History of the Changelings Billy Barker, Zorn, Brad Jenkens by D.A.Sanford - HTML preview

No one knows

No one knows what happened back then. Whether it came from a lab or a natural occurrence, maybe from a meteor it’s too late to even care. We are what is left by whatever hit the global population. Not seeing anyone for untold months is common.

Sometimes it is a god send because people can be more animals than animals.

Humans are the worst. Most of the humanoids will treat you fairly but mainly with indifference.

As expected, from something that killed off the majority of the world population, there were continuing mutations. The mutation variations depend upon the species. The only common thing is rage. If they catch you, you’re doomed. Either eaten or, if you can get away with only a bite, it is a certainty that you will become one of the mutants. Other than the bite, there is an unknown factor that can trigger a community wide mutation to occur. They do eat, they do live, and most seem to not be that affected by the cold. So much for a winter break.

I’m Billy Barker. This is how my journey started.

It all started when I was young and traveling alone. I had to find a place to hide for the night. You never went out in the dark. You find somewhere to hide at least two hours before twilight. Felid night stalkers have excellent night vision. They will tear you apart.

Unlike normal cats, they will not play with you before they kill you. I still can see, during the day time, bodies high up in the trees of some fool that tried to stretch the two hour limit.

I will try for a cave with an opening that I can cover. Sometimes hanging a hammock under a bridge that is tight to the under surface of the road. It is surprising how you can get used to skunk lure. For some reason, it can still be found is old country hunting stores. The smell masks your scent. You can sleep. Another good side effect is that you do pick up that smell and any one you do meet, it is a very brief encounter.

Being around the age of twelve when it hit. My father was the first to die but he was quickly followed by my mother. Her last words for me were that I needed to go to my aunt’s house in the next town. I never made it out of my neighborhood.

The streets were a mess. Bodies that were just moved to the sidewalk were rotting in the noonday sun. The dogs were starting their journey towards going feral. They were starting to eat the dead. With in a few blocks from my house, there were gun shots. If I remember right, that was common for those who did not want to turn into mutants.

These shots were directed towards me.

I knew the area well. In the woods was a cave that I used to play in. My mother hated it.

“You’ll be in there and it will cave in.” She would warn but like most kids, it went in one ear, gained velocity and shot out the other ear at sonic speed.

The cave had some of my camping gear and a stash of snacks. I was a kid. Why would I stash canned goods. They were at home. I had used some construction adhesive on a board and put some stones on the board. I think back, todays standard, I would have been the snack.

For a few weeks, everything calmed down. I did not wander at night but in the day, I finally realized, after throwing up a stomach’s worth of junk snacks, that I needed some real food. I was able to go into the stores and get those canned goods. That is when I started the habit of real food as opposed to snacks.

My cave was small but it was home for most of the spring and early summer. I had to leave. There were at first, the human mutations. They appeared to be zombie like but without the rot. Aggressive but not rational. They were like they no longer had any reasoning. Total aggression when they saw prey. They did not shuffle like in the movies.

They took on the swarm instinct and they could run. The only saving grace is that they are not as coordinated as a felid, they tend to stumble and fall. I always ran over rough terrane when they chased me.

First the runners, then the night stalkers. They are nocturnal but can come out in the twilight and cloudy days. Evidently, the mutation has rendered their eyes almost useless during the daytime, too bright. They had been coming closer and closer to my cave.

That is when I found the skunk lure.

When it finally came to fall, I found that I needed heat or freeze to death, I abandoned my cave and found a house on the outskirts that had a fireplace in the basement rec room. It had quite a few cords of wood. That is the biggest reason I chose it. I used my unlimited supply of lure around the outside of the house. I also boarded up both the inside and the outside of all the basement windows. Then I hung blankets over the inside. I needed to make sure that no light from the small fire in the fireplace did not show.

It was cozy for almost the whole winter. I was on starvation rations towards the beginning of spring. Winter had been brutal. Storm after storm. I was the only one in this neighborhood so I was able to take most of the canned and dry foods but the storms kept me inside.

I had brought all the wood inside but I was running low. The wood furniture was first. I stayed in the basement rec room. The main floor furniture would mostly break up by pushing it down the stairs. I just made it to early spring.

With warmer weather, I decided it was time to get out of the area. The runners were still sluggish from the cold. My best bet was to drift further south. It used to be a joke my father would always tell us when he was going to go out to shovel snow.

“One of these days, I’m going to put this shovel on my shoulder and start to walk. When I get to an area where someone asks me what’s that you have on your shoulder, that is where I will live.”

I don’t have a snow shovel but I know one thing, I don’t want to be in the cold any more.

South is the direction. I remember things so, morning sun on my left and afternoon sun on my right, south is in front of me.

As I went south, I found that there were a few more mutants. The biggest I needed to worry about were the biters, which are turned canids. They have the nose to track.

Once they get a scent, there is no stopping them short of killing them.

Then there are the harpy turns. They are the fliers. Normal harpies take great pride in their plumage. Grooming is something they do often. The best sign of a flier is, when you see one, ask yourself, are their large feathers looking ragged?

My familiar safe spot, a cave, now is something that really must be scouted. Look for tracks in the dirt. Those are the best indications that a cave is occupied. If it is, walk slowly backwards, keeping your eyes on the potential threat. When you are far enough away, turn and run away. A basic survival rule.

Walking, on edge you are alive, alone, but alive. Everything is out to eat you. I realized that you must get strong. Stronger but do not turn into an idiot. Muscle brains always find out that there is always something stronger. Usually at lunch time. Theirs not yours.

No, I learned that smarter is better. The mutants are just instincts. It’s the human so called normal that you have to be smarter than. That food offered, the drink, the invite to bed will get you dead. Some humans are worse than mutants. The humans enjoy the kill. Smarter is better. Skunk is a very good defense.

I found my way down to the warm. Spent a few years wandering.

Another lesson learned. Every place has its own draw and its own faults. South is warm during the winter but almost unbearably humid and hot during the summer. Then there non mutants that want to dine on you. Gaters, bugs, snakes, to name a few.

After a few years, I found myself drifting back up north. I had places in both that I could stay in but summer was for the north.

I picked up a cross bow in my travels. I am now very proficient with it. I can eat every day with what I hunt. I also now can pick off some of the mutants at a distance. With a few well placed shots, you can take down a flier.

Night stalkers and biters, the skunk lure usually does the trick. Unlike the old movies, it is best to avoid these two but biters can be taken down with a cross bow. I have tried some of the chemicals to throw their noses off but skunk works best so why bother.

I hate to say this but sometimes you can have fun with the runners.

In the hills, when I spot a small group of runners and there is a cliff or a ravine, I will get them in a frenzy. I will run towards the edge. At the very last moment, I will jump out of the way and watch them plumet. So, sue me. Oh, that’s right no courts anymore. I think of it as population control.

Now it has been nine years since the shit hit. Alone, on guard all the time and the only rest you get is when you can get into a totally safe place. I may go west sometime. I remember the rich made lavish bunkers there to ride a war out. I think about it but what the hell, give all this up just to find that the power has run out and they could not open those bomb proof doors.

I’ll stick to wandering.

Choose your poison

I have been lucky so far. Deep caves are good finds. Once I found that I was able to cover up the crawl way into a cavern. I dusted up my tracks, as usual, put rocks in the entrance of the tunnel and a little skunk lure, I was set for a few days rest. I did not hear anything but err on the side of caution.

It was bound to happen one day. Another cave that I found before the two hours from sunset. I went in only to find that it was occupied.

The only thing I could do is to freeze. She was asleep. There was a lone harpy. She was smaller than average. Very pretty plumage. That’s all I could see. She was curled up in sleep.

Slowly I started to turn to get away but there was a pebble that I kicked and it skittered across the stone floor making a small noise. She woke with a start, saw me and started to cower.

“Please don’t hurt me, I’ll leave.” I tell her

“I did not know that this was your hide. I promise not to tell anyone where you are.

Please don’t kill me.” She cried.

She is crying so much so that you have to know that she has had bad trouble in the recent past.

