Harwood and the girls stayed out in the fields for most of the morning. The work kept them all busy, so she had to wait until Tacotl called for a break to go find Naka-Mur and tell him of Bonnie's decision to volunteer as a candidate for sacrifice. The prospect made her very uneasy. To the best of her knowledge, such a thing had never been done before, and that concerned her.

She wasn't worried about the legal implications back home, though. Bonnie, like everyone else who'd come with her on this journey, had signed a waiver releasing both Dr. Harwood and the university from any responsibility in the event of injury or death. It was mainly the reaction of the High Chieftain and the Aiwaha in general that gave her pause.

Harwood found Naka-Mur over at the far side of the fields, his bare chest gleaming with sweat in the tropical sun. He was speaking with a few of the other men who worked with Tacotl and was seemingly deep in thought. The professor waited patiently until he noticed her, his expression shifting to one of mild surprise. She approached him a little hesitantly. The gravity of what she was about to say wasn’t lost on her.

"May I speak with you privately?" she asked.

"Of course," Naka-Mur replied. "Though I must admit, that look on your face troubles me. Has something happened? Is one of your students ill?"

"No." Harwood shook her head. "Nothing like that. But...it is still a, um, matter of concern."

Naka-Mur's eyes narrowed. "Concern?"

"Yes," she swallowed. "One of my students...has expressed interest in becoming a candidate for the Festival of Fertility."

Naka-Mur sucked in a breath and even went a little pale. "Oh. I see. That...that is indeed a matter of concern." He ran a hand through his dark hair. "Which one?"

"Bonnie. The blonde one."

"Ah, yes. Her. Well...I suppose if any of your charges were going to do it, she would be the one." He sighed. "Yet still, this troubles me greatly. In truth I was hoping that this would not happen, and I was certain it would not. Does she know, truly, what she is getting into? Have you spoken with her at all?"

"I've spoken to her," Harwood assured him. "I've told her everything, and she's still adamant. She seems quite...enthusiastic about the whole idea. Believe me, I did everything I could to try and talk her out of it, but she's determined."

"Even so, I am worried what this will mean for my people," Naka-Mur said. "How will the outside world view us if you leave Tlacloban with fewer students than you had when you arrived? For our own to volunteer for the Festival, that is one thing. To sacrifice a foreigner, and a guest at that, is another. I do not wish for my people to be seen as savages."

Harwood nodded solemnly. "I understand your concerns, Naka-Mur. As I've said, I've done my best to explain the gravity of her decision to Bonnie, but she seems to have made up her mind. But for what it's worth, I do not believe your people will be seen that way. The Festival of Fertility is a sacred and voluntary tradition. If she's willing to participate of her own will, then the responsibility falls on her, not on you. To people from outside your tribe, Bonnie's death, if she's chosen, will be seen as a powerful demonstration of personal choice and cultural immersion."

"I could simply accept her as a candidate and then not choose her," Naka-Mur mused. "No one would ever know."

Harwood smiled ruefully. "Tempting, but I think Bonnie would not want it that way. She wouldn't want any special treatment and if she found out she'd be extremely upset. She's a strong young woman. Perhaps stronger than any of us."

Naka-Mur nodded, his expression solemn. "Very well. I shall take your words to heart, Professor, and give her the same consideration as I will all the others who've volunteered so far. If it is the will of the gods, she will get her wish."

Not far away, Lin Ming had just stopped to wipe sweat from her forehead when a huge shadow loomed over her. Squeaking with shock, she looked up and found Zolin standing over her.

"You thirsty?" he asked, and held out a gourd of water to her. "Hard work, yes?"

"Y-yes," Lin agreed. "Hard work."

He crouched down on one knee. "You want break? Break for sex?"

His bluntness was something she still hadn't quite gotten used to, but her pussy grew moist at the thought. "Okay," she whispered, and put her small handful of seeds aside to lie on her back. The soil was moist and warm against her naked back as she spread her legs for him.

Zolin grinned and leaned in for a hot, fierce kiss. "Tiny One," he purred. "Love you so much. You are perfect match, perfect mate for me."

Lin Ming bit her lip. "You really love me? But...why?" It was a question that she still was wrestling with. Why her? What made her so special to him? Why, out of all the women in Tlacloban, would he choose her?

He sensed her hesitation and cocked her head. "Just do. Hard to explain. You...want I stop?"

