Tales of the Wastelander Ch. 09

With the attack on the West Gate over, the militia then opened up the gates to check the corpses of the dead raiders. The militia checked each corpse, stabbing them a few times, before they picked them up, hauling them inside the town. Though it was distasteful, the raiders had items that could be used. So, a full check and seizure of what they had was not only happening but encouraged.

While they were doing this, Ben pulled his new arrows out of the corpses, as they were all still intact. Some militia eyed those arrows with admiration. They were impressed on how they could punch through the heavy armor the raiders wore. In fact, Tanny approached Ben with a burning question on his mind.

"How many of those arrows do you have, Ben?"

"I have about fifty right now. Why? Did you want a few of these?" Ben asked.

"Um, yeah! Those things would be great for defense and hunting!" Tanny enthused.

"Hunting? Why would you use armor piercing arrows to hunt game?" Ben queried.

"Have you seen the kinds of creatures out there that we hunt? I mean, the really big ones?" Mishele asked as she walked up behind Tanny.

"A few. I'm guessing that they have thick hides or scales?" Ben wondered.

"Ben, you have no idea! These arrows would make killing game so much easier! Most times, we have to sink three to five arrows in the beasts, just to bring them down! And that's after we chase them down!" Tanny replied.

"All right, then. Here. Take however many you would like and divide the rest among whoever else wants some," Ben told him, offering the quiver full of arrows.

"You're just... giving them to us?" Mishele almost choked.

"Yeah. Ylva is making some more heads right now and seeing how we have the gates well defended, I'm not needed here. I'll head back to the forge and see about making some more. With enough help and materials, we might just have enough to outfit everyone with these new armor piercing arrows," Ben told them.

"Thank you!" Mishele gushed before jumping forward to hug Ben. Ben hugged her back, then disengaged, before heading off into the town. While Tanny was handing out arrows to his fellow militia, Denys stepped up beside Ben, walking with him.

"Are you sure you will be able to make enough arrows to outfit the whole militia? You'd need to make at least two thousand arrowheads, just to have enough to go around!" Denys yelped.

"Relax, Denys. Like I said, as long as we have the materials and help, we can get it done. Besides, these arrowheads aren't all that hard to make. From what I could see in the forge, we have plenty of materials. What I'll need is the help. Would you mind fetching the smith's apprentice and his daughter? Their help is what will be needed, if we're going to have enough arrows by morning," Ben said to the bigger man.

"If they haven't strangled each other by now, I'll send them over. If they have done it and or one of them has killed the other, I'm blaming you!" Denys told him with a growl. Ben just laughed and headed off to the forge, while Denys trudged along to the smith's house.

Though he hoped they had resolved their differences, Denys prayed that Jorge and Kayt hadn't murdered each other in the process. Though he had placed a bet against it happening, if they stopped fighting and started fucking, it would have been a much better outcome. Hell, Denys thought the very idea of that to be almost... poetic. He walked up to the door and knocked on it, preparing himself for anything.

"Who is it?" came a tired response, and Denys recognized Jorge's voice.

"It's Denys. Are you all right in there, Jorge?" the militia captain asked.

"Yes, I'm all right, thank you for asking," Jorge replied as he opened the door.

He was wearing his pants, but nothing else. If the sight of this didn't catch Denys off guard, then seeing Kayt behind Jorge did. She appeared to be wearing a flimsy robe, but little else, which made her quite alluring. Denys almost laughed to himself until he remembered the bet that he just lost.

"I'm glad to see that you're both still alive," Denys sighed.

"What? You expected us to kill each other as we argued?" Kayt scoffed.

"Well..." Denys started, before he saw Kayt get a look on her face, like she wanted to slap him. He quickly changed the topic, not wanting to get beat up by either one of them.

"Anyway, I came here to tell you two that Ben is going to need some help to work the forge. The new arrowheads he created worked wonderfully, and he will need as many skilled hands as we can muster. He hopes to outfit the militia with these tomorrow," Denys told them. Both Jorge and Kayt looked at each other, then back at Denys, before replying.

"Give us say... twenty-five minutes? We need to get cleaned up and dressed before we come and work the forge," Jorge told him.

"All right. I'll let Ben know to get the second forge heated and ready. See you two in a bit."

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Jorge closed the door behind him and locked it, turning to Kayt. She smiled up at him, before leaning in, her lips finding their way to his. Jorge kissed her back, still amazed that they both had unrequited feelings for each other. Maybe now that they'd both fessed up, they might stop fighting. Well, at least long enough to be productive, he thought to himself while chuckling.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just thinking of all the times we got into it and how we've been dancing around one another like this," Jorge laughed.

"At least we figured it out before we really DID kill each other," Kayt snickered as she rested her head on Jorge's massive chest. She then felt his hand sliding down her ass, before clasping one of her cheeks, his strong fingers digging into her pliable flesh.

"They are expecting us, you know," she told him. While she enjoyed the idea, they both had a job to do.

"We have twenty-five minutes before we're supposed to show up. It's not like the forge is across town, you know," Jorge drawled, as his other hand latched onto her plushy behind. Kayt looked up at her new lover and her eyes danced as she licked her lips. They had a little time, and it wasn't that big a deal if they were a few minutes late.

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Denys walked next door to where the forge was located, shaking his head. He honestly expected one of them to kill the other. Well, maybe beat the ever-living piss out of the other for sure. Them winding up in bed together wasn't something he had foreseen, nor expected! He walked into the well lit forge and found Ben looking over Ylva's work, inspecting each arrowhead.

"This isn't too bad, Ylva! A little more practice and you'll be a decent arrowsmith in no time!" Ben complimented the woman.

"Thank you, Ben!" she grinned while blushing slightly. "Hey there, Denys!" she replied, noticing the militia captain walking in.

"Hey there, Ylva! Working hard?" he asked.

"Hard enough. So, who won?" she wondered.

"Won what?"

"Don't play coy, Denys! You know we made a bet. Who won?" Ben queried, raising an eyebrow at the man.

"You two did. They wound up in bed. Just like you said," Denys replied with a sigh.

"So that's what, five silver hects?" Ylva asked with a grin.

"Each. Here you go!" Denys grumbled, paying up the wager from his coin pouch.

Though he didn't like losing, Denys was an honorable man and had no issue paying up. It's not like he couldn't afford to lose the money either, as a captain's pay was substantially higher than that of a militiaman or woman. Ylva took all ten coins, as she was the only one with a pouch to keep them in. She tucked that pouch in between her bust, causing both men to snicker.

"What? Who's going to reach for my tits to rob me?" Ylva asked.

"She makes a good point. You got any arrow shafts for us to put together? I'm sure the militia wouldn't mind us converting the regular arrows you use to these new armor piercers," Ben queried.

"They should bring their quivers in fairly soon. I left instruction with them to dismantle all their current arrows to be outfitted with the new heads," Denys stated.

Seconds after he said that, several members of the militia arrived, carrying bundles of arrows. They had pulled the old heads off, so they could put the new ones on. Ben got to work immediately, fitting the new heads on and making sure the arrows themselves were balanced. He got maybe another fifty done, before he had to get to work with grinding the heads to the sharp points they needed to be.

Denys had the militia leave the arrows behind and redistribute the new arrows to everyone in the militia. It wasn't much, but the numbers would increase soon, as Ben was working as fast as he could. There were at least a hundred arrowheads to grind, with Ylva pumping out more. The arrows themselves were thicker and longer than what he was used to, but he figured it was due to everyone's size compared to his.

"Hello there," a voice sounded, and Ben snapped his head up.

The voice came from Jorge, the old smith's apprentice. Ben took in the sight of the man and smirked. He could tell that the man had finally worked out some tension, going by how he was standing. Ben also noticed that Kayt was standing close to Jorge, looking much the same as he was.

"So, did you two sort out your issues, or am I going to need a stick a hot coal up your asses for you to co-operate?" Ben questioned. Ylva guffawed at the suggestion, thinking the idea of it quite funny. Jorge and Kayt looked at each other, then stared back at Ben, with Kayt replying for the both of them.

"We'll work together, under your direction. It's clear you know what you're doing, since I've been hearing talk about how those new arrows work," Kayt stated.

"All right, then. Come on over and let's get to work. I'll show you how to make these Bodkin points," Ben told them.

He grabbed a piece of metal with a pair of tongs and brought the metal to a solid heat, just above a yellow color. Ben then went to work, demonstrating how to shape, bevel and temper the arrowhead. It took him several minutes, but after the final product was set aside to cool, he put a pair of tongs in Kayt's hands, while handing his tongs to Jorge.

"You've seen the process now. Let's see how well you two do it," Ben told them.

Without a word, Jorge and Kayt doffed their shirts and selected heavy leather aprons. Kayt was wearing an undershirt of sorts, which left her arms bare. Ben gave her the once over and noted how her arms were just as muscled and toned as Ylva's. She must have had a fair amount of experience working the forge to have arms like that.

Jorge himself moved with a level of confidence and got to work. Ben observed what they were doing and checked each arrowhead they made. The steel wasn't too hot when Jorge worked it, and Kayt had followed Ben's instructions to the letter. Soon, they were cranking out arrowheads as quickly as Ben had. They made sure each Bodkin point was tempered properly, before setting them aside to cool.

"Well, I'd say you two have the hang of it. Ylva, let's get to sharpening these suckers. They won't kill many raiders if the edges are blunt," Ben told her.

