Chapter 33

Zecora’s Residence, Owalla’wando

After getting a good night’s rest and filling their bellies with a hearty breakfast, the three Wyvertii set about making plans for what they intended to do next. Zebrica was a continent full of diverse cultures to appreciate and learn from. The landscape was just as vast and varied as its people. Ranging from arid deserts to lush, tropical jungles. It was generally agreed upon by the trio that Theni was the biggest wildcard in their decision.

From what he’d seen so far, Spike was fairly confident that Theni could take care of herself during their travels. However, neither he nor the girls were completely certain because they hadn’t gotten to know the young shaman well enough yet to gauge what her greatest strengths and weaknesses were. Particularly when it came to combat. While Theni did possess magical prowess, her petite physique suggested that she wasn’t much of a fighter.

There was also the matter of politics to consider. Diplomacy was a statecraft that Spike wasn’t terribly fond of due to how utterly ruthless and dull it could be sometimes. Even so, he recognized the potential of finding new allies for the Wyvertii and, in turn, gradually easing the centuries worth of self-imposed isolation that his people had endured. It might take decades to do so, but Spike figured that he had a VERY long time to work out all the finer details.

The young Dragon Lord smiled as he sparred with his mates beneath the shade of the Baobab tree. All of those issues could be dealt with later. For now, he simply wanted to enjoy spending some quality time with the two women whom he cherished most. Not that it was a contest, of course. He loved his family too but it just wasn’t in the same way. After they’d worked up a good sweat, Spike and the girls followed the shamans out to a watering hole for a quick bath.

For the first time, they all got to see Zecora without her body paint or accessories. She’d even left her shaman staff behind back at the house. The older woman continued to bathe as if it were an ordinary day with her daughter. In a tiny ceramic bowl, she scooped out a glob of greenish-brown paste and lathered her hair with it vigorously before diving underwater to rinse it all off.

She surfaced with a flick of her long, striped locks and sighed contentedly. “The water today is particularly refreshing. Would you not agree, my esteemed guests?”

Ember nodded. “Yeah. It sure is. Thanks for sharing your shampoo, Zecora. Smells great!”

“You are quite welcome, Princess Ember. I hope you enjoy the body soap as well. My daughter was the one responsible for making it.”

Sunset grabbed a bar of aforementioned soap and began lathering up her armpits and underneath her breasts. “Gotta hand it to ya, Theni. This smells pretty awesome too. Ha! I bet those tight-assed, snooty nobles back in Canterlot would pay a fortune for just one bar of this stuff. Ya know, since they all love all their ‘artisan’ beauty products. What’s it made of anyway?”

Theni smiled at the praise. “Rendered pig suet, potash, and a precise mixture of flower oils. Lavender and rose, to be exact. It took me quite some time to perfect the formula as you see here.”

“Hehe. I totally forgot about how they used to make soap in the old days. NOT… that it’s necessarily a bad thing. Because it isn’t! Uh—just forget I said anything.”

Theni frowned in confusion. “Are you certain, Miss Shimmer? If the scent is not to your liking, I can always go back to the house and fetch a different bar. Perhaps, you would prefer—”

Sunset waved her hands and blushed. “No, this one’s fine! Really. I used a random assortment of crushed up flowers as a body wash substitute back when I still lived in the Everfree Forest, so I can’t complain about having ACTUAL soap at this point.”

Theni became even more confused by Sunset’s bizarre explanation but accepted the fiery-haired amazon’s tone as sincere. While everyone continued to bathe and relax in the midmorning sun, an older gentleman approached the watering hole with a somber expression etched upon his face. He was tall, muscular, and had a striped beard that grew down to his chest. His hair was braided with colorful beads and had an elaborate gold pin that held it all in place behind his neck.

Unlike Zecora & Theni, he was fully clothed in a purple robe that covered his entire body and leather sandals adorned his feet. With a respectful half-bow, he directed his attention towards Zecora and let out a deep breath. Unperturbed by the intrusion, the shaman simply walked out of the watering hole with a serene smile and let the arid wind of the savannah dry her skin.

“I sense that you require my assistance today, Chieftain Musa.”

The man frowned. “My apologies for disturbing your bath, Spirit Mother. An urgent matter has come up with one of the cattle herders and I believe that… it may be supernatural in nature.”