“I won’t hurt you if you promise not to hurt me. Sound okay with you. This is not my cave. I’ll leave”

“Not your cave, that’s good but please don’t leave. I’m lonely. Please stay.”

“It’s too close to night fall to find any other safe place. I’ll stay.”

I go to the other side of the cave and sit down on the floor.

“Why are you here alone?”

“I was with my flock.” She hangs her head. “I’m the runt, the weakest. The flock found a male and I kept trying to get a turn and was always thrown back. I finally resigned myself that I was not going to mate. After a while, the leader started to eliminate her closest threats. Then I was thrown out of the flock. Worthless. I was told that I was a waste of food. They said that if I was seen, they would kill me. That night, I found a store back room to hide in and slept.”

“Hide during the night in a safe place. Store back rooms usually have no windows. I will say one thing, that is a smart solution. For someone just kicked out of her flock, you show some good judgment.”

She is now puffed up.

“You can praise me more!”

She then looked and asked, “Would it be possible for me to travel with you? I need someone. We harpies are flock oriented. I don’t like being alone. Can I be a flock with you?”

“I’m Billy Barker, may I ask your name?”

“My name is Blaze”

“Blaze, I’m going to ask something. Why haven’t you tried to mate with me yet? You have been very calm”

“Having to try to fight with the others, I gave up. I found that I could keep the urge in check, somewhat.”

She now looks like she is really trying. I haven’t had anything in a very long time. Should I take a chance? Its dumb but I figure she is small, harpies are light weight. If things get out of hand.

I get up and start to block the entrance with fallen rocks. I look and Blaze looks very puzzled.

“Whenever I hold up in a cave, I try to make the entrance look like a cave in. That’s all I’m doing. Keeps prying eyes out. Now when is the last time you ate?”

Sheepishly she said “I had something yesterday.”

“Anything substantial?”

I dig in my pack and open a large can of beef stew and split it with her. I used my drinking cup for her because it has a handle, and a spoon. She was able to eat but she wolfed it down.

“Yesterday’s meal would not have been a few of these bugs crawling around?”

She looks down and says yes. I had eaten a good lunch. I poured the rest into the cup for her.

Blaze was dumb founded.

“You need to eat too.”

“Large lunch. Not bugs, I caught and ate a squirrel. So, I really am not hungry. Eat up.”

She did and looked like she just had a nine course meal at the best restaurant. Now fed, she had licked the cup and spoon clean, I told her that we need to get some sleep.

“I do not go out until an hour after sunrise but it really looked like it could rain. If it does, I will stay here another day. If we are going to travel together, we travel on my terms.

Only in the day. Now, it looked like you were sleeping. Are you a night or day harpy?”

“I am a day bird, I was sleeping because I am scared of being alone. I will walk when you walk and sleep when you sleep.”

She now is getting an inquisitive look.

“Can we sleep next to each other to keep warm?” she asks, with some desperation in her eyes.

“I can see that you are fighting an urge. Is that, clothes on or off? If it is off, we can do it if you want but one long slow session, Then sleep.”

She squeals in delight. As she takes off her clothes, she is doing some sort of dance as she sings “Fed and bed” over and over. I lay my bed roll down and she stops.

“You are not going to back out are you?”

“This is our bed. Now I do like what I see. So, if you would lie down on it, I’ll get undressed.”

Blaze’s idea of a long slow session was entirely different from mine. She had a lot of pent up passion. She was just as famished for sex as she was for food and a flock. We went on for a long time. I must say that I missed the companionship and the benefits. I now know that she is a keeper.

I have never seen someone so happy to see it raining when I opened the mouth of the cave. We used the rain to wash up. She spotted a rabbit and in a flash she had it. She presented it to me and I praised her. She seemed like it was praise from the gods. She is very happy. A while back, I found a small cook stove. I would usually cook the rabbit over a fire but the wood is wet with the rain.

“Do you want your portions raw or cooked?” I ask.

“I’ll have it the way you have it.”

As I clean it, I can see that she is looking at the raw meat. Normally, I cook the liver and heart but this time I put it in front of her.

“You caught it, to the victor go the spoils. Eat these up.”

Much to my amazement she also grabs the other innards and eats those. Discretion being the best route, I don’t say anything and cooked the meat with a few vegetables I had and made a soup. We had enough to last a few meals that day.

That night, I insisted that we get a night’s sleep but gave in to one round. This time I took the lead and showed her what a romantic mating was. She had such a blissful look. I could tell that it was something that we will do more often.

The next day, it was bright and sunny. We pack up and leave. The first thing is always scrounge for whatever can be found.

“First thing, we need to find what food is out there. Any stores in this area or any houses? Are we in your flock’s territory?”

Blaze says that it is on the lower edge so I tell her that we will walk. I pull out my cloak and have her put it on.

“It has a hood so if they fly over you will not be recognized. I’m going to tell you something that is a hard fact. Even if it is your old flock, if they come after us, I will kill if attacked. Can you live with that? “

Without hesitation “I will help. You are my flock leader now. They kicked me out but they always treated me like the runt so I have no love for them. Now there is some houses in this direction.”

With that we take off in that direction. I could tell that her answer was a partial lie. The way she was leading me was out of her flock’s territory. I did not doubt that she would fight but it would hurt her to see others of her old flock killed. I would bet, the way she described the leader, she would not feel bad if I had to kill that one.

Blaze was right. There were quite a few houses and none of them showed that they were occupied. None showed any sign of being searched. Usually, you don’t see someone that has searched a house, close the doors. That is almost a universal sign of being searched

We were able to find a lot of good items, including a side arm with a few boxes of ammunition. Fire arms are used in a last defense, not for hunting. Loud attracts unwanted guests. Kitchen knives on the other hand.

At one house, there was one of the grocery carts that are the small ones on two wheels that you pull along. We are now able to take more. We were caught up in our good fortune when Blaze put a finger to her lips and pointed to a window.

Looking out, I saw a very large harpy flying around. She whispers to me that it is the flock leader.

“She can smell a male. That is why she is circling. It must be that she has caught your scent. We washed in the rain so you don’t stink of skunk.”

Thinking that I may have to shoot that one, I again ask Blaze,

“I’m going to take out the pistol.” But before I could finish, Blaze says

“She has found you! Shoot her before she gets you. You’re mine.”

There was both terror and anger in her voice.

The leader is in a full dive coming straight at this house. I only had one chance. Pulling out the pistol, I fire out a full clip through the glass. The harpy was caught in mid dive. I don’t know how many rounds hit her but it was enough to send her tumbling to the ground. She was alive but not in any shape to defend herself.

The leader recognized Blaze and ordered her to capture me and get help.

I saw a part of Blaze that my timid harpy hadn’t shown.

“I am not of your flock anymore. You threw me out as useless. This is my flock leader now. He took you out.” and she kicked some dirt in her face.

My turn and I know exactly what I am going to say and do.

“You threw Blaze out as garbage. She is a gem. She was the one that helped me find the pistol that shot you. You tried to take me from my wife, now you are on the ground.”

The leader goes to screech for the flock. I put a round in her head before she could do that.

“We need to go now. Those shots will attract all sorts of bad. Let’s go and find somewhere to hide.”

I grab her hand and we start to run towards the woods. This area is rocky with an abundance of caves so it was only a short run until we found a cave that had a cavern. I fixed the entrance and we sat.

All this time, she has not said a word. I think she must be in shock that I had to kill the leader. Even though she was mistreated, she must still have had some loyalty to that leader. There is silence as we listen for any sign of pursuit. There was none.

Finally I started to talk but noticed a serious look on Blaze’s face. I figure that she is going to be mad. She gets up, walks over to where I am sitting, kneels and grabs my face in her hands. Here it comes.

“What did you mean, my wife?”

It’s a good thing that I was sitting.

“I meant what I said. It’s only been a few days since we met but I want you with me always. We have mated. I love you already and will fight to defend you. Are you okay with being my wife?”

She kisses me long and hard. In just that instant, she had the bed roll out and was out of her clothes. Then I was out of mine. We holed up there. Mid-day but.

After a long enjoyable session Blaze is cuddled up tight to me when she reflects her new status.

