Conquering mountains

Posted on Mon Oct 26th, 2020 @ 11:46pm by Ensign Wulfgar Duergar

Mission: Survival of the fittest
Location: Holodeck 2

Jane strolled along easily her arm wrapped into the crook of her best friend's arm. The view of the mountainious area was spectacular. It reminded her of the older days when she'd go to the woods with her father. Those were not entirely happy memories. He would go to hunt poor innocent deer or turkeys or pigs. Jane hated that. But she did love the mountains. It was just so fast and perfect. She snuggled closer to Wulfgar in the slightly chilled air. It was cold enough that she could see her breath as she spoke. "Oh look at the squirrels!" She exclaimed suddenly pointing at the adorable creatures scampering up and around a pine tree just off the trail.

Wulfgar smiled as she watched the adorable rodents. He raised a finger at her and reached into his pocket where he had a granola bar. He withdrew it and crumbled part of it up. He motioned for her to stay there and remain quiet as he slowly and cautiously moved closer to the tree. One of the squirrels spotted him and froze. He froze too until the small animal thought it had imagined something and went on his business.

Wulfgar reached the base and sprinkled some of the granola on the ground next to the tree trunk. He then slowly and methodically slipped bacwards, sprinkling more granola every few steps. He finally got back to Jane's side and whispered quietly, "Squat down." He squatted down and sprinkled half of the remaining granola on the ground in front of them.

Jane watched him in facination trying to stay silent she squated down as he instructed excited to see if his plan was going to work. Then a thought struck her. "We are not going to hurt em are we?" She asked quickly. But then felt silly Wulfgar wouldn't hurt the little guys. He seemed just as inambered with them as she was. "Sorry that was silly of me. Of course not."

Wulfgar shook his head slightly then pointed towards the tree. A couple of the squirrels had discovered the granola and were munching happily away until a third one, much fatter than the other two, ran down the tree headfirst and bowled one over they chittered at each other a moment before the smaller one ran away a couple of feet. The fat one ran back to the pile chittering at the other one still there. It ran over to its companion while the fat one started shoveling the food into its cheek pouches.

The first two had discovered the small trail and started following it, feasting along the way as they moved closer to the still couple crouched waiting. Wulfgar slowly reached over with one hand and around her with the other to cup her hands together and he placed the last of the granola in her palms. He then slowly guided her hands down to rest on the ground a few inches from the end of granola trail. He leaned in and whispered almost imperceptibly into her ear. "Remain still. Let them come to us. Watch." He smiled and inhaled deeply the scent of cookies, lavender and mint. 'Hmmm, pumpkin spice cookies today.' He thought to himself.

Jane remained still as a stone. Her eyes glowed with joy her body was trembling in her excitement now and she wished shed thought to bring some crumbs of bread or something. "Do you think their babies?" Jane asked leaning into him to whisper softly to avoid scaring the little fluffs away. The chilled breeze wafted his scent to her and she closed her eyes as she tasted it like a fine wine. Grease, gelpack sterilizer, a almost ozone scent. But most dominate was that smell that was all his. That salty sweet man smell that made her want to just lick him to see if he tasted just as good.

As her attention was on wulfgar, she suddenly felt a furry paw and a tiny weight on her hand followed by the feel of it eating the offered food. Wulfgar smiled as he gently nodded towards her hands as he watched. The two squirrels had reached them while the fat one was scurrying back up the tree, it's cheeks bulging with its prize.the smaller of the two had one of it's front paws on her fingers while the other grabbed the treat and stuffed it in its mouth. The other sat a few feet away staring at them trying to figure out if they were a danger. After a few moments it scurried over to its friend and joined in the meal.

Jane chomped on her lower lip to keep from squealing out in joy. They where right her on her hands. They looked so beautiful this close up. Eatting there tiny bits of granola. She looked over at Wulfgar with such pride in her glowing eyes. She mouthed the words "come closer" they where already fairly close together. Still her smile urged him to lean nearer still. Then out of nowhere she leaned forward closing the distance between them. "Thank you." She whispered right before her lips closed over his ever so briefly. Tentivley.

The sudden movement of Jane kissing Wulfgar and his startled slight jump startled the squirrels enough that they ran a few feet away and started chattering at them. Wulfgar wasn't paying attention as he had melted into her kiss. He had been startled at first but quickly, his arms were around her and he was returning the kiss with feeling.

Jane broke away first her cheeks a crimson blush that had nothing to do with the chilled air of the mountain. "Wow." She said when she was able to speak again that was. what a feeble response to the explosion of joy that was singing like a choir in her head. But it covered everything just perfectly too. She looked at her friend. Really looked at him. She had not been in the market for anything more then just that. friendship. yet looking at him here in this moment she knew that deep down she wanted more. How selfish of her. She gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry I .. that was not very kind of me to do." She looked away to where the squireals had run.

Wulfgar looked at her a moment. "There is nothing to be sorry about Jane." He said as he reached out placing his fingers under her chin with his thumb on her chin. He gently turns her face towards him. He looks deeply into her eyes before he leans in and kisses her.

Jane let him if for just a moment before she again pulled back. Her heart was racing now and her eyes had a look of fear and apology. "I cant do this. I know that I started it. But we can't be more then just friends. It's dangerous enough to just be that. I am deeply sorry. I just.. I don't want to see you get hurt." She said rapidly as she took a couple steps back. Her eyes searched the snowy ground she couldn't look at him. This was her fault. He had every reason to get angry if he chose to.

"I don't understand." Wulfgar said as he stood up. He took a step towards her. "When you kissed me it confirmed the emotions I had been feeling towards you. I really like you and would like to be more than friends. I want to take you out to dinners and see the Delta Quadrant with you by my side."

Jane felt her chest tighten at his honest confession. Of course he didn't understand. He had no idea about what haunted her. That she had run away from home to aide her former fiancee in escaping a death sentence from his chaste with his new bride into the delta quadrant. Under the guise that she had wanted to take the Kazon culture indectures. The tribal elders of her fiancees chaste had agreed out of curiosity to let her go. Probably to appease her by the dishonor that Sentalic had brought by abandoning her they let her stay after he was pronounced as missing. They had been looking for a new arrangement to maintain the treaty when she'd slipped away onto the ship when the call came in for a counselor on the Pennsylvania. She had seased her own chance at freedom at a life that was her own. Yet even here in this remote ship in the ass crack of space she wasn't really free. If her father found out about her seeing someone that he had not approved of he would be after blood. She had no way of explaining that to him. That to be with her would likely be the death of him at the hands of assassin's or the Breen.

"I wish I could explain but it's confidential. Please... Don't have me." She said sadly as she quickly moved around him and ran for the exit.

Wulfgar stood there dumbfounded and just watched as Jane ran out of the holodeck. "Wait!" He called out just as the door slid shut behind her. "Computer, end program." He stated as he headed for the exit. The mountains and forest dissolved to reveal a large empty room as the doors slid open for him. He looked up and down the corridor for her but she was gone. He let out a sigh and headed for his own quarters to think.

End

Ensign Wulfgar Duergar
Engineering Officer

Ensign Jane Doe
Counceling Officer