An Unexplored Wilderness Ch. 02

The next morning, Macey awoke with the memory of the previous night on her mind. It had been fantastic. She turned to Lisa, who was also awake, looking at her. They stared at each other for a few moments, wondering how to broach the subject of the previous night's activities.

"Thank you for last night," she whispered.

"Yeah, I don't know how I would have gotten to sleep otherwise."

"Crazy, yeah?"

"I've never done anything like that."

"Me either."

At breakfast, Macey immediately noticed something. Sarah also seemed well rested and cheerful. She couldn't help but wonder if Adam had visited Sarah last night in the same way Dylan had. Sarah seemed a surprising choice, as she had seemed really quiet and reserved in Macey's previous interactions with her. Cementing her suspicions, both the men seemed cheerful and well rested.

The other five girls looked drained, as if they hadn't slept at all. They also followed the men around like puppy dogs, practically begging for attention. It seemed like spandex shorts and sports bras had become the outfit of the day, and the guys were appreciative.

The girls flipped their hair, giggled at anything the guys said, and were constantly touching them. When getting their breakfast, they would lean over and stick out their butts to almost absurd degrees. They vied for position to be next to Dylan and Adam whenever they had the chance.

Macey felt a bit embarrassed as she watched them preen for attention like that, but couldn't help feeling a little jealous. They were stealing attention from her! She wished she could be so bold, but simply didn't have it in her. Trying to shrug off her feelings, she grabbed her breakfast and tried to engage her mind and body as much as possible, but it was difficult.

The other girls were beginning to make Macey uncomfortable. She was not used to fighting for attention, and she felt uneasy about the whole situation. Eventually, she began to feel like the odd one out. Old memories surfaced in her mind of failed romances, of disappointment at not being the girl pursued.

Meanwhile, Sarah seemed more than happy with her new role as Adam's new found object of affection. A bubbly personality had suddenly emerged, and she seemed almost oblivious to the competition around her. Macey found herself envious of Sarah's new found confidence, but soon realized it was not worth it; if she wanted things to work out between her and Dylan, she would have to find a way to stand out from the crowd.

Dr. Catton seemed oblivious to the whole thing. Perhaps she was just so involved in getting things organized that she literally hadn't noticed the way the girls were acting, or perhaps she wasn't concerned as long as things remained mostly professional. Or maybe she just had no idea how to change the dynamic, and was trying to pretend it wasn't happening.

Either way, the order of the day was to break into three teams and scout the boundaries of the Maddidi. Two teams were a guy with two women, and one consisted of four women. Macey was disappointed to find that she was on the team with four women, Samantha, Anis, and Heather.

Macey watched longingly as Dylan led Sarah and Ashley into the forest, then turned to follow her team on their designated bearing.

Arriving at the edge of the uncharted forest, she could barely contain her excitement as her longing for him gave way to her fascination with the wilderness around them. Stepping past the tree line felt like crossing the threshold into a living laboratory. The team slowly made their way under the dense canopy, marveling at the diverse flora and fauna around them.

The air was thick with the earthy smells of decaying vegetation, moss, and rich soil. She inhaled deeply, knowing this was an environment untouched by pollution, barely touched by human hands at all. That scent told her this place was primal, ancient.

Brushing past massive ferns and dense undergrowth, Macey kept a keen eye out for any small movements in the foliage, hoping to spot elusive forest creatures. Strange calls echoed all around, signatures of an active ecosystem.

As they walked past a fallen, moss-covered trunk, they came upon a small clearing. Sunlight filtering down through the branches cast a prehistoric feel, and vivid butterflies fluttered among exotic looking flowers. It was a pocket of Eden in the virgin forest, and they paused to take it all in.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to explore an unspoiled land. As a human, never mind as a biologist, it was hugely fulfilling to bear witness to this forests' biodiversity. Macey couldn't wait to learn its secrets and share them with the world. But for now, she let the primeval sounds wash over her, feeling a profound connection to nature.

The trees were unlike any she'd seen before, with enormous leaves in a stunning array of shapes and vivid greens. Brightly colored mosses and lichens covered the bark, evidence of the rich biodiversity. Strange calls echoed through the forest, signaling unknown birds, insects, and who knows what other exotic species.

She tried to mark in her mind the locations of as many plants as she could. The forest floor was teeming with unfamiliar mushrooms. It was clear that this ecosystem had been evolving undisturbed for a very long time.

Occasionally they spotted small mammals scurrying about that they couldn't identify. She hoped she could observe them more closely on future visits. For now, they kept their distance, rightfully wary of this giant newcomer. Macey could only imagine what amphibians, reptiles, and other creatures she might find lurking beneath logs or in the trees.

Their initial foray was only scratching the surface of what biological discoveries laid in wait within the ancient forest. Their goal was to place out markers for the outer boundary, then in the coming days, build a grid pattern across Maddidi. In the following weeks, they would to fully document the biodiversity and learn more about this rarest of ecological finds -- a forest all but untouched by modern human activity. This environment was an ecological marvel waiting to be studied.

