FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A fire quietly crackled alongside the sound of saltwater waves lapping at the coastline of the Alik'r desert. All was completely dark outside of the campfire, the only light was the reflection of the glowing Moons over the Iliac Bay in the distance. Nestled against a boulder beside the fire, Al'khajir gazed out at the glistening waves separating the landscape from the night sky. Adorned in a black shawl, he easily blended into the shadows the flames created. The desert air had grown cold as the sun hid away, the suffocatingly hot environment shifting to a contrasting frigid cold. Fortunately for the Khajiit, he was familiar with this contrast, his shawl a thick wool to protect not only from the daytime elements but to help insulate against the embrace of the cold night. Gradually, the sound of heavy footsteps in sand made their presence known, alerting the Khajiit. He raised his eyes in their direction but kept still, hidden by the shadows. The source of the footsteps was illuminated by the firelight: An Orc, clearly not prepared for the elements. He was tall, buff, older, a little overweight... His head was shaven, though a short beard dressed his face, an unshaven look from a long journey. He wore sleeveless armor; a chestplate, gauntlets, guards and heavy boots. In his hand he loosely held a helmet, and strapped to his back was a greatsword. The lack of skin protection suggested to the Khajiit he was less than prepared for the ever-changing elements, and the Orc's face showed it. Tired eyes were locked on to the fire, and he occasionally shivered as he emerged from the darkness. He didn't even bother to check if the campsite was occupied, instead unceremoniously collapsing in the sand as he arrived before the warming flames with the clunk of metal armor colliding. Al'khajir held his breath as he observed the situation. The beach he had settled at was relatively remote; the travelling Orc must have seen the fire from afar, but even then, why was he out this late, and alone at that? Perhaps he had lost his way. The endless desert could be difficult to navigate, and there was a sandstorm earlier in the day, covering paths that led to civilization. Could that be the reason? The Orc threw down his helmet and sword in the sand before he began rummaging through his bag after a moment, pulling out a meal for himself... It appeared to be some sort of meat, which he began preparing to roast over the fire. Al'khajir took this distraction as an opportunity, slowly rising to his feet and circling the boulder he had laid against. Drawing his blades, he silently approached the blissfully unaware Orc from behind, taking careful steps to not alert him. Once he was mere inches from his back, he brought the blades forward, holding them at the Orc's jugular. "Who else is with you?" Al'khajir's quiet, raspy voice broke the quiet air. The Orc jumped and almost made a grab for his greatsword before freezing in place, eyes locking on the blades below his chin. "Jus’ me," The Orc's deep, gravelly voice replied. Al'khajir could see his breaths were shallow, as if he breathed too deeply the blades would cut his throat. "I got caught in’a sandstorm while travellin’ to Sentinel for mercenary work. I’m jus’ lookin’ to settle for the night." Considering the situation, the Orc seemed confident in his words, unusual for someone with a knife at their throat. Most usually started shaking and begging not to die. Al'khajir kept his blades steady at the Orc's throat as he kicked the greatsword out of reach. He looked down at him for a moment longer, making sure no sudden movements would be made before withdrawing his blades. Revealing himself by the fireside, the Khajiit stepped around the Orc and sat opposite of him, deciding to trust his words. His words made sense; what other business would an Orc have out here, anyway? The Orc nodded in thanks to the Khajiit's hospitality, returning to his prior task of hanging the meat over the fire. Al'khajir was still perplexed at his calm composure, narrowing his eyes as he examined the man. "I am Vluk. ‘N you are..?" The question dissipated into the night as the Khajiit simply stared back in response, an unwelcoming analysis of the newcomer. The Orc slowly nodded at the Khajiit's silence, continuing to talk anyway. "Well, ‘m happy to share my dinner with you, if ya want. Though, do you have any water? I ran out an’ I’m incredibly thirsty... I think I still have sand under my tongue..." The Orc began pushing fingers in his mouth, trying to dig out the remaining specks in his saliva. Al'khajir made a face at the display and stood, walking over to his own satchel that lay by the boulder. He retrieved a water pouch and presented it to the gracious Orc, who had moved on to