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The Singing Desert

Written by Leo_Todrius

Supported by my Patrons

The single grain of sand was in and of itself finite. It was the product of eons of erosion, reducing it from mountain to boulder to pebble, polishing it with water, then wind. It was the summation of an amount of time so vast that no sapient species could fully grasp it. Likewise, the single grain of sand rested in a boundless, dry ocean of its brethren, shifting as the winds carried it back and forth, forming dunes like waves frozen in time. The sand of the Singing Desert was a reddish-gold hue, like burnished copper. The desert was bordered by rusty brown foothills and a sharp craggy mountain range all the color of dried blood. The lingering late afternoon sunset only added further fire to the gem tones, painting the sky with equal parts pink and bronze.

It was a spectacular view in any direction, as mesmerizing as it was dangerous. Rocks shifted beneath the taloned feet of the large ostrich-like bird, the Kwa's reddish feathers tinged with rust colored dust. It chattered, its brown beak clicking as its soulful glossy black eyes looked around. When the reins that ran along its head harness tightened, the bird's tailfeathers flicked and flared behind its rider. The traveler sighed a little, his green eyes tired, his raven black hair a little greasy from the travel. His choice of outfits, a dark burnished black leather jacket and black pants had not been the wisest for visiting the Singing Desert. At least his tan complexion had stood up against the harsh sun.

Most of the landscape was untouched by any of the races, though one terrace held a rather large outpost of sorts looking out into the desert proper. The building was wide and squat, one floor and not entirely imaginative from an architectural standpoint. Still, there were plenty of water troughs where the various animals were tied off and that was enough for the traveler. His bird chittered excitedly as it scented water and it picked up its pace, talons clacking against the stone. As it lowered its long head to drink, the traveler slipped off, his boots kicking up a small cloud of dust. He grabbed the ropes and tied it to his bird, ensuring it wouldn't wander away and cook itself to death in the heat. Exhaling a small sigh, he rounded the corner and found the entrance, pushing through the doors into the establishment.

The air inside was cooler, though a bit stale with smoke and the smell of other travelers. A bar ran nearly the entire length of the establishment, looking out over far more tables and chairs than this particular cantina was likely to ever have. An enchanted stone was doing its best to fill the area with music, though the patrons seemed particularly uninterested. A dwarvish barkeeper kept busy behind the counter, cleaning mugs and rearranging stock. His earthy brown eyes turned to regard the traveler as he entered.

“What can I get for ya, son?" The dwarf asked. The traveler moved up, reaching to rub at his chin.

“Some information, if you have any. I sent on ahead… Name's Rival. I wanted to hire your best guide and bodyguard for the desert." The traveler said. The dwarf nodded slowly.

“Ah, yes, the outlander…" he mused, looking up at the human, “Our best guide is actually guides. Work as a team, can't hire one without getting the other. They're over in the corner." the bartender said. A slight frown formed on Rival's lips as he turned, looking the way the barkeep had indicated. While most of the patrons looked unruly and surly, his attention had initially drifted away from the pair of gnolls in the corner. Even sitting, they appeared to be a good foot taller than Rival. Their bare chests were covered with sandy tan fur and they were adorned with heavy nipple rings. Leather straps ran over their shoulders and down the rusty brown fur on their backs. Their manes graduated from black at their scalp to a blood red in their mohawk frills and the laughter coming from their muzzles was biting. While they did wear pants, their large paw-like feet were uncovered, toes wiggling as they chortled and laughed over whatever private joke they had going. Rival looked back at the barkeep.

“I'm not paying double." He said sternly. The barkeep smirked, the corner of his brown mustache arching up.

“Don't have to. They come as a two for one." he said. Rival's dark black eyebrow twitched a little.

“There isn't anyone else?" he asked. The barkeep set the mug on the table, reaching under the counter to pull out a dark brownish-black bottle of something that he began pouring into the mug.

“Got something against gnolls, son?" he asked. A few of the patrons glanced over and Rival shrank a bit.

“No, not really… I mean… Aren't they rowdy?" he asked. The bartender laughed openly.

“Hell yes, but that isn't unique to them." he replied. Rival swallowed a bit, his mouth feeling particularly dry.

“And they… uh, don't they have, like, a smell?" he asked. The bartender pursed his lips behind his mustache.

“Come to think of it, they do say gnolls have a bit of a musk. I think they use it as a base for some colognes back in the East." he offered. Rival looked back at the two as they slapped each other's backs and shoulders with clawed hands, their thick chests heaving with laughter. They grabbed at their bottles and tipped them back, furry throats undulating as they practically chugged it all down.

“They're really the best?" Rival asked softly, nearly defeated. The bartender smirked at that and wandered away to attend to one of the other patrons. Rival took the proffered drink and tipped it back. Despite the biting heat and a bit of spice, it soothed his throat and his nerves. Exhaling one last sigh, he took his mug and walked across the bar, heading over to the two.

