Temptation

Chapter 2
Chapter 2

“Temptation” Part 2

 

By Oni and Piper

 

 

"Killik.  He's ...he's ...." Reiko stutters.  "He's young.  Jym young."

 

"Huh?" Jym asks, caught by surprise by the reference to his age.

 

Reiko looks serious and holds her hand out at about Jym's height.  "This tall, skinny, the whole works.  He ran off into the woods."

 

Amara looks around perplexed, then calls, "Killik!  Where the hells are you?"

 

Jym can't help but stare at the mostly undressed woman in front of him.  Reiko literally holds her outfit over her privates and breasts then begins to put her clothing on over her wet body.

 

Youthful laughter can be heard from the trees.  They look up, to see a young, naked lad climbing the branches about twenty feet up.  "K... Killik?" Jym asks in disbelief.

 

"Okay, this is weird even for me."  Reiko admits.  She creates some fog and rising air beneath the boy.  The boy looks perfectly at home in the branches however.  He stops climbing and sits easily, looking down at them.

 

"Killik, get down here right now." Amara calls up.  The boy has a laughing fit, and they see his limbs grow shorter.  His shrinking feet lose their footing, and he clutches the branches tightly, suddenly unhappy to be so high off the ground.

 

"Oh just wonderful.  I can catch him if he falls." Reiko says.  "I could also miss.  You ever climb trees blondie?"

 

"Help!" the younger boy cries pitifully.

 

"Jym?" Reiko asks, her face showing obvious concern.  The teen apprentice drops his things and runs to the trunk of the tree, jumping up and grabbing a branch.  "We're coming to get you Killik.  Hold on." Reiko soothes.  Her worry about the boy in the branches seems to cause Reiko to shed her normally indifferent exterior.

 

Jym climbs up to young Killik.  It is a little tricky, since he has not done this in a few years but he bravely pushes upward.  Soon he is within arm's reach of the naked boy, who looks no older than ten.  The barbarian is not so big anymore, anywhere, Jym notices with a glance between the boy's spread legs.  He reaches out a hand to offer the boy, bracing his own body on the branch.

 

"Jym?" the child sniffles.  Killik holds out a hand, then looks down and panics again, squeezing his eyes shut and grabbing the branch with hands and feet.

 

"Yeah, I'm here.  And Reiko is down below ready to catch you.  C'mon, you can reach.  I can hold you." Jym offers.  The boy reaches out and grips Jym's hand with his smaller one. 

 

"Don’t look down!” Amara calls up.

 

"Don't tell him that!" Reiko complains.

 

The boy shuffles across the branch to Jym and wraps his arms tightly around Jym's shoulders and neck.  "Good boy." Jym finds himself saying.  "Hold on, and don't choke me." he warns, beginning the climb down.

 

Unfortunately, Jym simply isn't good enough.  The boy throws his weight off too much and he finds himself grabbing onto a large branch as well and hugging it.  "Oh just great." he can hear Reiko comment.

 

"Walk him down!" Amara calls up.  "Keep him a branch above you and place his feet if you have to."

 

"Okay!" Jym calls back, trying her suggestions.  It works and the boy calms down the closer they get to the ground.  By ten feet, he hangs and drops the rest of the way.

 

Once on the ground, it becomes obvious that Killik is well and truly a little boy.  Skinny, hairless and no taller than Jym's chest the boy wipes his wet cheeks and glares at them in embarrassment.

 

The women just stare back for a few moments, before Reiko points.  "I didn't do it."

 

"Didn't do what?" Killik asks, his new voice seeming shrill.

 

"You're a little boy Killik." the witch states bluntly.

 

"Shut up!" he retorts, and kicks her in the shin.

 

"Ow!  Dammit!" Reiko exclaims, hopping back a few feet.  "That's it, I'm frying him." she states annoyed.

 

Amara, unknowingly looking around twenty years old herself, intervenes.  "Stop," she orders.  "He is obviously not himself.

 

Reiko rolls her eyes.  "I was just jesting princess.  I can see he isn't himself.  What gave it away, the fact that he's cute or the tiny wee wee?"  This time she is ready to dodge a kick but Amara grabs the boy by the arm and keeps him from attacking anyway.

 

"Jym," the Paladin instructs, and pushes the boy to him.  She then whirls on Reiko.  "Then what DID happen to him?  You were the last one with him."

 

"You saw.  We had sex.  Not the first time either."  She looks over Amara's shoulder at the young barbarian.  "Granted, that's never happened before.

 

"Then what do you think happened," Amara tries again, rolling her eyes, "as a sorceress?"

 

Reiko shrugs.  "Curse?  That ogre seemed to have some power in his words." she points out.

 

"What about the water?" Jym adds, holding the struggling little boy.  Killik smiles up at Jym, seeming to like him.  He then starts wrestling with him.  "Killik, no." Jym tells him.

