Page 12 of Semi-Human

I eye the two horses suspiciously. We’re at a small ranch outside of High Hope since Lyla doesn’t want us walking all the way to their village.

“I’ve never ridden on one of these,” I say.

“Not much to it once you get the hang of it,”

Lyla says. “We can only get these two, so you and River will share one.”

River rubs my back. “I’ll sit behind you.”

“But I don’t know how to ride a horse.”

“I’m not worried.”

But I am.

I might have been less worried if our designated black stallion didn’t have two tails, bright red eyes, and was bigger than any normal horse. At least River and I won’t be too uncomfortable on such a broad back.

We place our gear on both sides of the horses after the owner saddles them for us. He gives me a few pointers on how to hold the reins and which commands to use, but I feel a mutant stallion should come with a few extra rules. My ribs have mostly healed, but I still grunt as I climb on the stallion’s back. River elegantly climbs behind me, placing his palms on my hips.

We leave the ranch and slowly ride toward the main road. I’m holding the reins so tightly, my palms hurt.

“Relax, I won’t let you fall.”

River slides his hands beneath my shirt, reaching for my chest.

“I need to concentrate.”

“Me too. This helps.”

He pinches my nipples.

I shake my head, but focusing on his touch makes me think less of falling. People get out of our way on the crowded road, but I breathe easier once we leave the commotion behind.

When we stop to eat at noon, River helps me replace the bandage around my arm.

“I should practice my shooting,”

I say, remembering how I fucked up when I needed to handle the two Raiders.

River says, “Then go practice. No one’s around.”

I walk to a clearing in the woods and place rocks on a fallen log, each one slightly smaller than the last. I stand back and raise the pistol, aware of River coming to watch. As I feared, moving my trigger finger still feels stiff. I draw a breath and fire. The rock I aimed at flies back. Surprised, I refocus myself and aim at the smaller rock next to it. Once more, I hit my target, sending the rock flying. It takes me two attempts to hit the last one, but I don’t think I would have done better even before my injury. My arm hurts, but I welcome the pain because I no longer feel incapable.

“Did you see it?”

I ask as River comes closer.

“I knew you could still shoot.”

“Now you try.”

I place new rocks on the log, then return to hand River the pistol. “Let’s see how well you Enhanced can—”

Without breaking our eye contact, he fires three shots. I turn to look, and all three rocks are no longer on the log.

“You were lucky.”

He lowers the pistol and takes a step closer. “I feel lucky.”

I pull him for a kiss, then ask, “How are you otherwise?”

“I’m better. It’s hard for me to stay sad for long.”

“When was the last time you were home?”

“Four months ago. Since then I’ve been trying to find the best way to reach your people, and then I met Finn when I heard him cursing in the woods.”

“Why was he cursing?”

“He was alone after escaping his parents and the Raiders, and he couldn’t start a fire to get warm. I offered to help, and he said he’d stab me if I tried anything. We journeyed together after that.”

“And did you and Finn… do things like you and I are doing?”

He seems uncomfortable. “Yes, but it wasn’t the same.”

I have no right being bothered, but I am. Perhaps it’s the wake-up call I needed since we never committed to anything more serious than a fling on the road.

I manage a feeble smile. “It’s fine. We best head back.”

He grabs my hand when I start to walk. “It wasn’t the same with him. I swear on Mother that this is very special to me, Josh.”

I’m caught off guard. He wouldn’t have sworn on Mother if it wasn’t important. I push back my doubts because he hasn’t given me a single reason to doubt him. “I believe you. This is also special to me.”

“I said very special.”

“Oh, well, I meant extremely special.”

He smiles. “Good.”

We return to ride, and I grow more confident in my riding skills, though I still welcome River’s touch beneath my shirt. As we travel further north, the pines become denser, forcing us to stick to old roads that haven’t been overrun by sprawling vegetation, though they will eventually. Unchallenged, nature slowly lays claim to everything humans once made their own.

When we come across a highway late in the afternoon, I feel River tensing behind me. He sniffs. “There’s something bad up ahead.”

There are too many cars for me to see anything. “Should we find another way?”

“We best check it out,”

Lyla says.

