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Southwestern Hospitality

Dustafyer was looking for a change in his life and the best way to do that was to get a fresh start near Rhybute Pass. The last few years of his life were all bogged down by work as a hired gun during the expansion towards the Rhybute Mountains and beyond, a job that ensured he almost never visited his own home, could barely bring any of his possessions with him and couldn't form meaningful bonds.

All that needed to change. If it didn't, he'd go a little crazy!

That's not to say he would be quitting his job or pulling away from the lifestyle that had made him a veritable stash of coin, but he did need to establish himself nearer to the most profitable work. Most importantly, he needed to get a steed of his own. His job as a hired gun had meant that he almost exclusively dealt with whatever horses, dragons, and ulokar his clients offered him and those were steeds that he rarely felt much of a connection with. He could ride a horse or get a ulokar to sniff out a trail while hunting, but that wasn't the same.

The first step on his long road to independence was to get himself a horse. He'd still be working as a hired hand, offering his services to protect caravans and the shipment of goods so he wouldn't get the opportunity to form many close bonds with other agens - sentient folks of all the races of Dalon - but if he had a horse he'd have a family. A horse wasn't quite the same as a mate, but it was close.

Which was precisely why he had made the weekend's trek north of Rhybute Pass to once again end up near Port Sanri.He had heard from a new friend of his by the name of Therris that some of the best livestock could be purchased at a place called 'the ranch' just south of the port city. Therris had purchased his steed - a gender-shifting horse by the name of Ocerre that went by the moniker of Oceras when she was a mare and Oceris when he was a stallion - at The Ranch and had recommended the owners of the place to anyone who was looking to buy.

Dustafyer had been looking to buy. But then again, the feline really only decided he was interested in making this change in his life after meeting up with Therris and Ocerre. That pairing and their incredibly compassionate relationship was exactly what made Dustafyer realize that he was missing out on some key elements in his life that would give his existence meaning.

Sure, he made a lot of money and could freely enjoy himself at will - security was quite the lucrative line of work in a world where civilization as he knew it had yet to spread to the region beyond a handful of cities and a few small villages - but that wasn't the same as having a partner. Not a lover, necessarily, but a partner. Someone who could be with him all the time, someone who he could share his experiences with. He didn't need any magical creatures like Ocerre, but he needed something!

After arriving in Port Sanri, he had hired a carriage to take him south of town to The Ranch. He could have rented a horse from the stables but his intention was to buy a steed and never look back.

"This is the place." The driver announced through the little window from his place out front. Dustafyer was in the carriage itself, reading a silver-coin novel chock full of kinky adventures.

"Already?" The feline asked as he closed up the book and slipped it into his satchel. "Seems like we just left town a few minutes ago. You sure this is the place?"

The driver, a saurossin kobold, nodded with a peculiar enthusiasm. "I am entirely sure, sir. I have driven many people out to this place before; it's a very popular hotspot for tourism, you see. Plus, it's been more than an hour since we left town; you must've been caught up in your book."

Upon glancing out the window to see the position of the sun, Dustafyer conceded that point only to then turn back around with an inquiry. "Tourism? I'm here to buy a horse." Dustafyer corrected. "Didn't think a ranch would be a hotspot for tourism. Business, sure, but tourism?"

"Oh, they do that, too. Sell livestock and all that. But yeah, this is The Ranch, I assure you."

Dustafyer narrowed his eyes, trying to decipher what the driver meant by that as he reached into his bag to grab a pair of bronze coins to give as a tip. "Thanks for the ride. And you said a carriage comes by here twice a day in case I don't end up making a purchase?"

"Yes sir! Once in the morning and one before nightfall. Some folks like to spend the night."

This raised more questions than it gave answers, but Dustafyer didn't want to get too involved with the driver at this point so he politely waved and hopped out of the carriage as the driver sped away and left him there. He was met with an odd view of The Ranch; all he could see was a single winding pathway leading up between two cliffs and a small sign that read 'The Ranch'. This was clearly the right place, but his first impression was that of unease since it appeared the property was raised upon a plateau hoisted up fifty meters by steep, rocky cliffs.

That wasn't the sort of property livestock traders called their own. That was the sort of plot of land that was reserved for castles and forts in wars. Such an image was unsettling but Dustafyer had come too far to give up now so he pressed forward, walking up the winding pathway to his destination.

Once he made it to the top he was greeted with an oddly serene view of The Ranch and the surrounding area. The property itself was in fact erected on a plateau, at least one full kilometre squared or so, maybe more, with simple three-slatted fences wrapped around all four of the four erratically-shaped sides. There were a dozen different pastures each with different groups of animals as well as a barn in each corner and a homestead in the middle.

Had the fences been thicker and taller, it could have been a fort. As they stood, this gave his eyes plenty of clarity to see as far away as the port in the distance and the forests to the south.

The Ranch felt immediately uncomfortable and homely in equal measure. He got the impression that, had he lived here or been a regular customer, he'd feel at home; but as an outsider he felt like he wasn't welcome. An interesting dichotomy, to be sure.

Of the fields, the two closest to the entrance that overlooked the trade route that brought him here, were wingless gryphon and wingless dragon pastures. The dragon pasture was dotted with rocks and boulders all over as well as what appeared to be a cave that went underground. The gryphon field was more traditional, with long grasses and flowers and a few twisted, gnarled trees for them to perch.

A dozen dragons and a dozen gryphons all turned their heads to see Dustafyer as he emerged onto the plateau, with a few of them trotting over to the fence to get some attention. This divided the feline's time but he was happy to pet and stroke both of them, eager and happy to give them the attention they desired before making his way down the path and towards the middle of the property where a rather large homestead stood tall above even the three-story barns on the four corners of the property. This was clearly the place that transactions took place.

As Dustafyer trotted down the pathway from the valley between the cliffs to the homestead, he noticed that he saw a dozen or so workers milling about. Some were feeding the horses, others were grooming the ulokar, most were cleaning up messes and scooping them into wheelbarrows.

It was at this time that Dustafyer realized he had no idea which of these folks was Ilorek. He knew that the owners and operators of The Ranch were Ilorek and Valencia, but he hadn't taken the time to ask what they looked like or where he could find them.

Rather than walk aimlessly, he stepped up to the nearest worker he could find - a tiger feline that was peculiarly tall and strong-looking for a jysar - and waved to get his attention. "H-hey! I'm looking for Ilorek, I'm interested in purchasing a horse or something."

The feline turned and stabbed his pitchfork into the ground before sauntering over. "Ilorek's just in the barn right now dealing a client. Can I help you in the mean time? I'm Rex!" He outstretched his hand to shake and Dustafyer happily took it. "I sometimes deal with sales myself."

Though polite, Dustafyer was very keen on talking to Ilorek, so he was sure to let Rex know. "I'm Dusty. Pleased to meet you, but I was told by my buddy Therris that I needed to talk to Ilorek and drop his name to get some good deals. I don't mean to be rude, but I can wait!"

Rex grinned the moment he heard the name 'Therris', showing he understood. "Got it. Well if you go over to that barn there, Ilorek should be out in a few minutes. Don't go inside, though. Got rules about the negotiation process." He winked then turned to return to his work dispensing hay.

This left Dustafyer in the pathway, alone, but that didn't bother him. He kind of liked the idea of exploring a bit before meeting the big boss and starting some negotiation.

Then again, Dustafyer wasn't in the mood to negotiate. He made enough money that he would probably not only pay the asking price but offer a tip on top. Everyone needed to make cash and he had plenty to spare, it wasn't polite to devalue someone's work by trying to talk them down to a cheaper price; at least, that's how he saw it. If he had the money there was no harm in spending it.

As commanded, Dustafyer made his way around the horse paddock and found a bench by the barn that Rex had instructed him to wait by. It felt awkward for only a few minutes as he patiently waited for something to happen but once he got a good look upon the herd of what he presumed to be mares next to the barn, he couldn't help but smile. He loved horses more than he wanted to admit and even just the pleasant aroma of a herd of them to his nares got his ears and fur perked on end.

Just like before when he lost himself in the book, time passed far quicker than it felt to him. He was brought from his horse-inspired trance when the nearby barn door slid open to reveal a massive red, black, and golden hippogryph escorting a large blue winged wolf-dragon with a purple sabre-toothed kitsune hybrid on his back. Only the hippogryph wore any clothes.

"Alright Poojawa, always a pleasure having you. Amrien, it's been a treat meeting you for what I hope is just the first of many visits." He tipped his hat and clicked his beak before glancing down at Dustafyer, waiting for the feline to respond. "And who are you?" Before Dustafyer could respond, as Poojawa and Amrien trotted away, they turned to wave back at the hippogryph, happily declaring their intent to return in the near future.

