by Jackson Bale
About---a---minute---of---climbing---and---several---mental---curses,---we---finally---arrived---at---a---large,---extremely---well---decorated---dwelling.
At---the---entrance---of---the---dwelling---is---a---certain---[Scout].
“Tella!”---Anathema---yells,---her---long---tail---swishing---furiously---behind---her,---”I---am---very---upset---with---you---right---now.”
The---[Scout],---Tella,---quickly---lowers---her---head,---her---tail---twirling---around---it.
“Mother,---I'm…---I'm---sorry.”
Widening---my---eyes,---I---take---a---better---look---at---Tella,---noticing---the---similarity---in---the---two.
Damn,---I'd---bone---them---both.---I---bet---those---tails---would---be---pretty---kinky.
Both---women---immediately---turn---to---me,---Anathema---smiling---cheekily,---Tella---blushing---furiously.
Fuck---my---hormones.---Are---they---reading---my---thoughts?
“Ohhh,---interesting,”---Anathema---coos,---turning---towards---her---daughter.
"Tella,---I---have---told---you---time---and---time---again---to---follow---directions.---When---you---find---something---that---could---be---harmful---to---the---city,---you---notify---the---[Guards],---not---Zoren,"---she---explains,---staring---at---her---daughter---who---attempts---to---avoid---her---mother's---gaze.
A---gaze---looking---more---devious---than---upset.
"Which---is---why---you---need---to---be---punished.---You---will---be---guarding---Quazi---here---for---several---cycles."
Anathema---just---looks---to---her---daughter,---a---predatory---smile---on---her---face,---”Well,---because---he---needs---a---guide---and---you---need---to---be---punished.”
Tella,---looking---towards---me,---then---towards---her---mother,---her---tail---tightens---around---her---leg.
“Yes---mother.”
“Good,”---Anathema---says,---turning---to---me,---”Tella---will---take---you---to---one---of---my---empty---rooms.---If---there's---anything---you---need,---please---ask---her.”
Did---she---just---stress---the---word---‘anything’?
I---nod---slowly,---”I---have---many---questions.”
“I’m---sure---you---do,---but---the---cycle---is---ending---soon.”---she---says,---her---eyes---moving---towards---the---dungeon---stone,---”At---cycle---start,---I---will---answer---all---of---your---questions.---Will---that---be---ok?”
Well,---technically---i’m---not---in---a---rush…---and---what---the---hell---is---a---cycle?
“That---will---be---fine,”---I---answer---back.
“Perfect,---I---must---do---some---errands,---please---make---yourself---at---home.”
And---then---she---turns,---walking---down---the---stairs---once---more.
As---her---form---disappears,---I---turn---to---Tella,---who---immediately---freezes---up---at---my---gaze.
Chapter---Ten:---Dungeon---Stone
“YOU---DID---WHAT?!”---Zorren---yells,---his---eyes---staring---at---Anathema---who---just---calmly---drinks---from---a---gourd.
Anathema---just---ignores---the---[Berserker],---enjoying---the---fruity---drink,---a---drink---obtained---from---a---rather---common---plant---in---the---second---level---of---the---dungeon.
“Ana!---You’re---putting---your---daughter---in---danger.---I---don’t---trust---this---man,”---he---seethes---with---panicked---anger.
Flicking---her---tongue---out,---Anathema---places---her---cup---on---the---table,---annoyed---at---the---man's---overprotective---nature.
“Zorren,---stop---being---so---untrusting.---I---can---read---that---man---as---clear---as---water.---His---aura,---though---abysmally---dense,---is---so---untrained---that---his---feelings---flow---out.”---she---says---with---a---smile,---”Just---a---bit---ago,---before---I---left---him,---he---had---wanted---to---mate---with---both---me---and---my---daughter!”---*chuckle*,---”It---was---quite---flattering---Zorren.”
Zorren---just---looks---at---his---longtime---friend,---unable---to---fathom---the---woman's---personality---at---times.