“What makes you think that?” Zecora asked encouragingly.

Musa gave a polite wave to Spike and the girls. “I cannot be certain. Not like you, Spirit Mother. That is why I would ask you to accompany me to the site of the incident. Post haste. The Dragon Lord, his entourage, and your daughter are welcome to come along as well if they so choose.”

Sensing the urgency of the situation, everyone got out of the water and Ember cast a spell that dried them off with a quick burst of Wyvertii fire. Theni cried out in abject terror but calmed down once she realized that the sapphire flames weren’t going to incinerate her flesh and bone. In fact, she began giggling (somewhat nervously) when they tickled her bare skin with a pleasant warmth instead. Spike walked over to Theni and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“It’s ok, Theni. Our magic won’t hurt anyone unless we want it to.”

Heart still pounding in her chest, Theni offered everyone a weak smile. “I sincerely apologize for my behavior. Fire magic is not something that I am accustomed to seeing every day. Around these parts, such sorcery is associated with the dark arts and used for nefarious purposes.”

Ember blushed and patted Theni’s back. “Sorry. I should’ve warned you first.”

Now that everybody was nice and dry, they followed the Chieftain over to the site of the supposed animal attack. Even without all of the trappings of a wizened shaman, Zecora exuded confidence and a Zen-like calm as she approached the distraught cattle rancher. Without even being asked, the man immediately took hold of her hand and kissed it as a sign of respect. Her blush was faint, but Spike could tell that Zecora was somewhat embarrassed by the gesture.

“Good day to you, Spirit Mother. I am Faseb. My family has raised cattle for countless generations on this plot of land, providing leather and food for the village. It is my only source of income. Now, over half of my herd is dead! What kind of monster could have done this?!”

Zecora crouched onto her haunches and observed one of the carcasses. Very little of the bovine was left, save for a few thin strips of skin, sinew, and bones. Near as she could tell, all of the cows had been picked clean of anything that could be considered edible. Whatever had done this, it was not a single creature acting alone. Clearly, the work of a pack. The only thing that struck the whole situation as odd to her was how violently the cows had been torn apart.

The Shaman closed her eyes and began to commune with the spirits. “Please lend me your wisdom, o great protector of the earth. Show me how these poor beasts met their end.”

In a tongue more ancient than the hills themselves, blueish-green magic swirled around Zecora, whispering to her in a song-like chant. Spike and the girls stood mesmerized by the sight. They’d never witnessed anything like it before. Theni smiled knowingly and lent her voice to the chant, causing more magic to coalesce around her hands like a cloud of smoke.

Only to the shamans did the spirits reveal what had transpired. Ghostly images of hyenas danced across the grass and a dark, shadowy blob in the center of them. Theni gasped as the monster’s blood-red eyes pierced her very soul. Zecora reached out with her own magic and tried to assure her daughter that it was merely the essence of a menacing creature, nothing more. In an instant, the ritual abruptly ended and Zecora bent down to pick up a single, bone-white hair between her fingers.

“It is as I feared. This is the work of evil sorcery. I sense that a pack of hyenas were involved in the attack as well but… they were led by something far more cunning and dangerous.”

Faseb began to panic. “What could it be?! I do not have the means to protect my family from whatever did this. Even with Equestrian firearms, killing a mystical beast that had the strength to rip bovines asunder with such ease will prove to be difficult. If not impossible!”

The Chieftain placed his hand on Faseb’s trembling shoulder. “Be at peace, friend. You and your family may stay with me until the matter is resolved. It is the least I can do as repayment for all that you have given to our village over the years.”

“Thank you, Chieftain! I shall not forget your kindness!”

Theni rushed over to her mother and wrapped her in a tight embrace. “I felt the presence of dark magic too, Mother. Should we be concerned?”

Zecora kissed her daughter’s forehead. “We should remain cautious, Theni. That much is clear. I am not entirely certain who did this but I know that this hair belongs to a werebeast, not an ordinary animal. If my hypothesis is correct, then we may have a rouge shaman in our midst.”