We continue to ride carefully between rusty cars, and I’m also beginning to notice the awful smell. It grows so thick, I feel it in the back of my throat. What we end up finding stops us dead in our tracks. I’ve seen crucifixion before—Raiders do that close to their territory to scare people off—but there isn’t a Raiders’ base around as far as I know.

Three of the people were crucified on wooden crosses, but many others were tied to the railings. Blood covers the pavement, with hundreds of flies hovering above it. Crows pick at eye sockets while a coyote has its snout deep in a woman’s stomach. The sound of chewing is sickening. I try not to gag, hoping those people died before they were left like this, but I’m doubtful. Pure evil was behind this.

“Look.”

Lyla points to a dirty gray van. Someone sprayed the words, All hail the coming of the GIANTS!

“It’s like them to do that,”

she says with a sigh.

“Like whom?” I ask.

“The New-Humans,”

River says. “They like to mess with people’s minds.”

“But what’s the point of doing this out here?”

“If people are scared, they are more likely to surrender.”

Lyla navigates her horse away from the highway. “They’re spreading terror in advance, and it will make it easier for them when they finally get here.”

Which means they are planning to get here.

I give one last fearful look at the hellish scene before turning the horse around.

*

It’s around noon the following day when River’s hold on me suddenly tightens.

I jolt. “What is it?”

“Sorry. I… Lyla! I hear her!”

She stops her horse with a frown, then her face softens, her eyes turning glazy. I turn my head back to see the same expression on River’s face, but his dreamy smile keeps me from worrying. After a minute, he blinks and meets my gaze. “I spoke with Mother!”

“Is she okay?”

“No,”

Lyla says. “It takes her longer to answer, but it might improve once we’re closer to the village. We better double our speed if we want to get there before nighttime.”

“Maybe River should ride if you two want to go faster.”

We climb down to switch. When I’m behind him, he takes my hands and slides them underneath his shirt. “You can touch me on the way.”

The minute we resume riding, I understand why River wanted me to hold the reins. His riding is wild and careless, making me hold on for dear life with my eyes shut tight. I understand his excitement and eagerness, but I’ve never been more sure I was about to fall to my death.

Somehow, I remain seated for the next couple of hours, until River calls, “I can hear them! They’re talking to me.”

“Great,”

I say. “Can we take it slower now?”

“What? Oh.”

I sigh in relief as we return to normal speed and I’m finally able to take in our surroundings. Thick mist covers the ground, and the setting sun casts elongated shadows through it. “Are we close?”

“Yes,”

River says. “They’re sending the ferry to get us.”

“We can’t reach your village without a ferry?”

“It’s on an island.”

“River.”

Lyla sounds tense. “They don’t like this.”

I assume that by this she means me. I wonder if they’d prevent me from entering the village, but I knew the risk of such an outcome. Still, I’m growing fearful.

“It doesn’t matter if they like it,”

River says firmly. “It will be okay.” He glances back at me. “I promise.”

“I’m with you.”

And it’s not like I have other options at the moment. I’ve never been so far from home, so clueless about where I am.

We move carefully through the mist until I notice a lake ahead, with the silhouettes of a settlement about a mile from shore. Even though dusk is near, I see no lights. By the time we stop at the waterbank, a ferry is making its way toward us. It has a single small cabin, its motor cutting through the eerie silence.

“You think the horses will fit on it?” I ask.

“Yes, if they agree to come on board.”

River climbs down, and I follow suit. “You’re nervous.” He places his palm over my heart. “They won’t hurt you.”

I’m not worried about getting hurt—I’m worried about getting sent back, and assuming I’m allowed in, I’m worried about making a fool of myself. What the hell do I know about diplomatic discussions? Dino should have been here instead.

The ferry reaches the shore, making the horses nervous. A stocky man with copper hair and a thick beard walks across the deck toward us.

“Use your speaking words,”

River says in annoyance, making me think he has already asked the newcomer that.

The man, who seems to be in his fifties, sighs and says, “You’re making a mistake, River.”

“We will swim if we need to.”

I glance at the dark water in concern.

“Nobody’s swimming,”

Lyla says and guides her horse forward. “Josh was invited by River and me, Oliver, and this is still our home.”

“It is, but both of you left.”

“I was on a journey! I didn’t leave.”

Oliver raises his hands. “I’m not blaming you, River. We all missed you.”

