of my adopted daughter. Like me, Alex has a special place in the heart of villagers and the species. Her ability to also communicate with all the species and the courage and skill she has displayed in combat and in the defense of others has given her a similar regard that they had previous reserved for me. As I work my way through the clan, speaking with many of them about the ceremony or about their families, I am also stopped frequent with the recurring questions from the young about b**st. The young, gorilla and villagers in particular, are having a difficult time understanding that b**st is not just coming to play but that he is no longer even on the island. For such a big, fierce, brute of a b**st, my b**st was loved and revered by so many, especially the young. He seemed to have a special place in his heart reserved for the young. And despite his strength and size was able to play rough and energetically while still maintaining control to avoid injury to them. For the most part. And, perhaps, that ‘for the most part’ was what endeared him with the parents. He cared for the young but allowed them to be rough and playful. He didn’t baby them. And, maybe, it was his way of giving to other species what he thought he could never have the opportunity to do with his own species. God!! Why do I keep doing this to myself?!? Why does he still occupy so much of even my waking thoughts? Every time I do this I hurt more.

Where am I? What’s wrong? Why am I on the ground? Why are the clan standing back from me? I look up and around me but everything is blurred. Why? What? I see something charging at me but slowing and creeping up to me. Closer, right in front of me and I can see it is Landda. Her strong, hairy arms have me enveloped, hold me tightly, securely. What’s wrong with me? She puts a finger to my face and raises it. It is wet. Tears. I must be crying. Again? When will this stop?!? Why do I have to hurt so long? I bury my face into her chest and she holds me. Then I feel myself being picked up. Picked up like I was c***d. Yes, that’s what I need. I need to be taken care of by daddy. It has been so long, daddy … no, my daddy died in combat when I was still very young. I feel the arms. Strong, secure, but gentle, tender and loving. And hairy. I looked up at Gongon. And I start crying more …

I must have fallen asleep. I awake to gentle sounds around me. I can tell that Gongon is trying to keep the little ones away from me for a little while longer. I am still be cradled and … I lift my lips from … I jump with a start and look up at Landda. “Landda, I am sorry. So sorry. I didn’t mean … I’m sorry.”

She smiles at me. “Alexa, you must have needed it. It was while you were sleeping in my arms. You were restless and thrashing. I held you firmly to control it for you. You found my breast and nipple. Then you quieted down. You suckled for some time in your sleep. Remember how Landdi did the same to you to settle down? It was the same for you. And, Alexa … I was honored that you found comfort with me. That I could give you comfort.”

“But still …”

“Alexa, you have suffered and still are. You hurt. You are only human.”

I look up at her when I hear this and she is smiling at me. I smile and we both laugh. This coming from a gorilla!

“Alexa, I don’t know how you must feel. I can’t imagine. I don’t know what I would do without Gongon. Stay with us for a few days. Can you?”

“I would like that. I wanted to leave Alex and Addama to the lagoon by themselves. Give them some private time.”

“It was a wonderful ceremony, Alexa. I have to say this, Alexa. It reminded me of you and b**st. The flowers, you only had us there with you. It was beautiful. Alex’s was like that.”

“Thank you, Landda.”

“Remember him for the good times. What you learned from him. How you became more with him. Not for him leaving. Take the good and move forward. It is the way of nature, of Eewa. Always grow and move forward. You have a tremendous gift, Alexa. You are so much more than a human female willing to suffer her loss. Take hold of that being you are, Alexa. That being that united the species, which awoke Eewa to help us take action.”

Just then Gongon arrived and sat with us. I had separated myself from Landda only moments before. Landda looked around for the young, “Where are the young?”

“I gave them away. They will be the death of me. It was easier fighting the dogs.”

“Gongon! Where are they?”

“It took several females to distract them and move them into a larger group so we could have time to talk.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not you, too.”

“Alexa, I am sorry if this seems not fair. And it probably isn’t, but you need to understand. I have been telling her she needs to move forward. Take the good from being with b**st and remember that.”