"I... don't know how to do that," Ylva admitted.

"Come on, I'll show you," Ben told her, leading her over to the grinding stones.

It took a nearly half an hour to show how to edge and sharpen the arrowheads properly, but Ylva caught on. It wasn't long before the four of them were working like a well-oiled machine. Kayt and Jorge shaped and forged the arrowheads, while Ben and Ylva sharpened and inserted them in the arrow shafts. Denys came by a few hours later with Lawrie, Mellany and Tasya in tow, hoping that progress had been made.

"Ben? How's it looking?" Denys questioned.

"So far, so good. Got most of the arrows fitted with the new Bodkin points. Shouldn't have too much issue outfitting the whole militia now," Ben told him, gesturing at the neat piles of arrows.

"Wow! Do you think you could make more?" Denys asked, hoping that it was possible.

"How many more do you need?" Jorge asked, calling out from his anvil.

"Another four hundred? I got the fletcher and his apprentices to put together another four hundred arrow shafts, so they're just waiting on some... what did you call them Ben?" the militia captain questioned.

"Bodkin points. Armor piercing arrowheads. Think you got another four hundred in you, Jorge?" Ben queried.

"Between Kayt and I, I don't see it being a problem," Jorge smiled.

"First, we need a break. I'm starving!" Kayt replied while rubbing her middle.

"That's where we come in. We brought your four some food from Sonja's. Roast chicken, boiled vegetables and good crusty bread with butter and cheese," Lawrie announced as he walked in, carrying a small bundle. Mellany and Tasya were right behind him, one carrying a pair of pitchers, while another carried a quartet of cups.

"Thank you!" Ben enthused, walking up to get some food. He let Ylva and Kayt go first, as he could tell they were teetering on the verge of getting hangry. Jorge noticed this and looked at Ben curiously. The women were done with getting their food and drink before Ben walked up with Jorge and they helped themselves to a plate.

"You let the ladies go first. Why?" Jorge asked purely out of curiosity.

"Common manners where I'm from. Let the ladies get their food first and us guys after they get what they want," Ben explained.

"Are all men like this, where you're from?" Jorge asked.

"Mostly, yes. Some guys aren't, but they find themselves bereft of feminine company real quick. Where I'm from, being a jerk does you no favors," Ben told him.

"I wouldn't mind seeing this place you are from. Is it far?" Kayt asked.

"Yeah. Too far to get back to. Circumstance has found me here, thousands of miles from home and no idea how to get back," Ben said, fibbing to the woman.

"I hope you find your back some day," she told him sympathetically.

"Thanks. Maybe one day, I will," he replied with a smirk, before diving into his food.

Hearing all of this gave Ben a sense of nostalgia and a tinge of regret. A part of him wished he had stayed behind with Samara and been there with her for the end. But he couldn't focus on 'what ifs', Ben had to focus on the now. Though he knew it would do him no good, Ben knew he'd feel regret for leaving Samara behind for the rest of his life. The only thing he could do now was to move on and live.

"Is there any way that we can help you with making these new arrows?" Mellany offered.

"In the creation of them, no. I think we've got that handled," Ben mumbled around a mouthful of food.

"There must be something we can do," Tasya suggested, trying to think of a way to help.

"I know how you two can help. Give me and Lawrie a hand in distributing these new arrows to the militia! When we're done with that, we can collect what the fletcher and his apprentices have made and bring them here to be finished," Denys suggested.

"That's a good idea! Keeps the militia at their posts, so they can keep watch for incoming attacks," Ylva agreed with a smile.

"All right. Tell us where you want these delivered Denys," Mellany said, stepping up to him, right with Tasya. Lawrie stepped up as well, offering to carry as much as his arms could hold.

"OK. Let's get these loaded into their quivers!" Denys said as he left with Lawrie, Mellany and Tasya in tow, carrying away all the finished arrows.

"Let's eat fast, folks. We have a lot of work to do and need to get it all done before we get too tired," Ben told his new friends. With no further prompting, they all wolfed down their food before getting back to work.

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Tanny was overlooking the cleared space from his post on the North Gate. He remembered the fight there just over a day ago. It was a desperate thing, as the raiders had caught them just as they were returning from patrol. Everyone was tired and in need of a good rest when they had broken out of the trees, catching them off guard.

If it hadn't been for Ben and Ylva charging in when they did, the fight would have been lost, along with his life. He owed them much, and Tanny was wondering how he could repay them for saving his skin. He was mulling over some ideas when he sensed someone approaching from behind. Tanny whirled and heard a squeak, then relaxed his posture when he saw who it was.

"A little on edge there, Tanny?" Dynah asked, standing behind Mishele, who had jumped and stumbled back at his sudden movement.

"Wouldn't you be, being assigned here for the night?" Tanny replied.

"That's fair. Listen, Tanny, we need to talk," Mishele started.

"Ugh! Spare me the bullshit apologies, Mishele! You did what you did for you, without taking other people into consideration," Tanny growled. "Now, if you don't mind, I have a job to do."

"Wait!" Dynah asked the man as he turned to leave and head off to another section of the gate.

"What is it, Dynah?" Tanny grumbled, making an exception for her, since he had loved her once.

"We're both sorry about what we did to you! We made it impossible for you to trust anyone since then and we... want to make it up to you," Dynah started.

"Oh? How would the both of you make it up to me?" Tanny sneered, doubtful that the women were being sincere.

"Are you willing to listen to what both of us have to say?" Mishele asked him.

"I haven't left yet, so that should tell you I'm listening at least," Tanny sighed, just wanting to get this over with.

"I'm sorry that I was a cunt and stole Dynah from you. It was wrong of me to do it and I'm sorry that I did it!" Mishele started, falling to her knees in front of Tanny.

Tanny was surprised at seeing this, especially from Mishele! She was as unapologetic a woman as they came, but now, here she was, on her knees in front of him, begging for his forgiveness! Tanny looked over to Dynah, who had also dropped to her knees, looking up at him like she used to. He almost felt like... he had, back before the nonsense Mishele had stirred up caused his heart to harden.

"I'm sorry that I just let myself be swept up in what happened! I loved you, Tanny! I still do!" Dynah confessed.

"Don't... don't do that!" Tanny replied, his voice quivering. He could feel himself opening up, like he had once before, feeling hope fill his heart.

"Will you listen to us?" Mishele begged.

Tanny nodded, and both women got to their feet and walked up to him. They spoke to him about what they wished to give him. The two of them went on about how he not only deserved it, but that he had earned it from both of them. Tanny's eyes went wide with shock and his mouth fell open as they told him the truth about what had changed recently and what he meant to them both.

"When did you wish to do this?" he asked, curious about how serious they were.

"After the raiders are dealt with and we can go back to our normal lives," Dynah told him.

"If you wish proof of our sincerity, let this put your mind at ease," Mishele replied.

Before he could say or do anything, Mishele drew a small knife from her belt. She pressed the blade to her palm, cutting into it, but just enough to draw blood. She then clenched her fist and raised it above her head, catching the falling droplets of blood with her mouth. Tanny's eyes almost fell out of his head when he saw what she was doing! Wasting no time, he repeated the process himself, filling his own mouth with drops of his blood.

"By my word and blood, this promise is sealed," Mishele chanted.

"By my word and blood, this promise is sealed," Tanny repeated. The pair then came together and kissed, sealing their promise. Dynah watched as the two of them came apart a minute later. She smirked and did the same as they had, cutting her palm and drinking some of her own blood.

"By my word and blood, this promise is sealed," she said to Tanny.

He repeated the gesture and kissed Dynah, letting everything he felt come to the surface. She moaned into the kiss, letting the man know how much she wanted this and wanted him. Slowly, they came apart, puffing. Tanny thought all the passion he had for Dynah had died long ago. He was happy that he was wrong about the both of them, as Dynah's chest rose and fell as rapidly as his did.

"What are you three doing over there?" a voice came out of the darkness. Their heads whipped around, seeing it one of the members of the militia looking in their direction.

"Just discussing what we're going to do when this is all over," Mishele called out in response.

It wasn't an outright lie, as that was something they were talking about. Tanny smiled and shooed the girls away, so others didn't come around asking prying questions. Their business was theirs to know alone, and no one else's. The women went back to manning their posts, while wrapping their cut palms up.

Tanny did the same and headed back to minding the North Gate. He smiled as he thought about what was to come once the raider threat was eradicated. Tanny had given a lot of thought and believed that dying in battle was a better way to go out than to continue living. Now, he had a reason to live and a damn good one, as far as he was concerned.

"Fuck dying in battle!" he said out loud to himself. "I'm gonna live!"

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"The entire South Road team has been slain?!?" Gor'thaka raged.

"Yes, mighty Gor'thaka. Killed, piled up and burned," the West Road leader replied meekly.

"How?? How did this happen?!?" he fumed, his gargantuan frame frightening all who stood near him.

"I don't know, because I wasn't there. The townsfolk have been getting bold, though! Whatever they're doing, they have grown some serious balls to attack us as they have!" the man reported.

"They must have someone else calling the shots on what they do to repel us. But who is it? The mayor is a simpleton who doesn't understand conflict or war, and there are no great warriors among them! Who is killing my men and denying us the right to rule here?!?" Gor'thaka roared.

"Great One, that is a question we have all been wondering. Whoever it is, they are smart! They not only slew the South Road group, but stole our supplies, weapon stockpiles and all our prisoners," the leader told him.