He shakes his head in surrender. “Fine, climb on board. All of you.”

Once we get the two reluctant horses to climb onto the ferry, we head off to the village. River watches his home with a tight jaw, not looking happy. I wonder how many conversations and fights are taking place in his head.

People wait by the dock, all copper-haired and pale-skinned. I feel their eyes focus on me, an almost telepathic animosity. I look away from their stares, my stomach churning.

We stop at the dock and lead the horses out. I count more than twenty Semi-Humans, almost all of them carry similarities to River and Lyla’s features, but only one appears much older than the rest. The village seems bigger than I expected, though it’s hard to see much with barely any light.

“This is Josh Bennett,”

River says, putting his hand on my shoulder. “He’s a Defender from the Hive Unity and my friend.”

All eyes shift to me. I straighten and clear my throat. “Nice to meet you all.”

I almost thank them for inviting me, but who am I kidding?

The oldest man, who has most of his copper hair gone, steps forward. His long robe is plain white. His short beard is gray, but some copper still shows here and there. “Welcome, Josh from Unity. I am Richmond, the head of our council. Your journey must have been long. River, you should take your friend to rest.”

“We need to talk.”

“And we will,”

Richmond tells River. “First you and us, and tomorrow, we will talk with your guest.”

“He shouldn’t be here,”

a woman says angrily. “Letting a Defender into our home is sickening.”

I look away from the hatred in her eyes, my face hot.

She adds, “River has overstepped his boundaries. Again.”

“I did not!”

“Enough.”

Richmond raises his hand in peace. “Our brother and sister have returned after a long absence. We will not fight on this joyful occasion. River, please take your guest to your house.”

We collect our gear and walk deeper into the village. The houses are all made of wood, and most have gardens at the front.

“It’s dark,”

I whisper. With the sun almost gone, I expect to see more light on the streets and from the houses.

“We can see fine in the dark, so we don’t usually bother with lights.”

He holds my hand as we pass through what seems like the main square. There are a few people out, watching us in silence. River waves, but only a few wave back.

“My house is over there.”

Like the rest of the structures in the village, River’s house is one story tall. Pink and blue flowers cover most of its walls, stretching from the ground to the roof. It’s close to the water, surrounded by a wooden fence I’m sure he built himself. River opens the small gate and takes a deep breath. “My home! Do you see my pretty garden? Oh, wait—I have light.”

He rushes to open the front door, which isn’t locked. A lamp lights up above the porch, and I can see the garden better. River comes out to join me and points. “Lettuce, carrots, cabbage, and beets. There’s some basil over there and coneflower on the other side, but I don’t eat that. The flowers are farther away because their roots compete with the vegetables.”

I take it all in, remembering my small apartment in a hundred-year-old gray building. “I really like it. You should be proud.”

He hugs me. “I’m very proud! Come inside.”

His home is simple, but there’s a cozy feeling around. The bedroom faces the lake while the living room faces the garden. There are a lot of books on shelves, which surprises me.

“Did you read all of those?”

“Yes. I collected them on my journeys, and people from the village can borrow them.”

He frowns at the door. “I need to go—they’re waiting to speak with me in person. Will you be okay until I’m back? You can take a shower. I have clean clothes in the closet.”

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

He kisses me. “I’m happy you’re here. It doesn’t matter if no one likes you yet.”

“Hmm, thanks.”

Once alone, I shut my eyes and let my body relax, inhaling the sweet scent of wood. I stretch my legs because I can still feel the horse’s back between them after so many hours of riding.

The shower is bigger than Lyla’s, with little bottles of soap nicely arranged. I’m relieved the water is warm, since I know River doesn’t mind the cold. I’m not sure if we’ll attempt sex tonight, but to be on the safe side, I slip a finger inside, enduring the discomfort as the water cleans me up. It felt much better when it was his finger probing me.

Once done, I dry myself and replace the bandage around my arm. Now that I know I can still shoot despite the burn, I’m less bothered by it.

In the bedroom, I browse through River’s closet and pick up clothes that seem comfortable. His chest is slightly narrower than mine, making the shirt a bit tight. Fully dressed, I step into the living room to check out the books. I only ever read fiction or history, but River’s taste is more varied, including a handful of books about science and space. I stop at a large book that catches my eye. Comet in Moominland. It’s a children’s book, and I remember it being the reason why River picked up the harmonica.

