The Cascaders

by Glenn, L. M.

  Her face heated. Her stomach muscles clenched watching him. He was beautiful. He smirked at her, then turned, and dove into the pool.

  He had caught her staring at his privates. She was now all kinds of embarrassed. She lowered her eyes and twiddled with her fingers.

  “Come join me, Desiree,” he coaxed.

  She shook her head. “I h-h-had my b-b-bath this morning.”

  “I know … so come play then?”

  She couldn’t. No matter how bad she wanted to. She wasn’t getting undressed for him. She shook her head.

  “Are you afraid I will bite you?”

  “N-N-No,” she stammered. Yes. No. She was frightened not because he might bite her, but because she might bite him.

  “Come in. I will turn my back toward you. I will not hurt you.”

  She didn’t want to act like a child. The other cats swam together in the nude. She would try it. Without thinking too hard, she shed her clothes and slid into the warm water up to her neck.

  Turning back around, he laughed. “You see, it’s not so bad.” He swam toward her.

  She put up her hand. “Stop right there. Don’t come any closer.”

  He smirked and then showed his fangs. For a second, she was frightened, but she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. He moved in slowly and licked his lips as if she was cream or catnip. He reached his hand up and caressed her face. His yellow eyes expanded and then retracted.

  What was he doing? She held her breath. He did something so unexpected she froze and couldn’t respond for a second, but then she sighed deep and let him kiss her. His lips were soft. His whiskers tickled her cheeks like a brush of butterfly wings. He pulled back and looked deep into her eyes as if he could reach into her soul.

  “You are beautiful. Your skin so smooth and soft.” He took his hand and rubbed it up her arm and back down again. Goose bumps rose. He leaned in and sniffed her neck. She felt his hot breath like a soft breeze on a warm summer day. He leaned in to kiss her again. He halted and pulled back. He shook himself. “I’m sorry, I don’t what came over me. Please forgive me.” He swept past her and crawled out of the pond. “We had better get back. It will be dark soon,” he called back to her.

  She choked back her tears of humiliation. How could she just stand there and let him touch her like that? He was an animal for cripes’ sake. And she mustn’t forget he was much older than she was. She was standing in water completely naked. What had come over her? She was afraid to answer that question. She was afraid of the answer. As soon as he had turned his back, she crawled out and donned her shift. She kept her eyes downcast watching the drops of water from her body soak the ground. With nothing to dry off with, she trudged behind him too afraid to speak and too embarrassed to look up. But she had no need to worry for he didn’t speak to her either.

  Once they reached the village, she ran to her hut and fell onto her cot. Right before sleep would have taken hold, she remembered Jayden. Oh no, she had completely forgotten about her brother!

  Chapter 14

  Forcing drowsiness away, she went in search of Jayden. She had a feeling he was with Nigel so that was the first place she looked. When she found Nigel sharpening an arrow by the fire, she became worried.

  “Nigel, where is Jayden?” she asked him.

  “With Genèva. It’s story time and Jayden went along to hear the story,” he answered without looking up.

  “Why didn’t you go?” He looked so lost sitting there by himself.

  “I’m waiting for my father.”

  “Oh, w-w-well, I’m sure he will be along shortly. Thanks, Nigel, um … how d-d-do I get there?”

  After he gave her directions, Desiree found herself in a tent with twenty other children, or kittens or kid-cats. She wasn’t sure what to call them. Searching for Jayden, she found him in front staring in rapture up at Genèva as she spoke. She was seated on a wooden stool. Desiree sat down cross-legged in the back and listened to her story.

  “The beautiful princess, while carrying her first child, fell into a deep slumber unable to waken. The evil queen had bewitched the princess with a poisonous fruit. Her handsome lion king came upon them in the meadow, and with a touch of his lips to hers, she woke …”

  ****

  Desiree blinked twice trying to clear the fog and then sat up. Something had woken her. She listened. Stretching, she stood and heard it again, whispering outside her hut. On soft feet, she looked out the flap. It was still dark out, but the fires kept it well lit. knowing she wasn’t going to go back to sleep anytime soon, she decided to take a walk around the village.