“Your wife, I like that. Finally, I am first wife. I never thought that it would happen. First wife, does that mean I am Blaze Barker? I never had a last name but I heard that your species takes the husband’s last name. I am going to do that.”

I need to stop her or she is going to explode. I kiss her and draw her into a hug. Those feathers feel nice and are warm. Once she has lost the steam, I realize what she just said. So, I’m slow. I ask.

“What do you mean first wife?”

“We are a flock. You are the leader. There needs to be more wives, more added to our flock. The only thing is that I want to be the only harpy.”

“You are.”

We spent the night. In the morning we went back to the houses. I needed to retrieve to supplies. The leader’s body was still there but showed signs of abuse. I ask Blaze about that.

“She was strong and hated. The flock must have found her. By plucking her and kicking her, she will go on to the next life plucked. She will remember why. That is why she got rid of the next strongest. They were the ones that would have done this when she was alive. Alive or dead, as long as she is plucked, she’ll be bald.”

With that, Blaze plucked one of the last feathers and threw it to the wind.

Getting those supplies, both of us left the area. She seemed that she had a burden taken off her. We walked as she was humming and occasionally would sing “first wife”

over and over.

First wife?

A walk with a wife

Starting this journey at age twelve, alone. Learning how to survive in this fucked up world. In this world, if you are alone and live, you’re an adult no matter what age but that does not imbue wisdom. I have seen the results, or should I say the remains of people young and old that felt they knew better.

Being alone, there is no one around you to make you stop and think before doing something stupid.

Now, not only do I have a companion, I have a wife and she already saved me. She alerted me to a potential danger. She told me that her old flock leader found me. Now we travel. Now I have someone that can scout ahead. My harpy wife, Blaze.

Airborne, she can spy out places. I have told her that she is to go no farther than a few miles. She needs to fly long enough to work her wings. Now that she is free, she can fly free. I can’t help but worry about her every minute she is away. By her flying, she spots places that look unsearched.

The biggest thing is that she is able to find places for our overnight hide. She found a wonderful cave that had no tracks around it. When we went in, there was a set up in there that had even a wooden bed platform that we spread our bed roll out on. Better than sleeping on the floor.

Finding a good hide means we will not be disturbed. Both she and I try hard to keep the noise level down but we do not succeed. That hide, we stayed there for almost a week.

Going out for scavenging, a little hunting, Blaze always is happy when I offer the innards to her. Now is does not even phase me to see her devour them. More often than not, her portion of the catch is the last in the pot. The other times I just pour the soup over the raw meat. I have made her a raw meat platter a lot of times. The evenings she really shows her gratitude.

We had to move on due to an increase of mutants.

On our journeys, we had discussions about them. Up to now, we have left an area because of them but there is now a need to settle or go further south. Blaze is one that really likes snow. She would like to stay somewhere for the winter.

“If we stay, we can’t ignore the mutants like we have. We need to start taking them out.”

Blaze is very smart. Most of the time, she can come up with some things that I would never think of. Sometimes though.

“All I need to do is grab them, take them high and drop them. Simple.”

“I won’t let you. While you are climbing, they will be biting and scratching. I will never allow you to get infected, even if it means that I would be bitten.”

She is both in rapture and anguish.

“You would put yourself between me and a mutant. You’re my hero.” Then it sinks in.

“We need to make traps so we can kill them safely. I never want to lose you. You are my life.”

“That is why I don’t want you to put yourself in danger. I like the trap part. We could make a net tied to a fall. While they are swinging we kill them.”

“Why don’t we hunt them? You use your cross bow and I’ll drop rocks on them.”

“You have just given me an idea.” I kiss her and go for our packs. She sees what I get and shies away.

“That is the stinky stuff that you put on those leaves you eat.” She backs away.

I always carry empty bottles. You never know when they come in handy.

“Take one of these bottles up and let’s see how high you have to go to have them break on impact.”

She does and we find that she only has to go around twenty feet for it to break. Next, I fill one with water and have her repeat. It was only a little less height. Blaze looks a little confused so I explain.

“If I fill a bottle with the vinegar and drop it on a biter or a night stalker, what would happen to their sensitive noses? You don’t like that smell and your nose is far less sensitive.”

“The smell will cripple them. As long as the bottles are closed when I carry them, I can do this.”

Later in the week, we came across the den of a sleeping night walker. I motioned to Blaze that I was going to throw a bottle in there. It was noon and the sky is clear. I did have my pistol out as I broke the bottle against the wall. Then ran to a safe distance from the opening.

With in seconds, we hear growling and sounds of extreme pain. Then the night stalker came out of it’s den. It hit the light. That plus the pungent smell of the vinegar, the creature curled up into a tight ball. I was able to put it down with one shot.

Blaze went into her dance. “We did it.” She was singing.

I was happy but also sad. I have met quite a few felids over the years. Almost all were friendly, cautious, but friendly. Now being sad that this felid ended up like this. Before all this went down, I had a few felid friends. I even had a female felid that I had a crush on when I was eleven. So having to kill this one was right, sad but right.

Now we had working solutions for the four types of mutants. I have not mentioned the runners in a while, We haven’t run into that many recently. They are so easily tricked

into running off a cliff. I feel that they are self destructing. We may see the end of them in my lifetime.

Only the fliers will be trouble, but at least they don’t seem to stray far from their nest. I have only seen a few. Even though you seldom see them, they’re no less a threat. I decided to take the chance and use the pistol on them. We now have sufficient ammunition to do that.

Again, with solutions to the most immediate three worked out. We needed to make our winter area safe. We used the vinegar method to ferret out the night stalker’s dens in our area. The hours must still be observed. Habits for safety are life savers.

Biters are different. Day walkers, they must be hunted. I gather the wood needed to keep warm while Blaze scouts from the air. She now carries a bottle. The pathetic yelp of the biter being incapacitated. I go to it and put it down.

Working like this, we now have enough wood to last the worse winter. The area has been picked clean, by us, and we have a sufficient quantity of dry goods and home canned that still is sealed. I have been hunting and between smoking and dehydrating we have enough but I will need to go out for the fresh meat that Blaze will need. She says that she can live well on the meat we have but seeing her face when she has raw meat, I will go out. Winter snowshoe rabbits are plentiful in this area.

I did find a few board games and books. The biggest find was a small solar array. It is able to work a small cd player. There are always CD’s around but there never was a way to play then. Blaze was fascinated when she saw me rigging it up so it could get the sun.

There was a small convenience store in the area. Almost picked clean, there were some rechargeable batteries still in their packages. After all this time, there were quite a few that would take a charge.

Blaze jumped when I finally put in a CD. We needed to play it softly but she really took a shine to it. I was amazed when she started to dance to a symphony. She told me that this is the first time she has ever heard these. She had a few in her small treasure. They were shiny.

Hearing that, I got an idea and with a little string and a few small pieces of wood molding from the house, I was able to make a present for her. I kept it a secret. When she made her morning flight to scout the area, I brought it out.

When she landed and came down to the basement, there hanging was a mobile with CD’s just leisurely turning. You would think that it was the most valuable thing in the world. Even when we moved on in the spring, she insisted we bring it with us. She has always kept it with her.

The winter went well. Spring came and we had to move on. I would have been happy to stay there and finally settle but resources ran out. Move or starve. We moved on. She

has a cloth wrapped mobile strapped to her pack and I have rigged that solar panel to the outside of mine. It’s charging the batteries.

We head out in no particular direction Just away. I have to ask.

“Want to circle back here by fall?”

“No. We can find a different area. By that time, I get the feeling that our flock will have grown.”

I don’t even want to ask.

Blaze was right

We headed in no particular direction.

After all this time, people have a tendency to gather. We encountered families and even areas that were close to being a community. It is a good practice to go around these areas. There may be good out there but why take the chance. We are doing okay by ourselves.

This was our practice until one day we heard screaming. You hear it often. The mutants always seemed to scream. It was different. This was the scream of a rational and a mutant.

Growling came from a biter but there was a definite felid scream. Blaze took to the air and almost immediately came back.

“There is a felid that is on the ground and she is holding a biter away with a large stick.