 

"Come on," Killik pleads, trying to continue.

 

"Behave." Jym orders.  The boy grunts and gives Jym a petulant shove and the teen reflexively swats his hands away.  "Oh grow up!"  The boy whirls and starts to run off again.  Jym is unable to get a hold of the naked boy, and has to chase him.

 

Reiko notices, reaches out a hand and creates a swirling fog in front of the naked child, knocking him onto his bottom.  "Sit and stay Killik, or Reiko spank!" she yells.  "Wouldn't be the first time for that either." she reflects quietly.

 

"Ow!" the boy complains, plucking at the nettles he landed in.

 

"Jym, get him dressed." Amara calls out.  The barbarian's hide and loin cloth won't fit the boy however so Jym has to knot the loin cloth awkwardly just to get it to stay on the boy’s hips, though it leaves big gaps around his legs.

 

Amara digs through her pack.  "We should use one of my tunics to cover him."

 

"No!" Killik protests in disgust.

 

"You look like you are wearing an oversized diaper." Amara puts bluntly.  "Anyway, why would an ogre curse Killik to turn into a child?" the Paladin asks, trying to get back on the topic of what happened to their party mate

.

"He's small and weak now.  Not a bad revenge for killing him." Reiko suggests.  Killik strips off the loin cloth in response to Amara’s description of it.

 

"I think...."Jym begins, before being cut off.

 

"Do you think maybe it's the water?" Amara asks, looking at herself but finding nothing wrong despite her more youthful figure.

 

Reiko gives Killik a glare and slaps her hands together sharply.  "I better not see Killi's willy when I look back." she threatens.

 

Killik jumps at the sharp clap.  "I'm not gonna wear a diaper!  Or a dress!"

 

"It's not a dress, it's a tunic.  You can wear one of Jym's." Reiko says.

 

"They are all tunics," Amara snaps.

 

Killik settles down and looks up at Jym.  "Okay."  Jym finds one of his older grey tunics and offers it to the little boy.  It had been growing a little short on him anyway.  It is quite spacious on the boy, but it is better than the loincloth.  Killik has a goofy grin on his face as the tunic drapes over him.

 

Reiko checks herself over.  Her large breasts seemed to settle down after she dried off, reducing somewhat in size.  "Yeah, I don't think it was the water."

 

Jym thinks they've all lost their minds and finally forcefully speaks up.  "Are you kidding?  Look at yourselves!" he says.  "You both look younger, especially Mistress Amara!”

 

Reiko and Amara look at each other closely.  After some thought the Kirasani speaks up in response to the Paladin’s questioning look.  "He could be right." the witch admits.  “But I honestly cannot tell.”  Killik stays with Jym, playfully poking at him.

 

"Then why aren't you short and breastless?" Amara demands and holds her hand out four feet over the ground.  "Weren't you in as long as Killik?"

 

Reiko thrusts her breasts out in response.  "He was... in the water more than I was," she states.  "And … I'm older than I look.  My race ages more gracefully than yours if you remember."  

 

“How old do I look then Jym?” Amara asks, not bothering to apologize for thinking the teen was insulting her earlier.  Jym guesses that she is in her late teens or early twenties, not really being an expert on such things.  Amara receives the answer with a grimace.

 

They all look at the water.  "We could throw him back in.  See if he grows any younger." Reiko suggests.  The pond looks very clean, despite the fact they just bathed in it.  There isn't even cloudiness from stirring up the bottom. 

 

"Or maybe we should quit while we are ahead," Amara says wryly.  She looks Jym over.  "You don't look any different, and you didn't bathe, although, you did touch the water.  Surely that means it is the water?"

 

"I'd still love to dunk someone in, or something." Reiko points out.  "But yes, we're likely better off not messing with it.  I'll take some of the water in a canteen, study it."  She glances at Killik as the little boy continues to bother Jym.  "And get him to someone who knows more about this kind of magic."

 

Amara steps clear and swings her sword a few times, experimentally.  "My sword feels heavier.  I think I am even weaker than I should be for the age I appear." She frowns.

 

Reiko frowns as well and draws her short sword.  "How do you remember how strong you were then?" she asks.

 

"There is that," Amara admits, "but I was trained in this sword since I was Jym's age."  She pulls her sleeve back to show a slender stick of an arm.  "I am rather sure my arms and shoulders should be better defined, even if they do feel normal to me.  And I should certainly still have calluses on my hands."

 

Reiko thinks about that, then pulls her outfit's bottom down and examines the inside of her right thigh.  Her bare bottom again flashes Jym for a few seconds.  She has no scars, and her tattoos have faded by half.  "Strange." she says.  "I’ve had a scar here since I was a teen.  It's gone now.  And my tattoos…"

 

Jym’s visions of round seduction are interrupted by a roar of anguish from the clearing behind them.  Killik instantly drops to a crouch and scuttles behind some bushes.  The women gasp then spread out to cover.  Reiko pulls her outfit back on as she runs.

