Everyone, even Dr. Harwood, stared at Bonnie in stunned disbelief.
"You're what?" Richard finally asked, breaking the shocked silence.
Bonnie's grin grew wider, a glint of challenge in her eyes. "I'm going to volunteer. Why not? It's not like I've got anything to lose, right?"
"Nothing except your life!" said Brian. "You've got, like, your whole life ahead of you!"
"Seriously, Bonnie, have you thought about this at all?" added Krupa. "You don't have to do this, no one expects you to! I mean...for God's sake, why?"
"Why?" Bonnie repeated. Her confident smirk never wavered. "A couple of reasons. One, it will be the sluttiest, porn-iest, most depraved thing I've ever done, and that's saying something. Two, it will be, like, the ultimate rush, and that's also saying something. And three, let's be fucking honest here, this is my peak." She gestured to her naked body. "My parents are so rich I could live the rest of my life on my trust fund alone. I didn't go to college to, like, get a career and shit, I went so I could party and screw and get shit-faced nonstop for four years, and when I got out, I was gonna do more of the same until I either wind up in an early grave or hit my thirties and start the long, slow decline into middle age and sagginess and wrinkles and all that other shit. And as for settling down? Getting married? Having kids? C'mon. We all know that's not gonna happen either. But this way, I can go out with an absolute bang."
"But your parents?" asked Aisha. "They'll be heartbroken!"
"Fuck my parents," Bonnie replied without missing a beat. "They're never around 'cause they're always away on business and even when they are they never pay any attention to me. I'm a fucking stranger to them, and vice versa."
Her words hung heavily in the air, a stark contrast to the vibrant atmosphere around them in the Great House. Professor Harwood cleared her throat. "Bonnie, this is not a decision to be made lightly. The Festival of Fertility is a profound cultural event, and if you volunteer and are chosen to participate, there is no backing out. You will be committing to an ancient tradition that ends in death. I'm not convinced you understand what you're getting yourself into."
Bonnie's expression remained unruffled. "Oh, I understand perfectly. They're gonna hang me and some other girls from their sacred tree, they're gonna have an orgy around me while I die, and afterward they're gonna dump me face-down in a ceremonial grave in their crop fields to enrich the soil and help the crops grow strong. You explained it all pretty clearly before we left the university."
"And...you're okay with that." Gabby sounded skeptical.
Bonnie shrugged. "Yeah. Yeah, I am. It's not like I'm mentally ill or suicidal or any of that crap, I'm just a realist and I know myself well enough to know that I'm not going to do shit with my life. I'll just party my way through life till I wind up in an early grave or wither from old age, and that's not exactly the grand exit I want." She smiled broadly. "This way, I get to go out with style. I'll be remembered forever as the hot slutty college chick who got sacrificed to the jungle gods!"
Her words hung in the air, leaving a palpable tension in the room. Even Professor Harwood looked uncomfortable, though she was trying to hide it. "Bonnie, I...I need to talk to you, alone."
The others watched as the professor led the blonde out of the Great House, the door flaps closing behind them with a dull thud. Lin looked over at the others, her heart racing. "Do you think she's really going to do it?" she asked softly.
"I don't know," Aisha said, her eyes wide. "But if she does, it's gonna be one hell of a story to tell back home."
"Just so long as we're both there to tell it," Jeremy added, pulling her closer to him.
Krupa nodded, her eyes lingering on the spot where Bonnie and Harwood had disappeared outside. "Seriously, though. What do you think the professor's going to do?"
"I think she's going to try to talk her out of it," Richard said, his voice low and concerned. "But you know Bonnie. Once she gets something into her head, she's not easily swayed."
For better or worse, Lin Ming knew how true that was. So did Harwood, for that matter, as she spoke to Bonnie in private.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked Bonnie again. "Are you really? Because it's not like you can just back out if you get cold feet. This is..." Harwood paused as she searched for the right words. "I cannot even put into words how serious this is."
Bonnie folded her arms. "You think I don't know that?" she drawled. "Doctor, how many times do I have to say that I know what I'm signing up for? I'm going to fucking do it with or without your approval. You're not gonna talk me out of this, my mind's made up. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I want to do it."
Professor Harwood studied her for a long, tense moment. "I will ask one final time: are you sure?"
