Meant to Be, Ch 5
What's Meant to Be, Epilogue
©2008 comidacomida
Cory didn't move from his place atop Ackert, and Ackert made no move to reposition him. The alligator, breathing heavily, simply stared up at the ceiling as Cory sprawled out atop him. The buck rested his head against the gator's sternum, body pressed to his, ignoring the slick stickiness of his own semen that had sprayed across Ackert's stomach. His tail remained partially down, holding the alligator's thick flesh inside him as he reveled in the warmth of Ackert's length.
They had not coupled long; Cory had been far too excited, and the alligator's textured shaft had brought his own orgasm much faster than he had anticipated. Ackert, who had likely not found release in quite some time, did not last much longer. The gator's talons had flexed and clenched, tail flexing as rhythmic waves slid down it from base to tip in time with the large reptile's ejaculations. The sensation of his fellow prisoner emptying his seed into him was what Cory had longed for, and he lay spent atop Ackert, content for the first time in years.
"Thank you." the buck whispered softly.
"Thank you too." Ackert replied after a moment.
Cory raised his head slowly, looking up at the alligator's face. Ackert gazed back at him, blinking once as the buck studied the gator's unreadable expression. "What do you mean? For what?" Cory finally asked.
"For asking." Ackert answered back, "For wanting me and being willing to share yourself like that, even after what the guards have done to you."
Cory's ears blushed and he looked away, "You don't have to thank me. I'm the one who wanted it so badly."
"I may not seek the company of males, Cory... but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate being sought out by one." the alligator chuckled, just a little.
Cory nodded, and, flexing his legs, slowly raised his hips, feeling Ackert's length stir within him as he finally let it slip free. The buck let out a breath as he rolled to the side, resting beside the alligator as he felt copious amounts of thick gator fluid seep out of him, "You're welcome, then." he noted, smiling sedately.
* * * * *
Cory woke with a start, gasping as he heard the sound of the metal door down the hall open. Glancing to the twin windows of Ackert's room, the buck realized that it was far past morning, and the dungeon sloppers would have already been done until evening... which meant only one thing, "...inspection." Cory gasped.
"Shh." Ackert noted harshly. The alligator moved nimbly towards the wall, easing his tremendous body across the stone floors with stealth seeming out of place for such a big creature. He pressed his back against the stone, one foot practically next to the hole in the wall, one talon hovering over it. Cory quickly took cover behind the wooden bed, watching the hole as his palms began to feel clammy.
"Oh FUCK!" Cory heard shouted from his cell. He recognized the voice; it was the wolf. Cory swiveled his ears towards the hole, listening as the wolf began poking through the pile of hay Cory had assembled in the corner. His heart began to beat faster as he heard the guard approach the hole, and he gripped the edge of the bed tightly as the wolf's shadow fell across the light visible from the other side of the wall. A lupine paw stuck through the hole, followed quickly by a muzzle. The wolf wasn't large enough to fit through the hole, but it was rapidly apparent that he could squeeze enough of himself into it to look through.
Ackert never gave him the chance. The hovering scaled talon launched down and clamped onto the wolf's muzzle. The guard made an attempt to shout, but his voice was muffled by his inability to open his mouth. With a powerful heave, Ackert yanked on the wolf's head, and Cory flinched at the resounding crack as the alligator broke his neck. Ackert glanced to Cory, "Stay there... you don't want to watch this."
Cory remained ducking behind the bed, and covered his ears as he heard the sound of flesh ripping. He pressed his palms over his ears, trying to drown out the sound of flesh being torn from bone, humming a single note loudly, denying the flesh-crawling sensation of hearing pointed teeth gnash against rent flesh. It made sense... Ackert hadn't eaten suitable food in days... but Cory didn't have to like hearing it. A powerful talon gripped one of his wrists. The buck cut short his hoarse exclamation, looking up at Ackert's face, blood dribbling down the side of his reptilian muzzle. Cory felt the urge to be sick, but stifled it, looking to the bloody talon that held his wrist.
"Get back into your cell... if the door is open, get out." the alligator said matter-of-factly, his tone offering no option for argument.
Cory took three steps before looking back at Ackert, "What about you?" he asked.
"I'll wait for more guards to come." the alligator replied, wiping at his maw with the back of an arm. He knelt down and gathered his loincloth from the floor, sliding the belt back around his waist, "I'd rather die in combat than waste away."
Cory's mind moved a mile a minute, but, unwilling to argue with Ackert on that point, he squeezed back through the opening in the wall. He fought hard to ignore the pools of red that gathered within the rock, and wriggled through to his cell. Stopping at where the legs of the wolf had come to rest, Cory did not fail to see the key ring on the belt.
Snatching them from the clasp, Cory took the keys with him, stopping only long enough to grab his breeches and tunic from the wall. Not bothering to even don them, Cory tossed them over his shoulder and made his way out through the open door.
Screeching to a halt, the buck sidestepped, and turned around to face the closed door to Ackert's cell. "I'm going to get you out." he said to the door. He heard the alligator move to the door, "No time... get going, Cory." the prisoner ordered.
"No... you're coming with."