"N-no," she stuttered, blushing under his gaze. It was as if he saw right through all her fears and insecurities to the core of who she truly was.

"Good." With that, Zolin plunged into her, filling her completely. Lin Ming gasped and arched her back, feeling the incredible stretch and fullness of his cock inside her. Her nails dug into the soil as he began to fuck her in earnest, his powerful thighs moving in a steady rhythm that sent waves of pleasure through her body. The way Zolin looked at her, the way he touched her...it made Lin feel, for the first time, truly desired.

She couldn't get enough of that feeling. Even more than the sex, that's what she truly craved. Love. Acceptance. And Zolin gave her that without any strings or conditions attached. Her heart swelled with adoration for him as he thrust deep into her, making her pussy quiver around his cock. Lin Ming threw her head back and moaned, her body responding to his primal, passionate claiming of her. She didn't even care anymore that other people could see her getting ravished.

Their coupling was as fierce as the jungle around them, the sounds of their passion echoing through the trees. Zolin’s sweat dripped onto her body as he fucked her hard, and she could feel every powerful inch of him driving into her, stretching her to the limits of what she thought was possible. It hurt, but it was a good hurt. A hurt that she craved, that made her feel alive.

Her pussy grew wetter and wetter around him, and she could feel the beginnings of another orgasm building up inside her. She didn’t know how she could handle another one after the one she’d had that morning, but she was willing to try. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her heels digging into his muscular back, urging him to go faster, deeper. Lin Ming began whimpering, her eyes squeezed shut, as Zolin’s strokes grew more frantic. She felt the heat of the sun beating down on her naked skin, the earthy scent of the soil mixing with the musky smell of their lovemaking.

The other students had stopped working and were watching them again. Lin was aware of their eyes on her, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was Zolin and the way he made her feel. She felt a thrill of exhibitionism, knowing that she was the center of attention, that they were all watching her get fucked by the most powerful and handsome Aiwaha man in the village.

"You go, Lin!" Bonnie cheered. "Get some! Yeah, that's it! Fuck him like there's no tomorrow!"

Krupa cheered too. "Way to go, Lin! Show 'em how it's done!"

Lin Ming's eyes flew open at the sound of their voices. Despite the initial embarrassment, she felt a surge of confidence. It was as if their encouragement had given her permission to fully embrace this wild, uninhibited side of herself. She met Zolin's gaze, his eyes dark with passion, and craned her neck up for a kiss that he eagerly gave.

Their kiss grew more intense and the cheers grew louder. Lin Ming felt a strange sense of power rush through her. It was as if she’d been granted a taste of something forbidden and exhilarating, something that she’d never experienced before. Her body was his to command, and she reveled in it.

"Yours," she whispered, the words slipping out of her mouth with surprising ease. "I'm yours, Zolin. Forever!" Tears leaked from her eyes, mixing with the sweat on her cheeks. "Take me, all of me!"

Zolin’s eyes lit up at her declaration, and he pumped into her even harder, his hand reaching down to pinch her clit. The sudden sharp pain sent Lin spiraling over the edge into an explosive orgasm. She screamed out his name, her entire body convulsing around his thick shaft. The students around them cheered and clapped, while the Aiwaha workers simply nodded in approval, as if acknowledging a job well done.

As she rode out the last waves of pleasure, Lin felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time—freedom. Her strict upbringing had always placed a tight leash on her desires, but here, in the heart of the jungle with the Festival of Fertility drawing near, she realized--truly realized, for the first time--that she could finally be herself. It finally clicked in her mind that she didn’t have to hide her feelings or conform to anyone else’s expectations.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched Zolin’s face contort with his own climax. He roared her name, and the sound of it was like a declaration of war to the heavens above. His hot seed spurted into her, filling her up and marking her as his. The thought made her stomach flip-flop, but in a good way.

Zolin pulled out of her, and she felt a sudden emptiness that was quickly filled when he helped her up to her knees. His cock, still hard and gleaming with her juices, was mere inches from her face. Lin didn't need him to tell her what he wanted her to do. She eagerly opened her mouth and took him in, her eyes fluttering closed in bliss as she felt his hands on the back of her head. He groaned as she took him deep, her tongue swirling around the head of his cock. Lin was still a novice when it came to blowjobs but she'd seen Bonnie giving enough of them around Tlacloban to know the basics.