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I want to participate, I want to be sacrificed, I want to take part in an ancient ritual that dates back thousands of years and go out the way I've always wanted: with maximum sluttiness. I want to be a part of it, to experience something so...primal and intense."
Professor Harwood sighed heavily. "Then...If that’s truly what you wish, I won’t stand in your way. I will tell Naka-Mur that you wish to put your name forward as a possible candidate. But know this, Bonnie: if you are chosen, there is no turning back."
"I certainly fucking hope so!" Bonnie said cheerfully. "I'd hate to volunteer for nothing! I don't suppose they'd let you videotape it? I bet I'd, like, go posthumously viral if a recording of the ceremony hit the Internet!"
"The Festival of Fertility is not some porn movie." Harwood's tone was sharp. "It is the most important and most sacred of all the Aiwaha's traditions. I doubt they would allow such a secret, ancient ceremony to be filmed, and even if they did, I wouldn't want to."
"All right, all right. Calm down," Bonnie said, holding a hand up to placate her. "I just was curious, that's all. So, what's the next step?"
"I will tell Naka-Mur, as I said, and he will consider you alongside all the other candidates who have volunteered. When he has made a decision and selected the girls for the Festival, he will announce it publicly."
Bonnie eagerly agreed, shaking visibly with excitement. "Awesome. I'll just have to make sure to make every day count till then! I'm off to get fucked like there's no tomorrow, because for all I know, there isn't one! I'll try and be back in an hour or so."
With that, she strutted away, her ample breasts bouncing as she walked. Harwood watched her go and sighed, then turned and went back into the Great House.
"So?" Aisha asked. "Were you able to talk her out of it?"
Professor Harwood took a deep breath and shook her head. "No, she's made up her mind. I've made it clear what's at stake, and she still insists on volunteering."
Lin felt a knot in her stomach. This was all so much more real now. It was one thing when the girls who were sacrificed were strangers, but now someone they knew, someone they were friends with, might be sacrificed too.
Zolin felt her go tense and pulled her into his lap. "Not worry, Tiny One," he said. "Bonnie does Aiwaha great honor. Very selfless thing, to give up one's life for the gods."
Lin gave him a weak smile. Zolin didn't understand. To him, the Festival of Fertility was completely normal, a yearly occurrence no different, in its own way, from Halloween or Christmas. To them, it was a time of celebration and reverence, a way to honor their gods and ensure the continued prosperity of their people. From his point of view, why wouldn't Bonnie want to volunteer?
She didn't blame him, though. Of course his worldview was different from her own. She knew that, and accepted it, and she also knew that if their relationship was going to work, she'd have to get used to it.
Speaking of relationships...She cleared her throat and looked at Aisha. "Um...Aisha? Can I, er, talk to you once breakfast is over?"
"Sure. Is something wrong?"
"No. I just...I just need your advice about something."
The meal concluded in somewhat somber silence, a marked contrast to the joviality and cheer of the Aiwaha around them. Naka-Mur's announcement had put them all in a festive mood, and it showed. When they were finished, Lin and Aisha both got to their feet, though Lin paused to squeeze Zolin's hand to let him know she'd be back soon.
"So what's up?" Aisha asked, once they were outside.
"I...I need advice," Lin admitted. "Zolin and I...we...I mean...we're, um, together now, and...and now that we've...done it...I am not sure what to do next. You and Jeremy seem to have a very solid relationship. Where do I go from here with Zolin? Surely a relationship is not just sex."
Aisha grinned. "Oh, Lin. You're adorable. Sex is a big part of it, but it's not everything. You guys need to talk, spend time together, learn about each other's likes and dislikes, you know, the usual relationship stuff."
"How?" Lin pressed. "There are no movies for us to watch together, no entertainment to share. What can we do?"
"You can explore the village, go on walks, learn from each other's cultures," Aisha suggested. "And the Festival of Fertility is a big deal here. Maybe you could help him with the preparations or something. His uncle is the High Chief, so Zolin's probably involved in some way too."
Lin considered it. Despite her reservations about the Festival, she knew how it important it was to Zolin, and helping him prepare for it would be a great way to bring them closer together. It would show him that she respected his culture and was willing to be a part of it. Plus, it would give her something to do other than sit around and worry.
"But," Aisha added, a note of caution in her voice, "One thing you need to remember above all is not to rush things. Let your relationship develop organically. You can't force it."
