Thundercloud
By Brian Suddards
"Well you have all you need, your flight plan has been submitted and approved. Good Luck and have a safe journey."
Wow! My first cross country solo. I've been waiting for this for a couple of months. But the weather was always to bad. Now in mid December, clear skies and light winds. I'll be able to fly from here in Edmonton to Whitecourt and then Grande Prairie and then back home. The next step on my way to my pilots licence. Wow!
I walk out to the Cesena 150, brand new, do my walk around, and then climb into the cabin. Bit chilly. Power on, watch as the giro's spin up. Pull on carb heat, adjust the throttle, and start up. I let it idle until all instruments are in the green, turn on the cabin heat. Check my radio's, set the Omni for Whitecourt.
"Edmonton Tower this Cesena CDRN 135 at flying school ready to taxi."
"RN 135 you are cleared to taxi to runway 16, there is no traffic. Change frequency to 137.7 at the threshold of 16."
"Edmonton, Roger."
I advance the throttles, and start to taxi along taxiway 16R to the edge of Runway 16. I stop and run up the throttles with the brakes on, and check the magneto's. Everything looks good.
"Edmonton tower RN 135 is at the entrance to runway 16."
"RN 135 you are cleared for takeoff, notify on reaching 5,000 ft. Have a good trip."
I advance the throttle to full and pull onto runway 16 and centering the aircraft on the center line speed down the runway. About halfway I feel the aircraft lift off and start to climb on course for my first stop. As I reach 5,000 ft AGL, I level off and call Edmonton.
"RN 135 at 5000."
"RN 135 switch to 117.7."
"Roger Edmonton, and thank you."
"RN 135 on 117.7."
"Roger RN 135 you are cleared for VFR to Whitecourt."
It was beautiful up here, clear skies, the ground was covered with snow, best place in the world to be. Whitecourt was only 125 km. Checked my notes, Whitecourt radio was 137.1, I waited till I could see the town and then called.
"Whitecourt, this is RN 135 10 miles southeast for a touch and go."
"RN 135 you are cleared for a straight in approach for a touch and go, Note a Lear 700 now taking off."
"Roger Whitecourt."
I figured any turbulence caused by the Lear would be gone by the time I arrived.
"RN 135 on final."
"RN 135 you are cleared for a touch and go. When you reach 5,000 switch to Northern control on 138.9.
"138.9 roger."
I did what I figured was a good touch and go and climbed back up to 5,000 AGL and switched to 138.9. I reset my OMNI for Grande Prairie.
"RN 135 on 138.9."
"RN 135 you are cleared VFR to Grande Prairie. There is no traffic. Have a safe flight.
I settled down for a long flight to my next stop. I knew there was 3 or 4 emergency strips between White court and Grande Prairie. So I just enjoyed the view. About half way a warning light started blinking on my dash. Low Oil. Shit. I looked around at the terrain below me and could see nothing but trees. Checking my position, based on my speed and compass bearing I figured there should be an old military strip about 20 miles ahead. Not wanting to strain the engine I began a slow climb. I was almost at 6,000 when the engine quit.
I switched my radio to 125.5
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, This RN 135 approximately 250 KM from Whitecourt. I have complete engine failure."
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY."
"Aircraft calling MAYDAY, say again your call sign."
"RN 135, I say again RN 135, VFR from Whitecourt to Grande Prairie."
"What are your intentions RN 135."
"I'm going to try for the strip at Old Mans Inn."
"Be advised Old Mans Inn strip is summer only."
"Yeah well you got a better idea."
"No."
My altitude was down to 4,000 ft, I should have been able to see the strip in the trees. Shit where was it? There was nothing but trees. For as far as the eye can see. Was I off course?
Jesus, I still couldn't see anything below but unending forest. 3500, I was starting to worry.
"RN 135 can you see Old Mans Inn."
"No."
RN 135 what can you see below you."
"Trees, nothing but trees."
I was down to 2800 ft when I saw what looked like a lake in the distance. How far I couldn't tell, but I turned the aircraft toward it. Crash in the forest die. Crash land on a lake you might survive, if you didn't go through and drown.