We need to help her.” She grabbed my hand and led me there.

Just in time. As they came into view, I could see that it was more like a staff that the felid was using but it was almost at the point of breaking. Without a thought, I shot the biter, then cautiously turned my attention to the felid.

Blaze was right, it is definitely female. She is now looking at me and Blaze with almost the same horror that she had with the biter. Smaller than the normal felid, she had various shades of tan fur. Modestly built. She now was holding her ankle as if that is why she really could not fight. She, like Blaze, gave me the feeling that this is a runt also.

“Before we do anything,” I say as I’m keeping Blaze from going over, “Have you been bitten by any mutant?” I am keeping my pistol at the ready.

“I haven’t been bitten or scratched. I tripped when that biter came after me. I was using it as a walking staff. Too bad it broke, I liked it.”

Still looking at the both of us, she asks “Would you please get me my pack? I am a healer and I have a potion that will help me heal this ankle. It’s just a sprain.”

Blaze gets the pack but I tell her to bring it to me and open it. There is only some clothes, food and bottles of potions, so I let her bring it to the felid. Then I ask Blaze if she would fly around this area and see it there is a hide somewhere close.

She comes back and says that there is but there are some fresh tracks around it. After asking her where it was, I had Blaze stay with the felid while I checked it out. It was an empty cave that must have been the biter’s hide. I removed its last meal scraps a safe distance from it then went back.

Between Blaze and Myself, we were able to get the felid to the cave. Then I put some skunk lure by the entrance. The felid gasps at the smell but Blaze speaks to her.

“Ginger, I don’t like the smell either but it will keep the mutants away.” She really knows me when she continues. “Billy does that because he will get some game for a meal. He wants us to be safe.”

“Your name is Ginger?” I ask.

“Yes”

“I’m going to get a few squirrels and hopefully a few rabbits. Do you have any other weapon than that stick?”

“Only a camp knife.”

I go out and come back with a sturdy branch. Then I tie my long knife to it and give it to her.

“At least, while I am gone, take care of my wife. She is a scout and a bomber but not a ground fighter.”

I then talk to Blaze. With a cold voice that made no intention to hide my instructions.

“If there is an attack, you leave and find me. I will not lose you for anyone.”

With that I walk out to find the game. I was successful. A rabbit, two squirrels and some wild vegetables. Soup is the usual meal. No real culinary skills but at least, I don’t burn water.

Both women were fine. Surprisingly, Blaze shared the innards with Ginger. They both ate with delight.

As I start to cook, I ask our new felid guest,

“What’s your story Ginger?”

She tells us that, she, like me, was a young child when this happened. The difference is that she was an orphan. She was almost at the age where she could leave to be on her own. She was the only one to survive the initial die off. There were a few books there so when she packed up to leave, she took the one on healing. Practice and the discovery that she did have some healing magic, she was able to live.

“I thought it was all over. A twisted ankle and I was going to die. Thank you both for saving me. Can I come with you when you leave. I don’t want to go it alone anymore.

You know what they said, safety in numbers. I am almost healed with the potion and magic. I’m a good hunter. I can fight”

She is really trying to sell herself but before I could say something, Blaze speaks to her, not me, just Ginger.

“I am his first wife. You need to sell yourself to me. I know what is best for my husband.

Are you a virgin?”

I almost spilled the soup. “Why would you ask such a thing?”

“She will be living with us so I need to know. You are my flock leader so I, as the first wife, need to know how to best serve you. Getting you a virgin, is the best tribute that I can give. After all, I gave you my virginity.”

Now she is acting shy. Blaze goes back to Ginger.

“Will you help me keeping our flock leader happy?”

A very puzzled Ginger answers Blaze.

“I was only asking if I could travel with you. To answer you, Yes, I am a virgin but why would you want to share?”

“I need to get my husband a respectable flock.” I almost expected her to say uh duh!

I step in. “This is something that we need to think about. Yes, you can travel with us. I figure that a few more people will round us out but five in our flock will be the maximum we can safely handle.”

She will never let it alone. Blaze is bouncing. “That means you will accept four wives.”

Then she starts to softly sing “Two more, Two more.” I will say that she does have a beautiful singing voice.

With her healing powers and potions, Ginger was almost completely healed by the time it was time to have supper. More soup. Then it was time. I had pulled Blaze aside and said that we needed to abstain for this night.

“Courtesy. Ginger will probably sleep with us for the warmth. I don’t want to push her into anything.”

Blaze, having been denied access when she was in her original flock, then released when we became her new flock, you would think that she could survive one night. She made it through, an hour. Evidently sex in the flock is a natural group thing. I woke up to being in feathers and friction.

She looks at me and whispers, “I’m being quiet.”

Ginger answers for me. “Like hell you are!” Now with a more urgent tone. “You really need to stop! I hear something outside.”

That put the brakes on. We all went silent. I know it is night out so it can be only one thing, a night stalker.

“I got chased out of my hide by a biter. I killed it but it is night out. I heard you. I won’t cause trouble but I need to hide. Please may I come in.”

Well, I have never heard a night stalker talk so I carefully uncover the opening. There before me is a canid female. No time to wonder, I pulled her in. I went out for a moment to listen.

I covered the entrance back up. Looking at the woman, she told us that she only had been here for less than an hour. She was tucked up against the overhang. Out of sight but not quite out of danger. Then she started to hear first a small noise but after a few minutes, she knew it was not a mutant groaning but someone enjoying themselves.

At that time we were looking at Blaze.

“What?” is all she said in an innocent manner.

“You’re in here for the night. First things first. This is Blaze, my wife, she was the noise maker, Ginger, we just took her in earlier today and I am Billy Barker and you are?”

“Betsey. Thank you for saving me. I thought I would be mutant food. I did not even get a chance to retrieve my back pack. Hopefully it will be there in the morning. I didn’t even have time to get my machete out of the biter. It got stuck. You hear noises in the dark and all I could think of was to creep along until I saw this shallow overhang.”

“Betsey” Blaze said, “You must have been guided here. We are safe here with my husband protecting us.”

“Ya, but no one protected me from an attack that we discussed would not happen tonight!” Looking directly at Blaze then I turned back to Betsey “You see, as I said, we rescued Ginger here from a biter today. She asked to travel with us and Blaze invited her into our flock. We were supposed to have a sleep night but my night owl here could not help herself.”

Ginger says, “Isn’t that just what she did, helped herself?”

We laugh a little, then Betsey yawns.

I tell all of them that it is time for sleep. “Blaze, now there are two extra here. Control yourself.”.

She pouts and then we all go to sleep, or should I say that I really did not. I kept one eye on our newcomers. Trust is an earned thing. It was a long night but there was no trouble with those two. Blaze just cuddled while she slept.

In the morning, the first thing was to get breakfast. There was a little of the soup left but I went out to get a few more wild vegetables to add. I actually was able to find a wild chicken flock’s nest with some eggs. There were some that were fertile, I left those but there was a bonanza. Four just laid eggs.

When I got back, I found that they were talking softly about something.

I started to heat the soup, put in the eggs when they weren’t looking and then the vegetables. Let that go for a while.

Betsey asked if we could go back and get her stuff.

I get the impression that the discussion was about my flock.

“How far were you from here?” I ask.

“Not too far from here, towards the east.”

“We’ll go after we break camp. I take it that you ladies have come up with something that I should know about.”

Blaze casually informs me that I now have a flock of four. “Both Ginger, your future second wife and Betsey, on the fence about being your third wife. They both want to stay with us.”

I don’t question it, won’t win and don’t want to. We don’t have enough cups, but with the two we have and the one Ginger had, I let them eat first. I watched as they looked then squealed as they saw a luxury, each had a hard boiled egg in their soup. It was going to be a good day.

Eventually I also had my breakfast. To my astonishment, the three kissed me as we broke camp and went to Becky’s hide.

It was what you would expect from a solo traveler, with one exception. She had a very rare item. A dimensional bag. I found it out when I got her machete out of that biter. She accepted it back, wiped it and then put the large blade into what looked like a small shoulder bag.

The three of us just looked with our jaws open.