“Hey there. Name's Rival. I hear you are the best guides for the desert?" he asked. The two continued to laugh a little, though clearly they were trying their best to restrain as they looked up at the young man. Their orange eyes widened a little, a smile creasing the edges of the leathery lips that ran the length of their muzzles. As far as humans went, Rival wasn't too bad to look at. Mid twenties, sturdy, though a bit thin compared to their usual fare. He was tall, too, six feet or so. His clothing, however, seemed more designed for use in the cities and alleyways than the desert. They were going to have to do something about that.

“I'm Cord." the closest of the two Gnolls said, offering his hand, “And this is Kade." he added, tipping his head to the side. Rival took the gnoll's hand in his, feeling a familiar hand shape augmented by subtle paw pads on his palm and fingertips and the brush of claws against the underside of his wrists. “You must be our new master." he added, looking up into Rival's eyes. Rival's jaw dropped.

“M-Master?" he nearly stuttered. Kade grinned, a whip-like tail wagging behind his chair.

“We serve you, body and soul until our job is complete, Master." Kade said. Rival nearly clicked his tongue, not sure what to say.

“You should sit down, get comfortable." Cord said, trying to give him an out.

“We're very comfortable." Kade added, unable to keep from giggling a little. Rival was starting to realize he had an entirely different set of concerns than he'd first assumed, but he sat down on the other side of the table. He settled into the chair for comfort and support, though he soon felt something rubbing against the side of the boot. He hoped that it was just accidental given how limited space was. He looked across the table at the two Gnolls. He had been worried at first that he wouldn't be able to tell them apart, but the spots and stripes on their brown fur were quite distinctive. Cord had twin speckles at the corner of each eye and the fur on his chin was unusually long. Kade, meanwhile, had unruly cheek fur and an almost lighter coloring overall.

“You've been across the desert before?" Rival asked, sipping from his drink again.

“Loads of times! I think Gnolls are immune to some of the weirder effects out there." Kade supplied.

“The siren song?" Rival asked. Cord shrugged.

“And the heat, the toxic plants, the boredom." he supplied. Rival nodded a little.

“I don't know if the bartender expressed it well, but I can… only afford four hundred gold." Rival said. Cord nodded, though Kade leaned forward conspiratorially.

“We've done a lot worse for four hundred gold." he whispered before breaking out into laughter. Rival couldn't help but smile a little, though he didn't know why. His muscles seemed to relax a bit. Sitting in such close proximity, he certainly was smelling a unique aroma, though it wasn't nearly as bad as people said. There were elements of sweat and salt like there would be for any species near a desert, a dusty peaty smell like dried out moss, and a bit of a tang that smelled like overheated rubber… but it wasn't bad. In fact, as he breathed in, it was refreshingly different and unique. Rival couldn't help but wonder if the scent was strongest from their pits or their chest, nestled between those fat, meaty nipples with those heavy rings he just wanted to…. Wanted to what?

“When were you wanting to head out, boss?" Cord asked, tipping back his mead. A little of the foamy head got caught on his black lips until he slurped it up with his long tongue. Again, Rival swallowed.

“I heard it is better to travel at night?" he asked. Kade nodded.

“Less heat, and less chance of getting lost. You can use the stars and the moons to align yourself and keep on point. That being said, the wildlife is more awake at night too." Kade said, shrugging.

“But that's why you hired the best bodyguards in the region." Cord said.

“When are they going to get here?" Kade asked, to which Cord broke out laughing again… which only made Kade laugh. As they fell over each other in their humor, Rival couldn't help but feel more relaxed and at ease, the smile spreading wide across his lips, chasing away the worry lines that had been trying to crease his face. Maybe traveling with the gnolls wouldn't be so bad after all.

****

A cool, sweet wind blew across the Singing Desert, stimulating and helping Rival to stay awake. He couldn't help but direct his green eyes upward, wondering if there were more stars in the sky than grains of sand beneath his feet. Rival followed behind Cord and Kade, holding the rope that led his bird behind them. Between the two strangers and a back full of supplies, the mount seemed to be more agreeable as it padded along the uneven terrain. As Rival walked, however, he couldn't help but hear it… the music of the desert.

At first the sound was subtle, as if the wind had taken on enough talent to shift itself to a faint melody. As the tones grew, however, they became more harmonic as if the mountains at the edge of the desert were vibrating crystals. The tune rose and fell, becoming more urging, more needy until it was as if an angelic young man was singing the saddest dirge he'd ever heard in his life. Tears began to collect at the corner of Rival's eyes. His lower lip trembled. He was about to turn and run into the night, to find the poor soul and console him - at least until that muscular, furry arm wrapped around his head, pulling it deep into a musky gnoll armpit.

Rival reached up, slapping and clawing at the arm that had locked his head in place. He tried to pry it loose, especially as his feeble attempt at holding his breath ran out. When he inhaled, he was hit with the reeking odor of the taller male. It made him want to curl his toes and his eyes were watering for an entirely different reason. He had wondered before just where the gnolls had their scent glands. This was certainly a good candidate. As he was finally released, his ears heard not the song of the desert but riotous laughter.

“Kade, we brought… hehehe…. Smelling salts! You didn't have to do that!" Cord laughed. Kade reached up to scratch at the base of his blood red mohawk.

