Disclaimer: We all know the drill. All is owned by Paramount. "Hurricane Ridge" is something cool here in Washington, though I can't claim I've ever been there. I don't know why they call it "Hurricane Ridge". We don't get Hurricane's here!
Chakotay let out a startled gasp. "Kathryn!" He hadn't taken his eyes from hers since she had surprised him in the warm water of the ice cave. It had been one thing to be thinking of her for the past couple of days, but as for this -- Chakotay just wasn't sure.
"Quiet," she said. "Ever hear the legend of Hurricane Ridge?" Kathryn whispered in his ear. Her movements caused the water to rise and fall along with her, as if they were connected and one.
"No," Chakotay whispered back. Her movements against and upon him, causing the most erotic sensations. Kathryn let the soft waves of the pool move her upon him.
"Long ago, a young spinster woman lived in the wilds of the forest. She considered herself a jinx, a bad charm against any man that would ever love her. The two times she had been engaged, both of the men met with untimely and horrific deaths. So, she secluded herself in woods, living off the land, making her way the only way she knew how. She was bound and determined to never allow love into her life again.
"Then, one day, she ventured up a nearby mountain, looking for berries, when she ran across a cave. It looked dark and foreboding, but she couldn't resist the urge to enter it. She tore a piece from her underskirts and tied it around a heavy branch and lit it with a match, which she kept in the top of her boot. She knew there were at least vents in the mountain, for fire needs oxygen to burn and if anything, the intensity of the flame grew.
"She ventured through the various tunnels of the cave and noticed that she didn't need the torch to see where she was going. In fact, the light seemed to be refracting off the walls of the cave. She turned the corner and found the most beautiful cathedral of light she had ever encountered. Surrounding her, was the most incredible ice cave. One much like we are in now, only bigger and brighter.
"She, who had given up on living and loving, found solace in the ice. The smooth spirals, abstract mirrors; it all appealed to her. In the midst of this beautiful ice palace, lie a pool of clear blue water. Shallow, heated. And thoroughly unused. Then and there, the woman laid claim to the cave as her own.
"Then one day, months later, she ventured into the cave she had claimed as hers, when she saw a figure in her pool. She didn't know what to think, how to react. For years, she had never seen another living soul, had no desire too. Yet, inside, she was rejoicing to see another human being. Without realizing it, she had made a sound that awoke the sleeping figure and he turned around. He eyed her with curiosity and something the woman couldn't place. He rose, water dripping off his gloriously nude form and she found she couldn't move, didn't want to.
"'Who are you?' she asked. She had never seen a member of the opposite sex nude and the sight of this man was doing things to her, causing sensations that she had never dreamt of.
"'I am called Tahuya,' he said in English, much to the woman's surprise. 'Do you have a name?'
"'My name is Col,' she replied, still unable to take her eyes from the man in front of her.
"'Strange name for a woman,' Tahuya said.
"'It's short for Columbia. My father name me after the river that brought us partially here.'
"Tahuya nodded his head at her revelation. He was one with nature. They continued staring at each other, moving toward each other. In seconds, they were together, as if it were always meant to be between them. Through their lovemaking, they had christened every surface of the ice cave, claiming it as both of theirs. Never, had the other felt such passion, nor togetherness, as they had at that moment.
"Tahuya and Columbia took up residence in the cave, making it their home, making it both of them. Months later, Columbia discovered she was expecting a child. This delighted both of them and they eagerly awaited the arrival of the child.
"On a stormy night, months later, Columbia went into labor. Tahuya fretted, for Columbia was in great pain. He only knew one way to help his beloved through this ordeal. He picked her up gently and took her into the ice caves. Tahuya lowered her gently into the warmed water of their pool. The water had a soothing property and soon, Columbia's cries ceased. Hours later, during the height of the storm, a daughter emerged into the world and they named her Penrose.
"Years went by and both Columbia and Tahuya grew old and weak. Then one stormy night, like the night that Penrose had been born, they took refuge in the ice caves. As the force grew, cracking was heard from the highest places. Too late in realizing what was happening, the side of the mountain, the ice cave, was ripped from the mountain, leaving nothing but melting ice and rubble.
"Penrose, who had been in the forest, returned to her home and found the devastation of the storm. She raised her fists into the air and yelled, 'You have taken from me the two who meant the most. You have taken of the beauty of this majestic land. Let it be known, that I name this here now, Hurricane Ridge, for the gale has taken of the lifeblood of me.'
"Then, like her mother, who had lost two important loved ones, Penrose returned to the cabin where her mother had lived, taking up the life that her mother had lost upon seeing the gentle man in the heated pool."
As Kathryn finished her story, Chakotay exploded deep inside of her. Kathryn stilled, resting her head on his shoulder. "God, that felt good," she murmured.
Chakotay put his arms around her waist, holding her to him. "Good, because I have a story to share with you."
**Finis**