"WHAT?!?!?" the Slavemaster roared, his anger rising beyond all known bounds. If he was angry before, he was beyond pissed off now. He reached for his mace, a gnarled and cruel looking implement that he only used when someone had failed him. Just as he put his hand over the weapon, a raider burst into the tent.

"What is it?!?" he growled, disliking interruptions when he was dealing out punishments.

"Another member of the West Road team has arrived. He says that he has information that he'd like to share with you, great Gor'thaka," the raider told his boss.

"Show him in at once!" the Slavemaster stated, his anger temporarily abated. Though he still might kill the leader in front of him for his failure, that would depend on what knowledge this other raider brought with him. The man walked in and kneeled before the Slavemaster, showing his boss the respect he was due.

"Mighty Gor'thaka, I have news that I'm sure will make you smile when I speak of it," the raider told the massive man.

"Speak it!" Gor'thaka demanded.

"I must first impart bad news, my lord. Four men have deserted us, thinking this town is not worth their time," the man said.

"What?! Who??" the Slavemaster growled.

"Jarx, Solan, Tahrn and Felis," the raider told him.

"Pah! They were mercenaries, but they will be dead mercenaries when I find them!" Gor'thaka rumbled.

"I told them as much. But the news I bring is that the town apparently has a Pinkskin within their walls. This Pinkskin is who I believe is helping them with pushing back against us," the raider stated.

"A Pinkskin?!? This far north?? Where did he come from?" Gor'thaka raged, wondering how such a small race could prove to be so much trouble.

"I saw this Pinkskin fight. I was with the raid against the town's North Gate," one of the guards piped up, getting Gor'thaka's attention.

"Well?? Spit it out!"

"The Pinkskin came with traders, coming from the Northeast road. He fought with a bow, which proved to be deadly in his hands. Each time he loosed an arrow, one of our boys fell dead. This Pinkskin has a sharp eye, so if you see a bow in his hands, duck!" the guard told Gor'thaka.

"He came from the Northeast road? There's nothing up that way but ruins full of Screamers!" Gor'thaka grumped.

"Seems like there is more than that up that way. I can attest to the Pinkskin's skill with a bow. When we were trying to batter down the West Gate, he shot at us with arrows that cut through our armor!" the raider reported. He had an arrow he had taken from the failed attack and presented it to his boss. Gor'thaka took the arrow and inspected it, looking over its design.

"Arrows like this went through the heavy armor we wear?" Gor'thaka asked, surprised and more than a little disturbed at the idea.

"Saw it happen with my own two eyes! Whoever this Pinkskin is, it's clear that he's smart and knows things we don't!" the raider reported.

"He's crafty too..." Gor'thaka observed, looking over the arrow which Ben had put together. Gor'thaka had been in the slaver business a long time, but he'd never seen an arrow so well crafted. The head itself, while simple, was well made and perfect in his eyes. He smiled as an idea formed in his head and, as it took shape, his smile broke into a grin.

"Pass my order to the West Road team. They are to head straight to the mine and reinforce the men and the Beastmaster that is stationed there," the Slavemaster ordered the leader, and he leaped to obey, wanting to be away from Gor'thaka while he was still in a good mood.

"You think they'll get brave enough to try taking the mine back?" the raider asked.

"They will. It is the most obvious target for them to take control back from us. But we will be the ones to hold onto it!" Gor'thaka cackled.

"What did you have in mind, mighty one?" the raider asked.

"Oh, a very cunning plan, which will give us our advantage back!" he exulted as he stood and walked out of the tent.

Though he was severely disappointed at his men's failures, there was an opportunity here. One, if played correctly, would give him and his men an advantage that would turn the odds back in their favor. He knew that the iron mine would be the most likely target and had already set a plan in motion to give him the advantage.

The West Road team was already leaving, so Gor'thaka let them leave before he started executing his plan. He started gathering his best fighters, among them his own bodyguard, and spoke to them about his plan. At first, they were skeptical that it could work, but as he went on, their doubt was replaced by a greedy eagerness.

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Sunlight peeked over the horizon, and Samara blinked against the rays of the sun. It had been a while she was greeted by such a sight, having spent the better part of five hundred years in cryo sleep. The warmth of the sun on her face made her smile and Samara sat up, stretching her arms over her head as she cooed. She looked over at the rest of the people there and sighed.

They were all asleep, except Markie, who had chosen the last watch over the bunch of them. She was sitting over by the dying fire, her eyes scanning the horizon. Samara smiled at the woman, thinking that she was likely enjoying this as much as she was. After being cooped up for years in a vault, surviving when everyone thought you were dead had an effect on the woman.

Samara had seen tears in Markie's eyes as she slept, likely for her lost love. It had been a hard existence, one which nearly broke the poor woman. She couldn't fault her for being overly cautious and jumpy from time to time. Now that she was out and traveling the world with her and Chelsea, Samara saw some signs that Markie was getting better. They were small, to be sure, as healing of all kinds often took time.

Her mind on the topic of healing, she got to her feet and ambled over to where Zahn was snoring. The man snored like a saw through hardwood, but that he was breathing was a good sign. Samara checked his wounds and the dressings without waking the man. The wounds appeared to be healing nicely and the dressings would need to be changed. She only hoped that Zahn had more medical supplies lying around in his cart.

"How's he doing?" Markie called out softly.

"He's healing, which is always a good sign. I think he'll make it with little impact to his daily life," Samara replied, giving her diagnosis.

"That's good. At least we now have a guide to help us get our bearings in this new world," Markie stated.

"With everything we've seen so far, yeah! Could you toss me the toilet paper there, hon?" Samara asked.

"Need to pee?" Markie smirked.

"Yeah! I'm just going to head down the hill, just that way," Samara told her as she pointed.

"Why not the forest?"

"Easier to see anything coming at me that way. Besides, if anything comes at me, I have this," Samara grinned, pulling her pistol out and readying it, in case she needed to use it.

"Smart idea. You go pee and I'll keep an eye on these two," Markie replied.

"Thanks. Before I go, anything moving around that you could see or hear?" Samara inquired.

"Aside from the Thunderer, nothing. Go on, Sam. I got this," Markie urged. Samara smiled and headed off to go do her morning business. Though she had to go pee, there was another reason Samara wanted some privacy. Right after she had woken up from her cryo sleep, she had been hornier than she thought possible.

Since she was assigned her own personal room at the facility, Samara had used any private time to Jill out her frustration. Sure, it wasn't a proper cock, or even Ben's cock, but it took the edge off. Since leaving, her libido had only run even more rampant, and she needed release.

Once she was at the bottom of the hill, Samara found an area that a large set of tall grass. It was almost tall enough to hide in, which was perfect for her, but Samara was no fool. The world had changed, and she knew that any manner of threat could lurk anywhere. She checked the long grass while keeping her pistol handy, and after a few minutes, she saw that there was nothing and no one there.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she holstered her weapon and got to her business of relieving herself. Once she was done, she moved away from the spot and got in a better position behind the long grass. She sighed as she dropped her pants and reached for her nethers, stroking her puffed up lips.

Samara knew she couldn't tarry long, or one of the girls would come looking for her, and she literally didn't want to be caught with her pants down. She went back through her head, searching for a particular memory that always got her hot and bothered. As the memory played out in her head, she used her fingers on herself, kick-starting her desire as she took a jaunt down memory lane.

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Both she and Ben were attending a show at the Canadian Opera Company on Queen street. They had been dating for a little while and Ben, having never attended such a performance, was enthralled at the show. The Trans Siberian Orchestra was in town, and they always put on an amazing performance. Samara had been several times and always enjoyed herself.

She glanced over at Ben, who was just amazed at what he was seeing and listening to. Samara stared at her man and the figure he cut in a tuxedo, leaving her mouth watering. She had heard that a well-tailored suit to women was like lingerie to men, and Samara couldn't help but agree with that assessment. Though Samara was sure she caught Ben staring at her more than once.

Samara had dressed in an elegant and sexy dress that flowed all around her. It was a green and gold affair that accentuated her curves in ways that left little to the imagination. She had selected it with the express desire to drive Ben to distraction, and it worked beautifully. With a few covert glances at her boyfriend, she could tell that he was sporting an impressive boner, one that she'd be happy to... deflate.

The final notes hung in the air as applause sounded a half second later. Samara and Ben stood up to join in the cheering, as they had enjoyed the show so far. It was the intermission, which meant bathroom and snack breaks for most of the patrons there. Samara though had... other ideas of what they could do while everyone was busy with socializing.

The couple left their seats, as many other people did. Samara hit up the ladies' room to relieve herself and found Ben waiting for her out by one of the snack vendors.

"Anything tickle your fancy, Sam?" Ben asked as he turned to drink Samara with his eyes.

"Yes, something does," she said to him, while wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing him in for a kiss. Ben pressed against her, his mood mirroring hers. She moaned happily as she opened her eyes as she stopped kissing him.

"Careful. I'm feeling very... adventurous tonight," she whispered.

"Oh? Just how adventurous?" Ben chuckled.

"Enough that I don't feel like... waiting until the show is over. I need... to take the edge off," she replied huskily.

"I think I know what you have in mind," Ben smirked as he took her hand. Ben had the idea of leading her to a discreet, out of the way supplies cupboard, but Samara had a better idea.