Gongon is quiet for a moment. I look up at him. This massive male gorilla sitting in front of me, his head down, clearly forming his thoughts. “Alexa, you know how I felt about b**st. I would have and did follow him into anything I needed to. The mere fact that you loved him was enough that I would have died for him. You know that. But it was always YOU. You are the one who did all this. You had lots of support and, yes, I am sure b**st help you with confidence and guidance along the way. But it was always you or it wasn’t going be possible.”

“What are you saying?”

“What I am saying is that when you first came here, first saved the villagers, then my family and the villager boys, and so many others along the way, you were never seen as like anyone or thing any of us knew. You were never a human female. Or a human female warrior. Yes, you were a warrior and a human female, but you were a warrior like we had never witnessed. You were supremely confident, strong, agile, quick, decisive and … a precise killer. You defeated packs of dogs, groups of outsider men. You defended those you didn’t know, those who didn’t even trust you at the time. And you didn’t ask for anything in return. You just disappeared into the jungle. Eewa awoke because of what you did. And the species started knowing about you before they even met you. From the stories passed among groups. From little bits of information from Eewa. And Eewa became recognized by us, again.”

“So what! I am just a human female!”

He looked at me gently, despite my curt response to him. “Alexa, you know better than that. Even you would call yourself a warrior before referring to yourself as a female. And you are a proud warrior. You fought alongside those from above the sky. Here, you are more than even just a warrior. Even now you know that is true. There is something about you that has connected to the plight of this island and the species. That is what the species saw, felt. That is what Eewa felt.”

“And, if all of that is true? Then what?”

“Try to remember earlier today when you were in the clan and you found yourself on the ground, the clan separated from you. Remember? And Landda rushing toward you?”

“I remember. She was coming to help me.”

“Partly.”

“What do you mean ‘partly’?”

“The clan was stepping back from you because they were frightened. It was YOU in front of them and you were collapsed on the ground, crying. Landda was coming to take you. I came to carry you away.”

“They were frightened? Of me crying?”

“Crying like that. Yes. Not fair to you? Maybe. But, Alexa, you are more to all on the island than any words you could find to describe it. You are a symbol to them. Not just a warrior who fights for them. Maybe a savior for them. Everything that is good and worthwhile for any of us. YOU.”

I stand and beginning walking is circles, meandering around them. They stay sitting, waiting, and giving me time.

Finally I turn to them, my hands on my hips defiantly. “It isn’t fair you know. I didn’t ask for any of this. I was dropped off here. Literally. I knew there was conflict but I could isolate myself at the lagoon and I could protect myself when I needed to go outside. I didn’t ask for any of you to follow me or for me to be a leader.”

“No, you didn’t. And you didn’t have to. But you did. You didn’t have to do anything, but you did. Because that is what you are, who you are. You couldn’t turn your back on us, so you didn’t. You deliberately starting going out hunting down the dogs, encountering the men. And you couldn’t help but lead us. You knew what needed to be done, but it was too much. Even for you. So you eventually recruited the Teams. Then it grew into an army and a battle plan. We, the species, are simple thinkers, Alexa. Even the villagers are simple people, not evolved even like the outsiders. Can’t you see why you became more than just a being to us, to them?”

“Put that way, yes. But, I don’t have to like it, do I?”

“No, you don’t. But …”

“No, it’s okay. I understand, Gongon. I do. I really do.” I chuckle. “You know … this is exactly what b**st would do to me to make me understand. My thinking can over complicate things sometimes, I think. He would simplify it for me. Just like you did.” I walk over to him and bend over and take his massive head in my hands and kissing his lips. “Thank you, Gongon.” I did the same to Landda. “And thank you for caring for me so I could calm down.”

They stood now and Landda looked at me intently, “Is it okay to rejoin the clan now? To find the young?”

“Yes, thank you. And I will through my reappearance try to reassure them that I am okay. That I am still ‘Alexa’. It feels like a lot to live up to, being me.”

