Shipwrecked - Chapter 167: Mending the Breaks (Mf creampie oral voy exhib)

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Chapter 167: Mending the Breaks

With Kylana laid up, we were essentially down one hand around the South camp, so it meant the rest of us had to pick up the pace during the hot, humid Summer. It wasn't a terrible burden, in reality, and no one grumbled when our work started the next morning, after an early breakfast, just as dawn began to rise. I sent Ekoh and Kunomo off to start clearing the fallen limbs and any other obstacles along the path through the interior, hoping to avoid more accidents like Kylana's. To be fair, it was an ill-timed step in an already tricky spot. Long overdue, in many ways. Ekoh had suggested building a proper carved switchback-staircase, one with broad steps and rails and carefully laid grooves to keep the stones from being slippery, but it would take a massive effort to do such a thing, and I failed to see how we could even start that sort of project until well after the labor needed in the North had lessened later in the Fall after harvests were mostly complete there. If we even had the tools needed to cut into the places where there was dense rock.

It was always something, living primitively. There were constant repairs on buildings, daily gathering of food and resources from plants and trees and the surrounding waters. We mended and made blankets and clothing, the latter worn by some all the time, but also by everyone who had to pass through the interior. Scratches could become infections if we weren't careful. Thankfully, Manu and then Kinnon had trained us all on how to ensure we disinfected as best we could, including squeezing the juices from the stem of a wildflower which grew all over the island, identified by its pointy, three-prong leaves and, when in season, its small, circular white blooms.

Little things like that made a lot of difference. We had antibiotics to use, though I knew those could go bad on us at any time. We had no way to keep them really cool, though we'd some time before created a buried storage area which was much cooler than the surface, though nothing like a real electrically-chilled cooler. Even so, medicine broke down over time, meaning antibiotics and other necessities might fail us when we most needed them.

As I chopped fallen limbs and branches to add to the newest seasoning cords, I considered the future of Phoenix. If we survived our inevitable encounter with Progress, and the world somehow returned to normal, would we always live primitively? Would we, one day, return to something like civilization as it was before all the fighting and death? Would we know electricity and air conditioning, medical facilities and technological gadgets? It was hard to imagine Phoenix with those things around, though I wished, for the sake of the little ones, we could do so. I constantly worried that we'd fail to have access to basic technologies which would save a finger, a hand, or a life. Kylana's broken ankle could be tended rather well despite our lack of modern resources, but lurking in our future, I knew, were conditions which we could not so readily treat.

Amy brought me a plastic bottle filled with water, my wife carrying Azure in a sling behind her, a canopy shade drawn over the girl's head to protect her from the direct sunlight. I thanked Amy and kissed Azure, causing the infant to smile and paw at the back of Amy's head. "She keeps grabbing my hair. Pulls hard, too," she told me, grinning.

"Kinky," I chuckled.

"Hey!" she laughed, "Don't you go getting any ideas..."

"Why not?"

Amy tilted her head and pursed her lips, then shrugged, "Go on then, perv!" she said, smiling.

"How are things going?" I changed the subject. Amy had been working with Kinnon and Nina to reorganize our food stores after the influx of fruits and crops from the North overwhelmed our preserving areas.

"Good, almost done. I'll keep working with those bringing things South to keep them moving. I think we'll have enough room, though, if what Gale said when she was here this morning is true, this might be a fairly bountiful yield this year."

"Very great to hear," I replied. I'd heard the same thing when Gale brought down a heavy sack of small melons and greens, leaving almost immediately to try to get back to the North before the dark clouds to our South moved in. "We just have to be sure we're eating what won't keep first."

"Oh, don't you worry, Kal," Amy assured me, "we have that well in hand. Lots of fruit needs eaten this week, for sure, or it's gonna rot. This heat isn't helping things. Bugs got some of the citrus, I'm afraid, but I cleared it out and resealed the containers properly."

Food loss happened. We had no way to keep anything really chill, and in the Southern Pacific heat, it was easy for anything fresh to go bad, or to get consumed by the myriad of critters and bugs and molds and such which populated the island. We'd learned a lot of lessons over the years, many more from the experience of the islanders from other places who brought decades and centuries of lessons with them, and our loss due to conditions and infestations had been reduced as low as seemed possible. Still, it sucked to have food go bad. We'd known some lean times, and I feared we would again. I thought again how handy it would be to have basic refrigeration, and not just because I'd have loved a glass of ice-cold water.

