Pyrrhi
Hey all! This is a rough draft of a scene from a story I've been writing. My hope is to one day publish it as a completed novel (which may be a little ambitious, I know!). I thought I'd share this rough attempt at a scene that introduces one of the main characters and maybe gauge interest in the story a bit. It's a short scene which aims to introduce a sliver of the world and the character himself. I wpuld greatly appreciate any feedback anyone has on any aspect of the story, including writing structure, grammar, and of course story elements themselves. As this is just to gauge interest and to improve my writing for now, I'm not sure how much more of this story will be released here. As I said, the final goal for this story is hopefully a published novel, but I may seek further help from the community if there is a decent amount of interest in the story!
Also, the illustration is by me, and is a rough attempt at capturing the main character, a desert fox named Pyrrhi. I wouldnt say no to any feedback on my drawing as well, since I could certainly use some practice and refinement!
Thank you all, and I hope you enjoy!
Gold bracelets jangled on Pyrrhi's wrists as he leapt into a spin, twisting his arms aloft to send a red silk cloth twirling about him, the candlelight catching in its sheen. His orange sarong spread as he swayed, gold chains chiming off his waist with the motion to reveal his red and cream tail as it twitched and flicked about like a dancing flame in the warm glow of the darkened room.
The fox kept his eyes tightly shut, focusing on the scent of smoke, wine, and arousal, and the sound of gasps and cheers that accompanied each step of the dance. It was difficult to keep a smile off his muzzle.
He crouched low, paws sweeping in a wide arc before him, candleflames lightly lapping at his dull claws. Despite his closed eyes, he could almost sense the quiver of the flames reacting to his passing.
The heat was reassuring, telling him he was in position. He began a reverse spin, quickstepping, legs straining with the effort of propelling himself into a side-flip, sticking the landing and slithering quickly down to the stage, arcing his paws out in a wide circle with the same motion, the silk cloth snaked around him whipping out to send a small gust to extinguish the candles.
His tail swayed a moment, a final dying gasp, before it too collapsed, coming to rest curled around him.
Pyrrhi didn't fight the smile the applause brought this time. He gracefully spun as he stood, bowing low, permitting his tail a slight wag before lightly skipping off the stage.
He held his ears high as he crossed the lounge, eyes scanning the room.
The lounge of the Silk Caress resembled a sort of tavern, though there were no tables or chairs. Instead, circles of lounge pillows and silk blankets surrounding tall and elaborately decorated hookahs were scattered around the room, each positioned strategically along a multi-tiered floor carved directly from the red stone of the earth, each level stepping down to a stage in the center. The stage was little more than a raised stone platform but provided a decent view to any of the patrons who wished to watch a performance.
It was a busy night at the Caress, Pyrrhi noted. He could see many patrons already pairing up with many of the workers, some rising to leave the lounge, others still reclined back and enjoying smoke, drink, and the company of a prostitute.
The fox couldn't see Aja among any of the workers moving about, but quickly spotted him leaning against the bar along the wall at the back.
The cheetah had a smirk on his face as he watched the fox make his way through patrons and servers alike.
"You enjoy yourself too much, Pyrrhi. You know you get an adorable smile on your muzzle every time you perform, right?" the spotted cat patted the fox on the arm as he spoke.
Pyrrhi's ears lowered and he gave the cat a shy grin, readjusting the gold armlet the cheetah had disturbed. He'd always enjoyed the way Aja almost purred his name.
"You're just jealous I'm a better dancer." The fox replied with feigned indignance, adding with a nod to the bar top, "don't let Mistress catch you leaning."
"Ah, she's in the back. Besides, I've already serviced two customers and it's still early."
The fox's large ears twitched instinctually as a familiar voice spoke nearby.
"Not yet. You'll be his first for the night."
Pyrrhi saw the bartender Rana, a large spotted hyena woman, was speaking to a black-backed jackal a few feet away. The jackal caught his gaze and gave him a suggestive smile, causing the fox to lower his ears with another timid grin.
"Aww, an admirer. Probably hopes you suck cock as well as you dance." Aja chuckled beside him.
"Hopefully he won't be disappointed then. Have you seen Vasha?" Pyrrhi asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Yeah, she led some Kudu out to the bathhouse near the beginning of your performance." The cheetah replied.
Pyrrhi frowned slightly.
"Hey, not everyone is into male foxes, no matter how pretty you look skipping around in gold and silk."
