0 comments/ 4874 views/ 3 favorites The Hunter's Companion: Kalendras By: SinisterSpiders Author's Note: This is a prologue to "The Hunter's Companions" series. It shows when Liv and Kal's relationship changed for the first time, and the circumstances that led to their 'friends with benefits' style relationship. Please feel free to leave comments and constructive feedback! Thanks! Livinia grinned and looked around as she cleaned off her arrows and sharpened the heads. The wind was cool in Thunder Bluff and the sun was getting low in the sky. All in all they had done well for a day's work. They had managed to bring down Orno Grimtotem and his cronies and satisfied Baine Bloodhoof. By doing that they had earned the eternal thanks of the Taurens in addition to some well-deserved time off. "Are you sure you don't want to come to Silvermoon?" Belcarm asked, checking the contents of his pack one last time. Livinia looked up at him and shrugged. "Not particularly, I think I will hang around here for a while- take a day off and then see what work I can get for us." Livinia responded. She found it quite sad to say that the thought of going back to Silvermoon didn't tempt her- not even in the slightest. She had grown up there, as a daughter of two prominent diplomats. She loved her father, but she tried as hard as she could to limit her contact with her mother. The woman was down-right frustrating. "Really? You'd prefer this tent village to Silvermoon?" Belcarm asked, his handsome face contorting with a frown. "I always forget about your love of that damned city." Livinia said with a laugh. She had first met Belcarm when she had set off as an adventurer- both working on the same quest. She had quickly discovered that he lived with just his father in a small cottage in the Eversong Woods. "The architecture is stunning!" Belcarm said defensively "And the food and taverns are excellent. Surely you'd rather come along with me and spend a few nights in a soft bed than on a thin bed roll?" "Will my Mother be in Silvermoon?" Livinia asked with an exasperated sigh, shoving her arrows into her quiver. "Erm- I don't know, will she?" Belcarm asked, using one hand to gather his long black hair to stop it from blowing about with the wind. "Yes." Livinia said, getting to her feet, "Yes- she will be in the city, therefore I won't be." She looked around the busy town centre and spotted a stall on the opposite selling some beautifully barbecued vegetables. The sight of them made her mouth water. She got to her feet and shrugged her pack onto her shoulders, finally realizing just how hungry she was. She whistled for Borris, her Elder Springpaw, and he looked up at her with interest from the pile of sticks he was sniffing. "Liv," Belcarm placed a hand on her shoulder softly and smiled "I would love if you'd come with me. My father wants to meet you and I-" "No way!" Livinia said, interrupting the Paladin's speech without thinking. She squinted to see off into the distance, trying to see if her eyes were deceiving her. There were plenty of Tauren's with that colouring- especially heree in Thunder Bluff. But the particular Tauren she had spotted was smaller than the others. His horns were fully formed though, not at all like Livinia remembered. The real reason he had caught her attention though was because of the distinctly Blood Elf inspired pack he had on his back. The red and gold knot work was something that was particular to the Elves of Silvermoon and not something any normal Tauren was likely to carry around. "KALENDRAS!" Livinia cried, ignoring the annoyed look on Belcarm's face. The Tauren in question didn't even flinch, so she called out the name again. The second time he turned and there was no mistaking it. His eyes lit up when he saw her and a fluttering of nervous butterflies circled in her stomach. "Liv?" Belcarm's voice came from beside her but she waved a hand at him dismissively as the Tauren made his way over to them. "Little One!" Kalendras said as he approached them, his eyes dancing with amusement. Without warning Livinia was caught up in his arms for a very firm hug. When he finally let her go she laughed as he lowered her to her feet. "What are you doing here?" "Oh, nothing much," Livinia said with a shrug and a grin "just killing Orno Grimtotem..." The look on Kalendras's face went from happy to shocked and she laughed. "That was you? Everyone's talking about that!" He said, eyeing her appreciatively. "And me." Belcarm's voice was petulant and Livinia cringed. "Oh- right. Kalendras, Belcarm- Belcarm, Kalendras. Belcarm, Kal is one of my oldest friends. We grew up together in Silvermoon." She introduced them quickly, much more interested in what her oldest friend was up to than placating the newer friend's ego. "Well met Paladin." Kalendras said gruffly, offering his hand for Belcarm to shake. Belcarm eyed the proffered hand suspiciously but shook it quickly before turning his attention to its owner. "Druid." Belcarm said with a curt nod "Since Liv won't introduce me, I'll introduce myself. I met her on the outskirts of Silvermoon City. I may not be her oldest friend, but I'm a good friend nonetheless..." Both Livinia and Kalendras were shocked by the clearly disdainful tone Belcarm had used. He seemed nonplussed by their mouths, both open in shock. "Liv, if we want to go back to Silvermoon we really had better leave now." Belcarm said slowly, looking back at the slack-jawed Livinia. "You're going back to Silvermoon?" Kalendras asked, interested, Livinia took a deep breath and turned to Belcarm. "Actually no." Livinia said "Belcarm is, but I've decided to stay here for a couple of nights." She said, Belcarm's eyes glazed over with indignation and he glared at her. She couldn't quite place his sudden coldness, but with Kalendras so close by she chose to ignore it. "Are you staying in town?" Livinia asked. "Up here?" He looked around the lofty settlement and shrugged "I normally camp down at the base- less windy and much quieter. You know me- give me trees over people any day." Belcarm snorted and Livinia turned to him quickly, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Well, you certainly are a druid, aren't you?" Belcarm asked with a bite to his tone "Well Liv, I'm off. Send me a letter once you have found some work for