“Is such a spell even possible? I have never heard of it before…”

Zecora’s expression grew somber. “Over the years, I have tried my best to limit your exposure to the dark arts. The spirits, as you know, are mostly a positive force, Parthenia. However, if one knows where to look, there are evil spirits that reside in places of death and chaos.”

“Like battlefields?” Theni asked quietly.

“Indeed. Or a region where great calamity has struck. Like floods or volcanic eruptions, to name just a few examples. Other areas may simply be a nexus for dark energies to collect. Whatever the case may be, evil spirits are not to be taken lightly. They give those who barter with them power but at a terrible cost. Whomsoever entreats with evil shall become corrupt and unnatural.”

Theni shivered despite the midday heat. “Is there any way to stop this… creature of darkness?”

“If he has mastered the art of lycanthropy, then the rouge shaman is bound to be a powerful foe. Forgive me for worrying you, Parthenia. It has just been many years since I tested my mettle against another practitioner of such skill. Tracking him shall be difficult, let alone defeating him in combat. I am not… certain that I am up to the task.”

Spike placed his hand on Zecora’s shoulder. “The girls and I know a thing or two about fighting bad guys. Just say the word and we’ll help you take this rouge shaman down.”

While Zecora nodded to show her appreciation, Musa walked over and rubbed his hands together nervously. As Chieftain, it was ultimately his responsibility to keep those he ruled over safe. He was not a man familiar with the ways of magic or spirits, but he could tell how uneasy everyone was over the current situation. After letting out a deep sigh, he prostrated himself in front of Spike.

“My most sincere apologies, Lord Spike. My original intention was to take all of you on a tour of our village and host a feast in your honor. Alas, it seems that fate has another task in store for us all. I beg you to help the Spirit Mother and her protégé! They are powerful shamans, but not warriors. I simply cannot risk their lives on a futile mission. My conscience will not allow it. Whatever payment you should require, I will do my best to make sure that you are adequately compensated for your efforts. Be it in gold, women, or spices.”

Cheeks flushed pink; Spike helped the older man onto his feet. “It’s ok, Chieftain Musa. You don’t have to beg the girls and I for our help. We’d all be glad to do it free of charge. Trust me; I’ve got more than enough riches to last me several lifetimes. Stuff like that doesn’t really matter to me. Never has. Just… keep it and use the money to help feed the villagers or something.”

Musa wept openly and wrapped Spike in a bone-crushing hug. “You are truly a noble soul, Lord Spike! Spirits bless you! Long may you reign and prosper!”

Spike blushed even harder and patted Musa’s back. “Erm—thanks, I guess. Alright everyone. I think we’d better head on back to the village and stock up on supplies. Like Zecora said, I don’t think it’ll be easy to find this guy wherever he might be lurking about.”

Spike and the girls all sat cross-legged around the campfire, ate their dinner, and carried on with some light conversation. Theni, in particular, had been very quiet since they’d left the village a few hours earlier. She spoke little and seemed extremely anxious. Perhaps, it was simply because this was the first time she’d ever embarked on a dangerous mission to test her abilities as a shaman. Zecora had originally intended to help the three Wyvertii track down the rogue shapeshifter, but Theni had insisted on doing so herself instead.

Zecora had been reluctant to allow her inexperienced daughter to put herself in harm’s way, as any concerned mother would be but she realized that it was Theni’s way of trying to prove herself. As both a grown woman and a shaman. With a sad smile, Zecora realized that Theni had finally come of age and she was no longer an innocent, little child anymore.

After a tearful embrace and some words of encouragement, Zecora sent her precious baby girl away with a blessing from all the spirits who were willing to offer it. She would just have to have faith that they, along with the Dragonfolk, would keep Parthenia safe throughout this challenging ordeal. The elder Shaman herself elected to stay behind and protect the village to the best of her abilities should the shapeshifter decide to attack again.

Although it was decidedly not her forte, Ember recognized that Theni was upset and wanted to offer the young shaman some form of encouragement. After all, their lives might very well depend on Theni’s ability to track down the shapeshifter. If she was too despondent to use them properly, then everyone would suffer for it. Without preamble, Ember took a seat right next to Theni and smiled at her. She offered a weak smile in return but said nothing.

“So… you’ve been pretty quiet since we left the village. Is there anything you’d like to talk about? You know, because it’s good to get things off of your chest.”

