by Reed James
He kissed her forehead and she relaxed. She closed her eyes, savoring his arms around her.
“Is everyone else all right?”
“That was fun,” Twist hissed. “Got one here. Let's see what he's got on him and... What is this?”
“What?” Marcus asked, gently pushing Dëshoma from his chest. She blinked and didn't fight him.
She trailed after Marcus as he marched over to the body Twist was searching. She had pulled up the shirt to expose leather straps crisscrossing a muscular chest. She stroked the tattoos. Dëshoma swallowed at Shield of Pushijer, the diamond with the lines bowed inward, resisting pressure.
“Another miscreant who doth mock Pushijer by wearing the God's mark,” Dëshoma said.
“No, this one,” Twist said, pointing to the other tattoo. It was of a shattered diamond. It was broken in places, the piece ripped apart but still close enough together to hold the shape.
“He cannot have that symbol,” Dëshoma gasped. “The Broken Diamond.”
Éjyona groaned.
“He is a follower of Chaos. Of the Dark Gods.” Dëshoma cast her gaze to her party leader, fear rippling through her. “He is a servant dedicated to keeping our world shattered. Why would he also wear Pushijer's mark?”
“Told you,” Éjyona said. Then the halfling spat on the body.
Chapter Sixteen: Missing Riders
We didn't level up from the ambush. We were on the edge, our resources ragged. We debated for a bit if the rogues were pretending to be followers of Pushijer (Dëshoma's theory) or if the entire church worked to keep the world broken (Éjyona's theory).
In the end, we found our beds and passed the night. What did we have to do but sleep? The morning came. With it came refreshment of our HP, TP, and MP. We were restored. Ready to face another day of adventuring.
We broke our fast on the food that Shelley made us. Lemongrass chicken for all with spice omelets for everyone but our spell-casters. They enjoyed the sweetmoss dumplings, Kulri nibbling on hers, a distant look in her eyes. Our passive buffs wreathing us, we were ready to face the day head on. We'd plow right into any problem thrown at us, figure out what was blighting this poor land, and fix it.
Just the way Shardhunters should handle things.
I was getting into this world. It felt far, far more real than the world I left behind. I faced the misty morning with eagerness as I donned my armor. Plates strapped to my shins and thighs, breastplate tightened around my chest, I was ready. I flexed my fingers, wearing all my magic items and feeling all their charges restored.
“We're going to find that Warrior and get some answers out of him,” I declared. I could feel the bastard lurking around, hindering us.
“That's right,” Éjyona said, a big grin on her lips. She had her rifle cradled in her arms, the Gunner looking as eager as I felt.
The wet fog swirled around us as we crossed this plateau and gained the next. It was a thick mist. The lemongrass chicken, while invigorating and sharpening our perception, seemed to be defeated by the thick fog. It was worse than yesterday. The world looked strange. Looming threats with skeletal limbs turned out to be scraggly trees. Crouching shapes that might be an ambusher about to spring out were just boulders thrusting out of the yellow grass.
We moved along the edge. We'd never find the next bridge if we cut through the center. Not in this gray soup. If there was something important in the heart of this plateau, how would we find it? Twist appeared as antsy as me.
“Fearing we're missing loot?” I asked the Thief.
“Yessssss,” she hissed. Her tongue flicked out into the mist. “I hope Haîcze is as good as she claims.”
I nodded. The sylph would need to be on her best to clear this place out after we'd secured it. This was a far, far larger area than the church. The last had been slow going because of the decrepit state of the ruins and the dangerous creatures packed so close together.
The fog seemed to lighten an hour later. I could see shapes further away. That was good. I wanted to see farther. Find that damned Warrior and rip the blue plumage off his helm. I could feel him watching us. Stalking us.
Waiting for his chance.
Signs of blight increased. Vast patches of the ground were corroded, the inner rings of grass dead and desiccated, the surrounding plants wilting fast. One tree had lost half its branches. They lay rotten around the base of it.
“Marcus!” Maria cried. “The sky!”
I thrust my gaze upward to see three shapes surging down at us. At first, I thought they were eagles. Big ones. Sharp beaks and fierce eyes with white feathers spotted with brown spots. The wings were spread wide. Then I noticed the legs tucked beneath the bodies. Furred legs. Pale as the feathers and also spotted.
