For a while

The morning sun poured gold upon the dappled forest floor. Small ferns and plants bearing tiny summer flowers all drank in what they could steal from the leaves, branches, and needles of the trees that loomed over them. Pale mushrooms raised their caps to the shadows of sheltering roots that spiralled and quested in the damp soil below. Motes of light glinted and shimmered off the wings of tiny insects swarming in the warming air, the hum of activity drowned in the birdsong of the hour. Somewhere close, a raven called out, to be answered by a distant, echoing reply.

The mosquitoes avoided the three that followed the barely visible skeleton of a path through the undergrowth. One wore a repellent, essential equipment for the sanity of anyone at this place at this time of year. The others, it could be argued, were lost to sanity. Perhaps that simply left them better prepared to deal with a world where sanity had fled. The parasites, any parasites, kept their distance.

The unclad couple chatted effortlessly, all the while the other blazed through to sites that may hold a promised prisoner, and answers to a nagging mystery.

"...then this woman came in. She rode my face for hours! I didn't know how long I could hold my breath until then. I lost count of how many times she came on top of me." Ivan was recounting her adventures tied to a bed while Tim tried desperately not to pay attention. Crystal challenged the insect population with all the excited buzzing she performed.

"Oh, that sounds so fun! What did she taste like? Was it better than me?" A slight hint of jealousy touched the well-endowed wife's voice.

"Of course not, my pussypie. You're just as sexy and delicious as the day we married. Every day with you is the best day of my life." Ivan stared into Crystal's sparkling eyes with a devotion that trancended any infection. The couple kissed with undisguised passion and hunger, their love and their lust twined together with no end nor beginning. By the time they left their ardent appreciation for each other, they had to hurry, hand in hand, to catch up to their companion.

"Oh, Ivan. Our wedding was so nice. I still remember you in your tuxedo. So handsome! I don't know how you ever got those breasts to fit in an outfit like that." Crystal wandered into an "improved" memory again.

"Uh, sweetpeach, I've only had tits for a week, remember?"

"You're right! But then...does that mean it didn't all end in a big orgy? Aww."

"I know! Once we get our master back, we can have a big family reunion. We can invite everyone! Your dad can get the grill going, we can get a big cake, and then we can all have that orgy. Even Tim can come over. What do you think, Tim?" The futa was already making plans in her head for a giant backyard event. Crystal gave the girl a big, loving hug, clearly elated by the idea of a big party, in spite of all the work it entailed.

"Sure, Ivan. That sounds..." Tim spoke absently, his mind on the forest ahead. "Wait, what? Did you just invite me to a family orgy?"

"It's alright. You don't need to join in if you don't want to. We'd just be glad to have you there. That reminds me, though. I don't think Ivan really suits me any more. I was thinking about Ivy. What do you two think?" Ivan struck a pose against a nearby tree, granting a tantalizing view of her recently acquired assets. The scattered rays of sunshine that fell across her body carressed every gentle curve, and shimmered over the slick folds of her pussy. Each drop of sweat conjured by summer's rising heat shone by the azure sky, even as they crept down in agonizing, lethargic dilatoriness from the curve of her neck, to the swell of her outthrust breasts.

"Ivy is a good name," Tim said dumbly, ensnared by the sight he beheld.

"I like it, but I'm not sure I can do it. You've been Ivan to me for so many years. I'll try, but I can't promise anything." Crystal conceded. The newly rebranded futa beamed with delight, but quickly wore an expression of concern.

"Wait. Do you hear that? It sounds like a generator. I think there might be a camp nearby." Ivy cocked her head to follow the faint humming noise.

"There's a clearing nearby. It might be coming from there." Tim gestured in the same vague direction. The trio fell silent and stalked forward, the mechanical sound growing with each careful footfall.

The clearing had been expanded to accommodate a small compound. From the shelter of the treeline, the trio could spy a chainlink fence encircling two clusters of small prefab buildings. There was even a makeshift landing area for a helicopter, though the spot was currently empty. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter, all dressed in nondescript, blue jumpsuits. From the shadows of the treeline, the group watched as a figure walked out of a building, one of a number connected with plastic tubes. The person was wearing a full suit suitable for handling hazardous materials, a bulky, green outfit sporting a full hood and air supply. They awkwardly made their way to another building, showing off a badge clipped to their chest to a passing patrol.

"Holy shit! There must be two dozen guys there, at least. How did they get a place like this built so fast?" Tim whispered to his companions in disbelief.

"Those are mobile buildings. They probably flew them in by helicopter. They must have a ton of money to set this up," Ivy replied, uncharacteristically focused on the task at hand.

"Yeah, that makes sense. How did you know that?" Tim quizzed his newest companion, the thought that he knew nothing of the people he was travelling with intruding upon him.