“What? Haven’t you ever seen one of these bags before. This one is small. It can only hold enough to fill three of the caves we slept in.”

It turns out that she has almost a full year’s worth of food, lots of clothes and a few rifles with the ammo. She said that she still had three quarters of the bag empty. I look at her then Blaze.

Blaze just says, “She fits our flock.”

Daisy’ Farm

On the trail, It turns out that, since she is a healer, Ginger has been welcomed into some of the larger communities. She knows of a few that are struggling because of the mutants. Both of the additions are amazed with the merciless method we use to take care of the mutants.

The methods are efficient and usually quick. They especially like the Blaze bomber tactic. Who would have thought that something as simple as vinegar would cause so much agony to biters and night stalkers.

Ginger tells them that there is a farm around here that is a main food source but it is constantly having to devote labor into protection. If they could simply eliminate the threat, them they could devote more time to production.

“We need to go to Daisy’s farm. We could rest up there for a while and teach them your way of dealing with the problem. It is about four days from here but there are a lot of caves in between. I will warn you Billy, I intend to mate you tonight and officially become your second wife. I need to and tomorrow, Betsey needs to also.”

“Why do I need to?” Betsey inquires.

“Daisy is a canid, extremely attractive and extra friendly towards visitors. She only has females on the farm. Twenty five at my last visit. Not a male in sight.

Betsey seems hesitant but then decides to tell Billy something that shouldn’t be shocking in this world. “I have had sex in the past. One, weeks long. I just wanted you to know. Does that bother you?”

She sees that it hasn’t phased Billy at all. He comments,

“We all have things in the past. What counts is what are you doing going forward? If you are with me, you’re with me.” He leaves it just like that. If you get it, you get it. If you don’t, you don’t.

“Sounds like a good idea.” Billy says “It will be a good test. My gut feels that you will not steer us wrong. Let’s go to that farm. It will be nice to have farm food. Wild is okay but most have a bitter taste.”

Ginger has to laugh, he is considering his stomach. He needs to worry a little lower. She needs to clarify what she told him.

“You are thinking about food. Billy, twenty five women, no men around. If you don’t get it by now, Billy, you may not have time to eat …. food.”

Billy is hit in mid thought. He went for a decade a virgin. He ran into a felid that he gave it to her. Since then he had only one other occasion until he met his Blaze. She has worked the rust off him but now he was going to have Ginger and Betsey. The thought of twenty five scares him. All he wants is food and a safe place to sleep for a few days.

“Are you saying that I may not make it out alive? There better be excellent food. Blaze what do you think? You are first wife. If you have any reservation, we will turn right now.

I don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize what we have.”

I can tell that she is thinking on how to reply. After a moment, she smiles then says,

“As long as we are not settling there, I have no problem but none of them will join the flock. There will only be one more that will be added, but she is not there. She is in another group in this area.”

“Well, as long as you are okay with this, we’ll go but yank me out the second you feel uncomfortable.”

I can tell that Blaze is truly in awe. She is the first wife of the flock. She now really is assuming the role’s responsibility. I draw her in for a hug and then tell her that I am in her care. She turns to the other two.

“You heard our husband, if I say that we run, we run. Our flock leader’s safety is paramount. The farm is secondary. We still have a date with the last of our sisters.

Ginger knows these people. We need to trust her but Ginger, if it starts to get out of hand, say something.”

Now, with a plan, the journey continues. We are about two or three days away from the farm. The plan they had was that Ginger was tonight and Betsey the next but Blaze had different ideas. I found that, after supper, I was ambushed. Ginger was allowed to be the first but the other two had fun. It went on until I was almost a walking emaciated bag of skin and bones. They on the other hand were asleep with satisfied smiles.

In the morning, I was told by my now three wives that they were just training me for what was to come. With that, I set out with three giggling women. There is a lot of whispering behind me. I keep on thinking that we had a plan. Even though I did like it, I wished that I had a voice in it.

In the days remaining, we had quite a few of their training sessions. I just think that it is an excuse for an orgy. We did find quite a few day nests of night stalkers. Much to our amazement, we found that there are quite a few cases of there being multiple night stalkers in this area. The effects were the same. No matter how many were in there, the vinegar chases them out and the daylight cripples them. A quick shot kills them. We found that a single or a double, the cross bow will do. If you have more than that, one person needs a pistol but multiple people shooting, the cross bow will do the job.

As the farm comes into view, there is obviously a commotion to one side. It appears that there is a small pack of biters trying to get onto the farm and the people trying to repel

them with very little success on driving them off. I give Blaze a few bottles and we start running towards the pack.

As I’m running, I’m thinking on what to do but also, like the night stalkers they are gathering. We can address this later. Now we have six biters to take care of. Almost at the pack, Blaze has the drop time down pat. She drops the bottles, the farm crew are driven back by the odor but they observe the biters whine in pain as they grab to cover their noses.

The farm crew see three people come up on the collapsed biters and just put them down with cross bows. Blaze lands a little way away. She still doesn’t mind dropping it but won’t come near the results.

They cannot believe what they just saw but one of the three comes up to the fence.

“How was that, Daisy? Long time no see. Is everyone ready to get a checkup?” Ginger asks but it fell on deaf ears. The drool is flowing as they look at Billy.

“Daisy!” she yells and breaks Daisy away from her fantasy.

“Ginger, I didn’t see you there. All I saw was this man run up and singlehandedly take down those biters. When did you get here?”

“Blind as ever when you sniff a male. What did you think of our way to take care of the biters? It works better on the night stalkers during the day. How about you put us up while we teach you the way?”

“No problem but first introductions. How about you start with the male?”

“Eyes on me ladies! The male is Billy Barker, this is his first wife Blaze, This is his third wife Betsey and I am his second wife.”

Why does it look like the world was jerked out from under them?

Blaze jumps in to save their hopes. “As first wife, I will tell you that we will not accept”

she holds for effect “another wife from here. We will allow you to entertain him”

Why do I feel that I am a piece of meat shown to a hungry crowd. It’s going to be a tough job but I’m up to it.

Now, it’s my turn. “I’m Billy. We have found the most efficient method of taking care of the mutants. I must ask. Have you seen any runners and or fliers?”

“A few fliers but the runners seem to be elsewhere or just dying out.” Daisy tells us.

“We haven’t seen any runners on our way here. They seemed so stupid that I think they are almost gone. The fliers however, I still think of them as a threat to be dealt with but we found that they can be shot with the cross bow. Do you have any or know where to get some?”

“What about the worse, night stalkers?”

“Believe it or not, they may be the easiest. Just throw a small bottle of vinegar into a den on a sunny day. They run out but the light blinds them. All you do then is just hit them with a cross bow and you are done. We have just left them where we killed them but for your farm, I would recommend a rope or hook to drag them away. We’ll make sure that you have the technique before we move on.”

“Move on, why don’t you stay here. There are two other communities in the area. Camp grounds and Grange. There used to be some at Cross Roads but they left.”

“We probably will go to them both after you but I think we may look at the Cross Roads.

I am tired of traveling and think it is time to put down roots. That would mean making the total area safe. Do you think that the other communities will help?”

“They have the same problem. If we could make this area safe, I would bet that there would be more people willing to settle. The more that settle the safer it becomes.

Maybe, just maybe, we can wipe out all the mutants.” Daisy says in almost a plea.

My wives are besides themselves and are in a huddle. My first wife tells us that they want to settle. “We are all tired of moving. With the farm in the area, we can set up trade. I’m sure that we could hunt and trade game for vegetables. We can even have our own small garden. We want to go to Cross Roads to see what condition it is in.”

I tell them that it will be our next stop, after we are finished with the farm. Daisy takes us to the main house and we have a welcoming party. During it, I am getting looks. I still need to negotiate the terms that would be necessary if we settle but I get the feeling that I will be busy.

The wives are shown their rooms but I am given a guest house. This bothers me terribly and insist that I meet with my wives. It does not feel right to me. Within a few minutes, they are here.

“I think that we need to leave. Ginger, this is not right. What are they up to? We need to be together but this really feels wrong. They have seen the way we kill the mutants.

Blaze, why are you giving me that look?”