picking at his teeth. "Thanks." Al'khajir returned to where he was sitting as the Orc began dumping the water down his throat; clearly parched. The Khajiit huffed in frustration as he saw a trickle of the precious resource making its way out of the corner of the Orc's mouth and down his jaw. "...You are going to get killed approaching strange camps like this," Al'khajir finally spoke, pulling his knees up and crossing his arms over them, under his shawl. The Orc grinned. "I can handle myself." He reached over to where his greatsword had been kicked, leading the Khajiit to tense up. Sensing the fear in the other the Orc slowly pulled his hand back, "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you." Al'khajir still did not trust the stranger, still unsure if he had an ulterior motive. In a fight, the Orc surely had the upper hand in strength, and the Khajiit did not feel like fleeing into the cold, dark desert at the moment. His tail flicked back and forth in the sand, "The sun will burn you if you do not wear proper attire for the desert. This is not Wrothgar." The Orc chuckled at the observation. "Yeah, I had a shawl but it blew off in the storm. I was plannin’ on purchasing some’in more suitable once I made it Sentinel, but... You can see how that went. Say, how far off am I, anyway?" Vluk tilted his head curiously. Al'khajir looked up at the sky, looking at the stars and pointing to his left. "Travel a few hours in that direction, and you will see its silhouette over the desert." His claw almost traced how he remembered the skyline in his head, before he looked back at the watching Orc, who nodded definitively. "So not too far off." Vluk now reached over the fire, turning the meat to cook the other side. "You from ‘ere?" The Khajiit sighed and shook his head, "Asking too many questions, Orc. But no. This one is from Khenarthi's Roost." He looked out to the bay as if he were going to see the island there. Vluk waited for the question to be reciprocated, but upon realizing it wasn't going to be, he offered the information himself. "I'm from Wrothgar. They been callin' me a city orc 'cause I left the stronghold to see the world. I was tired'a bein' a hunter. I wanted something more." He shrugged and leaned back on his hands, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing his ankles. Al'khajir studied him carefully; an orc who knew no bounds. The Khajiit sort of liked that fact, fraying from the norm; he always found those that could break off like that interesting. "Do you... enjoy the path you have chosen?" Al'khajir briefly met the Orc's eyes before turning his head back to the fire, not wanting to reveal his newfound interest. "Yeah... yeah. I've seen a lot so far. A lot more than I ever have." Vluk had an introspective look in his eye, the thought seemed to bring him comfort. "More than I ever would have, anyway. Like this desert, right? You'd think, oh, I got lost in a sandstorm in an unfamiliar place. I'm supposed to react like it's some big deal, fear for my safety, but... I kinda liked it. It was thrilling. Something I've never experienced before. I enjoy the rush of something new." Al'khajir couldn't help his eyes drifting back to the Orc. The words struck close to home, it was rare for the Khajiit to encounter someone so like-minded. Though Al'khajir had learned this about himself long ago, hearing someone else experience the same feeling was refreshing. It clearly showed on his face as Vluk grinned, but made no comment on the matter. Again he fiddled with the meat, getting up this time to turn it once again. Instead of sitting where he was originally, however, he moved to sit beside the Khajiit, getting a closer look now. Of course, Al'khajir was mostly covered by his shawl and headwrap, only his face exposed. Al'khajir shifted away slightly, giving Vluk a quizzical look. "That fur you got there is probably real nice on nights like these," Vluk mused. "'Course, I got 'fur' of my own, but nothin' compared to yours." Al'khajir almost winced at the thought of the hairy Orc, glancing down at his forearms that were sure enough, typically hairy. His eyes settled there for a moment before creeping back up to meet Vluk's. "You don't say much, huh?" Vluk raised a brow. "No. Not much to say," Al'khajir replied, frowning. He got that a lot. "C'mon, tell me something about yourself. Be a nice host." Vluk leaned in expectantly, his features highlighted in the dim light. Lots of little scars all over his face, a small chunk of one of his tusks was missing. Al'khajir thought for a moment, turning to face the fire as he tried to produce something worth listening to. Beneath the shawl a claw traced a circle around his knee. "This one fought off three Orcs once. Bigger than you," a hand slid out from beneath the shawl and