"I worked out in the bush as a land surveyor for years, until my baby boy came along. I found something closer to home after that. I did have a job before becoming a sexy slut, you know?" Ivy explained, giving Tim a big grin.

"You were always my sexy slut." Crystal pressed her curvy body against Ivy's back, and began to playfully fondle her sensitive tits. Tim rolled his eyes as the couple began to make out lewdly. He turned back to the compound, and began scan for weaknesses. It was a challenging task to ignore the display beside him, but he was relieved that they kept each other's attention off of him.

The day dragged on. Under the shadow of the forest, the adventurous party kept their vigil, trying to gather all the information they could. As the evening approached, they had observed infected prisoners being transported, regular guard patrols, one argument that was promptly broken up, and an inspection from some guy in a guard uniform that seemed to be in charge. The most interesting thing, however, was when a guard, lingering alone near a concealed length of fence, made a secret rendezvous. As they watched, a shaggy, grey dog nervously emerged from the trees. It looked around, and on seeing the lone guard, perked up. Its tail began to wag uncontrollably as it trotted up to the metal barrier. With only a little noise and effort, the hound managed to slip beneath the section of fence and into the small base. The guard quickly produced some kind of food which was gladly devoured by the elated dog. After a few minutes playing tug-of-war with an old sock, and an extended bit of head scritches and one-sided conversation, the guard dismissed the pooch and wandered back into camp. The dog wormed it's way back under the fence and into the surrounding forest, all the while keeping its eyes on its secret friend.

"Aww. That's so cute; the puppy has a secret friend. They should just let him keep it." Crystal chimed, charmed by the display.

"It gives me an idea. If I can slip under the fence there, I think I can reach that building there. In one of those hazmat suits, they won't be able to recognize who I am." Tim explained while keeping a his eyes on the base.

"No, Timmy. What if they catch you? They might do weird experiments on you! You might get..."

"Crystal, it would be you they experiment on if you got caught. They didn't come here to mess with normal people." Tim looked the terrified woman in the eye. His expression was grave, but he tried to reassure her with a smile.

"It should be me that goes. I'm his father, it's my respo..." Ivy spoke up in her best dad voice.

"It's my idea, so it's my responsibility. Besides I need you two here in case something goes wrong. They could have all kinds of weird anti-infected stuff, and I don't want one of you to run into it unprepared." Tim held his ground. The assertiveness of the infected pair crumbled under their submissive natures. Tim's demeanor actually turned them on more than he knew, but fortunately, they kept control.

"Could we just...go with you, Timmy? Just up to the fence?" Crystal begged with the biggest puppy-dog expression she could manage.

"Alright, up to the fence, but then you need to hide again. If I'm not back in an hour, or if there's some kind of alarm, assume something went wrong. Do not just charge in, okay? Wait for an opportunity." The man tried to explain, but he couldn't be sure if she heard anything beyond "alright". She was so elated, she nearly kissed him, checking herself and hugging him instead before she made a silly mistake.

The trio rushed low through the dark, open area, dodging stumps on their way to the compromised fence. Under the cover of darkness and the hum of the generators, they made their way through the remains of the meadow, not a whisper betraying their movement.

"Wait. Did you guys say something?" Tim slowed, asking about a voice the others hadn't heard. Ivy noticed, from the corner of her eye, a hint of motion from a small bush nearby, but before she could get her companion's attention, it was too late. The "bush" tossed a small canister at the group before rising from the ground to reveal itself as a man covered in a thick, camouflaging suit. Looking like some kind of swamp monster covered in twigs, leaves, and branches, he stepped from the hole he had been crouched in, levelled his rifle at the intruders, and bathed them in the attached light. As several more "bushes" revealed their true nature, the canister below began to spray its pressurized contents into the air. A thin reddish-brown mist soon enveloped the trio. It had a strange odor to it, faintly musky, but felt thick and humid to breathe. Tim reeled at the overwhelming display, his immediate instinct to run quashed in the face of several armed guards and nowhere to go. Once the gas hit his companions, they immediately crumpled to the ground, as if they were puppets that had their strings cruelly cut. The survivor dove down to check them, the threat of gunfire momentarily forgotten next to the possibility of his friends sudden deaths.

It had never really struck the lone, uninfected man before. In the short time he had spent with the couple, they had come to mean more to him than he had realized. That they were infected, that they constantly teased and tempted him, it didn't really matter. Maybe it was because Crystal was the first person he had talked to in over a week, maybe it was her unexpected vulnerability, or maybe she just gave him hope that perhaps there was a chance for the infected to be saved from their condition, whatever the reason, seeing her mission fulfilled was far more important to him than simply lending a helping hand. Seeing that end so suddenly, so coldly, he wasn't sure he could take it. Even as the soldiers closed in and cut off any possibility of escape, Tim Lane still smiled. The two women, naked amid the grass and wildflowers, were still breathing.