Her nubile body was dainty, and yet it had cute little curves in all the right places. Like her redheaded accomplice, she could simply walk down the street on Earth and ruin the day of any man who laid eyes on her.

  However, her face was unassuming, trusting, and sweet.

  She seemed as pure as freshly fallen snow.

  Tex remembered how the savage had put his disgusting hands on her ankles and dragged her over the dirt.

  He clenched his fists, enraged by the thought of any man doing that to her.

  Any man except him.

  Because that was exactly what he wanted to do to the little elf. Lay her down on the dirt, open her legs and drag his tongue over her untouched clit.

  A gravelly sound rumbled in his throat and his cock unfurled in his jeans. He gritted his teeth.

  What’s wrong with me? I just rescued her and I’m already thinking about fucking her!

  Shouldering his rifle, he took the torch and gave a hand to the little elf, helping her up the slippery rocks. The redhead followed like a gazelle.

  The delicate music of trickling streams and dripping stalactites greeted them as they walked into the murky cave. The walls glistened in the red light of the torch.

  Tex led them into the cave’s depths until they came to the chasm in the ceiling. He held up the torch, gazing at the dark space through which he’d fallen. His heart pounded violently.

  A heady feeling tugged at his nerves. In his mind, he could vividly see his truck, still parked where he’d left it. It felt like he could just hop through the chasm, jump into his truck, and drive home.

  But he knew that was only a trick of his mind. The distance back to the lodge couldn’t be measured in space or time.

  It was dizzying.

  “To hell with it,” he muttered.

  Walking over to a shallow pool, he pushed the butt-end of the torch into the sandy bed and left it standing upright.

  Then he found a dry patch of ground and sat down.

  He suddenly chuckled at the absurdity of it all. The elves stood by with an air of patience and curiosity, watching his every movement. The petite one smiled when Tex chuckled.

  The two girls exchanged a glance and sat down several feet away from Tex. After a pause, the redhead spoke, her words lilting like a song.

  Tex listened admiringly and then smiled. “Sounds beautiful, but I don’t speak Elvish.”

  The little blonde piped in, as if in response to Tex. Her voice was higher than the redhead’s. It sounded clear, sweet, and true.

  “You’re beautiful,” Tex rumbled.

  Encouraged by his response, the petite beauty shyly stood up and approached Tex while her friend said some coaxing words.

  She crouched down beside Tex with a solicitous air, much like a gentle nurse, and Tex understood she intended to help him somehow.

  His heart was galloping.

  “Emi,” she said in her little voice, patting her chest. “Emi.”

  “Your name is Emi,” Tex rasped.

  Her eyes twinkled. “Emi. Shu’kahil, drem’kahil. Emi. Emi.”

  “Emi,” Tex repeated. He patted his chest. “Tex.”

  Her eyes widened, and she drew in a breath. “T-tess,” she whispered.

  He smiled and drawled, “Tex.”

  Emi tilted her head. “Tek–sss.”

  The redhead nodded emphatically. “Ahhhh, Tek—sss.”

  Tex smiled whimsically. “Close enough.”

  The redhead put her hand over her cleavage. “Neesha.”

  “Neesha,” Tex repeated. “You both have pretty names.”

  Emi twisted her nubile body towards him and placed a dainty hand on his shoulder.

  Tex’s cock quickly swelled and pushed against his zipper. He shifted uncomfortably, wishing he could adjust his trousers.

  There was nothing he could do about it, as much as he tried to dismiss the dirty thoughts that charged into his mind.

  Keeping her right hand on his shoulder, Emi raised her left hand and held it in front of Tex’s chest.

  Tex looked down at it, and then reflexively took hold of her fingers with his right hand. It made for an awkward handshake — if that’s what it was supposed to be.

  Her little hand was so warm and soft...

  Suddenly coming to his senses, Tex saw Emi was blushing deeply, and Neesha glanced away with embarrassment.

  He quickly let go of her hand.

  “Oops. Sorry.”