“You---left---a---crazed,---horny----whatever---he---is,---with---your---only---daughter---Ana!”
Anathema---just---smiles,---”I---did,---do---you---think---he---will---be---able---to---impregnate---her?---Ohhhh,---I---do---wish---to---be---a---grandmother.”
Zorren’s---scales---quickly---lose---their---color.---With---a---trembling---hand,---he---places---his---only---good---hand---on---his---face,---elbow---on---the---table,---keeping---himself---upright.
Taking---a---few---calming---breaths,---he---speaks.
“What---are---you---planning---Ana?”
Anathema,---enjoying---the---defeated---look---in---Zorren’s---tone,---picks---up---her---gourd---and---starts---drinking---again,---”Well,---he---wants---to---rule---the---world---and---we---want---to---escape---this---prison.---And---if---the---Kitsune---are---to---be---believed,---then---this---man---is---their---savior.”
“Foxes…---I---don’t---like---them.”
Rolling---her---slitted---eyes,---Anathema---takes---a---sip---of---her---gourd,---”I---have---lived---with---the---kitsune---for---many---many---cycles,---learning---their---ways,---training---under---them.---Though---they---are---small---in---number,---they---are---immensely---wise.---They---believe---that---their---god’s---champion---will---come---to---free---them---from---captivity,”---she---exclaims,---She---pauses,---admiring---the---softness---of---the---gourd,---”and---I---believe---this---Thoric---is---their---champion.”
Zorren---takes---his---hand---off---his---face,---his---tongue---flicking---out,---tasting---the---air,---”And---what---is---it---that---you---want---from---me,”---he---says,---feeling---the---way---the---conversation---is---going.
Anathema---smiles,---”Simple,---I---will---have---you---lead---him---to---the---sixth---floor.”
At---those---words,---Zorren’s---posture---changes,---straightening,---his---eyes---glinting---with---new---life.
“You---are---finally---allowing---me---to---return?”
Anathema---nods,---her---eyes---going---cold,---”I’m---just---as---worried---about---the---people---I---had---sent---to---that---floor,---especially---now---after---not---getting---any---response---from---them---for---so---many---cycles--”
“Which---you---refused---to---allow---me---to---investigate.”---Zorren---interrupts.
“Only---because---we---need---you.---We---had---sent---half---our---population---to---the---sixth---floor,---hoping---to---create---a---stronghold.---You’re---the---only---one---with---the---training---to---guide---the---soldiers---here.---I---know---your---daughter---was---leading---the---congregation---and---that---you---fear---for---her---life,---but---our---species---must---come---first.”
Zorren---glares---at---her,---his---nonexistent---tail,---swishing---manically,---”And---now---you---want---me---to---leave!---To---guide---this---this,---whatever---he---is---to---the---sixth---floor!---For---what?”
“No---Zorren!”---she---yells,---her---aura---enforcing---her---voice,---”You---will---be---guiding---the---next---generation---of---our---people.”
Zorren---stops,---not---because---of---the---aura,---which---he---is---immune---to,---courtesy---of---his---class,---but---at---the---mention---of---the---word---‘generation’,---”What’s---happening---Ana?”
“I…---I---don't---think---we---will---get---another---chance.---The---dungeon---has---been---getting---more---and---more---dangerous.---I’ve---noticed---this,---the---kitsune---have---too.---The---monster---levels---in---the---entire---dungeon---have---been---slowly---increasing.---Eventually,---they---will---overtake---our---warriors.---We---will---eventually---die…”
Zorren’s---anger---completely---diminishes,---back---hunches---forward,---eyes---staring---at---Anathema,---watching---her---saddened---face.
A---woman---who---had---lead---her---people---for---so---much---of---her---life,---realizing---that---they---will---eventually---die---off---if---nothing---is---done---is---something---few---can---
stomach.
“I’ll---do---it,”---he---says,---eyes---moving---towards---a---room,---a---room---his---daughter---used---to---live---in.