“We talked about this before, remember. They want to pay their respects.”

“I remember, but separating us is what is wrong. You and I have not been separated for over a year. We never talked about this. I saw their look, they ignored all of you. I have run into slavers. This is not right.”

It really throws me when Blaze, of all people, tells me that they discussed it together and everything is safe.

“If you three are not here, we’re leaving.”

“We’re not leaving.” Betsey tells me.

“I’m sorry.” I get up and head out the door. There already is a line and seeing me leaving produces a lot of complaining.

“I’m not a whore.” I yell and bolt for the fence. I have to get out of here.

Blaze is the first to catch up to me. “Billy, please wait. Don’t leave.”

“I love you Blaze but I’m not a sex toy for people I don’t know. I was willing to get to know them but you saw the line. That I could tolerate but you three being separated from me, you especially. You were okay with that. I thought you knew me. I only just got to know Ginger and Betsey. If that is what you are comfortable with, I really don’t know you.”

By this time, Ginger, Betsey and Daisy caught up with me. They heard what I had to say, so I turned to the other two, shook my head, then turned to Daisy.

“What was going through your mind thinking that I would go along with you taking my wives. Sweet talk them into using their whore!”

Now I am getting really mad.

“We came to your aid. Showed you how to kill the mutants and you thought that a meal entitled you to separate me from my wives. Trust and respect are earned, Ginger knows you but I don’t”

I turned to Ginger “Did you know this was going to happen? You told me to expect them wanting sex but I want an answer, now. Did you know that she was going to do this?”

She hesitated and that is all I needed. “Blaze, staying or going?”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess you’re staying. I was alone before. It was the best time I have had in my life but I will say I’ll miss you.”

I turn and walk. I hear behind me her crying. Daisy calls out to me.

“Please don’t do this. I was wrong and you are right. I should have talked to you first. I just let hormones take over. It was wrong. Please don’t do this to your wives. You stay in the main house. I’ll stay in the guest house. Please stay.”

“Blaze, you coming?”

Ginger says, “She can’t answer you, she has passed out.”

“What have you done to us? Why didn’t you tell us that this is what was going to happen?”

Ginger was silent again.

“Enough!” I pick up Blaze. “We are going to find a hide and then and only then will we discuss this. You two coming?”

“We have to get our things.”

“No, it is now or never. Come as you are or stay here. I really don’t care.”

I start walking. They follow. We don’t talk until Betsey suggests that we go in the direction of Cross Roads. We walk in that direction but we stop. There is a cave and it is getting close to twilight.

“We stop here.” I go in. I finally put down Blaze once we are inside. There is a hot spring in there. It is warm and I set her in it.

“Soak in there for a little then we are going to talk about what just happened. You will hear me out then I will listen to each of you. I expect all of you to say what you feel. The truth, not what you think I want to hear.”

Now, I go out as I have in the past and got us some game and the wild vegetables. Time for soup. I had three that expected to get the innards but I had already gutted them and left it in the forest. It was on purpose. No rewards until they explain.

We eat, then, they were dreading what was going to happen.

“I am open to have casual sex but only with people who respect me for me. Each of you, didn’t you feel that? Did I compare any of you against the others? Ginger, did I ever compare you with a felid I knew? Betsey, did you not understand when you told me about your encounters, did I condemn you? Blaze, did I ever hurt you, especially when we first met? I love each of you, but with that set up, with all of you agreeing with our separation, to me, it was too easy for each of you and when I got worried, each one of you dismissed me like I was an idiot. Now tell me why I am totally wrong. Tell me that there is not a single case in this new world of this type of separation leading to abduction. Tell me that I am just your possession to pass around. What price did they offer you for you to sell me?”

I sit down with my back to the wall. I won’t say I wasn’t moved at all the tears they were shedding but I was betrayed by the ones that I love. They have not said a word. What could they say.

Since they said nothing, “Your silence says it all. Blaze, you have said that I am the flock leader. Am I?”

She can’t or won’t answer.

“ANSWER ME!”

Startled, I have all their undivided attention. Blaze is trembling, I hate it.

She almost couldn’t speak when she just says “Yes”

I ask the same question to the other two and get the same answer.

“You made a decision without consulting the flock leader and as a result insulted the flock idea. Made it a joke. Is this a flock that’s going to hold together, I don’t know but I will tell you three. If you ever do this again, if you ever humiliate me again, if you ever don’t follow instructions I give, ever treat me like you just did. You will never find me. I will leave into the wilderness and you will never hear of me again. I’ll put off this man and take another identity. I now need each of you to promise me that you will never do this again. I need each of you to tell me when you”

Looking at them, I couldn’t finish, I did not want to hear anything, including my own voice. I lay down facing the wall and went to sleep, if you want to call it that.

Morning came and they were walking on eggshells. Rather than telling me what they thought, they were silent and when they talked it was just small talk. I needed to drive home the point.

“Each of you, stay here. I’m going to check out Cross Roads. Don’t even go out of this hide until I get back.” With that I leave. I wander around and find Cross Roads.

The town was recently fixed up but with bones around, it must have been attacked by mutants. That is why they left. There is an open area. A lot of houses that may have been stores at one time. It would be ideal for us. Off to the side is a building that looks like they used it as an infirmary. Ginger would like this. There is a tower that Blaze would like. We could live in that building.

I walk around and find that there is water and large areas that can be used as gardens.

It looks like they tried to make a fence around the town but too little too late. We are going to move here. It is time to walk back. There is enough time so I use the time to think of what has to happen when I get back to the cave.

“We are moving into that town.” Is all I say then I sit down. I had some rabbits and tossed them on the floor by the old fire and sat down. I did not say a thing. The three just looked at me and looked at the rabbits and knew that I was not going to cook.

“Eat or not, I’m not cooking. The flock leader will not cook.” I climb into the water with my back to them. I felt them coming over and sitting facing my back. Blaze is the first.

“I’m so very sorry, I did not do what the first wife should do. I needed to report to the flock leader of our wishes. We allowed someone else to lead us into something that upset you. We let her tell us that you would need to be alone with the farm workers. I don’t deserve to be the first wife.”

Now Ginger speaks, “ I told you of the women there but I also knew that they had that guest house. Daisy put me up in there and they visited me all the time. I should have told you the complete story but I also should have stopped her putting you in there alone. I also do not deserve to be your wife.”

Betsey tells me “I agreed with the separate rooms. I did not think. I have no excuse. I also do not deserve to be a wife of yours.”

“We will leave now and not bother you.” Blaze now says. “We are sorry we dishonored the flock.”

They get up and start to leave. I am now really angry.

“You can’t help yourselves. Trying to disobey me still. Sit down. Did you not hear me say that WE WERE MOVING INTO CROSS ROADS! Someone cook those rabbits. We go to that village in the morning.”

I hear scrambling and feel the heat from the flame being built under the pot. When it was served, there in my cup was the livers and the hearts. I gave the livers to Blaze and Ginger and one heart to Betsey. We ate in silence and slept.

Tomorrow, Cross Roads.

Owning Cross Roads

It was a somber walk to Cross Roads but when we got there, their mood brightened.

“Blaze, that tower is your observation post, fly up there and see what the surrounding area looks like. Ginger, take a look in that building. It looks like they had a healer and used that as their clinic. Betsey, the house that has that tower. Look into the condition inside. If it is livable, that will be our house.”

This portion does not feel right but I need to be tough on them. I need this command voice. It drove home exactly who is the flock leader. I hated to be that hard on them but they need to learn. I get the feeling that this will wear off. In the back of my mind, I still will need to be on guard. It was too easy for them to forget.

Ginger tells me that it is a clinic and she will set hers up there. Betsey says that there is no sign of leaks and Blaze came out with her report. There is a solid door from the tower top into the house.

“First things first. Blaze how long would it take for you to get to the farm?”

“It would only take about two or three hours since I won’t need to walk.”

“You should be there and back before nightfall. Can you do that?”

She says yes, so I tell her to fly back and, from the air, do not land, tell Daisy that we are here. She is to bring our things here, herself and two others. I tell her to say nothing else but take an hour to rest somewhere other than the farm. I give her my water bottle but tell her not to drink or eat anything they offer. With that she takes off.

