Date: Fri, 8 Nov 2002 17:06:23 EST From: AmanteGuy@aol.com Subject: Time Stood Still-Chapter 3 ****Warning**** If you are under the age of 18 or do not agree with man to man sex please do not read further. This is the Chapter 3 continued of a Fantasy story. This is a fictional story not meant to duplicate any person living or deceased, these are strictly Characterizations any resemblance to another is total coincidence. It has some elements Male erotica that may not fit what some communities deem appropriate. If you are not interested in Gay Male Erotic Stories or you are Under age, I urge you please then do not proceed reading the story, This will be submitted in a series, I hope those of you reading. Comments Let me know and hey... Enjoy! **************************************************************************** Chapter 3: In a Strangers Eyes Brimmer was the first to wake. When I opened my eyes I could see him sitting near a small little fire. We had traveled all night. Putting as much distance between the Bears and ourselves as we could we walked for hours. Still I could not shake the feeling something or someone was near, following close by and watching. Whatever Brimmer was cooking it smelled foul. When he looked up he saw me looking at him and is little eyes danced "How are you this morning? We sure did walk a long ways, must have tired you out, you fell right to sleep while we were talking." Brimmer was right, I was exhausted but not from the walking. I have used more energy using magik than I ever had before. I had to keep a constant cloaking spell over both Brimmer and myself until I was sure we were far enough away. I prayed that the spell sort of lingered with the natural magik of the land and I did my best to cast it that way. I sat up Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes "Rocks sure don't make a comfortable bed" I complained "G'morning Brimmer, I hope you had a decent sleep I am sorry for clanking out on you last night, too much excitement I guess" I yawned this last statement. "Well Thia, you do not have to worry about the bears for now, they are still a day and a half behind us. So the sooner we get moving the more distance we put between us. I know we both are not sure we are going, but I was thinking, if we work or way across the mountain to the temperate forests, the bears will have to give up, they just cannot handle the weather in that part of the range, the down side is it is still several days hike." Brimmer was urgent. "How do you know where the bears are?" I asked him. "You are not the only one that uses magik, although I am not mage I do know a spell or two well they are really dwarf magik" Brimmer said pointing to the pot on the fire "See that, I used some of the Bear fur that got tangled in our clothes and just cast a little spell of sight, well I can only use that spell once, but nevertheless I was able to see where they were. " Brimmer said in a subtle tone. I did not press any further, for now the less I knew the better off I was figured besides we alwas talk during our hike. Again Brimmer spoke "While you were sleeping I gathered some nuts and berries. We need the engergy they will provide, Thia I warn you though to get to the Temperate Forest, it is not an easy journey and in fact it is quite dangerous. I have only been there twice in my life and each time has been with my clan of brothers." A look of doubt was on his face. "Well, my friend the way I see it, either we can sit here and wait for an angry group of armed Bearmen to find us, or we can risk whatever other danger we might face in our attempts to flee. Either way the choice is bad and to be honest I'd rather face the unknown, I have a feeling I know what the Bears would do if they caught us" I could not say it any plainer, and I guess Brimmer agreed because he nodded in silence as he gathered his things making sure to destroy any evidence of our presence here. I sat for a moment and pondered all that was happening. I could feel the magik in me, I could feel it flowing through my like my blood, it felt for the first time as if it were a part of me, and not a presence of its own. That thought kind of scared me and excited me at the same time. My fear, I still had so much to learn, to master and yet these spells were coming to me naturally with almost no effort. Use of magik so openly surely would because for alarm at home. But I was not at home, infact I am not sure I am anywhere near home. As soon as it was safe I am going to have to ask Brimmer all about where I am. The hike up the mountain side was quite harsh, the wind was bone chilling and it blew wickedly all around me. My blood was not used to this type of weather and I cursed the creature that brought me here. We marched in silence and I pondered my night in the forest near my home. How odd it was, to see the image of myself reflected in those horrible eyes. What did it mean it was going to show me what