The Thinking Rocks (7 page)

He finally saw her on a large rock,
at the edge of a valley, about a quarter of a mile ahead.  This was not
the first time he had mated, but he looked forward to it as males have since
time began.  It was not a conscious process; his body took over
control.  He was moved by a biological drive that precluded everything
other than procreation. He would fight any creature in order to satisfy his
need.

When he was about fifty yards away,
he gave a soft coughing sound to let her know he was here. She jumped down and
moved toward him with a ferocious growl.  When they could see each other
through the brush, she roared again and charged.  After about ten yards
she slid to a halt and with her tail twitching, she lowered her ears. 
They stood there looking at each other, until he raised both of his ears and
took one step forward.  She growled again and then raised her ears. 
He gave another soft cough and took another step forward.  She turned
casually, and as if she was no longer interested in him started to walk
away.  He came across the clearing like a flash of tawny yellow
light.  His shoulder struck her on the right flank and knocked her over
and down.  In a blur of movement, she spun around and hit him in the side
of the head with her paws, one after the other.  He rolled away from her;
there was no blood because her claws had not been extended when she
struck.  The mating game had begun.

They caroused like huge kittens,
crashing through the brush, and rolling around on their backs.   They
mated repeatedly for three days.  When they were both exhausted and
hungry, they stopped and slept.  Their sexual appetites were satisfied,
but now their body’s need for food became a driving force.  He went off on
the fourth morning in search of food and never returned.  She was more
relieved than angry, her need to procreate was satisfied and she didn't want
him around to compete for food or to endanger her cubs.  She knew if he
had the chance to kill the cubs, he would.  It was of no matter now, she
had used him and now he was gone.

Three and a half months later in a
small cave, she gave birth to two cubs, both males.  The raising of the
cubs went well for the first three months, before trouble arrived.  While
she was out hunting, the cubs with open eyes had been exploring the cave and
had made their way to the entrance.  There were some very interesting
smells outside and the cubs decided to find out more about them.  Once
they were outside, they were met by another world; it was filled with strange
sounds, light and smells. They were both rolling around and playing in the
grass, when there was a shriek from above and a shadow covered the cubs for an
instant.  Talons closed upon the back of one cub, and it screamed in pain
as it was carried off to become a meal.  The other cub scrambled back into
the cave and found a safe corner where it snarled in an effort to show how
brave it was and frightened danger away.

When the she-cat returned, she
searched in frustrated rage for the lost cub.  When she couldn't find it,
she became more possessive and protective of the last cub.

Over the next two years, she taught
him the skills he would need to survive.  He learned well because he
received all of her attention. A time came for him to be on his own.  She
was tired of hunting for two, and he was tired of not being able to hunt for
himself.  Although she drove him away, he went willingly.

The young male traveled across the
land honing his skills and learning from his mistakes.   Big cats
need room to hunt, a twenty-mile range would be average for one cat, while
another will just roam and follow the herds.  He was possessive of his
kills, and would carry five hundred pounds a quarter of a mile to a convenient
place, before he fed.  There was an abundance of game and he easily
satisfied his needs.

Until one day when he encountered a
group of strange animals.  They weren't big and had only two legs. 
There was no apparent threat because they were small, slow, and hunted only in
the daytime.  They looked like another source of food, even though he was
not hungry now.  He needed about fifty pounds of meat a day and one of
these animals might be just about right for a meal or two. He would watch them
and in the future when the time was right he would add them to his list of
prey.

Loki looked across the clearing to
where Sorou was standing.  For the moment she was alone.  “Perfect,”
he thought.  He approached her quietly, "Sorou can we speak?” He
paused and looked around before continuing, "Alone?"  As she
turned to look at him, he could see she was in deep thought about
something.  Probably Cano, he thought.  'So much the better. 
I'll start with a small diversion and then get to the point.'  "You
look lovely tonight, and such a nice day for your passage. A person couldn't
ask for more, could she?"