Gongon put his arm around my shoulder. “I suppose. But, I think it is for a while. There is still feelings of insecurity. They want to believe that everything is good on the island but I think they need to experience a period of time of peace and safety. Then, maybe, ‘Alexa’ won’t be so needed. She can become just legend. And the woman or warrior can do other things.”

So I walked with them back to the clan gathering. As we appeared, I sensed a little concern so I search for Gongin and Landdi. Finding them I chased to them which caused them to run but I continued to give chase and soon there was good cheer as I vainly tried to catch them. But, of course, failed. I turned back to the gathering and was nearly there when I saw several of the adults look beyond me. But before I could turn I felt Landdi on my back but the blow was more than enough to put me to the ground. With Landdi on top of me, I was not going anywhere too quickly and soon I had five other young gorillas of both sexes on top me. Adults had to come to rescue me for fear of me being crushed. We all laughed long and hard. The tension was broken and my earlier weakness was completely forgotten. Out of relief more than anything, I am sure.

I spent the next three days with the gorillas. During the days I spent the time like they did. Searching for food stuff, grooming each other (although I had much less hair to sort through than they did), and care for the young as a female took care of other family requirements. At night I slept with Landda and Gongon. The first night I specifically asked if we could have sex. We had sex every night. For gorillas this is not normal, but their time with me had changed that perspective on what sex can be.

“Of course. You know we desire you. It has been too long.”

“Would you mind very much if I had Gongon inside me? He was so helpful to me today. I really need this bit more from him. I can still take care of you with my mouth.”

“Ooooo, you know I like that. So totally different for us.”

So after the young were down for the night, Landdi cuddling with the youngest, we separated ourselves slightly. I walked right up to Gongon, “Will you fuck me tonight?” I saw him look over me and he must have gotten a nod of approval from Landda because he picked me up and took me into his arms. I was completely off the ground. He put me down and I turned to Landda, “Lay down and open those legs.” I then knelt down between her legs, kissed her pussy, lifted my head and looked over my shoulder. “Now, Gongon. I want you, now.” I then returned my face to the pussy in front of me. Then I felt huge hands on my ass and a cock between my legs, then probing around my pussy until he was rubbing the head up and down along my slit. I gasped into the pussy I was licking and pushed back when I felt the cock head at my opening. And he was inside me. Then he took over and thrust into me … deeply and completely in one forceful thrust. It was delicious. My experience was that these gorillas didn’t have tremendously large cocks but their power was an aphrodisiac. And while he was now pounding into me, I was licking, sucking and nibbling on the pussy of his mate. And, I was in heaven, again. I was in my own world, my own world of pleasure and lust as I was taken to orgasm by the stimulation in my pussy and I was also bringing to orgasm him and his mate. Him with my pussy and her with my mouth. And at the end we lay in pile. Thankfully, I was between Landda’s legs when Gongon collapsed or I might have been completely crushed.

And when we sit up I am laughing and trying to stifle the loudest outbursts. Gongon looks at me. He stands and puts his hand out. I take it and he pulls me up. He looks at me but is speaking to both me and to Landda, “You aren’t done, are you? You are energized tonight. This only gave you a taste and you need more. Tell me if I am wrong.”

I am silent. Then, “You aren’t wrong, but … you already came.”

“Yes, but I know where your Team is sleeping. Do you want them now, too?”

I look at him, then at Landda. I am smiling. I do feel so energized. What is this? I feel almost like I have control over everything, again. I nod. Yes, I want this. He leads me off through the sleeping clan to the outer edge where my two Team members are sleeping. Gongon kicks the feet of one and when he moves quickly, the other wakes, too. They both are looking at Gongon, wondering what the problem is, not yet seeing me. Gongon turns and leaves with me now standing before them. I walk between them on the ground. I kneel down, “Guys, I am feeling lonely and not sleepy. Can you help me?”

You know … they never did answer. They just took me.