I take the book to the bedroom and sit on the comfortable bed with my back to the headboard. I’m shocked to discover the book was first published in 1946, in a place called Finland. I wonder if it’s closer to the east coast. I browse through the pages, which contain both text and illustrations of weird and cute creatures that must be the Moomins. I stop when I come across a human boy with a pointy hat sitting on a log and playing the harmonica. It’s the one River told me about—Snufkin. I find myself reading the same line a few times. Snufkin sat on a stone by the river and played his mouth-organ. It was a sad tune, but he was not sad himself.

I’m not surprised when River returns shortly after—he has already explained how quickly his people could communicate. He enters the bedroom holding a tray. “I’ve brought food for my prisoner! Oh, you found the Moomins.”

“I was just reading about Snufkin.”

River puts the tray on the nightstand and comes to sit beside me. “I like him the most, but also Moomintroll. They’re best friends. Can I read you the story later?”

“Sure.”

He sniffs my neck. “You smell nice.”

“I’ve used your soap.”

“You smell better than my soap.”

He rests his head on my shoulder and sighs. “I don’t like fighting.”

“It didn’t go well?”

“They’re being stubborn.”

“Well, what about the attack on Mother?”

“They don’t think that fighting back would stop that, only make things worse. It’s like they’ve given up. I hate them sometimes.”

I know he doesn’t mean that, but I share his frustration. “They’ve gotten used to living here peacefully, and we’re asking them to risk everything.”

“Better to risk everything when you have someone to fight by your side than wait and fight alone.”

“True, but will they still speak with me?”

“Yes, but some might not be nice.”

I smile at the way he says that, as if someone not being nice to me is a crime. “I can handle that.”

“I know you can.”

He holds my hand and brings it to his lips for a kiss. “Come eat.”

We sit at the round kitchen table. The food is mostly cooked vegetables, hazelnuts, and cheese. It’s delicious, and I’m starving.

“Do you like my house?”

River asks as I chew.

“S’great.”

“I built it with some of the others when I was fourteen. I wanted it to be close to the water and with enough space for a garden. Lyla did most of the work on the roof.”

I look around me, picturing a young River building something of his own. In the Hive, we wait in line to get assigned a small apartment, but at least it motivates us to work harder for an upgrade.

“I’ll show you around the village tomorrow morning,”

River says. “There’s much to see.” He takes a piece of yam and holds it for me to eat. I grab it with my mouth, sucking on his fingers.

He suddenly frowns at the front door then gets up to open it. “I’ll ask him,”

he says before turning to me. “Would you mind speaking with Rowan? He’s from the council.”

I stand up and wipe my hands with a napkin. “Sure.”

A man with short copper hair and a round, friendly face steps inside. He seems to be in his forties, and something about him strikes me as familiar, though I can’t imagine how.

“Hello, Josh.”

He shakes my hand. “River told us great things about you. At length.”

I smile. “Nice to meet you.”

The three of us sit at the table, and Rowan asks, “Have you been settling in?”

“Yes. I’m excited to see more of the village tomorrow.”

“I’m sure you’ll be impressed. Like River, I also travel a lot, but I haven’t found anything quite like our village.”

“Where have you traveled?”

“I’ve been alive for a very long time, so I’ve been all over: Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona. Some people there don’t even use those old names, but I know my history.”

“Rowan is as old as Richmond,”

River says.

I don’t understand how, since Rowan seems about thirty years younger, but then I remember River mentioning that one of them has an enhancement that prevents him from getting old.

“I’d say Arizona was my favorite place,”

Rowan says. “They don’t have Raiders there, though they have some local gangs.”

“I’ve never been so far,”

I say. “We tend to stay around our Hives.”

“I heard mentions of Hives down south, but I’ve yet to meet a Hiver until now.”

We are aware of the existence of more Hives outside of Colorado, but we can’t communicate with them, making them more myth than reality.

Rowan clears his throat. “I would like to apologize for our less-than-friendly welcome, Josh. Most of us have never met a human before, and having one show up at our door… that’s a lot to take in.”

River shifts uncomfortably.

“I understand,”

I say. “I’ll keep a low profile until the council is ready to speak with me.”

