FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Hornet lowered her nail, staring down the strange creature before her. Only a few steps away from her stood a being she had never seen the likes of in the entirety of Hallownest and its winding tunnels. The sickly sweet smell still hung in the air, the infection’s remains rotting on the surrounding ground, oozing out of corrupted corpses. It was another defilement of this place, even if this was merely a darkened tunnel.

The warrior wasn’t a far cry from the other bugs she had seen, but the structure of its body was wrong somehow. She turned her head, trying to get a better look at it – or maybe them. There was an exoskeleton where she expected one to be, but parts of it were exposed to reveal cloth or other shiny adornments. A slit from their helmet stared back at her. Had parts of their shell been made brittle?

The stranger said something in an inquisitive tone, their nail still dripping with orange ichor.

The alien language hit her bluntly. It was somewhat familiar, and yet all the sounds were wrong. Most importantly, the creature’s intonation was masculine, and he carried himself with the pride and ego that she had come to associate with men. It was a strange countenance considering how vulnerable he appeared.

Hornet urged him to follow with a beckon of the hand. While the infestation hadn’t made its full force assault in this tunnel, it was still creeping in. Even an odd creature such as this didn’t deserve the gruesome fate the infestation brought. He sheathed his nail, the strange, foreign weapon shaped in a way that didn’t quite match her own. It bore a longer, thin blade that only tapered off at the end, with a vertical piece right above the handle. A guard, curious. Not many nails bore that feature. Hornet decided to stow her own weapon beneath her cloak, showing that she meant no harm.

Her gesture was enough, and the curious being soon joined her side, following the path of the tunnels. The close proximity allowed her to better observe him. Hornet noted where cloth hung from his body and patchworks of chain protected the gaps in his exoskeleton, shimmering in the dim lights of Hallownest. Perhaps he was some manner of beetle, with their waxy, proud shells that glinted beautifully in the light.

The knight spoke a few words, almost seeming amused. He had noticed her curiosity. The slit in his helmet peered into her. Hornet slowly returned her attention back to the road ahead, not wanting to make any sudden movements that might alarm him. Even still, she could feel his gaze upon her. Another few words came from him. He was perhaps charmed or impressed about something.

The way the stranger spoke was quite casual – as though addressing a friend. It was somewhat entertaining, but understandable, given the absence of anyone else to speak to in these forsaken depths. All the same, she had no real way to return his words. The only thing she could do was lead him somewhere to tend to his weary body and mind. That was an assumption on her part, admittedly, but it was the only way she could repay him for his assistance.

The stranger spoke in a serious tone. His voice became somewhat somber as he spoke, head looking and nodding every which way as they walked. Soon, they approached the edge of a pit, where the tunnel bent right down into the earth. He muttered as he stared down into the hole, regaining some of his casual natural.

He approached the edge, clearly hesitant to tread any further, judging by his unease. Hornet took the first step off, landing handily on a platform below. She looked back up at her odd companion, finding him shaking his head. It looked worrisome. For a moment, it seemed as though he was going to remain up there, but he eventually mustered the courage to make the leap and tumbled down beside her. Hornet offered him a hand, and he was no less hesitant, but he soon took it. Beneath his armored gauntlets, she could feel something tangibly softer. The two paused for a moment, then Hornet withdrew her hand.

“Pardon my intrusion,” she said.

He tilted his head at those words. Unlikely he understood her.

They continued on, slowly making their way down into the pit. As resilient of a fighter as he was, Hornet was certainly the more agile of the two. In a way, it was cute watching him scale his way down platform after platform. No, that wasn’t the right mindset. He was a warrior all the same, and simply lacked her spiderlike swiftness. At one point, he nearly lost his footing, but a quick fling of her thread brought him back to stability. That elicited an amused scoff from him.

They eventually made their way to the bottom. Now only a short climb up to the hot spring itself remained. She noted that the strange creature was somewhat better at climbing than descending. Hornet's speed and agility seemed to surprise him, with the way his head jerked back with every leap. As she stared down at him, Hornet noted that some of his equipment had likely been the thing holding him so closely to the ground. She glanced back at the entrance to the hot spring. She would find out soon enough.

Hornet knelt down and helped the knight up as he made his final climb, enjoying the strange sensation of his hands on hers. How long had it been since she had felt the touch of another? It was almost unbecoming of a guardian to not know the touch of those she protected. As she pondered the thought, she pulled him along to the spring, presenting the body of water to him before letting her hand slip from his grasp.