pointed to the scars across his snout. "He was lucky to have survived. They... he does not know what would have happened if he did not escape them." He stared at the fire, letting his arm drop down into his lap. Vluk stayed quiet for a moment, then reached over, gently pulling Al'khajir's wrist towards him. The Khajiit tensed, almost pulling away as he was face to face with the Orc, who smiled as their eyes met. "Are ya gonna fight me off?" Al'khajir froze as looked between Vluk's calm eyes, mind going blank as scrambled to make a decision. Before he could think of something, Vluk leaned in, pressing his lips into the Khajiit's. Al'khajir's eyes were wide as it happened, but didn't resist. Taking another second to process what was happening, he considered smacking the Orc away, before his shoulders relaxed and he accepted the kiss. Slow at first, he felt the hard tusks pressing into his face, a sensation he was unfamiliar with. Before long, he felt the Orc's hot tongue pressing against his own, the thick, wet muscle feeling its way over Al'khajir's sharp, feline teeth. The Khajiit gently pressed his hand against the Orc's thick bicep, and he reciprocated by wrapping an arm around Al'khajir's back, pulling him in closely. For a few moments, their tongues danced together; a stark contrast of textures, Vluk's slimy, thick tongue a force compared to the rough feline tongue of Al'khajir's. The Khajiit sniffed the air and suddenly pulled back, the Orc almost looking disappointed as their kiss was broken off. Al'khajir nudged his head to the side, voice timid as he warned Vluk, "...This one thinks your meat is burning..." Vluk raised his head with an alarmed look as he saw the meat over the fire starting to char. He hurriedly moved over, snatching it up and inspecting the damage. After assessing he chuckled, "Just the way I like it!" With that he did not hesitate to dig his teeth into the still-smoking cut, tearing it away and chewing rather loudly as he offered it over to Al'khajir, who shook his head. "Your loss." Vluk spoke with his mouth full as he continued to devour his meal. Al'khajir observed how he did eat how he would expect a barbaric Orc to eat: loud, no manners, a sloppy mess. With the Khajiit quietly watching, the starving Orc spared no time inhaling his dinner, stifling a burp as he swallowed the last bite. Al'khajir was honestly a little impressed at how fast he managed to consume it all. As he finished, Vluk turned back to face the Khajiit, a wide smile on his grease-stained face. His eyes wandered up and down Al'khajir, "Now where were we..." A greedy hand grabbed at the Khajiit's ankle, pulling him closer. Vluk's eyes looked down at the shawl as if they were trying to see through it. "I've heard you Khajiit are very limber... Can you show me?" Al'khajir again hesitated for a moment before he obliged. He rose to his feet, Vluk's head following his waist as he did so. Al'khajir first unwrapped his headscarf, tossing it to the side before pulling the shawl from his shoulders, revealing the form-fitting leather armor below. Vluk immediately reached up to wrap his hands around Al'khajir's thighs, giving a gentle squeeze and a deep hum of approval as his thumbs brushed against the buckles of the straps that held the armor on. The Khajiit began to undress, first unbuckling and parting the jerkin around his torso, letting it slip down his shoulders before it dropped to the ground. He brought his hands to his hips, pulling the shirt beneath up and over his head to reveal his spotted back and striped arms to the Orc. Vluk’s hands wandered up to Al’khajir’s waist, occasionally squeezing as he watched on. Al’khajir proceeded to unbuckle his belt before bending over, taking his time to unlatch each strap across his boots. Vluk grasped Al’khajir’s ankle, tugging the boots away as the Suthay lifted each foot. Al’khajir’s tail brushed gently across Vluk’s shoulders as he finished revealing himself, pulling the leather pants away and letting them drop in the pile beside him. Vluk was bold in wasting no time to grab at Al’khajir’s rear, giving a firm squeeze, his thumbs wandering between them before pulling them apart. He pushed his face beneath the tail, slick tongue dragging up the soft taint and across the warm opening, tasting the Khajiit. Placing one hand on Al’khajir’s lower stomach and the other at the small of his back, Vluk bent him slightly forward before plunging his tongue in Al’khajir’s sweet hole. A soft gasp escaped Al’khajir as the Orc’s tongue invaded him, exploring his depths as though he was starving for it. Vluk’s hands stayed tightly adhered to the Khajiit’s cheeks, keeping them spread apart as he pushed his face in deeper, nose pressing into the base of the tail above him. A few satisfied grumbles escaped him as he pushed