“Griffins!” I growled, recognizing the mixed beast.
They cawed.
Rapid shots boomed from Éjyona's rifle as I set my shield, ready for them. I Yelled my triumph, the buff surging through my limbs. I grinned, ready to waylay damage on them. Kulri chanted behind me.
“Unleash your skills!” I shouted. “Don't hold back. We're leveling up after this fight!”
This sort of world was all about resource management. Knowing when you were about to get a free refill of your various resources, in our cases our three point pools, was important. When you should conserve, and when you should go all out was important to know.
A burst of purple energy engulfed all three of them. The lead one cawed in pain and anger, feathers sizzling. Blood matted its pale fur from Éjyona's gunshot. Maria stood at my side, ready to strike. Dëshoma's chanting echoed behind me.
She touched me and my ax flared with divine energy, glowing white and buffed to do additional damage.
The griffins pulled out of their dives over us. They all opened their mouths. Instead of screeching, they vomited blood. It sprayed over the party as the three swooped past us. The hot, blinding fluid engulfed me. It blazed on my skin, burning every bit of me that was exposed.
“Rūzem's greasy touch!” Twist hissed.
“Aphounga's shattered sword!” snarled Éjyona. “Get it off!”
“Marcus!” Maria shouted. Our hit points blazed down, plummeting toward critical. Each one dealt a good quarter damage, and we took three of them.
“Spread out!” I cursed, adrenaline spiking through me.
Dëshoma stood as she healed herself. I rushed towards the Griffins as they banked around, their wings almost touching the ground. Éjyona's gun fired again. Another Rapid Fire. This time, the lead griffin went limp and crashed into the ground in a burst of yellow grass, rippling mist. It wasn't dead but stunned by the attack.
“Spit blood on me!” Éjyona hissed.
Arcane shards hissed through the air into the next, ripping into its flanks. Blood flowed as I leaped at it and slammed my ax at its head. I hit with a Holy Strike. A large flare of divine energy burst from my weapon. The griffin then crashed into me. Beak scraped along my metal. The force threw me off my feet. I hit the ground. The beast flopping over me and landing on the ground.
“Come on!” I growled, forcing myself to stand. I whirled around to face it, the other griffin hurtling past me.
Twist appeared out of her invisibility and slashed her knife up. It ripped through the third griffin's belly. It howled in pain, blood spurting from its belly. It hit the ground in a spray of torn grass. Claws dug into the earth as it turned around and leaped at Twist like a pouncing lion and cawing like a fierce eagle.
The one I hit rushed at me, blocking Twist from my sight. Its claws slammed down into my shield. Healing energy burst through me, my Hit Points soaring upward as I threw back the beast's attack. My Hard Strike slammed into its head, burying into its brains. It fell limp to the ground.
The third griffin slashed at Twist, who had darted back. Maria's rapier pierced into its side. Arcane shards ripped into its other side as Éjyona's gun fired. The attacks struck the poor beast, blood spraying as it collapsed. It twitched on the ground.
Dead.
“Yes!” Éjyona whooped, bouncing in place. “Spit nasty blood on me!”
Kulri mopped at her face while Maria stared down at her cleavage coated in the thick, black blood. More smeared over her exposed belly. Éjyona, wearing only those pasties, looked coated in the gore.
“You did it, Marcus!” Iris cheered. The pixie soared over me.
“I see you missed getting vomited on,” I said.
“Took to the skies,” she said as she hovered before me. “Could you imagine this cute bod getting coated in that nasty stuff?”
“I can certainly imagine the horror of it,” Dëshoma said, her robes dripping in it. “Is there, perchance, a pool in which we can wash?”
“Yeah,” Maria agreed then frowned. “I'm surprised we didn't level up.”
My brow furrowed. “Shit!”
I whirled around to see the first one scrambling to its feet, broken out of its stun. It lunged at me as I raised my shield to defend myself. The beak snapped down and tore at my face. A critical hit. Pain burst from my face, my Hit Points plummeting to dangerously low levels. Claws struck me.