Her cheeks hollowed as she bobbed her head up and down, her small hands clutching his muscular thighs for balance. The taste of him was different than she'd expected, but it made her stomach flutter in a good way. It was salty and musky, but not unpleasant. She felt his cock pulse in her mouth and a second later he was spewing jizz down her throat. She swallowed it all, feeling oddly triumphant. The students whooped and hollered again, some of them clapping. The Aiwaha men just nodded, as if to say, 'Good job, little one'.

Lin wiped her mouth and tried not to cough too much. Despite her initial shock, she'd managed to swallow all of Zolin's cum. She felt his hands on her shoulders, steadying her, and she leaned into his strong body.

"Need more," he grunted. "You stand. Turn around, Tiny One. Take you standing this time."

Lin blinked and scrambled to her feet, her knees still wobbly from the intense orgasm earlier. She turned around and bent over, gripping the earth with her fingers as Zolin lined up behind her. He didn't bother with preamble, sliding into her pussy with ease from their earlier coupling. The sensation was overwhelming, and she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out.

His hands were firm on her hips, guiding her back onto him as he thrust deep. Lin's head lolled back, her eyes squeezed shut. There was no tenderness to their coupling now. Zolin was rough and demanding, and she loved it. Her body felt alive, her pussy stretched and filled to the brim with his thick, unyielding cock. Every time he pushed into her, she could feel him ramming against the entrance of her womb. It felt absolutely glorious. It was like every inhibition she’d ever had was peeling away, layer by layer, leaving her raw and exposed and utterly alive.

Lin found herself wishing that Father could see her now, fucking like an animal in the dirt. If he knew what she was doing, what she was becoming, he’d probably have a heart attack. But she didn’t care. She liked the way Zolin’s hands felt on her hips, guiding her, controlling her. It was freeing to let go of all the guilt and shame that had been drilled into her for so long. Lin felt lighter than air, as if she could float away at any moment.

Zolin’s grunts grew louder, and she felt his grip tighten. She knew he was close. The thought of bringing him to climax again made her pussy clench around him, and she pushed back harder, meeting his every thrust. They moved in perfect symphony. The heat from his body, the sound of their flesh slapping together, and the smell of the fertile earth surrounding them all added to the intoxicating experience. Lin was in absolute heaven. She was being fucked silly by the most amazing man she’d ever met, and she didn’t want it to end.

But end it did, with Zolin’s roar of release. He shot his cum deep inside her, filling her up until it spilled out around his cock and down her legs. The sensation was overwhelming, and she felt another orgasm build up from the base of her spine, shooting out through her entire body like a supernova. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground, panting.

"Good," he gasped, his broad chest shining with sweat. "Good, Tiny One. You make me feel good. You feel good to me. You perfect."

Lin's cheeks burned pleasure as she looked up at him. Despite the dirt on her face and the stickiness between her legs, she felt a warmth spread through her. Back in her home country she'd been nothing but a disappointment to her father. Here, with Zolin, she felt like she was everything.

And that was when Lin began to consider, seriously, whether she wanted to leave Tlacloban at all. Zolin’s love was something she hadn’t anticipated, but it had taken root in her soul, growing stronger with every touch, every shared moment. The idea of returning to her father's iron-fisted tyranny filled her with dread. Here, she was loved, protected, and valued. In her home country, she would be little better than a prisoner under Father's roof.

Who in their right mind would give up what she had with Zolin in exchange for that?

No one, that's who.

Lin Ming made up her mind as she lay there in the dirt, her body still quivering from the intensity of her orgasm. She couldn’t imagine leaving this place, leaving Zolin. The idea of being without him, of not having him in her life anymore, was unbearable. She looked up at him, his chest heaving from his exertion, and felt a surge of love that was so intense it was almost painful. He’d given her something she’d never had before: acceptance, passion, and a sense of belonging. She knew that she could never go back to her old life. Not after this. Not after finally finding happiness. If it meant living without electricity and phones and TV and all the other trappings of modern civilization, so be it. Tlacloban was her home now, she realized, and Zolin was her future. There was nothing for her in the outside world anymore.

But she couldn't tell anyone. Not yet. It would, she decided, be better to wait until after the Festival of Fertility was over. She didn't want to make waves or distract from the solemnity of the occasion. So she simply looked up at Zolin and smiled through her tears of joy. "You do too, Zolin. You...make me feel good too." And you will forever, for I will never depart from your side.