"Damn it! You don't have a lot of time before another guard comes to see what's taking so long!" Ackert chastised him.
"All the more reason I need you... I don't know how to fight." the buck explained, trying key after key. He heard a sigh from the other side of the door, but received no further argument.
The third key opened the door, and Ackert came out, holding the slain guard's sword in one talon... and Cory's discarded antler with the other. The gator passed the antler to him, "It's not a sword, but it'll work better than trying to block one with your hand." he shoved it into the buck's grasp, and moved quickly down the hall. Cory followed in pursuit, just in time to see the door open before them.
"Gavin..." Ackert growled.
The bear appeared surprised, but recovered quickly, pulling out a spear, "Well well well... looks like I'm getting a bonus today... it's not every day I get to kill a traitor." the ursine guard sneered, moving closer. Ackert pushed Cory away and took a stand in the middle of the hallway.
"Your move." Ackert noted, eyes turning to slits as he bared his teeth.
"Bah." the bear responded, "I could wait here all day... in another two minutes guard will b--" but the gator didn't give him a chance to finish, bringing his sword down in an overhead chop. Gavin moved quickly to block it, "Trying to catch me off-guard? You're one stupid gator if you thi--" Ackert twisted to the side, swinging his tail around low near the ground. The tip of his tail caught the back of Gavin's knees and the bear was tripped, falling like a ton of bricks.
"Don't talk when you can fight." Ackert noted simply, and clamped one foot on the spear, pinning it to the ground as he finished his spin. The gator completed the maneuver by bringing his sword around in a low, tight arc, cleanly severing Gavin's head from his body. Without another word, Ackert grabbed the spear from the bear's slack paw, and tossed it to Cory, who, stunned, almost failed to catch it. "That'll work better than an antler. Come on." and, saying little more, the alligator made his way into the hall. Cory followed without a word.
* * * * *
The two hid scarcely a mile from the prison, waiting until nightfall to move any further from their cover. They said little to one another, simply staying alert for any sign of pursuit. Once the sun set, Ackert led Cory across sections of forest, away from the open spaces of the roads or farmlands. It wasn't until they were away from any visible lights of cottages or farm homes that Ackert finally stopped.
"You're clear from here out." Ackert stated matter-of-factly. "Head south until you come to the river... once you cross it, you're out of the kingdom. Your 'crimes' hold no weight outside our land, so you'll be free."
Cory paused, searching the alligator's expression, trying to find meaning to the suggestion. Finding none, he asked, "You're not coming with?"
Ackert shook his head, "I can't, Cory... I have to make sure my family is safe. There's a good chance that the guards will bring them in for questioning... and, when that happens, it's likely that no one will ever see them again."
"I want to help." Cory noted flatly, gripping the spear in both hands.
"Thank you, Cory... but you're no warrior." Ackert stated flatly, "I can't look out for you and my family at the same time."
"I can look after myself." the buck insisted, "You helped me, and I want to help you."
Ackert met his gaze, grabbing hold of the spear Cory held in his grasp. The alligator said nothing for several long moments until Cory looked away, unable to bear the severity of the reptile's eyes, "You already have." Ackert spoke, "And, if I don't make it, I want to know that some good came of all of this."
"Some good already has." Cory replied, slowly letting go of the spear. He moved forward, resting his hands on the gator's shoulders as he rose up as high as he could, moving his muzzle to Ackert's maw...
Ackert pushed him away, "Don't kiss me."
Cory's ears fell slightly, and he took a step back, feeling both embarrassed and ashamed at once, "I-- sorry." he noted, realizing that it wasn't something to take personally, but still hurt nonetheless.
Ackert let out a deep breath, and turned around with his back to the buck, "Cory... I never told you why the king wanted the temple destroyed..."
Cory shook his head. Realizing that the alligator couldn't see the gesture, he added quietly, "No... you didn't."
"The priests had been helping criminals escape the kingdom... they weren't dangerous criminals... they weren't even harmful criminals... they were people like you... and my son." the gator spoke, his back still to Cory.
"Your... son?" the buck asked, his brain taking several moments to realize what Ackert was saying.
"My son told my mate first... together, they told me. He is my only son... I have four daughters but just one son." Ackert slowly sat down in the grass, looking northward, "It took time for me to really hear it, and I know I made some mistakes in understanding it, and far too many issues came between us before I could accept it. I don't know if he ever realized that I did, or that I didn't stop loving him even after I found out."
Cory too a step towards the alligator, but stopped, "And... that's why you didn't attack the temple?"
"I didn't attack the temple because it was the wrong thing to do, regardless of my son... but, I think knowing him and having thoughts of him helped me consider it more closely." Ackert let out a deep breath, "You're the first... first person like my son I've met and really come to know. You remind me of him in a lot of ways."
Cory didn't respond, but neither did he move. The buck simply waited in place, listening, before adding, "And?"
"And I think I want to get my family out of this hellish land... I want my son to be happy, and to know that his father loves him no matter what." Ackert stood, and glanced back to Cory, "So... when I said 'thank you' back in the dungeon... I meant it. Thank you, Cory."
