After the fall by chance, p.1
After the Fall: By Chance, page 1
After the Fall
By Chance
G L Drummond
Copyright 2008, GL Drummond
All Rights Reserved.
Published by Katarr Kanticles Press at Smashwords.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or any parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the permission of the author. The uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Dedicated to the ones I love.
After the Fall: By Chance
One
The alleyway appeared deserted. Jesr paused in the shadows he was prowling silently through, triangular ears alert as he listened. His smoky gray fur allowed him to blend in neatly; the splotch of white that ran down his broad chest to his stomach was safely covered by the sleeveless, mottled gray tunic he wore over matching pants and soft, dark gray boots.
Somewhere ahead, his quarry had either halted or ducked into a hiding spot, possibly sensing he was being tracked. Moving slowly, Jesr probed the darkness with intent, green gold eyes. When he spotted movement, it appeared directly on his left as a shrouded figure stepped forward.
A fine mist struck him in the face as he turned to meet the threat; snarling quietly, the Katarr swiped at the figure’s outstretched arm. The figure disappeared as his world suddenly tilted on its axis. Forgetting his mission, his silent assailant, everything as a new, very primitive directive blazed through his brain: find a female and mate.
Turning, the huge warrior went on the hunt.
***
Skye Haversoll was happily, satisfyingly drunk. She leaned companionably against the dark-haired Jeff, laughing at something he’d said. Some little part of her brain was watching her antics with the sour expression she remembered her mother wearing every time she’d told her to go back upstairs and change clothes.
Her parents were a million miles away, assuming they still lived. Or was it more than that? Skye didn’t really know, and right now, she didn’t really give a damn. She was having a good time, which was something rather hard to come by on this stupid planet she’d ended up on. The soft little white aliens that owned it were nice enough, but boring as hell.
All the colonists that had settled here did was work, work, work. At 23, Sky definitely didn’t want to spend all her time working. She wanted to have fun and fortunately, she’d fallen in with a couple of guys who had the same agenda. Even more fortunately, their girlfriends didn’t. Skye grinned at Jeff as he warbled off-key about Margaritaville.
The drunken hilarity abruptly faded as they turned a corner and a large shape snarled at them. Deke, the chicken, broke and ran, yelping like a kicked puppy. Skye leaned against Jeff more as they both peered up at the creature. Jeff nodded his head so hard they both were in danger of falling down. “Yup, that’s one of them Katarr guys.”
“What, the big kittycats?” Skye asked, trying to focus on it. Something heavy wrapped around her free arm and tugged. Giggling, she let go of Jeff and stumbled forward a step for a closer look. “Aw, he’s cute.”
“Cute? Rip yer arm off,” Jeff belched; wrinkling her nose, Skye turned to say something about his manners, only to watch him drop like a rock. Too much of the fiery Yutec brandy, she decided in disappointment.
“Aw, man. Fun’s over for the night,” she mumbled. Shrugging, she turned back to the alien, who was regarding her with wide, green gold eyes. In a confidential tone of voice, she leaned close and told him, “I think you’re cute. You wouldn’t rip my arm off, would you?”
She was tugged forward as he began purring. Head lowering, he seemed to shrink a little as he rubbed his cheek against hers. It tickled; Skye laughed and wobbled into his embrace. “You’re a friendly one.”
Jesr purred more deeply. He’d found a female and she wasn’t resisting. Raising his head, he tested the air while glaring at the smaller male lying on the ground. He hadn’t had to fight for the right to mate with her; that one had fainted in terror at the sight of him. Now he needed to find a place where they wouldn’t be disturbed; he wasn’t in the mood for anyone challenging him for her.
A thought spiraled around his mind; he had just such a place. Blinking as he tried to remember how far away it was, he glanced down at the female to find her gazing up at him. She appeared to be patiently waiting for his direction on the matter; pleased, he carefully lifted her and began moving.
Skye laughed, her red and black hair falling in her eyes. “You’re pretty fast. What’s your name?”
The alien didn’t answer, but was still loudly purring away. He stopped after a while, looked around and then at her face. This close, his eyes seemed impossibly big; Skye pulled herself a little closer by grabbing handfuls of fur on either side of his head to peer into them. “My, what big eyes you have!”
He blinked at her; Skye giggled and subsided, releasing the fur but putting an arm around his neck. This was turning out to be more fun than she’d expected of the evening.
There was his den! Jesr loped across the intervening space to the hatch and growled at it; it slid open in obedience to his wishes with a low hiss. The female spoke, but he didn’t understand the words anymore than he had any of the others she’d said to him. Carrying her inside, the Katarr relaxed as the hatch slid closed behind them.
No one would disturb them now.
Purring loudly, he glanced at her again while walking down the corridor to his sleeping area. She looked back, slowly blinking then made a happy noise as he deposited her on the bunk where she landed in a sprawl of limbs. For a second he watched her, but she made no attempt to escape. Satisfied, Jesr began stripping.