Theni sighed. “It is my mother. I fear for her safety and question my own abilities as a shaman. What if I am not strong enough? What if I am unworthy of the great responsibility that has been placed upon my shoulders? Ever since our departure, I have been unable to stop thinking about all of these things. You are a strong warrior, Ember. What causes you to be so confident?”

“Uh—well, lots of training for one. But more importantly, I have my mates with me. Whenever things get out of hand or I don’t think I’m strong enough, I know that they’ll be there to help me no matter what. Point is: sometimes you just gotta let other people help you out, Theni.”

The young shaman leaned over and wrapped Ember in a surprisingly affectionate hug. It was such an unexpected gesture (especially with all of the crying and sniffling) that Ember almost didn’t know how to react. A few painfully awkward moments later, Ember patted Theni’s back and cleared her throat in an exaggerated manner. When she looked across the campfire, Spike and Sunset were grinning ear to ear. Ember blushed furiously and went back to chewing on a strip of peppered beef jerky that she’d been working on earlier.

Theni placed her hand on Ember’s thigh and rubbed it gently. “Thank you for the kind words of encouragement, Ember. That is precisely what I needed to hear right now.”

“Sure. No problem.”

Sunset laid back, crossed one leg over the other, and looked up at the stars. “Man, it sure is beautiful out here. I always had the lousiest time stargazing in the Everfree Forest since there were so many damn trees in the way. Well, I suppose the Ursas had some on their coats too but it’s not the same as seeing them for real.”

Theni hummed in agreement. “Indeed. The natural splendor of the savannah is quite breathtaking. However, you would be wise to remain cautious of its many dangers as well, Sunset.”

Spike snuggled up against Sunset’s side, traced his fingers along her stomach scars, and placed a gentle kiss along her neck. She giggled in response and pulled her mate into a brief, but fiery kiss of her own. “True. But we’ve all run into our fair share of dangerous predators and bad guys. I think we can handle just about anything Zebrica decides to throw at us.”

“I certainly hope so. There is no telling how powerful this rouge shapeshifter might be. We may even have to contend with a pack of hyenas as well, if my mother’s theory proves correct.”

Ember rolled her neck from side to side. “Best not to invite trouble, Theni. We’ll figure out how to deal with the beasts when the time comes. I promise that we’ll keep you safe.”

Sunset and Spike nodded emphatically while Theni let out a shuddering sigh. “Please pardon my anxious behavior, everyone. I have never been a proponent of violence. To think that you all may be forced to kill another person or even an animal… makes me feel uneasy.”

An uneasy silence between Spike and the girls followed for a while afterwards. It was clear to them all that Theni was uncomfortable being away from her mother and the village. In all likelihood, this instance had been the longest time she’d ever been out on her own. Not completely alone, but at least with people she was still in the process of getting acquainted with. Since Sunset and Spike were busy snuggling by the fire, Ember scooched closer to Theni until their sides touched and wrapped her arm around the young shaman’s shoulder. For the first time, Ember realized just how fragile and soft Theni’s body felt compared to her own.

Theni rested her head against Ember’s shoulder and sniffled. “Thank you, Ember. As much as I hate to admit it, traveling with all of you frightens me. Would you… mind doing me a favor?”

“What’s that?”

Theni’s cheeks flushed rosy red. “I feel the urge to empty my bladder. If possible, could you accompany me while I relieve myself? You do not have to hold my hand or anything. It’s just that I would feel safer if someone watched out for potential threats while I do so.”

With a casual shrug, Ember offered her hand and the two of them walked over towards a cluster of bushes so that Theni could have some privacy while she took care of business. Even though the young shaman was well-accustomed to being nude all of the time, she felt very exposed underneath the pale glow of the moonlit savannah. She bit her lip and looked around several times. Theni could still see Ember standing a few paces away but she just couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched somehow.

“Hey. Are you alright back there?” Ember shouted.

“Forgive me, Ember. I shall get started soon. Thank you for your patience.”

“No worries. Take as much time as you need.”

