Boy Who Cried Wolf - Chapter One - A Stranger is Met
Boy Who Cried Wolf
Chapter One - A Stranger is Met
(c) Cederwyn Whitefurr (Aka: Anthony Wain)
January, 2007.
All Rights Reserved.
Arpellian was a young peasant shepherd boy, fair haired with milk white skin and of average build. He sat on the grassy hillock, watching the flock of sheep as they grazed on the sweet grass that grew here. Contented, he kept one eye on the flock, the other on the nearby dark and tangled woods. He had been told Wolves lived in those woods, yet he'd never seen one. Still, his master would have him beaten if one of the young lambs was taken - so Arpellian kept a watchful gaze over his woolly charges. His mind wandered, as he looked up at the sky and watched fluffy white clouds scud past, driven by a freshening breeze that blew the hint of the distant sea, so far away. One of the young ewes's, Apellian's personal favourite - come over and she bleated softly at him, then nuzzled his chest. He blinked, then looked down into her eyes and gave her a friendly cuddle - but as she bleated again, it soon became apparent to him, she didn't want a cuddle - she wanted him.
He had been many a ewe's ram over the years - but this sweet, gentle and loving ewe was his favourite. It had been her, on this very hill, two winters past, who had been the first. As he giggled and pushed her playfully away, she returned and gently butted her head against his chest. Her soft bleats only served to make him laugh, as he began tenderly scratching under her chin and watching her head lift and eyes roll back. He knew all her favourite places to be stroked, petted and scratched, and this was just one of them. Bleating softly, she come back to her senses and butted him again, before she rubbed herself along his side and paused, looking expectantly at him. He smiled, and then hurriedly looked around, before his gentle hands slipped under her belly and caressed her warm teats.
As he stroked and squeezed them, she bleated and splayed her hind legs back and out, the little nub of her tail whickering back and forth. He felt the stirring of his member within the loose trousers he worse, and glancing around again, he stood up and walked over to a lightly forested grove that lay like a leafy island, not far away. She followed him; bleating and nipping at him, making him jump and giggle. Here, mostly sheltered from the prying eyes of anyone who may idly pass - even though he knew, being over a mile from the small village, the chances of someone just passing by, was highly unlikely. Here, the ewe butted him again, then rubbed her woollen flanks against his knees, as he rested his hands on her rump and gently pulled her backwards. Knowing what was to come, she stopped and waited patiently, as he untied the rough cord belt that held his pants up, and then felt them slip down to his ankles. She turned about, then before he knew what was happening, her warm nostrils pressed against his thigh and her slender tongue lapped at the peachy fuzz of his scrotum.
Gasping in shock and pleasure, he stared down at her, as she rolled her eyes up to him then lipped lightly at his half-erect penis.
"No...stop it!" He chastised her, tapping her nose with a finger gently.
She bleated then looked up at him - as if to question why she should stop, before she nipped the tip off a small sapling and began chewing it. He walked around behind her, then began stroking the smooth flesh around her tail, then down towards her thighs. Obediently, she stood and presented herself - hind legs splayed out and back, front legs angled forwards and rigid, before she bleated and glanced back over her shoulder at him. He held his half-erect penis in one hand, as he spat into his other hand and began lathering the spittle over the head of his penis. He moved forwards, and then guided the spittle moistened head against the young ewe's slender slit. She cried out as he parted her dark folds and slipped the head into her body, before he froze as the incredible heat raced down his length and spread to all corners of his body. Stroking her flanks, he grasped the thick woollen coat, and then shuddered as she cried out again - before her body shivered and she pushed back half a step.
"Oh Goddess - " Gasped Arpellian, as he felt this young Ewe press herself back further - his penis sliding deeper into those hot, moist depths.