Immediately, his posture straightened all the more. As alien as he was, his body language conveyed an obvious jubilation. The knight spoke with surprise. He paused, then added one more statement to enhance his shock. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees and cupped some of the water in his hands, playing with it for a moment.

“This is to wash, not for play,” she chided.

Those words seemed to pass by him unnoticed as he began to take off his helmet. He loosened the straps, the visor sliding up, exposing him as he lay it on the ground. A fuzzy head revealed itself. Was he a moth? Where had his wings gone – his antennae? His hands returned to the water, splashing his face and rubbing it as he let out a content sigh. Something didn’t appear quite right.

Hornet took a step closer, just as his hands slid away. He turned his head toward her, bearing a strange, wide mouth. Instead of the compound eyes she had been expecting, she saw a pair of white eyes dotted with green. A strange protrusion jutted from between them.

The protective shell whittled away, allowing Hornet to see more of what lay beneath. More cloth pulled away to reveal a soft shell that stretched over some structure beneath. It was certainly no exoskeleton she had ever seen. How did he keep himself upright? Hornet found herself staring all the more as he undressed, and he was soon entirely bare, sinking into the water.

Her eyes wandered back to his discarded armor. It didn’t appear to be ritualistic clothing or something designed to intimidate – his body simply lacked the natural defenses of an insect. He was nearly as defenseless as a grub, bearing a similarly soft hide. Despite that, he carried himself with an impressive surety that put many other denizens in the Hallownest to shame.

The knight said something and gestured to the other side of the pool. The message was clear – he was offering Hornet a place at the spring. She gazed down at the pool, considering the invitation. The water was indeed tempting, and she was far more curious about him than she cared to admit. Surely the guardian could afford to relax, even if only for a moment?

Hornet stepped over to the wall and set her nail aside, then looked back at the curious being. She wondered if he had somehow mistaken her for one of his own. Her head could have easily passed for one of his own helmets, couldn’t it? Or was that too presumptuous? All the same, if she hadn’t seen anything like him in all her years, it was unlikely he had seen a more upright, thinking insect like her.

Slowly, Hornet pulled her cloak free, setting it beside her nail. She stepped closer to the pool and eased her way into it. Her partner’s eyes widened as her slender, black legs slid into the pool, her abdomen soon joining them.

The two of them traded curious looks. The more Hornet studied him, the more she noticed how his body shifted and twitched. His face seemed geared to express emotion with the way it moved. The wide eyed stare lessened, hardening into something more subdued. He must have been mulling her form over in his head, just as she was with him. Hornet lightly bowed her head – a show of respect. He eventually returned the gesture, though his eyes remained fixated on her.

“I mean no offense, I am only curious,” she said softly.

Those words likely meant nothing to him, but she hoped some of her intent could be gleaned. That said, what was her true intent – to gawk at the strange creature before her? No, her intentions were more noble. She sought to establish a rapport with this new being who was an admirable fighter despite his obvious shortcomings. These were the few comforts she could afford herself, so why not enjoy them?

For a while, there was a silence between them. A gentle breeze picked up in the tunnel, bringing with it a soft whistle. They had shifted their uneasy gaze to an occasional look. Slowly, but surely, they were acclimating to each other’s distant forms. It was… comforting, in a way. Indeed, this was the closest she had come to a vulnerable moment with another insect— another creature in quite some time.

Calm, pleasing words came from the knight. His eyes softened and his muscles relaxed. The knight placed his hand over his chest, then gestured toward Hornet.

Whatever he intended, they were clearly heartfelt. Hornet nodded back, hoping to assuage some of his unease. She could only hope that the disparity between the two hadn’t put him on edge. Though, if he were in any way distressed, he likely would have used his nail to express that directly. Violence was easy to show. This strange pause certainly implied that they were tentatively comfortable around one another.

Hornet did her best to relax into the spring, letting the water work its way into her chitin. It seemed to be doing much of the same for her partner, droplets glistening across his body. With the way he indulged so happily in the water earlier, he must have been down here for quite a while. It was fortunate that Hornet met him first, rather than any other unruly denizen, or that he didn’t stumble into something far, far worse.

The stress upon him must have been great to latch onto the first friendly figure he had seen in the Hallownest. Hornet was one of the few creatures he could expose his vulnerable form to like this, even if it may have been unexpected. Hornet tilted her head, thinking back to the softness of his hand.

