Undiscovered Origins

Undiscovered Origins - Chapter 16

Chapter 16:

            The journey was perilous and very hard on Jade. She felt so sore in muscles she never knew she had. Dismounting for rest for the horses was a rest for her as well. Walking became a struggle and humorous for Drake as he watched her waddle from one place to the next. There were only slight giggles from him but he dared not say a word. In fact every time a muffled chuckle came from his mouth she snapped a glance over at him. Her cheeks would be rosy but eyes fierce, yet every time she looked at him he seemed to be focused on something else entirely.

            They traveled at a much swifter pace than the carriage ride would be, though they had to take more breaks because it tired the horses more so than the carriage. It was also due to the fact that Drake seemed to be in more of a hurry than before, and that made her fret. They didn’t force the horses to run, but a medium gallop the entire day and rest at night with feed and water. Still it was faster than a calm trot of pulling a carriage and harder on the mares, even with the reduction weight.

            Weariness was taking her and she finally blurted her mind as Drake washed a mare, “If you are indeed a wyvern, why do not you turn into one and you fly us to the sea!”

            A smile bounced on his lips as he looked back at her, and continued to wash and brush his black mare, “Jade, you forget I am only a half breed. It is true I can transform into a wyvern, but my hold over the shift isn’t permanent. I have man in my blood as well. I can only be in wyvern’s form for a short while. I am still new to the transformation and cannot hold it for long. Unless you fancy falling to the ground at excruciating heights; I suggest we continue with our current path.”

            Anger flared on her face and she mumbled something turning away from him. She decided to lose herself in her own thoughts as she showed her own mare attention. Reluctantly and unsure, she began rinsing her horse in the stream’s water and brushing her.

“Us women need to stick together.” She muttered into her mare’s ear.

            The short hair of the mare was soft to the touch and it soothed her, even comforted her, which was strange because it seemed the horse was the one who should feel comfort. The horse’s eye looked at Jade and it caused her to smile. She felt more comfortable with the horse than the man that rode the journey with her.

            After bathing her mare entirely she felt like a wash herself. The stream was thin but deep just past her knees and the current wasn’t strong. She glanced over at Drake who seemed oblivious to her petting his black mare. She sighed and silently removed her white cotton shirt and black skirt and hung them over her mare. Next she slipped out of her black laced undergarments, and set them atop the rest of her clothes on the horse.

            She dropped into the water and her naked skin shivered at the coldness of the water. Spreading the water around herself she shivered. It was cold but it felt good at the same time. Besides she knew that Drake could always warm her up if need be. Only if need be. Her bosom jiggled as she rinsed them and she had the feeling of wandering eyes upon her. Turning to her side she was glad to find she was completely covered by her mare. The horse seemed to kneel to cover her as she knelt.

            She finished washing up and noticed seemingly for the first time the fact that her body was hairless except for the hair on her head. There weren’t any light hairs of her arms, legs, or even above her groin which she knew many girls did have. She knew because she had changed around plenty of them, including Autumn, who even though she was blond, had hair growing above her groin. She never noticed the fact she didn’t have any until now. She began to wonder if it was because she was a dryad.

            She looked at her reflection in the running water and for only an instant her hair did not look the dark brown it always appeared, but for a time it looked green. It seemed to match the leaves of the oak trees in the forest and she gasped. The color seemed to fade away as recognition hit her and it became a distant memory. Her dark brown hair remained. She shook her head and stood up suddenly, forgetting about her nakedness and her mare covering her. She stood above the mare now and faced right at Drake. His eyes caught her and were lowered well below her eyes.

            Heat took her face and the reddest blush she ever held came across her cheeks. She rushed her hands up to cover her chest, although her small hands could barely contain her bosom. Now it only seemed his gaze was struck at her nipples poking out from her hand.

            Her mare steadily raised coming to her rescue and blocking her bare body from Drake’s gaze. His face seemed to finally unfreeze and he coughed and petted his mare behind her ear. His hand seemed shaky and she could easily notice the bulge that became the crotch of his pants.

            “A little privacy please.” She muttered.

            Drake coughed, “Of course.”

            He ushered his mare out of the stream and grabbed something from the saddle bag that he tossed to her. Unwarily she caught it. It was a shirt of his. She didn’t understand why he carried so many shirts with him when he never wore one. It didn’t make any sense to her. 

            “Thank you.” She mumbled as she dried herself off with his unworn shirt.

            Quickly, she put her clothes back on and walked out of the stream with her horse. She was still damp but not as wet as she could have been without Drake’s shirt. She tossed it at Drake who seemed to be preoccupied because he didn’t notice it until it clanked against the side of his head. He seemed to stop daydreaming and gave her a glance before picking up the shirt. She didn’t like the glance he had given her. His eyes never made their way all the way up to hers.

            “Hmmph… if you’re quite done daydreaming about me, I suggest we move on. You can keep daydreaming because that is the only way you’ll see me like that again.” She stammered.

            He smirked as he watched her climb on her horse and trotted off well ahead of him. He saddled himself and jumped on his mare gently petting her mane.

            “We shall see Ms. Jade… we shall see.” He whispered low.