"Maybe let me lead? I know a place that is... roomier," she stated. Ben shrugged and let Samara lead the way, taking them up to Ring Three. They were careful to avoid being obvious as she led him to a door that was tucked out of the way and off the main walkways.

"Where are we?" Ben asked.

"The northwest corner of the building. Because of the show going on, no one will be here right now," Samara grinned as she produced a key and opened the door to let them in.

"Wow! What is this place?" Ben wondered as he took in the place's ambiance.

"The Hospitality suites, where smaller and more... intimate events happen," she purred.

"And you have a key, how?" he questioned.

"My parents are big time donors to the company. I'm not talking thousands, more like millions. So, because of their generous donations, we literally have keys to the whole place," Samara smirked.

"You never cease to surprise me," Ben smiled as he drew Sam in for another kiss.

She returned it with equal fervor, her desire for Ben becoming more and more apparent. Her hands danced across his chest, pushing his coat off as she sought to touch his bare skin. His hands traced her exposed collarbone, and Samara shivered at the touch. His hand dipped lower along her cleavage as she pushed his jacket off before attacking his shirt.

"A little impatient tonight, aren't we, Samara?" Ben chuckled.

"I've been waiting for a free, intimate moment like this since I saw you in this thing! Now, I need you out of it!" she huffed as she undid his tie and opened his shirt up.

"Fair is fair," he replied, as his hand found her dress' zipper and pulled it down.

The dress fell away from Samara's body and pooled around her ankles. Samara had forgone wearing a bra, even a strapless one, which Ben appreciated. What she was wearing beneath the dress was a lacy thong and garter set, complete with matching stockings. It was the same color as the dress was, which left Ben staring at her in lust. He snapped out of his haze a few seconds later and enveloped her mouth with his.

Samara wrapped her arms around Ben and pulled him close as she kissed him back. Ben growled ferally, his hands roaming along her body until they found her heavy breasts. He cupped them, holding them upright as he massaged Samara's hefty rack. He broke their kiss, but immediately kissed her along the jawline, making his way further south until he found her tits.

"Ben..." she shivered as she felt his tongue dart out and lick her sensitive nubs. He'd barely touched her, and Samara could feel her nipples hardening already.

"Mmmm? You want me to stop?" he asked in a mock-hurt voice. Samara just stared down at him with a look on her face that screamed, 'Get back to it, mister!'. Ben chuckled and continued with his ministrations, sending shivers of delight through Samara. He kept going, but then moved further south, heading for her steaming treasure between her legs.

Samara's core throbbed with need and want as Ben's hands slithered along her skin, dragging her thong off. Samara whined at the cold draft in the room, but her exposure ended in moments as she felt Ben's warm mouth caress her nethers. She moaned at this, wanting nothing more than to feel this all day, every day.

"Ooooohhhh, Beeeeeeennnnnnn! Don't... stop..." she breathed as her boyfriend lapped at her lower lips, sucking up every droplet of moisture.

Samara trembled as the sensations rocketing through her intensified, driving her to a higher peak. She bit her lower lips when she felt Ben's hands on her ass, pulling her closer into him. Ben had certainly upped his game tonight, as she never remembered him being this good at eating pussy!

"FFffffuuuuuccccckkkk!" she groaned as several key nerves were juiced by Ben's tongue.

Samara felt that racing sensation along her spine, telling her that her first peak was near. Samara jittered and spasmed, but ben held her firm as he continued to eat her. Her breath caught and she could feel the precipice at the forefront of her mind. She desperately wanted to go over and fall into blissful oblivion, but waited on Ben to finish her.

Ben kept at it, making creative use of his tongue as he licked her pussy. He could feel her nearing that edge she was craving, as Samara was leaking like a sieve. He licked with merciless abandon, wanting to give his woman the orgasm she needed. His hands clenched her ass while they kneaded her pliable cheeks, driving her right to the edge. Ben then used his tongue like a spear and drove it into her folds, hard.

Samara moaned lowly, wanting to scream her orgasm, but also trying to avoid any unwanted attention. Just because they were the only ones in the room didn't mean that someone wouldn't pass by. She put her hand over her mouth and moaned louder, her body trembling with the pleasurable shivers. Samara spasmed and jittered, losing her balance as she continued to come.

Ben stood up and caught her in his arms, preventing her from falling. He noticed there was a couch nearby and carried her over to it. Samara continued to vibrate, riding out the high that Ben had given her and cooing as she snuggled into his chest. Ben sat on the couch and held her close, letting her rest. After a few minutes, Samara smirked and sat up, looking Ben in the eye.

"Mmmmm! Whatever you're learning, please keep it up! I haven't cum like in... ever! Samara grinned.

"Making you 'happy' is always something I enjoy doing!" Ben smirked.

"Mmmmm! Now, it's my turn to make you happy!" she purred as she slid down out of his embrace and was on her knees before him. Ben gasped as Samara took his steely member into her mouth without another word. He groaned when she sucked hard, applying enough pressure to where it was almost like a vacuum.

"Fuck! Samara... that's... holy shit!" Ben groaned.

The intense pressure that his dick was under sent shooting sensations through his entire body. His balls were boiling to where he felt that they'd burst if he didn't relieve the pressure. The way Samara was sucking him off, it was enough to make him wish that she'd never stop. She wasn't being clean about it either; Ben was getting a wet and sloppy blowjob, which left his dick dripping.

"Mmmm! Sloppy and soaked. Just the way your cock needs to be," Samara said huskily, making Ben stare at her in pure lust. She got off her knees and clambered on top of him, taking his dick in hand. Samara guided it to her slippery cleft, pressing the head of his dick at her entrance. He popped into her, filling her quim with his dick and moaning at the intense heat he felt being inside her.

"Oh, DIOS!" Samara crooned.

"Si, senorita!" Ben agreed as he leaned in to kiss her.

Samara kissed him back, grinding her hips into his as she rode his cock. Ben did just as much, pushing upwards against her as they fucked. He palmed her tits as she writhed against him, wanting and needing more of this. He cupped the heavy mammaries as Samara bounced up and down on him, riding his cock in earnest.

Ben moved with her, pushing his hips up to meet her downward thrusts. The slap of flesh echoed in the empty room, intensifying their desire for each other. Samara sped up her pace, wanting and needing to feel Ben cum. Ben was right there with her, needing to empty his balls into this woman, and soon! A wicked idea then crossed Samara's mind, and she stopped, not wanting to push Ben any further.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Ben asked, curious about why Samara had stopped.

"Nothing! I just want to... try something else! Something really... naughty!" Samara grinned, the lust oozing out of her.

"Naughtier that fucking in an opera house, while a show is going on? I don't think we can get much naughtier than that!" Ben smirked, looking to get started again.

"Oh, there is! Just a second!" Samara told him as she rose up off his dick and scurried over to where she left her purse. She looked in it for a second before she pulled out what she found and hurried back over.

"A condom? I thought we were going bareback from now on!" Ben whined.

"Trust me, we will need this," Samara drawled, opening the condom and rolling it onto Ben's turgid member. Once it was on, she mounted Ben once more, and rode him a little, slickening up the condom covered cock. She stopped after a few more minutes, before tugging the dick out of her quim and realigning it.

"Sam... are you... sure??" Ben breathed, now seeing what his girlfriend had in mind.

"Damn straight! I have taken you to bed in every possible way, except this one. I want this first time for both of us, to be a memorable one!" Samara sighed as she pressed Ben's cockhead against her ass.

Ben just nodded as he felt his dick straining to push its way into her backdoor. Samara had calmed her breathing and was pressing gently, yet insistently, against his tool. He then felt a quick push as his cockhead slid into her ass.

"Oh shit! Fuck!" Samara groaned as she took a cock into her ass for the first time.

"You OK?" Ben asked.

"Yeah... I just... need a minute," Samara replied.

The sensation of having her asshole stretched like this was... different and weird, but in a good way. It wasn't painful, as she'd heard some other women describe it, but... enjoyable! She wanted more of Ben's dick buried in her, but knew that she had to take her time. Ben didn't push her and as she looked down, he didn't seem like he wanted to. The look on his face was pure, carnal bliss as he lay there, smiling at her.

"Push in, but slow. We have time," Samara told him. Ben nodded and slowly pushed his dick into her. Inch by inch, she took it, slowly letting her ass get filled by her boyfriend's cock. He stopped when she told him to, getting used to having her rear passage stretched. She did this several more times until she felt her ass touch his balls.

"Oh, Jesus! My boyfriend has his cock in my ass," Samara breathed.

"Does my girlfriend like having her ass stuffed?" Ben questioned as his dick throbbed in her ass.

"Fuck yeah! Go slow, Ben. I want to enjoy this!" Samara urged.

Ben was more than happy to oblige her as he pulled and pushed his dick into her ass. She cooed in delight as he moved in and out of her, her nerves dancing as she relished this carnal delight. Samara's hands slid down to her dripping pussy, and she diddled herself as she rode Ben. She felt his firm hands dig into her thick behind, moaning and hissing in delight.

"Oh... fuck yeah... fuck my ass... God, I feel like such a whore!" Samara breathed.

"If you are one... then you are my whore," Ben whispered as he kept pushing his dick deeper into her.

"Yes! I am your whore! Just like you... are mine!" Samara purred, as she felt herself nearing her second peak. The sensations that surged through her were new, yet familiar at the same time. She was getting close, and picked up the pace, slamming her hips onto Ben's as she chased her orgasm. Samara was right there, near the point of no return, when she felt Ben's hand stroke her nethers.