Lin nodded. It made sense, although given what she and Zolin had shared the night before, taking their relationship slowly seemed a little superfluous. But Aisha was right. There was more to a proper relationship than sex, and that was what she wanted: a real, romantic, and deep relationship. "That is good advice," she said, inclining her head respectfully. "Thank you, Aisha."
Aisha gave her a warm smile. "You're welcome, Lin. And I'll say it again: I'm really happy for you. You deserve to feel loved, and I can tell Zolin really cares for you."
Lin felt a blush rise to her cheeks. "I do," she murmured. "I...I do feel loved."
"Best feeling in the world, isn't it?"
"Yes," she whispered. The love and passion that had been shared between her and Zolin was nothing short of incredible. Her skin still fairly crackled where he'd touched her.
Aisha clapped her on the shoulder. "Good for you, girl. Now, go get him."
Lin firmed her resolve and strode back into the Great House, seating herself back in Zolin's lap. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the side of her neck. "You all right, Tiny One?"
"I am." His chest felt like a brick wall against her back. Lin resisted the urge to run her hands over him. "I...I would like to help, with the Festival. I do not wish to volunteer, but...I would like to be involved and help if I can."
Nothing Lin Ming could've said would have pleased Zolin more than to hear those words come out of her mouth. He looked down at her, his eyes shining with affection. "Really?"
"Yes," she nodded, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through her from his proximity. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. "I want to understand your culture, and be a part of your world. Is that all right?"
Zolin leaned in, whispering into her ear, "That is most excellent, Tiny One. You will see true heart of Aiwaha people. Yes, would love for you to help. I go speak with Uncle, ask what you may do."
In another part of Tlacloban, Isaiah was only just starting to stir awake. His whole body ached from head to foot, worse even than Lin Ming's after her first night with Zolin. Half-healed scratches on his back gave testament to the way Metztli had clawed at him like a wildcat as they fucked for hours. Sex with Metztli was always exhausting and intense, but last night had been on a whole other level. She'd sent her children to spend the night with another family a few huts away, and as soon as they were alone, the young huntress had jumped on him and gone, to borrow one of his father's favorite phrases from back home in Texas, "crazy like a fox locked in a henhouse." She'd drained him dry, taking every last drop of his cum inside her, then fucked him some more just for good measure. Now, as he weakly tried to rise to his elbows, he saw that she was already awake and looking at him.
"Rabbit," she said, by way of greeting.
Isaiah groaned. "Goddamn, Metztli, I think you broke me."
She grinned, showing he white teeth. On most people, the expression would've looked friendly. On her, it looked downright predatory. "Then just shows you need more practice. Need more stamina. More endurance. Only way to do that is fuck more and more."
"Jesus," Isaiah said, collapsing back onto the mat. "I'm exhausted, I can't do it anymore right now."
"I know that, dummy," Metztli retorted. "But when you rested, we do it again." Her tone almost dared him to try and disagree.
Isaiah didn't contradict her. He knew her well enough by now to know that when Metztli made up her mind about something, especially when it came to sex, it was best to just go along with it. Besides, she was really good in bed, even if she left him feeling weak as a newborn kitten afterward. He managed a weak smile. "Okay, sure."
"Good." She sat up and scooted closer to him with lazy, almost feline contentedness. "Can't wait for be pregnant, Isaiah. Want strong healthy son, little brother for Azti." She lowered her head and began running her tongue along his chest. Isaiah shuddered with pleasure. "You may be rabbit, but you my rabbit."
He chuckled. "I guess that makes me a pretty lucky rabbit."
"Duh." She rolled her eyes, then looked away suddenly. "You...make me happy," she admitted, as though it were difficult to say the words. "You still weak and soft like little bunny, but...I like being with you. I glad gods bring us together."
Isaiah felt a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the tropical heat outside. When he'd decided to go on this trip with Harwood and his classmates, he hadn't expected to find love in in the arms of a wild jungle girl like Metztli. But he had. "I'm happy to be with you, too," he said, stroking her hair as she snuggled up to him. He smiled. "And if it means I get to keep having your pussy wrapped around me like a vice, then I'll be the luckiest rabbit in the world."
"Now you starting sound like Aiwaha," Metztli said approvingly. "May be hope for you yet. May be warrior in you somewhere deep down beneath layers of rabbit-fur."
Isaiah gave a weak smile. "Maybe. But right now, all I can think about is going back to sleep."
