FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

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CHAPTER 10

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After breakfast we took to the road again. We would reach New Zangar today, and after allowing the others a night to rest in a comfortable bed we would depart and resume our journey tomorrow. I would rather press on and get to Banuke sooner, but allowing the others to rest would likely the rest of them keep up the with the pace we were setting. Even now I could see the fatigue in their eyes, but Malnark most of all. He was the oldest member of our group, long past his prime.

As we drew closer to our destination the roads became busier, and we started to see more and more. When we passed a patrol of heavily armed warriors, bearing the mark of New Zangar, I knew we were getting close. We received a number of odd looks from the warriors as we rode past them. Given the wolves tendency to kill any merchants travelling to-or-fro from dragon controlled lands we were an unusual sight to be sure. I kept my muzzle hidden underneath my hood. If they noticed my resemblance to a wolf they may have stopped us to investigate.

The numerous wars between the dragons and the wolves had strained the trust of the locals towards any canine, wolf or otherwise. It would be a brave canine who would dare to wander into New Zangar if they were allowed to at all. I had heard rumour that wolven merchants from Marijakil had tried to trade in New Zangar, but after the ordeal of convincing the Zangarians that they were not wolven spies, none of them had ever returned.

The gates leading into the city were heavily guarded. We were stopped on our way in and after a brief exchange with Malnark we were allowed in without incident. We made our way towards the stables were our mounts would be fed and watered, and our wagon parked in a secure location, regularly patrolled to deter thieves.

The merchants had a similar area to park their wagons, but their area was far more heavily patrolled. It was one of the most attractive features for merchants who came to New Zangar to trade. As we walked into the center of town Malnark began giving out jobs to everyone.

"Loire, Mantou. Go and see if you can acquire dando saddle bags." Malnark ordered. "If something happens to the wagon I want to ensure we take as many supplies with us as possible. Make it quick! We want to depart as soon as we have finished gathering supplies."

"Yes Sir!" The replied in unison.

"Hang on!" I interrupted. "Lets stay the night."

"What?" Malnark scowled at me. "You're the one who has been insisting that we have to make up as much time as possible!"

I couldn't tell him that I was worried for his health, and that I felt he would not be able to keep up this pace for long. And ultimately that he would end up slowing us down. I could see the fatigue in his eyes even now. It would wound his pride, and he would insist that he could keep up. Telling the truth here was not the best course of action.

"I changed my mind!" I snorted, putting on act of annoyance. It was easier if everyone just thought I was an ass-hole who had changed his mind. "It will do everyone good to get a good nights rest! Our mounts included."

He stared at me for a few moments before sighing.

"Very well. I think we could all benefit from a hot meal and a soft bed." He nodded. "You two, get the saddle bags and then meet us back at the wagon in an hour. Jovani, if you could arrange us some accommodation."

"Consider it done." Jovani bowed his head.

"Malakye and myself will arrange the supplies we will need for the journey. Once we have completed our assignments you can all go and do what ever you wish until we are ready to depart tomorrow."

He gave out several gold coins to the others. More than enough to pay for what we needed. We parted ways and Malnark and I headed towards the market place. We avoided the stalls of travelling merchants and headed for the merchants who had stores built here in the city. We found a general store named 'Karok's Wayfaring Supplies', a shop which provided supplies for travellers.

I was struck by the scent of leather and dried fruit as I stepped through the open door into the shop. The inside was cool and dimly lit in comparison to the midday sun outside. The shop was filled with sacks and boxes of goods. Most of the goods appeared to be food, preserved, dried or pickled in order to last over a long time.

"Greetings gentle-drakes!" A Karuten dragon strode over to us with his arms wide. Other than Harold this was the first Karuten dragon I'd seen. His yellow scales were bright even in the dim interior of the shop we were in. "Welcome to my shop. My name is Karok, and I am at your service!"

"We need enough supplies for a month long journey." Malnark declared.

I looked at him. The journey would take less than a week. Even accounting for the journey back that was far too many supplies. I wondered why he was purchasing so much, but I was not going to question him here in front of the merchant we were going to buy from. It would put him in a position of weakness which the merchant, if he was shrewd enough, could exploit.

"Of course!" The Karuten dragon smiled widely and rubbed his paws together. "We have the finest goods at the most reasonable prices you'll find this side of the dark forest!"