  She hadn’t taken three steps when she saw Rose walking toward her.

  She stopped in front of her. Rose frowned suddenly. “This is a warning, human. Stay away from Mihael. He is mine,” she hissed. “I saw you! You do not belong with him!”

  Desiree didn’t know what made her say it. Maybe she had a death wish, but when Rose spoke and spittle landed on her face, she got a bit riled. It was more than the fact she hated anyone telling her what to do. She had dealt with enough jealous teenagers in high school to know how to deal with them and figured lions were no different.

  Desiree curled her full lips in a grin. “I don’t know if that’s possible, Rose,” she said innocently, but her eyes sparkled in a challenge. “He tastes so good.” Desiree turned her back on Rose and went to check on her brother thinking that would be the end of it.

  Rose quickly caught up with her. Desiree stiffened when she felt the tip of a knife at her back. Something wet and sticky slid down the back of her leg.

  Desiree realized she had made a grave mistake. These were animals not high school teens. The pain was sharp and had her drawing in a deep breath. She dropped to her knees when she heard Rose turn and run away. She would have fallen flat on her face if Mihael hadn’t caught her. She had underestimated the feline was her last thought before darkness claimed her.

  She must have lost consciousness for only a brief moment. She was in Mihael’s arms. The jarring caused her a slight discomfort.

  “Put me down, Mihael, I’m fine.”

  He didn’t respond and kept moving.

  “Mihael, where are you taking me?”

  He glanced down at her with pain in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Desiree. This is all my fault.”

  “What? Wait, how can this be your fault? You weren’t even there, or … were you?” Had he seen what had happened? He must have or how else would he have gotten to her so quickly. The sharp pain was now just a dull throb. She couldn’t believe she had passed out. It hadn’t even hurt that badly. It was more of a shock to learn what Rose was capable of than anything else.

  Before she knew it, he had entered a hut. He gently laid her on a bed of soft hides. She rubbed her hand over the softness and looked quizzically at him. She wondered if they used their own kind to make them. He shook his head as if he was reading her mind.

  “They are tanned from the skin of the Morg. We boil them for softness.” He instructed her to lay on her stomach while he checked her injury. She heard a ripping sound and then cool air caressed her skin. He had sliced her shift open.

  “It’s not deep,” he mused sighing heavily.

  Desiree nodded her head too embarrassed to speak. What he must think of her fainting over a scratch. She had a sudden urge to crawl underneath the blankets and hide.

  “Hold still. This may sting a little.” He poured something cool onto her cut.

  She stiffened and craned her neck trying to see what he was doing. She felt him rub it against her cut and then felt something cold. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m applying a healing herb and a bandage,” he answered.

  “Oh.” She grimaced and squirmed a bit under his ministrations. She barely heard him mumble something under his breath, and then she felt a soft touch. He bent his head to gently brush his lips above the cut. She gasped.

  He pulled back and rolled her over onto her back. His jaw tightened. “You will be fine tomorrow
. A bit sore but that is all.” He held her gaze. “What you said to Rose”—he shook his head and continued—“was not a wise move.”

  Her eyes widened slightly. “You heard that?’

  With a calm countenance, he replied, “Yes, I was bidding Genèva a good eve when I heard you and Rose speaking.”

  “I didn’t mean it, Mihael. She just made me livid. I’m sorry.”

  He arched an eyebrow and prompted, “So … I don’t taste good?”

  Heat suffused her face. He stood. A slow grin softened his mouth. “I will send Genèva with a change of clothing, and I will speak with Rose. She will not touch you again.” He walked out leaving her feeling bereft.

  ****

  “You should not have tempted her, Desiree,” said Genèva as she handed her another shift.

  “I tempted her? She threatened me to stay away from Mihael.” She got to her feet.

  “Desiree, you don’t understand our ways. You are not one of us. Rose feels as if you are taking something that belongs to her.”