us, yes?" He asked as he shouldered his pack. "Er- okay." Livinia said, too stunned by the slight against Kalendras to think properly. Belcarm walked off into the crowd and disappeared and Livinia turned back to Kalendras. "Um, sorry about that. He isn't usually so-..." She trailed off, not knowing what word to use to describe the handsome paladin at that time. "Never mind." Kal said with a shrug "He was probably too distracted by his own reflection in your eyes to remember his manners." Kalendras said. The comment made Livinia choke with laughter, Kalendras grinned. "So you travel with him, then?" He asked. "Yeah, we met outside of Silvermoon on the day I left the city. We've been working together since then." She said with a shrug. "Is he a decent fighter at least?" Kalendras asked. "Would I have stuck with him if he wasn't?" She asked. "Well, he is very pretty. Almost prettier than you." Kalendras said making her laugh again. However this time the laughter was accompanied by the return of the nervous butterflies. "Though I'm sure if a foe held a mirror up to his face he would be easy prey." "Kal!" Livinia laughed "You are terrible... Tell me, are you too busy to catch up? It's been far too long!" "Too busy for you?" Kal asked with a grin "Never. What do you say we get some meat, veggies and a cask of ale and then head down to one of my usual camping spots?" He asked. "I'd love to!" Livinia replied, unable to keep the smile from her lips. She and Kalendras had grown up together- his parents were the Tauren envoys in Silvermoon. He was five years older than her though, and that had meant that he had come of age much sooner and had consequently left the city, and her, to follow the call of the wild. Since then their encounters had been few and far between, and she was always eager to catch up with her good friend. ~*~ An hour later Livinia was sitting on an old hollow log as Kalendras prodded their camp fire and coaxed it slowly into something that was decent enough in size to allow them to cook. As she used her dagger to peel the vegetables she couldn't help but smile. Her pet, Borris, stalked around their camp suspiciously, sniffing everything that dared stir in the breeze. He had taken Kalendras's presence quite well. He didn't growl at him menacingly, as he did with Belcarm, and he even grudgingly accepted an off-cut of meat from the Tauren. Now, though, he was content to guard the borders of their camp and occasionally pounce on the odd lizard or bug. He might have looked like a big cat, but he was still young as far as Springpaws go, and quite playful. It had been so long since Livinia and Kal had been able to just enjoy each other's company. The last time they had been together it had been at his Mother's birthday party back in Silvermoon, and everyone had wanted to hear of his adventures. Livinia watched the way that his silver fur shimmered in the growing firelight and then cried out. "Ouch!" She yelped, dropping her dagger and looking at the scarlet blood beading on her thumb. "What's wrong?" Kalendras turned around quickly, his entire body tense and ready for a fight. "Fucking potato." Livinia growled, throwing the innocent vegetable into the nearby pot and sticking her thumb in her mouth. Kalendras laughed and she fixed him with an indignant glare. "Here, let me look." He said. He walked over, forgetting about the fire, and stood before her. His entire hulking mass covering the dying rays of the sun and putting her in his cold shadow. He held out his hand and she sighed, placing her own tiny one in his. "Livinia Sunspeaker!" Kalendras begun grandly "Slayer of Orno Grimtotem, defeated by a potato." He finished with a laugh and she tried to pry her arm free of his grip. "Oh, ha ha!" She said, frowning as he ran a thumb over her wound. "Sorry," He said bashfully, but unable to keep the smirk from his face. Livinia watched as he assessed her injury with a critical gaze before letting her hand go and walking over to his pack. He rummaged through it for a moment before pulling out a roll of thin white fabric. "This, is a bandage." He said holding it up for her to see. "And because you are my oldest friend I will let you have it for free." He took her hand again and begun to unroll the fabric around it, binding it tightly and stopping the blood. "How generous of you." Livinia laughed, wincing slightly as his fingers ran over her bandaged cut. "It is funny you know, Belcarm would have just healed that without a second thought."She mused. "It's just a cut." Kalendras said, his eyebrows knitting together. "I could heal it if you really wanted me to." The confusion in his tone made Livinia laugh. "No, no... it wasn't a request, just an observation. You're right- it's just a cut. I am happy to let it heal on its own." She placated, Kalendras looked up and smiled at her. " Well Sunspeaker, you are tougher than you look." He said, tying the bandage off and making his way back over to ailing fire. "I suppose it will just have to do." She said with a shrug and looking back at the fire pointedly "Although if you don't tend to the flame my battle wounds will have been in vain." She said. He grinned and nodded and fed the flames some more dry brush. "Tell me more about how you brought down the Grimtotems." Kalendras said. Livinia was all too happy to launch into a full recount of how she and Belcarm had helped Baine Bloodhoof dispose of his enemies. As she spoke Kalendras threw meat and vegetables into the pot as well as some various herbs and spices. Livinia poured the water out of her waterskin and went over to the cask of ale they had bought and filled up the skin. When Kalendras saw her do it he held out his and she did the same for him. By the time their food was cooked they had already drained their water skins twice and Livinia could feel the pleasant haze of tipsiness setting in. "You sound quite happy." Kalendras said giving her an approving nod. "What do you mean?" She asked, dishing out their food. She put the bowl close to her face and took a deep breath, the food actually smelled quite delicious. "The last few times I saw you, you looked miserable. Especially when you were still living at home. But now? You look happy- and you seem to have really taken to being a hunter." Livinia smiled at her old friend and thought