"I've had some chance to work with Sebastian," Amy told me, referring to the teaching efforts she directed in the South. With most of those needing lessons in the North, it left just Sebastian and Kylana needing any real secondary education in the South camp, though most everyone enjoyed getting a chance to learn science, history, or most anything Amy wished to teach. Even with Azure strapped to her back or nursing from her breast, Amy continued to be an excellent and caring instructor. She continued, "I think he might even pick up his first readings soon, he's getting close."

"Fantastic. I had some doubts for a while," I admitted, "but between you, and his friendship with Felicity, he might just have a real shot at coming out of his shell..."

"Yeah, they seem to be bonding pretty good... have you talked to her about it lately?"

I shrugged, "Nothing in detail, just that she's acknowledged it is nice to have someone to talk to without making any demands on her. They kind of share some painful pasts, maybe it helps them work through it in ways that I, or anyone else, cannot."

Amy nodded, looking past me towards the Southern sky where another afternoon storm was ready to move in shortly. "Best get things sorted, Kal, we're gonna get pounded soon."

"Oh... is that a promise?"

Amy shook her head, giggling, then pretended to smack my face lightly, "Easy, stud... I gotta watch the twins and this one," she said, nodding back at Azure, "for a while soon... but maybe later... I might be up for that pounding..."

I kissed her lips, tasting the sweat and sand which was ever-present on Phoenix, "Love you, Amy..."

"Love you."

- - -

Sanity, the little white kitten which had stowed away on the Humble Beginnings and was Felicity's constant shadow, raced out of one of the shelters, took about a dozen rapid steps, felt the first few drops of rain hammer down, backed up halfway, then spun and raced right back into the shelter. I laughed and saw Felicity doing the same as she stretched from her nap, she and Sebastian still on night watch together. Unlike most, they chose to sleep through the very hottest hours of the day. Usually, the night watchers would try to get a few hours of sleep just after others had roused while it was still somewhat comfortable. For me, the midday heat was simply unpleasant for sleeping, drenching me in sweat and causing me to get little real rest when on overnight duties. How the two did it, sleeping during the hottest hours, was beyond me.

But Felicity looked refreshed, clothed again, but quickly shedding off her shirt, slacks, and panties, racing down to the surf to get clean before the heavy squall line made shore, Sebastian soon racing, naked and sweaty, to join her.

I checked in on Kylana, finding Kinnon laughing next to the girl. I'd apparently missed a joke, and when I asked that it be retold, both women simply doubled over laughing again, Kylana trying to keep her leg steady while she did. "Fine, then, keep your secrets," I smiled.

"Kal, got a second?" Kinnon asked as she stood, still grinning.

"Yeah, was just checking in on your patient."

Kinnon took my arm and led me into one of the other shelters, then lowered her voice. "Not that I want a fuss or anything, but according to Amy's notebook, this is January 25th, yes?"

I shrugged, "Sounds about right." Since I kept a journal, I usually knew the date, but I'd yet to log anything for that day and wasn't completely certain.

"Like I said, not wanting a fuss, but... today is my birthday."

"Oh! Jeez, Kinnon, wish you would have said something, we—"

"Kal... please..." Kinnon looked much too serious for what she was telling me, her voice tired suddenly, "what happened to me... in med school... the things I keep at bay with this," she said, grabbing a flask from behind her, "it happened on my birthday, okay? I really... really don't want to celebrate, alright? I just need to get through today..."

My heart ached for the woman, "I'm so sorry..."

"Please, I'm not asking for pity, Kal. You know me... I just... I needed to tell someone I trust, okay? Nina and Hakee know, but that's about all who know more than just a bare thing about me... no one else knows it happened on my birthday... And on top of all that," she said, pushing her hips forward and spreading her thighs slightly, an obvious tuft of fabric visibly hanging from her smooth, shaved labia, "my period started last night..."

"Alright," I said quietly, taking her free hand and holding it, "is there anything I can do to make things better today?"