  You dope! She wasn’t trying to shake your hand!

  To be fair, Emi’s gesture did sort of look like she was offering to shake hands, but Tex still felt like an idiot.

  Great. They probably don’t even do handshakes! Now she thinks I’m a pervy hand grabber.

  Not to mention that his cock had broken free and stiffened against the leg of his jeans.

  Tex inwardly berated himself.

  What is wrong with you? This sweet, innocent elf is trying to help you, and you get a raging hard-on. Since when were you so lecherous?

  But the more he thought about her angelic face and sweet demeanor, the more his cock hardened.

  Emi raised her hand again, holding it several inches from Tex’s abdomen. She continued speaking, but her voice had become breathless. The deep, hot flush spread from her cheeks to her ears, and her forehead and chest became dewy.

  Removing her hand from Tex’s shoulder, Emi looked at Neesha as if for reassurance. The redhead nodded and spoke some words of encouragement.

  With frowning concentration, Emi gently touched his ribs, right on the painful spot. Then she tugged at his shirt.

  Tex understood she wanted him to take it off so that she could look at his wounds. Tex complied, trying not to look too excited about it.

  Disrobing didn’t help his boner situation, though. He tried thinking about what Ajay had looked like with his guts pulled out.

  It didn’t work.

  But Emi seemed to have a struggle of her own. Tex could see she was angry with herself for blushing, but her cheeks only reddened even more.

  Her fingers brushed over Tex’s naked shoulder again, and then his ribs. Then she looked over the rest of him, her hands hovering several inches from his skin without actually touching.

  Once this was complete, she placed her hand on his shoulder, where it was sore. Then she started reciting a litany. Its droning melody sounded primeval. Hearing it echo off the cave walls, Tex felt like he was listening to a cantor in some Stone Age temple.

  The effect of her mesmerizing voice and nourishing touch was powerful. In a moment, he’d forgotten his pain and hunger.

  Continuing her litany, Emi raised her free hand and looked up appealingly—as chance would have it, towards the chasm.

  As if in response, the torch suddenly burned brighter, and Tex felt a warm sensation in his shoulder. After a couple of minutes, Emi removed her hand and placed it on his ribs.

  She repeated the same process.

  When her voice eventually ceased echoing off the walls, the torch flame died down, and Tex’s head lolled.

  Maybe Emi’s healing magic made him sleepy, or perhaps it was just fatigue. He lay back, rested his head against the sloping stone, and fell into a deep sleep.

  Chapter six

  TEX JOLTED AWAKE. Humidity beaded on his brow and dripped from stalactites. Dragging his hands over his face, he saw the torch, now burned out, standing in the pool.

  It was all real?

  In the dim light, he saw the elves sleeping several feet away, Emi snuggled up in Neesha’s protective arms.

  He stood up, noting that he felt no pain where he’d been injured—though he was starving and thirsty.

  Turning, he saw Neesha was awake and watching him, all wide-eyed and attentive.

  “Nelim-lahka, nestaa-ha,” she drawled. She sat up and patted her stomach. “Nelim-lahka.”

  Tex slapped his stomach. “Hungry,” he growled. “Yes! Starving.”

  “Stawuving,” Neesha said adorably.

  Tex patted his stomach. “Nelim—Nelimaka.”

  Neesha giggled. “Nelim-lahka.”

  “Nelim-lahka.”

  Emi sat up and rubbed her eyes as Neesha sprang to her feet. The redhead chirped something at Tex and then sprinted towards the cave entrance.

  “Hang on,” Tex called after her. “Be careful.”

  Grabbing his rifle, he glanced at Emi. She seemed to see no danger in Neesha rushing out of the cave.

  Jogging to the entrance, he found Neesha was already outside, standing in the morning sun.

  She stood with arms at her sides, looking up at the leaves and boughs of the giant trees as the breeze stirred her hair.

  She tilted her head, apparently listening for something.

  Her behavior seemed shockingly careless to Tex, given the proximity of her captors.