Ooh was Skye’s clearest thought as the alien began tearing off his clothing, his big eyes focused on her. ‘Cute’ no longer described him, she decided while sitting up. No, more like ‘Greek god’ – if they’d come equipped with fur, fangs and long tails. She was certain he had more muscles than she’d ever seen before.
Suddenly curious, she reached out to lay a hold of what was closest, startling a quiet hiss out of him. “Gray skin. Huh.”
Giggling followed as his tail wrapped around one boot and tried to tug it off. “They’re tied, silly. Wait a minute.”
He didn’t let go, tugging again at the boot and voicing another low hiss. Shrugging, Skye dragged her free foot into reach and removed the boot on it before letting it thump to the flooring. “See? They have to be untied first.”
The Katarr blinked at her, slowly unwinding his tail from around her other foot and going to both knees on the floor before the bunk. Skye pulled her foot into reach and began untying the remaining boot. Pulling it off, she handed it to him. “Boots off. What next? Oh, socks.”
While the alien threw her boot over his shoulder, she peeled her socks off and happily wiggled her toes. Tossing the socks over his head in the general direction her second boot had gone, she laughed as he began pawing at her one piece jumpsuit. “Geeze, give me a second. I hope you’re not in a hurry about everything.”
Finding the zipper, she blinked as her face was cupped in big hands. A kiss followed, one that left her blinking and blank of mind, forgetting what she’d been in the process of. After staring at him open mouthed for a few seconds, she said, “I think I like you.”
A soft chirp trailed her statement; Skye remembered what she’d been doing and resumed unzipping the suit while gazing appreciatively at him. “Yeah, this is definitely turning out better than I expected.”
Eager hands helped her peel the suit off, then she was giggling again while being pushed back onto the bunk. A laugh burst out as the felinoid pounced, landing over her with his big, green gold eyes peering into hers. Grabbing handfuls of fur, Skye hauled his head down for another kiss.
Jesr purred loudly, pleased the female was so willing and playful as her tongue darted to meet his. She made happy sounds when he lowered himself upon her furless body and one of her hands slipped between them to take a firm hold of him.
Rumbling at the cleverness of her fingers while they stroked his length, the Katarr curbed the brief flash of impatience the move caused. She proved as eager to couple as he, wiggling against him before guiding him to wet heat. Another happy sound broke from her as he thrust; it was only half successful, since she still held him.
But then she released her hold and a second push saw him enveloped and caused a pleased shiver to run through him, his fur rippling down his back.
Skye was pretty sure she’d died and gone to heaven. Enfolded in fur that smelt like brownies, filled completely and with the alien’s deep purring vibrating them both and the bunk underneath them, she grinned up at him. “Yeah, I definitely like you.”
Two
It was a banging noise that woke the Katarr, who flinched as the sounds echoed through his head. His eyes proved willing to open only halfway; muffling a curse, Jesr peeled himself away from the female he was curled around.
A human woman, he realized, gazing blearily at her.
Without waking up, she mumbled, “Again?”
Despite the poundin
She’d been voracious; Jesr smiled, wincing as he bent to search for his pants, his tail tucking the coverlet securely over her limp figure. Finding them, he dragged them on while staggering out of the room and towards the hatch.
By the time he’d reached it, the Katarr was frowning. He didn’t remember how he’d met the woman the night before, or what had led to them returning to his ship. Ordering the hatch open, he found himself facing a small crowd composed of six human males and two of the short, albino Yutecs.
They all drew back at the sight of him; scowling at them, fangs showing and fur sticking out every which way, Jesr snapped, “What do you want?”
“That’s him!” One of the humans yelped, jabbing a forefinger in his direction. “He’s the one that took Skye!”
Bewildered, Jesr took two steps down the ramp to look up, squinting painfully against the brightness. It appeared the sky was still in place; in an exasperated growl, he asked, “How can even a Katarr take the sky? What is the meaning of this?”
One of the Yutecs stepped forward, looking nervous as he tilted his head back to gaze up at the Katarr. “Honored warrior, the Terrans have filed an accusation that you took one of their females last night.”
Which he had, the Katarr thought. More than once. Jesr somehow didn’t think that was exactly what they meant. Gazing back at the smaller alien, he said, “Define ‘took’.”
“They claim you attacked two of them and absconded with the female against her will,” the Yutec replied.
“Jumped us!” the same human called out. “Where is she? What’d you do to Skye?”
Skye was the woman’s name the Katarr realized. Had he attacked the man? Carried the woman off without her consent? Jesr couldn’t remember as he answered the question. “She sleeps within.”
***
Skye groaned as shouts roused her and the pounding of her head made itself known with a vengeance. Pushing up, she winced while looking around. “Oh, what the hell’s all that noise? Where’s…”
Her alien companion was gone; forcing herself out of the bunk, Skye dubiously regarded her strewn clothing. Getting dressed was an impossible task, she decided, pressing one hand to her forehead. It took two grabs to latch onto the sheet and she almost fell on her butt while tugging it free of the bunk.