his tongue in every direction, saliva drenching the Khajiit’s soft, tight walls. He kept at this for a few long moments, making sure to fully immerse himself before he pulled his head back, giving the rump a playful squeeze. As Vluk’s tongue slid out from him, Al’khajir slowly turned, kneeling before the Orc. Vluk had already kicked off his boots and was unbuckling his greaves, basically ripping them off to expose himself to the Khajiit. Two huge, hairy balls hung down, each one individually at least the size of an apple, if not more. Above them was nothing less than a monster; a thick green serpent of perhaps eight inches or so resting over his orbs. Al’khajir’s hand wrapped around it, his claws not quite touching due to the immense girth. As he let it slide through his paw, he noted the uncut tip had a thick, golden ring emerging from its end; something he had never seen in person before. His thumb flicked the ring from side to side as Vluk watched with a content grin. “Like what you see?” Al’khajir gave a small nod to the Orc, who watched and beckoned Al’khajir to bring his face closer in. The Khajiit’s nostrils flared as he breathed in the scent, thick of sweat from a long, hot journey across the desert. As his face drew closer Vluk smacked Al’khajir’s soft cheek with his cock, pressing it against the side of his muzzle in anticipation. Al’khajir’s icy eyes emitted a soft glow as he made eye contact with Vluk, who nodded. “Go on.” Opening his maw, Vluk pressed his member against Al’khajir’s tongue. The Khajiit tasted the ring, letting his tongue slide up until it rolled against salty flesh. Squeezing the shaft, Al’khajir pulled the skin back to expose the tip, wrapping his lips around it. Holding it in his mouth and suckling, he watched as Vluk tilted his head back with a pleasured groan, his stomach rising and falling with a deep breath. Al’khajir then slowly made his way forward, jaw forced to open all the way as the thick Orcish meat pushed its way down his tongue, eventually arriving at the back of his throat. His feline nose was still inches away from the furry crotch below, which seemed to stare back at him like a destination awaiting his arrival. He began backing his head up, only stopping as the ring gently clicked against his teeth. He began to slowly lower his head again before he felt the Orc’s large hand on the back of his head, ears slipping between his fingers. Without warning he shoved the Khajiit’s head down, his nose pressing into his crotch as the Orc’s cock forced its way all the way into his throat. His eyes watered slightly as he choked, its immense girth making his neck bulge as his head was held there. Al’khajir could barely breathe, feeling his chest burn for air before Vluk released him, his head immediately popping up. Al’khajir kept the tip of Vluk’s cock pressed against his tongue as he gasped for air, spit dribbling down his chin as he watched the Orc observe him. Vluk grinned, keeping his hand in place as he guided the Khajiit’s head back down, not done yet. Instead of forcing his head down the base again, however, Vluk stopped about halfway, keeping Al’khajir’s head in place as he began to stand. Al’khajir looked up at Vluk expectantly as he bent over, wrapping his other hand underneath the Khajiit’s chin. Keeping him there, the Orc gradually began to thrust his hips. Gently at first, he only pushed himself to graze the back of the Khajiit’s throat, but was quick to push this boundary. As Vluk’s speed increased, Al’khajir squeezed his eyes shut, all of his focus necessary to make sure the Orc was enjoying his throat. The grazing turned to prodding, the prodding to pushing, eventually working his way up to a rapid slap of heavy balls against Al’khajir’s chin as his cock slid all the way down his throat with every thrust. Al’khajir’s muffled whimpers went ignored as the Orc watched himself throatfuck the cat, loving his hot, warm mouth and the rough texture along the bottom of his meat. His thumbs gently caressed Al’khajir’s ears, a quiet jingle coming from the earrings that adorned them with each rough push further into his throat. He kept this pace for a long while, until he began getting tired of standing. Drool dropped into a puddle in the sand below as Vluk suddenly jerked his cock out of Al’khajir’s mouth, rubbing the wet member across his nose. “You’re good at that. You like getting manhandled by Orcs? Huh?” Al’khajir averted his eyes as Vluk dropped back down into a seated position, shy to admit anything of the sort. If he was being honest with himself, he had never even considered an Orc partner before; this was a surprise to him, a surprise he was enjoying. Vluk slowly spread his legs, lifting those hefty orbs up so Al’khajir could see the taint that led to his hole. “I’ll give yer throat