Chapter 11. Mongrel
Our group rode atop the desert hounds, taking in the sight of the sunrise blooming over the distant horizon. The deep indigo sands spreading into a rosy glow was truly a spectacle. Everyone silently swallowed the emotion swelling in their chests, just gazing at the scene. Even Mahushu, who had only ever seen the dawn from her palace, felt an overwhelming surge of feeling now that she was right in the heart of the desert. She struggled to suppress the welling tide inside her.
Father, Mother... I will return. And I'll prove my worth. No matter what... no matter what!
The mixed-blood suin steeled her resolve inwardly, over and over. She vowed to return home in glory, a figure everyone would admire. At least her leader was an extraordinary talent; she believed following him would lead to tremendous growth.
"Fuckin' hell, it's all just sand everywhere," bald-headed Gid grumbled thickly, eyeing the endless golden dunes. The chill air quickly turned sweltering. They wrapped headscarves around their heads. The desert hounds plodded in a neat line, leaving long trails in the sand. Not a single patch of shade anywhere—just sand and dunes. The air felt like it was baking them alive.
After trudging on for a while, they spotted a stone wall in the distance. Aaah— Everyone wanted to escape the heat and huddle in the shade. As soon as they reached the makeshift rest stop, they rushed under the shelter. The ground below was littered with signs of travelers coming and going.
"Fuckin' hell, it's so damn hot," Gid, already drenched in sweat, fanned himself with his hand and gulped down water.
Ji-hyuk warned the team not to drink too much. "Chug too much and you'll dehydrate worse. Just enough to wet your throat. Even if it's tough, that's how it has to be." It was wisdom passed down from ancestors. They followed the leader's words.
The guide urged them to head out again. Linger too long, and they might end up camping in the middle of the desert. Ji-hyuk didn't fancy spending the night out there either, so he prodded the group onward. They mounted the hounds once more. The beasts lumbered steadily across the sands. The group repeated this march-rest rhythm as they traversed the desert. At least a massive mountain loomed far ahead, serving as a reliable landmark—no fear of getting lost.
They finally reached the desert village just as the sun dipped toward the horizon. The group headed straight for a restaurant, scarfing down a hearty dinner before booking rooms at an inn. Yael looked pretty disappointed she couldn't share with the leader anymore. But what could be done? He couldn't exactly room her with another guy.
Ji-hyuk bunked with Kayak. The room had a stone bed piled with layered beast hides for padding and topped with thick blankets. Desert nights were brutally cold; warm bedding was essential. Before turning in, Ji-hyuk stopped by Yael and Mahushu's room. They were already in nightclothes, prepping for bed.
"Bundle up warm. Nights get freezing. ...Mahushu, everything okay?"
"Yes, it's fine."
"Good, glad to hear it."
Yael stared at the leader with eyes full of longing. But judging the timing poor, she said nothing and slipped under the covers. "Sleep well."
Ji-hyuk quickly checked Gid and Gor's room too, then returned to his own. Kayak was out cold. He crawled under the blankets. Fierce winds howled relentlessly. Whoooosh— The screams of the gale pierced the night. Brutal cold that even the thick quilts couldn't fully block. ...The group endured a far from comfortable night.
· · ·
Over the three weeks crossing the desert, Ji-hyuk's crew suffered no small hardships. Scorching days, bone-chilling nights. Riding the bumpy desert hounds for long stretches was grueling too. But after all that toil, they finally escaped the sands.
The moment Gid's feet hit solid earth with patches of grass, he unleashed a torrent of profanity, vowing never to set foot in a desert again. The group reached their first city post-desert. The locals still looked like desert folk, but the living conditions were worlds apart. Just not seeing that godforsaken sand anymore left them satisfied.
Once clear of the desert, Ji-hyuk resumed training. Yael had practiced double casting alone daily, but progress was slow. ...Still, she improved bit by bit. After her sessions came Mahushu's turn. She stood ready with eager anticipation, waiting for his instruction.
Deep down, this suin maiden lived and died by honor. Always talking about warriors and honor. Quiet by nature, but spark her competitive fire and she'd push without backing down. Then, once she felt victorious, she'd glance at Ji-hyuk with smug pride. Look at this.
Anyway, with this honor-seeker before him, Ji-hyuk began her landmark first lesson. "The spear's all about solid basics."
He pointed out her abysmal fundamentals. Her face flickered with a hint of wounded pride, but she held her tongue. Who was she to argue with overwhelming strength? She'd just look petty.
"Master these, and you'll get way stronger than now. I guarantee it." He demonstrated a few basics. He had real skill with spears, flowing smoothly like water. Mahushu, who'd swung spears all her life, couldn't miss that mastery. This is perfect spearwork, she thought. Her respect for the leader swelled further.
