Silent

Waking up sucked. I was so comfortable in Dylan’s arms I didn’t wanna get up. Yet it was time we moved. Kolby and Marky making a very big point about waking up and moving. We both got dressed and headed out.

After yesterday they knew running wise they’d have to keep up with me vs the other way around. We moved at a decent pace now, making it out of the snowy landscape in a couple hours. Our guards were on much higher alert now that we were out of the cold climate. The three males had locations in mind for every night planned out. It would be a couple more days before we’d reach the capital. We continued down the mountain’s forest. The area looked similar to where I killed an enforcer. I suddenly realized I’d never asked if they knew about the other kinds of Burrowers. Now knowing the regular grey ones were referred to as drones by my father and uncles.

“Hey have you guys had issues with enforcers before? You know the talking ones?” I asked quietly.

They looked at me puzzled.

“I remember you saying you killed one but I completely forgot I was gonna ask what it was. We were kinda freaking out with you mad at us and leaving.” Marky replied.

“You know…..the talking burrowers….the big black ones?” I asked feeling nervous that they might not know.

“Uhhhh no.” Dylan responded.

All three males stopped and looked at me as I explained what I knew and had happened with them. Every encounter I’d had so far.

“That thing had done its job. I’d be dead if it weren’t for my dad quickly finding me and taking over.” I finished.

They shivered at the thought.

“So you’re telling me theirs talking one’s now….” Kolby asked shocked.

“Great.” Marky grumbled.

“So….there’s different variations. We’ll have to alert every guard and pack in the country as soon as we get to the capital. I’ve never seen them before. It’s interesting that he’d use them now. Why not before?” Dylan thought out loud.

I felt all three pairs of eyes look at me.

“Dylan you’re the best hunter and tracker of us three. Keep an eye on any tracks that seem odd to you. Marky under no circumstances should you let Dean stray from your line of sight. We should keep moving, quietly. If these enforcers can hear better. We don’t know how far….we’ll make false scent trails just in case…break off and circle around for a couple miles.” Kolby stated.

“Dylan, you and me will move and circle. Cut our hands to make them smell blood far away from Dean. Repeating every hour or so. Marky we’ll trust you to watch him.” He stated Dylan nodded.

We continued on in silence for the next few hours. The boys made a point of crossing rivers and steams. Occasionally in zig zags when we saw them. Harder to find any scent. Dylan and Kolby would occasionally break off and go up and down or around the area. Making sure that if anything followed us they’d get turned around with the scent of blood. Always able to find their way back to us by my pheromones.

they were currently making false scent trails. Me and Marky were moving across rocks and stones. Some were massive. Bigger than my house. Jagging in sharp angles and points. Marky always remained behind me. I was absentmindedly curious about the stones when suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder shove me down.

Marky had crawled on top of me. Covering me with his body. I sensed intense fear from him. Before I could ask what he was doing I heard it. Clicking and growling. I knew it was a burrower. By the sounds maybe a drone. Enforcers were quiet. I heard rocks and pebbles being displaced. Marky’s body was extremely tense. Unmoving. I saw he’d summoned his sword. He moved his finger to his helmet. Telling me to be silent. He moved quietly and peaked his head around a rock. His body language was unreadable. Slowly and carefully he moved back to me. It was several minutes before we heard the noise slowly recede. He peaked his head back out and looked again. He motioned for me to climb onto his back. I followed orders wrapping my hands around his neck. Slowly and quietly he moved through the rocks. Looking in every direction. I made a point to do the same. Especially from the back.

For several minutes we continued. His movements silent. The rocky landscape was sat next to a dense forest and an open plains. He moved us out of the rocks and into the lines where the tree’s met the grassy fields. We were straying pretty far from where we were. I felt anxious knowing Kolby and Dylan were someplace other than with us. I knew Marky sensed my anxiety. I felt him reach a hand back and place it on one of my arms around his neck. Doing what he could to be comforting but also keeping focus. I knew now wasn’t the time. I had to control my emotions. These boys should not be responsible for everything. I made a move to remove myself from Marky. His hand shot up grabbing my wrist. I felt his sudden anxiety as well. He did not like that I tried that. I wrapped my arms tighter, he relaxed and continued. Though I could still feel some residual sensations to his fear.

He began to run. We were now approaching sunset. Far off from the original course we’d set. Far off from where Dylan and Kolby would have expected us. The land had grown dark. The forest now black. I leaned in and whispered into Marky’s ear.

“I have a lighter I can summon. Do you want me to get it for light?” I asked quietly.

“No.” Was the quick response he gave me.

I felt sudden waves of anxiety. It wasn’t mine or Marky’s. One….then two.

I now knew both boys were anxious about something. What it was exactly I didn’t know. I hoped, prayed that they hadn’t run into any danger. I pictured the worse case in my head. Filling me with fear and dread.

“It’s okay. They’re incredibly strong. They’ve dealt with situations like this before. They’re warriors…soldiers. Trust them. Don’t be scared for them. If you become afraid they will. Try to relax. Don’t forget they broke off for this reason. Making false scent trails for you. Easily able to follow your pheromones. Burro-drones can’t smell them only us three can. You’re safe with me. I’ll never let something happen.” Marky whispered quietly.

I nodded pressing my head into his neck. I felt him relax slightly, again reminding myself. If I’m afraid they become tense and anxious. They simply could not deal with it right now. I needed to control myself.

We continued into the dark. After an hour I saw he was running his hand along the side of a large rock wall he walked us too. 15 minutes or so he seemed to reach what he was looking for. we entered a cave, he had his sword summoned.

“Lighter.” He stated.