After walking for most of the morning, they approached the edge of the Maddidi. As they walked, they came upon a huge fallen tree, its decomposing bulk blocking the path. Peering inside its rotting crevices, they gasped at colonies of bioluminescent fungi and mushrooms, lighting up the hollow tree with a ghostly blue glow. What unknown chemical reactions caused this phenomenon? Macey couldn't wait to find out.

Yet, even surrounded by this wonderland, soon the discussion amongst the girls turned from nature to the guys.

"Have you seen Dylan's muscles?" Heather said, her eyes wide. "His shirt was so tight, I could see every inch of his chest."

"And Adam is so hot," Anis added, fanning herself with her hand. "I mean look at those legs! He's like a walking dream."

As they continued talking, it became clear they were all feeling similarly attracted to the two men. They discussed what it would be like to have them as boyfriends, and fantasized about kissing their lips and running their hands through their hair.

"I still can't believe I put up with Josh's jealousy and controlling behavior for two whole years," Macey vented as she navigated over a fallen log. "I'm lucky I finally got the courage to end it, and then got accepted into my PhD program several hours away. It was like a new start! But I've been single for over a year."

"Tell me about it, my ex Chris was the absolute worst," Samantha replied, swatting away a bug. "He was so critical of everything I did. Breaking up was the best decision I could've made, and it was because he didn't want me to go on this expedition."

Anis chimed in, "That's me too! I just broke up with my boyfriend, we weren't really going anywhere, and to be gone for three months was just too much. Ending things with Steve was really hard, but it was the right decision. I'm finally free of his manipulations and mind games. Never again!"

Heather sighed, stepping over a large rock, "I probably should have broken it off with my ex, but we just agreed to see how things are when I get back. If I get back. Maybe I'll stay in Bolivia for a while. Probably screwing some co-ed by now."

Macey nodded sympathetically as the twinge of pain in Heather's voice, "No more crying over jerks who don't deserve us. From now on, I'm only dating someone who treats me right from day one."

"I'm done trying to fix damaged men or change them," Samantha declared. "My new rule is that any guy I date needs to already have his life together. No projects! And he needs to be able to cook. Adam makes the best pancakes."

"We should enjoy being single for a while, not rush into anything new," Anis suggested, taking a seat on a fallen tree trunk. "Some self-care time is definitely needed after the nonsense we've put up with from our exes."

"So true," Heather agreed, joining Anis on the makeshift forest bench. "Let's focus on ourselves, our friendships, our research, and having fun in this gorgeous place!"

Macey smiled, feeling the tension of the last few months finally lifting from her shoulders. "This place was just what I needed to clear my head and my heart. Mother nature really is healing."

"You know what else is good for getting over loser exes? Getting smashed by some hunk like Adam!" Samantha added with a laugh, bending over and pantomiming getting pounded from behind. "Oh! Oh! Yeah, baby, fuck me!"

The other girls laughed at the scene.

"Yeah, I usually make my bad decisions after a few cosmopolitans. No booze here."

"Well I don't need any liquid courage. I just need some quality alone time with Adam or Dylan. Or Prad Bitt," Anis added with a giggle

They started walking again, and one by one, the girls shared their secret crushes. Macey had to bite her lip to avoid revealing that she had been with Dylan the previous night. A stray thought crossed her mind--would he be picking someone else tonight? She felt a surge of panic at the idea, but knew it could come true.

Macey was now years into graduate school, and like these other young women was participating in an extraordinarily important exploration of a primeval forest. And yet, primal feelings were surging to the fore. Macey wondered what was going on in her head. She was surrounded by young, educated women, all in their mid to late twenties, who were all participating in perhaps the biggest moment in their career, and yet they were spending more time talking about hot guys than their research. It was as if they were back in high school. To be truthful, though, Dylan and Adam were both much hotter than anything high school could offer.

The young women continued to gossip as they walked, finally finding a small cliff that marked the edge of the Maddidi. There they began making their measurements and laying down their markers. As they walked the boundary, Macey was again astonished at the biodiversity in the glen. It was indeed a paradise. Fields of blooming flowers grew in patches between the trees. Birds sang overhead. There were no indications of predators, as the only animals were small mammals and lizards. The team worked all day laying boundary markers around their territory.

"This is really hard work," said Anis, as they laid out boundary markers around their territory. "I don't know if I can do it for another three months."

"Once we get all set up, things should get easier," Macey offered, hopefully, adding "that would be nice."

"Maybe I can go on a trip just with me and Dylan."

"Hah, I was hoping to go with both of them."

"Slut," Heather teased.

"Hey, leave some for me!"

"I mean, it's not just me is it?" Macey asked. "I'm super...ah..."

"Horny," Anis interjected.

"OMG, I know right? So fucking horny."

"This place, it's just so magical!"

"And Dylan and Adam, just beefcakes. Yum!"

"I haven't been camping much, is it always like this?" Macey asked.

The other girls shrugged. "This is only my second time camping."

On the one hand, Macey was relieved that she wasn't the only one who was turned on. On the other hand, with only two guys and eight women, Dylan would have his choice of eager women. She likely would not have nightly repeats with Dylan. Questions nagged in the back of her mind. Why was she so horny? Why were all the girls so horny? It seemed weird. The guys, well, were guys, and were always horn dogs.