about what he had said. They had both known how much she despised being left back in Silvermoon City. The diplomat's life was not for her, and she had been so thrilled when she was finally old enough to take off on her own. Every time Kalendras would visit he would bring home tales of his adventures which would make Livinia green with envy. Now that she was out and about in the world she no longer felt that jealousy at all. "I guess I am happy." She said with a shrug, raising the bowl to her lips and taking a deep drink. "It is nice when you're happy- you have a very pretty smile." He told her. Livinia would have dropped her soup were she not terrified of scalding herself. "What?" "Your smile. It's pretty." Kalendras said matter-of-factly before eating some of his stew. Her cheeks filled with colour and her stomach was roiling nervously. That was the second time he had said that she was pretty in less than two hours. Even though it made her blush, his praise was something that she was pleased to accept. Kalendras couldn't have known, but over the last few years Livinia had formed a sort of crush on him. She hadn't meant to, they were old friends after all, but somewhere between their strong relationship and his wonderful adventures Livinia had begun to wish that he could perhaps be something more. She knew that having a crush on him was foolish- she was a Blood Elf, he a Tauren. He was almost double her size and the only thing they really shared was that they were bipedal. Plus, she had no idea if he would ever think of her that way. The fact that he had called her pretty had made her think, but the chances were that he only said it to be kind. After all, one could appreciate a fine piece of art without desiring to own it. "This is seriously delicious." Livinia said, refilling her empty bowl eagerly. "I am sure you could make something much better." Kalendras dismissed the praise as he sipped at his own bowl. "Are you kidding? Bel and I can't cook to save our lives. When we are camping we live off dried meat, hard bread and dehydrated fruit. We only get a hot meal when we go to town." She said with a laugh. "Seriously?" Kalendras looked at her, shocked. "You're telling me that pretty boy can't rough it out?" He asked, the question made the clearing tinkle with Livinia's laughter. "Oh he can rough it out." She assured. "He grew up in a small cottage in the Eversong Woods. He is more than capable of hunting and gathering. He just seems to prefer mage or tavern cooked food." Livinia said. "And you? What do you prefer?" Kalendras asked, amused. "Anything that fills my empty belly!" She said with a winning smile and punctuated her statement with a long draw of her ale and a loud slurp of stew. The rest of their dinner was eaten while Kalendras and Livinia reminisced about the things they got up to when they were younger. They had caused a fair bit of mischief in Silvermoon City. When their bowls were empty and their tummies full of stew and ale the first drop of rain splashed into the fire and hissed as it boiled away. Livinia looked up at the darkened sky and could make out the thick clouds over head. "I think we should probably-" She begun, but before she could finish the sky opened up and rain pelted down. With a cry of shock she and Kalendras got to their feet and started collecting their items, then deposited them under an ancient tree with a thick canopy. "Oh no! Where is Borris?" Livinia said frantically peering through the wall of water to see Borris's orange fur. "Don't worry about your pet, Little One. He is more than capable of dealing with the rain." Kalendras laughed. "But Kal- he's only a cub!" She argued, preparing to duck back out into the pouring rain. "He's a wild animal Livinia, and he survived perfectly well before you tamed him." Kalendras said patiently. Damn him and his druidic wisdom. "Oh no- the pot." Kalendras hissed suddenly, looking over at their failing fire and at the pot of stew which was being ruined by the rain water. "I'll get it." Livinia said before dashing out into the torrential down-pour. Before Kalendras could argue she was in the pouring rain, trying to keep her balance on the slick mud and grass. Luckily, the fire had been almost completely extinguished and the pot cooled down by the sudden downpour. With a triumphant whoop Livinia grabbed it by the handle and then turned and made for the tree where she and Kalendras had taken shelter. Just as Livinia stepped into the umbrella of the trees branches her foot slipped on a patch of mud and moss and the world tilted around her. She landed with a loud oomph and an undignified curse, the left over stew flying out of the pot and splattering the ground around her. The next moment she was looking up into Kalendras's earthy brown eyes, which were full of concern. "Little one! Are you alright?" He asked as he hovered over her. She looked up at him, his face all serious and concerned and couldn't help but laugh. Perhaps it was the influence of the alcohol, and the fact that she knew it didn't hurt now but would kill in the morning, but she just laughed. "I think I've had worse." She managed to breathe through her laughter. When Livinia finally calmed down her chest was heaving and she was struggling to find the more sensible part of herself that had been lost in her third skin of ale. With the rain pouring down around them and enclosing them within the dark, dry embrace of the tree's canopy, Livinia smiled up at Kalendras. She reached up with one hand and traced her fingers along the entire curving length of his elegant horns, marvelling that something so dangerous could feel so flawlessly smooth. They had grown since she had last seen him, and judging by the look of them they were at their full mature size. "These have grown." She said as she stroked the smooth surface of them, the alcohol in her system fuelling her boldness. She smiled and delighted in the way in which he shivered under her touch. "It seems I'm not the only one that has grown some." He said, his eyes travelling down to her heaving chest and clouding over cryptically. The words and his steady gaze took her breath away and her hands stopped in their path. Slowly, tentatively, Kalendras brought one of his massive hands up to cup the shape of her leather breastplate. Her breath turned