On the other side of Tlacloban, Isaiah was about to come to a similar conclusion. Something seemed to have changed in Metztli since their impromptu fuck-session during the archery lesson earlier; she was all over him, constantly touching and kissing and caressing him. Her dark eyes practically burned with heat and passion--her hands, her lips, her body was everywhere. She insisted--vociferously--on holding his hand whenever one of them wasn't preoccupied, and every time he sat down or even stood still for more than a few minutes, she got down on her knees to suck his cock. It made him feel like the king of the world, but it was also, in a way, a little unnerving. Metztli's change in mood was always swift, but this was something else.

She looked up at him as she sucked and licked his shaft like her life depended on it. The archery lesson had ended less than an hour before, and she'd practically shoved him onto his rear in her haste to pleasure him. There was a ragged edge to her movements that hadn't been there before, almost as if she were trying to make up for something. The expression on her face was one of adoration. Quite a change, from the way she'd looked at him when they first met.

"Metztli," he grunted, his hand tangling in her dark hair of its own accord. "You, uh, don't have to push yourself like this."

"Want to," she panted. "Need to. Love you. Want you."

Her words hung in the air, raw and unfiltered. "Because it work. I pregnant now." Metztli's voice shook with the force of the emotions that had been swirling inside her all day. "I going have baby. You baby. You son." Tears spilled from her eyes. "I so happy. You give me greatest gift."

Isaiah's eyes widened. "But...how can you be sure? It's still so early!"

"Because I know," she said. "Just know. Not sure how, but I do." Her tongue flicked out to caress the tip of his cock. "Soon I hold you son in my arms. Gods smile on me. They smile on Metztli and Isaiah."

Isaiah wasn't able to speak for a few minutes. He'd known Metztli wanted to have a child with him--she'd been very up front about it, to put it mildly. But to hear her say it with such conviction, such absolute certainty, was something else entirely. He felt a sudden surge of affection for her, this fiery, passionate woman who was going to be the mother of his child. He felt afraid too, and uncertain, but he remembered what Metztli had told him earlier and decided to just be happy instead. Rather than letting his own self-doubt ruin the moment, he decided to try and imitate Metztli and throw himself headlong into the challenge.

He leaned down and kissed her, hard and deep, his hand coming up to cradle the side of her face. "That's...wow," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"Yes." She broke the kiss and leaned down further to suckle at his balls, teasing them her lips and teeth. "Is good. We make love, we make baby. Strong baby. Together." Metztli's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Cannot wait. You be good father, Isaiah. I know." Her hand strayed between her legs to pleasure herself even as she continued to pleasure him. "So grateful. Thank you. You want fuck different girl? Will let you as reward, if you want. Promise will not get jealous."

Isaiah's eyes snapped up to hers, shocked. "What? No, Metztli. I don't want anyone else. You're enough for me."

"You sure? Is okay, Isaiah. Told you not fuck other girls without my say-so. I giving say-so."

"Metztli, I'm serious. I don't need anyone else." Isaiah's voice was firm, his eyes meeting hers with a sincerity that seemed to momentarily surprise her. "You're more than enough for me. I don't need or want anyone else but you."

Metztli searched his face but ultimately conceded the point with a shrug. "Okay," she murmured, "if you sure." Her hand stopped its motion between her legs, and she sat back on her haunches, watching him with both love and concern. "But if change mind, tell me, yes?"

Isaiah nodded, still a bit bewildered by the conversation's sudden turn. "I will," he promised, though he had no intention doing so. Metztli's expression grew solemn. She took his hand and placed it over her belly. "Feel," she urged. "Our son is there. Soon he grow. So tiny right now, but not for long."

Isaiah flattened his palm on her toned midriff. His baby--their baby--was even now taking shape and form within. It was a heady thought, one that filled him with a sense of purpose and growing joy. Metztli’s hand remained on top of his, her eyes never leaving his face as she watched his reaction. The bond he felt with her seemed to grow stronger with every passing moment.

"You still scared?" she whispered. "Still scared of be papa?"

Isaiah swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt her warmth, her softness, and her trust in him. He knew he couldn't let her down, not now. "No," he said, his voice firm. "I'm not scared. Not anymore. Not...if it's with you."

"Good answer. Right answer." She kissed him. "My little Rabbit."

"...You're never gonna stop calling me that, are you?" he asked drily.