This was odd to Dustafyer, as it seemed neither of them were leaving with any livestock. He didn't let this peculiar event ruin his day, though. The feline got to his feet and extended a paw to the hippogryph, looking to shake. "I'm Dustafyer, but my friends call me Dusty! Or Dust. Whatever. Would I be right in assuming you're Ilorek?" He had to crane his neck, for the hippogryph was a full meter or more taller than him; an absolutely massive beast of a creature.

"Indeed I am!" Ilorek confirmed as he took Dusty's paw and shook. "What brings you to The Ranch? We have plenty of services if you're looking for a companion."

His wording seemed a little peculiar to Dustafyer but once again he ran with it. "Not services today. Goods. I'm looking for a steed of some sort. Maybe two." He stepped back and folded his arms over the small of his back to look professional but couldn't get over just how much larger Ilorek was than he. Dustafyer was by no means a short cat but Ilorek had the build of an athlete on a frame that must have been two and a half, maybe three meters tall! Of course, he was a rancher.

Immediately casual, Ilorek gape-grinned and motioned to the rest of The Ranch. "My boy, you are in the right place! What kind of steed you lookin' for? We got gryphon mares and drakes, dragon hens and drakes, equine mares, stallions, ulokar bitches, ulokar studs, and even some dire wolves in there somewhere. But if you're looking for a mount, I don't recommend those." He started walking and laid his hand between Dusty's shoulders to guide him. "But first I need to know what you plan on doing with this new companion of yours." He was deliberately being sly, insinuating lewdness.

For the umpteenth time since arriving, Dustafyer was taken off guard by what he was told and chose to just go with it. The feline was noticing a pattern that indicated there was more going on here than just livestock trading. "Well, for now I'm just looking for one - maybe two - steeds of the same species that I can take back to the frontier near Rhybute so I can erect a homestead."

"A home maker? I see, I see. These mounts, you need them for work or riding? There's a lot of stuff you gotta consider between the four main types of steed, each with their pros and cons. Some of them are better companions, some are better workers, some have more endurance, some are better in battle. Females and males have different personalities and we don't geld here so if you want a stud or stallion or drake you're gonna have to be experienced enough to handle their 'tude."

"I, uh-" Dustafyer paused and halted his thought by raising a finger then balling up a fist and touching his thumb to his nose. He hadn't considered all those factors before arriving and didn't know how to answer any of those questions. Prior to his decision to start a family in this manner, he just wanted a companion he could ride and bond with as he did so, perhaps getting a proper mate for them in the event he wished to breed them or make them happy in his absence when he was working.

Ilorek picked up on this and patted Dustafyer on the back with enough accidental force it nearly knocked the feline over and would have if not for his reflexes. "Let me guess, you just wanted anything and you was willin' to let me chose one for ya?"

"Yeah, more or less. My buddy Therris said if I came here I'd get a perfect companion and-"

"Therris? He sent you here?" Ilorek interjected, stepping in front of Dustafyer and getting to one knee for emphasis. "Then, my friend, if you're a friend of Therris then you can be certain I'll find you the absolute best companion mount steed partner lover you could imagine!"

Finally, Dustafyer had heard just enough to demand he sate his curiosity. He stepped back away from Ilorek with a half-cocked smirk. "Okay, you and everyone else keep saying weird stuff about your livestock. Lover? Services? What were those two doing before you escorted them out?"

After getting back to his feet and wiping his knees of the grass and hay that had clung to them, Ilorek glanced across The Ranch to establish eye contact with Rex before crossing his arms and leaning back, clicking his beak as he stared at Dustafyer. "Do you not know what we do here?"

"No! I don't! Up until now I thought you were a livestock dealer and that was it. Am I getting in over my head here? Are you some-" He stopped himself short of accusing Ilorek of running any sort of illegal operation under the surface. "Tell me, what do you do here that requires secrecy?" In truth he had a few flitting theories buzzing around inside his mind but he didn't want to assume anything.

His inquiry made Ilorek chuckle a bit louder than was comfortable. "Oh, nothing secret, just not the sort of thing that we generally speak of in broad daylight to strangers."

"So? What services do you offer?" By this point, Dustafyer was so curious he didn't even feel the hesitation that might come with such a peculiar exchange. His feline blood demanded he satisfy that curiosity at all costs.

Ilorek raised an eyebrow and plucked his hat from his head. "Well, we primarily deal in livestock as you know, but we also offer feral services. We're a brothel as well as a trader. We deal in mounts and being mounted, if you get my drift." He wasn't being subtle at all.

And that was when it all clicked. The carriage driver's insistence it was a tourist attraction, the discussion of services, the satisfied looks on the faces of Poojawa and Amrien; everything made perfect sense now. Such perfect sense that Dustafyer couldn't help but facepalm at his inability to piece it together prior to being told. He had a theory but the blunt nature of Ilorek's response made him feel like a fool for not being sure.

"You still interested, mate?" Ilorek prodded. "You don't have to participate in that aspect of the business if you don't want. I don't make you handle a stallion's cock before selling it to you, though that would be a very interesting marketing stunt to pull." He rubbed his beak as his imagination ran wild.

Dustafyer waved him off. "No, no. Nothing like that. I'm okay with that sort of stuff, but it's not what I came here for." He paused to reminisce as well. "In fact, it was Therris and Oceras that led me here, so I guess it makes sense. I practically was introduced to them with the image of a dude shoulder deep in Oceras while Therris watched."

"Perfect! So you already know that our livestock are pretty willing to lift tail for their riders. Not all of them, of course. In the end it's up to them what they do and if they trust you, but if you were to be interested in that sort of thing I can practically guarantee you a companion as well as a mount." He offered the slickest of winks and nods as he returned his hat to his head. "So I'll be sure to factor that into the pros and cons of each species and find you a perfect partner."

"Sounds good to me." Dustafyer agreed, hiding a blush. He was a hardened mercenary, not some blushing harlot, but the combination of such casual discussion of intimacy with a beefy farmhand hippogryph was making him weak in the knees so he had to work to keep his composure. "So tell me, Ilorek - can I call you Ilorek? - what do you recommend?"

Ilorek nodded as he led Dustafyer from the barn to the edge of the horse pasture where Rex had finally finished distributing the hay. "Horses are always a great start, I feel. They're the least intelligent of the steeds - they are a herd animal that need a leader - but they are well-domesticated, obedient, and loyal. They've got a tonne of endurance, loads of strength depending on breed, and are pretty easy to feed since they're hervivores. Hay, apples, and oats are way cheaper than vermin and pigs and other sources of meat. Mares can be moody but are immensely loyal whereas Stallions can be assholes and resist you for leadership but can be perfect companions if you get them to trust you."

"Sounds like a classic choice for a mount." Dustafyer laughed as he pitched in. "So tell me, since it seems to be a huge selling point, how do they do as companions?"

Ilorek chuckled again as he leaned over the fence with his entire upper body bent over the top slat. "Well, since you're askin', they're about as good as you'd expect. Mares, like I said, are moody but loyal as can be especially if you know how to keep them happy beyond just brushing them and feeding them. Stallions, however, are not what I'd recommend of a bloke of your stature. Tiny cat like you might be rendered in half by an aggressive stallion and I don't really endorse topping most stallions. Anal's something us agens get and appreciate, not so much with feral companions. Some like it, sure, but those are few and far between. Plus, for as intense as a stallion can be when thrusting, they last like thirty seconds, tops. Good if you're into that, but not the most compassionate."

Dustafyer couldn't help but blink and gulp. "That is a stunningly concise explanation. You've done this before, haven't you?" He joked.

"Daily, yeah. Told you, this isn't just a livestock trading ranch, it's also a brothel. If you were here for our services instead of our goods, I'd be pitching that same thing about their functionality."

"Makes sense. How do you ensure folks don't go for the tail hole, then? Sounds like you're pretty keen on keeping folks outta that part of your livestock but what about folks who prefer that?"

Ilorek turned and leaned against the fence once more, looking down at Dustafyer. "You a marshal or something?" He laughed, then continued before the feline could respond. "We always have someone watching. It's a bit of a turnoff to some clients but these ferals lack the sentience to speak like we do and I am very, very against animal abuse. My wife, Valencia, she taught me how to telepathically read emotions better than the average bloke so I can tell if a feral beast is comfortable or not. It's not perfect and it's not like we can translate instinct to language, but if a stallion is in distress I'll know it."

Once again, this took Dustafyer by surprise. "H-how long has this been going on? It sounds like you've basically perfected the art of dealing in feral flesh!" He didn't mean to sound so shocked but couldn't hold back how much of a revelation this was to him. When he arrived at The Ranch he just wanted a horse or gryphon to ride and here he was getting a brief history of interspecies prostitution.