Sorou moved closer to Loki before
answering, she spoke in low tones.  "Most of the clan believes this
little game you like to play.  ‘Look at me, I'm a fool, it's a shame, I'm
so clumsy.  Lets all have a laugh together and not worry about
it.’"  She looked past him to see if anyone was listening before she
continued.  "Let’s get things straight, I don't believe it.  You
are smart and you like to play your little games. I don't have any problem with
that.  What I do have a problem with, is having someone treat me like a
fool.  Don't do it.  You didn't come over here to tell me how
wonderful I look, or even to try to get me into the bushes.  Why did you
really come here?"

Loki thought about trying to deny
what she said but knew it would be useless.  He was surprised she had seen
through his cover, he must be more careful in the future.  He needed her
as an ally now. Telling her the whole truth is too dangerous, but half the
truth will help me and it will also help her.  I will save the rest of the
truth for some other time.  "I see that I underestimated you. 
I'll get to the point and tell you something you want to know.  What I
want from you in return for this information is help at a later time.  We
both know that you will be a powerful person in this clan; I want to be your
friend and share in that power. We should help each other.  It can be good
for both of us.  You get something that you want, and I get what I
want."

Sorou had been watching him closely
as he spoke.  He appeared to be speaking the truth but this was probably
another layer of his cover.  There was the possibility that he would be a
good source of information and help.  She didn't completely believe him
but it was probably worthwhile to find out what he knows.  A little trust
was a small thing to give him and if he betrayed her or was playing a game with
her, she would see that he paid for it.  Her trust would be like a
seed.  If he took care of it, it would grow. "You sound as though you
speak the truth," she said, "but how much of the truth I'm not sure.
What do you have to tell me?"

Loki smiled to himself; the bait was
in the water.  "Cano will be at the big rock by the river tonight
waiting to see Ceola."  He could see by the look on her face, she was
going for the bait.

“Why should I care if they meet there
tonight? She's skinny and her hair is ugly, she will have a hard time finding a
mate."  Sorou could not keep the jealousy out of her voice.

Loki spoke in a low angry voice,
"Who is acting like a fool now?  We both know that you want
Cano.  To get him, you have to stop Ceola from getting him.  Start
using your head; remember you're not speaking to a fool."

She was angry at his response, but
saw instantly that he was right.  "What do you suggest?"

"You get there before
Ceola.  I'll find a way to delay her."

"What am I supposed to do before
she gets there?  Explain to him why I should be his mate? Why I'm a better
choice?"

Loki paused and tried to keep the
anger from his voice but failed, "You're doing it again, stop it. 
Don't explain in words; use language that he can't misunderstand. Use your
body; show him why he wants you. Give him a taste of what it would be like to
have you.  Go as far as you can.  Tease him as much as you can before
he gets his reward.  You're more than desirable; you should be able to
drive him mad.  Remember, the farther along you can get him, the more he
will belong to you."

Sorou smiled as she said, "I do
want him, and I know this should work, but what of Ceola? What if she catches
us?"  She smiled and answered her own question. "Of course she
will catch us; I can make sure of that.  She will be hurt and angry with
Cano.  She will hate him."

Loki was happy she had taken the
bait.  "He will try to talk his way out of it and fail.  Would
you believe a man you found in another woman's arms?  I don't think that
Ceola will have anything to do with him after this.  You will get what you
want because this is just the start of our plan. With both of us working on it,
you will have him."

Sorou was smiling too. "You are
much smarter than I expected.  We can be of use to each other, although
I'm still not sure your plan doesn't mean that at some time I might have to
repay you with a trip to the bushes."

"As enjoyable as that sounds it
would complicate matters too much.  First things first. I'll help you get
Cano; later you can help me.  Now it’s time for you to get down to the
river, you must get there before Cano for this to work.  Hide in the
shadows, the Moon is not up yet.  The dark will be your friend.  Cano
will be expecting her, so you must get into his arms as quickly as you
can.  Let your body do the talking.  I'm sure you will know what to
do."

As much as she hated to be told what
to do, she realized he was right.  She reached out and touched his
shoulder, "You are right, I won't forget your help."  Turning
toward the river, she walked rapidly away.