In an instant I summoned the lighter. The small space became filled with light from the blue flame that flowed out the black ones. He looked around. He wandered into a small side area. Slightly adjacent to the entrance. I knew this was another bonding cave. Like father had said. There were millions across Batavia alone. he sighed. Slowly setting me down, he removed his helmet.

“We’ll stay here tonight.” He stated.

He looked at me and then the entrance. I felt his same fear and anxiety pick up again. I reached out and took his hand trying to calm him down. He seemed to be weighing his options. Making some sort of decision he led me down next to him. We sat in the dim blue light.

“How did you know about this place?” I asked curious.

I could feel his anxiety.

“I….did a mission. Years ago…we stayed here….it was a training exercise.” He said quietly.

I nodded my head. Looking at the walls.

“Sorry.” He said quietly.

I looked at him confused for a moment. Unsure why he was saying sorry. He took a deep breath. Sighing.

“I…….know…it’s dark…I….should get fire wood….barricade the cave entrance….I couldn’t….bring myself to leave you alone in here….but I couldn’t bring myself to take you back outside either.” His voice was soft and shaking.

I looked at the towering male. It felt strange to see and feel him frightened. I didn’t like it. I moved close to him. Placing a hand on his cheek.

“It’s okay. We don’t need it. This light never runs out. We can stay right here.” I said quietly.

I could still feel his fear.

“Why are you scared Marky? You got us to safety. Is it cause the other two?” I asked quietly.

He looked at me for a moment. He shook his head.

“What is it?….please tell me.” I asked him.

He took my hand in his and rested his shaking head against mine.

“When I was 14 I enlisted in the military. I lived on the street with my brother Alonzo. Our pack had died when we were kids and we refused to go to one of those awful orphanages. We used to sleep under the docks. Nobody ever bothered us there. He was a Beta…like you. He was stuck to me like glue. You see when you join the military your given a bed. However since he was a Beta he wasn’t allowed to join. I refused to leave him alone. He was so scared by himself but we needed the money for food. My first mission was here. We did a training exercise and hunted as many burrowers as we could…it took three weeks…and that entire time I was terrified for him. We didn’t have any food stockpiled. We used to go out into the outer city past the walls. To a cliff side by the shore to pick berries and hunt animals. I told him he wasn’t allowed to go without me. I hoped he’d listen. When I got back…I couldn’t find him. Nobody had seen him for a couple days…I panicked..I searched for him screamed for him. I couldn’t find him. A few days had gone by and finally a couple cops had come…they had identified him. Found him outside the city…close to the cliff side. He was gone. drones had gotten him. Being here…just….brought back those memory’s…now I have you and….their hunting you….I….just…I…can’t…lose you too….I can’t lose anyone again….if I’d lost you….I’d…i’d….” he began to sob loudly into my shoulder.

“I’m so sorry Marky….I’m so sorry.” I said quietly to the sobbing man.

We sat in silence for awhile as he cried. I hugged him tightly. Eventually he had calmed down. He hugged me tightly.

His hand was running through my hair. He had asked me to sleep but I refused. I wanted to stay up with him. He undid his armor and laid it on top of me. We laid the sleeping bags from my bag down under us. My arm was rested over his massive frame.

We laid together for an hour or so. I’d grown to understand he was more of a physical being than a talker like Dylan or Kolby.

Suddenly he tensed standing up. Sword summoned in his hand as he stared at the entrance. We heard running. Suddenly figures approached the cave entrance. In the dim light it was hard to see who was there. Until I smelled them. Sighing in relief.

“Finally!” Kolby exclaimed.

He and Dylan rushed in. Hugging me and checking in with Marky.

“You’re well of course.” Dylan stated looking at Marky unsure.

“There were 8 drones around the rocks we were at. They headed the direction we were originally going, I could take them but 8 left a lot of uncertainty with Dean being the target, I wasn’t sure how much they would go for me vs him.” He stated,

“Yeah well good call cause I counted 14.” Koby stated.

“I counted 7. Towards the south East.” Dylan continued.

“They must have grown wiser to the fact we’re heading to the capital.”

“It was a good call then. However we’ll need to replan maybe go around the bend of the field. Towards the marshes. From there we could find the trade roads.” Kolby said in thought,

“I do know several former dens in that area. I used to do reconnaissance and hunting missions around the marshes when I was 16.” Dylan said agreeing.

“It’s definitely the longer way though.” Marky stated.

“Sorry buddy. You’re gonna have to possibly wait a few extra days to pop your cherry.” Kolby said laughing as he gripped his crotch.

“Yeah…” the other two agreed also placing a hand on their crotch’s.

I laughed. I had began to wonder if maybe it would be better to just use these dens for what they were built for. Bonding and breeding. I knew that their Rut would make them distracted but it also made their senses extremely sharp. Nothing could really get too close. An Alpha in a rut is terrifying to anything not in the pack. It was a very dangerous scent. However I would have to wait still. I knew my father was just worried and that’s why he didn’t want us too. Still I was beginning to wonder if maybe it would be better for our bond to happen. Make us all relax finally, get this sexual tension out of our way so we could truly focus. I also wanted to get nice and fucked. I know they wanted to fuck. It was an option I was gonna keep open for now anyway.

“Marky you did good. Stay here with Dean well chop wood and make a small cover for the door.” Dylan stated.

“Yeah….nobody forget I’m middle tonight.” Kolby said laughing.

With that the two set out again. Only took them several minutes before they had covered the den door and had a small fire set up.

Marky was on my left, Dylan on my right, Kolby said snuggled up on my chest, his blond hair tickling my pecs. We drifted off to sleep. I was happy and comfortable to have all three boys back. Today truly made me realize how much I didn’t like them not near me either.