Kinnon offered a tight smile, "Just love me, that's more than enough."

"You know I do," I said, pecking her lips lightly. "And I won't say a word to anyone."

"I appreciate that."

"I'd usually offer a happy birthday, but, if you prefer, maybe I'll just wish you an evening of shade, good food, and pleasant company."

"A good wish for every day."

I smiled.

"I love it here, Kal." She looked at the flask, setting it aside without taking a swig. "Regardless of how I cope... I am much happier here than anywhere I've ever been. You make that happen, you know..."

"I'm just a piece of all this, just a small piece."

She shook her head, "I don't believe anything about you is small, Kal." Her even expression turned into a giggle. "I didn't mean it that way..."

I laughed, "I'll take it, regardless."

"You know what I mean. Without you leading this place... I dunno what it might have been otherwise."

"I suspect there are enough kind souls here that things would not be much different," I said.

"I doubt that. Maybe it would have been a soft landing for me, for the others, but Phoenix without you..." Kinnon paused, "I'm just happy to be here, Kal, and I'm especially glad you are, too."

"Hey, don't go all straight and fall in love with me," I teased gently.

Kinnon grinned, "Never, though I must admit it's hard to call myself a lesbian these days after enjoying some fun with you... Still prefer women, you know, and I'm in love with Nina and Hakee... But you are just as much a part of my happiness these days. And... thanks for keeping my secrets, Kal. One day, I'll be able to move on, I hope, but until then... I just appreciate your love, alright?"

She kissed my lips this time, lingering just a moment, then drawing back and taking a breath just as the rain began to hammer down. We turned and looked out as Felicity and Sebastian raced back up the beach and ducked into the bath house, both still as naked as when they'd headed down to bathe. Kinnon whistled, "Those two sure are close these days..."

"It's lovely," I remarked.

"Yeah... think she might ever find some peace here, Kal? What she went through... I admit I feel very guilty about my crutch when I think of what he did to her..."

"Don't," I replied, "don't compare. That's not fair to either of you. And, yes, I think, one day, Felicity will find peace. She's been doing better lately."

"Relapses happen often," Kinnon said quietly, "trust me, I know that personally, you think you're fine and then... one day, you're right back in it again, fighting for balance, hating the world all over again."

I nodded but remained silent. We could hear Felicity and Sebastian laughing in the bath house which was directly connected to the shelter where we talked.

Kinnon took my hand, squeezed it, "I'm happy to be here, Kal," she repeated, "and, I think, so is Felicity, even if she won't always remember that."

- - -

The storm raged well into the night, leading most in the South to head to bed rather early. Felicity and Sebastian stayed awake in the common shelter, both fully clothed, too much rain and lightning to keep watch in our beach outpost. I checked on Kylana again, finding her deep in sleep, then went to sit with those still awake in the common room, which included Amy after a few moments. "Couldn't sleep," she told us as she settled next to me where I sat around the indoor cook fire which was boiling up a tea made from a mix of traditional black tea we'd had in storage as well as some of the minty-tart grasses which perfectly accented the robust bitter flavor.

"Azure sleeping?"

Amy nodded, "She's in with the twins. Bed's awful empty right now, Kal, with Kate and Bailey in the North. Though," she laughed, "Keekah always manages to spread herself out enough for it to feel like four or five in with me..."

I grinned, "That she does."

I hugged Amy to my side and she leaned her head against me, silent for the moment.

Felicity smiled at us, sitting just a little closer to Sebastian than might seem necessary. She said, looking at me, "Four plus seven?"

I was perplexed a few seconds until I heard the young man answer her, "Eleven."

Felicity said, "Eleven minus two."

"Nine," Sebastian responded.

"Three times seven."

He struggled a moment, using his fingers to slowly count his way to an answer. "Twenty... uh... twenty-two? No, umm..." Sebastian tapped his fingers again. "Twenty-one."

"Perfect," Felicity grinned, looking at me as if seeking approval.

"Fantastic," I said, nodding to the young man. "You really got a grasp on this quickly!" I knew Amy had been working with him on some basic lesson, and it seemed Felicity was doing the same.

Sebastian rose and headed quietly towards the connected outhouses. Amy said in a whisper, "Thanks so much. He's catching on!"