Rowan shakes his head. “No need for that. It will do my people good seeing you around, especially with River and Lyla vouching for you. When you speak with the council, be calm and clear. Doubt and hesitation won’t get you anywhere. All you should aim for at this point is for our people to talk—stick to that message and you might get what you and River came here for.”

“We need them to do more than just talk,”

River says.

“You can either be right, or you can be smart. First a conversation, then negotiation.”

Rowen rises to his feet. “I’ve taken enough of your time. It was nice meeting you, Josh. Welcome home, River.”

Once he’s gone, I say to River, “He was nice.”

He shrugs. “He’s fine, I suppose, but he’s one of those who don’t speak with Mother.”

“Why’s that?”

He crosses his arms. “They say she’s an echo of the past, just a ghost.”

And isn’t she? I stop the words from leaving my mouth. “As long as you can speak with her, that’s what matters.”

He nods. “I’ve been speaking with her since we came close to the village, but Lyla was right—it takes her longer to answer, as if she’s tired.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I know that we can help her. I have faith. Do you want to eat some more?”

“No, I’m good.”

I rub my palms over my thighs. “Hmm, do you maybe want to move to the bedroom?”

“What can we do in the bedroom?”

“Well…”

“You’re blushing!”

He comes to sit on my lap, his arms around my shoulders. “That was how I knew you liked me.”

“I don’t follow.”

“In the morning after we met, when you woke up and saw me in the lake, you were blushing.”

“That doesn’t mean I liked you.”

“Your pheromone levels were also high.”

I have no idea what he’s talking about, but I trust that he does. “So, when we kissed a few days later…”

“I already knew you were attracted to me.”

He frowns. “Was that wrong of me? I can’t control it.”

“I know you can’t. I’ll get used to it.”

I stroke his cheek, loving the softness of his skin. “Last time we had a bed, we started something…”

He purses his lips. “Did we? I don’t remember.”

“Liar. You said you remember everything. Do you want me to beg for it?”

He shifts his ass against my growing erection. “You don’t need to beg with me.”

He nibbles on my lower lip. “I want you to like it here so you’ll want to come back.”

“Of course I will.”

It dawns on me how naive that statement is. We wish to convince his people to join my people in war. Who the hell knows if we’d be able to return, or even survive?

“You’re scared. Don’t be.”

I sigh. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

“Yes, but I know we’ll be okay.”

He rubs his nose with mine. “Give me your tongue, please.”

I stick it out for him to suck on, feeling my face melt. When he pulls back, I push us up from the chair, surprised by how light he is. “I thought you’d be heavier.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re strong.”

“But not in my belly.”

I carry him to the bedroom and lay him down on the bed. With his eyes on me, I remove my clothes, then watch as he removes his.

I’ve seen him naked a lot by now, yet my pulse still quickens every time.

“Pheromones!”

he calls. “So many pheromones!”

I jump on him, covering his body with mine. “Not fair.”

“But you can tell on me, too.”

He grinds his erection against my stomach, and I guess he’s right.

“I want to lick you,”

he says, “like sweet candy.”

I move to lie with my head on the pillow. River slides close to my feet, kissing them softly. My cock pulses as he licks and nibbles his way up my legs and thighs. I gasp when he sucks on each of my balls, then travels with his tongue up to my cock, stomach, and chest. He kisses the bit of hair I have on my pecs before going all in on my nipples.

I grip the pillow tightly, letting him hear my pleasure. My cock rubs against his body, leaving wet spots on his skin. As soon as his mouth hovers over mine, I raise my head to capture his lips, kissing him hungrily. Soon, we’re rolling on the bed, arms and legs tangled.

Once I have River lying on his back, he asks, “Which parts of me do you like the most?”

“Which part?”

“Parts. There’s got to be more than one!”

I hold back a laugh, loving his blunt lack of modesty. “Let’s see…”

I touch his bicep, though he’s more lean than buff. “I love the skin above your armpit, and your hair here…” I run my fingers between the light brownish hair underneath his arm, feeling the slight dampness of his skin.

He smiles. “Go on.”

“I love how pink your nipples are, and how they sometimes stick out through your shirt when it’s cold.”

I pinch one of them, making it harden. “I love the shape of your chest and your elegant neck. The little dimples in your cheeks. Your lips are soft and great for kissing.”