Rana approached, speaking before the fox could reply.
"Aja, quit leaning on the bar. If you have time to lean, you have time to find a customer."
"Yes, madam." Aja said, standing straight immediately, as if the order came from the Mistress herself.
The fox noticed the same jackal stood beside her on their side of the bar, brown eyes considering him appraisingly.
"Your fan awaits." The cheetah whispered with a wink quietly enough that only Pyrrhi's large ears could catch it before moving off to mingle with the patrons in the lounge.
Rana waited for him to leave before turning to the jackal.
"This is Pyrrhi. He is certainly very skilled in more than just dance. Pyrrhi, could you show this guest to room three, and see that he is well taken care of?"
"You're too kind, madam, of course I'll see to our guests needs." He replied as if he had a choice in the matter. He smiled coyly to the jackal, flicking his ears back slightly.
"Right this way, sir." The fox gestured to a curtained doorway near the rear left corner of the lounge.
As he turned to follow the jackal out, he glanced back to the stage where a group of musicians were now playing an odd assortment of instruments. A soft sigh escaped his muzzle.
"You were good tonight, Pyrrhi." Rana said quietly, a softer note to her voice.
"Thank you, madam." The fox smiled. "Room three you said?"
Pyrrhi pushed through the curtain to room three, holding it open for the jackal to step in behind him. Many of the foreigners thought it strange that the private rooms in the brothel were not secured with wooden doors. Wood was not a common resource locally and most of it went to constructing many of the temporary structures and caravan wagons in Aarus. Other materials such as cloth or stone were often used as a substitute whenever possible. There was only one room at the Caress with an actual solid door, which was the mistress' office where she stored the brothels wealth and held records of her workers contracts.
The fox drew the curtain closed once again, looping the gold hoop on the end through the hook in the wall to prevent it from being opened from the outside.
He turned back to the jackal, who was examining a large carved stone relief on the wall above the bed depicting a nude lioness reclining seductively on lounge pillows.
It was Pyrrhi's turn to appraise the jackal, now that he was free to gaze upon him without repercussions. The other canid appeared to be older than Pyrrhi (probably around his 20th year if the fox had to guess) and was dressed in a well-made tan cotton long tunic with a fine black silk sash wrapped around his waist. The tunic fell to just below his knees and he didn't appear to be wearing any leggings or trousers, as far as the fox could tell.
The jackal seemed intent on examining the relief in front of him, eyes lingering on the carved stone breast and sleek form of the lioness. His paw was absently stroking his forearm, and Pyrrhi noticed a nervous tail twitch.
A devious grin came to the fox's muzzle as he slinked up behind him, paws slipping around his waist and gently stroking at his stomach from behind.
Abs tensed under his paws, the jackal's earlier confidence all but gone in the more intimate setting. The fox leaned up and nuzzled the jackals neck scruff.
"First time? Or first time with a male?" Pyrrhi purred almost as well as Aja could.
The jackal relaxed a little, clearly enjoying the gentle touch.
"I-I've never been with a male. Is it that obvious?" he spoke with shaky breath, ears drooping slightly.
"If you know what to look for." The fox replied, paws slipping back down to the jackal's waist. He tugged at silk, letting the sash fall away to the floor. The jackal's breaths were measured and deliberate now.
Pyrrhi gained a small amount of pride in being able to know what a creature desired, even if they themselves were unsure. It was a skill he had honed since the day he was sold to the Caress.
"I-I'm not entirely sure what to do."
The fox gently nudged the other canid around, pulling him toward the bed.
"It's not unlike being with a female, if you so desire." The fox gave an alluring smile as he tugged off the jackal's tunic and tossed it to the floor.
Pink flesh was already emerging from his guest's sheath. Pyrrhi eased him back onto the bed before reaching for his own waist to undo his sarong, tail flicking gently behind him as he slipped it out from beneath the gold chains. He knew this patron would prefer he kept the jewelry on.
"I've never seen a male with such beauty before." The jackal was panting slightly now.
Pyrrhi swayed subtly as he lowered himself to his knees beside the bed, paws gently stroking his patrons' thighs.
"Perhaps you've never noticed them before."
His eyes met the jackal's as his muzzle hovered just above the growing shaft between his legs, ears laying back.
The scent of male arousal was strong to the fox's sensitive nose, but not unpleasant.