His shock amused Ilorek. "Many years. Did this up in Saff'Rald before moving here after the intermingling of the natives and us immigrants. I figured, even back then, that people have been mounting their steeds as long as there had been people and steeds so why not corner that market? Plenty of folks are curious about what mare pussy feels like or how big gryphon cock really is, so why not indulge folks? I'd rather people be safe and smart and compassionate under my roof than have them buying a herd of stallions just to abuse 'em." He shrugged. "People are gonna do it anyway, might as well make it safe."

"That is...remarkably reasonable, I think. I think? I don't actually know if that makes sense but you say it with such confidence that I don't feel right questioning it." Dustafyer admitted with a chuckle of his own. "So what about the others? Horses are good for starters, but what about these ulokar?"

"I'm pretty sure you don't want a ulokar, if I'm being entirely honest." Ilorek bluntly assured.

"Why not?" Dustafyer was genuinely curious and a bit disappointed since he had his eye on a ulokar, be it either male or female.

"It doesn't sound like you need one. You said that you wanted a companion, maybe a helper around the homestead once you get it erected. They're not good workers, lack the endurance of a horse, and can be temperamental as can be. They make outstanding cavalry and can be some of the best companions, but only for the most experienced of riders. Trust me on this, they're not good for you."

Dustafyer was about to protest but instead just offered an alternative. "That's fair, but I'd still like to hear about them. Up to and including their viability from a physical standpoint."

"Sure, sure." Ilorek guided the feline across the lot and past the homestead to reach the opposite pasture with the ulokar, a peculiar dragon-wolf-horse hybrid creature known to be reserved for nobles and wealthy families. "As I said, they lack the endurance and outright strength of a horse, so they don't make for good workers on a farm. However, their pack mentality and those vicious teeth of theirs make them perfect for any battle. They bite, they leap, they can carry a lot of armour on top of their thick hide, but don't walk for long periods of time."

"And what about the companionship aspects? Now you've got me all curious." Dusty pushed.

Ilorek laughed as the two of them reached the tall fences with the inward-angled top slats. This was to keep them from climbing or escaping. "Well, they are pack-based creatures which makes them similar in some respects to horses and their herds. However, the smaller units mean that you really, really have to earn their trust and respect for them to listen to you. If you don't have the firmest of hands then a ulokar bitch or drake will walk all over you. Same goes for mating, if you're not careful."

Dustafyer rubbed his paws together, gradually opening up to the thought of being underneath a frisky ulokar drake. He didn't speak and instead motioned for Ilorek to continue.

"Their mating is a combination of dragon, horse, and wolf. They've got a flare, ridges, and a knot on the males and the females are quite plump and partially hidden by their ventral scales, only revealed when in heat. That combination of cock features means they thrust hard, hit deep, and stay inside for upwards of an hour while they cuddle and preen. If you're with a female, you'd best be ready to use some of you to stay inside while you cuddle. They're not mares, you can't just fuck until they squirt then run; you gotta stay with them for a while. I recommend fisting, if you're into that."

"I am, a bit. I prefer mounting but I'm willing to-" He paused to cut himself off. "What am I saying? I told you I'm not here to find a fuck buddy, I want a mount!"

"Same thing." Ilorek insisted with a click of his beak and a gape-grin. "You and I both know that, once you leave the lot with whatever livestock you chose, you're not gonna be able to resist. Nobody can. You think Therris came here with the hopes of finding a lover? Naw, that guy just wanted to find a reliable steed that could carry all his stuff; it just so happened to be that the one that bonded with him was Ocerre! Look at him now! I hear he can't get enough of that hoss."

Dustafyer nodded. "Oh yeah, they are not shy at all about their interactions. Fucked in public next to a hitching post while the sheriff watched. Or, maybe he didn't watch but he could have."

"I really am glad to hear that." Ilorek assured. "but again, a life here around other promiscuous creatures ensures that most of our livestock is at least amicable to the idea of mating with their rider. Some people buy solely for partnership as opposed to utility. Maybe you want a ulokar for that reason? I don't know, I can't know, but I can give a recommendation based on what you tell me. So how about we go check out the dragons?"

"Sounds good, I suppose. I might want to come back to this area but it sounds like you know what you're doing." Dustafyer then followed Ilorek past the homestead a second time to make it to the rocky, barren-looking dragon enclosure. This area had an even bigger fence that curved in even farther, presumably to keep the dragons inside.

These weren't the true, elder dragons with wings and four limbs, these were feral laurossins that resembled a mix of dinosaurs, lizards, and other reptiles. If they had wings, they'd have flown away. "I notice you don't have any winged dragons. There a reason for that or do you just lack the aerie to keep them from flying away?" Dustafyer asked, only just now having the thought cross his mind.

Ilorek paused and stopped, sighing as he compiled his response. "That's actually a pretty complicated situation due to the ethics of keeping true dragons as steeds and pets."

Dustafyer's ears perked up. "Tell me more. Now I'm curious."

"It all boils down to sentience. These dragons that I have? They're true ferals. Beasts. They don't think like you and I, they run mostly on instinct and natural behaviour. They're domesticated about as well as a saurian can be but they are by no meas the same as horses or even Ulokar. See, Laurossins - the intelligent ones - are too smart to be kept as pets, in my opinion. I could train a flock of flyers and keep them here, but that wouldn't feel right just like I don't think anyone keeps pet dolphins and why it's so uncommon for people to be into falconry. Certain creatures are too smart to be pets, and I feel that true laurossins are among that group even if others don't agree. What I've got here are just dragons and other feral saurossin breeds. I won't keep fliers. At least not dragons."

"What about gryphons? I notice that your flock of gryphons are all wingless, too."

The feline's observation elicited a chuckle from Ilorek. "That's a bit of an interesting story, too. Gryphons aren't naturally wingless - and don't misunderstand, we'd never, ever amputate - but some of the feral breeds are known for sexual dimorphism. On some types, males have wings while females don't while in other breeds the females have wings while the males don't. It's not common knowledge, but many breeds are like that and, in my experience, the winged types sell far quicker."

"So they don't stick around as long, eh?" Dustafyer theorized. "So what makes gryphons different? I thought gryphons and dragons were the same level of intelligence?"

Ilorek nodded. "They are, but my gryphon flock just won't go away. When I initially moved to Sosemma to set up The Ranch I considered leaving all my birds back in Saff'Rald but they came with me. I was never intending to keep them or sell them and even now I don't treat them the same as the other species, but in the end they stick around. I mean, look at me; I'm a hippogryph. I guess the flock sees me as the alpha or something."

Dustafyer glanced across to see the various gryphons lounging and playing in and around the trees, a sight that made him smile. "So I take it they're quite particular when it comes to their partners."

"Yup. Very picky. Dragons and gryphons both are equal in terms of their companionship but the subspecies and breeds of each one make it hard to classify them one way or another. Both are intensely loyal but require a firm hand - most of the time, anyway - while both are also a bit more relaxed in terms of personality. Gryphons and dragons both tend to be smart enough to be reasonable but I like to advise that they cooperate, they don't obey. Plus, no matter how much you might like to think they're yours, they might leave if they don't like how you treat them. But if they do like you, you don't even need to keep them fenced in."

"You have them fenced in." Dustafyer observed. "Why's that if they are loyal to you?"

Ilorek actually bellowed with laughter. "Oh, trust me, I'm not caging them in. A wingless hatchling gryphon could hop that fence with ease, I can assure you it's not keeping them in. If anything, the fence keeps guests and other creatures out more than anything. It's a nice way of mentally dividing the territory between the various mounts without actually forcing them to stay put. Over time they just accepted that area as theirs so I erected a fence to mark the territory."

All the while the two of them had been wandering between the four main pastures with the horses, the gryphons, the dragons, and the ulokar. All of them had their pros and cons but it was sounding more and more like he was probably best suited to a horse. The other steeds were all for higher-level riders who had a firm hand and while Dustafyer was dominant in many ways, he wasn't stern with his partners. He used his strength when working, not in bed or when riding.

He felt the need to ask for a few final clarifications before being guided in the direction of an equine companion. "So when it comes to dragons and gryphons, what sets them apart? What's better for a beginner? I've been working with all manner of steeds in the past but never really focused on the logistics of owning one myself. Well, 'owning' in the loosest sense of the word. I get that it's not about ownership but companionship."

"The difference is twofold. Dragons are great workers; they're strong and have great endurance like a horse but are a bit finicky about who rides them in much the same way a ulokar is. They're smart but not as smart as laurossins or gryphons. Both dragons and gryphons, on the other hand, are a bit more challenging to classify since they are so different from one breed to the next. Some are tiny and make good pets to hunt mice or carry on your shoulder while the larger ones can be ridden or used for work around the house. In general, gryphons are a bit smaller and faster with even better endurance but not quite the same strength as dragons. Plus, their personalities are problematic."

