David & 'Lyssa

She gave him a mocking salute and a grin, and then she turned and headed back for the trail.

'Lyssa started past him. David reached out and pulled her close. Much to her surprise, David kissed her firmly on the mouth. "No worries." he told her, and patted her bottom as he brought up the rear. They traveled in relative peace for a while. The trail turning into a regular road, winding between and over hills, through countryside right out of the illustrations in the books he had read about medieval rural life. Farmers and others turned to watch the travelers as they passed. Some were human looking. Most were not. No one seemed to be afraid of them. They seemed merely curious.

Neither friendly nor openly hostile expressions on their faces. Although David was not sure that some of them could HAVE expressions on their faces.

The houses and buildings that David could see were either half timbered affairs, or wattle and daub huts. But the fields seemed well tended and the walls and fences between the fields and lining the road were in good repair. The farms seemed to be getting closer together as they went.

David stepped up the pace to move up alongside Prissy. 'A town up ahead?" he asked. Prissy nodded. Best we pass right on through. We are attracting enough attention that I don't want to be here when the boss of this domain comes to see what's going on." "Right." David dropped back to walk beside "Lyssa. "How are you holding up?" "Fine." 'Lyssa replied. "But I could use a rest before too long." "Hold on until we are past the town ahead, then we will take a break." David told her. It was not to be that easy though.

Prissy brought up short as they entered the town market square. David unslung the Barret when he saw the line of soldiers drawn up across the square, blocking their path. David felt 'Lyssa pressing her back against his, and he heard her work the bolt on the MP5K.

A glance back over his shoulder to him that they were neatly boxed in.

Prissy took a step back to stand next to David. He noticed that neither Prissy or 'Lyssa had changed from their human appearance. Then he looked down at his hands on the Barret. Scales, claws, and his mouth felt funny. A touch of his tongue told David that his dentition would now make a shark proud. He was going to HAVE to learn to control that reflex, he thought wryly to himself. David closed his eyes and took a couple of breaths. He opened his eyes and checked his hands.

Yup, back to normal. And his teeth felt normal too.

An imposing figure stepped through the line of soldiers and approached them.

David heard Prissy whimper deep in her throat.

"You are trespassing in my domain." Announced the newcomer pompously. "Submit now, and I will let you die in a few weeks or so. Resist, and your punishment will last for years." David looked the creature over. Humanoid, scales, fangs, and ears that stood up like a dogs. "And who do you think you are that you can threaten us and be allowed to live?" he asked. Hell, David thought, nothing to lose by bluffing, and they could always fight if needed.

"I am Diret. Lord of this domain, and vassal to the Dread Lord himself. Who are you? So that I may inform my master of your impudence when I tell him of your hideous fate." "I am David. And I am come to slay you." David said. Prissy looked up at him with her eyes wide. "And what makes you think that you can slay ME?" laughed Diret contemptuously. "I alone control the magic here. And none can change form without my let." David had had about enough of this blowhard. He let the shift occur. Talons, scales and teeth.

To say that Diret was astounded would be an understatement. This should not be possible Diret babbled to himself as he stepped back in shock. No one could override his control of the magic here except one of the higher powers, not even another Domain Lord could... Diret never got to finish the thought.

"Fuck you Jack." Said David as he tilted the Barret forward. The muzzle was only a foot from Diret's chin when David pulled the trigger. Diret's head vanished in a spray of green blood and yellow ichor.

Suddenly, the feel of 'Lyssa's back against his changed, and he knew that she had just assumed her battle form. Prissy likewise shifted into something that looked like a demons nightmare. As Diret's corpse burst into flames, the square was suddenly empty except for the three pissed off travelers.

After a long moment, Prissy shifted back to her redhead shape. 'Lyssa changed also. David kept his form for a bit longer, and then he relaxed. A bit prematurely as it turned out.

A crossbow bolt zipped out of the space between two buildings and hit Prissy in the shoulder. David dropped his pack and the Barret and sprinted for the gap where the bolt had come from. He shifted shape as he ran, his fury at the treacherous attack driving him on.

Between the buildings David found a cluster of creatures huddling around one who was frantically trying to wind the cocking mechanism of its crossbow. It never got the chance to finish. David leaped upon the hapless creature and grabbed its head. Davit twisted and pulled, ripping the head clear off in a spray of gore. Then he turned on the others standing there in shock. They wore the half armor and uniforms of the late Diret's soldiers. The half armor did them no good at all, it only told the berserk David which ones to rend and slay.