"Nope." She smirked. "You stuck with it. And me. Forever. You not leave with others. You stay here with me, yes?"

Her words hit like a splash of icy water. Isaiah realized that he hadn't really thought about that before and inwardly kicked himself for being so stupid. What would he do when the time came to go back to the U.S., back to college, back to his old life? Could he do that? Could he just leave Metztli and his son, their son, behind? Did he want to?

As she waited with baited breath for his answer, Isaiah weighed it all in the balance. He weighed being with Metztli against all the plans he'd had for his future--the plans he'd made before coming on this journey with Harwood and the others. He weighed that life, his old life, against the one he was building here.

It was no contest.

"Yes." He said finally, the word coming out in a whisper, and his resolve hardened. He knew in his heart that he was making the right choice. The thought of not having her by his side was intolerable. "I'll stay. I'll be here with you, with our son, with Azti and Chantico and Itztli and Kizu. This is where I belong. I know that now."

Metztli's face lit up with joy, and she threw her arms around his neck, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She knew the sacrifice he was making, that he was giving up everything on her behalf, and adored him for it. "Thank you, Isaiah. Thank you so much."

Their bodies melded together in a fierce embrace that seemed to go on forever. When they finally pulled apart, she said, "You not regret it. Not ever. I promise."

“I know,” Isaiah said. “I love you.”

The words came out before he could stop them, but as soon as they were said, he knew they were true. The way she looked at him, the way she made him feel...no one had ever made him feel that way before. Metztli's eyes went wide with shock, and for a moment, she didn't say anything. Then she beamed, a smile so bright it could have outshone the sun. "I love you too, Rabbit." She giggled in a girlish way that seemed comically out of character for a strong, independent young woman like her. "Love you more than...than anything. Will make you happy. Make baby happy. Make family happy. We be happy always."

Her words were simple, but they held the weight of the world in them. Isaiah felt his heart swell with love and happiness. He knew he would face challenges. No relationship was perfect. But with Metztli by his side, he could conquer any obstacle. She built him up and empowered him, gave him confidence and strength.

"Do you...want to tell people now?" he asked. "Or wait until after the Festival?"

Metztli thought about it. "After," she finally decided. "Not want take away from ceremony. Festival is for village. We tell after. Then everyone happy for us. Okay?"

Isaiah nodded. "Okay."

That evening, when all others were asleep, Naka-Mur paid a visit to Kura, the storyteller, in her small hut. The flickering light of a small fire cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating an eerie ambiance. The air was thick with anticipation as the two most respected members of the Aiwaha tribe sat cross-legged on either side of the flames.

<"What is the will of the gods?"> asked the high chieftain. <"Have they spoken to you? Have they told you who among the volunteers should be chosen for the honor of sacrifice?">

Kura's eyes grew distant, as if looking beyond the walls of her hut into the very fabric of the spiritual world. Her voice took on a rhythmic, almost hypnotic quality. <"The gods whisper in the wind, in the water, in the sound of the rains that fall on leaves. Their voices are faint but clear to those who truly listen. They speak of balance and fertility, of the cycle of life and death that must be maintained." She fixed rheumy eyes on Naka-Mur. "Yes, they have revealed the names of the chosen ones to me. I have heard them clearly.">

Naka-Mur leaned forward, eager for the revelation. <"Speak, Kura. Who are the chosen ones?">

Kura took a deep breath and began to recite the names of the chosen females, her voice strong and clear. <"They have chosen fifteen of our most fertile and beautiful girls,"> she began, and as she spoke, the names rolled off her tongue like a sacred incantation. <"Tizca, Cholchi, Xochitl, Amoxtli, Palenque, Anacaona, Atlatl, Ohtli, Nahuatl, Tiamat, Qetesh, Cualli, Coaxoch, Jaziri...and the blonde foreigner girl. Bonnie.">

Naka-Mur sucked in a breath. <"I had hoped Bonnie would not be chosen,"> he admitted. <"Despite Harwood's reassurances, I still fear her participation could be a...complication. But if the gods have spoken, we must obey. She will be treated with the same reverence and respect as our own, and she will meet the same destiny." He paused, contemplating the gravity of the situation. <"I only hope she does not start having second thoughts, for the time for such things has now passed.">