shallow and her body screamed for more. For more oxygen, or for more of his touch, or both- either way she needed more. "Your armour doesn't protect very much, does it?" He asked with a laugh, admiring her cleavage. "Belcarm says the same thing!" She snorted and shook her head, not really wanting to talk about her armour. All of a sudden he was gone. By the time Livinia sat up he was leaning against the ancient trunk of the tree with his arms crossed and an apologetic frown on his face. "Sorry Liv," He said, not able to meet her gaze "I shouldn't have done that- not with you and the Paladin..." He trailed off and confusion swept over her. "Me and the Paladin?" She asked, face scrunching up as her inebriated brain tried to make sense of the sudden change in their interaction. The Hunter's Companion: Kalendras "You two are together, I shouldn't have done that." He said again. Livinia stared at him for a moment, mouth gaping in shock, and then begun to laugh again. His eyes flew up and he glared at her. "What?" he snapped, clearly annoyed at her laughter. "Me and Belcarm? Oh Kal- that is too funny! You have to be kidding me!" She said, struggling to catch her breath. This time instead of looking angry he was perplexed. "You're not with him?" He asked "I just assumed because you were travelling together... alone..." "By the Sun Well!" Livinia croaked "No Kal! I'm most certainly not with Belcarm." "But the way he looks at you-" "What are you talking about?" Livinia said, genuinely confused. Kalendras looked at her and rolled his eyes. "It is obvious he likes you. Just the way he looks at you is enough to tell... and the way you talk about him... constantly." He said with a shrug. "Well... I'm still sorry. My actions were out of line." Kalendras fell to the ground in front of the tree heavily and reached for his waterskin, taking a long drag of ale before resting his head against the trunk of the tree. "What do you mean when you say the way he looks at you?" Livinia asked, truly puzzled by Kalendras's assessment of her relationship with Belcarm. "Well I imagine he looks at you much the same way as he would look at himself." Kalendras said, taking another gulp of his ale. Livinia frowned for a moment. Belcarm could be quite self-absorbed at times, the only way that he would look at himself would be with- "No way!" Livinia said, her hands flying to her open mouth, Kalendras nodded grimly when he realised that she had finally made the connection. "I don't think so Kal, I really don't. We have been travelling together for ages now, we are good friends! And he has never made a pass at me." "Really?" Kal asked, his tone dripping with disbelief. "Seriously!" "Then why did he assume you were going to Silvermoon with him?" Livinia was just about to answer when she realised that it would not help her case. Belcarm just wanted her to meet his father, nothing more. Though she highly doubted that Kalendras would see it that way. Besides, one of the attributes that Belcarm had in spades was confidence- if he wanted to court her than he would be dead obvious about it. She would know if he wanted her. "I don't know." Livinia responded after careful consideration. "But even if he did want to be with me, I'd say no. You see, there is someone else." She dropped her voice down as low as she dared, not quite whispering because she knew that the staccato pounding of the rain would drown her out. "Is there?" He looked slightly crestfallen, but still pretended to be interested in hearing the answer. "Yes... You." With the fire of the ale running through her veins Livinia felt a surge of confidence. At her words Kalendras looked up at her, his eyes wide in shock. She walked over to him and reached out slowly, carefully stroking his horns again, waiting for a response. Any response. Anything to quench the nervous fire tearing through her body. ~*~ He couldn't feel her touch as such, not the same way that he would feel her fingers on his chest, but the feeling was there. The pressure against his horns that was so soft and sensual that it made his entire body ache for her. She stood before him, her full breasts, barely concealed by her armor, right in front of his eyes. Surely she had no idea of the effect she was having on him. Good friends they were, but they had never before discussed the mating rituals of their own kind. She had no way of knowing that touching a Tauren's horns was something that only lovers did. Nobody had ever touched his horns the way she was touching them now. Even the Tauren women he had slept with didn't dare brave such an intimate gesture. If it had been anybody else except for Livinia he would have pulled away, but as she stroked them so reverently it felt too right for him to stop it. "Yes... You." The words oozed through his body like molten lava, and combined with the feeling of her fingers tracing his horns they were potent words indeed. He looked into her glowing green eyes and tried to shake himself out of it. She had matched him drink for drink, and she was much smaller, less able to hold her liquor. She didn't know what she was doing. Surely. "Little One, you can't mean that." He said, shaking his head. Her lips curved into a pout and the sparkle in her eyes dimmed a bit. "I do." She said stubbornly, reminding him very much of the girl he used to know. "But the ale-" He begun to protest, only to be interrupted. "Fuck the ale, Kal." She hissed, her eyes turning hard and determined "Fuck the ale. I want you." He looked deep into her eyes then, as her words burned deep into his core. He felt the stirrings of an erection and judging by the look in her eyes, she felt the desire as well. He wanted her, he knew that now. He had always adored her- he had always found her to be exceedingly attractive. Even if he usually didn't think much of the Blood Elves appearance, he had come to appreciate Livinia's. There had been several times after the last time that he saw her that he had woken up, full of longing, with the guilty knowledge that he should not want her. That he couldn't possibly want her. But as she stood there before him, her chest heaving slightly, her eyes set defiantly, he couldn't ignore the way his body responded to her. With a deep growl Kalendras reached out and wrapped his arm around her tiny waist, then pulled