“Oh yeah… Seems to have worked, though. You feeling better, boss?" Kade asked. Rival was standing there, dizzy and woozy, a faint sheen of perspiration beading across his face. The worst part was that it wasn't even his own perspiration.

“That was certainly one way to snap me back to my senses." Rival responded. Kade snickered at that companionably.

“That being said, we might need to camp. The sun will be coming up soon and I think we've been traveling long enough that fatigue is starting to take us." Cord commented. Rival nodded at that, grateful for an excuse to refocus himself. He turned around and moved back, starting to untie some of the supplies from his mount. The bird squawked, ruffling its tail feathers, eyeing the other two skeptically as they leaned forward and whispered, giggling to themselves. Rival had made it almost three knots before he paused, his eyebrow arching.

“You're right, we need to camp… Aren't I paying you two?" he asked. The two instantly sobered, or at least tried to, giggling a little as they came back to help out. Rival stepped back, watching them move. They were such a sight. Nearly seven feet tall, dripping with muscle, their bodies the best combination of man and hyena. Rival blushed, his well tanned skin looking nearly sunburned for a moment. He'd been attracted to others before, though he'd always felt as if he'd had to remain hands off… but there was no denying that it was easy to appreciate these two. Maybe that was one of the effects of the desert as well, lowering his inhibitions. Whatever happened, he was going to have to be careful.

****

The winds howling outside the tent were no siren song. The sand storm sounded like an ocean that was all flow and no ebb. It was only by enchantment that the tent remained standing, the gauzy fabric fluttering and rippling in the breeze. While most of the light was being reflected, enough passed through the material to give the interior a faint golden ambience. Rival's mount had fretted for so much of the morning that it had eventually passed out, a heap of red feathers acting as a bit of a pillow for Rival. Cord and Kade had found surprising comfort in each other's arms, cuddled up despite the heat, chest to chest and legs entwined.

Rival had done his best to give them privacy, but in a tent that barely fit the four of them there wasn't much he could do. Instead, he found himself thinking back across his life. How many seedy bars had he waited in for jobs? How many inns had he bedded down alone? How many missions had taken him across the continent, just to earn some coin? Cord and Kade didn't even care that they were splitting his payment between the two of them. Life was a laugh, an adventure, a romp…. And apparently it was rewarding in other ways as well.

What had started as an attempt at privacy had become an almost clandestine view. He peeked at them, seeing them humping and grinding. In the heat it was no doubt making them sweat even more, which in turn would only add to their aroma… and by the gods, what an aroma. It smelled of summer, of the scrublands, of frivolity, of not caring what anyone thought. It was enough to make Rival hard just thinking about it all. He swallowed a little, turning over, aiming his erection away from everything else. The last thing he needed to do was alienate them. Best to disappear into what passed for shadows in the tent… although, if he aimed away, he couldn't exactly see what they were doing.

Rival slowly turned back over, inhaling a little. He'd never seen two mouths fit so perfectly together. Their muzzles were interlocked, Cord's goatee and Kade's mutton chops so perfectly opposite. Clawed hands stroked and massaged one another's bodies. Their nipple rings quietly clacked against one another. The legs they had ensnared each other with braced against the blanket covering the bottom of the tent, gaining purchase as the gentle humping became a more forceful frotting.Rival decided to close his eyes and pretend he was as asleep as his Kwa was. After a few moments, though, he could hear a few shared whispers and a barely suppressed giggle.

“Hey Boss, you wanna join us?" Kade asked gently. Rival nearly panicked, his heart racing, trying to decide if he should keep playing dead, decline politely or… maybe even say yes? He slowly opened his eyes.

“I, uh, don't have a lot of experience." he admitted. Somehow that choice felt worse after saying it than perhaps any of the other answers might have been.

Isn't there some human saying that you learn from doing?" Cord asked. “I mean, if you want to." he added.

“We don't bite!" Kade supplied helpfully, “"Unless you're into that sort of thing." he considered. Rival was even more beside himself. He had, however, slowly sat up. The two gnolls had parted, their creamy butterscotch colored chests and tummies peeled apart like the insides of a sleeping bag. What was new, though, were the furry sheaths around their groins covered in speckled tan and brown fur…. And the rather thick, pulsating red members that had extended from within them. Their balls were huge, their leg fur so soft, their faces so expectant.

“Y-you sure?" Rival asked, surprising even himself. Cord grinned.

“Always room for one more." he supplied. With a bit of a breath, Rival rolled over and began crawling across the tent. He didn't have far to go given the confined space, although the howling winds outside made it feel like much further. As he got closer, he gasped a little as he felt Cord and Kade reach their arms under his armpits and pull him in. He glided along their furry abdomens like a freshly made bed, coming to rest where he could feel Kade's heartbeat against his back.

“Wow, this is nice…" Rival said, realizing he had on more clothes than they did and he'd stripped all the way down to his underwear for sleeping in the heat.

“So when you said you didn't have much experience, was that with boys, or in general?" Cord asked, reaching to run a clawed fingertip down Rival's chest.