As the Ewe relaxed, this not being the first time Arpellian had mated her, she bleated softly and every so often, would push herself back that little more. Arpellian gasped and shuddered - feeling as if he would surely come there and then. Finally, he could not hold himself any longer, and he thrust his hips forwards - eliciting a squeal from her, before he clasped her hips tightly and began to ejaculate in short, sharp spurts. His body shaking and eyes squeezed closed, as the orgasm shook him to his very core, he was unmindful of the Ewe's growing distress. Without warning, she lunged backwards, forcing him onto his back, then she let out a wild squeal of terror and leapt away - exploding from the thicket and bolting shrieking across the field. Other sheep took up the frightened cry, then Arpellian, his half-erect member still dribbling, sat up and looked around.
From the edge of the forest, less that fifty paces from where he'd mated that lovely young Ewe, a pair of golden eyes gleamed - then slowly the nose, grey and brown muzzle and eyes of a wolf materialised, as it took a hesitant step forwards. It froze then its intense golden eyes snapped to lock onto Arpellian, who stared back transfixed.
"Go - " Arpellian squeaked, then cleared his throat as he scrambled backwards and felt sharp stones and sticks scratching cruelly at his exposed buttocks.
Turning its eyes to the flock of sheep, the wolf seemed to be sizing up its chances, before it snapped its gaze back to stare at Arpellian. His courage returning, he picked up a rock and threw it weakly at he wolf. It flinched, and then its eyes narrowed as he'd angered it.
"Go away wolf - " He screamed, then threw a smaller rock. "Go on, get!"
This time, the Wolf decided digression was better than valour, and it turned and melted back into the forest, as mysteriously as it'd appeared. Arpellian snapped up his trousers, and then crudely tied the belt - before he ran towards the flock, yelling and screaming at them. They didn't need a second yell, as they bellowed, bleated and bolted down the steep hillside, racing towards the village, Arpellian running breathlessly behind, waving his shepherds crook at the stragglers and occasionally thumping one on the rump to encourage it to run faster. As they fled, both flock and boy, they ran as if the very demons of hell were chasing them.
*
Back in the light thicket, the wolf slinked along close to the ground, its black, moist nose sniffing, before it found the scent it craved. Burrowing under a small shrub, it stood beside the spot where Arpellian had mated the ewe. Swinging its head from side to side, the wolf snuffled the torn loamy ground, then it paused and its eyes widened, revealing the most beautiful golden eyes of any creature. They were wide and had a haunting beauty to them, and some would have said, they seemed to sparkle with an uncanny intelligence. It sniffed a damp patch of loamy soil, then snorted through its nostrils and turned it attention to the leaves just beside it. Here, the wolf cocked its head to the side and eyed the sticky liquid that had spattered there.
It looked back and forth across the thicket, then the hill, before it returned its attention to the leaf, which seemed to have its attention transfixed. Carefully, the wolf opened its powerful jaws, and then the long tongue lolled out of his muzzle. Turning its head one way, then the other, its golden eyes seemed to sparkle in the sunlight with some bestial cunning. Carefully, it reached out a foot paw and pinned the leaf to the ground, as its broad, rough tongue flicked down and over the leaf with a rasping slurp. As the salty taste registered on its tongue, the wolf threw back its head and its tongue fell out the side of its muzzle, almost as if the wolf were smiling. As it lifted its head and shuddered from nose to tail tip, it tilted its head back and the broad, furred chest swelled as it drew breath into its lungs, then uttered a warbling, haunting howl. It repeated this, the howl pealing forth like a bell from the nearby village church, before it looked around quickly, almost acting guilty, then bounded back into the forest.
*
When he slammed the gate to their pen closed, he staggered breathlessly to his master's cottage door and banged twice on it, before collapsing onto the stone doorstep. A bear of a man tore the door open, and then looked out - before looking down. Cruelly, he grabbed Arpellian by the collar and yanked him upright, then shook the boy until his teeth rattled.
"What in the hell's are you doing back - and where's my flock - speak boy, before I have you thrashed!" Snarled the man, the reek of cheap ale on his breath.
