Lovers, Friends, Travel Buddies, Lovers: A Montage of Sorts

They covered a lot of distance that day. By afternoon they'd made it about a quarter of the way to the edge of the queendom of the cows, and though they'd slowed down by nightfall they were pleased with the progress they'd made.

It'd been rough going, at first: though Joy sometimes sojourned out of the compound to go on raids (as was the case with Grimm's capture) she primarily worked as a cook, not an adventurer, so it took a while for her to find her journeying legs. She tripped over rocks and roots -- offering copious apologies every time she stumbled; she slipped down a hill; she nearly fell in a pond at one point while trying to sketch a duck... But Joy was competent, and when she found her rhythm she kept up with Grimm without difficulty.

But now it was late, and they were tired. The packs slung over Grimm's back were heavy, and while this would normally pose little to no issue for a bull of his size, traveling with them for so long without really resting was taking its toll.

They quickly set up camp near the edge of a copse. This way, they could get firewood and replenish their supply if needed. They worked together in setting up the tent, then went about their separate tasks. Grimm set up a bonfire while Joy laid down bedrolls and got out her cooking supplies. Grimm was excited -- it only clicked that his companion was an accomplished cook after they had already left the compound. He was eager to share a meal with Joy beneath the stars.

Once everything was set up, Grimm helped Joy make dinner. Truth be told there was little for him to actually do: Joy was an old hand at this, quickly chopping and depositing the various ingredients with a deftness that stunned the great bull. Sure, he could knock a guy unconscious with a single punch, or heft heavy weights over hills and streams for hours on end; but when it came to cooking, he was hopeless. Even after a life spent adventuring, Grimm could barely make anything worth eating. Joy, on the other hand, managed to conjure up a delicious meal using only a few ingredients and little prep time. They sat next to each other by the fire, eating and chatting.

A twig snapped nearby. Joy looked over her shoulder, suddenly nervous. Grimm reassured her: "It's probably a rabbit, or a fox," he said. "They can smell the food." Joy looked to be pleased with that answer.

After their meal, Grimm and Joy packed up their utensils. Then they rested under a night sky awash with stars, 'neath a full moon. Grimm was on his bedroll, on his back, Joy curled up against him.

"This is nice," Joy said softly. She kissed the side of Grimm's neck. "If you'd asked me a few days ago what I'd be doing with a guy I technically kidnapped, this would not be it."

"'Technically' kidnapped?" Grimm asked, teasing. "What was 'technical' about it?"

Joy giggled. "I mean, you were totally into it."

"After a while. I was terrified at first."

She snorted. "Were not."

"Okay, I wasn't terrified." He smiled broadly. "But I was annoyed, to be honest." He yawned. "I was working a job, and I'd just had a very... interesting encounter with the woman who'd hired me, so I was vulnerable. I'm not used to being vulnerable."

"Says the guy who was naked for several days."

He squeezed her. "That was an unusual circumstance."

"How was your encounter... interesting?"

"Well, usually when I get hired to go on an adventure I don't end up fighting, and then having sex with, the person who hired me."

"Professional courtesy?"

"Eh, it's mostly 'cause most of the people who hire me are ugly old men or wizards, that kind of thing."

Joy giggled. "But this client was special?"

"She was."

"Tell me about her."

"Her name's Mars. She's a cow, and she can fight. Among other things."

Joy sat up a little. "Wait, her name's Mars?"

"Yeah," Grimm replied. "Why?"

"Did she have red hair? A nose ring?"

"Yeah... do you know her?"

"I do," Joy said. A look crossed over her face. It confused Grimm -- it wasn't anger, necessarily, or even fear... something more like concern, crossed with disappointment. "She, umm... she used to be one of us."

Grimm looked at her. "Wait, Mars was a Raider?"

"Sort of. We weren't always Reese's Raiders, Grimm. Reese used to be the co-leader."

"And Mars --"

"Was her equal, yeah. And then one day she disappeared."

"Why?"

"No one knows. Maybe Reese does, but she won't tell us. She was heartbroken when Mars left. Inconsolable."

"Really?" Grimm was surprised. The thought of a haughty cow like Reese being inconsolably sad...

"Yes." Mars looked up at the sky. "It's so weird, the way we've been tied together. I wonder if we would have met even if I hadn't helped kidnap you." She giggled again, realizing the absurdity of what she'd just said. "I mean, you were hired by someone I love." She looked down at him again. "Crazy, huh?"

"Yeah," Grimm said, smiling up at his companion. His lover. "Crazy." He put his hand on her cheek and guided her down to him. Their lips locked. They closed their eyes, savoring the moment.

"Y'know, Grimm, we're alone now..." Joy said once the moment ended. She was tracing lazy lines down Grimm's torso.

"Yeah?" Grimm pressed his hand against the small of Joy's back and squeezed. She purred with delight.

"Yeah," was all she said, before bringing her lips to his again. Her hands were at her tunic, pulling it up over her head. Once she was free she discarded the garment, then went to work on her shorts. Grimm helped her along, arching his back to give her room. He was pulling his pants down, too, refusing to part from his lover despite their proximity forcing them to do everything awkwardly.

Soon they were both naked. Joy's myriad tattoos gleamed in the moonlight. She was beautiful.

"Joy," was the only word on Grimm's lips, before another kiss stifled whatever would follow. His hand went between his companion's legs. She responded in kind, finding his member and taking it in her hands. They moaned into each other's mouths as they stroked each other, pleasured one another, melted into one another...

The moon was a spotlight on the lovers as they consecrated the night. The wind was cool and calm and bristled their fur, tickled the extremities that stiffened at its touch.

Joy was atop Grimm, taking his length inside of her, head thrown back in ecstasy. His hands were at her breasts, groping and squeezing them, slick with the occasional beads of milk that formed on her taut nipples. Cow and bull both moaned and gasped with every thrust, every tickle of wind, unbelieving of the silence and the privacy and the absolute perfection of this night. She'd been riding him for a while, wanting to draw things out as long as she could before they both inevitably came.

"Grimm," she moaned, letting the word drip from her lips like water from a faucet. "Griiimmm..." He smiled up at her, mesmerized by her beauty, by her energy.

"Joy." His voice was soft, carried off by the wind. He struggled to say her name again, cut off by a sharp gasp that forced its way out of his mouth.

They were close. Joy brought herself low, pressed her lips to Grimm's, and squeezed against him as tight as she could as her juices slicked his cock. She rolled off of him as he came, taking his aching cock between her hands and jerking as load after load of semen spurted into the air.

Another twig snapped.

Joy was panting as she finished Grimm off, furiously jerking. She wasn't done with him, not by a long sight. She kissed him again, and again, and again, before locking lips with him for a long moment, continuing to work him with her hand.

Then she looked up, and gasped. "Grimm," she said, trying to stay quiet. "Someone's coming."

Grimm barely had time to react.