“Either…. Though I do lean that way. I guess I just never got around to it."Rival admitted. Cord nodded, running a tongue along his black lips.

“And you don't mind the look of us?" he asked curiously. Rival blushed a little.

“What's not to appreciate? You're tall, strong, strapping… Plus the nipple rings and mohawks are pretty stylish." he added. Cord grinned and Kade leaned in to start sniffing and nuzzling at Rival's neck. Feeling that wet nose against his flesh, Rival couldn't help but shiver as his nipples hardened. “Honestly I don 't know how you two aren't always aroused." Rival smirked. Behind him, Kade leaned closer, nuzzling Rival's shoulder.

“That's the thing, boss. We always are." he said, sliding a hand around Rival's ribs, rubbing at his stomach, pulling him back. Rival gasped, feeling that soft fur brushing against his shoulders and his flank. Rival moaned, a tent forming in his underwear. The stretched fabric was soon attended to by Cord who tugged it downward, wrapping his hand around Rival's haft, stroking it forward and back. As Rival began to moan, Cord leaned in, tilting his head, bringing his dark lips to Rival's for a kiss.

Rival writhed a little, buffeting back and forth between the two gnolls. They were so big and warm and soft and strong. He swore he could feel Kade's cock somewhere against his hip, but so far he was being a gentleman. His own cock was so achingly hard in Cord's embrace, though when Cord let go it was almost as if he'd been plunged into ice water.

Rival was about to say something when he felt something furry bump up against the edge of his cock. As he tried to figure out what was going on, it suddenly began enveloping Rival's dick. His green eyes went wide. He looked down, seeing inch after inch of his manhood sinking into Cord's spotted sheath. It was slick and velvety and despite being home to another cock, there seemed to be plenty of room. Cord shifted a little, making it easier to slide all the way up to the base of Rival's cock. They were both in there, marinating in the gnoll's fluids and Rival could tell his partner truly was always hard.

Cord came forward, bringing his lips back to Rival's. They kissed lewdly and wetly, tongues tangling. There was something about Cord's saliva that was tart and sharp, but also something more grounded like licorice. Rival didn't pull back. He reached up, hands caressing and massaging the gnoll's pierced nipples. He fingered the rings, gently getting a grip before he tugged at that. The pressure made Cord growl a little in pleasure, kissing that much deeper. His paws ran over the human's shoulders and chest, reaching around to squeeze his butt cheeks, taking it all in.

A soft yip escaped Kade's dark lips, his nose sniffing a little. He wasn't opposed to anyone joining their fun, but he didn't want to be left out. He slunk down along the length of Rival's body, using his fingers to deftly lower his underwear that much further. Kade's eyes glittered in the filtered light making its way through the rippling tent. As the wind continued to howl outside, he leaned in and ran his nose up the crevice between those meaty globes. Rival shivered and moaned at the contact, then he broke the kiss to gasp as Kade pushed his snout in deeper, opened his maw and let his tongue suddenly surge into the human's ass.

The hot, wet slurping sliding in and out of his ass made Rival double down on the kissing. He wrapped his legs around Cord's waist, pulling himself tighter against the furry sheath that now enveloped his manhood. He kissed with hunger and need, humping at him, feeling his toes curl and uncurl in delight. He groaned louder, throwing his head back as Kade got deeper into him than he thought possible. His balls were quivering, his pucker tensing and relaxing against the wiggling tube that lapped at him. Rival was unable to form words, hoping only that somehow Kade found this pleasant. They had been traveling across a desert together, he couldn't imagine he tasted or smelled all that good at the moment.

The Kwa opened one glassy black eye, its tail feathers fluffing a little as it woke up halfway. It eyed Rival, wondering if he was being eaten by predators before realizing that he was in fact mating. The Kwa let out a small chitter as it lowered its head back down to the blanket and tried to sleep. It was natural for the bird to shelter during a storm, even if it was a sandstorm. It didn't sit in judgment of Rival even as he let out all manner of undignified moans, groans and screams before, ultimately, he howled out and came into Cord's pouch. The gnoll merely grinned, letting his hard dick slide out, sticky and gooey with Rival's seed as it slid up his belly. Rival was panting, slicked with sweat.

“That was… amazing…" He said weakly, looking up at Cord. Cord grinned at that, looking over Rival's shoulder.

“Looks like you were a tasty morsel in more than one way." Cord smirked, laying on his side, pulling Rival down. The two resumed their kissing even as Kade made a meal of Rival's ass.

****

The sandstorm had lasted nearly a day and a half, delaying their progress. When the group finally emerged from their tent, the entire landscape had changed. New dunes had formed and the old ones had been flattened. Thankfully the stars acted as a compass, just as the guides had said. The Kwa seemed to be pleased to be moving again, though the bird was still a bit chatty about having the tent and supplies strapped to it again. Despite the setback, Rival was in unusually good spirits. He'd decided to go with just his pants and belt, leaving his bare shoulders out as Cord and Kade did. After all, was he going to get a moonburn? He snickered and then broke out laughing at the idea, the sound musical on the cool desert air.