I hit the ground, pinned by its paws. Metal screeched as its claws raked down my chest. It screeched, head snapping down to rip out my throat. I swung my ax and struck it in the neck with a Holy Strike as Maria raced in. Her Piercing Strike slammed right into the beast's eye. A booming gunshot from Éjyona finished off the monster. Its body fell on mine.
I groaned, panting. My face blazed with pain. My skin felt torn ragged by—
The experience surged into us. The magic of the level up roared through me. We crossed to fourteen. All the pain across my body died. The sizzling blood on my skin melted away. The damage to my equipment repaired.
“Ëshuxeri, be praised,” Dëshoma moaned.
“Yes,” Maria gasped, her hand rubbing at her belly.
A new ability burst to life in my mind. Zeal. To my surprise, it used TP. I wasn't sure I'd get any more Paladin abilities that used that recourse. I smiled. It was a self-buff, giving me more strength while attracting enemy aggro. A definite tanking skill.
I kicked out from beneath the griffin to find Twist already looting her. She was digging through saddlebags, pulling out gold and cloth. She pocketed it. She moved to the next one, a look of delight on her face.
“Why do they have saddlebags?” I asked, frowning.
“Isn't the question, where are their riders?” Maria asked, staring down at the griffins. They were covered in spots, but not all of them were their natural brown pattern. There were purple splotches, especially along their bellies.
“More of the damned corruption,” I growled.
“Are their riders dead or...?” Maria trailed off.
Will we be fighting them out there. A shiver ran through me. I hoped not. If this infects sentient creatures like us, it means we can become infected. I glanced down at my arms, looking for any sign of the blighting disease.
I wasn't the only one who did that.
Chapter Seventeen: Shuwëmeri's Gift
Kulrigiizhai
Marcus packed up the new armor he and Twist had found searching the saddlebags. A new set of cuisses and greaves for the human Paladin to wear. He only had to reach Level 15 to don the heavier plates of armor than his current pair. They had no activated ability, but the extra metal gave them more defense then they should have.
The fog still lingered, a haze that choked across the plateau. Kulrigiizhai followed Marcus, Maria, and Twist, her mind drifting. She kept thinking about that bear. She didn't understand the grief she felt. This outrage that howled in her soul.
It was just a bear. Yes, it had been twisted by the disease and berserk, but it was still just an animal. Why should she feel this sadness for it? She kept replaying the battle over and over in her mind. The pain of its illness had driven it to attack. Maddened the beast into fighting to its death.
She worked her shoulders, feeling tingles across her back, stripes of painful memories. Echoes of the past. Prickling itches that annoyed her.
Kulrigiizhai didn't like this mist, either. It smothered the range of her vision, muffled sounds, making it easier for enemies to sneak up and ambush the party. She should be focused on that instead of dwelling on the bear.
Its pain-filled roars as it died echoed in her thoughts.
She grabbed one of her exposed nipples and twisted it. The pain shot through her. That focused her mind. Marcus Aurelius counted upon her senses. She and Maria (surprisingly) had the keenest in the group.
She breathed in and smelled something rank in the fog. Her ears twitched. It was almost a rotten scent, but not dead bodies. Not the reek of decomposing vegetation, either. It smelled alive and yet dying. She didn't like it. Was it the blight?
More and more patches of it littered the ground. The party detoured around any patches of diseased grass by silent agreement. None of them wanted to risk passing through it. The corruption didn't feel natural to her at all. Her studies had never revealed the like, though.
“Bridge,” Marcus Aurelius called. “I can't see the other side.”
“It's a long one,” Maria said. “Longest one yet.”
Kulrigiizhai understood. The bridge stretched twice as far as any they'd seen and vanished into the mist, the other side lost. The rank smell grew. She twitched her nose, disgust churning up her stomach. She tightened her hands on her staff. If she could, she might be tempted to use her new ability, Arcane Jump.
“What?” Marcus asked, glancing at her.
“I don't like the smell on the wind, Marcus Aurelius,” she answered. “A noxious reek.”
“Yeah,” Twist muttered. “Wish my nose was clogged up. Smells like a cesspit.”
“A sickhouse,” Maria said, her voice tight. Her hands rubbed at her bare forearms.
