Eventually

The remaining few days of travel will be something you remember fondly for the rest of your days. The general feelings of love and friendship you have with each woman, and seeing how well they get along with each other made the remainder of the trip more fun then you thought tedious walking could be. The general routine remained unchanged. You'd wake up, help with some training, breakfast, some more training, sex, travel until you found somewhere to camp, dinner, more sex, and sleep. The major difference was during the times of actual travel. The mood had changed and you really felt like you were on an adventure now.

On the third day after you'd emotionally opened up the bluff and river came into view. The group seemed both excited and nervous at what you might find. It occurs to you that you really have no idea what it might even be, and what that entails. Was there going to be traps maybe? Possibly already looted? Looking at the map though you were basically right on top of it leaving no doubt that is the bluff you need to head towards. As the day continues you finally reach the bluff. It's a bittersweet event. Although you finally made it, the reality of now enacting your plan and just how long it will take hits you.

"Well we finally made it" you say looking around.

"Yah...now what" Jane is the first to ask. You have to chuckle a little knowing the rest probably feel similar.

"Well I think today we find a good place to set up camp, and tomorrow we start looking for this hidden place on the bluff" you reply.

"What are we looking for exactly" Annabel chimes in.

"Honestly I don't know. Doors of some sort, a cave maybe. It might be hidden, or right out in the open. We'll just have to investigate anything that catches our eye" you reply.

"Since we've finally made it why don't we celebrate a little bit tonight" Rene suggests. "We have some alcohol we haven't touched" she adds.

"A little fun sounds good to me" Yvette agrees.

"Ok, I'll whip up a celebratory meal tonight" Annabel says pulling some packs off of Bruce.

Taking your cues from Annabel the rest of you start setting up camp as well. The tent goes up fairly easily, so you start looking around a little. You notice some wild wheat and other plants that will be beneficial. Scanning the bluff you don't notice any giant metal doors or anything obvious at first glance, but you're still hopeful it'll be easy to find when you actually start looking.

"Hey" you hear Yvette call to get your attention. You turn just in time to catch a practice sword she threw at you.

"Got time for a little practice" she asks smirking. You also notice the other girls smirking so you know something is up.

"Of course" you answer adopting a defensive pose.

Yvette doesn't waste any time and charges. She swings down with all her might forcing you to deflect her swing rather than block it. She follows it up by spinning around and slashing at your midsection forcing you to retreat backwards to avoid it. Still pressing the attack she stalks forward. You notice that same determination in her eyes you'd been seeing lately.

"You're a lot more aggressive lately I've noticed" you say parrying a thrust from her downwards. She immediately reverses it and swipes upwards. She definitely doesn't appear to be holding back as any of those would have hurt had she connected. You step back dodging the upswing, and anticipating her swinging back down you step forward to catch her wrist as she swings back down with your left hand.

"What's going on" you ask her. Yvette doesn't reply and instead drops her sword to catch it with her other hand. Being a little exposed with her clever maneuver you are forced to spin around behind her and you defensively position your sword where you assume she'll swing. Unfortunately you defended your torso and she went low. You feel a snap of pain as she hits the back of your knee knocking you off balance down to your knee. With surprising speed and grace she has her practice sword on your neck and a stunned look on her face.

"Is everything ok" you ask. Her stunned look switches to pure joy as she drops her sword and tackles you to the ground. She starts kissing you almost immediately, and you can't help but laugh a little as she kisses you. She finally pushes herself up to straddle your waist smiling brightly.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on yet" you ask smiling back.

"It's...a custom in my clan. When a bonded pair want to make it official one of them will give the other a weapon. It is a challenge of sorts. To see if the person is good enough to be with them. That person then must beat them in combat" she smiles shyly.

"So you've been trying to beat me in our training to prove you're good enough for me" you ask. She nods her head to confirm it, then a teasing smirk crosses her face.

"And I get to hold it over your head that I beat you" she giggles. You smile back at her and briefly wonder how it works if you weren't trying to win yourself, but you realize that is probably how it happens sometimes. You were sure there were people who wouldn't officially bond with someone who couldn't beat them, but there were probably plenty who just let them win too. Yvette leans down and places a kiss on your lips clearing your mind of all thoughts. She breaks the kiss and stares lovingly down at you.

"So if we are official now, does that mean I can give you a gift" you ask.

"You can give me a gift any time you want" she chuckles "Why? What are you planning" she asks looking suddenly serious.

"I want to try removing your collar" you answer. Yvette seems confused for a moment, and her hand immediately moves to her collar. She strokes it for a moment and closes her eyes in thought.

"No" she finally says when she opens her eyes to look at you. You're confused as there is no playfulness in her voice or expression.

"I...I want to keep it...for now" she says softly.

"I don't understand. It's a symbol of your slavery" you begin protesting. You look to the others for support, but all you see is eye rolling. There is clearly something you are missing.

"Can you explain why you want to keep it" you say reaching out and holding her free hand.

"It is a symbol of slavery as you say, but it also symbolizes that I belong to you" she answers.

"Is that not the same thing" you ask still confused.

"Yes and no" she responds. Then it hits you. Traditionally a person owns a slave's body, but you can never own their mind unless you force that somehow...or they give it to you willingly. She essentially considers it to be like a wedding ring from your old world, which makes you wonder if that is a thing in this world. Pushing that aside you know you need to make sure you understand.

"So you see it as a symbol of giving yourself to me fully, and not as the traditional symbol of forcefully owning you" you ask. Yvette smiles and a tear streaks down her cheek as she nods her head. You lift your hand up and cup her cheek as you wipe it away. She grabs your hand and holds it against her cheek as more tears come. You sit yourself up and wrap your arms around her, and she presses tightly against you as she sobs into your shoulder.

"I'M SO HAPPYYYYYYYYY" she sobs. You cradle her head and look around at the others. Tears streak each of their cheeks as they smile at the display of affection. It takes a few minutes for Yvette to calm herself down. She rubs her eyes to clear them, gives you a peck on lips, and then stands up holding her hand out to help you up as you stand up as well. The remaining girls set back to whatever task they were doing, although with smiles on their faces now.

With your own smile you can't seem to get rid of, or really want to get rid of, you set yourself to the task of getting the campsite as livable as you can.