The Way Chapter 1
The Way is a story which features a race of Anthro Dragons that call themselves the Drathil living on a world they call Drath. This is the first story that I have written and I wanted to establish these facts to help set the backdrop of the story. Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 1
Orthin stepped over the loq stone into the central tent of her tribe, and looked around her at her clan-mates waiting anxiously for her next word.
"Troth'lir is dead."
Her announcement was met with a brief sob to her left where he former clan S'len's mate sat. A ferociously scarred female much larger than Orthin rose from where she crouched by the fire and walked over to her, prompting Orthin to bow her head and close her eyes.
"Then in accordance with the pledge of the followers of the way, and as the only Th'len here," extending a foreclaw and using it to carve a shallow furrow down the Orthin's angular face, "I pronounce you the S'len of the clan Gherrain."
The Th'len pulled her hand back and Orthin looked up and opened her eyes, her wings trembling at the realization of what had just happened. The exposed flesh of her face made a harsh contrast with the gentle blue of her scales, and she extended her wings and let out a roar of dominance across the room. The Th'len retreated to her place by the fire and Orthin addressed the forlorn figure staring blankly into the flickering flames.
"Br'won, as is my right as your S'len I will spare your life. You will serve me and mine for the rest of your days. Your offspring will be raised as mine and you will have no claim over them. Tomorrow is the Harvest Festival, and I want this to be a joyful occasion. Let us all go, there is much still to be done before the dawn breaks on tomorrow."
When no figure stirred from the flame, Orthin leapt forward with a growl and slashed at the face of one of the older males who fell back on his folded wings with an expression of panic.
"You will obey me! I am your new S'len, and you are beholden to me as decreed by The Way."
Though usually silent, the Th'len stood and said in a menacing voice, "She is right. The Way has made her your S'len, you must obey her."
Grudgingly, but, submissively the gathered males rose and left. As they passed Orthin they bowed and dipped a finger into the wound on Orthin's face and painted her blood in a line down their own faces. At the last, Orthin's three sisters passed her, and with challenge in their eyes, followed the example of the smaller males which had preceded them. After they had left, Orthin stood at the entrance holding the flap open. Watching the smoke from the other tents waft lazily into the night sky, her gaze was drawn into the diamond studded infinity above her. Feeling the Th'len move at the tip of her folded wing, Orthin turned her head curiously.
"They will be trouble for you, young S'len."
"They are nothing I cannot handle," responded Orthin confidently.
"I only meant to offer my caution. And my service."
Letting the flap fall closed, Orthin turned to regard the almost pitch black scaled creature standing there. "In all my years and all the tales I have heard, I have never once heard of a Th'len submitting herself before a clan S'len. Explain yourself!"
The piercing green eyes of the Th'len gazed back at her, the fire crackling behind her back. "The Way has revealed to me that you are one who must follow an important and difficult path on The Way. You must remain in power or your clan will fall."
Orthin caught the glint of something in the other's eyes, something she had seen before in her sister's: deception, or was it something else? "There is something you are not telling me, Th'len. And though I may not harm you, I do not entirely trust you or your-"
"You had better begin trusting me," snarled the dark creature, her bright teeth flashing, "Or you will find yourself following on the dewclaws of your predecessor. Get one thing straight child, I have been here far longer than you have and have seen S'len killed by their brethren for much less than envy. The odds are not with you young S'len and you may find that mine is the only claw raised in your defense."
Orthin studied Th'len's eyes, looking for any hint of betrayal, but saw nothing that she could recognize. "I will consider what you have said, and we will see what comes. Leave me, and return to your tent in peace."
The Th'len moved silently passed the new S'len and disappeared swiftly into the darkness. Th'len's had always made Orthin nervous, even when she was little. They came and went whenever they pleased, were virtually ignored by all the clans and they all shared that same black scale and green eyes. No one ever seemed to know where they came from or if the dozen or so one might see in a lifetime were even different people they looked so much alike. Orthin felt the only reason the Th'len were tolerated was because their place was to show The Way for those who would follow it. Orthin's clan had always listened closely to any Th'len that happened to be passing through and Orthin saw no reason to begin questioning that philosophy. The Th'len had always provided helpful advice and valuable suggestions which had always been beneficial to the clan. Rustling her wings, Orthin stepped into the cold night air and shivered.
"My S'len, may I be of service to you?"
It was Br'won, the mate of the former S'len. Orthin grinned in pleasure at his subservience.
"Yes. Accompany me to my tent, and stand watch. Allow nothing to disturb my rest this night."
"As you command," the brown skinned male bowed and followed his S'len to her tent to begin his long watch through the cold night. The light of the end-year moon shone its golden light faintly across the clan's tents and stood watch with this lone sentinel against the night.
Before retiring Orthin slowly undressed, removing her clothes and carefully laying them over a rack. She ran her hands over her lithe, scaled body. A small moan of pleasure escaped her lips as she caressed her firm breasts and erect nipples, sending a tingle all the way down her back and causing her wings to involuntarily tremble. Trying to pull her attention away from these small pleasures, she shifted her attention to the sore muscles of her shoulders and back. Lying down on a luxurious fur she began to massage herself to release the tension of the last few days, but this only served to draw her thoughts back to her beautiful body. Allowing her hands to follow the curves and ridges of her powerful muscles down over her stomach, she found her hands meeting at her crotch. A finger slipped in and she let out a small gasp, her juices smothering her finger because she was so wet.Waves of ecstasy sent trembles up her body, and she reluctantly pulled her finger out and turned her attention back to her sore thighs, rubbing them hard and releasing the knots. The hard scales of her body were warm to the touch and her pulse quickened as her thoughts again turned to satisfying herself. A quick flick of her tongue over her hardened nipple and a brief rub over her wet vagina caused a moan to swell in her throat. She was about to continue with her ministrations when she thought how much better it would be with a real male who could pleasure her without any effort on her part. Resolving to select her first mate as soon as she could on the morrow, she sighed longingly.Then she grinned to herself as she realized how much the anticipation was already affecting her and decided to let it build as long as possible until she couldn't stand it anymore. Smiling contentedly to herself, Orthin pulled another fur on top of her, and drifted of into a deep sleep where she dreamed of the next night and the exquisite bliss that would soon be hers.