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Anthro Sex Squad Story 3 - Oaky's Story

By Killenor

Arc 1 - Origins

Chapter 4

"Damn dirty forest!" cried Ermana to no one in particular.

The path was covered in a full flush of berry vines, each covered in it's own brand of horrible thorns. It was the only easy path that kept near a ready source of water, but oh how she hated it. If it wasn't loose rocks and pebbles that wormed their way into shoes, it was buzzing insects and these vicious thorns! She could try to climb the walls of the gully, but she was no good at pathfinding... or climbing for that matter. There was no telling if she would find this stream again and without water, she couldn't travel.

Worse yet, her magic could do nothing at all to clear this wretched path!

At least she had food and water, a lucky find for such a city rat as herself. Hopefully she would follow this stream and find a little settlement soon.

"BLASTED ROCKS!!!" she screamed suddenly, hopping to one foot and digging around in her shoe. The stone evaded her probing fingers for but a moment. Finally, she seized it, and in response to it's annoyance she hurled it as far as she could down the river.

"I'd give anything to clear these bloody vines and pointy rocks from my path." Ermana said, picking another vine that had caught on her dress.

Suddenly, and quite without warning, the vines began to curl away, the stones rolled from the path, and the soft sands built themselves up to form a smooth walkway all before her eyes!

She dare not take another step... experience taught that when things happen as you wish them, there will be a caveat or two on the way, and quickly.

"Well," said a voice that seemed to come from the river itself, "the path is clear. Be on your way human and bother this forest no more."

"Right, I believe that," yelled Ermana at the river, "I've had enough of you blasted fae-beasts as well! I take one step on this clear path, right into some sinkhole or bramble bush. I get trapped, you take me away for a decade of using me. There is NO way I'm falling for one of your illusions you sylph or naiad or whatever!"

"I am no fae, I simply would have you on your way." the voice came, "I've heard of you humans and there is nothing, save trouble, that you bring into a place such as this. I just want you to leave this forest in peace before you blast it with your sorcerous fires or decide that your axes and saws would make this place suitable for yourself."

"You must have me confused with some other human," Ermana replied with a hint of confusion, "Just how many fire-throwing, axe wielding, forest-raping humans have you met before... um... whoever you are?"

"That has naught to do with it!" the voice yelled, "Look, you said you would give anything to clear your path. Now all I'm asking is that you leave!"

Ermana tapped a finger to her lips thoughtfully. If this were still a fae trick, it was a quite good one. Make her believe that she was free to leave, but one step along the path without certainty that there was nothing required of her and she could very well be beholden to the basest desire of some tricksy faerie. Luckily, her wit and charm were such that a plan soon formed to evade this little ruse, should it be so.

"May I at least have the pleasure of seeing my benefactor?" she said smoothly, pouring her every feminine wiles into a persuasive tone. "I wouldn't dream of leaving my wish-granter without a proper thank-you."

Sweet words, not as sweet as the croaking voices of the toad-women, but somehow positively alluring floated upon Oaky's ears as he hid in the rushes and grass within the riverbank. Each smooth syllable laced with years of practiced charm and eldritch magicks found him, and he could do nothing but cling to the words. Some how, some way... he felt that this was a fine thing to do. What could be so wrong with showing himself? If nothing else this would let the human know for certain that she could leave without worry. And that was just what he wanted.

If a grig, a fairy, some nymph or naiad, any manner of fae, had emerged from the river, Ermana would have known just what to do. She had studied the wiles of the folk-of-elsewhere since she had been taught to read as a child. But what she saw before her was no fae. The little toad-man that hobbled out from the reeds was the last thing she had expected. He was neither beautiful enough to be seelie, nor ugly enough to be unseelie. Furthermore, he dressed in crude-weave robes the likes of which no fae would ever be caught wearing.

His only weapon, as she could see, was a small, old sickle, barely large enough to hook around her wrist were it so inclined. But what drew her attention to it was the vines that twisted about it, as if growing from the very wood of the handle. Though it was a small thing, she didn't doubt that it could hurt her considerably if her ensorcellment had failed her.

"Uh... so... you're not a fae after all." Ermana said, stifling a bout of surprised stuttering, "what is a toad-folk doing clearing paths and accusing humans anyway?"

"I got the impression that humans were domineering from the other toads in my village," Oaky offered conversationally, "Some of the elders speak of axes and fire. We generally don't chop down the trees without good reason and we never burn them. And as for me, I'm Oaky, child of nature."

"Well that explains a lot," Ermana sighed, "Say, is there a toad-village close by then? I have some things I could trade for some decent food and a way out of here."

"No, no," Oaky chuckled, "I'm out here by myself. I am leagues and leagues away from my birthplace. Though, if you really want out so much, I could lead you. I normally live alone, but somehow I don't think company would be a bad thing this time."

Ermana sighed yet again, exhaling her discomfort at the distance she was from civilization and the realization that she had used the almost the last of her magic to ensnare the affections of a clueless toad-man, alone in the woods. Well, at least this was SOMETHING, she figured. No sense letting willing help go to waste, maybe she could get more out of this than was obvious.

"Well, thank you ever so much, er..., Oaky," she said, quickly slipping back into her well-practiced charm, "an escort through your woods would be marvelous. Perhaps some light conversation and a friend would make the journey much more pleasant for the both of us."

"A friend? You would be the first. But yes, let us be on our way, it is only a few leagues yet to the edge of the wood."

With that, Oaky waved Ermana forward, and along the path they went. High in the trees that shadowed the stream, a sibilant shadow stalked after them, one bright golden eye watching their oblivious progression and waiting for the pair to provide him a sensational meal.