a break… But that little tongue of yours needs to keep working.” The Khajiit slowly moved forward, feeling dwarfed by the two planets above his forehead as his nose pressed into the Orc’s taint. His tongue took a gentle lap at the soft flesh, the taste of Vluk’s sweet rim a surprising contrast to his masculine scent. Vluk dropped his balls down on the bridge of Al’khajir’s nose, their weight heavy as they rested. The Orc began to slowly stroke himself, leaning his head back and letting out a relaxed sigh as the Khajiit worked. He continued to lap at his hole, each roll of the tongue a bit firmer than the last, slicking between the Orc’s cheeks. His tongue tested the tight entrance, pushing against its resistance before it finally relented, squeezing the tip of Al’khajir’s tongue as it entered. Inside was hot, the soft walls of Vluk’s interior throbbing against the curious feline lingua. Al’khajir brought one hand forward, using his middle and forefingers to spread his entrance wider, allowing for more of his tongue to slither inside. Vluk grunted as he felt the Khajiit taste him, lifting his head up to watch the other below. His eyes drifted to Al’khajir’s ass raised in the air, tail swaying from side to side. Pre drooled from the tip of his cock, and he pressed his thumb into it, circling it around. He then unlatched his chestplate, the last of the armor adorning him. Letting it drop off to the side, his broad chest was exposed, thick pecs with black hairs mixed in with a peppering of gray looming over his stomach below. He began to sit up, the balls sliding down Al’khajir’s nose and allowing him to see again. “Stay right there,” the Orc murmured. Al’khajir stayed put as the Orc stepped over him, lowering himself into a squat and moving Al’khajir’s tail up onto his shoulder. He pressed the cockring against the Khajiit’s still-wet hole, gentle pressure applied. “Get ready,” the Orc warned, not intending to be gentle. The Khajiit clenched his teeth and whined as he felt the Orc push his way inside, his thick shaft showing no mercy as it stretched him wide. Vluk grinned and let out a soft moan as he guided himself all the way to his base, making sure Al’khajir could take it all first. As his hips halted against the soft rump, he gripped Al’khajir’s hips, leaning over him slightly. Pulling his hips back, he gave one firm thrust against the Khajiit, balls making an audible slap as they swung. Al’khajir gasped at the forceful thrust, nearly sending him forward if it weren’t for the Orc’s grip keeping him in place. “Gooood kitty,” Vluk growled, repeating the motion again, feeling the Khajiit’s hot hole tense around his cock. He then began to build a gradual rhythm, each slam of the hips into the cat quickening in pace until there was barely a second between each slap of the balls against the jiggling rump. He dug his fingers deep into the fuzzy hips, nails pressing into the flesh below. Al’khajir couldn’t help but to whimper and moan as he was fucked, the Orc’s heavy weight rocking his body, pushing him into the sand below. He rested the side of his head between his hands, looking back at the Orc as he drilled himself deeper into the warm Khajiit. Vluk was entirely focused on the ass below, watching his cock slide in and out of the wet hole, the soft cheeks rippling with each powerful thrust. His tongue hung out of his mouth, a drip of steaming drool occasionally landing on his cock to lubricate the friction between their two bodies. At this point, Al’khajir was panting from the intense ecstasy of his prostate being probed by the fat Orc rod. The tip of his tongue was exposed between his lips as he closed his eyes, hole welcoming the rapid pumping. Without warning, however, the Orc slipped his meat out of the Khajiit, flipping him onto his back. Vluk dropped down to his knees, now tossing Al’khajir’s thighs up on his broad shoulders. Spreading those supple cheeks, he spit on the pink hole as he presented it to himself, sinking his thumb into its embrace for a moment. “Nice and stretched out for my load, huh? Gonna need all the space we can get…” The Orc chuckled as Al’khajir watched, raising his brows and whimpering quietly as Vluk slid his finger out and replaced it with his cock, not waiting this time to begin pumping his cock into that sweet tailhole. The Orc eventually pressed his palms into the sand on either side of Al’khajir’s head as he raised and lowered his hips into him, his belly hanging over the leaking Khajiit’s member. He smiled at the Khajiit’s almost worried expression, though Al’khajir was thoroughly enjoying himself. His mouth hung open as hot huffs escaped him, meeting the Orc’s similarly hot breaths as he panted. “You want me to give you a litter, kitty? Think you can handle an Orc breeding?” Vluk’s words were barely