  “Are you blaming me for this?” Desiree asked. She quickly donned the new shift Genèva handed to her and handed back the ruined one. She didn’t want to show any weakness and fought back tears, but it was hard. She wanted away from here and away from these animals, except for Mihael. She didn’t consider him an animal. Why, she wasn’t sure. He was more human than animal.

  Genèva sighed. “Rose is not blind. She can see how Mihael looks at you. She was hurt by your words.”

  She was hurt? “Well, she can have him, Genèva. I don’t want him. All I want is to go home!” She had thought Genèva was her friend. Now she felt as if she too was an enemy. She ran out of his hut and straight into her own. She fell onto her cot and burst into tears.

  After her tear dried up, she mulled over what Genèva had said. She was indignant but reminded herself things were different here.

  Her eyes lit up when she remembered what else Rose had said. How does Mihael look at me?

  Chapter 15

  Desiree ran and ran until she couldn’t catch a breath. Before she realized it, she was standing in the middle of his favorite place. The small pond beckoned to her. Without fear for her safety, she shed her clothes and slid into the warm water. She let the pool swallow her tears. Why, why was this happening to her? Life was so unfair. She was falling in love for the first time and would never be able to experience it. Why was life so cruel to give her something so wonderful only to take it away. I hate him.

  “I hate him,” she whispered stubbornly underneath her breath, wanting to hear the sound of it but trying to deny the truth.

  “Do you?” Mihael replied, leaning on his bow.

  She jumped at the sound of his voice. He’d followed her. Glaring up at him, she didn’t answer. She watched him with wide eyes when he shed his clothes and joined her in the pond. He stayed his distance, staring at her. “Why did you follow me?” she asked between clenched teeth.

  “To make sure no harm came to you,” he said, his gaze holding hers. He swam toward her slowly.

  She moved back. “What are you doing?” she asked suspiciously. She backed up until her feet hit the bottom and then turned ready to make her escape.

  His arm snaked out and grabbed her around the waist holding her against his chest. She felt his hard muscles and soft fur pressed against her.

  “And where do you think you’re going?” he whispered against her ear. Desiree stood frozen as his lips brushed her neck. He bent down, grabbed her behind her knees, lifted her up into his arms, and carried her out of the water. He set her down on her feet and told her to stand still. A few minutes later, he picked her up again, carried her a few steps into a thicket, and gently laid her down onto a soft bed of wildflowers.

  He lay down beside her. He rested his head on one hand as his other hand roamed over her body. “You are beautiful. I tried to stay away from you.” He leaned over her and gently kissed her lips. “We can never be, but I can give you a part of me to take with you if that is your wish.” Pain flickered briefly across his face. “Is that your wish, Desiree?”

  She couldn’t speak and only nodded. This was what she wanted, what she craved, to be with him. A fire like none other started in her belly, igniting heat throughout her body. She arched her body into his.

  Her eyes flew open. She sat up breathing heavily. It was just a dream. A sheen of perspiration coated her body. Desiree rubbed her arms briskly. It had felt so real. Standing up on shaky legs, she went in search of something cool to drink and ignored the discomfort between her legs.

  Upon entering the food tent, she heard laughter. Turning her head to the left, she spotted Nigel and Jayden eating at one of the round tables.

  “Hey.” She smiled.

  Jayden glared up at her and then bent his head down as if he found something fascinating about his food.

  Her smile disappeared and was replaced with a frown. “Hey, Jay, what’s got your shorts in a bunch?”

  “Bug off,” he growled.

  The corner of her mouth twisted. “What is your problem?”

  He stood and crossed his arms over his chest and planted his feet. “You’re just like dad and mom. All you’ve done since we got here is ignore me. I hate you!” He pushed past her and ran outside. Desiree followed him and grabbed his arm before he could get away.

  “What are you talking about?”

  He snatched his arm back and sneered. “You are never around and always go off with your new friends.”

  “Well, at least I’m not bugging you.” She grabbed his arm again. “And you’re always with Nigel.”

  “Well, at least when you were bugging me, you weren’t ignoring me. You were the only one who paid any attention to me.” His voiced lowered.