 

An ogre with breasts, looking even larger than the male ogre to the youthened of the party, is standing over the beheaded ogre and roaring with rage as she looks everywhere around the clearing, searching for them.  Her eyes settle on Amara's bundled armor, and she snatches the bundle from the ground.

 

Amara, hiding with Jym, is visibly shaking, completely unlike herself.  Reiko for her part looks much calmer, staring with steely eyes and ready to fire her electricity within seconds.  Fortunately, she is smart enough not to do so without provocation.

 

The ogre spins and throws the armor high into the air.  It disappears above the trees, heading north-north-west.  "No!"  Amara runs into the clearing, breaking Reiko's line of fire yet again.  Barefoot and armorless, the young woman looks foolish.

 

The Kirasani sighs and moves out of hiding as well, arcing to the side to get a clear shot again.

 

Amara charges in and makes a two-handed swipe with her blade for the ogre's legs, trying to ham-string it.  Unfortunately, she is off her mark, and the ogre is barely injured by the cut.  Amara stubs her toe and staggers, letting go of her sword with one hand to catch herself if she falls.  With a roar of triumph, the ogress backhands Amara, sending the Paladin sprawling onto her back and sending her sword flying.

 

Reiko fires.  “Krakow!” shatters through the treetops.  The blinding flash of light jolts the ogress, and causes it to pause and blink quickly. 

 

"Jym, I need her distracted.  Run, throw a rock, throw your sword, just try to stay alive while doing it." Reiko calls out.

 

Before Reiko can summon another bolt however, the ogress snatches Amara from the ground and lopes off north through the wilderness at an incredible speed.

 

Reiko watches.  "Shit." she comments.  Sheathing her short sword the witch picks up the longsword dropped by Amara and measures its heft, even as she seems to weigh a decision in her head.  In addition Reiko's use of magic felt strange to her, like there was a resonance inside her body when she cast.

 

Jym hurries to the Kirasani sorceress only to hear Reiko say flatly, "We should flee.  We are in no condition as a group to take that thing on."  There is none of her usual sarcasm in her voice, only blatant honesty.

 

"To where?" Jym demands.  "She'll probably hunt us anyway and we are NOT leaving Mistress Amara in her clutches!"

 

Reiko sighs, wrestling with her instinct for survival.  "You are right."  She agrees after a moment.  She frowns and moves in the direction the ogress ran.  "Let the brat ride you piggy back and try to keep up.  We've got an ogress to fry."

 

Jym grabs the witch’s wrist and halts her a second.  “Thanks.” He says simply before running back to get Killik.

 

"Dammit." Reiko mutters, shaking her head.  "This is what I get for joining you light lovers.  I’ve actually started thinking like you."

 

***

 

The going is tough.  Despite the obvious passage of the charging ogress, she took big steps over dense brush which they have to fight through.  It isn't long before they cannot even hear the ogress' crashing steps any more.  Still Reiko looks determined and follows the tracks.

 

Killik ends up doing better on his own, being quick and light on his feet, as well as correcting their direction several times.

 

"So, that is still you in there." Reiko comments wryly at the boy’s wilderness expertise.

 

Night begins to fall and they still haven't found their way to the ogress.  Killik stops them before they lose all light.  "The Den couldn't be this far," he whispers up to them.  "She must have led us off on purpose.  Meaning two things, one, she knows we are following, and two, she likely has children to protect.  She will probably keep using Amara as bait so long as she wants us to keep following."

 

"Is Amara still alive?" Reiko asks Killik outright.

 

"Eventually," Killik admits uneasily, "she will be brought back to the den and fed to the children."  He makes a face at how high his voice is.

 

Reiko nods.  "Well, look around and give me a likely direction" the Kirasani sorceress tells the little boy.  "The dark is mine."

 

"A likely direction for what?" Killik asks, tilting an eyebrow.  "The ogress went that way, but she has been changing direction, so unless we follow, we won't know exactly where she went and we'll lose her."

 

"So we need to find the den," Jym says.  "Wherever they are now, the den is where they'll be going."

 

Reiko nods and gestures approvingly at Jym.  "For the den then.  Where would it likely be and what will it look like?"

 

"Probably a cave.  And there's no way we would have come near it before now, so we have to get back to the pool.  From there..."  Killik winces in hard thought.  "We follow the trail the male made when he came to get Jym."

 

Reiko sighs.  "Right.  Dammit.  Shoulda done that first.  Okay, double time." she says.