"Problematic? In what way? Now you've got me concerned."

Ilorek rubbed his hands together, grabbed a long piece of grass, and popped it into his beak. "Well, with horses there's not much in terms of disparity between the breeds or the genders. Both can be a little moody but will fall into line with even the slightest bit of affection. Ulokar are pack based and are just as loyal but require a lot more strength from their handlers if you want them to respect you. Those two steeds are pretty consistent in terms of loyalty and how firm you gotta be to get there. But dragons and gryphons, they're all over the place. Gryphons especially."

Dustafyer rubbed his chin and glanced over to the gryphon pasture while his tail swished behind him. "I have a theory as to why that is, but proceed."

"Didn't know I needed your permission!" Ilorek playfully patted Dustafyer on the back again as he chuckled. "But yeah, dragons range from being juvenile and bitchy to being submissive to you depending on factors I've yet to decipher. Some flat-out refuse to be owned or mounted while others welcome it. I don't quite understand it and I bet you didn't know this because it sounds like you just work with what you're given."

"You are entirely correct." Dusty confirmed.

"I figured. But gryphons, they are even more finicky and range from mischievous to crafty, from insubordinate to eternally loyal. There's a reason I don't sell them unless I'm entirely sure the gryphon takes to its new handler immediately. They chose their riders, not the other way around. As a species they're a sort of wild-card; you could get the most loyal, affectionate mount you've ever had or you could end up with a beast that disappears in the middle of the night with half your shiny stuff that you'll never see again. Generally speaking, the way I sell them ensures that only the best pairings leave this lot. It doesn't matter how much you pay I won't let you buy a gryphon unless it chooses you."

He let that sink in a bit before responding to it in the most non-commital way possible. "That seems fair." Was all he said as he pushed away from the dragon fence to end up between the two. "So what would you suggest, then? All of that said, I think it sounds like it boils down to a combination of how much time I'm willing to invest, how firm of a hand I'm willing to employ, and a bit of luck based on what ones choose me. I suppose it's also key to know, if so many of the livestock here are used to a life of interspecies mating, what I'm in for there, too."

Ilorek shrugged. "Can't really say for sure how that goes, either. Gryphons and dragons both are so varied when it comes to their mating habits and rituals that I can't rightly say what you can expect. Some have knots, some have ridges, some have barbs, some have featureless rods, some are tapered and prehensile, others are rigid and boring. When it comes to the females, any shape, size, depth, girth, or internal construction you can imagine can be present, so you gotta figure that out on your own." He stepped forward to put himself between Dustafyer and the homestead in the middle. "So I imagine now's the time we get you mingling, see who takes to you and go from there!"

With a sudden excitement, Dustafyer rubbed his paws together. "Sounds great. And price isn't an issue, I don't think. Unless you're charging jade tabs or something."

"Naw, my livestock is pretty expensive but not ludicrous. Gryphons tend to cost the most but again I need to let you know there's always an inherent risk with buying a bird like that. Generally speaking I'm pretty good about helping to match up riders and mounts but gryphons are-" He paused and laughed. "I'm repeating myself. Come on, let's go check out the pastures and see what's a perfect fit for you. Work, riding, companionship, all equally important at The Ranch!"

From that point on, Ilorek and Dustafyer took a few hours to really get to know as many of the potential mounts that the feline was interested in. He was adamant about giving each of the four species an equal chance by ensuring he spent time in each of the pastures and enclosures but quickly found he had a bias towards the gryphons and horses. His default belief was that horses were better for a beginner and something he was more intimately acquainted with in the past and that gryphons - though a risk, as Ilorek liked to repeat - the chances of finding an ideal partner were good.

As Ilorek had explained, as a hybrid himself he bonded well with all the gryphons and horses he worked with. That might have been the reason that Dustafyer went with those options, the bias of the salesman, but it wasn't hard to bridge the logic between what Ilorek had said and the fact that Dustafyer himself was feline and thus closer to gryphons than any of the others. He felt the risk was worth it.

Of course, he still decided to check things out on all the options before making a decision.

The first of the four pastures they visited was for the horses. Stallions and mares both along with some of their young frolicking about. Ilorek assured the feline that all of the adults were sexually active but that the young weren't to be touched under any circumstance. Dustafyer assured him he had no interest in touching the yearlings but was glad and relieved to hear that because it told him Ilorek may have run a pervy operation but he wasn't a scumbag.

He fed some of them hay, shared some apples with a few, felt his way around to see which of the horses were the most amicable to his presence, and even took note when a mare or two raised their tails to him in spite of him never actively trying to elicit such a response. He was just brushing their haunches or patting them on the back and they raised their tails up to show their vulva!

This was quite a pleasant view for him and the resulting aroma that billowed up from their plot was lovely to his keen sense of smell but it was the stallions that really made him blush. Each time the mares swept their head to the side to act playful or relieved themselves the nearby stallions would drop from their sheath and either relieve themselves as well or get frisky.

Dustafyer had to ask Ilorek about that since both genders seemed equally represented in the herd and although it was clear a lot of breeding was happening he had to wonder if any incest was going on. As it turned out, horses had a natural aversion to mating with their own and it was rarely a problem. Another interesting tidbit was that, at least with some breeds and especially the ones on The Ranch, a mare would invite the stallion she chose to sire her young, then after he was done her cervix would plug itself and she'd let the rest of the herd get in on the action where only the first one's seed got planted. Kind of brilliant and another thing Dustafyer had no idea about but it was sexy.

Furthermore, since all horses falsely assumed the young to be their own regardless of whether they were or not, any foals that grew in the herd were not mated with except by others that were born the same season. It was a slightly convoluted solution but Ilorek was certain it worked; his confidence was quite assuring to Dustafyer.

Before they left the horse pasture they ended up getting followed by a single mare, a thick-bodied gal with ashen hair, a long white mane, and bushy silver feathering around her ankles. She seemed to mostly be interested in Ilorek, making Dusty theorize that he must have been physical with her in the past. It did make him worry if maybe it wasn't in his best interest to take a horse.

Next up came the ulokar pack. Much like the horses it was one group mixed with males and females as well as a group of young that were mostly hidden to the back. These ulokar were not keen on Dustafyer at all and actively growled at him when he got close. He tried to alleviate their apprehension to no avail; even Ilorek couldn't make them calm down and accept the feline.

For that reason, Dustafyer pretty quickly struck them from his mental ledger and decided on the spot that he was not interested in a ulokar mount. He wasn't going to war, he expected to travel a lot, and he wasn't interested in fighting with them for years to earn their respect so he moved on.

Soon after that he went to the dragon paddock with Ilorek, who locked the door behind them to trap them with all the saurossins. For some reason this made Dusty more than a little uncomfortable as it felt like he was trapped with violent predators, but that feeling subsided when the first dragon sauntered out to see him with a big dumb grin on his face.

This dragon had to be four meters long from snout to tail tip, its belly at only a little over a meter off the ground and its legs wide instead of straight down. More like a lizard than a dragon. Ilorek had to explain this wasn't uncommon and that he was still rideable but it wasn't quite the same as a horse or upright dragon or even a gryphon.

Still, this lizard saurossin was cute! He nipped and licked and playfully clawed at Dustafyer's fur, which was fine until he chomped down on the tip of the feline's tail and drew a bit of blood.

Ilorek immediately apologized and shooed the saurossin lizard away before coaxing out a larger specimen from underground and out of the cave with a litter of hatchlings crowded around her feet. She was huge, bigger than any draft horse and regal in form but way too tall for Dustafyer even if she was remarkably well behaved. Her hippogryph handler joked that only the biggest of partners could satisfy her since she regularly passed eggs the size of his head and thus anything smaller was disappointing.

Dustafyer joked about having to use his whole body to pleasure her and Ilorek responded only with a knowing nod and grin. This raised all sorts of questions in the feline's mind but he opted to keep his fantasies to himself before asking to move on.

Dragons were nice and would make wonderful mounts in certain circumstances but they seemed kind of dull to him and he was already certain he was going to go with a horse or gryphon. The horses were uniformly pleasant with him even if none of them stood out and he still couldn't get past his natural affinity for a half-feline hybrid creature. He was eager to at least try taking that risk.

Happy to oblige, Ilorek escorted his client across The Ranch one more time to check out the gryphon pasture to see if any magic happened.

Rex was in there at the time and when Dustafyer and Ilorek arrived he warned that one of the drakes was in a bad mood so that it might not be the best time to risk it with a potential client.

"You sure about that?" Ilorek asked, trying to squint and see if he could find the culprit.