Finally there were only bits and pieces of the soldiers left.

Very SMALL pieces.

By the time David reached his friends, he was fully human in form again, even if he was covered in blood and other fluids. Prissy was in bad shape. The bolt had passed nearly through her shoulder, and 'Lyssa had pulled it the rest of the way through. But Prissy was bleeding a lot. David was mildly surprised to see that her blood was as red as his own. David didn't know if it would work, but he had to try something, or Prissy would surely die. David pressed his hands over the wounds on either side of her shoulder and closed his eyes. David concentrated on sending healing life energy down his arms and through his hands into Prissy as she lay there out cold. David pictured flesh knitting back together, Skin sealing over the wound, arteries and veins growing together again so the blood could flow. David could feel SOMETHING happening, but he didn't dare open his eyes to look. Finally, he sat back and relaxed his hold on Prissy's shoulder. He opened his eyes reluctantly to peek at her wounds. There was an angry red blotch on the front of her shoulder that faded as he watched. When he looked at the back of her shoulder where the bolt had come out, the skin was smooth again, with only a fading blush of color to tell him where it was.

Prissy was still out cold from the blood loss. David picked her up in his arms. 'Lyssa put the Barret and his pack over her shoulders with some difficulty, and followed David as he carried Prissy out of town along the road to the gateway. They stopped that evening at another of the fountain refuges. This one had a small cabin a few yards from the water. David settled Prissy inside and helped 'Lyssa unpack for the night. David sat on a bench near the fountain, and 'Lyssa poured water over him by the bucket full to rinse off the remains of the soldiers he had destroyed in the alley.

When he was more or less clean, David sat 'Lyssa down and bathed her feet in the water from the fountain, Then he took water in to Prissy. Between them, they managed to get a couple of dippers of water into Prissy, and she slipped into a more natural sleep. There was a trough out back that was evidently for horses or the equivalent. David filled it with water and took a much-needed bath.

Then David had a bright idea. HE took every pot and pan that they had, and used a kettle from the cabin as well, to heat water from the fountain and fill the trough. Thus 'Lyssa got to take a nice hot bath before supper. David cooked while she was bathing.

After a quick supper, David and 'Lyssa refilled the trough with warm water and undressed Prissy for her bath. Prissy1 s body looked very human indeed as David carried her out to the makeshift bathtub. 'Lyssa washed Prissy with the same bar of soap that she and David had used, Undoubtedly the odor of the soap was what finally woke the goblin girl up.

David stood watch while the girls were busy. He didn't trust the conventions right then. And he needed to think. The attack on the soldiers in the alley had been a blind berserker rage. Totally unlike him. David had been in combat many times, and he NEVER lost control. But this time, he had been a beast, rending and tearing and merciless. And if innocents had been there too, David didn't know if he would have been able to stop. Hell, he didn't even know if he'd have NOTICED.

The girls coming around the side of the cabin interrupted David's reverie.

Prissy looked much better. But she was still weak as a kitten. "We'll stay here until Prissy is ready to travel." Announced David. "And since the fountain water seems to have a rejuvenating and healing effect, this is the best place to plan our next moves while we recuperate." David handed a dipper of water to Prissy, who drank, and handed the dipper to 'Lyssa. She drank and passed the rest to David again. Somehow David felt that the ritual was critical right now. A solitary man came by that night. H shared water with each of them, but never spoke a work. From the neck down he was human, but the head was the head of a wolf. In the dawn, the stranger was gone, leaving behind a staff for each of them. The staffs were about 6 feet long and as big around as one of the silver dollars from David's world. They were of wood as hard as iron, but as light as aluminum. Just right for Prissy to use in her depleted condition. Prissy, gained her strength back over the next couple of days. And as she felt better, her sense of humor reasserted itself.