"I see a lake, I'm going to try for it."
It wasn't a lake, but what looked like a rectangle in the bush. Maybe a burned out section of trees. But from 1800 ft it looked smooth. I reached down and pushed the on button on the ELT. The light didn't come on so I didn't know whether it was working or not.
I started my emergency landing procedure. Pulled the straps tight on my shoulder harness. Flaps at full down. Fuel off. As I slowly did figure eights over the end of the bare patch, I thought I saw smoke to one side of the area. Maybe someone lives down there. Well this is it. If it was a burned of patch there would be stumps and fallen trees. God I didn't want to die out here. I skimmed in low over the tree line and settled the aircraft down. The landing gear went first, I felt it and then the nose burrowed in and I.......
I woke up in extreme pain.
"Do Not move, you have a broken arm, broken leg, and I think maybe your nose is broken, but with all the blood I can't be sure."
"Who are you...Ahhhhhhhhhhh, Oh Jesus it hurts.
"I am going to set your leg first. It is going to hurt, but must not move."
He started pulling my leg back into position and the pain made me scream,
The next thing I remember was waking up and been very cold.
I looked up and saw what at the time I thought was an apparition. It was a Man well over 6 feet, clad in buckskins and furs.
"I'm cold, I'm Freezing."
"Yes shock from your crash and injuries."
He came over to where I was lying, draped a fur over me and pulled off his parka, and pants and laid down under the coverings that covered me and wrapped his arms around me. He was so warm that I cuddled up to him to feel his warmth. He was careful not to touch my broken leg or arm but still got as close as he could. Although I was in great pain I felt myself becoming aroused by his touch, and tried to move closer to him.
I woke up in great pain, my whole body throbbed. I also had a very full bladder. I looked around me and saw my saviour sitting working on a large hide.
"Good you are awake. I wasn't sure you would awake. You may have some internal injuries that I can't see."
"I hurt all over and I need to pee."
"I'll help you up, but you must not put any weight on your leg. Lean on me, I will hold you up."
He came over to where I was laying and peeled back the furs that covered me. I saw that I was completely nude, but was in too much pain to be embarrassed. He gently lifted me up and steered me to the entrance of his house. He totally supported my right side and after opening the door moved me to one side.
"Go here."
It seemed like forever before I could relieve myself, and by that time I was covered in goose bumps from the cold. He helped me back inside and back to the pallet I had been sleeping on and heaped furs back over me to warm me up. I was still in great pain and told him.
"I have made some broth, here drink this."
I drank down his luke warm broth, it had a slightly acidic flavour like stale ginger ale. But it was wet and it not only put something in my stomach but wet my dry mouth as well. I looked up at him.
"Who are you? Where are we? Have you heard any search aircraft? Can we build a signal fire so any searchers can find me?"
"My name is Thundercloud. You are in my lodge, which is about 100 km southeast of Grande Prairie. No I haven't heard any search aircraft and no I will not build a signal fire. When you are able to travel I will return you your people. I do not want visitors and you are at present a visitor, but because you are injured I will make you as comfortable as possible. If you are wondering why you are nude it is because your pants and shirt were almost totally destroyed in your crash. I am making you some new cloths to keep you warm while you heal. Sleep now, you need plenty of rest to allow your body to heal."
He then turned and walked out of the lodge. I started wondering why he was out here in the wilderness and why he was afraid of visitors. Was he a wanted Criminal? I started to get drowsy and now warm closed my eyes.
When I awoke Thundercloud was sitting by a small fire pit in the centre of the lodge.
"Good you are awake. How do you feel?"
"My leg and arm still hurt, but not as much as earlier. I think I need to pee again. But I feel much better thank you."
He again came over and helped outside to relieve myself and then helped me back to the pallet. He rearranged the coverings so I was now sitting up. He handed me a plate with some meat and some kind of vegetable, and a cup of steaming broth.
"You must eat. That is venison and a root similar to the turnip. The broth is the same as I gave you this morning."
He didn't give me any utensils so I picked the meat up in my fingers and took a bite. It tasted wonderful and it didn't take me long to finish everything. I sat sipping the broth which produced a warm glow in my stomach.
