"Whatever you want," she said, sadness creeping into her voice. She was grateful, but obviously not happy about being in my debt. "I must do."
"No, you don't owe me anything," I told her as I looked around for more threats. Then I heard her crying. "What is wrong? Is it your legs? Do they hurt bad?"
"No, Joah," she answered with a heavy sigh as she sat back down and leaned against the short wall. Pulling her knees to her chest, she muttered, "My god will punish me."
"What are you talking about?"
"A good man saved my life twice," she mumbled, sobbing uncontrollably. "And I gave that man nothing in return. I am a disgrace to Shivanu. You should have let me be eaten by one of the beasts. Then my soul would be happy at least."
"You are not a disgrace," I told her as I took a seat by her side. "You offered both times, but I declined. Maybe the time will come when you can save my life and we'll be even."
Alora laughed through her tears. "Tiny Alora save strongest human in galaxy? That will not happen."
"Then what do you need to do for me to make this right?"
"I must do something to make you happy," she explained solemnly. "Meet a basic need at least. I am virgin, but I must give it to you if you want it. Shivanu say I must give you whatever you want. Life is precious, and you save it two times now. I must do something or the blackhawks and ganthas of this world will be the least of my worries."
"Surely I don't have to take your virginity to make this right," I said, touching her fuzzy knee in comfort. "There must be something else."
"I can suck your hairless cock until it..."
"Something other than sex," I clarified. "You said a basic need would work. You gave me shelter here in this tree."
"Not enough," she replied. "I tried to tell myself it was enough for the first life save, but now it nowhere near enough."
"How about food?" I asked.
"Food and shelter would be a start," she said, looking as though she might be rising out of her depression. Then she stared at the dead bird on the floor. "I can clean the hawk to make food, but it must be cooked before you can eat it. I have no fire here in this tree."
"I have to eat that bird?" I said with a disgusted look on my face. "I must admit, tapping your tiny little monkey ass does sound like a better option."
"Yes," she admitted. "You can rip up my ass with your big human cock. I try not to scream too much. Cry much, yes. For Shivanu I will not resist as you impale my tiny body."
"No," I shook my head. I had been joking to begin with, and not referencing anal sex specifically. Her description of the sexual act certainly didn't make it sound any more inviting. "We need to find something else. I'm hungry, but not enough to eat that disgusting bird that I just killed. Do Peggies eat those?"
"Sometimes," she replied. "When there is nothing else. I am very hungry. I could eat it raw if it does not displease you. I can't make things worse."
"Okay, Alora. I accept that you owe me. But I won't receive payment by sexual favor. And I'd rather not see you eat that bird. I'm assuming that your debt must be paid before I return to my ship. Is that correct?"
She nodded as she climbed up onto her knees. I could see that she was now less worried about displeasing her god. "I can suck you," she said. "And use my hands. I need to make your cock very happy. It will not hurt me like the ass ripping. I will not scream. Let me do this thing and we be done with it."
"No! Is that how you Peggy girls pay all your debts?"
"I have never done sex," she explained. "I told you this. I have never had debt before. My father have debt that I was supposed to pay. But I ran from it. Now Shivanu is punishing me by making my debt bigger than anyone can pay. I must settle or drown forever in hell."
Drown in hell? Their religion must vary somewhat from humans. We were always taught that our souls would burn forever in hellfire, which I had always been reluctant to believe. Maybe fear of drowning was a bigger issue for Peggies.
"The sun is coming up," I told Alora as she stared in fear toward the crotch of my pants. "Let's get out of this tree and go find some real food. Back toward the city. You show me where and I can pay for it. That will settle your debt."
"How will you buying me food settle my debt?" she asked with her head tilted. "Are you trying to trick my god?"
"No," I answered, starting to show my frustration. "I'm just trying to..."
"Shush," she said. I thought it was a bit rude until she turned away and remained both silent and completely still. She heard something. "I hear people coming."
"People?" I asked in a whisper.
"Peggy people," she clarified. "Not human people. I think it is the bad men again."
Chapter Fifteen
Three men from Pegillas were headed our way. They weren't wearing specific gang clothing, just dark colored shorts, but we were fairly sure they were with the group seeking Alora.
"What will they do with you if they catch you?" I asked quietly.
"Bad things," she whispered as she shuddered.
"Are they wanting to kill you or take you captive?"
Alora took a deep breath as she sat down with her back to the short wall. I could tell she was uncomfortable thinking about what might happen to her.