Cory nodded, and paused, looking to the ground as he blinked several times to avoid tears. It was strange to think that he had known the alligator for no more than two days, yet he felt so many things. Looking up, he saw that Ackert was already traveling northward, taking the alligator further from him. "Ackert!" Cory called in a muted tone. The gator stopped, and turned slowly, looking to the buck, "I hope you and your family make it out safe."
Ackert nodded at the well-wishing, and answered back, "I've made my choice, Cory... we'll see what's meant to be."
* * * * *
Cory sat at the tavern, swirling his drink in its mug, feeling, perhaps, as if it were his memories more than the ale that needed to be swallowed down. It took three days for him to make it to the river. He traveled at night, keeping under cover the way that Ackert had showed him. It was strange to think that only two weeks had past... it felt like a lifetime ago. Cory was free... and he still didn't know what that meant.
Coin was easy enough to come by. The small village he first encountered had no tanner and plenty of animals, thus he was able to help out for a handful of days and earn him enough coin to make his journey a little more comfortable. Two more days of travel brought him further from the border, and deeper into a safe land. His mind often wandered back to the dungeon... more often to the alligator who became such an important part of his life in such a short amount of time. Closing his eyes, he sniffed the brooding thoughts away, and downed the last of his drink with one gulp.
"I've never tried the ale here... is it that good?" asked a large alligator, slipping onto the stool beside him at the bar. Cory's body went completely rigid, and he slowly turned to regard the face in his memories staring right back at him... only this time, it was in the flesh.
"Ackert!" Cory gasped, and threw himself at the alligator.
The large reptile chuckled, embracing the stag with one arm as he patted him on the head. "I see your antlers haven't come back in yet." Ackert offered casually.
"It takes awhile." Cory responded, returning to his stool, "Where is--"
"My family?" Ackert inquired, "I saw to our rooms first... we're here for three days, and they're upstairs, settling in."
Cory nodded, too dumbstruck to say anything more... he simply continued to stare.
"Father?" a new voice called from midway across the room. Cory turned slowly, pausing as he saw another alligator with a striking resemblance to Ackert. While Cory hadn't realized it at first, the buck suddenly discovered then that his friend must have been far older than he had first guessed... the younger alligator standing before them appeared quite likely to be somewhere near his own age.
Ackert smiled, holding out an arm, and the younger alligator moved to him. Father and son shared an embrace, and Ackert looked first to his son, and then to Cory, "Cory... this is my son, Rolis... Rolis, this is a dear friend of mine... the one who helped me."
The young alligator paused, looking at Cory, and Cory paused, looking at Rolis. The buck felt his ears redden as he blushed, his heart beating a little faster as he saw the alligator's nostrils flush reddish as well. Ackert chuckled, and gave them each a slap on the back, "Rolis... go let your mother know that we'll be having a guest for awhile."
"Father, I-" Rolis began, but he was interrupted by Ackert's gaze. Cory chuckled inwardly as he realized, with good humor, that at least he wasn't the only one who reacted that way to the big alligator's stare.
"Go tell your mother... he's welcome with us." Ackert said.
Rolis nodded, and glanced at Cory, smiling slightly. Cory smiled back, and Rolis headed to the stairs.
"Your son... he's my age?" Cory put his thoughts into words, "I didn't realize you were old enough to have a son my age."
"The years have been kind to me." Ackert answered matter-of-factly and, despite the neutral tone, Cory could see a faint smirk on the alligator's maw.
"Ackert..." Cory spoke quietly.
"Hmm?" the alligator inquired, picking up a stein of ale from the bar.
"It's kind of strange, seeing you here. I almost thought we'd never see one another ever again." the buck noted.
"I knew that we might not." Ackert acknowledged, "But I always knew that we might." the faint smirk grew into a full smile, "Tracking you made it easier."
Cory stopped at that, jaw opening as the gator turned to regard him, "...why?" the buck asked.
"You have a good heart, Cory... if I desired the company of a male, you'd be my choice." Ackert spoke. Leaning forward, the alligator briefly touched his scaled lips to the end of Cory's muzzle. The shocked buck said nothing, but little tingles floated through his body from head to hooves.
"I don't know if my son will feel the same way," Ackert continued, "but I hope that we met for a reason... and I'd like to think that two lives could improve because of it. I'm not much of a match-maker, and I don't pretend to know a lot about these kinds of relationships... but I do know that, as far as I'm concerned, you're welcome to come with us, and we'll see what happens."
Cory's attention turned to the stairs as Rolis came back down to the ground floor. The buck turned from son to father, then father to son, and spoke aside to Ackert, a genuine smile creasing his muzzle for the first time since parting ways at the prison, "Thank you, Ackert."
"Thank YOU, Cory." replied the alligator.
"That's a 'yes', by the way." the buck added.
"I gathered that much." Ackert responded, standing up, and making his way towards the stairs, "Coming?"
The buck left his mug on the bar, dropping a few coins for the barkeep, "That sounds good... I'm glad to follow along."
"And I'm glad to have you along." the alligator answered.
"Do you think your son will like me?" Cory asked, rubbing the side of his face, smoothing out his fur.
Ackert glanced to the buck, and chuckled, "We can hope so together..."