my dreams meant, I would be give two paths. None of this made any sense to me. Why was my magik suddenly stronger, and why is my staff reacting to this strange mountain side. Could it be this was all a dream I have not awaken from? It could not be the frost hanging from my nose pushed any doubts from my mind. Hours of walking went by, every so often I would stop to give Brimmer a break, even though is legs were much shorter than mine the little man was doing a hella of a good Job keeping up with me. It was doing one of these stops I caught a glimpse of the shadow. As I said before I had noticed this shadow following us for quite sometime, in fact from the moment I freed Brimmer. I said nothing to Brimmer because I did not want to alarm him. I knew it was not a Bearman, it was much to small for that. I sensed no evil, and yet even with my awareness growing of the magik, I still had limitations and if this being did not want to be seen it would not be. Brimmer brought me out of my thoughts "You know Thai, I got the oddest feeling we are being watched. I can't seem to tap into it though." Good he was noticing it too, "I noticed that too, what do you think it is? I don't feel in danger but still I think we should be on guard" I said with a little apprehension in my voice. Brimmer regarded me for a moment, shrugged his shoulders "In these parts it could be anything, Mountain Lion, wild dog, Forest sprites, even Mole men, either way I am used to the creatures in these parts nothing to be alarmed over well I hope not anyway" Brimmer winked at me and chuckled. We at our berries and nuts for awhile and passed my skin pouch of water. We were running low on water, I scooped up some fresh snow placed it into my pouch. Brimmer watched me with interest. I closed my eyes and imagined warmth first in my mind, I focused on the pouch then slowly I felt the warm slowly trailing its way down my my shoulders along my arms, into my hands. My hands I felt growing warmer and warmer, I concentrated until I could no longer stand the heat. I opened my eyes, sweat dripping from my forehead. I shook it all away. Brimmer stood there smiling "That was a neat magik trick, you gotta teach me!" I shurgged "Brimmer that was not really magik, it is more mind over matter. Tapping into the energy with in, it is dangerous though and fatal if you are not careful. In other words its not trick." I was not sure I should have done that myself. I was sweating and the few moments that took it drained me. Still if I had not done that it would have taken hours for the snow to melt. I tossed the pouch to Brimmer so he could keep in beneath his cloak, his body heat should keep it from freezing. Just then I heard a Twig snap in the distance. Josh cursed himself for not paying attention to where he was walking. He could see Brimmer and the stranger in the distance, but he was not close enough to hear them. In a move to get closer he stepped on a twig. Beleua would have lectured him for being so careless, a tracker would never have made that mistake. A tear formed in the 16 year olds eyes. Beleua poor Beleua. Josh was the adopted human son of Beleua a female Tracker dwarf. She had found him 10 years ago in a scouting mission. A small group of Dwarf's from Brimmers clan had gone scouting for other colonies to trade with. The group came upon a burned out abandoned village in a mountain clearing. Bearmen had attacked a human settlement weeks before taking all the humans as slaves most likely. The bearmen usually spare humans because they are strong and able workers, they regarded Dwarfs however as insects. Beleua had been nosing about cautiously when she caught the glimpse of a litte creature just beyond the village. With her leaders permission she back tracked and around to where she could spy on the creature. When she got to the spot she crouched down and waited. Moments later she saw what could only be a human's child. A thin, haggered and very dirty child, with wide scared eyes. Beleua's heart melted the child survived the attach and some how managed to live this long all on its own. Beleua watched silently as mans child observed her fellow dwarfs searching through the rubble. How to approach it she thought not wanting to frighten the child, but knowing it could not survive here much longer. Long story short Beleua was able to persuade the child to come to her, not to mention persuading her elders to let her bring the child along, it would be against nature to leave a helpless child, human or otherwise. The elders did not by the argument but consented in letting her keep him. Josh was snapped out his thoughts when he heard the high pitched alarm call of a rock squirrel being hunted by and eagle. Josh melted into the growing shadows. He wanted so much to reunite with Brimmer the only other survivor from their village, but this stranger was there. Josh was uncertain about this stranger, he had powers Josh had never seen