Hornet’s hand grasped at the water, feeling how it gently ran around her fingers. Not a far off sensation from how he felt, perhaps even moreso when laid bare. Not all insects took to clothing. If anything, garments were a mere formality, but this knight’s body was entirely clothed in layer upon layer. It was almost as if nudity, for him, was something far more serious. Perhaps his people were wracked with a fear of injury with a delicate form like that.

It took a while for Hornet to realize that she was staring more intently than she had intended. She averted her gaze to the rest of the spring, much like he had done, casually glancing about. A glimmer caught her eyes, sat upon a nearby rock. There was a stone platter with a small flask sat atop and a few morsels of food on a little reflective tray. Only one cup was present. Someone must have left in a hurry. She glanced back at the knight, who was currently gently bathing his body in the water.

Considering all that he had been through, it was unlikely that the knight had anything to consume other than whatever he had brought with him, and whatever creatures were unfortunate enough to get in his path. Hornet raised herself from the water and made her way over to the tray. Those wide eyes were felt on her chitin. Hornet made her movements as relaxed as possible, keeping him calm. Taking hold of the platter, she walked back over to the knight, setting it down next to the spring and easing back into the water herself. It was important that she was no closer than an arm’s length away to maintain a comfortable, welcoming distance. Now was not the time to intrude any closer and worry him.

The knight looked at the platter, turning toward it. Hornet held up one of the morsels – a cooked grub. Her mandibles unfolded, two main mouth pieces at her chin breaking apart her smooth surface. Two more chelicerae came from underneath, rising up. The male remained steady, though his eyes did slightly widen. Was that curiosity? Or perhaps worry?

Hornet plucked out a chunk of the food, then presented the meal to the knight. He looked at her for a moment before his mouth crooked upward and he chuckled. Reaching back toward his discarded gear, he pulled free a small dagger, holding it by the point. He raised his other hand, prompting Hornet to hand over the food.

He shared a few casual words and placed the food on the tray. With a clean slice, he separated the two and handed the bitten portion back to Hornet. They both nodded at one another before returning to their meal.

Well, Hornet returned to her meal. The knight took a moment to examine it and pry at it with his fingers before his attention was drawn back to the way she ate. It was so easy to see where his gaze was drawn with his green irises. There was something comforting about that. Hornet didn’t have to worry about what he was doing – what machinations a blank expression was hiding. Right now, he was simply curious about the way she ate.

Slowing her movements, Hornet showed how her mandibles held the food in place as her chelicerae reached up to pluck out choice pieces. She could have swallowed the whole thing instantly, surely, but something pulled her to more precise motions. The way his awe was directed to such a simple aspect of her anatomy was something she wasn’t familiar with.

The knight slowly moved to eat as well, Hornet watching as his jaws bit into it. There were some white protrusions in his mouth, carving into the food. Curious, internal mandibles. His expression crinkled before softening, then he nodded.

A few inquisitive words came from him as he held up the food. He added a tilt of his head, shaking his meal, probably curious about what he was eating.

“Vengefly grubs cooked in a wrapping of mushroom,” Hornet said.

He paused, still staring.

“Grub,” Hornet said.

He nodded. “Grub,” he said in her language. The knight added a few more agreeable words of his own and took another bite.

The enthusiasm with which he ate was infectious. To find joy in a simple meal was amusing, perhaps even cute. There wasn’t a moment she could recall where she took a moment to appreciate a meal. Spurred on by his enjoyment, Hornet poured him a glass of juice. She wasn’t quite sure what it was, but it had a fruity smell to it. Certainly, it’d fit nicely with the meal.

There was a brief, bare touch of their hands as Hornet handed the cup over. The smallest pause was shared between them before the knight took it. He looked into the cup, then heartily swigged it in one go. A pleased sigh came from him a moment later, his whole chest heaving.

Similarly, his voice was just as relieved, nodding toward Hornet.

“I am still not certain of what you say. I appreciate your voice all the same,” she replied. Hornet tried to twist her inflection to something thoughtful, so that he might pick up on her tone.

The knight shifted his mouth in that pleasing way, chuckling in return. He added another cheerful string of words, though oddly reserved and polite.

Despite the lack of understanding, Hornet found herself relaxing into this moment. A mindless conversation of nothing in particular, just courteous tones and laughs. With this closer arrangement, Hornet could pick up the finer details on his body. Flexing muscles, the wounded markings on his hide, the finer hairs. Most notably, the slow, rhythmic sound of air going in and out. The waves of the spring were like plucks of a web. Her spiderlike senses picked up his movements in the water, and in it, she could feel his heartbeat.