Malnark walked off with the merchant while I lingered near the doorway. He didn't need me there while he negotiated. There was something else I wanted to do while I was here in New Zangar. Something I needed to do alone. I walked out of the shop and headed to the Eastern most part of town, where a temple dedicated to the Guardian Deity Kunsel had been built. Around it was a huge graveyard.

I had come here before, while I had been investigating New Zangar for any signs of a curi'nakra. There were several dozen tombstones. I had discovered this purely by chance. I stood and stared at the tombstone with the name of my first love carved into it. Rose Sari Kalayar. Taken from us too young. The date of their death coincided with my first visit here to Zangar when my beloved Rose was taken from me by Vireon.

The only fur who would have arranged for her to be buried in the graveyard would have been Zalamar. The Zangarian who had essentially adopted Rose as his own daughter. He had given me his blessing to take Rose from this town, on the promise that I would protect her. I had failed that promise less than an hour from giving it. I hadn't expected to find a grave because it was traditional for Zangarians to burn their dead.

I reached around into the leather pouch I wore at my waist and pulled out the necklace I had gotten for Rose. The sapphire glinted in the sunlight, and the sliver that it was surround in had been shaped into a long feral dragon which encircled the valuable stone. This was one of the few possessions I had taken with me from Zangar. I had planned on returning to her grave before returning to Aaru, but since we were passing through now there was no reason to hold on to this any more.

"Hello again Rose." I smiled as I stared at her name. "It's Malakye."

I knew she couldn't hear me, her spirit having long become one with the balance. But simply speaking to her like this gave me a sense of relief. I had felt guilty for her death. I had promised to protect her and I had failed. If I had never met her she would likely still be alive now.

"I..." I stopped, not sure what it was I wanted to say. I looked at the necklace in my paw and then back at the tombstone. "I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to protect you. We had only known each other for a short time, but I truly loved you. I still do." I placed the necklace on top of the tombstone and left it there. "I've had many lovers, but none of them meant as much to me as you did. Except maybe... there is this one dragoness. She is strong, like you were. I didn't realise it until I saw her again... just how much I missed her. When this all over, when I finish my mission and I'm able to return home... I want to make her happy. You'd like her." I chuckled to myself, surprised at the sudden revelation I was sharing with the memory of a ghost.

I heard someone approaching and after glancing over my shoulder I saw a drake making his way towards me. They hadn't noticed me as they approached. I stepped away from the grave and hid behind a nearby tree. The drake came to a stop at the grave I had been standing at and obviously noticed the necklace I had left sitting atop it. It was Zalamar. He lifted the necklace and looked around. He was obviously curious about who had left such a valuable trinket sitting atop his daughters grave. He had seen it before, the night Rose and I had gone to see him to ask for his blessing. If he remembered it then he might know it was me.

Making sure he wouldn't notice me I left the graveyard and headed back to the wagon to meet with the others. They were standing by the wagon when I got there. Malnark looked rather annoyed at me while Jovani seemed relieved. The others didn't seem to mind one way or the other. I acted as if I didn't notice Malnark's irritation.

"So did we get everything we need?" I asked.

"Yes." Malnark responded, barely keeping his irritation from slipping into his tone. "The supplies will be ready for us and delivered here to the wagon a couple of hours after sunrise."

"And I have arranged our accommodation for the night. We each have a room at a local inn, expensive but the place was clean and had a good atmosphere."

"This will be a rare opportunity for us to rest. Coin is not an issue for the moment at least. Lord Kaldor gave us an ample supply. Once the supplies arrive in the morning we will take our leave. You are all free to do as you will until the morning. Just don't get into any trouble!"

"Awesome! I'm going to check out the baths!" Mantou declared.

"I'll come with you!" Loire smiled.

I was curious about the baths as well. But right now I didn't want any company. I needed time to sort myself out. Visiting Roses grave and seeing Zalamar had had an effect on my emotional state, and that could be dangerous for me. The spirit could use that against me. I needed to meditate and sort out my emotions and this period of rest we were having was the best opportunity for me to do so.

Once Jovani had told me the name of the inn we were staying in I left to go and find some place quiet, where I could be by myself. I needed to meditate and center myself and my emotions. In a place like this it was difficult to find a quiet spot. The graveyard was the only place that had any real peace and quiet, but I didn't want to garner attention if someone took offence to me meditating in such a place. There were simply too many furs in this bustling town!

