The sun dipped below the jagged peaks of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, casting a golden glow over the wilderness. Liam had been hiking for hours, his legs burning with fatigue as he made his way to the campsite he’d marked on his map. The weight of the day had settled into his bones, and he longed for the peace and solitude he imagined this remote spot would offer. As he reached the clearing, the sight of the campfire sparked a sense of relief. It was the only campsite for miles, the landscape untouched by the trails of others. But to his surprise, two women were already there, finishing the setup of their tent.
Liam hesitated, eyeing the space as he approached, feeling like an intruder in a place that should have been his sanctuary. The women seemed completely at ease, their presence grounding the wilderness with a sense of authority he hadn’t anticipated.
“Evening,” Liam called, his voice carrying through the crisp mountain air, his tone polite but wary.
The women turned, regarding him silently. The taller one, with black hair and sharp features, exuded a commanding presence that seemed to mirror the rugged peaks around them. She was the first to speak. “Evening. Didn’t expect anyone else out here.”
“Yeah,” Liam said, shrugging, his muscles aching. “I didn’t either. But I’m exhausted. Is it alright if I set up here?” He motioned to the empty space near the fire ring. “It’s the only site for miles.”
The redhead, shorter but with a fierce gleam in her eyes, raised an eyebrow. “I guess you don’t have much choice.”
“True,” Liam agreed, smiling faintly. He set his pack down and began assembling his tent.
As he worked, the women continued their task of preparing dinner. Their conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and shared stories. It was clear they had a bond, one forged in the shared simplicity of the wilderness. Liam listened, not meaning to eavesdrop, but there was something magnetic about the two. Rae, the taller one, was reserved but forceful, her energy calm yet commanding. Elise, the redhead, was fiery, with a mischievous edge that made her words snap like lightning.
Eventually, Liam finished setting up and lit his stove for dinner. The fire grew, crackling and dancing in the growing twilight, casting shadows that flickered across their faces. Rae caught his eye and broke the silence.
“You’re not from around here, are you?” she asked, her voice casual, but there was something sharp in her tone that made him pause.
“No,” Liam answered, glancing from the flames to the two women. “Chicago. Came for some peace and quiet.”
“Not likely to find it here,” Elise commented with a playful yet biting tone. “We’ve been here for days.”
Liam laughed softly, appreciating the redhead’s wit. “Didn’t expect to find company either.”
The conversation lulled, and the sounds of the fire and the distant mountain winds filled the space between them. After a while, Liam finished his meal and retreated to his tent, seeking the solitude he had come for. But the quiet wasn’t as comforting as he expected. His throat felt dry, and as he lay there staring at the ceiling of his tent, he realized he was out of water. The spring marked on his map had dried up, and the next one was miles away. It wasn’t ideal, especially with night falling, but he had no choice.
With a sigh, Liam stepped out of his tent, his heart hammering slightly as he made his way toward the women’s camp. He didn’t want to disturb them, but he had no other option.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt,” he called softly, standing a few feet away from the fire.
Elise looked up first, her gaze sharp and assessing. “What is it?”
Liam swallowed, his throat dry. “I’m out of water,” he admitted, his voice tight. “I know it’s late, but could I trouble you for some?”
There was a long silence. Rae and Elise exchanged a look, as if silently gauging him. Rae stood and moved toward him with deliberate slowness, her every step seeming calculated. Liam felt an unfamiliar shiver of unease run through him.
“You know, we told you not to get too close,” Rae said quietly, her voice calm but carrying an edge. “We value our privacy out here.”
“I didn’t mean to overstep,” Liam said, the knot in his chest tightening. “I wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important.”
Elise raised an eyebrow, her expression calculating. “And yet, here you are, asking us for help.”
“I’ll leave right after,” Liam said quickly. “Just enough to get through the night. I swear.”
Rae crossed her arms, studying him intently. “You’ve already broken the first rule.”
Liam blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”
“You were told not to approach us,” Rae said, her voice firm. “Now you’re asking us for water. That’s not how it works here.”
Liam’s mind raced. He hadn’t known there were rules—rules that went beyond the practicalities of camping. But something in Rae’s words clicked. She wasn’t just talking about physical space. This was about power, control, respect. The women weren’t just fellow travelers; they held dominion over this place, and he had overstepped.
“We don’t tolerate people who disregard our boundaries,” Elise added, her tone now sharp, almost dangerous. “And you’ve broken them.”
Liam felt the heat of humiliation rising in his chest. He had no choice but to acknowledge the truth in their words. He had crossed a line. But that didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
“So what happens now?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, heavy with uncertainty.
Rae’s eyes softened just slightly, though there was still an undeniable finality in her gaze. “Now, you learn respect.”
“Respect?” Liam echoed, the word tasting foreign in his mouth. His pride flared up. He was a man used to being in control, the one others looked up to for guidance. The very idea of bowing to these women felt like an assault on his identity. And yet, as he met Rae’s unyielding stare, something deep within him shifted. He understood that there was no room for negotiation.
“If you want our help,” Rae continued, her voice colder now, “you’ll follow the rules from now on. You’ll address us as ‘Ma’am.’ You’ll kneel in our presence. And you will not make eye contact with us unless we allow it. Understand?”
Liam’s stomach twisted. Kneel? The thought was unthinkable. But as much as he resisted, the weight of Rae’s authority was undeniable. His pride screamed in protest, but a cold realization sank in: he had no choice.
He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could form the words, Elise spoke, her voice like a whip. “Do you understand the rules?”
Liam hesitated, torn between his pride and the gnawing need for survival. The cold of the night pressed into his skin, and the thirst in his throat became unbearable. He swallowed, resigned, and finally whispered, “Yes.”