"Thanks for keeping me from being monster chow buddy. I wasn't expectin1 that sneak attack so soon after the big boy hisself got whacked." Prissy said to David. "How often to you visit my world?" David asked, "I visit New York and LA about every 5 years or so," 'And nobody notices a goblin gal running around town?" "We're talkin' LA and the Big Apple remember? No one would notice you in your battle mode." "Right. Forgot about that. I must have been having a blonde moment." David said. "How old are you Prissy?" "I'm only 43. US goblins age slowly, but we still only live 140 years or so. Succubi like 'Lyssa here, they live for thousands of years, effectively immortal unless someone kills them off." 'Lyssa said, "I am not sure how you are going to be affected. You are true human stock, David. But you are showing signs of abilities that no human has had since the days of Merlin and the great bards of legend." "That figures." David said. "Get some rest ladies. We leave in the morning."

Dawn saw the party starting out on the road. The gate that they were trying for was only a couple dozen miles away, but there were no more fountain refuges before they got there. A meal break about noon was the first rest of the day. They stopped a couple of times in the afternoon to visit the bushes, then continued on. They reached the gateway at dusk.

David was nervous, they had seen nobody at all on any of the farms they had passed. And other than the wolf head that had given them their walking staffs, they had seen nobody traveling the road since they had left the town. The gate was a stone ring that sat apparently unsupported in midair, a foot above the ground. There was a stone pillar about 4 feet high with a green crystal ball set into the top of it about 6 feet from the gate. "Just put your hand on the ball there, and think of where you want to go. The better you can see your destination, the more accurate the gate is. Most folks can get within a few miles o' where they want to go." "Ever seen anyone make a mistake?" Asked David. "Only a long long time ago." Said 'Lyssa. "I saw an incubus get startled just before he fixed the destination. and He wound up in your world all right, but about 20 miles above ground. He made a big splat when he hit."

Prissy grinned at 'Lyssa's story. "I made a transition when I was drunk." Prissy said. "That was about 10 years ago. I ended up Russia. I got there buck nekkid and in the middle of winter. I had to grow a fur coat to make it to the gateway there, and that took a week." David said. "Well, I am sober, and I know precisely where I need to go." H closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He cleared his mind, picturing a blank slate in front of him. David thought hard about his living room. Adding details as minutely as possible down to the textures of the fabrics on the furniture, the feel of the carpet, and the smells of home. When he opened his eyes, David saw his living room through the circle of the gate. He reached out and took 'Lyssa's hand and stepped toward the gate. Just before he stepped through, David felt Prissy1s hand slide into his free hand. He looked down in surprise. "I'm goin' with ya." Prissy said merrily.

Then they were through the gate. David felt a subtle wrenching inside, and then they were all standing in his home, right in front of the couch. "Interestin1 things happen around you two. So I'm gonna tag along to see what happens. That is, if ya don't mind my company." Said Prissy.

She plopped down on the couch and grinned up at David and 'Lyssa. Prissy's breasts swelled to comical proportions.

David broke up laughing and shrugged off his pack. 'Lyssa rolled her eyes. "Oh grow up Prissy." David carried the guns to the gun case over in the corner. Then carried the pack into the kitchen to unpack and stow the contents. He would repack later.

Prissy, now back to her usual proportions, and 'Lyssa wandered around the house, exploring and snooping. David sat down in the kitchen and cleaned the guns. Something that took an hour or so. He heard the others chattering away upstairs, and he smiled. It did sound good to have company at home again. It had been a long time. David heard the shower start upstairs, and 'Lyssa came down to the kitchen. "I'm next in the shower up there." She said. "What's for supper? I'm hungry!"

"There's a shower down here if you want to use it. I'll throw something together to eat here as soon as I put all this stuff away." 'Lyssa went off to find the other shower while David reassembled the guns and reloaded them. Then he put them aside and cleaned off the table.

David washed his hands in the kitchen sink. Then dug into the freezer. He took out a couple of frozen pizzas and turned on the oven. He popped them into the oven to bake. They would make good appetizers as he finished cooking the main meal. David thawed a roast in the microwave, then peeled the potatoes and carrots etc. The veggies he put in a pot on the stove. The roast he put in a pan in the oven under the shelf holding the pizzas.

Prissy came down wearing a towel in her hair and one of his robes, it dragged on the floor, being about 10 sizes too big for her. David sat her at the table and took the pizzas out of the oven. He sliced the pizzas and set them on the table for Prissy to help herself.

'Lyssa came back a few minutes later, wearing a towel on her head and wearing another towel wrapped around her body. "That outfit looks good on ya." Quipped Prissy to 'Lyssa. 'Lyssa stuck her tongue out at the smaller girl and sat down next to her at the table and reached for a slice of pizza. David left the ladies to their own devices for a bit.