There was a craving in Hornet’s thoughts, a simple touch that she had denied herself for quite some time. An embrace of hands, of bodies, only goaded on by her curiosity of the soft yet formidable form before her. She wanted to know what he felt like beneath all the armor he had shed. The knight’s expression softened as they traded glances. Had he felt the same longing? He was not of this realm – he was alone in that moment.

For all the differences between them, Hornet felt for him. The rigors of combat were not kind to her, and likely even less so on him. There was little either of them could do to find contentment here, and Hornet was already fully ingrained in this hostile place. Her eyes settled on the scars along his body, wondering just how hard he had struggled in his life, and now, striving for survival in Hallownest.

Hornet tentatively reached out, finger sliding across his arm, tracing along a scar that ran down that limb. The knight simply watched as her gentle digits glided across. She enjoyed just how soft he felt, a comforting touch that was scarce in the Hallownest. As expected, what lay beneath that was strong muscle, and as she carefully explored him, she found his shell underneath that. What held him upright was secreted away beneath his unprotected hide.

While his form was soft, it was still marked by scars and imperfections along his body. He was likely fighting for most of his life. Hornet looked into his eyes. The knight shared her tender glance. For a split second, there was an understanding between them, two warriors who had known the trials they both had to face. The man lightly returned her touch, his hand splaying out and settling on her chitinous arm.

Daring to venture further, Hornet slid her fingers up to the knight’s shoulder and onto his clavicle. The slightest shiver came from him. The small hairs on his body stirred. His own fingers grew courageous, feeling how Hornet’s chitinous plates fit together, and running along their gaps. Curiosity grew on his expression, a desire to know more about the being sat before him.

He soon found her own scars. They weren’t as blatant as his own, hidden away by the black of her exoskeleton, but he managed to grace them all the same. And in the same way, they were small streaks across her body, ridges where her body refused to heal neatly. They were both marked with their own signs of battle and struggles with existence.

Hornet began to wonder what his world was like. Where had he come from? Did it contain all the violent, dangerous life that crawled around in the darkest corners of her own home? Perhaps worse. His body was ill-prepared for it, and yet he was here, surviving. Her hand trailed to his chest, where she could so easily feel the rise and fall of it. She could feel air rush in and out of him, which slightly wavered with every shift of her fingers across his body. Farther, still, and she could feel his heart properly.

It was a new experience, not only to touch, but to be touched. All the microscopic bumps across Hornet’s body felt the knight’s hand as it made slow, deliberate movements across her form. He was just as careful with her as she was with him. She was far hardier than him, and still, he took the time to be gentle. He made his way up her arm, mimicking her movements and shifting his hand onto the middle of her chest.

They remained there for a few moments.

The knight’s expression grew wide again as his hand splayed out over Hornet’s chest. She did the same, feeling his curious beat play into her hand. It was a strong, consistent pounding. At least in comparison to the rapid pumping of Hornet’s own heart. Much like the air that moved through his body, it quickened at times. Did she have that effect on him? It must have been a labor to accept her closeness like this, sharing in this brief moment of exposure.

Hornet drew closer to him, bringing their bodies together. Their palms remained rooted at each other’s chests as they stared into each other’s eyes. The knight’s heart slowed, still strong but easing into her touch.

“Thank you,” she said, softly rubbing him.

A hand drew upon Hornet’s waist. The knight was making the first move now. His other hand was hesitant. There was still a barrier between them that he didn’t dare brush against. His hand slid up the arch of her back, teasing near her neck before sliding back down. Hornet copied much of the same, feeling the strange structure that ran along his back. Further up, she could feel his skin bubble into curious bumps. The little hairs on his body stood on end.

The hand at Hornet’s back slid back down, bumping into her abdomen. The knight’s hand quickly snapped back up, as if he had committed some horrible infraction.

He whispered a sullen word.

Hornet tilted her head. Carefully, she slid her own hand down his back, where his own abdomen would have laid, at the very bottom of his curious back structure. He held no offense to this, and soon, his own hand returned to her abdomen.

Of course, that was an alien thing to him, wasn’t it? The knight wasn’t sure if he had broken some sort of taboo – taken a step too far for this mutual understanding between one another. Of course he hadn’t. His curiosity was refreshing, as was his strange yet exciting form. This was an exchange of bodies between two warriors, seeking some comfort in each other’s grasp.

