Walk On Mountains - Chapter Four

The sun shone down on the rocks, heating the surface to a pleasant temperature, warming the bodies that lay upon them.  The two had spent nearly a day in each other’s arms, getting to know one another and discovering that the feelings they had dreamt did indeed transcend into reality.1

They had both been afraid, but had not said out loud, that they might have taken the past year’s emotions and built something unattainable; something neither could compare with.  Although Grydin had never lacked for female companionship, he had remained celibate ever since he had first started searching for his energy mate three years ago.  To him, it seemed like the highest form of betrayal to search for someone to spend his remaining days with, but then still seek certain needs elsewhere while waiting for her arrival.  He was pleased when dream and reality merged seamlessly.2

“We should go,” he whispered, not really wanting to let her out of his embrace.3

She smiled at him.  “Okay.” She kissed him when he moved his arms, then sighed as she got up.  Had it been up to her, she would have been content to stay with him on that rock, their bodies intertwined, until the end of time. 4

Marienda sat on the large stone as she rummaged through her bag for a change of clothes. The shift she had worn may have been suitable for what had just transpired, but it was not the type of thing she wanted to climb down a cliff face in.  Grydin was laying on the rock behind her, propped up on one elbow, smiling as she changed.  He hadn’t experienced the love for a partner in a long time, and he was happy to have it back in his life.5

She stood and faced him.  “I’m ready.”6

He smiled as he sat up, then stood.  “I wish we could stay here,” he said wistfully.  “But the others are probably wondering what happened to me.”  He put his arms around her.7

She ran her fingers through his hair.  “Is your hair color common?”8

Grydin ran his hands over the top of his hair, quickly tying it back.  “Not really.”9

“I’ve never seen pure silver hair before,” she said as she reached out and ran her fingers through the ends.  “It’s beautiful.”10

“It’s a genetic glitch,” he replied simply as he put out his hands to help her down the cliff face to the rocks below.  “Not always good when you sometimes want to be anonymous.”  11

They slowly made their way down, and when he got to the bottom, turned and put his hands around her waist to lower her to safety. With her on the rocks beside him, he smiled and instead of letting go, put his arms around her.  “When we get across to the tents, it might get…weird.”12

“Weird?” she asked, making no attempt to move herself from his embrace.13

“You have traveled long to get here, and I have waited long for you to arrive.” He looked at her warmly.   “There are welcoming traditions…” 14

“Great.”  She made it sound like it was anything but.  “Just what I need, more traditions.”15

He smiled as he kissed the top of her nose.  “These are good traditions.  You will introduce yourself, then the females group up, talk to you, and probably end up talking about what happened on the cliff…same thing with the men.  I will group off with them, and, well…”  he coughed lightly. “Then everyone meets together, and those that want will welcome you with a hug or a kiss.” He paused.  “No…let’s make that just a hug.”16

“Green does not go well with your coloring.”17

His eyebrows went together momentarily as he studied her.  “I am sorry, but I have no idea what that means.”18

“There is a phrase that some of the people in the lower communities use,” she explained to him.  “Green with jealously.”19

His lips pursed slightly, then he sighed.  “Accept my deepest apologies for showing any form of jealousy.  It was not intentional, and I hope to never do it again.”  He let go of her and they started to walk.20

“Are you always so formal?” she asked, then looked at the ground.  “I’m not off to a great start myself, am I?”21

“You are...” he paused. “You’re perfect.”  He smiled at her.  “My parents were scholars and very formal, and it is hard to give up old habits even after all these years.  But, for you I shall…I’ll try.”22

Marienda kissed him lightly.  “Talk however you want.  I like the sound of your voice.”  She covered a yawn.23

Grydin stopped and scooped her into his arms.  “Mind if I carry you the rest of the way?”24