“And for sucking your penis.”

“True.”

I travel over his flat stomach with my fingers. “Your abs. Your cute belly button. Your soft pubes. Your beautiful cock, and your smooth balls.” I cup them in my palm. “I love the feel of them.”

“And my knees?”

I look down. “Your knees?”

“Don’t you like them at all?”

I laugh. “Yeah, I can’t get enough of your knees. Should I compliment your internal organs now?”

“Save some for later.”

He pushes himself up on his elbows. “I feel pretty when you look at me.”

“As you should.”

He chews on his bottom lip, and I know him well enough to guess what he wants to say. I wrap my palm around his cock. “Would you like to fuck me?”

He inhales sharply. “Very much so.”

“Alright, then. Hmm, do you have something for me to use as—?”

“Sit on my face.”

Oh God.

I’ve never had anything like that done to me before. Nervous, I maneuver myself above River’s face while he’s lying with his head on the pillow. “Are you sure?”

He responds by lowering me to his mouth.

I grip the headboard, gasping as the tip of his tongue presses against my opening. He swirls his tongue and brushes it against me in ways that make me lightheaded. I almost lose it when he slips the tip inside.

“Fuck me,” I pant.

“Finger first.”

He slips one into me, and I welcome the subtle pain. I’m so ready for this to happen that I barely grimace as he slips another finger in. I rock my hips up and down, moaning as he probes deeper and wiggles his fingers inside me. It might just be my ass who’s getting fingered, but my entire body shares the sensation.

River moves my hips back a bit and begins sucking on my balls.

“River, fuck!”

He sucks harder, his fingers dancing inside me, slipping in and out with ease. I grip the headboard so tightly that I worry I’m about to break the wood.

“I’m… I’m gonna shoot… River, fuck me already.”

He gives one final, long lick to my balls, then nudges me back. His chin and mouth are wet, his hair spread on the pillow.

“Are you worried?”

he asks, stroking my legs.

“A bit.”

My attempts with Caden hadn’t been successful, making this my first time having sex. “I know you’ll take it slow at the beginning.”

He nods. “Of course, like having sex with a snail.”

“River, gross.”

I lower myself until the tip of his cock slips inside me. I wait for the pain to become too much, but I’m successfully taking inch after inch until I feel River’s soft pubes.

I exhale and allow my body a few moments to adjust.

River watches me intently, stroking my thighs as he waits for my okay to continue. I nod my approval, and he begins to shift his hips back and forth, spreading me further. I lean with my hands on both sides of his head, watching him watch me react to his movements. I can’t think of anything more intimate than this moment between us.

I lean down and kiss him as he continues to thrust, his thumbs brushing against my nipples. I’m leaking precum on his stomach, and he uses it as lubrication when he slowly strokes me. There isn’t a nerve in my body left unaffected.

We switch to me lying on my stomach. He covers me with his warm body, then fucks, licks, and nibbles, making my skin feel raw and hot. I love that he doesn’t only shift his hips back and forth—he moves them circularly, allowing him to fuck me from different angles.

I flip onto my back, the sheet sticking to my skin. With his face looming over mine, River fucks me until I can’t hold it any longer and shoot all over my chest. As I pant, he rubs my cum over both my nipples, then leans down to suck on each one. My body’s so sensitive that I end up spilling a bit more without him even touching my cock.

River still seems fully energetic. I ask, “How long can you keep going?”

He purses his lips. “Until morning? Noon?”

I shake my head. “I won’t manage to walk.”

He strokes my cheek. “We have horses for that, silly.”

I laugh, though I’m worried he’s not joking. We move to the bathroom to shower together. As sore as I am, I want him to come as well. I suck him until he’s hard, then I rise and turn around to aim his cock at my entrance, my chest pressed against the wet wall. He wraps his arms around my torso and holds tightly as he fucks me, biting my shoulder until he finally shoots inside.

Once dry, we change the damp sheets and lie in bed. I still feel echoes of him inside me, and in my head, we’re already doing it again.

“I’ll read you the Moomins until you fall asleep,” he says.

We turn off the lights because he can read in the dark. I lie with my head on his chest, his heartbeat steady and strong, his skin smooth and warm.

I try to stay awake, but his words eventually fade away into peaceful oblivion.