Rae’s lips curled into the smallest of smiles. “Good,” she said. “Now, kneel and apologize.”
Liam’s body resisted every instinct, but he slowly sank to his knees, feeling the rough earth scrape against his skin. The humiliation burned through him like wildfire, but he fought to maintain composure.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice tight, strained with the weight of his pride. “I didn’t mean to disrespect you. I apologize for breaking your rule.”
Rae and Elise exchanged a glance, their approval unspoken but evident in their gazes. Rae points out that Liam did not address her as Ma’am. Elise smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Perhaps he needs a little more than an apology, don’t you think?”
Rae raised an eyebrow, considering the idea. “What do you have in mind?”
Elise stepped forward, her eyes glinting in the firelight. “I think a small lesson in accountability is in order. Liam, you’ve intruded on our space, and now you’ve disrupted our evening. I’m suggesting you… take your punishment with grace.”
Liam’s heart thudded loudly in his chest, unsure of what she meant. “Punishment?” His voice cracked.
Rae smirked, the glint in her eye darkening as she retrieved a pocketknife from her belt. With precise movements, she approached a nearby tree, cutting a thin branch, then stripping its leaves. The sound of the blade scraping against the wood sent a chill down Liam’s spine.
“Stay kneeling,” Elise ordered, her voice colder now. “Face down. Rear up.”
Liam hesitated, but fear surged through him, propelling him to obey. His throat felt tight, his body trembling as he lowered himself fully to the ground, pressing his face into the cold dirt, and raised his rear as instructed.
Rae paused, taking in the scene with an air of finality. Rae raised the switch, preparing to deliver the first blow, when Elise’s voice cut through the silence. “Wait. Canings should be on bare bottoms, don’t you think?” Rae nodded. “Agreed. Liam, lower your trousers.”
Liam’s face burned with embarrassment, but he obeyed, standing, he fumbling with the waistband and letting his pants drop to his knees. Elise pointed out he’s broken another rule, “You are to remain kneeling in our presence, Liam. You should have asked permission to stand. You’re struggling to get the hang of this, aren’t you.?
Dropping to his knees, his pants still around his ankle, he once again assumed the position. Rae continued to prod him, “Stand up and remove your pants, and your underwear too, and pass them to me.”
Liam could not believe this was happening. He stood up clumsily, hobbled by the pants around his ankles, removed the pants, the turned his back to the women to remove his underpants. Rae barked, “It’s impolite to turn you back on women, Liam!”
Turning slowly to face the women, making sure to keep his eyes lowered, he removed his underpants and quickly covered his genitals with his hands, like prisoners might do during a strip search.
Rae order, “Pick up your clothes and hand them to me politely, then put your arms by your sides.” Liam did what she asked, thinking they really couldn’t see his private parts in the near darkness.
To his surprise, no sooner had he handed over his pants and underwear, Elise shined her light on Liam’s genitals. Both women laughed and Rae said, “Look at the wee peepee. You must not be very popular with the girls. Liam could see where this was headed. This was all about humiliating him.
To seal the deal, Elise suggested, “Since you’re already half-naked, you might as well take the rest of your clothes off.” With not much left hide, Liam took his shirt off and handed it to Rae.
Assuming the position once more, Rae tapped his butt with the switch and ordered, “get that ass in the air. This is for disturbing us,” she said, her voice calm and measured. She raised the switch and brought it down with a swift crack against his exposed skin.
Liam winced but remained silent. The sting was sharp, but it wasn’t unbearable.
“You’re not showing enough of a response,” Rae observed, her voice cold and analytical. “I’ll continue until you’ve learned your lession.”
The next few strikes were relentless. The pain started as sharp bursts, then grew into a dull ache that pulsed with each additional blow. But Liam remained silent, biting his lip, determined not to break.
Eventually, the silence was broken by a strangled sob, a sound that surprised even him. His pride, his control—it all shattered in that moment, leaving him raw and vulnerable. Rae paused, her expression softening ever so slightly.
“There it is,” she murmured. With a final, lighter strike, she tossed the switch aside. “I think he’s learned.”
Liam stayed kneeling in the dirt, gasping for breath. The pain was still there, but it was the mental weight that pressed down on him. His pride had crumbled. He had been stripped of everything he thought he knew about himself.
Liam asked if he could stand and get dressed. Rae said he was free to stand, but as she did she tossed his clothes in the fire. “Hey, those were the only clothes I had,” he shouted. Rae replied, “Use a civil tone of voice, or we’ll try the punishment again. Lian softened his voice, “I don’t have any more clothes, Ma’am.”
The women chuckled and Elise said, “First no water and now no clothes. You didn’t come very prepared did you.” Liam asked the women what he was going to do. Rae responded, “Well, I suppose we could start over. What do you suppose an appropriate price is for some clothes?”
Rae laughed again, “I was just kidding. Sure we can give you some clothes. Elise, can you help our fellow traveler out?” Elise smiled, went to her tent, and returned with two garments, a pair of pink Hello Kitty panties and a matching crop top.
Liam was speechless, and that was probably a good thing as he’d gotten himself in enough trouble for one night. Taking the clothes from Elise, he responded appropriately submissively, “Thank you for your assistance, Ma’am. May I get dressed and return to my camp.”
Both women were smiling broadly as Rae said simply, “Sure.” Liam put the panties and top on. Both were too small for him, but he didn’t say anything.
When he got back to his tent, he realized he never got any water. He used his knife to fashion a poncho out of one of his taps. It barely covered the panties, but he had nothing else to use. Liam waited for the women to go to sleep. He listened to them laugh for hours, probably while talking about him. When he was sure they were asleep, he quietly broke camp, packed, and continued down the trail in the dark, aided by a headlamp.