A/N: Hello lovely people! It's finally October and I can't wait for Halloween 🍂 I love cozy horror. Candied apples, hot chocolate and thrillers (because I'm a wuss and horror movies stick with me). I hope this chapter warms in the autumn chill ❤️

This is unedited and it'll be fixed in a week.

If you like my alien stories I hope you'll check out my newest: Invasion.

Chapter 6.

Matthew woke to a touch on his back and a nip on his nape that made him jolt.

"Wake up." Mian's breath was warm on his skin and so was the fur beneath him. He didn't want to move, but hands touched his shoulders and hauled him upright.

His head spun and he blinked rapidly into the darkness. A low growl rumbled near his ear. "Quickly."

Matthew stumbled to his feet and gasped at the flare of pain between his legs.

He didn't have time to dwell on it though, because in the next instant a hand gripped his arm and hauled him through the dark. He stumbled over furs, but somehow managed not to step on anyone.

He could feel bodies moving close to him, hear canine breaths and light steps. A frigid draft made him shiver and he knew they'd reached the tunnel.

Mian tugged hard on his arm and a spine pushed against his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. "Climb on."

Matthew wheezed for air and wrapped his arms around Mian's shoulders. Another pair of hands touched his buttocks, lifting him, and he wrapped his legs around Mian's waist.

Mian jumped and surged up the cliff. He was fast. Faster than Talan had been.

Matthew clamped his arms and legs tight, heart thundering as they went nearly vertical and an icy breeze ruffled his hair.

When they reached the top of the cave it was still black as night and freezing cold. The hearth hadn't been lit yet.

"Let go." Mian wriggled until Matthew reluctantly dropped to the stone floor. It was like stepping on ice and he yelped, hopping from one foot to the other. Each breath he took hurt, as if the air was crystallizing in his lungs. He coughed.

Large shapes ran past them, claws clacking over the stone. "Mian!" A deep voice boomed and Mian gripped Matthew's waist to steady him.

He clutched the alien's arms blindly and pressed closer to his warmth.

"Fie!" Mian barked, clear voice echoing in the cavern.

"Y-yes." Came the breathless reply, followed by scrabbling claws. "I'm...here."

A thin arm replaced Mian's hands and then they were alone. Listening to the swift patter of fading steps.

"I-I'm t-t-too c-c-cold." Matthew could barely speak past the rattling of his teeth and he wrapped his arms tight around Fie. His feet were becoming numb. 

Fie whined and gripped his hand, leading him through blackness and down a familiar warm tunnel.

Matthew quickened his pace, until he was nearly running, feet heavy and clumsy like blocks of ice, and then they were wrapped in the blissfully humid air of the hot springs.

"Here's the step." Fie's hand touched his hip and guided him down onto the ledge. The water had been pleasantly warm yesterday, but now it felt scalding.

Matthew gasped and lowered himself slowly. His feet seared and his body shook, but Fie was right there; thin arms curling around him and holding him tight.

Slowly, his body adjusted and the temperature cooled to a bearable warmth. His nose started to run and he splashed his face with palmfuls of water.

"Your skins soft again." Fie spoke close to his ear and his furred hip pressed reassuringly against Matthew's.

The human was thankful for the contact, otherwise he might have been frightened; sitting on a ledge above the unknown depths of the spring.

"Soft?" Matthew's nose ran again and he turned his face away and blew self-consciously into his fingers, rinsing them quickly.

"It was rough before." Fie sounded tentative, as if he wasn't sure if it was rude to say so.

Matthew's brow smoothed in understanding and he turned back again. "They're called goosebumps. My skin does it when I feel cold."

"I don't know that word." Fie murmured and Matthew felt a damp touch on his cheek, drawing him down. He obeyed the gentle pressure and pillowed his head against the boy's small, but firm shoulder. It felt wonderful to close his eyes.

Perhaps there was no translation for goosebumps in the alien's tongue and Fie would have heard it in Matthew's English.