"Sleep? No, no more sleep, Rabbit. Day is almost half over already, have things to do." Metztli rose to her feet and took him by the arm. "Come on, Rabbit," she said, yanking him to his feet. "We get up now."
Isaiah groaned. "But Metztli--"
She shot him the fierce glare he'd come to know so well. "What I say about whining, Rabbit?"
"Sorry," Isaiah mumbled. Despite his exhaustion, he couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. This was his life now. Fucking a fierce, beautiful jungle girl, living in a village with no modern conveniences, and experiencing a culture so far removed from his own that it might as well have been another planet. And, wonder of wonders, he was discovering that he loved every second of it.
"You looking forward to your son?" Metztli asked as they walked to the Great House for a late breakfast. "I think will call him Quauhtli. In your tongue, means is 'eagle.'"
"You're thinking ahead a lot," Isaiah said with a nervous laugh.
"Yes." Metztli cocked her head. "So? Is it bad thing I want have your child? That I want it so much?"
"No, it's not bad," Isaiah assured her quickly. "It's just...it's a big responsibility." He'd never imagined his life would take this turn or anticipated this level of commitment, but something about her fiery spirit and raw passion made it feel right. And it's not like I can just change my mind about everything. Not now. It's too late for that.
"You scared," she said, curling her lip in a sneer. "Scared of be papa."
"No, I'm not scared," Isaiah protested. "But it's, um, a really huge deal for me, emotionally. You can understand that, right?"
“Stop whining,” she said, giving him a side-eye. “Try be excited instead!”
Isaiah couldn't help laughing. Metztli was a force of nature, and her enthusiasm was infectious. "Okay, okay, I'll stop whining," he promised, though his tone was light and teasing. "But what if it's a girl?"
"Then we keep trying," she said. Determination glinted in her eyes. "Will love baby, of course, but will not stop until have son. Want at least one more son."
Isaiah felt a shiver run down his spine at her words, though he couldn't tell if it was one of fear or excitement. "I guess we'll just have to see what happens, won't we?"
"Yes," she said, as they walked into the Great House. "We will."
Isaiah saw Harwood and the others and went over to join them. He bit back a groan as he sat down and nodded his thanks at a young girl who pressed some fresh fruit and a gourd of water into his hands. Metztli hesitated, but he quickly beckoned for her to join him. She did him one better when she saw his cock growing hard. In front of everyone, and before Isaiah could say anything, she settled into his lap and guided his cock into her, right there in front of everyone!
Isaiah opened his mouth to protest, but Metztli turned to give him a look that all but dared him to. She rolled her hips, fucking him gently, slowly, to avoid aggravating his sore muscles. Isaiah had never felt so embarrassed in his life, but at the same time, the thrill of fucking in public, especially in such a taboo way, was undeniable. He had to admit, it was pretty hot. And, as he knew by now, Aiwaha didn't care about such things. To them, sex was as natural as breathing.
"Good morning, you two," Harwood tittered. "You seem to be getting along well."
"Metztli," Zolin said, pulling Lin closer to him as he nodded a greeting.
"Zolin," Metztli replied, returning the nod. "You take mate from foreigners too?"
"Yes. You?"
"Yes." She twined her fingers in Isaiah's. "Gods bring Rabbit and I together."
"Speaking of which..." Harwood seemed to hesitate for a second. "Have you heard the news? You weren't here when Naka-Mur made the announcement earlier."
Isaiah frowned, peering from over Metztli's shoulder as she gently bounced on his cock. "What news?"
"The Festival of Fertility. The...sacrifice. It's going to happen soon," Harwood explained. "And, er, well--"
"I've volunteered!" Bonnie blurted, unable to contain her excitement anymore. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Isaiah stared at her. "You did what? But Bonnie..." He turned to Harwood. "And you're letting her?"
The professor shrugged, a little defensively. "She is a grown woman and the rules are clear: any woman can volunteer as a candidate for selection as long as it's of her own free will. I've talked to her, we all have, but she's determined to go through with it."
"Damn right I am," Bonnie said. She'd returned to the Great House after a few quick fuck-sessions, and was now seated on the floor. "It's gonna be awesome!"
Isaiah fell silent as he tried to process the news. He wasn't in love with Bonnie or anything, but she'd still been his first and he did consider her a friend. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety for her. "But why?" he asked finally. "I mean, I know you're all about sexual freedom and empowerment and all that, but why would you want to...to die for it?"