I eventually found a isolated spot, half way up the tall stone walls that surrounded the town. The walls were impressive. A lot of effort had been put into making them. At their full height they stood thirty feet off the ground. The small ledge I had spotted appeared to be left over from the original build of the walls. At some point the walls had been much shorter than they were now. The constant threat from the wolves, and the growing populace had obviously demanded much stronger security. There was just enough room for me to sit comfortably. It was late in the afternoon, the sun was starting to descend. Where I was sitting was facing to the South, the hard stone was pleasantly warm from the exposure. I took in several deep, slow breaths and closed my eyes. It wasn't long before I slipped into a light mediation.

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I opened my eyes and I was in my mind-scape. Gone was the glorious sunshine that I had been bathed in just moments before. I was still sitting on the ledge which looked over the roof tops of the houses before me. But there was nothing but constant greyness here in my mind-scape.

I had been curious about that once, and had asked Jan'Zar who was teaching me how to fight and defend myself in this place from the spirit. She had answered bluntly, but honestly. The reason this place was so grey was due to the conflict between my spirit and the spirit who had possessed me. The darker my mind-scape became the more influence the spirit had over my mind and body.

I leapt down from the ledge and began walking through the empty town. I was alone here. No one would bother me in this place. But this was not reality. Parts of the town were hazy and blurred with my lack of familiarity with them, and as a result my mind-scape just deleted them entirely. But this was my mind-scape, and I could navigate my way round the misshapen town with ease, covering large distances in mere moments rather than the real minutes it would take me to traverse them.

I went to the graveyard and stared down at Rose's tombstone. Rose was the start of all this for me. The first time I felt the spirit within me take control. Her loss had torn a hole in my heart and allowed the spirit to gain a foothold within my mind. It filled that hole with anger, hatred and spite. And each time I acted on those emotions and used its power I allowed it to gain an even greater foothold.

Rose had been the start of all this. But she was also the one who taught me how to love again. If she hadn't done that I think I would have fallen prey to the spirits influence by now. She was my saviour in more ways than one. My biggest regret was failing her. I'm sure that Zalamar, the drake who had doted on her as if she was his own daughter, blamed me for her death. If he didn't blame me then at the very least he hated me for allowing it to happen after I swore to him that I would protect her. I couldn't fault him for feeling that way.

Thinking about Zalamar had an effect on my mind-scape. The graveyard vanished and I was standing outside his restaurant. The first time I had met Zalamar had been an interesting experience. Cody had taken me to his restaurant. He was the first drake I had ever spoken to, and the first fur I spoke to here in New Zangar. I had met him before meeting Rose. Quite a coincidence. He was accepting of my mixed heritage, claiming it to be a blessing from Shal'Naresh - the Guardian Deity of love and compassion - who recognised the love my parents had shared and allowed my birth to occur.

My regret for failing his trust was linked to my regret for failing Rose. If I truly wanted to settle that part of my life then I would need to face it head on. I needed to apologise to clear my conscience. Whether he forgave me or not, that didn't matter. If he wanted to hate me then I would let him. I owed him that much. If he wanted to hit me then I would allow that as well. If it made him feel better then I would not deny him that right.

"You're going to let that old fart hit you?! I must say I'm disappointed at how weak you are!"

"I didn't come here to talk to you!" I growled, looking over my shoulder at my doppelgänger who was leaning against the wall of the building across the street.

"Your thoughts are so depressing I couldn't take it anymore!"

"Then don't listen to my thoughts!" I growled.

"But then what would I do for entertainment?" He chuckled. "Go and find some nice piece of ass to fuck and give me something to watch! It's only a matter of time before I take over! You may as well enjoy life while you can! Never mind fretting over some dead whore and her sugar-daddy!"

He was trying to make me angry. And I was loathed to admit he was succeeding. He was trying to sabotage my attempt at stabilising my emotional state. Any instability would aid him in the long term. I summoned up the light within me and spun round to face him. I stretched my arm out and fired it at him. He made no attempt to dodge it. The light struck him and he began to laugh as he faded from sight. He always had the worst timing. But I knew what I needed to do now. I had to go and meet with Zalamar. This might be my only chance to do so. I had considered doing it the last time I was here in New Zangar, searching for any signs of the curi'nakra, but I had chickened out. This was what needed to happen in order to regain my emotional stability.