"Master - wolf..." Gurgled Arpellian, as he struggled to breathe and stop his teeth from crashing together.
"You better not have allowed one of them to get off with a lamb, or I'll thrash you myself!" Hissed the man, as he raised his hand to cuff Arpellian, who cringed piteously. "Bah, tell me, where did you see this wolf - tell me before I thrash you to within an inch of your -"
As the mournful howl echoed from the nearby hill, the man roughly threw the boy to the ground, and then ran to his neighbour's house. Hammering on their door, he raised the alarm, which rapidly spread throughout the village. Within fifteen minutes, the village men had gathered armed with all manner of improvised weapon. One, a fallen Knight, carried a rusty sword whose edge had been chipped and nicked, but as he weaved and tottered, waving the rusty sword threateningly, the others gave this pitiful drunk a wide berth.
"It's back - after all these years - " One man snarled.
"I'll have its hide nailed to the town square stake!" Growled another, as his grip tightened on his pitchfork.
"That beast has taken its last child - " Exclaimed a third.
Their rage growing by the moment, they marched in a huge group up the dirt road, then across the rolling field and up to the hill. Here, they yelled and created a hellish cacophony - surely frightening any beast within a mile into hiding, fearing for its life. They searched high and low, spreading out into a line as they hacked and trampled the thick underbrush, searching for any trace of the wolf. After an hour, their grumbling turned to disgust and mistrust, and they stared at each other, then at the man who owned the boy.
"That lying little brat - " One spat on the ground. "I bet he made the whole thing up, just to make us look like a fool"
"Yeah, he's probably sitting back there, laughing at us - " Another growled.
"Or helping himself to our goods - you know these orphans, they'll steal anything that's not nailed down!" Answered a third.
All eyes turned on the man who had bought the child years ago, from a travelling merchant. He got caught up in the anger, frustration and rage, which flushed his face red with blood. He snarled, then spat on the ground and led the angry and resentful men back to the village.
"Where's this wolf you claimed to hear?" Snarled Apellian's master, as he roughly grabbed the boy by the shirt collar and shook him.
"Master - I - you heard it!" Arpellian wailed.
"I heard no such thing," His master ground out, and then cuffed him solidly across the ear.
Arpellian fell to the ground, crying in shame and pain. Looking through tear streaked eyes, Arpellian sought out one to stand up for him, but one by one, the other men just turned and walked away. Scurrying back to his feet, he screamed and dodged a cruel kick that was aimed at him, as his master snarled and spittle flew from his bearded lips.
"I didn't pay good florins," He raged. "For you to stand around and dream boy - get yourself into that barn and muck out those stalls, then put down fresh hay. Go on, move!"
Sobbing, Arpellian fled into the barn, as his master spat onto the dusty ground, then stormed back into his crude cottage. Inside the barn, it was explosively hot, and Arpellian gasped as he made his way across the dirty straw that littered the floor. Dunking his head into the trough, he cooled himself down a bit, then sighed and wiped away the water that dripped into his eyes. Climbing the rickety ladder, he stood in the upper hayloft, where he picked up the fork and stabbed the dusty hay with it. As his anger towards his cruel and vindictive master grew, he stabbed the hay again and again, and then burst into a crazed, hysterical laughter. After half an hour, his chuckles slowly faded, and the ache spread from one shoulder to the other. His former joy at his idle fantasy buried, memories of what he'd done in the thicket still fresh, he turned his thoughts to those - to keep himself from the mindless drudgery. Two hours later, he paused and leant the pitchfork against the thick wooden beam as he wiped sweat from his eyes and flicked it away into the dusty air. As he sat down, plumes of choking straw dust puffed up around him, causing him to cough and choke.