Kura waved a hand dismissively. <"Given what we've seen of her so far, I sincerely doubt it. Do not let worries of the heart spoil the joy and solemn ceremony of our most sacred tradition, Naka-Mur. Instead, honor the girl and treat her no differently than the others. I do not think she would respond well if you gave her any special favor.">

<"True,"> the High Chieftain admitted. Then his face grew more contemplative. <"I wonder if, once Harwood and her students leave us, others from the outside world will come visit us in their stead.">

Kura's gaze remained fixed on the fire, her expression unreadable. "<The gods will bring whom they wish. We must be open to change, but also vigilant in upholding our traditions. The world outside is vast and full of strange customs.">

<"Have the gods...shown you anything?"> Naka-Mur inquired hesitantly. <"Have they given you visions of what is yet to come for our people?">

The old woman's eyes narrowed in concentration, her gaze drifting into the flickering embers of the fire. Her expression grew solemn, and her words took on a gravity that made Naka-Mur a little uneasy. <"The future is murky,"> she finally said. <"As yet the gods have not seen fit to show me what may or may not happen in the days to come, and perhaps they never will again. As I have said before, many times, I do not decide what I am shown or when. Only the gods decide. That they have shown me nothing seems to me like a sign that they wish for us to chart our people's future with our own hands.">

The High Chieftain inclined his head. <"As ever, you speak wisdom, Kura. I shall take your words to heart. For now, we must turn our attention to more immediate matters and begin preparing for the Festival. The women chosen must be notified as well as their families and loved ones, and I will make the announcement in the Great House tomorrow morning. The great feasts must be readied, the rituals prepared."> He smiled. <"It will be a time of great joy.">

Kura smiled too. <"Is there ever a time of greater joy for our people than the Festival of Fertility? It is a time of rebirth and new beginnings, to celebrate and give thanks for all we have."> She stirred the fire with a long, thin stick. <"You should go and rest now. It is late and there will be much for you to do when the sun rises. Get some sleep, Naka-Mur.">

He nodded and rose to his feet with a grunt. <"I'm getting old,"> Naka-Mur grumbled.

Kura arched a snow-white eyebrow at him. <"I was old when you were still suckling at your mother's breast. As the foreigners like to say, 'cry me a river.'">

Naka-Mur looked confused. <"What does that mean?>"

Kura smirked. <"It means I don't sympathize with your complaints. Now get some sleep.">

The High Chieftain chuckled and left the hut. Kura continued to gaze into the flames long after he'd gone.

Elsewhere, others in Tlacloban were also awake, though oblivious--for now--to the momentous news Naka-Mur had just been given. In the hut where Harwood and the others (save Isaiah and Lin Ming) were staying, the students were gathered in a circle on the dirt floor playing a game of cards.

"Got any threes, Bonnie?" Brian asked.

"Go fish," Bonnie replied with a smirk.

"It's really nice to see Lin so happy," Krupa said, fanning out her own cards and peering at them. "Did you see her when she was fucking Zolin earlier today? She looked like she was in heaven!"

"Yes," Aisha agreed. "After everything she went through, she deserves to let loose."

"You don't know the half of it," said Harwood. "Lin has not had an easy life. I cannot say more, because to do so would violate a confidence, but trust me: she's earned the right to be happy and feel loved."

"How soon will we know if I've been chosen for the Festival?" Bonnie asked.

"I'm not sure exactly, but soon," replied the professor.

In another part of the village, Metztli rose from the pile of furs and soft pelts that served as her bed and gingerly extricated herself from Isaiah's still-sleeping embrace. Naked, she padded outside the hut, taking care not to wake her little ones, and made her way outside. She walked with all the stealth and silence of a jungle cat, making not a single noise, until she reached a quiet secluded spot on the outskirts of Tlacloban. Metztli often came there to think, but now, she came for a more solemn purpose.

The young woman looked up at the starry sky and sank slowly to one knee in supplication. Metztli's dark eyes were wet and shining as she took an obsidian-bladed knife in her hand. She held her other hand out flat, the palm facing upward, and murmured a prayer to the gods.