before and this frightened him. Unsure of where to go or what to do he trailed the duo, just as he trailed the Bearmen that held Brimmer captive. Josh was lucky enough to be in the amethyst caves when the bearmen attacked the clan. When he returned to his destroyed home he knew immediately what had happened. Partly grateful not be there to witness the same destruction, but deeply saddened to know his adopted kin suffered a worst fate than his original family 10 years earlier. Josh had to get to Brimmer somehow, get him away from this human. Lucky for him he was able to salvage a few things from Brimmers hut as well as his own. "Oh shit" Josh thought he is coming this way. I jumped up, grabbing my dagger looking in the direction of the sound. It is best to rely on my own skill over using magik. Unsure what I was facing I started off in the direction of the sound, out of the corner of my eye I could see Brimmer was circling back in the other direction. Two against one we had the advantage (I hoped). I stepped out of the little clearing and into the forest, my goal was to circle back in the opposite direction of Brimmer my goal was to for us to approach the creature from either side. The sun was rising high into the sky now the shadows were fading. It might be a bad choice to avoid using magik but I was afraid I had been relying on much to often. I stopped and knelt down next to a tall tree, I listened carefully noting the different calls of the birds and chirping of crickets. I listened for the crickets to stop their chirping, and would head in that direction. Careful to keep an eye out for Brimmer. The little dwarf slipped silently in the forest, remembering some of the tracking lessons he learned from Beleua, for a brief moment he thought of his lost clan and felt a pang of sadness. Not much I can do about it the thought to himself. Brimmer was moving in on the hulking shadow, whatever it was it was just as good at remaining concealed. Creeping slowly in and out of the rays of the sun. Stopping every so often to listen to the sounds of the birds and crickets with his hand on his mace. Suddenly all was quiet, the hair on the back of Brimmers neck stood on end, He looked up into the trees just in time to see a figure falling from the trees right on top of him. Josh landed on Brimmer with a thud, knocking him flat to the ground. In one quick motion the Boy had disarmed Brimmer and had his hand over the little mans mouth. "Brimmer, its Josh, don't say a word when I let you up" Brimmer struggled, but then he recognized the voice and stopped struggling. Could it be Josh? It sure sounded like him. Josh rolled off Brimmer ready to jump aside in case he was attacked. Brimmer sat up brushing the leaves out of his beard, looking up and into the bright green eyes of Josh. "By the Blue moon of Saturn it is you!!!" Brimmer said with excitement as tears filled his eyes. "Yes, it is me, sadly I am alone no one else survived. I have been following you for days now!" Josh said as the tears fell from his eyes as well. Brimmer pulled Josh to him and the men embraced one another closely and wept. Relief, sadness and joy all those emotions fell out of them. Happy and relieved to have one another, sad that no one else in the clan survived. I came upon Brimmer and a strange man, I could not tell whom had whom, with my staff positioned over the strangers head "Don't move or I'll spill your brains all over the ground." The stranger slowly released his grip on Brimmer and backed away. When he turned to my direction my breath caught in my throat. This stranger was beautiful. He was 100% human, and I had not seen one up close like this. His curly blond hair tumbled over bright green eyes that flashed like daggers at me. He was long and lean For a moment I was stunned into silence. I felt a slight twitch in my trousers. I felt in odd tingle in my stomach. Josh was so thrilled to see Brimmer, and embracing him he let all of his emotions spill out, that is until the stranger happened upon them. Fear clutched him has the stranger ordered him to release Brimmer. Doing as he was told Josh back away and turned to face the stranger determined to show defiance and no fear. However when he turned toward the stranger he was struck by the sight of the stranger. He stood there with the sun behind him, but as the wind had blown his hood off and his hair whipped in the wind. Josh noticed right away the two blue streaks in his hair. He was tall and handsome. Not totally human. Perhaps part elf, whatever it was the anger Josh felt slipped away replaced momentarily by awe, lust or maybe a little of both. Brimmer snapped them both out of their trances. "Thialon no, no! Don't harm him!" Brimmer struggled to stand, Josh had knocked the wind out of him "He means no harm to me! He is of my clan!!!!." I moved to help Brimmer stand and stammering for words "Oh, I ah, that is I mean ah I did not know, I am so sorry!" lowering