“Thank---you,”---Anathema---whispers,---her---gaze---lingering---only---slightly---on---the---empty---drink---in---her---hand.
Silence---takes---over---between---the---two,---light---slowly---diminishing---as---the---dungeon---stone---dims.
Anathema---gets---up,---picking---up---her---staff.---She---walks---towards---the---exit,---taking---one---final---look---at---her---friend,---a---man---who---had---lived---a---hard---life,---harder---even---when---you---consider---his---age,---far---older---than---any---of---her---kind.
“Sleep---well,”---he---says---as---she---walks---out.
*******************************************************************************************
“Janie,---our---services---are---needed.”
Turning---around---from---my---prayers,---I---find---the---[Archpriest]---standing---over---my---prostrated---form---in---front---of---a---statue---of---Eir.---The---statue,---a---beautiful---representation---of---a---human---woman,---wearing---intricate---armor,---while---majestic---white---wings---burst---from---her---back.
Giving---one---silent---prayer,---I---turn---to---the---priest,---giving---him---a---small---respectful---bow.
Nodding---towards---me,---his---eyes---turn---to---the---statue,---gazing---into---Eir’s---magnificence.
“We---are---needed---in---the---borderlands.---One---of---the---armies---of---a---[King]---named---Henceforth---will---soon---be---going---into---war---against---a---[Lord]---Dominus.---Apparently,---this---[Lord]---Dominus---is---quite---a---brutal---and---cunning---man---who---is---causing---Henceforth---quite---a---few---problems.”
I---nod---slowly,---understanding---the---situation.
So---our---coffers---are---empty---again---and---we---need---to---make---more---coin…---as---private---healers.
“When---are---we---leaving?”---I---ask.
He---shakes---his---head,---”Not---we,---Janie,---you---will---be---leaving---with---your---fellow---[Priestesses]---to---administer---healing---to---the---[Soldiers]---after---a---battle.”
“Yes---[Archpriest],”---I---say,---acknowledging---his---request.
“Good,---you---will---be---leaving---tomorrow---morning.---Be---ready,”---he---says.
I---take---a---bow---and---walk---past---him,---heading---towards---my---room.
I---became---a---[Priestess]---to---help---people,---to---show---them---the---glory---of---Eir,---not---to---be---some---common---[Healer].
As---I---pass---the---large---marble---hallway,---I---look---outside,---watching---the---courtyard,---my---fellow---[Priests]---and---[Priestesses]---toiling---away---on---the---garden,---making---sure---the---medicinal---plants---are---well---taken---care---of.
We---should---be---able---to---make---enough---coin---from---the---plants,---why---must---we---risk---our---lives---healing---armies?
A---minute---goes---by---as---I---pass---an---intersection---and---enter---the---hallway---which---contains---the---living---quarters.
The---living---quarters---are---merely---a---hallway---with---small---rooms.---Each---room---is---numbered---and---organized---by---age.
Having---been---a---[Priestess]---for---several---years---now,---I---only---walk---past---eight---of---the---rooms---before---I---stop---at---mine.
Opening---the---lockless---door,---I---enter---the---small---confines---of---my---room,---gazing---at---the---simplicity---of---it---one---last---time---before---I---am---forced---to---leave---home---for---several---months,---possibly---even---a---year.
I---walk---forward,---shutting---the---door---behind---me---as---I---sit---on---my---bed,---enjoying---the---softness---of---the---wool---bed.
“I---guess---I---can---take---a---small---nap.---I---don’t---have---much---to---pack---anyways.”
I---immediately---lay---down,---gazing---at---the---ceiling.
My---eyes---slowly---close,---the---warm---air---lulling---me---slowly---to---sleep.
_______
Opening---my---eyes,---I---immediately---jump---up,---panicking.
“I---overslept,”---I---say,---wiping---my---eyes---with---my…---bare---arm.
What?
Finally---gazing---around,---I---find---myself---in---a---relatively---large---room---made---of---stone.