"Yeah, grabbed my arm when I tried to touch his hen." Rex showed his forearm, which had a bunch of bent fur strands and a trickle of blood. "Then again, maybe she's gravid and he was just being protective. Can never tell with some of those drakes."

This revelation should have made Dustafyer hesitant but it did the exact opposite. Rather than moan and gripe about it, he insisted they go for it; in his mind, if he could work with a gryphon even when it was angry it would be about as clear an indication as he could imagine that a bird was the best choice for him.

It was very clear he was hoping for this; his mind was made, he just needed to be external and forthright about it instead of keeping his decision or hopes to himself. Internalizing his thought process was not what Ilorek needed to help his client with a decision, but that failed to factor in the fact that Ilorek had declared himself to be an empath who could read emotions and intent.

"You still wanna go?" The hippogryph offered, his look of mixed concern and bravado making it clear he wanted Dustafyer to answer positively. To sweeten the pot he motioned to the flock - most of which was in a series of trees with tails dangling over the branches - as he put his foot on the fence's bottom rung. "Don't worry, I'll protect you. They respect me."

Dustafyer laughed. "It's fine. I've worked as a hired gun for years now. I've been shot before, I've been stabbed, I've been trampled by panicked stallions. Trust me, I can handle a gryphon bite." He was trying his best to act brave, to show he could handle the worst a gryphon had to offer when in a bad mood, but he had never been chomped by such a large beak before and had no idea how it felt.

Ilorek recognized this but still insisted Dustafyer take point. "After you, good sir!"

This felt like a dare but Dustafyer did as instructed and went ahead, hopping the fence and politely waiting for Ilorek and Rex to follow. He wasn't stupid, just lacked fear. Some might call that stupid but he knew he wasn't in danger so he eased his way across the field towards the tallest of the gnarled trees, which had at least a dozen gryphons lounging in and on the various twisting branches.

The closer he got the more he realized that, just like the horses and ulokar, there were actually a bunch of hatchlings on the smaller branches, young gryphlets he hadn't seen prior when beyond the fence. This actually made him smile, as it was lovely to see so many feral gryphons all lounging together without any of them leaping and attacking him out of protest.

He asked which one bit Rex but was told that the aggressive drake was nowhere to be seen so he must have gone hiding in one of the other trees spread around the pasture. This gave Dustafyer the confidence he needed to once again make a move towards the nearest of the gryphons.

Conventional wisdom, when approaching a massive predator that wasn't familiar with you, would have told Dusty to be cautious and passive, slowly inching inward with his hand out to wait for the gryphon to lean its beak into his palm.

Poetry. Or at least it would have been had he not known that to be exactly how not to make a first impression with gryphons.

Sure, it would have been foolish to just hop onto the gnarled roots of the tree to announce himself - that would have certainly resulted in him getting scratched or clawed or bowled over - but passivity would give each and every one of the flock the impression he was submissive. Ilorek may have been the keeper of these gryphons but Dustafyer had actually done some research prior.

He kept his posture up and stood his ground while making sure each of the gryphons could see him. This was to ensure they knew he was not a threat and not a surprise. It also meant he wasn't food or some submissive creature, but an equal. Of course, having Ilorek around also let them know that, but Dustafyer's behaviour impressed the hippogryph since this was exactly how a person was supposed to approach a gryphon; something only handlers tended to know or understand.

Naturally, Ilorek had to ask Dustafyer where he learned that while implying the feline must have worked with avian mounts in the past. On the contrary, Dustafyer assured Ilorek that he had done plenty of research and reading in the past; he may have been a hired gun but he was no brute. This explanation didn't fully satisfy Ilorek but he let the client have his way with the gryphon flock.

Only a few of them even bothered hopping down to see the feline after that. There were a few solid-color gryphons - one black and another green with a few rainbow patterns on his haunches - but the most interested of the party was a pair that came down from the highest branches of the tree.

The first was a female. Fairly small with the colors and patterning of a peregrine falcon and a northern lynx. Mostly shades of gray and white with some splotches of brown and what almost looked like a pale blue around her shoulders as well as pointy, black-tipped ears that were way bushier than they needed to be. The second looked like a cardinal and red tiger mix, with a swept-back crest, black and red stripes along his flank, and big bushy feathers and fluff all over; this male was notably larger than the female. He did have wings but they were tiny, clearly not for flight and just for show.

It was those two who stuck around beyond the initial sniffing and probing with their beaks. While all four of the gryphons poked at Dustafyer's shoulder and tried to preen his fur, the black and green ones both lost interest after only a few minutes leaving only the red and gray ones.

Ilorek could see and apparently feel that there was a connection so he informed Dustafyer that these gryphons were named Soren and Ashe. The larger red-patterned male was Soren and he was a bit more playful than most and could be quite cuddly and affectionate with the right partner. Ilorek also casually slipped in the fact that he had yet to find a single thing Soren wasn't turned on by, so he was one of the few males who didn't mind bottoming. The smaller female was named Ashe and she was a bit more stoic and dominant than most females but she was also very forward when she wanted something from her handler. He had no idea what she liked day to day because it changed frequently.

Only a few moments of the two of them petting and stroking and massaging the gryphons while Rex watched was needed before Dustafyer said he'd be interested in testing to see if these two were the ones he'd be taking home.

"I'm not ready to buy yet but I'd like to maybe give them each a ride, see how they like me."

"A ride, you say?" Ilorek tipped his hat and grinned before motioning to Rex to go to the barn.

"Not like that. I mean an actual ride. You know, put a saddle on them and see how that works out. Are these two okay with being saddled?" He had to hide a blush since the idea of being mounted by or mounting a gryphon on such short notice excited him even if he was trying to be professional.

Ilorek paused and cocked his head to the side, cradling his hat and resting it on his chest. "That's up to you, really. I can put a saddle on any and all of my gryphon flock. The real question is, can you? That's sort of the real test, do they trust you to put them in bondage or not?"

"Bondage? No I just want to ride them." Dustafyer countered.

"Do you really think that a feral gryphon knows the difference?" Ilorek posited. "As far as a beast is concerned, a strap is a strap; anything meant to tie them down and restrict them is bondage and therefore bad. If they trust you to do that to them and not hurt them or let them out later, then you should be fine. A gryphon can tell these things, you know. They are a great judge of character."

Before Dustafyer could say anything else, Rex came out with two lead lines, one for the male and one for the female. He tossed one to Ilorek and the other to Dustafyer before saluting and heading back to the barn. He was no longer needed.

He paused, confused. "Wait, what am I supposed to do with this if they don't have a bridle?"

Ilorek scoffed and wrapped the end of the lead line around his wrist, latching the hook around the opposite end of it and giving a tight tug to make a makeshift collar. "If you need a bridle to control a creature as majestic as a gryphon, you shouldn't be riding a creature as majestic as a gryphon."

Dustafyer huffed. "Good point. Alright." He walked over to Soren and gave the gryph a pat on the crop before tossing the lead line over his neck; he didn't latch it up or tug or pull on it, he wanted to be sure the bird was comfortable with that before he did anything else.

Soren chirped and pecked at the feline's ear but didn't protest or pull away, so Dustafyer simply grabbed both each end of the lead line - the loop at one end and the latch on the other - and simply gave the gentlest of tugs to see if Soren followed. Much to his delight, the gryphon did so and kept pace with Dusty until he reached Ilorek, who took the lead line from him and traded for the larger one.

"Here ya go. Good luck leashing a gryphon hen." He winked and stepped with Soren in tow.

But Dustafyer wasn't concerned. He knew females were often a bit more moody and peckish so he gave her more attention than he gave Soren. Ashe did pull away when he tried to hug her around the neck and she even raised her front talon to paw at him, her claws nearly slicing open his thigh had he not grabbed her and stopped her before she put her weight on him, but he managed to avoid it. She was a bit grumpier and took a lot more time and effort but he was persistent without being aggressive so she eventually lowered her head to encourage him to rest the lead line around her neck.

She must have seen him do it to Soren, because she seemed to actually encourage Dustafyer to do the same to her. Naturally, he wasted no time doing so and was exceptionally gentle with the slack between what was around her neck and what he held in his hand.

When he started walking towards Ilorek, the hippogryph offered him Soren's lead line as well. "If you're gonna buy them both you'd best be prepared to handle them both at the same time."

While his statement came across as more of a challenge than a warning, Dustafyer took it to heart and happily grabbed the second lead line so he could do precisely that. "No problem. They seem to like me." He declared with a broad grin and a swell of pride in his chest.