By the time I return to the lagoon I feel like a new woman, again. I am again looking to the future and rededicated to what still needs to be done for building on the foundation of our victory and the cooperative alliances that have been formed on the island. It seems that everyone, villagers and species, are adjusting to a new existence in peace and relative safety. The focus is no longer fear of the unknown from dog packs and outside invaders but refocused on the natural predators of the island which still exist in abundance but were also driven into hiding by the dominant dog packs. Now, any remaining dogs are solitary and have reverted to being wild and a natural predator forced by their smaller size to the wolves to being secondary or lower on the predatory chain. So the island again is back to normal and the fear from predators has returned to protecting the young and old. Healthy adults of the major species that made up the cooperative are easily able to defend against the remaining predators.

I take the admonition from Gongon seriously. I reinstitute the patrols and scouting by the Teams to the various shores and the settlement. Reassuring everyone that we are watchful and there will be no change and surprise. And the Teams, both east and west, now also include dedicated males from the villages. We now have an abundance of males and females trained in weapons from the villages. This also provides reassurance to the island inhabitants. In reality their skill at the bow and spear will slacken, but that will be due to lack of need and use. The Teams will be sufficient for these times of peace.

But to be sure, I insist that the island establishes a council of the species. It is an intentional plan to give focus for the inhabitants on a larger group of their leadership and cooperation than relying on just me. When I ask for a meeting of all the groups, I specifically ask for several from each who will be able to speak for the group. They should probably not be the current chiefs or leaders, but ones that can work with and represent them. I take the model from Earth’s UN which might not be perfect but is a representation of conflicting groups having a forum for meeting and resolution. I am hopeful that an early instituting of a cooperative organization will allow future conflicts among them to be more easily and amicably resolved than occurred on Earth where their cooperative organization arose from conflict. As anticipated, I am asked to act as the leader of the council and also the translator. I agree but on the condition that I also am allowed to work Alex in as co-leader and translator. The regard for Alex is so strong that there is no dissent.

Half a year after the battle, which has become a new mark of time, the island is securely in peace and a realization of safety that will last is recognized and accepted. That is also about the time that the Predators return to offer to take me to see b**st. I am torn when they ask. On the one hand anxious to know how my former mate is doing in his new life. But on the other hand the pain and turmoil I felt on his leaving was still somewhat fresh on my mind and in my heart. But I know I will go with them. There was no real way for me to bypass this chance to see him in his natural setting. When I return nearly three weeks later, Alex is nearly six months pregnant. She seems even bigger on my return.

Shortly after my return, we are again on the breaker rocks sharing our thoughts and my experience with the Predators but mostly my recollection of seeing and interacting for that brief time with b**st. It is an easy and comfortable interaction. And even though I recount to her how I again fell to my knees after watching him and his family group move over the rise and out of my sight, the pain and loss renewed. That pain and loss was replaced soon enough with the satisfaction that b**st had in fact made the right decision. And, also, that I had grown into that realization myself. That I had support and love overflowing here on the island. I was not alone. I obviously had Alex and Tessra to help me with my feelings and emotional reactions and I had Gongon and Thorass to help guide me on heavier issues of the island when I needed it relative to the interactions of the species.

And that is when Alex truly surprises me with her maturity and growth as a leader. She proposes to me the concept that the species council should agree on a leader from among them and it should rotate on some regular time basis among the species so no one species or individual gains too much power or control. As we sit there, I get quiet and am staring out over the ocean. I see a large whale spouting off in the distance.

“Do you disagree with my idea, Alexa? Do you see a flaw? That, perhaps, you don’t think they are capable of self-governing?”

I smile and shake my head, “No. Not at all. I just was wondering … how you grew into such a strong, self-confident woman?”

“Well, given what Eewa told us about my real father, I probably have the genes for it and I know I had the best teacher and guide for it. I have so much to thank you for, Alexa. I would never be able to thank you enough for everything you have given me and taught me. Even if I had the rest of our lives to try. Which I don’t think I have.”