Loki watched her as she moved away,
and then he turned toward Ceola's fire.  He must think of some way to
delay her.  As he approached her, he saw that she was helping her brother
and sister.  The children, Dola and his sister, Opla, were full of energy,
and Ceola was having a hard time getting them to sleep.  Loki saw that he
wouldn't have to do anything to slow Ceola down; she had problems enough with
her family.  She would be late for her meeting tonight. Loki moved away
into the shadows to see what else was happening.

Later, Sorou was waiting down at the
river near the big rock.  The full moon had risen, but the night was
cloudy and the windy.  Shadows from the clouds drifted across the forest
and created strange things in the night.  She hoped Cano would come soon;
it was not wise to be in the forest alone at night.  Sorou stood near the
water on a small patch of grass and scanned the water and the nearby
woods.  There was no sign of danger.  A smile curled the corners of
her mouth as she thought about how she would handle Cano.  She reached up
and straightened her hair. Then as an afterthought, she pulled it over her
shoulder. It was now the way Ceola wore her hair.  There was a faint sound
from the trail.  It must be Cano.  She moved slightly and faced the
river.  Cano was almost to the river when he saw a movement near the
water.  He froze, and then he could make out the outline of a young woman
against the reflection of the moonlight on the water.  She was sideways,
and there was no doubt it was a women. Her hair was worn as she always wore it,
over her shoulder.  His mouth was suddenly dry and his stomach was
tight.  He was certain she could hear his heart pounding.  As usual
when he got near her, he couldn't think of what to say.  Finally he croaked,
"You're beautiful tonight." The figure turned slightly toward him and
raised her arms as she sank to the ground.  “This is it,” he thought, and
he moved to her quickly and sank to the ground with her.  Her skin was hot
to his touch and she was breathing quickly.  He could feel her excitement
rising to meet his own.  He reached around her bareback and pulled her
close as he sank his head into her hair.  His breath was coming in short
gasps, which matched hers.  His mouth found hers as they started to melt
into one.  However, something was wrong.  She was perfect, but yet
not perfect, she felt different. He started to pull away slightly, but she
wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer.  She was all over him,
her hands up and down his back, squirming like a creature that was trapped but
not trying to escape.  Cano was losing contact with reality.  Nothing
seemed to matter but this moment and the fear that it wouldn't last.  His
hand slid down to her breast, and a sigh escaped her throat.  He grasped
it gently as she moaned.  Again he felt that something was wrong, the
breast didn't seem correct.  He pulled his mouth from hers and leaned back
just as the moon came from behind a cloud.  It was Sorou!  Smiling,
she pulled him down and covered his mouth with hers.  He was stunned, he
knew that he shouldn't be here, but he was thinking with his body and not his
mind.  His body or more accurately, their bodies were in control of this
time and place.  His will to stop had faded to nothing.  Cano was the
complete captive of the moment.  They were both panting and covered in
sweat.  It seemed wrong, which made it more exciting
. 
The moment had come to make it happen, to join
into one.  It was the perfect time to form the union between man and
woman, except for one thing.

Ceola came upon them at this
moment.  She was expecting love on this night but not the kind she
found.  Seeing him on the ground with another woman stunned her.  The
smell of sex hung in the air like a cloud.  The forbidden feeling of
watching was coupled with an animal desire to be a part of it.  Anger and
jealousy overrode all of these feelings.  Ceola felt a scathing anger at
Cano, but a primitive survival urge made her want to attack the woman that
would take her man.  A red tide surged up through her body.  She
tried to control her voice as she said, "Cano, when you're finished, I
have something to tell you."

Although the words were spoken in a
soft voice, they had the same effect as stepping on a snake.  Cano
recognized Ceola's voice and knew he was caught. No chance of talking my way
out of this, he thought.  Even the yielding body beneath his was not
enough to keep his interest up.  He wished he were somewhere else,
anywhere else.  He rolled to his side and evaded Sorou's attempts to pull
him back down.  "Ceola, this isn't what it looks like, I can
explain.”  Even in the moonlight Cano could see the anger flashing in
Ceola's eyes.  “Please let me try to explain."