"Can I ask you why you are out here. Why you don't want visitors?"
He sat just looking at me for about 5 minutes, and when I was sure that he was not going to answer my questions he began in a low voice.
"I am the son of the chief of the Bear Clan of the Blackfeet tribe. When my father found out that I would not marry and bear him a grandson, he questioned my reasons. I told him I had no interest in women and preferred the company of men. He called a band council and they ordered me banished from the Clan. I moved out here in the wilderness so I could be alone. I have lived here for almost two years and find my solitude to be good. I want to live out my life as our ancestors did. Hunting and fishing. You have now intruded into my life, and although it is not your fault, I will not allow you to bring anymore people into my private world."
"Been Gay is not a crime. I have been gay since I was 14, but no one has ever called me down over it. All my friends and relatives know that I'm gay, but only say ok that's your choice in life. You could live anywhere and not be stigmatized because your gay."
"I choose here. Here I don't have to worry about money, where I live, what do I eat, or how people are thinking of me."
Although he portrayed a happy man I could see tears in the corner of his eyes. I was sure he was very lonely and having me dropping in as I did has brought some purpose to his life. If I had been able I would have wrapped my arms around him and held him. He seemed to sense my thoughts and stood up. He went outside for a few minutes and then came in and helped me back into prone position on the sleeping pallet.
"It will be cold again tonight. I will help you to stay warm and tomorrow I will finish some new cloths for you so can cover up your body."
With that he removed his shirt and pants and climbed under the furs beside me. I snuggled up close to him and he rolled over so his body was pressed tight against me. I could feel my cock getting hard and knew that it was pressing into his body. He gently lifted my head and pulled me into almost an embrace. I rested my head in crack of his arm and shoulder and laid my left arm along his body with my fingers almost touching his crotch. I felt very happy to have this strong man holding me. When I awoke in the morning my hand was resting on his cock and his was on my cock. Feeling his hand on my cock I became instantly aroused and turning and looking at his face could see him looking at me. He leaned over and gently kissed me on the mouth. But quickly pulled away before I could respond. He then gently climbed out of bed and I noticed a huge bulge in his shorts. He walked outside and after a few moments returned. He helped me up and outside to relieve myself and then back in to the pallet. Propping me up in a sitting position.
"How do feel. And what is your name?"
"My name is James and I feel good, there isn't much pain now, just a slight throbbing in my arm and leg, but my face feels really numb."
"Good James, I will get the fire going and then I will clean the wound on your face."
I just sat and watched him as he started a fire and then put a small pot of water on the fire to heat. He still hadn't put on any pants or shirt and with every movement I could see his basket under his shorts moving and it started to get me aroused. I hadn't had sex with anyone for over six months and I started thinking about what it would be like to have this beautiful man in my bed, oh yeah what am I thinking I have him in my bed every night. He seemed to sense my eyes on him and looked up at me and just smiled. He had a wonderful smile. He dropped some leaves into the boiling water and turned and picked a small garment. He came over to the bed and peeled back the covers.
"This is a pair of shorts made from deer skin. They are very warm and very comfortable."
He gently pulled them over my legs, been careful not to put any pressure on my broken leg, pulled them up and then lifted me to slide them over my swollen cock and up to cover my butt. I noticed him looking at my very hard cock and his although soft was within easy reach and I was tempted to reach out for it I just laid there enjoying the thought. He went back to the fire and carefully pouring the liquid into two cups handed me one.
"Today I will finish your new pants and shirt. By weeks end I will have a parka for you. But first I will build a crutch for you so you can get up and move around before your muscles get atrophied."
"What did you do before you were banished?"
"I was going to university to become a doctor. I have 4 years of medical school."
"And you just quit, you are crazy Thundercloud. What a waste."
"Oh if I had not quit and had not come out here into this wilderness, you would have died out there in that airplane of yours."
It was then that I started crying, I could feel the tears running down my face. I turned away from Thundercloud and just wept. I felt his strong arms pulling around and he pulled me into his arms and just let me cry.
"I am glad that you are here James, I'm glad that I was able to save you. I think you are no longer an intruder in my life."