my staff. Brushing the hair out my eyes I reached my hand to the stranger to help him stand "I did not know you and he, were I mean it looked like you are attacking Brimmer". Josh pushed away my hand and helped himself stand "I am sure that is the way it looked" Josh regained some composure regarding me with cold eyes again. "Whom are you?" Brimmer stepped in "Josh, this is my new friend Thialon Brightwing, he saved me from the Bearmen, speaking of which why were you following us why did you not just make youself known we could have saved some of this trouble, you almost got you brains bashed in?" Brimmer lectured now remembering Josh had been trailing them causing a bit of alarm. This time it was Joshs turn to be embarrassed "I am sorry Brimmer, I was not sure what he meant to do with you. I though he might be a slave trader or something, I mean I saw him change those trees into monsters! I dunno I was thinking I could save you somehow but was not sure. Mr.Brightwing please forgive me" josh said as he looked at the ground. My mouth was dry, and I was nervous, why was I feeling this way, it was all so odd for me I did not know what to say, so instead I dumbly nodded my head. I felt an attraction to Josh, I could not explain it, but I was very grateful I had a long coat on. I did notice however Josh had looked me up and down as if checking me out, I smiled to myself one could hope so anyway. This was really turning into a strange adventure. Magik, monsters and uncontrollable erections, I really needed to get a grip on myself. We walked in silence for a while. Non of us sure what to say. Back in the forest we had made or apologies and introductions, Brimmer told his tale, Josh told his. They were reunited, somehow I felt left out and again I was feeling alone and lost. I was in a strange place, granted I now had to traveling companions, but I knew very little about them. What was worse was this strange attraction I felt for Josh. Every so often we would catch glimpses of one another, only to quickly look away. I found myself wanting to be near him and as we walked we walked together. Brimmer either in front or behind. We walked for what seemed like hours. The bearmen were all but a memory. We had put quite a bit of distance between us and them. I stopped, I heard a sound off in the distance. I cautioned the others to be still not to make a move. I listened more carefully I heard what sounded like singing. Melting into the shadows of the forest we followed behind Josh, as his tracking skills took over. We wanted to get a closer look, not sure if we were in danger, but perhaps it would be a village or some sort where we could replenish ourselves and find some direction. I got a better view Josh, he was tall and thin, but not skinny, I could tell we had different lives, because were close in age and height, but my body was a bit more defined. Josh had the body of a sprinter, which probably most trackers did, in order to move about from place to place quickly and silently. I watched and mimicked each of his moves, not wanting to make a sound. We were getting closer and the beings were becoming clear, just a few yards ahead and Josh stopped us. Pointing above. "This is some sort of mining camp, and if you look up there they have a trap rigged. I am not sure how much further ahead, but there is a trigger." My gazed followed Josh but all I could see in the trees seemed to be nothing more than a huge squirrels nest. Putting one finger to his lips in a "ssh" motion, he back tracked slowly and quietly. Once we were far enough back, Josh suggested it would be much easier for him to sneak up closer, without having Brimmer or myself trigger anymore traps. I was a starting to admire him, he really knew what he was doing when it came to tracking. Brimmer and I agreed and we watched as Josh slipped away in complete silence, like a deer moving swiftly. Brimmer set about digging through his packs and he pulled out some whittling. He had been working on something for days now. It seemed to relax him, he would go off into another world. "Don't worry about Josh, he may be most of the afternoon" Brimmer said, I guess more to himself than to me. "Brimmer do you think we can afford to lose such time?" I was alarmed that this little side trip could cost us time,knowing we were still being followed by the Bears. "Young man, do you think we can afford not to see what is ahead of us?" Brimmer went back to whittling. I had not choice but to wait, patience is not what I am known for at all. **************************************************** Thank you to all that have e-mailed their enjoyment of my story. I hope you have enjoyed it this far, so keep the e-mails coming my way. Let me know what you think good, bad or ugly or just say Hi if you'd like don't be shy. Rude flames will be ignored, All others thanks for the support, if ya wanna drop me a line at: Amanteguy@aol.com, feel free. Thanks again, AG