When they got to the top of one of the dunes, Rival realized that the pressure he'd been feeling in his pants was multifaceted. He had been rather horny since some back to back sessions with the gnolls in the tent, but he also had to take a piss… Stepping off to one side, he unfastened the fly of his pants, fished out his achingly hard cock, aimed on the downward slope and sighed as the golden stream arced through the night. The faintest of patter sounds came as the stream hit the sand, absorbing in more than it splattered. Cord seemed to think that was a good idea and walked up beside Rival, soon doing the same. By the time that Kade joined them, Rival was practically grinning.

“Brave of you…" He commented. Kade's brow furrowed as he started to piss.

“What do you mean, brave?" he asked. Rival glanced at Cord, then back at Kade.

“Well, I mean Cord and I will be finished by the time they might surface…" he said. Kade's eyes went wide.

“When what surfaces?!" he asked.

“You know, the leak-eels? They're attracted to urine, swim up the warm stream to take roost…" Rival said as he tapped off his cock. Kade was stumbling backwards, his anxiousness causing him to splatter everywhere. Rival burst out giggling and Cord couldn't help but join him. Kade wanted to be mad, but seeing them there with their dicks out laughing, he soon joined in. The sound of the infectious laughter carried over the din. Kade strode back over and grabbed Rival's head by the chin, turning it before he kissed him. Rival's arms fell to his side as that talented tongue went across his teeth and batted at the back of his throat. Cord leaned in, kissing and then licking at Rival's neck. The three remained there for a long moment until, reluctantly, they parted.

Kade looked at Rival carefully in the moonlight, seeing that his black hair was starting to sunbleach at the tips, taking on a bloody dark red color. Likewise, stubble was spotting along his jawline that seemed distinctly earthy in contrast with his normal hair color… Added to that, the skin around the base of his cock was puffy and swollen, the pubic hair on it growing in thicker and softer than before. Kade found it hard not to welcome their brother then and there, but there was still time.

“We should keep going while the air is cool. Plenty of time to get comfortable during the day." Cord said. Rival nodded, feeling the tug of his human sensibilities as he followed after. Kade licked his lips, noticing new freckles forming across Rival's shoulders and back that looked an awful lot like Gnoll spots. Maybe they wouldn't have long to wait after all.

****

After a few initial setbacks, the group had only become more proficient at crossing the desert. They had packed enough food to cross the desert with a healthy margin of error, but they had supplemented the ration bars and food pellets with what they could hunt and gather from the forbidding landscape itself. It turned out that Rival's Kwa was proficient at finding grubs and worms to feed itself when left off leash, and where there were grubs there was usually moisture and other plant life.

It seemed that the act of hunting agreed with Rival as his lanky frame was filling out day by day. His flat chest had started to round as his pectorals took on definition and his stomach was starting to gain dimples as abdominal muscles filled in. Cord and Kade couldn't help but murmur and growl in appreciation when they saw how thick Rival's biceps and triceps were getting and they had, on occasion, groped and fondled the new muscle. Rival had been bashful the first few times, but he'd started to take on a bit of pride in it as of late.

Of all the changes, though, it was the subtle shift that Cord and Kade took the most appreciation in. Rival's ears had taken on points. If that had been the only change one might have assumed he was part elf, but the short beard that now followed his jawline was made of dense, rough hair that was a reddish-brown like the clay of the Chagria flats. The hair under his arms had grown impossibly dense and his cock was nearly always erect, an unusual shade of red with how many blood vessels coursed through its length. Even his teeth seemed sharper.

The group had eaten their fill of dinner and the campfire they'd made to cook it was dying down. There wasn't exactly a lot of fuel to keep it going so they enjoyed it while they could. The flickering light played across Rival's bare chest, the light and shadow making it harder to see the freckle-like spots on his shoulders. Kade leaned forward, a shrewd grin crossing his muzzle as he looked conspiratorially back and forth from Cord to Rival.

“What did the grape say when the gnoll stepped on it?" he asked.

“What did it say?" Rival asked.

“Nothing, it just let out a little whine." Kade said. There was silence for a moment before all three broke into riotous laughter, Rival finding it a little hard to breathe. It seemed like each laugh made his stomach and chest muscles stronger, his diaphragm tightening.

“Why did the gnoll talk to the living skeleton in the dungeon?" Cord asked.

“Why… did he?" Rival asked, still giggling even as his jaw tingled, the reddish-brown hair slowly growing out longer and thicker.

“He had a bone to pick with him!" Cord said, again causing the group to break out into inhuman laughter. The yips and barks carried across the open desert, Rival doubling over, unaware of the fuzz growing out along his spine, spreading out across his shoulders inch by inch. A small nub of a tail was poking out from above his belt, showing off the top of the crevice between his ass cheeks.

“What do you get when you mix a gnoll with a sheep?" Kade asked.

“You have to get a new sheep." Cord said before anyone else could answer. Rival laughed harder, wrapping his arms across his stomach, his eyes watering and tearing up from the laughter even as the green in his irises started to turn hazel and then copper colored.