That was all it took to send the ebon skinned woman off the edge, and she keened in bliss as her core clenched hard. Samara was pulled down to Ben and kissed so hard that it almost seemed violent. She kissed him back after a moment, knowing that he was just trying to keep her quiet.

Ben felt the intense pressure on his dick as Samara came, threatening to send him over to join Samara in bliss. He held on, though just barely, as he stopped himself from cumming. Though he had restrained himself, another side of Ben was awake now, one that knew no restraint. It took hold of him as he lifted Samara off him and put her on all fours on the couch, before setting himself behind her.

"Ben... what..." Samara whispered as she was still in the throes of her orgasm.

"Time to take what is mine!" he growled ferally.

The ferocity of the statement snapped Samara out of her orgasm induced stupor. Her eyes widened as she felt Ben's dick probe her backdoor again. It slid in much easier and faster than before, stretching her to her limits. Ben wasn't gentle this time, as he straight up hammered into her without mercy. Samara was losing her mind, as the shots of pleasure and adrenaline coursed through her like quicksilver.

"Jesus... fucking... Christ!" she nearly screamed.

"He won't help you here!" Ben growled as he continued to savage Samara's ass.

Samara was still riding the orgasmic high, but in a series of minigasms, which she kept traversing. One after the other they came, building up a final and colossal orgasm that would see her wiped. Samara shivered and yipped, wanting Ben to wreck her so that no other man would ever compare. He was doing a damned good job of it, as she was of the mind that no other man would ever match up, no matter who they were!

Ben felt Samara's anal passage tighten up and clench on his tool as he drove into it. His balls were on fire and needed to be emptied! Ben continued to pound his lady, making her squeal with every thrust. He kept going, not wanting to stop, as this was far too amazing to ever want to stop! Ben's feral side took hold of him in that moment, and he slapped Samara's ass as hard as he could.

This was the tipping point for Samara as she wailed and buried her face into the couch cushions. Both her passages clenched hard, the convulsive orgasm nearly knocking her out in its intensity. The vise like grip on his dick was more than enough for Ben as he roared when he came. His dick spurted like a fire hose, filling the condom he wore with his seed and even going as far as to overfill it.

The intensity of what they felt sent them both tumbling into oblivion, with Ben lying next to Samara as they caught their breath. Sated beyond all possible measure, Samara nuzzled into Ben, burying herself into his chest to get warm. She sighed as she felt well and truly fucked, knowing that she'd want to do this again, and again, and again.

"You were right," Ben breathed, when he finally found his voice.

"Hmm?"

"That was really fucking naughty!" Ben laughed as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Mmmm! So glad you approve! Would you want to do it again?" Samara asked in a cutesy voice.

"When?" he asked, eager for a repeat session.

"After the show. Shangri-La?" she asked.

"Never been there! What's it like?" Ben queried.

"Oh, you're in for a treat, Ben! Let's get dressed and head back down! The show has to have started by now," Samara replied.

Smiling, Ben got up and helped Samara to her feet. They got cleaned up as best as they could, the wet wipes Samara had in her purse helping a great deal in that regard. They got dressed and after a once over; they agreed they looked much as they had before their little romp.

As quietly as they could, they both stepped out of the Hospitality suites, with Samara locking the door behind them. They hurried along the corridors, heading back to their seats, while doing everything they could to avoid the ushers and security roaming the halls. They found an unattended door and slipped in, heading to their seats.

The orchestra had started up again, and it sounded like they had been at it for a bit. Some patrons in their seats noticed the young couple heading down and shook their heads. Few looked at them in disgust and disdain, while most others smirked at them, knowing full well what Ben and Samara had been up to.

The people in their row were kind enough to let them by, and they took their seats. Ben reached out with his hand, which Samara took, lacing her fingers through his. The pair of them knew that this was it, that they were each other's endgame. They smiled at each other, looking forward to many more days and years together.

******************************

Samara trembled as she finished massaging her throbbing pussy, sated for now. Cleaning herself up, Samara wiped and made sure there was no moisture before hiking her pants back up. She stood up and glanced about, making sure no one was around before she moved. Climbing the hill from the small valley, she neared the campsite when Chelsea popped up out of nowhere, scaring her.

"Jesus Christ, Chels! Don't frighten me like that!" Samara groused.

"You should have seen your face!" Chelsea cackled. "Speaking of which, you look unusually flushed! Have yourself some good... alone time?"

"After waking up from a five hundred year sleep, with no way to... handle yourself, will play havoc on the feminine body, I'll have you know!" Samara snapped back in response to Chelsea's teasing.

"Oh, I know it does! Which is why I would suggest you come and see me next time you need to Jill one out," Chelsea told her.

"What are you talking about?"

"Before we left the vault, I... appropriated some girl toys. I figured we'd need them while we're out and around. Mainly just so we don't just jump on the first dick that presents itself," Chelsea told her.

"Oh, oh! Um, yeah, that's a... great idea!" Samara replied, realizing what her friend was getting at.

"I thought so! Now, I'm not sure which one you might want to use more, but I have at least one of all the main ones a girl needs. Did you want to see what I have?" Chelsea offered.

"Yes, please! But we should probably wait until-" Samara started, before she felt an overwhelming urge to puke. She turned and yakked, unloading the contents of her stomach behind her.

"Oh, my... gross! What the fuck, Sam? Are you sick?" Chelsea worried.

"I'm not sick, just feeling a little--" Samara started, before she puked again.

"Sambo... is that... morning sickness?" Chelsea asked.

"No, it's not, I'm just a bit---" Samara replied, before she vomited once more.

"Fuck! It is! You're pregnant!" Chelsea replied, familiar with the signs, as she was a neonatal nurse. "Wait, if you're... fuck! Sam, did something happen back at the vault?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Did someone rape you? Because if they did, I swear, I will find out who, dig up their corpse and..." Chelsea ranted.

"Chels, stop. I wasn't raped, OK? I mean, a couple guys got a little flirty and fresh with me, but they didn't get to me," Samara responded.

"But if you're pregnant, then... who is the father?" Chelsea wondered, scratching her head.

"It's Ben. Ben is the father."

"What?!? No fucking way!!! How is that possible? How could your child survive cryo sleep for five hundred years??" Chelsea questioned, astounded that such a thing had happened.

"I don't know, but I'd like to think it's a miracle and fated for it to have happened like this. That I now carry Ben's child within me, alive and well, it's... well..." Samara gushed.

"How long have you known?" Chelsea asked.

"Since I received Ben's goodbye letter in the mail. I knew it was a risk, going under while pregnant, as it could result in me losing the baby. Thankfully, my prayers have been answered and here we are today!" Samara enthused.

"Now I know why you're so hellbent on finding Ben. You've always wanted a family of your own and now you will have one," Chelsea smiled.

"It's more than just wanting a family, Chels. It's about wanting a family with Ben. Specifically, I want to see little ones like him running around, living life and living my life with Ben. I have and will continue to do the impossible for that man, like I know he'd do the impossible for me," Samara stated.

"I know that much is true. I remember the way you two looked at each other. But are you sure that he still loves you?" Chelsea challenged.

"If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it's yours. If it doesn't, then it was never meant to be," Samara quipped.

"Nice! You feeling better?" Chelsea wondered.

"A little, yeah. No longer feel like losing my dinner," Samara sighed, finally getting her queasy stomach under control.

"Think you might be able to keep breakfast down?" Chelsea asked.

"I'll try."

The women walked back to the campsite together, walking up to find Markie handling the food. Zahn was awake, and he was standing on his own, which was better than what he was doing yesterday.

"Zahn! Sit your ass back down before I make you!" Samara ordered.

"I'm all right, Samara. Doesn't feel like my guts will fall out, so I think I'm OK," Zahn told her gently.

"Sit... down!" she told him. Zahn could have disobeyed, but he knew how vicious Pinkskins could be, so he did as she commanded. Samara then stepped up to the man and checked beneath his bandages. She was surprised to see that his wounds had scabbed over considerably and even his skin had grown back.

"You are in much better shape than you were, but that doesn't mean that you push yourself," Samara admonished.

"Yes, ma'am!" Zahn replied with a smirk, knowing he was being cheeky. Samara rolled her eyes and walked over to where Markie was cooking breakfast.

"Hungry?" Markie asked.

"Starving!"

Markie then cut off a slice of the roasted bird they had eaten last night and gave it to Samara. She accepted it gratefully, and though her stomach did flip flops, Samara had to keep her strength up. Now that she was carrying a new life inside her, she would have to take better care of herself. She ate the slice of meat and downed it with little issue.

"Now that it's morning, I assume it's safe to get going?" Markie asked, directing the question at Zahn.

"Yes, it is. The sooner we get packed up, the sooner we can be on our way and headed south. This far north, beasts are far less predictable and will often attack you because they are hungry," Zahn told them.

Not wanting to stick around to encounter said beasts, the girls started picking up and packing away the stuff that went on Zhan's cart. Zhan started directing them, as if he couldn't physically help, he'd at least give the women the rundown of what to do. In no time at all, they had the cart packed and loaded with all his goods and what they scavenged from the raiders. They also loaded Charl's body, making room for it.

"So, what do you plan to do with your apprentice's body?" Samara wondered.

"I want to find a nice place and perform a proper sendoff for him. The ritual to send our loved ones into the afterlife is important to us," Zahn explained.