The knight explored Hornet’s abdomen, hand gliding across it. There was something oddly intimate about the experience, perhaps in how he handled it so carefully, as if it were fragile. Her abdomen lightly twitched at his touch, chelicerae stirring and rubbing against one another. Hornet swallowed and decided she may as well indulge this part of him as well, hand sliding down that strangely rounded part of him.

They continued to share each other’s form, goading each other on when one would hesitate, and indulging in the sensations provided to them. Their hands eventually slid away from their chests, allowed to roam free wherever they like.

The roaming continued in all places, save for one. The point of intimacy. Hornet had not managed to completely push it from her mind. His anatomy was certainly one she wanted to become familiar with, but only insofar as he allowed. Still, her legs would brush up against something that wasn’t simply an appendage, she knew that much.

No reason to sour the moment with that. However, it seemed all the more inevitable between them. Was she ready for such a thing? It wasn’t a guarantee that it would become anything more. Perhaps just a curious touch was all they needed. And yet… Hornet found herself thinking more and more about it as their hands probed one another. Her head dipped, eyes daring to look into the water below.

There, through the steam and rippling water, Hornet could see her partner’s intimacy. It was external and blatantly visible. Curiosity simmered in her again. It was likely as strange as the rest of him, and so wholly captivating. Her hand eased onto his hips, tentatively sliding closer to that taboo spot. Was this a level of trust both of them were able to give? They didn’t even understand one another, not so directly.

Hornet raised her head back up, looking into her knight’s expressive eyes. Perhaps his gaze was alien to her, but he wasn’t straining. He didn’t seem pained. He wasn’t wild. There was simply a calm look back at her, soothing her mind. Hornet’s mouth stirred, chelicerae rubbing up against one another. She relaxed, her head nearing his. The warm air coming from him played across her chitin, increasing as she grew closer. The knight’s hand slid up her back and eased onto her neck.

Her mandibles parted.

They brought one another into an inexpert kiss, mouths pressing against one another. Hornet didn’t mind how awkward it all was. She was allowed to lightly grip his face as her smaller mouthparts and tongue played along his plump lips. The knight let out a low sigh, and with it, letting his body relax. His body slowly melted in Hornet’s touch, surrendering that much more.

It occurred to Hornet that the slow in and out of air from the knight was his breath. His body didn’t take quiet breaths, but powerful gulps. The fact that it hitched in this moment, speeding up ever so slightly, revealed more of his thoughts. He pushed his head forward, allowing more of his body to be claimed by her overwhelming kiss. Hornet’s chelicerae graced his chin, a deeper embrace than she could have ever hoped for.

Their hands slowed, but did not stop. Hornet slid her hand around the hips of her partner, a palm maneuvering over his thigh and nearing his groin. He intensified in his kiss as she drew nearer to that sensitive point. This simple touch had given her more pause than any other encounter ever had. Was she even ready for this?

Her body decided that for her. Hornet’s chitinous hand graced the warrior’s groin, fingers sliding across the length of his genitalia, eliciting the lightest groan from him, and a warm breath that spread over her. She remembered now, the way his body heaved during combat. Was this taxing for him, or similarly exciting? The movement of his hand to her own thigh gave her all the answer that she needed.

It was only an assumption on Hornet’s part that his genitalia was external. Was it possible he was already so aroused that it exposed itself? That wasn’t quite right, was it? Though she wasn’t going to dismiss the idea that she was arousing him so quickly. In fact, she enjoyed that idea quite a bit.

Hornet greedily drank in the experiences offered to her. This careful affection was intensifying by the moment. She tried to keep it in line, to a degree, but the desire for an equal touch was pushing the boundaries of her thoughts. Her knight was to be respected, after all, just as he had trusted and respected her enough with this moment.

As the intensity grew, so did Hornet’s exploration. If it wasn’t arousal, his exposed genitalia might explain some of his desire to hide away his form, and added an edge of sexuality she wasn’t expecting. Her hand embraced her partner’s member, fingers wrapping around it. His eyes shut and he let out another pleasing moan, hand daring to move closer to her own sex.

Much like the rest of him, the knight’s penis was a soft, pleasing thing to touch and delight in exploring. Hornet’s heart hammered all the faster as she realized it was stirring, growing harder. It was a blatant arousal display, and now it was not far from her own slowly arousing entrance. An excited thought got the better of her and she stroked his length, nearly freezing when it twitched in her palm.