She wrapped her arms around his neck.  “Is this one of the traditions?”25

“No,” he whispered and smiled at her. “I just wanted to hold you.”26

~~~~~~~~~~27

Marienda felt her breath catch in her throat as they neared the camp.  Someone had seen them approaching from the cliffs, and she could hear shouts coming from the people as they watched.  Thankfully, it sounded like happy shouts, and as they got closer, it seemed to her that the entire population was waiting for them.28

Grydin paused slightly and exhaled.  “I never thought this moment would make me so nervous.”29

She could feel his heartbeat quicken through his shirt.  “I can walk the rest of the way,” she said.  “Give you a chance to calm down.”30

He blushed slightly.  “Are you not nervous?”31

“Terrified…excited…nauseous…” she told him and touched his face lightly with her fingers.  “But I think this is what I have been waiting for all my life.”32

They were approached by a couple, and the professional part of Marienda’s mind took the few seconds to evaluate them.  The man looked to be a few years older than Grydin, his hair a rich brown, going pleasantly with his bronze shading.  The woman looked to be a few years older, her hair a deep blond, her eyes a light purple that set off her tanned complexion beautifully. 33

“Grydin,” the man exclaimed and put a hand on his shoulder when they reach them.  He smiled warmly at Marienda.  “I am Dorran, this is my mate Yanuia.”34

The woman embraced Grydin warmly.  “Go, I’ll take care of her.”  She turned to Marienda as Grydin and Dorran walked away.  “Welcome to our home,” she said warmly, but with an underlining coolness.  She motioned to a group of women and Marienda followed as she walked.35

The twenty or so women arranged themselves in a semi-circle as they sat on the ground in front of Marienda.  She was used to dealing with large crowds, and showed only a trace of nervousness as she started to talk.  “I am Marienda.  I come from the dome,” she motioned behind her, “somewhere two weeks walk in that direction.”  She smiled slightly.  “And I really don’t know what else I am supposed to say.”36

The woman, Yanuia, if she remembered correctly, leaned forward.  “We have not had people from that dome in a long time.  What is your occupation?”37

Marienda smiled politely, instantly feeling on guard.  “I have no occupation anymore, since I chose to walk away, but while there, I worked in the field of Rules Enforcement for ten years.”38

The woman nodded briefly.  “It shows in your demeanor.  You should know that we do not refuse people the right to live as they wish here.  I’m afraid you might find this an insult to your upbringing.”39

~~~~~~~~~~40

Marienda tried to absorb it all, but it was too much to take in at once...the questions, explanations, and trying to describe her first encounter with Grydin.  She excused herself as being tired and walked to sit by the same large rock she had first seen Grydin leaning against.  She stared at the crowd warily, her professional mind taking over.  The woman Grydin had first introduced her too, Yanuia, looked up from talking to her mate, gave her a cool look, then went back to what she was doing.41

I’ve seen that look before Marienda though.  The look of civil hostility certain people bestowed upon those in Rules Enforcement.  42

“Marienda?”43

She jolted out of her musings at the voice, and stood quickly.  “I was just resting,” she said quickly, somehow feeling guilty.44

“Sit with me,” he asked and sat where she had just been.  She sat beside him and smiled slightly. Grydin pulled one leg up, leaned an arm on top of his bent knee and absently looked out at the valley.  “How are you?”  He laughed slightly and shook his head.  “Stupid question.”45

She smiled at him, then looked down.  “Am I the only one from my dome here?”46

“No.”  He smiled at her as he took her hand.  “There are about…maybe fifteen others….Milkera, Tresa, Yanuia…” He smiled. “Your people have something for names ending in A.”47

“I don’t think Yanuia likes me,” she muttered.48

Grydin glanced back at his old friend.  “She is being overprotective of me.  She and her mate were the two who originally found me here, so I think she has taken on an older sister role.”49

Suuuure Marienda thought, but smiled at him.50

“This is all so new to you, isn’t it?” he asked.  “New to me also.”  He paused and went back to absently studying the valley.  “I have never...on the cliff…so intensely surreal…” He stopped, and ran his hands over his face briefly.  “And I ramble.”51

Marienda leaned over and kissed him.  “It’s charming.”  She moved so she was sitting on his lap.  “I keep feeling like I’m dreaming, and I’ll wake up back in my room.” She kissed him again, then turned so she could see along his field of view.  “What happened on the cliff was better than anything I could ever imagine, or dream of.  It was all so new to me, but familiar at the same time.” She covered a yawn with the back of her hand.52

Grydin wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed the side of her head.  “You need sleep.  Would you rather rest out here, or inside?”53