"I understand. We'll help you locate a suitable place to do that. Memorials to the dead are important to us too," Samara offered.

"Thank you. Charl would appreciate the help. As do I," Zahn replied, shedding a tear.

"You're welcome. We probably should get going. You girls ready?" Samara asked.

"Yeah. Just checking on the hitch for the Thunderer," Chelsea replied, working on the straps. Moments later, they were done as Samara and Zahn ambled up.

"All right. You two hop in the back. I'll drive," Samara told them.

"You sure Sambo? I mean, you'll need help with that," Chelsea replied.

"Zahn will sit with me as I drive. He's healed a lot faster than I thought he would, so he should be able to help with it should I lose control," Samara explained.

"If you're sure?" Markie said, while she eyed the back of the cart.

"Yes, I'm sure. Get in the back and get some sleep, you two," Samara told them. They smiled and hopped in the back and laid down.

"Be sure to use those blankets in there. They'll help you sleep and keep the sun out of your face," Zahn commented as Samara helped him up into his seat. He strained a bit but made it to the seat. Samara clambered up behind him, taking the reins. After a brief instructional, Samara clucked her tongue, and the Thunderer got moving. The cart rolled along, heading south as the group was eager to leave behind the camp.

Though they were still safe, they didn't want to be around when predators and scavengers came sniffing for the corpses. Samara turned her thoughts to the road ahead and what they would find. She knew that her current road ended upon finding Ben. What happened after that was anyone's guess, but she would find him and get him back. She only hoped that he still loved her as she loved him.

******************************

It was late morning by the time Ben and Ylva woke up. They had spent the better portion of the night helping Jorge and Kayt with making enough arrowheads to go around. It had been a long night, but they'd managed it, and now every member of the militia was outfitted with the new arrows. Since they had worked so hard, they were given some leeway to sleep in.

They stretched and groaned, still somewhat tired, but happy at all the work they had accomplished. Ylva had every intention of tackling Ben and having her way with him, but they still had work to do that day. Since that day when she had let him take her in the creek, Ylva was growing very fond of Ben.

It wasn't just the sex, though the sex was beyond anything she had ever hoped for! No, there was more to her attraction to the man beyond the physical. He had a good soul and a good heart, and it was obvious with the way he treated people. He didn't look down on anyone, even though there were no other Pinkskins around. Ben was kind and decent to everyone he met, especially towards women.

This was something that had caught her off guard initially, as she'd had no man treat her like this. The one in her memory who treated her the way Ben did was her father, who had died many years ago. She smiled at the memory of him, thinking back to when she felt safe, cared and provided for. Ylva then looked over to Ben and sighed, smiling at how she'd been lucky to find him.

"You coming, Ylva?" Ben asked as he got dressed. He was in a new set of clothes that Mellany had made for him. Ylva smiled at the older woman's generosity, as she had also made additional clothes for her as well.

"Yeah, in a minute. Just need a few to wake up a little is all," she told him as she watched him dress.

"All right. I'll see you downstairs," he told her, before kissing her forehead.

She smiled and remembered each time they had sex and she sighed, wanting it from him again. Mellany had been asking if they could double team Ben again, and because of how she had asked, Ylva was keeping the idea in mind. Mellany hadn't been pushy in her asking, understanding if Ylva wanted to keep him all to herself.

The big woman thought about how much fun it had been as she got dressed and decided that she would be fine with it happening again. As long as Mellany didn't try to take him from her, she could join them as often as she liked. She finally settled the blouse and skirt around her, along with the corset, before she found her way down to the common room where Ben waited.

"Ylva, over here!" Ben waved to her, sitting at their table. She scurried over and sat next to Ben, then dug into the plate of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of her.

"Long night?" Mellany asked, sitting across from her.

"Yup! Now I understand why forge work is so hard!" Ylva groaned, working her aching muscles.

"It's always a pain in the ass the first little while you do it. But after a time, you get used to it," Ben smiled as he drank his tea.

It was minty flavored tea, with a pop of what he thought was cinnamon. Though Lawrie and the others had called it a tea, it reminded Ben very much of coffee. He sat there, enjoying his meal, when he saw Denys walk in from outside. The man spied them at their table before he walked on over, taking a seat opposite Ben.

"Morning Ben, Lawrie, Ylva, Mellany, Tasya," he greeted.

"Morning Denys. What brings you by?" Ben asked.

"A mug of tea and any ideas you might have to deal with these raiders," Denys stated. A waitress walked by and asked Denys what he wanted. Placing his order, she bustled off to fetch it while the group talked.

"Why ask me?" Ben queried.

"Because your ideas have all worked so far where other plans have failed. It's clear you have a sound mind for tactics, so anything you can offer would be welcome," Denys replied, as the waitress stopped by with his tea.

"Well, right now, the best thing to do is to keep going on the offensive. The raiders are on their heels, and we need to keep it that way. Keep them angry and coming at us all stupid. That way, they're the ones that keep making the mistakes while we maintain cool heads," Ben told him.

"So, you're suggesting an attack? On what?" Denys asked.

"The iron mine. Remove the threat there and you literally have the raiders at a disadvantage. If we can clear out the raiders and the Beastmaster entrenched there, then the mine could, in theory, reopen, right?" Ben asked.

"In theory, yes. It would mean that trade could flow again, and we would be in a much better position to take the fight to the raiders!" Denys exclaimed, seeing the advantage they would have. "But what about those scorpions? Such beasts don't go down easy."

"That's where the new arrows come in. If they can punch through thick raider armor, what's saying they can't do the same to a scorpion's carapace?" Ben rebutted.

"This is true. I have seen what those arrows do to raider armor. It could work, as long as everyone brings their bows," Ylva suggested.

"I see your point. All right. I'll muster a force of the militia to march on the mine. I expect you two will be joining us?" Denys asked, as he stood up and finished his tea.

"You can bet on that! Give us a few minutes to finish breakfast and we'll be right along," Ben told him. Denys nodded and saluted with his fist over his heart before he placed his empty mug on the table and left.

"You know, for a Pinkskin who's from a time of peace, you're awfully prepared for war," Lawrie commented.

"They used to make games based on war. They wrote entire books on the topic, on how to get the drop on your enemy, how to make him suffer, how to make his men desert him without doing anything to him, everything. By the time I was born, war was made into a game, a pastime. Hell, they even had competitions on who the best strategist was," Ben replied.

"Were you among those best?" Ylva questioned.

"Nah. I was never good enough to get to those top level competitions, but I did place in the top thousand across the world," Ben replied, remembering his days as a competitive RTS player.

"How many people played these games?" Mellany wondered, enthralled at the idea of playing such games.

"Millions. Sometimes tens of millions, depending on the game and its appeal," Ben explained.

"It makes sense why you're so good at tactics and beating down your enemies. If you were considered that good, among millions of others, then here, now, you would be considered the best," Ylva told him warmly.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ylva," Ben smiled.

"Well, it is the truth. Do they have a title for those of high rank, who commanded respect among others?" she wondered.

"Yeah. It was a military rank. Military meaning those who dedicate their every waking moment to being like militia. Men who did this were called soldiers. Those who commanded them were called 'General'," Ben told them, clearing away any confusion.

"General. A noble sounding title. It fits you," Tasya said to him.

"Indeed. General," Lawrie replied, saluting him the same way Denys had. Mellany did the same, as did Tasya and Ylva, showing him the measure of respect they felt he deserved. Ben was floored by this, not expecting to be regarded so highly by anyone! He saluted them back, smiling as he stood.

"Thank you! This means a lot to me!" Ben said to them.

"You're welcome, General. Now, let's go show those raiders who's boss around here," Ylva smirked, standing with him.

"Yes! Let's!"

With that, the pair of them turned around and left the inn, heading for the West Gate. They ambled on by and saw some militia practicing with the new arrows. There were large blocks of wood lined up and they were shooting at them, in an attempt to hit them. Some of these blocks had been split in half, the power of the arrows enough to cut them in half, much like an axe would.

"Ben, Ylva! Over here!" they heard as they approached the West Gate.

"Jorge! Kayt! What are you two doing here?" Ylva asked.

"We heard about the mustering that's going on and we thought we'd do something for you. Here," Jorge offered, unwrapping a large package inside a weathered cloth.

What lay within surprised Ben and Ylva. It was several armor plates, which had been designed for both of them. Ben had a chestplate, pauldrons, bracers and a pair of light greaves. Ylva already had shoulder plates, so she was given a set of shin guards, bracers, a battle skirt of overlapping plates and a half chest plate. The armor had been designed to grant them both protection, while allowing them to move without issue.

"When did you two have the time to do this?" Ben asked, amazed at the quality of the armor. It was simply made, with no dings or scratches on it, and from what Ben could tell, it had been tempered properly.

"The two of us worked through the night to make this possible. We knew you were probably going out there again, so we wanted to make sure that you were as safe as could be. It's also our way of... saying thank you," Kayt replied.

"Thank you? For what?" Ylva asked. The response was Kayt taking Jorge by the collar and dragging him down for a kiss. Jorge returned the kiss with equal fervor, moaning into Kayt's mouth.

"Ah! Needed the proverbial slap upside the head to see it?" Ben laughed.

"We did. Thank you for helping us see what we were too blind to bother seeing," Jorge said as he came up for air.