He blinked, and then leapt to his feet as he saw through the sepia haze of the dust, a shadow that slowly lengthened, as the owner of the shadow stepped into the terminus between the dimness of the barn, and the bright sunlight outside. Arpellian froze, fearing it was his master coming to check on him, and he stood helplessly trembling. As the figure came into view, the shadows playing over its form, Arpellian sighed faintly and crouched down. This was not his master, but neither was its shape identifiable as another from his village.
Shadows rippled and played over this stranger's clothing and features, making it hard for Arpellian to discern wether it was male or female. He frowned and shielded his eyes with a hand, as he struggled against the blinding sunlight that came in through the doorway of the barn, where this enigmatic stranger now stood, looking dazed and confused. As another sneeze seized him, the strangers gaze riveted onto his location with a frightening intensity. Carefully, the stranger raised its hands and folded back the dusty hood it wore, then shook its head as it reached back and pulled the cloak from its slender shoulders. Chestnut brown hair spilled over the cloak, flowing almost to its waist, and Arpellian gasped and stared.
*
It was a woman...
*
A woman of such ravishing beauty, Arpellian thought he had surely died and this was some Goddess come to escort him to the hereafter. Her features dappled by both light and shadow, Arpellian could not make them out. She wore a loose traveller's tunic, belted at the waist with an unassuming simple leather belt, and thick deer skin trousers, her feet encased in sturdy, yet unremarkable cow skin boots. Indeed, she looked like any normal traveller, who may be merely passing this insignificant little village by. Yet, she seemed troubled, almost haunted and against his better judgement, he stood up and opened his mouth to call to her. She peered up at him, and then spoke in a language he did not comprehend. She frowned, and then repeated it, and he climbed down from the loft and approached her, his nerves singing both their fear and their curiosity. He approached hesitantly, as she took a step backwards, her eyes flashing to the left and right, as if looking for potential escape options. Arpellian held out his hands, to show he was unarmed, then stopped a dozen paces away, as the strange woman took another step backwards.
"Milady, forgive me - but I do not understand your question." Arpellian sighed, as he hung his head. "I am but a poor peasant boy, a shepherd, and not very knowledgeable."
She blinked her deep amber eyes, then a slight flush crept into her high swept cheeks as she stammered and wrung her hands before her, as she spoke again, peering shyly through her fringe at him.
"I'm...new here - can you help me please?" She whispered in english, her voice sibilant and tinged with fear.
"I - I can try," Arpellian rasped, then cleared his throat and shyly took another step towards her.
This time she did not shy away, but came closer and stopped well within range of his hands. He looked into her eyes and the felt himself staring - for they were the strangest eyes he had ever seen. They were a brilliant turquoise, and he gasped as a shiver ran down his spine. When she lightly laid her soft, white hand on his, he yelped and jumped, coming back to his senses with a sharp jolt. She recoiled slightly, then uttered a shy, nervous laugh and rested her hand on his again, before giving it a light squeeze. Her touch was unlike anything he'd felt in his life, and a low, gasping moan escaped his throat as he felt his spine tingle again. As she favoured him with another smile, revealing perfectly white and straight teeth, behind rose red lips, Arpellian mentally swore she was indeed a Goddess. For truly, she was beautiful � more beautiful than any woman he had ever met, but his mind quickly reasserted reasoning and put a brake on his runaway fantasies.
Arpellian realised that she would not be interested in an illiterate peasant like himself. As the wind picked up and blew one of the barn door's shut, the timber slapping like a clap of thunder, she spun about with almost inhuman speed and agility, her eyes wide.
"It's just the barn door - " Arpellian giggled, as he walked over and pushed it back open, dropping a hunk of firewood to prop it open. "Come on, I'll show you the inn, where you can rest and get something to eat."
With a shiver, the young lady nodded in acquiesce and smiled that delicate, skittish smile again, which set his heart to racing in his chest. His mind on his new charge, Arpellian forgot all about his master's orders and what his master would do if Arpellian did not finish the chores. He was stricken by love for this new, enigmatic young traveller - he could not deny it. Just the slightest glance, the barest touch - and his mind reeled helplessly, any rational and coherent thought fleeing, as his flock had done at the sight of the wolf.