  Her eyes widened in confusion. “What?”

  He pulled his arm away and ran. Desiree didn’t follow him. He was right. She had been ignoring him but only because she thought he was having fun with Nigel. She didn’t want to be like her mom and dad. She hadn’t realized they ignored him too. He was the spoiled one who always got his way.

  She found him a few minutes later hiding in his tent. She sat down next to him on his cot. “Jay, I didn’t know. I didn’t mean to ignore you. I just assumed you were having fun. I’m sorry.” She lightly punched him in the shoulder. “You’re my favorite sparring buddy. Plus, I didn’t know Mom and Dad ignored you too. I thought it was just me they ignored.” She snickered and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. Looking back now, she realized the reason it looked as if he got away with everything was because their parents ignored him also.

  “You didn’t notice ‘cause you were too busy with your friends.” He sniffed.

  “Is that why you always followed me around?” she asked softly. How had she not realized it before?

  He didn’t answer just nodded.

  “Hey listen, if you ever feel like I’m ignoring you, just clobber me, okay? And I’ll try not to do it again.”

  He nodded his head and wiped his nose on his arm. She noticed what he was wearing. A skirt like Nigel’s and no shirt. His chest was smeared with dirt. He had tried to fit in. She made herself a promise never to ignore him again.

  “Hey, do you want to go for a walk? Maybe Nigel can show us some cool places to investigate.”

  “We aren’t allowed to leave the village without an adult.”

  Desiree grinned. “I am an adult, silly.”

  He shrugged. “I guess.”

  They found Nigel and he suggested fishing. They agreed wholeheartedly. He ran off to grab three poles and some scrubs which he said would make great bait. They followed another trail that led away from the village. Soon they went over a rise. Nestled in another valley was another pond. This one was darker in color, almost black. The brush around was also darker, browns and oranges. “My father and I come here sometimes to fish,” Nigel said.

  He showed them how to put on the scrubs. They looked like a cross between a cricket and a worm only fatter. T
he hook was a thin needle tightened on by a vine.

  Once their poles were cast out into the water, Desiree asked about Perceforest. “Where did the name come from?”

  He smiled, happy to tell the story he loved so much. “My great-great grandmother named our village after one of her favorite stories. My father told me that she would tell the story, and each time she would change the ending. My father said that everyone has a different ending to their own story.”

  “Yes, I suppose that’s true.”

  “I have a bite, look!” Jayden jumped excitedly.

  Nigel helped him to reel it in. It was the ugliest fish she had ever seen. The fish was small, brown, and round with spiky fins and big bulging eyes. There was no way she would eat that and Jayden agreed. With a mischievous smile on his face, Nigel swallowed it whole.

  Jayden laughed at the look on Desiree’s face.

  “So … you disobey me again.”

  All three of them turned to see Mihael leaning on his bow with two other cats behind him.

  Nigel ran up to his father. “No, Father, I didn’t disobey. Desiree is an adult, she said. I followed your rules and came with an adult.”

  Mihael tried to keep from grinning and shook his head. “An adult cat, Nigel, not human. They don’t know how to protect you from a Morg.” He ruffled his fur.

  Desiree looked at Jayden and noted the look on his face. He too noticed the camaraderie between father and son.

  “It looks like you had the same idea as we did. May we join you?” he asked looking at her.

  “Yes, yes, please!” Nigel laughed and jumped up and down, his tailing swishing back and forth in a dance.

  Mihael laughed, picked him up, swung him up in the air, and let go. Nigel twisted his body around and landed on his feet. Jayden became quiet and sullen. Mihael introduced the other two cats, Trevore and Boots. They were both cheetahs and very good at catching fish apparently.

  Chapter 16

  The next day Desiree made it a point to stay away from Rose and Genèva. She was hurt and felt as if she had been betrayed. She and Jayden needed to go home. They had overstayed their welcome. Although the thought of never seeing Mihael again made her stomach ache, she knew it would be only a matter of time before he too hated her. She knew what would happen if a dog and cat were put together—eventually, the inevitable would happen.