I start to relax when suddenly, I hear a voice. It's low and sensual, reverberating through my mind.

The ritual is complete.

I freeze. The voice is inside my head, but it's not my own. It arrived in my mind without passing through my ears. My heart races as I turn to look at the alpha Bigfoot. His gaze is calm and focused on me.

The voice speaks again, but the alpha's mouth doesn’t move.

Do not be afraid, human. It is I speaking, Kruk. The alpha of my species.

My eyes widen in disbelief. Telepathy? This is beyond anything I could have imagined. My scientific brain struggles to keep up with the wonderment and confusion flooding my senses.

"Kruk," I whisper, testing the name in my mouth. It feels strange, foreign, yet powerful. "You... you can speak to me?"

Yes. We are unable to communicate with your species through word alone. Now that you have partaken in our ritual, we can communicate with you through thought. Do not be alarmed. You are safe here.

I glance around at the other Bigfoot, who watch me with a mixture of curiosity and reverence. The glowing water, the singing, the cum — it was all part of this ritual.

"Why have you brought me here?" I ask, my voice trembling.

Everything will be revealed, Kruk replies.

He extends his hand, palm open and inviting. Tentatively, I reach out and take it, feeling the rough texture of his skin against mine.

Kruk leads me out of the pool, the water cascading off me in gentle waves. As I step out of the pool, the jizz that had spilled into the water is completely gone, as though it was never there at all.

Stripe stands nearby, holding some kind of towel. I cannot tell what it’s made from, maybe animal fur? Stripe wraps the towel around me, his movements gentle and respectful. The towel is surprisingly soft and warm. I pull it tight around myself.

Kruk's voice comes again, reassuring and calm.

You have many questions. In time, all will be answered. For now, rest and know you are among friends. We have much to share with you.

I nod, still processing the magnitude of what is happening. This is beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

Stripe gently guides me back down the glowing tunnel towards my chamber. The soft bioluminescent light creates a serene path as we walk, the cave’s magic still enveloping me. When we arrive back at the makeshift bedroom, the bed of moss and woven vines looks even more inviting now. I’m exhausted.

Stripe gestures for me to lay down, his eyes kind and watchful. I slip under the mossy covers, feeling the day’s events weighing heavily on me. The warmth of the bed and the gentle glow of the cave start to lull me into a state of relaxation.

“Thank you, Stripe,” I whisper, my eyes already starting to close. He nods, a soft grunt of acknowledgment escaping his lips.

As I sink into the bed, my thoughts begin to blur, the surreal nature of everything fading into a comforting haze. Sleep pulls me under almost instantly, my body and mind surrendering to the much-needed rest.

The last thing I see is Stripe standing guard at the entrance, a silent protector in this hidden world. And then, darkness takes over, wrapping me in a deep, dreamless sleep.

Chapter eight

I’ve just woken up and I feel like I’ve had the best sleep of my life. This moss bed is surprisingly comfortable. I was going to lie here a little longer, but I can hear something moving in the room. I’m not worried. It’s probably Stripe again.

I pull back the curtains around the bed and peek out. Yup, it’s Stripe. He’s bringing more food.

“Hey Stripe,” I say, stretching as I get out of bed. My muscles feel relaxed, and my mind is clear.

Stripe turns to look at me, his expression gentle.

Hello Emily. I have brought more food and water for you.

His voice is deep and resonant in my mind. It surprises me for a moment — I forgot about the telepathy thing.

“Thank you,” I reply, genuinely grateful. “How long was I asleep?”