more than a growl as he worked. Al’khajir simply nodded, moaning quietly as his hands raised to press into the Orc’s chest. The giant orbs seemed to swell more, the slapping against his bottom growing wetter as Vluk drew closer to climax. The Orc wrapped his right hand around Al’khajir’s throat, giving it a gentle squeeze and causing the Khajiit to choke for breath. Vluk petted the soft fur with his thumb, smirking as Al’khajir tilted his head back, eyes barely open as he looked into the Orc’s hungry eyes. Vluk brought his face close to Al’khajir’s, groaning into the feline’s ear. “Fuuuck… Yes, yeah… Take it… Take it…” Al’khajir could feel the Orc’s muscles tensing beneath his hands as he caressed his hairy chest, “Take this… fuckin’ litter…!” The Orc roared as he pushed up off the sand, tightly grasping Al’khajir’s thighs as he gave one final slam to the root into the wrecked hole, throwing his head back. His cock pulsed as he exploded into the Khajiit, barely taking a moment to fill him entirely. His eruption flooded the tender hole, spilling out and running down his balls, down Al’khajir’s back, dripping down into a puddle beneath where their bodies connected. Al’khajir let out a breathy squeal as he felt the flood invade him, its warmth travelling up through him, hot as he felt it all the way up to his belly. The two both panted there for a moment as the Orc finished releasing inside the Khajiit, who purred as the orgasm slowed. Vluk finally lowered his head, looking down at the mess he had made as he let his weight shift back, exposing a bit of his shaft as it still occasionally pulsed. He pet the top of Al’khajir’s head gently, then collapsed on top of him and rolled to the side. His cock slid out of Al’khajir’s sore hole, a waterfall of hot, thick seed pouring down his cheeks as he did so. Wrapping one arm around the soft Khajiit, Vluk pulled his partner close. Al’khajir nuzzled his face between the Orc’s chest, breaths still heavy as they cuddled beside the warm fire. Strange, he thought, how quickly he allowed the weary traveller to know him – and his body – so intimately. He could barely remember the last time anyone had even gotten remotely this far with him. Vluk held the back of Al’khajir’s head as he looked down upon him, eyes tracing the curves of the lithe Khajiit’s body. A low chuckle emitted from him, his other hand lifting the Khajiit’s chin so their eyes would meet. “You alright? Took that breeding like a champ,” he smiled. Al’khajir simply nodded, eyes wandering up to the night sky, littered with stars. Vluk followed his gaze, rolling onto his back with the Khajiit in his embrace as they both observed the galaxy above. Al’khajir couldn’t help but to feel a bit introspective, an unusual sense of connection with the Orc. “Do you ever wonder… What is it like out there?” He pressed his head into the Orc’s side gently. “What, in the night sky? The moons?” The Orc furrowed his brow as his eyes shifted to each shining star. “Yes… This one wonders what it would be like to explore out there,” Al’khajir mused as he silently counted the stars. The Orc laughed quietly and shrugged. “I’unno. Maybe. I still have a lot to see down here.” Vluk looked back to the fire that warmed him, though not as much as the soft, warm Khajiit beside him. Al’khajir slowly nodded, “...Yeah,” His lids suddenly felt heavy, eyes unfocusing as the comforting embrace of the big Orc and the gentle crash of the ocean behind him was a lullaby to sleep. “...yeah.” ** Al’khajir felt the hot rays of sun as the ocean breeze flowed through his fur. He slowly opened his eyes, squinting as light momentarily blinded him. Sitting up, he saw the Orc still laid beside him, chest slowly rising and falling as he snored. The fire beside them had long since burnt out, sand having blown over the blackened embers. By the shoreline, mudcrabs had begun to congregate, crawling around likely in search of their breakfast. The desert air was not suffocating quite yet, the morning still young. It was nice. Rising to his feet, Al’khajir approached the waves as they lazily swelled up onto the shore. He watched as the water foamed and flowed past his feet, cool, but not too cold. The sand still stuck to his fur from his slumber on the beach. He looked out upon the orange horizon, stepping into the sea until it was at his waist, then dipped a hand into the water below. Cupping it gingerly, he poured it over his shoulders, beginning to rinse himself clean. Getting lost in his task and gazing out at the scenery, he did not notice as the snores subsided, only looking over his shoulder at a splash of water behind him. Vluk had waded into the water, smiling at the Khajiit. Al’khajir couldn’t help but to return the smile with a small one of his own. Vluk pulled the Khajiit into a tender