Wolf...
Sheep...
Arpellian suddenly moaned, realising the scent of the ewe he had been mating, her lanolin scent must be absolutely coating his clothes. He was so used to it, being around them day in, day out, from sun up to sunset, and he flicked a glance towards the young lady who followed meekly beside him. She seemed obvious to the smell, which surprised him, as most people found it repugnant. Maybe, he thought to himself, she was too kind to tell him how badly he smelt....
As they walked through the village, men, women and children paused what they were doing, to stare at the young lady that strode almost regally along the dirt road. Women stared with envy, men with lust burning in their hearts and minds, and the children merely took one look, then burst into tears and ran screaming for their mothers. Frowning delicately, the young woman slowly turned her head to watch the children, before she turned back and smiled sweetly at Arpellian and squeezed his hand tenderly.
"What do you - call your, town?" She whispered, her lips nearly brushing his ear - her breath like the kiss of a cool spring mornings fog.
Arpellian gasped, and then he flushed a brilliant red, before he regained his senses and began pointing out landmarks. "This is a village - not a - town. It's the Village of Harms Folly - kind of a...silly name really. Over there, is the blacksmith, the granary, the stables - "
Blathering what must have seemed like childish nonsense, Arpellian led her through the small, narrow dirt streets - before his aimless wanderings brought him to the inn. Summoning his courage, he tugged open the heavy door, then gave a weak bow and gestured to her to enter. Obligingly, she entered the inn, then her nose wrinkled and she glanced around at the dirty, straw covered floor - then at the villagers who were sprinkled here and there throughout the small inn. Moving like a wraith, the young lady found herself a table in a corner, then pulled her hood up and melted partially into the shadows. After a few minutes, the normal banter of the merchants and villagers resumed, as if nothing had happened.
"Could you," Asked the woman, as she smiled and tenderly pet Apellian's hand, favouring him with that smile that melted his heart. "Be a gentleman, and get me a drink of water please?"
"I...uh...sure!" Arpellian groaned softly, and then shook himself.
He made his way to the bar, where the barman - a fat slob of a human being, dressed in a filthy, greasy apron, leaned his muscular arms on the bench and belched into Apellian's face.
"What you want, runt?" Grunted the Barman, and then scratched his groin, hocked, and spat into the corner of the bar.
"A - glass of water, please sir!" Arpellian whispered, keeping his eyes downcast.
"Ha - you hear that - he called me sir!" Roared the bartender.
Cruel laughter rippled out from most of the villagers, which caused Apellian's face to flush red with shame.
"Mmmm - whose the pretty young bit of fluff you brought with you runt?" Whispered the barman, as he found a filthy mug and slopped horrible smelling ale into it, then thrust it at Arpellian. "First one's free - if you survive that is!"
In the shadowy corner, the young lady flinched as if struck, and she raised her hooded head slightly. Candlelight caught her eyes, and they sparkled with an unusual glow, before she lowered her head again.
Again, the barman clutched his girth as he laughed, and then Arpellian sniffed the ale before him and pushed it away.
"Please good innkeeper, I asked for water, not ale. - Its not for me, it's for the young lady over - "
Arpellian turned, just as the hooded woman appeared as if by magic beside him, then she grasped the barman's wrist and twisted it. She held him with one hand, and without obvious exertion, yet his muscles in the arm bulged and his eyes followed, as she lightly applied more pressure.
"Satan's black arse - what are you?" Gasped the barman, as he slowly was driven to his knees.
"I believe," Whispered the lady, her eyes blazing from beneath her hood. "This fine young man asked you for water. Please, I ask you nicely, do as he asked you. I have no quarrel with you innkeeper, but if you insult me again. "
She moved her wrist slightly, bending his back at an unnatural angle, and tears welled in his eyes.