His soft breath warmed the tender flesh as his slender paws explored up the jackal's thighs, gently gripping him around his bare waist.
A trembling paw began to stroke the fox's right ear, lightly toying with the gold loop piercing, his other paw tracing lines through his reddish tan neck scruff with dull claws, careful to avoid the fox's gilded collar.
Pyrrhi knew his guest was already growing impatient and wouldn't tolerate teasing for much longer.
Taking a chance, the fox slipped his paws down from the jackal's thighs, one gently closing around his cock, the other cupping around the furry pouch beneath.
The canine's breath caught as the fox gave his flesh a delicate stroke. A second stroke coaxed a small moan from the jackal. His tongue slithered out from his lips, coiling itself slowly around the sensitive head of the flesh, drawing a whimper from the creature.
Pyrrhi slid his muzzle over him slowly, slipping his tongue further down the shaft before withdrawing almost all the way, repeating the motion again and again, each time increasing his pace.
The paw on the shaft began to stroke faster as the fox's muzzle set to work, causing the jackal to squirm and moan. The paws around Pyrrhi's head stopped their affectionate stroking, the jackal unable to do anything more than grip the fox firmly below the ears.
He could taste the jackal's precum, and began slowing his strokes, withdrawing his cock entirely from his muzzle, triggering a questioning whimper from the canine that was short lived as he climbed up to straddle his lap.
Pyrrhi carefully positioned himself over the jackal, his slick erection pressing insistently beneath his tail.
The fox relaxed himself down, feeling his entrance slip around the warm jackal flesh.
A soft moan escaped his lips as he sank as far as he could before pausing, allowing himself time to grow accustomed to the pressure of being filled.
The jackal whimpered eagerly beneath him, thrusting his hips into the fox.
Pyrrhi braced himself, feeling him slip deeper inside than he was ready for, but he was not unfamiliar with the light stab of pain.
He forced himself down, suppressing a wince as he took the jackal's entire length and pinned his hips against the bed.
"Easy there." The fox purred, leaning forward to lick the panting canine's muzzle.
He whimpered in reply, brown eyes pleading with the fox.
Pyrrhi gave him his best enticing smile as he arched his back and rocked his hips, sliding along the length of the pinned creature's shaft, slowly at first but building speed with each rotation.
The jackal's paws moved up to grasp the fox around his hips, slowly thrusting up to meet his motions once it was clear Pyrrhi wouldn't stop him again.
Closing his eyes, the fox rocked into the sensations, his paw now lightly toying with his own shaft.
The thrusts grew in intensity, and the fox could feel the swelling flesh at the base of the jackal's cock begin to press uncomfortably against his entrance.
He did little to hide his moans at the sensation, slipping his paw off his own shaft and bracing both paws on the jackal's shoulders, he pressed his hips down to meet the jackal's upward thrusts.
A gasp of pleasure escaped his lips as sudden pressure was followed by immediate relief as the knot caught at his entrance before slipping completely in.
The jackal tensed beneath him, muzzle closing around the fox's wrist to stifle a moan as he released himself deep inside him.
Panting, Pyrrhi lowered himself down to lay across the jackal as he finished, the position a little awkward as they were still tied together.
The fox licked at the jackal's muzzle again before nuzzling his neck scruff.
"I'll take it you enjoyed yourself?" he asked playfully.
The contented canine had collapsed back into the mattress, eyes closed with a large smile on his muzzle.
"Certainly not what I was looking for when I came in here tonight, but definitely worth every coin." He mumbled sleepily.
Pyrrhi rested atop the jackal and smiled to himself. He much preferred the patrons who let him lead.
About an hour later, the fox was cleaned up and dressed, scanning the lounge once again to see if anyone needed a drink served or a hookah pipe reloaded.
Aja was nowhere to be seen, likely serving another customer of his own. Few others seemed interested in the fox, most patrons seeming to prefer the female workers over him, which was fine by Pyrrhi, as he was still a little tender from the jackal.
It was during a lull in chores that the fox saw Vasha push through the curtain that led out to the bathhouse.
The fox could just make out the scent of wet fur as the lioness made her way over to his place by the bar.
"Hi Vasha!" the fox greeted.
The lioness reached a large paw up to stroke Pyrrhi's ear.
"Hi, hon. Sorry I missed your performance earlier. Had to deal with an insistent kudu."
Pyrrhi leaned into her touch, wagging his tail slightly.