The two parted from their kiss, looking at one another again. A touch of red marked his cheeks, giving him an oddly cute visage, which clashed against his rugged exterior. Quiet, breathy words managed to escape his lips, eyes darting down to her groin. A finger of his teased near her clitoris, making her body shiver in anticipation. Hornet’s free hand grabbed at his elbow, lightly tugging it downward. He nodded. That was all that needed to pass between them, the acknowledgment that this was what they both wanted – needed.

The desire for another kiss tugged on Hornet’s mandibles yet again. She stayed her head, however, far more curious what he looked like in this vulnerable state. A part of the enjoyment was simply seeing the knight enjoy himself, sharing with her expressions and sounds he would not so easily offer to anyone else.

It would soon be her time to return the favor, as her knight settled his finger onto her clitoris. A buzz of delight spread through her nerves, filling her with a warmth she had not felt in some time. Hornet’s mandibles flexed. She continued to stroke him, her own little encouragement to beg for more, and he obliged her. The nudging turned to a pushing, a rubbing, as more of that delightful pleasure worked its way into her, settling in the gaps between her plates. A partner added a much needed dash of enjoyment to such a pure touch.

Hornet’s fingers traced to the tip of the knight’s erection, noting how the head differed from the rest of his length. It was almost as if it were more exposed than the rest of it. How curious. That may have been a thought she could linger on if the enjoyment wasn’t rumbling in her head now.

“Thank you,” she said, mandibles rubbing together. “For all of this.” She nodded, then placed her hand against her chest, then pressed against his. That was enough, wasn’t it? They understood each other now in the most raw of sensations.

He appeared to agree, leaning back in and indulging in another kiss. She didn’t even need to think about it, mouth already opening to accept him. His unique anatomy allowed for such a deep, direct kiss. Hornet couldn’t say exactly why it enticed her so. Perhaps that direct connection felt far more personal the closer they were. Rather than wrestling with mandibles, the two were free to connect so absolutely. The softness of his form was no doubt a pleasurable addition. So battle hardened, yet so pliable.

The two eased up onto the rim of the spring, removing the layer of decency hiding away their nude bodies. It was practically a tease now, with Hornet being occupied with their kiss. The knight’s naked figure lay below, but she couldn’t see it, lest she break the kiss. That didn’t stop her hand, however, nor his. They continued to stroke at each other’s bodies, emboldened by the deepening connection that every passing second brought.

A pleasing warmth ran through every part of Hornet now, mind growing more relaxed as they kissed. She had long since forgotten what it was like to simply lower one’s guard and enjoy the moment. Here, and now, she was focused on one man and the things they could share, their bodies open between one another. Her mandibles played along the knight’s tongue every time it came forward, rubbing up against that curious muscle.

How long had they been sitting there? It didn’t matter. There was little that would stop this moment for her.

Eventually, the two parted from their kiss, still in each other’s sexual embrace. Hornet lingered on the warrior’s gaze for a moment before shifting her attention down to his groin. Her stroking slowed to a stop, allowing her to admire what it was that she had been lavishing with attention all this time. A smooth shaft topped with a wide head that bordered on a darker pink. She could see it throb and twitch now, head glistening in the faint light. The entirety of his arousal was on display. Arousal for her.

Hornet tilted her head, slowly beginning her stroking again. She ran a thumb over the head, causing him to sigh happily. He was a strange form, certainly, and one that was so very compatible with her own. The knight had briefly paused his touching of her, but he quietly resumed, fingers lightly playing along her folds and entrance. There was nothing stopping them from pressing all the further. Nothing biological. Nothing emotionally. It was simply all up to the both of them agreeing upon it.

It was difficult to think of a way to broach that topic, if Hornet wanted to at all. She looked back toward his eyes. It could be simply be this, this exchange of feeling between them. Nothing about this meant that they had to go any deeper. They could remain these distant, familiar strangers. She let that thought linger on her mind, stoked on by his light touches and innocent eyes.

No. If he would have her, Hornet would not want to part from him so soon. Perhaps it was desperation speaking, the first being she could share herself with so comfortably. He understood what she had been through, and he in turn felt the same. There was a compassion in his touch that she had not felt before. He was willing to be so gentle with her, push no more than what was needed. Hornet sighed as his fingers graced her clitoris again.

Could it all be communicated through a look – a glance of the eyes? That was all that was needed, really. It would do more than enough, having explored one another like this. Hornet allowed her trust to take hold. The knight would know what to do.

She relaxed her gaze, slowing her stroke, looking into his eyes. His hand slid from her crotch, while his other one graced the hand she had braced against the ground. Hornet pulled her hand away from his groin. They were simply holding hands now, grip tightening. It was almost as if he had asked first, leading them to the conclusion they were both hoping for.