 

They hurry back through the woods, but as the light fades, the brush remains unforgiving, and soon they lose the trail such that even Killik cannot figure out where they went wrong.

 

"We should sleep in the trees," the child suggests.  "Safer up there."

 

"And Amara?" Reiko asks.

 

"Pray her gods are with her," Killik says sadly.  "If they are to kill her tonight, then she is already dead."

 

Reiko looks sad but nods.  "Very well, into the tree.  But I'm not helping you down this time."

 

"You didn't last time," the boy back-talks, tugging his way up into the branches.  He stops after about ten feet.

 

"I think she is taller than that." Reiko points out with a wry grin.

 

Killik looks uncertain then climbs higher.  "It's high enough against other things," he says defensively.

 

"Well, we're not just dealing with other things." Reiko adds, easily dropping into a scolding tone as Killik leaves his comfort zone and shows his new childishness again.

 

Reiko hands Amara’s longsword to Jym.  When he moves to return her dagger she shakes her head.  "Nope.  You'll need that when you give the sword back to your mistress." she says, getting a weak smile from the lad.

 

They bed down as best they can on the branches.  Killik stretches his leg out and rests a bare foot on Jym as if seeking constant reassurance that the lad is still there.

 

***

 

When he wakes in the wee hours of a still dark morning, Jym finds the skimpily clothed little boy curled up against his chest and stomach, Killik's face against Jym's tunic.  The added weight unfortunately makes the branches even more uncomfortable.  Jym has lost circulation in his legs and parts of his back.

 

He rocks the boy to get him off.  "Killik." he whispers.  "Wake up."  The boy is also naked again, the tunic draped over them like a blanket.

 

"You gotta admit it is a cute sight." Reiko's voice says from the darkness.

 

Killik protests in his sleep.  "Killi, up!" Reiko orders sharply.

 

The boy shoves painfully against Jym as he pushes himself erect.  Disoriented, he loses his balance, but catches himself and hops away to other branches.

 

“He is so cute." Jym can hear Reiko gush slightly before catching herself.  The tunic is left draping over Jym.

 

"Wh-what is it?" they hear the boy ask groggily.

 

"You were smothering poor Jym sweetheart.  It's okay now.  We should get moving soon.  I can see fine in the darkness.  Get ready." she says.

 

"Sorry, Jym," the boy says honestly.  There is rustling as the boy carefully makes his way down through the branches before finally dropping to the ground.

 

Reiko chuckles then takes the tunic, dropping it to the ground in top of Killik.  He notices Killi crouch in the bushes before putting the tunic on.  Jym realizes he can see the tunic and the boy, but not the witch.  There is simply a wall of blackness in front of him.  It actually isn't often he has seen her use this power, or not seen as the case is now.  Amara always forbid the use of Reiko's darker powers.

 

"Should you be doing that?" Jym asks. 

 

"It kept us safe.  There's nothing wrong with that." Reiko defends.  "Amara can yell at me when we rescue her." Jym hears from the blackness. 

 

"Thanks." Jym says after a moment.  "I know you could have left."

 

The darkness shimmers and fades, showing the witch to Jym once again.  "No.  Maybe in the past I could have, but not now." she admits.  "Besides, all this is fascinating; I wouldn't miss it for the world.  Well, maybe a world of decent size."

 

Reiko's breasts have started to throb, having swollen with milk.  She grimaces but shakes it off.  More important things to do she reminds herself.  Her breasts leave damp spots where they press against her top however.

 

"What .... is that?" Jym finally asks when they reach the ground.

 

"A blessing from the temple." she admits.  "To augment ... well you know.  Feels wonderful when someone is drinking, but it's annoying now."

 

They continue on.  This time, they quickly find their way back to the pool.  Something with sharp teeth has been dining on the ogre's dead flesh over night.

 

Killi collects his sling and sack of stones, though he is unable to even lift his axe anymore.  Despite that he goes into hunt mode, tracing the ogre's path.  Reiko and Jym follow silently behind.

 

Reiko has found a new problem however.  She can actually smell the milk from her breasts.  After a while, so do the boys.  She looks and feels embarrassed.  "Um, I should probably just milk these.  Got an extra canteen?" she asks.  Jym hands her Amara's.

 

Turning and pulling her top down, Reiko proceeds to relieve the pressure by milking into the canteen.  She finds it feels wonderful. 

 

Jym hears Killi's tummy rumble loudly behind him.  “We can eat later.” He says, gaining a frown from the child.

 

Shortly they come to a cave which is far from subtle.  Skulls of various beasts and humans hang on vines from trees and are layered on stakes, all warning off trespassers.

 

Reiko motions for Killi to sneak in front and scout.  "Jym, you stay with me." she whispers.  "If the cave is dark enough, we'll be very hard to spot.