Felicity smiled, "Yeah... he's much smarter than people think. Slow, maybe... but he's coming around."

"You two, uh," Amy paused before continuing, "kinda getting close?"

Felicity shrugged, "Just a friendship," she said quietly, "but it's been nice..."

"Yeah... I've noticed," Amy agreed.

Amy's hand had drifted almost innocently onto my thigh, and despite not being completely aware of it, I realized suddenly that my cock was rising fast and Felicity's eyes were drifting down that direction. I ignored it a moment. "How are things with you?" I asked the woman.

She shrugged again, "Reasonable. I'm hanging in, Kal..."

I knew there was a lot of baggage in those few words, an awful lot of unspoken emotions and challenges, dreams and nightmares. I didn't press her though. "I'm up for a while, I think," I said, "I can keep a minimal watch if you or Sebastian want to nap."

"Nah, I'm good, haven't been up that long myself..." Felicity's eyes were lower than I felt comfortable with at that moment, so I shifted myself so that my penis was not so directly bobbing in her direction.

"Kal," Amy whispered, "about that pounding you promised earlier..."

I looked at Felicity and started to stand up, remembering that at least one of the shelters had no one inside that night.

Before I was out of my crouch, Felicity said, "You don't have to go," she said evenly, "seriously..."

"Felicity..." I began just as Sebastian returned to sit beside the woman.

"Seriously," she repeated, then looked at her young companion. "Sebastian... wishes to learn things... and... though I'm not in a place to teach him... yet... I think he might like to watch..."

I was conflicted, to say the least. Felicity had been doing so well lately. Being on night watch helped to keep her from so often seeing the frequent mating and sexual play of those in camp, plus, the apparently-platonic friendship she'd grown with Sebastian had helped give her both a purpose and an outlet for support. I really didn't want to risk a setback by making love with Amy in front of her.

Before I could protest further, Amy said, "Kal... I think it might be nice for him to watch... and learn..." I looked at her face. Amy and I had a connection which went beyond words. What she voiced concerned Sebastian, but her expression suggested she was really talking about Felicity.

I looked back to the woman, "Are you... certain? We can move along..."

She nodded. "I am... Please... this will be good... for Sebastian..."

Amy broke my frozen state by sliding onto her knees where I stood and taking my penis into her mouth. I groaned and stretched to feel her young, warm lips slide down my shaft, Amy humming lightly as she began to suck. I caressed Amy's head while she bobbed, enjoying her gentle attention. I tried to tune out the two watching us, but I still snuck glances to see their reactions.

Felicity sat with her back against one wall, knees up, showing no emotion. Sebastian was next to her, stiff and a little in awe as he watched. I was certain he'd seen others being intimate in camp, but perhaps not so directly as he did right then. Felicity leaned over to him and I heard her whisper, "This is called oral sex. Amy's using her mouth to get him ready to penetrate her."

The young man showed no reaction, and his old, loose jeans left no way to tell if he had become erect. I thought Felicity, though, was already looking a little rosy in the cheeks.

I rolled to my knees and kissed Amy a moment, drawing her down onto one of the nearby spare mattresses, kissing her neck and then sucking gently on her swollen, milk-filled breasts, teasing out drops of warm, rich fluids and swallowing them. I heard Felicity tell Sebastian, "During foreplay, women enjoy having their partner lick and suck on their tits like Kal is doing there. Next, he'll move down and lick her between her legs to get her ready for penetration."

I almost laughed. It was somewhat clinical, Felicity's description. It left out a lot, of course, presuming a certain flow that might or might not happen, but in this case, at least she was right. I lowered my head, spread Amy's thighs, and pushed my tongue into the young woman's hairy, drooling slit. "See how he uses his tongue?" Felicity said quietly. "No teeth, just his lips, kisses and licks, that's all. See how Amy enjoys that? Women like to be licked there."

I admit that I was becoming rather aroused from hearing Felicity explaining things to Sebastian. I didn't look back to see their faces, but I imagined the woman was still blushing a bit and Sebastian was probably still a bit in awe of what he saw.

Amy began to tremble, mussing my hair with her fingers, "God... Kal... I love this so much... Eat me... Eat me real good..."