True to her estimate, she was back within her lower time.

“I flew there, relayed the message, Daisy said that she will be here in two days. I flew away before she could say or ask anything more. On the way back, I landed in a clearing to drink then made it back here.”

I give her a pat on the head. “That is what I expect as first wive. You other two, you are not allowed to quit. You are still my wives. Now let’s see what is left in the town. Time to scavenge.

We turn up quite a few good items. It was a medium sized haul, by today’s standards, of dried food. They must of left with almost nothing. Again with the game I caught, we had our own feast. That night I gave each a hug and a kiss. They were ecstatic. I did tell them that we could sleep in the main room since I was the only one with a bedroll.

In the morning, my three had a better outlook but I did go over what I expected them to do. Blaze and Betsey were to clean up the house. I would go with Ginger and collect her herbs and such so she could make some much needed potions.

Walking in the woods, Ginger found a myriad of plants that she had never seen in this abundance. She gathered as many as she could in my bed roll. She was happy. The

clinic had a lot of empties and there was a fire place in there with a cauldron. You would have thought it was a gift from the gods.

“I have always wanted one but too heavy to walk around with. I just hope that Daisy brings our stuff. I need those things in my bag. That has my most needed supplies. A few more trips for ingredients and I’ll be ready. It won’t take long for the word to get out that the clinic is open again.”

“That is one thing that I want to emphasize, they come here. With distances being what they are, people need to come here. I will want you to ask that someone come and be trained in first aid, if they already don’t have someone. You go to them and you will never return. I would have to come and kill everyone in that settlement to get you back.

You don’t go.”

The rest of the day was figuring out what each place would be good for. I did want to do one thing. We need to really fix up that cave. That can be a retreat, a vacation.

Someday.

Ginger was brewing, the other two were cleaning. I could tell because half of the windows were open and dust was flying out. By the end of the day, it was clean but the windows were closed and shuttered. Blaze had given me a report that, from the tower, there seemed to be no problems. There was no sign of Daisy. I expect them tomorrow at the earliest.

It was actually two days later when a cart, being pulled by an animal showed up with Daisy and two others. I did not think that we left that much but the cart seemed to be loaded.

She is very humble and I could tell that it was sincere.

“May we talk?”

“No problem, thank you for bringing our things but what is the rest?”

“A peace offering. I am so sorry for what happened. I have had plenty of time to think of what exactly I did. I just did, I did not ask the most important person, their leader. I thought of the excuse that I deal with women daily but that just does not go. I had to think, what if I was the one being left out of those discussions. I can only say that I am sorry. Let me unload and we will get out of here.”

“I accept your apology. You won’t have to leave. There is a garage that can be locked so you can put the cart and the animal in there. You three are invited to stay with us,” I could not help myself. “Here in the house.”

All of us unloaded and then Ginger showed them the clinic. “I know that you have your own first aid person, but you still can come here for my help.” She is proud of her setup.

With all that she brought as a peace offering, we ate very well. Blaze and Betsey found quite a few blankets. We decided that again we would all sleep in the main room. This

time I was the one to take the lead. Daisy and her two were invited into the group activity. She was very happy and so were the others.

In the morning, I explained. “The reason I ran was it was being forced on me. You made a deal with my wives and they were separated from me. That is why I was so harsh on them. They had to choose how they wanted to go forward. I only want to have sex with people I know and trust. You came here with a genuine apology. It was not just to bail you out.”

I tell her that she is welcome to come here any time and you can bring a few, not all, of your ladies. Tell them that if we hit it off, things may happen, but I will consult my wives before anything happens. I want to have a say in the matter so they also need a say.

Courtesy goes both ways. Knowing in advance, I would stay in that guest house, as long as I arrive alone.

I wished them well. I did notice that they only had one side arm. I had Ginger get me one of the rifles we have found along with a box of ammunition.

“See a flier, don’t hesitate, shoot it. You can let the other places know that if they want to visit or get some medical help, we’re here.”

With that she is off.

Fate is sometimes a prankster. As she goes out of sight, from the opposite end of town there is a female felid coming in. We greet her.

“Welcome to Cross Roads. I’m Billy. Are you passing through?”

“Greetings to you. I’m Ann. I had heard that this area was uninhabited. I have nine people camped out north of here. I came here to scout this village out but I see that it is yours. It’s a disappointment. We are tired of traveling.”

“Do you want to still settle? If so. I will offer the opportunity to settle here. I reserve the right to expel any trouble makers.” I tell her.

“Fair enough, I’ll get them.”

“Blaze, follow her from the air only.” Looking back to Ann, “for our own protection. She is my first wife. We want a peaceful community.”

With that, Ann leaves. Blaze tells me that she is the one. My last to join the flock. Then she takes to the air.

It was a short time and Blaze was back. “There are seven women and two men. They don’t look in the best shape. Right now, I would say they need a good meal and Ginger’s help.”

We go into action. With out even asking what to do, Blaze is back in her tower, watching for threats. Ginger is going to the clinic. Betsey is going to help them at the edge of town

and I got out several pots and started to make soup. I can’t help but think that it was fortuitus that Daisy brought so much food.

It was a rag tag group that entered the village. Blaze was right, they did look the worse for wear. I had them sit, then I talked to them.

“My name is Billy. I know this will be strange to you but my first wife, being a harpy, started calling our group a flock. I am the flock leader. The one in the tower is Blaze my first wife. The one that helped you in, is my third wife Betsey. My second wife is Ginger.

She is a healer. I want you all to go over to her clinic and have her check you out. First and foremost, I don’t know if Ann told you, but as leader, I reserve the right to expel any trouble makers. Second, in this village we are all people. We treat each other with respect. Finally, my wives, men, hands off. If these rules are too hard for you, get up and walk out.”

None leave.

“Now Ann and Betsey, would you take these people to the clinic. It will still be a while until the soup is ready. You get two bowls. Eat slow. Any more than two bowls could make you throw up. There will be more later.”

They go over to Ginger. When they are done, the soup is served and they do eat slowly.

I let them serve themselves. They ate slowly and stopped at two bowls. Good sign.

Ginger tells me that they have nothing that won’t be fixed with the meals and rest.

Ann now comes over. She thanks us and says that they may have had to break up because of food.

“How are you set up for the night? We have a few more blankets. I’m going to keep you together for a few days. Then, if they want, they can use one of the many vacant houses. The garage is off limits for housing. That is for a friend who visits us. She has a cart and animal. We lock them up there for the night.

Fed and at ease. We show them around, then tell them that they could use the house next to ours. Each house had been modified to suit the times. All had heavy shutters on the windows. I tell them that the shutters need to be closed and locked in place before night fall.

They did have blankets rolled up and tied to their back packs but they look as if they have not been washed in a long time. We gave them new blankets.

“You need to wash your blankets and clothes tomorrow. That goes a long way towards feeling better. This house has a hand pump. Use the fire place to heat up water so you can wash up. Have a nice night. Just a warning. I hope you know by now the difference between a night stalkers screams and pleasurable night music.”

Everyone knew what I meant. Some laughed, some blushed. We bid them a good night and left for our home and some night music.

Ann joins the flock

What a difference a safe night can make. Our new village members come out into the daylight. They looked better. We had them come in and we all ate a full breakfast of some meat, soup and some more vegies. This time I did not restrict them but they know that no one over eats or hordes.

“How’s everyone this morning?” There was a round of thanks from them.

“Anyone up to hunting this morning? We need more game and we need to start to clear the mutants from the area.” All the new ones seemed to be fearful on that, including Ann.

She tells us that they have lost friends to the mutants. “All we do now is run and hide.”

Blaze is puffed with pride as she tells them, “We have a very safe and efficient method of putting down the mutants.”

I tell them, “The solution is right in front of your nose.” There are only two humans in their group. One male and one female. They seem like they are a couple. The rest are a mix of felids and canids so I warn them that they were in for a shock. I uncork a bottle and almost immediately the canids and felids hold their noses. I reseal the bottle.