"It's a defence against the cold." He murmured, relaxing as Fie's arms pulled him closer, until their bodies aligned comfortably.

"Where you're from...it's not cold?" Fie's voice was so soft and his clawed fingertips ran lightly over Matthew's arm, feeling the delicate hairs there.

"Once a year it is, but never like this." The thought of home brought a swift and sharp ache in his heart, but it eased as he drifted into sleep.

....

"...been up all this time and you haven't helped once!" A harsh female voice was saying and Matthew jerked awake.

Red torches were flickering on the walls and he saw a slight female glare down at them, as aliens herded kits towards the springs.

"We will." Fie was saying, arms still firmly around Matthew's waist. "I had to get him warm. His body isn't made for the cold."

A tiny kit strayed from its group and toddled towards Matthew. Black eyes large and curious. The female snatched it up and placed it back in line.

"When he looks like that, how can you be certain he's a Santh?" She demanded, tail swishing in agitation. "And why bring him up before the fires were lit?"

Fie's ears lowered and his chin dropped. He didn't reply.

"Lemein!" A male called from across the cave and the female left them with a frustrated growl.

Matthew watched the aliens lower their young into the water, scrubbing their little bodies with salt, and felt a sting of guilt. Everyone had a purpose and every hand was needed to help run their home smoothly.

These people had saved him and now they were lagging behind in their tasks because he needed to be babied, like a kit himself.

"Forgive me." Fie said softly and nosed Matthew's jaw, licking his chin. "I didn't want to disturb the Ferus. I thought if we woke earlier, Mian could take you."

Fie's eyes glittered crimson in the glow of the torches and his round little face looked solemn. He leaned in and licked Matthew's mouth lightly, but it felt innocent. Like an apology.

"No. I'm sorry, Fie." Matthew shook his head. "I know I'm not helping."

He lifted his hand off Fie's hip and rubbed his pruned fingertips. The alien had been about to speak, but at the sight of the human's fingers his mouth shut and his oval eyes widened.

"I've been in the water for too long." Matthew explained and curled his fingers self-consciously into a fist. "Can we leave?"

Fie hurriedly stood and assisted Matthew out of the spring. Remnants of salt on the ground burned his feet and Matthew inhaled sharply. Did he have cuts on his feet?

"Are you hurt?" Fie looked so distressed that Matthew's insides knotted and he waved his hand dismissively.

"I'm fine." But as he hobbled along, it became clear that he wasn't.

Fie led him quickly upstairs. The large room was still quiet, except for a couple of slender males who were dropping white furs onto the stone floor. Fie picked a spot close to the fire and Matthew blanched when he saw his feet. The soles were red and blistered.

"Stay here." Fie stood and ran to the males. They spoke briefly and the strangers approached Matthew hesitantly, but their uncertainty disappeared once they saw his feet.

They left to retrieve supplies, while Fie took Matthew's hand and sat diligently beside him. Ears lifted and eyes watching the tunnels.

One of the male's returned and cleaned his feet gently, smearing them in a white paste and wrapping them in two small bundles of fur.

Matthew thanked the alien and the male tilted his head and smiled. He had a thin face, a wide mouth, and foamy hair that fell to his ribs.

"You can thank me another time." He said and Matthew returned his smile politely, even though he hadn't a clue what that meant.

The second male brought him a cup of water and more of that hot salty broth. Fie then covered him with a fur and snuggled up behind him, draping an arm over his waist. His feet felt swollen and itchy, but exhaustion was weighing him down, and he closed his eyes.

The two other males settled down next to them, chatting quietly.

....

Matthew didn't remember falling asleep, but the cave was now filled with conversation and soft bestial sounds. Two voices were speaking close to him.

"...of his pride. If he still won't accept him, I'll speak to Talan." Mian was saying.

"I think that's best." Fie's gentle voice sounded resigned. A hand brushed Matthew's shoulder. "You're awake."