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I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was the orange sky appearing over the high walls of New Zangar. I was still sitting on the ledge on the Northern Wall. It was getting late. I should head back and meet up with the others. I would go and see Zalamar before leaving tomorrow. There was a chance he would kick up a fuss, and alert the guards to my presence. I still remember the time two drakes from New Zangar appeared at the party after the tournament back in Zangar. They had spoken of the event where Rose was killed and how they were still hunting for the fur who killed Vireon and his lackeys. I needed to ensure we were prepared to leave at a moments notice should things turn sour.

I arrived at the the inn where Jovani had made reservations for us. The place was called 'Meridia's Dream'. The lower floor was a very upmarket tavern. The furs who were there were obviously wealthy from the way they dressed. I got a number of stares as I entered. Lets just say my armour was not up to the usual standard and I stood out, but no more than my companions who were sitting eating at a circular table at the back of the room.

"Good of you to join us Young Master." Jovani smiled as I sat down in the last available seat. "We just ordered some food. Would you like me to go order something for you?"

"No. I'll order something myself."

"So where have you been?" Malnark asked.

"Meditating."

"You should have checked out the baths!" Loire grinned. "Stunning architecture!"

"Plenty of good looking furs there too!" Mantou grinned.

Well it seems like they had a good time at least. Our groups moral would be bolstered by this short overnight stay. I was catching the scent of food from nearby tables and my stomach was starting to grumble. I was hungrier than I thought.

"Here we are gents!" A fur stopped at the table and started giving out plates of food to the others while I perused the menu that had been left on the table. You could tell this place was upmarket if they expected their guests to be able to read. "Don't I know you?"

I looked up at the server and saw that they were a cheetah. They were well dressed. A blue silk shirt and smart black pants. In any other tavern I would expect him to be the owner or a patron, not one of the serving staff. I looked him in the eye and he immediately looked familiar. It took me a few moments to realise where I knew him from.

"Travis?"

"I do know you!" He grinned. "From Rengilar right!?"

"Right."

"Long time no see!"

"It's good to see you made it out safely." I nodded.

"I know right!" He exclaimed. "After the wolves attacked, a group of us immediately packed up and headed South. It wasn't until two weeks after we arrived in Zangar that the wolves had taken over Rengilar. Hey, are you staying here?" He asked suddenly, changing the entire tone of the conversation in a second.

"Yes."

"Well then we should totally catch up!" He grinned. "Just remember to ask for me later! Now what can I get you to eat?"

"Ask for you?" I asked but just shook my head. "Never mind. What ever you recommend."

"Sure thing!" He grinned. "I'll bring it once its ready. In the mean time I'll get you an ale."

Travis dashed off to get me my food and drink. I looked up to see the others with curious expressions.

"What?"

"Just wonder who your friend is." Loire smiled.

"He's cute." Mantou smirked. "And he wants you to ask for him later."

"Definitely some history there." Loire commented.

"Definitely!" Mantou chuckled.

"Shut up!" I scoffed.

"So how do you know him?" Malnark asked.

Him as well? They just weren't going to let it go! Even Jovani had a curious expression but at least he was polite enough not to ask. He didn't need to. The others were doing that for him.

"When I was travelling with Eric, Cody and the others, before we made our way to Zangar, we stopped in Rengilar." I explained. "I met Travis my first night there. He helped me figure out some things about myself." I cleared my throat, slightly embarrassed about much I was sharing with them. "That night the wolves attacked. The first battle of the war currently being waged. I didn't see Travis after that. We left town and headed for Zangar."

"And now you are finally reunited!" Mantou declared loudly, food spraying from his maw. "To lovers finally reunited after all that time!"

"It's so romantic!" Loire teased.

"Quite." Malnark smirked before taking a drink.

It was at this point Travis returned with my drink. He put it down on the table and gave me a smile before going off to tend to his other duties. When I had first met Travis he was a prostitute. Ask for me later. That's what he had said. It suddenly dawned on me that he was also a whore here in the tavern in addition to being a server. He was doing well for himself so I was happy for him.

"What ever!" I snorted, taking a swig of my ale. It was good. A slightly bitter after taste marred the otherwise tasty beverage.

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As we finished for the night we all climbed the stairs to the rooms we would be staying in. At the top of the landing was a good looking female otter, wearing an expensive, but very seductive red dress. She smiled at us as we approached.

"Good evening gentle-drakes. My name is Mirrium. I am the hostess here at the inn."

"Good evening." Jovani smiled and bowed his head.