“Is that why this idea came to you? To take the leadership role away from us. To allow our role to be translator and mentor?”

“Yes, it is.”

“You think I am going somewhere? You want the cooperative to be independent and ready? Is that what you are thinking?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Have you discussed this with anyone else? Addama or Tessra, perhaps?”

“No, Alexa, I don’t think anyone would understand. Their whole existence is framed by this island. They have a concept of the outsiders coming on ships so they realize now that there exists something more beyond the water but they still have no concept of what that might be or if it is even possible to experience. They also know now that others exist from ‘beyond the sky’ but that is even more foreign and beyond their understanding. But I understand. Because you took me to them, on their ship in space. Because I saw, I witnessed their technology as you referred to it. And, perhaps, because of my genes from my father I am just more aware of potential. I don’t understand that much about those things but you have opened my eyes to greater things, Alexa.”

“How would you think I might leave, Alex? Do you think I might leave with the Predators? Their leadership may appreciate my contribution in the past but they are a proud species and they have made their decision. I am not one of them and they do not accept me as being a part of them. Even if that is not the feeling of all of them, it is of the Central Command and that is what is important is this case.”

“I understand that, Alexa. I initially considered the Predators, but I came to the same conclusion. No, I don’t know. But if there was an opportunity, I think you would be very tempted. I think you would have to go.”

“Why do you say that? Not that I necessarily disagree, you seem to have an understanding of me that surprises me, but I am wondering why you believe that?”

“Because, Alexa, you have told me the stories of your past. You left your home world with a species you only just met after fighting another species together. You were not happy with the quiet life. You needed more excitement and adventure, even if it was with a species you should have feared and had no reason to fully trust. No, with the peace and quiet here, if given the chance, you will leave.”

“How does that make you feel about me?”

“Alexa, I will always love you. You have given so much to me and this entire island. We don’t own you. We owe you. I will always be so grateful that I had this time with you.”

We continued to talk about details of her idea. And I concur. I tell her I think her idea is wonderful and should be implemented before she gives birth. She agrees that she will maintain translation duties for the council and serve as a mediator with or without me. And I understand another motivator for her. She is about to give birth, she wants to spend more time in the future on what will be a growing family. And she should be able to afford to do that now. But, she also agrees that with her weapons and training she will maintain her training and be a warrior if ever needed in the future. I also remind her that I am not gone and I see no prospects at the moment.

We both laugh at that. We have already establish between us that it might be a temporary assurance.

And after only a few more months, peace and safety really is real. And the entire island’s inhabitants are convinced of it. The cooperative council is functioning and I have allowed Alex to be the primary translator and mediator, but I attend council meetings regularly but stay in the background unless specifically called upon. A new time for the island really is at hand and almost as a sign of the future, Alex gives birth.

We are at the lagoon which has become her home with Addama who has built a hut for them at the far end of the beach from the waterfalls which provides them separation. We have maintained our training but she has slowed tremendously with the advancement of her pregnancy. But that morning we were still at the rocks with Tessra who has taken up residency with Helman leading up to Alex’s birth time. Sitting on the rocks between us, I can’t take my eyes off her distended belly. It is huge. And her breast have also become huge. I marvel that she can even walk, much less swim. She says swimming is actually easier than walking. She feels more supported and she floats much better with the addition of the baby fat. Tessra and I have our hands on her belly and feeling the kicks from the baby inside. It is much more active than normal and I look at Alex who simply smiles back at me. Then I feel a very pronounced tightening and movement. I again look at her and she has a different look on her face.

“I am contracting! Do you feel it?” I jump up at this pronouncement. “Relax, grandma, it is coming but this is just the start.”

I look at Tessra who has been through this and she smiles at me and nods. “Okay, but let’s head back to the beach.”

