Nature's Gift

Kevin was the first to wake the next morning. Before he was able to open his eyes, he realized that he was cuddled up to someone, and it felt wonderful. He let out a sigh as he smiled and snuggled even closer. He felt who ever it was shift in his arms and move even closer to him. Yeah... this was what its all about... lying here between two fur pelts... the fire still roaring... the feel of silky skin and muscles pressed close to your body... the feel of that rock hard erection pressing against your own erection...

Kevin's brain slammed on the brakes. Carefully... slowly... he opened one eye to see just who he was holding. He saw Nightwing, who was still asleep. He opened the other eye and took in the situation. They were on their sides, facing each other, wrapped tightly in each other's arms. Nightwing's legs were entwined with Kevin's, and between them Kevin could feel both their erections. Kevin's hand was resting on Nightwing's firm butt, and when he moved it slightly, Nightwing mumbled his name with a sigh. Kevin smiled at this. He thought for a few moments about his feelings for Nightwing, finally deciding to just relax and see what happened. This certainly felt nice... even comfortable... so was it really wrong? He drifted back to sleep for another hour or two.

When he awoke the next time, his eyes fluttered open to find Nightwing watching him sleep. They were still entwined with each other, and both men still sported erections.

"Good morning..." Nightwing smiled.

"Mornin'..." Kevin replied groggily.

"How do you feel, Kevin?"

"Mmmm... I feel good... so do you." He smiled as he squeezed Night's butt with his hand.

"Yes... you do feel good... but we have much to do today."

"Night... I was thinkin'..."

"About what, Kevin?"

"About how I'd really like to stay right here today... like this."

"Mmmm... the offer is tempting, Kevin. I would like that as well, but we really should get you started on your vision quest. Besides, I didn't think that you were gay." Night smiled slyly.

"I'm not sure anymore, Night. All I know is that this feels right, and I don't want it to end."

"Just because it ends for now does not mean that it ends forever, Kevin."

"You just feel so... familiar to me."

"There is a phrase for that, Kevin... Mitakuye Oyasin... we are all related."

"No... don't tell me that we're related, Night..."

"Why not?"

"Because, if we're related, then how am I supposed to deal with this?" Kevin moved his hips forward, slowly grinding his hardness against Nightwing's thigh.

"Not related in that way, Kevin. Related in that we are all from the Great Spirit... even the trees and the animals... we all know each other."

"Ummm... that's good... but I want to know you better..." Kevin began, but stopped when he realized how close his face was to Night's. Their lips were only inches apart, and he felt drawn to kiss him, as if a magnet were pulling his lips to Night's. As their lips finally met in a cautious kiss, Kevin could feel the electricity shoot through him, from his lips down to his toes. He broke the kiss, looking deeply into Night's eyes for a moment before their lips met again in a feverish, passionate kiss. Kevin's hands grabbed Night's firm ass and pulled him closer as he felt Night's hands do the same. For a few minutes, they were lost in each other... lost in their passion. But as the kiss finally ended and Kevin moved in for more, Nightwing placed his fingers over Kevin's lips.

"Kevin, as much as I want this, this is not the time. We can not do this before a vision quest. It will demand too much of our energy, and there will not be enough energy for the quest. We must wait." Nightwing said, breathlessly.

"But Night... I want you soooo much! I've never felt like this for a man before... but I know its right." Kevin begged.

"And I want you just as badly... but we must wait, Kevin. You have to trust me. The quest is far more important, and it must begin today."

"Are you sure it can't wait?" Kevin pouted.

"I am very sure, Kevin. The spirits told me that it must happen now... for what reason, I am not sure. But I know that the spirits have their reasons, and they are good reasons. I am sorry..."

"Ok... you're worth waiting for, Night. But as soon as this quest is over..."

"As soon as we have the energy... we will finish this."

"So... what am I supposed to do about this?" He asked pitifully, grinding his throbbing erection against Night once more.

"Nothing, Kevin. You must wait... as must I." He replied, grinding his own erection against Kevin's thigh this time.

" Awwww... mannnn!!!" Kevin moaned, wrinkling up his nose, which caused Night to begin laughing heartily once more. His laughter became contagious, and Kevin found himself laughing, too, as they continued to hold each other. Several minutes later, they wiped the tears from their eyes as their laughter, and their erections, subsided. Giving Kevin a brief kiss, Nightwing stood and walked outside to relieve himself in the snow. Kevin joined him a moment later, and found that the snow was still falling hard outside. In fact, it had not let up very much since the previous evening. They walked hand in hand back to the lodge to begin the vision quest.

"I need you to gather some snow again, Kevin. Use this clean container... and make sure the snow isn't yellow!" Nightwing laughed as Kevin went back outside to collect more snow. When he returned, he found Nightwing had collected the red hot stones from the fire pit, and placed them in the smaller pit next to the fire. He sat the container of snow down and started to put the fur pelts back on the wall.

"Leave those, Kevin. You will need them during your quest."

"How long did you say this would take?"

"It could take several days... or it could take many hours. It depends on what the spirits reveal to you, and how long it takes you to handle it."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Trust your self to know the right thing, Kevin. Your spirit totem will be there with you, to help."

"I have a spirit totem?"

"Yes... everyone does. I suspect he will reveal himself to you during your quest."

"What will you be doing?"

"I will be here beside you, making sure that all goes well, making you comfortable... chanting and providing the proper medicines at the proper times. Are you ready to begin?"