He laid me back and with a very gentle hand started to clean the wounds on my face.
"Well your nose is not broken but you are going to have some scars on your face. I think you will still be good looking, well maybe not as good as you were."
"Good enough for you?"
He just smiled and then set to work on my new cloths. I worked myself down onto my back and went to sleep. When I awoke Thundercloud was very busy bringing in extra fire wood and hanging meat from hooks above the fire pit.
"What's going on?"
"There is a storm coming, a very bad storm, I can feel it and I am preparing for it. I have drained some fuel from your aircraft to make lamps. So at least we will have light."
The lodge began to shake from the wind and Thundercloud pulled down all the ties on the lodge poles. He then added more wood to the fire as the temperature seemed to be dropping very fast.
"If you need to relieve yourself you must do it now before the temperature drops anymore."
"Yes can you help me."
He helped me up and out of the lodge and over to the small pit where we had been going. I squatted down and shit and drained my bladder. It was so cold I am not sure if the piss even reached the ground before it froze. I was so cold now that I thought I would never warm up. When we got back inside Thundercloud helped me down on the bed and put all the furs over me to warm me up. The lodge rattle and shook from the wind, but the temperature inside was quite warm. Thundercloud then started cooking dinner on a small grill over the fire. I could smell the meat cooking and it made my mouth water. I saw him making a patty of some kind in a small bowl. He put them into a pan close to the fire.
"These are corn cakes, I cultivated some corn last summer from some wild corn I found. It's not the best, but it is filling and goes good with the bear meat."
After everything was done, he handed me a plate with two large pieces of meat and two corn cakes and a large cup of broth. I picked up a piece of meat and bit into it. It was very strong flavoured but tasted great. I wolfed down the meal as I was very hungry. I sipped the broth knowing that it would put me to sleep if I drank all of it quickly.
The storm or should I say blizzard lasted almost ten days. We still had to leave the lodge to relieve ourselves, but spent most of time just talking. I learned a great deal about the native culture that Thundercloud grew up in and he learned about what I did, as a senior sales manager for Cline & Company Inc. I found he had known he was gay from about ten. And his first encounter, he was forced to suck a relatives cock at a party. He said that although forced to do it, he had enjoyed it. Me my first was with a high school buddy after we had been out raiding gardens in the neighbour hood. We came back to his house and started trying on his sisters under cloths. We were both naked and both very hard when he grabbed onto my cock. We then jacked each other off. Although Thundercloud and I slept together and touched each other we never made love. It was as though each was waiting for the other to start. The storm finally ended and the skies cleared. I now had a complete set of clothes and a bearskin parka. My leg and arm didn't hurt as much and with the aid of the crutch Thundercloud had made I was able to hobble around pretty good. To finally get out into the fresh air was wonderful. We both went out and stood and looked at the surroundings. Everything was covered in pure white snow. So bright that it hurt the eyes. All around us was a flat vista of level snow. No tracks, and absolute silence.
After what seemed like ages, Thundercloud removed the splint from my leg. And I took some very tentative steps with out the crutch. I still had the splints on my arm and Thundercloud said that it was a compound fracture and would take longer to heal. I estimated I had been here for over two months and the snow was melting fast in an early spring sunshine.
"When your arm is ok I will take you to Grande Prairie."
"And what if I decide that this is where I want to be."
"James you have a whole different life waiting for you. A job that you enjoy. Friends who probably miss you. This is not your life."
I turned away from him and walked out to where my airplane was. I looked at the wreckage on the fire field. Did I want to go back.? Yes if only to show people that I had survived. Did I want to stay? Yes because I loved, really loved Thundercloud. I returned to the lodge and entered. Thundercloud was tending the fire pit. As I walked over to him he stood up. I started to undo his shirt, and removed it so he stood bare. I reached down and undid his belt, letting his pants fall to the floor. I bent down and removed his pants. I reached up and pulled his underpants down. As I reached for him he stopped me.
"No James, please don't."
"Thundercloud I love you, and I'm going to do this, If afterward you still don't want me here then fine, I'll go back to my life and leave you to yours."