"Milady, I meant no disrespect - please!" Wailed the barkeep, as his other hand grasped her wrist and tried to loosen her seemingly gentle hold.
"Unhand me beast," She whispered, her sibilant voice tinged with steel. "Do as I have asked, please, and I want no trouble - understand?"
She released him, then he moaned and began rubbing his injured wrist, nodding and bowing servilely towards her.
"Now, what do you have to eat? I have - traveled far, and I shall seek food and refuge for the night, if it pleases you." She asked her eyes transfixed on the barman, who found his gaze held by her deep, turquoise eyes.
"We got - goat cheese, some roasted pigeons, a soup made of..." He stammered, eyes widening.
She waved a hand and his voice faltered and grew quiet.
"I will have some bread if it pleases you, as well as that water this young man asked for, thank you." She whispered, as a copper coin appeared seemingly from nowhere, and spun across the counter. Turning to Arpellian, she smiled at him, and then raised an eyebrow. "What takes your fancy for your lunch?"
Arpellian gasped and tried to tear his gaze away from those almost hypnotic eyes of hers, before he shook himself as she glanced away.
"A...wedge of cheese, and a water will be fine - milady." He murmured.
"Some bread - fresh, cheese wedge and two water coming right up! " Muttered the innkeeper, as he made the copper coin disappear into a box under the counter.
Arpellian sat in the chair beside this woman, and she favoured him with a shy, sweet smile then patted his hand reassuringly.
"I'm so glad I found you!" She whispered, leaning close and transfixing him with her alluring gaze.
"I - I don't even know your name!" Arpellian rasped, feeling as if his will were being drained away. "You have - shown such kindness, to a poor, illiterate peasant like me, yet you have asked for nothing in return. How - can I repay you?"
She smiled at him, revealing those oh so white teeth, then stroked her fingers over his and chuckled again. "My name...well - there is no proper - word for it in your language, but please - call me Kessica. Now, you know my name. How about yours?"
"I'm - Arpellian - milady Kessica!" His answer come tumbling off nerveless lips.
A narrow eyebrow rose inquisitively, as she stared into his pale blue eyes.
"That sounds - Greek. Were your parents Greek?" Kessica asked, as she kept lightly stroking his knuckles.
"I - never knew my parents. My mother died in childbirth, and my father - a drunk and a wastrel, lost me gambling in some cess pit of debauchery. I was sold into slavery, and a slave I will forever remain I fear." Arpellian sighed, and hurriedly wiped tears from his eyes.
Kessica flinched, then squeezed his hands lightly with her own, then nodded as the barman fearfully placed the platter with their order down on the table.
"You may go." Kessica told him.
Almost falling over himself, the barman hurried away, his ears burning at the cruel jibes and laughter of a few customers.
"You - " Kessica paused, then her eyes narrowed in distaste. "You are a - "
"A slave - I'm a good for nothing, illiterate slave, who lives a miserable existence as a shepherd!" Arpellian wailed.
Heads turned to look at the young Arpellian, and Kessica rose, and then pulled him up off his chair, before she buried his face against her shoulder and began to stroke his neck tenderly, as he burst into tears. Leading him from the taproom, Kessica made her way up the rickety stairs, then into one of the marginally better private rooms. Her eyes took in the straw cot and rough weave blankets, and then she wrinkled her nose and snorted in disgust.
"No, this will not do - this will not do at all." Kessica sighed.
"Why are you being so kind to me?" Arpellian wailed, as he clutched her tightly.
"Does not kindness, like you showed me - reciprocate kindness in turn?" Kessica asked cryptically. "No, do not answer me young one - just...let go of your hurt, you hate and your pain. It's poisoned you for far, to long."
As they sat on the bed, Kessica gently cradled him against her shoulder, and Arpellian wept shamelessly. She leant her chin on his shoulder, and her eyes sparkled once again in the candlelight, before she gently blew on it and the room darkened.
To Be Continued.