"As our honoured guests we have a number of potential bed-mates for you this evening. Our selection is just through the door on the right. Please take your pick. I assure you they are all very talented at what they do."

"Don't mind if I do!" Mantou rubbed his paws together and made a bee-line for the door.

"If what you desire is not in there, please let me know and I will see that I arrange it for you."

As the others made their way to check out the 'merchandise' I turned to the otter.

"There is a cheetah called Travis downstairs."

"I know him." She smiled. "He quite regularly helps to service our guests, and receives a lot of praise from his clients. Would you like him to join you tonight?"

"I would."

"Then I shall do just that sir. Please enjoy your stay. If there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to ask!"

After giving her my room number I headed towards the stair leading to the next floor where my room was located. This was potentially the last chance I was going to have to enjoy myself before returning to Aaru. I might as well make the most of it.

"Tell him to bring up a bottle of the finest spirit you sell here." I said to the otter.

"Very good sir." She nodded. "I shall make sure he is up to see you promptly."

My room was as nicely furnished as the rest of the inn. A large, soft mattress and expensive looking sheets. The room was lit by four wall mounted candles. It gave the room a lot of atmosphere. Trust Jovani to pick the most expensive brothel in town! I dread to think what this was going to cost, but at least I was going to have some good company for the night. While I waited I removed my armour. I hadn't realise how ripe I smelt after a weeks travel! Suddenly I wished I had gone to baths with the others.

By the time I removed the last of my armour, leaving me in just a loin cloth, there was a knock at the door. I opened the door and Travis was standing there with a glass bottle of a brown coloured spirit, and two small glasses. I stepped aside to let him in.

"Good to see you're getting yourself comfortable." He smiled broadly. "I hope your not trying to take advantage of me by getting me drunk!" He chuckled.

"I thought we may as well enjoy ourselves to the fullest!" I smiled. "I apologise for the smell. I haven't had the chance to get washed up."

"I wasn't going to say anything." He crinkled his snout. "But I assure you I've smelt a lot worse! I like a good bit of musk though. I honestly don't mind."

"That's good. Lets have a drink shall we?"

"Allow me." He set the glasses down on the table and poured each of us a drink. I downed the spirit in one. The earthy tasting spirit tasted very nice and left a not so subtle burning in the back of my throat. Travis coughed after he drank his and cleared his throat several times before he was able to speak. "Wow! That's some good stuff! Couple more of them and who knows what I'll be willing to do!" He smirked.

"Well then..." I grabbed the bottle and refilled our glasses. We smiled at each other and downed them once again.

"I must say, you have an amazing body... and if memory serves you have quite an impressive cock as well!"

"You have a good memory." I joked.

"I never forget a cock!" He laughed.

I laughed as well and poured us another drink. We tossed them back and before I had finished swallowing Travis stepped forwards and gently pulled my head down to his height and kissed me. He was a damn good kisser! I could already feel myself getting hard when we pulled away from each other.

"I'm feeling a little over dressed." He purred, nuzzling the underside of my muzzle.

"I wonder what we can do to remedy that?" I smirked.

We moved over to the bed, where I put the bottle and my glass down on the table next to it before turning back to him and helped him undress. He had began to undo the buttons on his shirt, but I just started pulling the garment up and over his head which made him chuckle. A few moments later and his pants were around his ankles and we were both left wearing nothing more than our loin cloths.

I lifted him up and he wrapped his legs around my waist. As our tongues battled one another I lowered him onto his back on the bed and crawled over him. I could feel the vibrations from his purr go through me all the was down to the tip of my tail. By the time we broke the kiss in order to breath we were both rock hard, our loin clothes doing nothing to hide our modesty any more. I stood up and pulled his loin cloth down his legs, he laughed as I dragged him down the bed by doing so. I dropped the fabric on the floor before swiftly discarding my own.

Looking down on him I could see how beautiful he was. I had been lucky to have such a beautiful male to have my first gay experience with back then. I had been so nervous about sleeping with a male back then I didn't really notice how good looking he actually was. His slender build, toned but not the body of a warrior or someone who did hard labour. The way the candle light shone against his soft fur. The slenderness of his muzzle and the shape of his eyes, he could have passed for a female if it wasn't for the sheath and balls between his legs.