Fie's ears seemed attuned to Matthew's breaths now and he opened his eyes with a flush. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, it just felt so good to rest in the furs. His feet ached now, but the itching was subsiding. "Sorry."

Mian had been sitting crosslegged beside him, eyes narrowed and ears partly lowered, but now he stretched out beside Matthew and reached beneath the furs to touch his waist.

"Fie told me what happened." He tugged Matthew closer and his smooth tongue lapped over Matthew's chin and lips. "It seems obvious now, but I didn't think of it. You don't have any fur, so you feel cold."

Matthew turned his head and wiped his chin. Mian watched him closely. Those black orbs gave nothing away and it was only the subtle movements of white lashes that hinted at a direction in his gaze. A shiver coursed down Matthew's spine and pebbled his skin.

Fie's hand had been stroking his waist soothingly, but now it stilled and the alien produced a tiny questioning sound.

"I-I should have told you." Matthew said and shifted to put a little more space between them. It wasn't that he didn't like Mian, the alien just overwhelmed him. "Humans wear clothes to protect themselves."

"Wear what?" A vertical line appeared between Mian's white brows and he moved forward, pulling with his hand until Matthew was pressed right up against him again.

"L-layers." Matthew closed his eyes when Mian's cheek smoothed over his jaw and damp feathery hair brushed his cheek.

The boy smelled like fresh winter air and the slight bump on his pelvis pressed firmly against Matthew's soft genitals.

"Fabric to keep us warm." His breathing hitched when Fie's lips pressed to his nape and a tail curled over his hip.

"We have furs and hide. Can you make something Fie?" Mian's breath was warm in his ear.

Matthew forgot all about the pain in his feet as his cock filled. "Stop."

Mian huffed a laugh and his tail began thumping against the floor. "You want me? Now?"

"Don't tease him. He doesn't have a pouch." Fie tucked his chin against Matthew's shoulder and narrowed his eyes at Mian.

The taller boy nipped the air playfully inches from Fie's nose and wiggled his hips.

"Oh god, don't." Matthew's cock pulsed and his cheeks burned. He turned and hid his face in the furs. It was humiliating.

They were right out in the open. They had done this before, down in the safe darkness of the sleeping area, but so had everyone else. This clearly wasn't the time or the place.

"Why don't you control it?" Mian sounded amused and his touches didn't feel like innocent nuzzles anymore. He licked Matthew's exposed neck and trailed talons over his thigh.

"I will, if you stop." Matthew's eyes stung with frustration as his body was grew hot.

Mian's pelvis was gently undulating against him. Dense hairs sliding softly up his shaft and running down rough. "Mian."

Matthew tried to make his voice stern, like Fie did when he asserted himself, but it had the opposite effect.

"Yes?" Mian's voice was a soft purr and then he was turning Matthew's head with a hand on his jaw and kissing his mouth. Tongue pushing warm between his lips.

Matthew's head whirled and his hands settled on Mian's narrow hips. His cock was slick between them, running slowly over the bulge that he knew hid a shaft as black as onyx.

He remembered how the bullet shaped tip had spread him and slid deep. Hot and full.

And the alien was breathing into him, tongue gliding everywhere. Hands running over his buttocks and squeezing hard.

When Mian's tongue started thrusting into his mouth, mimicking what his cock had done to Matthew's backside last night, he came.

He was silent, except for the breaths hissing rapidly through his nose, as his body quivered. Mian wound an arm around his back and held him through it.

His muscles went lax and Mian released his mouth, nudging their brows together as Matthew panted through sweet aftershocks. His body was damp and toasty beneath the furs and his spill was sticky on their bellies.

"Nobody saw." Mian said. 

Matthew opened his eyes and glared.

With the aliens large fennec ears, and keen senses, he doubted a single soul was unaware of what they had just done. Fie's soft snort behind him confirmed it.

Mian just grinned, fuzzy hair fanning around his head like a halo and fangs glinting in the firelight.