Sorou sat up and in an angry voice
said "Ceola, leave! You're not wanted or needed here.  Can't you see
that we want to be alone? Go away now."

Well, that didn't help me at all,
thought Cano.

Ceola started to turn but was stopped
by Cano's next words "Please don't go, I love you.”

She was confused, these were the
words she wanted to hear, but not now, and not like this.

Sorou was also stunned by Cano's
words, she had tried to show him what she could and would do for him and he was
rejecting her.  She was hurt.  To make things worse, he rejected her
in front of Ceola.  Well, he would pay for making this choice. He would be
made to hurt like she hurt.  He wasn't the only man in the clan.  I
hate them both, they will find out what it's like to have me for an
enemy.  She brushed off some leaves from her arm as she stood. She planted
a barb as she turned to go.  "Cano, when you're tired of playing with
children and want a woman, stop by my fire, I may take pity on you and show you
some things that children don't know."  She stalked away toward camp.

Ceola didn't want to follow Sorou
back to camp, but she didn't want to stay here with Cano.  She was still
furious with him and couldn't believe how she had found him.  She had been
betrayed.  He was supposed to be hers, not Sorou's mate.  She wanted
to go away and be alone; she needed time to think. ‘It was so confusing. 
Why can't it be simple?’

Cano knew he was in deep trouble and
had better move before it was too late.  He came over and took hold of one
of her hands.  She started to pull away, but he held on gently and then
grasped it in both of his hands.  Looking into her eyes, he raised her
hand to his lips and kissed it gently.  They stood silently for a moment
before he spoke, "I know this is hard for you," he said. "It's
hard for me too." He thought of what he had just said and quickly added,
"I mean it's difficult for me.  You're hurt, and it's my fault. 
I would do anything to change the way things have happened tonight. I love you
and want to be with you," he paused and then said, "only you."

Ceola didn't pull her hands away, but
she was still angry and confused.  He had stopped when I spoke, she
thought.  He could have gone on.  Her voice trembled as she spoke,
"It certainly looked like you were enjoying her.  I'm hurt and angry.
If this is the kind of person that you are, I can live without you.  You
betrayed me. I thought that what we had was special.  I came here tonight
to be with you."  Her voice got louder; anger was dripping from the
words. "What do I find?  You and her on the ground covered in sweat.
You said you could explain.  Well, I'm waiting and it had better be
good."

Cano paused before answering. 
She was correct; he had better get it right the first time because there won't
be a chance for a second explanation.  "Please listen to all I have
to say, before you say anything.  It's complicated, and it wasn't my idea
for things to happen like this.  Remember this above all else, I love
you.  I want to be with you."  He hesitated before he continued;
"I couldn't wait to see you here tonight.  When I came to the river,
it was dark.  I saw a movement and thought it was you.  I could see a
figure of a woman near the water where I expected to see you.  She had her
hair over her shoulder the way that you wear yours. She turned toward me and
put her arms out to me.  Just as I had hoped you would.  It was dark
and I couldn't see it wasn't you.  I expected you; you were supposed to be
here.  I can't lie, I went to her, but I thought it was you.  I was
confused after a few moments.  We haven't been together like that, but
something wasn't right.  I didn't know what it was, but I could tell
something was wrong.  I won't lie; it's difficult to think at a time like
that.  Your body takes over control.  The moon came out of the
clouds, and I saw that it wasn't you.  I couldn't believe my eyes; I knew
that I was in trouble.  I pulled away from her.  Before I could get
up, you found us.  This is the truth.  Did you see us together? Yes,
you did, but I thought it was you.  If you had come along a little later,
you would know I speak the truth.  I don’t know how she knew I would be
here tonight with you.  Someone must have told her, and she planned this.
This is part of a plan to keep us apart.  I can see by the look in your
eyes you want to believe me.  Please believe me.  I love
you."  He paused and took hold of her other hand and brought them
both to his lips and kissed them gently.  "If you believe what you
saw and believe what they want you to think, then I have lost.  I will
have lost the only woman I care for.  If you believe me, if you believe
the truth, we can still have each other.  I have said all I can say."