<"I offer you this gift of my blood, in thanks and gratitude,"> she said. <"For bringing Rabbit and I together, for giving me the wisdom not to let my pride get the better of me. For..."> Her voice broke and she had to start again. <"For the son I now carry in my womb, I offer my undying gratitude. Watch over him, as you watched over me. Keep him safe, as you kept me safe. Let him grow strong. Let him be fierce and cunning. And when his time comes, let him take his place as a warrior among the Aiwaha.">

Her hand strayed to her middle. <"I never thought I would love anyone or anything as much as I have come to love the man who gave me the son I now nurture within,"> she admitted. <"But my Rabbit...he makes me feel as no other man ever has. He gives me strength. He makes me feel alive in a way that I never knew I could be.">

Metztli took a deep breath, her breasts rising and falling with the effort. Then she took the knife and, with a swift, precise motion, made a shallow cut across her palm. Wincing only slightly at the brief pain, she curled her fingers into a fist and squeezed, allowing trickles of blood to drip onto the earth before her. They landed with a quiet plop, the dark red stark against the rich brown soil.

As the blood seeped into the ground, she continued her prayer. <"Gods of the Aiwaha, I pray for your favor upon this union. Upon me, Metztli, daughter of Chalchiuhtlicue. Upon Rabbit. Upon the child we will raise together. If it is your will, bless us with fertility and love. Watch over us all and grant us happiness and health.">

Metztli watched as her blood mingled with the dirt, then shut her eyes. No matter how different they were, she and Rabbit were meant for each other. The thought of a life without him was unbearable. She whispered the final words of her prayer and kissed her fingertips before placing them gently on her belly. "My son," she whispered. Emotion made her voice shake. "I will protect you. I will love you. And I will never let you forget where you come from. I hope you look just like your father, so that when I nurse you at my breast and carry you in my arms, I will be reminded of the man who planted you in me. May your fire-colored hair mark you as special and beloved of the gods."

She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. She had never thought she'd be this happy, this contented. But somehow, her shy, jumpy Rabbit had found his way into her heart and made a home there. How foolish she had been to ever try and fight her feelings for Isaiah. She should have embraced them from the very start, should have realized that sometimes the most unexpected things could bring the most profound joy.

The wind moved through the thick jungle, sighing softly through the layers of green. Metztli could almost swear she could hear the gods whispering to her as it kissed her skin.

You have done well, they seemed to say. You have served us well. Go forth and be happy with our blessing.

Metztli felt a strange warmth fill her, as if the very air itself had grown more humid. She took it as a sign that the gods had heard her and approved of her offering. With a smile, she stood and made her way back to the hut, slipping inside as silently as she had left. She curled up beside Isaiah and fell into a deep, contented sleep, her dreams filled with visions of their future together.

Lin Ming too was fast discovering that being mated to Zolin was the best thing that ever happened to her. She had gotten up to relieve herself and returned to find Zolin awake and waiting for her, his cock almost painfully erect. Lin didn't need any instruction or words from him to know what to do. She knelt and began gently sucking him off.

As she did, she reflected on how much she'd learned from the Aiwaha since her arrival. Their way of life, though still in many ways alien to her, had brought her a sense of peace she'd never felt before. Her father's strict rules and expectations were a fading memory, and she was happy to be rid of them. Instead of suppressing her sexuality, she could explore it. Back home, sex was considered a dirty necessity. Here, it was beautiful, powerful, and utterly liberating. More, she felt liberated in a way she wouldn't have dared dream of just a few months prior. Zolin hadn't just claimed her heart, he'd freed her soul.

And for that, she would be forever grateful to Zolin, to Dr. Harwood for bringing her here, and to Dana for encouraging her to go in the first place. The thought of her old roommate and best friend made her heart lurch. She hoped Dana was faring well. Would she ever see her again?

But as she took more and more of Zolin's cock into her mouth, feeling him swell even further at her eager attention, she pushed such thoughts away. The present moment was all that mattered. The Aiwaha had taught her that: tomorrow did not exist, only today was real. And today, she was a woman loved by a warrior.

"Tiny One," Zolin murmured, stroking her hair as she sucked greedily on his shaft. "Gift from the gods. So beautiful."

Lin Ming looked up at him with adoration in her eyes. She had never felt more appreciated and cherished than she did in these moments with Zolin. The way he spoke to her, the way he touched her, it was as if she were a delicate treasure to be revered. Her heart swelled with love and she redoubled her efforts, eager to please him. She had once longed to earn her father's approval, but that desire was borne out of fear. This, with Zolin, was different. She wanted to do well and earn his praise not because she feared him but because she loved him and wanted him to be happy.

"You happy with Zolin?" he pressed.

"Yes." Her voice was a strained whisper. "So happy."