embrace, running his fingers through the wet fur on his back. Al’khajir rested his head just below the Orc’s chin as the two both looked out at the glistening water, simply holding each other for a moment as the serenity of the moment surrounded them for a moment. Beams of sunlight twinkled in their eyes as they faced the sun. “...I wouldn’t mind a guide to Sentinel, if you’re headed that way,” Vluk’s voice broke the silence. Al’khajir thought about this for a moment as he began pouring water over the Orc’s torso, rinsing him of any grains of sand that stuck to his skin. “This one can do that.” Al’khajir slowly raised his eyes to meet Vluk’s, who grinned wider at his companion. “Great! I was worried I might get lost again.” The two had ventured into the desert together after a calm morning, occasionally sharing stories and tidbits of information about their lives. Al’khajir had fashioned a makeshift shawl out of a blanket for Vluk, protecting him from the harsh sunlight as the day progressed. Fortunately no sandstorms or other elements blew across them as they progressed, the hours-long journey not all too difficult for the pair. The silhouette of Sentinel began to appear over the horizon, Al’khajir’s eyes tracing it carefully as it came into view. Vluk thrust a fist into the sky, paired with a victorious laugh. “Aha! There it is. I knew I could trust you,” He praised the Khajiit, whose navigational skills were honed in from years off of the beaten path. Al’khajir laughed quietly at Vluk’s praise, shaking his head. “It is much easier when the path ahead of you is not hidden beneath the sands, no?” Al’khajir looked up at Vluk with a smile as the Orc pulled him into an embrace to his side while they walked. In their short time together, he had grown quite fond of the man, who he found to be very grounded. Focused on what he wanted, determined to make the most of his situation. Choosing his own path, free-spirited. It was refreshing compared to the irritable guards, gimmicky merchants and conniving outlaws he normally interacted with. His spirit was bright and outgoing, a stark contrast to Al’khajir’s dark and brooding personality. The duo came upon a split in the path, one to the left leading toward Sentinel. The other, back to the desolate, vast expanse of desert. The sun rose to the center of the sky, indicating the middle of the day; the temperatures at their hottest. Vluk’s hand brushed against the Khajiit’s back as they both came to a halt. Al’khajir stared out at the path to the right with a thousand yard stare. “Hey, you comin’? I… Could use a companion, you know. This has been fun.” Vluk had a concerned look in his eye, but a gentle smile on his face. Al’khajir’s face was blank as he contemplated, though already knew his answer. “...This one travels alone,” he responded, not making eye contact. Still staring out at the desert. Vluk’s expression changed to a sullen one. “You haven’t been travelling alone for nearly a day now, so I don’t… believe that,” the Orc tried to sway his mind. His arms hung at his sides dejectedly as Al’khajir’s arms crossed over his chest. “He… has somewhere to be,” Al’khajir lied, knowing full well he had nothing better to do. A fear of getting too attached to the Orc and something less than fortunate happening grew in him all too suddenly. He dug his claws into his biceps as he looked down at the sand below his feet. “Oh.” A silence fell between the two, the only sound was rushing air through the dunes. Vluk drew a long sigh. “...Well… Hey, I never got your name.” The Khajiit raised a brow, looking to the Orc as his jaw tensed. His nostrils flared as he sighed, “...Al’khajir.” Vluk responded with a slow nod, memorizing the name. He shifted a little as the awkward silence returned, then turned on his foot. “I suppose that’s it, then. Huh.” He shook his head, a little surprised the Khajiit refused to join him. He had made the assumption that he would stick around a little longer, considering their chemistry. He enjoyed having a companion for his travels. Al’khajir couldn’t meet the Orc’s eyes again, still staring at the ground as he prepared to depart. His brows furrowed, almost as if he were about to change his mind, before his expression dropped. “Warm sands, trevan. …Vluk.” Al’khajir’s voice was quieter than before as he bid farewell. Vluk had a longing gaze as he observed the Khajiit one last time. “...Yeah. Warm sands, Al’khajir. I… I hope our paths cross again.” The Khajiit looked away as the sound of heavy boots clunked away, marking Vluk’s departure. His eyes followed the path to the right, before he dropped his arms to his sides and stepped in the diverging direction, not looking back to see Vluk gazing back at him. The gusts of sand enveloped his figure, and Al’khajir disappeared from sight.