"They really do. I know you don't possess the same level of telepathic empathy that I do, but they both seem to see a lot of kindness in your heart. You will have to prove yourself to both of them, it will cost a lot to keep them satisfied, and you will need to spend a lot of time with them, but a pair of gryphons can be a rewarding experience." He took point en route back to the barn, advising Dustafyer as though the purchase had already been made. "It'll be sad to see them go, but they seem to like you and if Therris sent you then I know you can be trusted. I can feel it. I know it."

Dustafyer was so entranced by having a gryphon on either side - with one the size of a normal horse and the other as tall as a drafter but far leaner - that he barely registered Ilorek's caution.

So Ilorek continued, assuming Dustafyer was listening. "So I assume since you didn't bring any saddles of your own I'll have to sell a couple to you. The gryphons are forty and fifty gold each and the saddles are ten each. Add on top of that another fifteen for basic supplies and we're looking at one hundred, twenty-five gold for the whole set." He almost seemed melancholy, like he was losing friends.

Which was why Dustafyer had to pitch in and say something. "You seem upset." He observed.

"I am, a little. I never like selling gryphons from our flock since I tend to bond with them fairly readily and from what I can feel coming from their aura, you're not leaving without them."

It took a moment for Dustafyer to process what he heard and percolate it in his mind before properly responding. "I can...back out and get the horses if you prefer. I mean, I want a partner and a companion but not at the expense of someone else."

Ilorek shook his head. "That's not how this works. I'm a livestock trader, you know. This is part of the job and this isn't any different from when I sold Ocerre or any other of the steeds I once called my own. Honestly, the telepathic empathy is a gift and a curse; it's nice to decipher a person's intent to ensure I never get cheated or sell to the wrong person, but it does mean that each of the hundreds of creatures that come and go every year are special to me." He made a shaky-fist towards the homestead in the middle of The Ranch. "Curse you, Valencia! I preferred being a dumb yokel just like every other hustler this side of the Ijimulian!"

This sudden turn did in fact give Dustafyer cause to reflect and reconsider up until Ilorek shook his head off and pointed towards the barn, further driving the sale.

"The real test is the saddle. If they let you strap a saddle on their back, they're yours. Have you got one hundred, twenty-five gold on you?" Ilorek added, then eyed the satchel.

"I do, yeah. Bit more than that if you don't mind selling me some feed for the trip back to Rhybute. It's a long way and I wanna make sure they're well fed on the way." Dustafyer went from side to side, nuzzling into Ashe for a moment before doing the same to Soren, relishing the warmth under their plumage as well as their sheer size and power.

The two of them made it to the barn and Ilorek lit a few glowing ademane gems to illuminate the inside since the sun was setting and they needed light to sign papers. Ilorek took both of the gryphons and led them between the stalls and used physical magic to remotely close the door behind the two of them.

There were other mounts in the various stalls, including a single dire wolf that reminded Dustafyer that they hadn't checked out that paddock, but Ilorek didn't put the gryphons in any stalls. Instead, the test required that Dustafyer saddle them without any binds whatsoever; if they were tied down their obedience might have triggered and the test would be flawed.

Ilorek disappeared into the storage corner of the barn and came out with a pair of saddles that looked like a lovely blend for the mounts and riders. The bigger one was the gray of Ashe's plumage and the brown of Dustafyer's fur while the other one was ebony leather and stained red wood for the horn. It looked beautifully ornate, worth far more than ten gold. The hippogryph carried one on each forearm since he was so huge; there was no way he'd be able to ride either of the gryphons.

But Dustafyer was relatively small compared to the rancher and his livestock. There was no chance he'd be too heavy for these majestic avians to carry. "So all I gotta do is put a saddle on each one to prove they trust me, then you'll sell me the pair?"

"Exactly. And if it goes that far - which at this point I'm certain it will - I'd love to invite you back for the spring solstice in a few months. I know Therris is coming back with Ocerre as well as a pair of old employees of mine named Afearnia and Vvilfred Ashe. Yes, that's where the gryphoness got her name. All three of them headed to Rhybute last autumn." Ilorek explained as he pulled up a chair and started writing up a bill of sale while allowing Dustafyer to get to work.

Without any further reason to delay, Dustafyer picked up the smaller red and black saddle that was specifically fitted for a winged gryphon like Soren with a purr and a smile. "I'd be glad to come back up; if I'm not working, I'll be sure to figure something out." He assured, then stepped up to Soren and was able to hoist up the saddle with ease, finding the gryphon to be remarkably stoic during the whole ordeal. He laid it down on the avian's back and when he reached down to grab the strap below Soren's belly he was greeted with the most lewd of images.

Not only had Soren been calm throughout the strapping on of the saddle but he had grown excited in the process. Dustafyer couldn't be sure if this was because Ashe was with them or if it was an automatic response to being touched on the belly but it took most of the feline's willpower to not reach out and give the gryphon's member a squeeze while crouched down next to him. Instead, he gulped and deliberately took in a long breath to sample the musky aroma billowing out from between the drake's legs while he gently weaved the leather strap of the saddle through the hoops and tied it tight.

The second he was done with the second belly strap, Dustafyer found himself in a position that he didn't want to leave; his job was done but he wanted to steal a longer look and a sample of the scents that were emanating off the lightly ridged member that was poking out.

He just about lost it when a single musky drip of gryphon precum trickled out the tip and splashed on the ground beneath him.

"You know, this is a brothel if you wanted to maybe take him to the other side of the barn and see what sort of fun he wants to do to you. I will have to watch to make sure you're responsible but I'm sure Soren would love some attention. The gryphon females are going into heat and he's smaller so he might not get any ladies but I'm sure he'd love a cat; not too different to him than mounting a fellow gryphon, you know." Ilorek spoke without looking up from the bill of sale he was still writing.

Though the hippogryph's interjection did take Dustafyer by surprise, the feline couldn't help but take it to heart and seriously consider making a move. He was a cat, after all, and a gryphon's musk was specifically evolved to target him, even though he wasn't female and thus wasn't the desired recipient.

In reality, Dustafyer was an equal-opportunity bloke who was happy to mount females or be mounted by males in equal measure. It all depended on how things went, and with his perspective squatting down next to this gryphon stud he knew where this adventure was going to take him.

Under most circumstances he'd never even consider so blatantly making a move on anyone - especially not a gryphon he just met in front of a hippogryph hejust met - but the entire afternoon they spent together the both of them were talking about the rules and regulations behind how The Ranch was operated, how casual Ilorek felt sex should be, and how liberating it was to be able to talk openly about it. Sure, Dustafyer still mostly preferred to keep to himself, but with the right impetus for action he was clearly willing to whip it out and have fun.

He was casually fapping and watching as the others fooled around with Oceras out back of the Near and Dear that day he met Therris, so he certainly wasn't bashful. Still, making a move on a gryphon like this was wholly different from that. Watching was on another level from acting upon his impulses, even if the end result - orgasm - was the same.

Ilorek pulled the parchment to the side and dipped his quill into the ink so he could write up the second bill of sale, casually dropping some wisdom on Dustafyer. "If you're going to make a move, you'd best hurry up. One of the downsides to owning gryphon mounts is that if you give 'em blue balls they can get ornery. You really should take care of that before he gets aggressive."

"O-oh. Sorry. I'm sure you understand how awkward this is for me." Dustafyer opined.

"I do, but he doesn't care. Neither does she." He pointed over to Ashe, who was intently watching the feline wile swishing her tail with a gape grin upon her beak. The scent of arousal and the body language shown by Soren and Dustafyer must have triggered her desires as well. Or maybe it was her estrus that was teasing Soren. Either way, both gryphons made it clear they were in the mood.

Despite still being nervous about the whole situation, Dustafyer reached up to cradle the underside of Soren's member with his palm only to redirect and massage the gryphon's belly instead. This seemed to agitate Soren, which was proven by the gryphon stomping and scratching with one of his hind legs to snag on the gnarled wood floor of the barn.

The feline took the hint and glanced back one last time to Ilorek - who was still nonchalantly scribbling notes on the parchment as if this was just a daily occurrence for him - before taking in a deep breath full of musky deliciousness and making the first move towards Soren's length.

While the gryphon was not only expecting but demanding such attention, he still jumped a bit as Dustafyer's hand first wrapped around his shaft. This lasted for only a few seconds before he relaxed, his balls loosened up a bit, and he arched his back to buck his hips into the feline's hand, his tapered tip stabbing at his handler's fingers as he did so.

Almost instantly, Dustafyer's mind settled into a place of casual, lascivious arousal. The moment he felt the gryphon's ribbed length slide through his fingers and soak his paw he instantly stopped worrying about whether or not Ilorek would turn and see him or if anything bad would or could happen. His mind, though usually sharp and well-tuned to his surroundings, once again found itself taking a backseat to his cock driving him forward.