“A small bottle on a bright day, thrown in a night stalker’s den, drives them into the light where they can only curl up to block the daylight. Put an arrow into them. Biters, Blaze drops a bottle on them with the same reaction. As for fliers, they need to be taken down by rifle. As we hunt for game, we look for dens. Hunt them not run from them.”

Again, it is as if a light went on.

Ann tells me that there are a few old stores in this relative area. She will make a quick run to see if there are any bottles of vinegar out there. Blaze tells her that I would go out with her. Now empty, Betsey offers her the bag so we can carry the bottles back.

Their plotting again but this time, my three take me aside. Blaze tells me that Ann is the one and we need to get to know each other. She tells me that I have the approval, if I want, to mate with her and bring her into the flock. Ginger and Betsey told me that they will wear side arms but they don’t expect any trouble. The people are still too tired to cause anything.

Discussion, that is all I had asked for. Good sign but I did notice that they had their discussion first. I’ll dismiss that as flock wife’s privilege. They at least came to consult me.

I leave with Ann. It was not that far. There was still some pavement sticking out from the almost complete carpet of the wild plants. It is what I remember as a super store. Almost a nostalgic trip to a museum. There was a lot of decay but you could see the flat screens still on the back wall. Black and silent. When once on, they were to draw your attention. There were still some clothes on their hangers. We went through them but

only took the ones that were in good condition. We made our way through the store, the nostalgia wore off by the time we got to the food section. It was almost picked clean very little but there was a complete shelf of the precious fluid. We took the dozen bottles of vinegar.

“Why don’t we check the back, there may be things still in their box’s. Most of the goods here came from overseas countries so they may be well packed. We went towards the back but saw signs that there was recent activity.

I took one complete bottle out and chucked it in the store room. There were a few screams of night stalkers and the sound of them running. We ran for the outside daylight. Out came two night stalkers. As predicted, they hit the light and curled up. We put them down.

Ann was left with a bewildered look. She realized it was just as I said. That easy.

We went back and found that there were only the two but the smell was over powering even for me and we left the back room for next time. Now only one thing more. Since we had the bag, I went to the rechargeable batteries and took them all. Then the CD’s grabbed most of them and a few bigger players. I was done but thought that if I could find a larger set of solar panels, I would come back for the DVD players and a flat screen.

On our way back, Ann opened up to me.

“I now see that you are telling the truth. The vinegar is simple and effective.” She goes silent. She is in turmoil. I stop and sit on a log. “Come sit for a bit. it looks like you want to shed a large burden. I’m all yours. We are alone here. Tell me what is bothering you.”

For the first time in the two days, we have known each other, she is sullen. Ann is desperately wrestling with herself then comes to a decision.

“It’s just that I am always looked at as the leader because of my personality. Always the responsible one. The one that carries the burden of people lost. I’m tired. Can I be in your flock and have you as my leader. I want to be led. Would you have an objection to pampering me?”

I rub her back, she moans a little. How did they know she would be this way. I tell her that it is alright to be soft. I’ll look after her.

“You can be just a woman with me. If you want me to be your leader, you can become my fourth wife if my wives have no objections. They won’t have any. Blaze has already given permission. In public, you can maintain your persona if you want to, but in private, do you really want to be guided?”

I take a chance and unbutton one of her shirt buttons. She shivers then stiffens for a second but does not stop me. Button after button is released from its function. I now see

that she is not wearing any bra. My hands start to wander then I stop, take out a blanket and spread it on the ground.

In a soft but commanding voice, “Lay down here if this is what you want.”

I get a very meek “Yes it is.” and she obeys me.

“Good, you are now mine and mine alone. You now have no say in it. You are my fourth wife. When we are in private, you will call me master.”

“Yes master.” She has the look of happiness. She is getting her wish. For a very long time, out there, on that blanket, I saw a woman become the little girl she wanted to be.

After we were done, I laid there. Ann wrapped her arms around me and cried. For a long time we just laid there.

When she was cried out, we kissed. “That is exactly what I needed. Please master may I have more?”

“Tonight, your sisters will be assisting me, but now we need to get going.” We get up and started to get dressed. I could not help myself. I gave her a smack on the ass. She giggled like the little girl she wanted to be.

We get back into the village. I unload our large supply of vinegar in the pantry while Ann goes to get her things. My wives have given the new people enough supplies for them to be able to cook themselves.

Ann gets back and is immediately taken in to another room for a meeting. I hear squeals coming from that room and a very pleased group come out.

Blaze speaks. “As first wife of the flock, our sister, your fourth wife has made a request of the flock. We will go now to one of the upper rooms to prepare. When ready, I will come and get you. Please close the shutters for the night down here. We will close the ones on the second and third floor.”

With that she leaves. I hear the sound of those shutters being closed so I go about closing the main floor. It’s close to twilight anyways.

In a while, Blaze comes down to get me. She always will be dear to me but when she came down, she was a dream. I could tell that she was completely naked but she used her wings to cover only giving me a tantalizing glimpse of her until she motioned and said

“Please follow me.” I went up two flights watching her ass wiggle.

She opened a door on the third floor. There before me was my naked flock. I did gasp at the sight. It took my breath away.

There on her knees was Ann. She had leather straps tied around her wrists, She also had a makeshift collar around her neck. The look on her face said it all. She had the look of pure bliss but also pure lust.

I stand before her. “Is this what you truly want?”

“Yes master.”

“Then what is your word?”

“Brisket.”

Blaze now speaks. “Sisters, stand her up and take hold of those straps. Stretch her arms out and hold fast. Master, please allow me, as your first wife, to undress you. This one needs to be shown her place in the flock.”

She slowly undresses me. As she does that, she keeps on looking at Ann and rubs her feathers on me. I love those feathers. By the time she has me completely undressed, I am erect.

I walk over to Ann and put two fingers into her. She is already soaked. I taste my fingers and Blaze tells me that I need to watch. There is a chair there, so I sit.

She says, in a voice meant to be commanding. “Please observe as we show this one exactly what it means to be subservient to both her master and the sisters of the flock.”

I had wondered why the long straps but I noticed that the flower pot window hanging hooks had been taken out and screwed into the ceiling far apart. They tied the straps to those hooks.

Ann could stand but could not leave that spot. Ginger now put a blindfold on Anns eyes.

Now Ann was already getting weak in the knees. I knew that they had to have had a talk about what would be Ann’s wildest dream.

The bedside table was now brought over and shoved under her so now her ass was sitting on it. They spread her legs and tied them to the table legs.

“Does master approve? Betsey asks.”

“Yes”

“Please enjoy what you are about to see.”

Ginger and Betsy start licking and nibbling Ann all over. Each get a yelp from her when they bit hard enough to cause some pain but not enough to break skin. Blaze is now between her legs and is going all over Ann who is now reduced into moaning.

This goes on for quite a while until Ann is only being kept up by the straps. Now I get up.

“My wives, remove her blindfold. I now will administer her punishment.”

I remove the straps. She is totally limp as I carry her to the bed. She still is out. I ask that two of my wives grab her legs and spread them. As I lay on Ann and enter her, they take Ann’s legs and tie her ankles together behind my back.

Blaze then tells me that she want to be impaled by me. I now stand with her and we are still joined. The three hold Ann up a little as I start to thrust. As I am going hard, she is coming around.

Ann throws her arms around my neck and holds on. As I am pounding away. Her sisters are spanking her hard. I can feel Ann climaxing constantly. She is now shouting.

“Master I am yours forever. My mistresses punish me. Yes I need this, I need this.” I shoot my load. She is again passed out. She is untied and I place her once again on the bed.

I am told that I need to add more features to this room. Let my thoughts go wild. I know that I need to go to the garage to find things.

At the end of a wonderful session of fulfilling her every wish of being dominated, I lay down next to Ann, gave her a kiss and asked her how she felt. All she said was “Every dream.” Then she fell asleep.

The next morning she really did not walk that well. “You tore me up.” She walked over and gave me a kiss. “Who’s next?” They all turned at that.

“Well, I think that this could be a highlight for the week. Since you are the fourth, why don’t we go with the third next.”

I hear groans from the other two. “That is for the third floor. Milder versions can be had any night.”