“What's a gnoll's favorite food?" Cord asked.

“Wh-wh-What?" Rival wheezed.

“You." Cord replied, leaning in to kiss Rival. Rival murmured and moaned, a hand slipping up to caress the furry cheek of his partner. Their lips smacked and their tongues tangled for several moments before Cord pulled back. Rival looked up, no longer laughing. Instead, he was practically glowing with his euphoria.

“We, uh, made you something." Kade said, swallowing a bit. Rival turned to look at his fellow companion, eyes widening as he saw the same engraved rings that the gnolls wore in their nipples. They appeared seamless, though Rival suspected them were enchanted. He looked at them, then at Kade and finally at Cord.

“You made them? For me?" He asked, hearing the wind starting to pick up in the distance. The song that had sounded so lonely before seemed to be harmonizing now, different voices coming together.

“Well, we've been having such fun traveling together. You're really becoming one of us. We thought… if you liked that idea, you really could join us if you wanted to." Cord said. Rival's eyebrow arched a little at that.

“You want me to be a desert guide?" Rival asked. Cord nearly grimaced.

“We don't just guide people. We're adventurers! We go where the fun is. We celebrate life, live each day to the fullest. We're proud of who and what we are, and you can be one of us! Our brother… our lover." Kade said.

“It's already started, Rival." Cord explained, reaching to run his fingers down Rival's beard. Rival shuddered, leaning into the caress, panting until his tongue lolled out of his mouth.

“If you don't want it… We understand. When we reach the other side of the desert, it'll only take a few days for the effects to wear off. But if you want to stay with us, all you have to do is put these on. We'll make you so happy." Kade whispered. Rival swallowed a bit, looking at the two gnolls. He thought back to his life in the city, to drifting from job to job.

“You already have… I want to be with you forever." Rival whispered. Cord and Kade started to giggle in their excitement. Kade handed Cord one of the rings so they each had one, lifting the black stone up to Rival's chest. At first nothing happened as he felt the stone press against his sensitive, plump nipples. After a moment, though, the stone grew bitingly cold like wild mint along an icy stream. As the rings slid upwards, the ephemeral part of the stone solidified again, inserting itself through his flesh.

Rival threw his head back and let out a surprised yelp, though he only became more startled as Cord and Kade joined him in their rapid barks. As Rival recovered himself, he gasped again as he felt the icy cold turn into a pleasant warmth. His nipples began to swell and grow, pushing forward as they grew rounder. The inflamed red flesh darkened to purple and then black, rubbery and huge. The rings looked quite at home hanging from them, though they seemed a bit big on his modest pectorals - though another wave of tingling soon took care of that.

As the former human traveler gazed down at his chest, he watched as his pecs bloated outward, practically inflating, extending inch after inch. Cord and Kade looked almost wild, their eyes practically solid black in the dark night. They surged forward, latching onto his chest with hungry muzzles, slurping and suckling before they latched onto the rings with their teeth and began to tug and twist. The sudden assault, rough and unexpected, made Rival arch his spine, falling back against the sand. Cord and Kade were soon on all fours, still mercilessly tugging.

Rival's hands fell into the sand, digging against the coarse grains. As they did, his fingernails began to rake through it as they grew out longer and honed to sharp tips, curving downward. The skin around his fingernails became gummy and rubbery, swelling out over the tops. His fingerprints, nearly abraided by the sand, resisted with a vengeance as they swelled into puffy pads. His toes curled and uncurled, each swiftly growing sickle like claws that glowed in the pale moonlight.

The growls and grunts coming from the gnoll brothers became steadily muffled as a creamy tan fur sprouted across Rival's chest. It filled the gap between his huge pecs, slipping down to spill across his abdomen like winter thaw trickling down a rocky cliffside. The fur slipped around his ribs and seeped up his shoulders, growing into the back fur he'd been cultivating over the last few days. The thick hair under his pits only got longer, remaining darker than either the tan chest fur or the rocky brown back fur, drawing one's attention to the source of his natural aroma.

Seemingly dissatisfied to remain focused entirely on his nipples, the two gnolls reached down to pull down the traveler's pants. They were careful to lift up and then down so as not to squish the rapidly swelling manhood. As a human Rival had already been impressive, but exposed to the cool desert air, the mushroom shaped tip began to stretch and contort into a point, the length going from an inflamed red to a cherry red in color. Rival's orange eyes rolled into the back of his head as he felt his cock grow harder than ever before, and not just because of his arousal. Instead of merely being forged from veins and capillaries, of spongy tissue absorbing his life essence, a new bone was solidifying along the length of his member, anchoring it and keeping it as truly hard as Kade had explained.

While being eternally aroused was well and good, such an organ could not remain unprotected. The pouch of flesh that had been growing at its base sprouted thick caramel colored, spotted fur as the inner edge grew velvety and moist. The sheath rumpled and dilated before contracting again, flexing into existence at the base of his most ample member. Feeling Rival join them in their perpetually excited state, Kade decided he was done playing second fiddle. With Rival pinned to the sand, he lifted one leg, slipped over and straddled their employer before he lowered his furry haunches.