  “Hey,” he hissed, jumping down from the cave, making stones tumble down and plop into the stream below.

  Neesha gave him an urgent look and raised her hands, signaling for him to stay still.

  She seemed very calm about the whole thing and obviously had some plan of action, so Tex reluctantly stayed where he was, scanning the trees.

  After a moment, Neesha bounded towards a tree as silently and swiftly as a cat. Looking at the thick branches and vines about 10 feet above her head, she suddenly jumped into a wide-legged stance as her tight butt jiggled beneath the skimpy animal hide that barely covered her ass. She thrust her hand into the air, spreading out her delicate fingers.

  If nothing else, it looked like an adorable neko-girl dance move.

  But there was a great fluttering in the branches. Leaves rustled and floated down. Then she rapidly pulled her hand downwards as if she was yanking a rope.

  A bird dropped from the branch and landed with a thud beside her.

  Text stared in wonder.

  Did he just witness magic?

  This graceful beauty could simply raise her hand and kill something?

  He wondered why she hadn’t used that power against the monsters who captured her… but then he remembered the witch doctor’s staff with its strange black stone.

  Maybe that stone was kryptonite to elves.

  Neesha flashed Tex a grin, scooped up the dead bird, and bounded back to the cave. She proudly held it up as Tex climbed back up to join her.

  It looked somewhat like a wild turkey, except it was much bigger and its plumage was more ostentatious.

  Tex’s mouth watered.

  Neesha set the fowl on the cave floor and bounded back outside, where she started collecting twigs and grass.

  Tex went after her. It was heartwarming to see how keen she was to be useful but he didn’t want to hang around the cave anymore.

  “Wait,” he said, touching her shoulder. “Maybe we should go somewhere else… away from those guys.” He swept his arm towards the savages’ camp.

  Neesha gestured in the same direction and spoke with a defiant, self-assured air. He caught the word “skrilling” a few times; she dragged it out bitterly with a look of deep distaste.

  “Skrillings… Is that what you call those men?”

  She frowned and pointed again. “Skrilling, Skrilling!”

  Then she took a deep breath and looked up at him with admiration and gratitude. Taking a step back, she said “Juwes moymos,” and bowed low.

  Emi’s high voice suddenly rang out from the mouth of the cave behind him.

  “Tekus! Tekus!”

  She was jumping excitedly, waving her hand at him. Having got his attention, she said, “Juwes moymos!” and bowed so low that her long, blonde hair brushed the cave floor.

  Her demeanor was almost cheerful, Tex thought. Far too relaxed when the Skrillings were nearby.

  Neesha continued picking up kindling, speaking to Tex as she did so--apparently assuring him they were safe.

  It seemed fairly obvious that he was the reason the elves believed they were safe. His shock-and-awe tactic must have worked extremely well. The Skrillings fully believed his rifle was an instrument of magic — and they probably saw him as a great and terrible wizard!

  Naturally, the elf girls had also been taken in by the illusion.

  That’s why they weren’t frightened by the proximity of their former captors. They were under the protection of a mysterious hero who pointed his magic boomstick and struck down the great Skrilling witch doctor.

  It was endearing that they saw him that way. But it was also fantastically wrong, and it made them too complacent.

  If the Skrillings only understood that he was just a regular man with dwindling ammunition, they would have disemboweled him hours ago.

  Emi’s soprano voice suddenly floated in the air. But this time it wasn’t a litany she was singing. The little elf had started plucking the bird, and she was singing a pretty song as she worked. She looked up at Tex and smiled shyly.

  His stomach growled. Some protein was exactly what he needed; he was so hungry he could hardly even think.

  But it wasn’t safe to remain so near the Skrillings. Certainly, they were too awestruck and terrified to go after them for the moment.

  But he couldn’t count on things remaining that way.

  “No… better get out of here immediately,” he said to himself. “While we still have the advantage.”

  The only problem was, he did not know where to go or what to do.

  He didn’t have enough information. Or rather, he didn’t have enough pertinent information. His senses were being overloaded with stimuli: demonic savages ripping people’s guts out, giant pelicans trying to eat him, hot elf girls lavishing attention upon him.