They were the first group to return to camp, and Macey was waiting to use the shower when Dylan's group arrived. She could have sworn he was holding Ashley's hand as they entered camp, although he dropped it before she could get a good look.

Dylan walked straight to Dr. Catton to check in, with Sarah and Ashley following close behind him. As they broke up to go to their tents Macey looked again. Hadn't Ashley been wearing the green sports bra and Sarah the red one when they left this morning? Those little sluts!

Adam, Lisa, and Kayla returned shortly afterwards. At least Lisa looked like she was still dressed in the outfit she had left in. Nonetheless, Macey noticed how adoringly the girls looked at Adam, and how they shared a conspiratorial giggle as he left.

Her fears were confirmed as Dylan largely ignored her at dinner, fully occupied with Sarah and Ashley. Something was up, although it was all still reasonably professional. Macey was crestfallen, however, and turned her attention to Adam. Unfortunately, he seemed occupied with Lisa and Kayla.

As they walked back to their tent for the night, Lisa pulled Macey aside.

"Adam may be stopping over tonight."

"You filthy girl!" Macey grinned in support.

"Maybe you can return the favor tonight," Lisa replied with a lascivious wink.

That night, shortly after they settled in, footsteps approached outside the tent.

"Hey, Adam," Lisa greeted.

"Hey babe. Can I come in?"

Macey's jaw dropped as he unzipped the door and crawled in.

"Hey Macey, you don't mind, do you?"

"She's fine," Lisa replied for her as she pulled him into her arms.

Adam wasted no time in pushing up Lisa' shirt, and Macey stared. Fuck!

On the one hand, she could ease her own frustration by touching herself while they had sex. It would be like she was still participating, although it would be purely voyeuristic. It could be fun, like a game, she told herself. Like a live version of porn. On the other hand, it would be awkward to masturbate while they were right there having sex. She would be playing second fiddle, and the idea made her feel somewhat cheap. Maybe they would watch her? So she simply stared, shocked at the dimly lit lovers beside her.

"Hey Macey, could you go get us some drinks?" Lisa gasped, Adams' mouth on her breast.

"Uh, sure," Macey said, and darted out of the tent. She quickly walked to the water station, legs trembling. Holy moley, that was hot. And embarrassing.

Drinks in hand, Macey returned to the tent. As she neared, she could hear Lisa moaning, and a telltale rhythmic slapping coming from the tent. She felt a tingle in her crotch as paused. Should she join them or give them privacy? She looked around, her eyes straining in the darkness. Being alone in the dark forest was still intimidating. Further, her whole body was on fire, and there was no one there for her. As if on autopilot, she bent down and crawled into her tent.

"Fuck, Macey," Lisa groaned, now naked with Adam on top of her, her feet up in the air.

"Huh?" Macey replied, staring at the dimly lit lovers.

"I mean, would you mind if we..." Lisa had an embarrassed look on her face

"No, it's cool baby," Adam grinned.

Macey watched, her heart pounding.

Adam stopped kissing Lisa and looked over at Macey, his hips still thrusting. "Hey, give me a drink?"

"Here," Macey replied, blushing, holding out the bottle.

He took a sip and then handed it back before turning his attention to her tent mate. Macey couldn't help but stare at his firm ass as he fucked. Lisa was clearly trying to stay quiet, and largely failing.

"I think we're going to need to get a gag," Adam smirked.

"Oh, God, I'm going to fuuuuu..."

The rest of her cry was cut off as Adam clamped a hand over her mouth as her body started to shake.

Macey was mesmerized, watching as Adam fucked her friend through her climax.

Adam pulled his hand back and started to kiss Lisa passionately while his other hand slowly moved down her body, exploring every inch of her skin with his touch. Macey felt a tingle in her core as she watched them. She wanted to join in on the action but felt too awkward and embarrassed to do so.

He continued to pump into her as Lisa rolled in ecstasy. He kept going for what seemed like an eternity until finally he grunted and tensed. Lisa screamed into his hand again as she climaxed with abandon.

Macey couldn't help but feel a little jealous; she wished it was her experiencing such pleasure instead of just being a spectator. Nevertheless, she stayed quiet and watched as the two lovers caught their breath in each other's arms.

Adam took another drink, and then offered some to Lisa. He then rolled to his side, giving Macey a good look at his wet cock as it slid out of Lisa. He pulled on his shorts, gave Lisa a quick kiss, and left the tent.

"Fuck, I'm spent," Lisa sighed, wiping herself.

Moments later, Lisa was asleep. Macey swallowed and laid back on her sleeping pad, her body aflame. The tent still reeked of sex, and with Lisa asleep, she considered taking care of things herself. It just seemed weird to do it, though, and so she laid still, replaying the recent events in her mind.

She had gotten fucked by a guy she barely knew, who had barely even kissed her. She had let him cum inside of her. She had come back and fucked Lisa, her first time ever with another girl. And then she just watched Lisa get fucked. Why was she being so blase about the whole thing? And why was she still so, so horny? These questions rolled around her mind until finally sleep swept over her.