Marienda looked at the entrance further up the mountain.  “I’ve never been inside a mountain before,” she said, trying not to sound lame.54

“Mountain it is, then.  I will show you where in a few…”55

“I can show her where she will be staying,” Yanuia offered as she approached.  “She can rest and then this won’t be so overwhelming to her.”56

Both Marienda and Grydin stood and held hands as they walked part way together.  Marienda paused to kiss him before they parted, prompting a huge smile from him.57

~~~~~~~~~~58

The two women walked through the cavern opening, Miranda trying to listen as Yanuia talked, but there was so much detail to take in.  Various well-lit tunnels branched off from a central cavern, and as they took one of the tunnels, she noticed curtains over several small openings.59

“The only door here is the main one that we close when the rotational temperatures get too hot or too cold.  The original residents here built things much like they did when they moved to the domes.” She turned down another tunnel.  “We have facilities, agriculture areas, and heat from the underground areas.  Water is pumped in from the water table, and personal uses are recycled and sanitized for other purposes.”  She glanced at Marienda briefly.60

Marienda might not have had a vast knowledge in relationships with other people, but she knew when someone didn’t like her.  And the woman leading her was radiating her dislike.  She nodded blankly, amazed at how familiar everything felt.  It was sounding like her dome, and promised to be most comfortable.61

“There are no doors on individual quarters,” Yanuia said.  “When the curtain is closed, it is to be treated like a door.” She paused and looked at her.  “Personal privacy is one of the few rules we insist on.”62

Marienda merely smiled politely in response.63

“Here are your quarters,” she said.  “The processor can synthesize anything you wish, but you need a code.  Three-four-five-six is the temporary one.  If you decide to stay, we can get you a new number.”  She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.64

“Thank you,” Marienda muttered as she looked around the empty room.  “Where does Grydin live?”65

Yanuia smiled slightly.  “Other end of the hall.  You should rest.”  She backed out of the room and the curtain separated Marienda from what could be her new home.66

“Charming,” she muttered.  She looked around the room, and then the small adjoining room with it.  “Oh, yes!” she sighed as she spotted what looked like a shower stall in one corner.  She studied the small dials momentarily, pushed in the temporary code Yanuia had given her, and sighed in contentment as water spouted from multiple areas on three walls.  She saw a small colored bar on one wall, and noticed it slowly getting smaller.  Recognizing it as some sort of timer, she quickly stripped and stepped under the flow, sighing as the water cascaded down her body.67

~~~~~~~~~~68

Grydin stopped Yanuia in the hall.  “I went to see if Marienda needed anything…why is she not in my quarters?” 69

“She needs to rest.”70

“She can do that in my quarters.”71

“Grydin,” she sighed.  “She just walked for two weeks, and needs rest.  She won’t get that with you slamming her all day.”72

“Where did you put her?” he asked, purposely ignoring the remark.73

“End of the hall,” she pointed.74

“Couldn’t find something a little farther from me?” he asked and arched an eyebrow.  He walked in the direction she had indicated.75

Grydin paused outside the curtain.  “Marienda?” he called softly.  He smiled as the curtain moved slightly and an eye peeked at him.  “May I come in?”76

He entered as the curtain admitted him and stood just inside the opening.  “Are you going to be all right here?”77

She nodded as she dried herself off.  “It’s nice.”78

He tapped his hand against his thigh as he watched her.  “I didn’t know she was going to put you in a room so far from mine.”79

“Yanuia didn’t act like I had a choice in my room.”80

Grydin stared at her as he slightly bit his lower lip.  “Actually, I was hoping…that is, I wanted to know…” He sighed.  “I want you to stay in my quarters.”81

She smiled slightly.  “Really.”82

“If you want, that is,” he put in quickly.  He watched as she yawned again.  “But…maybe in a couple days.  You really should get some sleep.  Your body is going to get very sore, very soon, and you are going to need the rest.”  He turned to leave.  “I should let you get that rest.”83

“Wait.”  She watched him turn back to face her.  “Would you stay with me until I fall to sleep?”  She went to the bed and laid on it when he smiled.  “It’s just that I like the feel of your body against mine when you hold me.”84