He went upstairs and dug in his closet. He got out a pair of his spare robes, then took a shower himself, washing off the days grit and grime.

When David was toweling himself off, he happened to look in the mirror. He looked a good 10 years younger, and in much better shape than he had been in since his mercenary days. Shape shifting evidently agreed with him. Since not even the arduous trek he had just completed would account for all the new muscles, not to mention the younger face. Hell, even some of his old scars were faded almost away. David shook his head. Standing and posing in front of a mirror like a teenager. He finished drying off and put on one of the robes.

When David got downstairs, he handed the spare robe to 'Lyssa, who promptly dropped the towel and put on the robe. "Showoff." laughed Prissy. David checked the roast. Just right. He took the roast from the oven and the veggies from the stove and put them on the table. Prissy and 'Lyssa were practically drooling at the scent of the food. David sliced the roast and had the girls help themselves. All three stuffed themselves. When all was done, David got on the phone to his friend from Deming. "Hey bro." Said David. "I made it home... What? Oh yeah, 'Lyssa1s here with me.... Yeah, she's OK... No. Yep, the guns were a literal lifesaver... Yeah, I'll call back if I need ya... Ok bro, be safe." And he hung up. David turned to the others. "There are 4 bedrooms upstairs. Take your pick. I am going to go to sleep, stay up as long as you like. But don't answer the door for ANYBODY, and no one leaves here unless we all go." He collected a hug from each girl, then went up to his bedroom and slid into bed.

An hour later, David was woken by whispering and giggling in the room with him. He opened his eyes as 'Lyssa and Prissy slid under the covers with him from either side. The girls snuggled up to him and he put his arms around them as they pillowed their heads on his shoulders. "We feel safer in here with you. And besides, we want cuddled and held." announced Prissy in a self-satisfied tone. "That's right." 'Lyssa put in. David rolled his eyes as he grinned. To tell the truth, he liked getting held himself. And the fact that all 3 were bare as frogs didn't hurt. He tightened his arms around them in a hug. Then he gave each a kiss and promptly went back to sleep.

David woke up alone in the bed in the morning. He yawned and stretched lazily. It felt good to be back in his own bed. No monsters, no weird magic. What bliss.

David dressed and went through his morning routine, when he came downstairs, he found 'Lyssa and Prissy trying to make breakfast in the kitchen. David looked in on them, saw that they were having fun, and went into the basement. David dug around in the storage rooms downstairs, assembling backpacks and. frames for the ladies. Carrying the packs and other supplies upstairs, David loaded the packs with camping gear and MRE's, and ammunition for the various firearms. David was not about to be caught short again. From now on, he would go no place unarmed an unequipped. David carried the loaded packs out to his garage and stowed them in his pickup. Then he went back in for the guns. David laid out a pair of Clock 9mm's, a pair of Colt .357 magnum revolvers, a pair of the H&K MP5K subguns, the big Barret .50, and his Para Ordinance P14 45's. 7 David added extra magazines, speed loaders and more ammunition to the load. Then he tossed in an assortment of knives of various sizes and types. Then he packed the whole bunch out to the truck.

The truck was David's pride and joy. A GMC 1 ton crew cab dually. All wheel drive and twin 40-gallon fuel tanks to feed the huge turbocharged diesel engine. It would get up to 20 MPG on the road, and 12 off road. A couple of 20-gallon cans secured to each side of the cargo bed doubled the range he could travel if no fuel was available.

Finally, David went inside and found the girls waiting breakfast on him. The kitchen was a glorious mess, but the food looked and smelled appetizing. "We are going to the mall to go shopping, you both need new clothes, and I need a few supplies. With any luck, we can find a few things that will help us figure out this mess." David looked at the girls to see what they had to say. But both girls had started chattering at each other as soon as they had heard the word "shopping". David snorted with amusement. Women were women no matter what species or dimension. David pitched in to clean up the mess in the kitchen, and then they went shopping. Before they hit the mall, David stopped at a gun store where the owner was his friend. He told the girls to stay in the truck. Then he went on inside. When he came out, David had a satchel full of goodies that the feds would have been interested in knowing had been stored and sold there. Since almost all of it was illegal enough to warrant a lengthy vacation at Leavenworth. Tucking the package behind the rear seat of the truck, David got in and they finally headed for the mall.