her against him. When her hot body clashed with his he buried his nose into the crook of her neck and took a deep breath- she smelled of mud, rain, home and desire. The combination was so heady that he had to stop himself from growling again. Instead, his tongue flicked out and licked one long stroke up her neck, taking in a taste that was better than the smell. In his dreams he had always been left to wonder what she tasted like- never knowing, never having anything to base it on. Now that he knew he couldn't believe he had been without her taste for so long. "Oh Kal!" She whispered, her hands burying into the fur on his neck desperately. Hearing the need in her voice made his entire body shake with anticipation. He ran his hands over her wet leather armor, feeling the slick smoothness beneath his finger tips. He hadn't been exaggerating when he had said that her armor barely covered her. Her leather breastplate was just that, a breastplate. It left most of her midriff exposed to his wandering fingers. Her skin was hot and soft beneath his touch, and the way that her breath caught in her throat at the contact made his groin ache uncomfortably. Her hands released his face and travelled down his neck, over his chest and down to his waist. He pressed against her again, hearing a small moan escape from her as his hardness pressed against her stomach. Kalendras pulled his head away from her neck and watched her face as she moaned again, unable to believe just how beautiful she was. It was better than his dreams- she was real, the situation was real, and she actually wanted him. She didn't shy away from his touch like he'd always thought she would- his advances didn't make her cringe or gag. Instead, she turned to putty in his hands, ripe and ready for the moulding. Deciding to take her responses as encouragement, he braved a second try at cupping her breasts. This time when his hands made contact with her leather she pressed into his touch, closing her eyes and biting her lip. It wasn't enough- her armour was too thick and his patience too thin. He reached around to her back and found that the breast plate was laced on. Pulling at the knots and strings he was thankful that she didn't have any of those bothersome clips on her breastplate. Although the fact that it was so tightly laced did make him wonder how on Azeroth she got into it in the first place, when he pulled the last lace free and the item fell away from her, all other thoughts were banished from his mind. Kalendras was right. She had certainly grown since he last saw her. Her breasts were now full, glorious orbs, capped with pert nipples that were the colour of blushing red roses. He traced the erect circles reverently, amazed yet again by the smoothness of her skin. That was something that Tauren women would never be- smooth- and Kalendras had to admit that he much preferred the feeling of Livinia's hot skin to that of either of the two Tauren women he had sampled. Kalendras gave Livinia's nipple a soft tweak and groaned as her eyes rolled back into her head. When Livinia leant forward and planted her lips against his cheek he pulled her onto his knees. Her hands searched his stomach, and she let out a triumphant cry when she grasped the bottom of his tabard. She pulled it up and over his head, and then her full lips turned into a frown when she saw his complicated chest piece hidden beneath the fabric. With a grin he released her breasts and unbuckled himself, loving the way that the refracted moonlight kissed her skin and turned her pale body radiant. When he rid himself of his chestplate her frown turned into a mischievous grin and she ran her fingers through his chest fur slowly. "So soft." She said. He laughed and gripped one of her hands, guiding it down to his aching erection. "Not all of me is soft." He warned. Livinia gasped in surprise and he revelled in that emotion. It wasn't often that he could get one up on the spirited little elf, but when he did he relished it. This win was particularly sweet for him, especially because her hand started to stroke and squeeze him gently, sending pulses of pleasure through his entire body. "Well," Livinia said, using her free hand to scoop up her dripping hair and place it over one shoulder "not all of me is dry." Kalendras couldn't stop the guttural roar that tumbled from his mouth. One instant she was sitting comfortably on his lap, the next moment her entire body was pinned under his, her pale skin and flaming hair framed by the muddy grass beneath her. He didn't know how he managed to peel her belt, greaves, boots and tights off, but he did. Then she lay beneath him, completely naked, her chest rising and falling in time with her breathing. A small part of him wanted to ask her if she was sure, if she could be certain that it wasn't the alcohol talking, but when he looked into her eyes and saw the lust and excitement there he realised that they both felt the same way. Kalendras pushed himself away from her and came to rest so that his head was between her legs, her womanhood merely inches away from his face. "Kal? What are you doing?" She propped herself up onto her elbows and looked like she was about to question him further, but all words escaped her when he reached forward with one hand and touched her womanhood. His thick fingers probing and pressing her lower lips. A small squeak escaped from her mouth and he grinned. She barely had time to register what had happened before he leant forward and pressed his tongue against her slit. She was right. She was wet. The way that she taste against his tongue was indescribable. The only thing that Kalendras knew was that she was the best tasting thing he had ever come across. Her skin was searing hot against his tongue and her juices made his entire body ache for release. Instead of giving into his need for her, he ran his tongue up and down her slit, grinning with satisfaction when he located the tiny, hardened piece of flesh that made the night ring with her cries. As he lapped at her, her hands tangled in the fur on his head, stroked his horns, and dug into his neck. Her hips bucked against him as he licked and licked, and when her cries melted into one unearthly symphony and drowned out the beating of the rain, he knew that he had satisfied her. After a few moments