A---cold---breeze---sends---a---shiver---down---my---back---as---I---find---that---I---am---completely---naked---except---for---a---leather---blanket---covering---me.
Looking---around,---at---a---corner,---I---find---a---large---spider---staring---at---me---from---an---intricate---web---on---the---ceiling.
And---then---my---memories---return.
“Petyr,”---I---blurt---out,---gazing---at---the---red---eyes---of---the---black---furred---arachnid.
Petyr,---acknowledging---my---presence,---lifts---his---front---feelers---up---and---points---at---a---door.
And---then---I---realized---it,---this---place---has---no---open---windows---and---peter---can't---open---doors.
“Where---are---we?”---I---ask,---only---to---immediately---realize---that---I---am---talking---to---a---spider.
Petyr---merely---just---wiggles---his---feelers,---pointing---at---the---door---again.
Shaking---the---sleep---from---my---face,---I---finally---notice---where---the---light---for---this---room---is---coming---from.---The---ceiling---is---made---of---some---kind---glass---which---is---allowing---light---to---enter---the---room.
Moving---to---the---side---of---the---bed,---I---look---around,---noticing---my---clothing---neatly---stacked---on---a---stone---chair.
What…---what---happened.---I---remember---entering---the---fog…---and---then---passing---out.
I---reach---for---the---clothing---grabbing---it,---staring---at---the---rather---rough---fabric---in---my---hands.
Did---Thoric---strip---me?---Damn,---I---can't---seem---to---remember.---I---feel---like---I---overslept.
Groggily,---I---slowly---put---on---the---clothing,---my---mind---feeling---very---relaxed---and---slow.
Finishing---up,---I---stand---shakily,---taking---one---final---look---at---the---room---before---heading---towards---the---door.
Petyr---immediately---jumps,---landing---on---the---shoulder---of---my---robe,---his---eyes---gazing---at---my---own.
I---feel---like---I---should---be---disgusted,---but---all---I---feel---is---a---weird---sense---of---calm.
Turning---away---from---Petyr,---I---move---my---hand---to---the---handle,---pulling---hard.---The---door,---made---out---of---a---translucent---crystal,---grinds---loudly---on---the---floor---as---it---opens.
I---step---forward,---entering---a---hallway---leading---toward---some---stairs.
********************
So---I---figured---out---what---a---cycle---is.---Apparently,---each---level---of---the---dungeon---except---for---the---first---is---lit---up---with---giant---crystals---in---the---sky.---The---crystals---would---periodically---greatly---dim---and---then---increase---in---intensity,---mimicking---the---sun.
Getting---out---of---bed,---I---move---over---the---furred---leather---covers---and---walk---towards---a---stone---table---with---my---clothing---which---I---slowly---put---on.
As---I---put---on---my---clothing,---I---take---a---satisfied---look---at---the---bed,---admiring---Tella’s---naked---soft---scaled---body---sleeping---peacefully---on---the---furred---leathered---bed.
Yup,---I---was---right,---that---tail---was---quite---kinky.
Yesterday---night---was---rather---interesting,---not---because---of---the---sex,---but---more---about---the---fact---that---she---had---instigated---it.
Granted,---I---have---no---qualms---going---into---coitus---with---different---species,---especially---considering---I---have---had---bodies---of---different---species.
Anyhow,---she---had---quickly---figured---out---that---I---was---very---experienced,---which---is---why---she---is---still---sleeping---so---soundly.
/>
But---damn---was---she---loud.---The---whole---city---must---have---heard---her---orgasms.
I---shake---my---head,---trying---to---move---my---mind---forward,---towards---the---questions---I---need---to---ask,---especially---considering---I---did---not---get---any---time---to---ask---Tella---about.
Finishing---up---with---putting---on---my---clothing,---I---open---the---crystal---door---and---walk---out,---Mule---standing---right---next---to---the---doorway,---looking---all---intimidating---like.