"In that case, you are welcome!" Ylva replied, as she fitted what armor pieces she could. Ben gave her a hand with the ones that were giving her issues, and after a few minutes, she was fully outfitted. She then helped Ben with his armor, which went together much quicker than hers. Ylva had to admit, Ben looked good in the battle armor, so much so that she had half a mind to tear him out of it.

"Anyway, good luck!" Jorge said, shaking hands with Ben, then Ylva. Kayt walked up and hugged them both before retreating to the forge with Jorge, holding hands as they walked. Ylva and ben snickered as they walked on to the West Gate, where Denys waited. They arrived to see that a sizable force of militia had mustered, with Ben counting over thirty of them there.

"Ben, Ylva!" Tanny called out, waving at the pair. They saw him standing with Mishele, Dynah and Denys, over by the gate itself, and walked over.

"Hey there! We about ready to head out?" Ben asked Denys.

"Yeah, but I need to say a little something first," he told them, before he walked over to a large crate, climbing on top of it.

"All right, militia, listen up! I've mustered you all here today, because we have work to do. We've been on the defense for a while now, and it has prevented the raiders from taking us down. But we've also lost a lot of good people in going with this tactic. Today, we're going to change things up a bit. We're going on the offensive!" Denys told everyone there. There was a round of smiles and nods, and they were all listening to him, waiting for more details.

"Thanks to the efforts of Ben and Ylva, we have been given some much-needed breathing room to regroup. We've also been given upgraded arrows, which will help us in taking down the more heavily armored raiders," Denys went on. Several people looked to Ben and Ylva, smiling and clapping them on the shoulder as a way of showing their gratitude.

"Because of the advantage we now have, we are going to attack the raiders head on. We're going for the iron mine! I know some of you are worried about the scorpions led by the Beastmaster there, but we will prevail! These new arrows are the weapon we need to bring down such monsters. If they can cut through the heavy armor of a raider, then why can't they punch through the carapace of some bugs?" Denys asked.

The skepticism was replaced by optimism as the militia looked down at their arrows with a sense of awe. Some of them remembered how effective they were against the raiders when they attacked the West Gate and grinned. With these new arrows, there was little that could be thrown at them and survive!

"So, I say we march out there and take back what belongs to us! Are you with me?" Denys called out.

A rousing cheer answered him, and the militia looked eager and ready to get going. He signaled the gatekeepers, and they opened the gates, letting the militia walk out and march for the iron mine. Most of them were on foot, but a few were on Thunderers, with a couple of them driving empty carts.

Ben and Ylva went with them, marching alongside Denys as he led the way. While on their way, various members of the militia approached Ben and gave him back his arrows. Though they were still armor piercers, they were too short for the bows they carried. He thanked each member who returned them, thankful to have them back.

"How many of the militia did you bring with?" Ben wondered.

"Only a third. I brought the most experienced and seasoned veterans we have. Most of those left behind are greenhorns and young folk. They know how to shoot, but not much else," Denys stated.

"Smart call. Don't want to get the kids killed when they still have so much ahead of them," Ben remarked.

"Yeah. Want to be sure that they still have the chance to see what life has in store for them," Denys told him.

"How far is it to the mine?" Ylva asked, wondering when she'd get to skewer some raiders on her spear.

"A few hours' march, at least. We'll probably get there by midday," Denys replied.

Ylva huffed and kept walking, knowing that she'd have to wait. She hated waiting, but since the raiders weren't coming to them, it would have to do. Some militia had their bows drawn and arrows nocked as they marched, thinking a raiding party might try to ambush them. No one came out of the forest to accost them, but they stayed vigilant, not wanting to take any chances.

The terrain changed, becoming slightly more rocky as they neared the mine's location. Denys called for a slowdown to the march and sent out scouts to recon the upcoming area. The moment they were drawing near to the mine, he ordered a full stop while he waited for the scouts to return. They arrived a few minutes after the stop and reported their findings.

"What news?" Denys demanded.

"The group guarding the mine has been reinforced. There are nearly twenty raiders present, along with the Beastmaster and all seven of his scorpions," one of the scouts reported.

"Damn! Seems like Gor'thaka anticipated this move!" Denys cursed.

"The area surrounding the mine is open or closed off?" Ben wondered.

"It's open, so carts could be loaded with the iron ore. What are you thinking?" Denys questioned.

"Just making sure that those scorpions could follow us. I have a plan that could see us winning this with no great loss of life," Ben stated.

"What did you have in mind?" Tanny asked, curious about the plan.

"A small force of militia, including myself and Ylva, go forward and attack. We use our bows to hit as many raiders as possible, and maybe even a few scorpions. That should piss the raiders off enough to come after us. The moment they get close, we turn tail and run, heading back down the road," Ben started explaining.

"Oh! I see where this is going! You want the rest of the militia to lie in wait for an ambush?" Denys replied, following Ben's line of thinking.

"That's exactly what I'm thinking! We lure the guards from the mine to come after us and catch them in a crossfire. The moment they walk into it, they're all dead men!" Ben told them.

"Crossfire? What is that?" Ylva asked, unfamiliar with the term. Ben broke it down as basically as possible, and everyone's faces lit up in recognition of the tactic.

"Ah! I get it now! Do you think they'd be stupid enough to do that?" Denys questioned.

"They were stupid enough to come at the gate even though they had no breaching bombs, so my guess is yes," Ben told him.

"Ok then. Select who you want to go with you, and we'll get set up here!" Denys smiled.

With that, Ben went about selecting at least seven other members of the militia to go with him and Ylva. Tanny, Mishele and Dynah were good fighters, but they were lousy shots, so they stayed behind with the ambush teams. Ben led everyone forward to the mine, with their bows ready and arrows nocked.

"You sure this will work?" Ylva asked Ben quietly, out of earshot of the others.

"Unless Gor'thaka, or an equally smart leader, is around, I'm fairly confident that it will," Ben told her. Ylva smiled and nodded, finding his confidence reassuring.

The group reached the area where the mine was situated. It was a small hill, with the surrounding forest cleared away from it. Judging by the hard-packed earth and cart tracks that lie around it, it had been this way for a while. The raiders they could see were milling around, looking bored and disorganized.

There was one who was dressed in furs and garbed in what looked like chitin armor. If Ben had to guess, that one was the Beastmaster. He was taller than the others and carried himself with an air of self importance. There were several scorpions that wandered about, each one larger than the next. The smallest one was the size of a wolfhound, which gave Ben pause, but they moved slowly, which would make them easy targets.

"Take your positions, everyone!" Ben ordered, and they all lined up, facing the raiders. They had been noticed, as a shout went up among the guards and they all scrambled to their feet, grabbing their weapons. The Beastmaster uttered a shrill whistle, and several scorpions came straight to him, ready to defend their master.

"Draw!" he called out, and they drew their arrows, ready to fire. The raiders ran at them full tilt, hoping to close the distance before they could fire.

"Loose!" Ben shouted, and the twang of bowstrings echoed on the air. The arrows flew straight out, punching through what armor the raiders wore, dropping them as they charged. Six had fallen and not gotten up, with maybe one or two of them lying whimpering on the ground. The rest of the raiders howled in rage as they charged, wanting to spill the blood of those who cut down their friends.

"One more target! Pick them, then turn and run!" Ben commanded.

Each militia member nodded, and they each fired, dropping five more raiders and wounding at least three others. The raiders were now hesitant to come at them, but were emboldened by the scorpions reinforcing them. Ben targeted a scorpion and fired and was happy to see his arrow go in, but the insect just kept on coming. Cursing, Ben turned tail and ran, making sure that everyone else did as well, doing what they planned.

"That scorpion is still alive!" Ylva shouted, not liking the result of their attack.

"But it went through! All we need is concentrated fire on those scorpions and we should be able to bring them down!" Ben replied as he sprinted as fast as he could.

He was lagging, partially because of his shorter legs and partially because of his armor, but he kept going. He chanced a look behind him and saw that the raiders were chasing them, along with the Beastmaster and the scorpions. Ben then saw a massive creature plodding along behind the man, a scorpion that was twice the size of a Thunderer, with two tails instead of one.

"Oh, fuck!!!" Ben shouted.

The others stopped and turned to see what Ben was cursing about and screamed in terror. They turned and kept running, heading to the zone where they were supposed to wait for the ambush. The raiders moved with the scorpions; the Beastmaster guiding their movements. They arrived at the point, waiting for the raiders to catch up to them as they caught their breath.

"Where the fuck were they hiding that monster?!?" Ylva griped, looking at the giant scorpion apprehensively.

"They must have carved out a hiding spot for it. That thing might also explain why no one came back from trying to take back the mine," Ben breathed.

"Running in armor?? That's a really stupid if you ask me," came a deep and powerful voice from down the road. Laughter followed that voice as the raiders had slowed to a trot, with them and the scorpions less than a hundred meters away from them. The massive beast and its smaller compatriots were chittering excitedly, not having this much meat to make a meal out of in a while.

"You know what else is stupid? Not seeing the trap that is laid out to take you down! NOW!" Ben shouted.

The militia howled in response and opened up with their bows, a volley of arrows screaming out of the treeline. The arrows fell right into the approaching raiders, dropping them like rag dolls. A scorpion or two also fell to the ground, trying to get up, but lacking the strength to. They were festooned with arrows, looking almost like porcupines as they died on the road.

The Beastmaster shouted in surprise and called out a command, sending his pets to charge the trees. Ben and his group hit their knees, lining up their shots to take down any stray raiders or scorpions. Seeing no other alternative, the remaining raiders charged at the group on the road, thinking to drop them. Ylva and the others put up their bows and brought their weapons to bear.