I licked up and down and up and down, teasing her clit a moment, then probing her vagina, tasting her arousal drooling down, spreading slickness all over her red lower lips, the flesh swollen and so hot on my face. She started to tremble and I heard Felicity say, "She's about to orgasm... that's when a woman fills with pleasure like nothing else..."

On cue, Amy's legs went stiff and straight, her thighs clenching, her body shuddering tightly as she came, "Ohhhhh... Kal.... Ohhhhhh... Yessssss... Ohhhhhhh..."

I licked her a moment, smearing her juices around her spasming hole, then rose over her. Felicity explained, "They're both ready for penetration. See how his penis is very rigid? Watch... he's going to put it into her body now..."

I did just that, sinking my pulsing dick into Amy's snug cunt. She moaned as I buried myself deep inside her pussy, Amy's velvety folds so lovely and warm where they stretched around my cock. "And now," Felicity breathed, "they mate..."

I shut out Felicity's running commentary and concentrated on making love with Amy. We rutted slowly, kissing, one of my hands fondling her tit, milk slowly leaking out when I squeezed it. Amy's hands were moving faster, more passionate. After a moment, she whispered, "Pound me, Kal. Pound me hard..."

Bracing my body above Amy with both hands, I started to hump the teen, building up speed and tension, first driving firmly into her, then slamming myself against her body, spurting precum inside her as our groins smacked together loudly. My thrusts caused the mattress to slowly slide across the floor, and before I knew it, we were practically in the laps of Sebastian and Felicity. I didn't slow, pounding Amy like she wanted.

My lover came again when she lowered a hand and stroked her hard clit between us. I heard Felicity explain, "She touches her button so that she can orgasm again..."

I swelled inside Amy, looking into her eyes, seeing the wonderful love and trust and pleasure there. I began to hump her hard, slamming my hips forward and feeling my balls smack against the teen's body each time. She was grunting, holding my shoulders, opening herself as wide as possible below me. I started to sweat heavily, drops dripping down onto Amy's face and chest, our skin growing sticky and slick where we touched.

"He's going to inseminate her now... see how he strains?" Felicity breathed nearby.

I clenched, sinking deep, then withdrew, throwing my hips forward again, my body tense and on edge. "Oh... Amy... I'm cumming in you..."

I filled her with strong pulses, my glans swollen inside Amy's vagina, spitting out globs of thick, salty spunk. I pumped my load into my young wife over several long shuddering seconds, then leaned down, shaking lightly, as we began to kiss and relax.

"See how good she made him feel? Kal and Amy love each other," Felicity told Sebastian, "and they make each other feel real good."

For the first time, I heard Sebastian speak up, "She will be with baby, now?"

Felicity giggled, "Probably not, no... Amy just had a baby about three months ago. She could get pregnant again, but, not likely..."

"Oh. I thought you said, uh," Sebastian struggled for the right words, "he will leave the seed in her and babies come out later."

"We can talk about it more after a while," Felicity said, "let them enjoy their moment."

I nuzzled Amy's neck, whispering, "I love you so much."

I felt her pussy clench around my half-hard cock. "And I love it when you pound me, Kal." Amy grinned and wrapped her arms tighter around my body, saying even quieter, "And that was kinda hot, right?"

"Mmm-hmm..." I knew she meant Felicity teaching Sebastian had been arousing. I glanced back to see the woman with a small smile on her face. More surprisingly, in her lap, on top of one thigh, Felicity held Sebastian's hand loosely. Just a small thing, really, but, I knew, a huge step for her. I hoped what she'd just witnessed, what she'd shared with Sebastian about what Amy and I were doing, had been a positive step for the woman who had so far to go to feel normal again, especially where sexual things were so openly displayed.

- - -

The humidity the following morning was stifling. In the moments just before dawn, the beach was consumed by a thick fog which seemed to roll and tumble against my skin. I'd risen from bed to find Keekah and Amy both already up, the babies gone as well, my flesh dripping sweat from the damp air. Nights like that made it miserable to sleep, but I'd been able to get some rest despite the discomfort. I stretched in the doorway to my shelter, trying to see anything beyond the building, the dense fog blocking out light beyond a few feet from where I'd lit a candle.