Theni scanned the immediate area around her one more time and squatted behind some bushes when she was satisfied that nothing else was present. Just as she finished emptying her bladder onto the dirt below, Theni felt the hairs on the back of her neck stiffen. An indescribable, cloying sensation danced across her skin like the feet of a thousand spiders. Theni was so terrified that she couldn’t even make any sound come out of her throat to alert Ember of the dangerous presence that lurked just behind the bushes.

Knees trembling, Theni turned around to see a pair of glowing red stare back at her. She stumbled backwards and landed flat on her bottom, desperate to scramble away from the looming shadow and towards the safety of Ember’s presence. But it was all for naught.

Theni barely got back onto her feet when the shadow morphed into a fearsome, black-coated werelion. On pure instinct alone, Theni reached out to the spirits and begged them to give her the strength necessary to defeat this foul creature. They responded to her plea and her entire body began to glow with swirling, viridian light.

Quick as lightning, the werelion shot out his paw, squeezed Theni’s windpipe, and lifted her into the air. The poor girl struggled, desperately trying to regain control of the situation but he was just too strong. The creature grinned, showing off his sharp teeth and spoke in a rumbling voice.

“It is pointless to resist, young shaman. Come quietly and I shall not harm your companions.”

Unable to reply verbally, tears filled Theni’s eyes while she nodded her consent. In an instant, dark miasma enveloped them both and they vanished into the night. A moment later… or maybe it was an hour, Theni couldn’t really tell, they rematerialized inside of a cave. The air inside was warm and smelled of smoke due to the bonfire that was lit within. Theni’s bare feet pattered against the stony surface of the cave floor as she approached the firepit. A large, female hyena (Theni assumed it must have been the alpha) sat on her stomach off to the side. She remained silent but on full alert while she watched Theni’s every move.

“Hello there,” Theni croaked, “Please do not mind my presence. I merely wish to warm myself.”

“They shall not harm you. Not unless I say so.” A smooth, baritone voice answered.

Theni nearly jumped out of her skin and let out a terrified squeak. “Who are you?!”

“You shall have to pardon my rudeness and our current accommodations. It is the best I can do for the time being. As for my name, I am Djembe. Would you care for a drink?”

Theni nodded because her throat was so dry and raw. While the man went to go fetch a waterskin, Theni was able to get a better look at him. Even in the dim lighting of the cave, Theni could easily tell that Djembe wore nothing at all. His skin was slightly darker than Theni’s, and covered with spiritual symbols just like her mother’s. Djembe was tall, muscular, and kept his head clean shaven. A neatly groomed, snow-white goatee adorned his handsome face.

Under any other circumstances, Theni would have found Djembe pleasantly attractive. But after what happened out on the savannah, Theni couldn’t bring herself to think about anything other than her own immediate survival. Well, almost. When the hulking mountain of a man sat cross-legged in front of her and handed Theni the waterskin, her eyes drifted downwards.

As luck would have it, Djembe was not only handsome but endowed like a wildebeest. The bushy tuft of snow-white pubic hair that covered his manhood did little to detract from its girth. Theni took a swig of water and hoped that Djembe didn’t notice how flustered she was. Even sitting a few paces away, the thick veins along his penis stood out. She finished drinking and tried to compose herself. It wasn’t easy. Her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.

“Feeling better now?”

“Mhmm. Thank you for the drink.”

Djembe opened his palm and a blob of dark purple smoke coalesced into a clay pipe. Theni was about to warn him to be careful… until he stuck his other hand directly into the fire without any pain or discomfort and lit the end of the pipe. After a few puffs, he rubbed his chin in thought.

“Allow me to be frank with you, young shaman. I am the one you seek. It should be obvious by now, given the tattoos you have seen on my skin. And the magic, as well.”

Theni bit her lip. “But… how? You are a man, not a beast.”

Djembe let out a deep, bellowing chuckle. “I have chosen to be a man now for your benefit. It is simply because I do not wish to frighten you more than you already are. Do not deny it, girl. I can tell how fast your heart is beating, how much you sweat underneath your arms.”

“Then why did you abduct me if you knew I would be terrified out of my wits?! I have done nothing to invite your ire. As a shaman, it is my sworn duty to serve those in need of—”

Djembe held up his hand. “Save your breath, girl. If I intended to harm you, then you would already be dead. Even a shaman as powerful as I, would have had trouble dealing with your Dragonfolk companions. That is, were they fighting me on their own terms.”

