Ch 14: Feisty Fungal Freak
Imported from SF2 with no description.
It was morning and once again I was cleaning myself in the river, removing the stench of carnal intimacy this time. Those two will breed me ragged. I'd been awoken this morning by a sudden rush of pleasure as the pair had began helping themselves to me. Calamity more than eager to service me and help me once again deal with my morning relief, while I found Inferno grinding herself against my snout. It occurred to me that I was likely to wake up every morning with this reoccurring act or similar. Not that I was complaining.
There was a slight splash in the water, pulling my attention from my thoughts as I saw Calamity break the surface of the lake with a large fish in maw, tossing it deftly over to Inferno who had already washed herself down and was sat on the bank catching and cooking the breakfast with her flames. Inferno ate the first, I exited the water to sun myself dry and joined at Inferno's side to eat the next fish pulled from the water and finally Calamity joined us on my other side. I could feel their delight and content and I couldn't help but feel a moment of contentedness myself as we shared the moment and breakfast together.
A snapping sound came from the opposite side of the river, breaking the almost serene moment. All three of us swivelled our heads around and glowered towards the source of the sound, our bodies becoming tense as we prepare for whatever may be coming. A deep green claw slowly emerged from the bushes, covered in what looked like fur from a distance turned out to be moss. As it parted the bushes and emerged, four thick pointed and slimy green legs carried along the darker green shell of a body, it's carapace was covered in fungus, more moss and even some light shrubbery. Two black beady eyes glinted amidst the broad almost verdant body as it crawled out of the treeline to assess us. A marsh crab! Such a rear encounter in this realm.
As the rest of the crab came forth from the tree line, we watched cautiously. Talons fully extended, fangs revealed, a rumbling growl rolling along our throats in threat as we watched, fixated on the crustacean slowly advancing towards us. The creature stopped it's slow approached and turned slightly to more forwardly face us, it's maxillipeds shifted and spread as a slick vibrant foam began to overspill it's mandible preparing to spew out a toxic bubble spray. More than enough warning for us as it engaged, the trajectory of the viscous spew was aimed at Calamity, I knew his Salve Bloodline was immune to this crabs toxins but this didn't stop Calamity leaping out of harm's way. Before I could react, Inferno leapt up and blasts her flames over the crab. The crabs left claw lifted in time to shield the majority of the creatures body, but the blast had still singed it and the drier foliage covering it's back had caught fire, the crustacean shrieked in pain from the attack but it didn't seem deterred in the slightest.
The crab arched out its right claw with a sudden jolt opening the pincers wide, as if it was about to shoot something from the inside joint between its two claws but before it could do anything else, Calamity darted to one side out of the crabs line of sight, flanking rapidly around to the back flank of the shellfish, pouncing onto the claw, he bites down on the joint and with sheer force pulls the claw straight off, the sound of the shell cracking and meat wetly shlurping as the pincer was removed resounding before being drowned out by another shrieking screech. The feat of Calamity removing the pincer was actually impressive, I underestimated his strength. The crab desperately tries another bubble attack, failing to hit any targets again as the toxic fluid arcs wide of me and Inferno, splattering and sizzling on the ground behind us. I begin moving forwards to join the fray to bring this conflict to a swift end however Inferno shifts herself forward and spreads out a single wing, blocking my approach.
“No my Tyrant, it is our duty to protect you" She states and before I can respond she dashes forwards and lunges for the top of the crab, digging her talons into the crabs eyes, yellow puss seeping out. The crabs burnt claw swings up to whack Inferno's side in attempts to make her release the piercing grip. The fruitless effort only succeeded in producing hollow thumps as its blunt attacks weakened. Calamity, avoiding the crab's frantic leg stomping, ducked down and back before using his horns to pierce the back underside of the shellfish, making it spasm for a moment, as it begins to go limp he heaves the partially roasted crab body up and over to one side towards the water, dumping the over ambitious crabs body into the lake. The corpse slipping away and sinking, never to be seen again. Inferno and Calamity both join me by my side, checking me over. My frustration builds with their prodding and groping.
“Alright enough! As much as I appreciate the protection, I am capable of defending myself. So try not to exclude me from fighting in the future" I say calmly, refraining from biting there heads off with my annoyance. They both grinned at me simultaneously followed by kissing me on the cheek, one on either side. I was conflicted, appreciative of their protection, frustrated by their exclusion of me in the fight and then disarmed by their affection. While I didn't know how to respond in my conflict, my body did the talking for me, blushing with a prickly heat burning into my cheeks and I lost my train of thought on what I else I was going to say.
“I intend to protect both my lovers, whether they like it or not" Inferno retorts, satisfied with herself. “So forgive me my Tyrant, I will always protect you, the pride of my Fire Tribe will not be questioned. I may not get along with my Sire but I hold the Fire Tribe principles very seriously."
“But…" I begin to protest.
“No buts my Tyrant, that's final!" She says with a sharp tongue, cutting me off. They both stare at me, waiting for me to say anything, only I knew they would simply defy me. I felt their strength of integrity and concern in the matter, I was not winning this discussion, no matter what I say, so I said no more for now. Our battle tactics need work that was for certain. I swallow my pride and give the pair affection of nuzzles and licks before we set off to the skies again.