I carried my light with me, finding Kinnon and Felicity and Sebastian seated around a roaring fire, the breakfast stew already boiling away. They were talking quietly as I came up and greeted them. Kinnon offered me coffee, which I accepted, then I drug a chair over and joined them in conversation.

"Was just updating on Kylana," Kinnon said, "she's a little miserable from the heat, just like all of us, but doing okay. I've eased back her painkillers a bit. She'll still need them a few days, but better to give her less if possible. She's rather... bound up... right now."

"I've been there," I said, "not pleasant."

"No... we'll get her moving today, I'm sure, but it's a bit tricky with that ankle."

"I can help," I offered.

Kinnon grinned and shook her head, "No, thanks. I think the girl would rather not have help if she could do it on her own, given her state, but I'll help her if it comes to that."

I nodded, glancing at Felicity. She and Sebastian were both clothed, as normal, and no hand-holding was seen. Still, they were seated close together with a familiarity shared between them which hadn't been there even in the days earlier when their friendship was growing stronger. It was really nice to see, and I thought that the fun I'd had with Amy the night before might have been a good thing for both of them to witness.

"So what's today looking like, Kal?" Kinnon asked.

"Same as yesterday, I think. Lots to get done..."

She looked above her as if the fog, which had lightened just a touch with the dawn, would allow her to see the sky. "Feels like a rainy one on the way."

"Why do you say that?"

Kinnon shrugged, "Just a hunch."

"Well, I suppose we should eat and get things going then..."

- - -

"It's a mild fever," Kinnon told me when I popped in to check on Kylana mid-morning. The rain had come light so far, proving the woman right, the humidity drenching us and the drizzle doing nothing to cool off the Summer heat.

"Mild fever..."

She nodded, "I've started her on a different antibiotic, but..."

"But..."

"We won't know if it works for some time. I'm worried she might have picked up an infection. It could just be her body responding to the injury, but I'm not taking chances."

I nodded, worried about the teen who was tossing uncomfortably on her bed in the ersatz hospital shelter. "Keep me informed... is there anything we can do for her?"

"It wouldn't hurt to help her bathe a few times, to stay cool. I got her down for one this morning, but I'm needed to help Amy soon. She's expecting me at the tree farm..."

I nodded again, "I'll do so right now. I'm caught up, mostly, with the firewood."

She touched my hand and said, "Thanks. Other than that... we just have to be patient and pray."

"Dunno that praying is going to help, but... if it makes you feel better..."

Kinnon ignored my comment and left me with Kylana. I ducked inside and knelt next to her. Her eyes opened slowly, her face drenched in sweat. "Hey, Sweetie... feel up to a bath?"

She nodded but didn't say a word.

"Be right back to get you..."

I went to the tub and started filling it with clean, fresh water. It was reasonably cool thanks to our underground reserve, and soon, I was very carefully helping Kylana hobble her way to the edge of the tub. I eased her down and kept her broken ankle out of the water, using a towel as a cushion where she could prop it gently on the side. She let out a long, relieved breath, looking a little weary and weak.

I cleaned her skin slowly, rinsing her with cool water and using a cloth to wipe away the grimy sweat from her body. Kylana was really feeling poorly to not even react to my gentle touches of her soft breasts or the swipes of my fingers or the cloth through her hairy genitals. She let me finish wiping her body, then I spent several minutes using a small cup to pour the cooling liquid down her cheeks and over her head, careful to keep the water from going into her nose.

"Thirsty," she told me.

I brought her a container of water and helped her sip it.

"Sorry you're not feeling well," I said, "just try to relax and cool off..."

"Trying..."

"Anything I can do to help?"

"My uncle?"

"I'll bring him right now."

Sure that Kylana wasn't going to fall asleep and slip under the water, I went to where Kunomo was fishing in the fog, still thick despite the rain, and let him know his niece would like some company. He hurried to rinse himself and rushed off to join the teen. I swallowed my fears and helped Ekoh and Nina pull in fish and crabs.

"She okay, Kal?" Nina asked after snagging a fat green-striped fish.

"For now... that fever worries me..."

"Yeah..."