"Got it? Do these a hundred times morning and night. Once I say you're good, we move on. Clear?"
"Yes, Leader."
Ji-hyuk glanced at the sky. Dusk was settling. He told her not to train too late, then headed back alone—not to his room, but Yael's. He knocked lightly, and the door flew open like she'd been waiting.
The junkie mage wore an impatient, antsy look. Clearly dying for the leader to show. "Where's Mahushu?"
"She'll be back soon."
She slammed the door shut. Then yanked up her top, baring her breasts. He grabbed the soft mounds, sucking, nibbling her nipples. "Haaah...!"
Yael shuddered violently before collapsing onto the bed. Ji-hyuk mounted her, toying with her tits freely. But she wasn't satisfied, gazing up desperately, begging. "Leader... your, your cock... just once, let me suck it..."
"...Fine. You've held out a while this time."
"Thank you...!"
No holding back now. With Mahushu joining, Yael had gone without her fix longer. He understood. He dropped his pants, pulling out his dick. She pounced like a pirate on treasure, slurping the massive weapon greedily.
"Finish before Mahushu gets back." He eyed the window. Dusk had deepened. He backed toward it slowly. Yael followed on her knees, lips clamped tight around his cock.
Ji-hyuk leaned on the sill, peering at Mahushu still diligently practicing basics in the backyard. True to her honorable warrior spirit, she was immersed. Below, the junkie mage sucked like a maniac. The bizarre contrast up-down sent a strange thrill through him.
Mahushu paused her training, tilting her head to check the time by the sky, when her eyes met the leader's at the window. She bowed reflexively. He gave a slight smile, raised a hand, then lowered it. Worth respecting.
Over weeks together, Mahushu had learned much about Ji-hyuk. Smart, strong, reliable. She understood why the team trusted him blindly. Now she did too. Among all humans she'd known, he was the finest. He commanded any room. That dominance wasn't for just anyone. She sensed kingly qualities in him—like her father.
From that realization, her desire for his approval had grown. So she poured in the effort. Mahushu swung her spear with renewed vigor. By the hundredth rep, night had fallen. She glanced at the window again. He was gone.
She finished up and returned to the room slowly. Yael, reading a spellbook at the table, looked up at her entering colleague. "How was training?"
"Just the beginning. But I'll give it my all so my warrior's honor stays intact."
"That's the spirit—you'll make it. I believe in you." Yael offered encouragement.
Mahushu propped her spear in the corner, then suddenly sniffed. Half-breed or not, as a wolfkin suin, her nose was keen. Not as sharp as a true wolf or dog, but enough for scents ordinary folk missed.
"Hey... smell that fishy odor?"
"...Huh? ...Dunno. I don't smell anything."
Yael's heart skipped, but she played dumb. If Mahushu knew cum scent, she'd catch on instantly—but as an honorable warrior, she was utterly clueless about sex. She'd even asked Yael before what a man's dick was.
She approached the window, strongest scent there. Peering out, she saw the backyard. "Yael. Was the leader here earlier?"
"...Huh? Oh, yeah... just for a bit. ...Why?"
"Saw him at the window. It was our room."
"Oh, right... he stood there a moment."
Yael wanted to change the subject. It was embarrassing for her. She snapped her spellbook shut. The noise drew Mahushu's gaze.
"It's getting dark—let's sleep. Early start tomorrow."
Mahushu nodded. She washed her face and hands in a basin, blew out the candle, and slipped under the covers where Yael already lay. Faint moonlight filtered through the cracked window, casting silver patterns on the wooden floor. A profoundly quiet night.
"Sleep well."
"You too."
They exchanged goodnights. That's when Mahushu noticed the faint fishy smell on Yael too. She brushed it off.
"Um... Mahushu."
"Yeah?"
After a long pause, Yael spoke again. "Never mind... sleep well."
"Okay."
Oblivious as ever to such things, Mahushu didn't pry and drifted off quickly. Yael sighed deeply, rolling away to face the wall. Her heart pounded oddly. Doing that secret deed with the leader in the room shared with a teammate stirred an inexplicable, illicit thrill.
Yeah, best to play dumb. She's clueless about this stuff anyway.
It was just duty to ease her withdrawal. Not depraved. That thought comforted her. She recalled the feel of the leader's cock rolling in her mouth. Her body heated up. She licked the roof of her mouth repeatedly. ...I want it inside me. Want the leader pounding my pussy raw with that huge monster. Wreck me like before. I'd die happy. Go insane for it. Leader's cock... so good... Leader's cock... I miss it so much...
But the cock she craved so desperately wasn't there. She writhed hotly, lost in thoughts of him.