Ben readied his machete and collapsible baton and prepared to fight back. The raiders were sporting arrows in them, but in non-vital areas. The seven men crashed into the militia group, bowling several of them over, while another group of militia came to aid them from the right. Happy to see the reinforcements, Ben whirled and swung his weapons, hoping to keep his assailants at bay until the militia joined them.

Ylva's spear whirled and sang as she dropped another trio of raiders. She yipped as a scorpion tail grazed her, its stinger just missing her arm. She turned and faced a scorpion, one of the bigger ones, and steadied herself. It came at her, pincers clacking, which she blocked and dodged, stepping out of the way. Its tail came down once more, thinking to impale her, but Ylva was ready for it.

She sidestepped the stinger, then swung her spear mightily, severing the tail in half. The scorpion screamed in pain as its tail was cut in two, and it retreated, trying to get away. Ylva wasn't having it though and charged the beast, dropping her spear and pulling out her axe.

The scorpion snapped at her, but she sidestepped one pincer while blocking the other. The blow cracked its shell, making the creature feel even more pain, before Ylva countered. She swung as hard as she could at the beast's head, but its claws came up to block her. It didn't matter though, as the axe sheared through the claws and imbedded itself in the scorpion's brain, killing it instantly.

Retrieving her axe, Ylva surveyed the battlefield, seeing how the remaining raiders had been killed. Many of the scorpions had also died, but the massive beast was still fighting, its tails slamming into the trees as it fought to get at the fleeing militia. Hefting her axe, Ylva charged in, screaming a blood curdling warcry. She looked closely and saw that the Beastmaster was alive, riding and directing his pet to tear down the trees.

He wouldn't live for much longer, if Ylva had any say in the matter. The Beastmaster turned his head, as he had heard Ylva's shout. He saw she was coming at him and that his pet wouldn't see her coming. He drew his sword and dagger, which he'd coated with the venom of his pet, thinking to put a quick end to the woman. All he'd need was one nick, and she was dead.

Ylva saw the man pull his weapons and knew that he was ready for a fight, but she had to end this quickly. She saw the corpses of several members of the militia lying on the ground and saw the vicious claw and stinger marks left by the beast. Ylva watched as he stood up and ambled off the back of the massive scorpion, heading towards her.

She knew a Beastmaster would likely have some insidious trick up his sleeves. Acting on instinct, she kept charging, but raised the axe high above her head and let fly. The Beastmaster's smile melted into a frown of horror as the axe hurtled towards him. He tried to sidestep the axe, but didn't move fast enough. It caught him in the left shoulder, cutting his arm clean off.

He screamed in pain and fell to his knees as Ylva scooped up a sword that was dropped by a fallen raider. She continued her charge at the Beastmaster, closing the distance to the wounded man. He struck out with his right arm, trying to cut her with his sword, but it was a clumsy blow, which she deflected easily. She struck with the speed of a viper, lopping the Beastmaster's head off in a single stroke.

The Beastmaster fell dead, but Ylva had no time to rest. Though it was without its master, the giant scorpion continued its attack on the militia. It continued to charge into the north end of the forest, seeking to end the lives of those who had killed its children. Ylva ran up behind the beast, followed closely by Dynah and Mishele, along with a few others.

They caught up to the creature, as the forest had severely impeded its movement. Ylva used her sword and hacked at the pedipalp joint, which kept the scorpion's arm mobile. She cracked the shell and opened a deep gash in the beast. It roared in pain and skittered to its right, seeking to devour the one who would hurt it so. Mishele and Dynah also attacked its joint, cracking the carapace and cutting at the muscle underneath enough to where its claw fell to the ground, useless.

Its turn was slowed, which was what bought them time to scatter, except for Mishele. Instead of running, she climbed up onto the scorpion and raced along its back, heading straight for where its eyes were. She drew her axe and smashed it down onto its shell as hard as she could.

The shell cracked, but held, so she brought it down again, while narrowly avoiding getting stung by one of its stingers. The other one rushed in, seeking to end her life, but Mishele dodged that one and struck hard at the cracked shell. She kept going, needing to end this now, until a small chuck of shell finally fractured from the main carapace and fell away.

Seeing her chance, Mishele dove for the spot and drove her knife into the exposed tissue. Almost instantly, the scorpion cried out shrilly, before all power left its limbs and it collapsed to the ground, dead. Mishele sat there, thinking it wasn't dead, but after feeling nothing, she opened her eyes and glanced around. The beast had stopped moving, and she was still alive!

"Is it... dead?" Dynah called out as she came from behind a tree.

"I think so. I went for the spot behind its eyes, thinking its brain was there," Mishele replied as she slid off the dead creature.

"Good call and quick thinking! Wouldn't you agree, Ben?" Ylva asked, turning around to see Ben. Only he wasn't there and couldn't be seen anywhere.

"Ben?" Ylva called out, hoping he was nearby.

"Ben?" Dynah called out. The call went up among several other militia, thinking to call the man to them. There was no response, and they all headed back to the road, thinking he might still be there. What they found was several of the militia tying up the raiders who had survived.

"Where is Ben? Is he out here?" Ylva asked Denys as he was overseeing the prisoners.

"I thought he was with you, fighting that giant beast!" Denys replied, his eyes going wide.

"Ancestors send he isn't among the dead!" Ylva cried out, stuttering.

"He's not, thankfully. But where could he have gone??" Denys replied. Their frantic conversation was interrupted by a dark chuckle, which caught their attention. It was coming from one of the raiders. The raider in question was wearing a dirty and tattered militia uniform!

"What are you laughing at? Do you know where Ben is? Where is he?!?" Ylva screamed as she ran at the man.

"I might know where he is, but I ain't gonna tell ya! He's dead meat anyhow!!" the raider laughed.

"Oh, you'll tell me!" Ylva growled ferally.

"You won't! You're too nice a lady to even want to do anything to me!" the man scoffed.

"Is that what you think? Mishele, Dynah, Tanny, grab that man and bring him here," Ylva said as she walked away for a moment. She retrieved her weapons and walked back, holding them like she meant to use them. The raider's grin was wiped from his face, especially when he saw the axe that Ylva held.

"Oh, you recognize this?" Ylva asked, brandishing the axe in his face. The man gulped and nodded, having met Unktar more than once, given his profession as a slaver.

"Then you know what I had to do to claim this. But I wasn't kind to Unktar. I cut his balls off using his own axe before I slit his throat. I am never kind to slavers," she told him, wielding the axe like she meant to use it.

"You gonna do the same to me?" he asked, fear now tinging his voice.

"No. First, I am going to use my spear and drive it up your ass. If you survive that, then every time you shit, it will be painful and you'll remember the time that I, Unktar's killer, did that to you," Ylva said, bringing her spear to his face, using the tip of it to trace his jawline.

"You won't do that if I tell you what happened to the Pinkskin?" the raider blubbered.

"His name is Ben!!" Ylva growled, bringing the edge of the spear up by his mouth, slicing it slightly, drawing blood.

"Right! Ben! Our job was to spot him and once we had spotted him, to wait for the perfect chance to grab him. Gor'thaka had us wear these rags, so he'd see us and not question us coming near. I don't know anything else, I swear!!" the raider confessed.

"Which way did they go??" Ylva snarled, losing her patience.

"That way!" the man pointed. With a quick look, Ylva saw a small footpath that went north through the forest.

"Thank you," Ylva huffed, before she sheathed her axe and headed for the path. Mishele, Tanny and Dynah put the prisoner back before they walked up to Ylva and stood in front of her.

"Don't try to stop me or tell me it's a fool's errand to go after him," Ylva snapped, not in the mood for following the rules.

"We're not going to stop you," Tanny told the woman.

"What?"

"We're coming with you," Dynah stated, and Mishele nodded.

Smiling, Ylva clapped them all on the shoulder, before trotting to the path and disappearing down it. The trio of militia members were on her heels, eager to help Ylva get her lover back. Denys smirked at the four departing souls. Though it was fully within his power to stop them, he dared not try. Ben had done nothing but good things for the town and had saved many lives. It was only fair that someone try to save his.

Denys would have gone with them himself, but he had responsibilities as the captain of the militia. He gave orders to the remaining members to clean up the mess, attend to the wounded and the dead, and to head back to town. They'd lost seven militia in this attack, but they'd taken five prisoners, killed a Beastmaster and his pets. In Denys' mind, that was a win worth taking.

He hoped Ylva would find Ben, and soon. Whatever Gor'thaka had planned for the man, it wasn't good.

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And that wraps up chapter 9 of Tales of the Wastelander! A lot has changed and is changing for everyone involved! Will Ben be freed from the clutches of the Slavemaster Gor'thaka? Will Ylva, Mishele, Dynah and Tanny get to him in time? Will Samara find Ben and bring her child to term in this brave new world? Those answers will come as the story continues! Stay tuned for the release of chapter 10!

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my work and I hope that you've enjoyed it! I'm open to constructive criticism and will seriously consider any suggestions made about various story arcs. Please feel free to rate and comment on my work down below. If you like what I write, don't be afraid to follow and share, though your views, ratings and comments are quite enough for me.

In the meantime, this is C. H. Darkstrider, signing off to grab a beer and some quality time with the wife! ;) You will attain whatever you most desire, as long as you believe in yourself. Cheers!