Hornet nodded. The knight returned the gesture and looked at a spot behind them, beyond the edge of the spring. They shared one more glance before he helped her to her feet. She certainly couldn’t resist looking at all of him now that he stood before her. His mouth crooked upward, in that pleasing way that was so kind. There was a joy behind that expression, she was certain of it.

The pair walked over to the spot, settling down onto it. They lay on their sides, propped up on an elbow. There was another scant few seconds of admiration before they joined in another kiss. Hornet took hold of his shoulder and eased him onto his back, straddling him. She twitched, excitement stirring in her as her folds pressed up against his erection. The heat – the pull on her body was becoming almost unbearable. She had weathered worse, she could wait a moment longer.

Though, Hornet had to wonder just how much he was willing to wait, too. Without the warmth of the spring so focused on them, she could tell just how much of his own body heat was radiating outward. Of course, that made the warmth at his manhood far more apparent. The knight might have wanted this as much as she did, if not more. She needed no confirmation from him, as his body did all the speaking. She carefully eased her hips back and forth, stealing some of that lustful warmth for herself and letting it seep into her. He moaned into her, hips pressing up against her. Hornet moaned back, grip tightening on his shoulders.

There would be no more teasing, they had endured enough. Hornet raised her hips up and parted from the kiss. One hand trailed down the man’s chest, onto his hips, and grabbed at his erection, pointing it upward. She guided the tip toward her entrance and pressed herself onto it, sliding his length into her.

Hornet’s breath strained as she slowly slid down. Her knight let out a low groan, adding a deep sigh afterward. The shape and girth of his erection weren’t anything she was prepared for. The intense warmth only added to the sensation pushing through her, and also goaded her on to continue taking his length. She began to shudder. A fullness grew inside her, all the way until her hips met his own. It became apparent how quickly she rushed into this.

Waves of heat pulsed in Hornet’s body. Her back arched, trying to more comfortably settle the knight inside of her. A moan escaped her, adding a simmer of delight as it left her throat. Her walls strained around his erection, lightly flexing, trying to acclimate to it. Another moan fluttered out. Hornet braced her hands on the ground as she leaned forward slowly, head eventually resting on his chest.

A comforting hand came upon her back. The knight asked something softly, concern imbued in every syllable. Hornet placed a hand on his arm, rubbing it. That was all she could do to show she was fine. Even still, subdued gasps and moans pushed out of her as she twitched.

Despite the overwhelming size, Hornet’s body burned with an arousal she had not ever felt. Giving herself to this man, lending him an utmost trust she had not shown to anyone else. Relief. She didn’t have to worry about anything. It was simply him and her, sharing their bodies, comforting one another in a way that had long been lost to them. Hornet shut her eyes, listening to his powerful lungs draw in and out, relaxing to a slow rhythm. She found herself matching his pace, allowing herself to calm.

It took a little longer still for Hornet to begin acclimating to the body inside of her. He continued to throb, clearly eager for this. They may have been worlds apart, but she knew what he needed. Not wanting to deny him that any longer, Hornet tested her body, hips gyrating back and forth. It was an awkward motion, and it was enough to let her know if she was ready for him. The fullness in her body was pulled to the forefront of her mind, along with the trickles of pleasure she craved. His breathing picked up again.

Hornet continued her tender movements, drawing in more and more of the arousal bubbling along her nerves. Her partner lay there, perhaps too similarly overwhelmed to move. Or, more likely, letting her settle into this. No doubt he was taking her into consideration. His body spoke of a desire, while his mind kept it steady. The gentle rubs at her back, through hardened chitin, exemplified this. The knight was chivalrous, even in these moments. Hornet sped up, pushing their boundaries farther, easing them into what was to come.

It was impressive just how much the knight had filled her out. Every shift of Hornet’s hips tilted his erection, rubbing up inside her. It was easy to note exactly where the tip lay deep, deep inside her. She raised her hips little by little, then came back down. The knight groaned, whispering something. The small movements helped Hornet adjust, and soon, she managed to do them consistently.

Slowly, Hornet’s movements became more excited, hips becoming more fervent with every movement. She raised her head to gauge her partner’s reaction, finding his visage now lightly strained. Not pain or discomfort. Pleasure. He was enjoying himself. Hornet pushed on, now bouncing atop his body. There was a slap every time she came down, not the hard clack of chitin on chitin. It sounded so much more raw, the sound echoing out with their grunts and moans. Every part of him was a new fascination for her to cling to.