“Kade!" Rival gasped, feeling the stretchy anus squeezing down over his newly minted hyena dick. Kade licked his muzzled lips as he began to squeeze and release his ass, sending a flurry and a flutter across a variety of muscles that they had that humans did not. The effect was concentric rings of massaging nodules that tugged Rival deeper and deeper. Rival couldn't help but start to thrust upwards, trying to get his dick inside that magical ass, to let it envelop and ensnare him, to give himself fully to it.

As Rival began to fuck Kade, he panted harder and harder, an abnormally long tongue hanging out of his mouth, betraying sharper teeth. As he went at it, both his cock and his face began to stretch outward, elongated further. His nose flattened and blunted, his jaw growing hot as it stretched. His pointed ears twitched, laying flat against his head as they started to drift upwards. Rival was drooling by the time his cock pushed past nine inches, then eleven, then thirteen. All of it plunged so deep into Kade. He could feel every pore, every skin cell devoted to the act of mating.

Cord grunted and growled, feeling as if he'd missed his chance. He didn't just see them going at it, he could smell it. Rival was exuding his gnoll scent from his pits, from his groin, from new scent glands along his now furry ass. The little nub that had been there moments before had already stretched to six inches long, then ten, growing by the second. Biting his bottom lip, Cord grabbed onto Rival and lifted, groaning with the strain at lifting such a heavy, gyrating object. Still, getting just enough clearance beneath him, he managed to slide himself underneath, letting Rival's own recoil bring his ass down until it embedded itself on his meat pole.

“Cord!" Rival howled, his voice a bit deeper and louder as his vocal cords changed. The fur was climbing up his throat and growing into the wild tuft of hair that ran along his jaw. Bones and cartilage popped and snapped as his face continued to push forward, forming into his own muzzle. His brow bone thickened and pointed ears perked up at the top of his head. Only the roots of his hair remained black, the rest soon taking on the bloody reddish-brown that the gnolls sported in their mohawks.

In and out, up and down, the three thrusted relentlessly. Their bodies worked like well oiled machines, and to a degree that was true. Cord's cock had been soaked in the juices of his sheath and Kade's ass seemed to produce some sort of lubricant of its own, allowing them to easily fuck one another deeply and quickly. Rival's body was a riot of snaps and pops as his body reforged itself in real time. His shoulders pushed outward, redefining his entire body type. His ribs pushed out from one another, increasing his chest cavity and making room for increased lung capacity.

Cord's insertion of himself had changed their dynamics, forcing Rival to splay his legs out to either side, sinking his feet into the sand to push upwards before letting himself fall backwards. His toes remained plump and rounded, tipped with claws. His arches and heels ached as they reshaped. His calves thickened, bloating and rounding while his feet reshaped into paws. The thick dark leg hair lightened from black to spotted brown and tan, racing down to cover his ankles and the tops of his feet. The fur was shorter there, fine and dense, obscuring all traces of human skin.

A dark, wet nose sniffed the air, smelling the tart, acrid aroma of three male gnolls in heat… and it smelled good. Rival drooled openly, panting, thinking about how silly he'd been to live as a human when he could have lived as a gnoll. It should have felt like a regret, but instead it just seemed like a joke. Rival's huge chest welled up with pressure and then he let out a single laugh. It pierced the air, only to be joined a moment later by another laugh, then another. Soon Rival was giggling like mad even as whiskers pushed out of his cheeks and the last traces of skin on his face were swallowed in fur.

Cord snickered, restrained at first before he started to laugh as well. Kade couldn't help but join in. All three giggled as they fucked, bodies moving in such sublime precision. It was Kade that came first, unable to stop himself as he felt Rival grow so big and strong beneath him. His red rocket spasmed, shuddered, and then erupted. A geyser of sticky pearl colored cream splattered across his belly fur before melting against his body heat, running down both of his hips to dribble onto Rival and Cord.

As the air filled with the scent of that salty brine, Rival shuddered and gasped. His huge dog dick swelled and bloated at the base, making it harder to pull out of Kade. Trapped inside his massaging ass, the sensations became too much and Rival tipped over the edge. He let out a bit of a howl as he came, feeling the last of his human cum ejected in a single spurt before five more sticky gnoll loads were pushed deep into his partner. As Rival's ass began to undulate and pulse around his dick, Cord was the last to come. He laid out against the sand, feeling it adjust and mold around him as his huge balls delivered load after load into Rival.

Gazing up at them, Cord couldn't help but admire Rival and Kade. He still remembered what each of them had looked like as humans, but they were so much more handsome as gnolls. He'd made his pack, forged his brothers into handsome specimens, and brought such joy to them. Life had improved so much when he'd heard Kade laugh for the first time, but now Rival would be right there with them. He was tall, strong, strapping, and furry in all the right ways. Cord knew he'd have to thank the patron spirits of the Singing Desert. It was their magic that made this possible, of course. With the rings they could leave the desert and enjoy what adventures waited on solid ground, but perhaps in time they'd return here, hearing the timeless song that coaxed travelers away from their humanity.