Theni crossed her arms underneath her breasts and huffed. “That still does not answer my question. What do you have to gain by kidnapping me? I am merely an apprentice.”

Djembe grinned ear to ear. “Precisely~ You have so much untapped potential, Parthenia. But you waste your talent on those wretched villagers who’d turn their backs on you in an instant. We are two halves of the same coin, you see. I, like you, am a pariah to society. I was shunned for practicing the dark arts. And they treat you like some diseased leper despite how much you have done for them. But! I can teach you how to become more powerful and embrace your destiny.”

Theni covered up the pale portion of her face subconsciously. It creeped her out a little how the shaman knew her name already but she pushed on regardless. “Power and dominance over others have never been a desire of mine. While I will admit that people can be uncouth at times, it cannot be helped. Many do not understand the true nature of my condition.”

Djembe stood up, took a long drag of his pipe, and looked Theni in the eyes. “You say that now, but you simply have not tasted what real power is like. I can teach you, Parthenia. More importantly, we are kindred spirits. Tell me: what sort of life can you expect to have back in the village? No one will marry you. No one will want you to bear their children. No one except me, that is. I do not see your mark as a blight. It is part of what makes you so beautiful!”

“What are you implying?” Theni asked hesitantly.

“Is it not obvious? Very well then! I shall simply have to spell it out for you. The reason I brought you here tonight was so that you could become my wife. Don’t you see? Together, we would be unstoppable! Our children will become the most powerful shamans the world has ever known. Do not bother denying your attraction towards me. You were staring earlier.”

Theni clamped her legs together and blushed furiously. “Be that as it may, I cannot possibly give you an answer to such an important question. Not on the spot, like this. Marriage is a serious commitment that requires—”

Before Theni had the chance to object, Djembe wrapped his arms around her waist and began peppering her neck with butterfly kisses. They were gentle and sensuous; the kind that Theni always wanted to receive when being embraced by a man. It wasn’t long before she felt his hand clasp around her breast. In slow, lazy circles, he teased her nipple between his forefinger and thumb, tugging on it occasionally. Theni froze with fear. She didn’t know what to do. A war raged on in her mind: should she let him continue or put her foot down and make him stop?

Theni whimpered when she felt his hot, slowly stiffening member rub up against her lower back. “Djembe, please stop. This is all too sudden! I am not yet ready to—”

Rather than respond verbally, the shapeshifting shaman threw her onto the cold, dusty ground of the cave. Theni hissed in pain as solid rock offered no padding whatsoever to her bare bottom. She scrambled to try and get away from the hulking man, but Djembe crept ever close no matter what corner she retreated to. There was no kindness in his crimson eyes, only frenzied lust.

“If you will not submit to me willingly, then I shall take you by force. It is the duty of every wife to obey their husband’s demands. Be still. Calm yourself, Parthenia. This does not have to be painful for you. In fact, we can—”

With strength that she didn’t know she had; Theni slapped Djembe across the cheek with as much force as she could muster. “You are no better than those villagers you claimed to hate so much. An animal in both name and action. I will never be a wife to you. Merely a tool of flesh and bone with which to sate your selfish desires. I SHALL NOT SUBMIT TO YOUR ADVANCES WILLINGLY! Spirits damn you!”

Djembe roared with rage and tackled Theni onto the cold, dusty ground. She attempted to call upon the earth spirits but her plea was left unanswered while inside the cave. With a pained gasp, she realized that Djembe must have enchanted the entrance to ward off spiritual magic. A protective measure, of sorts, against righteous shamans who sought to bring him to justice.

Before Theni knew it, dark tendrils of magic materialized from the ground like a kraken summoned from the depths of the ocean and coiled around her limbs. The sensation was not only terrifying as the tendrils rendered her helpless, but they felt icy cold against her bare skin. Theni tried with all the willpower she could muster to summon any spirit that would listen. Unfortunately, the protection spell was just too powerful and garnered no results. She writhed and wriggled in the tendrils grasp, doing anything to resist but it was no use.