As he sat crouched next to Soren, he decided to take a moment to really figure out exactly what this gryphon was equipped with. Though the barn was relatively dark he could see that the feral beast's shaft had to be as big around as Dusty's wrist, with rib-like bumps down either side and a nubbed, tapered tip at the end. What interested him most was the portion that remained hidden behind the bird's sheath. Though the shadows formed by the Soren's thighs blocked out most of what he could see, the faint outline of what he presumed to be a forming knot could be seen thanks to the subtle highlights coming from the glowing ademane gems on the front of each stall.

Curious, he reached up with his other hand, sure to maintain a light grip around the gryphon's shaft with his first hand while the second peeled the meaty sheath back to reveal the three-lobed knot near the base. The second the beast's foreskin was peeled away from his knot, the entire weight of his swelling cock forced the member to fall and swing, spewing fluids back and forth in a web that Dusty felt compelled to try and catch on the end of his tongue.

For his diligence, Dustafyer was gifted the musky bittersweet flavours of an excited gryphon all over his muzzle, down his throat, and all over his tongue as he eagerly and jerkily tried his best to catch what he could out the end of the bobbing and weaving member that refused to stay still. He could have reached up and grabbed the shaft to keep it in place but found the chase all the more appealing and rewarding when he finally managed to catch a drop or a gooey strand across his nose.

Of course, the direct application of precum and natural gryphon lubrication just furthered the feline's desires and he couldn't help but lean in and wrap his lips around Soren's tip. In response, Soren bucked his hips and even stabbed his member down Dusty's throat but the feline - ever the gentleman - knew enough to use his lips to manipulate the shaft to best ensure no flesh got caught on his teeth!

The problem, which was made evident almost immediately, was that for all of Dustafyer's hunger for gryphon cock, the shaft was just too large for him to swallow effectively. Sure, he happily gulped down what he could, forcing its length down his gullet as one hand kneaded Soren's knot and the other the gryphon's balls, but he couldn't breathe, couldn't hold his breath for long, and his jaw was starting to get cramped quite quickly.

With great reluctance, he pulled himself away from Soren's member as a bridge of saliva and precum connected his lips and the gryphon's throbbing cock tip. He licked his chops - breaking the bridge in the process - and got to his feet while his member formed a visible bulge in his pants. He gulped and tried to shift his satchel so it covered his arousal but realized that wasn't a viable option so he gave up on that pretty good.

Dustafyer was about to get back on his knees to finish the job since Ilorek still wasn't paying any attention to him, but stopped when he noticed the drake's tail had flagged and was raised high above the gryphon's rump cheeks. Curious and taking Ilorek's words from earlier to heart, he lightly sidestepped down Soren's flank with one hand teasing its way down the gryphon's spine until he was kneading and caressing the base of his tail. Soon thereafter, he coyly slid his palm down one of the drake's rump cheeks, fingertips tickling taint and thumb prodding at the plump, fleshy pucker there.

Not only did Soren not pump his tail or step away in agitation, he actually glanced back, lowered his head in submission, hoisted his tail to the side without further instigation, and spread his hind legs in excitement.

The steed couldn't have communicated his intent more clearly if he was shouting the common tongue at his soon-to-be rider.

Knowing this - and being bolstered by the mindset of arousal - Dustafyer happily peeled his shirt and pants off while draping his satchel over a nearby hanger next to one of the stalls as he got into position behind Soren. From there, he pulled up a bale of hay and stepped on top of it to ensure he was high enough that his crotch was at tail-level only to be interrupted by Ashe prodding him from behind.

He was erect, dripping with anticipation, and his tip was so close to Soren's pucker that he could literally feel the gryphon's heat emanating off his flesh, but he got stopped by the female intruding. At first he ignored it and instead leaned down so that his face was at rump level so he could get a taste of what the drake's rump had to offer, but she was insistent and poked him again.

Any other time this would be an indication that he needed to stop, to not proceed, but it appeared her needs were matching his own and she was instead begging him to give her attention instead. She, like Soren, was quite amicable to Dustafyer's affection and was deliberately preening, plucking, and pinching the feline's belly and thighs in an attempt to get him to turn around on the bale of hay. When he did, she tentatively extended her neck while her blue eyes stared into his, tongue extending to caress and cradle his cock tip.

Dustafyer was not proud to admit this, but he almost came the second he felt her tender, prehensile tongue wrapping around his member and playing inside his foreskin. He actually had to pull away while struggling to not fall off the bale of hay in the process, an act that actually made her chirp angrily at him before trying to continue.

He tentatively stood back up with one hand on Soren's rump and the other reaching out to preen Ashe's cheek feathers, his member stiff and aiming at the sky as a steady dribble of his arousal dribbled down the underside of his shaft and soaked into the bale of hay below. He glanced over to see Ilorek finally putting the finishing touches on the second bill of sale before turning around and rubbing the huge bulge in his pants; the hippogryph was as excited as Dustafyer, so now the feline felt the need to show off. For all he knew, Ilorek was going to join in!

By this point, Dustafyer would have happily welcomed such a lewd addition to his evening.

In the mean time, he had two gryphons to handle in equal measure. As he caressed Ashe's cheek and Soren's rump, the gryphoness turned around so that her hind end was aimed directly at him, tail up and plump, triangular vulva leaking natural lubricants down her inner thighs. In much the same way Soren's musk seemed to target Dust's carnal desires, her estrus scent hit a direct bullseye and was so powerful his very next heartbeat was accentuated by a projectile spurt of his precum on the base of her tail! That was about all he needed to realize he couldn't afford to waste time.

Her pussy looked so ready, too. Many gryphoness vulva were smooth like a mare or hidden like a cat, but Ashe's was puffy and droopy all at once, the plumpness of its flesh practically begging to be fed the seed of an eager and willing drake. Looked more like a canine's pussy to him, or maybe a lamb? He wasn't sure and in the moment he didn't have the thoughts to waste on that, he just wanted to feel it wrapping its lips around his cock and sucking him dry.

Before he pulled away from Soren, he slid his fingers up her slit to capture some of her fluids, noting that they were thick and slimy but still slick and viscous all at once. When he pulled away from her folds, a string of her arousal extended between his digits and her sex like honey or nectar. Tasted like honey, too; honey with a bit of fruitiness that he certainly didn't expect.

Naturally, this urged him to lick some of it up straight from the source but when he realized that if he did that he'd be depleting her natural lubricant, he opted not to go that route. He knew she'd make more, but for a first time he wanted nothing more than to feel the unaltered sensation of those lips enveloping him even if he couldn't stop fantasizing about burying his face under her tail.

In much the same way as before, Dustafyer knew it wouldn't be ideal to make her wait. She was already swaying her hips and backing up into him with her tail up from one side while Soren did the same from the other side, both eager for his attention. The drake wanted his rump played with while she needed her pussy to be stuffed and satisfied.

His brain just about fizzled out as he wondered what he wanted to do first. Gryphon rump was likely tighter and kinkier but there was something special about gryphon pussy and nothing could quite compare to snug, estrus walls gripping his cock.

Ultimately the decision was one of priority, not preference. He knew, even in his arousal-addled mind that he couldn't mount Soren first; it was unsanitary to go from anal to vaginal and he doubted he'd have the mindset to clean off in between sessions so that made the decision easy, even if he refused to completely pull away from Soren's hindquarters.

He kept one hand on the base of the drake's tail while he turned and focused his attention on Ashe, hand on her hips to hold her in place as he leaned into her, struggling to aim his member at her opening at just the right angle.

As difficult as it was to do so without the aid of his paw to guide him, Dustafyer was able - with the help of a hip waggle and a pair of bent knees - to slip his tip beyond her opening and deep inside her depths with one motion that resulted in him almost falling off the bale of hay when he found his entire weight was leaning against her haunches. He couldn't help but dig his claws into her haunches, having completely pulled away from Soren to focus his efforts on her.

Dustafyer wasn't ashamed to admit to himself that he wouldn't last more than a few minutes at most, so he opted to not start things out with a bang by thrusting wildly as a stallion would. Instead, he kept a firm grip on her rump cheeks while leaning most of his weight on her hindquarters as he started to idly grind on her, his subtle motions offering her little more than a few shallow pumps.

In truth, he was shocked at how tight she felt and how loose she seemed at the same time. Her walls parted with ease, her vulva easily dilated, and her passage roomy even though her lips and the flesh smothering him were both snug as could be. He felt like, had he tried, he could have buried his entire arm in her to please her but that with how snug she was while in heat even a single finger could have given her the delight she needed.

So snug, in fact, that his cock - which was above average for a biped of his stature - barely needed to move to give both she and he all the pleasure he could hope for out of such a session. Even the subtlest of movements felt like a full thrust to him, the friction of her walls practically sucking him off in the process. It was almost too much for him, but he was lucky in that regard.