"That's okay. Wouldn't want to keep you from your duties. How'd it go with the kudu?"
The lioness frowned slightly.
"Wanted a full-service right there in the bathhouse, which is fine, except he insisted on bleating very loudly the entire time, and you know how echoey the bathhouse is."
The fox cringed in sympathy. "Seemed like you've been back there a while."
"He had a hard time 'performing'." She giggled slightly, bringing a grin to the fox's muzzle. "And I certainly know it wasn't because of anything I did or didn't do."
Vasha was only three years older than Pyrrhi but had taken it upon herself to watch out for him since the moment he was sold to the Caress. She was the big sister he never had and the only person he'd ever called family.
"Hey, your first performance with Kara is tomorrow, isn't it?" she asked.
Pyrrhi nodded, frowning slightly.
"I think she's even less happy about it than I am."
Kara was the mistress' most recent acquisition, a female jackal with a rare albino coat. Many would pay top gold for a night with an exotic beauty, and the mistress insisted she be taught to dance, as she believed the jackal could be passed off as one of the white furred foxes from the far away cold regions where frozen water dropped from the sky.
Pyrrhi wasn't so sure, but it wasn't a slave's place to question his owner.
The mistress had him and Master Markus, the old dancing tutor, working with Kara. The two had been rehearsing a dance, the fox dressed in his normal orange and gold, and the jackal donning a matching costume of light blues and silver. Markus had mentioned something about portraying the contrasts of the elements or some nonsense.
Pyrrhi was bitter about the whole thing, because he'd never danced with a partner before, and it threw off everything he knew about the art. Perhaps he was also reluctant to share the stage, as his performances were the only occasion, he felt he could act freely without fear of repercussions. He couldn't fault Kara, of course. She was a house slave previously, a personal servant of some trade baroness, and had not been adjusting well to her new role at the Caress.
There was nothing to be done, however. Complaining would draw reprimand, and Pyrrhi had long learned it was better to bite his tongue and do what he was told, rather than risk the mistress' wrath.
"She'll come around in time. We all do." The lioness stated, eyes growing distant for a moment before coming back to settle on the fox.
"I almost forgot; the mistress needs to see you tomorrow before opening. Just after you get back from your weekly with Master Akis."
"Do you know what about?" Pyrrhi asked, the frown deepening on his muzzle. Any day he could go without speaking with his owner was a good day. Not that he'd ever vocalize that aloud.
"Not sure. Think it may have something to do with the Fortunes Day Festival coming up in a few weeks." The lioness paw came to rest on his shoulder. "I wouldn't worry about it. It's going to be a busy time, and she just likely wants to get a head start on planning for it."
"Yeah, but what does she want me for? She rarely even notices I exist unless I've messed something up or stop earning." The fox felt a familiar tightness forming in his chest. His paw shifted up instinctually to rest on his chest above his heart.
"Hey." Vasha gripped him by the shoulders and turned him to face her squarely. His ears flattened and he lowered his gaze.
"Pyrrhi. Worrying won't do anything. It's probably nothing. Go find yourself a customer and put it out of your head. Besides, you always have your appointment with Master Akis to look forward to."
He sighed, looking up to meet her dark eyes. "I guess you're right."
"Course I am." She released his arms, giving him a warm smile and ruffling his head fur.
"Hey!" he pulled away, indignantly patting the fur back in place.
"And keep your ears up! You're so handsome when your ears aren't held back like that."
At that, Vasha moved off to serve the next round of drinks.
Pyrrhi noticed his paw had returned to his chest as he watched her go, heart still thudding quicker than he would have preferred.
He dropped it to his side, busying himself instead with refreshing hookah pipes.
He only serviced two more patrons that night, one particularly aggressive serval that refused to keep his claws sheathed, and an overeager jackrabbit that had a predator/prey fetish.
Pyrrhi didn't mind the change of topping the rabbit and would have probably found it refreshing if it weren't for his serval scratches and creeping anxiety.
It could have been worse, he tried to remind himself as he finally sank back onto his sleep mat on the floor in the back corner of the worker's house. Vasha was still out with yet another customer, making her fifth for the evening.
Snoring in the mat next to him and a quick glance told the fox that Aja was already asleep. He felt the rough cloth of the straw-filled mat rub uncomfortably against his serval scratches as he attempted to put the night out of his mind and find rest.