I then grabbed him by the cock and led him to our bed. I pushed him down and took his cock into my mouth and slowly sucked him off. When he came it was the most wonderful thing that had happened to me in uncountable years. I looked up at him and said.
"Take me, please take me, I love you, I want you inside me, please Thundercloud make me yours."
Thundercloud rolled me over onto my back. Positioned himself between my legs and then lifted them up, exposing my entrance. He slowly brought his hard member up until it was touching that closed port. He leaned forward applying pressure to my opening. It hurt, like a sword though my guts, but I was determined not to scream. Slowly he pushed forward and my opening yielded to the pressure I felt him glide inside. Oh how it hurt, but oh how it felt good. I finally had the man I loved inside me. He started slowly, but as his passion built he became faster and faster, driving deep into me, over and over, in and out until with a scream of pure ecstasy he drove in deep and unloaded all his pent up passion. I felt his love juices unloading inside me and reached up and pulled him down onto my face where I smothered him with kisses. He pulled out of me and bent over and took my cock and took it into his into his mouth. It didn't take long for me ejaculate a 3 month accumulation of passion into his mouth. Thundercloud then laid down beside me.
"I don't want you to leave James. I love you. I guess I have always loved you even from the first day I met you unconscious in your plane. I have been so lonely here. I do miss the company of a man. And your arrival out of sky seemed a gift from the Gods."
"I still have to back Thundercloud, if only to bring closure to my friends. But this is where I want to live, with you. Forever, or as long as you want me."
"I want you forever James, once I commit myself I never go back. But I will take you to Grande Prairie so you can clear up your commitments."
We started preparing for the trip. Getting food and a light tent and furs for warmth at night. We were almost ready when another storm hit the area. High winds and snow made it impossible to start. This storm only lasted a couple of days, but dropped another 24 inches of snow. Thundercloud fashioned snow shoes for us to use. I also returned to my aircraft and retrieved the map. After looking at it and figuring on Thundercloud's claim we were 100km SE of Grande Prairie, found our location. I had a thought in the back of my mind.
We started the trip two days after the storm ended and Thundercloud figured it would take us anywhere from 5- 8 days to reach Grande Prairie, if the weather held. It held for the first 4 days and then another late winter storm hit and we hunkered down in our two man tent for 2 extra days. We were not cold, with each other for warmth. Late on the ninth day we spotted the lights of Grande Prairie.
"Tomorrow I will take down to the city. How long will you need to get your affairs in order James?"
"A month, I will be back here 30 days from today. Will you be here?"
"Yes 30 days from today I will be here, actually where I drop you close to town. I will wait 2 more days for you and then I will leave."
"I will be here my love."
We went down to a road leading into town. Thundercloud kissed me good bye and turned and headed back into the wilderness. I walked down the road and must have been a sight for the few vehicles that I met. I walked into the RCMP station.
"Hello, I'm James Cavanah, I crashed in the bush 3 months ago, on a cross country flight from Edmonton."
I think I could have said I had a bomb, considering there reaction to my statement. Well what they were looking at was a man dressed in furs and buckskin cloths, with a 3 month beard, long hair and I probably smelled atrocious.
"Do you have some identification Sir."
"No"
"How did you get here? How did you survive?"
"I walked, and I had help of a native who found me and helped me survive."
"Where is he now."
"He's gone. Look I need to contact my people in Edmonton. Can I use your telephone? Can I get a shower and clean up? Can you arrange transport for me?"
"First things first Sir. I need for full name, SIN number, drivers licence number."
"My name is James Edward Cavanah, my SIN is 617345098, my drivers licence number is 6566-655. My address I n Edmonton 1013 12334 105 Street. My phone number was 240-1239, my work number was 433-4546, My bosses name was Barry Stone."
"Ok, lets go."
He led me out to a cruiser and motioned me into the back seat and then headed into Grande Prairie where we presently arrived at the Hospital.
"Just want to check you out, make sure everything is ok, don't worry we'll get to Edmonton as quickly as possible. But we still have a few questions I hope you can answer. After all you have been missing for over three months and have been declared dead."