His stomach moved quickly, he was slightly breathless from our kissing just moments before. The pink flesh of his hard cock made it look delicious. I lowered myself down and pressed my snout to the base of his cock and inhaled his scent deeply. I lapped at his cock with my tongue, long slow strokes up the length of his cock. He moaned cutely.

"You don't need to do that." He purred. "I'm here to pleasure you remember?"

I shook my head.

"Tonight you aren't just some whore! I want something more than that. Tonight you are my lover."

"Aww... that's so sweet." He smiled. "Okay then, lover..." He giggled. "Lets make this a night to remember!"

I smiled and without another word took him into my maw. I suckled on his cock, using my tongue to tease the soft, fleshy barbs on his cock. I was able to take his full length in my muzzle with ease. I had him moaning in pleasure in just a few short moments. His paws grabbed my horns but he wasn't trying to control me. I didn't relent. Even when he was squirming and asking me to slow down. I was determined to taste him. He made a noise that only a feline could make as he came, his entire body writhing, his back arched he came in my maw.

His cum was salty and sweet at the same time. When he stopped cumming and his cock began to soften I stopped sucking him and crawled up to kiss him, giving him a mawful of his own cum. He was a little surprised but quickly relaxed and we shared a messy kiss.

"That was possibly the best blow job I've ever had!" He said breathlessly when we finally stopped kissing. I just smiled in response. "You've had practise!" He grinned. "Did that fox teach you a few things?"

He was referring to Cody. Back in Rengilar I knew Cody had liked me, but the thought of being with a male scared me. More than that I was afraid of ruining our friendship, so I sought out another fur, Travis, to have me first gay experience. I had told Travis about Cody and he had given me the courage and the confidence to overcome my doubts about sleeping with another male.

"He did." I grinned.

"You two still a thing?"

"No. He wasn't really interested in settling down."

"That's a shame. His loss."

"We are still friends." I told him.

"Friends with benefits I'm guessing." I nodded. "That's good. Now then, I think its my turn now!"

With a gentle push he rolled me onto my back and moved down my body to my cock which was still rock hard. He lapped at my cock with his raspy feline tongue. I couldn't help but moan as he skilfully worked my cock over. His paws seemed to know just where to touch me while he suckled on the head of my cock. It didn't take long for him to make me cum. He swallowed down my entire load and then kissed me, sharing a mawful of my own cum with me just as I had done to him.

We lay on the bed, his head in nook of my arm, basking in our after glows. His paws roamed over my body. Idly tracing the muscles on my stomach. The softness of his fur felt good against my scales.

"Are you in a relationship?" He asked. "Married? Mated?"

"Nothing serious." I shook my head.

"But you have a lover?"

"A couple."

"I knew it!" He grinned. "So anyone special in that group of lovers?"

"Well..."

"Go on!" He insisted.

"There is this one dragoness." I admitted.

"What's she like?"

"Bad tempered, violent." I said. "But she had this vulnerable side to her..."

"I see." He grinned. "She sound like quite the female."

"Yeah..." I nodded. "I didn't realise how much I missed her until I saw her again."

"So you going to marry her?" He asked.

"Maybe... I just want her to be happy. She's had a hard life, but I'm not sure I'm the one who can make her happy. I mean I want to but... it's complicated."

"Why is it complicated?" He asked.

I didn't want to have to explain my whole situation to him. How I was possessed by a spirit and that I needed to engage it in a life or death struggle to retain control of my body. That would just kill the mood. I reached over and grabbed the bottle Travis had brought with him, forgetting the glass and just taking a swig directly from the bottle. The liquid burned the back of my throat, but made me feel better. Travis took the bottle and took a swig himself. I put the bottle back on the table and rolled over so I was on all fours over the cheetah.

"I think it's time we get back to it."

"Already!? You really are a stud!" He chuckled.

Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was just the company, but for the first time since I had set out in search of the curi'nakra I felt like there was not a crushing weight on my shoulders! I had grown so used to I hadn't realised the pressure I had been under all this time! Even in Zangar when I was in bed with Kassandra and Laguna I hadn't felt this relaxed. Travis just had this air about him that allowed the rest of the world melt away.

I didn't want to waste that sensation. Once the sun rose over the horizon in the morning my mission to catch the curi'nakra would resume. We fucked until neither one of us could move, we finished the bottle of spirit and talked about... well everything that wasn't important. He had a natural talent for making the most trivial subject seem fun to talk about. He steered the conversation away from subjects that would ruin the mood, and never asked questions that I didn't want him to ask.