"Yeah... let's do it..."

"Sit on the furs, Kevin. I will bring the medicine to you."

Kevin got comfortable on the furs. Both men were still naked, as Nightwing had instructed Kevin not to put on the loincloth. He had said that it would be too hot for that, once the quest began. Now, Night dipped a small amount of melted snow from the container and placed it into a cup carved from stone. On the outside of the cup, several different totems had been carved. As Night knelt beside Kevin, he reached into his pouch on the floor and retrieved a white powder. He sprinkled the powder into the water, and told Kevin to drink.

"What is it?" Kevin asked as he drank the mixture down.

"Peyote... it will open you to the spirits." Night said as he took the cup from Kevin, whose eyes had grown wide.

"It tastes sweet and hot at the same time, but the water is ice cold..." Kevin observed.

"Relax, my friend. Let the peyote work its magic." Night said as he poured some water over the hot stones, instantly filling the lodge with steam.

Kevin began to feel hot inside. His vision was beginning to blur, and for a moment, the room began to waver in front of him. He blinked several times to clear his vision and the room stabilized somewhat. He saw Night pour more water over the hot stones, and the temperature in the room soared. He was sweating profusely now, his breathing was labored, and colors began dancing before him. He weakly called out to Night, and then the world went nuts.

Rainbow colors swirled all around him. He could hear the sound of each color, and it surprised him that each color corresponded to a musical note. He felt light, as if he were floating on the colors as their swirling dance became more and more dizzying. Suddenly, it stopped. He found himself naked on a high mountain top, looking out over the green valley below. The winds whipped through his hair, calling his name. Looking up, he saw a familiar friend in the sky. Raven was soaring high above him, calling to him. He reached his hand up toward Raven, calling him down. Suddenly, there was a rustle of feathers as a huge wing brushed his face. The sudden weight on his arm told him that this was not Raven. He opened his eyes and gasped in surprise at what he saw. Perched on his arm, staring him in the eye, was a huge Eagle. A magnificent bald Eagle. He gazed deeply into the Eagle's eyes for a time, feeling a communication happening... a familiar bond being rediscovered. His gaze was broken when he felt weight on his other shoulder. Looking over, he found a huge cat perched there, also staring at him.

"What's happening?" He said to the air.

"These are your spirit totems, Kevin." The Raven had perched on a tree in front of him, and was speaking.

"You speak?"

"All animals speak, Kevin. It is up to you to learn the language."

"What does this mean... an Eagle and a cat?"

"Nightwing will explain later. For now, all you must know is that they are there for you when you need them. They will guide and assist you on your quest, and they will help if you find yourself in trouble. Call them by name, and they will come." Raven suddenly took to the air again, followed by the Eagle. The cat was now on the ground at Kevin's feet, looking up at him, waiting to be noticed. When he finally looked down at the cat, it spoke to him as well.

"Follow me to begin your quest. But be warned! This part will not be pleasant." The cat trotted off toward the edge of the mountain. Kevin ran after it. It leaped into the air at the edge of the mountain, and Kevin followed before he could stop himself. For a time, they fell silently into nothingness. There was only Kevin and the cat... and darkness. He closed his eyes again, wishing this fall to end. When he opened his eyes, he was standing in a canoe, which seemed to be drifting across a lake of red hot lava.

"The element of fire... the magic of purification..." The cat said.

They drifted this way in silence for a short time. Suddenly, Kevin heard screams in the distance... and they seemed to be getting louder. In the blink of an eye, he was surrounded by the screams. He covered his ears, but that didn't help. Then, a new sound... he listened a moment and recognized it. It sounded like he was hearing himself weeping. He looked around frantically, searching for the source of the sound, but finding nothing.

"Call to it, Kevin. Call to it and face your demons." The cat said as it leapt up onto his shoulder.

"Come... face me!" Kevin's voice boomed over the deafening sound. A younger image of himself shimmered into existence in front of him. This younger Kevin was looking down for a time, as Kevin stared in disbelief. Soon, the younger image looked up at Kevin, tears streaming down his face, a look of despair in his eyes.

"Why do you cry? Where is the light in your eyes?"

"I cry because I am pain. The pain you felt many years ago. The despair you felt, that still eats at you when you remember me. The despair that quenches the light..."

"Why? Why do you come now?"

"You ignored me... pushed me aside. You never healed me, Kevin. You never really healed me."

"Where did you come from? I don't remember..."

"Yes... you remember. I came when HE betrayed you... the man that you loved so dearly. The one that was like a father to you. You never healed me, Kevin... so I remain inside... eating away at you. You hated me... you still hate me..."

"I never hated anyone!"

"Yes, you learned to hate... you hated HIM when he betrayed you, and that hatred still remains, simmering beneath the surface. I feed on your pain and your hate, Kevin. You never healed me... why didn't you heal me?"

"I... I don't know what to say... I couldn't have hated you! You are a part of me... I love me... how could I hate you?"

"You do... you hate me!"

"No... I... I love you... please don't cry anymore!" Kevin could feel tears stinging his eyes as spoke.

"What?! What did you say?" The image asked in shock.

"I said 'I love you'..." Kevin repeated, and with that, the younger image smiled and vanished in a sudden burst of flames.

"You have done well, Kevin... but there are more..." Cat said softly into Kevin's ear.

"More? How many demons do I have?" Kevin asked in shock.

"More than you know, my friend... more than you know..."

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