"Kinnon's gonna stop in regularly each time she brings back fruit from the orchard. Said there's really not much we can do other than treat her as if she's got an infection, keep her pain and inflammation down, and keep her in the bath to cool her down. Beyond that..."

"Beyond that," Nina replied, "is just wishes and dreams..."

"Exactly..."

After a moment of quiet, Ekoh said, "I could trade for some things, Kal. I'm sure I could find us a generator or two... maybe even an air unit... or a cooler..."

I shook my head, "Too dangerous right now, Ekoh. We can't risk you being found while you're away... Much as I wish I could send you..."

"I'm just offering. I know it's risky, but... I would risk myself for Kylana, or anyone... I hate seeing her suffer when we might be able to help more directly..."

I nodded, quietly introspective.

Ekoh let the subject drop and the three of us turned back to our fishing in silence.

- - -

Kylana was kept in the bath as much as possible that day, her fever not terribly high but still a concern. Kinnon upped her dose of anti-fever medicine but tuned down her opiates, the latter not helping do much at this point with Kylana insisting her bowels were hurting more than her ankle. Several times, Kinnon had carefully shuffled the girl to an outhouse, but each time, nothing was moving.

The rains came harder with the evening meal, so we ate inside, Kinnon tending to Kylana at the bath. I spelled her a bit so that she could eat, the dark-skinned surgeon looking rather tired. "You okay?" I asked before she left to find supper.

"Alright..."

"Long day..."

"Yeah..."

Her hand was shaking just a touch. I asked, "Need a swallow?"

"Yeah..."

"Then take one..."

Kinnon's eyes snapped to mine, "Kal, I'm trying not to right now..."

"I know... I'm not encouraging you, just thought, given the stress and the heat... maybe it is too much to cold turkey today?"

She hesitated, looking at where she'd sat the flask earlier that morning. I thought she might take it, but instead, Kinnon swept past me and said, "No. Not drinking today..."

I grimaced to see her confliction, but it was her decision. I turned to Kylana and knelt beside her in the bath, cupping cool water over her body. Her nipples were hardened despite her misery. "Anything I can do?"

She shook her head. "Kinnon gave me something to loosen me up... think it might be working..."

"Need to go now?"

Kylana hesitated before responding, "Err... maybe..."

"I can take you... unless you'd rather I get Kinnon..."

She shook her head again, "No... she's been with me all day... she needs to... eat. Help me out?"

I carefully pulled Kylana up on her good foot and she stepped out. I handed her the crutches she needed to get around. We were trying to keep her off her feet, but a couple of quick attempts at something resembling a wheelchair, made from spare parts we had around, had not resulted in anything useful yet. She shuffled unsteadily until she got to the narrow hallway. It was not wide enough for her to use the crutches, so she leaned them against the wall and used her hands to hop from spot to spot as I stayed right behind her in case she stumbled.

The outhouses we'd constructed were rustic, barely more than a bench seat with an opening down into a u-shaped catch which then needed to be flushed with water in order to send the waste into the deeply-dug hole below. We regularly added a healthy measure of charcoal and ash from our fires and a daily task, when the outhouse was in use, was to clean it inside as thoroughly as possible.

The smell was still rather sour and sharp and we only used the facilities when we were stuck inside by a storm or by injury. Each outhouse had a small line run inside to a closable spout, pressurized just like the other outlets we'd built into our shelters, so that water was available to flush the siphon trap below the seat, and also so that hands and other parts could be more easily washed up. It was not a perfect solution, just a necessary one.

I helped Kylana onto the seat after she pulled up the cover, the girl settling down and grunting in discomfort. I stepped back and said, "Call me when you're ready to leave..."

"Alright..."

I went down the long bend which kept the outhouse and its contents well separated from our main camp and away from our water and other supplies, waiting out of sight of Kylana but where I could still hear her. I heard the girl moan in pain, then grunting, then more moans. I felt real sorry for her, wishing there was some way to help.

I almost laughed when I remembered the first time I'd had anal sex with Bailey. She'd been in a state much like Kylana was then, constipated and needing help. I'd penetrated Bailey's butt and cum inside her to help get things moving. It worked then, but I wasn't about to suggest any such thing with Kylana. It was actually rather creepy, what I'd done, though Bailey hadn't thought so, and soon after wanted me to have anal sex with her again, but under better circumstances.