Marcus Aurelius studied the bridge. The thick hemp strung across the ravine looked sound to the elf. The wood didn't show much sign of rot. Some of the boards had even been replaced, their weathering different from the others.
“It is being maintained,” the elf said.
“We're going to cross it together,” Marcus said, rolling his shoulders. “Elf, lactate.”
Once per day, the robes Kulrigiizhai wore could allow her to lactate. Her milk would put a special buff on the party members, giving them a ten-minute-long increase to all their stats. Intelligence, Dexterity, Faith, and Strength. It meant more Hit Points and Magic Points for them to use. Not many, but it would give them an edge. Increase damage, too.
“Yes, Marcus Aurelius,” the elf said. Suddenly, her pussy became wet. Dripping and aching, reminding her that she hadn't had an orgasm in two days now. Her torment from last night surged to the forefront.
She activated her Robe of Sherri's Gift for the first time.
Kulrigiizhai gasped as the milk filled her breasts. A tingle ran through her body. Her fingers flexed. A powerful ache filled her nipples. Pressure that needed to be released. White beaded on the pink of her nubs.
Marcus Aurelius bent down and claimed her nipple first. She closed her eyes as his warm lips wrapped around her exposed nub. He latched on and suckled. She gasped as the liquid squirted from her nipple. She felt it jetting into his mouth while delight tingled down to her pussy.
The feverish heat intensified.
He suckled with hunger. He gulped down her milk with passion. An eager suckling. Her eyes closed. Her ears wiggled and twitched. She stroked her fingers through his thick, black hair, holding him tight to her breast.
“Marcus Aurelius,” she sighed when he released her nub.
“That was delicious,” he said, grinning at her.
“This elf is pleased.” Kulrigiizhai swayed, her ears twitching. Pussy juices soaked her panties.
Maria and Dëshoma came up next. The human hefted the same breast Marcus suckled from while Dëshoma took the other. The angelborn had a soft smile on her lips. Her halo swelled with golden light as she leaned down.
The two women
latched on and suckled at nearly the same time. Kulrigiizhai gasped at the rush of heat that shot down to her pussy. Her milk squirted into their hungry mouths. They drank down the cream, their hips wiggling back and forth. Their tongues danced around her nubs. They gulped, eyes staring up at her.
Kulrigiizhai whimpered. Her eyes caught Marcus. He arched an eyebrow at her in question.
She gave a slight shake of her head and ignored the heat brimming in her pussy. She closed her eyes, breathing in slowly. Deep, calming breaths. The two women popped their mouths off a moment later.
“Thank you,” Maria said. “Ooh, that was good.”
“Mine hearty thanks for thy creamy and nourishing treat,” Dëshoma said, giving a slight nod of her head, her purple habit swaying about her wimple-wrapped face. “Thy motherly milk has strengthened mine body and sharpened my mind.”
“You're welcome,” she panted.
Twist sauntered up next, a bold grin on her face. She took the nipple Dëshoma used and suckled hard. Kulrigiizhai gasped at the dragonborn's intense nursing. The elf's pussy clenched. She shuddered, her eyes fluttering and ears twitching at the heat that rippled out of her cunt. She whimpered, rubbing hands together.
Twist gulped it down with hunger and then popped off her lips, leaving Kulrigiizhai swaying. Her pussy blazed. It felt so good to nurse them. She blinked as Éjyona tugged on the hem of her robe. The halfling didn't have the height to reach her breast.
She knelt on the grass, proffering her breasts to Éjyona's feast. The halfling grinned and bent over. She latched onto the right nipple and suckled. Kulrigiizhai moaned at the Gunner's hunger. The elf licked her lips, needing to buff herself now.
She lifted her left breast to her mouth.
She could just reach her nub. She latched on, tasting Twist's saliva. With a suckle, Kulrigiizhai tasted her own breast milk. The warm treat splashed across the roof of her mouth. It had a sweet flavor to it. Nourishing and strong. She gulped it down and felt the warmth suffusing through every bit of her body and mind.
The buff increased her stats while she enjoyed nursing herself and the halfling. Her nipples tingled as she and Éjyona suckled and drank the wonderful milk. Her cheeks hollowed, her pussy clenching from the heat surging through her body.