Hornet was largely in control now, with her knight letting her move as she pleased. She made sure that she sped up only once he was ready for the added pleasure. Or, at least until he calmed down enough for her to feel comfortable enough to do so. She was at a steady bounce now, hands bracing on his chest to help her along. It was a slightly awkward position, however, as she couldn’t quite raise herself off the entirety of his length. She was only tending to a small part of him, denying the rest of his length the friction he craved.

Along with the acclimation of her body, Hornet’s fluids had completely coated her partner’s erection, allowing for a smoother glide up and down. It would be so easy now to simply lose herself in it. Her breathing picked up at the thought. She could simply plunge into that pleasure. Hornet’s mouth stirred. Another glance at his face confirmed that he was ready again, relaxing from the highs that he was experiencing.

Raising herself a little more, Hornet raised her legs and settled onto her feet, crouching over the knight. His erection still twitched inside of her. Indeed, a bit of his desperation bled through as his hips raised to meet her. Hornet let out an exasperated chuckle, shivering as he moved. She wanted more of him. Slowly, she brought herself down again, moan growing in intensity until she finally hilted his erection once more.

Up.

Down.

Hornet moaned in unison with her partner. Her stance faltered for a moment. He grabbed onto her ankles, steadying her as she enjoyed her new position. That was encouragement enough. She began to bounce all over again, now so easily accepting the rest of his girth. Hornet leaned forward and sped her movements, stifling the moans that were pushing through her. She made sure to bring herself all the way down, savoring the slap of his soft body and rewarding her with that sense of fullness all over again.

She continued on, bouncing on the knight’s erection. At first she tried to enjoy every motion, but soon enough she was simply feasting on the raw pleasure, going faster and faster. She held back her groans as best she could, but they still seeped through, subdued grunts and moans filling the air.

It was hard to gauge when her partner would reach his peak, lacking all the familiar insect expressions. Hornet made sure to slow herself every now and again, only for that arousal to pick up once more, along with her hips. She hadn’t realized how much she desired this, with her body so wantonly coming down upon his. She chanced a look at the knight’s visage occasionally, finding it writhing with pleasure every time.

As much as she wanted this to last forever, Hornet’s own insatiable craving was getting the better of her. Having been deprived of this desire for so long, she was approaching her own finish. Her movements became shaky and imprecise, now faltering with every other bounce of her hips. The only hope she had now was that he was more than satisfied to finish.

The knight groaned, eyes shutting. Hornet’s hips slammed down just as his came back up. Her eyes widened and she froze as a warm rope of semen shot into her. Hornet gasped and gyrated her hips. Her body had been expecting a capsule of his seed. Instead, a hot mess oozed into her, warmly running down her walls. The sensation of her being filled to the brim struck her mind. He grunted and thrust again, shooting another rope and another. Hornet shuddered and kept gyrating, her own orgasm slamming into her as one more load of semen settled into her. She moaned, breath now heavy and labored. Her partner’s was much of the same. Her hips twitched and jerked, gripped by pleasure. She let out a quiet whimper and sighed.

Hornet shivered, easing forward to rest on her knight’s chest again. His heart was hammering, despite how much he seemed to be controlling his breath. That display of enjoyment stirred another bout of warmth in her body. She sighed, nuzzling against him, taking in all of that softness she could.

Heat bubbled inside Hornet. She could still feel her knight’s trickling seed settle in her, as his member throbbed inside of her. A sharing of bodies. A completion of trust. Hornet had never felt so relaxed. She closed her eyes.

“Thank you,” she said, through panting breaths.

The knight returned much of the same, a gentle hand coming upon her cheek.

---

Another soak in the springs and a redress in their clothes, then the pair were back to normal. For a moment, it almost felt like nothing had happened. They were still strange creatures in a dreary world. But a warmth clung to Hornet’s chest that only intensified when she looked at him. The knight’s helmet was tucked underneath his arm, leaving him open to her gaze.

For a moment, he opened his mouth, then shut it. The knight walked over to her and rested his head against hers. Hornet’s chelicerae stirred, and she nudged back. They stayed like that for a moment before pulling away again. His helmet returned to its rightful spot, and he began checking all the pieces of his garment.

Hornet strode to the entrance as a breeze picked up her cloak. The chill of the wind was overcome with a warmth as she looked back at her knight. He joined her side, then presented the way with a hand. She could almost feel that cheerful expression hidden away underneath his armor. She nodded, leading the way with a new spring in her step.