of the intense moaning she gasped and pushed at his head, her hips squirming away from stroking of his tongue. "Kal that was incredible." She said, her eyes glazed with satisfaction. He merely chuckled and got to his knees. His erection was painful now, and every time his tip brushed against his pants he was reminded that he had yet to have the pleasure of being inside of her. It seemed to take forever to rid himself of his pants, but when he did he couldn't help but swell with pride at her appreciative gasp. When the surprise wore off he looked between his rigid cock and her dripping pussy apprehensively. "Will it fit?" She asked, the innocence in her voice making him twitch in anticipation. "Let's see..."Kal breathed as he leant forward, his fur covered chest pressing against her sweating skin. Kalendras pressed his hips against her and groaned when he felt her wetness against his length. He reached down between them and positioned himself at her entrance. He could tell now that it would be a tight fit, her kind were made for the attentions of their own males, not one of his much larger race. However, he was smallish for a Tauren, and attentions had left her well lubricated. "Are you sure?" he asked, this time unable to restrain himself. He wanted her to know that this was real, that it was happening, that after this there would be no going back. Anything else could be excused as drunken tomfoolery, but if he buried himself within her he wanted to know that it was real. "I've wanted this for so long." She told him, her voice husky and raw. She lifted her hips slightly so that he was positioned more firmly against her. That was all the permission he needed so force himself into her tight channel. He had meant to do it quickly, but when he felt resistance he gasped. "You're a virgin." He said, genuinely shocked. He knew that she, even for a blood elf, was incredibly beautiful. Even though there was nothing between her and Belcarm he was sure that there would have been someone to make love to her before he had. "I was saving it for the right person." She said with a suggestive grin. At her words he grunted and pushed into her as hard and fast as he could, tearing through her virginal barrier and stretching her incredibly tight core to breaking point. ~*~ It stung and burned so fiercely that the pain brought tears to her eyes and a cry bursting through her lips. Livinia's fingers buried deep into Kalendras's back as he remained inside her, her entire core stretched to breaking point to accommodate him. Even though it hurt, she couldn't bring herself to dislike it. He was above her, his silver fur turned to silk in the moonlight, and he was finally inside of her. He liked her, perhaps as much as she liked him, and the knowledge made her heart sing. When he begun to draw out of her she couldn't hold back her whimper. He looked down at her with concern, and she smiled back at him encouragingly- desperate to feel more of that exquisite pain. When he thrust into her again the pain doubled and she released a strangled cry. "We should stop." Kalendras said, his voice tight with emotion and unmet desire. "No!" She cried, and his mouth turned down into a frown "No, keep going- I like it." He looked at her for a moment, but desire won out and he pulled out of her again. The third time he entered her, it didn't sting as much. She still felt stretched but the initial pangs of sharp pain was fading. And so it was that Kalendras continued to make love to her, filling her to breaking point on the in thrust, and leaving her feeling hollow and empty on the out. When his pace sped up and he became more frantic she clutched his fur and cried his name into the night. After years of wanting him he was finally there, taking her, and the pain made it all the more real. It made the pleasure all the more real too. When came he roared her name so loudly that that she could no longer hear the rain pounding against the ground, and he filled her with his hot seed. He rolled off her and pulled her into his arms, his chest fur made a soft, warm pillow for her to rest her head upon. They didn't speak. Neither of them knew how to find the right words. But they didn't need to. As their breathing slowed and they drifted off to sleep with the sounds of the rain and the soft haze of alcohol lulling them unconscious, they were both deeply satisfied. ~*~ The next morning when Livinia woke up her head was throbbing and every time she moved her legs even a tiny bit her womanhood stung beyond belief. With a strangled moan she buried her head into Kalendras's soft fur and sighed with relief when it blocked out the bright sun that was turning the inside of her eyelids red. "Little One, you okay?" Kalendras's voice vibrated through her, low and concerned. "No." She snapped. "My head feels like it is splitting open and-" She stopped her rant early, not wanting to share just how much pain she was in. "And?" He asked, one hand gingerly tracing up and down her still naked back. "Nothing." She groaned, pushing her face harder into him and inhaling his earthy scent. "Livinia." His voice now held a tone of warning and she had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. When she didn't answer he shifted away from her and she cried out as the full sunlight hit her face and filled her head with pain. "Come back!" She said, reaching out blindly with her hands. "I will when you finish your sentence." He replied. "Your head hurts and...?" "I'm sore." Livinia grumbled clenching her legs together more tightly and instantly regretting it as the action made her parts sting even more. Livinia heard Kalendras get up and let out a loud yawn. After a few minutes of overly loud shuffling about she felt his arms wrap around her waist and the next second he picked her up and sat her on her arse on a soft surface. Livinia growled angrily and opened her eyes to glare at him angrily. However, when she managed to focus on him she couldn't be angry. He was holding a large mug in one hand and a strange jar in the other with an insanely goofy grin on his face. "These might help." He said somewhat apologetically. "This," he begun, holding up the mug "is a wonderful concoction that I discovered very shortly after I left home. Very good for hangovers." He held the mug out for her and she