Djembe couched down and grabbed her by the chin. “Foolish girl. There is no point in resisting further. Whether you struggle against your binding or not, I intend to fuck you senseless. Ha! I cannot guarantee that you will enjoy any of it, but at least take comfort knowing that you are helping to create a new generation of shamans. Now, to take your virginity~”

Theni sobbed while the tendrils slowly moved her legs further apart. A feral expression of lust spread across Djembe’s face when he loomed over her helpless, quivering body. With one hand, he grasped the base of his shaft and began rubbing his erect penis across her lips several times. When the action failed to coat his member with slick arousal, Djembe kicked Theni in the stomach with the ball of his foot, making her cough and gag through newly shed tears.

“Hmph. You cannot even become wet on your own. MUST I DO EVERYTHING?!!”

Theni whimpered in fear as a cloud of miasma formed in the palm of Djembe’s hand. He whispered some ancient incantation and the mystical fog poured into the Theni’s mouth and traveled throughout her entire body. In an instant, she began to feel a strange sensation. Almost as if she were in a state of feverish delirium. Her skin flushed and everything became very sensitive. Particularly, her sense of touch. She cried out, partially out of shame, and partially from experiencing the throes of ecstasy, when an intense orgasm rocked her to the core.

Lips glistening wet and panting heavily, Theni let out a heaving sob when she saw the sadistic look of satisfaction on Djembe’s lips. “That is only a fraction of the pleasure I could have provided you, had you been a willing participant in our union. Cease your caterwauling and I may yet consider not beating you for your insolence.”

It was a moment that played out in slow motion for Theni. Just when all hope seemed lost, a dazzling flash of emerald flames burst forth within the narrow confines of the cave, blinding all within. Even in the confused state she was in, Theni realized that the dark tendrils were no longer keeping her shackled to the floor. She crawled forward towards what she assumed must have been the entrance and hoped, beyond all hope, that she could escape.

“WHO DARES INTERRUPT—” Djembe roared at the top of his lungs.

He never got to finish. Spike’s fist connected with his jaw, sending the man stumbling backwards onto his ass. Without any hesitation whatsoever, Theni ran towards Spike and hugged him for dear life, sobbing into his chest. He gave her a quick pat on the back, placed his hands on her shoulders, and made sure she was looking directly into his eyes.

“Theni. I know you’re upset and scared right now but I need you to listen to me. Sunset and Ember are waiting a few paces behind me. Go find them and they’ll help you get out of here.”

Theni’s eyes widened in terror. “NO! I cannot leave you to face him alone, Spike! Djembe is an extremely dangerous and powerful shaman. There is no telling what other foul magic he might possess. Please! Let me stay with you! I might be able to dispel his enchantment.”

Spike bit his lip, barely containing the unbridled rage he felt towards the monster who just tried to rape Theni. He took in a deep breath and kept a level tone. “Look, I appreciate the sentiment. But now’s not the time for arguing, Theni. You need to get out of here while he’s still distracted. I promise that I’ll be fine. I’m more worried about you right now. Go. Run as fast as you can.”

As much as Theni didn’t want to leave Spike’s side, she knew that it was pointless to argue with him. After all, it had been proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that her skills would be useless against Djembe’s dark magic. She would only wind up getting in Spike’s way instead of helping him. After a quick kiss to the cheek, Theni left Spike and ran towards the entrance where she saw Sunset and Ember waiting. She didn’t hesitate to jump into Ember’s outstretched arms and wrap her in a bone-crushing (at least by Theni’s standards) hug as well.

“Are you alright, Theni?” Ember asked while stroking her hair.

“No, but my personal feelings shall simply have to wait. Please hurry! Spike is going to need all of the help he can get in order to defeat Djembe.”

Sunset cracked her knuckles. “Ember, protect Theni and get her outta here. I’ll cover Spike’s six just in case he needs help killing that shape-shifting bastard.”

Ember scooped up Theni princess style and started running towards the savannah. “Do you think they will be able to defeat him? I fear that they do not understand the magnitude of his power.”

“I honestly don’t know. We’ve faced bad guys like him before, so I don’t believe Sunset or Spike is gonna underestimate what he’s capable of. I’m sorry if that’s kind of a crappy answer, but that’s all I’ve got right now. We just have to have faith.”

Theni sighed and nuzzled her cheek against Ember’s chest. “I certainly hope so.”