The night air lay thick and hushed with anticipation as she stepped out of the door into the night. Something had called her out here, what she did not know. Perhaps it was the moon, full in the sky, casting silver over the fields and woodlands beyond. Or perhaps it was a sound, or a memory of a sound? She listened, closing her eyes as the wind swept around her, bringing with it the music of the night. Crickets chirped away, hidden by the tall grasses. Farther out bullfrogs chorused along the river's shimmering band that wound itself across the plain, finally disappearing into that most secretive of places, the wood. From there, came another sound, imagination perhaps? She shook her head in doubt and turned to go back in. But there! The sound again. A distinct drumbeat, there, a pulse, she heard it clearly now. A steady pumping rhythm, wavering on the breeze, fainter at times, but never failing. Her heart began to pound in rhythm as her feet carried her off the porch. The breeze tugged at her dress, making the fabric billow out in front of her like a sail. Another sound now began to wind itself around the drumbeat, a faint piping, playful at times, mournful at others. Her heartbeat hastened now as she began to run, inexplicably drawn by the haunting sound. The grasses whispered around her as she ran, "Shhhh!! Shhh..." but she paid no heed, her breath becoming quick and shallow, her cheeks flushed.

Suddenly, a movement through the trees looming close, a flash of white? Fear froze her in her tracks, and she thought she heard the faint baying of hounds. Then, out of the shadows a stag suddenly rose, magnificent in the moonlight, his crown of antlers woven with ivy strands and elder. The baying sound seemed closer now as she began to tremble with some unknown fear. It seemed as if she should run, but she was trapped, the stag and the darkened forest ahead, and the strange hounds behind. The piping rose louder and more insistent as she finally fled for the forest, the stag waiting for her at the edge. She reached him, and stopped just for a moment, unsure of what to do. Gently, he lowered his head and knelt so she could mount him. Nervously she sat astride and he bounded off into the darkness. It seemed as though the wind were a thousand whispering voices, speaking excitedly, and strange lights sparkled amongst the dark foliage as she was carried deeper and deeper. Moonlight only shone in slender pillars of light between trees, and through the light small shadows flickered as if the air above were full of small creatures.

Light shone now through a fissure in a large outcropping of stone ahead. As the stag climbed the steep hills to reach it, her breath caught in her throat and the drumbeats pounded louder and louder. They stepped onto a flat face of rock in front of the opening and she dismounted and stepped forward, curious as to where the music was from. The light was pouring from a tunnel, and laughter and music flowed from the opening. A small butterfly-like creature flitted past her head and into it, leaving a shimmering trail after it that quickly faded into darkness. Looking back for the stag she was startled to find instead a tall man, clothed only in a loincloth and robe of furs, firelight shimmering off his tanned chest. She looked at his face and gasped as she noticed he was crowned with antlers, wound with ivy and elder. He smiled gently, his eyes piercing her as he stepped forward and took her hand, pulling her into the tunnel. She ran, holding her skirts with her free hand, and tried to keep up, unable to take her eyes of the rippling muscles that moved underneath his skin. It seemed like forever that she was pulled further and further the music winding around them echoing in the corridors and they finally stepped out into a small valley, thick and forested and unlike any she knew. The hills rose tall and dark around them as they looked down at the valley bathed in silver below them. Light flickered amongst the trees, and the smell of bonfires and sounds of laughter and singing were carried up towards them. She was pulled down into the trees and suddenly found herself in a clearing surrounded by dancing creatures. Delicate and shimmering, they spun, little people clad in light and glitter, flowers and moss. Their hair flew wildly about them as they danced and twirled in a complex pattern of circles and spirals, holding hands and laughing. Figures in the dark moaned with pleasure and muffled giggles came from the direction of the trees. The stag-man pulled her into the dance, and led her madly around as her feet found the steps and she felt herself being carried by the beat. Hands pulled her from all sides, and she thought she felt kisses on her cheeks at times, but so lost in the music she was that she hardly noticed.

Minutes or perhaps hours later, she was lead out of the circle, and carried into the forest again. A fire flickered ahead and she was set down in front of a small cave, sheltered by branches and ivy intertwining around the rocks. She shivered and walked into it and looked around. The earthen walls were painted with spirals and figures dancing, the light from the fire danced madly around the small room, the thick furs on the floor shimmering slightly. The air was heavy with a rich scent, smelling of moss and smoke and cinnamon and musk. She began to feel heady and her body tingled as if every pore of her being was full of electricity. Every breath she took made her feel full of light and her heart beat hard in her breast. She felt his warm breath across her neck and it sent shivers down her spine. Slowly he unzipped her dress and pushed it down to fall into a heap at her feet. Her panties soon followed suit and she stood there naked, her pale skin glowing golden in the firelight. He gently brushed his hands up her sides and she felt her nipples begin to harden. A strange throbbing began down below her navel, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She shuddered and trembled slightly as he stepped closer to her, the furs he was wearing brushing against her smooth buttocks.

She relaxed and leaned into him, closing her eyes to better feel the sensation of his hands exploring her young body. His lips laid kisses on her skin that burned like fire and outside the music changed from the merry mood it had been in to something deeper, more primal. The melody, hauntingly sweet and wailing now made her body feel alive, more alive than she had ever felt before. The interplay of sensations began to seduce her and she felt as if she were in a trance. She could not have left the spot had she even wanted to.
His hands now traveled to her breasts, caressing the shadows underneath and flicking across her nipples, making them stand pert and red against the white of her flesh. She gasped in and arched back against him, her buttocks pressing against his firm body. She thought she felt something move underneath his loincloth, but did not know what it could be. A moan escaped her lips as deft fingers found their way to her sex and caressed her most sensitive of spots. Blades of heat shot up through her body as she writhed against him, unable to escape as she was held fast against him. She felt herself getting damp between her thighs and her legs shook slightly but he gently lowered her onto the furs. She lay in front of him, paralyzed by his eyes, as he slowly removed his garments to stand above her.

She stared amazed at that other part of him, one she had never seen before as it stood rigid and throbbing in front of him. Ever so gently he lay down above her and, supporting himself on his arm, parted the wet lips of her sex gently with his fingers as he slid into her. She gasped as he filled her, and a slight pain rippled through her virgin flesh as he gently broke the seal to her virginity. He stopped to allow her sex to become fully accustomed to his size, teasing her body with kisses. She slowly began to move against him as he began to thrust inside of her. Pleasure spread throughout her body as he moved within her, and he moaned as she clenched herself around him. She twisted and cried out from it all, and dug her nails into the muscles in his back as his pace began to speed up. His entire member felt electrified, throbbing from pain-pleasure, as he slid his entire length into her. She felt as if energy were spiraling around their bodies, intertwining with the music, their heartbeats matching the drums floating out on the midnight air.

The drums beat faster and deeper as she felt a flood rising within her, carrying her on waves of pleasure. Together their voices joined, crying out into the night, surrounded and swallowed by the music. As they moved against each other, their pleasure peaked and together they cried out and moved as one, allowing the feeling to sweep through them. She felt his hot seed spill into her and clung tight to him, her slender body shaking as he thrust again and again until both were spent and lay sweating in each others arms. Her body tingled with energy as she lay pressed against him, resting her head on his arms as they encircled her. Drifting off to sleep she felt his kissses gently against her neck and cheeks. The drumbeats faded slowly into the night as darkness surrounded her in slumber.

*Tiffany*