took it. Livinia brought it to her lips but had to stop from vomiting when the foul liquid's odour wafted into her nose. "What the hell is in this shit?" She asked, making him laugh loud enough to make her cringe. "Just drink it." He said dismissively. Nothing could possibly make the feeling any worse so, with a shrug, she pinched her nose and downed the drink. It didn't take long for it to start working it's magic, and in a few minutes the pounding in her head was bearable, if not completely gone. "Thank you." Livinia said slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose and massaging it. "And this is for..." Kalendras held the pot out to her bashfully and Livinia's eyebrows perked up. "For...?" she asked, not quite willing to finish the sentence in the brash light of day. "Yup." Kalendras said, clearly embarrassed "Look, Liv, I'm sorry. You were drunk- I should've known better. And I never meant to hurt you. If I'd known it would be so bad I'd never-" "By the Sun Well, Kal! Stop your blubbering." Livinia said impatiently, he looked shocked and she immediately regretted her harsh tone. "What I said last night, about waiting for the right person? It was true Kal. And there has only ever been one right person. You. I wouldn't trade last night for all of the gold on Azeroth." Livinia said. "But-" "But what? Your Tauren, I'm Blood Elf? Doesn't bother me!" She said, Kalendras looked at her thoughtfully for a moment and sighed. "Are you sure?" he asked, when she nodded he grinned just like he had when they discovered the secret passage into the back room of the sweets bakery in Silvermoon City. "Because I had a great night." He said, making her blush. Silence washed over them for several minutes after that as they both reminisced about the night before. The Hunter's Companion: Kalendras "So," Livinia said, breaking through the early sounds of morning in the wilderness "do I just put this stuff on?" "Just rub it in." Kalendras said with a wolfish smirk. Livinia smiled and unscrewed the lid of the jar, she brought it up to her nose to smell it and was relieved that it didn't smell even half as bad as that horrible hang-over cure. Carefully repositioning her legs, and trying hard to stifle her gasps, she spread her legs wide and took a good amount of the cream onto two of her fingers. She begun to spread it over her sore and swollen nether lips and sighed loudly as it made them go blessedly numb. "By the Mother!" She heard Kalendras groan and she blushed suddenly- she hadn't even considered him in her attempt to soothe her aches. Nevertheless, seeing the lustful twinkle in his eyes made her smile and a new idea formed in her brain. "Would you like to rub it in for me?" She asked with a wicked grin, Kalendras's eyes went wide and he nodded mutely before crawling over to her. "I suppose it is the least I could do." He said with a nonchalant shrug. Despite his joking tone, Livinia could see the lusty eagerness in his eyes as he dipped the tip of one finger into the salve. Livinia moved her fingers away and settled back against the ancient tree's trunk, trying hard to control her breathing as Kal's finger inched closer and closer to her. She closed her eyes and tried not to wish that it was another part of him about to touch her. When Kalendras's finger gently pressed against her slit the effect of the soothing balm was compounded by his warm tip. He begun to rub the cream on in a slow circular motion, and every so often his finger would flick over her clitoris and make her cry out in pleasure. "I think you've rubbed it in good Kal." Livinia panted, as his circles became smaller and more focused on her sensitive nub. "Really?" He asked softly, pressing down on her clitoris and making her groan desperately. "Just a little more, please?" he asked. Livinia didn't trust voice at the moment, but when her hips bucked and pressed herself more tightly against him she opened her eyes and saw his smile. The distraction was short lived however, and after a few moments his finger began a relentless pace, her numb womanhood reacting so beautifully and unexpectedly to his touch. As her vision filled with tiny pinpricks of black and her toes curled, she desperately wished that Kal would replace his finger with something a little more intimate. "I want you Kalendras." Livinia moaned as the pleasure mounted. "You're too tender." He said and Livinia frowned in disappointment. However, after a few moments her disappointment melted away and was replaced by the awareness of her impending orgasm. The pleasure built to a point that had her moaning, and then an explosion shook her entire body and she cried out. Kalendras placed his free hand in hers as she came and she gripped onto him, her only life line in the typhoon of pleasure that swept her away. When Livinia finally recovered from her orgasm she opened her eyes slowly to see Kalendras sitting back on his haunches with a sheepish smile. "How was that?" He asked her. "You couldn't tell from all the moaning?" Livinia laughed, and he rolled his eyes. Livinia's eyes wandered down his muscled chest and fell on the enormous erection he was sporting. "Would you like me to return the favour?" She asked. "It's okay Liv, you must be exhausted." He said softly, but now it was her turn to roll her eyes. Livinia manoeuvred into a squat and was pleased when her parts just itched instead of stung. Kalendras looked at her curiously and then the next moment she pounced at him, pushing him back into the ground roughly and pinning him with her considerably smaller body. "Stay there." She warned, holding one finger up and shaking it at him before sliding down his body slowly, sure to rub the skin of her breasts along his fur as she went, the sensation making her shiver. When her head was finally level with his impressive manhood, she gripped it tightly with one hand and placed her lips on his tip. "Are you sure you don't want this?" She asked, her lips brushing against his tip as she spoke. His hand came down and tangled in her hair, the next instant he was putting a soft but definite pressure on her and pushing her mouth further onto him. Livinia swirled her tongue around his tip slowly, loving how his entire body convulsed with pleasure and how his hand pressed on her more firmly. Carefully, she took as much