Bonnie sighed. "Guess I'll have to explain myself all over again." She did so, reiterating everything she'd already told the rest of the group about why she'd decided to volunteer. When she was finished, she added, "I know it sounds crazy to you, but it's what I want. I'm not, like, mentally unbalanced or anything, okay? So don't freak out if I'm chosen--it'll be fun!"
Isaiah listened to Bonnie's explanation, his brow furrowed in thought. It was so bizarre to see someone so psyched about their own possible death. But then, as much as he hated to admit it, a lot of what she'd said made sense. Bonnie was self-aware to see where she was headed and what course her life would probably take, and she was willing to make a bold choice to change that trajectory and choose her own fate. There was a certain bravery in that. And as much as he didn't like the idea of her dying, it wasn't his place to tell her what to do with her life. If this was truly what she wanted, there wasn't anything he could do to stop her. He didn't want the two of them to part on bad terms, if Naka-Mur did choose her to participate. Better to support her decision and hope the High Chieftain didn't select her.
Metztli wasn't nearly as conflicted. To her, like all Aiwaha, the Festival was the most natural and sacred event of the year. It was an integral part of their belief system, and she knew that it was what kept the village prosperous. Her own mother had been a sacrifice years ago, and Metztli still remembered that fateful evening. She'd been a teenager then, and she'd taken her first lover that night, coupling with him and joining in the orgy around the sacred tree as her mother and the other sacrificial women kicked and choked to death from the branches above their heads. She'd watched, as her lover pounded into her tight pussy, as her mother slowly expired and finally went limp, swaying slightly in a warm evening breeze. She'd watched, along with the rest of the tribe, as the bodies were taken to the crop fields and rolled into the open graves waiting for them there.
Metztli hadn't grieved for her mother long, nor did she ever resent her mother's decision to volunteer. Instead, she honored her mother's courage and piety. Her mother had given herself to the gods in the most selfless way, offering up her life to ensure the fertility of the land and the continued prosperity of her people. It was a powerful act of devotion that had left a deep impression on her. Now, as the Festival approached, Metztli couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and solemnity.
"Please don't volunteer," Isaiah whispered to her. "Promise me you'll never volunteer, Metztli. Please?"
Metztli paused her fucking him and turned, looking into his eyes. The sincerity of his words touched her and reminded her that Isaiah didn't not understand, not truly, not the way she and other Aiwaha did. "Will promise not volunteer for long time," she finally said. "But not promise never. If gods call me, must answer." She pressed her lips to his. "Okay?"
Isaiah nodded, feeling torn. He wanted to demand that she never take part at all, but he knew that it was part of her culture, something she believed in deeply. He sighed, trying to let his fear show. "Okay."
"We have long time yet, and may never feel called to do it," Metztli went on. "Lots of girls don't. Most don't. You not worry, we have much time for be together."
Her words gave him a small measure of comfort. "I hope so," he murmured, kissing her.
"I know so," she replied firmly. Metztli began moving again, fucking him gently once more. Isaiah suppressed a moan and Bonnie cheered at the sight.
"Look how far the shy boy from Texas has come!" she laughed. "And Lin too!"
"Hell yeah!" Aisha agreed, raising her cup of distilled fruit juice.
Both Isaiah and Lin Ming blushed furiously. Zolin, unable to help himself and aroused by the sight of Metztli and Isaiah fucking, pulled Lin onto his lap and hurriedly freed his cock. Lin gasped as she realized what he wanted from her, and she opened her mouth to protest, but no words came.
It should have felt humiliating, to do such things in the open. But if it was with him...
That was as far as Lin Ming got before Zolin gently but firmly pulled her down onto his shaft, fucking her so that their noses were inches apart.
Isaiah watched as Lin Ming's eyes rolled back in her head, her tiny body moving in sync with Zolin's thrusts. Metztli saw him watching and grinned wickedly. "Want me fuck you harder? You feel okay enough for that now?"
"Yeah," Isaiah grunted, nodding. He wanted to show everyone that he could handle this, that he wasn't just some naive college kid. Metztli began to move faster, her breasts bouncing in time with her hips.
"Love you," she snarled, her eyes blazing with feral desire. "My little Rabbit." She kissed him fiercely. "Bet I make you cum before Lin makes Zolin cum!"