Dead! Well I hadn't thought of that. I guess some people are in for a very big surprise. I knew my lawyer would not be surprised. I had set up a very secure will and knew that my assets would be all taken care of. I had told him to liquidate all my investments, if some reason or other I disappeared or was missing for over two months. He was to hold them in trust for one year and then disburse them as per my instructions in my will.
After the check up at the hospital I was taken back to the station and allowed to shower and cleanup. They got me some new clothes and asked what I wanted done with the furs and clothing I had come in wearing.
"I plan on keeping them. They saved my life."
I was then flown to Edmonton. The next thirty days were a whirlwind of activity. I arranged my cash and investments so if necessary I could draw funds from my bank as needed. I visited both the government land titles and the homestead control board. I purchased all the land for almost fifty miles around the site of Thunderclouds camp. This left me with about 50,000 dollars in my account. I put Thunderclouds name on the deed as the sole owner. After making several other purchases and saying my good byes to my old friends rented a van and headed for Grande Prairie.
The trip to Grande Prairie was in a blinding snow storm even though it was now late March. I unloaded the van in the meeting place Thundercloud and I had selected then changed into my furs and then returned the van and walked back to our meeting place.
Would he show up? I really wasn't sure.
I packed all the supplies I had bought in the aluminium toboggan I had purchased and then set up the two man survival tent and settled down to wait.
The storm blew it self out and sun shone on a landscape of pure white snow so bright it hurt the eyes to look. As I looked around I spotted Thundercloud standing on a slight rise not more than 30 meters away. He slowly walked up to me and then grabbed me and wrapping his arms around me lifted me off the ground. I could see tears running down his face. I buried my head in his parka and just held on to him.
"I was not sure if you would come back to me James."
"I was not sure you would come Thundercloud."
We moved into the little tent and laid down and just held each other for almost an hour. I let him go and told him most of what I had done in Edmonton. But I didn't tell him of the big purchase I had made. I wanted to wait until we were back home. Our home. We went out into the warming day and looked over the other things I had bought, including seeds, flour, salt, some kerosene lamps, as I knew there was probably several hundred gallons of fuel still in my plane. I handed Thundercloud several boxes of ammunition for his 30/30 rifle. His eyes lit up at that and even more when he looked over the toboggan. We stayed at the camp for another night and in the morning packed up and headed for his lodge. He only corrected me once when I said I would happy to get back to his lodge.
"No James, it is not my lodge it is our lodge."
It took us several days of hard work to get back to the lodge. The closer we got the less snow there was and the harder to pull the heavily laden sled. The days were sometimes very warm and we found our selves pulling with just our undershirts and pants on. Every time I looked at Thunderclouds body in his shirt sleeves I felt a thirst for his body. Oh how I loved him. After getting back to our home and unloading and storing the supplies I had bought we finally could rest and enjoy each other.
That first night back as we sat in the lodge, with the lamps casting a yellow glow over everything I looked at Thundercloud and felt such a peace within my self that I started to cry silently. I was so happy. Here I was with the man I loved, and I knew he loved me.
Thundercloud stood up and walked over to me. He gently lifted me to my feet. He reached down and removed my undershirt. He then undid my belt allowing my pants to fall to the floor. Kneeling down he removed my pants and then slid my shorts off. Holding onto my cock he led over to our bed and gently pushed me down onto the pallet .After removing his own clothes dropped down and took my swollen cock into his mouth. He slowly sucked me until I unloaded my seed into his mouth.
"Now James please take me. I want you inside me. I want your seed within me. Please my love make me apart of you.
I remembered the first time we made love, and now it was my turn to love Thundercloud.
After it was done Thundercloud said now we are one. I rolled him over and slowly sucked his cock until he unloaded his massive load into my mouth and throat.
As we sat by the fire and just held onto him I pulled out the Deed to the land and handed it to him. As he read it his eyes got as big as silver dollars and tears started down his face.
"This is my gift to you Thundercloud for making me the happiest man alive."
No one ever intruded on our little bit of heaven. The years passed slowly for us. Our love grew deeper. We still made infrequent trips to Grande Prairie, and even trips to Edmonton, but we always felt like strangers in the cities and always yearned to be back in our wilderness home.
End