of his length into her mouth as she dared, and then begun to bob her head up and down in careful timing with her stroking hand. This made Kalendras groan in the most arousing manner, and her clitoris gave a desperate twitch. Every time he moaned she could taste the saltiness of his precum. As her speed increased his second hand came down against her head and she knew he was close. A few moments later he cried her name into the early morning light and he exploded in her mouth, filling her with jet after jet of hot seed. "That was amazing." Kalendras said, closing his eyes and throwing putting his arms back so he could rest his head on them. Livinia sighed and got to her feet. Even though she enjoyed being there with him, naked and completely comfortable, she knew that they had better get dressed before some wayward adventure decided to intrude on their camping spot. ~*~ After their morning activities Kalendras had thrown together a quick breakfast out of the left-overs of the previous evening while Livinia nursed her hangover. When they were both fully dressed and the camp was packed up they decided to make their way back to Thunder Bluff so they could check their mail. Borris had caught up with them along the way, and Livinia stroked his rough fur as they made their way towards the Tauren city. When they stepped off the elevator at the top of the rise Kalendras shifted away from her slightly and she couldn't help but frown. "I had a great time last night." She said softly, he looked down at her and smiled sadly. "In spite of the fact that you are nursing a hang over... and something more?" He asked, she rolled her eyes. "The night was not made good because of the ale." She said firmly, one hand stroking the soft fur on his arm discreetly as they walked through the markets of the Main Rise. "I would like to do it again some time. And sooner rather than later." "Really?" He stopped walking and looked down at her curiously. "Truly." She said, she could see the corners of his lips curl up in a smile and she grinned at him. "I wasn't lying when I said that I was waiting for the right person." She told him, unable to stop a blush from creeping onto her cheeks. "Well I'm glad that I'm the right person." He said with a satisfied nod, and kept walking. Livinia followed Kalendras as he made his way towards the inn, but stopped just short of it to check his mail at the mail box. He pulled out a thin piece of parchment, tied with plain string and sealed with nondescript red wax. He frowned as he broke the seal and opened up the letter, his shoulders falling as he read whatever it held. "I'm afraid it will have to wait, Little One." He told her, shaking the letter in his hand to add effect. "I have finally received word from a Druid Guild and they want me there tomorrow to see if I am worthy to join them." Livinia couldn't stop the pout from forming on her lips. She instantly regretted not having more control when she saw the muscles in his face tighten. This wasn't the way it was supposed to be- after years of desperately wanting she didn't think it would be over so quickly. "You're sad." He said slowly, placing one hand on her shoulder and steering her away from the crowded inn. "No.. Well- yes. A bit. I just didn't think..."She trailed off and his fingers twitched, his face screwing up with restraint. How she longed to have his fingers trace her skin. "What would you have done when Belcarm returned from Silvermoon City?" He asked her softly. "Would you have abandoned him to join me? You know we travel in different circles at the moment Livinia- we are both doing too well to stop now. Maybe some time in the future- hopefully not too far away- we will both be at a point where it is practical to make us more permanent, but now? We both just have too much to do to get into the thick of a relationship." She knew it was true. She also knew that she couldn't just abandon Belcarm like that. They were friends, they had been comrades for a long time, and despite his irritating self absorption she really did enjoy his company. As she looked up at Kalendras she knew that there was really no other option. She should have known it from the start. The reason their catch ups were few and far between was because of their different paths- the fact that they were at different stages in their lives. She smiled as she watched the way that his earthy brown eyes glittered in the full morning light, the way that the sun played with his soft silver fur. Her oldest friend and her newest – or only- lover. "When will I see you again?" She asked, he frowned and shrugged. "I'm not sure." He said slowly "But I will keep in touch- you can count on that. I will write to you as often as I can and let you know where I'll be." "I'll write back." Livinia said with a brave smile "I'll let you know where I am, and we can try to get together as often as possible." Kalendras knew her too well to believe the false confidence in her voice. Though he was happy to see the hope behind her words. Despite all of the taurens milling about around them he pulled her into a hug. "I look forward to seeing you again." He whispered into her ear and making a shiver run up her spine. "Me too." She replied. He turned to leave, but then thought better of it. He turned and fixed her with a goofy smile. "By the way Liv- if you come across another Tauren male, try not to stroke his horns like you did mine. For my kind that sort of action is even more intimate than it would be for you to stroke my other horn." Livinia's mouth formed a perfect o of surprise and without a spoken goodbye Kalendras turned and disappeared into the crowd of Taurens. Livinia took several deep breaths to steady herself and regain her composure. She was hung over, tired, and very tender and sore. Even though this turn of events had taken her by surprise, she could not bring herself to regret the previous evening. Her fists tightened into balls and her nails dug in to her palms mercilessly. She was tempted to believe that- after all of this time- nothing had really changed. But it had. The pain in her groin was a sweet reminder of the intimacy that she and Kalendras had shared. She smiled and her resolve strengthened. She said she'd write to him- and she would. She would try as hard as she possibly could to see him again.