By the end of the day Alex has given birth to the most beautiful baby girl I have ever seen. Never mind that I haven’t seen that many. There couldn’t ever have been a more beautiful c***d, ever. We let her rest for several days in the privacy of the lagoon. I notify Landda who rushes over to pamper the mother and c***d despite her enormous size, her gentleness is amazing. But, after that we send word out to the species and groups. We will have an introduction at our community meeting place on the plains. On the appointed day we take her and the baby to be welcomed by the community. Only because of her superior physical conditioning, can she recover from c***d birth so quickly and in just days make the trek to the plains. There we see the gathering of many from all the species assembled from all across the island. The mass of species separates without any declaration. Alex, Addama, Tessra and I walk through the mass into the center. Alex holds her baby above her head. Named ‘Alexis’. A great celebration is provided for mother and c***d. There is a sense of a new coming for everyone. A reinforcement of the powerful expectation for the future.

A month later, while visiting Thorass and the dragons, he takes me for a ride. He says we are patrolling but we both know there is nothing to watch out for. Along the way, soaring along the Northern coast he quizzes me. Have I visited Eewa? What am I going to do? Can I be satisfied with peace? Why haven’t I visited Eewa? In truth, I have had the same feelings myself. That I was being called. Something inside me, not verbal or conscious but persistent. I am not used to the idea of Eewa trying to communicate with me. Is that what this is? I decide I need to visit Eewa.

That was when my future opened up. Like Alex, Eewa understood my being. She understood my increasing antsy attitude and unsettled wandering of the island. And that was why she was calling me. It seemed I was to be presented with a rare potential. To her knowledge it had been provided to only very few others in the entire existence of the Eewa. And I was to understand better what Eewa truly entailed.

I understood Eewa to be a life-system of the island. In a sense to manage the eco-system of the island through the species. But, from my experience on the island with the threat of the invaders, to be fully effective in its function, a catalyst was needed to truly implement the bringing together of the species for the systems greater good. I had fulfilled that catalyst role here. It turned out I understood it correctly only to a certain point.

Eewa wasn’t a tree on the island with some mystical connection with the species and eco-system. Eewa was actually a broad system of similar eco-system connections not only on this island but across planets. Eewa didn’t have the concepts of distance and space, only of itself. It didn’t really know everywhere that its system extended. Only that it was vast and encompassing many different environments and lands and planets and species. And, for a rare few, Eewa was a portal. I was stunned. A portal? If I hadn’t been suspended with the confines of the tree, fully and deeply penetrated in all three of my holes by its tendrils, I surely would have fallen from any perch. But, as it was, I was firmly suspended and supported by it. I probed for more meaning. Portal? What kind of portal? To where?

A very few had been allowed to experience this. Only a couple actually had the courage to use the portal. The portal was provided only to those who had served the Eewa extraordinarily. Those that had shown their unselfish and uncompromising devotion to the others within their system. I was told I was of that few. The portal was a physical access to the other Eewa sites. It was painless if not somewhat of a disconcerting physical sensation. It was not a time machine. Time is constant. It only transports to another Eewa tree. They all are identical and all exist only where the environment is healthy enough to sustain it. Therefore, it has the air, temperature and moisture necessary for life as I would know it. However, that environment could be seasonal meaning that there could be periods of dormancy for the tree but it could not be in such a state to receive me. Hearing all this was disconcerting enough despite everything I had experienced. I was really beginning to wonder if this was for me, but the idea of travel and adventure to unknown and new locations, environments and species was intriguing enough to pursue more information.

I am told that because travel happens regardless of what is occurring around the tree, inside the tree, within its branches, I am unseen. If the surrounding area is not safe, I can remain within the tree. Once arriving at a new location, the Eewa cannot be used for travel again for a day cycle. Local day cycle which may be longer or shorter. Travel to sites only happens to healthy Eewa meaning the environment is conducive. If, however, the Eewa is damaged (fire, cut down) while I am at a site, leaving will be impossible.