 

They can smell blood and cooking flesh waft up the cavern as they sneak in.  Once in the shadows Reiko makes sure to shield the trio from sight and takes each of the boy’s hands to lead them.  They are all smart enough to stay as silent as possible.

 

"How well do ogres smell again?" Reiko whispers to Killi as the darkness covers them. 

 

"Very," he whispers back, his bare feet padding softly along the dirty rock.

 

Reiko glances down at her damp, milk smelling top and rolls her eyes.  Having only the time to remove the top at the moment she does so, and stuffs it deep into her pack, after wiping her now bare breasts and nipples dry.  Darkness is all the cover she needs she tries to convince herself.

 

Strangely, to Reiko at least, she feels a bit embarrassed at having to do this and still has a desire to cover up.  She'd thought she'd given up being modest about her body years ago.

Shaking it off Reiko moves forward, taking the hands of the boys once again.  She finds she feels very protective of them.

 

They hear some strange language similar to the squealing and grunting of pigs.  The passage curves down to the right, revealing part of a room beyond, carved from the rock and finger-painted.  The source of the squealing becomes obvious as an ogre child, easily six feet tall, tumbles into sight, wrestling with an even larger ogre child.  Both are naked.  The children get up and run back out of sight to the right. 

 

Maintaining the shadows Reiko leads her charges in the direction the giant children went.

Through a doorway into another room within their line of sight, they can see a deer carcass, skinned and strung up like a rabbit.  The room has blood spatters staining the rocks, with sand on the floor.  The room is dimly lit by orange firelight.

 

Figuring that is the butchering room and also figuring Amara would be killed before being taken into it Reiko moves them to the right.

 

However, as they come further around the corner, Reiko can see they are entering a lit part of the entrance, exposed to the light of the cooking fire.  She halts, knowing her shadows will become obvious if she darkens the area.  Slipping back into the natural darkness she turns her shadow spell off for a moment to explain the problem.

 

In wordless response Killi releases her hand and creeps forward on hands and feet to peek around the curve.  The boy comes back after a moment and whispers in their ears, each in turn.  "She is in a cage in the far corner.  The children have gone to tease her.  The mother is in the middle of the room, between here and there, cooking."

 

"Are there enough shadows for me?" Reiko asks softly back, holding for a moment her relief that Amara is alive.  She can feel Jym’s hand squeeze hers.

 

Killi shakes his head.  "Nothing to hide behind.  We'll have to wait for her to be distracted by her children."

 

Reiko begins to do calculations in her head, wondering if one lightning bolt would kill the ogress.  It likely would not and … strangely; the thought of killing a mother, any mother, in front of her children bothers her.  Not to mention the children would be a problem as well.  Sneaking Amara out with a distraction seems a better option.

 

"How does Amara look?" Jym asks worriedly.

 

"Hard to see," Killi whispers.  "She is crouched in the cage, I saw her blonde hair."

 

"I'll take a peek." Reiko assures Jym.  "I can see better."

 

"One of us could draw the ogress out as a distraction, and the other two can rescue Amara," Jym suggests.  "Once my Mistress has her sword again, she can help us."

 

"That depends on her state of mind.  She may be too distraught to fight swiftly enough." Reiko points out.  The sorceress notices that Jym's gaze keeps dropping, though Reiko has managed to keep one of her arms over much of her breasts.

 

The Kirasani gets to her knees and peeks around the corner as well.  She uses the shadow powers again, knowing they may be noticed upon close inspection, but that darkness is better than a head spotted at a distance.

 

Reiko sees an open cooking fire in the middle of the room with a cauldron hanging over it, and spitted meat cooking.  The ogress is turning the spits, while the children taunt the blonde caged figure.  She can see that Amara is naked in the cage, but she cannot see much more than that.

 

She returns.  "Too far to see more than Killi said." she whispers, eliciting a wry grin from the boy barbarian.  "So, what distraction do you have in mind?  Not something too dangerous I hope."

 

Jym shrugs.  "I dunno.  Just get her to chase.  And not get caught."

 

Reiko shakes her head.  "I don't want either of you boys trying to outrun an ogre.  What if we create a loud noise outside, stay in shadow and go back in when she passes us?"

 

"Can you create a shadow for her to chase?" Jym suggests, seeing as how she is using her shadow powers now.

 

Reiko thinks about it and nods.  "It’s been a long time since I tried that kind of spell but I can do it.  Who volunteers?"

 

"Can you make one of big Killik?" Jym suggests.  "Let her chase after the one who cut the head off her mate?"

 

Reiko nods again.  "I wonder if I can manage a bloody axe too.  Jym, my dagger please.  Killi, this will hurt.  Do not cry out." She orders sternly.