Yawning widely, she wrapped it around her and tucked the end securely before stumbling towards the growing noise. The Katarr blocked the hatchway, fur bristled down his spine and tail lashing from side to side. Shuffling forward, she leaned against him while peering past to see what was going on, one hand rubbing at her eyes, the other on his back.
“Skye, are you all right?”
Jesr had been aware of the woman’s approach; he relaxed as her hand petted his tensed back, smoothing some of his fur. It didn’t appear she bore him any ill will. The claim he’d attacked and stolen her had to be false, the Katarr decided.
“What’s going on? Why’s everyone so loud? I’ve got a hangover the size of Earth. You guys make some hellacious brandy,” she added, looking at the Yutec, who blinked his pale blue eyes back at her.
It took her a minute to register the grim looks of her fellow colonists; when those expressions had sunk into her sore brain, uncertainty welled. What had seemed like a fun adventure the night before in her brandy soaked haze now didn’t seem to have been such a great idea.
Glancing up at the alien while she straightened, Skye self-consciously wrapped her arms around herself. Taking in his very rumpled state and the frown on his face, he didn’t seem nearly as cute as she remembered. In fact, he looked downright scary and not at all happy. “Uh-oh.”
Jesr glanced at her, eyes raking the uneasy expression on her face before he froze in disbelief. There, plain as the sunlight beating down on them was something he certainly hadn’t expected to see.
He’d claimed the woman as his sesslin.
Skye blushed as the alien’s eyes widened; had he been drunk too? Great, she thought as she looked at her fellow colonists, now everyone’s going to be talking about that crazy Haversoll girl getting tanked and boffing a giant, cranky tomcat looking guy. Remembering Jeff had asked her a question, she answered in a mumble.
“I’m okay, except for the hangover.”
“What’s on your shoulder?” Deke pushed up to the front of the group then strode up the ramp to move her shoulder length hair back, revealing smears of dried blood. Peering at them, he announced, “He bit you!”
“What?” Skye tried to crane her head to see for herself, but couldn’t. “What do you mean, he bit me? Did you bite me?”
Jesr hesitated, trying to think of an answer that wouldn’t set off the humans, yet would still be the truth.
Unfortunately, the pounding of his head and inability to clearly recall everything that had happened the night before worked against him. He didn’t remember claiming her; when had he done so?
Finally realizing everyone, including the two Yutecs were staring at him, the Katarr blurted out, “You’re mine. I claimed you. You’re my mate, my sesslin.”
“Huh?” Skye gazed up at him in open mouth shock. “What do you mean, mate?”
He didn’t get a chance to answer as the six men began clamoring denials. This, Jesr reflected, had turned into a rather difficult situation. His plans certainly hadn’t included a sesslin, at least not for another few years. They definitely hadn’t included one that was not only human, but practically a stranger.
Deke wrapped an arm around her and started to escort her down the ramp, but Jesr wasn’t about to allow his sesslin out of his sight. Tail sliding around her waist he pulled them both to a stop. “Where do you think you’re taking her?”
“Home,” Deke replied, his eyes narrowing. Maybe the alien had scared the bejesus out of him the night before, when he’d been drunk and not expecting to run into him, but he wasn’t scared today. No, today he felt extremely guilty for having cut and run. “Let go of her.”
“Wait a minute,” Skye protested, trying to think. “Mate?”
“Don’t listen to him. You can’t just waltz in, carry off a girl and, and…rape her, then say she’s your mate and think everything’s going to be okay,” Deke told Jesr, who scowled at him.
“I did not rape her, you little fool,” the Katarr snapped, extremely insulted. “She was willing.”
“She was drunk off her butt!” Jeff yelled from the foot of the ramp. “You took advantage of that!”
“Wait a minute,” Skye said again, still locked on the Katarr’s blunt statement. “Mate?”
“Perhaps we should move to the municipal building and hear the sides of all witnesses to this matter, to see if we cannot manage to clear it up to the satisfaction of the parties involved,” one of the Yutecs spoke up quite loudly for one of his kind.
“That would be welcome,” Jesr responded, nodding in agreement. The move made his head ache more fiercely, so he added, “After my sesslin and I have washed and dressed.”
“Of course, honored warrior,” the Yutec agreed. “Please, sir, release the warrior’s lady so that they may do so.”
“Are you nuts? He bit her and,” Deke protested, but his arm was suddenly in the very strong grip of furry fingers that peeled it away from Skye’s shoulders. “Hey!”
Jesr growled at him, tugging Skye away from the human and pushing her towards the hatchway. “We will return shortly.”
Blinking at the interior of the ship, Skye repeated “Mate?” in a disbelieving tone. “Oh, man, I really stepped into it with both feet this time.”
Three
Ordering the hatchway to close, Jesr released her and sighed heavily, agreeing with the sentiment of her statement. “We’re both in a difficult situation, but I’m certain it can be resolved.”
“I’m having trouble thinking. Were you drunk too?” Skye asked, rubbing her forehead. “You bit me. Why’d you bite me?”