"Kal?"

I returned to the girl and saw her dripping sweat. "Any luck?"

She nodded, "Yeah... much better now... can... can you, uh... can... you help me get cleaned up?"

"Do you want me to get Kinnon?"

She shook her head, "No... I just... feel kinda gross right now... please..."

So, I did for Kylana what I would have done for anyone on Phoenix. She got into a position where I could wash her, using a cloth I'd brought after rinsing what I could away from her backside. I pushed away the smell and cleaned her bottom, then told her, "Alright, all good... Feel like another bath?"

She nodded, "Thanks, Kal... Sorry... you had to see that..."

I carefully pressed my lips to hers, and smiled, "I love you, Kylana, I just want you to feel good, okay?"

She smiled, "I know... thanks..."

- - -

I got Kylana back into the bath and Kunomo came to look after her. I let Kinnon know she'd had success moving her bowels and the surgeon was genuinely pleased to hear it. "That's one of the hardest parts when dealing with severe pain... the constipation."

"She said her ankle's feeling really sore right now."

"To be expected," Kinnon replied, "she's been up and down to the toilet, to the bath, far more than I would have liked. Even with the wrappings and splints on her leg, things are moving around too much right now. Wish this heat and humidity would break so we could keep her steady and not have to get her in and out of the tub so much..."

"I can do an anti-Summer dance, if that might help," I grinned.

Kinnon pinched my arm gently, "Silly."

"Just trying to keep things light."

"I know, and I appreciate it."

"If you need to get some rest," I told her, seeing how weary she still looked after her meal, "Kunomo can keep an eye on Kylana a while, and I'll pop in regularly to help when I can. Promise we'll get you if anything changes."

Kinnon hesitated a moment, then nodded, "I could use that, thanks... not... not drinking is having odd results... on one hand, it would have made it harder to deal with this heat, on the other... I'm just feeling a little out of sorts, I think."

I nodded, deciding not to encourage her to drink, but also not discouraging her. We needed Kinnon sharp, and I'd come to recognize there was a line, somewhere, which required maintenance drinking at times. A swallow or two throughout the day wouldn't make her less effective as a doctor, and it might, sometimes, even improve her responses. For the moment, she declined a drink, pecking my cheek and heading off to try to get some sleep.

Keekah, Amy, Sebastian, and Felicity were working together in the common room, mending blankets and clothing and nets for catching fish and crabs. I watched them a moment, Azure rolling a bit on the floor nearby, Harry staring up from the small crib next to Keekah, and Hermione noisily slurping from Keekah's swollen breast as she worked.

Things didn't slow just because it rained on the island, or just because we all worried about Kylana. These were hard days, but far from the hardest we'd known. We had to push through the tough times to get to the more casual Winter months when temperatures eased down and the work load, both North and South, was less about harvesting and more about preparing for the seasons ahead. We couldn't ease up in January, and we wouldn't in February or March, either. Whatever was to come for us, it was vital to continue to push our efforts along, to make up for the loss of a wounded loved one, and to ensure that, when we could ease up, we were well prepared and ready to face unknown challenges.

The threat of Progress was still in my head, though I'd not mentioned it recently to anyone. With Nina preparing us as best she could in the South, Popko doing the same in the North, there was little else to do but wait and see what happened when the inevitable moment arrived. I kept those concerns to myself, not wishing to spread ill thoughts to anyone else. I needed them to focus, to maintain their calm, laborious efforts. Adding my darker concerns to what already pressed in on everyone would do nothing to help our situation.

I took a swallow of water, then sat down next to Keekah, kissing her and picking up an old sheet which had developed a rather deep tear down one side. She handed me a needle and thread, then smiled as I began to draw together the fabric with a tighter bond. I felt like it was a bit symbolic of how I tried to address those who chose me as a leader. Sometimes, there were rifts or cuts or breaks, and it was up to me to ensure the needle and thread were brought to bear to fix and mend and repair. I chuckled to myself, enjoying that moment a little, then I leaned against Keekah gently and kept drawing needle and thread until I'd finished the work in a reasonable fashion, ready to move on to the next broken thing I could fix.