  His mind was racing a mile a minute.

  I need to take a step back. Find some signals in the noise.

  It was frustrating that he couldn’t speak with the elves. There were so many basic things he could simply ask them about, if only he spoke their language. Maybe he could pick up some of it.

  In the meantime, he decided to climb the mountain. Then he could get a lay of the land. That was a starting point, at least.

  Besides, it wasn’t much of a mountain. If it were in the middle of an Earth city, it would probably be popular for working professionals to hike up in a couple of hours after work on a summer day.

  The trouble was, he saw no easy way up. The frowning rockface jutted up above the cave, and the tops of thick green trees swayed beyond it.

  “Come on,” he said to the girls and pointed up the hill.

  They immediately obeyed. His word was law as far as they were concerned.

  That should make me happy, Tex thought. So why do I feel so grubby about it?

  The answer immediately struck him. It was because they revered him for something that wasn’t true. It made him feel like a cult leader or slimy politician.

  That kind of person was scum as far as Tex was concerned.

  If they think I’m some kind of Moses, I’m gonna disabuse them of that notion. They need to know where we really stand. I know fuck all about this world and how to survive in it.

  Not that he was useless. As far as modern Earthmen went, he wasn’t the worst protector the elves might have received. He knew how to hunt. He could skin an animal. He even knew how to make primitive weapons.

  Tex had spent much of his boyhood playing in the woods with hunting knives and BB guns. When his family moved to the North, his dad often took him out hunting, and he came to identify with the old pioneer lifestyle that was still alive there.

  In his 20s, he made friends with aboriginal trackers and spent time with them in the wilderness, learning what he could.

  But all that stuff was surely just baseline knowledge required for survival in this world.

  “Listen,” he said firmly. “I’m just a man.” He patted his chest.

  Neesha and Emi watched him with wide, earnest eyes.

  “I don’t have magic.”

  “Maa--jeek”

  “Yes, magic. I don’t have any.”

  He held up his rifle and smacked the side of it a few times. “See this? Not magic. It’s just a machine.”

  He drummed the magazine with his fingers. Neesha watched with wonder and fear, apparently shocked that he was treating the magic instrument with such irreverence. Emi awkwardly averted her eyes as if it wasn’t proper for her to look.

  Tex Pulled out the magazine and waved it in front of their faces. “See?”

  But the two elves only looked at the ground, embarrassed.

  Tex gave up. He was only confusing them.

  This is going to take a while. Even if I could explain it in their own language, they’d still probably have a hard time understanding.

  He put the magazine back in and smiled.

  “Listen. I don’t want to worry you. I will do everything I can to protect you two. That I can promise.”

  The elves understood Tex’s reassuring tone. They beamed at him happily.

  They began walking around the base of the hill, searching for a way up.

  Before long, the sheer rock face gave way to a forested hillside. The slope was steep and thick with vegetation.

  However, Tex discovered a narrow trail. Pushing past the huge, oily leaves, he ventured up the steep path amidst the sounds of buzzing insects and flapping wings in the branches above their heads.

  An overwhelming sense of excitement came over him. What would he see from the top? What other amazing things would he discover in this world?

  It occurred to him how epic his life had suddenly become. I’m the discoverer of a new world! This must be what John Cabot and Christopher Columbus felt like… Only even more! A thousand times more!

  As he pushed on, he didn’t give a single thought to the cave and the portal through which he’d fallen.

  Chapter seven

  THE STEEPNESS OF the path made the climb fairly difficult, especially with the sun climbing in the sky. The trees mercifully shaded them, but it was still humid.

  Neesha kept up without difficulty; her fit body served her well. Tex had assumed Emi would handle it almost as well. Based on his observations of her up to that point, she’d seemed alert, agile, and quick.

  However, they hadn’t been hiking very long when Tex looked back and saw that Neesha was farther behind than he thought. But it wasn’t because she was tired.