 

At first the boy's fear makes him pull away then he stuffs his tunic into his mouth and bites down.  "Good boy." Reiko soothes, holding Killi's hand and cutting the palm.  She can see the pain in his eyes and it seems to hurt her as well.  The sorceress has to hold his hand in place to keep him from pulling away before the blood can spill.  After the drop, he pulls free and huddles with his hands pressed together.

 

Reiko proceeds with growing her shadow Killik.  Once she has a free moment she kneels and soothingly asks Killi to show her his hand.  He reluctantly opens his bloodied hand and when she wipes away the blood she finds whole skin, no cut to be found.

 

The Kirasani woman frowns.  "How the ....?" she asks, looking at Killi to see if he noticed as well.

 

The little boy looks at his hand, but seems neither surprised nor worried.  "It tingled," he admits softly.

 

"It healed." Reiko replies in amazement.  "What do you mean it tingled?"

 

Killi shrugs and makes a tickling motion with his other fingers in his palm, then along his arm to his chest.  Reiko’s hand reaches to touch one of her breasts in reaction.  "Like, little ants crawling on your skin?"

 

Killi shakes his head.  "Like..." he touches himself between his legs and shivers.

 

Reiko swats his hand away.  “Don’t play with yourself!” she finds herself scolding before she can think about it.  She can’t help feeling the boy was being naughty.

 

“You touched yourself.” Killi complains back.

 

Jym interrupts them.  "Can we get on with this before we are caught?"

 

Reiko shakes herself back to reality.  "Yes."  She looks around the cave and finds a concave indentation in a shadowed area; a great place to hide without accidentally getting run over.  "Over there." she orders.

 

They huddle in the space and Reiko covers them with shadow.  She then takes a deep breath.  "Ready or not....."  The shadow witch mutters.  Reiko moves her shadow Killik into plain view near the torch and has him roar.  She can feel the boys crowded against her bare breasts and feels Killi shiver in reaction to the roar, his own roar ironically.

 

The shadow Killik then runs from the cave, Reiko commanding him to move swiftly and keep to the brush and near trees, in part to be hard to follow, in part to keep his substance as shadow.  She is also careful not to have him move too fast and lose the ogress.

 

Even so the ogress moves with surprising speed, lunging into the tunnel and clawing her way after Killik in a rage.  Reiko realizes with fear that she may be able to catch him before he even leaves the cave.  In response she makes the shadow Killik move as fast as it can, inhumanly fast.

 

The ogre children lope to the edge of the torchlight and look up the tunnel after their mother.  Reiko waits for the children to get curious enough to move past them but the children do not leave.  She shrugs, checks to see if the ogress is far enough from the cave and moves her dark shadow mass forward as she leads Jym and Killi.  As she approaches the torch she magically snuffs it out.  They have to squeeze to get past the siblings their sheer size making all three of the adventurers feel like young children for a moment.

 

Unable to snuff out the cooking fire Reiko makes it lower and smoky instead.  A part of her hopes the children will be scared of the darkness and move closer to the entrance. Instead, they hurry off to a more secure room, just beyond the cage.

 

It is good enough Reiko decides as she moves closer to the cage.  "Pssst.  Amara?" she says softly.

A girl's soft face appears at the bars.  "Reiko?" she whispers in relief.

 

The witch is stunned and at a loss for words for a moment.  "Jym, get her out, but don't damage the cage."  She gauges just how old Amara looks right now.  "What happened to you?" Reiko asks.  New evidence has arisen and she thinks she is beginning to piece the puzzle of their youthening together.

"I...it's a long story," the girl of about fifteen stammers, her voice high and innocent.  And scared.  "The tie is on top!"

 

Reiko takes Amara's hand.  "Don't cry out, I need to cut you." she says, drawing her short sword.

"No!" the girl whimpers, as if it is just too much.

 

"I need to make a copy of you to buy us time." Reiko explains compassionately even as she takes the girl's hand firmly.  "Don't worry, it'll heal.  Quickly in fact.  You were hurt fighting the ogress and you healed.  You also got younger.  And both you and Killik got hurt fighting the ogre, which was before the pond, which means we are getting younger because of the temple blessings." She explains, hoping that the revelation at least shocks the girl into a calmer state.

 

Amara’s mouth drops open in response, but she does not try to pull her hand back, just as Reiko hoped.  "Jym, hold her mouth." Reiko instructs.

Killi has climbed to the top to untie the knot, taking Jym's knife with him.  The rope is huge and strongly knotted.

 

Reiko slices Amara’s hand open and drops the blood into the girl's shadow, cringing as she hears the muffled scream from behind Jym’s hand.  She begins to grow an exact copy of the Paladin’s current form.  Once satisfied with its progress she digs in her pack for Amara's canteen and moves to the cooking pot.