Within the Eewa, travel to other sites is random. There is, however, some restricted control. Moving back along the same path is very limited. Essentially, returning to a previous site will be random accident. Except, after five journeys, a destination can be requested. Once a destination is requested, another five journeys are required before another request to a specific site can be granted. The trick, of course to this, is knowing where you want to go within the Eewa system so it would likely be to somewhere I have previously been. Or, back to the island where it all would have begun. Another interesting bit of information was that things can be passed along and stored in any of the Eewa and would also be invisible to anything else. Ask for something stored in one Eewa and it will arrive where you are. And since things can be sent through the Eewa system, it is also possible for messages to be sent if the one sending the message knows the system and is trusted by Eewa. And that can only be Alex. So, I know I can come back to the island. And I know I can receive messages, if necessary. But despite receiving he message, acting on it would depend on how close to the five journey mark I might be. If I do this, that is the part that I have to work out. Do I want to be away or do I want to be available to return when needed? And, how would I best manage that. But, first things first. Do I want to go?

Alex and I have long conversations considering the pros and cons about this adventure opportunity that is only available to me. After several days of going back and forth, we agree. The reason I left my home world, Earth, with the Predators was because I did not like the sedentary life and would rather chance leaving with a different species, with unknown consequences, than remain in a quiet, peaceful life.

Now that the decision is made, I feel a sense of relief. Now I feel excitement, again. The drive for discovering the unknown, what lies around the next bend, over the next pass. And now I must plan. Surely, I will not be headed to just environments that are primitive like this one. I will need weapons, certainly in case of what I might find and what culture might be present. But, also, they are likely to be more advanced in some cases, more civilized. More civilized. By what definition, I wonder. In any case clothing of various forms will be needed to try to adapt. Tessra helps here. The women of the villages coordinate their efforts through Tessra to create several different styles of clothes for me to get me started along my journeys to allow for different environments, societies, and species that I may encounter. They have created a leather outfit for me to start with that would be the envy of any warrior princess. A tight fitting vest shirt, tight pant leggings to go with my boots, and tight fitting gloves that I can pick up a thread with. Additionally, Alex considers the potential of cold climates and sends others to the settlement in search of any clothes that might be layered. At this rate the tree will be covered with clothes being prepared for me. We organize them by weather and type of society and dress. Warrior, peasant, primitive, cold weather. Each is sorted and bagged for placement in Eewa.

I will need to lash weapons to Eewa, also. I will take the bow, a quiver of arrows, the lance, and a gun with plenty of charge clips. More arrows and additional charge clips will be lashed to the Eewa here. I am planning to return to the island occasionally. So I do not anticipate needing to have a communication system for requests from me. I had considered asking Alex to go to Eewa but the chance of timely reception would be small. And anything I needed quickly would undoubtedly not arrive in time. I will be better served to rely completely on my own wits and skills.

After touring the island to say my goodbyes to the species and especially the Teams, I have a final evening with Alex, just her, at the lagoon. Tessra and Addama have taken the baby Alexis to the village for the night. During the night we make love. The tenderness with which she loves me and takes me and I to her, assures our desires to reunite in the future. And soon. This will not, cannot, be a final farewell. In the morning we swim one last time, for now, to the breaker rocks and sit quietly. Without saying a word, we return to the shore and I dress in the warrior outfit created for me. I arm myself, take the pack that I will start with and we exit the lagoon. I stop at the entrance and look back, remembering the first time, the times with b**st, the first time we brought Alex here, when Alexis was born. Tears are in my eyes, but I smile at Alex.

She walks me to Eewa. I stop at the edge of its low hanging, veil-like branches. I turn back to Alex and smile to her. “I love you, Alex. I am so proud of you. The life you have created. The family you have to love and to love you.”

“You will come back, Alexa. Won’t you?”

“Yes, dear. I will.” I turn to the tree and then turn back to Alex. I hold her face and kiss her on the lips. I quickly turn back to the tree and walk through the branches that are shimmering. Alex and I are the only ones that see it shimmering. That’s what makes it so special. And inside, the glow is welcoming. The branches take me up and I see the items I have stored inside.

Then … lights flash around me … or inside my head … and I have this … disconcerting feeling …


THE END

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