Just as he was about to buck into her and shoot his load deep into the gryphon's depths, Ilorek got up from his chair - now fully nude - and the scraping of the four legs on the ground startled Dustafyer to keep him from climaxing and even made him pull out completely, cock doused in her fluids and drooling a combined concoction of their arousal.

"H-hey man, warn me!" The feline protested only to have Ashe step away and tease him by raising her tail and flicking it to spread her scent.

"About what? You were taking too long." Ilorek joked, his meaty stallion shaft glistening with arousal as he idly stroked himself. "Now it's my turn."

This made Dustafyer gulp. "Turn for what?" The hippogryph's cock was even bigger than Soren's - aside from the knot - and Dusty knew he couldn't gulp that thing down. Then, as he was contemplating the sensual abuse he was about to be subjected to, Soren trotted around him to join Ashe between the stalls nearby, preening and courting her in attempt to fill in for Dustafyer's sloppy seconds.

Ilorek didn't bother offering an explanation, but he was sure to give the feline an out. "Safe word around here is chili pepper." He advised as he stood tall over Dustafyer and forced his buyer to spin around and bend over the side of the nearest stall while still hoisted up on the bale of hay. Even with Dusty standing on the bale of hay, Ilorek was a full head and shoulders taller, making him intimidating even without that slugger of a cock he held up against his belly.

That thing must have been as thick as a percheron's package! It wasn't very long in comparison to the rest of his body - perhaps a foot and a half or so - but given its girth and the decidedly equine shape of the head he really only needed the tip to wreck Dustafyer's tail hole.

Fortunately for Dusty, the feline was well-versed in bottoming for larger males. It wasn't something he let many know, but through many years of potion use and natural practice he had worked up to being able to take stallions to the hilt. Ilorek, though short and stout in the cock department, shouldn't have been too much of a concern for him. At least, he hoped not.

With his buyer bent over the gate of the stable, Ilorek grabbed the base of the feline's tail and violently wrenched it up to expose the pink-fleshed pucker hidden within. He then leaned in so that his shaft slid between the feline's rump cheeks and poked at the base of his tail, teasing him.

Dustafyer couldn't help but purr as he glanced back with a knowing smile. "Come on, don't make me wait. Been teasing these gryphons all afternoon and-" It may have been a mistake to goad the stallion while Ilorek had control over the situation.

Before Dusty could even finish his sentence, Ilorek leaned over the feline, adjusted his hips, and used his free hand to guide himself right into his buyer's tender tail hole. His cock had quickly spewed his own natural precum and lubricants to soak Dustafyer from the underside of his tail to his knees on his inner thighs, so not a single part of him was left dry as Ilorek plunged half the length of his member into his depths!

This made Dusty cry out in delight as he dipped the small of his back and pushed back into Ilorek, stance widened and rump loosened to ensure he didn't dare resist the stallion's thrusts.

While it could have been inferred, Ilorek was sure to lean in close and whisper into Dustafyer's ear. "Don't worry, I won't be long." He assured, then followed it up by a buck that nearly hilted him in the feline's rump accentuated by a guttural grunt. "I am a stallion, after all."

Dustafyer pushed back and squeezed his loins, the pressure of Ilorek's cock massaging his depths from the inside, the bulge of the hippogryph's flare milking the cum out of him in a way that was steady and never-ending rather than explosive. This made him whimper and curl his toes, claws digging into the hay bale as he felt Ilorek's hand on the base of his tail to ensure he didn't pump it down or have it get in the way.

And yet, despite the pressure inside him and the warmth that came from horse flesh dilating his rump, things were just getting started. Once Ilorek had a firm grip and his entire length buried from flare to base in the feline's rump, he pulled all but the head out and slammed it back with such force that he made the barn creak and the stable door wrench against its hinges.

The feline couldn't help but push back, to embrace all his stallion partner had to offer, but he really did hope that Ilorek didn't last too long. The depth and girth were both impressive and were hitting all the right spots, but at the same time he could already feel his climax building and exploding onto the wall in front of him with every beat of his heart; he was being milked and his never-ending orgasm was draining him of all of his strength!

There's no way he would last more than a few minutes; luckily Ilorek had given that exact same estimate so Dustafyer simply squeezed and pushed back until he no longer felt control over his bowels. After only a few deep, full-lengthed thrusts, Ilorek had effectively destroyed the feline's rump!

And not just in a pleasantly sore sort of way, more of the kind of way that would have Dusty unable to walk for hours afterward. He was sore in the best way, but his hips actually felt weak and, as Ilorek bucked into him like a stallion, he felt he was about to collapse. Fortunately, if he did collapse he'd just fall onto the rest of that spear of a weapon and feel the stallion flare up in his throat.

Pretty much from the first thrust, he felt that persistently pleasant orgasm sensation build in his loins and stay at climax level only to have peaks and valleys that rarely strayed from that plateau for minutes. While that might not sound like a long time in the grand scheme of things, a few minutes of uninterrupted delight accompanied by an aggressive milking by a girthy horse cock was a certain form of ascension for those who could handle it. A rapturous, never-ending orgasm.

True to his word, Ilorek didn't last very long. After only a few minutes of aggressive, borderline violent thrusting into his buyer's tender yet inexplicably capable rump, his equine flare exploded deep inside of Dustafyer's tail end and formed a visible bulge before shooting an eruption of stallion seed deep into the feline's belly from the other end. For a moment, there was a visible distention in Dust's belly followed by a bloat and a hint of cum inflation before the stallion's member went soft and all of it exploded out from between the two of them, splashing back onto Ilorek's sheath, balls, and thighs before soaking the hay bale and trickling down Dustafyer's legs.

Finally spent, both top and bottom, Dustafyer and Ilorek paused with the hippogryph leaning over his feline companion while breathing deep and heavy into his ear. "I've got some paperwork for you to sign." He said, struggling to not laugh at how absurd it was to follow up such a powerful session with such an inane bit of business minutiae.

Dustafyer laughed, too, the constriction of his abdomen forcing Ilorek's softening cock out of him alongside the rest of the seed he'd been pumped full of. After struggling he was able to turn around so that he didn't collapse in exhaustion, sitting - or more appropriately, leaning - on the stable door. "But I haven't saddled Ashe yet."

Ilorek leaned back against the table where the bill of sales were drying in the warm glow of the ademane gem. "Well if you can put one on her right now, I'll be very, very impressed." He motioned over to the two gryphons, who were passionately involved in courtship with Soren trying to leap up on her only to have her playfully step away and wait for him to try again, deliberately spurting her arousal on the ground and onto his beak every time he leaned in to get a sniff or a taste.

Sensing there was little to no chance he'd be able to handle the two of them until they were done fooling around and more importantly he lacked the strength to lift the larger of the saddles at this time, he lurched forward and bent over the table to get a better look at the receipts that had been drafted up.

He quickly read through them to see they were quite straight forward and thorough; they even had a warning that if the gryphons somehow escaped after the sale, that was beyond the rancher's control and he couldn't be held liable. Clever, on Ilorek's part. It was clear that this was not his first sale and it wouldn't be his last.

Dustafyer signed the papers, Ilorek sealed them with wax, and the two of them collapsed in the chairs next to one another as Dustafyer pulled out his bag of coins to reveal he had almost one thousand gold available to him at that time! He was actually prepared to spend much more if he had to but found Ilorek's prices to be quite affordable, considering the quality of the livestock.

Ilorek explained that, since The Ranch also operated as a brothel, the livestock made him plenty of money while waiting to be sold so he didn't need to mark up their prices even though he could. He was never in it to make money and instead wanted to focus more on his potion-making business. The Ranch was something he did for fun, not as a primary source of income.

They shared a beer, Ilorek happily showed off his potion collection he had stored in the cellar beneath the barn they were in while Soren and Ashe tied rump to rump and Dustafyer was too exhausted to join them, and finally after a meal they parted ways.

Dustafyer rode Ashe off The Ranch property with Soren in tow, Both of them ended up saddled and happy, Ilorek made another customer proud, and a seed was planted within Dustafyer's mind mere seconds after they shared their parting words. Therris, Vvilfred, Afearnia, and others were all banding together near Rhybute to form a posse or gang. Dustafyer could join them and maybe even use the property and homestead he intended to buy and erect as a base for them!

He preferred to stay on the good side of the law, but he couldn't say no to the idea of taking a cut of any profits earned by a fledgling gang. This was the wild southwest and until civilization had been instilled in every corner of the map he could still lay claim to some of it for himself!

It was the perfect plan and his gryphon pair would help give him leverage! Now all he had to do was return to Rhybute Pass, find Therris, and get more information before making any plans. As it stood, he had a very good road map ahead of him, one he was equipped and prepared to deal with.