Killi cuts the knot and tugs the cage lid up with Amara and Jym’s help.  Jym helps to lift poor Amara from the cage.  She is nude but a perfectly healthy teen girl about his age, and for the first time in their relationship, she is shorter than him.  Her normally short hair has also become rather long, partially covering her diminished chest.  Jym can’t help but be amazed at how skinny she is.  All of her muscular development is completely gone.  That fact keeps his mind off her small breasts and pink nipples.

 

Reiko pours the entire canteen into the pot then returns.  "Close the cage door and retie it." she instructs.  The shadow double in the cage takes on a look of fear which mimics Amara's when they found her.  The blonde teen gets a good look at her double, both its expression and age.

"Please get me outta here," the Paladin whispers desperately to Jym, who is under her arm to support her.  The shadows engulf them and Reiko leads them back out, holding the boys' hands again.

Amara looks exhausted; like she hasn't slept or ate since the last time they camped.

 

"Might be safer to hide and let her pass us before going outside." Reiko suggests.  "Where are your clothes?" she asks Amara.

"T-torn off," Amara stutters, her voice still unexpectedly high to their ears.  She seems more like a damsel in distress to Jym than his strong Mistress.

 

They reach the same crevice and huddle together once more, Reiko sneaking a peek to the entrance to the cave.  They hear some groans and roars at the entrance.  The ogress is apparently back, though not inside yet.  "Wait and stay quiet.  I can't hide us outside." Reiko whispers.

 

Amara huddles with her knees to her chest and starts crying.  She tries to keep it quiet. Reiko gives her a reassuring squeeze but also moves her hand to the girl's mouth.

The minutes draw on.  Eventually, the ogress gives a final bellow then lumbers quickly down the tunnel.  She looks alert, and calls out.  Her children respond and come into the main room as she enters.

 

Firmly gripping the hands of Killik and Jym Reiko waits for the ogress to see the fake Amara and calm down.  The ogress inspects the room then inspects the food.  She sniffs one of the sticks, then stirs the pot and sniffs it, then sniffs it again.

 

Reiko watches, wanting to know if they ogress will accept things as they are.  She knows that the heat should have diluted the smell of the milk, especially when mixed into the stew.

One at a time, the party sneaks off up the tunnel, Killi in the lead.  Not wanting to leave just yet, but honestly worried about her party mates and herself Reiko moves outside and heads for the bushes they'd agreed upon before entering.

 

When Reiko sees them she gives Jym a light push.  "Keep moving.  We're wide open here." she whispers.  "Killi, try to put us north northwest of the clearing.  There's a town in that direction, and we may get lucky and spot Amara's pack." she whispers, not even noticing she is using the barbarian’s new nickname.

 

Amara takes her sword back from Jym and grips it, looking and feeling more herself, at least in expression and stance that is.

 

“Jym, give Amara your boots and tunic.” Reiko instructs as Amara shivers in the breeze.  Jym hurriedly gives her his own tunic, which covers her well enough now that she is slimmer.  As he removes and gives her his boots, Reiko listens intently in the direction of the cave but doesn’t hear anything.

 

Jym is now bare-chested and out of tunics, having given his spare to little Killi.  Amara pulls the tunic on then thankfully pulls on the boots but feels bad for her squire.  “Now Jym is cold.” She points out.  She has not commented on Reiko being topless, feeling too embarrassed, and self conscious to comment on the woman’s bared breasts now that her own are small and perky.

 

"I have a top and bottom you can wear, more suited to a girl.  I'll just wrap it snugly." Reiko says.  “But let us get farther away first please.  Once we get to that town we can buy some clothing that.... fits better." she adds.

 

After a half hour of walking the Kirasani digs into her pouch and removes the extra top and bottom, each a dark grey, and offers them to Amara.  The bottom has a sash that literally runs between the wearer's legs.  Despite being designed for a woman it will fit, but also will be incredibly skimpy to Amara's tastes, leaving her shoulders, tummy and legs bared.  Reiko also puts her own milk dampened top back on, completing her black version of the outfit once again.

 

Reiko finally notes that her breasts have shrunk after the milking, looking young and perky.  They are still much larger than what are left of Amara's.

 

Amara contemplates the outfit.  She sees Jym with no shirt to wear, blushes, and hurries behind a bush.  She comes back out wearing the grey outfit and hands the tunic back to Jym with a grateful smile.  Jym finds his Mistress rather fetching despite himself, while Reiko merely sees a girl.

 

"You look cute." Reiko says.  "Let me help a bit."  Reiko moves behind her and ties both parts more snugly, rising the sash enough so that walking is less difficult.

 

Amara glares at Reiko and blushes again.  She is about four inches shorter than her adult height.  Her breasts look like little more than lumps under the top.

 

"So, way I figure it, we go to the near town, get proper clothing then trek back to that temple and demand the curses be lifted.  Try not to get hurt in the meantime.  Work for everyone?" Reiko asks.