Cord grunted a little as Rival and Kade relaxed against him, using him as a pillow despite their bodyweight. He did his best to wrap one muscled arm around each of them, holding them in his embrace, never wanting to let go. They were his lovers, his partners, his brothers. They were a pack, a family. Gnolls were, after all, social animals. There wasn't anything they couldn't do if they were together. As Cord let his eyes flutter shut, he calculated in the back of his mind. They'd have just enough time for a short nap before they had to get up and build their tent. After another few days, they'd reach the far side of the desert and start the next chapter of their lives together

****

The Singing Desert was bordered on most sides by natural mountain ranges blending in seamlessly to the shifting sands. At its westernmost edge, however, the contrast couldn't have been sharper. The rusty, earthy colors of the sand shifted towards a vast city seemingly carved out of marble and ice, each spire tipped with silver ornamentation and filigree. Even the pacing stones of the road that terraced out over the cliffs and down to the desert were colorless shades of white and gray. The desert sang its song and sent its sand towards the spotless city only to have the grains of sand hit an invisible barrier, a prismatic shield shimmering and stopping the sand's advance. When the winds died down, the sheet of particles held in place sloughed harmlessly down to the ground below.

Rival, Cord and Kade had decided to push on despite the dawn sun rising, knowing they had nearly reached their destination. The Kwa chittered in annoyance at the climbing temperature of the sand against his taloned feet. Rival had to admit, he felt the pain in his own newly forged paws… but at the same time, how good did his paws feel? It was so primal to walk around barefoot. In fact, he wore little more than a loin cloth and a chest harness. Putting his ample chest out there for everyone to see and oggle, keeping his pits ready to headlock his brothers and wrestle them, ready to fuck at a moment's whim… A soft growl escaped his muzzle as the sweet wind blew through his chinstrap beard, the longer fur hanging down along his jawline.

Rival was the first to step up onto the graystones, feeling something squeezing against him. He instinctively closed his eyes as he passed through the barrier. Sand and dust was pulled from every strand of hair, every pore, every crevice and dragged out across his shoulders and back like some sort of exfoliant. He stumbled forward when he'd made it all the way through the shield, his tail nearly tucking in between his legs. For once Cord and Kade weren't laughing. They looked at each other before stepping forward. Rival watched as the air shimmered around then, sweeping across their bodies down to the skin cells, leaving behind the evidence of the desert.

“Kwa!" The bird chirped, apparently not at all comforted by the effect it had watched the three gnolls go through.

“Come on, we're almost done…" Rival muttered, realizing only then how much cooler the stones were beneath his feet. He tugged the leash that led to the bird's reigns. The Kwa tried to turn away but gave in when Rival gave it one more tug. The bird stuck its head through the shield, then about half its neck before backing up . Backing up caused its feathers to be rubbed the wrong way and the Kwa squawked in disdain and charged forward, knocking Rival down on his furry ass. This time Cord and Kade broke out laughing, a sound that Rival couldn't help but join in with. A clawed hand grabbed his arm by the wrist and he was pulled back to his feet, slamming chest to chest with Kade. All three stood there like giddy school children, eyes watering with mirth.

“Oh my…" A soft voice came from nearby. The three brothers turned, orange eyes falling across a slender young man with bluish-gray hair pulled back into a ponytail, his slate gray skin leading up to sharply pointed ears. Rival eyed the gray elf up and down.

“Never seen Gnolls before, kid?" he asked, slinging one arm across Cord's shoulders and then one across Kade's.

“N-no, sir, it isn't that. It's just been so long since a courier was able to make it across the singing desert. What brings you to Silhaven?" the elf asked. Rival stood there, grinning like an idiot for a moment. It had been so long since he had thought about their objective. He'd been too busy living in the moment. Rival's eyes glittered in sudden memory as he moved over to the Kwa's satchel. He riffled through some of the pouches before he grinned, plucking out a metallic egg tht seemed to be protecting a glowing amber interior.

“We came to bring the king this, the Apocalypse Egg." Rival said. The young elf gasped, bringing his hand up to his mouth to hide his shock.

“Worthy and brave travelers indeed! No doubt the desert was the only way to cross without facing assassins… Please, right this way! I am sure the king will reward you all most handsomely." The elf said.

“Handsome rewards for some handsome gnolls." Kade said, puffing out his chest.

“Damn right." Rival said, leaning over to kiss him, letting their muzzles interlock as their tongues wrestled and fought. Cord leaned over to kiss, nibble and then bite Rival's shoulder. The Kwa chittered and fussed, scraping at the paving stones with his taloned feet until the three broke it up.

“Right this way, sirs?" The elf repeated. Rival pursed his muzzle and nodded. No wonder the gnolls had seemed like they were always having such a good time. It seemed like he was always horny, always happy and always on the verge of laughter. It truly was a better way to live. Picking the reins to the Kwa back up and tucking the Apocalypse Egg into a pouch on his chest straps, Rival strode into the elvish town with two of the most handsome gnoll guides he'd ever met, one on each side.