 

"What curse?" Killi pipes up as a joke.  At least, they think he is joking.  Reiko smiles at it anyway.  They move along, looking for signs of Amara's pack along the way.  Killi is happy to point out that the two boys are bare-foot now, as if it makes them closer together or something.

 

Amara is less confident with her sword and finds herself holding onto it with both hands.

"There is a leather strap behind your new top designed to be used for a side sheath." Reiko points out.  To her embarrassment, Amara needs help sheathing the sword, failing twice to get it on her own.

 

Reiko touches the hilt of Amara's sword and offers to help.  "There we go." Reiko says politely, though to Amara condescendingly.  "Now, to pull it out just pull it to the side.  See?  Very convenient."  Her arm goes around Amara and she hugs the girl a moment as the boys move ahead.  "How are you?" she whispers.

 

"It was horrible," Amara confesses.  "She cut me several times.  When she saw that I just healed it, she put me in the cage as a... a toy or something.  I... I haven't been able to think about what's happened to me."

 

The witch nods.  "You're very lucky.  You were foolish to run out like that.  Oh, and if you run across my line of fire again the next time I'm shooting then I'll pull you across my knee and spank you silly." she says seriously.  "But, I am glad you are alive.  Very." she admits, squeezing the girl in a hug.

 

Or could she be enjoying the fact that she seems much stronger than the girl for a change?  Her squeeze tugs the slip of a girl off balance.  "And you are cute now.  Our Jym can't keep his eyes off of you.  I think it's sweet." she teases lightly.

 

Amara blushes again.  "You never quit!" she protests.

 

"And you need to lighten up.  You should be dead.  Frankly, we all should probably be, given how you and Killi healed after each fight.  Take a deep breath, relax, and let's move on." Reiko says.  Reiko smiles and gives a final pat on the Paladin’s back, which also tilts Amara off balance.

 

They continue on, no trace of the pack can be found.  Amara looks sad at losing her armor while Reiko tries to cheer her up.  "You'll get more.  Better.  It wouldn't fit you now anyway."

 

Amara also has to rest more often.  She claims it is because Jym's boots are chafing, but she really looks tired, and her skinny legs don't look used to the walking.  Killi however is full of energy, which he uses in bursts, then rests while the rest catch up.

 

"I'd have never guessed you were such a slip of a girl." Reiko admits when once again alone with Amara for a moment.

 

"I wasn't!" the Paladin protests.  "I worked very hard to get strong even before this age.  This isn't me."

 

"I'm sorry." Reiko admits.  "I was a slip of a girl at this age.  Either way, it looks like you must have broken your share of young boy's hearts."

 

Amara runs her fingers through her longer hair, getting it out of her face.  "Not exactly.  I was in a monastery already."

 

Reiko winces.  "Ouch.  So you've never been in love?  Had a crush?  Wanted to throw yourself into the arms of a cute boy just to make him notice you?"

 

Amara turns beat red and ducks her face, letting her hair fall forward to cover it.  "Maybe.  But those were just feelings."  The girl squirms, an all-too-easy target now for Reiko.

 

The witch grows a large grin then leans in close and whispers.  "Who was he?"

 

"Father Graham.  A young priest," Amara is quick to add.  "He looked way too handsome to be a priest."

 

Reiko smirks.  "A pity.  What'd he look like?" she asks, honestly loving this part of the girl she could never really get to open up before.

 

Amara presses her knees together.  Her legs are skinny enough that Reiko can see space between her lower thighs.  "Tall, dark and handsome.  Bright blue eyes... and a beautiful smile..."  She blushes as though she is talking about her current crush.

 

"Sounds dashing.  What happened?" she asks.

 

Amara grimaces.  "I was squired to a bulldog of a woman, and we left the monastery."

 

"How sad.  Well, I hope your next crush goes better." she whispers as Jym returns. Amara gives Reiko a plaintive push.  The witch laughs and gently shoves her back. 

 

"What are you two doing?" Jym asks.

 

"T-Talking about how we're going to get back to normal," Amara lies.

 

Reiko nods.  "I suppose the goddess Naita holds some power you hadn't considered before." she states.  Amara finds herself resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at the witch.

 

As they move on Reiko notices that Amara’s walking has changed as well as her body and moods.  Gone is the purposeful stride, replaced by a hap-hazard gait in which she swings her hips and tends to drift to one side or the other.  It is very noticeable with the Paladin’s new clothing, especially to Jym whom Reiko notes with pleasure staring just a bit too long at times.

 

Despite her concerns Reiko is not one to worry herself to death and she easily finds the humorous side to all of this.  Still, she steels herself, knowing the reversal of such powerful curses will not be easy.  For the sake of her friends and their peace of mind, she decides not to mention that just yet.

 

---